Clinical practice guideline of the Spanish society of oral surgery for dental care in patients with oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is the sixteenth most common malignant neoplasm worldwide, with a high mortality rate, greater than 50% at five years, and high morbidity. The effect of oncological treatment in the oral cavity is broad and has multiple levels, therefore knowing these effects and preventing them is essential for avoiding an increase in the oral pathology related with oncological therapy, maintaining the quality of life of the patient, and improving the efficacy of the treatment itself. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of experts belonging to the fields of Dentistry, Maxillofacial Surgery and Oncology of the University of Seville and the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital of Seville in collaboration with the University of Valencia, University of Barcelona, and University of the Basque Country, developed this Clinical Practice Guideline for the proper clinical management of patients diagnosed with oral cancer. The clinical questions were formulated in PICO format. The databases consulted were Medline/PubMed and Embase/Elsevier. The systematic reviews published on the topic were identified on Tripdatabase, Cochrane Library and CRD (Centre for Reviews and Dissemination). The recommendations were prepared based on the GRADE methodology. RESULTS: Various recommendations were defined, derived from the 21 PICO questions, referring to prevention, treatment and care for alterations arising from the pathology of oral cancer itself and its treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The preparation of this clinical practice guideline allows recommendations to be generated based on the scientific evidence available, on dentistry actions in patients with oral cancer and undergoing oncological treatment, which may be of use to the multidisciplinary team treating this type of patient.

Identification of extraocular extension in uveal melanoma by ophthalmological ultrasound.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumour in the adult population, with a survival rate of 50% despite advances in treatment and knowledge of this disease. The presence of extraocular extension (EE) worsens the prognosis of these patients, so its proper identification can ensure its management and early intervention. Ophthalmological ultrasound is the technique of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients, both of the anterior EE using ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM), and the posterior EE using A and B ultrasound. The aim of this study is to describe the ultrasound characteristics of the BMU and the A and B ultrasound. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective study is carried out on patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma (UM) and EE from 2003 to 2019. The ultrasound characteristics of the local disease and the follow-up after treatment were recorded completely and at each visit. In the case of anterior EE, photographs of the anterior segment and UBM were taken, while those involving the posterior segment were explored under A and B mode ultrasound. All enucleated eyes were sent for anatomopathological study. RESULTS: Ten patients with an average age of 72.3 years were included. The largest proportion of them were medium-sized tumours, followed by large and small ones. The most frequent morphology of the primary tumour was cupuliform. All the EE presented lower internal reflectivity compared to the primary tumour. No trans-scleral connection bridges were found between the primary tumour and the EE in the ultrasound studies. 50% of patients underwent primary enucleation at the time of diagnosis of intraocular MU due to the presence of the EE, and the remaining 50% presented the EE after initial treatment of the primary tumour with I125 brachytherapy. Sixty percent of the patients presented with posterior EE, and were therefore diagnosed with ultrasound A and B. The most frequent histopathological pattern with 87.5% of patients was the epithelioid pattern. DISCUSSION: Ultrasound scanning in patients with MU is mandatory for diagnosis and follow-up of EE. BMU and A and B ultrasound are the test of choice for anterior and posterior EE, respectively. EE have particular ultrasound characteristics such as low internal reflectivity, regularity of their contour and their location usually adjacent to the base of the primary intraocular tumor.

Identificación de extensión extraocular en el melanoma uveal mediante ecografía oftalmológica / Identification of Extraocular Extension in Uveal Melanoma by Ophthalmological Ultrasound

