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Objective: To assess whether PSA velocity (PSV) is related to pathological findings in surgical specimen, biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS), cancer-related survival (CRS), and overall survival (OS)., Materials and Methods: A retrospective and prospective observational cohort study on 265 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) from 2000 to 2008. PSAV was calculated arithmetically and by linear regression analysis, using PSA values in the year prior to diagnosis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to detect variables associated to extracapsular disease (ECD). Variables related to BRFS, CRS, and OS were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methodology (PSAV 3 ng/mL/year) and a multivariate Cox regression analysis. The ability of PSA velociy to predict BRFS, CRS, and OS was evaluated by c-index., Results: Median follow-up was 56.16 months (9.14-106.75). Median PSAV was 0.65 and 0.63 ng/ml/year using the arithmetic and regression methods respectively. ECD was detected in 74 specimens (27.92%), and biochemical recurrence in 50 patients (18.87%). Cancer-related mortality was seen in 4 patients (1.52%) and overall mortality in 16 (6.08%). In the multivariate analysis, PSAV was not related to ECD. PSAV was an independent predictor for BRFS (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13, p=0.008), CRS (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.00-1.50, p=0.048), and OS (RR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.18-1.55, p<0.001) in the multivariate Cox regression analysis., Conclusions: PSAV is a preoperative parameter that predicts for BFRS, CRS, and OS in patients undergoing RP. No association was found between PSA velocity and presence of ECD.

Background: Several studies that have analyzed differences in psychological and self-management variables between patients with a near-fatal asthma (NFA) attack and asthmatics without a NFA attack (non-NFA) have shown conflicting results, probably due to the heterogeneity of the events studied and the selection of comparison groups., Objective: To determine whether NFA patients, in stable situation, have greater psychological morbidity and worse self-management behavior than non-NFA patients with similar sociodemographic and clinical characteristics., Methods: A sample of 44 NFA patients (mean=5.65 years after the NFA episode) and 44 non-NFA patients matched for age, sex, and asthma severity was assessed. All patients were in clinical stable situation. Information about sociodemographic, clinical, functional, and morbidity variables was collected for each patient, and the Cognitive Depression Inventory, the Trait-Anxiety Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Practical Knowledge of Self-management questionnaire, and the Medication Adherence scale were administered., Results: In comparison with non-NFA patients, NFA patients showed higher levels of trait-anxiety (23.84 vs. 16.86; P=.001) and more difficulties describing and communicating feelings (11.36 vs. 8.90; P=.002). NFA and non-NFA patients did not differ in self-management variables. After adjustment in multivariate logistic regression analysis for age, sex, and asthma severity, significant differences were observed between NFA and control group patients in marital status [odds ratio (OR)=0.26; P=.017; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.09-0.78], prescribed dose of inhaled corticoids (OR=4.48; P=.006;95% CI=1.53-13.09), and trait-anxiety (OR=1.071;P=.025;95%CI=1.01-1.14)., Conclusions: NFA patients show higher psychological morbidity than non-NFA, even years after the NFA episode., (2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the validity of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) for the evaluation and definition of disease activity of axial psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: Fifty-four peripheral PsA, 46 axial PsA, and 103 primary ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were assessed. Patients were classified as having axial PsA if they had grade 2 or higher unilateral sacroiliitis in the presence of spinal symptoms. The 3 groups of patients were evaluated using several measurements for AS. Assessments of acceptability, data quality, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness of the BASDAI were undertaken. Disease activity of the disease was assessed in peripheral PsA and axial PsA patients using the BASDAI, and compared with those with AS., Results: For peripheral PsA patients, the Cronbach's alpha for the BASDAI was 0.783, for axial PSA patients it was 0.647, and for AS patients it was 0.786. The analysis of convergent validity showed that in peripheral PsA and axial PsA patients, the BASDAI was significantly correlated with other subjective disease activity parameters. For responsiveness, no association was found between changes in the BASDAI and changes in disease activity either in peripheral PsA or in axial PsA. BASDAI scores were similar in axial PsA and AS. Axial PsA patients with a BASDAI score >4 cm showed significant differences with peripheral PsA in terms of disease activity and were very similar to patients with AS., Conclusion: The BASDAI performed similarly in evaluating disease activity in both axial and peripheral PsA. The BASDAI does not seem to be a good index for evaluating disease activity in axial PsA.

