Resistance training effects on healthy postmenopausal women: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of resistance training on physical fitness, physiological variables and body composition of postmenopausal women. The present systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement and was registered in PROSPERO. A total of 12 studies were included. The literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO. Randomized control trials were included. Two blinded investigators performed the search, study selection and data collection, and assessed the quality and risk of bias. A random-effects model was used for all analyses. Compared to the control group, resistance training produced a significant improvement in maximal oxygen volume (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 2.32, p < 0.001), lower extremity strength (SMD = 4.70, p < 0.001) and upper extremity strength (SMD = 7.42, p < 0.001). The results obtained in the systematic review and meta-analysis confirm the benefits of resistance training on physical fitness in postmenopausal women, although there is more debate regarding its influence on bone mineral density, and anthropometric and derived variables. This work provides a solid starting point for promoting resistance training at a frequency of 3 days per week, in 60-min sessions, with the aim of improving parameters directly related to quality of life, functionality and disease prevention of postmenopausal women.

[Knowledge of chronic venous disease among healthcare professionals in Spain]. / Conocimiento de la enfermedad venosa crónica en los profesionales sanitarios en España.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is classified as the most prevalent vascular disease in humans. It has been associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality, representing a public health problem of the first magnitude. The objective of this study was to analyze the actions in the management of CVD in the daily clinical practice of health professionals in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study with data collection through an opinion survey of 22 questions completed electronically through a Google® form for professionals involved in chronic venous disease care. Three hundred surveys were analyzed. The quantitative variables were represented with means and standard deviation and the qualitative ones with percentages and confidence intervals. RESULTS: Three hundred surveys analyzed. 65.3% were women. The most participatory age group was over 55 years of age. 85% of those surveyed considered that CVD is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease, with an added negative impact in terms of follow-up during the Covid-19 pandemic, since 91.7% considered that it had not been adequate. 47% of the participants did not know the CEAP classification and 56.3% did not know the venous clinical severity scale (VCSS). 92.7% of physicians prescribed compression stockings and 74.7% phlebotonic drugs. Hidrosmine was the best known and most prescribed venoactive drug (51.7%). 73% of the doctors recognized that they did not use any algorithm or protocol for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of CVD in their usual clinical practice and 91% stated that they were not trained in their workplaces. 54.3% of the physicians believed that one of the main limitations that made follow-up of the disease difficult was the lack of coordination with the vascular surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Updating and responding to the training needs of professionals regarding CVD is essential to guarantee quality care continuity in the care of our patients.

Enfermedad venosa crónica en los nuevos tiempos. Propuesta Venocheck / Chronic Venous Disease in the new times. Venocheck Proposal

La enfermedad venosa crónica (EVC) es la enfermedad vascular más frecuente en el ser humano y sigue siendo infradiagnosticada e infratratada en todos los niveles asistenciales. Los nuevos tiempos que vivimos suponen un aumento de la incertidumbre entre los pacientes crónicos sobre su diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento por parte de los médicos de familia y especialmente en la EVC. Con el fin de abordar estos nuevos tiempos, el Grupo de Vasculopatías de Semergen ha diseñado el cuestionario Venocheck, que valora aspectos etiológicos, clínicos (clasificación CEAP), de severidad y calidad de vida, terapéuticos, presencia de complicaciones y criterios de derivación (AU)

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is the most common vascular disease in humans and continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated at all levels of care. The new times we live in have led to an increase in uncertainty among chronic patients about their diagnosis, treatment and follow-up by family doctors and especially in CVD. In order to analyze these new times, the Semergen Vasculopathies Group has created the Venocheck questionnaire, which assesses aetiological, clinical (CEAP classification), severity and quality of life, therapeutic aspects, presence of complications and referral criteria (AU)

[Chronic Venous Disease in the new times. Venocheck Proposal]. / Enfermedad venosa crónica en los nuevos tiempos. Propuesta Venocheck.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is the most common vascular disease in humans and continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated at all levels of care. The new times we live in have led to an increase in uncertainty among chronic patients about their diagnosis, treatment and follow-up by family doctors and especially in CVD. In order to analyze these new times, the Semergen Vasculopathies Group has created the Venocheck questionnaire, which assesses aetiological, clinical (CEAP classification), severity and quality of life, therapeutic aspects, presence of complications and referral criteria.

