Interconnected marine habitats form a single continental-scale reef system in South America.

Large gaps in reef distribution may hinder the dispersal of marine organisms, interrupting processes vital to the maintenance of biodiversity. Here we show the presence and location of extensive reef habitats on the continental shelf between the Amazon Reef System (ARS) and the Eastern Brazilian Reef System (ERS), two reef complexes off eastern South America. Formations located 20-50 m deep include both biogenic and geogenic structures. The presence of diverse reef assemblages suggests the widespread occurrence of rocky substrates below 50 m. These habitats represent an expansion of both the ARS and ERS and the closure of the only remaining large-scale gap (~ 1000 km) among West Atlantic reef environments. This indicates that the SW Atlantic harbors a single, yet heterogeneous, reef system that stretches for about 4000 km, and thus, represents one of the largest semi-continuous tropical marine ecosystems in the world.

Pre-hospital emergency nurse specialist's experiences in caring for patients with non-specific chief complaints in the ambulance - A qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Pre-hospital emergency nurse (PEN) specialists are faced with patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints (NSC) to the emergency medical service (EMS) on a daily basis. These patients are often elderly and one in three has a serious condition and their acuity is not recognized. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to explore PEN specialists' experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints. DESIGN: A qualitative study design with eleven individual interviews of PENs, between 2018 and 2020. Qualitative content analysis was used. RESULTS: The analyses generated three categories including subcategories. The categories were "Unexplained suffering". "Systematic approach and experience enhances medical safety". "Organizational processes can be optimized". The relation between the categories compiled as ́In-depth systematic assessment is perceived to reduce suffering and increases patient safetý. CONCLUSION: The PENs experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints show that an in-depth systematic assessment may lead to a meaningful caring encounter which enables the identification of the cause of the chief complaint. Experience and a systematic approach were considered as essential to enhance medical safety. This could be strengthened through feedback on the nurse's care provided by care managers and employers. To optimize organizational processes, the development of the opportunity to convey the patient to different levels of care can be an important component.

Evidence of multiple paternity for the endemic Xingu River stingray.

Multiple paternity (MP) is a phenomenon observed for more than 30 elasmobranch species. The Batoidea is more specious than the Selachii, but only three studies of MP have been conducted on batoids. The occurrence of MP in freshwater stingrays was tested using microsatellite markers, which were developed for Potamotrygon leopoldi. Six mothers and their litters were genotyped, providing the first evidence of MP for Potamotrygonidae, with an MP frequency of 33%.

A prognostic model to identify short survival expectancy of medical oncology patients at the time of hospital discharge.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization of cancer patients is associated with poor overall survival, but prognostic misclassification may lead to suboptimal therapeutic decisions and transitions of care. No model is currently available for stratifying the heterogeneous population of oncological patients after a hospital admission to a general Medical Oncology ward. We developed a multivariable prognostic model based on readily available and objective clinical data to estimate survival in oncological patients after hospital discharge. METHODS: A multivariable model and nomogram for overall survival after hospital discharge was developed in a retrospective training cohort and prospectively validated in an independent set of adult patients with solid tumors and a first admission to a unit of medical oncology. Performance of the model was assessed by C-index and Kaplan-Meier survival curves stratified by risk categories. RESULTS: From a population of 1089 patients with a first hospitalization, 757 patients were included in the training group [median survival, 43 weeks; 95% confidence interval (CI), 37-51 weeks] and 200 patients in the validation cohort (median survival, 44 weeks; 95% CI, 34 weeks-not reached). An accelerated failure time log-normal model was built, including five variables (primary tumor, stage, cause of admission, active treatment, and age). The C-index was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.69-0.73), with a good calibration, and adequate validation in the prospective cohort (C-index: 0.69; 95% CI, 0.65-0.74). Median survival in three predefined model-based risk groups was 10.7 weeks (high), 27.0 weeks (intermediate), and 3 years (low) in the training cohort, with comparable values in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In oncological patients, individualized predictions of survival after hospitalization were provided by a simple and validated model. Further evaluation of the model might determine whether its use improves shared decision making at discharge.

