Comparison of Continuous Intracortical and Scalp Electroencephalography in Comatose Patients with Acute Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Depth electroencephalography (dEEG) is a recent invasive monitoring technique used in patients with acute brain injury. This study aimed to describe in detail the clinical manifestations of nonconvulsive seizures (NCSzs) with and without a surface EEG correlate, analyze their long-standing effects, and provide data that contribute to understanding the significance of certain scalp EEG patterns observed in critically ill patients. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled a cohort of 33 adults with severe acute brain injury admitted to the neurological intensive care unit. All of them underwent multimodal invasive monitoring, including dEEG. All patients were scanned on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner at 6 months after hospital discharge, and mesial temporal atrophy (MTA) was calculated using a visual scale. RESULTS: In 21 (65.6%) of 32 study participants, highly epileptiform intracortical patterns were observed. A total of 11 (34.3%) patients had electrographic or electroclinical seizures in the dEEG, of whom 8 had both spontaneous and stimulus-induced (SI) seizures, and 3 patients had only spontaneous intracortical seizures. An unequivocal ictal scalp correlate was observed in only 3 (27.2%) of the 11 study participants. SI-NCSzs occurred during nursing care, medical procedures, and family visits. Subtle clinical manifestations, such as restlessness, purposeless stereotyped movements of the upper limbs, ventilation disturbances, jerks, head movements, hyperextension posturing, chewing, and oroalimentary automatisms, occurred during intracortical electroclinical seizures. MTA was detected in 18 (81.8%) of the 22 patients. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with MTA with and without seizures or status epilepticus. CONCLUSIONS: Most NCSzs in critically ill comatose patients remain undetectable on scalp EEG. SI-NCSzs frequently occur during nursing care, medical procedures, and family visits. Semiology of NCSzs included ictal minor signs and subtle symptoms, such as breathing pattern changes manifested as patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.

Reduced Cycle Spinning Method for the Undecimated Wavelet Transform.

The Undecimated Wavelet Transform is commonly used for signal processing due to its advantages over other wavelet techniques, but it is limited for some applications because of its computational cost. One of the methods utilized for the implementation of the Undecimated Wavelet Transform is the one known as Cycle Spinning. This paper introduces an alternative Cycle Spinning implementation method that divides the computational cost by a factor close to 2. This work develops the mathematical background of the proposed method, shows the block diagrams for its implementation and validates the method by applying it to the denoising of ultrasonic signals. The evaluation of the denoising results shows that the new method produces similar denoising qualities than other Cycle Spinning implementations, with a reduced computational cost.

Differential Expression of the apsXRS System by Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 in Commensal and Clinical Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates.

The three-component apsXRS system senses and responds to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs), which induces the expression of the dlt operon and the genes mprF and vrafG, modifying the surface net charge in Staphylococcus epidermidis, resulting in the repulsion of CAMPs. The apsXRS system has been only studied in the S. epidermidis 1457 strain, and there are no studies of prevalence and level of expression of apsXRS in commensal and clinical isolates. From 60 isolates, those selected from commensal healthy skin (n = 20), commensal healthy conjunctive (n = 10), and clinical ocular infection (n = 30) presented the apsX, apsR, and apsS genes in their genomes. Constitutive expression of apsX, apsR, and apsS genes was determined by RT-qPCR in all isolates. It was found that expression of apsX, apsR, and apsS was 3.3-5.9-fold higher in commensal isolates stimulated with LL-37 (15 µg/mL) than in clinical isolates. Similarly, expression of the dlt operon and the genes mprF, and vraFG was 8-10-fold higher in commensal isolates than in clinical. However, LL-37 did not increase the addition of lysine in the phospholipids of the cytoplasmic membrane in any of the isolates. Mutations in the apsS loop region, apsR, and their promoter sequence were not found. These results demonstrated that apsXRS system is essential in all isolates for its constitutive expression; however, LL-37 caused an increase of apsXRS expression in commensal isolates, suggesting that S. epidermidis isolates do not respond in the same way to the presence of LL-37.