Validez convergente de NPS y valoración de modelos de lealtad en servicios deportivos / Convergent validity of NPS and assessment of loyalty models in sports services

El fin del trabajo es determinar la validez de Net-Promoter-Score para medir la lealtad y comparar dos modelos que relacionan dimensiones de la calidad, valor, satisfacción y lealtad. En primer lugar, se determinó la validez convergente de Net-Promoter-Score en usuarios de servicios deportivos mediante una correlación entre ambos instrumentos. Posteriormente, se pusieron a prueba los dos modelos, utilizando en el primero Net-Promoter-Score y, en el segundo, una escala multidimensional que mide las intenciones futuras, en ambos casos se utilizó el mismo instrumento para valorar calidad, valor y satisfacción. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio de los modelos, con el objeto de comprobar la estabilidad de ambos. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que los dos instrumentos son válidos para medir la lealtad de los usuarios de servicios deportivos y que el modelo que utiliza la escala multidemensional proporciona más información para la toma de decisiones de los responsables de la gestión. (AU)

The purpose of the work is to determine the validity of the Net-Promoter-Score to measure loyalty and to compare two models that relate dimensions of quality, value, satisfaction and loyalty. First, the convergent validity of the Net-Promoter-Score in users of sports services was determined by means of a correlation between both instruments. Subsequently, the two models were put to the test, using a Net-Promoter-Score in the first and a multidimensional scale that measures future intentions in the second, in both cases the same instrument was used to assess quality, value and satisfaction. A confirmatory factor analysis of the models was carried out in order to verify the stability of both. The results obtained show that the two instruments are valid for measuring the loyalty of users of sports services and the model that uses the multidemensional scale provides more information for decision-making by managers. (AU)

A randomised phase II study of osimertinib and bevacizumab versus osimertinib alone as second-line targeted treatment in advanced NSCLC with confirmed EGFR and acquired T790M mutations: the European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP 10-16) BOOSTER trial.

BACKGROUND: While osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is the standard treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with sensitising EGFR and acquired T790M mutations, progression inevitably occurs. The angiogenic pathway is implicated in EGFR TKI resistance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BOOSTER is an open-label randomised phase II trial investigating the efficacy and safety of combined osimertinib 80 mg daily and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks, versus osimertinib alone, in patients with EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC and acquired T790M mutations after failure on previous EGFR TKI therapy. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Between May 2017 and February 2019, 155 patients were randomised (combination: 78; osimertinib: 77). At data cut-off of 22 February 2021, median follow-up was 33.8 months [interquartile range (IQR): 26.5-37.6 months] and 129 (83.2%) PFS events were reported in the intention-to-treat population. There was no difference in median PFS between the combination [15.4 months; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.2-18.0 months] and osimertinib arm (12.3 months; 95% CI 6.2-17.2 months; stratified log-rank P = 0.83), [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.96; 95% CI 0.68-1.37]. Median OS was 24.0 months (95% CI 17.8-32.1 months) in the combination arm and 24.3 months (95% CI 16.9-37.0 months) in the osimertinib arm (stratified log-rank P = 0.91), (HR = 1.03; 95% CI 0.67-1.56). Exploratory analysis revealed a significant interaction of smoking history with treatment for PFS (adjusted P = 0.0052) with a HR of 0.52 (95% CI 0.30-0.90) for smokers, and 1.47 (95% CI 0.92-2.33) for never smokers. ORR was 55% in both arms and the median time to treatment failure was significantly shorter in the combination than in the osimertinib arm, 8.2 months versus 10.8 months, respectively (P = 0.0074). Safety of osimertinib and bevacizumab was consistent with previous reports with grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) reported in 47% and 18% of patients on combination and osimertinib alone, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No difference in PFS was observed between osimertinib plus bevacizumab and osimertinib alone. Grade ≥3 TRAEs were more common in patients on combination.

Cross-cutting view of current challenges in paediatric solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Europe: the European Reference Network TransplantChild.

