[The value of laminin-322 staining in distinguishing between keratoacanthoma, keratoacanthoma with areas of squamous cell carcinoma, and crateriform squamous cell carcinoma]. / Utilidad de la tinción con laminina-332 para diferenciar queratoacantoma, queratoacantoma con áreas de carcinoma epidermoide y carcinoma epidermoide crateriforme.

INTRODUCTION: Keratoacanthoma is a fast-growing crateriform skin tumor. Approximately 25% of such tumors undergo malignant transformation and develop areas of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The presence of laminin-322 has been associated with progression to invasive forms of SCC. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not immunohistochemical staining for laminin-322 would be of value in distinguishing between keratoacanthomas, keratoacanthomas with areas of squamous cell carcinoma, and SCCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-four lesions were selected from the pathology archives of our hospital and divided into 4 groups: 20 keratoacanthomas without SCC, 20 keratoacanthomas with areas of squamous cell carcinoma, 20 invasive SCCs (8 with crateriform morphology) unrelated to keratoacanthoma, and 14 problem lesions (keratoacanthomas with areas suggestive of SCC). All 74 lesions were stained for laminin-322. RESULTS: Laminin-322 staining was strongly positive both in areas of SCC in keratoacanthomas with malignant transformation and in invasive SCCs (mostly at the invasive front of the SCC). However, in benign keratoacanthomas, it was only weakly positive and furthermore it was confined to isolated cells or small groups of cells. The 14 problem lesions were reexamined after laminin-322 staining and 8 were diagnosed as keratoacanthomas with incipient SCC and 6 as keratoacanthomas without SCC. CONCLUSIONS: Laminin-322 staining is different in keratoacanthomas and SCCs and would thus be a useful test for differentiating keratoacanthomas from both invasive SCCs and keratoacanthomas with areas of squamous cell carcinoma. It would also be of value in diagnosing keratoacanthomas with areas suggestive of SCC or with incipient SCC.

[Influence of the covid-19 pandemic period of alert on perceived quality of hospital emergencies]. / Influencia del periodo de alarma por la pandemia covid-19 en la calidad percibida de la atención en urgencias hospitalarias.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in perceived quality in patients who required A&E hospital care before and during the COVID-19 period of alert. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive observational study using the «Net Promoter Score¼ (NPS), which classifies patients as promoters or detractors. Three perceived quality dimensions (accessibility, professionals, and information) were measured in 160 patients discharged home before alert, and in a further 160 in the first 2 months during alert. A standard of ≥90% promoters and ≤10% detractors was verified by lot acceptance (LQAS) in different access routes and times. Factors related to the probability that a patient was a promoter, or a detractor were analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean score was lower in accessibility than in the other dimensions (8.6 vs. 9.1 and 9.0, P<.0001). During alert, accessibility obtained better results (NPS 70 vs. 32, P<.001). Per access route, Paediatrics and Ophthalmology improved and Maternity did not experience changes. LQAS showed more lots accepted during alert (85 vs. 72%). The likelihood for a patient to be a promoter was higher during alert (OR 1.85, P<.0001), especially in accessibility (OR 3.08, P<0.0001). The likelihood to be a detractor was reduced (OR .54, P<.05), and also greater in accessibility (OR .39, P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perceived quality improved during the period of alert, its declaration being the most influential factor. This improvement is evident in paediatric and ophthalmological patients, but imperceptible in Maternity or Traumatology, perhaps because the pandemic acted as an adequacy corrector.

[Prevention of thromboembolic disease in elderly patients admitted to medical wards]. / Adecuación de la profilaxis tromboembólica en pacientes de edad avanzada hospitalizados en servicios médicos de un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the suitability of the prevention of thromboembolic disease in elderly patients admitted to medical departments, as well as some associated factors, such as the measures required in order to improve quality and safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study in a tertiary level hospital that included elderly patients that were admitted to medical departments. A simple, non-proportional, randomised sample was used, stratified by department. The risk was measured using the Padua prediction model and the risk assessment model of the International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism (IMPROVE) adjusting depending on the number of discharges. A Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) plan was used with three levels, good, (standard 95%, threshold 70%), acceptable (standard 95%, threshold 50%), and not acceptable. RESULTS: A total of 72 cases from 8 departments were evaluated. Just over half (51.4%) of patients had a high risk of thromboembolic disease (Padua≥4), and 23.6% of bleeding (IMPROVE≥7). Besides the advanced age, the adjusted scores were particularly due to cancer (22%) and reduced mobility (19%) for Padua, and male gender (13%) and renal failure (12%) for IMPROVE. The adjusted overall suitability was 57.5% (95%CI: ±19.0%). The OR for suitable conduct on not starting medication, 1.56 (95%CI: 1.07-2.26). The suitability by department was not uniform: all the lots were acceptable, in 3 with level "good" and in 5 with "acceptable". CONCLUSIONS: The suitability of thromboembolic prophylaxis in the study hospital maintains acceptable levels, although not homogeneous. There is an opportunity for improvement that must be taken. The data obtained may help in deciding interventions, with LQAS being useful to optimise the evaluation effort.