Ferric Carboxymaltose Improves the Quality of Life of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Iron Deficiency without Anaemia.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) without anaemia is a common comorbidity associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: This multicentre, prospective, observational study examined the response to, safety of and impact on HRQoL of a single 500 mg dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and ID without anaemia. The diagnostic criteria for ID were low serum ferritin (<30 µg/L in the absence of inflammatory activity or <100 µg/L with inflammation) and transferrin saturation index (TSAT) < 16%. The effect on iron levels and HRQoL, according to the health status questionnaires SF-12v2 and EQ-5D, was evaluated 1 month after FCM infusion in an outpatient setting. Results: Of the 105 patients who received FCM, 98 patients completed the study. After 1 month, a single dose of FCM significantly increased serum ferritin, serum iron and TSAT. Importantly, patients reported fewer ID symptoms and problems on all EQ-5D dimensions. They also had higher EQ-5D visual analogue scale and SF-12v2 scores after treatment. FCM had similar clinical effects on men and women and on patients with Crohn's disease (n = 66) and ulcerative colitis (n = 32). Conclusion: A single dose of FCM rapidly restored iron parameters and significantly improved patients' symptoms and HRQoL at 1 month after treatment.

Multicenter study of lumen-apposing metal stents with or without pigtail in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant obstruction-BAMPI TRIAL: an open-label, randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the insertion of an axis-orienting double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) through biliary lumen-apposing meal stent (LAMS) in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) improves the stent patency. The aim of this study is to determine whether this technical variant offers a clinical benefit in EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD) for the management of distal malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a multicenter open-label, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighty-four patients with malignant biliary obstruction will undergo EUS-BD (CDS type) using LAMS in 7 tertiary hospitals in Spain and will be randomized to the LAMS and LAMS plus DPS groups. The primary endpoint is the rate of recurrent biliary obstruction, as a stent dysfunction parameter, detected during follow-up. Secondary endpoints: technical and clinical success (reduction in bilirubin > 50% within 14 days of stent placement), safety, and others (number of reinterventions, time to biliary obstruction, prognostic factors, survival rate). DISCUSSION: The BAMPI trial has been designed to determine whether the addition of a coaxial axis-orienting DPS through LAMS is superior to LAMS alone to prevent stent dysfunction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04595058 . Registered on October 14, 2020.

Vigilancia epidemiológica del Traumatismo Encéfalo Craneano (TEC) en el Hospital San Bernardo de la Provincia de Salta, Argentina / Epidemiological surveillance of Cranial Brain Injury (TEC) at the San Bernardo Hospital in the Province of Salta, Argentina

Introducción: El TEC es una de las principales causas de discapacidad y muerte en nuestra sociedad. Tiene una mortalidad que ronda el 30% y una morbilidad cercana al 60%1, 2, 3, 4, 5.No hay un estudio estadístico epidemiológico exhaustivo sobre TEC en Argentina, por tal motivo la finalidad de este trabajo es conocer la epidemiología de esta patología en el Hospital San Bernardo (HSB) de Salta. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un trabajo observacional transversal prospectivo. Se incluyeron todos aquellos pacientes que ingresaban al HSB desde agosto de 2014 hasta agosto de 2015 por el servicio de guardia con diagnóstico de TEC asociado o no a politraumatismo. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la versión 3.3.3. del Software R para Windows. Resultados: Se estudiaron un total de 1.496 pacientes de los cuales 76% fueron de sexo masculino y 24% femenino. El 84% de los TEC son leve, el 13% moderado y el 4% grave. Según el mecanismo del trauma, el 39% fue por accidente de tránsito, el 32% fue por agresión física y el 22% por caídas. El 19% de los pacientes fue internado. Los días promedio de internación son 10,27. De los pacientes internados, el 27% requirió cirugía de urgencia. Evaluado el GOS, el 19% tuvo GOS 1, 46% GOS 2 ­ 4 y 35% GOS 5. Conclusión: El TEC es una patología que afecta principalmente a adultos varones jóvenes. Las causas más frecuentes en nuestro medio son los accidentes de tránsito y la agresión física. El TEC en nuestro medio presenta una mortalidad global del 19%, con una morbilidad del 47%. Los datos estadísticos de nuestro Hospital referentes al TEC son concordantes con la bibliografía mundial