The low prevalence of European paediatric transplanted patients and scarcity of resources and expertise led to the need for a multidisciplinary network able to improve the quality of life of paediatric patients and families requiring a solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The European Reference Network (ERN) TransplantChild is one of the 24 ERNs established in a European legal framework to improve the care of patients with rare diseases. ERN TransplantChild is the only ERN focused on both solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell paediatric transplantation, based on the understanding of paediatric transplantation as a complex and highly specialised process where specific complications appear regardless the organ involved, thus linking the skills and knowledge of different organ disciplines. Gathering European centres of expertise in paediatric transplantation will give access to a correct and timely diagnosis, share expertise and knowledge and collect a critical mass of patients and data that increases the speed and value of clinical research outcomes. Therefore, the ERN TransplantChild aims for a paediatric Pan-European, Pan-transplant approach.

Optimal crosstalk suppression in multicore fibers.

We study propagation in a cyclic symmetric multicore fiber where the core radii randomly fluctuate along the propagation direction. We propose a hybrid analytic-numerical method to optimize the amplitude and frequency of the fluctuations that suppress power transfer between outer and inner cores. This framework allows us to analytically find noise amplitude parameters that optimally suppress crosstalk. Our predictions are confirmed by numerical experiments using finite difference beam propagation methods for realistic C-band fibers. The analytic part of our method is general, provides the optimum fluctuation amplitude independent of the array geometry, as long as normal modes can be calculated. It works for both correlated and uncorrelated fluctuations allowing its use for any given optical system described by coupled mode theory.

Sociodemographic factors associated with preterm birth and low birth weight: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth and low birth weight are two public health problems worldwide associated with higher morbidity and perinatal death risk. AIMS: To determine the incidence and socio-demographic factors associated with preterm birth and low birth weight in Spanish women. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with data from women who gave birth in Spain during 2015 extracted from the Statistical Bulletin of births (National Institute Statistics). Records analysed were 331,449. Single births from 22 weeks gestation and fetuses with weight ≥ 500 g were included. Unadjusted and adjusted odd ratios with 95% confidence interval in a multiple logistic regression model were calculated. Variables associated with both health problems were considered dependent variables. FINDINGS: Preterm birth rate in Spain was 6.7% and low birth weight rate was 7.3%. Socio-demographic variables associated with preterm birth were maternal age ≤19 years, immigrant mothers, educational level ≤ secondary studies, and women living in large cities. Low birth weight was related to maternal age ≤19 years and ≥35 years, educational level ≤ secondary studies, and single mothers. Not having previous children and caesarean births were associated with both risks. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of both risks decreased in Spain, one of the countries in Europe where maternal age at having the first child has increased the most and with the lowest birth rate in the world. Maternal age, educational level, maternal nationality, marital status and population size were associated with one or both risks, so the results of this study could be especially relevant to the clinical practice.

Immune-related adverse events predict the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibodies in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Cancer immune therapy has shown remarkable benefit in the treatment of a range of cancer types, although it may initiate autoimmune-related disorders in some patients. We have attempted to establish whether the incidence of irAEs after the use of anti-PD-1 antibodies nivolumab or pembrolizumab in advanced malignancies is associated with anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied patients treated with single-agent nivolumab or pembrolizumab for advanced cancer. irAEs (immune-related adverse events) were identified clinically and graded as per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Efficacy was evaluated with objective response rate (ORR, immune-Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours [RECIST] criteria) progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Tests were performed to determine the association between irAEs and ORR, PFS or OS. RESULTS: We identified 106 patients. Primary diagnoses were lung cancer (n = 77), melanoma (n = 8), head and neck carcinoma (n = 7), renal carcinoma (n = 5), Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 3), urothelial carcinoma (n = 3) and gallbladder adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma (n = 1 each). IrAEs were observed in 40 patients (37.7%). The most frequent irAEs were hypothyroidism (n = 15), nephritis (n = 5) and hyperthyroidism (n = 4). Objective response was observed in 44 patients (41.5%), and median PFS was 5.5 months (0.5-31 months). Thirty-three of the 40 patients with irAEs had objective response (82.5%) in contrast with 11 of the 66 cases without irAEs (16.6%) (OR 23.5, P < 0.000001). PFS in patients with irAEs was 10 months and 3 months in those without irAEs (HR 2.2, P = 0.016). OS in patients with irAEs was 32 months and 22 in those without irAEs, without statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: In advanced cancer treated with single-agent anti-PD-1 antibodies, patients with irAEs showed a markedly improved efficacy over patients without irAEs (ORR of 82.5% and PFS of 10 months vs ORR of 16.6% and PFS of 3 months). Future studies of anti-PD-1 immune-therapy should address this association to explore the underlying biological mechanisms of efficacy.

