Recent epidemiological trends in extrapulmonary TB in Galicia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological trends and characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in Galicia, Spain, from 2000 to 2019.METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study based on data from the Galician TB information system.RESULTS: Of the total number of TB cases (n = 15,871), 5,428 (34.2%) had EPTB. The absolute number of cases and incidence of EPTB decreased dramatically (from 480 cases and 17.8 cases/100,000 in 2000, to 172 and 6.4 cases/100,000 in 2019, respectively), with a mean annual decrease of respectively 64% and 4.7% for absolute cases and incidence rates. The risk for EPTB was higher in men than in women (RR 3.86, 95% CI 3.66-4.07). The most frequent age group was 15-44 years (2,234 patients, 41.2%); overall reductions per age group were 82% (0-14 years), 75% (15-44 years), 44% (45-64 years) and 63% (≥65 years), with statistically significant differences. The most frequently locations were the pleura (1,916 cases; 35.3%) and the lymph nodes (1,504; 27.7%).CONCLUSION: The incidence of EPTB in Galicia has decreased significantly in the last 20 years. The epidemiological characteristics have not changed, except for the number of patients with risk factors. This improvement of EPTB epidemiological trends coincides with the implementation of the programme for the prevention and control of TB, which suggests that it has been very effective in the control of the EPTB.

Adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico del tabaquismo y factores predictores en un escenario no financiado / Adherence to pharmacological treatment of smoking and predictive factors in an unfunded scenario

Antecedentes y objetivo. Las intervenciones de des habituación basadas en el asesoramiento psicológicoy tratamiento farmacológico han demostrado ser las más eficaces para abandonar el tabaco. La terapia sustitutiva con nicotina, bupropión y vareniclina son lostratamientos farmacológicos de primera elección que han demostrado una mayor seguridad y eficacia, triplicando las posibilidades de cesación tabáquica. Sinembargo, en un escenario no financiado, el grado de adherencia a estos fármacos es bajo. Por todo ello, el objetivo del estudio es analizar la adherencia a dichosfármacos y los factores predictores de ella.Pacientes y métodos. Estudio transversal de una cohorte de 660 fumadores reclutados entre 2013 y 2017en un área sanitaria de Galicia incluidos en programas de deshabituación tabáquica. Se analizan las características de los pacientes y el porcentaje de adherenciaa los fármacos de cesación tabáquica.Resultados.Un 35% de los fumadores que acuden aconsultas de deshabituación tabáquica en nuestra áreasanitaria no retiran el fármaco previamente prescrito.Son factores predictores de adherencia a fármacos dedeshabituación tabáquica: estar en fase de preparación OR: 4,06 IC95% (1,58-6,39) p=0,003; realizarintentos previos de abandono en el último año OR:5,3 IC95% (1,3-7,1) p=0,016; uso de fármacos pre-viamente OR: 4,16 IC95 (1,7-6,2) p=0,0003; o elnúmero de consultas: OR: 1,6 IC95% (1,26-2,05)p=0,000.Conclusiones.La adherencia al tratamiento del tabaquismo es mejorable en nuestra área sanitaria. Lafase de abandono del fumador, los intentos previoscon tratamientos farmacológicos y la intensidad de la intervención son factores que se asocian a su implementación. (AU)

Backgrounds and objective. The smoking cessation interventions based on psychological advice and drugtreatment have been shown to be the most effectiveto stop smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy, bu-propion and varenicline are the drug treatments of first choice that have demonstrated better safety andefficacy, tripling the possibilities of smoking cessation.However, in an unfinanced setting, the degree of ad-herence to these drugs is low. Therefore, the objectiveof the study is to analyze adherence to said drugs andthe predictive factors of it.Patients and methods.Cross-sectional study of acohort of 660 smokers recruited between 2013 and2017 in a health care area of Galicia enrolled in smo-king cessation programs. The characteristics of thepatients and percentage of adherence to the smokingcessation drugs are analyzed.Results.A total of 35% of smokers who come to thesmoking cessation consultations in our health carearea do not obtain the previously prescribed drug.Predictive factors of adherence to smoking cessationdrugs are: being in the preparation phase: OR: 4.0695% CI (1.58-6.39) p=0.003, having made previousattempts to stop smoking in the last year: OR: 5.395% CI (1.3-7.1) p=0.016, previous use of drug: OR:4.16 95% CI (1.7-6.2) p=0.0003 or number of con-sultations: OR: 1.6 95% CI (1.26-2.05) p=0.000.Conclusions.Adherence to treatment of smoking ces-sation can be improved in our health care area. Thecessation phase of the smoker, previous attempts withdrug treatments and intensity of the intervention arethe factors associated to its implementation. (AU)

Diaphragmatic dysfunction.

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle and contraction of the diaphragm is vital for ventilation so any disease that interferes with diaphragmatic innervation, contractile muscle function, or mechanical coupling to the chest wall can cause diaphragm dysfunction. Diaphragm dysfunction is associated with dyspnoea, intolerance to exercise, sleep disturbances, hypersomnia, with a potential impact on survival. Diagnosis of diaphragm dysfunction is based on static and dynamic imaging tests (especially ultrasound) and pulmonary function and phrenic nerve stimulation tests. Treatment will depend on the symptoms and causes of the disease. The management of diaphragm dysfunction may include observation in asymptomatic patients with unilateral dysfunction, surgery (i.e., plication of the diaphragm), placement of a diaphragmatic pacemaker or invasive and/or non-invasive mechanical ventilation in symptomatic patients with bilateral paralysis of the diaphragm. This type of patient should be treated in experienced centres. This review aims to provide an overview of the problem, with special emphasis on the diseases that cause diaphragmatic dysfunction and the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures most commonly employed in clinical practice. The ultimate goal is to establish a standard of care for diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Comportamiento de las células nucleadas en los distintos tipos de derrame pleural / Behaviour of nucleated cells in various types of pleural effusion

