Cumulative morbidity of ureteroscopy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess complications after ureteroscopy (URS) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) management and to assess its postoperative cumulative morbidity burden using the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single center retrospective study including patients submitted to URS for UTUC suspicion. URSs were both diagnostic and operative. Postoperative complications were recorded according to the EAU Guidelines and graded according to Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC). The cumulative postoperative morbidity burden developed by patients experiencing multiple events was assessed using the CCI. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analyses identified factors independently associated with the development of any grade and major postoperative complications. RESULTS: Overall, 360 patients with UTUC suspicion were included with a total of 575 URSs performed. The cumulative number of all postoperative complications recorded was 111. In 86 (15%) procedures, patients experienced at least one postoperative complication, while 25 (4.3%) experienced more than one complication. Of these, 16 (14%) were severe (CDC ≥ IIIa). The most frequent type of complications were urinary (34%), bleeding (30%) and infectious (30%). The higher the CDC grade, the higher the median CCI, with a statistically significant increase in median CCI from CDC II to major complications. Patients who experienced intraoperative complications were at higher risk of developing any grade and major postoperative complications at MLR. CONCLUSIONS: Complications after ureteroscopy for UTUC are relatively uncommon events. Patients who experience intraoperative complications are at higher risk of developing postoperative complications. The comprehensive complication index appeared more representative of the cumulative postoperative morbidity rather than the Clavien-Dindo classification.

[Ability of qSOFA1-lactate to predict 30-day mortality in patients seen for infection in the Emergency Department]. / Capacidad del qSOFA1-lactato para predecir mortalidad a 30 días en los pacientes atendidos por infección en urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lactate and the Quick Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and compare their ability to predict 30-day mortality in patients treated for infection in emergency departments (ED). METHODS: Prospective multicenter observational cohort study. We enrolled a convenience sample of patients aged 18 years or older attended in 71 Spanish ED from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. Each model's predictive power was analyzed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and its values of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative (NPV). RESULTS: A total of 4439 patients with a mean (SD) age of 18 years were studied; 2648 (59.7%) were men and 459 (10.3%) died within 30 days. For 30-day mortality, the AUC-COR obtained with the qSOFA = 1 model plus 2 mmol/l lactate was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63-0.69) with Se: 68%, Es: 70% and NPV:92%, while qSOFA = 1 obtained AUC-COR of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.49-0.55) with a Se:42%, Es:64% and NPV:90%. CONCLUSIONS: To predict 30-day mortality in patients presenting to the ED due to an episode of infection, the qSOFA =1 + lactate≥2 mmol/L model significantly improves the predictive power achieved individually by qSOFA1 and becomes very similar to qSOFA≥2.

Prevalence, risk factors and evolution of diabetes mellitus after treatment in primary aldosteronism. Results from the SPAIN-ALDO registry.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and evolution of diabetes mellitus (DM) after targeted treatment in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study of PA patients in follow-up at 27 Spanish tertiary hospitals (SPAIN-ALDO Register). RESULTS: Overall, 646 patients with PA were included. At diagnosis, 21.2% (n = 137) had DM and 67% of them had HbA1c levels < 7%. In multivariate analysis, family history of DM (OR 4.00 [1.68-9.53]), the coexistence of dyslipidemia (OR 3.57 [1.51-8.43]) and advanced age (OR 1.04 per year of increase [1.00-1.09]) were identified as independent predictive factors of DM. Diabetic patients were on beta blockers (46.7% (n = 64) vs. 27.5% (n = 140), P < 0.001) and diuretics (51.1% (n = 70) vs. 33.2% (n = 169), p < 0.001) more frequently than non-diabetics. After a median follow-up of 22 months [IQR 7.5-63.0], 6.9% of patients developed DM, with no difference between those undergoing adrenalectomy and those treated medically (HR 1.07 [0.49-2.36], p = 0.866). There was also no significant difference in the evolution of glycemic control between DM patients who underwent surgery and those medically treated (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: DM affects about one quarter of patients with PA and the risk factors for its development are common to those of the general population. Medical and surgical treatment provides similar benefit in glycemic control in patients with PA and DM.