Social support for elderly people over 65 years in Spain.

AIMS: To determine what social support is available in Spain to people over 65 who also dedicate hours of their time to the care of others who are older. BACKGROUND: Demographic and social changes are leading to growth of the population. The social support available to older people in the final stage of life affects their health. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving the records of older, non-institutionalized individuals residing in Spain, obtained from the European Health Survey of 2014. The method of collecting information used in the European Survey was personal interviews assisted by a computer. RESULTS: The records of 6520 older people were studied; 40.1% of the participants studied had expressed the possibility of having three to five people available in case of a serious problem, and 83.6% reported that the rest of the people around them were very interested in what happens to them. With respect to care, only 7% of the older people studied mentioned performing care tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Social support is beneficial to older people, regardless of whether they perform care tasks, because it acts as a protective factor against problems such as loneliness, stress and depression. The profile of a primary caregiver in this age range is a married, middle-class woman with primary schooling who is caring for a first-degree relative. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: These data suggest that it is necessary for nurses to know about the needs of older people to implement societal measures of health promotion, prevention and education that favour social cohort. In addition, health policymakers should establish programmes that improve the social support of non-institutionalized older people.

Clinical utility of plasma-based digital next-generation sequencing in patients with advance-stage lung adenocarcinomas with insufficient tumor samples for tissue genotyping.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of tumor biopsies from patients with advanced-stage lung adenocarcinomas yield insufficient tissue for successful molecular subtyping. We have analyzed the clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with inadequate tumor samples for tissue genotyping. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted the study in a multi-institutional prospective cohort of clinically unselected patients with advanced-stage lung adenocarcinomas with insufficient tissue for EGFR, ALK or ROS1 genotyping across 12 Spanish institutions (n = 93). ctDNA NGS was carried out by Guardant Health (Guardant360, Redwood City, CA), using a hybrid-capture-based 73-gene panel. Variants were deemed actionable if they were part of the OncoKB precision oncology knowledge database and classified in four levels of actionability based on their clinical or preclinical evidence for drug response. RESULTS: Eighty-three out of 93 patients (89%) had detectable levels of ctDNA. Potentially actionable level 1-4 genomic alterations were detected in 53 cases (57%), of which 13 (14%) had level 1-2A alterations (Food and Drug Administration-approved and standard-care biomarkers according to lung cancer guidelines). Frequencies of each genomic alteration in ctDNA were consistent with those observed in unselected pulmonary adenocarcinomas. The majority of the patients (62%), particularly those with actionable alterations (87%), had more than one pathogenic variant in ctDNA. The median turnaround time to genomic results was 13 days. Twelve patients (13%) received genotype-matched therapies based on ctDNA results, deriving the expected clinical benefit. Patients with co-occurring pathogenic alterations had a significantly shorter median overall survival as compared with patients without co-occurring pathogenic alteration (multivariate hazard ratio = 5.35, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Digital NGS of ctDNA in lung cancers with insufficient tumor samples for tissue sequencing detects actionable variants that frequently co-occur with other potentially clinically relevant genomic alterations, allowing timely initiation of genotype-matched therapies.

[Consensus document of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians and the Spanish Chapter of Phlebology and Lymphology of the Spanish Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery: Superficial vein thrombosis of the lower limbs in Primary Care]. / Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria y Capítulo Español de Flebología y Linfología de la Sociedad Española de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular: trombosis venosa superficial de miembros inferiores en Atención Primaria.

Superficial vein thrombosis of the lower limbs used to be considered a benign condition with a self-limiting clinical course. It is now known that its potential complications can be serious or even fatal, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism. There are different forms of clinical presentation, risk factors and different treatments for its approach, mainly in Primary Care. The Vascular Diseases Working Group of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) has developed this update using current scientific evidence and jointly with the Spanish Chapter of Phlebology and Lymphology of the Spanish Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery.

