[A practical model to implement the patient participation in tertiary hospitals (ICE model)]. / Un modelo práctico para implementar la participación de pacientes en hospitales terciarios (modelo ICE).

OBJECTIVE: Democratise healthcare and research through a model that ensures the participation of patients and professionals. METHOD: Weaknesses are analysed and corrections are articulated with a model through biweekly meetings between the hospital's citizen attention and healthcare management. RESULTS: The resulting model is proactive in nature, deployed between November-2021 and December-2023 and had three elements: Information, Co-creation and Strategy (ICE). The Information is materialized with: an Association Attention Office (AAO) and an Easy Reading Commission (ERC). Co-creation is organized through Stable Work Commissions (SWC) formed by professional-patient. The Strategy that is materialized through a Strategic Plan for institutional participation and a Strategic Committee for participation. The AAO has registered 304 entities and managed 112 projects. The ERC has evaluated 41 documents in 2023. 13SWCs related to therapeutic areas were generated where 108 professionals and 101 patient representatives participated and 42 objectives were agreed upon, working on templates for informative documents, guides or organizing informative days. The Strategic Participation Plan is translated into 8lines with objectives and actions, creating the Strategic Participation Committee as the governing body. CONCLUSIONS: The ICE-VH model is a replicable opportunity to implement patient and professional participation in any hospital and improve person-centered care by incorporating the values and preferences of all stakeholders.

SMART DIABETES HOSPITAL: CLINICAL IMPACT IN COMPLEX SURGICAL UNITS OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of a proactive action of a specialized diabetes team (SDT) on different health outcomes in patients hospitalized in high complexity surgery units, including solid organ transplant surgical units, of a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Nested case control study matched (1:1) by age and gender. The control group consisted of patients (n = 120) who were under the standard of care diabetes management admitted three months' prior the cases. The cases were admitted in the same surgical units (n = 120) and were treated in the setting of the so called "Smart Diabetes Hospital" (SDH) consisting in a SDT that prioritized their actions through a digital map showing blood glucose levels obtained during the previous 24 h. RESULTS: SDH implementation resulted in a significant reduction in both blood glucose levels (mean 162.1 ± SD 44.4 vs. mean 145.5 ± SD 48.0; p = 0.008) and hypoglycaemic episodes (19.7% vs. 8.4%: p = 0.002). Furthermore, a reduction of 3 days in the length of stay (LOS) was observed (15.6 ± 10.3 vs. 12.4 ± 6.0), which represents a significant cost-saving. Moreover, more new cases of diabetes were detected during the SDT period (2.5% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: SDH is effective in diabetes management and reduce LOS in complex surgical units.

Mucormicosis maxilar asociado a COVID-19, tratamiento médico-quirúrgico y manejo multidisciplinario. Reporte de caso / Maxillary mucormycosis associated with COVID-19, medical-surgical treatment and multidisciplinary management. Case report

Resumen Introducción: Durante la actual pandemia de COVID-19 múltiples complicaciones se han desarrollado posterior a la enfermedad, dentro de las cuales se encuentran las infecciones fúngicas, como la mucormicosis, que puede resultar directamente de la infección por COVID-19 y/o como efecto secundario de los fármacos utilizados en su tratamiento. La mucormicosis es una infección causada por un grupo de hongos llamados mucormycetes; a nivel rinocerebral se presenta con celulitis facial, cefalea, proptosis, movilización del diente afectado y secreción nasal. Reporte de caso: Se presenta a un paciente femenino de 57 años con antecedente de neumonía grave por COVID-19 con posterior desarrollo de absceso periodontal que ameritó extracción del segundo molar superior derecho con posterior formación de fistula. Se toma TC de macizo facial donde se evidencia erosión ósea con pérdida de la morfología habitual y en pared anterior del seno maxilar derecho. Se realiza biopsia reportando tejido óseo con elementos micóticos (hifas aseptadas) morfológicamente compatibles con mucor sp. Se realizó tratamiento con anfotericina B y hemimaxilectomia derecha. Actualmente se encuentra en tratamiento con pozaconazol, y lavados quirúrgicos. Conclusión: La enfermedad de COVID-19 es una enfermedad muy común actualmente a nivel mundial, por lo que es importante identificar y llevar un seguimiento de aquellas personas con factores de riesgo para desarrollar mucormicosis; el diagnóstico y un plan de tratamiento temprano es fundamental para evitar complicaciones, las cuales pueden originar un desenlace fatal.

