Cervical Multifidus Stiffness Assessment in Individuals with and without Unilateral Chronic Neck Pain: An Inter-Examiner Reliability Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the inter-examiner reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) for measuring cervical multifidus (CM) muscle stiffness in asymptomatic controls and patients with chronic neck pain. A longitudinal observational study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a procedure. SWE images, following a detailed procedure previously tested, were acquired by two examiners (one novice and one experienced) to calculate the shear wave speed (SWS) and Young's modulus.

New developments in infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis is a continually evolving disease. Present-day patients differ significantly from those treated a few decades ago: they tend to be older and have more comorbidities and health care-related episodes, while new groups of patients have emerged with new types of endocarditis, such as those affecting patients with percutaneous valve prostheses. There have also been changes in diagnostic techniques.

Capmatinib plus nivolumab in pretreated patients with EGFR wild-type advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Dysregulated MET is an established oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MET signaling may also suppress anticancer immune responses. Concomitant MET inhibition with capmatinib (a MET inhibitor) synergistically enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapies in murine cancer models, regardless of tumor dependency to MET signaling.

Adverse drug reactions in paediatric surgery: prospective study on frequency and risk related factors.

Background: Paediatric patients are especially prone to experiencing adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and the surgical environment gathers many conditions for such reactions to occur. Additionally, little information exists in the literature on ADRs in the paediatric surgical population. We aimed to quantify the ADR frequency in this population, and to investigate the characteristics and risk factors associated with ADR development.

Association of OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 polymorphisms with clinical phenotype among women with fibromyalgia.

To investigate the association between three selected pain polymorphisms and clinical, functional, sensory-related, psychophysical, psychological or cognitive variables in a sample of women with fibromyalgia (FMS). One hundred twenty-three (n = 123) women with FMS completed demographic (age, height, weight), clinical (years with pain, intensity of pain at rest and during daily living activities), functional (quality of life, physical function), sensory-related (sensitization-associated and neuropathic-associated symptoms), psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds), psychological (sleep quality, depressive and anxiety level) and cognitive (pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia) variables. Those three genotypes of the OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained by polymerase chain reactions from no-stimulated whole saliva collection.

Clinical impact of remote heart failure management using the multiparameter ICD HeartLogic alert.

Introduction And Objectives: The multiparametric implantable cardioverter-defibrillator HeartLogic index has proven to be a sensitive and timely predictor of impending heart failure (HF) decompensation. We evaluated the impact of a standardized follow-up protocol implemented by nursing staff and based on remote management of alerts.

Methods: The algorithm was activated in HF patients at 19 Spanish centers.

A Simplified Screening Model to Predict the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Caucasian and Latin American Pregnant Women.

The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) comprises clinical and genetic factors. In fact, GDM is associated with several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study aimed to build a prediction model of GDM combining clinical and genetic risk factors.

Identification of Individual Target Molecules Using Antibody-Decorated DeepTip Atomic-Force Microscopy Probes.

A versatile and robust procedure is developed that allows the identification of individual target molecules using antibodies bound to a DeepTip functionalized atomic-force microscopy probe. The model system used for the validation of this process consists of a biotinylated anti-lactate dehydrogenase antibody immobilized on a streptavidin-decorated AFM probe. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is employed as target molecule and covalently immobilized on functionalized MicroDeck substrates.

Pregnancy in women with dilated cardiomyopathy genetic variants.

Introduction And Objectives: Limited information is available on the safety of pregnancy in patients with genetic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and in carriers of DCM-causing genetic variants without the DCM phenotype. We assessed cardiac, obstetric, and fetal or neonatal outcomes in this group of patients.

Methods: We studied 48 women carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic DCM-associated variants (30 with DCM and 18 without DCM) who had 83 pregnancies.

Clinical suspicion, diagnosis and management of cardiac amyloidosis: update document and executive summary.

In recent years, the interest in cardiac amyloidosis has grown exponentially. However, there is a need to improve our understanding of amyloidosis in order to optimise early detection systems. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate solutions to improve the suspicion, diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac amyloidosis.

Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Primary Endothelial Cells from a Familial Cavernomatosis Patient.

Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) or familial cavernomatosis is a rare, autosomal dominant, inherited disease characterized by the presence of vascular malformations consisting of blood vessels with an abnormal structure in the form of clusters. Based on the altered gene (, , ) and its origin (spontaneous or familial), different types of this disease can be found. In this work we have isolated and cultivated primary endothelial cells (ECs) from peripheral blood of a type 1 CCM patient.

Diagnostic Performance of Atherogenic Index of Plasma for Predicting Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis with Peripheral Artery Disease.

This study aims to assess the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) diagnostic value in detecting diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A prospective cohort study was conducted on 80 patients with DFUs and suspected DFO between January 2022 and December 2023. The primary outcome measures included the diagnosis of DFO, determined by positive microbiological analysis results from bone samples and its correlation with the AIP.