Presumptive BSE cases with an aberrant prion protein phenotype in Switzerland, 2011: Lack of prion disease in experimentally inoculated cattle and bovine prion protein transgenic mice.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is caused by different prion strains that are discriminated by the molecular characteristics of the pathological prion protein. In 2011, Switzerland reported two presumptive cases of BSE in cattle with a prion protein phenotype different from previously described strains, and it was unclear whether these findings were related to a transmissible disease and have implications on animal and public health. In this study, brain tissues of these cases were inoculated into transgenic mice expressing the bovine prion protein (BoPrP-Tg110) and into cattle. Clinical and pathological investigations as well as molecular testing did not provide evidence for the presence of BSE in the Swiss cases after two passages in BoPrP-Tg110 mice and a challenge period of 3.5 years in cattle. This lack of disease transmission suggests that the Swiss 2011 cases were not affected by a prion disease and were unrelated to the feed-born BSE epidemic.

Cardiac Remodeling in Structure and Function Six Months After Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease accounts for 35% to 50% of the causes of mortality in chronic kidney disease. The majority of patients in substitution therapy in Mexico are subdialyzed owing to limited economic resources. This produces more cardiac deterioration than described in the statistics and has a direct impact on the prognosis of kidney transplantation. The aim of this work was to demonstrate and to quantify the improvement in the echocardiographic parameters 6 months after renal transplantation in patients with stable renal function. METHODS: This was an observational, analytic, prospective study of 23 patients with chronic kidney disease who received transplants in 2016 and had a glomerular filtration rate ≥80 mL/min (Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration) 6 months after transplantation. RESULTS: Echocardiographic results showed an increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction from 57.17 ± 10.46% to 64.09 ± 9.8%, an increase in the right ventricular ejection fraction from 0.56 ± 0.09% to 0.60 ± 0.08% and a reduction of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure from 44.57 ± 13.88 mm Hg to 39.74 ± 11.04 mm Hg. There were also decreases in mitral regurgitation from 1.0 to 0.43, tricuspid insufficiency from 1.35 to 0.43, pulmonary insufficiency from 0.48 to 0.04, and aortic insufficiency from 0.35 to 0.04, all of these significant with P < .05. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant improvement in cardiovascular function in our population 6 months after transplantation, despite the fact that renal transplantation is performed with greater cardiac deterioration than described in patients in other countries.

Violence committed by intimate partners of physicians, nurses and nursing assistants.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of intimate partner abuse in physicians, nurses and nursing assistants and risk factors in the Spanish Health Service. BACKGROUND: In Spain, the national public health service is the most likely point of primary care access for victims of intimate partner violence. However, health professionals are also victims of violence by their intimate partner. Little research has been undertaken exploring the prevalence and risk factors of this abuse in health professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study in professionals of both sexes who were working in the Spanish Public Health Service was performed. The health professionals completed an online survey of intimate violence abuse: for women, the screening of abuse against women by an intimate partner, and for men, the domestic violence screening tool in a family setting. A descriptive and comparative analysis was performed. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1071 professionals: 49.9% were physicians, 46.9% were nurses and 3.3% were nursing assistants. Of the participants, 26.6% had experienced some form of abuse, and 73.3% of the abused professionals had not spoken of their experience of abuse with anyone else. CONCLUSION: Men experienced a lower incidence of intimate partner violence than women. In fact, 34% of the female participants were in an abusive relationship, which is a higher percentage than that observed in studies of the general Spanish female population (11.7%). It appears that being female and a nurse are risk factors for abuse. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: These data suggest the urgent implementation of action plans for the provision of support for the victims and for interventions aimed at reducing the problem. Better training and awareness-raising programmes that improve the detection of intimate partner violence and the care of its victims are also necessary.

