Estimation of Admission D-dimer Cut-off Value to Predict Venous Thrombotic Events in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Analysis of the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry.

BACKGROUND: Venous thrombotic events (VTE) are frequent in COVID-19, and elevated plasma D-dimer (pDd) and dyspnea are common in both entities. OBJECTIVE: To determine the admission pDd cut-off value associated with in-hospital VTE in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective study analyzing the at-admission pDd cut-off value to predict VTE and anticoagulation intensity along hospitalization due to COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 9386 patients, 2.2% had VTE: 1.6% pulmonary embolism (PE), 0.4% deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 0.2% both. Those with VTE had a higher prevalence of tachypnea (42.9% vs. 31.1%; p = 0.0005), basal O2 saturation <93% (45.4% vs. 33.1%; p = 0.0003), higher at admission pDd (median [IQR]: 1.4 [0.6-5.5] vs. 0.6 [0.4-1.2] µg/ml; p < 0.0001) and platelet count (median [IQR]: 208 [158-289] vs. 189 [148-245] platelets × 109/L; p = 0.0013). A pDd cut-off of 1.1 µg/ml showed specificity 72%, sensitivity 49%, positive predictive value (PPV) 4%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 99% for in-hospital VTE. A cut-off value of 4.7 µg/ml showed specificity of 95%, sensitivity of 27%, PPV of 9%, and NPV of 98%. Overall mortality was proportional to pDd value, with the lowest incidence for each pDd category depending on anticoagulation intensity: 26.3% for those with pDd >1.0 µg/ml treated with prophylactic dose (p < 0.0001), 28.8% for pDd for patients with pDd >2.0 µg/ml treated with intermediate dose (p = 0.0001), and 31.3% for those with pDd >3.0 µg/ml and full anticoagulation (p = 0.0183). CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, a pDd value greater than 3.0 µg/ml can be considered to screen VTE and to consider full-dose anticoagulation.

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment and Solar Radiation in Northwestern Spain.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and solar radiation in northwestern Spain. METHODS: All RRD cases in Pontevedra from 2008 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Climatological data from 4 weather stations in the area were collected. The association between RRD incidence and solar radiation was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 256 RRD cases were identified. There was a seasonal variation in the incidence of RRD with a maximum number of incident cases observed in June and July and a minimum number of cases observed in January and December. An association was found between RRD incidence and solar radiation both monthly (p = 0.004) and bimonthly (p = 0.057). The right eye was more frequently affected than the left eye (p = 0.035). RD cases other than rhegmatogenous showed neither seasonality nor association with radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Solar radiation may play a role in RRD genesis in our area. Laterality could be related to the amount of radiation reaching each eye.

Use of Low-Cost Acquisition Systems with an Embedded Linux Device for Volcanic Monitoring.

This paper describes the development of a low-cost multiparameter acquisition system for volcanic monitoring that is applicable to gravimetry and geodesy, as well as to the visual monitoring of volcanic activity. The acquisition system was developed using a System on a Chip (SoC) Broadcom BCM2835 Linux operating system (based on DebianTM) that allows for the construction of a complete monitoring system offering multiple possibilities for storage, data-processing, configuration, and the real-time monitoring of volcanic activity. This multiparametric acquisition system was developed with a software environment, as well as with different hardware modules designed for each parameter to be monitored. The device presented here has been used and validated under different scenarios for monitoring ocean tides, ground deformation, and gravity, as well as for monitoring with images the island of Tenerife and ground deformation on the island of El Hierro.

Detecting ultrasonographic hollowness in small choroidal melanocytic tumors using 10 MHz and 20 MHz ultrasonography: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this work was to compare the detection of ultrasonographic hollowness (UH), as a risk sign for evolution from small choroidal melanocytic tumors (SCMT) to uveal melanoma (UM), between conventional ultrasonography (standardized 8 MHz ultrasonography and B-mode 10 MHz ultrasonography) and high-resolution 20 MHz ultrasonography. METHODS: Fifty SCMTs from 50 eyes were included in this work. In all cases, ultrasonographic studies were performed using: 8 MHz standardized A-mode, 10 MHz B-mode, and posterior pole 20 MHz B-mode. Comparison between the presence and the absence of UH were carried out between the ultrasonographic images. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the SCMT dimensions obtained using the 8-10 and 20 MHz techniques. UH was detected in 12 and 20 cases by means of ten and 20 MHz probes respectively. The difference between these proportions was statistically different from zero (McNemar test, p-value = 0.008). Cases without UH by 20 MHz have lower height values than cases with UH. However, these differences were not found by 10 MHz ultrasonography. By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study, specificity was better by 20 MHz than 10 MHz ultrasonography when the value of tumor height as marker for UH was studied. CONCLUSIONS: UH is easier to detect by 20 MHz than by 10 MHz ultrasonography. This ultrasonographic sign appears to be correlated with the height of the tumor. Thus, we believe UH estimation by 20 MHz ultrasonography could be used as a significant predictive factor for SCMT growth.

