Impact of COVID-19 in nutritional and functional status of survivors admitted in intensive care units during the first outbreak. Preliminary results of the NUTRICOVID study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: COVID-19 patients present a high hospitalization rate with a high mortality risk for those requiring intensive care. When these patients have other comorbid conditions and older age, the risk for severe disease and poor outcomes after ICU admission are increased. The present work aims to describe the preliminary results of the ongoing NUTRICOVID study about the nutritional and functional status and the quality of life of adult COVID-19 survivors after ICU discharge, emphasizing the in-hospital and discharge situation of this population. METHODS: A multicenter, ambispective, observational cohort study was conducted in 16 public hospitals of the Community of Madrid with COVID-19 survivors who were admitted to the ICU during the first outbreak. Preliminary results of this study include data retrospectively collected. Malnutrition and sarcopenia were screened at discharge using MUST and SARC-F; the use of healthcare resources was measured as the length of hospital stay and requirement of respiratory support and tracheostomy during hospitalization; other study variables were the need for medical nutrition therapy (MNT); and patients' functional status (Barthel index) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). RESULTS: A total of 176 patients were included in this preliminary analysis. Most patients were male and older than 60 years, who suffered an average (SD) weight loss of 16.6% (8.3%) during the hospital stay, with a median length of stay of 53 (27-89.5) days and a median ICU stay of 24.5 (11-43.5) days. At discharge, 83.5% and 86.9% of the patients were at risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia, respectively, but only 38% were prescribed MNT. In addition, more than 70% of patients had significant impairment of their mobility and to conduct their usual activities at hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary analysis evidences the high nutritional and functional impairment of COVID-19 survivors at hospital discharge and highlights the need for guidelines and systematic protocols, together with appropriate rehabilitation programs, to optimize the nutritional management of these patients after discharge.

[de la evidencia y algoritmo adaptado Immunonutrition in fast-track surgical patients - Evidence review and adapted algorithm]. / Inmunonutrición del paciente quirúrgico en los procedimientos fast-track: revisión de la evidencia y algoritmo adaptado.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stress predisposes patients to have immune dysfunction and an increased risk of infection. Malnourished surgical patients have higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, higher readmission rates, and higher hospital costs. The use of an immunomodulatory formula is associated in the ESPEN guidelines with a reduction in wound healing problems, suture failure, and infectious and global complications. Several authors have suggested that, since most clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of immunonutrition have been carried out in a traditional perioperative setting, it would be interesting to investigate its efficacy in a more controlled setting, such as in the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol. The objective of this work was: a) to define the role that immunonutrition should play in ERAS protocols based on the best scientific evidence available; b) to analyze the difficulties that continue to exist in real-life clinical practice to screen the nutritional risk of patients; c) to make a proposal of algorithms adapted to the characteristics of our environment regarding the screening, assessment, and nutritional treatment of surgical patients in fast-track surgery.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El estrés quirúrgico predispone a los pacientes a la disfunción inmune y a un mayor riesgo de infección. Los pacientes quirúrgicos desnutridos presentan una mayor morbimortalidad posoperatoria, mayores tasas de reingreso y costes hospitalarios más elevados. En las guías de la ESPEN se asocia el uso de una fórmula inmunomoduladora a una reducción significativa de los problemas de la cicatrización de heridas, de los fallos de la sutura y de las complicaciones infecciosas y globales. Varios autores han sugerido que, dado que la mayoría de los ensayos clínicos que evalúan la eficacia de la inmunonutrición se han realizado en un entorno perioperatorio tradicional, sería interesante investigar su eficacia en un entorno más controlado, como en el protocolo ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery). El objetivo de este trabajo es: a) definir el papel que debe jugar la inmunonutrición en los protocolos ERAS sobre la base de la mejor evidencia científica; b) analizar las dificultades que siguen existiendo en la práctica clínica real para realizar el cribado del riesgo nutricional del paciente; c) proponer unos algoritmos adaptados a las características de nuestro entorno sobre el cribado, la valoración y el tratamiento nutricional del paciente quirúrgico en modalidad fast-track.

