Position statement on the use of point-of-care ultrasound in heart failure: Recommendations from the Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation, and Clinical Ultrasound Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI).

This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of point-of-care ultrasound in heart failure (HF), offering detailed recommendations on echocardiography, lung ultrasound, and venous ultrasound. These advanced imaging techniques allow for an accurate, detailed, and non-invasive evaluation of heart failure, facilitating rapid and effective clinical decision-making. Echocardiography enables a rapid assessment of cardiac function at the point of care, enhancing traditional physical examination and being essential for the management of heart failure (HF).

Hereditary Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Genetic Testing, Early Detection Strategies, and Personalized Management.

: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a five-year survival rate of approximately 13% for advanced stages. While the majority of PDAC cases are sporadic, a significant subset is attributable to hereditary and familial predispositions, accounting for approximately 25% of cases. This article synthesizes recent advancements in the understanding, detection, and management of hereditary pancreatic cancer (PC).

Comparative Analysis of 2 Commercially Available Assays for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Infliximab and Adalimumab.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor is a crucial proinflammatory cytokine in immune-mediated diseases. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), such as infliximab and adalimumab, effectively treat rheumatological and digestive disorders. However, challenges such as primary nonresponse, secondary treatment failure, or adverse reactions limit their efficacy.

Incorporating ethics into infectious disease clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Incorporating ethics into clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can be challenging. This is particularly evident for infectious diseases (ID) CPGs due to the complexity of ID ethics (IDE) and the multiplicity of populations at-risk for infections.

Objectives: The OPENING project (IncOrPorating Ethics iN ClINical Guidelines: Practical Indications) was initiated by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Ethics Advisory Committee (EEAC) in collaboration with the ESCMID Guidelines Subcommittee to generate guidelines for the systematic inclusion of ethics principles into ID CPGs.

An exosome-based liquid biopsy predicts depth of response and survival outcomes to cetuximab and panitumumab in metastatic colorectal cancer: The EXONERATE Study.

PURPOSE EXONERATE (EXOsome and cell-free micro-RNAs of anti-EGFR ResistAnce) was an open-label, biomarker interventional study designed to develop, test, and validate a liquid biopsy predictive of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) for first-line EGFR inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with newly diagnosed RAS-WT, chemotherapy-naïve mCRC, both right- and left-sided, were enrolled in 2-nationwide trials to receive cetuximab or panitumumab along with chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was 12-month PFS, which was hierarchically tested in left- and right-sided mCRC to predict PFS, OS, and ORR.

Depression and Accelerated Aging: The Eveningness Chronotype and Low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Are Associated with Depressive Symptoms in Older Subjects.

Background And Objectives: Depression often results in premature aging, which increases the risk of other chronic diseases, but very few studies have analyzed the association between epigenetic biomarkers of aging and depressive symptoms. Similarly, limited research has examined the joint effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and chronotype on depressive symptoms, accounting for sex differences. Therefore, these are the objectives of our investigation in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.

Angiogenic factors versus fetomaternal Doppler for fetal growth restriction at term: an open-label, randomized controlled trial.

Small fetuses, with estimated fetal weight (EFW) below the tenth percentile, are classified as fetal growth restriction (FGR) or small for gestational age (SGA) based on prenatal ultrasound. FGR fetuses have a greater risk of stillbirth and perinatal complications and may benefit from serial ultrasound scans to guide early delivery. Abnormal serum angiogenic factors, such as the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1):placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, have shown potential to more accurately distinguish FGR from SGA, with fewer false positives.

Incident Cardiometabolic Comorbidities in Smokers with/Without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Long-Term Cohort Study.

Despite the significant global health impact of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM), our understanding of potential predictors associated with its development in smokers, remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether a new COPD diagnosis and the rate of lung function decline serve as predictors for incident CMM (defined as having at least two of the following comorbidities: cerebro-cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus) in smokers. An observational longitudinal analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted, including smokers without a previous COPD diagnosis and any cardiometabolic conditions.

Falciparum malaria in a child from Ghana with neutrophils showing phagocytosis of trophozoites, merozoites and possibly schizont.

Malaria remains a significant health threat in tropical and subtropical regions. The immune response to Plasmodium falciparum involves both humoral and cellular components, including phagocytosis by neutrophils. However, observing phagocytosis through light microscopy is uncommon.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in secondary acute myeloid leukemia arising after hypomethylating agents: PETHEMA registry study.

Background: Patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia who previously received hypomethylating agents for prior myeloid neoplasms (HMA-sAML) face a dismal prognosis.

