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Background The high incidence of diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis episodes in the population imposes an important healthcare and economic burden. Aim To determine the association between intake of certain plant foods and diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis episodes. Methods Case-control study with quantitative food frequency questionnaire focusing on selected plant foods and derived products. These were grouped by main chemical components into: ethanol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, capsaicin, alliin, acids, eugenol, and miscellaneous foods like curcumin. We quantified intake according to 24-h recall, either on a 1-4 scale (no intake, low, moderate, high intake) or as the number of units consumed (e.g. cups of tea/coffee, n of oranges or lemons); this value was multiplied by the number of reported intake days per week (1-7). Overall intake was expressed as a continuous variable obtained by successively multiplying the score for each food category, and the result was transformed into a common logarithm (range 0.3 to 27.7). Cases and controls were compared using the chi-squared test, student’s t test, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and predictive analysis (multiple logistic regression). Results The sample included 410 cases and 401 controls, who were similar in mean age and gender distribution. The mean score for overall intake of included plant foods was 6.3 points (standard deviation [SD] 4.5), and this was significantly higher in cases (8.5 points, SD 5.3) than in controls (4.1 points, SD 1.2; p < 0.001). Overall intake was similar in cases presenting diverticulitis or hemorrhoidal proctitis. Cases had 13 times the odds of being in the upper quartile for overall intake (> 7 points) compared to controls (OR 13.2, 95% CI 8.3 to 20.8, p < 0.001). Predictive logistic regression models showed that the chemical food group most closely associated with diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis was capsaicin, followed by ethanol, eugenol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, and acids. The OR for age was near the null value. Neither alliin nor miscellaneous food groups showed any association. Conclusions High, frequent consumption of some plant foods and derived products increases the risk of presenting symptoms of diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis.

Aims: To estimate the attributable risk of renal function on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with diabetes. Methods: A prospective cohort study in 19,469 adults with diabetes, free of cardiovascular disease, attending primary care in Spain (2008-2011). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other variables were collected and patients were followed to the first hospitalization for coronary or stroke event, or death, until the end of 2012. The cumulative incidence of the study endpoints by eGFR categories was graphically displayed and adjusted population attributable risks (PARs) for low eGFR was calculated. Results: Mean follow-up was 3.2 years and 506 deaths and 1720 hospitalizations were recorded. The cumulative risk for the individual events increased as eGFR levels decreased. The PAR associated with having an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or less was 11.4% (95% CI 4.8-18.3) for all-cause mortality, 9.2% (95% CI 5.3-13.4) for coronary heart disease, and 2.6% (95% CI -1.8 to 7.4) for stroke. Conclusions: Reduced eGFR levels were associated with a larger proportion of avoidable deaths and cardiovascular hospitalizations in people with diabetes compared to previously reported results in people with other cardiovascular risk factors. (C) 2020 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis in the population are significant public health problems. We studied the potential association between the intake of certain plant foods and diverticulitis or hemorrhoidal episodes through a case-control study including 410 cases and 401 controls. We used a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The intake was additionally quantified according to a 24 h recall. The plant foods or derived food products were categorized by their main chemical components into ethanol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, capsaicin, alliin, acids, eugenol, and miscellaneous foods such as curcumin. The mean score for overall intake of plant foods under consideration was 6.3 points, and this was significantly higher in cases (8.5) than in controls (4.1). Overall intake was similar in cases presenting with diverticulitis or hemorrhoidal proctitis. Cases had 13 times the odds of being in the upper quartile for overall intake (>7 points), compared to controls. Explanatory logistic regression models showed that the strongest association with diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis was shown by the chemical food group of capsaicin, followed by ethanol, eugenol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, and acids. Neither alliin nor miscellaneous food groups showed any association. High, frequent consumption of capsaicin, followed by ethanol, eugenol, caffeine/theine/theobromine, and acids increase the risk of diverticulitis and hemorrhoidal proctitis.

