Efficacy and safety of biological treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in elderly patients: Results from a GETECCU cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Biological therapies used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have shown to be effective and safe, although these results were obtained from studies involving mostly a young population, who are generally included in clinical trials. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the different biological treatments in the elderly population. METHODS: Multicenter study was carried out in the GETECCU group. Patients diagnosed with IBD and aged over 65 years at the time of initiating biological therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab or vedolizumab) were retrospectively included. Among the patients included, clinical response was assessed after drug induction (12 weeks of treatment) and at 52 weeks. Patients' colonoscopy data in week 52 were assessment, where available. Regarding complications, development of oncological events during follow-up and infectious processes occurring during biological treatment were collected (excluding bowel infection by cytomegalovirus). RESULTS: A total of 1090 patients were included. After induction, at approximately 12-14 weeks of treatment, 419 patients (39.6%) were in clinical remission, 502 patients (47.4%) had responded without remission and 137 patients (12.9%) had no response. At 52 weeks of treatment 442 patients (57.1%) had achieved clinical remission, 249 patients had responded without remission (32.2%) and 53 patients had no response to the treatment (6.8%). Before 52 weeks, 129 patients (14.8%) had discontinued treatment due to inefficacy, this being significantly higher (p<0.0001) for Golimumab - 9 patients (37.5%) - compared to the other biological treatments analyzed. With respect to tumor development, an oncological event was observed in 74 patients (6.9%): 30 patients (8%) on infliximab, 23 (7.14%) on adalimumab, 3 (11.1%) on golimumab, 10 (6.4%) on ustekinumab, and 8 (3.8%) on vedolizumab. The incidence was significantly lower (p=0.04) for the vedolizumab group compared to other treatments. As regards infections, these occurred in 160 patients during treatment (14.9%), with no differences between the different biologicals used (p=0.61): 61 patients (19.4%) on infliximab, 39 (12.5%) on adalimumab, 5 (17.8%) on golimumab, 22 (14.1%) on ustekinumab, and 34 (16.5%) on vedolizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Biological drug therapies have response rates in elderly patients similar to those described in the general population, Golimumab was the drug that was discontinued most frequently due to inefficacy. In our experience, tumor development was more frequent in patients who used anti-TNF therapies compared to other targets, although its incidence was generally low and that this is in line with younger patients based on previous literature.

The Natural History of Patients With Pre-Existing and De Novo Inflammatory Bowel Disease After Solid Organ Transplantation: EITOS Study of GETECCU.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the outcome of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with solid organ transplantation (SOT). We describe the natural history of pre-existing IBD and de novo IBD after SOT. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study that included patients with pre-existing IBD at the time of SOT and patients with de novo IBD after SOT. The primary outcome was IBD progression, defined by escalation of medical treatment, surgical therapy, or hospitalization due to refractory IBD. Risk factors were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients (106 pre-existing IBD and 71 de novo IBD) were included. Most patients with pre-existing IBD (92.5%) were in remission before SOT. During follow-up, 32% of patients with pre-existing IBD had disease progression, with a median time between SOT and IBD progression of 2.2 (interquartile range, 1.3-4.6) years. In the de novo cohort, 55% of patients had disease progression with a median time to flare of 1.9 (interquartile range, 0.8-3.9) years after diagnosis. In the pre-existing IBD cohort, active IBD at the time of SOT (hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.84; P = .012) and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (hazard ratio, 3.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-6.54; P = .003) were predictive factors for IBD progression. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of patients with pre-existing IBD and about half of patients with de novo IBD have disease progression after SOT. Active IBD at the time of SOT and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations were identified as risk factors for IBD progression.

Clinical and treatment outcomes of a second subcutaneous or intravenous anti-TNF in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with two consecutive anti-TNF agents: data from the ENEIDA registry.