Introduction and Objective: There is little information available regarding the course of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a general hospital. The aim of this study was to analyse the timing of the most important clinical features attributed to alcohol withdrawal, as well as their prognostic implications., Material and Method: A cohort study of patients with a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal syndrome was carried out at the Xeral Hospital in Lugo (Spain) between 1987 and 2003, in accordance with DSM IV-TR criteria. Data on clinical characteristics and course were collected, with special attention to the timing of significant events., Results: A total of 539 episodes were studied in 436 patients: 156 cases of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and 383 of alcohol withdrawal delirium. Mean time of abstinence until the diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal syndrome was 54 hours (D.T. = 31.1). Seizures occurred at 35 hours (D.T. = 23.3) after abstinence. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome lasted for 46.4 hours (D.T. = 23.1) after diagnosis. In cases in which delirium tremens developed, this occurred at 46.4 hours (D.T. = 23.1), and lasted 73.9 hours (D.T. = 41.5). Patients needing intensive care were admitted to the ICU 40.8 hours (D.T. = 60) after the diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The clinical features of alcohol withdrawal syndrome tended to be more prolonged in patients admitted with a medical or surgical diagnosis other than withdrawal syndrome than in those admitted because of withdrawal syndrome itself., Conclusions: The natural history of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a general hospital setting and the timings of its principal events follow a clearly recognizable pattern. This knowledge can help to provide better assessment in relation to the monitoring and treatment of these patients.

Purpose: To determine if a delay between prostate biopsy (PB) and radical prostatectomy (RP) has an impact on pathological findings and prognosis of prostate cancer patients (PCa)., Material and Methods: Patients (n = 232) who underwent RP, with at least two postoperative PSA readings., Design: retrospective observational cohort study., Period: May 2000-March 2007. Delay was defined as time in months between PB and RP., Statistical Analysis: delay was analysed as a continuous variable or else categorised according to the median (6 months). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to define variables associated with extracapsular disease. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) was studied using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis., Results: Differences between delay groups < or = and > 6 months were significant only with regards to age (p = 0.041), considering both groups as comparable. Differences between groups related to pathological variables were not observed in any case. Mean followup was not significantly different between both groups (p = 0.112). The probability of extracapsular disease varied significantly depending on PSA, biopsy Gleason score and the percentage of positive cores, while multivariate analysis found no relationship with delay. Biochemical relapse was detected in 39 cases (16.81%). BRFS in delay < or = 6 months group was 86.1%, 78.4%, 78.4% and 78.4% at 1, 2, 5 and 7 years, while BRFS in delay > 6 months group was 88.9%, 82.8%, 77.4%, 77.4% and 77.4% at 1, 2, 5 and 7 years (p = 0.632). Delay was not associated with BRFS in multivariate analysis; only the percentage of positive cores independently predicted BRFS. In patients with high-grade PCa, percentage of positive cores was the only independent variable to predict extracapsular disease and BRFS. Delay was not associated with extracapsular disease or BRFS., Conclusions: Reasonable surgical delay does not cause a significant negative impact on pathological findings of RP specimens, nor in the BRFS of patients with localized PCa.