Cytokine single-nucleotide polymorphisms and risk of non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer, particularly the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype, is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Several functional polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokine genes, such as IL1B, IL6, IL12A, IL13 and IL16, have been associated with the risk of NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ILs gene polymorphisms and the risk of developing NSCLC. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was carried out, including 174 NSCLC cases and 298 controls of Spanish origin. IL1B (rs1143634), IL1B (rs12621220), IL1B (rs1143623), IL1B (rs16944), IL1B (rs1143627), IL12A (rs662959), IL13 (rs1881457), IL6 (rs1800795) and IL16 (rs7170924) gene polymorphisms were analysed by TaqMan. RESULTS: The genotypic logistic regression model adjusted by smoking status showed that the IL1B rs1143634-TT genotype was associated with a lower risk of NSCLC (P=0.04312; odds ratio=0.226; 95% confidence interval=0.044-0.840). No other gene polymorphisms showed an association with NSCLC in any of the models tested. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, IL1B rs1143634 was significantly associated with a higher risk of NSCLC. No influence of IL1B rs12621220, rs1143623, rs16944, rs1143627, IL12A rs662959, IL13 rs1881457 and IL16 rs7170924 on the risk of developing NSCLC was found in our study.

Time trends in socio-economic inequalities in the lack of access to dental services among children in Spain 1987-2011.

INTRODUCTION: Adult oral health is predicted by oral health in childhood. Prevention improves oral health in childhood and, consequently in adulthood, so substantial cost savings can be derived from prevention. The burden of oral disease is particularly high for disadvantaged and poor population groups in both developing and developed countries. Therefore, an appropriate and egalitarian access to dental care becomes a desirable objective if children's dental health is to be promoted irrespective of socioeconomic status. The aim of this research is to analyse inequalities in the lack of access to dental care services for children in the Spanish National Health System by socio-economic group over the period 1987-2011. METHODS: Pooled data from eight editions of the Spanish National Health Survey for the years 1987-2011, as well as contextual data on state dental programmes are used. Logistic regressions are used to examine the related factors to the probability of not having ever visited the dentist among children between 6 and 14 years old. Our lack of access variable pays particular attention to the socioeconomic level of children's household. RESULTS: The mean probability of having never been to the dentist falls considerably from 49.5% in 1987 to 8.4% in 2011. Analysis by socioeconomic level indicates that, in 1987, the probability of not having ever gone to the dentist is more than two times higher for children in the unskilled manual social class than for those in the upper non-manual social class (odds ratio 2.35). And this difference is not reduced significantly throughout the period analysed, rather it increases as in 1993 (odds of 2.39) and 2006 (odds of 3.03) to end in 2011 slightly below than in 1987 (odds ratio 1.80). CONCLUSION: There has been a reduction in children's lack of access to dentists in Spain over the period 1987-2011. However, this reduction has not corrected the socioeconomic inequalities in children's access to dentists in Spain.

Super-refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus secondary to fat embolism: A clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological study.