Antecedentes y objetivoEl melanoma uveal es el tumor primario maligno intraocular más frecuente en la población adulta, con una tasa de supervivencia del 50% a pesar de los avances en el tratamiento y conocimiento de esta enfermedad. La presencia de extensión extraocular (EE) empeora el pronóstico de estos pacientes, por lo que su correcta identificación puede asegurar su manejo e intervención temprana. La ecografía oftalmológica es la técnica de elección para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de estos pacientes, tanto de la EE anterior mediante biomicroscopía ultrasónica (UBM), como de la EE posterior mediante ecografía A y B. El objetivo de este estudio es describir las características ecográficas de la UBM y de la ecografía A y B.Material y métodosSe realiza un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de los pacientes diagnosticados de melanoma uveal (UM) y EE desde 2003 hasta 2019. Las características ecográficas de la enfermedad local y el seguimiento luego del tratamiento se registraron de maneracompleta y en cada visita. En caso de EE anteriores se realizaron fotografías de segmento anterior y BMU, por el contrario las que involucran el segmento posterior se exploraron bajo ecografía modo A y B. Todos los ojos enucleados se enviaron para su estudio anatomopatológico.

Background and purposeUveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumour in the adult population, with a survival rate of 50% despite advances in treatment and knowledge of this disease. The presence of extraocular extension (EE) worsens the prognosis of these patients, so its proper identification can ensure its management and early intervention. Ophthalmological ultrasound is the technique of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients, both of the anterior EE using ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM), and the posterior EE using A and B ultrasound. The aim of this study is to describe the ultrasound characteristics of the BMU and the A and B ultrasound.Material and methodsA descriptive and retrospective study is carried out on patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma (UM) and EE from 2003 to 2019. The ultrasound characteristics of the local disease and the follow-up after treatment were recorded completely and at each visit. In the case of anterior EE, photographs of the anterior segment and UBM were taken, while those involving the posterior segment were explored under A and B mode ultrasound. All enucleated eyes were sent for anatomopathological study.

Epidermólisis bullosa en España: Estudio observacional de una cohorte de pacientes atendidos en un centro de referencia nacional / Epidermolysis Bullosa in Spain: Observational Study of a Cohort of Patients Treated in a National Referral Center

Antecedentes y objetivo La epidermólisis bullosa (EB) es un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos hereditarios caracterizado por un aumento de la fragilidad mucocutánea. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes con EB atendidos en el Hospital Universitario La Paz, centro de referencia nacional para EB hereditaria. Material y método Estudio observacional, retrospectivo y unicéntrico. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico clínico y molecular de EB atendidos en el Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Universitario La Paz desde el 1 de enero de 2000 hasta el 28 de febrero de 2021. Resultados Se registraron 214 pacientes, con una edad mediana de 17 años (RIQ: 8-32); el 54,2% fueron mujeres. Las formas clínicas correspondieron a EB distrófica con 135 (63,1%) casos, EB simple con 67 (31,3%) casos, EB juntural con ocho (3,7%), EB Kindler con tres (1,4%) casos y EB adquirida con un (0,5%) caso. El 35,5% de los pacientes procedían de Madrid. Las complicaciones clínicas más frecuentes en nuestra serie fueron el prurito (63,1%), las infecciones locales (56,5%) y el dolor (54,7%). Las complicaciones más graves fueron las cardíacas (5,6%) y la aparición de CCE (10,3%). Fallecieron 22 pacientes (10,3%). Conclusiones La forma clínica predominante fue la EBDR. Las complicaciones más prevalentes fueron el prurito, el dolor y las infecciones, y las más graves, la miocardiopatía y el CCE. Es un estudio pionero realizado en nuestro país que permitirá implementar estrategias para mejorar la situación sociosanitaria de los pacientes con EB (AU)

Background and objective Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by a high degree of mucocutaneous fragility. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients with EB treated in Hospital Universitario La Paz, a national referral center for inherited EB. Material and methods Observational, retrospective, single-center study. We included all cases with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of EB managed in the hospital's dermatology department from January 2, 2000, to February 28, 2021. Results A total of 214 cases were studied. The median (interquartile range) age was 17 (8–32) years; 54.2% were women. One hundred thirty-five (63.1%) patients had dystrophic EB, 67 (31.3%) had EB simplex, 8 (3.7%) had junctional EB, and 3 (1.4%) had Kindler syndrome. One (0.5%) had EB acquisita. Over a third (35.5%) of the patients resided in Madrid. The most common clinical complications were pruritus (63.1%), local infections (56.5%), and pain (54.7%). The most serious ones were cardiomyopathy (in 5.6%) and squamous cell carcinoma (10.3%). Twenty-two patients (10.3%) died. Conclusions Dystrophic EB was the most prevalent clinical form. The most prevalent complications were pruritus, pain, and infections. The most serious ones were cardiomyopathy and squamous cell carcinoma. This study is the first in Spain that explores strategies for improving the health status and quality of life of patients with EB (AU)

