Estimated GFR Slope in Kidney Transplant Patients: When the Error Is Random.

Background: The evaluation of renal function changes over time is crucial in day-to-day renal transplant care, and the slope of renal function is a major outcome in clinical trials. Little is known about the reliability of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in reflecting real glomerular filtration rate (GFR) changes.

Methods: We analyzed the variability of eGFR slope by 63 equations in estimating measured GFR (mGFR) changes in 110 renal transplant patients.

Alone laser versus bevacizumab plus laser for diffuse diabetic macular edema (ALBA randomized trial).

Purpose: To report the 12-month results of laser (treatment G1) versus intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser (treatment G2) in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: In this single-center randomized independent controlled trial, 32 patients were randomized to G1 ( = 15) or G2 ( = 17). In G1, laser was given at baseline and then pro re nata (PRN).

Vulnerability as a key concept in relational patient- centered professionalism.

The goal of this paper is to propose a relational turn in healthcare professionalism, to improve the responsiveness of both healthcare professionals and organizations towards care of patients, but also professionals. To this end, it is important to stress the way in which difficult situations and vulnerability faced by professionals can have an impact on their performance of work. This article pursue two objectives.

Incidence, clinical, risk factors and outcomes of Guillain-Barré in Covid-19.

We diagnosed 11 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases among 71,904 COVID patients attended at 61 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) during the 2-month pandemic peak. The relative frequency of GBS among ED patients was higher in COVID (0.15‰) than non-COVID (0.

Bronchoscopist's perception of the quality of the single-use bronchoscope (Ambu aScope4™) in selected bronchoscopies: a multicenter study in 21 Spanish pulmonology services.

Background: The disposable bronchoscope is an excellent alternative to face the problem of SARS-CoV-2 and other cross infections, but the bronchoscopist's perception of its quality has not been evaluated.

Methods: To evaluate the quality of the Ambu-aScope4 disposable bronchoscope, we carried out a cross-sectional study in 21 Spanish pulmonology services. We use a standardized questionnaire completed by the bronchoscopists at the end of each bronchoscopy.

Effects of Early Placement of Transjugular Portosystemic Shunts in Patients With High-Risk Acute Variceal Bleeding: a Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data.

Background & Aims: Compared with drugs plus endoscopy, placement of transjugular portosystemic shunt within 72 hours of admission to the hospital (early or preventive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt [TIPS], also called preemptive TIPS) increases the proportion of high-risk patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding who survive for 1 year. However, the benefit of preemptive TIPS is less clear for patients with a Child-Pugh score of B and active bleeding (CP-B+AB). We performed an individual data meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of preemptive TIPS in these patients and identify factors associated with reduced survival of patients receiving preemptive TIPS.

Prognostic value of SYNTAX score and SYNTAX score II in an 'all-comers' population treated with angoplasty.

Objectives: The SYNTAX score and SYNTAX score II have a high predictive capacity for adverse cardiovascular events. We aimed to demonstrate that both scores were good predictors of long-term adverse outcomes in an 'all-comers' population treated with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: In the study, we included 785 patients who received an angioplasty at our center between January 2011 and December 2012.

Extended Stability of Reconstituted Lyophilized Erwinia L-asparaginase in Vials.

Background/aim: L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) is used as a tumor-inhibitory drug on paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ERW-ASNase is commercialised as a lyophilized powder stable only for 8 hours once reconstituted and, consequently, the leftover is usually discarded. The aim of this study will be to analyse the stability of the reconstituted lyophilised ERW-ASNase.

Sentinel lymph node mapping and intraoperative assessment in a prospective, international, multicentre, observational trial of patients with cervical cancer: The SENTIX trial.

Background: SENTIX (ENGOT-CX2/CEEGOG-CX1) is an international, multicentre, prospective observational trial evaluating sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy without pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. We report the final preplanned analysis of the secondary end-points: SLN mapping and outcomes of intraoperative SLN pathology.

Methods: Forty-seven sites (18 countries) with experience of SLN biopsy participated in SENTIX.

Insulin resistance in non-diabetes patients with spondyloarthritis.

: Insulin resistance (IR) constitutes a major underlying abnormality driving cardiovascular disease in the general population and has been linked to inflammatory diseases. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of IR in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and whether IR can be explained by disease-related features in such cases. : The study included 577 subjects: 306 patients diagnosed with SpA according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria and 271 controls.