BACKGROUND: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare complication of long-bone fractures and joint reconstruction surgery. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the clinical, electrophysiological, neuroimaging, and neuropathological features of the first case of super-refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus (sr-NCSE) secondary to fat embolism. CLINICAL CASE: An 82-year-old woman was transferred to our intensive care unit because of a sudden decrease of consciousness level, right hemiparesis, and acute respiratory failure in the early postoperative period of knee prosthesis surgery. Brain computed tomography (TC) including angio-CT and CT perfusion was normal. An urgent video-electroencephalography (v-EEG) evaluation showed continuous sharp-and slow-wave at 2.0-2.5 Hz in keeping with the diagnosis of generalized NCSE. Epileptiform discharges ceased after the administration of 5mg of intravenous diazepam, and background activity constituted by diffuse theta waves was observed without clinical improvement. Treatment with levetiracetam (1000 mg/day) and sedation with propofol and midazolam were initiated. Moreover, continuous v-EEG monitoring was also started. Despite antiepileptic therapy, epileptiform activity recurred after the interruption of profound sedation, and valproate and lacosamide were added during the ensuing days. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed small scattered foci of acute ischemic infarcts and diffuse petechiae involving the basal ganglia and pons and centrum semiovale in keeping with fat embolism. Super-refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus remained without control for 2 weeks. Finally, the patient died. The clinical autopsy revealed a bilateral lung fat embolism associated with a hemorrhagic infarction in the left lower lobe. Fatty lesions were also seen in the intestine and pancreas. Scattered microscopic cerebral infarcts associated with fat emboli in the capillaries were noticed, affecting both supra- and infratentorial structures. In addition, occasional focal areas of ischemic injury showing filiform neurons with reactive astrocytic gliosis background consistent with acute lesions were observed in CA3. CONCLUSIONS: Fat embolism should be considered a potential cause of sr-NCSE. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".

Prediction of stable acenocoumarol dose by a pharmacogenetic algorithm.

AIM: To develop an acenocoumarol (ACN) dosing algorithm for patients with atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism, considering the influence on the stable ACN dose of clinical factors and gene polymorphisms, including CYP2C9*2/*3, VKORC1, CYP4F2*3, ABCB1, APOE, CYP2C19*2/*17, and GGCX. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective observational study was carried out to obtain clinical and pharmacogenetic dose algorithms by multiple linear regression of results in a cohort of 134 patients under treatment with a stable ACN dose for atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism and to test them in an independent validation cohort of 30 patients.The pharmacogenetic dosing algorithm included CYP2C9, VKORC1, and APOE, which explained 56.6% of the variability in the stable ACN dose. Lower deviation from the stable dose and increased accuracy were shown by the pharmacogenetic algorithm, which correctly classified 67% of patients with a deviation of up to 20%. CONCLUSION: The variability in the stable ACN dose was better explained by a pharmacogenetic algorithm including clinical and genetic factors (CYP2C9, VKORC1, and APOE) than by a clinical algorithm, providing a more accurate dosage prediction.

Nature of Si-H interactions in a series of ruthenium silazane complexes using multinuclear solid-state NMR and neutron diffraction.

Three new N-heterocyclic-silazane compounds, 1a-c, were prepared and employed as bidentate ligands to ruthenium, resulting in a series of [Ru(H){(κ-Si,N-(SiMe2-N-heterocycle)}3] complexes (3a-c) featuring the same RuSi3H motif. Detailed structural characterization of the RuSi3H complexes with X-ray diffraction, and in the case of triazabicyclo complex [Ru(H){κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)(C7H12N3)}3] (3a), neutron diffraction, enabled a reliable description of the molecular geometry. The hydride ligand of (3a) is located closer to two of the silicon atoms than it is to the third. Such a geometry differs from that of the previously reported complex [Ru(H){(κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)N(SiMe2H)(C5H4N)}3] (3d), also characterized by neutron diffraction, where the hydride was found to be equidistant from all three silicon atoms. A DFT study revealed that the symmetric and less regular isomers are essentially degenerate. Information on the dynamics and on the Ru···H···Si interactions was gained from multinuclear solid-state ((1)H wPMLG, (29)Si CP MAS, and 2D (1)H-(29)Si dipolar HETCOR experiments) and solution NMR studies. The corresponding intermediate complexes, [Ru{κ-Si,N-(SiMe2-N-heterocycle)}(η(4)-C8H12)(η(3)-C8H11)] (2a-c), involving a single silazane ligand were isolated and characterized by multinuclear NMR and X-ray diffraction. Protonation of the RuSi3H complexes was also studied. Reaction of 3a with NH4PF6 gave rise to [Ru(H)(η(2)-H -SiMe2)κ-N-(C7H12N3){κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)(C7H12N3)}2](+)[PF6](-)(4aPF6) which was isolated and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and DFT studies. The nature of the Si-H interactions in this silazane series was analyzed in detail.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of empagliflozin for heart failure patients across the full spectrum of ejection fraction in Spain: combined results of the EMPEROR-Preserved and EMPEROR-Reduced trials.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with considerable clinical burden for patients and economic burden for healthcare systems. Treatment for HF is typically based on ejection fraction (EF) phenotype. The cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin + standard of care (SoC) compared to SoC has been examined for HF phenotypes below or above 40% EF separately, but not across the full spectrum of EF in Spain. METHODS: The results of two preexisting, validated, and published phenotype-specific Markov cohort models were combined using a population-weighted approach, reflecting the incidence of each phenotype in the total HF population in Spain. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed by sampling each model's probabilistic results. RESULTS: Empagliflozin + SoC compared to SoC resulted in increased life-years (LYs) (6.48 vs. 6.35), quality-adjusted LYs (QALYs) (4.80 vs. 4.63), and healthcare costs (€19,090 vs. €18,246), over a lifetime time horizon for the combined HF population in Spain. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was €5,089/QALY. All subgroup, scenario, and probabilistic ICERs were consistently below €10,000/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: Empagliflozin is the first treatment with established efficacy and cost-effectiveness for HF patients across EF from the perspective of healthcare payers in Spain. Empagliflozin also proved to be cost-effective for all subgroups of patients included in the analysis.