Abstract Introduction: During the current pandemic of COVID-19 multiple complications have developed after the disease, among which are fungal infections, such as mucormycosis, which can result directly from COVID-19 infection and/or as a side effect of the drugs used in its treatment. Mucormycosis is an infection caused by a group of fungi called mucormycetes; at the rhinocerebral level it presents with facial cellulitis, headache, proptosis, mobilization of the affected tooth and nasal secretion. Case report: the following is a 57-year-old female patient with a history of severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 with subsequent development of periodontal abscess that merited extraction of the upper right second molar with subsequent fistula formation. The patient started an infection with the presence of purulent secretion in the extraction area of the right molar. A CT scan of the facial mass was taken showing bone erosion with loss of the usual morphology in the right upper maxillary bone and anterior wall of the right maxillary sinus, as well as a biopsy of the right maxilla reporting bone tissue with mycotic elements (aseptates hyphae) morphologically compatible with mucor sp. Treatment with amphotericin B and right hemimaxillectomy was performed. She is currently being treated with pozaconazole and surgical washings. Conclusion: COVID-19 disease is currently a very common disease worldwide, so it is important to identify and follow up those people with risk factors for developing mucormycosis; early diagnosis and treatment plan is essential to avoid complications, which can lead to a fatal outcome.

Kinesiology tape versus non-standardized tape in the treatment of balance in non-operated anterior cruciate ligament rupture patients: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE/AIM: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are the most common traumatic ligament injuries of the knee, which course with impaired balance. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of kinesiology tape on balance in subjects with non-operated anterior cruciate ligament rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 subjects were randomly assigned to the kinesiology tape group (KT = 20) and the non-standardized tape group (NST = 16). Balance was assessed in the following 3 conditions: no bandage, immediately after application, and after four days of use. The outcome measures used were the Sensory Organisation Test (SOT), assessed by computerised dynamic Posturography (CDP), the modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT), the Spanish version of the KOOS and the Lysholm Knee Score. A 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, with time as a within-subject factor and group as a between-subjects factor. Bonferroni correction was applied when the ANOVA was significant. RESULTS: ANOVA showed that there was no significant interaction between group and time for all outcome measures. However, a significant effect on the time factor was observed for: composite SOT score in both groups immediately after tape application; composite SOT after four days of use in the KT group; mSEBT in the KT group immediately after tape application. The KOOS improved in both groups after four days of tape use, while the Lysholm Knee Score improved only in the NST group. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were observed between the KT or NST groups in balance measurements.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Searching for potential biomarkers.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is the most commonly used biomarker for diagnosing lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, lung biopsy is often necessary as well; therefore, defining new biomarkers for LAM is crucial. The aim of this study was to describe the diagnostic accuracy of a variety of biomarkers. Methods: We assessed 13 analytes in serum related to extracellular matrix remodeling, lymphatic involvement and angiogenesis in a cohort of patients with LAM, comparing them with patients with other cystic lung diseases (OCLD) and healthy women. A scoring method based on the cut-point of each VEGF-D and metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the marker combination. Results: A total of 97 subjects were recruited: 59 (61%) LAM patients, 18 (19%) OCLD patients, and 20 (20%) healthy female controls. MMP-2 was the only extracellular matrix remodeling biomarker able to differentiate LAM patients from OCLD and healthy patients. Serum MMP-2 was higher in LAM patients [median 578 (465-832) ng/ml] than in patients with OCLD and healthy controls [medians 360 (314-546) and 427 (365-513) ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.0001)]. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of MMP-2 was 0.785 and that of VEGF-D 0.815 (p = 0.6214). The sensitivity/specificity profiles of each biomarker (54/92% for MMP-2, 59/95% for VEGF-D) yielded a composite score (-6.36 + 0.0059 × VEGF-D + 0.0069 × MMP-2) with higher accuracy than each component alone (AUC 0.88 and sensitivity/specificity 79/87%). Conclusion: Combining MMP-2 and VEGF-D may increase diagnostic accuracy for LAM.