The formation of filtration blebs is the main drainage mechanism for reducing intraocular pressure after traditional incisional glaucoma surgery such as trabeculectomy and non-penetrating deep sclerotomy. Early and short-lasting blebs may also occur after canaloplasty. Bleb formation also plays an important role after the implantation of glaucoma drainage devices, including Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery devices. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is a rapid and non-invasive high-resolution imaging technique that has evolved in recent years to become a routine examination. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) provides key information in the assessment and follow-up of glaucoma surgery, especially in the assessment of filtration blebs. Thus, bleb morphology can be qualitatively classified into diffuse, cystic, encapsulated and flattened, and AS-OCT imaging can also provide several quantitative parameters of the bleb, such as total bleb height, bleb fluid-filled cavity height, bleb wall thickness, number of microcysts and trabeculectomy opening size. These parameters could have an impact on clinical management during follow-up because they may predict the success or failure of the surgery in the early and late postoperative periods. Additionally, they may also guide the procedures used to increase filtration and reduce intraocular pressure, such as bleb needling and laser suture lysis.

BACKGROUND: gestational weight gain (GWG) is one of the most commonly used indicators in prenatal care, and probably the most influential factor in perinatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: to determine the extent to which the GWG of pregnant women from the Ribera Health Department (Valencia) meets GWG international standards as recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM). METHODS: a retrospective observational study of a sample of 4,361 women who gave birth at Hospital Universitario de la Ribera between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. Pregnant women were classified according to GWG international recommendations: adequate weight gain, above and below. RESULTS: a higher GWG increases the risk of cesarean delivery or instrumental delivery (OR = 1.454, p < 0.001; OR = 1.442, p < 0.001, respectively), and of having a macrosomic or larger newborn for gestational age (OR = 3.851, p = 0.008; OR = 1.749, p < 0.001, respectively) as compared to an appropriate GWG. GWG is related to birth weight (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the GPG recommendations issued by the IOM are generally well adapted to pregnant women in our environment. It has been found that a GPG other than these recommendations increases the probability of obtaining poor perinatal outcomes. Nevertheless, a more personalized approach is needed, adapting international recommendations to prenatal control for each of the pre-pregnancy BMI categories.

Leishmaniasis, considered by the World Health Organization as one of the most important tropical diseases, is endemic in the Mediterranean Basin. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cutaneous (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) in La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. The particular focus was on diagnosis techniques and clinical differences according to the immunological status of the patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus whole-blood concentrations is standard care in thoracic organ transplantation. Nevertheless, toxicity may appear with alleged therapeutic concentrations possibly related to variability in unbound concentrations. However, pharmacokinetic data on unbound concentrations are not available. The objective of this study was to quantify the pharmacokinetics of whole-blood, total, and unbound plasma tacrolimus in patients early after heart and lung transplantation. METHODS: Twelve-hour tacrolimus whole-blood, total, and unbound plasma concentrations of 30 thoracic organ recipients were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry directly after transplantation. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed using non-linear mixed-effects modeling. RESULTS: Plasma concentration was < 1% of the whole-blood concentration. Maximum binding capacity of erythrocytes was directly proportional to hematocrit and estimated at 2700 pg/mL (95% confidence interval 1750-3835) with a dissociation constant of 0.142 pg/mL (95% confidence interval 0.087-0.195). The inter-individual variability in the binding constants was considerable (27% maximum binding capacity, and 29% for the linear binding constant of plasma). CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus association with erythrocytes was high and suggested a non-linear distribution at high concentrations. Monitoring hematocrit-corrected whole-blood tacrolimus concentrations might improve clinical outcomes in clinically unstable thoracic organ transplants. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR 3912/EudraCT 2012-001909-24.

For renewable energy projects, financing is a major bottleneck to accelerate the transition towards a decarbonized energy mix. Multilateral international institutions are developing new financing instruments to address the barriers and risks that hold back private investment in renewable energy technologies, while minimizing the possibility of crowding out the private sector. Within this context, our study explores the drivers of external financing for Spanish wind farms using a dataset of 318 projects commissioned in the period 2006–13. Thanks to the granularity of this dataset, our analysis provides some results that help explain why some projects are more attractive than others from a financial perspective. This study has three main takeaways. First, the costs of a renewable project are the main drivers that determine the access to external financing, whereas the capacity factor, which determines the revenues, has a minor relevance. Second, the behavior of banks changed after the financial crisis of 2008. Before the crisis, expensive projects tended to have higher debt leverage ratio while after the financial crisis, these projects were penalized in terms of access to external financing. Third, the standard metric to assess the competitiveness of renewable projects, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), does not help understand the access to external financing and leverage.