Phosphinodi(benzylsilane) PhP{(o-C6H4CH2)SiMe2H}2: a versatile "PSi2Hx" pincer-type ligand at ruthenium.

The synthesis of the new phosphinodi(benzylsilane) compound PhP{(o-C6H4CH2)SiMe2H}2 (1) is achieved in a one-pot reaction from the corresponding phenylbis(o-tolylphosphine). Compound 1 acts as a pincer-type ligand capable of adopting different coordination modes at Ru through different extents of Si-H bond activation as demonstrated by a combination of X-ray diffraction analysis, density functional theory calculations, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Reaction of 1 with RuH2(H2)2(PCy3)2 (2) yields quantitatively [RuH2{[η(2)-(HSiMe2)-CH2-o-C6H4]2PPh}(PCy3)] (3), a complex stabilized by two rare high order ε-agostic Si-H bonds and involved in terminal hydride/η(2)-Si-H exchange processes. A small free energy of reaction (ΔrG298 = +16.9 kJ mol(-1)) was computed for dihydrogen loss from 3 with concomitant formation of the 16-electron species [RuH{[η(2)-(HSiMe2)-CH2-o-C6H4]PPh[CH2-o-C6H4SiMe2]}(PCy3)] (4). Complex 4 features an unprecedented (29)Si NMR decoalescence process. The dehydrogenation process is fully reversible under standard conditions (1 bar, 298 K).

Usefulness of bilateral bispectral index (BIS) monitoring in a comatose patient with myoclonic status epilepticus secondary to cefepime.

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus, particularly non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), is a frequent complication in patients with altered renal function receiving treatment with intravenous cefepime. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case, illustrated by video-EEG, of a critically ill patient receiving treatment with cefepime who developed an episode of confirmed symptomatic myoclonic status epilepticus (MSE). METHODS: Case report and video-EEG. RESULTS: A 60-year-old man, who had received a liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis one year ago, was admitted to our intensive care unit due to septic shock. Computed tomography revealed a prostatic abscess as cause of his sepsis. On Day 27, a respiratory infection due to Pseudomona aeruginosa was diagnosed, and treatment with intravenous cefepime (2 g/8 hours) was initiated. On Day 32, his mental status deteriorated and he developed inattention, a reduced level of consciousness, and multifocal and generalised continuous myoclonic jerks. A video-EEG study was compatible with the diagnosis of symptomatic MSE. On Day 35, cefepime was stopped and general anaesthesia with midazolam was started in order to achieve a faster clinical improvement. We used the BIS-Vista™ monitor to guide general anaesthesia and detect potential episodes of NCSE. On Day 40, an EEG confirmed the existence of moderate diffuse encephalopathy. Finally, the patient died as a consequence of severe heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime may be a cause of MSE in non-anoxic comatose patients. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility when evaluating comatose patients on cephalosporin therapy in order to establish a correct diagnostic approach and accurate prognosis. [Published with video sequences].