ISHLT consensus statement: Perioperative management of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure undergoing surgery.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery and anesthesia. This document represents the first international consensus statement for the perioperative management of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. It includes recommendations for managing patients with PH being considered for surgery, including preoperative risk assessment, planning, intra- and postoperative monitoring and management strategies that can improve outcomes in this vulnerable population. This is a comprehensive document that includes common perioperative patient populations and surgical procedures with unique considerations.

Using Interpretable Machine Learning to Identify Baseline Predictive Factors of Remission and Drug Durability in Crohn's Disease Patients on Ustekinumab.

Ustekinumab has shown efficacy in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. To identify patient profiles of those who benefit the most from this treatment would help to position this drug in the therapeutic paradigm of CD and generate hypotheses for future trials. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether baseline patient characteristics are predictive of remission and the drug durability of ustekinumab, and whether its positioning with respect to prior use of biologics has a significant effect after correcting for disease severity and phenotype at baseline using interpretable machine learning. Patients' data from SUSTAIN, a retrospective multicenter single-arm cohort study, were used. Disease phenotype, baseline laboratory data, and prior treatment characteristics were documented. Clinical remission was defined as the Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 4 and was tracked longitudinally. Drug durability was defined as the time until a patient discontinued treatment. A total of 439 participants from 60 centers were included and a total of 20 baseline covariates considered. Less exposure to previous biologics had a positive effect on remission, even after controlling for baseline disease severity using a non-linear, additive, multivariable model. Additionally, age, body mass index, and fecal calprotectin at baseline were found to be statistically significant as independent negative risk factors for both remission and drug survival, with further risk factors identified for remission.

Medical empathy in medical students in Madrid: A proposal for empathy level cut-off points for Spain.

This study evaluates the degree of empathy among medical students and its influencing factors at three critical moments of their degree studies (beginning of first year and end of third and sixth years) as well as establishes low-, medium-, and high-empathy cut-off points to obtain valid and reliable results that can be extrapolated to the general population. This cross-sectional study of the eight (public and private) medical schools in the province of Madrid, used an electronic questionnaire with the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), Medical Student Well-Being Index, and other independent characteristics as measuring instruments. Of the 2,264 student participants, 1,679 (74.0%) were women, with a 50.7% participation rate. No significant differences were found in empathy levels by academic year. Regarding range, percentile and cut-off point tables were established to identify students with high, medium, and low empathy levels. Women (p<0.001), volunteer workers (p<0.001), and those preferring general specialties (internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, or family medicine) scored higher on the JSE (p<0.02). Moreover, 41.6% presented high level of psychological distress. Women reported a lower well-being level and a higher risk of psychological distress (p = 0.004). In sum, the empathy of medical students in Madrid did not differ among the three critical moments of their university studies. The established cut-off points could be taken into account when accessing the medical degree and identifying students with low levels of empathy to implement curricular interventions to rectify this perceived deficiency. There was a high percentage of medical students with high levels of psychological distress.

Long-Term Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease Patients: The SUSTAIN Study.

BACKGROUND: Large real-world-evidence studies are required to confirm the durability of response, effectiveness, and safety of ustekinumab in Crohn's disease (CD) patients in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective, multicentre study was conducted in Spain in patients with active CD who had received ≥1 intravenous dose of ustekinumab for ≥6 months. Primary outcome was ustekinumab retention rate; secondary outcomes were to identify predictive factors for drug retention, short-term remission (week 16), loss of response and predictive factors for short-term efficacy and loss of response, and ustekinumab safety. RESULTS: A total of 463 patients were included. Mean baseline Harvey-Bradshaw Index was 8.4. A total of 447 (96.5%) patients had received prior biologic therapy, 141 (30.5%) of whom had received ≥3 agents. In addition, 35.2% received concomitant immunosuppressants, and 47.1% had ≥1 abdominal surgery. At week 16, 56% had remission, 70% had response, and 26.1% required dose escalation or intensification; of these, 24.8% did not subsequently reduce dose. After a median follow-up of 15 months, 356 (77%) patients continued treatment. The incidence rate of ustekinumab discontinuation was 18% per patient-year of follow-up. Previous intestinal surgery and concomitant steroid treatment were associated with higher risk of ustekinumab discontinuation, while a maintenance schedule every 12 weeks had a lower risk; neither concomitant immunosuppressants nor the number of previous biologics were associated with ustekinumab discontinuation risk. Fifty adverse events were reported in 39 (8.4%) patients; 4 of them were severe (2 infections, 1 malignancy, and 1 fever). CONCLUSIONS: Ustekinumab is effective and safe as short- and long-term treatment in a refractory cohort of CD patients in real-world clinical practice.