Robot-assisted vs. open radical cystectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been launched in the last decade to examine the surgical safety and oncological efficacy of robot-assisted (RARC) vs open radical cystectomy (ORC) for patients with bladder cancer. The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to compare the perioperative and oncological outcomes of RARC vs ORC. METHODS: A literature search was conducted through July 2022 using PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify eligible studies. The outcomes were intraoperative, postoperative, and oncological outcomes of RARC vs ORC. RESULTS: A total of eight RCTs comprising 1,024 patients met our inclusion criteria. RARC was associated with longer operative time (mean 92.34min, 95% CI 83.83-100.84, p<0.001) and lower blood transfusion rate (Odds ratio [OR] 0.43, 95% CI 0.30-0.61, p<0.001). No differences emerged in terms of 90-day overall (p=0.28) and major (p=0.57) complications, length of stay (p=0.18), bowel recovery (p=0.67), health-related quality of life (p=0.86), disease recurrence (p=0.77) and progression (p=0.49) between the two approaches. The main limitation is represented by the low number of patients included in half of RCTs included. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports that RARC is not inferior to ORC in terms of surgical safety and oncological outcomes. The benefit of RARC in terms of lower blood transfusion rate need to be balanced with the cost related to the procedure.

Healthcare workers' perception of the usefulness of a healthcare ethics consultation service.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical ethics consultation services (CEC) have arisen from Healthcare Ethics Committees (HEC) to address ethical conflicts in real-time. Our aim was to determine the perception of usefulness of a CEC service among healthcare workers one year after its creation as well as to assess changes in trends in the use of the CEC and HEC between 2015 and 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional study was based on a standardized survey of healthcare workers at an urban tertiary care hospital. The results were also compared to those from an identical survey conducted in the same population in 2015. RESULTS: A total of 213 professionals participated (mean age 44 ± 11 years, 69% women). The professionals were more familiar with the HEC than the CEC service (94% vs 61%; p < 0.001). Forty-five individuals (21%) had consulted the CEC since its implementation; 95% of them found the consultation useful. Physicians knew about and used the CEC more than other groups of professionals. The degree of knowledge of the HEC increased significantly by 2021 compared to 2015 (94% v. 76%; p < 0.001). Some areas for improvement identified were the need for greater dissemination of the service, guaranteeing institutional resources to maintain the service, and encouraging greater participation from different professional groups. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the institutional HEC and CEC services has increased in recent years among healthcare workers, who considered the CEC service to be useful for addressing ethical conflicts in daily practice.

Differences in intraoperative and surgical outcomes between normotensive pheochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas (PPGLs) and hypertensive PPGLs: results from the PHEO-RISK STUDY.

PURPOSE: To compare the intraoperative and surgical outcomes of normotensive pheochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas (PPGLs), hypertensive PPGLs and non-PPGL adrenal lesions. METHODS: This a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with PPGLs from 18 tertiary hospitals. A control group of histologically confirmed adrenocortical adenomas (non-PPGL group) was selected to compare intraoperative and surgical outcomes with of the normotensive PPGLs. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-six surgeries performed in 289 patients with PPGLs were included. Before surgery, 209 patients were classified as hypertensive PPGLs (70.6%) and 87 as normotensive PPGLs. A higher proportion of normotensive PPGLs than hypertensive PPGLs did not receive alpha presurgical blockade (P = 0.009). When we only considered those patients who received presurgical alpha blockers (200 hypertensive PPGLs and 76 normotensive PPGLs), hypertensive PPGLs had a threefold higher risk of intraoperative hypertensive crisis (OR 3.0 [95% 1.3-7.0]) and of hypotensive episodes (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.2-6.7]) than normotensive PPGLs. When we compared normotensive PPGLs (n = 76) and non-PPGLs (n = 58), normotensive PPGLs had a fivefold higher risk of intraoperative complications (OR 5.3 [95% CI 1.9-14.9]) and a six times higher risk of postoperative complications (OR 6.1 [95% CI 1.7-21.6]) than non-PPGLs. CONCLUSION: Although the risk of intraoperative hypertensive and hypotensive episodes in normotensive PPGLs is significantly lower than in hypertensive PPGLs, normotensive PPGLs have a greater risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications than non-PPGL adrenal lesions. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the standard of care for presurgical and anesthetic management of PPGLs also in normotensive PPGLs.