Highly Sensitive Temperature Sensor Based on Vernier Effect Using a Sturdy Double-cavity Fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer.

Temperature measuring is a daily procedure carried out worldwide in practically all environments of human activity, but it takes particular relevance in industrial, scientific, medical, and food processing and production areas. The characteristics and performance of the temperature sensors required for such a large universe of applications have opened the opportunity for a comprehensive range of technologies and architectures capable of fulfilling the sensitivity, resolution, dynamic range, and response time demanded. In this work, a highly sensitive fiber optic temperature sensor based on a double-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer (DCFPI) is proposed and demonstrated. Taking advantage of the Vernier effect, we demonstrate that it is possible to improve the temperature sensitivity exhibited by the polymer-capped fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer (PCFPI) up to 39.8 nm/°C. The DCFPI is sturdy, reconfigured, and simple to fabricate, consisting of a semi-spherical polymer cap added to the surface of the ferrule of a commercial single-mode fiber connector (SMF FC/PC) placed in front of a mirror at a proper distance. The length of the air cavity (Lair) was adjusted to equal the thickness of the polymer cap (Lpol) plus a distance δ to generate the most convenient Vernier effect spectrum. The DCFPI was packaged in a machined, movable mount that allows the adjustment of the air cavity length easily but also protects the polymer cap and simplifies the manipulation of the sensor head.

Effectiveness and Safety of Teriflunomide in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Improvements in Quality of Life: Results from the Real-World TERICARE Study.

INTRODUCTION: Teriflunomide is a once-daily oral immunomodulator approved for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS; depending on the local label), based on extensive evidence from clinical trials and a real-world setting on efficacy, tolerability and patient-reported benefits. The TERICARE study assessed the impact of teriflunomide treatment over 2 years on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and some of the most common and disabling symptoms of MS, such as fatigue and depression. METHODS: This prospective observational study in Spain included RRMS patients treated with teriflunomide for ≤ 4 weeks. The following patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years: the 29-item Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale version 2 (MSIS-29), the 21-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-21), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Short Form (SF)-Qualiveen and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication v1.4 (TSQM). Annualised relapse rate (ARR), disability progression according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were analysed. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 43.2 years (10.4), a mean baseline EDSS score of 1.75 (1.5), a mean number of relapses in the past 2 years of 1.5 (0.7), and 64% had received prior disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Patients showed significant improvements in the psychological domain of MSIS-29 from 35.9 (26.6) at baseline to 29.4 (25.5) at 18 months (p = 0.004) and 29.0 (24.6) at 24 months (p = 0.002). Levels of fatigue and depression were also reduced. After 2 years of treatment with teriflunomide, ARR was reduced to 0.17 (95% CI 0.14-0.21) from the baseline of 0.42 (95% CI 0.38-0.48), representing a 60.1% reduction. Mean EDSS scores remained stable during the study, and 79.9% of patients showed no disability progression. 54.7% of patients achieved NEDA-3 in the first 12 months, which increased to 61.4% during months 12-24. Patients reported increased satisfaction with treatment over the course of the study, regardless of whether they were DMT naive or not. CONCLUSION: Teriflunomide improves psychological aspects of HRQoL and maintains low levels of fatigue and depression. Treatment with teriflunomide over 2 years is effective in reducing ARR and disability progression.

Ambulatory non-convulsive status epilepticus evolving into a malignant form.