5α-Reductase isozymes and aromatase mRNA levels in plucked hair from young women with female pattern hair loss.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is an important hair disorder, especially when young women are affected. However, pharmacological treatments are not successful in all women. Androgens, especially dihydrotestosterone (DHT), may play a role in FPHL, but many women with this disorder have normal serum androgen levels. It therefore appears that hair follicle levels of DHT depend on in situ testosterone (T) metabolism. Because T can be converted to DHT or estradiol (E2) by 5α-reductase (5α-R) and aromatase, respectively, these enzymes would determine DHT and E2 concentrations and their ratio. We propose and apply a low-invasive, sensitive and precise method for the absolute quantification of mRNA levels of aromatase and 5α-R isozymes (type 1, type 2 and type 3) in plucked hair from young women with FPHL. Normoandrogenic women with FPHL and controls were studied. Plucked hair samples were obtained by trichogram from vertex scalp and mRNA levels quantified by real-time RT-PCR. We revealed for the first time the presence of 5α-R3 mRNA in human hair. Interestingly, one, two, or even three 5α-R isozymes were increased in some women with FPHL but not in others, which may explain the lack of response to 5α-R inhibitors in some FPHL cases. Aromatase mRNA levels were significantly lower in women with FPHL than in controls. It may therefore produce a reduction in oestrogen levels and an increase in the androgen/oestrogen ratio in hair. The proposed low-invasive technique offers a molecular aetiologic diagnosis of FPHL for the selection of more appropriate pharmacological treatments with early predicted effectiveness.

Detection of Leishmania spp. in Bats from an Area of Brazil Endemic for Visceral Leishmaniasis.

The multihost parasites Leishmania spp. infect a broad range of wild mammalian species including bats. Several species of bats have adapted to a variety of food resources and shelters in urban areas. This study aimed to detect Leishmania spp. DNA in bats present in forest fragments located in metropolitan areas endemic for leishmaniasis in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Blood samples were obtained from 80 individuals, including eight species of Phyllostomidae and one species of Vespertilionidae. Thirty of the 80 bats were positive for Leishmania spp. using conventional PCR, all belonging to the family Phyllostomidae. Eighteen samples tested by real-time PCR (qPCR) using specific primers for the kDNA of Leishmania infantum were positive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report detecting Leishmania spp. in Platyrrhinus incarum in addition to being the first reported detection of L. infantum in the bat species Phyllostomus discolor, Platyrrhinus lineatus, Artibeus planirostris and Artibeus lituratus. Our results show that bats can host Leishmania spp. in areas endemic for leishmaniasis, which must be taken into account in disease control operations by public health authorities.

Long-term survival in advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients treated with first-line bevacizumab-based therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: First-line bevacizumab-based therapies have been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to descriptively analyse patients with non-squamous NSCLC who received a long-term period of maintenance bevacizumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 104 patients who had already reached a progression-free survival (PFS) of at least 9 months. RESULTS: Median overall survival and PFS were 30.7 and 15.1 months, respectively. The overall response rate was 83 %. Weight loss ≤5 %, ECOG PS = 0, or low number of metastatic sites seem to be predictive factors of good evolution. The incidence of bevacizumab-related adverse events appeared to be similar as the previous studies. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that there is a long-term survivor group whom the administration of bevacizumab resulted in a relevant prolongation of response without new safety signals. Due to the population heterogeneity, it was not possible to identify the standardised predictive factors.

PrPC Governs Susceptibility to Prion Strains in Bank Vole, While Other Host Factors Modulate Strain Features.

Bank vole is a rodent species that shows differential susceptibility to the experimental transmission of different prion strains. In this work, the transmission features of a panel of diverse prions with distinct origins were assayed both in bank vole expressing methionine at codon 109 (Bv109M) and in transgenic mice expressing physiological levels of bank vole PrPC (the BvPrP-Tg407 mouse line). This work is the first systematic comparison of the transmission features of a collection of prion isolates, representing a panel of diverse prion strains, in a transgenic-mouse model and in its natural counterpart. The results showed very similar transmission properties in both the natural species and the transgenic-mouse model, demonstrating the key role of the PrP amino acid sequence in prion transmission susceptibility. However, differences in the PrPSc types propagated by Bv109M and BvPrP-Tg407 suggest that host factors other than PrPC modulate prion strain features. IMPORTANCE: The differential susceptibility of bank voles to prion strains can be modeled in transgenic mice, suggesting that this selective susceptibility is controlled by the vole PrP sequence alone rather than by other species-specific factors. Differences in the phenotypes observed after prion transmissions in bank voles and in the transgenic mice suggest that host factors other than the PrPC sequence may affect the selection of the substrain replicating in the animal model.