This large retrospective study demonstrated the short- and long-term effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease in real-world clinical practice, including those with refractory disease.

Epidemiological trends of HIV/HCV coinfection in Spain, 2015-2019.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and active HCV infection (HCV-RNA-positive) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Spain in 2019 and compared the results with those of four similar studies performed during 2015-2018. METHODS: The study was performed in 41 centres. Sample size was estimated for an accuracy of 1%. Patients were selected by random sampling with proportional allocation. RESULTS: The reference population comprised 41 973 PLWH, and the sample size was 1325. HCV serostatus was known in 1316 PLWH (99.3%), of whom 376 (28.6%) were HCV antibody (Ab)-positive (78.7% were prior injection drug users); 29 were HCV-RNA-positive (2.2%). Of the 29 HCV-RNA-positive PLWH, infection was chronic in 24, it was acute/recent in one, and it was of unknown duration in four. Cirrhosis was present in 71 (5.4%) PLWH overall, three (10.3%) HCV-RNA-positive patients and 68 (23.4%) of those who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy (p = 0.04). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies decreased steadily from 37.7% in 2015 to 28.6% in 2019 (p < 0.001); the prevalence of active HCV infection decreased from 22.1% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Uptake of anti-HCV treatment increased from 53.9% in 2015 to 95.0% in 2019 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, the prevalence of active HCV infection among PLWH at the end of 2019 was 2.2%, i.e. 90.0% lower than in 2015. Increased exposure to DAAs was probably the main reason for this sharp reduction. Despite the high coverage of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents, HCV-related cirrhosis remains significant in this population.

Evidence for shared genetic risk factors between lymphangioleiomyomatosis and pulmonary function.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare low-grade metastasising disease characterised by cystic lung destruction. The genetic basis of LAM remains incompletely determined, and the disease cell-of-origin is uncertain. We analysed the possibility of a shared genetic basis between LAM and cancer, and LAM and pulmonary function. METHODS: The results of genome-wide association studies of LAM, 17 cancer types and spirometry measures (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio and peak expiratory flow (PEF)) were analysed for genetic correlations, shared genetic variants and causality. Genomic and transcriptomic data were examined, and immunodetection assays were performed to evaluate pleiotropic genes. RESULTS: There were no significant overall genetic correlations between LAM and cancer, but LAM correlated negatively with FVC and PEF, and a trend in the same direction was observed for FEV1. 22 shared genetic variants were uncovered between LAM and pulmonary function, while seven shared variants were identified between LAM and cancer. The LAM-pulmonary function shared genetics identified four pleiotropic genes previously recognised in LAM single-cell transcriptomes: ADAM12, BNC2, NR2F2 and SP5. We had previously associated NR2F2 variants with LAM, and we identified its functional partner NR3C1 as another pleotropic factor. NR3C1 expression was confirmed in LAM lung lesions. Another candidate pleiotropic factor, CNTN2, was found more abundant in plasma of LAM patients than that of healthy women. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the existence of a common genetic aetiology between LAM and pulmonary function.

Influence of the Computer-Aided Static Navigation Technique and Mixed Reality Technology on the Accuracy of the Orthodontic Micro-Screws Placement. An In Vitro Study.