We retrospectively analysed the clinical characteristics, electroencephalogram (EEG) records, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, antiepileptic therapy and prognosis of a case series with ambulatory non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) which evolved into a malignant form (mNCSE). mNCSE was defined as NCSE that continues or recurs five days or more after the onset of general anaesthesia, including those cases where NCSE recurs upon reduction or withdrawal of anaesthetic therapy. Four women and two men were studied. The mean age was 42.8 years (range: 19-63 years). Two of six patients had a previous diagnosis of epilepsy. Four patients died. Two patients had a good outcome with return to consciousness and activities of daily life, and one of these subjects developed temporal lobe epilepsy. In four patients, the cause of mNCSE was encephalitis. Clinical presentation was complex partial status epilepticus (CPSE) in three patients and generalised NCSE (GNCSE) in the other three. Two of the latter had encephalitis and one was diagnosed with progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) of Lafora type. The mean duration of the NCSE episode was 47.5 days (range: 9-139 days; SD: 53.1). In three patients, continuous or rhythmic focal epileptiform discharges were the EEG pattern at onset. In the other three, continuous rhythmic generalised spike-wave, polyspike-wave or sharp slow-wave complexes were observed. Antiepileptic treatment was heterogeneous and patients were treated with an average of 6.0 AEDs (range: 3-10; SD: 3.0). In summary, mNCSE is a severe epileptic condition that occurs often in the context of encephalitis or pre-existing epilepsy. Both CPSE and GNCSE may occur. Although high mortality is associated with mNCSE, some patients may survive with normal or good recovery.

Typical absence status epilepticus in older people: syndromic delineation.

Objective We describe the clinical, electroencephalograph^ and neuroimaging findings of older patients with typical absence status epilepticus (ASE). Methods This investigation was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected consecutive patients between January 2011 and October 2021. All patients ≥60 years with impairment of awareness and continuous generalized, rhythmic, synchronous and symmetric epileptiform discharges and normal background on video-electroencephalogram (vEEG) were included. Results Six patients were identified with a diagnosis of typical ASE. The mean age was 67 years. Five could be classified as idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) though two had been erroneously categorized as cryptogenic focal epilepsy (FE). In one, the episode of ASE was thought to represent the beginning of late-onset IGE (de novo late-onset typical ASE). In all cases, ASE was controlled within the first 24 hours. Significance Typical ASE is a rare cause of confusion in the elderly population requiring urgent vEEG evaluation. It most frequently represents reactivation of a previous IGE, in effect related to patients with epilepsy with onset in childhood or adolescence, not previously diagnosed or treated, representing rather the debut of (de novo) late-onset IGE.

Bispectral index monitoring to detect delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the bispectral index (BIS) monitoring to detect delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center prospective study in patients with aSAH. BIS monitoring was recorded during 25-120 min in two periods, within the initial 72 h (BIS1) and between days 4 and 6 (BIS2) from admission. The median for each exported BIS parameter was analyzed. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography was simultaneously performed with BIS1 (TCD1) and BIS2 (TCD2) monitoring. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to identify the variables associated with DCI. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included and 16 (25%) developed DCI. During BIS2 monitoring, significant differences were found in BIS value (left, p = 0.01; right, p = 0.009), 95% spectral edge frequency (left and right, p = 0.04), and total power (left and right, p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, vasospasm on TCD2 (OR 42.8 [95% CI 3.1-573]; p = 0.005), a median BIS2 value <85 in one or both sides (OR 6.2 [95% CI 1.28-30]; p = 0.023), and age (OR 1.08 [95% CI 1.00-1.17]; p = 0.04) were associated with the development of DCI. CONCLUSIONS: BIS value is the most useful BIS parameter for detecting DCI after aSAH. Pending further validation, BIS monitoring might be even more accurate than TCD.

A prospective evaluation of phrenic nerve injury after lung transplantation: Incidence, risk factors, and analysis of the surgical procedure.

