Specificity and sensibility of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale for assessing pain, grade of sedation and withdrawal syndrome in the critically ill paediatric patient. Multicentre COSAIP study (Phase 1).

AIM: The main aim of this investigation was to analyse the specificity and sensibility of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale (CBS-S) in assessing grade of pain, sedation, and withdrawal syndrome in paediatric critical care patients. METHOD: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study conducted in Level III Intensive Care Areas of 5 children's university hospitals. Grade of sedation was assessed using the Spanish version of the CBS-S and the Bispectral Index on sedation, once per shift over one day. Grade of withdrawal was determined using the CBS-S and the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, once per shift over three days. RESULTS: A total of 261 critically ill paediatric patients with a median age of 5.07 years (P25:0.9-P75:11.7) were included in this study. In terms of the predictive capacity of the CBS-S, it obtained a Receiver Operation Curve of .84 (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76%) in relation to pain; .62 (sensitivity of 21% and specificity of 78%) in relation to sedation grade, and .73% (sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 74%) in determining withdrawal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale could be a useful, sensible and easy scale to assess the degree of pain, sedation and pharmacological withdrawal of critically ill paediatric patients.

Especificidad y sensibilidad de la COMFORT Behavior Scale-Versión española para valorar el dolor, el grado de sedación y síndrome de abstinencia en el paciente crítico pediátrico. Estudio multicéntrico COSAIP (Fase 1) / Specificity and sensibility of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale for assessing pain, grade of sedation and withdrawal syndrome in the critically ill paediatric patient. Multicentre COSAIP study (Phase 1)

Objetivo: El objetivo principal de la investigación fue analizar la especificidad y sensibilidad de la escala COMFORT Behavior Scale-Versión española (CBS-ES) en la determinación del grado de dolor, sedación y síndrome de abstinencia.Método: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, analítico y transversal y multicéntrico en unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricas de 5 hospitales españoles. Se valoró el grado de sedación del paciente crítico pediátrico de forma simultánea empleando para ello la CBS-ES y registrando los valores del Bispectral Index Sedation, una vez por turno durante un día. El grado de abstinencia se determinó una vez por turno, durante 3 días, empleando de forma simultánea la CBS-ES y la Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1.Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 261 pacientes críticos pediátricos con una mediana de 1,61 años (P25: 0,35-P75: 6,55). Por lo que a la capacidad predictiva de la CBS-ES se refiere se obtuvo un área bajo la curva de 0,84 (sensibilidad del 81% y especificidad del 76%) con relación al dolor; de 0,62 (sensibilidad del 27% y especificidad del 78%) en el caso de la sedación, y de 0,73 (sensibilidad del 40% y especificidad del 74%) en el del síndrome de abstinencia.Conclusiones: Se ha podido contrastar que la CBS-ES podría ser un instrumento sensible, útil y fácil de emplear para valorar el grado de dolor, sedación y síndrome de abstinencia farmacológico del paciente crítico pediátrico.

Aim: The main aim of this investigation was to analyse the specificity and sensibility of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale (CBS-S) in assessing grade of pain, sedation, and withdrawal syndrome in paediatric critical care patients.Method: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study conducted in Level III Intensive Care Areas of 5 children's university hospitals. Grade of sedation was assessed using the Spanish version of the CBS-S and the Bispectral Index on sedation, once per shift over one day. Grade of withdrawal was determined using the CBS-S and the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, once per shift over three days.Results: A total of 261 critically ill paediatric patients with a median age of 5.07 years (P25:0.9-P75:11.7) were included in this study. In terms of the predictive capacity of the CBS-S, it obtained a Receiver Operation Curve of .84 (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76%) in relation to pain; .62 (sensitivity of 21% and specificity of 78%) in relation to sedation grade, and .73% (sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 74%) in determining withdrawal syndrome.Conclusions: The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale could be a useful, sensible and easy scale to assess the degree of pain, sedation and pharmacological withdrawal of critically ill paediatric patients.