Epidermolysis Bullosa in Spain: Observational Study of a Cohort of Patients Treated in a National Referral Center. / Epidermólisis bullosa en España: Estudio observacional de una cohorte de pacientes atendidos en un centro de referencia nacional.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by a high degree of mucocutaneous fragility. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients with EB treated in Hospital Universitario La Paz, a national referral center for inherited EB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, retrospective, single-center study. We included all cases with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of EB managed in the hospital's dermatology department from January 2, 2000, to February 28, 2021. RESULTS: A total of 214 cases were studied. The median (interquartile range) age was 17 (8-32) years; 54.2% were women. One hundred thirty-five (63.1%) patients had dystrophic EB, 67 (31.3%) had EB simplex, 8 (3.7%) had junctional EB, and 3 (1.4%) had Kindler syndrome. One (0.5%) had EB acquisita. Over a third (35.5%) of the patients resided in Madrid. The most common clinical complications were pruritus (63.1%), local infections (56.5%), and pain (54.7%). The most serious ones were cardiomyopathy (in 5.6%) and squamous cell carcinoma (10.3%). Twenty-two patients (10.3%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Dystrophic EB was the most prevalent clinical form. The most prevalent complications were pruritus, pain, and infections. The most serious ones were cardiomyopathy and squamous cell carcinoma. This study is the first in Spain that explores strategies for improving the health status and quality of life of patients with EB.

[Neurocognitive screening in a population with acquired immunodeficiency virus]. / Cribado neurocognitivo en población con virus de inmunodeficiencia adquirida.

INTRODUCTION: Neurocognitive impairment associated to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a current problem despite the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment. The screening tests which best suit to Spanish population are Brief Neuro-cognitive Scale (BNCS) and Neu Screening. We are unaware of our HIV population' neurocognitive impairment magnitude. AIMS: To verify if association between HIV and neurocognitive impairment does exist and to know its prevalence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive and transversal study comparing 24 HIV-outpatients and 21 non-HIV-healthy control matched by age, gender and educational level. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Neu Screening and BNCS were used as neurocognitive impairment screening. Positive screening was considered with one or more abnormal test. RESULTS: 33.3% of VIH+ and 33.3% of healthy controls had positive screening without significant difference between both populations. Positive screening was significantly associated with anxiety-punctuation and depression-punctuation. A lineal correlation between CD4-nadir-levels and Digit Symbol and between CD4-nadir-levels and verbal fluency results were found. There was no significant relationship between HIV serology and screening result. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-patients clinically controlled had no significantly different neurocognitive profile compared to control population. CD4-nadir levels may be a predictor variable in terms of neurocognitive impairment development. BNCS and Neu Screening are reasonable alternatives for neurocognitive impairment screening. A concomitant psychiatric and neuro-psychological assessment is necessary. Further studies with bigger samples are necessary in order to confirm the alternative hypothesis.