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of TOR1A, GNAL and THAP1 variants as the cause of dystonia in a cohort of Spanish patients with isolated dystonia and in the literature.

Esta comunicación se encuentra disponible en la siguiente URL: https://www.fortunejournals.com/articles/can-we-set-quality-standards-for-the-centers-minimally-invasive-surgery-vs-open-surgery-in-colorectal-cancer-resection.pdf Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is the standard method for resection of colorectal cancer, but its indications have limitations that are constantly debated. In our study, the center had to meet the following four factors: surgeons should have considerable experience, there should be a high percentage of MIS, a low conversion rate, and good results in the intervention. Methods: Retrospective observational study of a cohort of 948 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent scheduled open surgery (OS) and MIS between 2011-2016. Results: There were no differences based on sex, body mass index, or location of the tumor, but OS was related to older age, higher ASA, a higher stage, previous surgery, and operative adverse events. The location of the primary tumor and the existence of synchronous tumors were related to variability in the technique. The implementation of MIS increased from 36.2% in 2011 to 89.6% in 2016. The surgeon's experience decreased the conversion rate from 6.5% in 2011 to 3.1% in 2016, with 2% in T0-2 tumors. In logistic regression, the factor that most increased the possibility of choosing MIS was the pT grade of the tumor, and the factors that most contraindicated MIS were stages 2-4, ASA 4, stage 1, previous surgery, and advanced age. Conclusions: In hospitals where surgeons have long experience, minimally invasive surgery could be implemented in up to 90% of cases, with low conversion rates (3-4%) and good results for patients.

Background & Aims The interferon-free regimen paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir + dasabuvir (PTV/r/OBV/DSV) has shown high efficacy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection when administered for 8 or 12 weeks, but data regarding the 8-week treatment are scarce. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the 8-week administration of PTV/r/OBV/DSV in a real-world cohort. Methods We performed a multicentre observational study from Spanish Hepa-C database including patients receiving 8 weeks of PTV/r/OBV/DSV (October 2016-November 2017). Those with advanced fibrosis, with non-genotype 1b or who were treatment-experienced were excluded. Results A total of 211 patients were registered from 23 Spanish centres; eleven were excluded. At baseline, 42.5% (n = 85) were male, median (range) age was 57 (23-86), ALT was 45 (11-494) IU/mL, viral load was 6.1 (3.3-8.2) log10 IU/mL, and 74.5% had mild liver fibrosis (F0-F1) and 25.5% moderate fibrosis (F2). At the end of treatment (EOT), HCV viral load was undetectable in 100% (200/200). Seven patients relapsed after treatment discontinuation. Sustained virological response (SVR12) rates by intention-to-treat analysis were 96% (192/200). Regarding treatment safety, 2 patients developed ALT elevation >5x ULN, but there were no treatment discontinuations. One patient died 7 weeks after EOT. Conclusion Treatment with PTV/r/OBV/DSV in genotype 1b-infected treatment-naive patients with mild-moderate fibrosis shows excellent efficacy and safety in real life, similarly to clinical trials. Clinicaltrials.gov, number: NCT03122132.

The risk of recurrent stroke amongst patients with symptomatic carotid near-occlusion (SCNO) has not been clearly established, and its management remains controversial. The aim was to define the 24-month risk of recurrent stroke and to analyse the effect of the different treatment modalities (medical treatment and revascularization) in a population of patients with SCNO.

BACKGROUND: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and artificially-sweetened beverages (ASB) have been inconsistently associated with declines in cognitive function. Because of their low caloric content and replacement of sugar, ASB are often seen as 'healthy' alternatives to SSB. OBJECTIVE: We longitudinally assessed the association between the consumption of SSB or ASB and cognitive function. DESIGN: A subsample of the 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' (SUN) cohort of university graduates aged over 55 years old was evaluated with the Spanish Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (STICS-m) at two-time points, separated by 6 years. Consumption of SSB and ASB was appraised using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Linear regression models were fitted, adjusting for potential confounders, including cardiometabolic variables, with the change in the STICS-m score at year 6 as the dependent variable. RESULTS: A significant association between the consumption of SSB and changes in cognitive function as measured by the STICS-m was observed in the total sample, with a change of -0.43 (95% CI -0.85, -0.02, p=0.04) in those that consumed >1 beverage/month compared to never/seldom consumers. The association was not significant for the consumption of ASB, but point estimates showed negative values, suggesting declines in cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Only the consumption of SSB, but not ASB, was significantly associated with a decline in cognitive function after 6 years. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the relationship between these beverages and cognitive function and the potential mechanisms through which they might be harmful.

