Asociación de trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos y síndrome de Parsonage-Turner: ¿coincidencia o relación causa-efecto? / Association between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and Parsonage Turner syndrome: coincidence or cause-effect relationship?

El síndrome de Parsonage-Turner o plexopatía braquial idiopática es una inflamación total o parcial del plexo braquial cuya presentación típica es una omalgia intensa y súbita, seguida de debilidad braquial y amiotrofia precoz. La etiología es desconocida, aunque se propone un mecanismo inmunomediado.El trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos es un tratamiento bien establecido de las neoplasias hematológicas y tiene un papel creciente en el tratamiento de enfermedades autoinmunes. Los efectos adversos neurológicos son probablemente infradiagnosticados.La asociación del síndrome de Parsonage-Turner y el trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos es muy poco conocida. Describimos dos casos clínicos de plexopatía braquial idiopática tras trasplante de células stem (progenitores) hematopoyéticas (TPH).La reconstitución del sistema inmune tras un trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos puede ser un desencadenante de plexopatía braquial, aunque se necesitan más estudios para entender la fisiopatología de esta entidad y establecer su relación causal con el trasplante. (AU)

Parsonage-Turner syndrome or idiopathic brachial neuritis is a total or partial inflammation of the brachial plexus, with a typical presentation as a sudden and very intense pain in the shoulder, followed by weakness and early amyotrophy. The etiology is still unknown, although an immune mediated mechanism is thought to be involved.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a well-established treatment for hematological malignancies, but with a growing implication in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The neurological side effects are probably underdiagnosed.The association of the Parsonage-Turner syndrome and the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is scarce. We describe two clinical cases of idiopathic brachial plexopathy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.The reconstruction of the immune system after a transplant may be the trigger of a brachial plexopathy, but more studies are necessary for the etiology of this disease to be understood and to establish a cause-effect relation with the transplant. (AU)

Clinical and Sociodemographic Features of Alopecia Areata in Five Colombian Cities: An Analysis of the RENAAC Registry.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by non-scaring hair loss and preservation of hair follicles. The information available on disease course, and clinical features of AA is scarce worldwide, and almost nonexistent in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with AA who presented to a dermatology consultation in five Colombian cities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and multicenter study on data from an ongoing National Registry of Alopecia Areata in Colombia (RENAAC) collected in Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellin, Colombia from March 2022 through April 2023. Data was recorded in a standardized form by trained physicians. The variables were expressed as measures of central tendency and dispersion, and absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS: A total of 562 patients were included, 59.4% of whom were women, aged between 15 and 49 years (63.9%) with a mean disease course of 1.7 years. The most common finding was multiple plaque (53.2%), the predominant AA subtype was patchy (71.4%), and 29.5% of the patients had a past dermatological history, 18.3% had a past endocrinological history, and 8.9% had a past psychiatric history. The treatments most widely used were steroid injections (76.4%), 5% topical minoxidil (46.4%), followed by high-potency corticosteroids (42.5%). STUDY LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: AA was slightly predominant in women. As seen in other populations, this disease had an earlier onset in men vs women. Presentation in pediatric age was uncommon. The previous history of other dermatological diseases was checked in almost one third of the patients. Analysis of the co-presentation of AA with other autoimmune diseases is biased due to excluding patients with systemic erythematous lupus from the study.

[Association between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and Parsonage Turner syndrome: coincidence or cause-effect relationship?] / Asociación de trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos y síndrome de Parsonage-Turner: ¿coincidencia o relación causa-efecto?

Parsonage-Turner syndrome or idiopathic brachial neuritis is a total or partial inflammation of the brachial plexus, with a typical presentation as a sudden and very intense pain in the shoulder, followed by weakness and early amyotrophy. The etiology is still unknown, although an immune mediated mechanism is thought to be involved. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a well-established treatment for hematological malignancies, but with a growing implication in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The neurological side effects are probably underdiagnosed. The association of the Parsonage-Turner syndrome and the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is scarce. We describe two clinical cases of idiopathic brachial plexopathy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The reconstruction of the immune system after a transplant may be the trigger of a brachial plexopathy, but more studies are necessary for the etiology of this disease to be understood and to establish a cause-effect relation with the transplant.

