Estado actual de la protección radiológica en procedimientos endourológicos en España / Current status of radiological protection in endourological procedures in Spain

Objetivo: Conocer el grado de formación en protección radiológica (PR) de los urólogos españoles que realizan técnicas endourológicas, así como analizar el empleo de medidas de control y protección frente a radiaciones ionizantes. Material y métodos: Encuesta realizada mediante la Plataforma de Investigación de Estudios Multicéntricos (PIEM) a los 1.894 asociados de la Asociación Española de Urología, entre abril y octubre de 2015. El cuestionario comprende 21 preguntas que interrogan sobre la actividad endourológica realizada, la formación en PR y el empleo de medidas protectoras y de dosimetría personal. Se obtuvo un 17% de respondedores, siendo finalmente válidas para análisis 238 encuestas. Resultados: El 63% de los encuestados no tenían ningún tipo de formación en PR, el 25% poseían acreditación de primer nivel y únicamente un 12% de segundo nivel. El empleo de dosimetría de solapa, muñeca y cristalino era realizada por un 57, 27 y 2% de los urólogos, respectivamente. El uso de medidas de protección frente a radiaciones resultó ser insuficiente. El 53% de los urólogos con mayor riesgo de exposición no tenían ninguna formación en PR, un 30% no usaban dosímetro de solapa y un 40% no empleaban ni delantal ni collar tiroideo durante los procedimientos endourológicos. Conclusiones: La formación en PR, el control de dosis y el empleo de medidas de protección frente a radiaciones ionizantes es insuficiente, incluso en aquellos profesionales más expuestos a radiaciones. Es fundamental corregir estas graves deficiencias en PR tanto a nivel individual como de servicios de urología, sociedades científicas y autoridades sanitarias

Objective: To discover the extent of training in radiological protection (RP) of Spanish urologists who perform endourological procedures, and to analyse the use of on ionising radiation control and protection measures. Material and methods: A survey conducted through the Plataforma de Investigación de Estudios Multicéntricos (PIEM) (Multicentre Study Research Platform) on the 1,894 associates of the Spanish Association of Urology, between April and October 2015. The questionnaire comprised 21 questions on endourological activity undertaken, RP training, and the use of protective measures, and personal dosimetry. Seventeen percent responded, and 238 surveys were eventually validated for study. Results: Sixty-three percent of the respondents had received no type of RP training, 25% had first level accreditation, and only 12% second level. Fifty-seven percent, 27%, and 2% of the urologists used flap, wrist and crystalline dosimetry respectively. Use of radiation protection measures was insufficient. Fifty-three percent of the urologists at greatest risk of exposure had had no training in RP, 30% did not use flap dosimetry, and 40% used neither an apron or thyroid collar during the endourological procedures. Conclusions: RP training, dosis monitoring, and the use of ionising radiation protective measures are insufficient, even by practitioners most exposed to radiation. It is essential that these serious shortcomings in RP are corrected, at the level of the individual, in urology departments, scientific societies, and the health authorities

Current status of radiological protection in endourological procedures in Spain. / Estado actual de la protección radiológica en procedimientos endourológicos en España.

OBJECTIVE: To discover the extent of training in radiological protection (RP) of Spanish urologists who perform endourological procedures, and to analyse the use of on ionising radiation control and protection measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey conducted through the Plataforma de Investigación de Estudios Multicéntricos (PIEM) (Multicentre Study Research Platform) on the 1,894 associates of the Spanish Association of Urology, between April and October 2015. The questionnaire comprised 21 questions on endourological activity undertaken, RP training, and the use of protective measures, and personal dosimetry. Seventeen percent responded, and 238 surveys were eventually validated for study. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the respondents had received no type of RP training, 25% had first level accreditation, and only 12% second level. Fifty-seven percent, 27%, and 2% of the urologists used flap, wrist and crystalline dosimetry respectively. Use of radiation protection measures was insufficient. Fifty-three percent of the urologists at greatest risk of exposure had had no training in RP, 30% did not use flap dosimetry, and 40% used neither an apron or thyroid collar during the endourological procedures. CONCLUSIONS: RP training, dosis monitoring, and the use of ionising radiation protective measures are insufficient, even by practitioners most exposed to radiation. It is essential that these serious shortcomings in RP are corrected, at the level of the individual, in urology departments, scientific societies, and the health authorities.

Epidermólisis bullosa distrófica recesiva y embarazo / Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and Pregnancy

La epidermólisis bullosa distrófica es una enfermedad hereditaria rara debida a mutaciones del gen COL7A1. Su variante recesiva (EBDR) se caracteriza por una marcada disminución o ausencia completa de colágeno tipo VII (C7), que da lugar a una marcada fragilidad de la piel y las mucosas, desencadenando la formación de ampollas de forma espontánea o en respuesta a mínimos traumatismos. Son muy pocos los casos descritos en la literatura de esta enfermedad en embarazadas. Exponemos 2 casos de gestantes, ambas afectadas de EBDR, y su manejo en nuestra Unidad de Obstetricia de Alto Riesgo del Hospital Universitario La Paz. En ambos casos se realizó una cesárea a término, finalizando la gestación sin complicaciones mayores para la madre o el feto. A pesar de relacionarse con un mayor número de complicaciones maternas, la EBDR no representa una contraindicación para la gestación, y con un control adecuado, estas pacientes pueden ver su deseo genésico cumplido

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a rare inherited disease caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene. Its recessive variant (recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa) is characterized by the absence or considerably reduced expression of type VII collagen, which leads to marked fragility of the skin and mucous membranes and subsequent blister formation, whether spontaneously or following minimal injury. There have been very few reports of this disease in pregnant women. We present 2 cases of pregnant women with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa managed in our High-Risk Pregnancy Unit at Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. Both patients underwent full-term cesarean delivery, with no further complications for mother or child. Although recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa increases the risk of maternal complications, a patient is not advised against pregnancy. With adequate monitoring, these patients can fulfil their desire to become mothers

Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and Pregnancy. / Epidermólisis bullosa distrófica recesiva y embarazo.