Chemotherapy-related amenorrhea (CRA) after adjuvant ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) compared to paclitaxel in combination with trastuzumab (TH) (TBCRC033: ATEMPT Trial).

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-related amenorrhea (CRA) is a surrogate for ovarian toxicity and associated risk of infertility and premature menopause. Here, we compare CRA rate with paclitaxel (T)-trastuzumab (H) to that with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). METHODS: Patients with T1N0 HER2 + early-stage breast cancer (eBC) enrolled on the ATEMPT trial and were randomized 3:1 to T-DM1 3.6 mg/kg IV every (q) 3 weeks (w) × 17 vs. T 80 mg/m2 with H IV qw × 12 (4 mg/kg load → 2 mg/kg), followed by H (6 mg/kg IV q3w × 13). Enrollees who self-reported as premenopausal were asked to complete menstrual surveys at baseline and every 6-12 months for 60 months. 18-month CRA (no periods reported during prior 6 months on 18-month survey) was the primary endpoint of this analysis. RESULTS: Of 512 ATEMPT enrollees, 123 who began protocol therapy and answered baseline and at least one follow-up menstrual survey were premenopausal at enrollment. 76 had menstrual data available at 18 months without having received a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or undergone hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy. Median age was 45 (range 23-53) among 18 who had received TH and 46 (range 34-54) among 58 who had received T-DM1. The 18-month rate of CRA was 50% after TH and 24% after T-DM1 (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Amenorrhea at 18 months was less likely in recipients of adjuvant T-DM1 than TH. Future studies are needed to understand how T-DM1 impacts risk of infertility and permanent menopause, and to assess amenorrhea rates when T-DM1 is administered after standard HER2-directed chemotherapy regimens.

Thrombin in the Activation of the Fluid Contact Phase in Patients with Hereditary Angioedema Carrying the F12 P.Thr309Lys Variant.

Hereditary angioedema due to pathogenic FXII variants (HAE-FXII) is a rare dominant disease caused by increased activation of the plasma contact system. The most prevalent HAE-FXII variant, c.1032C > A p.Thr309Lys (FXII309Lys), results in a smaller FXII protein with increased sensitivity to fluid-phase activation by poorly understood mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the functionality of the FXII309Lys variant in 33 HAE-FXII patients, 25 healthy controls and 46 patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). Activation of the plasma contact system was assessed by western blot and amidolytic assay in basal conditions or after treatment with either artificial or physiological activators. Recombinant wild-type and FXII309Lys variants were expressed in S2 insect (Drosophila) cells. Amidolytic and fibrin generation assays were performed in fresh plasma samples. FXII309Lys samples exhibited an increased electrophoretic mobility comparable with N-glycan-deficient FXII from CDG patients and asialo-FXII generated by neuraminidase treatment. They presented increased sensitivity to activation by dextran sulphate and silica which resulted in the generation of an aberrant 37-kDa heavy chain. We did not observe increased susceptibility of FXII309Lys to proteolysis by exogenous or tPA-generated plasmin. However, both exogenous and endogenous thrombin cleaved the FXII309Lys variant, releasing a 37-kDa fragment and resulting in enhanced proteolytic activation on the fluid phase. This model supports a sequential proteolytic activation process involving thrombin priming of FXII309Lys, followed by kallikrein cleavage and generation of active ßFXIIa. The present results and the observation that angioedema episodes in HAE-FXII patients occur predominantly during hypercoagulable situations suggest a key role for thrombin.

