A Phase I/IIa Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Nebulized Liposomal Amphotericin for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Although nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (NLAB) is being used in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) prophylaxis, no clinical trial has shown its efficacy as a therapeutic strategy. NAIFI is the inaugural randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of NLAB (dosage: 25 mg in 6 mL, three times per week for 6 weeks) against a placebo, in the auxiliary treatment of IPA. Throughout the three-year clinical trial, thirteen patients (six NLAB, seven placebo) were included, with 61% being onco-hematological with less than 100 neutrophils/µL. There were no significant differences noted in their pre- and post-nebulization results of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and oxygen saturation between the groups. Neither bronchospasm nor serum amphotericin B levels were reported in any patients given NLAB. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET-TC) was carried out at the baseline and after 6 weeks. A notable decrease in median SUV (standardized uptake value) was observed in NLAB patients after 6 weeks (-3.6 vs. -0.95, p: 0.039, one tail). Furthermore, a reduction in serum substance galactomannan and beta-D-Glucan was identified within NLAB recipients. NLAB is well tolerated and safe for patients with IPA. Encouraging indirect efficacy data have been derived from image monitoring or biomarkers. However, further studies involving more patients are necessary.

125I Radioactive Seed Localization vs. Conventional Surgery for the Treatment of Mesenchymal Tumours: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

PURPOSE: Radioguided localization can assist the surgery of hard-to-find lesions. The aim was to evaluate the results of the 125I Radioactive Seed Localization (RSL) technique to guide a margin-free tumoral resection of mesenchymal tumours compared to conventional surgery and its influence in oncological outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of all consecutive patients who underwent 125I RSL for the surgery of a mesenchymal tumour from January 2012 to January 2020 in a tertiary referral centre in Spain. The control group was formed by patients with conventional surgery in the same period and centre. A Propensity Score matching at 1:4 ratio selected the cases for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 10 lesions excised in 8 radioguided surgeries were compared to 40 lesions excised in 40 conventional surgeries, with equal proportion of histological subtypes in each group. There was a higher proportion of recurrent tumours in the RSL group (80 % [8/10] vs. 27.5 % [11/40]; p: 0.004). An R0 was achieved in 80 % (8/10) of the RSL group and 65 % (26/40) of the conventional surgery group. The R1 rate was 0 % and 15 % (6/40), and the R2 rate was 20 % (2/10 and 8/40) in the RSL group and conventional surgery group, respectively (p: 0.569). No differences were detected in disease-free or overall survival between the different histological subtypes in the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSION: The 125I RSL technique of a challenging sample of mesenchymal tumours achieved a similar margin-free tumoral resection and oncological outcomes as conventional surgery.

Radioguided surgery of mesenchymal tumors with 125I seeds.

INTRODUCTION: Radioguided surgery uses radioactive substances to identify and remove hard-to-locate lesions. Mesenchymal tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms derived from the mesoderm, including benign lesions and malignant sarcomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of 125I radioactive seeds to guide intraoperative localization of mesenchymal tumors, analyzing the complication rates and evaluating the margins of the surgical specimens retrieved. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of all consecutive patients undergoing radioguided surgery of a mesenchymal tumor with a 125I radioactive seed from January 2012 to January 2020 at a tertiary referral center in Spain. The seed was inserted percutaneously guided by ultrasound or computed tomography in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: Fifteen lesions were resected in 11 interventions in 11 patients, recovering all lesions marked (100%) with a 125I seed. The lesions included areas of benign fibrosis (26.7%), cellular angiofibroma (6.7%), desmoid tumor (20%), solitary fibrous tumor (13.3%), chondrosarcoma (6.7%), and pleomorphic sarcoma (26.7%), with a high rate of recurrent tumors (60%). There was only one complication (6.7%) due to the seed falling within the surgical bed. According to the UICC classification of residual tumors, 80% of the lesions resulted in an R0 resection, 6.7% were R1 resections, and 13.3% were R2 resections. CONCLUSION: Radioguided surgery is an accurate technique for the resection of hard-to-locate mesenchymal tumors.

Interobserver variability in gross tumor volume contouring in non-spine bone metastases.