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a rare inherited disease caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene. Its recessive variant (recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa) is characterized by the absence or considerably reduced expression of type VII collagen, which leads to marked fragility of the skin and mucous membranes and subsequent blister formation, whether spontaneously or following minimal injury. There have been very few reports of this disease in pregnant women. We present 2 cases of pregnant women with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa managed in our High-Risk Pregnancy Unit at Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. Both patients underwent full-term cesarean delivery, with no further complications for mother or child. Although recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa increases the risk of maternal complications, a patient is not advised against pregnancy. With adequate monitoring, these patients can fulfil their desire to become mothers.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fosfomycin in non-critically ill patients with bacteremic urinary infection caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the population pharmacokinetics of fosfomycin for patients with bacteraemic urinary tract infection (BUTI). The analysis identified optimal regimens on the basis of pharmacodynamic targets and assessed the adequacy of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) susceptibility breakpoints for Escherichia coli. METHODS: Data of 16 patients with BUTI caused by multidrug-resistant E. coli (FOREST clinical trial) received intravenous fosfomycin (4 g every 6 hours) were analysed. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed, and Monte Carlo simulations were undertaken using 4 g every 6 hours and 8 g every 8 hours. The probability of pharmacodynamic target attainment was assessed using pharmacodynamic targets for E. coli for static effect, 1-log drop in bacterial burden and resistance suppression. RESULTS: Sixty-four plasma samples were collected over a single dosing interval (day 2 or 3 after starting fosfomycin treatment). Fosfomycin concentrations were highly variable. Pharmacodynamic target attainment analysis showed mild improvement by increasing fosfomycin dosing (4 g every 6 hours vs. every 8 hours). These dosages showed success for decreasing 1-log bacterial burden in 89% to 96% (EUCAST breakpoints) and 33% to 54% (CLSI breakpoints) of patients, but they were unable to reach bacterial resistance suppression targets. CONCLUSIONS: Fosfomycin concentrations are highly variable-a fact partially explained by renal impairment. The present work supports the use of 4 g every 6 hours as an effective regimen for the treatment of non-critically ill patients with BUTI caused by multidrug-resistant E. coli, as higher dosages might increase toxicity but may not significantly increase efficacy. The current information may suggest that fosfomycin susceptibility breakpoints need to be reappraised.

Physicochemical stability of a new topical timolol 0.5% gel formulation for the treatment of infant hemangioma.

Infant hemangioma (IH) is the most common tumor in infants, which affects 5-10% of white children. It is a tumor of vascular origin that appears in the first months of life. The indication for the treatment of the IH is not approved in the datasheet of the product, however it has been used in the infant hemangioma by topical administration as an alternative to oral propranolol, avoiding the main problems of the oral route (bradycardia and hypotension). The objective of this work is to study the physical and chemical (HPLC stability indicating method) stability of a 0.5% timolol gel for topical application during 60 days (considering the stability limit as 90% of initial concentration of timolol maleate). The gel was prepared with a polyacrylic acid derivative and the physical stability of the system was studied by visual control, rheological and mechanical characterization. The studied formulation guarantees the correct dose administering and stability after 60 days stored at 25 ± 2 °C and light protected (tube of aluminum). We have developed an easy topical gel for the treatment of infant hemangioma with physical and chemical stability higher than those provided by the majority of hospitals.

Automated effective dose estimation in CT.

European regulations require the dose delivered to patients in CT examinations to be monitored and checked against reference levels. Dose estimation has traditionally been performed manually. This is time consuming and therefore it is typically performed on just a few patients and the results extrapolated to the general case. In this work an automated method to estimate the dose in CT studies is presented. The presented software downloads CT studies from the corporative picture archiving and communication system and uses the information on the DICOM headers to perform the dose calculation. Automation enables dose estimations to be performed on a larger fraction of studies, enabling more significant comparisons with diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). A preliminary analysis involving 5800 studies is presented with details of dose distributions for selected CT protocols in use at a university hospital. Average doses are compared with DRLs. Effective dose estimations are also compared with estimations based on the dose length product.

Study and evaluation of the Siemens virtual wedge factor: dosimetric monitor system and variable field effects.

In the year 1997 Siemens introduced the virtual wedge in its accelerators. The idea was that a dose profile similar to that of a physical wedge can be obtained by moving one of the accelerator jaws at a constant speed while the dose rate is changing. This work explores the observed behaviour of virtual wedge factors. A model is suggested which takes into account that at any point in time, when the jaw moves, the dose at a point of interest in the phantom is not only due to the direct beam. It also depends on the scattered radiation in the phantom, the head scatter and the behaviour of the monitoring system of the accelerator. Measurements are performed in a Siemens Primus accelerator and compared to the model predictions. It is shown that the model agrees reasonably well with measurements spanning a wide range of conditions. A strong dependence of virtual wedge factors on the dosimetric board has been confirmed and an explanation has been given on how the balance between different contributions is responsible for virtual wedge factors values.