Background: Heart surgery is associated with an occurrence of pulmonary complications. The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-surgery respiratory physiotherapy reduces the incidence of post-surgery pulmonary complications., Methods: Observational study of 263 patients submitted to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery at the A Coruña University Hospital (Spain). 159 (60.5%) patients received preoperative physiotherapy. The fact that patients received preoperative physiotherapy or not was related to whether they were admitted to the cardiac surgery unit or to an alternative unit due to a lack of beds. A physiotherapist provided a daily session involving incentive spirometry, deep breathing exercises, coughing and early ambulation. A logistic regression analysis was carried out in order to identify variables associated with pulmonary complications., Results: Both groups of patients (those that received physiotherapy and those that did not) were similar in age, sex, body mass index, creatinine, ejection fraction, number of affected vessels, O2 basal saturation, prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, exposure to tobacco, age at smoking initiation, number of cigarettes/day and number of years as a smoker. The most frequent postoperative complications were hypoventilation (90.7%), pleural effusion (47.5%) and atelectasis (24.7%). In the univariate analysis, prophylactic physiotherapy was associated with a lower incidence of atelectasis (17% compared to 36%, p = 0.01). After taking into account age, sex, ejection fraction and whether the patients received physiotherapy or not, we observed that receiving physiotherapy is the variable with an independent effect on predicting atelectasis., Conclusion: Preoperative respiratory physiotherapy is related to a lower incidence of atelectasis.

Objective: To determine the clinical usefulness of spinal mobility measurements used for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to assess spinal involvement in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: We assessed 100 patients with PsA and 103 patients with AS. Patients were classified as having axial PsA if they had grade 2 or higher unilateral sacroiliitis in the presence of spinal symptoms. All PsA patients, without taking the degree of joint involvement into consideration, were evaluated using several measurements for AS. Spinal measurements were compared with axial and peripheral forms of PsA, and the ability of the techniques to discriminate between the 2 forms of PsA was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A logistic regression model was used to determine the best measurements for evaluating axial PsA. Finally, the results of measurements for axial PsA were compared with those for AS., Results: Of the 100 PsA patients, 46 met the classification criteria for axial PsA, which presented more severe spinal measurement assessments compared with peripheral PsA. Modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, chest expansion, and cervical rotation measurements performed best under the ROC curve. Modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, and cervical rotation were the more suitable measurements for assessing axial PsA. There were only minor differences between axial PsA and AS., Conclusion: The spinal measurements used to evaluate AS performed well to assess spinal involvement in PsA. These measurements, notably the modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, and cervical rotation, should be used in daily clinical practice to assess PsA patients with spinal involvement.

Introduction: Despite its frequency and high clinical burden, few studies have analyzed the clinical features of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a hospital setting. Our purpose was to describe its manifestations and clinical course in a general hospital., Patients and Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal since January 1983 to December 2003, according to the revised fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, at the Xeral-Calde General Hospital in Lugo, were studied. Clinical and biochemical data at admission were collected, as well as those referred to the clinical course and complications., Results: 539 episodes in 436 patients were included. Mean age was 45 (standard deviation: 12), and 91,3% were men. Abstinence was the reason for admission in 62,3%. 71,1% had a diagnosis of delirium tremens during their stay. Hallucinations were present in 59,7%, and convulsions (most of them generalized) in 41%. Patients with delirium tremens had greater elevations in temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as more convulsions than minor withdrawal cases. Cirrhosis was present in 10%. The admission rate to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was 37,8% (95% confidence interval [95%IC]: 33,1-37,8). Of these, 69,9% needed mechanical ventilation. Mortality rate was 6,6% (95%IC: 4,2-9,1). 62% of patients died after admission in the ICU., Conclusion: The majority of complications related to the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a hospital setting develop in patients with delirium tremens. They are especially related to the rate of admissions to the ICU and the use of mechanical ventilation.

Research and investigation is an essential activity for nursing professionals. The evident increase in research and investigation by nursing professionals over recent years has not been exempt of difficulties nor limitations which pose obstacles for this research. We can mention the lack of a research tradition among members ot this professional group, the variability present in the formation of nurses in different nursing schools, and a deficit in professional development regarding methodological and statistical aspects. In this article, the authors debate some of the most frequent methodological and statistical problems detected in nursing publications in terms design, analysis and interpretation of results in research and investigation.

