Women Are Also Disadvantaged in Accessing Transplant Outside the United States: Analysis of the Spanish Liver Transplantation Registry.

Sex inequities in liver transplantation (LT) have been documented in several, mostly US-based, studies. Our aim was to describe sex-related differences in access to LT in a system with short waiting times. All adult patients registered in the RETH-Spanish Liver Transplant Registry (2000-2022) for LT were included. Baseline demographics, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, cause and severity of liver disease, time on the waiting list (WL), access to transplantation, and reasons for removal from the WL were assessed. 14,385 patients were analysed (77% men, 56.2 ± 8.7 years). Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was reported for 5,475 patients (mean value: 16.6 ± 5.7). Women were less likely to receive a transplant than men (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.63, 0.97) with a trend to a higher risk of exclusion for deterioration (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.99, 1.38), despite similar disease severity. Women waited longer on the WL (198.6 ± 338.9 vs. 173.3 ± 285.5 days, p < 0.001). Recently, women's risk of dropout has reduced, concomitantly with shorter WL times. Even in countries with short waiting times, women are disadvantaged in LT. Policies directed at optimizing the whole LT network should be encouraged to guarantee a fair and equal access of all patients to this life saving resource.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis as a late complication of childhood cancer therapy: A case series.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare interstitial pneumonia with distinct clinicopathologic features. It has been associated with exposure to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and classical alkylating agents. Here, we highlight PPFE as a late complication of childhood cancer therapy by describing the cases of four survivors of childhood cancer with a diagnosis of treatment-related PPFE. All patients received high-dose alkylating agents. PPFE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of restrictive lung disease in patients with history of exposure to alkylating agents or HSCT. Development of PPFE-specific, noninvasive diagnostic tools and disease-modifying therapies will clinically benefit these patients.

Effect of comorbidity and multimorbidity on adherence to follow-up recommendations among long-term breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of comorbidities, multimorbidity, and multimorbidity clusters on adherence to recommended follow-up guidelines among long-term breast cancer survivors. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study based on 2078 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2000 to 2006 and followed up from 2012 to 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adherence to breast cancer follow-up recommendations (annual medical visit and imaging) was determined. Comorbidities were classified as acute/chronic. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of two or more chronic comorbidities aside from breast cancer. Five multimorbidity clusters were considered. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to determine the relationship between adherence to recommendations and the presence of comorbidities and multimorbidity, considering both sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Overall adherence to recommendations was 79.5 %. Adherence was lower among long-term breast cancer survivors with no comorbidities (75.8 %). Among multimorbidity clusters, adherence was highest in the anxiety and fractures cluster (84.3 %) and was lowest in the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular cluster (76.4 %). In adjusted multivariate models, multimorbidity was associated with higher levels of adherence (OR = 1.52 95 %CI 1.16-1.99), and adherence was highest in the metabolic and degenerative cluster (OR = 2.2 95 %CI 1.4-3.5). CONCLUSION: Adherence to follow-up recommendations was higher among long-term breast cancer survivors with multimorbidity than among those without. Adherence also differed by multimorbidity cluster. These results suggest suboptimal adherence to the current follow-up recommendations in certain groups, suggesting the need to adapt clinical practice guidelines to reflect patients' comorbidities and different characteristics.

Establishing quantitative radiographic criteria for the diagnosis of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis.

PURPOSE: Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a type of pulmonary fibrosis most commonly occurring at the apices. Patients with PPFE have an increased risk of adverse effects from lung biopsy and in the post-surgical setting. Here, we investigated simple and reproducible measurements on chest CT to evaluate their predictive value in diagnosing PPFE. METHODS: We analyzed a cohort of patients with histologically-proven PPFE and compared them to a cohort of patients diagnosed with "biapical scarring" (BAS) on chest CT. We measured plueuroparenchymal thickness using several independent parameters on chest CT. We also assessed other radiologic and clinical characteristics to identify if any were predictive of PPFF. RESULTS: Our analysis demonstrated the average greatest apical thickness with a cut off of 4.5 mm yielded a sensitivity of 94.4% and a specificity of 88.9%, and an area under the curve of 97.2%. Single greatest apical thickness with a cut off of 7.5 mm had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.9%, with the area under the curve of 97.8%. Average greatest upper lobe thickness with a cut off of 8.0 mm had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 100%, with an area under the curve of 98.2%. Single greatest upper lobe thickness with a cut off of 8.5 yielded both a sensitivity and specificity of 94.4% and an area under the curve of 94.3%. CONCLUSION: Measurements described above are highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of PPFE and warrant investigation with a larger cohort of patients.