Background and Aim: The optimal imaging test for gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation in non-spine bone metastases has not been defined. The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) requires accurate target delineation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or 18fludesoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) allow for better visualization of the extent of bone metastases and optimizes the accuracy of tumor delineation for stereotactic radiotherapy compared to computed tomography (CT) alone. We evaluated the interobserver agreement in GTV of non-spine bone metastases in a single center and compared MRI and/or 18FDG-PET and CT in GTV delineation. Methods: Anonymous CT and MRI and/or 18FDG-PET obtained from 10 non-spine bone metastases were analyzed by six radiation oncologists at our center. Images acquired by CT and MRI and/or 18FDG-PET were used to delineate 10 GTVs of non-spine bone metastases in the pelvis, extremities, and skull. The cases showed different characteristics: blastic and lytic metastases, and different primary cancers (lung, breast, prostate, rectum, urothelial, and biliary). In both CT and MRI and/or 18FDG-PET, the GTV volumes were compared. The index of agreement was evaluated according to Landis and Koch protocol. Results: The GTV volume as defined on MRI was in all cases larger or at least as large as the GTV volume on CT (P=0.25). The median GTV volume on MRI was 3.15 cc (0.027-70.64 cc) compared to 2.8 cc on CT (0.075-77.95 cc). Interobserver variance and standard deviation were lower in CT than MRI (576.3 vs. 722.2 and 24.0 vs. 26.9, respectively). The level of agreement was fair (kappa=0.36) between CT and MRI. The median GTV volume on 18FDG-PET in five patients was 5.8 cc (0.46-64.17 cc), compared to 4.1 cc on CT (0.99-54.2 cc) (P=0.236). Interobserver variance and standard deviation in CT, MRI, and 18FDG-PET were 576.3 versus 722.2 versus 730.5 and 24 versus 26.9 versus 27.0, respectively. The level of agreement was slight (kappa=0.08) between CT and 18FDG-PET. Conclusions: Interobserver variance in non-spine bone metastases was equal when MRI and PET were compared to CT. CT was associated with the lowest variance and standard deviation. Compared to CT GTVs, the GTVs rendered from MRI images had fair agreement, while the GTVs rendered from 18FDG-PET had only slight agreement. Relevance for Patients: The delimitation of the treatment volume in non-spine bone metastases with SBRT is important for the results determining its efficacy. It is therefore essential to know the variability and to manage it to achieve the highest quality of treatment.

Role of imaging test with radionuclides in the diagnosis and treatment of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Radionuclide imaging tests with [123I] Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), [18F] -fluorodeoxyglucose, [18F]-fluorodopa, or 68Ga-DOTA(0)-Tyr(3)-octreotate are useful for the diagnosis, staging and follow-up of pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) (PPGLs). In addition to their ability to detect and localize the disease, they allow a better molecular characterization of the tumours, which is useful for planning targeted therapy with iodine-131 (131I) -labelled MIBG or with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]-labelled DOTATATE or other related agents in patients with metastatic disease. In this review we detail the main characteristics of the radiopharmaceuticals used in the functional study of PPGLs and the role of nuclear medicine tests for initial evaluation, staging, selection of patients for targeted molecular therapy, and radiation therapy planning. It also offers a series of practical recommendations regarding the functional imaging according to the different clinical and genetic scenarios in which PPGLs occur, and on the indications and efficacy of therapy with [131I]-MIBG and 177Lu-DOTATATE.

The Effect of Visualization Techniques on Students of Occupational Therapy during the First Visit to the Dissection Room.

Background: Part of the basic teaching of human anatomy are prosection sessions with a human corpse, which may generate stress or anxiety among students. The objective of this work was to study how, through the visualization technique (a coping technique), these levels could be reduced before starting prosection classes. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted involving first-year students who had never participated in screening sessions. Prior to the visit, occupational therapy students underwent a viewing session (visualization technique). On the day of the visit, before and after the screening session, an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to find out about aspects of the students' experiences, such as their feelings and perceptions. The State−Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess anxiety. Results: The baseline levels of anxiety measured remained stable (from 18.5 to 18.2 points), with no differences being found (p > 0.05). The levels of emotional anxiety measured fell from 15.2 to 12.6 points (p < 0.05). Before starting the class, there were six students (17.1%) with anxiety criteria, and this figure was doubled at the end of the session (33.3%) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sessions in a dissection room can cause stressful experiences and change the emotional balances of some students. The results obtained and published here showed no significant differences after the visualization technique. We found that the students believed that the prosection sessions were very useful for teaching anatomy.

