[Clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry]. / Características clínicas de los pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 en España: resultados del Registro SEMI-COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Spain has been one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To create a registry of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain, in order to improve our knowledge of the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of this disease. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective cohort study, including consecutive patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 throughout Spain. Epidemiological and clinical data, additional tests at admission and at seven days, treatments administered, and progress at 30 days of hospitalization were collected from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Up to June 30th 2020, 15,111 patients from 150 hospitals were included. Their median age was 69.4 years (range: 18-102 years) and 57.2% were male. Prevalences of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were 50.9%, 39.7%, and 19.4%, respectively. The most frequent symptoms were fever (84.2%) and cough (73.5%). High values of ferritin (73.5%), lactate dehydrogenase (73.9%), and D-dimer (63.8%), as well as lymphopenia (52.8%), were frequent. The most used antiviral drugs were hydroxychloroquine (85.6%) and lopinavir/ritonavir (61.4%); 33.1% developed respiratory distress. Overall mortality rate was 21.0%, with a marked increase with age (50-59 years: 4.7%, 60-69 years: 10.5%, 70-79 years: 26.9%, ≥ 80 years: 46.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The SEMI-COVID-19 Network provides data on the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain. Patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain are mostly severe cases, as one in three patients developed respiratory distress and one in five patients died. These findings confirm a close relationship between advanced age and mortality.

Clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry. / Características clínicas de los pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 en España: resultados del Registro SEMI-COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Spain has been one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To create a registry of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain, in order to improve our knowledge of the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of this disease. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective cohort study, including consecutive patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 throughout Spain. Epidemiological and clinical data, additional tests at admission and at seven days, treatments administered, and progress at 30 days of hospitalization were collected from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Up to June 30th 2020, 15,111 patients from 150 hospitals were included. Their median age was 69.4 years (range: 18-102 years) and 57.2% were male. Prevalences of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were 50.9%, 39.7%, and 19.4%, respectively. The most frequent symptoms were fever (84.2%) and cough (73.5%). High values of ferritin (73.5%), lactate dehydrogenase (73.9%), and D-dimer (63.8%), as well as lymphopenia (52.8%), were frequent. The most used antiviral drugs were hydroxychloroquine (85.6%) and lopinavir/ritonavir (61.4%); 33.1% developed respiratory distress. Overall mortality rate was 21.0%, with a marked increase with age (50-59 years: 4.7%, 60-69 years: 10.5%, 70-79 years: 26.9%, ≥80 years: 46.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The SEMI-COVID-19 Network provides data on the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain. Patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain are mostly severe cases, as one in three patients developed respiratory distress and one in five patients died. These findings confirm a close relationship between advanced age and mortality.

Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with high cardiovascular risk. / Prevalencia de aneurisma de aorta abdominal en pacientes con alto riesgo cardiovascular.

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (arterial diameter ≥30mm), in patients with high or very high cardiovascular risk (CVR) and to evaluate their clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional and multicentric study conducted in Spanish Internal Medicine Services. We enrolled men with age >55years and women >65years who had a high or very high CVR. RESULTS: The study included 659 patients. The prevalence of AAA was 8% (53 patients). 76.9% were male with a mean age of 71±8.7years. The multivariate analysis showed an association between AAA and age (OR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.02-1.1; P<.01), male sex (OR: 5.6; 95%CI: 1.6-18.8; P=.01), active smoking (OR: 3.22; 95%CI: 1.16-8.93; P=.024) and peripheral arterial disease (OR: 3.51; 95%CI: 1.73-7.09; P<.01). Diabetes mellitus was an independent protective factor (OR: 0.41; 95%CI: 0.22-0.78; P=.06). Those with subaneurysmal dilatation of the abdominal aorta (diameter 25-29.9mm) presented similar features as patients with AAA. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AAA in patients with high CVR is high. Ultrasound screening can be performed by general practitioners. Men >65years with elevated CVR could benefit, particularly in the presence of active smoking or peripheral arterial disease.

Positioning document on incorporating point-of-care ultrasound in Internal Medicine departments. / Documento de posicionamiento sobre la incorporación de la ecografía clínica en los servicios de Medicina Interna.