Grado de sedación del paciente crítico pediátrico y variables sociodemográficas y clínicas correlacionadas. Estudio multicéntrico COSAIP / Grade of sedation in the critically ill paediatric patient and its correlation with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Multicentre COSAIP study

Objetivos Determinar los niveles de sedación del paciente crítico pediátrico mediante el Biespectral Index Sensor (BIS) y analizar la relación entre el grado de sedación y las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas del paciente. Métodos Estudio observacional, analítico, transversal y multicéntrico de mayo de 2018 a enero de 2020 desarrollado en 5unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricas del territorio español. Se registraron como variables sociodemográficas y clínicas el sexo, la edad, motivo de ingreso, si el paciente tenía enfermedad crónica, el tipo y número de fármacos que se le estaban administrando y la duración de la estancia. Además, se anotaron los valores del BIS una vez por turno, mañana y noche, durante 24 h. Resultados Se incluyó en el estudio a un total de 261 pacientes, de los cuales el 53,64% eran del sexo masculino, con una edad mediana de 1,61 años (0,35-6,55). El 70,11% (n=183) estaban analgosedados y monitorizados con el sensor BIS. Se observó una mediana en las puntuaciones globales de BIS de 51,24±14,96 en el turno de mañana y de 50,75±15,55 en el de noche. No se detectó significación estadística al comparar los niveles de BIS y las diversas variables sociodemográficas y clínicas del paciente crítico pediátrico. Conclusiones A pesar de las limitaciones inherentes al sensor BIS, los estudios existentes y el que aquí se presenta muestran que el BIS es un instrumento útil para monitorizar el grado de sedación en el paciente crítico pediátrico. Se requieren más investigaciones que objetiven qué variables relacionadas con el paciente tienen más peso en al grado de analgosedación y que contrasten clínicamente la eficacia de escalas como, por ejemplo, la COMFORT Behavior Scale versión española. (AU)

Aims To determine the grade of sedation in the critically ill paediatric patient using Biespectral Index Sensor (BIS) and to analyse its relationship with sociodemographic and clinical patient variables. Methods Observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study performed from May 2018 to January 2020 in 5 Spanish paediatric critical care units. Sex, age, reason for admission, presence of a chronic pathology, type and number of drugs and length of stay were the sociodemographic and clinical variables registered. Furthermore, the grade of sedation was assessed using BIS, 11per shift over 24hours. Results A total of 261 paediatric patients, 53.64% of whom were male, with a median age of 1.61 years (0.35-6.55), were included in the study. Of the patients, 70.11% (n=183) were under analgosedation and monitored using the BIS sensor. A median of BIS values of 51.24±14.96 during the morning and 50.75±15.55 during the night were observed. When comparing BIS values and sociodemographic and clinical paediatric variables no statistical significance was detected. Conclusions Despite the limitations of the BIS, investigations and the present study show that BIS could be a useful instrument to assess grade of sedation in critically ill paediatric patients. However, further investigations which determine the sociodemographic and clinical variables involved in the grade of paediatric analgosedation, as well as studies that contrast the efficacy of clinical scales like the COMFORT Behaviour Scale-Spanish version, are required. (AU)

Grade of sedation in the critically ill pediatric patient and its correlation with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Multicentre COSAIP study.