VE-Cadherin in Cancer-Associated Angiogenesis: A Deceptive Strategy of Blood Vessel Formation.

Tumor growth depends on the vascular system, either through the expansion of blood vessels or novel adaptation by tumor cells. One of these novel pathways is vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which is defined as a tumor-provided vascular system apart from endothelial cell-lined vessels, and its origin is partly unknown. It involves highly aggressive tumor cells expressing endothelial cell markers that line the tumor irrigation. VM has been correlated with high tumor grade, cancer cell invasion, cancer cell metastasis, and reduced survival of cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the most relevant studies in the field of angiogenesis and cover the various aspects and functionality of aberrant angiogenesis by tumor cells. We also discuss the intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in the abnormal presence of VE-cadherin (CDH5) and its role in VM formation. Finally, we present the implications for the paradigm of tumor angiogenesis and how targeted therapy and individualized studies can be applied in scientific analysis and clinical settings.

Shock séptico en niños con bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus de la comunidad en un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad / Septic shock in children with community acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a high complexity pediatric hospital

INTRODUCCIÓN: La información disponible sobre los factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de shock séptico es escasa, especialmente en población pediátrica. OBJETIVO: Describir las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de los niños con bacteriemia adquirida en la comunidad por Staphylococcus aureus y comparar las características de los pacientes con y sin shock séptico. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo. Criterios de inclusión: niños entre 30 días y 16 años de edad, internados en el Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan entre enero de 2017 y diciembre de 2019 por infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad con desarrollo de S. aureus en hemocultivos. Criterios de exclusión: antecedente de internación dentro de los 3 meses previos al ingreso, vivir en una comunidad cerrada, presencia de catéter de larga permanencia, dispositivos intraventriculares o intraperitoneales. Análisis estadístico: STATA 16. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 142 niños. 21 niños (15%) presentaron shock séptico. En el análisis multivariado, se asociaron con shock séptico, la bacteriemia persistente (OR 7,15; IC95% 4,39-23,81; p: 0,001) y el foco secundario de infección (OR 6,72; IC 95% 2,02-22,2; p 0,002). La mortalidad relacionada con la infección fue 3,5% (5 pacientes). CONCLUSIONES: El shock séptico se asoció con la bacteriemia persistente y la presencia de focos secundarios de infección.

BACKGROUND: Available information about risk factors for the development of septic shock is scarce, especially in the pediatric population. AIM: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and to compare the characteristics of children with and without septic shock. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria: Children between 30 days and 16 years old, hospitalized in the Juan P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 for community-acquired infections with S. aureus isolation in blood cultures. Exclusion criteria: History of hospitalization within 3 months prior to admission, living in a closed community, presence of long-term catheter, intraventricular or intraperitoneal devices. Statistical analysis: STATA 16. RESULTS: 142 children were included. 21 children (15%) experienced septic shock. On multivariate analysis, persistent bacteremia (OR 7.15, 95% CI 4.39-23.81, p: 0.001) and secondary focus of infection (OR 6.72, 95% CI 2.02-22.2, p 0.002) were associated with septic shock. The infection-related mortality rate was 3.5% (5 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock was associated with persistent bacteremia and the presence of secondary foci of infection.