Description of the experience of a clinical ethics consultation service from 2019 to 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical ethics consultation services (CEC) are useful model for ethical counselling, albeit with scarce implementation in European countries. This article shares the experience of one of the first ethics consultation services in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work is a retrospective, observational study of all consultations received by the CEC service at La Princesa University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021. The demographic, logistic, and ethical variables of the cases were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 63 cases were analyzed in which a total of 124 ethical conflicts were identified. Forty-one percent of the cases (n = 26) were emergency consultations and 38% (n = 24) were preferential inquiries. An initial evaluation was performed with 24 h in 50 cases (79%). The department that consulted most often was the Intensive Care Unit (9; 14%). The preferred contact methods were via pager (36; 57%), the electronic medical record system (13; 21%), or direct conversations with consulting team (7; 11%). The most common ethical conflicts were those related to the adequacy of treatment measures (24; 19%), refusal of treatment (19; 15%), communication with the patient or his/her family (29; 23%), or the patient's capacity (13; 11%). CONCLUSION: CEC services provide quick, efficient assistance for resolving ethical problems in daily practice. Their implementation in Spain is feasible.

Usefulness of the 5MPB-Toledo model to predict bacteremia in patients with urinary tract infections in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the usefulness of a new predictive model of bacteremia (5MPB-Toledo) in patients treated for urinary tract infection (UTI) in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: Prospective and multicenter observational cohort study of the blood cultures (BC) ordered for patients with UTIs in 65 Spanish ED from November 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The predictive ability of the model was analyzed with the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). The diagnostic performance was calculated with the chosen cut-off point for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 1,499 blood cultures were evaluated. True cases of bacteremia were confirmed in 277 (18.5%). The remaining 1,222 cultures (81.5%) were negative. Ninety-four (6.3%) were considered contaminated. The model's area under the ROC curve was 0.937 (95% CI, 0.926-0.949). The prognostic performance with a model's cut-off value of ≥5 points achieved 97.47% (95% CI, 94.64-98.89) sensitivity, 76.68% (95% CI, 74.18-79.00) specificity, 48.65% (95% CI, 44.42-52.89) positive predictive value and 99.26% (95% CI, 98.41-99.67) negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: The 5MPB-Toledo score is useful for predicting bacteremia in patients with UTIs who visit the ED.

[Translated article] Implementation of a rapid recovery protocol in total knee arthroplasty. A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rapid recovery (RP) in total knee arthroplasty may increase the functionality while reducing costs. The aim of this study is to prove the benefits of a rapid recovery programme compared to our classic protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a RCT (NCT03823573) in patients undergoing otal knee arthroplasty. Intervention group (RP protocol) received local infiltration of levo-bupivacaine in the periarticular tissue and supervized ambulation 4-6h after surgery. Control (C) group received a femoral nerve block with levo-bupivacaine, while a drain was used. Ambulation after its removal. All the patients completed an Oxford Knee Score prior to surgery and 6 months after discharge. An ecodoppler to assess the presence of deep vein thrombosis was made 1 month after discharge. Minimum follow-up was of 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 175 patients were included in the trial (92 patients in the control group, 83 patients in the RP group). There were no differences in sex, age, implanted prosthesis, haemoglobin drop, need for transfusion, range of motion on discharge (C: 82.6°, RP: 85°) and at the end of the follow-up (C: 105.1, RP: 106.6), Oxford knee score improvement (C: 17.5 points; RP: 19.3 points), patient satisfaction or re-admissions at the emergency department (C: 7.6%; RP: 10.8%). Significancy was found on time of ischaemia (C: 81.29min; RP: 85.35min; p=.03), need for morphine shots (C: 19.7%; RP: 38.6%; p=.007), hospital stay (C: 3.84 days; RP: 2.54 days, p<.0001) and time until ambulation (C: 2.46 days; RP: 0.23 days; p<.0001). CONCLUSION: Rapid recovery protocols can reduce hospital stay without increasing complications or need for re-admission.