TITLE: Cribado neurocognitivo en población con virus de inmunodeficiencia adquirida.Introducción. El trastorno neurocognitivo asociado al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) es un problema emergente a pesar del tratamiento antirretroviral. Los test de cribado que mejor se adaptan a la población española son la Brief Neurocognitive Scale (BNCS) y el Neu Screening. Desconocemos la magnitud del trastorno neurocognitivo en la población con VIH. Objetivos. Comprobar si existe asociación entre la infección por el VIH y el trastorno neurocognitivo, y conocer su prevalencia. Sujetos y métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal que compara a 24 pacientes con VIH y a 21 controles sanos, pareados por sexo, edad y nivel de estudios. Se utilizó la Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, el Neu Screening y la BNCS para el cribado neuropsicológico. Se consideró positivo un cribado con una alteración en uno o más test. Resultados. Un 33,3% de los pacientes con VIH y un 33,3% de los controles sanos tuvieron un cribado positivo, sin diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos. El cribado positivo presentó una relación significativa con ansiedad y depresión. Existe una correlación lineal positiva entre niveles nadir de CD4 y resultados del Digit Symbol, y entre nadir de CD4 y fluencia verbal. No hubo relación significativa entre VIH positivo y cribado positivo. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con VIH con buen control clínico presentan un perfil neurocognitivo sin diferencias significativas frente a la población control. Los niveles de CD4 son posiblemente una variable predictora para el desarrollo de trastorno neurocognitivo. La BNCS y el Neu Screening son buenas alternativas, pero resulta necesario un abordaje neuropsiquiátrico concomitante. Se precisan estudios con muestras mayores para confirmar la hipótesis alternativa.

Systemic Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis in Pediatric Patients in Galicia, Spain: A Descriptive Study. / Tratamiento sistémico de la psoriasis moderada-grave en edad pediátrica en Galicia: estudio descriptivo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies on the use of systemic therapy for psoriasis in pediatric patients are scarce. The main aim of this study was to describe the systemic treatments used for moderate to severe psoriasis in pediatric clinical settings. The second aim was to describe the effectiveness and safety of these treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients under 18 years of age with moderate to severe psoriasis who were being treated or had been treated with a systemic drug (conventional or biologic) or phototherapy. We recorded demographic and clinical information, treatments received, tolerance, adverse effects, and response to treatment. RESULTS: Data were collected for 40 patients (60% female; mean age, 13 years) who had received 63 treatments in total. The most common first treatment (n=40) was phototherapy (administered to 68% of patients), followed by acitretin (15%). The most common treatments overall (n=63) were phototherapy (57%) and methotrexate (16%). At week 12 (evaluation of systemic treatment and phototherapy), 66% of the patients were classified as good responders and 22% as partial responders. The respective rates for week 24 (evaluation of systemic treatment only) were 36% and 32%. The treatments were well tolerated (97%) and adverse effects were reported in just 11% of cases. There were no treatment discontinuations because of adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Phototherapy, followed by methotrexate, was the most common treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis in this series of patients under 18 years. The treatments showed a favorable safety profile and were associated with a good response rate of 66% at week 12 (systemic treatment and phototherapy) and 36% at week 24 (systemic treatment only).

Tratamiento sistémico de la psoriasis moderada-grave en edad pediátrica en Galicia: estudio descriptivo / Systemic Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis in Pediatric Patients in Galicia, Spain: A Descriptive Study

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: Los trabajos sobre el tratamiento sistémico de la psoriasis en edad pediátrica son escasos. El objetivo principal de este trabajo consistió en describir qué tratamientos sistémicos se emplean en práctica clínica en psoriasis moderada-grave en edad pediátrica. Secundariamente se describió la efectividad y perfil de seguridad de dichos tratamientos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal multicéntrico, de los pacientes con psoriasis moderada-grave, que siendo menores de 18 años estuviesen recibiendo o hubieran recibido tratamiento sistémico (clásico o biológico) o fototerapia. Se recogieron datos clínico-demográficos, tipo de tratamiento recibido, y tolerancia, efectos indeseables y respuesta al mismo. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron datos de 40 pacientes (60% sexo femenino, edad media 13 años), que realizaron 63 ciclos de tratamiento. Teniendo en cuenta el primer tratamiento (n = 40), la fototerapia fue la opción más frecuente (68%), seguida de acitretino (15%). Considerando el total de ciclos de tratamiento (n = 63), el tratamiento más frecuentemente empleado fue la fototerapia (57%), seguida de metotrexato (16%). En la semana 12 (incluye evaluación de fototerapia), el 66% y el 22% fueron buenos respondedores o respondedores parciales, respectivamente. En la semana 24 (datos exclusivos sobre fármacos sistémicos), el 36% y el 32% continuaron con respuestas buenas y parciales. Los tratamientos fueron bien tolerados (97%) y los efectos indeseables escasos (11%), sin que en ningún caso motivasen la suspensión del fármaco. CONCLUSIONES: En la población menor de 18 años con psoriasis moderada-grave evaluada la fototerapia fue el tratamiento más utilizado, seguida de metotrexato. Los tratamientos consiguieron porcentajes de buenos respondedores del 66% en la semana 12 (incluida fototerapia), y del 36% en la semana 24 (fármacos sistémicos sin fototerapia), presentando un buen perfil de seguridad

