Influence of epidemiological and clinical factors in the reactogenicity to Comirnaty® vaccine in health care workers of a Spanish university teaching hospital (COVIVAC study).

OBJECTIVE: Comirnaty® is an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 which has been administered to millions of people since the end of 2020. Our aim was to study epidemiological and clinical factors influencing reactogenicity and functional limitation after the first two doses of the vaccine in health care workers (HCWs). METHODS: Prospective post-authorization cohort study to monitor safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. RESULTS: Local side effects were mild and presented both with first and second dose of Comirnaty. Systemic side effects were more frequent after 2nd dose. Nevertheless, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with systemic effects after the first dose of the vaccine (OR ranging from 2 to 6). No severe adverse effects were reported. According to multivariate analysis, the degree of self-reported functional limitation after the first dose increased with age, female sex, previous COVID-19 contact, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). After the second dose, the degree of functional limitation observed was lower in those with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it was positively associated to the degree of functional limitation after the first dose. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic adverse effects were more frequent after the second dose of Comirnaty. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with systemic effects after the first dose. Age, female sex, previous COVID-19, previous isolation due to COVID-19 contact, and CCI showed to be independent predictors of the degree of functional limitation after the 1st dose of Comirnaty®. After the 2nd dose, the degree of functional limitation was lower in those who previously had SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Cerebral embolization, silent cerebral infarction and neurocognitive decline after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

BACKGROUND: Silent cerebral infarction is brain injury detected incidentally on imaging; it can be associated with cognitive decline and future stroke. This study investigated cerebral embolization, silent cerebral infarction and neurocognitive decline following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: Patients undergoing elective or emergency TEVAR at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust between January 2012 and April 2015 were recruited. Aortic atheroma graded from 1 (normal) to 5 (mobile atheroma) was evaluated by preoperative CT. Patients underwent intraoperative transcranial Doppler imaging (TCD), preoperative and postoperative cerebral MRI, and neurocognitive assessment. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients underwent TEVAR. Higher rates of TCD-detected embolization were observed with greater aortic atheroma (median 207 for grade 4-5 versus 100 for grade 1-3; P = 0·042), more proximal landing zones (median 450 for zone 0-1 versus 72 for zone 3-4; P = 0·001), and during stent-graft deployment and contrast injection (P = 0·001). In univariable analysis, left subclavian artery bypass (ß coefficient 0·423, s.e. 132·62, P = 0·005), proximal landing zone 0-1 (ß coefficient 0·504, s.e. 170·57, P = 0·001) and arch hybrid procedure (ß coefficient 0·514, s.e. 182·96, P < 0·001) were predictors of cerebral emboli. Cerebral infarction was detected in 25 of 31 patients (81 per cent) who underwent MRI: 21 (68 per cent) silent and four (13 per cent) clinical strokes. Neurocognitive decline was seen in six of seven domains assessed in 15 patients with silent cerebral infarction, with age a significant predictor of decline. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high rate of cerebral embolization and neurocognitive decline affecting patients following TEVAR. Brain injury after TEVAR is more common than previously recognized, with cerebral infarction in more than 80 per cent of patients.

Robotic Arch Catheter Placement Reduces Cerebral Embolization During Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR).

OBJECTIVE: Stroke caused by cerebral embolization constitutes a principal risk during arch manipulation and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). This study investigates the incidence of cerebral embolization during catheter placement in the aortic arch, and compares robotic and manual techniques. METHODS: Intra-operative transcranial Doppler (TCD) was performed in 11 patients undergoing TEVAR. Wire and catheter placement in the arch was performed by two experienced operators. Manual and robotic catheter placement and removal were compared for each patient; 44 manoeuvres were studied in total. A conventional 5Fr pigtail catheter was used for manual cannulation via a 5Fr access sheath. The 6Fr/9Fr co-axial Magellan endovascular robotic system was used for robotic navigation operated from a remote workstation. The number of high intensity transient signals (HITS) detected by TCD during different stages of TEVAR was recorded. RESULTS: The median procedural embolization rate was 173 (interquartile range 97-240). There were significantly fewer HITS detected during robotic catheter placement with six in total (median 0, IQR 0-1), compared with 38 HITS (median 2, IQR 1-5) during manual catheter placement (p = .018). There were no HITS detected during robotic catheter removal by auto-retraction as per manufacturer instructions. On two occasions, however, when the robotic catheter system was removed manually without correcting for articulation, it resulted in one HIT in one case and 11 HITS in the second case. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic catheter placement is feasible during TEVAR, and results in significantly less cerebral embolization compared with manual techniques. The active manoeuvrability, control, and stability of the robotic system is likely to reduce contact with an atheromatous aortic arch wall, and thereby reduce dislodgement of particulate matter and result in less embolization. The importance of adhering to manufacturer instructions during use and removal of the robotic catheter is also highlighted.