Genetic variants of antioxidant enzymes and environmental exposures as molecular biomarkers associated with the risk and aggressiveness of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the top 10 most common tumours worldwide; however, no molecular markers are currently available for tumour management and follow-up. BC could benefit from molecular biomarkers in environmental disease, which provide mechanistic understanding of individual susceptibility to exposure-related cancers and allow characterizing genetic alterations in the molecular pathway for malignancy. This case-control study performed a molecular analysis in 99 BC and 125 controls. Buccal swabs were collected to assess SNPs in eleven genes coding for xenobiotic detoxification enzymes, cellular antioxidant defences, and hormone synthesis and signalling (NAT2 (rs1801280), GPX1 (rs1050450 and rs17650792), TXNRD1 (rs7310505), PRDX3 (rs3740562), PON1 (rs662), SOD1 (rs10432782), SOD2 (rs4880), CAT (rs1001179), CYP17A1 (rs743572) and ESR1 (rs746432)). A structured questionnaire was administered to study participants to assess environmental and dietary chemical exposures. Several miRNAs associated with BC and detoxification/antioxidant pathways were analysed in a subsample of the study population, including miR-93-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-126, miR-27a-3p, miR-193b, and miR-193a-5p. Levels of selected environmental pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and endocrine disrupting chemicals) were determined in urine from a subsample of BC cases and controls. We found that CYP17A1, CAT, SOD1, ESR1, PON1, and GPX1 (rs17650792) were associated with BC risk. Furthermore, exposure to smoke and/or dust, and alcohol intake were identified as risk factors for BC. Increased urinary levels of benzo[a]pyrene and bisphenol A were observed in BC patients relative to controls, along with an increased expression of miR-193b, miR-27a and miR-93-5p in BC. Nevertheless, further studies with a larger sample size are warranted to confirm these exploratory results. This study also shows that the combination of genetic markers (PON1 and CYP17A1) and miRNA (miR-221-3p and miR-93-5p) open a new scenario in the use of non-invasive biomarkers in the stratification of BC to guide personalized medicine, which is extremely urged in the current clinical setting.

Implementation of a rapid recovery protocol in total knee arthroplasty. A randomized controlled trial. / Implantación de un protocolo de recuperación precoz en artroplastia total de rodilla. Ensayo clínico aleatorizado.

BACKGROUND: Rapid recovery (RP) in total knee arthroplasty may increase the functionality while reducing costs. The aim of this study is to prove the benefits of a rapid recovery program compared to our classic protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a RCT (NCT03823573) in patients undergoing otal knee arthroplasty. Intervention group (RP protocol) received local infiltration of levo-bupivacaine in the periarticular tissue and supervized ambulation 4-6h after surgery. Control (C) group received a femoral nerve block with levo-bupivacaine, while a drain was used. Ambulation after its removal. All the patients completed an Oxford Knee Score prior to surgery and 6 months after discharge. An ecodoppler to assess the presence of deep vein thrombosis was made one month after discharge. Minimum follow-up was of 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 175 patients were included in the trial (92 patients in the control group, 83 patients in the RP group). There were no differences in sex, age, implanted prosthesis, hemoglobin drop, need for transfusion, range of motion on discharge (C: 82.6°, RP: 85°) and at the end of the follow-up (C: 105.1, RP: 106.6), Oxford Knee Score improvement (C: 17.5 points; RP: 19.3 points), patient satisfaction or re-admissions at the emergency department (C: 7.6%; RP: 10.8%). Significancy was found on time of ischemia (C: 81.29min; RP: 85.35min; P=0.03), need for morphine shots (C: 19.7%; RP: 38.6%; P=0.007), hospital stay (C: 3.84 days; RP: 2.54 days, P<0.0001) and time until ambulation (C: 2.46 days; RP: 0.23 days; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Rapid recovery protocols can reduce hospital stay without increasing complications or need for re-admission.