Background: Infliximab seems to be the most efficacious of the three available anti-TNF agents for ulcerative colitis (UC) but little is known when it is used as the second anti-TNF. Objectives: To compare the clinical and treatment outcomes of a second subcutaneous or intravenous anti-TNF in UC patients. Design: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Patients from the ENEIDA registry treated consecutively with infliximab and a subcutaneous anti-TNF (or vice versa), naïve to other biological agents, were identified and grouped according to the administration route of the first anti-TNF into IVi (intravenous initially) or SCi (subcutaneous initially). Results: Overall, 473 UC patients were included (330 IVi and 143 SCi). Clinical response at week 14 was 42.7% and 48.3% in the IVi and SCi groups (non-statistically significant), respectively. Clinical remission rates at week 52 were 32.8% and 31.4% in the IVi and SCi groups (nonsignificant differences), respectively. A propensity-matched score analysis showed a higher clinical response rate at week 14 in the SCi group and higher treatment persistence in the IVi group. Regarding long-term outcomes, dose escalation and discontinuation due to the primary failure of the first anti-TNF and more severe disease activity at the beginning of the second anti-TNF were inversely associated with clinical remission. Conclusion: The use of a second anti-TNF for UC seems to be reasonable in terms of efficacy, although it is particularly reduced in the case of the primary failure of the first anti-TNF. Whether the second anti-TNF is infliximab or subcutaneous does not seem to affect efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and treatment outcomes of a second subcutaneous or intravenous anti-TNF in UC patients. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Patients from the ENEIDA registry treated consecutively with infliximab and a subcutaneous anti-TNF (or vice versa), naïve to other biological agents, were identified and grouped according to the administration route of the first anti-TNF into IVi (intravenous initially) or SCi (subcutaneous initially). RESULTS: Overall, 473 UC patients were included (330 IVi, 143 SCi). Clinical response at week 14 was 42.7% and 48.3% in the IVi and SCi groups (non-statistically significant), respectively. Clinical remission rates at week 52 were 32.8% and 31.4%, in the IVi and SCi groups (nonsignificant differences), respectively. A propensity-matched score analysis showed a higher clinical response rate at week 14 in the SCi group and higher treatment persistence in the IVi group. Regarding long-term outcomes, dose escalation and discontinuation due to the primary failure of the first anti-TNF and more severe disease activity at the beginning of the second anti-TNF were inversely associated with clinical remission. CONCLUSION: The use of a second anti-TNF for UC seems to be reasonable in terms of efficacy, although it is particularly reduced in the case of the primary failure of the first anti-TNF. Whether the second anti-TNF is infliximab or subcutaneous does not seem to affect efficacy.

Clinical and treatment outcomes of a second subcutaneous or intravenous anti-TNF in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with two consecutive anti-TNF agents. Data from the ENEIDA registry Background: Infliximab seems to be the most efficacious of the three available anti-TNF agents for ulcerative colitis (UC), but little is known when it is used as the second anti-TNF.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: What Have We Learned And What Are Key Milestones For The Years To Come?

UNASSIGNED: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the main extracorporeal kidney support therapy used in critical ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Since its conceptualization ~50 years ago, there have been major improvements in its technology and utilization. The last decade, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, has been marked by a growing interest and demand of CRRT in worldwide ICUs. This has underpinned the need for improvements in nomenclature and process standardization, optimization of CRRT deliverables, and the development and validation of key performance indicators. Further, how to leverage digital health technologies to build clinical decision support for CRRT and improve personalized bedside decisions is a subject of intense investigation. Herein, we summarize notable advancements in the provision of CRRT and propose areas in need of further development. (Rev Invest Clin. 2023;75(6):348-58).

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: What Have We Learned And What Are Key Milestones For The Years To Come?

ABSTRACT Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the main extracorporeal kidney support therapy used in critical ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Since its conceptualization ~50 years ago, there have been major improvements in its technology and utilization. The last decade, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, has been marked by a growing interest and demand of CRRT in worldwide ICUs. This has underpinned the need for improvements in nomenclature and process standardization, optimization of CRRT deliverables, and the development and validation of key performance indicators. Further, how to leverage digital health technologies to build clinical decision support for CRRT and improve personalized bedside decisions is a subject of intense investigation. Herein, we summarize notable advancements in the provision of CRRT and propose areas in need of further development.