Ultrasound-guided trans-rectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for advanced cervical cancer ablation is feasible: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an ablative treatment undergoing assessment for the treatment of benign and malignant disease. We describe the first reported intracavitary HIFU ablation for recurrent, unresectable and symptomatic cervical cancer. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38 year old woman receiving palliative chemotherapy for metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma was offered ablative treatment from an intracavitary trans-rectal HIFU device (Sonablate® 500). Pre-treatment symptoms included vaginal bleeding and discharge that were sufficient to impede her quality of life. No peri-procedural adverse events occurred. Symptoms resolved completely immediately post-procedure, reappeared at 7 days, increasing to pre-procedural levels by day 30. DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION: This first time experience of intracavitary cervical HIFU suggests that it is feasible for palliation of advanced cervical cancer, with no early evidence of unexpected toxicity. Ethical approval had also been granted for the use of per-vaginal access if appropriate. This route, alone or in combination with the rectal route, may provide increased accessibility in future patients with a redesigned device more suited to trans-vaginal ablations. CONCLUSION: Intracavitary HIFU is a potentially safe procedure for the treatment of cervical cancer and able to provide symptomatic improvement in the palliative setting.

Ética de la virtud, reencontrando el sentido de la clínica / Virtue ethics, rediscovering the meaning of the clinic

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Interaction of magnetic nanoparticles with phospholipid films adsorbed at a liquid/liquid interface.

The interaction of Co hexagonal magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with distearoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DSPG) and distearoyl phosphatidic acid (DSPA) films adsorbed at a water/1,2-dichloroethane interface is studied employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), capacity curves and interfacial pressure-area isotherms. DSPA and DSPG adsorb at the interface forming homogenous films and producing a blocking effect on the transfer process of tetraethyl ammonium (TEA(+)), used as a probe cation. In the presence of Co NPs this effect is reversed and the reversible transfer process for TEA(+) is reestablished, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the structuration of the film. Co-DSPA hybrid films have a homogeneous structure while Co-DSPG films present different domains. Moreover, the presence of Co on DSPA film modifies the partition coefficient of the organic electrolyte into the hydrocarbon layer.

Encefalitis de Hashimoto, a propósito de un caso / Hashimoto's encephalitis, report of a case

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Fast and accurate propagation of coherent light.

We describe a fast algorithm to propagate, for any user-specified accuracy, a time-harmonic electromagnetic field between two parallel planes separated by a linear, isotropic and homogeneous medium. The analytical formulation of this problem (ca 1897) requires the evaluation of the so-called Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral. If the distance between the planes is small, this integral can be accurately evaluated in the Fourier domain; if the distance is very large, it can be accurately approximated by asymptotic methods. In the large intermediate region of practical interest, where the oscillatory Rayleigh-Sommerfeld kernel must be applied directly, current numerical methods can be highly inaccurate without indicating this fact to the user. In our approach, for any user-specified accuracy ϵ>0, we approximate the kernel by a short sum of Gaussians with complex-valued exponents, and then efficiently apply the result to the input data using the unequally spaced fast Fourier transform. The resulting algorithm has computational complexity [Formula: see text], where we evaluate the solution on an N×N grid of output points given an M×M grid of input samples. Our algorithm maintains its accuracy throughout the computational domain.

High-intensity focused ultrasound: advances in technology and experimental trials support enhanced utility of focused ultrasound surgery in oncology.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a rapidly maturing technology with diverse clinical applications. In the field of oncology, the use of HIFU to non-invasively cause tissue necrosis in a defined target, a technique known as focused ultrasound surgery (FUS), has considerable potential for tumour ablation. In this article, we outline the development and underlying principles of HIFU, overview the limitations and commercially available equipment for FUS, then summarise some of the recent technological advances and experimental clinical trials that we predict will have a positive impact on extending the role of FUS in cancer therapy.