PRMT1 Inhibition Selectively Targets BNC1-Dependent Proliferation, but not Migration in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) develops in stratified epithelial tissues and demonstrates frequent alterations in transcriptional regulators. We sought to discover SCC-specific transcriptional programs and identified the transcription factor Basonuclin 1 (BNC1) as highly expressed in SCC compared to other tumor types. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis identified pro-proliferative genes activated by BNC1 in SCC cells and keratinocytes. Inhibition of BNC1 in SCC cells suppressed proliferation and increased migration via FRA1. In contrast, BNC1 reduction in keratinocytes caused differentiation, which was abrogated by IRF6 knockdown, leading to increased migration. Protein interactome analysis identified PRMT1 as a co-activator of BNC1-dependent proliferative genes. Inhibition of PRMT1 resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in SCC cell proliferation without increasing migration. Importantly, therapeutic inhibition of PRMT1 in SCC xenografts significantly reduced tumor size, resembling functional effects of BNC1 knockdown. Together, we identify BNC1-PRMT1 as an SCC-lineage specific transcriptional axis that promotes cancer growth, which can be therapeutically targeted to inhibit SCC tumorigenesis.

Orquiepididimitis por Salmonella spp en un lactante bajo los tres meses de edad / Salmonella spp epididymo-orchitis in a infant under three months-old

El compromiso genitourinario en una infección causada por Salmonella spp es poco frecuente, especialmente en niños. Se presenta un paciente de 40 días de vida que presentó una orquiepididimitis por Salmonella entérica serotipo Newport, con documentación microbiológica en hemocultivos, cultivo de secreción escrotal y coprocultivo. No presentó compromiso del sistema nervioso central. Un tratamiento médico y quirúrgico tempranos permitieron la evolución favorable del paciente.

Genitourinary involvement in a Salmonella spp infection is rare, especially in pediatric patients. A 40-day-old patient who presented an orchiepididymitis due to Salmonella enterica Serotype Newport is reported, with microbiological documentation in blood cultures, culture of scrotal purulent material and stool culture. There was no involvement of the central nervous system. Early medical and surgical treatment allowed the favorable evolution of the patient.

The role of calcium, Akt and ERK signaling in cadmium-induced hair cell death.

Exposure to heavy metals has been shown to cause damage to a variety of different tissues and cell types including hair cells, the sensory cells of our inner ears responsible for hearing and balance. Elevated levels of one such metal, cadmium, have been associated with hearing loss and shown to cause hair cell death in multiple experimental models. While the mechanisms of cadmium-induced cell death have been extensively studied in other cell types they remain relatively unknown in hair cells. We have found that calcium signaling, which is known to play a role in cadmium-induced cell death in other cell types through calmodulin and CaMKII activation as well as IP3 receptor and mitochondrial calcium uniporter mediated calcium flow, does not appear to play a significant role in cadmium-induced hair cell death. While calmodulin inhibition can partially protect hair cells this may be due to impacts on mechanotransduction activity. Removal of extracellular calcium, and inhibiting CaMKII, the IP3 receptor and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter all failed to protect against cadmium-induced hair cell death. We also found cadmium treatment increased pAkt levels in hair cells and pERK levels in supporting cells. This activation may be protective as inhibiting these pathways enhances cadmium-induced hair cell death rather than protecting cells. Thus cadmium-induced hair cell death appears distinct from cadmium-induced cell death in other cell types where calcium, Akt and ERK signaling all promote cell death.

[Lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio in COVID-19: an unexplored tool]. / índice linfocito proteína C reactiva en COVID-19: una herramienta poco explorada.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 develops severe inflammatory responses that can lead to death. It is essential in a pandemic to have accessible instruments to estimate the prognosis of the disease. The lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) is a predictive biomarker studied in oncology, which could have some advantages in COVID-19 patients in the early stages of the disease. Our objective was to estimate the risk of LCR < 100 and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: hospitalized patients with COVID-19 seen between March to October 2020 were included. The patients were grouped according to LCR < 100 and LCR > 100. A Cox regression model was performed to estimate the association between LCR < 100 and mortality. RESULTS: we included 730 patients with COVID-19. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.9 years (SD 16.8) and 401 (55%) were men. Cox regression model showed an association between LCR <100 and mortality (HR 6.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 23.5; p 0.008), adjusting by age. severe pneumonia, intensive care requirements, and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: LPCR <100 in the initial assessment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 suggests a higher risk of mortality.

