Assessment of beliefs and attitudes about electroconvulsive therapy posted on Twitter: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and safe medical procedure that mainly indicated for depression, but is also indicated for patients with other conditions. However, ECT is among the most stigmatized and controversial treatments in medicine. Our objective was to examine social media contents on Twitter related to ECT to identify and evaluate public views on the matter. METHODS: We collected Twitter posts in English and Spanish mentioning ECT between January 1, 2019 and October 31, 2020. Identified tweets were subject to a mixed method quantitative-qualitative content and sentiment analysis combining manual and semi-supervised natural language processing machine-learning analyses. Such analyses identified the distribution of tweets, their public interest (retweets and likes per tweet), and sentiment for the observed different categories of Twitter users and contents. RESULTS: "Healthcare providers" users produced more tweets (25%) than "people with lived experience" and their "relatives" (including family members and close friends or acquaintances) (10% combined), and were the main publishers of "medical" content (mostly related to ECT's main indications). However, more than half of the total tweets had "joke or trivializing" contents, and such had a higher like and retweet ratio. Among those tweets manifesting personal opinions on ECT, around 75% of them had a negative sentiment. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed method analysis of social media contents on Twitter offers a novel perspective to examine public opinion on ECT, and our results show attitudes more negative than those reflected in studies using surveys and other traditional methods.

Giant mesenteric fibromatosis associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric fibromatosis is a benign locally-aggressive mesenchymal neoplasm that lacks the potential for metastasis. It is related to Gardner's Syndrome, previous trauma, abdominal surgery, and prolonged intake of oestrogen. Differentially diagnosing this from similar tumours is crucial in order for establishing the appropriate treatment and only immunohistochemical features can be used for a definitive diagnosis. Although medical therapies play a role in the treatment of mesenteric fibromatosis, surgical resection is the gold-standard procedure. METHODS: Our case study is a 40-year-old male with a concomitant diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mesenteric fibromatosis, not associated with any of the risk factors mentioned above. We performed CT and PET scans and observed a vascularised and well-defined mesenteric centre-abdominal hypermetabolic solid mass in contact with the gastric body, duodenum, body and tail of the pancreas, transverse colon, and spleen. An ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy revealed features suggestive of mesenteric fibromatosis. RESULTS: An elective laparotomy was carried out and a giant mass, arising from mesentery, was excised, including a partial gastrectomy and segmental resection of the transverse colon. Distal pancreatectomy, small bowel resection and successive splenectomy were performed due to a large hypertensive component. The postoperative period was uneventful. The histopathology of the surgical pieces was compatible with intra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis. CONCLUSION: As far as we know from the literature, this is the largest mesenteric fibromatosis tumour ever to be excised. We also noticed that this is the first reported case of the concomitant presence of mesenteric fibromatosis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is not related to any of the described risk factors. Further research is needed to establish what type of association this presentation may indicate.

Use of the Minimum Basic Data Set as a tool for the epidemiological surveillance of mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: Mesothelioma is a very aggressive tumor that appears after several decades of asbestos exposure. The Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) has been validated for the incidence of mesothelioma in Italy, but not in Spain. The objectives of this investigation are: to estimate the prevalence, incidence and mortality of mesothelioma in the Community of Madrid (CM); to evaluate the distribution of this risk within the territory; and to explore validity of the MBDS in the epidemiological surveillance of mesothelioma. METHODS: Prevalence, incidence and mortality mesothelioma rates were calculated for the CM from data of the MBDS (2016 and 2017), and mortality data of the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) for the same period. The geographical distribution of cases and deaths, and its correlation at municipal level was studied. Statistical analysis with R and Excel tools was carried out. RESULTS: The incidence of mesothelioma in the CM was higher than in previous years. Mortality estimated by the MBDS and calculated using INE data for 2016 were similar in the CM. The correlation between the geographical patterns of risk of mesothelioma obtained from the two sources was high (r = 0.86). The aggregation of cases continues in municipalities in the south, detecting the maximum risk in Aranjuez. CONCLUSION: The MBDS and INE are good resources for monitoring the risk of mesothelioma. New studies that investigate the aggregation of cases in Aranjuez are required.

[Epidemiology and public health in the COVID-19 epidemic]. / Epidemiología y salud pública en la epidemia de la COVID-19.