[Nutritional support response in critically ill patients; differences between medical and surgical patients]. / Respuesta al soporte nutricional de una población de pacientes críticos; diferencias entre pacientes médicos y quirúrgicos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional response of a group of critically ill patients, as well as the differences in the response to nutritional support between medical and surgical patients. METHODS: One-year long retrospective study including critically ill patients on artificial nutrition for 7 days. Throughout the first week, three nutritional biochemical controls were done that included albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, cholesterol, and electrolytes. Other data gathered were: nutritional risk index, age, gender, weight, height, APACHE, delay of onset of nutritional support, access route, predicted and real caloric intake, medical or surgical patient, hospital stay, duration of the central venous catheter, urinary tube, and/or mechanical ventilation, incidence and density of incidence of nosocomial infections. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were studied, 30 (47%) medical and 33 (53%) surgical/trauma patients, with a usage of EN higher among medical patients (16/30, 53% vs. 5/33, 15%), PN higher among surgical patients (25/33, 76%), and mixed nutrition similar in both groups (5 medical and 3 surgical patients) (p = 0.001). There were no differences between medical and surgical patients regarding: both predicted and real caloric and nitrogenous intake, APACHE, delay of onset of nutrition, phosphorus, magnesium or glucose levels, mortality and incidence of nosocomial infections. There were no differences either in hospital stay or use of mechanical ventilation, although these tended to be lower in surgical patients. The baseline biochemical parameters did not show differences between both groups, although they were worse among surgical patients. These patients presented during the study period steady albumin levels with improvement in the remaining parameters, whereas medical patients showed a decrease in albumin and transferrin levels, steady prealbumin levels, and slightly improvement in cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: We have observed higher usage of PN among surgical patients, which showed worse baseline nutritional biochemical parameters and responded better to nutritional support and having a trend towards shorter hospital stay and lower mechanical ventilation use than medical patients. We have not observed differences regarding the mortality or nosocomial infection.

Respuesta al soporte nutricional de una población de pacientes críticos; diferencias entre pacientes médicos y quirúrgicos / Nutritional support response in critically ill patients; differences between medical and surgical patients

Objetivo: Evaluación de la respuesta nutricional de un grupo de pacientes críticos, así como el análisis de las diferencias en la respuesta al soporte nutricional, entre pacientes médicos y quirúrgicos. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo durante un año, incluyendo los pacientes críticos con nutrición artificial durante 7 días. Se realizaron tres controles bioquímicos nutricionales a lo largo de la primera semana, que incluían albúmina, prealbúmina, transferrina, colesterol y electrolitos. Se recogieron, además: índice de riesgo nutricional, edad, sexo, peso, talla, APACHE, retraso del inicio del soporte nutricional, vía de acceso, aporte calórico teórico y real, enfermo médico o quirúrgico, estancia, duración de catéter venoso central, sonda urinaria y/o ventilación mecánica, incidencia y densidad de incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales. Resultados: 63 pacientes estudiados, 30 médicos (47%) y 33 quirúrgicos/traumáticos (53%) siendo la utilización de NE superior en médicos (16/30, 53% vs 5/33, 15%), la de NP en quirúrgicos (25/33, 76%) y la mixta similar en ambos (5 médicos y 3 quirúrgicos) (p = 0,001). No hubo diferencias entre pacientes médicos y quirúrgicos en: aporte calórico y nitrogenado teóricos ni reales, APACHE, retraso en inicio de nutrición, valores de fósforo, magnesio y glucosa, mortalidad e incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales. Tampoco en días de estancia y ventilación mecánica, aunque tendieron a ser menores en pacientes quirúrgicos. Los parámetros bioquímicos iniciales de ambos grupos mostraron diferencias, siendo peores en los enfermos quirúrgicos. Estos presentaron, en el periodo de estudio, un mantenimiento de la albúmina y mejoras del resto de los parámetros, mientras que los médicos mostraron una caída de la albúmina y transferrina, un mantenimiento de la prealbúmina y discreta mejoría del colesterol. Conclusiones: Hemos observado un mayor uso de la NP en pacientes quirúrgicos, que presentan peores valores bioquímicos nutricionales iniciales, que responden mejor al soporte nutricional y que presentan una tendencia a una menor estancia y una menor duración de ventilación mecánica frente a los pacientes médicos. No hemos observado diferencias en mortalidad ni en infección nosocomial (AU)

