Cost of Treating Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in Spain: Analysis of MICADOS Study Data by Disease Stage. / Evaluación de los costes asociados a la enfermedad de pacientes con linfoma cutáneo de células T en España: análisis en función del estadio clínico (estudio MICADOS).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The cost of treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in Spain is unknown. With the advent of new treatments, it is more important than ever to gain an accurate picture of the true costs involved. The MICADOS study had 2 primary objectives: 1)to evaluate the impact of CTCL on patient quality of life, and 2)to evaluate the costs associated with the disease. This article reports the results of the cost analysis. METHODS: We estimated the cost of treating CTCL over a period of 1year from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. Twenty-three dermatologists and hematologists from 15 public hospitals analyzed data for adult patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS). RESULTS: A total of 141 patients (57.4% male) with a mean age of 63.6 years (95%CI: 61.4-65.7 years) were included. The mean direct annual cost of treating CTCL was €34,214 per patient. The corresponding costs by stage were €11,952.47 for stageI disease, €23,506.21 for stageII disease, €38,771.81 for stageIII disease, and €72,748.84 for stageIV disease. The total direct annual cost of treating MF/SS in public hospitals in Spain was estimated at €78,301,171; stageI disease accounted for 81% of all costs, stageII for 7%, and stagesIII andIV for 6% each. CONCLUSIONS: The MICADOS study offers an accurate picture of the direct cost of treating CTCL in patients with MF/SS in Spain and shows that costs vary significantly according to disease stage. Patient-borne and indirect costs should be analyzed in future studies.

[Translated article] Cost of Treating Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in Spain: Analysis of MICADOS Study Data by Disease Stage.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The cost of treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in Spain is unknown. With the advent of new treatments, it is more important than ever to gain an accurate picture of the true costs involved. The MICADOS study had 2 primary objectives: 1)to evaluate the impact of CTCL on patient quality of life, and 2)to evaluate the costs associated with the disease. This article reports the results of the cost analysis. METHODS: We estimated the cost of treating CTCL over a period of 1year from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. Twenty-three dermatologists and hematologists from 15 public hospitals analyzed data for adult patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS). RESULTS: A total of 141 patients (57.4% male) with a mean age of 63.6 years (95%CI: 61.4-65.7 years) were included. The mean direct annual cost of treating CTCL was €34,214 per patient. The corresponding costs by stage were €11,952.47 for stageI disease, €23,506.21 for stageII disease, €38,771.81 for stageIII disease, and €72,748.84 for stageIV disease. The total direct annual cost of treating MF/SS in public hospitals in Spain was estimated at €78,301,171; stageI disease accounted for 81% of all costs, stageII for 7%, and stagesIII andIV for 6% each. CONCLUSIONS: The MICADOS study offers an accurate picture of the direct cost of treating CTCL in patients with MF/SS in Spain and shows that costs vary significantly according to disease stage. Patient-borne and indirect costs should be analyzed in future studies.

Proctitis in patients with monkeypox infection: a single-center analysis of 42 consecutive cases from a multidisciplinary observational study on monkeypox proctitis.

BACKGROUND: The current monkeypox (MP) virus outbreak was declared an international emergency in July 2022. The aim of this report is to describe our initial experience with patients with MP, focusing on proctitis. METHODS: We conducted an observational study between 20 May and 31 July 2022, on patients with MP at a reference tertiary center in Madrid, Spain. A descriptive analysis on MP was performed, focusing on its characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 143 positive MP cases were diagnosed in our center; 42 of them [all male, median age 39 years (range: 22-57 years)] had proctitis (29.37%), and 3 patients (2.09%/MP total cases and 7.14%/MP proctitis) required surgical drainage of a perianal abscess. CONCLUSIONS: General and digestive surgeons must be aware of the presence of proctological impairment and complications due to MP virus.

Integrating Dehumanization and Attachment in the Prediction of Teen Dating Violence Perpetration.

Dehumanization has the potential to account for different abusive behaviors because it involves making negative judgments of others that make it easier to harm them. However, research has not resorted to this mechanism to analyze teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration, nor has it examined its association with the broader representations of others linked to attachment. The first objective of this study was to analyze whether dehumanization of one's partner (lesser perceived agency and experience) and attribution of evilness were associated with a higher level of TDV perpetration and specific attachment styles. The second objective was to develop a structural equation model (SEM) that allowed integration of the links between all these factors. Participants in this cross-sectional study were 1799 adolescents who completed a survey in high schools. The results showed that those who were classified as high in TDV perpetration did perceive lower agency, lower experience, and higher evilness in their partners. The dehumanized perception of one's partner was found to vary according to the attachment styles, with those highest in avoidance (dismissive and fearful) dehumanizing their partners the most. The SEM showed that dehumanization is related to avoidant and not to anxious attachment. It also pointed to the relevance of attribution of evilness in predicting TDV perpetration. The invariance of the model was tested across gender subsamples. These findings allow better understanding of how violence may arise in early relationships and where to focus intervention with adolescents.

