Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and mesenteric ischemia: can it predict the etiology of mesenteric ischemic at computed tomography?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the usefulness of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictive factor of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) in patients presenting at the emergency department (ED) with acute abdominal pain. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study of patients older than 16 years admitted to the ED with acute abdominal pain with CT and histologic confirmation. The study group corresponded to patients with abdominal CT with radiological signs of AMI. The control group corresponded to patients with non-AMI findings in abdominal CT. Association measurements of NLR with radiological signs were compared with a paired-sample t test, and multivariate regression performed to analyze potential correlations. To assess the diagnosis capacity of NLR, ROC curves were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were included (32 cases and 29 controls). The cases of AMI showed higher mortality (43.8% vs 6.9%, p < 0.01) and higher NLR on the limit of statistical significance (13.8 vs 8.7, p = 0.053). Patients with AMI due to occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) showed a higher NLR (8.3 vs 22.3, p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the NLR for AMI due to occlusion of the SMA was 0.88 (95% CI 0.7-1.0, p = 0.001). No patient with NLR < 5 presented AMI due to occlusion of the SMA. An NLR of 12.8 showed a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 74% for AMI due to occlusion of SMA. CONCLUSIONS: The NLR is a useful parameter of AMI of arterial origin due to occlusion of the SMA; it can help the clinician to raise suspicion of this diagnosis and the interpreting radiologist in the acquisition protocol for the CT study and would alert for an early surgical treatment.

Trends in nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in hospitalized subjects in Spain (1997-2010) according to HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease and the rate of NTM disease-related mortality and to analyse trends in these variables according to HIV infection. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study for the period 1997-2010 using data from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) provided by the Spanish Ministry of Health. The exposure variables were: (i) HIV infection (HIV positive versus HIV negative); (ii) calendar period in relation to widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) [1997-1999 (early cART period), 2000-2003 (middle cART period) and 2004-2010 (late cART period)]. The outcome variables were (i) new NTM disease diagnosis and (ii) mortality. RESULTS: A total of 3729 cases of incident NTM disease were collected in MBDS, 1795 in the HIV-negative group and 1934 in the HIV-positive group, among whom 602 deaths occurred, 223 in the HIV-negative group and 379 in the HIV-positive group. The incidence of NTM disease and the rate of NTM disease-related mortality were 1000-fold higher in the HIV-positive group than in the HIV-negative group. Regarding the incidence of NTM disease, in the HIV-negative group the incidence increased from 2.91 to 3.97 events per 1,000,000 patient-years from 1997-1999 to 2004-2010 (P < 0.001), while in the HIV-positive group the incidence decreased from 2.29 to 0.71 events per 1000 patient-years from 1997-1999 to 2004-2010 (P < 0.001). Regarding mortality, in the HIV-negative group mortality increased from 2.63 to 4.26 events per 10,000,000 patient-years from 1997-1999 to 2000-2003 (P = 0.059), and then the rate stabilized at around 3.87 events per 10,000,000 patient-years in 2004-2010 (P = 0.128), while in the HIV-positive group mortality decreased from 4.28 to 1.39 events per 10,000 patient-years from 1997-1999 to 2004-2010 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection was associated with a higher NTM disease incidence and higher NTM disease-related mortality than in the general population, but these rates decreased in the HIV-positive group from 1997-1999 to 2004-2010, whereas the NTM disease incidence increased in the HIV-negative group.

Is radical surgery feasible in liver hydatid cysts in contact with the inferior vena cava?

BACKGROUND: Cysts in contact with the inferior vena cava (IVC) represent a challenge for hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgeons. Although the literature on the topic is scarce, the most widely accepted approach is conservative surgery. Partial cyst resection is recommended, because radical resection is considered a high-risk procedure. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study over the period January 2007-December 2012. We operated on 103 patients with liver hydatidosis. A total of 32 patients (31 %) had a liver cyst in contact with the IVC. We proposed a cyst classification based on location of the cyst and length of contact and degrees of involvement of the IVC. RESULTS: Median size of the contacting cyst measured by computed tomography (CT) was 12 cm. On CT, median length of contact with the IVC was 37 mm. The median degree of involvement was 90°. Radical surgery was performed in 20 patients (62.5 %). No IVC resection was done. Morbidity rate was 28 %, and mortality was 3 %. In follow-up (median 27 months), no relapses or problems related to IVC flow were detected. Postoperative stay and transfusion rate were higher in the conservative surgery group, but these patients presented fewer complications. There was no relationship between circumferential grades and length of contact with the IVC and the type of surgery performed. CONCLUSIONS: Liver hydatid cysts in contact with the IVC are large cysts usually located in the right liver. They do not normally cause clinical symptoms related to IVC contact. Radical surgery is feasible, and was performed in 60 % of our series, but it is technically demanding. We propose a classification of cysts in contact with the IVC.

Triggering with GnRH agonist in oocyte-donation cycles: oestradiol monitoring is not necessary during ovarian stimulation.

This prospective observational study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oocyte-donation cycles triggered with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist without monitoring oestradiol concentrations during ovarian stimulation. A total of 97 oocyte donors received recombinant FSH (150-225/day) and GnRH antagonists (0.25mg/day). Oocyte maturation was triggered with 0.2mg triptorelin s.c. Donors aged 25.4 ± 4.1 years were stimulated for 8.8 ± 0.9 days and underwent 2.9 ± 0.5 (2-4) ultrasound assessments. Total FSH dose was 1703.4 ± 304.7IU, antagonists were administered for 4.3 ± 1.0 days, 14.7 ± 8.8 oocytes were retrieved and there were no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Recipients (n=123) aged 40.3 ± 3.4 years received 10.9 ± 4.3 oocytes, 88.7% of which were metaphase II. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization rate was 79% and 2.18 ± 0.6 (1-3) embryos were transferred. The pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and twin pregnancy rates were 64.2%, 57.7% and 19.7%, respectively. In conclusion, given the high efficacy and safety of the GnRH-antagonist protocol triggered with a GnRH agonist, the monitoring of oestradiol concentrations is not necessary. Ultrasound monitoring is enough for an adequate follow up of the stimulation cycle in oocyte donors.

[UNE-EN-ISO-9001 internal audit program performed by our own personnel: a knowledge management tool]. / El programa de auditorías internas según norma UNE-EN ISO 9001 realizadas con personal propio: herramienta para la gestión del conocimiento.

INTRODUCTION: The need to maintain a Quality Management System based on the UNE-EN-ISO 9001:2000 standards in 12 Departments of the "Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón" (HGUGM), led us to make the decision to establish an internal audit program using our own personnel as a useful tool for knowledge management and continuous improvement. The Department of "Medicina Preventiva y Gestión de Calidad" developed an Audit Program, which has been implemented in our Hospital during the last three years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a training program for internal auditors, who then became part of the hospital audit staff. Quality Managers of the accredited departments were consolidated as a group. A procedure for scheduling and coordination of audits was developed. The auditors and those audited were surveyed on the difficulties in conducting audits, including a section for suggestions, and an annual report was drafted with the results of internal and external audits, as well as the improvement areas identified in the whole process. RESULTS: A total of 40 internal audits have been performed in HGUGM since 2007, and 38 people were trained. The Quality Management System improved in terms of the decreasing number of non-conformances (NC) in external audits, and all services have maintained the certification. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of auditors and those audited regarding the performing of internal audits by our own personnel is very positive. There were identified improvement areas and common solutions.