Urea Reduction in Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality Risk.

INTRODUCTION: Urea is a toxin present in acute kidney injury (AKI). We hypothesize that reduction in serum urea levels might improve clinical outcomes. We examined the association between the reduction in urea and mortality. METHODS: Patients with AKI admitted to the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. We create 4 groups of urea reduction ratio (UXR) stratified by their decrease in urea from the highest index value in comparison to the value on day 10 (0%, 1-25%, 26-50%, and >50%), or at the time of death or discharge if prior to 10 days. Our primary endpoint was to observe the association between UXR and mortality. Secondary observations included determination of which types of patients achieved a UXR >50%, whether the modality of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) effected changes in UXR, and if serum creatinine (sCr) value changes were similarly associated with patient mortality. RESULTS: A total of 651 AKI patients were enrolled. The mean age was 54.1 years, and 58.6% were male. AKI 3 was present in 58.5%; the mean admission urea was 154 mg/dL. KRT was started in 32.4%, and 18.9% died. A trend toward decreased risk of death was observed in association with the magnitude of UXR. The best survival (94.3%) was observed in patients with a UXR >50%, and the highest mortality (72.1%) was observed in patients achieving a UXR of 0%. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, CKD, antibiotics, sepsis, hypovolemia, cardio-renal syndrome, shock, and AKI stage, the 10-day mortality was higher in groups that did not achieve a UXR of at least 25% (OR: 1.20). Patients achieving a UXR >50% were most likely initiated on dialysis due to a diagnosis of the uremic syndrome or had a diagnosis of obstructive nephropathy. Percentage change in sCr was also associated with increased mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective cohort of AKI patients, the percent decrease in UXR from admission was associated with a stratified risk of death. Patients with a UXR >25% had the best associated outcomes. Overall, a greater magnitude in UXR was associated with improved patient survival.

Tofacitinib in the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in Colombia: Real world experience. / Tofacitinib en el tratamiento de la colitis ulcerosa moderada a grave en Colombia: experiencia en mundo real.

INTRODUCTION: There are no studies on efficacy of tofacitinib for ulcerative colitis (UC) in Latin America. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety, in the real world, of patients with moderate-severe UC treated with tofacitinib in our setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multicenter descriptive observational study, in patients with UC who received treatment with tofacitinib in induction phase for 8 weeks and then, maintenance therapy, between June 2019 and June 2022. RESULTS: Thirty-four adult patients, 50% female, mean age 38.1 (range 22-72) years. 76.5% pancolitis, and 20.6% left colitis. 79.4% failure to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNFs), and 35.3% to vedolizumab. 14.7% naïve to biologic therapy. 23.5% had previous extraintestinal manifestations. During induction, 58.8% of patients achieved clinical, biochemical and endoscopic remission. During maintenance, 76.9% of patients at 26 weeks and 66.6% at 52 weeks presented clinical remission. Eight patients presented adverse events, none of them cardiovascular or thromboembolic. 44.1% were steroid-dependent, and 23.5% required steroids as rescue therapy. 38.3% required an increase in tofacitinib to 10mg every 12h during maintenance. In 17.6% tofacitinib was discontinued due to lack of efficacy. We included three pediatric-aged female patients, mean age 15.3 (range 14-17) years, 2/3 with pancolitis and 1/3 with left colitis, all with prior exposure to biologic therapy, who had clinical, biologic and endoscopic remission at induction. CONCLUSIONS: In this first Latin American study with tofacitinib in UC, efficacy and safety are demonstrated in the treatment of our patients with moderate to severe activity.