Heparin versus aspirin thromboprophylaxis adds independent value to IMPEDE-VTE score for venous thrombosis prediction in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated to an increased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). IMPEDE-VTE score constitutes a valuable risk assessment tool for VTE prediction in first-line MM patients. Nevertheless, refinement of the primary thromboprophylaxis category of this score (which pools aspirin and heparin) seems desirable. To investigate the role of the type of thromboprophylaxis, within IMPEDE-VTE score, for VTE prediction in MM patients. Retrospective analysis of a single-center cohort of 438 MM patients receiving first-line antimyeloma treatment (1991-2020). IMPEDE-VTE score was calculated. Primary thromboprophylaxis was additionally stratified into aspirin- and heparin-based regimen subgroups. VTE risk was analyzed by Cox regression. Median follow-up during first-line antimyeloma treatment was 6.0 months (IQR 4.1-9.0 months). Twenty-three patients developed VTE (5.3%, 95%CI 3.4-7.8%). IMPEDE-VTE score showed a notable predictive value (area under the ROC curve: 0.70, 95%CI 0.60-0.80). Cox analysis confirmed that 1-point increase in the score resulted in a 1.3-fold increase in VTE risk (HR 1.30, 95%CI 1.13-1.53, p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, the type of primary thromboprophylaxis (heparin versus aspirin) was an independent predictive factor (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.47, p = 0.001). The combined model showed a higher goodness-of-fit (Akaike Information Criterion [AIC]: 99) than IMPEDE-VTE separately (AIC:235). Our analysis contributes to the external validation of IMPEDE-VTE score for the prediction of VTE in MM. But more interestingly, our results demonstrate that among those patients receiving thromboprophylaxis, the type of regimen (heparin versus aspirin) adds independent predictive value and should be explored for a more accurate risk assessment.

When genetic and surname analyses meet historical sources: The C56R mutation associated with factor XI deficiency as a marker of human migration during the Spanish Reconquista.

The C56R mutation associated with factor XI deficiency has been first evidenced in individuals from the French Basque Country. Genetic investigations revealed that this mutation occurred about 5400 years ago as a founder effect in this zone. Other cases were subsequently described in Southwestern Europe. Noticeably a cluster of cases was evidenced in Yecla, a small city from the province of Murcia, in Southeastern Spain. In correlation with historical sources our genetic data and surname analysis argue for associating this mutation with the migration of people from Western Pyrenees (and more probably from the Navarra province) toward Southeastern Spain during the Reconquista period.

miR-146a rs2431697 identifies myeloproliferative neoplasm patients with higher secondary myelofibrosis progression risk.

Myelofibrosis (MF) occurs as part of the natural history of polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET), and remarkably shortens survival. Although JAK2V617F and CALR allele burden are the main transformation risk factors, inflammation plays a critical role by driving clonal expansion toward end-stage disease. NF-κB is a key mediator of inflammation-induced carcinogenesis. Here, we explored the involvement of miR-146a, a brake in NF-κB signaling, in MPN susceptibility and progression. rs2910164 and rs2431697, that affect miR-146a expression, were analyzed in 967 MPN (320 PV/333 ET/314 MF) patients and 600 controls. We found that rs2431697 TT genotype was associated with MF, particularly with post-PV/ET MF (HR = 1.5; p < 0.05). Among 232 PV/ET patients (follow-up time=8.5 years), 18 (7.8%) progressed to MF, being MF-free-survival shorter for rs2431697 TT than CC + CT patients (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified TT genotype as independent predictor of MF progression. In addition, TT (vs. CC + CT) patients showed increased plasma inflammatory cytokines. Finally, miR-146a-/- mice showed significantly higher Stat3 activity with aging, parallel to the development of the MF-like phenotype. In conclusion, we demonstrated that rs2431697 TT genotype is an early predictor of MF progression independent of the JAK2V617F allele burden. Low levels of miR-146a contribute to the MF phenotype by increasing Stat3 signaling.

FATAL cryptococcal meningitis in a child with hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome, with an emphasis on the agent.

Following a fatal case of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in a child with X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome (XHIGM), we evaluated the fungal isolate in an experimental infection in a mouse model with respect to microbiology, epidemiology, virulence and response to therapy. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for antifungals in the susceptibility test were 0.5mg/L for amphotericin B, 4.0mg/L for fluconazole and 0.12mg/L for voriconazole. Evaluation of pathogenicity by means of an experimental infection in BALB/c mice showed that fungus isolated from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of the child was able to disseminate, reaching the spleen, lungs and brain, where it caused significant macroscopic alterations in the size and texture of each organ. Treatment of infected mice with amphotericin B reduced the fungal load in the spleen and lungs, but not in the brain.