To analyse the influence of cold ischemic time (CIT) (2-24 h) and of cryopreservation (liquid phase) on the viability of the valvular fibroblasts and in the presence of apoptosis. Cardiac valves from 10 pigs were evaluated by anatomo-pathological study of the wall, muscle and leaflet. At the same time, the presence of cellular death due to apoptosis was investigated in two ways; directly on tissue by Apodetec system and by two-colour flow cytometry assay analyzing a suspension of fibroblast from valve leaflets using Anexina V and propidium iodure (PI). We established three groups of samples to compare different experimental conditions: 2 h of ischemia (group 1), 24 h of ischemia (group 2), and a programme of cryopreservation (-1 degrees C/min) after 2 h of ischemia, followed by storage in liquid nitrogen during a week and thawing was performed (group 3). The analysis of viabilities showed slight differences between all three groups. The results indicated CIT of 24 h undergoing more structural affectation than CIT of 2 h. Flow cytometry analysis did not show important differences between groups; however cryopreserved samples (group 3) slightly less viability and a higher percentage of death by apoptosis than group 1 and 2 using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was confirmed on tissue from all valves but mainly in samples of group 2 and group 3. In summary, the viability of the valves in the case of ischemic times of 2 h, 24 h or after cryopreservation/thawing differs slightly. The death of the cells is mainly mediated by necrosis and not by apoptosis.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in a population of patients with overweight and obesity of the A Coruña and Granada health areas, using the definitions of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATP III) and of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)., Patients and Methods: During a period extending from 1996 to 2003, only those patients attending endocrinology outpatient clinics for whom all the anthropometric and biochemical parameters used to define the MS, both according to the ATP IIII and the IDF, were available were selected. The final study sample consisted of 285 patients, 198 females (69.5%) and 87 males (30.5%)., Results: The prevalence of the MS was 29.8% when the ATP III definition was applied, and 41.1% according to the IDF criteria. Prevalence by sex was 32.2% in men and 28.8% in women according to the ATP III, and 42.5% and 40.4%, respectively, according to the IDF., Conclusions: In a patient population with overweight or obesity, the prevalence of the MS is higher when the IDF criteria, instead of the ATP III criteria, are used. These findings may have significant implications when it comes to addressing early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in these patients, in order to perform therapeutic measures at the initial stages and thereby reduce metabolic and cardiovascular complications.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to quantify the incidence of cardiovascular events and identify the clinical relevance of modifiable variables., Materials and Methods: The 1729 patients who underwent renal transplantation from 1981 to 2004 were evaluated in an observational, prospective follow-up study with no exclusions. A cardiovascular event was defined as the presence of ischemic cardiac disease (chest pain-myocardial infarction), cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmia (auricular fibrillation), peripheral vascular disease, or cerebrovascular accident. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression analysis was applied. Having identified the predictive variables of cardiovascular events, the population attributable fraction (PAF) and the etiological fraction (EF) were estimated. A risk score was calculated using Cox regression coefficients., Results: The accumulated incidence of cardiovascular events was 22.2%, with an incidence rate of 468.6 x 10,000 follow-up years. From the Cox regression model, the variables with an independent effect close to statistical significance to predict cardiovascular events were as follows: recipient age (RR = 1.05), smoking at the time of the transplantation (RR = 2.1), left ventricle hypertrophy during follow-up (RR = 2.4), prior diabetes mellitus, and obesity (body mass index >or=30). At the time of transplantation, 41.7% were smokers. During follow-up, a clear difference was observed in the incidence rates of cardiovascular events between smokers and nonsmokers. Similar phenomena were observed for left ventricle hypertrophy and obesity. The resulting scores ranged between 0 and 5. The area under the ROC curve of the score for the prediction of cardiovascular events was 0.74., Conclusion: The incidence of cardiovascular events was consistent with the literature. A series of modifiable variables of major clinical relevance exist to decrease the frequency of cardiovascular events following renal transplantation.