[Influenza and cardiorespiratory events: a clinical-epidemiological review with a multidisciplinary point of view]. / Gripe y eventos cardiorrespiratorios: una revisión clínico-epidemiológica multidisciplinar.

There is accumulating evidence showing that influenza infection and cardiorespiratory diseases are closely associated. Influenza has been described as a triggering factor capable of both exacerbate underlying chronic diseases as well as inducing the appearance of new respiratory and cardiovascular events. Consequently, influenza infection and its associated comorbidity have a significant impact on the health system. In this document, we extensively reviewed the current literature to describe the most relevant data on the relationship between influenza infection and cardiorespiratory diseases. Likewise, we analyzed the possible pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the connection between influenza infection and cardiac and respiratory events. Finally, reviewed data has been put into perspective to highlight the importance of influenza vaccination as an effective measure in the prevention of cardiorespiratory diseases, especially in the population with underlying chronic diseases.

[Usefulness of the 5MPB-Toledo model to predict bacteremia in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the Emergency Department]. / Utilidad del modelo 5MPB-Toledo para predecir bacteriemia en el paciente con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en el Servicio de Urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse a new risk score to predict bacteremia in the patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in the emergency departments. METHODS: Prospective and multicenter observational cohort study of the blood cultures ordered in 74 Spanish emergency departments for patients with CAP seen from November 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The predictive ability of the model was analyzed with the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). The prognostic performance for true bacteremia was calculated with the chosen cut-off for getting the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 1,020 blood samples wered cultured. True cases of bacteremia were confirmed in 162 (15.9%). The remaining 858 cultures (84.1%) wered negative. And, 59 (5.8%) were judged to be contaminated. The model´s area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.915 (95% CI, 0.898-0.933). The prognostic performance with a model´s cut-off value of ≥ 5 points achieved 97.5% (95% CI, 95.1-99.9) sensitivity, 73.2% (95% CI, 70.2-76.2) specificity, 40.9% (95% CI, 36.4-45.1) positive predictive value and 99.4% (95% CI, 99.1-99.8) negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The 5MPB-Toledo score is useful for predicting bacteremia in the patients with CAP seen in the emergency departments.

Role of IGF2 in the Study of Development and Evolution of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer (PC) is commonly known as one of the most frequent tumors among males. A significant problem of this tumor is that in early stages most of the cases course as indolent forms, so an active surveillance will anticipate the appearance of aggressive stages. One of the main strategies in medical and biomedical research is to find non-invasive biomarkers for improving monitoring and performing a more precise follow-up of diseases like PC. Here we report the relevant role of IGF2 and miR-93-5p as non-invasive biomarker for PC. This event could improve current medical strategies in PC.

Radiological results of surgical management of fracture of the distal radius treated with volar locking plates.

OBJECTIVES: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common upper extremity fracture. The incidence of complications after surgical treatment still remains high. The objective of our study was to assess functional and radiological results of DRF treated with volar locking plate. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including DRF treated by open reduction and internal fixation with a volar locking plate during a period of 8 years (2010-2018). Data were collected from clinical records and included patient demographics, fracture characteristics, radiological parameters (radial inclination, palmar tilt, ulnar variance, articular step-off), range of motion (ROM), complications and reinterventions. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients (63.5% female) met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 55.9 years [24.1-83.7; 13.76]. High energy injuries were more frequent in younger patients (25.56% vs 3.95%; p < 0.0001). AO classification was: 2R3A: 23.5%, 2R3B: 24.1% and 2R3C: 52.4%. Time until surgery was 8.5 days, longer in extraarticular fractures (AO-2R3A: 12.22 days, AO-2R3B: 7.97 days, AO-2R3C: 7.04 days, p = 0.018). Younger patients had better radial inclination (excellent in 85.1% vs 59.21%, p = 0.001) and radial shortening (excellent in 100% vs 88.15%, p = 0.001). ROM was: flexion 63° [0-90°; 19.73], extension 57.67° [5-90°; 21.61], pronation 78.94° [40-90°] and supination 81.76° [38-90°; 8.87]. We found a weak correlation between ROM in flexion-extension and radial shortening (r = 0.218; p = 0.001) and articular step-off (r = -0.269; p = 0.002). We had 39 complications (21.18% of patients). 10.6% of patients needed a re-operation, being the most frequent hardware removal (6.5%) and tendinous disruptions repairs (2.4%). Reintervention rate was higher in younger patients (14.9% vs 5.3%; p = 0.042), complete articular fractures (AO-2R3A: 2.5%; AO-2R3B: 7.3%; AO-2R3C: 15.7%; p = 0.037) and high energy injuries (8.4% vs 22.2%; p = 0.044). Patients undergoing reintervention had a decreased flexion-extension (94.44° vs 123.83°, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Radial shortening and articular step-off seem the most important predictors for postoperative range of motion. Worse radiological outcomes are observed in complete articular fractures and those affecting elder population. Although radiological and functional results are good or excellent in most of cases, the incidence of complications and need for reintervention still remains noticeable. Re-operations were more frequent in younger patients, complete articular fractures and high energy injuries, and it worsened functional outcomes.