Use of a bioabsorbable mesh in midline laparotomy closure to prevent incisional hernia: randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a bioabsorbable mesh at the time of closure of a midline laparotomy for IH prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial including patients undergoing abdominal surgical procedures through a midline laparotomy incision was designed. In the group of mesh (n = 167) the incision was closed using a continuous polydioxanone suture (PDS) plus a bioabsorbable mesh. In the control group (n = 165) a continuous PDS single layer suture was only used. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the two groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of IH at 6, 12 and 24 months. Assessment of IH was done using a CT scan. RESULTS: At 6 months, the rates of IH were 15.2% and 24.8% in the experimental and control groups, respectively (relative risk [RR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.98, P = 0.042). At 12 months, the rate of IH continued to be significantly lower in the experimental group (21.4% vs. 33.1%, P = 0.033), but at 24 months, there were no significant differences between the study groups with a follow-up rate of only 37.5%. The number needed to treat (NNT) was 11 and 9 at 6 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The bioabsorbable mesh significantly prevented IH during the first year. Not reliable conclusions can be drawn across the second year. This may suggest that the any of the closing technique assessed in this study would have a "palliative" transient effect for preventing IH in the long-term.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma with minimal extrathyroidal extension. Is its course so indolent that it requires a less aggressive treatment?

BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has increased in recent decades, the role played by minimal extrathyroidal extension (mETE) in the prognosis of PTMC is still unclear. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors associated with PTMC with mETE and its long-term prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on patients with a histological diagnosis of PTMC. We excluded patients who had previously undergone thyroid surgery, those who had other synchronous malignancies, those with an ectopic location of the PTMC, and those lost to follow-up within two years. We compared group 1 (PTMC without extrathyroidal extension) to group 2 (PTMC with mETE) and performed a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We observed PTMC with mETE in 11.2% (n = 18) of patients. On the multivariate analysis, mETE was associated with an age ≥45 years (OR: 4.383; 95% CI: 1.051-18.283, p = .043), tumor size ≥8 mm (OR: 5.913; 95% CI: 1.795-19.481; p = .003), bilaterality (OR: 4.430; 95% CI: 1.294-15.173; p = .018) and metastatic lymph nodes (OR: 12.588; 95% CI: 2.919-54.280; p = .001). Over the mean follow-up period of 119.8 ±â€¯65 months, one case of recurrence was detected in group 2 (0% vs. 5.6%; p = .112). No patients died of the disease. Disease-free survival was lower in group 2 (124.9 ±â€¯5.6 vs. 97.4 ±â€¯10.3 months; p = .034). CONCLUSIONS: The mETE of PTMC is a factor of worse prognosis associated with the presence of metastatic lymph nodes and a lower rate of disease-free survival.

Identification of peripheral CD154+ T cells and HLA-DRB1 as biomarkers of acute cellular rejection in adult liver transplant recipients.

Decreasing graft rejection and increasing graft and patient survival are great challenges facing liver transplantation (LT). Different T cell subsets participate in the acute cellular rejection (ACR) of the allograft. Cell-mediated immunity markers of the recipient could help to understand the mechanisms underlying acute rejection. This study aimed to analyse different surface antigens on T cells in a cohort of adult liver patients undergoing LT to determine the influence on ACR using multi-parametric flow cytometry functional assay. Thirty patients were monitored at baseline and during 1 year post-transplant. Two groups were established, with (ACR) and without (NACR) acute cellular rejection. Leukocyte, total lymphocyte, percentages of CD4+ CD154+ and CD8+ CD154+ T cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch between recipient-donor and their relation with ACR as well as the acute rejection frequencies were analysed. T cells were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con-A) and surface antigens were analysed by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. A high percentage of CD4+ CD154+ T cells (P = 0·001) and a low percentage of CD8+ CD154+ T cells (P = 0·002) at baseline were statistically significant in ACR. A receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the cut-off values capable to stratify patients at high risk of ACR with high sensitivity and specificity for CD4+ CD154+ (P = 0·001) and CD8+ CD154+ T cells (P = 0·002). In logistic regression analysis, CD4+ CD154+ , CD8+ CD154+ and HLA mismatch were confirmed as independent risk factors to ACR. Post-transplant percentages of both T cell subsets were significantly higher in ACR, despite variations compared to pretransplant. These findings support the selection of candidates for LT based on the pretransplant percentages of CD4+ CD154+ and CD8+ CD154+ T cells in parallel with other transplant factors.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma with minimal extrathyroidal extension. Has it so indolent course to require a less aggressive treatment? / Microcarcinoma papilar de tiroides con extensión extratiroidea mínima. ¿Tiene un curso tan indolente para precisar un tratamiento menos intensivo?

BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has increased in recent decades, the role played by minimal extrathyroidal extension (mETE) in the prognosis of PTMC is still unclear. The aim of this study is to analyse the factors associated with PTMC and mETE and the long-term prognosis of PTMC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study with a population consisting of patients with a histological diagnosis of PTMC. We excluded patients who had previously undergone thyroid surgery, those who had other synchronous malignancies, those with an ectopic location of the PTMC and those lost to follow-up within 2years. We compared group 1 (PTMC without extrathyroidal extension) versus group 2 (PTMC with mETE) and performed a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We observed PTMC with mETE in 11.2% (n=18) of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, mETE was associated with an age ≥45 years (OR, 4.383; 95% CI 1.051-18.283, p=.043), a tumour size ≥8mm (OR, 5.913; 95% CI 1.795-19.481; p=.003), bilaterality (OR, 4.430; 95% CI 1.294-15.173; p=.018) and metastatic lymph nodes (OR, 12.588; 95% CI 2.919-54.280; p=.001). During a mean follow-up of 119.8±65 months, one recurrence was detected in group 2 (0% vs. 5.6%; p=.112), but none of the patients died due to the disease. Disease-free survival was lower in group 2 (124.9±5.6 vs. 97.4±10.3 months; p=.034). CONCLUSIONS: The mETE of MCPT is a factor of worse prognosis, associated with the presence of metastatic lymph nodes and lower disease-free survival.

NKG2D Polymorphism in Melanoma Patients from Southeastern Spain.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells are involved in the immune response against melanoma. C-Type lectin-like NK cell receptors are located in the Natural Killer Complex (NKC) region 12p13.2-p12.3 and play a critical role in regulating the activity of NK and CD8+ T cells. An association between polymorphisms in the NKC region, including the NKG2D gene and NKG2A promoter, and the risk of cancer has been previously described. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of polymorphisms in the NKC region with cutaneous melanoma in patients from southeastern Spain. METHODS: Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NKG2D gene (NKC3,4,7,9,10,11,12), and one SNP in the NKG2A promoter (NKC17) were genotyped by a TaqMan 5' Nuclease Assay in 233 melanoma patients and 200 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: A linkage disequilibrium analysis of the SNPs performed in the NKC region revealed two blocks of haplotypes (Hb-1 and Hb-2) with 14 and seven different haplotype subtypes, respectively. The third most frequent haplotype from the block Hb-2-NK3 (CAT haplotype)-was significantly more frequent on melanoma patients than on healthy controls (p = 0.00009, Pc = 0.0006). No further associations were found when NKC SNPs were considered independently. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an association between NKG2D polymorphisms and the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Three new HLA class I alleles with synonymous mutations: HLA-A*03:01:62, -C*07:02:82 and -C*12:03:42.

Three new HLA class I alleles with synonymous mutations were identified.

Detection of colonization by carbapenem-resistant organisms by real-time polymerase chain reaction from rectal swabs in patients with chronic renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) colonization is a serious problem that increases the risk of infection and contributes to dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare-associated environments. The risk of acquisition and dissemination of CRO is high in chronic renal failure patients and the surveillance culture is recommended as a component of infection control programmes. AIM: To assess colonization by CRO, comparing phenotypic and molecular-based methods of diagnostics, in rectal swabs in a large population of chronic renal failure patients. METHODS: A total of 1092 rectal swabs (ESwab™) were collected at two different times from 546 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients from a specialized tertiary care university centre. They were divided into three groups: conservative treatment (N = 129), dialysis (N = 217), and transplanted patients (N = 200). A chromogenic (CHROMagar™) KPC agar and the multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting carbapenemase-encoding genes were tested as phenotypic and molecular screening for carbapenemase production. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and conventional PCR were also performed on the isolates grown on chromogenic agar. FINDINGS: Among the 1092 samples, 150 (13.7%) were identified as CRO producers according to chromogenic agar. Only 26 (2.4%) were confirmed as KPC by conventional PCR. According to qPCR direct from swab, 31 (2.8%) were positive for KPC, 39 (3.6%) for GES, and three (0.3%) for SPM with kappa index of 0.256. CONCLUSION: The qPCR technique provides faster results when compared to culture method and enables rapid implementation of control measures and interventions to reduce the spread of CRO in healthcare settings, especially among CKD patients.