Valorisation of cellulosic rejections from wastewater treatment plants through sugar production.

The widespread use of wipes and other sanitary products made of nonwoven fibres has led to an enormous problem in wastewater treatment systems that has been underestimated for some time. To date, there are no practical alternatives for recycling and valorisation. In this study, cellulosic rejections recovered from a wastewater treatment plant in Barcelona (Spain) were characterised and treated using hydrothermal and enzymatic methods to obtain free sugars. Steam explosion and autoclave pre-treatments were performed at different temperatures (120, 130, or 150 °C) and residence times (10-40 min) under neutral, acidic or basic conditions. The solids obtained after the pre-treatment, as well as the untreated material, were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using commercial enzymes. The untreated substrate reached the highest sugar production: 29 g glucose and xylose per 100 g of the cellulosic rejections, equivalent to 86% of the sugars contained in the initial material. These sugars can subsequently be transformed into biofuels or bioproducts within a biorefinery approach.

Obesity status and obesity-associated gut dysbiosis effects on hypothalamic structural covariance.

BACKGROUND: Functional connectivity alterations in the lateral and medial hypothalamic networks have been associated with the development and maintenance of obesity, but the possible impact on the structural properties of these networks remains largely unexplored. Also, obesity-related gut dysbiosis may delineate specific hypothalamic alterations within obese conditions. We aim to assess the effects of obesity, and obesity and gut-dysbiosis on the structural covariance differences in hypothalamic networks, executive functioning, and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Medial (MH) and lateral (LH) hypothalamic structural covariance alterations were identified in 57 subjects with obesity compared to 47 subjects without obesity. Gut dysbiosis in the subjects with obesity was defined by the presence of high (n = 28) and low (n = 29) values in a BMI-associated microbial signature, and posthoc comparisons between these groups were used as a proxy to explore the role of obesity-related gut dysbiosis on the hypothalamic measurements, executive function, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Structural covariance alterations between the MH and the striatum, lateral prefrontal, cingulate, insula, and temporal cortices are congruent with previously functional connectivity disruptions in obesity conditions. MH structural covariance decreases encompassed postcentral parietal cortices in the subjects with obesity and gut-dysbiosis, but increases with subcortical nuclei involved in the coding food-related hedonic information in the subjects with obesity without gut-dysbiosis. Alterations for the structural covariance of the LH in the subjects with obesity and gut-dysbiosis encompassed increases with frontolimbic networks, but decreases with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in the subjects with obesity without gut-dysbiosis. Subjects with obesity and gut dysbiosis showed higher executive dysfunction and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity-related gut dysbiosis is linked to specific structural covariance alterations in hypothalamic networks relevant to the integration of somatic-visceral information, and emotion regulation.

18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation.

The diagnosis of cardiovascular infection and inflammation by [18F]FDG PET/CT in Nuclear Cardiology is of growing interest, because with respect to echocardiography this technique has improved the certainty in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valves, the increasing number of patients with implantable cardiac devices because of the progressive ageing of the population, as well as in patients with suspected large vessel vasculitis. All are serious clinical situations which require correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment as soon as possible, because they can cause severe complications, high mortality and also increased health care costs. We review the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation, including the clinical point of view and the contribution of other image modalities. We focus on the appropriate methodology for this exploration, patient preparation, image acquisition and correct interpretation and the quantification possibilities, defining the specific characteristics of the diagnosis in patients with prosthetic valves, implantable cardiac devices and large vessel vasculitis in the initial diagnosis as well as during follow-up to assess treatment response. We analyze the possible causes of false positive and false negative results and emphasize the special value of a multidisciplinary team for optimal management of these patients.