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies on the use of systemic therapy for psoriasis in pediatric patients are scarce. The main aim of this study was to describe the systemic treatments used for moderate to severe psoriasis in pediatric clinical settings. The second aim was to describe the effectiveness and safety of these treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients under 18 years of age with moderate to severe psoriasis who were being treated or had been treated with a systemic drug (conventional or biologic) or phototherapy. We recorded demographic and clinical information, treatments received, tolerance, adverse effects, and response to treatment. RESULTS: Data were collected for 40 patients (60% female; mean age, 13 years) who had received 63 treatments in total. The most common first treatment (n = 40) was phototherapy (administered to 68% of patients), followed by acitretin (15%). The most common treatments overall (n =63) were phototherapy (57%) and methotrexate (16%). At week 12 (evaluation of systemic treatment and phototherapy), 66% of the patients were classified as good responders and 22% as partial responders. The respective rates for week 24 (evaluation of systemic treatment only) were 36% and 32%. The treatments were well tolerated (97%) and adverse effects were reported in just 11% of cases. There were no treatment discontinuations because of adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Phototherapy, followed by methotrexate, was the most common treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis in this series of patients under 18 years. The treatments showed a favorable safety profile and were associated with a good response rate of 66% at week 12 (systemic treatment and phototherapy) and 36% at week 24 (systemic treatment only)

Perfil neuropsicológico y efectos de la rehabilitación cognitiva en la leucemia linfoblástica aguda: a propósito de un caso / Neuropsychological profile and cognitive rehabilitation training effects on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a case study

La Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA) infantil es el cáncer pediátrico más frecuente. Actualmente cuenta con un alto porcentaje de supervivencia, pero dichos pacientes presentan secuelas cognitivas secundarias a la enfermedad debidas, principalmente, al tratamiento médico recibido para evitar la recidiva del cáncer. Por lo tanto, resulta necesaria la implementación de programas de rehabilitación cognitiva específicos para este tipo de población. Es por ello que el objetivo del presente estudio fue describir los déficits cognitivos en un varón de 17 años que fue diagnosticado con LLA a los 9 años. Tras la valoración neuropsicológica inicial se desarrolló un programa de rehabilitación cognitiva intensivo durante dos años consecutivos. Realizamos un estudio pre-post en el que administramos el Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II) y la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para niños (WISC-IV). Los resultados, antes de la intervención, mostraron que el paciente manifestaba una menor velocidad de procesamiento y dificultades de atención sostenida y alternante, comprensión verbal y razonamiento perceptivo. Además, también presentó un número considerable de errores perseverativos, signo de dificultades de flexibilidad cognitiva y control inhibitorio. Dichos déficits mejoraron notablemente tras el programa de rehabilitación cognitiva. En conclusión, nuestro estudio pone de manifiesto la necesidad de aplicar programas de rehabilitación cognitiva tempranos para paliar las secuelas cognitivas derivadas de la LLA y de su tratamiento médico, así como mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente, ya que las mejoras cognitivas redundarán en su rendimiento académico y en su funcionamiento cotidiano.

Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. It currently has a high survival rate, but these patients have cognitive sequelae secondary to the disease, mainly due to the medical treatment received to prevent cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is necessary to implement specific cognitive rehabilitation programs for this type of population. Hence, the main objective of this study was to describe cognitive deficits in a 17-year-old male who was diagnosed with ALL when he was 9 years old. After the initial neuropsychological evaluation, an intensive cognitive rehabilitation program was developed during two consecutive years. We conducted a pre-post study in which we administered the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). Results, before the intervention, showed that the patient presented a lower processing speed and difficulties of sustained and alternating attention, verbal comprehension and perceptive reasoning; in addition to a large number of perseverative errors, sign of self-monitoring difficulties and inhibitory control. These deficits improved markedly after a program of cognitive rehabilitation. In conclusion, our study highlights the need to apply early cognitive rehabilitation programs to alleviate the cognitive sequelae derived from ALL and its medical treatment. In addition, any improvement in their cognitive capabilities will have a positive impact in their academic performance and quality of life.

The NORSe: changing the way we communicate.

Introduction Rapid, reliable and efficient communication in healthcare systems with finite resources promises to improve patient care. Telephone engagement has effectively monopolised the referral process in the acute setting. Hence, traditional inter-hospital referral networks are potentially time consuming, not expeditious and frustrating. There is often no comprehensive documented communication record or audit trail. Social media, however, suggest that instantaneous, secure and dependable exchanges of information can occur via alternative conduits, potentially transforming the acute clinical referral system. The National On-Call Referral System (NORSe) was established in 2010 as an alternative referral paradigm. We explore the literature evidence surrounding the clinical impact of the NORSe referral system and analogous models. Early evidence suggests that NORSe may minimise delays in obtaining specialist advice and management, particularly in the acute setting. It enables the specialist to receive and address a large number of fact intense referrals that would otherwise be unpalatable and unmanageable. We summarise recent developments with the NORSe and give an overview of its clinical applications and links with clinical governance. NORSe and similar models promise to change the way we communicate as doctors, making the process more efficient, with a robust audit trail facilitating service appraisal and training.

[Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urine cultures: prevalence and risk factors]. / Resistencia a carbapenemas en Pseudomonas aeruginosa aisladas en urocultivos: prevalencia y factores de riesgo.

OBJECTIVE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a non-fermentative gram-negative bacillus with a great ability to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems, which is a growing problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) in urine cultures and to determine the risk factors associated with the development of carbapanem resistance. METHODS: Positive urine cultures to P. aeruginosa between September 2012 and September 2014 were identified. We excluded repetitive cultures from the same patient. We created a database with different variables, including antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of carbapenem resistance and the risk factors for growth of CRPA were analysed. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients with positive urine cultures to P. aeruginosa were included. The prevalence of CRPA was 22%. The risk factors to CRPA infection in the univariate analysis were: congestive heart failure (p=0.02), previous treatment with ampicillin (p=0.04), meropenem (p=0.04), piperacillin-tazobactam (p=0.01), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (p= 0.01) and previous treatment with more than one antibiotic (p<0.01). Only congestive heart failure (p<0.01) and previous treatment with more than one antibiotic (p<0.01) showed statistically significant differences in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CRPA in urine cultures is high in our population. We should assess the presence of risk factors as previous treatment with more than one antibiotic or comorbidities such as heart failure, in order to select an appropriate empirical treatment in patients with severe urinary tract infections.

Estimation of the collective ionizing dose in the Portuguese population for the years 2011 and 2012, due to nuclear medicine exams / Estimación de la dosis colectiva en la población portuguesa de los años 2011 y 2012, debido a los exámenes de medicina nuclear

Objectives. In 2009-2010 a Portuguese consortium was created to implement the methodologies proposed by the Dose Datamed II (DDM2) project, aiming to collect data from diagnostic X-ray and nuclear medicine (NM) procedures, in order to determine the most frequently prescribed exams and the associated ionizing radiation doses for the Portuguese population. The current study is the continuation of this work, although it focuses only on NM exams for the years 2011 and 2012. Material and methods. The annual frequency of each of the 28 selected NM exams and the average administered activity per procedure was obtained by means of a nationwide survey sent to the 35 NM centres in Portugal. Results. The results show a reduction of the number of cardiac exams performed in the last two years compared with 2010, leading to a reduction of the annual average effective dose of Portuguese population due to NM exams from 0.08 mSv ± 0.017 mSv/caput to 0.059 ± 0.011 mSv/caput in 2011 and 0.054 ± 0.011 mSv/caput in 2012. Portuguese total annual average collective effective dose due to medical procedures was estimated to be 625.6 ± 110.9 manSv in 2011 and 565.1 ± 117.3 manSv in 2012, a reduction in comparison with 2010 (840.3 ± 183.8 manSv). Conclusions. The most frequent exams and the ones that contributed the most for total population dose were the cardiac and bone exams, although a decrease observed in 2011 and in 2012 was verified. The authors intend to perform this study periodically to identify trends in the annual Portuguese average effective dose and to help to raise awareness about the potential dose optimization (AU)