El Impacto de la Pandemia por COVID-19 en Población Infanto-juvenil española con Trastorno del Espectro Autista y en su familia / The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Spanish Children and Teenager Population with Autism Spectrum Disorder and in their families

La pandemia causada por la enfermedad infecciosa por coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) desencadenó el aislamiento a nivel mundial, afectando en peormedida a las personas con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA). El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer cómo ha sido este impacto a nivel conductual, emocional, social y comunicativo y la repercusión que ha tenido en sus familias. Para ello se utilizó un cuestionario “ad hoc” durante y despuésdel confinamiento, el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) (Goodman, 1997) y la Escala Miedoal COVID-19 (Martínez Lorca et al., 2020). Este cuestionario fue respondido por 140 padres y madres basándose en el comportamiento de su hijo ohija diagnosticado de TEA, con una edad media de 7,86 años, y procedentes de diferentes comunidades autónomas de España. Los resultados reflejancomo los participantes, durante el periodo de confinamiento, han mostrado flexibilidad a los cambios de rutina, pero un alto nivel de estrés, irritabilidad,dificultades conductuales y sociales y regresión en las habilidades anteriormente adquiridas, presentando también dificultades para entender lo queocurría y expresar lo que sentían. Además, presentaron dificultades para aplicar las medidas de seguridad impuestas, como el uso de la mascarilla,del gel hidroalcohólico y el distanciamiento interpersonal. Las familias han referido un excesivo estrés y miedo, así como han echado en falta algunosapoyos y servicios de ayuda. (AU)

The pandemic caused by the infectious disease coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) triggered isolation globally, affecting people with Autism SpectrumDisorder (ASD) to a worse extent. This study aims to investigate how this impact has been on their day-to-day behavioral, emotional, social, andcommunicative levels and the impact it has had on their families. For this purpose, an “ad hoc” questionnaire was used, during and after confinement, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Goodman, 1997), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (Martínez Lorca et al., 2020). Thisquestionnaire was answered by 140 parents based on the behavior of their son or daughter diagnosed with ASD, with a mean age of 7.86 years,and from different autonomous communities of Spain. The results affirm that the participants have shown flexibility to routine changes but a high levelof stress, irritability, behavioral and social difficulties, and regression in previously acquired skills during the lockdown period and also presentingdifficulties in understanding what was happening and expressing what they felt. In addition, they had difficulties in applying the security measuresimposed, such as the use of a mask, hydroalcoholic gel, and interpersonal distancing. Families have experienced excessive stress and fear and havemissed some support and help services. (AU)

Special situations in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: pregnancy, metastatic disease, and cyanotic congenital heart diseases.

The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the most complex pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PGL) cases, including pheochromocytoma/PGL during pregnancy, in cyanotic congenital heart diseases (CCHDs), and metastatic pheochromocytoma. The English and Spanish literature was thoroughly evaluated searching for articles reporting clinical studies, case reports, or reviews of pheochromocytoma/PGL in pregnancy and in CCHD and metastatic pheochromocytoma/PGL. Particular settings in the diagnosis and management of pheochromocytoma and PGLs remain challenging. Those special situations include the diagnosis during pregnancy or in the context of CCHD since the typical clinical features of pheochromocytoma may be confounded with preeclampsia during pregnancy and with the complications commonly observed in CCHD. In addition, although some clinical and genetic features have been associated with higher risk of metastatic pheochromocytoma, the detection and prediction of the development of metastatic disease involve another complex situation that may require special hormonal determinations as plasmatic 3-methoxytyramine and nuclear medicine studies including 18FDG PET-CT or 18F-FDOPA PET-CT, among others. Furthermore, the selection of the most appropriate treatment in these situations, as well as the moment to carry it out, requires special care as limited evidence is available. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the pheochromocytoma/PGL during pregnancy, metastatic pheochromocytoma/PGL, and pheochromocytoma/PGL in CCHD. The diagnosis, and especially the treatment, of metastatic pheochromocytomas and pheochromocytoma/PGL during pregnancy and in CCHD is challenging. Thus, these cases should be management in reference centres by multidisciplinary teams specialized in the pheochromocytoma/PGL treatment.

Case Report: Re-Treatment With Lu-DOTATATE in Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an established treatment in advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which overexpressed somatostatin receptors. However, after progression there are a limited number of available treatments. We want to share a case report about a patient with a NET re-treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE and a literature review about salvage treatment with PRRT. We present a 26-year-old man who started with pelvic pain and after a biopsy of a retro-rectal mass observed in a magnetic resonance was diagnosed with an advanced neuroendocrine tumour. After progression to lanreotide, everolimus and sunitinib, treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was initiated, achieving an excellent response with a progression free survival (PFS) of 38 months. At the time of progression, re-treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE was decided, showing a new partial response, which is currently stable after 15 months. The patient had not presented significant treatment-related toxicity. Although there are no randomized phase III trials or a consensus about the number or dose of cycles, there is evidence about the efficacy and low toxicity of salvage treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE in NETs. Median progression-free survival ranges from 6 to 22 months. Toxicity is mostly hematologic (anemia and neutropenia), 4-7% grade 3/4.

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Validation in spanish university students.