Drug Delivery Nanosystems for the Localized Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most prevalent and malignant forms of central nervous system tumors. The treatment of glioblastoma remains a great challenge due to its location in the intracranial space and the presence of the blood⁻brain tumor barrier. There is an urgent need to develop novel therapy approaches for this tumor, to improve the clinical outcomes, and to reduce the rate of recurrence and adverse effects associated with present options. The formulation of therapeutic agents in nanostructures is one of the most promising approaches to treat glioblastoma due to the increased availability at the target site, and the possibility to co-deliver a range of drugs and diagnostic agents. Moreover, the local administration of nanostructures presents significant additional advantages, since it overcomes blood⁻brain barrier penetration issues to reach higher concentrations of therapeutic agents in the tumor area with minimal side effects. In this paper, we aim to review the attempts to develop nanostructures as local drug delivery systems able to deliver multiple agents for both therapeutic and diagnostic functions for the management of glioblastoma.

Cognitive impairment in early stages of multiple sclerosis is associated with high cerebrospinal fluid levels of chitinase 3-like 1 and neurofilament light chain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) and neurofilament light chain (NF-L) are promising biomarkers of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, their role in cognitive dysfunction remains elusive. Here, we aimed to correlate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of CHI3L1 and NF-L with cognitive status in MS. METHODS: Fifty one recently diagnosed patients were cognitively evaluated and CSF was collected. Levels of CHI3L1 and NF-L were determined by ELISA. Spearman's partial correlation coefficient was performed. RESULTS: After adjusting cognitive scores by age, anxiety and EDSS, association was detected between CHI3L1 levels and Trail Making Test A (rs = 0.348; p = 0.016) and between NF-L levels and Word List Generation (rs = -0.324; p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: High levels of CSF CHI3L1 and NF-L are associated with cognitive impairment in the early phases of MS.

The effect of Sb-surfactant on GaInP CuPtB type ordering: assessment through dark field TEM and aberration corrected HAADF imaging.

We report on the effect of Sb on the microstructure of GaInP layers grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). These layers exhibit a CuPtB single variant ordering due to the intentional misorientation of the substrate (Ge(001) substrates with 6° misorientation towards the nearest [111] axis). The use of Sb as a surfactant during the GaInP growth does not modify the type of ordering, but it is found that the order parameter (η) decreases with increasing Sb flux. Dark field microscopy reveals a variation of the angle of the antiphase boundaries (APBs) with Sb amount. The microstructure is assessed through high angle annular dark field (HAADF) experiments and image simulation revealing Z-contrast loss in APBs due to the superposition of ordered domains.

Pautas para el uso de terapia de vacío en el Servicio de Cirugía Plástica del Hospital La Fe en Valencia (España) / Use of vacuum therapy in the Plastic Surgery Department Hospital La Fe, Valencia (Spain)

El tratamiento de heridas complejas, con pérdida de sustancia importante o exposición de estructuras nobles, constituye una práctica diaria en la mayoría de los Servicios de Cirugía Plástica de referencia. A pesar de que el desbridamiento quirúrgico continúa siendo la terapia de elección para el tratamiento de heridas infectadas o con abundantes restos necróticos, el advenimiento de la terapia de vacío y las mejoras tecnológicas experimentadas por dicha terapia en la última década, hacen de su utilización una herramienta coadyuvante para el control del lecho quirúrgico, de los exudados de la herida y de la colonización bacteriana. Presentamos 9 casos clínicos de uso de terapia VAC® en el tratamiento de diversas patologías, tales como: dehiscencia esternal, grandes quemados, traumatismos de extremidades, etc. En todos ellos, esta terapia constituyó un pilar fundamental en el tratamiento de los pacientes facilitando el control del exudado de las heridas, la protección de estructuras nobles y mejorando la calidad de vida y el confort de los pacientes durante su estancia hospitalaria (AU)

Treatment of complex wounds that imply loss of substance or important anatomic structures exposure has a great relevance in Plastic Surgery Departments nowadays. Even though surgical debridement keeps on being the principal choice treatment in infected or necrotic wounds, VAC® therapy use and its new technology advances in the last decade, has allowed an option to control bacterial colonization, exudates and surgical wounds. We present 9 cases of vacuum therapy use for treatment of different pathologies such as sternum dehiscence, burned patients, extremities trauma, etc. In all these cases vacuum therapy has been essential in the management of exudates, protection of anatomic vital structures as well as to improve patient's quality of life during hospital stay (AU)

Epidemiological features and determinants for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women in Catalonia, Spain.