Central Pathology Review in SENTIX, A Prospective Observational International Study on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer (ENGOT-CX2).

The quality of pathological assessment is crucial for the safety of patients with cervical cancer if pelvic lymph node dissection is to be replaced by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. Central pathology review of SLN pathological ultrastaging was conducted in the prospective SENTIX/European Network of Gynaecological Oncological Trial (ENGOT)-CX2 study. All specimens from at least two patients per site were submitted for the central review.

Rebleeding and mortality risk are increased by ACLF but reduced by pre-emptive TIPS.

Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date.

Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015.

Assessment of Safety and Efficacy of Combined Trabectedin and Low-Dose Radiotherapy for Patients With Metastatic Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: A Nonrandomized Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial.

Importance: Active therapeutic combinations, such as trabectedin and radiotherapy, offer potentially higher dimensional response in second-line treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcomas. Dimensional response can be relevant both for symptom relief and for survival.

Objective: To assess the combined use of trabectedin and radiotherapy in treating patients with progressing metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas.

Communities of practice: acknowledging vulnerability to improve resilience in healthcare teams.

The majority of healthcare professionals regularly witness fragility, suffering, pain and death in their professional lives. Such experiences may increase the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue, especially if they are without self-awareness and a healthy work environment. Acquiring a deeper understanding of vulnerability inherent to their professional work will be of crucial importance to face these risks.

Prevalence, features and predictive factors of liver nodules in Fontan surgery patients: The VALDIG Fonliver prospective cohort.

Background & Aims: Fontan surgery is used to treat a variety of congenital heart malformations, and may lead to advanced chronic liver disease in the long-term. This study examines the prevalence, characteristics and predictors of liver nodules in patients following Fontan surgery.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study conducted at 8 European centres.

Unilateral intravitreal dexamethasone implant for diabetic macular edema: effect in the contralateral eye.

We describe three patients who had previous heart diseases and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant diabetic macular edema. They underwent unilateral dexamethasone intravitreal implantation. Without ophthalmological treatment in the fellow eye, patients showed marked bilateral improvement in best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence images, and macular thickness values.

Prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis in Spain: EPISER2016 Study.

: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Spain.: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study of people aged 20 years or older in Spain. Randomly selected individuals were contacted by telephone and rheumatic disease screening was performed.

Prevalence and characteristics of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in goats on the island of Tenerife, Spain.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant (MRS) in healthy goats on the Island of Tenerife, Spain, as well as to identify the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the strains found. A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. A total of 158 goats from 15 different farms were sampled between September 2017 and January 2018.

Long-Term Radiotherapy-Induced Cardiac Complications: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Tumor disease has improved survival due to therapeutic advances and early diagnosis. However, anti-neoplastic treatment involves generating harmful side effects in the body, both in the short-term and in the long-term. One of the most important side effects is cardiovascular disease after radiotherapy, which in addition to being influenced by classic cardiovascular risk factors, can be also be influenced by anti-neoplastic therapy, and represents the main cause of death after a second cancer.

Variability in the decision-making process of acute ischemic stroke in difficult clinical and radiological constellations: analysis based on a cross-sectional interview-administered stroke questionnaire.

Background And Purpose: Notwithstanding guidelines, indications for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke are multifactorial and can be complex. Our aim was to exploratively evaluate decision-making on the advisability of performing MT in cases presented as an interview-administered questionnaire.

Methods: Fifty international raters assessed 12 cases and decided to recommend or exclude MT.

Increased Antimicrobial Resistance of MRSA Strains Isolated from Pigs in Spain between 2009 and 2018.

The problem of emerging resistant microorganisms such as Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) associated to livestock is closely linked to improper use of antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence and characteristics of these strains, as well as their evolution in healthy pigs on the Island of Tenerife, Spain. Between October 2009 and December 2010, 300 pigs from 15 wean-to-finishing farms were screened.

Prospective study of variables associated with nonadherence to psychotherapy.

The identification of factors associated with nonadherence to psychotherapy would allow a better prevention of this problem. To investigate factors associated with nonadherence in psychotherapy, its possible effect on outcomes, and reasons for therapy dropout. Prospective analytic observational study of patients who initiated psychotherapy ( = 144).