In the last year, all have suffered the devastating consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Over the course of a few months, the news media has bombarded us with messages about incidences, lethality, or even more technical measurements such as R0 or the attack rate. With this update, we hope to clarify basic concepts on the dynamic of the epidemic as well as present what is known about it as of the time of writing. To do so, the information available from international bodies such as the World Health Organization as well as the Ministry of Health has been extracted and used. In no case is it to be understood as a fixed or known situation; it is a situation that, in contrast, is invariably changeable.

Management of analgesia, sedation and delirium in Spanish Intensive Care Units: A national two-part survey. / Prácticas de analgosedación y delirium en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos españolas: Encuesta 2013-2014.

OBJECTIVE: To know the real clinical practice of Spanish ICUs in relation to analgesia, sedation and delirium, with a view to assessing adherence to current recommendations. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out based on a national survey on analgesia, sedation and delirium practices in patients admitted to intensive care on 16 November, 2013 and 16 October, 2014. An on-line questionnaire was sent with the endorsement of the SEMICYUC. SETTING: Spanish ICUs in public and private hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 166 ICUs participated, with the inclusion of 1567 patients. The results showed that 61.4% of the ICUs had a sedation protocol, and 75% regularly monitored sedation and agitation - the RASS being the most frequently used scale. Pain was monitored in about half of the ICUs, but the behavioral scales were very little used. Delirium monitoring was implemented in few ICUs. Among the patients on mechanical ventilation, midazolam remained a very commonly used agent. CONCLUSIONS: This survey is the first conducted in Spain on the practices of analgesia, sedation and delirium. We identified specific targets for quality improvement, particularly concerning the management of sedation and the assessment of delirium.

Experimental study of the application of a new bone cement loaded with broad spectrum antibiotics for the treatment of bone infection. / Estudio experimental de la aplicación de un nuevo cemento óseo cargado con antibióticos de amplio espectro para el tratamiento de la infección ósea.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the in vivo behaviour of a new bone cement loaded with antibiotics, in a rabbit bone infection model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand rabbits divided into 4 groups were used, depending on the cement (commercial or experimental) and the antibiotic (vancomycin or linezolid) used to control a bone infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The commercial cement is Palacos® R and the experimental cement has been achieved by adding PLGA to the solid phase of Palacos® R cement. A novel histological staging method based on bone histoarchitecture has been used. This staging allows us a global vision of bone repair capacity, in the presence of modified cement, and also allows us to correlate the damage generated with the functionality of the tissue. RESULTS: The degree of bone destructuration found depended on the type of cement and antibiotic, and was higher in the groups with commercial cement than in the experimental group (P<.01) and in the groups with linezolid with respect to vancomycin (P=.04) The percentage of macrophages varied exclusively depending on the antibiotic used, and was higher in the vancomycin groups (P=.04). DISCUSSION: The development of new formulations of bone cement that release more, and more prolonged, new generation antibiotics such as linezolid, present an in vivo behaviour superior to commercial cement, respecting the bone structure. This behaviour would have a clinical implication in fighting infections by increasingly resistant germs in the treatment of prosthetic infection.

[Indications of dexmedetomidine in the current sedoanalgesia tendencies in critical patients]. / Indicaciones de la dexmedetomidina en las tendencias actuales de sedoanalgesia en el paciente crítico.

Recently, dexmedetomidine has been marketed in Spain and other European countries. The published experience regarding its use has placed dexmedetomidine on current trends in sedo-analgesic strategies in the adult critically ill patient. Dexmedetomidine has sedative and analgesic properties, without respiratory depressant effects, inducing a degree of depth of sedation in which the patient can open its eyes to verbal stimulation, obey simple commands and cooperate in nursing care. It is therefore a very useful drug in patients who can be maintained on mechanical ventilation with these levels of sedation avoiding the deleterious effects of over or infrasedation. Because of its effects on α2-receptors, it's very useful for the control and prevention of tolerance and withdrawal to other sedatives and psychotropic drugs. The use of dexmedetomidine has been associated with lower incidence of delirium when compared with other sedatives. Moreover, it's a potentially useful drug for sedation of patients in non-invasive ventilation.