Purpose: To evaluate preliminarily and compare the level of plasmatic biomarkers of vascular risk in patients with and without exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and to relate it to vascular resistance alterations in the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), posterior temporal ciliary artery (PTCA), and posterior nasal ciliary artery (PNCA). Methods: Color Doppler imaging of the OA, CRA, PTCA, and PNCA was performed in 30 eyes of 30 cataract patients (control group) as well as in 30 eyes of 30 patients with naive exudative ARMD (study group), measuring the peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and Pourcelot resistive index (RI). Likewise, in both groups, a blood test was performed to determine the plasmatic levels of homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), B12 vitamin, and folic acid. Results: A positive and significant correlation was found between the level of CRP and RI of the OA in the ARMD group (r = 0.498, P = 0.005), with an increased RI in all arteries compared to controls, although differences only reached statistical significance for the PTCA (P = 0.035). Likewise, a significantly lower EDV for the CRA was found in ARMD eyes compared to controls (P = 0.041). In the study group, significantly higher plasmatic levels of homocysteine (P = 0.042) and CRP (P = 0.046) were found. In contrast, no significant differences were found between groups in the levels of folic acid (P = 0.265) and B12 vitamin (P = 0.520). Conclusion: The decrease of the choroidal perfusion related to hyperhomocysteinemia, and increase in the CRP plasmatic levels may play an etiological role on the exudative ARMD. This should be investigated in future studies with larger samples of patients.

Objective: To identify factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) among outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in Neurology and Internal Medicine in Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional and multicenter study, from the ALADIN database, of outpatients with NVAF treated with VKA and attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Spain. Rates of anticoagulation control were determined with the direct and Rosendaal methods, considering data from the 6 months before the inclusion. Results: Out of 1,337 patients included in the ALADIN study, 750 were taking VKA, and complete information about INR values in the last 6 months was available in 383 patients. Mean scores of Charlson Index, CHADS(2), CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and HAS-BLED were 1.94 +/- 1.54; 3.10 +/- 1.26; 4.63 +/- 1.54, and 2.20 +/- 0.90, respectively. 46.2% and 47.0% of patients had an adequate anticoagulation control according to the direct and Rosendaal methods, respectively. Inadequate anticoagulation control according to the direct method was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.511; 95% CI: 1.144-5.659), prior labile INR (OR: 35.371; 95% CI: 15.058-83.083) and the determination of > 6 INR controls in the last 6 months (OR: 4.747; 95% CI: 2.094-10.759), and according to the Rosendaal method, with prior labile INR (P 6 INR controls and HAS-BLED. (C) 2018 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. and Sociedad Espanola de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.

[Background] Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a hoarse voice, variable scarring, and infiltration of the skin and mucosa. This disease is associated with mutations of the gene encoding extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1). [Case Report]This was a clinical and molecular study of a new case of LP with a severe phenotype. A 35-year-old female born to nonconsanguineous parents developed dermatological and extracutaneous symptoms in her 9th month of life. The neurological abnormalities of the disease began to appear at the age of 19 years. Computed tomography revealed cranial calcifications. [Conclusions]The diagnosis of LP was confirmed by histopathological findings and direct sequencing of ECM1. A new homozygous nonsense mutation was identified in exon 7 of ECM1, c.1076G>A (p.Trp359*). This mutation was not detected in 106 chromosomes of healthy individuals with a similar demographic origin. Microsatellite markers around ECM1 were used to construct the haplotype in both the parents and the patient. Reports on genotype-phenotype correlations in LP point to a milder phenotype in carriers of missense mutations in the Ecm1a isoform, whereas mutations in the Ecm1b isoform are thought to be associated with more severe phenotypes. The present findings in a Spanish patient carrying a truncating mutation in exon 7 revealed complete dermatological and neurological manifestations. © 2014 Korean Neurological Association., The authors thank the patient and her family for their participation, and the financial support of grants from MICINN (no. SAF2007-60508) and Consejería de Ciencia Junta de Andalucía (no. CVI02790).