Introducción: El COVID-19 genera respuestas inflamatorias graves que pueden terminar en la muerte. En pandemia resulta fundamental tener instrumentos de f ácil acceso que estimen su evolución. El índice linfocito proteína C reactiva (LPCR) es un marcador pronóstico estudiado en patología oncológica que podría mostrar ventajas en la etapa precoz de la enfermedad por COVID-19. Objetivo: estimar los niveles de LPCR < 100 y su riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes internados con COVID-19. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con COVID 19 que ingresaron a la sala de internación general desde marzo hasta octubre de 2020. Se realizó un modelo de regresión de Cox para estimar la relación entre el LPCR < 100 y mortalidad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 730 pacientes. La edad media de presentación fue 49.9 años (DE 16.8) y 401 (55%) fueron hombres. La mediana de días de internación fue 8 (RIC 6). El modelo de regresión de Cox evidenció asociación entre LPCR <100 y mortalidad (HR 6.2; IC95% 1.6 a 23.5; p 0.008) ajustado por edad, neumonía grave, pases a terapia intensiva, hipertensión arterial, y comorbilidades. Discusión: El LPCR <100 en la evaluación inicial de los pacientes que se internan con COVID-19 podría sugerir mayor riesgo de mortalidad.

Índice linfocito proteína c reactiva en COVID-19: una herramienta poco explorada / Lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio in COVID-19: an unexplored tool

Resumen Introducción: El COVID-19 genera respuestas inflamatorias graves que pueden terminar en la muerte. En pandemia resulta fundamental tener instrumentos de fácil acceso que estimen su evolu ción. El índice linfocito proteína C reactiva (LPCR) es un marcador pronóstico estudiado en patología oncológica que podría mostrar ventajas en la etapa precoz de la enfermedad por COVID-19. Objetivo: estimar los niveles de LPCR < 100 y su riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes internados con COVID-19. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con COVID 19 que ingresaron a la sala de internación general desde marzo hasta octubre de 2020. Se realizó un modelo de regresión de Cox para estimar la relación entre el LPCR < 100 y mortalidad. Resulta dos: Se incluyeron 730 pacientes. La edad media de presentación fue 49.9 años (DE 16.8) y 401 (55%) fueron hombres. La mediana de días de internación fue 8 (RIC 6). El modelo de regresión de Cox evidenció asociación entre LPCR <100 y mortalidad (HR 6.2; IC95% 1.6 a 23.5; p 0.008) ajustado por edad, neumonía grave, pases a terapia intensiva, hipertensión arterial, y comorbilidades. Discusión: El LPCR <100 en la evaluación inicial de los pacientes que se internan con COVID-19 podría sugerir mayor riesgo de mortalidad.

Abstract Background: COVID-19 develops severe inflammatory responses that can lead to death. It is es sential in a pandemic to have accessible instruments to estimate the prognosis of the disease. The lymphocyte-to- C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) is a predictive biomarker studied in oncology, which could have some advantages in COVID-19 patients in the early stages of the disease. Our objective was to estimate the risk of LCR < 100 and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: hospitalized patients with COVID-19 seen between March to October 2020 were included. The patients were grouped according to LCR < 100 and LCR > 100. A Cox regression model was performed to estimate the association between LCR < 100 and mortality. Results: we included 730 patients with COVID-19. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.9 years (SD 16.8) and 401 (55%) were men. Cox regression model showed an association between LCR <100 and mortality (HR 6.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 23.5; p 0.008), adjusting by age. severe pneumonia, intensive care requirements, and comorbidities. Conclusion: LPCR <100 in the initial assessment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 suggests a higher risk of mortality.

