Capi-score: a quantitative algorithm for identifying disease patterns in nailfold videocapillaroscopy.

OBJECTIVES: The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) supports the use of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to identify disease patterns (DPs) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Recently, EULAR proposed an easy-to-manage procedure, a so-called Fast Track algorithm, to differentiate SSc from non-SSc patterns in NVC specimens. However, subjectivity among capillaroscopists remains a limitation. Our aim was to perform a software-based analysis of NVC peculiarities in a cohort of samples from SSc and RP patients and, subsequently, build a Fast Track-inspired algorithm to identify DPs without the constraint of interobserver variability. METHODS: NVCs were examined by 9 capillaroscopists. Those NVCs whose DPs were consensually agreed (≥2 out of 3 interobservers) were subsequently analysed with an in-house developed software. Each variable's results were grouped according to the consensually agreed DPs in order to identify useful hallmarks to categorise them. RESULTS: Eight-hundred and fifty-one NVCs (21 957 images) whose DPs had been consensually agreed were software-analysed. Appropriate cut-offs set in capillary density and percentage of abnormal and giant capillaries, tortuosities and hemorrhages allowed DP categorization and the development of the CAPI-Score algorithm. This consisted of 4 rules: Rule 1, SSc vs non-SSc, accuracy 0.88; Rules 2 and 3, SSc-early vs SSc-active vs SSc-late, accuracy 0.82; Rule 4, non-SSc normal vs non-SSc non-specific, accuracy 0.73. Accuracy improved when the analysis was limited to NVCs whose DPs had achieved full consensus among interobservers. CONCLUSIONS: The CAPI-Score algorithm may become a useful tool to assign DPs by overcoming the limitations of subjectivity.

Sequential vs myeloablative vs reduced intensity conditioning for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes with an excess of blasts at time of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation: a retrospective study by the chronic malignancies working party of the EBMT.

The optimal conditioning for patients with higher risk MDS receiving potentially curative allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant(allo-HCT) remains to be defined. This is particularly the case for patients with excess of blasts at time of allo-HCT. Sequential (Seq) conditioning, whereby chemotherapy is followed rapidly by transplant conditioning, offers an opportunity to decrease disease burden, potentially improving outcomes allo-HCT outcomes. Herein we present the only analysis comparing Seq to myeloablative (MAC) and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) specifically focussed on MDS patients with excess of blasts at allo-HCT. 303 patients were identified in the EBMT registry, receiving RIC (n = 158), Seq (n = 105), and MAC (n = 40). Median follow-up was 67.2 months and median age at allo-HCT was 59.5 years (IQR 53.5-65.6). For the entire cohort, 3 y overall survival (OS) was 50% (95% CI 45-56%) and relapse free survival (RFS) 45% (95% CI 40-51%). No significant differences in OS (log-rank p = 0.13) and RFS (log-rank p = 0.18) were observed between conditioning protocols. On multivariable analysis, lower performance status, worse IPSS-R cytogenetics, sibling donor (compared to 8/8 MUD) and ≥20% blasts at allo-HCT were associated with worse outcomes. In conclusion, the Seq protocol did little to influence the outcome in this high-risk group of patients, with outcomes mostly determined by baseline disease risk and patient characteristics such as performance status.

Evaluación de la atención farmacéutica y del envío domiciliario de medicación a pacientes con leucemia mieloide crónica: proyecto TICAFAN / Evaluation of pharmaceutical care and home delivery of medication to patients with chronic myeloid leukemia - TICAFAN Project

OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar los resultados obtenidos con el desarrollo del proyecto "Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación adaptadas a la Atención Farmacéutica No presencial" (TICAFAN). Confirmar la validez del modelo para prestar atención farmacéutica a pacientes con leucemia mieloide crónica. MÉTODO: Estudio antes-después del cambio en el modelo de dispensación y de atención farmacéutica. Se analizó la evolución de la enfermedad, las intervenciones farmacéuticas, la adherencia al tratamiento, el número de dispensaciones realizadas mediante envío domiciliario y sus incidentes desde el 1 de febrero del 2014 al 31 de octubre del 2016. En mayo del 2015 se realizó una encuesta de satisfacción. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 21 pacientes en el programa, la edad media en el momento de inclusión fue de 55 años (DE 17). Se realizaron 470 envíos, con una disminución del 80% (DE 15) en los desplazamientos de los pacientes al hospital. Hubo 2 incidentes, por olvido de los pacientes del día del envío. Se registraron 49 intervenciones farmacéuticas y se atendieron 30 consultas a demanda fuera de las programadas, lo que supuso un mayor número de intervenciones que en el periodo anterior. No hubo diferencias en la adherencia antes y después de la inclusión en el programa. La respuesta se mantuvo en 9 pacientes, mejoró en otros 9 y empeoró en 3, recuperándose posteriormente. La satisfacción de los pacientes con el proyecto fue de 9,7 (DE 0,6) sobre 10. CONCLUSIONES: El proyecto TICAFAN ha conseguido mantener la atención farmacéutica a los pacientes incluidos en el mismo, la adherencia y la respuesta al tratamiento, evitando desplazamientos al hospital para la dispensación de medicación

OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze the results of the development of the "Information and communications technology adapted to remote pharmaceutical care" (TICAFAN, by its Spanish acronym) project and confirm its validity to provide pharmaceutical care to chronic myelogenous leukemia patients. METHODS: Before and after study of a modified pharmaceutical care model. The course of the disease, pharmaceutical interventions, treatment adherence, and number of home deliveries and their incidents were analyzed from February 1, 2014 to October 31, 2016. A satisfaction survey was conducted in May 2015. RESULTS: Twenty one patients were included in the program until October 31, 2016. The mean age at the time of inclusion was 55 years (SD 17). There were 470 home deliveries, with an 80% (SD 15) reduction in the trips to the hospital. There were 2 incidents owing to the fact that the patients did not remember the shipment date. Forty nine pharmaceutical interventions were registered and 30 on-demand inquiries were answered, apart from the scheduled monthly consultations. This meant a greater number of interventions than in a previous period. There were no differences in adherence before and after the inclusion in the program. Response was maintained in 9 patients, improved in 9 and worsened, but recovered afterwards, in 3 patients. Patients gave the project a score of 9.7 (SD 0.6) out of 10. CONCLUSIONS: The TICAFAN project has managed to keep providing pharmaceutical care as well as to maintain adherence and treatment response, reducing hospital visits for drug collection

Réplica a «Problemática actual en la implementación de la orden de no reanimar en el paciente cardiológico» / Reply to «Current issues in implementing do-not-resuscitate orders for cardiac patients»

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Conciliación de la medicación al ingreso: resultados e identificación de pacientes diana / Medication reconciliation at hospital admission: results and identification of target patients

Objetivo. Identificar y cuantificar las discrepancias entre el tratamiento prescrito al ingreso hospitalario y el tratamiento crónico del paciente. Identificar variables que puedan utilizarse en la selección de los pacientes más susceptibles de beneficiarse de un programa de conciliación de la medicación. Material y métodos. Se diseñó un estudio prospectivo de conciliación de la medicación al ingreso hospitalario en el servicio de cirugía vascular y angiología de marzo a diciembre de 2014. Al ingreso el personal de enfermería informaba al paciente del estudio y le solicitaban que recopilara información sobre su tratamiento crónico. Posteriormente, el personal farmacéutico revisaba el historial clínico, las prescripciones crónicas y entrevistaba al paciente para obtener la mejor historia farmacoterapéutica posible. Ésta se comparaba con la prescripción realizada al ingreso y las discrepancias se registraban en el evolutivo clínico. Finalmente, el personal médico clasificaba las discrepancias y modificaba la prescripción en caso necesario. Se compararon las características de los pacientes con y sin discrepancias no justificadas (DNJ) y se construyeron las curvas de característica operativa del receptor de aquellas con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, para determinar su sensibilidad y especificidad para seleccionar pacientes con DNJ. Resultados. Se incluyeron 380 pacientes, registrándose 845 DNJ, 600 justificadas no documentadas y 439 justificadas documentadas. Doscientos noventa y tres pacientes tuvieron al menos una DNJ (77%), 65 solo justificadas (17%) y 22 ninguna (6%). Las DNJ fueron: diferente dosis, vía o frecuencia (51%), omisión (39%), medicamento equivocado (8%) y comisión (2%). Las variables relacionadas con las discrepancias fueron número de medicamentos habituales y quién facilitaba la información. Conclusiones. En la mayoría de estudios la DNJ mayoritaria es la omisión, a diferencia de lo que ocurre en nuestro caso. La variable que permite seleccionar pacientes con mayor riesgo de presentar discrepancias es el número de medicamentos habituales. También aumenta el riesgo de sufrir DNJ cuando no es el propio paciente el que conoce y gestiona su tratamiento crónico (AU)