The emergence of the COVID-19 and its consequences has led to fears, worries, and anxiety among individuals worldwide. Recently, Ahorsu et al. (2020) developed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). The present study aimed to translate and validate the FCV-19S in Spanish university students. The sample comprised 606 Spanish´undergraduates with a mean age of 21.59 years old. We also used a six items from the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by van Knippenberg, Duivenvoorden, Bonke & Passchiner (1990). The Fear of COVID-19 scale used for the present survey evidenced a good alpha measure of internal consistency or reliability analysis with ordinal alpha and ordinal omega. Seven items with acceptable corrected item-total correlation were retained and further confirmed by significant and strong factor loadings. Concurrent validity was supported by the six items of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, a seven-item scale, has a stable unidimensional structure with robust psychometric properties. It is reliable and valid in assessing fear of COVID-19 among the Spanish university students.

[18F]FDG-PET/CT in different COVID-19 phases.

PET/CT is an hybrid technique which allows both morfological and metabolical evalutaion. Three different morphometeabolical patterns are presented which reflect the evolutive phases of the COVID-19. This findings may help the clinician determine the correct treatment and security measure that need to be taken aaccording to the phase of the disease.

Anxiety among nursing students during their first human prosection.

Dissection and prosection practices using human cadavers are a key component of macroscopic anatomy education in different Health Sciences university degrees. However, first-hand interaction with cadavers can be distressing for students, generating anxiety on a number of levels. This study aims to shed light on the reactions, fears and different states of anxiety experienced by nursing students in to a single anatomy room experience over a five-hour period, and examined reactions pre and post same. A descriptive study of these students was designed in order to understand their feelings and emotions, based on the distribution of anonymous "ad hoc" questionnaires before and after the practices. Also, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires were administered in order to assess their anxiety levels: Trait Anxiety (TA), which measures basal anxiety levels, and State Anxiety (SA), which measures individual emotional responses during a specific event (in this case, the prosection practice). The results of this study indicate that basal anxiety levels, measured as TA, remained stable and unchanged during the practice (p > 0.05). SA or emotional anxiety levels, on the other hand, dropped from 21.3 to 17.8 points (p < 0.05). Before the start of the practical exercise, 17.6% of the students admitted experiencing some kind of anxiety. Afterwards, however, 90.2% of the students said they would recommend these practices. They considered that prosection practices very useful for their education and recommended that they be retained for future courses. However, our study also showed the relevance of using coping mechanisms before the first contact with the dissecting room, especially for those students who did not feel emotionally prepared for it beforehand.

Evaluación de la dimensión semántica y fonológica en pacientes con esquizofrenia / Evaluation of the semantic and phonological dimension in patients with schizophrenia

Antecedentes y objetivo: La esquizofrenia se caracteriza por una distorsión del pensamiento, las percepciones, las emociones, el lenguaje, la conciencia de sí mismo y la conducta. Afecta a más de 21 millones de personas en todo el mundo y es una de las 10 enfermedades más incapacitantes según la Organización Mundial de la Salud; sin embargo, existe escasa evidencia sobre el déficit lingüístico con el que cursa la enfermedad. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio transversal y cuasi-experimental donde se analizan los datos de diferentes pruebas lingüísticas de las áreas de semántica y fonología en una muestra compuesta por 96 sujetos, de los cuales 48 (50%) tienen esquizofrenia y componen el grupo experimental y otros 48 (50%) no tienen ninguna enfermedad mental y componen el grupo control. Según la clasificación de Crow, el 56,2% de los participantes con esquizofrenia (27 sujetos) presentaba sintomatología positiva y el 43,8% (21 sujetos) presentaba sintomatología negativa. Resultados: Se observa un patrón de déficit según la sintomatología, así como una afectación de las áreas lingüísticas evaluadas (semántica y fonología). Conclusiones: La esquizofrenia cursa con déficit lingüístico en la semántica y en la fonología, siendo necesario evaluar dichas áreas lingüísticas para poder intervenir logopédica y multidisciplinarmente sobre ellas

Background and objective: Schizophrenia is characterized by a distortion of thin-king, perceptions, emotions, language, self-awareness, and behaviour. It affects more than 21 million people worldwide and is one of the 10 most disabling diseases according to the World Health Organization. However, there is little evidence of language deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Method: This is a cross-sectional and quasi-experimental study in which the data of the evaluation of different linguistic tests in the areas of semantics and phonology are analysed. The sample consisted of 96 subjects, 48 of whom (50%) had schizophrenia and made up the experimental group and other 48 (50%) had no mental illness and made up the control group. According to the classification of Crow, 56.2% (27 subjects) presented with positive symptomatology and 43.8% (21 subjects) presented with negative symptoms. Results: A deficit pattern according to the symptomatology was observed, as well as an affectation of all the areas examined in the study (semantics and phonology). Conclusions: Schizophrenia involves a linguistic deficit in semantics and phonology. It is necessary to assess these linguistic areas in order to intervene from a multidisciplinary approach, including speech therapy

Respaldo y Apoyo a la Hipnosis Clínica como Herramienta Terapéutica. Respuesta a la Carta de Héctor González-Ordi (2018) / No disponible

No disponible

Anxiety reduction and emotional self-care using the U-technique in radiology departments.

