Description of a single centre cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis from the University Hospital of Buenos Aires and factors associated with lung function deterioration. A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Given the paucity of data in Latin America and especially in Argentina regarding the epidemiology of SSc, the prevalence of ILD, its course, and particularly the response to treatment, our objective was to evaluate a cohort of SSc patients evaluated in a single University Hospital in Buenos Aires. PATIENTS/METHODS: We included 152 patients with SSc, followed from disease onset to last pulmonary function test and with at least two PFT and up to 30 months between each. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent had diffuse SSc (DSSc) and 32% limited SSc (LSSc). The only significant clinical differences between these groups were a higher initial mRodnan score and prevalence of ILD in the DSSc. These also had significantly more anti Scl-70 (Topoisomerase 1) antibodies compared to the LSSC group who had significantly more anti centromere antibodies. The DSSc group also had significantly more extensive damage on HRCT with no differences in terms of imaging patterns. Comparing patients with and without ILD by HRCT, those with ILD had significantly more extensive damage, significantly more anti Scl-70 antibodies, and significantly fewer anti centromere antibodies than those without ILD. Patients whose ILD progressed had a smoking history (OR 4.97) and prior immunosuppressive treatment (OR 15.6) (multivariate analysis). Overall disease duration was significantly shorter in those who progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our SSc population had similar characteristics to those described elsewhere as well as prevalence of ILD and its progression. We found a shorter disease duration, smoking, and prior immunosuppressive treatment to be associated with ILD progression.

Description of a single centre cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis from the University Hospital of Buenos Aires and factors associated with lung function deterioration. A retrospective study / Descripción de una cohorte de pacientes con esclerosis sistémica del Hospital de la Universidad de Buenos Aires y factores asociados al deterioro de la función pulmonar. Un estudio retrospectivo

Introduction: Given the paucity of data in Latin America and especially in Argentina regarding the epidemiology of SSc, the prevalence of ILD, its course, and particularly the response to treatment, our objective was to evaluate a cohort of SSc patients evaluated in a single University Hospital in Buenos Aires. Patients/Methods: We included 152 patients with SSc, followed from disease onset to last pulmonary function test and with at least two PFT and up to 30 months between each. Results: Sixty-one percent had diffuse SSc (DSSc) and 32% limited SSc (LSSc). The only significant clinical differences between these groups were a higher initial mRodnan score and prevalence of ILD in the DSSc. These also had significantly more anti Scl-70 (Topoisomerase 1) antibodies compared to the LSSC group who had significantly more anti centromere antibodies. The DSSc group also had significantly more extensive damage on HRCT with no differences in terms of imaging patterns. Comparing patients with and without ILD by HRCT, those with ILD had significantly more extensive damage, significantly more anti Scl-70 antibodies, and significantly fewer anti centromere antibodies than those without ILD. Patients whose ILD progressed had a smoking history (OR 4.97) and prior immunosuppressive treatment (OR 15.6) (multivariate analysis). Overall disease duration was significantly shorter in those who progressed. Conclusions: Our SSc population had similar characteristics to those described elsewhere as well as prevalence of ILD and its progression. We found a shorter disease duration, smoking, and prior immunosuppressive treatment to be associated with ILD progression.(AU)

Introducción: La escasez de datos en Latinoamérica, y especialmente en Argentina, sobre la epidemiología de la esclerosis sistémica (SSc), la prevalencia de enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPID) y su progresión, llevó a evaluar una cohorte de pacientes con SSc atendidos en un hospital universitario de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pacientes/Métodos: Incluimos 152 pacientes con SSc, seguidos desde el inicio de la enfermedad hasta el último examen funcional respiratorio (EFR) y con por lo menos dos EFR separados por un mínimo de 30 meses. Resultados: El 61% tenían enfermedad difusa (DSSc) y el 32%, limitada (LSSc). Aquellos con DSSc tuvieron significativamente un mayor índice modificado de Rodnan y prevalencia de EPID. Estos también tuvieron significativamente más anticuerpos anti-Scl-70 (topoisomerasa 1) comparados con LSSc, quienes tuvieron significativamente más anticuerpos anti-centrómero. Aquellos con DSSc mostraron significativamente más daño en la tomografía computada de alta resolución (TACAR), pero sin diferencias respecto a patrón de imágenes. Aquellos con EPID por TACAR tuvieron significativamente más daño, más anticuerpos anti Scl-70 y menos anticuerpos anti-centrómero que aquellos sin EPID. La progresión de EPID (análisis multivariado) se relacionó con consumo de tabaco (OR: 4,97) y uso previo de inmunosupresores (OR: 15,6). La duración de la enfermedad fue menor en los que progresaron. Conclusiones:Nuestra población de SSc tuvo características similares a lo descripto en el resto del mundo, así como la prevalencia y la progresión de EPID. Encontramos una menor duración de enfermedad, el consumo de tabaco y el uso previo de inmunosupresores asociados a la progresión de EPID.(AU)

Clinical Efficacy of Platelet Derivatives in Periodontal Tissue Regeneration: An Umbrella Review.