Objective: To describe short-term time off work procedures, its duration and the determining factors in an active population covered by health insurance at a health centre., Design: Descriptive and observational study of prevalence., Setting: Ribadeo Health Centre, Lugo, Spain., Participants: All sickness certificates issued in 2000-2002 were included (n=1714)., Main Measurements: The age and sex of each patient, amount of time off, place of residence (rural/urban), job (according to CNAE-93), type of social security cover, and cause of illness (according to CIE-9) were all recorded., Results: The short-term time off rate ran at 14.79 per 100 persons a year. Mean age was 40.13 (SD, 12.08); 936 (54.6%) were male. 85.7% of time-off periods were due to chronic illness, 12.2% to accidents not at work and 2.1% to accidents at work. Main associated pathologies were bone and muscular problems (25.7%), respiratory system problems (16.4%), and traumatisms (16.2%). All episodes accounted for the loss of 114,355 working days. Mean days lost per worker were 99.79 (SD, 136.37). Mean days lost per episode were 66.72 (SD, 98.79). Multivariate analysis showed that longer episodes were associated with older patients, women and the self-employed or workers at home. The longest periods off work were caused by cancer and mental disorders., Conclusions: Age, sex, job, and pathology are variables related to short-term time off work.

Objective: To determine whether the development of an artificial neural network (ANN) made up of clinical variables allows for the prediction of prostate biopsy (PB) outcome., Materials and Methods: Patients (n=953) underwent PB at the Arquitecto Marcide Hospital in Ferrol (Spain), between january 2000 and june 2005. The variables studied were age, PSA, digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate volume, data for all of which were available in 843 cases. In order to determine factors related to prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis, a logistic regression analysis and a feed-forward neural network were developed, including three hidden layer nodes and an output node, representing the probability of PC. Both models were constructed from a random sample of n=643 patients (derivation set). The predictive capacity was assessed with the remaining 200 patients (validation set), by means of ROC curves and the area under the curve (AUC)., Results: PC was detected in 500 (59.3%) cases. Adjusting for age, PSA, digital rectal examination and prostate volume, in a multivariate logistic regression model it was observed that all the variables were independent predictors of PC. The AUC were 0.693 for PSA, 0.707 for prostate volume, 0.815 for logistic regression and 0.819 for ANN. The predictive capacity of the ANN was significantly higher than that of the PSA (p=0.002) and prostate volume (p<0,001) and similar to that of logistic regression (p=0.760)., Conclusions: The ANN shows a PC prediction capacity that is significantly higher than unimodal diagnosis methods, and similar to that of logistic regression.

To determine the rate of phlebitis cases and their risk factors, the authors carried out a prospective follow-up study in an internal medicine unit. 553 catheters pertaining to 266 patients were analyzed. The length of time a catheter was used did not have any significant bearing on the development of phlebitis. The rate of phlebitis cases was more frequent when medication was infused at intermittent intervals. The use of intravenous antibiotics significantly increased the risk of phlebitis when compared to the administration of other types of medication.

The objective of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction with direct current (DC) cardioversion and the prevalence of discomfort after the process. A descriptive study of patients (N = 75) who underwent DC cardioversion in the cardiology department of the Juan Canalejo Hospital, Spain, was conducted. As many as 53.8% of the patients stated that they experienced discomfort with DC cardioversion. The factors associated with relatively more discomfort were being a female and younger age. Receiving information before DC cardioversion protected against discomfort (OR = 0.16). All of the patients were satisfied with the way they were treated, but 21.2% were not satisfied with the results. After adjusting for different covariates, patients who were informed about cardioversion before the procedure were more satisfied with the treatment (OR = 4.9). The patients showed a high degree of satisfaction with the treatment received. Information increases the probability of satisfaction and decreases discomfort.

An established method for the cryopreservation of human femoral arteries for subsequent transplantation as allografts has been studied with particular attention to preservation of smooth muscle and endothelium. Human femoral arteries (HFAs) were harvested from multi-organ donors. Two groups were established; a control group of unfrozen HFAs and a group of cryopreserved HFAs. Cryopreservation was performed using RPMI solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and the rate of cooling was 1 degrees C/min to -40 degrees C and faster thereafter until -150 degrees C was reached. The contraction and relaxation responses of unfrozen and frozen/thawed arteries were assessed by measurement of the isometric force generated by the HFAs in an organ bath. After thawing (warming was at 15 degrees C/min) the maximal contractile response to noradrenaline was 43% of the response of unfrozen HFAs. The endothelium-independent response to sodium nitroprusside was not altered, whereas the endothelium-dependent relaxation response to acetylcholine was slightly altered. The cryopreservation method used provided limited preservation of the contractility of human femoral arteries, and good preservation of both endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent relaxation responses.