Clinical guide for the diagnosis and follow-up of myotonic dystrophy type 1, MD1 or Steinert's disease. / Guía clínica para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la distrofia miotónica tipo 1, DM1 o enfermedad de Steinert.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Steinert's disease or myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1), (OMIM 160900), is the most prevalent myopathy in adults. It is a multisystemic disorder with dysfunction of virtually all organs and tissues and a great phenotypical variability, which implies that it has to be addressed by different specialities with experience in the disease. The knowledge of the disease and its management has changed dramatically in recent years. This guide tries to establish recommendations for the diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up and treatment of the complications of MD1. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consensus guide developed through a multidisciplinary approach with a systematic literature review. Neurologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, neuropaediatricians and geneticists have participated in the guide. RECOMMENDATIONS: The genetic diagnosis should quantify the number of CTG repetitions. MD1 patients need cardiac and respiratory lifetime follow-up. Before any surgery under general anaesthesia, a respiratory evaluation must be done. Dysphagia must be screened periodically. Genetic counselling must be offered to patients and relatives. CONCLUSION: MD1 is a multisystemic disease that requires specialised multidisciplinary follow-up.

[Effect of abdominal obesity on size of myocardial infarction]. / Impacto de la obesidad central en la extensión del área de necrosis miocárdica.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome consists of a group of factors that predict the risk of having an acute cardiovascular event. Some of these factors increase the risk of myocardial infarction and are also associated with the severity of cardiovascular events. The objective was to determine the influence of factors associated with metabolic syndrome, and especially abdominal obesity, on the size of coronary events, estimated by the concentration of total creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and CPK-MB isoenzyme (CPK-MB). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional study of 40 men diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. We collected clinical data (age, history of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension ) and anthropometric data [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHR)]. CPK and CPK-MB concentrations were measured to determine the maximum concentration reached in order to estimate the size of the myocardial infarction area. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 30%. Approximately 84% of the patients were overweight and 42% had abdominal obesity. A positive association was found between myocardial enzymes and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR). The variable showing the closest association with the size of myocardial infarction was central obesity [total CPK, r (Pearson) = 0.47; p<0.003] and (CPK-MB, r= 0.4; p<0.01). Metabolic syndrome was not a predictive factor for the size of myocardial necrosis (beta=-0.29; p<0.1). Multiple regression analysis showed that WC predicted maximal total CPK (beta=37.15; 95% CI, 9.16-65.15; p<0.01) and CPK-MB concentrations (beta=5.7; 95% CI, -0.4-11.9; p< 0.06) after an acute coronary event. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of abdominal obesity was associated with greater myocardial necrosis size after an acute coronary event.

Sellar xanthogranuloma.

We report the case of a 16-year-old girl with a history of idiopathic precocious puberty and normal results on pituitary imaging scan. Ten years later, a new cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed due to worsening of episodes resembling Horton's headache and a lesion suggestive of pituitary bleeding was detected. The headaches diminished with glucocorticoid administration but a severe complication, steroid psychosis, occurred. Surgical treatment and pathological study of the lesion led to the differential diagnosis between craniopharyngyoma and xanthogranuloma of the sella turcica. The clinical progression of the tumor (not visualized 10 years previously), together with preservation of pituitary and visual function both before and after surgery, gross total removal of the tumor (difficult to achieve with craniopharyngioma) and the absence of recurrence provide strong support for the diagnosis of xanthogranuloma of the sella turcica.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia: review of three cases.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, also denominated familial benign hypercalcemia, is an uncommon cause of hypercalcemia. It is caused by mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor, which are inherited in an autosomal dominant high-penetrance fashion. Generally, patients are asymptomatic, and heterozygote cases are diagnosed in childhood or adulthood, when diagnostic work-up of an incidentally discovered hypercalcemia ensues. This disorder is characterized by moderate hypercalcemia, with normal parathormone levels and low urine calcium excretion. It is very important to diagnose this condition, as it does not require surgical procedures, unlike primary hyperparathyroidism, which needs parathyroidectomy in 50% of cases. We present 3 cases of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia belonging to the same family, and provide an updated review on the topic.

Giant adrenal myelolipoma: case report and literature review.

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare benign tumors comprising mature adipose tissue and diverse hematopoietic elements. These neoplasms are usually incidental findings, although bulky masses can generate abdominal pain as well as other symptoms related to compression of adjacent organs. Diagnosis is usually provided by ultrasonography or computed tomography. Asymptomatic patients with tumors with a maximum diameter of less than 6cm can benefit from periodic surveillance, whereas local compression symptoms and size larger than 6cm are indications for surgical treatment. We present a case of giant adrenal myelolipoma and provide a review of the literature.