Adoption of digital tools in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region of the Americas - the Go.Data experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of digital health tools. Although a number of different tools exist to support field data collection in the context of outbreak response, they have not been sufficient. This prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to collaborate with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and GOARN partners to develop a comprehensive system, Go.Data. Go.Data, a digital tool for outbreak response has simplified how countries operationalize and monitor case and contact data. Since the start of the pandemic, WHO and GOARN partners have provided support to Go.Data projects in 65 countries and territories, yet the demand by countries to have documented success cases of Go.Data implementations continues to grow. This viewpoint documents the successful Go.Data implementation frameworks in two countries, Argentina and Guatemala and an academic institution, the University of Texas at Austin.

Validation of an equation for free calcium estimation: accuracy improves after adjustment for phosphate and CO2.

PURPOSE: Free calcium is the gold standard for diagnosis of calcium disorders, although calcium assessment is routinely performed by albumin-adjusted calcium. Our objective was to develop a novel-specific correction equation for free calcium employing serum total calcium and other analytes. METHODS: Retrospective single-center cohort study. A new equation for free calcium assessment was formulated from data of hospitalized patients (n = 3481, measurements = 7157) and tested in a validation cohort (n = 3218, measurements = 6911). All measurements were performed simultaneously from the same blood draw. RESULTS: Total CO2 and phosphate, in addition to albumin, were the principal factors associated to calcium misdiagnosis. A novel laboratory-specific prediction equation was developed: free calcium (mmol/L) = 0.541 + (total calcium [mmol/L] *0.441) - (serum albumin [g/L] *0.0067) - (serum phosphate [mmol/L] *0.0425) - (CO2 [mmol/L] *0.003). This new equation substantially improved adjusted R2 to 0.67 (95% CI 0.78-0.82, p < 0.001; Kendall's c-tau: 0.28, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots of estimated free calcium and free calcium showed a mean difference of - 0.0006 mmol/L (LOA + 0.126 to - 0.124). In validation cohort, the AUC-ROC curves for hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia diagnosis deploying the new equation were 0.88 (95% CI 0.86-0.89, p < 0.001) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-99, p < 0.001), respectively, which were superior to historical formulas for calcium. In univariate models, eGFR was associated with Ca-status misdiagnosis, yet this association disappeared when analysis was adjusted to phosphate and CO2. CONCLUSIONS: The novel equation proposed for prediction of free calcium could be useful when free calcium is not available. The conventional formulas misclassify many patients, in particular when phosphate or bicarbonate disturbances are present.

Point of care venous Doppler ultrasound: Exploring the missing piece of bedside hemodynamic assessment.

Accurate assessment of the hemodynamic status is vital for appropriate management of patients with critical illness. As such, there has been a constant quest for reliable and non-invasive bedside tools to assess and monitor circulatory status in order to ensure end-organ perfusion. In the recent past, point of care ultrasonography (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable adjunct to physical examination in various specialties, which basically is a clinician-performed bedside ultrasound to answer focused questions. POCUS allows visualization of the internal anatomy and flow dynamics in real time, guiding apt interventions. While both arterial (forward flow) and venous (organ outflow or afterload) limbs of hemodynamic circuit are important for tissue perfusion, the venous side remains relatively under-explored. With recent data underscoring the deleterious consequences of iatrogenic volume overload, objective evaluation of venous congestion is gaining attention. Bedside Doppler ultrasound serves this purpose and aids in diagnosing and monitoring the congestion/venous blood flow pattern. In this article, we summarize the rationale for integrating this technology into routine care of patients with volume-related disorders, discuss the normal and abnormal waveforms, limitations, and future directions.

P056 Real life experience with the use of tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis in Colombia: case series.