Efficacy and safety of peri-procedural bridging therapy with low molecular weight heparin in atrial fibrillation patients under vitamin K antagonists.

BACKGROUND: The clinical effect of peri-operative bridging therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains unclear given that it may increase bleeding risk without providing significant benefits. We aimed to investigate peri-procedural events in relation to peri-operative use of bridging therapy in AF patients under Vitamin K Antagonists (VKAs). METHODS: We included AF patients stable the previous 6 months on VKAs. During a median follow-up of 6.5 years (IQR 4.3-7.9), we recorded all invasive procedures and the peri-operative clinical management. All peri-procedural events (ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack/systemic embolism, clinically relevant non-major bleeding and major bleeding) and severe peri-procedural events (ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack/systemic embolism and major bleeding) suffered until the 30-days post-intervention period were recorded. RESULTS: We included 1361 patients (48.7% male, median age 76 [IQR 71-81] years). There were 1100 (70.9%) procedures performed using bridging therapy. The rate of any (4.5% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001) and severe (2.3% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.002) peri-procedural events were higher in patients receiving bridging therapy. Adjusted logistic regressions demonstrated that the bleeding risk of the procedure was related with higher risk of severe peri-procedural events (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.54-8.01) and peri-procedural events (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.56-4.91). Importantly, the use of bridging therapy was also independently associated with higher risk of any peri-procedural events (OR 4.32, 95% CI 1.28-14.51). CONCLUSIONS: In this study including AF patients under VKA therapy, the use of bridging therapy as part of the clinical management during an invasive procedure was independently associated with higher risk of any peri-procedural event.

Identification of chromoblastomycosis agents by PCR based reverse line blot (PCR-RLB) hybridization assay.

Chromoblastomycosis is one of the most prevalent implantation fungal infections caused by melanized fungi, affecting individuals with certain risk factors with high morbidity due to its recalcitrant nature. It is difficult to identify the etiological agents and thus a suitable reproductive molecular identification method applicable in developing countries has been investigated. We report the identification of four different fungal causative agents of chromoblastomycosis by reverse line blotting hybridization (RLB) based on biotin-labeled PCR products and amine labeled probes to hybridize. Sixty five reference strains, including type strains, i.e. Fonsecaea pedrosoi, F. monophora, F. nubica, and Phialophora verrucosa, obtained from the CBS-KNAW were included in this study. Internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) regions of relevant species were aligned and adjusted using BIONUMERICS v. 4.61 in order to design four specific probes to identify informative nucleotide polymorphisms. The final identification of these species by RLB assay was concordant with ITS sequencing and showed 100% specificity with no cross hybridization, able to identify all tested strains. The time and cost were less compare to other routine identification methods such as sequencing. This assay allows sensitive and specific simultaneous detection and identification of a different fungal species.

Correction to: Rapid Identification of Seven Waterborne Exophiala Species by RCA DNA Padlock Probes.

The Editorial Office of Mycopathologia reports that several paragraphs of Najafzadeh et al. were transcribed with only minor edits from previously published material by Najafzadeh M.J.

An increased percentage of myeloid CD34+ bone marrow cells stratifies intermediate IPSS-R myelodysplastic syndrome patients into prognostically significant groups.

INTRODUCTION: The Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has established an intermediate category where a disease-modifying intervention is a matter of debate. Flow cytometry allows us to determine a fraction of immature myeloid cells in a semiautomated procedure. The aim of this study, mirroring IPSS-R study inclusion criteria, was to test whether bone marrow (BM) CD34+My percentage has independent prognostic value in the MDS setting. METHODS: BM CD34+My cells were quantified, at diagnosis, selecting CD34+/CD45+/CD11b±/CD13+. Patients were excluded when receiving treatment for altering the natural course of the disease and when IPSS-R could not be calculated due to the lack of metaphases. Finally, Cox analyses were performed, on a series of 260 patients, for overall survival (OS) and time to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation. RESULTS: By analyzing ROC curves, the most accurate prognostic variable, regarding blasts by cytology and CD34+ by cytometry, was the percentage of blasts by microscopy. The percentage of CD34+My in BM showed an AUC of 0.767 and 0.576 for time to AML transformation and OS, respectively. When performing a multivariate regression including the IPSS-R and the percentage of BM CD34+My cells >1%, both factors predicted for a shorter time to AML transformation. In addition, CD34+My percentage successfully stratified the intermediate IPSS-R category into two prognostic groups with a relative risk of 5.73 (95% CI [1.2-27.8]; P = .03). CONCLUSION: We found that BM CD34+My percentage has an independent value concerning the IPSS-R, especially relevant for the prediction of transformation to AML and within the intermediate group.