AIMS: To determine the grade of sedation in the critically ill paediatric patient using Biespectral Index Sensor (BIS) and to analyse its relationship with sociodemographic and clinical patient variables. METHODS: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study performed from May 2018 to January 2020 in 5 Spanish paediatric critical care units. Sex, age, reason for admission, presence of a chronic pathology, type and number of drugs and length of stay were the sociodemographic and clinical variables registered. Furthermore, the grade of sedation was assessed using BIS, once per shift over 24 h. RESULTS: A total of 261 paediatric patients, 53.64% of whom were male, with a median age of 1.61 years (0.35-6.55), were included in the study. Of the patients, 70.11% (n = 183) were under analgosedation and monitored using the BIS sensor. A median of BIS values of 51.24 ±â€¯14.96 during the morning and 50.75 ±â€¯15.55 during the night were observed. When comparing BIS values and sociodemographic and clinical paediatric variables no statistical significance was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of the BIS, investigations and the present study show that BIS could be a useful instrument to assess grade of sedation in critically ill paediatric patients. However, further investigations which determine the sociodemographic and clinical variables involved in the grade of paediatric analgosedation, as well as studies that contrast the efficacy of clinical scales like the COMFORT Behaviour Scale-Spanish version, are required.

Specificity and sensibility of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale for assessing pain, grade of sedation and withdrawal syndrome in the critically ill paediatric patient. Multicentre COSAIP study (Phase 1). / Especificidad y sensibilidad de la COMFORT Behavior Scale-Versión española para valorar el dolor, el grado de sedación y síndrome de abstinencia en el paciente crítico pediátrico. Estudio multicéntrico COSAIP (Fase 1).

AIM: The main aim of this investigation was to analyse the specificity and sensibility of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale (CBS-S) in assessing grade of pain, sedation, and withdrawal syndrome in paediatric critical care patients. METHOD: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study conducted in Level III Intensive Care Areas of 5 children's university hospitals. Grade of sedation was assessed using the Spanish version of the CBS-S and the Bispectral Index on sedation, once per shift over one day. Grade of withdrawal was determined using the CBS-S and the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, once per shift over three days. RESULTS: A total of 261 critically ill paediatric patients with a median age of 5.07 years (P25:0.9-P75:11.7) were included in this study. In terms of the predictive capacity of the CBS-S, it obtained a Receiver Operation Curve of .84 (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76%) in relation to pain; .62 (sensitivity of 21% and specificity of 78%) in relation to sedation grade, and .73% (sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 74%) in determining withdrawal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behaviour Scale could be a useful, sensible and easy scale to assess the degree of pain, sedation and pharmacological withdrawal of critically ill paediatric patients.

Grade of sedation in the critically ill paediatric patient and its correlation with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Multicentre COSAIP study. / Grado de sedación del paciente crítico pediátrico y variables sociodemográficas y clínicas correlacionadas. Estudio multicéntrico COSAIP.

AIMS: To determine the grade of sedation in the critically ill paediatric patient using Biespectral Index Sensor (BIS) and to analyse its relationship with sociodemographic and clinical patient variables. METHODS: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional and multicentre study performed from May 2018 to January 2020 in 5 Spanish paediatric critical care units. Sex, age, reason for admission, presence of a chronic pathology, type and number of drugs and length of stay were the sociodemographic and clinical variables registered. Furthermore, the grade of sedation was assessed using BIS, 11per shift over 24hours. RESULTS: A total of 261 paediatric patients, 53.64% of whom were male, with a median age of 1.61 years (0.35-6.55), were included in the study. Of the patients, 70.11% (n=183) were under analgosedation and monitored using the BIS sensor. A median of BIS values of 51.24±14.96 during the morning and 50.75±15.55 during the night were observed. When comparing BIS values and sociodemographic and clinical paediatric variables no statistical significance was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of the BIS, investigations and the present study show that BIS could be a useful instrument to assess grade of sedation in critically ill paediatric patients. However, further investigations which determine the sociodemographic and clinical variables involved in the grade of paediatric analgosedation, as well as studies that contrast the efficacy of clinical scales like the COMFORT Behaviour Scale-Spanish version, are required.