[Donation protocol following controlled cardiac death (Maastricht type III donation). First experience]. / Protocolo de donación tras la muerte cardiaca controlada (donante tipo iii de Maastricht). Experiencia inicial.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with the implementation of a donation protocol following controlled cardiac death (Maastricht type III donation). DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive and observational study was made. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit of a third-level university hospital. PATIENTS: Eight patients in an irreversible state, in which withdrawal of all life support had been agreed, were evaluated as potential donors. INTERVENTIONS: Application of the adopted protocol. VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Clinical data of donors, evaluation of a donation protocol following cardiac death, warm ischemia times, and short-term outcome of the recipients. RESULTS: Eight patients were evaluated. In one case donation was not possible because no cardiac arrest developed in the 120 minutes after extubation. The 7 remaining patients were effective kidney donors. Warm ischemia times were less than 23 minutes in all cases. Although 7 of the 14 recipients suffered delayed graft function, all of them achieved good renal function. CONCLUSION: Donation after cardiac death in patients in an overwhelming and irreversible state represents a potential source of donors not previously considered in this country. The prior development of a consensus-based protocol can help increase the number of organs in combination with those obtained after brain death. In our experience, the results of kidney transplants obtained from donors after cardiac death are good, and the success of these types of protocols could be extended to other organs such as the liver and lungs.

Tigecycline therapy for infections due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tigecycline in the treatment of infections due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) in critically ill patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in critically ill patients receiving different tigecycline doses for severe CPKP infections. We evaluated demographic data, localization and severity of infection, response to therapy, and mortality. RESULTS: Fifteen patients received tigecycline for 16 episodes of CPKP infection. The main infections were pneumonia (31%), urinary tract infection (31%), peritonitis (20%), catheter-related bacteraemia (12%), and meningitis (6%). Most infections were complicated with severe sepsis (44%), septic shock (12%), and/or bacteraemia (19%). The daily maintenance dose of tigecycline was 200 mg in 10 episodes and 100 mg in 6 episodes. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 25%. Univariate analysis showed that mortality was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with mean APACHE II and SOFA scores and the presence of immunosuppression, but not with the tigecycline dose. CONCLUSIONS: Tigecycline appears to be an effective therapy for severe infections due to CPKP in critically ill patients. Mortality is related to the severity of the underlying disease. We observed no benefit from a higher maintenance dose of tigecycline, although the number of patients included in the study was too small to draw any general conclusions in this regard.

[Non-AIDS defining malignancies, or the sleeping giant: an update]. / Tumores no definitorios de sida o el gigante dormido: actualización.

Non-AIDS defining malignancies (NADM) are a very heterogeneous group of cancers with increasing importance in subjects with HIV infection. They develop in patients that are younger than general population and their clinical manifestations are usually atypical, with higher tumour grades, more aggressive clinical behaviour and metastatic disease. The outcome is poor, with rapid progression, a high rate of relapse, and a poor response to treatment. There are several factors that influence their development: HIV infection, chronic immunosuppression, and co-infection with some oncogenic viruses. The most frequent NADM are those associated with human papillomavirus infection, lung cancer, hepatic cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Their management is based on three essential points: the treatment of the specific malignancy, the use of antiretroviral therapy, and the prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections. The two factors significantly associated with prevention of NADM are a CD4+ lymphocyte count more than 500/mm(3), and an undetectable viral load.

[Therapeutic approach to insomnia]. / Abordaje terapéutico del insomnio.

Insomnia is the inability to reconcile or maintain sleep or the feeling of not having a good night's sleep, resulting in daytime dysfunction. It affects health and the quality of life of patients who suffer from it. However, up to 10% of insomniac patients do not receive an adequate treatment. Insomnia requires an integrated approach, treating the causes or triggers and symptoms, and assessing their impact on the patient. Treatment must be based on strategies of changing behaviour and changes in lifestyle that are associated, and when deemed necessary, pharmacological treatment. The main hypnotics are benzodiazepines and Z drugs or non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, on not finding any evidence of clinically significant differences between the use of one or the other. Both therapeutic groups are effective in the treatment of insomnia in the short term, but there is no evidence on their long-term effectiveness.

[Improvement in health care quality for patients from the thoracic/chest pain unit in a regional hospital]. / Mejora de la calidad asistencial a los pacientes de la unidad de dolor torácico de un hospital comarcal.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of an improvement cycle in patients suffering thoracic/chest pain in hospital emergencies, especially in those who could benefit from the early Bruce Treadmill Test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary group care protocol was designed, which identified improvement opportunities and gave priority to the fact that «an early Bruce Treadmill Test was carried out on fewer occasions than recommended¼. Causes were analysed (Ishikawa diagram) and six quality criteria were defined. These criteria were evaluated in a random sample of 30 patients out of the total of 180 who used the ergometer at the Hospital in the first six months of 2007, as well as questionnaire for the doctors. Corrective measures were introduced: circulation, accessibility through intranet and explicit information for new employees (doctors). The second evaluation was carried out during the first six-months of 2008 using another random sample of 30 patients from a total of 120. RESULTS: In the first evaluation, the classification of the risk according to the protocol was very low (100% non-compliance) and patients whose admission to the Chest Pain Unit was recommended and an early Bruce Treadmill Test (74% criteria failure) were referred to cardiology clinics. After implementation of the corrective measures, we obtain a general improvement in all the criteria, but very significant from the previous ones, with non-compliances being reduced to 17% in classification and to the 23% in referrals. CONCLUSIONS: The structured cycle has helped resolve the priority problem in the short-term. The adopted measures have mainly been organisational, dependent on the professionals involved, and at a very low cost. Simple but organised methodological approaches should be taken into account before the incorporation of higher cost technologies.