Objective: To present the results of the Spanish home enteral nutrition (HEN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE group for the years 2014 and 2015. Methods: From January 1st 2014 to December 31st 2015 the HEN registry was recorded and afterwards a further descriptive and analytical analysis was done. Results: In 2014, 3749 patients were recorded, and 4202 in 2015; prevalence was 80.58 patients/one million inhabitants in Spain in 2014 and 90.51 in 2015. There were 49.9% females in 2014 and 50.3% in 2015. Median age was 73 years (IQI 59-83) in 2014 as well as in 2015. 684 episodes finished in 2014 and 631 in 2015, with death as the main cause, in 54.9% and 50.4%, respectively. The ones who were fed through nasogastric tube had a mean age higher than the ones fed by any other route (p-value0.001). Sisty-seven paediatric patients were recorded in 2014 (56.7% females) and 77 in 2015 (55.8% females). Median age at the beginning of HEN among children was 5 months in 2014 and 5 months in 2015. The main route of administration was gastrostomy, in 52.5% in 2014 and nasogastric tube in 50.8% in 2015. 7 episodes finished in 2014 and 13 in 2015, having death as the main cause (57.1% in 2014 and 38.5% in 2015). It was found that were younger children the ones who were mainly fed by nasogastric tubes (p-value 0.004 vs. 0.002). Among paediatric patients as well as adults, the main diagnosis leading to HEN was neurological disease which gives aphagia or severe dysphagia. Conclusions: There has been an increase in the number of patients in the registry as well as the participating centers and the number of patients per center, without any significant change in the characteristics of the patients other than longer duration of the episodes.Objetivo: exponer los resultados del registro de nutrición enteral domiciliaria (NED) del año 2014 y 2015 del Grupo NADYA-SENPE. Métodos: se recopilaron los pacientes introducidos en el registro desde el 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2014 y la mismas fechas de 2015, y se procedió al análisis descriptivo y analítico de los datos. Resultados: en el año 2014, se registraron 3.749 pacientes y en 2015, 4.202; la prevalencia fue de 80,58 pacientes/millón de habitantes en el año 2014 y de 90,51 en 2015. Por sexos, hubo un 49,9% de mujeres en 2014 y un 50,3% en 2015. La edad media fue de 73 años (IIQ 59-83) en ambos años. Finalizaron 684 episodios de NED en 2014 y 631 en 2015, la causa principal fue el fallecimiento en el 54,9% y 50,4% de los casos, respectivamente. Los portadores de sonda nasogástrica presentan una edad media superior a los pacientes con cualquier otra vía (p0,001). Se registraron 67 pacientes pediátricos en 2014 (56,7% niñas) y 77 en 2015 (55,8% niñas). La vía principal de administración fue la gastrostomía en el 52,0% de los casos de 2014 y sonda nasogástrica en el 50,8% de los casos de 2015. La causa principal de finalización de la nutrición fue el fallecimiento (57,1% en 2014 y 38,5% en 2015). Se observó que los niños más pequeños eran los que se alimentaban preferentemente por SNG (p 0,004 vs.0,002).Tanto en pacientes pediátricos como en adultos el diagnóstico principal que motivó la necesidad de NED fue la enfermedad neurológica que cursa con afagia o disfagia severa. Conclusiones: se ha incrementado el número de pacientes del registro, así como el número de centros participantes y el número medio de pacientes comunicados por cada centro respecto a años anteriores, sin que se hayan modificado sustancialmente las características de los pacientes, salvo mayor duración de los episodios.