Niveles de ruido ambiental en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos con diferente infraestructura / Comparative analysis of environmental noise levels in two paediatric intensive care units

OBJETIVOS: 1) Determinar los niveles de ruido ambiental en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP) de un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel asistencial y 2) analizar si dichos valores cumplen con la normativa actual. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal llevado a cabo en dos UCIP con infraestructura diferente: boxes separados por cortinas y habitaciones individuales. Se empleó un sonómetro PCE-999 tipo 2 para determinar el ruido ambiental y la unidad de medida registrada fue en decibelios (dB). A la vez, se diseñó un documento de recogida de datos ad hoc diferenciando entre unidad (abierta y cerrada), hora de registro. RESULTADOS: Se recogió un total de 330 determinaciones, 72 en la UCIP abierta y 258 en la de habitaciones individuales. El ruido ambiental que imperaba en la unidad de críticos abierta fue de 56,74 ± 3,6 decibelios versus 50,36 ± 4,7 en la de boxes individuales, observándose valores mayores en el turno diurno. DISCUSIÓN: Tal como sucede en otros estudios previos, se observa que el ruido que impera en la unidad excede los límites permitidos. Además, se coincide con el hecho de que las principales fuentes de ruido ambiental de la UCI provienen de las alarmas, la maquinaria, como monitores o respiradores y las conversaciones entre profesionales sanitarios. CONCLUSIONES: Tras la presente investigación, se ha podido constatar que los niveles de ruido ambiental que imperan en las dos Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos analizadas son elevados. Los datos obtenidos apuntan a que la organización arquitectónica de concepto cerrado puede tener un impacto a la hora de disminuir la generación de dicho input medioambiental

AIMS: 1) To determine noise levels in two paediatric intensive care units (PICU) of a tertiary hospital and 2) to analyse whether these values comply with the current standards. METHOD: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out in two PICU with different infrastructure: bays separated by curtains and individual bedrooms. A PCE-999 sound level meter was used to determine noise levels, which were registered in decibels (dB). At the same time, an ad hoc data recording document was designed in which we differentiated between each unit (open concept or closed), time of recording. RESULTS: A total of 330 tests, 72 from open PICUs and 258 from closed PICUs were collected. The noise in the open PICU was 56.74 ± 3.61 decibels versus 50.36 ± 4.71 in the closed PICU, obtaining the highest levels during the morning. DISCUSSION: As it occurs in other studies, noise levels exceed the allowed limits. At the same time, the main sources of noise in the PICU came from alarms, medical equipment, such as monitors or respirators, and conversations between health professional. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation has shown high levels of environmental noise in the two PICUs analysed. The data obtained indicate that the architectural concept of individual bedrooms may have an impact in decreasing this environmental input

Comparative analysis of environmental noise levels in two paediatric intensive care units. / Niveles de ruido ambiental en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos con diferente infraestructura.

AIMS: 1) To determine noise levels in two paediatric intensive care units (PICU) of a tertiary hospital and 2) to analyse whether these values comply with the current standards. METHOD: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out in two PICU with different infrastructure: bays separated by curtains and individual bedrooms. A PCE-999 sound level meter was used to determine noise levels, which were registered in decibels (dB). At the same time, an ad hoc data recording document was designed in which we differentiated between each unit (open concept or closed), time of recording. RESULTS: A total of 330 tests, 72 from open PICUs and 258 from closed PICUs were collected. The noise in the open PICU was 56.74 ± 3.61 decibels versus 50.36 ± 4.71 in the closed PICU, obtaining the highest levels during the morning. DISCUSSION: As it occurs in other studies, noise levels exceed the allowed limits. At the same time, the main sources of noise in the PICU came from alarms, medical equipment, such as monitors or respirators, and conversations between health professional. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation has shown high levels of environmental noise in the two PICUs analysed. The data obtained indicate that the architectural concept of individual bedrooms may have an impact in decreasing this environmental input.