BACKGROUND: Tofacitinib is a molecule that inhibits Janus kinases, enzymes involved ulcerative colitis (UC) pathogenesis. This drug has recently been approved by INVIMA (abbreviation in Spanish of National Institute of Food and Drug Surveillance) in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: to describe real-life experience in Colombian patients with a diagnosis of UC treated with tofacitinib since its approval. METHODS: Case series of 6 patients diagnosed with UC with moderate-severe activity defined by the American College of Gastroenterology Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (ACG score) treated with tofacitinib 10 mg every 12 hours (BID) in the induction and maintenance phase. The decision to use tofacitinib was based on clinical judgment and patient preference. Response to treatment was evaluated in terms of endoscopic (Mayo score), paraclinical (CRP, ESR, fecal Calprotectin, Hemoglobin) and clinical response (absence of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding). Additionally, adverse events, steroid use and response to extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) were evaluated. RESULTS: Four men and two women with an average age of 35.6 years were included. All 6 patients had moderate to severe UC; 5 patients with pancolitis and 1 with left-colitis. The average time of diagnosis was 4.08 years. Four patients had previously failed TNF-inhibitors (3 Adalimumab, 2 Infliximab, 1 Golimumab), and 2 patients had previously failed integrin alpha-4beta7-inhibitor (Vedolizumab). Two patients were naïve to biological therapy. Three patients were at risk of colectomy due to severe disease activity. Three patients presented EIM. During the induction phase, 1 maintained disease activity without response, 5 presented clinical and paraclinical remission, 20% remained in moderate-severe activity, 20% mild activity and 60% in remission, the 3 patients who were at risk of colectomy were ruled out from surgery due to symptom improvement. At the endoscopic level, 3 endoscopic studies were obtained in the end of induction, of which 1 presented a Mayo score 3, and 2 patients with Mayo score 1. For naïve patients to biological therapy, one achieved clinical and paraclinical remission upon induction, the endoscopic response still has not been measured, in the second naive patient, tofacitinib was used in-hospital since he didn't respond to intravenous steroids for 72 hours and there was no availability of infliximab, ruling out other predisposing factors to exacerbation, achieving the discharge with adequate symptoms control and paraclinical findings. Three patients discontinued corticosteroids, and three patients achieved dose reduction. One patient reported and adverse event, none had drug-associated leukopenia, and 3 of them without lipid alteration after induction. All patients resolved their EIM during induction. Only one patient has completed follow-up during maintenance for 26 weeks, which is in clinical, paraclinical and endoscopic remission with a dose of 10 mg BID, 1 patient at 16 weeks decided to suspend the medication due to lack of response and the other 4 patients are in clinical and paraclinical remission but have not completed the 26 weeks of maintenance and have a follow-up appointment pending. CONCLUSION: The results of this case report suggest that tofacitinib may be an effective therapeutic alternative in patients with moderate to severe UC and associated extraintestinal manifestations, with a good safety profile.

Comparison of original and biosimilar infliximab (CTP-13) in biologic-naïve patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: a retrospective, multicenter real-life study in Spain.

PURPOSE: biosimilar infliximab (CTP-13) has been recently approved for the treatment of several immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Comparative studies between this biosimilar and original infliximab in the real clinical practice are scarce. The objective of this study was to compare short and long-term safety and efficacy of original (O) and biosimilar infliximab (B-IFX) in biologic-naïve, IBD patients in the real life clinical practice. METHODS: a retrospective, multicentric study was performed in five Spanish hospitals. Consecutive IBD, biologic-naïve patients from an historic cohort who initiated O-IFX from January 2013 were compared with biologic-naïve patients, who started treatment with B-IFX since its approval in January 2015. The evaluation of efficacy was assessed after the induction phase, at week 14 and week 54 of treatment. Time to dose escalation or treatment persistence of both O-IFX and B-IFX was also considered. The appearance of serious adverse events was recorded. RESULTS: two hundred and thirty-nine IBD biologic-naïve patients who started with O-IFX or B-IFX were included: 153 patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (95 treated with O- and 58 treated with B-IFX) and 86 with ulcerative colitis (40 received O- and 46 received B-IFX). At weeks 14 and 54, both O-IFX and B-IFX groups reached a similar clinical response and remission rates. Time to dose escalation, treatment persistence and safety profile were comparable between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: this long-term real-life experience provides additional evidence of the similarity of O- and B-IFX CTP-13 in terms of efficacy and safety in IBD patients.