The aim of this study was to review the main causes of death as determined by autopsy of deceased solid organ transplant recipients. We reviewed 156 autopsies including 76 heart, 32 liver, 29 kidney, and 19 lung transplant recipients. The mean survival period varied depending on the transplanted organ: namely heart, 497 days; liver, 189 days; kidney, 1124 days; and lung, 252 days. Infections were the most common cause of death in all groups, varying from 21% in heart to 63% in lung recipients. Acute rejection, chronic rejection, and malignancies only appeared as the cause of death in heart recipients (14.5%, 9.2%, and 4%, respectively). Primary graft failure was present in heart (15.7%), kidney (3.4%), and lung (5.3%) recipients. The highest rate of surgical complications as a cause of death was observed in heart transplant recipients. In all groups there was a significant percentage (about 30%) of other pathologies that were responsible for death, such as pulmonary embolism, central nervous system pathology, acute pancreatitis, digestive hemorrhage, and acute myocardial infarction. Our results emphasize that infections are the main cause of death within the first year posttransplant, independent of the organ transplanted.

Several in vitro studies have demonstrated diminished post-thaw functional activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of thawing and storage method used on the post-thaw functional activity of cryopreserved pig aortas with the aim of adjusting the freezing and thawing protocol so that the vascular segments are preserved in the best possible state, maintaining structure and functionality so that they can later be transplanted with success. In vitro responses of frozen, thawed pig aortas were used to investigate the functional activity after thawing at 15 degrees C and 100 degrees C/min and after storage in gas or liquid phase of liquid nitrogen. Cryopreservation was performed in RPMI 1640 medium + 10% dimethylsulfoxide and the rate of cooling was -1 degrees C/min, until -150 degrees C was reached. After thawing the maximal contractile responses to all the contracting agonists tested (KCl, noradrenaline) were in the ranges of 13-27% compared with the responses in unfrozen pig aortas. Contractile responses were slightly better when thawing was performed at 15 degrees C/min compared with 100 degrees C/min. The endothelium independent relaxant responses to sodium nitroprusside were reduced ( P < 0.05). Cryostorage of pig arteries also resulted in a loss of the endothelium-dependent relaxant response to acetylcholine. The cryopreservation method used provided a limited preservation of pig aorta contractibility, a reduction of the endothelium independent relaxant responses, and no apparent preservation of the endothelium-dependent relaxation. It is possible that further refinements of the cryopreservation protocol might allow better post-thaw functional recovery of pig aortas.

We evaluated the impact of standard cryopreservation on functional properties of human aortic homografts. From seven human donors, the thoracic descending aorta was obtained. Effects of cryopreservation on contractibility and endothelium function were tested. After cryopreservation no endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent relaxation was found and the contractibility was strongly affected. Arteries showed no function and loss of endothelial integrity after cryopreservation and thawing.

An established method for cryopreservation that might preserve the vascular and endothelial responses of human femoral arteries (HFAs) to be transplanted as allografts was studied. HFAs were harvested from multiorgan donors and stored at 4 degrees C in saline solution before cryostorage. Thirty HFA rings were isolated and randomly assigned to one control group of unfrozen HFAs (eight rings) and one group of cryopreserved HFAs (22 rings). Cryopreservation was performed in RPMI solution containing dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the rate of cooling was -1 degrees C/min until -40 degrees C and faster rates until -150 degrees C was reached. The contractile and relaxant responses of unfrozen and frozen/thawed arteries were assessed in organ bath by measurement of isometric force generated by the HFAs. After thawing, the maximal contractile responses to the contracting agonist tested (noradrenaline) were in the range of 43% of the responses in unfrozen HFAs. The endothelium-independent responses to sodium nitroprusside were not altered whereas the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine were weakly altered. The cryopreservation method used provided a limited preservation of contractility of HFAs, a good preservation of the endothelium-independent relaxant responses, and a good preservation of endothelium-dependent relaxation. It is possible that further refinements of the cryopreservation protocol, such as a slower rate of cooling and a more controlled stepwise addition of DMSO, might allow better post-thaw functional recovery.