Objective. To quantify and to classify the discrepancies between the admission treatment and the usual patient treatment. To determine the variables that predict those patients that will have more benefit from medication reconciliation. Material and methods. A prospective medication reconciliation study was conducted in the Vascular Surgery Unit from March 2014 to December 2014. When the patients were admitted to the Vascular Surgery Unit, they were informed about the study and asked to prepare information about their chronic treatment. The pharmacist then checked their clinical records, outpatient prescriptions, and also interviewed the patient, obtaining the best pharmacotherapeutic history available. The discrepancies with the admission treatment were written into the patient electronic clinical records. Finally, the physician classified the discrepancies, and changed the treatment, if needed. The statistical analysis included a comparison between patients with and without a non-justified discrepancy (NJD). The statistically different characteristics were used to plot Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, in order to determine the sensitivity and the specificity of these variables to select patients with discrepancies. Results. A total of 380 patients were included. There were 845 non-justified, 600 justified non-documented, and 439 justified documented discrepancies. At least one NJD was identified in 293 patients (77%), with 65 patients (17%) having only justified discrepancies, and 22 patients (6%) having no discrepancies. NJD were: different dose, route or schedule (51%), omission (39%), wrong drug (8%) and commission (2%). The variables associated with discrepancies were number of chronic medications drugs and provider of information. Conclusions. In most studies, omission is the most frequent error. In contrast, in our study the most frequent error is different dose, route, or schedule. The variable that allows selecting patients at higher risk of discrepancies is the number of chronic drugs. This risk is also increased if the patients are not the manager of their own medication (AU)

[Medication reconciliation at hospital admission: Results and identification of target patients]. / Conciliación de la medicación al ingreso: resultados e identificación de pacientes diana.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify and to classify the discrepancies between the admission treatment and the usual patient treatment. To determine the variables that predict those patients that will have more benefit from medication reconciliation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective medication reconciliation study was conducted in the Vascular Surgery Unit from March 2014 to December 2014. When the patients were admitted to the Vascular Surgery Unit, they were informed about the study and asked to prepare information about their chronic treatment. The pharmacist then checked their clinical records, outpatient prescriptions, and also interviewed the patient, obtaining the best pharmacotherapeutic history available. The discrepancies with the admission treatment were written into the patient electronic clinical records. Finally, the physician classified the discrepancies, and changed the treatment, if needed. The statistical analysis included a comparison between patients with and without a non-justified discrepancy (NJD). The statistically different characteristics were used to plot Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, in order to determine the sensitivity and the specificity of these variables to select patients with discrepancies. RESULTS: A total of 380 patients were included. There were 845 non-justified, 600 justified non-documented, and 439 justified documented discrepancies. At least one NJD was identified in 293 patients (77%), with 65 patients (17%) having only justified discrepancies, and 22 patients (6%) having no discrepancies. NJD were: different dose, route or schedule (51%), omission (39%), wrong drug (8%) and commission (2%). The variables associated with discrepancies were number of chronic medications drugs and provider of information. CONCLUSIONS: In most studies, omission is the most frequent error. In contrast, in our study the most frequent error is different dose, route, or schedule. The variable that allows selecting patients at higher risk of discrepancies is the number of chronic drugs. This risk is also increased if the patients are not the manager of their own medication.

Síndrome HaNDL: cefalea y déficit neurológico transitorio con pleocitosis linfocitaria en líquido cefalorraquídeo / Syndrome of transient headache and neurologic deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL)

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Natural gamma radiation map (MARNA) and indoor radon levels in Spain.