Objective: To assess the nutritional response of a group of critically ill patients, as well as the differences in the response to nutritional support between medical and surgical patients. Methods: One-year long retrospective study including critically ill patients on artificial nutrition for 7 days. Throughout the first week, three nutritional biochemical controls were done that included albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, cholesterol, and electrolytes. Other data gathered were: nutritional risk index, age, gender, weight, height, APACHE, delay of onset of nutritional support, access route, predicted and real caloric intake, medical or surgical patient, hospital stay, duration of the central venous catheter, urinary tube, and/or mechanical ventilation, incidence and density of incidence of nosocomial infections. Results: Sixty-three patients were studied, 30 (47%) medical and 33 (53%) surgical/trauma patients, with a usage of EN higher among medical patients (16/30, 53% vs. 5/33, 15%), PN higher among surgical patients (25/33, 76%), and mixed nutrition similar in both groups (5 medical and 3 surgical patients) (p = 0.001). There were no differences between medical and surgical patients regarding: both predicted and real caloric and nitrogenous intake, APACHE, delay of onset of nutrition, phosphorus, magnesium or glucose levels, mortality and incidence of nosocomial infections. There were no differences either in hospital stay or use of mechanical ventilation, although these tended to be lower in surgical patients. The baseline biochemical parameters did not show differences between both groups, although they were worse among surgical patients. These patients presented during the study period steady albumin levels with improvement in the remaining parameters, whereas medical patients showed a decrease in albumin and transferrin levels, steady prealbumin levels, and slightly improvement in cholesterol levels. Conclusions: We have observed higher usage of PN among surgical patients, which showed worse baseline nutritional biochemical parameters and responded better to nutritional support and having a trend towards shorter hospital stay and lower mechanical ventilation use than medical patients. We have not observed differences regarding the mortality or nosocomial infection (AU)

Resultados del soporte nutricional en una UCI polivalente / Nutritional support outcomes in critical care

Objetivos: Revisar el efecto de nuestras practicas habituales de soporte nutricional en pacientes críticos y establecer nuevas hipótesis de trabajo. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional sobre pacientes críticos sometidos a nutrición artificial en el período de un año. Se describe el protocolo de soporte nutricional y se estudian las siguientes variables: APACHE II, retraso en el inicio del soporte nutricional, la vía de administración, el aporte calórico durante la primera semana de soporte nutricional, tipo de paciente, estancia en la unidad, incidencia de infección nosocomial, presencia de complicaciones gastrointestinales y mortalidad. Se estudian los resultados obtenidos y las posibles relaciones entre el tiempo de inicio, la vía de administración y el aporte calórico con los resultados: mortalidad, infección nosocomial, duración de la ventilación mecánica y estancia en la Unidad. Resultados: 102 pacientes que recibieron soporte nutricional fueron seleccionados para el estudio. Estos pacientes mostraron una mayor gravedad, mortalidad y complicaciones infecciosas que los pacientes críticos no sometidos a soporte nutricional. La nutrición enteral fue utilizada en el 41% de los casos, la parenteral en el 40% y la nutrición combinada en el 19%. El soporte nutricional se inició a los 3,1 ± 1,9 días de media, existiendo diferencias entre los pacientes que sobrevivieron y los que no (2,82 ± 1.65 vs 3,74 ± 2,33 días). Los pacientes recibieron el 58 ± 28% de sus requerimientos durante la primera semana de soporte nutricional y no se encontró relación del aporte calórico con la mortalidad, aunque sí con la incidencia de infección nosocomial. Hubo diferencias entre la vía de administración y los siguientes datos: tipo de paciente, aporte calórico, la estancia en UCI y la duración de la ventilación mecánica. Conclusiones: El conjunto de pacientes sometido a soporte nutricional, son pacientes más graves y con peores resultados que los pacientes sin indicación de soporte nutricional. En nuestro estudio el inicio precoz del soporte nutricional, se asoció con una menor mortalidad, aunque no con una menor incidencia de complicaciones infecciosas. El aporte calórico fue bajo, especialmente en pacientes con nutrición enteral, aunque no se relacionó con la mortalidad. Obtuvimos unos mejores resultados clínicos con nutrición parenteral que con la enteral o la parenteral suplementaria. La nueva hipótesis que planteamos es si un aporte calórico moderado y precoz podría asociarse a mejores resultados clínicos, independientemente de la ruta de administración del soporte nutricional (AU)

Background & aims: To revise the effect of our nutritional support practices on outcomes from critical care patients and propose new study hypothesis. Methods: Retrospective observational study was conducted in all critically ill patients who had been prescribed nutritional support, through a year time, in an Intensive Care Unit. The nutritional support practices are described. Severity of illness (Simplified Acute Physiology Score II), timing and route of nutritional support, prescribed and delivered daily caloric intake for a maximum of 7 days, medical or surgical patient, length of stay in ICU, incidence rate and incidence density of nosocomial infections, and presence of gastrointestinal complications were recorded. Relationships between timing and route of nutritional support and percentage of received/ prescribed calories with mortality, nosocomial infections, days of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit were studied. Results: 102 patients of our intensive care patients received nutritional support and were selected for the study. EN was used in 42 patients (41%), 41 (40%) received TPN and 19 patients (19%) received mixed nutrition. Timing of nutritional support showed a mean of 3.1 ± 1.9 days and was statistically different between patients who survived or died (2.82 ± 1.65 vs. 3.74 ± 2.33 days). Patients received 58 ± 28% of their requirements but this data did not show any difference with mortality and morbidity. There was a statistical difference between the route of nutrition and the following data: type of patient, caloric intake in the study period, length of stay in ICU and days of mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that nutritional support patients are more severely ill than nonnutritional support patients. Timing of nutritional support was shorter in survivors. Our study confirms a low caloric input in the critically ill patient during the first week of illness, especially in the enteral nutrition group. However this finding was not associated with mortality or morbidity. Parenteral route did show better clinical outcomes than enteral or mixed nutrition. Our findings suggest that a moderate and early caloric intake could obtain better outcomes, independently of the route of nutritional support (AU)

Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasonography is feasible as a new therapeutic option for advanced recurrent rectal cancer: report on the first case worldwide.

High-intensity focused ultrasonography is the only completely non-invasive thermal therapy. To date its applications have been limited but clinical indications are expanding with enhanced technological advances that have increased the accuracy of targeting and decreased the duration of treatment times. We report its first use for rectal cancer.

A retrospective study about the influence of early nutritional support on mortality and nosocomial infection in the critical care setting.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To determine whether early nutritional support reduces mortality and the incidence of nosocomial infection, in critically ill patients in the current practice. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in all critically ill patients who had been prescribed nutritional support, throughout one year, in an Intensive Care Unit. The time to start and the route of delivery of nutritional support were determined by the attending clinician's assessment of gastrointestinal function and hemodynamic stability. Age, gender, severity of illness, start time and route of nutritional support, prescribed and delivered daily caloric intake for the first 7 days, whether they were a medical or surgical patient, length of stay in ICU, incidence rate of nosocomial infections and ICU mortality were recorded. Patients were classified according to whether or not they received nutritional support within 48 h of their admission to ICU and Binary Logistic Regression was performed to assess the effect of early nutritional support on ICU mortality and ICU nosocomial infections after controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Ninety-two consecutive patients were included in the study. Start time of nutritional support showed a mean of 3.1 ± 1.9 days. Patients in the early nutritional support group had a lower ICU mortality in an unadjusted analysis (20% vs. 40.4%, p = 0.033). Early nutritional support was found to be an independent predictor of mortality in the regression analysis model (OR 0,28; 95% confidence interval, 0.09 to 0,84; p = 0.023). Our study did not demonstrate any association between early nutritional support and the incidence of nosocomial infection (OR 0.77; 95%. confidence interval, 0.26 to 2,24; p = 0.63), which was related to the route of nutritional support and the caloric intake. The delayed nutritional support group showed a longer length of stay and nosocomial infections than the early group, although these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that early nutrition support reduces ICU mortality in critically ill patients, although it does not demonstrate any influence over nosocomial infection in the current practice in intensive care.

[Nutritional support outcomes in critical care]. / Resultados del soporte nutricional en una UCI polivalente.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To revise the effect of our nutritional support practices on outcomes from critical care patients and propose new study hypothesis. METHODS: Retrospective observational study was conducted in all critically ill patients who had been prescribed nutritional support, through a year time, in an Intensive Care Unit. The nutritional support practices are described. Severity of illness (Simplified Acute Physiology Score II), timing and route of nutritional support, prescribed and delivered daily caloric intake for a maximum of 7 days, medical or surgical patient, length of stay in ICU, incidence rate and incidence density of nosocomial infections, and presence of gastrointestinal complications were recorded. Relationships between timing and route of nutritional support and percentage of received/ prescribed calories with mortality, nosocomial infections, days of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit were studied. RESULTS: 102 patients of our intensive care patients received nutritional support and were selected for the study. EN was used in 42 patients (41%), 41 (40%) received TPN and 19 patients (19%) received mixed nutrition. Timing of nutritional support showed a mean of 3.1 ± 1.9 days and was statistically different between patients who survived or died (2.82 ± 1.65 vs. 3.74 ± 2.33 days). Patients received 58 ± 28% of their requirements but this data did not show any difference with mortality and morbidity. There was a statistical difference between the route of nutrition and the following data: type of patient, caloric intake in the study period, length of stay in ICU and days of mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that nutritional support patients are more severely ill than nonnutritional support patients. Timing of nutritional support was shorter in survivors. Our study confirms a low caloric input in the critically ill patient during the first week of illness, especially in the enteral nutrition group. However this finding was not associated with mortality or morbidity. Parenteral route did show better clinical outcomes than enteral or mixed nutrition. Our findings suggest that a moderate and early caloric intake could obtain better outcomes, independently of the route of nutritional support.

Indicaciones autorizadas en España de los fármacos antiosteoporóticos / Indications authorised in Spain of osteoporosis drugs

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