Early treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents improves long-term effectiveness in symptomatic stricturing Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of biological therapy in stricturing complications in patients with Crohn's disease. AIM: The study aims to determine the effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in Crohn's disease complicated with symptomatic strictures. METHODS: In this multicentric and retrospective study, we included adult patients with symptomatic stricturing Crohn's disease receiving their first anti-TNF therapy, with no previous history of biological, endoscopic or surgical therapy. The effectiveness of the anti-TNF agent was defined as a composite outcome combining steroid-free drug persistence with no use of new biologics or immunomodulators, hospital admission, surgery or endoscopic therapy during follow-up. RESULTS: Overall, 262 patients with Crohn's disease were included (53% male; median disease duration, 35 months, 15% active smokers), who received either infliximab (N = 141, 54%) or adalimumab (N = 121, 46%). The treatment was effective in 87% and 73% of patients after 6 and 12 months, respectively, and continued to be effective in 26% after a median follow-up of 40 months (IQR, 19-85). Nonetheless, 15% and 21% of individuals required surgery after 1 and 2 years, respectively, with an overall surgery rate of 32%. Postoperative complications were identified in 15% of patients, with surgical site infection as the most common. Starting anti-TNF therapy in the first 18 months after the diagnosis of Crohn's disease or the identification of stricturing complications was associated with a higher effectiveness (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.18-2.22; and HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.1-2.23; respectively). Younger age, lower albumin levels, strictures located in the descending colon, concomitant aminosalicylates use or presence of lymphadenopathy were associated with lower effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-TNF agents are effective in approximately a quarter of patients with Crohn's disease and symptomatic intestinal strictures, and 68% of patients are free of surgery after a median of 40 months of follow-up. Early treatment and some potential predictors of response were associated with treatment success in this setting.

[Effectiveness of the contingency plan of the internal inflammatory disease unit before Covid-19 infection.] / Efectividad del plan de contingencia de la Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal ante la infección de Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE: Decision making in hospitals, and especially in their own healthcare services, is hardly referenced in the literature. During the pandemic period, healthcare services have put in place contingency plans to minimize the consequences of the coronavirus on professionals and patients. However, the deployment of contingency plans and results are hardly shared, depriving other services of references to refute, compare or emulate the aforementioned plans. The objective of this work was the description of the implementation and evaluation of Contingency Plans in the Covid-19 pandemic in a unit of inflammatory bowel disease of a Digestive Service in the Sanitary Area of Pontevedra and O Salnés. METHODS: A team of managers and professionals adapted the 10 measures recommended by Deloitte to face a pandemic to the healthcare environment. The measures were then formulated as a checklist. From the Plan-Do-Check-Act improvement cycle, they were grouped into categories: risk management, organizational management and decision-making. Finally, an external team carried out a qualitative evaluation of the implementation of the contingency plan carried out. RESULTS: The Intestinal Inflammatory Disease Unit of the Digestive Service has obtained an assessment of compliance with the 10 recommended measures to confidently face a pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing the deployment of the contingency plan and its results is useful to identify good practices. This article shows a method to evaluate decision-making in pandemic situations. The outcomes faces the The Intestinal Inflammatory Disease Unit in an excelent position.