Objective: To analyse the presentation forms and prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer at the time of diagnosis., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Patients and Methods: We studied all patients with gastric cancer (n=2,334) and synchronic metastases diagnosed in Lugo and A Coruña hospitals between 1975 and 1993. We estimated survival probability using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors with Cox's regression models., Results: Metastases were detected at the time of diagnosis in 585 (25.1%) patients, with the liver (346; 14.8%) and peritoneum (61; 6.9%) being the most frequently involved sites. The liver was exclusively affected in 213 (9.1%) cases, the peritoneum in 70 (3.3%), and another intraabdominal site in 121 (5.2%). Patients with peritoneal metastases were older (p=0.05), more commonly had a diffuse type of cancer according to Lauren's tumor classification (p<0.001), and underwent surgery more frequently (p=0.01). Curative resection was possible for only 11 (5.2%), 7 (10%), and 25 (20.7%) patients with metastases in only the liver, peritoneum, or another site, respectively, but in all cases survival probability was significantly enhanced. No surgery (HR=2.92), and simultaneous involvement of the liver and peritoneum (HR=1.62) were factors associated with a higher mortality rate., Conclusions: Patients with gastric cancer and metastases in only one intraabdominal organ show characteristic forms of presentation. Furthermore, in all cases candidacy for surgery should be carefully evaluated, as prognosis may improve in selected patients.

Background: This study aims to quantify the decrease in the reciprocal of serum creatinine during the two years prior to the start of dialysis and to identify the factors associated with the progression of renal disease., Methods: The study included 76 patients who were monitored for an average of 26.27 months. During the study 52 patients began dialysis treatments. The clinical and analytical variables were analyzed using the t-student test, ANOVA or the Kruskall-Wallis test. A multiple regression analysis was carried out with the decrease in the reciprocal of serum creatinine as the dependent variable., Results: There was a decrease between the mean value during the two years prior to dialysis, the mean value during the previous year and the value at the start of dialysis treatments of 0.29, 0.21 and 0.17 respectively. The nephropathy having the sharpest drop in the reciprocal of serum creatinine, expressed as a percentage of the initial value, was found to be nephroangiosclerosis (46.29%). A greater decline in the reciprocal of serum creatinine was exhibited by low albumin values and adjusted by means of different variables with LDL levels (p = 0.141). For different levels of haemoglobin, proteinuria and cholesterol, the drop in the reciprocal of serum creatinine was greater in patients having a diastolic blood pressure reading of 90 or greater., Conclusions: The decrease in the reciprocal of serum creatinine was associated with different variables in patients who required dialysis.

Background: The analysis of the survival of patients diagnosed with gastricadenocarcinoma and the factors which modify prognosis., Patients and Method: Retrospective cohort study of overall patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma treated in the Xeral-Calde and Juan Canelejo hospitals of Lugo and La Coruña (Spain) between 1975 and 1993. The following variables were studied: age, sex, the year of diagnosis, place of residence, delayed diagnosis, localisation of the primitive tumour, the TNM classification, the Laurén histological type and the type of surgical resection when conducted. The Kaplan-Meier statistical method was employed to determine the probability of survival. Cox regression was used to determine prognosis factors., Results: The diagnosis was established on 2,334 patients: 63,2% were males;the average overall age was 66.5 (11,9 SD) years, the median delayed diagnostic was 3,19 months, the lower third was the most common localisation (46,3%), 30,2% of the cases were diagnosed in the IV stage, and curative surgery was conducted in 46,4% of the cases. The probability of survival for overall numbers was 26% and curative surgery, was conducted in 45% of cases. The most advanced states in the TNM classification and the absence of curative surgery were factors associated with the poorest prognosis., Conclusions: Survival after gastric cancer is low. Initial stage and radical surgical treatment are the main factors for prognosis.