Introducción. El conocimiento del comportamiento de los componentes celulares del líquido pleural puede ayudar a enfocar el diagnóstico diferencial de un derrame pleural. El objetivo es evaluar su composición en los distintos tipos de derrames y valorar si proporciona información clínica relevante. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio observacional, transversal y retrospectivo en el que se analiza el componente celular de derrames pleurales de diversa etiología. Los derrames se clasificaron como neutrofílicos, linfocíticos (≥50% de cada uno de ellos), eosinofílicos (≥10%) o mesoteliales (>5%) y se agruparon en 6 categorías diagnósticas. Resultados. Se estudiaron 1.467 pacientes (354 insuficiencia cardiaca; 59 otros trasudados; 349 paraneumónicos; 133 tuberculosos; 397 neoplásicos y 175 otros exudados). El predominio celular fue linfocítico en la insuficiencia cardiaca (44,4%), paraneumónicos no complicados (29,2%), tuberculosis (88%) y neoplasias (49,6%); neutrofílico en los paraneumónicos (57%) y neoplásicos (9,6%); eosinofílico en las neoplasias (6,3%) y mesotelial en las tuberculosis (12%). Las etiologías más frecuentes con un recuento linfocitario ≥80% fueron tuberculosis (35,1%) y neoplasias (23,3%). Los parámetros con mayor capacidad discriminante fueron: leucocitos (trasudados: AUC 0,835) y porcentaje de neutrófilos (empiemas: AUC 0,906 y paraneumónicos complicados + empiemas: AUC 0,907). Conclusiones. Los recuentos de células nucleadas ayudan a enfocar la etiología del derrame pleural, ya que cada etiología suele tener un predominio celular característico. El porcentaje de células nucleadas en el líquido pleural no puede descartar tuberculosis si existe un recuento elevado de células mesoteliales, ni un derrame paraneumónico ante un predominio linfocítico, o malignidad con un recuento de linfocitos ≥80% (AU)

Introduction. To know the behavior of cellular components of pleural fluid can help focus the differential diagnosis of a pleural effusion. Our objective was to assess their composition in different types of pleural effusions and assess whether it provides relevant clinical information. Patients and methods. Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study in which the cellular components of pleural effusions of different etiology were analyzed. Pleural effusions were classified as neutrophilic, lymphocytic (≥50% of each one of them), eosinophilic (≥10%) or mesothelial (>5%) and were grouped into six diagnostic categories. Results. 1.467 patients were studied (354 heart failure; 59 other transudates; 349 paraneumonic; 133 tuberculous; 397 malignant and 175 other exudates). The predominance cell was lymphocytic in heart failure (44,4%), uncomplicated parapneumonic (29,2%), tuberculosis (88%) and malignant (49,6%); neutrophilic in parapneumonic (57%) and malignant (9,6%); eosinophilic in malignant (6,3%) and mesotelial in tuberculosis (12%). The most frequent etiologies with lymphocyte count ≥80% were tuberculosis (35,1%) and malignant (23,3%). Parameters with higher discriminating accuracy were: leukocytes (transudates: AUC 0,835) and percentage of neutrophils (empyemas: AUC 0,906 and complicated parapneumonic+empyemas: AUC 0,907). Conclusions. Nucleated cell counts will help focus the etiology of pleural effusions, since each etiology often have a characteristic cell predominance. The percentage of nucleated cells in pleural fluid not ruled out tuberculosis if there is a high count of mesothelial cells, nor a parapneumonic effusion with lymphocytic predominance, or malignancy with ≥80% lymphocytes (AU)

Behaviour of nucleated cells in various types of pleural effusion. / Comportamiento de las células nucleadas en los distintos tipos de derrame pleural.

INTRODUCTION: To know the behavior of cellular components of pleural fluid can help focus the differential diagnosis of a pleural effusion. Our objective was to assess their composition in different types of pleural effusions and assess whether it provides relevant clinical information. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study in which the cellular components of pleural effusions of different etiology were analyzed. Pleural effusions were classified as neutrophilic, lymphocytic (≥50% of each one of them), eosinophilic (≥10%) or mesothelial (>5%) and were grouped into six diagnostic categories RESULTS: 1.467 patients were studied (354 heart failure; 59 other transudates; 349 paraneumonic; 133 tuberculous; 397 malignant and 175 other exudates). The predominance cell was lymphocytic in heart failure (44,4%), uncomplicated parapneumonic (29,2%), tuberculosis (88%) and malignant (49,6%); neutrophilic in parapneumonic (57%) and malignant (9,6%); eosinophilic in malignant (6,3%) and mesotelial in tuberculosis (12%). The most frequent etiologies with lymphocyte count ≥80% were tuberculosis (35,1%) and malignant (23,3%). Parameters with higher discriminating accuracy were: leukocytes (transudates: AUC 0,835) and percentage of neutrophils (empyemas: AUC 0,906 and complicated parapneumonic+empyemas: AUC 0,907). CONCLUSIONS: Nucleated cell counts will help focus the etiology of pleural effusions, since each etiology often have a characteristic cell predominance. The percentage of nucleated cells in pleural fluid not ruled out tuberculosis if there is a high count of mesothelial cells, nor a parapneumonic effusion with lymphocytic predominance, or malignancy with ≥80% lymphocytes.