OBJETIVO: La toma de decisiones en los hospitales y en sus propios servicios asistenciales apenas está referenciada en la literatura. Durante el período de pandemia por Covid-19, los servicios asistenciales han puesto en marcha planes de contingencia para minimizar las consecuencias del coronavirus en los profesionales y pacientes. Sin embargo, apenas se comparte el despliegue de esos planes de contingencia, ni sus resultados, privando de referencias para refutar, comparar o emular los citados planes a otros servicios asistenciales u hospitales. El objetivo del trabajo fue la descripción de la puesta en marcha de dichos planes ante la pandemia de Covid-19 en la Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal de un Servicio de Digestivo en el Área Sanitaria de Pontevedra e O Salnés (Galicia). METODOS: Un equipo de directivos y profesionales adaptaron al entorno sanitario las 10 medidas recomendadas por Deloitte para afrontar una pandemia. A continuación, se formularon las medidas como listado de comprobación. A partir del ciclo de mejora Plan-Do-Check-Act, se agruparon las 10 medidas en las siguientes categorías: gestión del riesgo, gestión organizacional y toma de decisiones. Por último, un equipo externo realizó una evaluación cualitativa de la puesta en marcha del plan de contingencia realizado. RESULTADOS: La Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal del Servicio de Digestivo realizó un plan de contingencia que presenta un cumplimiento de las 10 medidas recomendadas para hacer frente a la pandemia de Covid-19 con garantías. CONCLUSIONES: Compartir el despliegue del plan de contingencia y sus resultados es útil para identificar buenas prácticas. Este trabajo ofrece un método para evaluar las tomas de decisiones en los plantes de contingencia en situaciones de pandemia. Los resultados sitúan a la Unidad de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal en el rango de la excelencia.

Tacrolimus induces short-term but not long-term clinical response in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor commonly used for prophylaxis of rejection in renal and liver transplantation. There are limited but favourable data regarding its possible use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in patients with IBD in clinical practice. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicentre study in 22 centres in Spain. All adult patients who received oral tacrolimus for luminal or perianal IBD were included. Clinical response was assessed by Harvey-Bradshaw index and partial Mayo score after 3 months. Perianal disease was evaluated by fistula drainage assessment. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-three patients were included (mean age 38 years; 51% male; median disease duration 110 months). In ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 58), the partial Mayo score decreased after 3 months from median 6 to 3 (P = 0.0001), whereas in Crohn's disease (CD) (n = 85), the Harvey-Bradshaw index decreased after 3 months from median 9 to 7 (P = 0.011). In CD patients, blood tacrolimus concentrations during induction (>10 ng/mL vs <10 ng/mL; odds ratio 0.23, 95% CI 0.05-0.87) and the concomitant use of thiopurines (odds ratio 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.81) were associated with lower clinical disease activity at 3 months. Of 62 patients with perianal disease, complete closure was observed in 8% (n = 5) of patients with perianal fistulas, with 34% (n = 21) showing partial response. Treatment was maintained for a median of 6 months (IQR, 2-16). After a median clinical follow-up of 24 months (IQR, 15-57), the rate of treatment-related adverse events was 34%, correlating with blood drug concentrations (P = 0.021). Finally, 120 patients (84%) discontinued tacrolimus, usually due to absence or loss of response. Three patients (2%) were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. The overall rate of surgery was 39%, with a 33% colectomy rate in UC. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus shows a clinical benefit in both CD and UC after 3 months of treatment, but its long-term effectiveness and frequent adverse events remain relevant issues in clinical practice.

[Colonic metastases from carcinoma of the lung, an unusual presentation. Case report and literature review]. / Metástasis a colon de un carcinoma de pulmón, una presentación inusual. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The symptomatic metastasis of the colon from a pulmonary cancer is rare; however, the global incidence of pulmonary cancer is 12.9%. It is an infrequent site of metastasis, with a prevalence of less than 0.5% in patients with pulmonary cancer. One of the most common manifestation is intestinal obstruction. We present a case report of a patient with an acute lower intestinal bleeding from multiple metastasis lesion of the colon as the initial manifestation of a non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Metástasis a colon de un carcinoma de pulmón, una presentación inusual: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Colonic metastases from carcinoma of the lung, an unusual presentation: Case report and literature review

Las metástasis sintomáticas al colon de un carcinoma de pulmón son raras, a pesar de ser una neoplasia que representa el 12,9% de la incidencia mundial de cáncer. El colon es un sitio infrecuente de metástasis, con una prevalencia reportada menor al 0,5% en pacientes con carcinomas de pulmón, existiendo en la literatura mundial pocos casos. Es inusual que sea la forma de presentación de este tipo de neoplasia. Con respecto a las manifestaciones clínicas que se reportan pueden cursar con obstrucción intestinal como síntoma cardinal. Se presenta el caso de un paciente que curso con hemorragia de vías digestivas bajas como manifestación inicial de múltiples lesiones metastásicas a colon de un carcinoma de pulmón de célula no pequeña.