Objetivo. En 2009 y 2010 un consorcio portugués ha sido creado para implementar las metodologías propuestas por el proyecto europeo Datamed II (DDM2), con el objetivo de coleccionar datos de procedimientos de radiología de diagnóstico y medicina nuclear (MN) más frecuentes, así como la dosis asociada en la población portuguesa. Este estudio es una continuación del trabajo, que se centrará en los datos de MN para los años de 2011 y 2012. Material y Métodos. La frecuencia anual de cada uno de los 28 exámenes de MN seleccionados y la actividad media administrada por procedimiento se obtuvieron a través de una encuesta enviada a los 35 departamentos de MN en Portugal. Resultados. Los resultados muestran una reducción drástica en el número de procedimientos cardiacos en los últimos dos años, lo que tiene como consecuencia una reducción de la dosis efectiva anual en la población portuguesa derivado de procedimientos de MN de 0,08mSv±0,017 mSv/caput en 2010, a 0,059±0,011 mSv/caput in 2011 y 0,054±0,011 mSv/caput in 2012. La dosis efectiva colectiva media en la población portuguesa es estimada en 625.6 ± 110.9 manSv en 2011, y 565.1 ± 117.3 manSv en 2012. Conclusiones. Los exámenes cardiacos y óseos fueron más frecuentes y los que más contribuyeron para la dosis total de la población, aunque se verificó una disminución en 2011 y en 2012. Los autores de este trabajo pretenden realizar este tipo de estudios periódicamente para identificar tendencias en los diferentes procedimientos de MN y ayudar a aumentar la conciencia de los profesionales de MN sobre este asunto (AU)

Estimation of the collective ionizing dose in the Portuguese population for the years 2011 and 2012, due to nuclear medicine exams.

OBJECTIVES: In 2009-2010 a Portuguese consortium was created to implement the methodologies proposed by the Dose Datamed II (DDM2) project, aiming to collect data from diagnostic X-ray and nuclear medicine (NM) procedures, in order to determine the most frequently prescribed exams and the associated ionizing radiation doses for the Portuguese population. The current study is the continuation of this work, although it focuses only on NM exams for the years 2011 and 2012. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The annual frequency of each of the 28 selected NM exams and the average administered activity per procedure was obtained by means of a nationwide survey sent to the 35 NM centres in Portugal. RESULTS: The results show a reduction of the number of cardiac exams performed in the last two years compared with 2010, leading to a reduction of the annual average effective dose of Portuguese population due to NM exams from 0.08 mSv ± 0.017 mSv/caput to 0.059 ± 0.011 mSv/caput in 2011 and 0.054 ± 0.011 mSv/caput in 2012. Portuguese total annual average collective effective dose due to medical procedures was estimated to be 625.6 ± 110.9 manSv in 2011 and 565.1 ± 117.3 manSv in 2012, a reduction in comparison with 2010 (840.3 ± 183.8 manSv). CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent exams and the ones that contributed the most for total population dose were the cardiac and bone exams, although a decrease observed in 2011 and in 2012 was verified. The authors intend to perform this study periodically to identify trends in the annual Portuguese average effective dose and to help to raise awareness about the potential dose optimization.

Impact of fertilisation practices on soil respiration, as measured by the metabolic index of short-term nitrogen input behaviour.