To analyze the effect of a computer-aided static navigation technique and mixed reality technology on the accuracy of orthodontic micro-screw placement. Material and methods: Two hundred and seven orthodontic micro-screws were placed using either a computer-aided static navigation technique (NAV), a mixed reality device (MR), or a conventional freehand technique (FHT). Accuracy across different dental sectors was also analyzed. CBCT and intraoral scans were taken both prior to and following orthodontic micro-screw placement. The deviation angle and horizontal deviation were then analyzed; these measurements were taken at the coronal entry point and apical endpoint between the planned and performed orthodontic micro-screws. In addition, any complications resulting from micro-screw placement, such as spot perforations, were also analyzed across all dental sectors. Results: The statistical analysis showed significant differences between study groups with regard to the coronal entry-point (p < 0.001). The NAV study group showed statistically significant differences from the FHT (p < 0.001) and MR study groups (p < 0.001) at the apical end-point (p < 0.001), and the FHT group found significant differences from the angular deviations of the NAV (p < 0.001) and MR study groups deviations (p = 0.0011). Different dental sectors also differed significantly. (p < 0.001) Additionally, twelve root perforations were observed in the FHT group, while there were no root perforations in the NAV group. Conclusions: Computer-aided static navigation technique enable more accurate orthodontic micro-screw placement and fewer intraoperative complications when compared with the mixed reality technology and conventional freehand techniques.

Is there a procoagulant state long-term after lung transplantation? A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication after lung transplantation (LT). However, its pathophysiology remains unknown, and coagulation profiles have yet to be described. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess coagulation status after LT. METHODS: We performed a prospective study and described the coagulation profiles of 48 patients at 5 different time-points: before LT and at 24-72 h, 2 weeks, 4 months, and 1 year after LT. RESULTS: At baseline, almost all analyzed coagulation factors were within the normal range, except for FVIII, which was above the normal range. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and FVIII were increased after LT and remained high at 1 year after transplantation. The cumulative incidence of VTE was 22.9%. Patients who developed VTE had higher FVIII activity 2 weeks after LT. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe coagulation profiles up to 1 year after LT. We show that most markers of a procoagulant state normalize at 2 weeks after LT, but that values of FVIII and vWF remain abnormal at 1 year. This problem has received little attention in the literature. Larger studies are necessary to confirm the results and to design appropriate prophylactic strategies.

Lung Transplant Improves Survival and Quality of Life Regardless of Telomere Dysfunction.

Introduction: Fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are the first indication for lung transplantation (LT). Telomere dysfunction has been associated with poor post-transplant outcomes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the morbi-mortality and quality of life in fibrotic ILDs after lung transplant depending on telomere biology. Methods: Fibrotic ILD patients that underwent lung transplant were allocated to two arms; with or without telomere dysfunction at diagnosis based on the telomere length and telomerase related gene mutations revealed by whole-exome sequencing. Post-transplant evaluation included: (1) short and long-term mortality and complications and (2) quality of life. Results: Fifty-five percent of patients that underwent LT carried rare coding mutations in telomerase-related genes. Patients with telomere shortening more frequently needed extracorporeal circulation and presented a higher rate of early post-transplant hematological complications, longer stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and a higher number of long-term hospital admissions. However, post-transplant 1-year survival was higher than 80% regardless of telomere dysfunction, with improvement in the quality of life and oxygen therapy withdrawal. Conclusions: Post-transplant morbidity is higher in patients with telomere dysfunction and differs according to elapsed time from transplantation. However, lung transplant improves survival and quality of life and the associated complications are manageable.