Frecuencia y distribución de enteroparásitos en área rural del departamento de La Paz / Frequency and distribution of enteroparasites in rural area in La Paz

INTRODUCCIÓN: las enfermedades parasitarias representan un problema de salud pública debido a su alta prevalencia por todo el mundo sobre todo en países en desarrollo, especialmente en áreas rurales y Bolivia no es la excepción. OBJETIVO: el presente estudio tuvo el objetivo de determinar la frecuencia y distribución de enteroparásitos en 8 municipios rurales del departamento de La Paz durante el periodo de agosto a septiembre de 2014. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: el trabajo es un estudio tipo transversal-descriptivo con un universo de trabajo de 1238 muestras de heces fecales conservadas con formol, las cuales fueron enviadas por el equipo médico de SUYANA (organización no gubernamental sin fines de lucro) a los laboratorios del Instituto SELADIS (Servicios de Laboratorio de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Salud). RESULTADOS: se realizaron estudios coproparasitológicos directos de cada una de las muestras y la observación microscópica dio los siguientes resultados. Se evidencio la presencia de enteroparásitos en 89,5% de la población estudiada, de los cuales 97,2% representan protozoarios tales como B. hominis, E. coli (protoozoos comensales) y G. lamblia (protozoo intestinal patógeno) los cuales estarían como los de mayor distribución, por otro lado el 2.8% de la población total corresponden a helmintos donde H. nana tiene una distribución de 1,8%, A. lumbricoides 0,7% y T. trichiura, S. stercoralis, Uncinarias estarían en el 0,1% de la población. También se pudo evidenciar que la mayor distribución de enteroparásitos estaría entre 1-10 años de edad (37,4%). Finalmente se evidencio que de las 8 poblaciones de estudio Charazani, Calacoto, Comanche presentarían mayor distribución de enteroparásitos (10-11 parásitos). CONCLUSIÓN: se evidencio que casi el 90% de la población en estudio, presentarían parásitos intestinales, con un claro predominio de los protozoarios sobre los helmintos. Esta información epidemiológica servirá de apoyo para mejorar los programas de salud en estas poblaciones.

INTRODUCTION: parasitic diseases represent a public health problem because of its high prevalence throughout the world, especially in developing countries, particularly in rural areas and Bolivia is no exception. OBJETIVE: therefore, the present study had the objective of determining the frequency and distribution of enteroparasites in eight municipalities of La Paz between August and September in 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: this was a cross-sectional-descriptive study with a universe of 1238 formalin-preserved stool samples, which were sent for analysis by the medical team of SUYANA (a non-profi t organization) to the Bolivian Institute of Health Diagnostic and Research Laboratory Services (SELADIS, acronym in Spanish). RESULTS: Copro-parasitological studies of each sample and microscopic analysis were detected. As a result, prevalence of infection by any given enteroparasites were detected, 89.5% of protozoans (B. hominis, E. coli (commensal protozoa) and 97.2%, G. lamblia (pathogenic intestinal protozoa) which represent the highest distribution. Besides, we identified, 2.8% of helmintos, among them, 1.8% of H. nana, 1.7% of A. lumbricoides and 0.1% of others (T. trichiura, S. stercoralis and Uncinarias). According to age group, 37.4% were people between 1 and 10 years old (enteroparasites infection). From eight municipalities, Charazani, Calacoto, and Comanche had the highest distribution of enteparasites (10-11 parasites). CONCLUSIONS: the present study showed that 90% of the population had intestinal parasites, where protozoans were higher than helminths. This epidemiological information could be reliable to improve health care programs for these populations.