Shear wave elastography for assessing the anterior scalene elasticity in patients with neck pain.

Purpose: Shear-wave elastography (SWE) provides quantitative and absolute metrics for analyzing the elasticity of soft tissues. Despite the anterior scalene muscle (AS) is a key structure in patients with neck pain and nerve compressive syndromes, the majority of SWE studies only included asymptomatic subjects. This study aimed to analyze the Young's modulus and shear wave speed test-retest reliability in a sample of patients with neck pain symptoms to characterize the AS stiffness.

Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation: the 9th AFNET/EHRA consensus conference.

Aims: Recent trial data demonstrate beneficial effects of active rhythm management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and support the concept that a low arrhythmia burden is associated with a low risk of AF-related complications. The aim of this document is to summarize the key outcomes of the 9th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

Methods And Results: Eighty-three international experts met in Münster for 2 days in September 2023.

A streamlined pathway for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: the BENCHMARK study.

Background And Aims: There is significant potential to streamline the clinical pathway for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementing BENCHMARK best practices on the efficiency and safety of TAVI in 28 sites in 7 European countries.

Methods: This was a study of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVI with balloon-expandable valves before and after implementation of BENCHMARK best practices.

Effects of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Anabolism Biomarkers and Thrombotic Biomarkers Compared with Traditional Training in Healthy Adults Older Than 60 Years: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of low-load blood flow restriction training (LL-BFRT) on muscle anabolism and thrombotic biomarkers compared with the effects of traditional LL training and to analyse the changes in these biomarkers in the short and medium term (acute/immediate and after at least 4 weeks of the training programme, respectively). A search was conducted in the following electronic databases from inception to 1 March 2024: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, Science Direct, CINHAL, and Scopus. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 256 healthy older adults (mean (min-max) age 68 (62-71) years, 44.

Valvulitis: a new echocardiographic criterion for the diagnosis of bioprosthetic aortic valve infective endocarditis.

Introduction And Objectives: Diffuse homogeneous hypoechoic leaflet thickening, with a wavy leaflet motion documented by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), has been described in some cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) involving aortic bioprosthesis (AoBio-PVE). This echocardiographic finding has been termed valvulitis. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of valvulitis, precisely describe its echocardiographic characteristics, and determine their clinical significance in patients with AoBio-PVE.

Supervised Telerehabilitation and Home-Based Respiratory Muscle Training for Post-COVID-19 Condition Symptoms: A Nested Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of Participants in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of individuals with post-coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) condition symptoms who underwent a supervised telerehabilitation and home-based respiratory muscle training (TSHB-RMT) program.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling.

Magnetic colloidal nanoformulations to remotely trigger mechanotransduction for osteogenic differentiation.

Nowadays, diseases associated with an ageing population, such as osteoporosis, require the development of new biomedical approaches to bone regeneration. In this regard, mechanotransduction has emerged as a discipline within the field of bone tissue engineering. Herein, we have tested the efficacy of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), obtained by the thermal decomposition method, with an average size of 13 nm, when exposed to the application of an external magnetic field for mechanotransduction in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).

Congenital stromal corneal dystrophy in a Spanish family: Clinical, genetic and histological analysis.

Purpose: To present the clinical, genetic, and histopathological features of the ninth family affected by congenital stromal corneal dystrophy (CSCD) to date.

Methods: Twelve cases of a Spanish family affected by CSCD were analyzed regarding history, visual acuity (VA, decimal scale), an ophthalmologic exam and specular microscopy. Five eyes were treated by deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and thirteen eyes by penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

Timing of coronary angiography and use of antiplatelet pretreatment in patients with NSTEACS in Spain.

Introduction And Objectives: The optimal timing of coronary angiography in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) as well as the need for pretreatment are controversial. The main objective of the IMPACT-TIMING-GO registry was to assess the proportion of patients undergoing an early invasive strategy (0-24hours) without dual antiplatelet therapy (no pretreatment strategy) in Spain.

Methods: This observational, prospective, and multicenter study included consecutive patients with NSTEACS who underwent coronary angiography that identified a culprit lesion.

Inhibition of the AURKA/YAP1 axis is a promising therapeutic option for overcoming cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer stem cells.

Background: Primary resistance to anti-EGFR therapies affects 40% of metastatic colorectal cancer patients harbouring wild-type RAS/RAF. YAP1 activation is associated with this resistance, prompting an investigation into AURKA's role in mediating YAP1 phosphorylation at Ser397, as observed in breast cancer.

Methods: We used transcriptomic analysis along with in vitro and in vivo models of RAS/RAF wild-type CRC to study YAP1 Ser397 phosphorylation as a potential biomarker for cetuximab resistance.