Heterogeneity and Cancer-Related Features in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Cells and Tissue.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, low-grade metastasizing disease characterized by cystic lung destruction. LAM can exhibit extensive heterogeneity at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. However, the molecular similarities and differences among LAM cells and tissue, and their connection to cancer features are not fully understood. By integrating complementary gene and protein LAM signatures, and single-cell and bulk tissue transcriptome profiles, we show sources of disease heterogeneity, and how they correspond to cancer molecular portraits. Subsets of LAM diseased cells differ with respect to gene expression profiles related to hormones, metabolism, proliferation, and stemness. Phenotypic diseased cell differences are identified by evaluating lumican (LUM) proteoglycan and YB1 transcription factor expression in LAM lung lesions. The RUNX1 and IRF1 transcription factors are predicted to regulate LAM cell signatures, and both regulators are expressed in LAM lung lesions, with differences between spindle-like and epithelioid LAM cells. The cancer single-cell transcriptome profiles most similar to those of LAM cells include a breast cancer mesenchymal cell model and lines derived from pleural mesotheliomas. Heterogeneity is also found in LAM lung tissue, where it is mainly determined by immune system factors. Variable expression of the multifunctional innate immunity protein LCN2 is linked to disease heterogeneity. This protein is found to be more abundant in blood plasma from LAM patients than from healthy women. IMPLICATIONS: This study identifies LAM molecular and cellular features, master regulators, cancer similarities, and potential causes of disease heterogeneity.

Long-term results of sirolimus treatment in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a single referral centre experience.

There are few published data on long-term treatment with sirolimus in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The objective of this study was to describe the long-term effect of sirolimus in a series of LAM patients followed up in a referral centre, focusing on pulmonary function. We retrospectively reviewed a series of 48 patients with LAM diagnosed, followed up and treated with sirolimus in a single centre. Response to sirolimus was evaluated at 1 and 5 years. A negative sirolimus response was defined as an FEV1 decline greater than - 75 ml/year. A mixed-effects model was used to estimate the longitudinal changes in FEV1 (average slope), both as absolute (ml/year) and as predicted values (%predicted/year). From a total of 48 patients, 9 patients underwent lung transplantation and 4 died during the study. Mean (95% CI) FEV1 slope over 5 years was - 0.14 (- 26.13 to 25.85) ml/year in the whole LAM group, 42.55 (14.87 to 70.22) ml/year in the responder group, - 54.00 (- 71.60 to - 36.39) ml/year in the partial responder group and - 84.19 (- 113.5 to - 54.0) ml/year in the non-responder group. After 5 years of sirolimus treatment 59% had a positive response, 30% had a partial response and 11% had a negative response. Our study found that sirolimus treatment had a positive long-term effect on most LAM patients.

Pulmonary Arterial Remodeling Is Related to the Risk Stratification and Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Arterial Coupling in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial (PA) stiffness has an essential contribution to the right ventricular (RV) failure pathogenesis. A comprehensive and multiparameter risk assessment allows predicting mortality and guiding treatment decisions in PA hypertension (PAH). We characterize PA remodeling with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in prevalent and stable patients with PAH according to the ESC/ERS risk table and analyze the RV-PA coupling consequences. METHODS: Ten control subjects and 20 prevalent PAH adult patients underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) with simultaneous IVUS study. We estimated cardiac index (CI), pulmonary vascular resistance, and compliance (PVR, PAC) by standard formulas. From IVUS and RHC data, PA diameter, wall thickness/luminal diameter ratio, and indexes of stiffness (pulsatility, compliance, distensibility, incremental elastic modulus - Einc-, and the stiffness index ß) were measured. We evaluated RV-PA coupling by the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (TAPSE/sPAP). The individual average risk was calculated by assigning a score of 1 (low-risk -LR-), 2 (intermediate-risk -IR-), and 3 (high-risk -HR-) for each of seven variables (functional class, six-minute walking test, brain natriuretic peptide, right atrial area and pressure, CI, and PA oxygen saturation) and rounding the average value to the nearest integer. RESULTS: All PA segments interrogated showed increased vessel diameter, wall cross-sectional area (WCSA), and stiffness in patients with PAH compared to control subjects. 45% corresponded to LR, and 55% corresponded to IR PAH patients. The different measurements of PA stiffness showed significant correlations with TAPSE/sPAP (r = 0.6 to 0.76) in PAH patients. The IR group had higher PA stiffness and lower relative WCSA than LR patients (P < 0.05), and it is associated with a lower PAC and TAPSE/sPAP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In prevalent PAH patients, the severity of proximal PA remodeling is related to the risk stratification and associated with PAC and RV-PA coupling impairment beyond the indirect effect of the mean PA pressure. The concomitant assessment of IVUS and hemodynamic parameters at diagnosis and follow-up of PAH patients could be a feasible and safe tool for risk stratification and treatment response of the PA vasculopathy during serial hemodynamic measurements.

