The Discriminatory Ability of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST): An International Study in Spain and Four Latin American Countries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the transcultural equivalency of the Spanish version of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) and its discriminatory ability in different Latin American samples. DESIGN: Validation study. SETTING: Departments of Rheumatology in general hospitals and private centers; fibromyalgia unit in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: 350 chronic pain patients from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. METHODS: The cultural relevance of the Spanish version of the FiRST was evaluated. The ability of the FiRST as a screening tool for fibromyalgia was assessed by logistic regression analysis. To determine the degree to which potential confounders, such as differences in demographics, pain, affective distress, catastrophizing, and disability, might affect the discriminatory ability, the tool was reassessed by hierarchical multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Slightly different versions of the FiRST were recommended for use in each Latin American subsample. The FiRST showed acceptable criterion validity and was able to discriminate between fibromyalgia and non-fibromyalgia patients even after controlling for the effect of potential confounders. However, low specificities were observed in samples from Spain and Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the FiRST may be used as a screening tool for fibromyalgia in several Latin American subsamples, even in those patients with high scores on potential confounders. In Spain and Mexico, the low specificity of the FiRST suggests, however, that it would be best used to support a suspected diagnosis of fibromyalgia, rather than to exclude the diagnosis.

The Spanish version of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool: translation, validity and reliability.

OBJECTIVE: Despite showing acceptable psychometric properties, the criterion validity of the original Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) has been called into question for including insufficiently challenging comparison groups. Consequently our objective was to validate a Spanish version of the FiRST including pain disorders more analogous to fibromyalgia. METHODS: The FiRST was translated following international standards. Internal consistency and temporal stability were assessed. The ability of the FiRST global score as a screening tool for fibromyalgia (criterion validity) was assessed by logistic regression analysis. To determine the degree to which potential confounders might affect the criterion validity of the FiRST (divergent validity), it was reassessed by hierarchical multivariate logistic regression, entering demographics in a first step, followed by pain, anxiety and depression, catastrophizing, disability and the FiRST global score in a last step. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 257 patients (67% cases of fibromyalgia). The Spanish version of the FiRST showed acceptable internal consistency, reliability and criterion validity. The FiRST was able to discriminate between fibromyalgia and non-fibromyalgia patients even after controlling for the effect of potential confounders. However, both criterion and divergent validity were challenged by a moderate specificity. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the FiRST may be used as a screening tool for fibromyalgia even in those patients whose cognitive style is characterized by catastrophizing about pain and high levels of functional disability, anxiety and depression. The clinical consequences of the moderate specificity shown by this Spanish version of the FiRST are discussed.

Refractory fibromyalgia.

In the medical literature, there are only a few references on refractory fibromyalgia and there is no consensus definition available on this concept. Some definitions of refractory fibromyalgia have been proposed based on the lack of response to a number of medications, and perhaps the most appropriate term is treatment-refractory fibromyalgia. To achieve the definition of treatment-refractory fibromyalgia, it is necessary to consider several previous steps, such as making sure the diagnosis has been made properly and a differential diagnosis with entities that can mimic fibromyalgia symptoms (including complete physical examination and laboratory test) has been made. The possibility that another factor that alters the response to treatment should be investigated, and in particular review all prescribed medication and search for some non-medical reasons that could mask the response to treatment (e.g., legal compensation). The definition of refractory fibromyalgia is complex and probably should include a lack of response to a specified number of drugs or to combination therapy with at least two non-pharmacological measures. In this article, it is not our purpose to present a formal definition, but to raise the possible bases for this purpose. We believe that it is a subject that must be discussed extensively before reaching a consensus definition. Key Points • There is no appropriate definition to classify fibromyalgia patients who do not respond to the usual pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures according to the national or international guidelines. • A consensus definition is required to classify these patients, which could help standardize future management strategies. In this article, we propose the bases on which refractory fibromyalgia could be defined.

Calibration Methodology of an Edgeless PET System Prototype.

Instrumentation research in small animal Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is driven by improving timing, spatial resolution and sensitivity. Conventional PET scanners are built of multiple detectors placed in a cylindrical geometry with gaps between them in both the transaxial and axial planes. These gaps decrease sensitivity and degrade spatial resolution towards the edges of the system field of view (FOV). To mitigate these problems, we have designed and validated an edgeless pre-clinical PET system based on a single LYSO annulus with an inner diameter of 62 mm and 10 outer facets of 26 × 52 mm2 each. The scintillation light is read out using the row and columns of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) mounted in magnetic-field compatible PCBs. The objective of this work is to provide a calibration method for this system. The particular design of the annulus produces some undesirable effects in the light distributions (LD) at the module joints, which needs to be addressed. Nevertheless, after calibration, the system allows one to properly retrieve both, the energy and 3D photon impact positions.

Pilot performance of a dedicated prostate PET suitable for diagnosis and biopsy guidance.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) represents one of the most common types of cancers facing the male population. Nowadays, to confirm PCa, systematic or multiparametric MRI-targeted transrectal or transperineal biopsies of the prostate are required. However, due to the lack of an accurate imaging technique capable to precisely locate cancerous cells in the prostate, ultrasound biopsies sample random parts of the prostate and, therefore, it is possible to miss regions where those cancerous cells are present. In spite of the improvement with multiparametric MRI, the low reproducibility of its reading undermines the specificity of the method. Recent development of prostate-specific radiotracers has grown the interest on using positron emission tomography (PET) scanners for this purpose, but technological improvements are still required (current scanners have resolutions in the range of 4-5 mm). RESULTS: The main goal of this work is to improve state-of-the-art PCa imaging and diagnosis. We have focused our efforts on the design of a novel prostate-dedicated PET scanner, named ProsPET. This system has small scanner dimensions defined by a ring of just 41 cm inner diameter. In this work, we report the design, implementation, and evaluation (both through simulations and real data) of the ProsPET scanner. We have been able to achieve < 2 mm resolution in reconstructed images and high sensitivity. In addition, we have included a comparison with the Philips Gemini-TF scanner, which is used for routine imaging of PCa patients. The ProsPET exhibits better contrast, especially for rod sizes as small as 4.5 mm in diameter. Finally, we also show the first reconstructed image of a PCa patient acquired with the ProsPET. CONCLUSIONS: We have designed and built a prostate specific PET system, with a small footprint and improved spatial resolution when compared to conventional whole-body PET scanners. The gamma ray impact within each detector block includes accurate DOI determination, correcting for the parallax error. The potential role of combined organ-dedicated prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET and ultrasound devices, as a prebiopsy diagnostic tool, could be used to guide sampling of the most aggressive sites in the prostate.

Consensus statement: osteoporosis prevention and treatment in Latin America-current structure and future directions.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common disorder affecting populations worldwide. In Latin America, an aging population combined with limited health care resources result in osteoporosis quickly becoming a condition of considerable magnitude with disproportionate morbidity and mortality. AIM: To review the current state of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in Latin America and to develop strategies and recommendations that may be adopted in the region, an expert panel of clinicians and scientists was assembled to develop a consensus statement outlining future directions. METHOD: The panel conducted a comprehensive literature review of publications mainly related to osteoporosis in Latin America, and at an in-person meeting developed a consensus position to address the relevant issues. RESULTS: The epidemiology, burden, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in the region were discussed with particular attention to issues unique to the region. A series of recommendations were developed encompassing virtually all aspects of the disease, including improved public and health professional awareness, better diagnostic processes, improved access to care, and greater engagement by health policy makers, government, and a wide variety of private organizations. CONCLUSIONS: The panel concluded that a comprehensive approach to osteoporosis prevention and treatment in Latin America is urgently needed.