Introduction The potential impact of targeting different components of an adverse lipid profile in populations with multiple cardiovascular risk factors is not completely clear. This study aims to assess the association between different components of the standard lipid profile with allcause mortality and hospitalization due to cardiovascular events in a high-risk population. Methods This prospective registry included high risk adults over 30 years old free of cardiovascular disease (2008-2012). Diagnosis of hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus was inclusion criterion. Lipid biomarkers were evaluated. Primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and hospital admission due to coronary heart disease or stroke. We estimated adjusted rate ratios (aRR), absolute risk differences and population attributable risk associated with adverse lipid profiles. Results 51,462 subjects were included with a mean age of 62.6 years (47.6% men). During an average follow-up of 3.2 years, 919 deaths, 1666 hospitalizations for coronary heart disease and 1510 hospitalizations for stroke were recorded. The parameters that showed an increased rate for total mortality, coronary heart disease and stroke hospitalization were, respectively, low HDL-Cholesterol: aRR 1.25, 1.29 and 1.23; high Total/HDL-Cholesterol: aRR 1.22, 1.38 and 1.25; and high Triglycerides/HDL-Cholesterol: aRR 1.21, 1.30, 1.09. The parameters that showed highest population attributable risk (%) were, respectively, low HDL-Cholesterol: 7.70, 11.42, 8.40; high Total/HDL-Cholesterol: 6.55, 12.47, 8.73; and high Triglycerides/HDL-Cholesterol: 8.94, 15.09, 6.92. Conclusions In a population with cardiovascular risk factors, HDL-cholesterol, Total/HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides/HDL-cholesterol ratios were associated with a higher population attributable risk for cardiovascular disease compared to other common biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: There is a scarce number of studies on the cost of agitation and containment interventions and their results are still inconclusive. We aimed to calculate the economic consequences of agitation events in an in-patient psychiatric facility providing care for an urban catchment area. METHODS: A mixed approach combining secondary analysis of clinical databases, surveys and expert knowledge was used to model the 2013 direct costs of agitation and containment events for adult inpatients with mental disorders in an area of 640,572 adult inhabitants in South Barcelona (Spain). To calculate costs, a seven-step methodology with novel definition of agitation was used along with a staff survey, a database of containment events, and data on aggressive incidents. A micro-costing analysis of specific containment interventions was used to estimate both prevalence and direct costs from the healthcare provider perspective, by means of a mixed approach with a probabilistic model evaluated on real data. Due to the complex interaction of the multivariate covariances, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to have empirical bounds of variability. RESULTS: During 2013, 918 patients were admitted to the Acute Inpatient Unit. Of these, 52.8% were men, with a mean age of 44.6 years (SD = 15.5), 74.4% were compulsory admissions, 40.1% were diagnosed with schizophrenia or non-affective psychosis, with a mean length of stay of 24.6 days (SD = 16.9). The annual estimate of total agitation events was 508. The cost of containment interventions ranges from 282€ at the lowest level of agitation to 822€ when verbal containment plus seclusion and restraint have to be used. The annual total cost of agitation was 280,535€, representing 6.87% of the total costs of acute hospitalisation in the local area. CONCLUSIONS: Agitation events are frequent and costly. Strategies to reduce their number and severity should be implemented to reduce costs to the Health System and alleviate patient suffering.

Background The risk of recurrent stroke among patients with symptomatic carotid near-occlusion is not well established, and management of the condition remains controversial. Symptomatic carotid near-occlusion with full collapse has been identified as a strong predictor of early recurrence. We aimed to analyze the 90-day risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic stroke in medically treated patients with symptomatic carotid near-occlusion. Methods We performed a multicenter, nationwide, prospective study from January 2010 to May 2016. Patients with angiography-confirmed symptomatic carotid near-occlusion were included. The primary endpoint was ipsilateral ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 90 days after the presenting event. For this analysis, patients who underwent revascularization within 90 days after stroke were excluded. Results The study population comprised 141 patients from 17 Spanish centers; 83 patients were treated medically. Primary endpoint occurred in eight patients, resulting in a cumulative rate of 10.6% (95% CI, 3.7-17.5). Previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack was identified as an independent predictor for recurrence in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR, 4.37 [95% CI, 1.05-18.18]; p=0.043), while the presence of full collapse was not associated with an increased risk (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.17-3.92]; p=0.793). The risk of recurrence was also not affected by the presence of significant stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery, or by the collateral circulation. Conclusions Patients with symptomatic carotid near-occlusion seem to have an increased risk of early ipsilateral recurrent stroke. Our results contrast with the low risk of symptomatic carotid near-occlusion reported to date. Full collapse did not increase the risk of recurrent stroke in our study.