Relationship between macular bending and foveoschisis in myopic patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate factors associated with myopic foveoschisis and macular bending and to determine how the presence of macular bending affects the development of myopic foveoschisis. METHODS: In a prospective study of 194 eyes of 105 patients with high myopia, we performed complete ophthalmic examinations, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and A-scan ultrasounds. Patients were divided into three groups according to the OCT results. Group 1 consisted of 25 eyes (17 patients) with myopic foveoschisis; group 2 consisted of 36 eyes (20 patients) with macular bending; and group 3 consisted of 135 eyes (68 patients) without macular bending, foveoschisis, or other diseases. Macular bending was defined as a smooth macular elevation observed upon OCT in patients with pathologic myopia. Age, sex, spherical equivalence, axial length (AXL), and OCT findings were obtained and compared to identify factors that are related to myopic foveoschisis and macular bending. Moreover, using the whole data set, we evaluated and correlated myopic foveoschisis with the presence or absence of macular bending to determine whether this bulge in the macular area influences the development of myopic foveoschisis. RESULTS: In group 1, all eyes presented posterior staphyloma and two factors were independently associated with a higher risk of having myopic foveoschisis: internal limiting membrane detachment (p < 0.001) and retinal arteriolar traction (p < 0.001). In group 2, only retinal arteriolar traction (p < 0.009) was independently associated with macular bending. Furthermore, macular bending was significantly correlated as a protective factor against myopic foveoschisis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.116; 95% confidence interval, 0.019 to 0.701; p < 0.019); the AXL of patients with the same spherical equivalence and macular bending was significantly shorter than that of patients without macular bending (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Intraocular and extraocular wall factors were associated with myopic traction maculopathy, which plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Moreover, macular bending might be a key factor in preventing myopic foveoschisis by decreasing AXL.

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Sleep Quality in Heart Disease Patients with and without Heart Failure.

Insomnia is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Previous studies suggested that attending a cardiac rehabilitation program may improve sleep quality in cardiac patients and pointed out the association between heart failure and poor sleep quality. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality in patients attending a Multidisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (MRCP), and to compare sleep quality between patients with and without heart failure. A prospective observational study was carried out on a consecutive sample of 240 patients attending an 8-week MRCP; 50 patients (20.8%) were included due to heart failure (NYHA stages I-III) and the rest of them after having undergone any revascularization procedure or valvular surgery. Before and after the completion of the MRCP, the quality of sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. Post-intervention global PSQI scores were statistically significantly lower than those of pre-intervention (p = 0.008), but only 60 patients (25%) registered a clinically significant improvement. When comparing patients with heart failure with those without, no differences in sleep quality were found. This suggests that only a small percentage of patients can achieve clinically significant improvements in sleep quality attending conventional MCRP. Suggestions for future research are given.

Haemodynamic derangement in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: the role of bacterial translocation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Analysis of the influence of the effects of increased intestinal permeability on haemodynamic alterations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with decompensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease. METHODS: Forty HIV/HCV co-infected patients and 40 HCV mono-infected patients, 20 of them with compensated cirrhosis and 20 with a previous decompensation, and 20 healthy controls, were studied. Intestinal permeability was determined by serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Monocyte expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and soluble receptors of tumour necrosis factor (sTNFRI) were analysed. Cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone concentration were also determined in cirrhotic patients. RESULTS: Serum levels of LBP, TLR-4, IL-6 and sTNFRI were significantly higher in HIV-HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared with those with compensated liver disease. Significantly lower values of SVR and higher values of cardiac index, PRA and aldosterone concentration were observed in patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared with those with compensated liver disease, particularly in those with elevated levels of IL-6. There were no significant differences between HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intestinal permeability and consequent macrophage activation is observed in patients with cirrhosis; this permeability is even higher in those with portal hypertension. Serum values of IL-6 are associated with the characteristic haemodynamic derangement observed in advanced phases of cirrhosis. HIV/HCV co-infected cirrhotic patients present inflammatory and systemic haemodynamic alterations similar to those observed in HCV mono-infected patients.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Withdrawal Is Associated with Higher Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.

Our main aim was to describe the effect on the severity of ACEI (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) and ARB (angiotensin II receptor blocker) during COVID-19 hospitalization. A retrospective, observational, multicenter study evaluating hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with ACEI/ARB. The primary endpoint was the incidence of the composite outcome of prognosis (IMV (invasive mechanical ventilation), NIMV (non-invasive mechanical ventilation), ICU admission (intensive care unit), and/or all-cause mortality). We evaluated both outcomes in patients whose treatment with ACEI/ARB was continued or withdrawn. Between February and June 2020, 11,205 patients were included, mean age 67 years (SD = 16.3) and 43.1% female; 2162 patients received ACEI/ARB treatment. ACEI/ARB treatment showed lower all-cause mortality (p < 0.0001). Hypertensive patients in the ACEI/ARB group had better results in IMV, ICU admission, and the composite outcome of prognosis (p < 0.0001 for all). No differences were found in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. Patients previously treated with ACEI/ARB continuing treatment during hospitalization had a lower incidence of the composite outcome of prognosis than those whose treatment was withdrawn (RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.63-0.76). ARB was associated with better survival than ACEI (HR 0.77, 95%CI 0.62-0.96). ACEI/ARB treatment during COVID-19 hospitalization was associated with protection on mortality. The benefits were greater in hypertensive, those who continued treatment, and those taking ARB.

Mate choice in Olivenza: influence of border change on Spanish-Portuguese lineages.

The mating pattern in a population determines the next generation gene pool and therefore its genetic structure. Besides socio-cultural and geographic factors, political barriers may influence the formation of couples. The present paper studies how the change of national border affected the mating pattern of Olivenza in Badajoz Province (Spain), which experienced a change of domain from Portugal to Spain in 1801. For the period analysed (1750-1850), 954 Catholic marriage records were transcribed. Data were sorted by decades in order to make a temporal study possible and analysed by means of diversity and repeated-pairs of surnames. Following the change of border the mating pattern modified. Coinciding with a larger number of mixed marriages with Spaniards, there was a progressive rise in the diversity of surnames. From 1811 to 1820 the analysis of repeated-pairs of surnames indicates the existence of preferential matings within Spanish and Portuguese lineages. After 1821 the above pattern became less clear due to the disappearance of the Spanish-Portuguese restrictions on choice of mate.

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. RESULTS: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32-3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39-1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16-1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group.