Methods: The authors analyze the characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of patients with HMA-sAML from the Programa Español para el Tratamiento de Hemopatías Malignas (PETHEMA) registry.

Results: A total of 479 patients were included, mostly from prior myelodysplastic syndrome (84%).

First-line pembrolizumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and high PD-L1 expression: real-world data from a Spanish multicenter study.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab stands as a first-line option for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (PD-L1 ≥50%). Several factors such as antibiotic exposure, low body mass index (BMI), certain metastatic location or poor performance status may influence outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis in a cohort of patients with advanced high PD-L1 expression NSCLC treated with first-line pembrolizumab in clinical practice.

Results of the process of implementation of ISO 7101 subclause 8.10.5 Health literacy in specialty consultations.

Objective: This quasi-experimental, non-randomized study described the process of implementing ISO 7101 subclause 8.10.5 Health literacy in specialty consultations, then determined the effects of implementation on patient general health literacy scores and perceptions of quality of care.

Long-term survival analysis of low back pain onset in patients undergoing hip prosthesis surgery: a Kaplan-Meier study.

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty has been associated with the onset of low back pain, which can significantly impact patients' quality of life. However, a detailed evaluation of the time until the onset of long-term low back pain following total hip arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the relationship between total hip arthroplasty and the development of long-term lower back pain.

Risk Factors Associated With Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy due to Rare Mutations in Mitochondrial DNA-Encoded Respiratory Complex I Subunits.

An in-depth analysis of susceptibility factors modifying the penetrance of rare Leber hereditary optic neuropathy-causing mutations in respiratory complex I genes encoded in mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid has not been performed. To bridge this gap, we conducted a review of the literature on rare mutations associated with LHON, selected those with substantial evidence of pathogenicity, and performed an in-depth analysis of the various pedigrees. Examining the influences that modify the penetrance of the classical mutations associated with this disease may offer insights into susceptibility factors in individuals carrying the rare mutations.

The Association Between Major Depression and Alzheimer's Disease Risk: Evidence from a 12-Year Longitudinal Study.

The relationship between depression, particularly major depression (MD), as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well established; however, its precise role remains contested. Findings from the fourth wave of the ZARADEMP longitudinal study provide further insights into the association between MD and AD risk. : This study aimed to examine the association between MD and incident AD, controlling for established risk factors.

Biomarkers of oxidation, inflammation and intestinal permeability in persons with diabetes mellitus with parenteral nutrition: A multicenter randomized trial.

Background And Aims: Parenteral nutrition (PN) composition could play a role in the management of systemic inflammatory response and intestinal barrier disruption. We aimed to evaluate changes in biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative status and intestinal permeability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who received different PN lipid formulas.

Methods: This was a prospective study, including 94 patients with T2DM who received omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)-enriched PN, a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides (MCT/LCT) PN, or an olive oil-based PN.

[Labyrinthitis ossificans].

Labyrinthitis ossificans is a pathology consisting of calcification of the membranous labyrinth resulting in profound sensory deafness. It is usually due to an acute inflammatory process that progresses to ossification of the labyrinth. The clinical manifestations are irreversible hearing loss, dizziness and vomiting.

High-risk cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma: PETHEMA-GEM experience.

This study examines the impact of cytogenetic abnormalities and their co-segregation on the prognosis of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. The analysis included 1304 patients from four different GEM-PETHEMA clinical trials. Genetic alterations, such as t(4;14), t(14;16), del(17p), +1q, and del(1p), were investigated using FISH on CD38 purified plasma cells.

Severe hypertransaminasaemia during the acute hepatitis of unknown origin alert of 2022.

Introduction: The impact of acute severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children (SHIC) subject to a medical alert in 2022 medical alert is poorly understood.

Materials And Methods: Observational study of the incidence, aetiology and clinical presentation of acute hypertransaminasaemia (HTRA) with laboratory values in the severe range (ALT and/or AST ≥ 500 U/L) in paediatric patients (age 0 to 16 years) in one health care zone from 2012 to 2022, comparing the periods of the SHIC alert and the SARS-CoV2 pandemic with previous years.

Results: The incidence of severe HTRA of any cause was 195.

Fostamatinib for Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19 and Hypoxemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Fostamatinib, a spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been reported to improve outcomes of COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fostamatinib in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and hypoxemia.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, phase 3, placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at 41 US sites and 21 international sites between November 17, 2021, and September 27, 2023; the last follow-up visit was December 31, 2023.