Introduction: Head Trauma (TBI) is one of the main causes of disability, death and economic loss in our society. It has a mortality of around 30% and a morbidity close to 60%1, 2, 3, 4, 5.There is no exhaustive statistical study on TBI in Argentina, for this reason the purpose of this project is to know the San Bernardo Hospital epidemiology of this pathology. Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Patients who were admitted to the San Bernardo Hospital emergency department from August 2014 to August 2015 with a diagnosis of TBI associated or not with multiple trauma were included. Version 3.3.3 was used for statistical analysis of the R Software for Windows. Results: A total of 1.496 patients were studied, of which 76% were male and 24% female, with range of 14 ­ 97 years old (Table 4). 84% of TBI were mild, 13% moderate, and 4% severe. According to the mechanism of trauma, 39% was due to a traffic accident, 32% was due to physical aggression and 22% due to falls. 19% of the patients were hospitalized. The average days of hospitalization are 10.27. Of the hospitalized patients, 27% required emergency surgery. The patients GOS was 19% GOS 1, 46% GOS 2 ­ 4 and 35% GOS 5. Conclusion: TBI is a prevalent pathology that affects mainly young male adults. The most frequent cause in our environment are traffic accidents and physical aggression. TBI in our setting presents an overall mortality of 19% with a morbidity of 47%. Statistics of diagnosis and treatment of patients with TBI in our Hospital are similar to those published in the world bibliography and guidelines

Sensitivity and specificity analysis of 2D small field measurement array: Patient-specific quality assurance of small target treatments and spatially fractionated radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to describe the tests carried out on a SRSMapCheck array, to verify its reliability and sensitivity for quality assurance (QA) of high gradient treatments as an alternative system to the use of high spatial resolution detectors, such as gafchromic film, whose processing requires meticulous and time-consuming procedures. METHODS: In an initial step, general functionality tests were carried out to verify that the equipment meets the manufacturer's specifications. A study of the accuracy of the application of correction factors to compensate for variation in detector response due to dose rate, field size and beam angle incidence has been included. Besides, to assess the ability of the array to detect inaccurately delivered treatments, systematic errors corresponding to the deviation in the position of the leaves and the accuracy of the gantry position, have been introduced. Based on these results, an estimate of sensitivity and specificity values of the device has been completed. The final step included a study applied to high gradient treatment for real cases of spatially fractionated radiotherapy, where the results of SRSMapCheck measurements have been compared with gafchromic films. RESULTS: General commissioning tests meet the manufacturer's specifications. dose rate (DR) response variation is better than 1.5% and for DR above 50 MU/min better than 1%. The results for beam incidences are better than 1% for all gantry angles, including beam incidences parallel to the array. Field size response differences are within the range of ±1% for sizes up to 2 × 2 cm2 , with a maximum value obtained of 3.5%, for 1 × 1 cm2 . From the systematic error study, using a Gamma function Γ (2%, 2 mm), the detector presents a high specificity with a value greater than 90% at its lower limit, while its sensitivity has a moderate mean value of 81%. Sensitivity values increase above 86% when we apply a Gamma function Γ (2%, 1 mm) is applied. Finally, the study of actual cases comprises 17 patients, distributed into 11 lung tumors, 3 gynecological and 3 soft tissue tumors. The gafchromic film showed a lower passing rate with an average value of Γ (2%, 2 mm) = 94.1% compared to Γ (2%, 2 mm) = 98.6% reached by the measurements with the array. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma function obtained with the SRSMapCheck array always presented a higher value than gafchromic film measurements, resulting in a greater number of plans considered correct. This fact, together with the sensitivity and specificity study carried out, allows us to conclude the recommendation that a restrictive metric must be established, in this way we will improve sensitivity, and therefore we will reduce the rate of incorrect plans qualified as correct. The characteristics of the equipment together with the correction factors applied, led to reliably performing acquisitions for complex treatments with multiple small targets in oblique rotational incidences. The spatial resolution of detectors allows the verification of high gradient dose plans such as those achieved in spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT).