Complicaciones del traslado intrahospitalario del paciente pediátrico en oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea / Complications during intra-hospital transport of pediatric patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

No disponible

La teoría del confort en los cuidados enfermeros / Comfort theory in nursing care

Introducción: Etimológicamente, el concepto de «confort» deriva de la palabra inglesa comfort y se refiere a todo aquello que produce comodidad y genera bienestar a la persona. Una de las personas que más ha estudiado en profundidad esta idea es la enfermera gerontológica Katherine Kolcaba, que la definió como la experiencia inmediata y holística de la persona de fortalecerse cuando se abordan las necesidades para tres tipos de confort: alivio, tranquilidad y trascendencia. Además, es importante tener en cuenta los contextos donde este confort se puede aplicar: físico, psicoespiritual, ambiental y social. Los preceptos teóricos de Katherine Kolcaba reafirman la idea de que las intervenciones de confort no suelen ser intervenciones técnicas, sino que complementan la asistencia clínica, a la vez que abogan por satisfacer las necesidades humanas básicas. En este sentido, la disciplina enfermera tiene un papel relevante. Discusión y conclusiones: Como consecuencia de este concepto de subjetividad, el confort es difícil de valorar y objetivar, por lo que, dentro de su determinación, se han de tener en consideración el empleo de diversos instrumentos objetivos validados como el Comfort Questionnaire, desarrollado por Katherine Kolcaba. El confort debe valorarse y considerarse desde una perspectiva humanística, holística, multidimensional e interdisciplinar resultado de las interacciones de la persona con percepciones, situaciones y objetos modificables a lo largo del tiempo y el espacio. Dentro de esta inclusión del confort en el cuidado del paciente, la enfermera juega un papel importante

Introduction: Etymologically, «comfort» concept is derived from English language and it refers to everything that produces ease and generates welfare. One of the most important people in the study of comfort from a nursing perspective was the gerontolist Katherine Kolcaba who defined it as the immediate holistic experience of being strengthened through addressing the three types of comfort: relief, ease, and transcendence. At the same time we should also consider the four contexts in which comfort can be attained: the physical, the psychospiritual, sociocultural and environmental. Katherine Kolcaba theorical precepts reinforce the notion that comfort interventions are not related to technical interventions, but rather to clinical assistance, at the same time that it advocates for meeting basic human needs. Accordingly, nursing field has an important role. Discussion and conclusions: Comfort is a subjective concept that is very difficult to assess and objectify. Because of this subjectivity, comfort should be assessed using different tools like the comfort questionnaire developed by Katherine Kolcaba. Comfort, as a result of interactions between people, situations and objects developed over time, should be valued and considered from an humanistic, holistic, multidimensional and interdisciplinary perspective, in which the nurse plays an essential role

Construction and feasibility study of the SOFMER Activity Score (SAS), a new assessment of physical and cognitive activity.

OBJECTIVES: For hospitalizations in rehabilitation centers (RCs) in France, the quantification of healthcare givers' activity is based on the dependency of the patients, defined as a total or partial inability to perform activities required for daily living without help. The tools currently used to quantify dependency are not sufficiently precise. Here we describe the construction of a new tool, the SOFMER Activity Score (SAS scoring), which allows for a good description of the level of activity of patients hospitalized in RCs, and a feasibility study of the tool. METHODS: After a study group proposed the first version of the SAS, the validity of its content was studied by the Delphi consensus method: 26 physicians or healthcare professionals known for their expertise in PMR responded to the first round. The feasibility study was prospective and involved multi-site professionals. Data related to the SAS determined by a multidisciplinary team were collected and compared to the Activité de la Vie Quotidienne (AVQ) scale, which is administered to all patients and included in medical and administrative data. RESULTS: We included 81 patients in the feasibility study. The mean (SD) time to obtain the SAS was 4.5 (3.3) min. For 97.5% of scorings, the participating professionals judged that the SAS was compatible or fairly compatible with clinical practice. The internal structure of the SAS scale seemed better than that of the AVQ scale, for which the present study confirmed a floor effect for all items. CONCLUSIONS: The SAS allows for measuring the level of physical and cognitive activity of a patient hospitalized in an RC. If validation studies for the SAS, exploring its reliability, construct validity or criterion validity, confirm the tool's good metrological qualities, the SAS will allow for a good quantification of the burden of care.

