Update on the clinical use of trabecular bone score (TBS) in the management of osteoporosis: results of an expert group meeting organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) under the auspices of WHO Collaborating Center for Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging.

PURPOSE: Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a grey-level textural measurement acquired from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry lumbar spine images and is a validated index of bone microarchitecture. In 2015, a Working Group of the European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) published a review of the TBS literature, concluding that TBS predicts hip and major osteoporotic fracture, at least partly independent of bone mineral density (BMD) and clinical risk factors. It was also concluded that TBS is potentially amenable to change as a result of pharmacological therapy. Further evidence on the utility of TBS has since accumulated in both primary and secondary osteoporosis, and the introduction of FRAX and BMD T-score adjustment for TBS has accelerated adoption. This position paper therefore presents a review of the updated scientific literature and provides expert consensus statements and corresponding operational guidelines for the use of TBS. METHODS: An Expert Working Group was convened by the ESCEO and a systematic review of the evidence undertaken, with defined search strategies for four key topics with respect to the potential use of TBS: (1) fracture prediction in men and women; (2) initiating and monitoring treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis; (3) fracture prediction in secondary osteoporosis; and (4) treatment monitoring in secondary osteoporosis. Statements to guide the clinical use of TBS were derived from the review and graded by consensus using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: A total of 96 articles were reviewed and included data on the use of TBS for fracture prediction in men and women, from over 20 countries. The updated evidence shows that TBS enhances fracture risk prediction in both primary and secondary osteoporosis, and can, when taken with BMD and clinical risk factors, inform treatment initiation and the choice of antiosteoporosis treatment. Evidence also indicates that TBS provides useful adjunctive information in monitoring treatment with long-term denosumab and anabolic agents. All expert consensus statements were voted as strongly recommended. CONCLUSION: The addition of TBS assessment to FRAX and/or BMD enhances fracture risk prediction in primary and secondary osteoporosis, adding useful information for treatment decision-making and monitoring. The expert consensus statements provided in this paper can be used to guide the integration of TBS in clinical practice for the assessment and management of osteoporosis. An example of an operational approach is provided in the appendix. This position paper presents an up-to-date review of the evidence base, synthesised through expert consensus statements, which informs the implementation of Trabecular Bone Score in clinical practice.

The relationship between patient satisfaction and inpatient admissions across teaching and nonteaching hospitals.

The need for healthcare executives to better understand the relationship between patient satisfaction and admission volume takes on greater importance in this age of rising patient expectations and declining reimbursement. Management of patient satisfaction has become a critical element in the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations pursuing high performance. This study is guided by two principal research questions. First, what is the nature of the relationship between patient satisfaction (as measured by scored instruments) and inpatient admissions in acute care hospitals? Second, does the relationship between patient satisfaction (as measured by scored instruments) and inpatient admissions differ between teaching hospitals and nonteaching hospitals? Although not suggestive of direct causation, the study findings revealed a statistically significant and positive correlation between patient satisfaction and admission volume in teaching hospitals only. In contrast, a nonsignificant, negative correlation was seen between patient satisfaction and admission in nonteaching hospitals. In the combined teaching and nonteaching sample, a statistically significant, negative correlation was found between patient satisfaction scores and admission volume. With financial performance being driven in part by admission volume and with patient satisfaction affecting hospital patronage, the business case for a strategic focus on patient satisfaction in teaching hospitals is clearly evident. The article concludes with a set of recommendations for strengthening patient satisfaction and organizational performance.

Eficacia, tolerabilidad y seguridad de la ciclosporina para microemulsion en el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoidea activa: estudio abierto / Efficacy, tolerability and safety of cyclosporine for microemulsion in the treatment of the active rheumatoid arthritis: open study

La ciclosporina para microemulsión (cpm) ha sido ampliamente utilizada para el tratamiento de la ar- tritis reumatoidea (AR) con muy buenos resultados sobre la progresión del daño articular según ha sido informado por el grupo de estudio GRISAR1. Para evaluar eficacia, seguridad y tolerabilidad de la cpm en el tratamiento de la AR un grupo local de 12 centros (50 pacientes), realizó un estudio abierto, prospectivo (Neo-Ra-02), de seis meses de seguimiento. Los parámetros considerados para evaluar la eficacia fueron: modificación de la rigidez matutina, pruebas funcionales (índices de HAQ, Ritchie y Lee), de laboratorio y radiológicos (índice de Larsen). Los parámetros usados para evaluar la seguridad fueron: tensión arterial y determinaciones de laboratorio de función renal, hepática y análisis hematológico. Los criterios para la participación de los pacientes fueron: presencia de AR activa (según definición del ACR), estadios anatómicos y funcionales de Steinbrocker del I al III, evolución de la enfermedad no mayor de 5 años, ausencia de historia previa de hipertensión arterial, enfermedad renal o hepática y ausencia de uso de drogas modificadoras de la enfermedad en los dos meses anteriores al estudio. A las 4 semanas del tratamiento se verificó disminución estadísticamente significativa del dolor, rigidez matutina, scores de sensibilidad, entumecimiento articular e índice de Ritchie. No hubo incremento significativo de la creatinina, ni del ácido úrico séricos. Seis casos desarrollaron hipertensión arterial leve. La cpm demostró eficacia con mínima incidencia de efectos adversos (12 por ciento de hipertensión arterial leve) cuando su administración fue en dosis bajas y adecuadamente monitoreada. (AU)

Eficacia, tolerabilidad y seguridad de la ciclosporina para microemulsion en el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoidea activa: estudio abierto / Efficacy, tolerability and safety of cyclosporine for microemulsion in the treatment of the active rheumatoid arthritis: open study

La ciclosporina para microemulsión (cpm) ha sido ampliamente utilizada para el tratamiento de la ar- tritis reumatoidea (AR) con muy buenos resultados sobre la progresión del daño articular según ha sido informado por el grupo de estudio GRISAR1. Para evaluar eficacia, seguridad y tolerabilidad de la cpm en el tratamiento de la AR un grupo local de 12 centros (50 pacientes), realizó un estudio abierto, prospectivo (Neo-Ra-02), de seis meses de seguimiento. Los parámetros considerados para evaluar la eficacia fueron: modificación de la rigidez matutina, pruebas funcionales (índices de HAQ, Ritchie y Lee), de laboratorio y radiológicos (índice de Larsen). Los parámetros usados para evaluar la seguridad fueron: tensión arterial y determinaciones de laboratorio de función renal, hepática y análisis hematológico. Los criterios para la participación de los pacientes fueron: presencia de AR activa (según definición del ACR), estadios anatómicos y funcionales de Steinbrocker del I al III, evolución de la enfermedad no mayor de 5 años, ausencia de historia previa de hipertensión arterial, enfermedad renal o hepática y ausencia de uso de drogas modificadoras de la enfermedad en los dos meses anteriores al estudio. A las 4 semanas del tratamiento se verificó disminución estadísticamente significativa del dolor, rigidez matutina, scores de sensibilidad, entumecimiento articular e índice de Ritchie. No hubo incremento significativo de la creatinina, ni del ácido úrico séricos. Seis casos desarrollaron hipertensión arterial leve. La cpm demostró eficacia con mínima incidencia de efectos adversos (12 por ciento de hipertensión arterial leve) cuando su administración fue en dosis bajas y adecuadamente monitoreada.