Serum cholesterol predicts transplant-free survival in cirrhotic patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is frequent in patients with cirrhosis and has been associated with poor prognosis. The Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was created to predict survival after Transjugular Intrahepatic Porto-systemic Shunt (TIPS) but lacks a nutritional parameter. AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic value of serum cholesterol in patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS and to develop a prognostic score to predict survival. METHODS: An explorative cross-sectional study was conducted of cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS from 2008 until 2019. Exclusion criteria were liver transplantation or hepatocellular carcinoma before TIPS. Risk analysis was used to compare survival according to clinical and analytical data. The diagnostic performance of serum cholesterol added to MELD was evaluated and confirmed in an external validation cohort. RESULTS: The final cohort of 100 patients had a mean MELD score of 14±5 and cholesterol of 122±51 mg/dL. MELD (p < 0,05) and both cholesterol (p < 0,05) and low-density lipoprotein levels (LDL-C) (p < 0,05) were independent predictors of post-TIPS transplant-free survival with an optimal cut-off of 106 mg/dL for serum cholesterol. The combined MELD-cholesterol risk score improved diagnostic accuracy of each parameter separately, and this was confirmed in the external cohort. CONCLUSION: Serum cholesterol and LDL-C are independent predictors of transplant-free survival in cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS. The MELD-cholesterol score slightly improved prognostic accuracy. LAY SUMMARY: As an objective and easily measured indicator of both nutritional status and hepatic function, serum cholesterol could be useful to predict transplant-free survival in patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS. It can enable health care providers to identify high-risk patients and to optimize nutritional status before TIPS.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt reduces hospital care burden in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis frequently require hospital admissions, which are associated with worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of TIPS on the need for hospital care. Secondary objectives were to assess the clinical and biological impact of TIPS and to identify predictors of post-TIPS hospital care. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study of patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated with TIPS from January 2008 until March 2019. Exclusion criteria were TIPS placed for non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (PH) and patients referred from another hospital without prior or subsequent follow-up at our Unit. Hospital care, PH-related complications, and laboratory data were compared before and after TIPS. RESULTS: The final cohort comprised 104 patients (72% male) with a mean age of 60 (± 10) years. Follow-up from first decompensation until TIPS and that from procedure to study completion were 7 (4.2-9.8) and 20 (4.6-35.4) months, respectively. TIPS was indicated mainly for refractory ascites (50%) and variceal bleeding (39%). Hemodynamic and clinical success rates were 97% and 92%, respectively. The number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions decreased after the procedure (p < 0.001). Improvement was seen in MELD and Child-Pugh scores, renal function, hyponatremia, and anemia after TIPS. Variceal bleeding as the indication for TIPS (OR 0.047; 95 CI 0.006-0,39; p < 0.05) together with early creation of the shunt (stage 3 vs 5; p < 0.05) were associated with a reduction in risk of post-TIPS hospital care. CONCLUSION: TIPS is a safe and effective procedure that reduces hospital care burden by improving PH-related complications, hepatic, renal function, hyponatremia, and anemia. Variceal bleeding as the indication and early placement of the device were associated with a reduction in post-TIPS hospital care. These findings support a role for this treatment, predominantly in the early stages of cirrhosis.

High-order spherical harmonics-nodal collocation scheme for the numerical solution of the time-dependent radiative transfer equation.

The validity of the spherical harmonics-nodal collocation approximation to the stationary Boltzmann equation has been established in multidimensional neutron transport problems. This is a high-order approximation method that allows a coarse spatial discretization without losing accuracy. We extend the method to solve the time-dependent radiative transfer equation for absorbing media with anisotropic scattering, also incorporating into the model reflecting boundary conditions, due to refractive index mismatching. The formalism is then applied to numerical test cases in one and two spatial dimensions that, using typical values in optical tomography for the physical parameters, check the accuracy and convergence of the method.

Tuning size and thermal hysteresis in bistable spin crossover nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles of iron(II) triazole salts have been prepared from water-organic microemulsions. The mean size of the nanoparticles can be tuned down to 6 nm in diameter, with a narrow size distribution. A sharp spin transition from the low spin (LS) to the high spin (HS) state is observed above room temperature, with a 30-40-K-wide thermal hysteresis. The same preparation can yield second generation nanoparticles containing molecular alloys by mixing triazole with triazole derivatives, or from metallic mixtures of iron(II) and zinc(II). In these nanoparticles of 10-15 nm, the spin transition "moves" towards lower temperatures, reaching a 316 K limit for the cooling down transition and maintaining a thermal hysteresis over 15-20-K-wide. The nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, TEM, and AFM, after deposition on gold or silicon surfaces. The spin transition was characterized by magnetic susceptibility measurements and EXAFS (in solid samples after solvent removal) and also by the color change between the LS (violet) and HS (colorless) states in an organic solvent suspension. The discovery of bistable magnetic nanoparticles of 6 nm with a wide thermal hysteresis above room temperature showcases the actual possibilities of spin crossover materials for nanotechnological applications.