This positioning document describes the most important aspects of clinical ultrasonography in the internal medicine setting, from its fundamental indications to the recommended training period. There is no question as to the considerable usefulness of this tool in the standard clinical practice of internists in numerous clinical scenarios and settings (emergencies, hospital ward, general and specific consultations and home care). Ultrasonography has a relevant impact on the practitioner's ability to resolve issues, increasing diagnostic reliability and safety and providing important information on the prognosis and progression. In recent years, ultrasonography has been incorporated as a tool in undergraduate teaching, with excellent results. The use of ultrasonography needs to be widespread. To accomplish this, we must encourage structured training and the acquisition of equipment. This document was developed by the Clinical Ultrasonography Workgroup and endorsed by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index are not independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arterial stiffness can enhance cardiovascular risk by increasing atherogenesis or adverse hemodynamic effects. We examined whether the arterial stiffness markers of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AIx) are independently associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PWV and AIx were determined by brachial oscillometry using the Mobil-O-Graph® system and carotid IMT and plaque by ultrasound in 194 consecutive RA patients without established cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes at disease onset. In crude analysis, PWV was associated with IMT (ß (95% CI) = 0.04 (0.03 to 0.05), p value < 0.0001) and plaque (OR (95% CI) = 1.69 (1.40 to 2.04), p value < 0.0001). Upon adjustment for the confounders of age, sex, mean blood pressure, body height, and cardiovascular risk factors comprising smoking, the atherogenic index, and diabetes, PWV was not related to IMT (ß (95% CI) = 0.01 (-0.02 to 0.04), p value = 0.5) or plaque (OR (95% CI) = 0.99 (0.96 to 1.01), p value = 0.3). AIx was not associated with IMT in crude (ß (95% CI) = -0.002 (-0.004 to 0.007), p value = 0.2) and adjusted analyses (ß (95% CI) = -0.002 (-0.004 to 0.000), p value = 0.06). AIx was also unrelated to carotid plaque in crude (OR (95% CI) = 1.04 (0.60 to 1.82), p value = 0.9) and adjusted analyses (OR (95% CI) = 0.97 (0.94 to 1.01), p value = 0.1). PWV and AIx are not independently associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in RA.

Identification and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to the membrane fatty acid binding protein.

A monoclonal antibody to the rat liver membrane fatty acid binding protein (MFABP) was prepared by immunizing mice with purified MFABP isolated from solubilized rat liver plasma membrane proteins by oleate-agarose affinity chromatography technique. The monoclonal antibody K15/6 identified a single 40 kDa protein in rat liver plasma membranes with pI values of 8.5, 8.8 and 9.0, which is identical to the authentic MFABP, but clearly distinct from rat mitochondrial GOT. The antibody K15/6 selectively inhibited cellular influx as well as membrane binding of fatty acids, but not of cholesterol or vitamin E. The same antibody was used in immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot analysis to determine the subcellular and organ distribution pattern of MFABP. The protein was identified in rat liver plasma membranes and mitochondria, but in no other cell compartment. It was detectable in homogenates of rat liver but not in homogenates of other organs. Therefore, the monoclonal antibody K15/6 represents an organ specific antibody to MFABP which reveals inhibitory action on membrane binding/transport of fatty acids.

[Clinical efficacy of ezetimibe and combined use with statins]. / Eficacia clínica de la ezetimiba y uso combinado con estatinas.

The use of statins is very extensive in patients with some previous cardiovascular complication. However, the new therapeutic objectives of LDL-C, especially in high risk patients, makes it difficult to reach the LDL-C values desired in the daily clinical practice. The appearance of a new inhibitor of the intestinal cholesterol absorption (ezetimibe) noticeably strengthens the actions of the statins in the reduction of LDL-C. Combined use of ezetimibe and statins may make it possible for the vascular high risk patients to reach a greater reduction of LDL-C and achieve the therapeutic objectives more frequently.

The membrane fatty acid-binding protein is not identical to mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (mGOT).

For evaluation whether the membrane fatty acid-binding protein is related to mGOT, studies on the structure and function of both purified proteins were performed. Physicochemical characterization revealed that both proteins are different: the membrane fatty acid-binding protein has a molecular weight of 40 kD and a pI of 8.5-9.0, whereas rat mGOT has a molecular weight of 44 kD and a pI of 9.5-10.0. According to this distinct differences, they migrated separately on 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Furthermore, monospecific antibodies against the membrane fatty acid binding protein did not react with rat mGOT. In co-chromatography studies only the membrane fatty acid-binding protein showed affinity for long chain fatty acids, but not mGOT. Moreover, membrane binding studies were performed with the monospecific antibody to the membrane fatty acid binding protein. The inhibitory effect of this antibody on plasma membrane binding of oleate was reversed after preabsorption of the antibody with the membrane fatty acid binding protein, but was not affected after preabsorption with mGOT. These results indicate that the membrane fatty acid binding protein and mGOT are structurally and functionally not related. The data also support the significance of this membrane protein in the plasma membrane binding process of long chain fatty acids.