During the last decade, the Department of Applied and Medical Physics has been involved in the development of a radiation protection programme. In the framework of this programme, measurements of indoor radon, principally, have been carried out nationwide. Geometric mean radon concentrations of 45 Bq m(-3) in the whole country and 130 Bq m(-3) in the high natural radiation area have been estimated. On the other hand, the so-called MARNA Project is developed into the framework of an agreement subscribed between the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and the National Uranium (ENUSA), the first phase of which has been the elaboration of the Natural Gamma Radiation Map of Spain on the scale of 1:1,000,000 using radiometric data generated in the 30 years of the lifetime of the ancient National Uranium Exploration and Investigation Plan mainly through airborne, carborne, and by foot surveys, within the MARNA Project itself. The lowest averaged dose rate from external gamma radiation (19.3 nGyh(-1)) was found in carbonate bedrock and the highest (87.7 nGyh(-1)) was found in granite and clay bedrock. This paper summarizes the main results obtained from the measurements performed in both projects, with special interest in those concerning the correlation between the data reported in order to conclude about the potential benefit of the MARNA maps in the definition of affected areas in the country.

[Serum TSH values during clinical controls of patients treated for congenital hypothyroidism]. / Valores elevados de TSH en los controles de tratamiento del hipotiroidismo congénito.

During the second half of 1995, an increased serum TSH level was found in about 50% of the patients that had been biochemically studied to check their treatment for hypothyroidism by the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology in the Regional Hospital of Malaga. A retrospective analysis was carried out to check if those results were erroneous. The biochemical data concerning the thyroid function were followed-up in patients requiring more studies, such as the ones suffering from congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and a random double assay of some samples was made with an alternative technique. Currently, the average TSH level is rated as 14.31 microU/ml in 54% of the subjects, even though levothyroxine doses were increased. Levothroid is the preparation prescribed in all cases. In 1994, the TSH average level was 1.68 microU/ml in the aforementioned group. Another 12% with increased TSH levels were readjusted by modifying the treatment. The T4F in CH subjects with increased TSH dropped significantly from 24.1 pmol/ml to 15.7 pmol/ml in the same period of time. We suggest that one possible etiological factor could be a mistake in the dosage of the commercial preparation.

[The "arrhythmic pattern": a new method with prognostic significance in myocardial infarct]. / "Patrón arrítmico": un nuevo método con significación pronóstica en el infarto de miocardio.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a score or arrhythmic pattern for the prediction of long-term cardiac deaths on patients who have survived to the first acute myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied prospectively 200 patients that survived at a first myocardial infarction and in whom ambulatory ECG monitoring during 24 hours between days 7th and 18th (mean 12th) from the infarction was performed. The mean follow-up time was 51 +/- 18 months. The number and type of ventricular arrhythmias were analyzed and a score was measured, accordingly with Castellanos and Lown's classifications. An "arrhythmic pattern" or "total punctuation" was defined and compared among two groups: group 1 > 65 points and group 2 < 65 points. RESULTS: The differential characteristics of both groups were: age (60 +/- 9 versus 56 +/- 10 years old; p = 0.004); hypertension (63% versus 29%; p < 0.001); clinic stage II-III (23% versus 11%; p = 0.02); echocardiographic ejection fraction (45 +/- 11% versus 50 +/- 10%; p = 0.04); positive exercise testing (73% versus 56%; p = 0.01); arrhythmias on the exercise test (15% versus 25%; p = 0.006). The long-term cardiac mortality was 25% versus 6% (p = 0.01), with an incidence of sudden death of 11% versus 3% (p < 0.05). Specificity, sensibility, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (reference cut point of 100) were 94, 65, 71 and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a score of arrhythmic pattern may identify 2 groups of patients with different clinic profiles that probably justify a different long-term prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction.

Interaction between digoxin and propafenone.

The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between digoxin and propafenone were investigated in 10 hospitalized patients with heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias. During steady state (0.25 mg/day) the glycoside was combined with 600 mg of propafenone daily for 1 week. The mean +/- SD serum digoxin concentration (SDC) was 0.97 +/- 0.29 ng/ml before and 1.54 +/- 0.65 ng/ml (p less than 0.003) during propafenone administration. Propafenone induced a mean decrease in 31.1 and 31.7% in total and renal digoxin clearances, respectively. The increase in SDCs was accompanied by a decrease in heart rate (HR) and shortening of QTC (QT interval corrected for HR). In patients receiving digoxin and propafenone simultaneously, the SDCs should be monitored and the digoxin dose reduced if there is evidence of toxicity.