We determined the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and risk factors for its acquisition by women aged less than 35 years who were attending sexual health centres in the province of Barcelona in 2007. A convenience sample of 397 adolescents and young adult women aged between 16 and 35 years, stratified by age and recruitment site, were tested using realtime polymerase chain reaction by CT DNA. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect epidemiological and behavioural data on the participants, which were analysed in a multivariate logistic regression model. The overall prevalence of CT was 4%, significantly higher in those under 25 years of age (5.8% versus 1.6% over 25). The independent risk factors for CT infection were: foreign origin (odds ratio [OR] 4.7; confidence interval [CI] 1.02-21.8), having had a sexual partner in the last three months (OR 4.59; CI 1.16-18.08) and tobacco use the last 12 months (OR 6.38; CI 1.16-34.93). In conclusion, this is the first study performed in Catalonia showing a high prevalence of CT in young women, consistent with trends in the rest of Europe. Systematic monitoring of CT infection in sentinel populations such as this will inform future targeted screening programmes in our setting.

Experiencia en la utilización del sistema de terapia de presión negativa Renasys® en el Hospital La Fe, Valencia, España / Our experience using negative-pressure therapy Renasys® at the Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain

La terapia de vacío ha demostrado ser útil y eficaz en el tratamiento de múltiples tipos de heridas. Su uso está ampliamente difundido en los servicios de Cirugía Plástica y constituye una herramienta a tener en cuenta en el manejo de heridas tanto agudas como crónicas; permitiendo la curación total de las mismas o consiguiendo un lecho adecuado para una cobertura posterior. Presentamos nuestra experiencia con el sistema de terapiade vacío Renasys® (Smith&Nephew, Spain) en el Hospital Universitario La Fe en Valencia (España) a lo largo del último año, demostrando su utilidad en heridas de distinta etiología y características (AU)

Vacumm therapy has shown to be useful and effective in different types of wounds. Its use is common in the Plastic Surgery Departments and it is a very important tool in the acute and chronic wounds management; it achieves the healing of the wounds or it gives an adequate bed for the posterior coverage. We report our experience in the use of vacuum therapy Renasys® (Smith&Nephew, Spain) in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department in La Fe University Hospital, Valencia (Spain) in the last year, showing the utility of vacuum therapy in different etiology and types of wounds (AU)

Pautas para el uso de terapia de vacío en el Servicio de Cirugía Plástica delHospital La Fe en Valencia (España) / Use of vacuum therapy in the Plastic Surgery Department hospital La Fe, Valencia (Spain)

El tratamiento de heridas complejas, con pérdida de sustancia importante o exposición de estructuras nobles, constituye una práctica diaria en la mayoría de los Servicios de Cirugía Plástica de referencia. A pesar de que el desbridamiento quirúrgico continúa siendo la terapia de elección para el tratamiento de heridas infectadas o con abundantes restos necróticos, el advenimiento de la terapia de vacío y las mejoras tecnológicas experimentadas por dicha terapia en la última década, hacen de su utilización una herramienta coadyuvante para el control del lecho quirúrgico, de los exudados de la herida y de la colonización bacteriana. Presentamos 9 casos clínicos de uso de terapia V AC® en el tratamiento de diversas patologías, tales como: dehiscencia esternal, grandes quemados, traumatismos de extremidades, etc. En todos ellos, esta terapia constituyó un pilar fundamental en el tratamiento de los pacientes facilitando el control del exudado de las heridas, la protección de estructuras nobles y mejorando la calidad de vida y el confort de los pacientes durante su estancia hospitalaria (AU)

Treatment of complex wounds that imply loss of substance or important anatomic structures exposure has a great relevance in Plastic Surgery Departments nowadays. Even though surgical debridement keep son being the principal choice treatment in infected ornecrotic wounds, VAC® therapy use and its new technology advances in the last decade, has allowed an option to control bacterial colonization, exudates and surgical wounds. We present 9 cases of vacuum therapy use for treatment of different pathologies such as sternum dehiscence, burned patients, extremities trauma, etc. In all these cases vacuum therapy has been essential in the management of exudates, protection of anatomic vital structures as well as to improve patient’s quality of life during hospital stay (AU)