Liquid biopsy and prostate cancer. Current evidence applied to clinical practice. / Biopsia líquida y cáncer de próstata. Evidencia actual aplicada a la clínica.

CONTEXT: Despite being a validated source of biomarkers, liquid biopsy has not yet succeeded in becoming part of the standard clinical practice in prostate cancer patients. Few biomarkers undergo adequate validation, prospective and independent, of their predictive and/or prognostic value, which results in a lack of the different available tests in the clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a pragmatic synthesis of current scientific evidence on liquid biopsy for prostate cancer patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Non-systematic literature review, narrowing the search to papers on liquid biopsy from blood samples in prostate cancer patients. We mainly selected works evaluating clinical endpoints in prostate cancer. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The most clinically advanced forms of liquid biopsy are circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Both CTCs and ctDNA have demonstrated their prognostic value in metastatic disease. ARV7 determination is the first predictive biomarker of the disease. Its implementation into routine clinical practice requires methodological standardization and adequate clinical validation of the different available ways to detect it. The detection of CTCs in the early stages of the disease still depends on the optimization of the diagnostic methods and on the development of the biological characterization of these cells. The biological information provided by CTCs and ctDNA is different; therefore, the study of its adequate combination is the object of cutting-edge research. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of protocols and methodological standards is the limiting factor when aiming to reach conclusions that could have a potential impact on clinical practice. Therefore, the real short-term challenge for liquid biopsy is the establishment of consensus and common criteria.

The role of miRNAs as biomarkers in prostate cancer.

There is an urged need of non-invasive biomarkers for the implementation of precision medicine. These biomarkers are required to these days for improving prostate cancer (PCa) screening, treatment or stratification in current clinical strategies. There are several commercial kits (Oncotype DX genomic prostate score®, Prolaris®, among others) that use genomic changes, rearrangement or even non-coding RNA events. However, none of them are currently used in the routine clinical practice. Many recent studies indicate that miRNAs are relevant molecules (small single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression of more than 30% of human genes) to be implement non-invasive biomarkers. However, contrasting to others tumors, such as breast cancer where miR-21 seems to be consistently upregulated; PCa data are controversial. Here we reported an extended revision about the role of miRNAs in PCa including data of AR signaling, cell cycle, EMT process, CSCs regulation and even the role of miRNAs as PCa diagnostic, prognostic and predictive tool. It is known that current biomedical research uses big-data analysis like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis. We also conducted an extensive online search, including the main platforms and kits for miRNAs massive analysis (like MiSeq, Nextseq 550, or Ion S5™ systems) indicating their pros, cons and including pre-analytical and analytical issues of miRNA studies.