[Test to measure basic life support and defibrillation skills in primary care doctors and nurses]. / Test Raval Sud para medir habilidades de soporte vital básico y desfibrilación en médicos y enfermeras de atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To prepare and validate a tool to measure Basic Life Support (BLS) and semi-automatic defibrillator (SAD) skills adapted for use by health professionals in Primary Care Teams (PCT). To propose an updated version and demonstrate self-sufficiency of the team to use it in a training evaluation. DESIGN: Validation of measurement tools. Study of reliability with repeated measurements after a training course. SETTING: Drassanes Primary Care Centre. Raval Sud Basic Health Area. Barcelona. Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 37 voluntary resuscitators (all doctors/nurses), professional camera, medical controller, computerised mannequin, 6 evaluators. INTERVENTIONS: Test preparation methodology. Cardiff Model 3.1. IMPLEMENTATION: 2 filmed series (professional+domestic), of 26-25 "station type" simulations, separated by 1 month. A training workshop between series. Retrospective evaluation of DVD recordings (5 evaluators). 2nd series scored again at 3 weeks with a blind and random order filmed version. VARIABLES: performances classified from worse to best execution. Psychometric analysis: Validity (content/apparent). Test-retest reliability, between-observer and sensitivity to change. RESULTS: Compared to the Cardiff test (46 items) our 83 item test contained 38(46%) new, 34(41%) modified and 11(13%) similar. Between-evaluator reliability, excellent/good in 51/62 items analysed; Within-evaluator and between-filming reliability, excellent/good in all except 1 item; the test score doubled after the training course. A version of the test according to BLS-SAD recommendations is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: On there not being useful tools available for Primary Care doctors and nurses, one has been prepared with adequate psychometric guarantees and proven self-sufficient evaluation. We propose the immediate application of the updated version for training evaluation purposes.

[Monitoring of deep sedation. The BIS(R) monitor]. / Monitorización de la sedación profunda. El monitor BIS(R).

Adequate monitoring of analgesia and sedation should be one of the main goals in the Intensive Care Units. Once the analgesia is assured, the correct dosage of the sedatives will depend on the correct monitoring of the sedation level. For years, clinical scales have been used to evaluate the sedation level. These scales are appropriate for the evaluation of mild sedation but they cannot correctly evaluate deeply sedated patients or those patients who require continuous intravenous administration of neuromuscular blockade agents. In this chapter, we review the most used monitor to control the adequate level of sedation in the Intensive Care Units as well as the BIS(R) Monitor, which is the one recommended by the Analgesia and Sedation Work Group of the Spanish Society of Critical Care Medicine (SEMICYUC).

[Anesthesia for a pediatric multivisceral transplant]. / Anestesia en el trasplante multivisceral en pediatría.

A 15-year-old female with short intestine syndrome due to chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with kidney failure underwent a multivisceral (stomach-duodenum-jejunum-ileum-pancreas-liver) and kidney transplant. She had required parenteral nutrition for the last 5 years, with numerous complications such as sepsis from the central catheter, deep venous thrombosis, severe liver dysfunction, pancytopenia due to bone marrow failure, and severe malnutrition. Surgery lasted 15 hours and was free of complications other than hypothermia, which worsened after revascularization of the grafts. Replacement of 6 units of blood products and crystalloids was required. Biochemical and hemodynamic variables were stable, apart from the development of hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, and lactic acidosis. The anesthetic approach included preoperative assessment of problems related to chronic parenteral nutrition (liver dysfunction, coagulopathy, and restricted venous access), the prevention of hypothermia, correction of electrolyte imbalance and the acid-base status, treatment of reperfusion syndrome, and the replacement of fluids and blood products to maintain circulatory homeostasis and assure sufficient splanchnic perfusion.