Executive summary of the consensus document for the training and development of clinical ultrasound in Internal Medicine: Recommendations from the Clinical Ultrasound Working Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (GTECO-SEMI).

INTRODUCTION: Given the increasing adoption of clinical ultrasound in medicine, it is essential to standardize its application, training, and research. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The purpose of this document is to provide consensus recommendations to address questions about the practice and operation of clinical ultrasound units. Nineteen experts and leaders from advanced clinical ultrasound units participated. A modified Delphi consensus method was used. RESULTS: A total of 137 consensus statements, based on evidence and expert opinion, were considered. The statements were distributed across 10 areas, and 99 recommendations achieved consensus. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus defines the most important aspects of clinical ultrasound in the field of Internal Medicine, with the aim of standardizing and promoting this healthcare advancement in its various aspects. The document has been prepared by the Clinical Ultrasound Working Group and endorsed by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Hand grip strength, short physical performance battery, and gait speed: key tools for function in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

This study aimed to determine which performance assessment tools included in Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) are the most sensitive for the functional approach in the initial evaluation and during the therapy of old adults diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). We prospectively recruited 31 patients aged 70 years or older presenting for an initial consultation in the Hematology Clinic of a tertiary hospital. We implemented an updated physical performance evaluation as part of CGA at baseline and during treatment. Baseline characteristics of the sample were compared according to age, Geriatric 8 (G8), frailty, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and sarcopenia measured by hand grip strength (HGS). Functional changes were monitored during the treatment period using HGS, gait speed (GS) and SPPB. The mean age was 79.0 (5.5) years and 51.6% of the sample was frail; 65,5% were treated with standard chemotherapy and 35,5% with a therapeutic regimen with attenuated doses. All the assessment tools included in CGA found functional differences at baseline when the sample was stratified and compared according to frailty, sarcopenia, and SPPB, but not according to G8 score and age. Only SPPB was able to detect functional differences between groups stratified by age at baseline. GS was the only score that identified clinically significant functional changes during the treatment. In conclusion, HGS and SPPB are appropriate performance scores to complete the functional approach in the initial hematologic evaluation, and GS is a promising option to detect functional decline during therapy in old adults with DLBCL.

Treatment Individualization in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Is Frailty Enough for Old Adults? An Original Article.

INTRODUCTION: Toxicity risk evaluation based on frailty assessment is recommended for treatment individualization in old adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, no specific assessment method to guide decision-making has been established yet. Here, we implement a therapeutic algorithm based on the information obtained in an updated comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to assess the value that other prognostic factors add to frailty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively recruited 31 patients aged 70 or older recently diagnosed with DLBCL. Standard dose regimen R-CHOP and dose-attenuated R-miniCHOP were the therapeutic options. A CGA-based algorithm was used for the initial treatment recommendation. The sample was compared according to frailty and treatment allocation to describe baseline differential characteristics and treatment tolerance. RESULTS: Mean age was 79 (SD: 5.5) and 45.1% were above 80. Half of the patients (51.6%) were frail; their survival was inferior to that observed in fit adults (p: .034). The mean Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of patients responding to therapy was higher than non-responders´ media (8.6 vs. 5.9; p: .022). However, when RCHOP was allocated to high functional patients within fit and frail groups, no differences in survival were found compared to R-miniCHOP. The prevalence of toxic events was higher with the standard regimen in fit (p: .054) and frail patients (p: 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of frailty and physical performance assessment in an algorithm is a promising method to guide the decision-making process in old adults with DLBCL. SPPB might complete frailty predictive information on toxicity risk.

Seroprevalencia de la enfermedad de Lyme en Navarra / No disponble

Fundamento y objetivo: Establecer la seroprevalencia de infección por Borrelia burgdorferi en Navarra (España). Pacientes y método: Se han analizado 1.429 sueros de un listado representativo de la población, aportado por el gobierno de Navarra, estratificado por tres variables: edad, sexo y área de salud, previo consentimiento informado.Resultados: La seroprevalencia global en Navarra de infección por Borrelia burgdorferi es de un 4,4%, habiendo encontrado como factor de riesgo la profesión de ganadero (13,2%) entre las variables analizadas (sexo, edad, contacto con animales, profesión, contacto con medio rural, recuerdo del antecedente de picadura de garrapata o tamaño de la población.) Conclusiones:En Navarra se dan las condiciones adecuadas para el mantenimiento y desarrollo de la enfermedad de Lyme, con una seroprevalencia global del 4,4%. No se han encontrado diferencias entre las diferentes zonas analizadas y sí, como factor de riesgo, la profesión de ganadero (AU)

No disponible

[Seroprevalence of Lyme disease in Navarra, Spain]. / Seroprevalencia de la enfermedad de Lyme en Navarra.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To establish the seroprevalence of infection by Borrelia burgdorferi in Navarre (Spain). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Serum samples of 1,429 individuals considered representative of the population of Navarre were analyzed. The individuals were recruited from a list issued by the government of Navarre. The subjects were stratified according to three variables: age, sex and the health zone to which they belonged. In all cases a written informed consent was obtained. RESULTS: The global seroprevalence in Navarre was 4.4%. Being a stockbreeder (13.2%) in contact with cows and sheep was found to be a risk factor after the analysis of different variables such as sex, age, contact with cattle, profession, living in rural areas, a prior history of having been bitten by a tick or the size of the city. CONCLUSIONS: Navarre provides suitable conditions for the prevalence and development of Lyme disease, with a global seroprevalence or 4.4%. No differences were found between the different areas analyzed, while being a stockbreeder represents a risk factor.