Introduction. To determine the prevalence of Adverse Events related to Medication (AEM) in hospitals of the Valencian Community in the 2005-2013 study period, and to describe the associated risk factors and their impact. Material and methods. This study is based on data and methodology of the Study of Prevalence of Adverse Events in hospitals (EPIDEA), since its inception in 2005 until 2013. AEM produced in each year were analyzed. Results. We identified 344 AEM that occurred in 337 patients, among 35,103 patients studied, giving a prevalence of patients with AEM of 0.96% (IC95% 0.89-1.07). The most prevalent intrinsic risk factors for AEM were hypertension, diabetes and cancer. The most prevalent extrinsic risk factors were peripheral venous catheter, urinary catheter and central venous catheter. Therapeutic groups most frequently involved were systemic antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs and antineoplastics. The 61.17% of AEM was classified as moderate, followed by 27.18% as mild and 11.65% as severe. The 33.99% of EAM caused increase of the patient's stay and 39.90% of EAM caused the re-entry of patient. The 58.5% of AEM were avoidable. Mild AEM were avoidable in 46.3%, moderate AEM were avoidable in 60.3% and severe AEM were in 75% (p = 0.013). Conclusions. The prevalence of patients with AEM in hospitals of the Community of Valencia for the period 2005-2013 was 0.96%. More than half of AEM were preventable, and preventability increases significantly with the severity of the event.

Over the last 5 years, therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have improved significantly, achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of up to 100% in clinical trials in patients with HCV genotype 1. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir in an early access programme. This was a retrospective, multicentre, national study that included 291 treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with genotype 1 or 4 HCV infection. Most patients (65.3%) were male, and the mean age was 57.5years. The mean baseline viral load was 6.1 log, 69.8% had HCV 1b genotype, 72.9% had cirrhosis and 34.7% were treatment-naive. SVR at 12 weeks posttreatment was 96.2%. Four patients had virological failure (1.4%), one leading to discontinuation. There were no statistical differences in virological response according to genotype or liver fibrosis. Thirty patients experienced serious adverse events (SAEs) (10.3%), leading to discontinuation in six cases. Hepatic decompensation was observed in five patients. Four patients died during treatment or follow-up, three of them directly related to liver failure. Multivariate analyses showed a decreased probability of achieving SVR associated with baseline albumin, bilirubin and Child-Pugh score B, and a greater probability of developing SAEs related to age and albumin. This combined therapy was highly effective in clinical practice with an acceptable safety profile and low rates of treatment discontinuation.

PURPOSE: To compare the distribution of a p53 gene polymorphism among European subjects undergoing primary retinal detachment (RD) surgery in relation to the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). DESIGN: Case-controlled gene association study conducted as a component of the Retina 4 Project (a European multicenter study). PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Five hundred fifty DNA samples, 134 with PVR secondary to primary RD and 416 with RD without PVR. METHODS: The p53 codon 72 polymorphism (rs1042522) was analyzed using allele-specific primer polymerase chain reaction. Proportions of genotypes and the proline (Pro-P) homozygote groups between subsamples from different countries were analyzed in 2 phases. In the first, subsamples from Spain and Portugal were analyzed. After significant results were found, samples from the United Kingdom (UK) and The Netherlands were analyzed (second phase). Genotypic and allelic frequencies were compared between cases and controls in the global sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Single significant associations with PVR. RESULTS: A significant difference (P

Bacteria use bicarbonate as substrate for crucial metabolic reactions. We report the first case of bacteremia by capnophilic E. coli without the YadF gene (also known as CynT2 or Can2) that needs high concentrations of CO2 to non-enzymatically produce bicarbonate. This lack may also apply to previously reported capnophilic Enterobacteriaceae. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item does not contain fulltext OBJECTIVE: Understanding the effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART) interruption on neurocognition and quality of life (QoL) are important for managing unplanned interruptions and planned interruptions in HIV cure research. DESIGN: Children previously randomized to continuous (continuous ART, n = 41) vs. planned treatment interruption (PTI, n = 47) in the Pediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) 11 study were enrolled. At study end, PTI children resumed ART. At 1 and 2 years following study end, children were assessed by the coding, symbol search and digit span subtests of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6-16 years old) or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (>/=17 years old) and by Pediatrics QoL questionnaires for physical and psychological QoL. Transformed scaled scores for neurocognition and mean standardized scores for QoL were compared between arms by t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. Scores indicating clinical concern were compared (