[Multicomponent treatment of tobacco in primary care: Follow-up over 5years]. / Tratamiento multicomponente del tabaquismo en Atención Primaria: seguimiento transcurridos más de 5 años.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effectiveness of a multicomponent treatment for smoking cessation carried out in primary care and to evaluate the evolution of the consumption of tobacco that the people who participated had, more than 5 years after the end of the treatment. DESIGN: Longitudinal study of 307 participants in a multicomponent program in group format of tobacco cessation. EMPLACEMENT: Santander (Spain) Primary Care Health Center. PARTICIPANTS: Smokers from the basic health zone who wanted to quit smoking between 2006 and 2012 and requested help. INTERVENTIONS: Multicomponent treatment of 5face-to-face sessions and follow-up for up to 12 months. PRIMARY MEASUREMENTS: The activity was evaluated in 263 participants more than 5years after the end of treatment. The results of continuous and punctual withdrawal were obtained by self-declaration and the data recorded in the medical record. The punctual was also validated with co-oximetry. RESULTS: After a year 42.7% of participants declared continuous abstinence. From 5 to 12 years later, the continuous declared abstinence further than 12 months was 40.7%. They did not smoke again since the end of the treatment 66 people; 68.0% of those who relapsed made new attempts and 45.5% of them requested help to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed multi-component treatment is effective. Abstinence at 12 months predicts long-term maintenance and participating in disabling groups favors further attempts in case of relapse and the request for help to quit smoking.

Predictive value of immune-related adverse events during pembrolizumab treatment in non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have reported the role of immune-related adverse events as a predictor of clinical benefit, but few have properly described these findings in advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with pembrolizumab. This study aimed to evaluate the association between immune-related adverse events development and clinical outcomes in the aforementioned group of patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with pembrolizumab. Overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated according to the appearance, subtype and number of immune-related adverse events developed. We report the results of the immune-related adverse events analysis and the potential correlation between immune-related adverse events and clinical outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate this relationship. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients were analysed; 60 of them developed immune-related adverse events. Patients with immune-related adverse events had a significantly higher overall response rate compared with the non-immune-related adverse events group (34% vs 8.5%, χ2=0.005). Median progression-free survival was statistically significant in favour of patients with at least one immune-related adverse event (p=0.015). Median overall survival was not reached in patients with ≥1 immune-related adverse events, compared with 8 months (95% CI 0.6 to 15.4 months) in those without immune-related adverse events. Patients who developed ≥2 immune-related adverse events had longer median progression-free survival (11 vs 4 months, not statistically significant) and overall survival (not reached vs 11, p=0.022) compared with those with ≤1 immune-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Obtained data showed that patients with immune-related adverse events occurrence had significantly better overall response rate and longer progression-free survival and overall survival. This study highlights the role of immune-related adverse events as a predictor of survival in a real-life setting.

Variability of three activated clotting time point-of-care systems in cardiac surgery: reinforcing available evidence.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC) requires the administration of anticoagulant drugs to maintain ACT ranges 400-600 seconds, which requires exhaustive coagulation monitoring for which various point-of-care devices are available. However, there is variability between them, so we aimed to compare the values in ACT measurement. METHODS: Simultaneous ACT measurements were performed with the Hemochron Response®, Hemostasis Management System Plus® (HMS Plus®) and Hemochron Signature® systems. RESULTS: A total of 255 simultaneous measurements were taken, the mean and standard deviation (SD) of each device were: Hemochron Signature® 361.1 seconds (SD: 156.9), HMS Plus® 412.8 seconds (SD: 180.9) and Hemochron Response® 422.8 seconds (SD: 187.9), being these differences statistically significant (Fridman's test p < 0.01). For comparisons the Bland-Altman method was used, resulting the Hemochron Response® has 61.7 seconds higher mean values than the Hemochron Signature®, the Hemochron Response® 10 seconds higher than the HMS Plus® and the HMS Plus® 51.7 seconds higher than the Hemochron Signature®. CONCLUSION: The differences found in comparisons are considered to be clinically relevant, which is why it is considered important to make the variability of the different monitoring systems known and to take them into account for optimal control of this parameter and its clinical repercussions.

Prediction of post-idroidectomy hypocalcemia through rapid PTH determination. / Predicción de hipocalcemia postiroidectomía mediante determinación de PTH rápida.

INTRODUCTION: Hypocalcemia is the most frequent complication after thyroidectomy. The aim of this work is to identify biochemical risk factors of hypocalcemia using quick perioperative (pre and post-thyroidectomy) intact parathyroid hormone (PTHi) and postoperative calcemias. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 310 total thyroidectomies, samples of quick PTHi at the anaesthetic induction and 10 minutes after surgery, together with serum calcemias every 12 hours were obtained. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value are analyzed and related to hypocalcemia. A control group of hemithyroidectomies is also analyzed to compare the effects of surgery on PTH secretion. RESULTS: Of the 310 patients, 202 (65.1%) remained normocalcemic and asymptomatic (group A), 108 (34.9%) presented hypocalcemia (Group B), requiring oral calcium (79 symptomatic). After analysis of several cut-off points, combining a PTHr drop gradient of 60% or calcemia inferior to 7.4 mg/dl at 24 hours, a sensitivity of 100% is achieved without leaving false negatives. Compared to the control group, there is a significant difference with respect to the post-operative calcemias and PTHr, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy affects parathyroid function with evident decrease in rPTH and risk of hypocalcemia. The combination of PTHr decrease of 60% or less than 7.4 mg/dl calcemia at 24 hours gives a 100% sensitivity for predicting patients at risk of hypocalcemia.

[Prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy in Santander. Northern Spain]. / Prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a la retinopatía diabética en Santander. Norte de España.

OBJETIVE: To assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Cantabria. DESIGN: ross-sectional population based study. LOCATION: Health center of Cantabria. PARTICIANTS: A random sample of 442 patients with type 2 diabetes. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Non-mydiatric retinography, classifying them according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. The analyzed risk factors were: age, gender, age at diabetes onset, duration of diabetes, glycated haemoglobin levels (A1C), treatment of diabetes, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), serum lipids concentration, body mass index, smoking status, hematocrit, pregnancy, serum vitamin D (25 OH D) levels, nephropathy and cardiovascular events. RESULTS: The prevalence of DR was 8.56% (CI: 5.81-11.32): Mild non-proliferative DR: 5.07% (CI: 2.89-7.25); Moderate non-proliferative DR: 1.38% (CI: 0.17-2.60); Severe non-proliferative DR: 0.27% (CI: 0.006-1.28); proliferative DR: 1.84% (CI: 0.46-3.22). Diabetic macular oedema: 2.30% (CI: 0.77-3.83). Mean age: 70 years, mean diagnostic age: 58.97 years, mean body mass index 29.86, 78.40% patients with hypertension, 67.30% dyslipidemia and median A1C: 6.7%. A deficit of 25 (OH) D was identified in 77% of patients. In the multivariate analysis, treatment of type 2 diabetes, body mass index, duration of diabetes and metabolic control of glycaemia were identified as independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DR, compared with former studies, has decreased to 8.56%; this decrease is associated with the improvement in the control of modifiable risk factors. The associated independent risk factors were: treatment, body mass index, duration and control of diabetes. The variables antihypertensive treatment, cardiovascular events and nephropathy showed predictive value for DR.

Vitamin D nutritional status and vitamin D regulated antimicrobial peptides in serum and pleural fluid of patients with infectious and noninfectious pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D and vitamin D dependent antimicrobial peptides such as Cathelicidin (LL-37) and ß-defensin 2 have an important role in innate and adaptative immunity, but their role in pleural effusions has not been studied before. METHODS: Serum and pleural fluid samples from 152 patients with pleural effusion were collected, corresponding to 45 transudates and 107 exudates, 51 infectious effusions (14 complicated and 37 non-complicated), 44 congestive heart failure effusions and 38 malignant effusions. The levels of 25 OH-vitamin D, 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D, Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP), LL-37 and ß-defensin 2, both in serum and pleural fluid were evaluated in this prospective study. Differences between groups were analysed using unpaired t tests or Mann-Whitney tests. Correlations between data sets were examined using Pearson correlation coefficient or Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated using ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Low serum 25 OH vitamin D levels were found in all groups. Infectious effusions (IE) had higher serum and pleural fluid LL-37 levels compared to congestive heart failure or malignant effusions. Among IE, complicated had higher serum and pleural fluid LL-37 levels, and lower serum ß-defensin-2 levels. Positive correlations were found between serum 25 OH-vitamin D levels and serum or pleural 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D levels, and between 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D and LL-37 serum. Diagnostic accuracy of the different molecules was moderate at best. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in pleural effusions. LL-37 is produced intrapleurally in IE. This production is higher in complicated IE. No evidence of pleural production of ß-defensin 2 was found in any of the groups. Diagnostic accuracy of the different molecules is at the best moderate for discriminating different types of effusions.

Collagen Type XI Alpha 1 Expression in Intraductal Papillomas Predicts Malignant Recurrence.

Despite the progress achieved in the treatment of breast cancer, there are still many unsolved clinical issues, being the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of papillary diseases, one of the highest challenges. Because of its unpredictable clinical behavior, treatment of intraductal papilloma has generated a great controversy. Even though considered as a benign lesion, it presents high rate of malignant recurrence. This is the reason why there are clinicians supporting a complete excision of the lesion, while others support an only expectant follow-up. Previous results of our group suggested that procollagen 11 alpha 1 (pro-COL11A1) expression correlates with infiltrating phenotype in breast lesions. We analyzed the correlation between expression of pro-COL11A1 in intraductal papilloma and their risk of malignant recurrence. Immunohistochemistry of pro-COL11A1 was performed in 62 samples of intraductal papilloma. Ten out 11 cases relapsed as carcinoma presents positive staining for COL11A1, while just 17 out of 51 cases with benign behaviour present immunostaining. There were significant differences (P < 0.0001) when comparing patients with malignant recurrence versus nonmalignant relapse patients. These data suggest that pro-COL11A1 expression is a highly sensitive biomarker to predict malignant relapse of intraductal papilloma and it can be used as indicative factor for prevention programs.