Validez de contenido de una escala de confort crítico pediátrico mediante una metodología mixta / Validity of contents of a paediatric critical comfort scale using mixed methodology

Introducción: La enfermedad crítica en el paciente pediátrico incluye desde una patología aguda en un niño sano a una agudización de una enfermedad crónica, hecho que ha conllevado centrar su atención clínica en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos. El rol del/la enfermero/a pediátrico/a se centra también en promover el confort en estos pacientes críticos. Por este motivo, es necesario disponer de instrumentos de medida que permitan un correcto sensado del grado de confort. Objetivo: Describir el proceso de validación de contenido de una escala de confort crítico pediátrico mediante el empleo de una metodología mixta. Material y métodos: Se realizó una adaptación transcultural del inglés al español mediante el método de traducción-retraducción de la Comfort Behavior Scale. Posteriormente, se validó el contenido de la misma mediante una metodología mixta. Esta segunda etapa se dividió en una fase cuantitativa empleando un cuestionario ad hoc donde se valoró la relevancia/pertinencia y el redactado de cada dominio/ítem de la escala y en una cualitativa donde se realizaron dos reuniones con profesionales sanitarios, pacientes y un familiar siguiendo las recomendaciones de la metodología Delphi. Resultados: Todos los ítems y dominios obtuvieron un índice de validez de contenido >0,80, exceptuando el movimiento físico, en su relevancia, que obtuvo un 0,76. El índice global de validez de contenido de la escala fue de 0,87 (elevado). Durante la fase cualitativa se reformularon y/o eliminaron ítems de cada uno de los dominios de la escala para hacerla más comprensible y aplicable. Conclusiones: El empleo de una metodología mixta de validación de contenido otorga riqueza y sensibilidad evaluatoria al instrumento a diseñar (AU)

Introduction: Critical illness in paediatric patients includes acute conditions in a healthy child as well as exacerbations of chronic disease, and therefore these situations must be clinically managed in Critical Care Units. The role of the paediatric nurse is to ensure the comfort of these critically ill patients. To that end, instruments are required that correctly assess critical comfort. Objective: To describe the process for validating the content of a paediatric critical comfort scale using mixed-method research. Material and Methods: Initially, a cross-cultural adaptation of the Comfort Behavior Scale from English to Spanish using the translation and back-translation method was made. After that, its content was evaluated using mixed method research. This second step was divided into a quantitative stage in which an ad hoc questionnaire was used in order to assess each scale's item relevance and wording and a qualitative stage with two meetings with health professionals, patients and a family member following the Delphi Method recommendations. Results: All scale items obtained a content validity index >0.80, except physical movement in its relevance, which obtained 0.76. Global content scale validity was 0.87 (high). During the qualitative stage, items from each of the scale domains were reformulated or eliminated in order to make the scale more comprehensible and applicable. Conclusions: The use of a mixed-method research methodology during the scale content validity phase allows the design of a richer and more assessment-sensitive instrument (AU)

Validity of contents of a paediatric critical comfort scale using mixed methodology. / Validez de contenido de una escala de confort crítico pediátrico mediante una metodología mixta.

INTRODUCTION: Critical illness in paediatric patients includes acute conditions in a healthy child as well as exacerbations of chronic disease, and therefore these situations must be clinically managed in Critical Care Units. The role of the paediatric nurse is to ensure the comfort of these critically ill patients. To that end, instruments are required that correctly assess critical comfort. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process for validating the content of a paediatric critical comfort scale using mixed-method research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Initially, a cross-cultural adaptation of the Comfort Behavior Scale from English to Spanish using the translation and back-translation method was made. After that, its content was evaluated using mixed method research. This second step was divided into a quantitative stage in which an ad hoc questionnaire was used in order to assess each scale's item relevance and wording and a qualitative stage with two meetings with health professionals, patients and a family member following the Delphi Method recommendations. RESULTS: All scale items obtained a content validity index >0.80, except physical movement in its relevance, which obtained 0.76. Global content scale validity was 0.87 (high). During the qualitative stage, items from each of the scale domains were reformulated or eliminated in order to make the scale more comprehensible and applicable. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a mixed-method research methodology during the scale content validity phase allows the design of a richer and more assessment-sensitive instrument.