BACKGROUND: Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is a complication of lung transplantation related to the surgical procedure and associated with increased morbidity. However, the incidence and risk factors, specifically regarding surgical techniques, have not been adequately studied. METHODS: We conducted a prospective single-center study over 4-years, in recipients of lung transplantation with a normal pretransplant phrenic nerve conduction study (PNCS). Diaphragm ultrasound and PNCS were performed in the first 21 postoperative days and PNI was defined when both tests were abnormal. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge. The association between transplant characteristics and PNI was analyzed by using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven lung grafts implanted in 127 patients were included in the study. After lung transplantation, PNI was diagnosed in 43.3% of the subjects and 29% of the operated hemithorax. Regression logistic model showed that the variables related to PNI were female gender (p = 0.02), bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) (p = 0.001), right lung graft (p = 0.003), clamshell incision (p = 0.01), mediastinal adhesions (p = 0.002), longer operative time (p = 0.003), intraoperative extracorporeal support (p = 0.02), and blood transfusion (p = 0.003). Conversely, age >61 years (p = 0.008) and higher thoracic diameter (p = 0.04) were protective factors. The use of electrocautery, cardiac mechanical retractors, and diaphragmatic traction was not associated with PNI. Morbidity was increased without any difference in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: PNI is a frequent complication after lung transplantation, associated with higher morbidity. Mainly risk factors were age, BLT, female gender, and variables related to surgical difficulties. Lung graft in the right hemithorax and mediastinal adhesiolysis were the most relevant technical variables.

Manual lymphatic drainage therapy in patients with breast cancer related lymphoedema.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoedema is a common and troublesome condition that develops following breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphoedema in order to reduce the volume of lymphoedema and evaluate the improvement of the concomitant symptomatology. METHODS: A randomized, controlled clinical trial in 58 women with post-mastectomy lymphoedema. The control group includes 29 patients with standard treatment (skin care, exercise and compression measures, bandages for one month and, subsequently, compression garments). The experimental group includes 29 patients with standard treatment plus Manual Lymphatic Drainage. The therapy will be administered daily for four weeks and the patient's condition will be assessed one, three and six months after treatment.The primary outcome parameter is volume reduction of the affected arm after treatment, expressed as a percentage. Secondary outcome parameters include: duration of lymphoedema reduction and improvement of the concomitant symptomatology (degree of pain, sensation of swelling and functional limitation in the affected extremity, subjective feeling of being physically less attractive and less feminine, difficulty looking at oneself naked and dissatisfaction with the corporal image). DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide information on the effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and its impact on the quality of life and physical limitations of these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials (NCT): NCT01152099.

Effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral drugs against hepatitis C virus: predictive factors of response to the treatment.

Background/Aims. Despite the high efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus shown in clinical trials, treatment failures continue to occur. Our aim was to establish the effectiveness of these drugs in routine clinical practice, as well as to determine factors that could influence the response to the treatment.Matherials/methods. Single-center, observational, retrospective study. Clinical, virological and pharmacotherapeutic variables were registered at baseline. Adverse drug reactions that occurred were recorded until week 24 of follow-up. Achievement of sustained virologic response was also recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done to determine factors of response.Results. A total of 333 treatment regimens corresponding to 330 different patients were evaluated. Sustained virologic response rate was 94.6% [95%CI: 91.6-96.6%]. 67.9% of the patients experienced adverse drugs reactions (92.2% were grade 1). The univariate analysis identified a higher baseline of platelets, albumin and total cholesterol as predictive factors of sustained virologic response (p < 0.05). Presence of diabetes and complications related to liver disease (splenomegaly, portal hypertension, portal hypertensive gastropathy), body mass index ≥30, greater liver fibrosis, receiving simeprevir and higher baseline levels of glucose, aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase and alkaline-phosphatase, have been identified as predictive factors of non-response (p < 0.05). The multivariate analysis detected the following independent factors of non-response: body mass index ≥30 and presence of complications related to liver disease.Conclusion. The effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus have been maintained in routine clinical practice. Further research on predictive factors of response is required in order to develop more reliable and reproducible predictive models.