Near-normal aerobic capacity in long-term survivors after lung transplantation.

The clinical course of lung transplantation (LT) is diverse: some patients present chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and progressive decline in pulmonary function, but others maintain normal spirometric values and active lives. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether long-term LT survivors with normal spirometry achieve normal exercise capacity, and to identify predictive factors of exercise capacity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional multicentre study, where bilateral LT recipients who survived at least 10 years after LT, with normal spirometry, no diagnosis of CLAD and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea degree ≤2 underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). RESULTS: 28 LT recipients were included with a mean±sd age of 48.7±13.6 years. Oxygen uptake (V' O2 ) had a mean±sd value of 21.49±6.68 mL·kg-1·min-1 (75.24±15.6%) and the anaerobic threshold was reached at 48.6±10.1% of the V' O2max predicted. The mean±sd heart rate reserve at peak exercise was 17.56±13.6%. The oxygen pulse increased during exercise and was within normal values at 90.5±19.4%. The respiratory exchange ratio exceeded 1.19 at maximum exercise. The median (25-75th percentile) EuroQol-5D score was 1 (0.95-1), indicating a good quality of life. The median (25-75th percentile) International Physical Activity Questionnaire score was 5497 (4007-9832) MET-min·week-1 with 89% of patients reporting more than 1500 MET-min·week-1. In the multivariate regression models, age, sex and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide remained significantly associated with V' O2max (mL·kg-1·min-1); haemoglobin and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were significantly associated with maximum work rate (watts), after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSION: We report for the first time near-normal peak V' O2 values during CPET and normal exercise capacity in long-term LT recipients without CLAD.

Comparing the first and second waves of COVID-19 in a tertiary university hospital in Barcelona.

BACKGROUND: Hospitals have constituted the limiting resource of the healthcare systems for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic progressed, knowledge of the disease improved, and healthcare systems were expected to be more adapted to provide a more efficient response. The objective of this research was to compare the flow of COVID-19 patients in emergency rooms and hospital wards, between the pandemic's first and second waves at the University Hospital of Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona, Spain), and to compare the profiles, severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients between the two waves. METHODS: A retrospective observational analysis of COVID-19 patients attending the hospital from February 24 to April 26, 2020 (first wave) and from July 24, 2020, to May 18, 2021 (second wave) was carried out. We analysed the data of the electronic medical records on patient demographics, comorbidity, severity, and mortality. RESULTS: The daily number of COVID-19 patients entering the emergency rooms (ER) dropped by 65% during the second wave compared to the first wave. During the second wave, patients entering the ER were significantly younger (61 against 63 years old p<0.001) and less severely affected (39% against 48% with a triage level of resuscitation or emergency; p<0.001). ER mortality declined during the second wave (1% against 2%; p<0.000). The daily number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients dropped by 75% during the second wave. Those hospitalised during the second wave were more severely affected (20% against 10%; p<0.001) and were referred to the intensive care unit (ICU) more frequently (21% against 15%; p<0.001). Inpatient mortality showed no significant difference between the two waves. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the flow, severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients entering this tertiary hospital during the two waves may reflect a better adaptation of the health care system and the improvement of knowledge on the disease.

CMV-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity Predicts a High Level of CMV Replication After Prophylaxis Withdrawal in Lung Transplant Recipients.

Monitoring cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is useful in predicting late-onset CMV infection after solid organ transplantation, but few data have been reported after lung transplantation (LT). CMV CMI against 2 CMV antigens (IE-1, pp65) was evaluated in 60 seropositive LT at 6-month prophylaxis withdrawal. LT with late-onset CMV infection showed significantly lower (IE-1)CMV CMI than patients without (P = .045), and was more evident in patients developing high viral loads (P = .010). (IE-1)CMV CMI independently predicted high first late-onset viral replication (odds ratio, 4.358; 95% confidence interval, 1.043-18.215). CMV-specific CMI may be useful in CMV preventive strategies after LT.