Objectives: This umbrella review aimed to consolidate the best available evidence regarding the clinical efficacy of platelet derivatives in the treatment of periodontal defects associated with periodontitis and in the management of mucogingival deformities. Materials and Methods: The "umbrella review" strategy was used to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The search was performed without language restrictions and updated at the end of February 2023. The PubMed and Scopus databases, together with gray literature, were included in the search. Results: The search yielded 412 studies. Subsequently, 12 articles were selected for further examination based on relevance. Finally, eight systematic reviews and meta-analyses were assessed. Regarding intrabony defects, in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was observed to lead to a statistically significant attachment gain compared to surgical therapy alone. PRF was also found to show greater CAL gain compared to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other biomaterials. The parameter probing depth decreased significantly when PRF was used compared to surgical therapy alone (P < 0.05). Similar results were seen when leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) was applied. In terms of radiographic bone fill, both PRF and PRP showed significantly greater bone fill compared to surgical therapy. Regarding the results of periodontal plastic surgery, PRF favored a slight root coverage compared to the coronally displaced flap. This result depended on the number of PRF and L-PRF membranes used, but Emdogain or connective tissue graft produced better results regardless. However, an improvement in the healing of periodontal tissues was reported. Conclusions: Therapies with platelet derivatives applied to intrabony defects provided superior regenerative results compared to monotherapies, except in the case of root coverage.

Nuevas áreas de vida ­ Revisión muerte súbita 2018 / New areas of life ­ Sudden death review 2018

Una de cada cinco muertes en adultos en países desarrollados se debe a causas cardiovasculares; la mitad de esas muertes se produce de forma súbita y un gran porcentaje en el ámbito extrahospitalario. Las medidas de prevención se dividen en: aquellas destinadas a prevenir en primer lugar que el evento de muerte súbita cardíaca suceda, y aquellas cuyo objetivo es actuar en el momento en que el evento de muerte súbita está sucediendo. Las primeras tienen como objetivo disminuir las principales causas de muerte súbita en países desarrollados: las cardiopatías estructurales (cuya principal causa es la enfermedad coronaria). En este sentido, con el fin de intentar paliar el desarrollo de una cardiopatía que predisponga a la aparición de arritmias fatales y la MSC, se implementan medidas de prevención primarias higiénico-dietéticas y farmacológicas (con el objetivo de disminuir y el controlar los factores de riesgo) y, en aquellos con enfermedad cardiovascular ya establecida, se implementan las estrategias secundarias farmacológicas y/o quirúrgicas (revascularización, reemplazo valvular, etc.). El segundo abordaje surge del hecho de que, a pesar de todas estas medidas, un gran número de pacientes presentará eventos arrítmicos en el ámbito extrahospitalario (MSCEH), ya sea porque aunque recibieron el tratamiento óptimo presentan aún un elevado riesgo de MSC, porque no fueron diagnosticados a tiempo o porque a pesar de haber hecho estudios complementarios el diagnóstico es muy dificultoso. Existen dos estrategias: la primera son los dispositivos de cardiodesfibrilación implantables (o, más recientes, los chalecos vestibles). Estos aparatos están indicados para una población seleccionada, sea por haber presentado ya un episodio de muerte súbita abortado, o por presentar una cardiopatía (estructural o genética) que predisponga a una mayor probabilidad de sufrir un evento. La segunda estrategia es la educación y el desarrollo de programas de salud pública que permitan capacitar a la población general en la realización de RCP y el uso de desfibriladores automáticos externos (DEAs), los cuales deberían estar disponibles en cualquier lugar público. Múltiples estudios demostraron que el acceso de la población general al aprendizaje de maniobras de RCP sencillas y pragmáticas y la presencia de DEAs se traduce en un gran aumento de sobrevida sin secuelas en víctimas de MSCEH. (AU)

One of every five deaths in adults is due to cardiovascular causes, in developed countries, and half of these deaths will occur suddenly. A large percentage occur in the out of hospital setting, so measures to prevent it are divided into: those designed to prevent, in the first place, the sudden cardiac death event from happening and those whose purpose is to act when the sudden death event that has already occurred and it´s ongoing. The first aims to reduce the main causes of sudden death in developed countries: structural heart disease (with coronary heart disease as its main cause). In this regard, with the purpose to mitigate the development of a heart disease that predisposes the occurrence of fatal arrhythmias and SCD, we have primary prevention measures, like healthy life style conduct with or without pharmacological treatment, (whose objective is the reduction and control of cardiovascular risk factors) and, in those with cardiovascular disease already established, there is an implementation of pharmacological and / or surgical strategies (Revascularization, valve replacement, etc.). The second objective arises from the fact that, despite all these preventive and therapeutic measures, a large number of patients will present out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) either because although they received optimal treatment they still remain in high risk of SCD, even because they were not diagnosed on time, or because despite having complementary studies made the diagnosis is very difficult. There are two well strategies: the first are implantable cardio-defibrillation devices (or, more recently, wearable vests). These are indicated for a selected population, either because they have already presented an episode of sudden aborted death, or because they have heart disease (structural or genetic), which predisposes to a greater probability of suffering an event. The second strategy is the education and development of public health programs that enable the general population to be trained in CPR and the use of external automatic defibrillators. (AEDs) should be available in any public place. Multiple studies showed that access to the general population for learning simple and pragmatic CPR maneuvers and the presence of AEDs is making an impact on a significant increase in survival without consequences in OHCA victims. (AU)