Daily clinical practice is an important source of stress and emotional exhaustion. In the health field, patients could experience a significant number of emotional reactions. There are high levels of anxiety in patients referred for medical imaging, and these levels are even higher in patients undergoing complicated diagnostic procedures. All this shows the need to understand that anxiety must be diagnosed and treated. This situation forces radiologist to develop emotional and social skills to resolve difficulties that may arise in the communicative act. In the patient-radiologist interaction, many elements have been analysed, being communication and communicative skills one of the most important elements. The objective is to present an emotional management tool, the U-technique. It consists of four movements: sympathize, empathize, feel the antidote emotion and spread the antidote emotion in order that the health professionals recognize their emotional state in each moment of the relationship with the patient.

Aportación de la imagen molecular en la exploración del cerebro / Value of molecular imaging to examine the brain

No disponible

Conocimiento de la estimulación prenatal en los programas de educación maternal en Atención Primaria por parte de las mujeres gestantes / Pregnant women's knowledge of prenatal stimulation in educational programs for pregnant women in primary care

Objetivo: Estudiar el grado de conocimiento sobre la estimulación prenatal y los beneficios que se obtienen de esta en mujeres embarazadas de dos Centros de Salud de Talavera de la Reina (Toledo). Diseño del estudio: Estudio observacional transversal. Emplazamiento: Centros de Salud urbanos de Talavera de la Reina, Toledo. (C.S. La Solana y C.S. La Algodonera). Participantes: 26 mujeres gestantes (edad media de 30,92 años y 7,23 meses de gestación). Mediciones principales: Mediante muestreo consecutivo se seleccionaron gestantes del programa de preparación al parto que respondieron un cuestionario elaborado 'ad hoc' acerca del conocimiento y beneficios de la estimulación prenatal o intrauterina. También se recogieron variables sociodemográficas. Resultados: El 53,8 % (IC 95 %: 33,3-73,4) de las mujeres gestantes no había escuchado hablar de la estimulación prenatal ni conoce de la importancia de esta. Un 96,2 % (IC 95 %: 80,3-99,9) de las madres gestantes no sabe de la existencia de ningún centro especializado o centro de salud en el que se realice esta práctica. Al 76,9 % (IC 95 %: 56,3-91) de las mujeres gestantes no le han explicado lo que es la estimulación prenatal ni los beneficios, sin embargo el 96,2 % (IC 95 %: 80,3-99,9) de embarazadas cree que la estimulación prenatal ofrece beneficios a su futuro hijo/a. Conclusiones: Existe un alto porcentaje de mujeres que desconoce lo que es la estimulación prenatal, su importancia y los centros donde esta se realiza, así como una falta de información por parte de las matronas sobre la estimulación prenatal y sus beneficios (AU)

Objective: Study the level of knowledge about prenatal stimulation and its benefits of pregnant women in two primary health care centres in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo). Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study. Location: Primary health care urban centres in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo (CHC La Solana and CHC La Algodonera). Participants: 26 pregnant women with an average age of 30.92. Gestational age was 7.23 months. Main measurements: Consecutive sampling of pregnant women attending the preparation for childbirth program, who answered a questionnaire prepared 'ad hoc' about knowledge and benefits of prenatal or intrauterine stimulation. Socio-demographic variables were also collected. Results: 53.8% (CI 95%: 33.3-73.4) of pregnant women had not heard about prenatal stimulation and do not know its importance. 96.2% (CI 95%: 80.3-99.9) of pregnant mothers do not know any specialized centre or health care centre in which this practice is carried out. 76.9% (CI 95%: 56.3-91) of pregnant women have not been told about prenatal stimulation or its benefits. However, 96.2% (CI 95%: 80.3-99.9) of pregnant women believe that prenatal stimulation offers benefits to their unborn children. Conclusions: There is a high percentage of women who are ignorant of what prenatal stimulation is, its importance and the centres where it is carried out, as well as a lack of explanation of prenatal stimulation and its benefits by midwives (AU)