Pretransplant CD28 Biomarker (Levels of Expression and Quantification of Molecules per Cell) in Peripheral CD4+ T Cells Predicts Acute Rejection Episodes in Liver and Kidney Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Acute rejection (AR) remains a significant cause of graft loss. Better approaches to predict AR are being investigated. Surface CD28 protein is essential for T-cell proliferation and survival as well as cytokine production. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pretransplant CD4+CD28+ peripheral T cells were examined in 30 liver recipients (LRs) and 31 kidney recipients (KRs) by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Pretransplant CD4+CD28+ T cells in LRs were significantly lower in rejectors than nonrejectors (P = .002). Furthermore, the total number of CD28 molecules per cell in LRs (P = .02) as well as KRs (P = .047) was significantly lower in rejectors than nonrejectors. The healthy group did not display differences when compared with patients with end-stage liver disease or renal failure; however, stratification analysis displayed higher levels of CD4+CD28+ when compared with rejected LRs (P = .04) but not KRs. CD28 levels <41.94% were able to discriminate LRs at high risk of AR (P = .003). Similarly, a total number of CD28 molecules ≤8359 (P = .031) in LRs and ≤7669 (P = .046) in KRs correlated with high risk of AR. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results presented herein exhibit a fast and noninvasive method that assists clinicians to prevent AR by monitoring CD4+CD28+ peripheral T cells.

In vivo bactericidal efficacy of farnesol on Ti6Al4V implants. / Eficacia bactericida in vivo del farnesol sobre implantes de Ti6Al4V.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vivo anti-staphylococcal bactericidal activity of farnesol on Ti6Al4V surfaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An experimental model of infection in biomaterials was developed by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 into the canal of both femurs of 15 Wistar rats. A Ti6Al4V pin impregnated with 30mM of farnesol was inserted into study femur, and a Ti6Al4V control was inserted into the control femur. To evaluate the bactericidal efficacy, a comparison was made between the median of the colony forming units recovered after inoculation in the study group and the control group for different times of euthanasia and inoculum size. RESULTS: The median expressed as Log10 CFU counts obtained with farnesol titanium pin was 4.26, and in control group, it was 4.86, which was statistically significant (P=.001) on applying the Student t test for related samples. The median reduction obtained in farnesol pins relative to the control was 74%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with farnesol 30mM on Ti6Al4V pins appears to decrease the rate of colonisation by Staphylococcus aureus.

Influence of geometrical parameters on the linear stability of a Bénard-Marangoni problem.

A linear stability analysis of a thin liquid film flowing over a plate is performed. The analysis is performed in an annular domain when momentum diffusivity and thermal diffusivity are comparable (relatively low Prandtl number, Pr=1.2). The influence of the aspect ratio (Γ) and gravity, through the Bond number (Bo), in the linear stability of the flow are analyzed together. Two different regions in the Γ-Bo plane have been identified. In the first one the basic state presents a linear regime (in which the temperature gradient does not change sign with r). In the second one, the flow presents a nonlinear regime, also called return flow. A great diversity of bifurcations have been found just by changing the domain depth d. The results obtained in this work are in agreement with some reported experiments, and give a deeper insight into the effect of physical parameters on bifurcations.

Antibiotic-loaded polypropylene surgical meshes with suitable biological behaviour by plasma functionalization and polymerization.

Hernia repair is one of the most common operations in general surgery, and its associated complications typically relate to infections, among others. The loading of antibiotics to surgical meshes to deliver them locally in the abdominal hernia repair site can be one way to manage infections associated with surgical implants. However, the amount of drug loaded is restricted by the low wettability of polypropylene (PP). In this work, plasma has been used to tailor the surface properties of PP meshes to obtain high loading of ampicillin while conserving the desired biological properties of the unmodified samples and conferring them with antibacterial activity. It was demonstrated that the new surface chemistry and improved wettability led to 3-fold higher antibiotic loading. Subsequently, a PEG-like dry coating was deposited from tetraglyme with low-pressure plasma which allowed maintaining the high drug loading and kept cell properties such as chemotaxis, adhesion and morphology to the same levels as the untreated ones which have shown long-standing clinical success.