Nitro-Oleic Acid-Mediated Nitroalkylation Modulates the Antioxidant Function of Cytosolic Peroxiredoxin Tsa1 during Heat Stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Heat stress is one of the abiotic stresses that leads to oxidative stress. To protect themselves, yeast cells activate the antioxidant response, in which cytosolic peroxiredoxin Tsa1 plays an important role in hydrogen peroxide removal. Concomitantly, the activation of the heat shock response (HSR) is also triggered. Nitro-fatty acids are signaling molecules generated by the interaction of reactive nitrogen species with unsaturated fatty acids. These molecules have been detected in animals and plants. They exert their signaling function mainly through a post-translational modification called nitroalkylation. In addition, these molecules are closely related to the induction of the HSR. In this work, the endogenous presence of nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is identified for the first time by LC-MS/MS. Both hydrogen peroxide levels and Tsa1 activity increased after heat stress with no change in protein content. The nitroalkylation of recombinant Tsa1 with NO2-OA was also observed. It is important to point out that cysteine 47 (peroxidatic) and cysteine 171 (resolving) are the main residues responsible for protein activity. Moreover, the in vivo nitroalkylation of Tsa1 peroxidatic cysteine disappeared during heat stress as the hydrogen peroxide generated in this situation caused the rupture of the NO2-OA binding to the protein and, thus, restored Tsa1 activity. Finally, the amino acid targets susceptible to nitroalkylation and the modulatory effect of this PTM on the enzymatic activity of Tsa1 are also shown in vitro and in vivo. This mechanism of response was faster than that involving the induction of genes and the synthesis of new proteins and could be considered as a key element in the fine-tuning regulation of defence mechanisms against oxidative stress in yeast.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer: future directions and challenges.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease of pulmonary scarring. New treatments slow disease progression and allow pulmonary fibrosis patients to live longer. Persistent pulmonary fibrosis increases a patient's risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer in patients with IPF differs from cancers that develop in the non-fibrotic lung. Peripherally located adenocarcinoma is the most frequent cell type in smokers who develop lung cancer, while squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent in pulmonary fibrosis. Increased fibroblast foci in IPF are associated with more aggressive cancer behaviour and shorter doubling times. Treatment of lung cancer in fibrosis is challenging because of the risk of inducing an exacerbation of fibrosis. In order to improve patient outcomes, modifications of current lung cancer screening guidelines in patients with pulmonary fibrosis will be necessary to avoid delays in treatment. 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) imaging can help identify cancer earlier and more reliably than CT alone. Increased use of wedge resections, proton therapy and immunotherapy may increase survival by decreasing the risk of exacerbation, but further research will be necessary.

Effects of nintedanib by inclusion criteria for progression of interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: The INBUILD trial investigated nintedanib versus placebo in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). We investigated the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) in subgroups based on the inclusion criteria for ILD progression. METHODS: Subjects had a fibrosing ILD other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and met the following criteria for ILD progression within the 24 months before screening despite management deemed appropriate in clinical practice: Group A, relative decline in FVC ≥10% predicted; Group B, relative decline in FVC ≥5-<10% predicted with worsened respiratory symptoms and/or increased extent of fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT); Group C, worsened respiratory symptoms and increased extent of fibrosis on HRCT only. RESULTS: In the placebo group, the rates of FVC decline over 52 weeks in Groups A, B and C, respectively, were -241.9, -133.1 and -115.3 mL per year in the overall population (p=0.0002 for subgroup-by-time interaction) and -288.9, -156.2 and -100.1 mL per year among subjects with a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like fibrotic pattern on HRCT (p=0.0005 for subgroup-by-time interaction). Nintedanib had a greater absolute effect on reducing the rate of FVC decline in Group A than in Group B or C. However, the relative effect of nintedanib versus placebo was consistent across the subgroups (p>0.05 for heterogeneity). CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion criteria used in the INBUILD trial, based on FVC decline or worsening of symptoms and extent of fibrosis on HRCT, were effective at identifying patients with progressive fibrosing ILDs. Nintedanib reduced the rate of decline in FVC across the subgroups based on the inclusion criteria related to ILD progression.