The symptomatic metastasis of the colon from a pulmonary cancer is rare; however, the global incidence of pulmonary cancer is 12.9%. It is an infrequent site of metastasis, with a prevalence of less than 0.5% in patients with pulmonary cancer. One of the most common manifestation is intestinal obstruction. We present a case report of a patient with an acute lower intestinal bleeding from multiple metastasis lesion of the colon as the initial manifestation of a non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Hemobilia secundaria a aneurisma de la arteria hepática / Hemobilia Secondary to Aneurysm of the Hepatic Artery

Resumen Se presenta el caso de un paciente con hemorragia de vías digestivas altas e ictericia asociadas a un aneurisma de la arteria hepática derecha.

Abstract We present the case of a patient with upper digestive tract hemorrhaging and jaundice due to an aneurysm of the right hepatic artery.

Seed development and inheritance studies in apomictic maize-Tripsacum hybrids reveal barriers for the transfer of apomixis into sexual crops.

Apomixis in plants covers a variety of cloning systems through seeds of great potential for plant breeding. Among long-standing approaches for crop improvement is the attempt to exploit wild relatives as natural, vast reservoirs for novel genetic variation. With regard to apomixis, maize possesses an apomictic wild relative, Tripsacum, which we used to produce advanced maize-Tripsacum hybrid generations. However, introgression of apomixis in maize has failed so far. In order to understand the hows and whys, we undertook characterization of seed development and inheritance studies in these materials. We show that apomictic seeds suffer from epigenetic loads. Both seed tissues, the endosperm and the embryo, displayed developmental defects resulting from imbalanced parental genomic contributions and aberrant methylation patterns, respectively. Progeny characterization of several maize-Tripsacum hybrid generations allowed significant progress toward the unraveling of the genetics of apomixis. First, chromosome deletion mapping showed that expression of apomixis requires one single Tripsacum chromosome. However, inheritance studies revealed that female gametes inheriting this segment were unequivalent carriers depending on their origin: unreduced gametes transmit a functional segment, whereas progeny derived from reduced ones reproduced sexually. Finally, chromosomal or genomic dosage variation barely affected the apomictic phenotype suggesting no dependency for ploidy in these materials. We conclude that epigenetic information imposes constraints for apomictic seed development and seems pivotal for transgenerational propagation of apomixis. The nature of the triggering mechanisms remains unknown as-yet, but it certainly explains the modest success relative to the development of apomictic maize thus far.

The influence of remaining alveolar bone upon lateral window sinus augmentation implant survival.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND OF PROBLEMS:: Sinus augmentation is a predictable procedure to increase bone height in the posterior maxilla to facilitate ideal implant placement. However, the effect of residual alveolar bone height upon overall implant success remains unclear. AIMS: : Hence, the objective of this study was to review and evaluate the correlation between amount of remaining crest alveolar bone before sinus augmentation and implant survival rate in grafted areas. MATERIALS: : Medline search was used to identify articles published through September 2006, with preset selection criteria. RESULTS: : A total of 156 peer-reviewed publications were selected. Eighteen publications fulfilled the selection criteria. Despite the great heterogeneity found among the selected studies, we were able to group the selected articles in 2 distinct groups and show average implant survival rate in the following residual bone categories: (1) <5 mm: 96% (80%-100%); and (2) >4 mm 99% (97%-100%). CONCLUSION: : The data reviewed from the literature suggests a higher implant survival predictability as available residual bone increases. However, prospective studies with adequate sample size and control of confounding factors are needed to validate this observation.