Efectos beneficiosos no anticonceptivos de la píldora anticonceptiva / No disponible

El primer objetivo del uso de un anticonceptivo oral combinado (AOC) es el de evitar un embarazo. En ocasiones el AOC se asocia a efectos secundarios, pero cada día se conocen mejor los efectos beneficiosos no anticonceptivos del mismo. Existe evidencia de una buena calidad que asocia el uso de AOC con la mejoría de la dismenorrea, la disminución del sangrado menstrual y la mejoría del síndrome premenstrual. También se sabe que el uso de AOC protege frente a la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica (EIP) y el embarazo ectópico, reduce la pérdida mineral ósea y es eficaz en el tratamiento del acné leve y moderado. Además, la AOC disminuye la incidencia de cáncer de ovario y cáncer de endometrio. Conocer estos efectos beneficiosos resulta de interés tanto para los profesionales sanitarios como para las mujeres (AU)

The first objective of using a combined oral contraceptive(COC) is that of avoiding pregnancy. COC is sometimes associated to side effects, but its non-contraceptive beneficial effects are becoming known day by day. There is evidence of the good quality associated to the use of COC with the improvement of dysmenorrhea, decrease of menstrual bleeding and improvement of premenstrual syndrome. It is also known that the use of COC protects against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and ectopic pregnancy, reduces bone mineral loss and is effective in the treatment of mild and moderate acne. Furthermore, COC decreases the incidence of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Knowing these beneficial effects is of interest, both for the health care professionals and for women (AU)

[Interobserver correlation in the interpretation of 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT in reperfused acute myocardial infarction]. / Correlación interobservadores en interpretación de SPECT de perfusión con 99mTc-sestamibi en infarto agudo de miocardio reperfundido.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The correct interpretation of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) requires knowledge of the technique reproducibility. The objective was analyze the interobserver correlation of different experience in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in order to improve the quality of our site. METHODS: Sixty cases (56 +/- 11 years, 87 % men) with transmural AMI who had recently undergone successful thrombolysis were included. Resting perfusion with (99m)Tc-sestamibi was performed at one week post-AMI. ANALYSIS: Semiquantitative interpretation using 17 segment-model by 2 independent specialists and 5 observers, was performed blindly. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured with isotopic ventriculography one month after AMI, with a mean of 38 %. RESULTS: Using independent and then agreed on perfusion analysis, average involved segments/patient was 9.3 +/- 4 and the sum of severity 25 +/- 13. Readings of other observers ranged from 7 +/- 3.7 to 9.4 +/- 3.9 and 16.7 +/- 9.7 to 24.6 +/- 13, respectively, consistent with the reading of the specialists of between 0.779-0.871 (kappa: 0.565-0.741). There was no significant difference when the number of segments were analyzed in 40 % of the cases and for intensity in 60 % of them in more experienced observers. Correlation with consensus reading for the number of segments ranged from 0.84 to 0.94 and for severity from 0.79 to 0.89. Identification of culprit arteries was acceptable, with r values between 0.612 and 0.683 and kappas between 0.629 and 0.656. Correlation of the number of involved segments and severity with LVEF performed one month after AMI was 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was good correlation in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion SPECT, with a significantly better fit in more experienced observers. This academic exercise was also helpful in improving our residents' skills in cardiology.