Prevention of Acute Postoperative Pain in Breast Cancer: A Comparison between Opioids versus Ketamine in the Intraoperatory Analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Acute postoperative pain (APP) has a high incidence in breast surgery, and opioids are the most commonly used drugs for its management; however, they are not free from systemic side effects, which may increase comorbidity. In the past few years, opioid-free anaesthesia has been favoured with promising results. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study including 71 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery. The opioid group (n = 41) received fentanyl for induction, remifentanil for maintenance, and rescue morphine before waking up, whereas the ketamine group (n = 30) received a ketamine bolus for induction followed by continuous ketamine infusion during surgery. Later, the presence and intensity of pain were registered, using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS 1-10) for pain, at different times in the recovery room, at 24 hours and at 3 months. RESULTS: Administration of ketamine is more effective than opioid use for APP prevention in breast cancer surgery because the ketamine group presented with less pain than the opioid group (p < 0.05) at all measured times. When there was pain, patients in the ketamine group gave a lower score to its intensity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine could reduce the incidence of APP in breast cancer surgery, compared to opioids.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Airway-centered pulmonary fibrosis on chest CT.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the chest CT appearance of patients with a clinicopathologic diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonia. METHODS: IRB approval was obtained for a retrospective review of patients with a preoperative CT scan, a surgical pathology report from a transbronchial biopsy or wedge resection consistent with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and a pulmonary consultation, which also supported the diagnosis. The pathology report was evaluated for granulomas, airway-centered fibrosis, microscopic honeycombing, and fibroblast foci. The medical records were reviewed for any known antigen exposure. Patients were separated into two groups; those with and without a known antigen exposure. The CT scans were assessed for distribution of fibrosis: upper lobe or lower lobe predominance, airway-centered versus peripheral distribution, three-density pattern, and honeycombing. RESULTS: 264 pathology reports included the term chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP). Thirty-eight of the patients had a pulmonologist who gave the patient a working diagnosis of CHP. The average age of these patients was 64 years, and 21/38 were women. Seventeen of the 38 patients had at least one antigen exposure described in the medical records. All the patients had fibrosis along the airways on chest CT. Both known antigen exposure and no known antigen patients had upper and lower lung-predominant fibrosis. There were more patients with hiatal hernias in the unknown antigen group. Honeycombing was an uncommon finding. CONCLUSION: Airway-centered fibrosis was present on chest CT in all 38 patients with CHP (100%), with or without known antigen exposure.

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Central Pain Sensitization Syndromes: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is considered by the American Psychological Association as an evidence-based treatment for a variety of disorders, including chronic pain. The main objective of the present systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of ACT in patients with central pain sensitization syndromes (CPSS). METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration and PRISMA statements. The protocol was registered in advance in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) international database. The selected articles were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) assessment tool. The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. RESULTS: The literature search identified 21 studies (including investigations of fibromyalgia syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine) eligible for the systematic review. There were no studies regarding the effectiveness of ACT for chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), interstitial cystitis (IC), or temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The evaluation of ROB showed that 12 of the selected studies were of low quality, 5 were of moderate quality, and 4 were high quality. ACT reduces some clinical symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and pain. This positive effect of ACT might be mediated by pain acceptance, psychological flexibility, optimism, self-efficacy, or adherence to values. ACT showed better results in comparison to non-intervention (e.g., "waiting list") conditions, as well as pharmacological and psychoeducational interventions. It is not entirely clear whether extended ACT treatments are more advantageous than briefer interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies about the effectiveness of ACT on CPSS. However, ACT seems to reduce subjective CPSS symptoms and improve the health-related quality of life of these patients. The absence of studies on the effectiveness of ACT in CTTH, IC, and TMD, indicate the pressing need for further ACT studies in these CPSS.

Quantifying normal lung in pulmonary fibrosis: CT analysis and correlation with %DLCO.

BACKGROUND: Chest CT scans are routinely obtained to monitor disease progression in pulmonary fibrosis. However, radiologists do not employ a standardized system for quantitative description of the severity of the disease. Development and validation of a grading system offers potential for enhancing the information that radiologists provide clinicians. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Our retrospective review analyzed 100 sequential patients with usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) on HRCT scans from 2018 and 2019. A radiologic scoring system evaluated the percent of normal lung on the basis of a 0-5 point scale per lobe (findings for the right middle lobe were included in the right upper lobe score), yielding an overall additive numerical score on a scale of 20 (completely normal lung) to 0 (no normal lung). Two radiologists quantified the percentage of normal lung by consensus agreement. Percent DLCO as well as demographic data were obtained from the medical record. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation to assess correlation between grade and percent DLCO. RESULTS: 96 patients met the inclusion criteria; average age was 71, 68% were male. Score on CT scan ranged from 18 to 4; average 10.9, SD 3.58. The single-breath diffusing capacity (percent DLCO) ranged from 88% to 17%; mean 44.5%, SD 14.3%. Spearman's correlation for CT score and percent DLCO was 0.622, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: This scoring system quantifying the amount of normal lung on chest CT of patients with UIP correlated significantly with percent DLCO (P < 0.001) and appears to offer a promising quantitative measure to assess severity of disease.