Diffusion Model for Describing the Regional Spread of Huanglongbing from First-Reported Outbreaks and Basing an Area Wide Disease Management Strategy.

Huanglongbing (HLB), a recent worldwide spreading disease on citrus, was detected in July 2009 in Yucatan State of Mexico. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fit of diffusion and classic disease gradient models to large-scale HLB spatial data originated from initial foci to improve sampling, monitoring, and control strategies for Diaphorina citri, vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), putative agent of HLB. Four transect routes were selected: Yuc-1, Yuc-2, QRoo-1, and QRoo-2, based on the directionality of the prevailing winds and foci location of HLB infected plants. In these routes, 35 sites, 5 to 20 km apart, were selected for monthly evaluation during a 12-month period. A 10-insect sample and disease incidence and severity of HLB, further confirmed by PCR, were assessed per site. Mexican lime was more vulnerable (67.5%) than sweet orange (14%). Also, leaf symptoms were mostly found with homogeneous distribution but rarely reaching 100% of the tree canopy during the 12-month period. The diffusion model provided the best fit among the family of time-gradient curves (r2 = 0.90 to 0.99) due to the flexibility of a three-parameter model. The gradients were well conformed to the model in a 25 to 82.6 km range, having the east-west direction the longest effect. Yuc-2 and QRoo-2 transects showed 82.6 and 43.9 km gradients with a diffusion coefficient (Do) of 0.15 and 0.09, respectively. This study constitutes the first quantitative evidence of the regional spread of CLas from a single focus and the application of a flexible model that improved the fit and allowed to better compare different gradients. These results are useful to determine the size of Regional Areas of Diaphorina citri Control (ARCO), a management program currently implemented in Mexico to combat HLB.

Vocal emotion processing deficits in HIV-infected individuals.

We aimed to explore the brain imaging correlates of vocal emotion processing in a group of HIV+ individuals and to compare the vocal emotion processing of HIV+ individuals with a group of healthy adults. We conducted multiple linear regressions to determine the cerebral correlates of a newly designed vocal emotion processing test in a sub-group of HIV+ individuals who completed the cerebral magnetic resonance scan (n = 36). Separately, we test whether the association between our test scores and each cerebral measure persisted regardless of the presence of neurocognitive impairment. We also calculated differences in average test scores between the total HIV+ group (n = 100) and a healthy adult group (n = 46). We found a positive association between the test scores and several brain area volumes: right frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, bilateral thalamus, and left hippocampus. We found a negative association between inflammatory markers in frontal white matter and the test scores. After controlling by neurocognitive impairment, several brain area volumes remained positively associated to the prosody test scores. Moreover, the whole HIV+ sample had significantly poorer test scores than healthy adults, but only in the subset of HIV+ individuals with neurocognitive impairment. For the first time, our results suggest that cerebral dysfunctions in particular brain areas involved in the processing of emotional auditory stimuli may occur in HIV+ individuals. These results highlight the need for broad characterization of the neuropsychological consequence of HIV brain damages.