Correlación interobservadores en interpretación de SPECT de perfusión con 99mTc-sestamibi en infarto agudo de miocardio reperfundido / Interobserver correlation in the interpretation of 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT in reperfused acute myocardial infarction

Introducción y objetivos. La interpretación de la tomografía de emisión de fotón único (SPECT) de perfusión miocárdica requiere conocer la reproducibilidad de la técnica. El objetivo fue analizar la correlación interobservadores de distinta experiencia en interpretación de SPECT en pacientes post-infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) en un contexto de mejora de la calidad de nuestros centros. Métodos. Se incluyeron 60 casos (56 ± 11 años, 87 % hombres) con infarto transmural reciente sometidos a trombolisis exitosa. Una semana después del IAM se efectuó perfusión de reposo con 99mTc-sestamibi. Análisis. Semicuantitativo mediante lectura ciega por 2 especialistas independientes y 5 observadores utilizando 17 segmentos. La fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (FEVI) promedio medida con ventriculografía isotópica al mes fue del 38 %. Resultados. En análisis consensuado, el promedio de segmentos comprometidos/paciente fue 9,3 ± 4 y la sumatoria de severidad 25 ± 13; los otros observadores variaron entre: 7 ± 3,7-9,4 ± 3,9 y 16,7 ± 9,7-24,6 ± 13, respectivamente, concordando con los especialistas entre 0,779 y 0,871 (kappa: 0,565-0,741). No hubo diferencia significativa en el 40 % de los análisis para el número de segmentos comprometidos y en el 60 % para intensidad, en observadores con mayor experiencia. La correlación con consenso para el número de segmentos varió entre 0,84 y 0,94, y para severidad entre 0,79 y 0,89. La asignación de arterias fue adecuada (r: 0,612-0,683 y kappas 0,629-0,656). La correlación de segmentos comprometidos y su severidad con la FEVI efectuada al mes del IAM fueron de 0,73 y 0,74, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Existió buena correlación en interpretación de SPECT, con mejor ajuste en observadores experimentados. Este ejercicio sirvió para mejorar habilidades de interpretación en cardiología

Introduction and objectives. The correct interpretation of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) requires knowledge of the technique reproducibility. The objective was analyze the interobserver correlation of different experience in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in order to improve the quality of our site. Methods. Sixty cases (56 ± 11 years, 87 % men) with transmural AMI who had recently undergone successful thrombolysis were included. Resting perfusion with 99mTc-sestamibi was performed at one week post-AMI. Analysis. Semiquantitative interpretation using 17 segment-model by 2 independent specialists and 5 observers, was performed blindly. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured with isotopic ventriculography one month after AMI, with a mean of 38 %. Results. Using independent and then agreed on perfusion analysis, average involved segments/patient was 9.3 ± 4 and the sum of severity 25 ± 13. Readings of other observers ranged from 7 ± 3.7 to 9.4 ± 3.9 and 16.7 ± 9.7 to 24.6 ± 13, respectively, consistent with the reading of the specialists of between 0.779-0.871 (kappa: 0.565-0.741). There was no significant difference when the number of segments were analyzed in 40 % of the cases and for intensity in 60 % of them in more experienced observers. Correlation with consensus reading for the number of segments ranged from 0.84 to 0.94 and for severity from 0.79 to 0.89. Identification of culprit arteries was acceptable, with r values between 0.612 and 0.683 and kappas between 0.629 and 0.656. Correlation of the number of involved segments and severity with LVEF performed one month after AMI was 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusions. There was good correlation in the interpretation of myocardial perfusion SPECT, with a significantly better fit in more experienced observers. This academic exercise was also helpful in improving our residents' skills in cardiology

Contraceptive practices and trends in Spain: 1997-2003.

OBJECTIVE: To know the contraceptive use and trends in the Spanish female population. STUDY DESIGN: Since 1997, we have conducted a survey every 2 years on the use of contraceptive methods among a representative sample of Spanish women of childbearing potential (15-49 years). RESULTS: In the period 1997-2003, the percentage of use of contraceptive methods in Spain rose from 55.6% to 71.2%. The most commonly used method was the condom (21% in 1997, 21.9% in 1999, 29.5% in 2001 and 35.7% in 2003), followed by the contraceptive pill (14.2%, 16.5%, 19.2% and 18.3%, respectively). Male or female sterilization remained stable with percentages of use of 5-7%. IUDs are used by about 5% of women. CONCLUSIONS: The use of contraceptive methods among Spanish women of childbearing potential generally fits quite well the patterns found in other developed countries, and we observed a trend towards increased use of effective methods.