Rapid Identification of Seven Waterborne Exophiala Species by RCA DNA Padlock Probes.

The black yeast genus Exophiala includes numerous potential opportunistic species that potentially cause systematic and disseminated infections in immunocompetent individuals. Species causing systemic disease have ability to grow at 37-40 °C, while others consistently lack thermotolerance and are involved in diseases of cold-blooded, waterborne vertebrates and occasionally invertebrates. We explain a fast and sensitive assay for recognition and identification of waterborne Exophiala species without sequencing. The ITS rDNA region of seven Exophiala species (E. equina, E. salmonis, E. opportunistica, E. pisciphila, E. aquamarina, E. angulospora and E. castellanii) along with the close relative Veronaea botryosa was sequenced and aligned for the design of specific padlock probes for the detection of characteristic single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The assay demonstrated to successfully amplify DNA of target fungi, allowing detection at the species level. Amplification products were visualized on 1% agarose gels to confirm specificity of probe-template binding. Amounts of reagents were reduced to prevent the generation of false positive results. The simplicity, tenderness, robustness and low expenses provide padlock probe assay (RCA) a definite place as a very practical method among isothermal approaches for DNA diagnostics.

Percepción del personal de enfermería sobre el manejo del dolor en neonatos / Neonatal nurses' perceptions of pain management

Objetivos: Describir las percepciones del personal de enfermería de unidades neonatales sobre el manejo del dolor, conocer el perfil formativo y describir el uso de herramientas de valoración del dolor y de medidas no farmacológicas. Método: Estudio multicéntrico observacional descriptivo transversal desarrollado durante febrero-septiembre de 2015 en los Servicios de Neonatología de tres hospitales de la Comunidad de Madrid, España. La recogida de datos se realizó a través de cuestionario de elaboración propia enviado en formato papel o electrónico utilizando la plataforma Survey Monkey®. Resultados: La muestra consta de 142 profesionales (tasa de respuesta: 55%). El 47,9% (68) afirman que han recibido formación específica sobre el manejo del dolor. El 39,5% (56) refieren que el dolor se evalúa de forma habitual en su unidad. Tan solo el 43,6% refieren utilizar escalas validadas, siendo la PIPP la más usada. La contención y la succión no nutritiva son las medidas no farmacológicas más usadas, seguidas de la sacarosa. Se identifica la canalización intravenosa como el procedimiento más doloroso. Conclusiones: El manejo del dolor está en vías de mejora, ya sea por la formación como por la escasa evaluación a través de escalas validadas. Destaca la mejora en el uso de medidas no farmacológicas (AU)

Objectives: To describe the perceptions of nurses in neonatal units on pain management, meet the educational profile and describe the use of pain assessment tools and non-pharmacological management for treatment. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive multicentre study, developed during the months of February to September 2015, in the neonatology services of three hospitals at the Community of Madrid, Spain. Data collection was performed through an ad hoc questionnaire on paper or electronically using Survey Monkey platform. Results: The sample consisted of 142 professionals, with a response rate of 55%: 47.9% (68) confirmed they had received specific training in pain management; 39.5% (56) stated that pain is regularly assessed in the unit; only 43.6% reported using validated scales, the most used being the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). As for the non-pharmacological management, swaddling and non-nutritive sucking it is the most used, followed by sucrose. Intravenous cannulation was identified as the most painful procedure.Conclusions: Pain management is in the process of improvement, because of training and because there is little pain assessment using validated scales. The improvement in the use of non-pharmacological management for the relief of pain in minor procedures is noteworthy (AU)

The prognostic impact of additional intrathoracic findings in patients with cancer-related pulmonary embolism