Relationship between plasma bilirubin level and oxidative stress markers in HIV-infected patients on atazanavir- vs. efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic oxidative stress (OS) may play a role in cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients, and increased bilirubin levels may have a beneficial role in counteracting OS. Atazanavir (ATV) inhibits UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), thus increasing unconjugated bilirubin levels. We aimed to compare changes in OS markers in patients on ATV/ritonavir (ATV/r)- vs. efavirenz (EFV)-based first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: A multicentre, prospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients who started first-line ART with either ATV/r or EFV was conducted. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were measured for 145 patients in samples obtained at baseline and after at least 9 months of ART during which the initial regimen was maintained and the patient was virologically suppressed. The change in OS markers was modelled using multiple linear regressions adjusting for baseline values and confounders. RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline variables, patients on ATV/r had a significantly greater decrease in Lp-PLA2 [estimated difference -16.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) -31.4, -1.25; P = 0.03] and a significantly smaller increase in OxLDL (estimated difference -21.8; 95% CI -38.0, -5.6; P < 0.01) relative to those on EFV, whereas changes in MPO were not significantly different (estimated difference 1.2; 95% CI -14.3, 16.7; P = 0.88). Adjusted changes in bilirubin were significantly greater for the ATV/r group than for the EFV group (estimated difference 1.33 mg/dL; 95% CI 1.03, 1.52 mg/dL; P < 0.01). Changes in bilirubin and changes in OS markers were significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with EFV, ATV/r-based therapy was associated with lower levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, which was in part attributable to increased bilirubin levels.

Transmitted drug resistance to rilpivirine in newly diagnosed antiretroviral naive adults.

We characterized transmitted drug resistance to rilpivirine and the predicted efficacy of first-line rilpivirine-containing regimens in antiretroviral-naive Spanish patients. International Antiviral Society-USA mutations were detected in 138 of 2781 patients (4.9%), E138A (3.4%) being the most prevalent. Using the Stanford Algorithm, 121 patients (4.4%) showed low-level or intermediate resistance. No differences in the predicted efficacy of first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens were observed. As rilpivirine becomes more widely used in clinical practice, the evolution of its transmitted drug resistance will need to be monitored. In addition, the exact role of E138A singletons on rilpivirine activity as part of first-line regimens merits further evaluation.

Use of cohort data to estimate national prevalence of transmitted drug resistance to antiretroviral drugs in Spain (2007-2012).

Prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (pTDR) to antiretroviral drugs in Spain (2007-2012) was estimated using the CoRIS cohort, adjusting its territorial distribution and transmission route to the reference population from the Spanish Information System on New human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses. A total of 2702 patients from ten autonomous communities and with naive FASTA sequence within 6 months of human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis were selected. Weighted pTDR, estimated using the inverse probability of selection in the sample by autonomous communities and transmission group, was 8.12% (95% CI 6.44-9.80), not significantly different from unweighted pTDR. We illustrate how proportional weighting can maximize representativeness of cohort-based data, and its value to monitor pTDR at country level.

Decreasing prevalence of HCV coinfection in all risk groups for HIV infection between 2004 and 2011 in Spain.

While hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection seems to be expanding among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), the rate of coinfection in intravenous drug users (IDU) is assumed to remain constant. We evaluated the serial prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection across all risk groups for HIV infection in Spain. We used data from 7045 subjects included in the multicentre, prospective Spanish Cohort of Adult HIV-infected Patients (CoRIS) between 2004 and 2011. We analysed risk factors for HIV/HCV coinfection by logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection decreased from 25.3% (95% CI, 23.1-27.5) in 2004-2005 to 8.2% (95% CI, 6.9-9.5) in 2010-2011. This trend was consistently observed from 2004 to 2011 among all risk groups: IDU, 92.4% to 81.4%; MSM, 4.7% to 2.6%; heterosexual men, 13.0-8.9%; and heterosexual women, 14.5-4.0% (all P < 0.05). Strongest risk factors for HIV/HCV coinfection were IDU (OR, 54.9; 95% CI, 39.4-76.4), birth decade 1961-1970 (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.7) and low educational level (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6-3.5). Hence, the prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection decreased in Spain between 2004 and 2011. This decline was observed across all risk groups and is likely to be explained by a declining burden of HCV in the general population.