The main objective of this study was the evaluation of the impact of different sources of organic waste (used as an N source) on soil quality (as measured by CO(2) release) and N transformation processes (available inorganic N forms) in a short-term field study of an almond tree plantation. Three compost types were used as organic fertilisers: EC compost constituted from organic agriculture farm (vegetables and manure), SC compost formed from sewage sludge and pruning waste composted, and XC compost comprised a mixture of composted sewage sludge plus slurry and manure from an intensive pig farm. The two compost doses were compared according to N content, and a high dose (H), corresponding to 210 kg N ha(-1), and a low dose (L), equivalent to 105 kg N ha(-1), were used. In addition, an N rate corresponding to 130 kg N ha(-1), which resulted from the supplementation of NPK mineral fertiliser with compost application at a low dose (mixed fertilisation), was compared in a parallel study. Generally, almost all organically treated soils demonstrated an improvement in the levels of C, N and P, compared to controls (unfertilised soils). In addition, the nitrate content increased, predominating over ammonium content, with the highest values in the soils with the low dose application of SC. Furthermore, soil respiration improved in organically treated soils, which showed different responses according to the organic-exogenous source of the incorporated matter. In contrast, a mineral supplement promoted a decrease in biological activity and resulted in lower CO(2) production in soils with XC and mineral fertiliser. Contrary to the organically treated soil, in soils with mix fertilisation the NH(4)(+)-N was the primary available form of nitrogen. However, the application of SC plus mineral fertiliser to soil caused a positive effect on CO(2) emissions compared to the control soil. Soil respiration behaviour was closely related to the form of inorganic N available in the soils due to the fertilisation practice type (organic or mixed), where both parameters seemed to depend on the mobilisations of cations (Na(+) and Ca(2+)) to the soil solution.

Tracking T and B cells from two-photon microscopy imaging using constrained SMC clusters.

This paper describes a novel software algorithm, called constrained Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) clusters, for tracking a large collection of individual cells from intra-vital two-photon microscopy image sequences. We show how our method and software tool, implemented in python, is useful for quantifying the motility of T and B lymphocytes involved in an immune response vs lymphocytes under non immune conditions. We describe the theory behind our algorithm and briefly discuss the architecture of our software. Finally, we demonstrate both the functionality and utility of software by applying it to two practical examples from videos displaying lymphocyte motility in B cell zones (follicles) and T cell zones of lymph nodes.

An open source tool for heart rate variability spectral analysis.

In this paper we describe a software package for developing heart rate variability analysis. This package, called RHRV, is a third party extension for the open source statistical environment R, and can be freely downloaded from the R-CRAN repository. We review the state of the art of software related to the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Based upon this review, we motivate the development of an open source software platform which can be used for developing new algorithms for studying HRV or for performing clinical experiments. In particular, we show how the RHRV package greatly simplifies and accelerates the work of the computer scientist or medical specialist in the HRV field. We illustrate the utility of our package with practical examples.

New insights into the expression and role of platelet factor XIII-A.

BACKGROUND: The A subunit of factor XIII (FXIII-A) functions as an intracellular transglutaminase (TG) in the megakaryocyte/platelet lineage, where it probably participates in the cytoskeletal remodeling associated with cell activation. However, so far, the precise role of cellular FXIII (cFXIII) and the functional consequences of its absence in FXIII-A-deficient patients are unknown. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: In this study, we used platelets from four patients with congenital deficiency of FXIII-A to study the role of cFXIII in platelet functions. RESULTS: We found that FXIII-A represents the only detectable source of TG activity in platelets and that the binding of fibrinogen in response to thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP) stimulation was significantly reduced in platelets from the patients. In agreement with this, in control platelets, monodansyl-cadaverine (MDC), a competitive amino-donor for TGs, inhibited fibrinogen binding induced by TRAP in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, upon adhesion to fibrinogen, normal platelets incubated with MDC as well as FXIII-A-deficient platelets showed a distinct extension pattern with reduced lamellipodia and increased filopodia formation, suggesting a delay in spreading. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence for the direct involvement of cFXIII-dependent TG activity in the regulation of platelet functions.