Aim. To assess the prevalence and prognostic significance of additional intrathoracic findings (AIFs) in patients with cancer and pulmonary embolism (PE). AIFs were considered alterations other than the characteristic ones intrinsic to PE or changes in cardiovascular morphology. Methods. Subjects have been taken from a Spanish national multidisciplinary and multicenter study of PE and cancer who were treated between 2004 and 2015. The endpoint was the appearance of serious complications or death within 15 days. Results. The registry contains 1024 eligible patients; 41% diagnosed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography versus 59% by non-angiographic CT. Serious complications occurred within 15 days in 18.9%, [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.6-21.4%] and 9.5% (95% CI 7.9-11.5%) died. At least one AIF was seen in 72.6%. The most common AIFs were as follows: pulmonary nodules (30.9%), pleural effusion (30.2%), tumor progression (28.3%), atelectasis (19.0%), pulmonary infarct (15.2%), emphysema (13.4%), pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (4.5%), and pneumonia (6.1%). Patients with AIF exhibited a higher complication rate at 15 days: 21.9% versus 13.0%, odds ratio (OR) 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.8), P = 0.03, and 15-day mortality: 15.0% versus 7.3%, OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.2), P = 0.020. Patients with pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, pulmonary nodules, tumor progression, pulmonary fibrosis, and pleural effusion showed an excess of adverse events. Conclusions. Additional intrathoracic findings are highly prevalent and significantly impact prognosis in patients with PE and cancer, making them germane to the classification of this population (AU)

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The prognostic impact of additional intrathoracic findings in patients with cancer-related pulmonary embolism.

AIM: To assess the prevalence and prognostic significance of additional intrathoracic findings (AIFs) in patients with cancer and pulmonary embolism (PE). AIFs were considered alterations other than the characteristic ones intrinsic to PE or changes in cardiovascular morphology. METHODS: Subjects have been taken from a Spanish national multidisciplinary and multicenter study of PE and cancer who were treated between 2004 and 2015. The endpoint was the appearance of serious complications or death within 15 days. RESULTS: The registry contains 1024 eligible patients; 41% diagnosed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography versus 59% by non-angiographic CT. Serious complications occurred within 15 days in 18.9%, [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.6-21.4%] and 9.5% (95% CI 7.9-11.5%) died. At least one AIF was seen in 72.6%. The most common AIFs were as follows: pulmonary nodules (30.9%), pleural effusion (30.2%), tumor progression (28.3%), atelectasis (19.0%), pulmonary infarct (15.2%), emphysema (13.4%), pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (4.5%), and pneumonia (6.1%). Patients with AIF exhibited a higher complication rate at 15 days: 21.9% versus 13.0%, odds ratio (OR) 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.8), P = 0.03, and 15-day mortality: 15.0% versus 7.3%, OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.2), P = 0.020. Patients with pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, pulmonary nodules, tumor progression, pulmonary fibrosis, and pleural effusion showed an excess of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Additional intrathoracic findings are highly prevalent and significantly impact prognosis in patients with PE and cancer, making them germane to the classification of this population.

Neonatal nurses' perceptions of pain management. / Percepción del personal de enfermería sobre el manejo del dolor en neonatos.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the perceptions of nurses in neonatal units on pain management, meet the educational profile and describe the use of pain assessment tools and non-pharmacological management for treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive multicentre study, developed during the months of February to September 2015, in the neonatology services of three hospitals at the Community of Madrid, Spain. Data collection was performed through an ad hoc questionnaire on paper or electronically using Survey Monkey platform. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 142 professionals, with a response rate of 55%: 47.9% (68) confirmed they had received specific training in pain management; 39.5% (56) stated that pain is regularly assessed in the unit; only 43.6% reported using validated scales, the most used being the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). As for the non-pharmacological management, swaddling and non-nutritive sucking it is the most used, followed by sucrose. Intravenous cannulation was identified as the most painful procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Pain management is in the process of improvement, because of training and because there is little pain assessment using validated scales. The improvement in the use of non-pharmacological management for the relief of pain in minor procedures is noteworthy.