Initial clinical outcomes and prognostic variables in the implementation of a Code Sepsis in a high complexity University Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the first months of application of a Code Sepsis in a high complexity hospital, analyzing patient´s epidemiological and clinical characteristics and prognostic factors. METHODS: A long-term observational study was carried out throughout a consecutive period of seven months (February 2015 - September 2015). The relationship with mortality of risk factors, and analytic values was analyzed using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 237 patients were included. The in-hospital mortality was 24% at 30 days and 27% at 60 days. The mortality of patients admitted to Critical Care Units was 30%. Significant differences were found between the patients who died and those who survived in mean levels of creatinine (2.30 vs 1.46 mg/dL, p <0.05), lactic acid (6.10 vs 2.62 mmol/L, p <0.05) and procalcitonin (23.27 vs 12.73 mg/dL, p<0.05). A statistically significant linear trend was found between SOFA scale rating and mortality (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis additional independent risk factors associated with death were identified: age > 65 years (OR 5.33, p <0.05), lactic acid > 3 mmol/L (OR 5,85, p <0,05), creatinine > 1,2 mgr /dL (OR 4,54, p <0,05) and shock (OR 6,57, P <0,05). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological, clinical and mortality characteristics of the patients in our series are similar to the best published in the literature. The study has identified several markers that could be useful at a local level to estimate risk of death in septic patients. Studies like this one are necessary to make improvements in the Code Sepsis programs.

[Evolution of the incidence of colonized and infected patients by VIM carbapenemase-producing bacteria in a pediatric hospital in Spain]. / Evolución de la incidencia de pacientes con colonización e infección por bacterias productoras de carbapenemasas VIM en un hospital pediátrico en España.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the evolution of the incidence of infected and colonized patients with carbapenemase VIM-producing bacteria (CPB-VIM) at a national referral pediatric center in Madrid, Spain, between 2012 and 2015. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological surveillance study. The surveillance system included case detection (screening for BPC colonization in all admitted patients, with periodicity according to the ward) and control measures (contact precautions, identification of previously colonized patients at admission, environmental cleaning, education, supervision of contact precautions, and patient cohort). All hospitalized patients with first positive microbiological sample for CPB-VIM in 2012-2015 were included. Colonized patients were followed through clinical history to evaluate later infection. RESULTS: We found 239 colonized and 51 infected patients with CPB-VIM (49.3% women, 47.6% were 5 months old or younger, 52.1% admitted at Intensive Care Unit). Infection and colonization incidence were, respectively, 2.6 and 6.7 cases per one thousand hospitalized patients in 2012, 1.8 and 10.0 in 2014 and 0.3 and 5.0 in 2015. Within these patients, 84.4% shared ward with other patient with previous positive sample. 13.0% (31/239) of colonized patients had a subsequent infection. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown data of pediatric patients affected by BPC-VIM, collected from an epidemiological surveillance system that included systematic screening at a national referral center. After an epidemic period, the incidence of cases went down. The surveillance and infection control measures intensification, as well as coordination with involved departments, were key in the handling of the situation.

B Cell Receptor Genes Associated With Tolerance Identify a Cohort of Immunosuppressed Patients With Improved Renal Allograft Graft Function.

We previously reported that two B cell receptor genes, IGKV1D-13 and IGKV4-1, were associated with tolerance following kidney transplantation. To assess the potential utility of this "signature," we conducted a prospective, multicenter study to determine the frequency of patients predicted tolerant within a cohort of patients deemed to be candidates for immunosuppressive minimization. At any single time point, 25-30% of patients were predicted to be tolerant, while 13.7% consistently displayed the tolerance "signature" over the 2-year study. We also examined the relationship of the presence of the tolerance "signature" on drug use and graft function. Contrary to expectations, the frequency of predicted tolerance was increased in patients receiving tacrolimus and reduced in those receiving corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil, or Thymoglobulin as induction. Surprisingly, patients consistently predicted to be tolerant displayed a statistically and clinically significant improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate that increased over time following transplantation. These findings indicate that the frequency of patients consistently predicted to be tolerant is sufficiently high to be clinically relevant and confirm recent findings by others that immunosuppressive agents impact putative biomarkers of tolerance. The association of a B cell-based "signature" with graft function suggests that B cells may contribute to the function/survival of transplanted kidneys.