Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) Levels in Post-COVID Follow-Up: Differences According to the Severity of COVID-19.

To evaluate KL-6 levels in medium-term post-COVID and to compare them in three groups categorised by the severity of COVID-19, we conducted a real-world, retrospective, cohort study. Data from the COVID-19 episode and follow-up during the post-COVID phase were extracted from the COVID@HULP and POSTCOVID@HULP databases, respectively. For the post-COVID period we included demographics, medical history, symptoms, quality of life, physical activity, anxiety and depression status and laboratory results. Patients were categorised into three groups based on the severity of COVID-19: Group 1 (inpatient critical), Group 2 (inpatient non-critical) and Group 3 (hospitalised at home). KL-6 was measured during the follow-up of the three groups. In all, 802 patients were included (Group 1 = 59; Group 2 = 296; Group 3 = 447 patients). The median age was 59 years (48-70), and 362 (45.2%) were males. At admission, fibrinogen and ferritin levels were lower in Group 3 than in the other groups (p < 0.001). Follow-up data were obtained 124 days (97-149) after the diagnosis of COVID-19. The median levels of fibrinogen, ferritin and KL-6 at follow-up were 336 mg/dL (276-413), 80.5 ng/mL (36-174.3) and 326 U/mL (240.3-440.3), respectively. KL-6 levels were lower in Group 3 than in the other groups (298 U/mL (231.5-398) vs. 381.5 U/mL (304-511.8) (Group 1) and 372 U/mL (249-483) (Group 2) (p < 0.001)). KL-6 was associated with ferritin (p < 0.001), fibrinogen (p < 0.001), D-dimer (p < 0.001) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (p < 0.001). KL-6 levels are less elevated at medium-term post-COVID follow-up in patients with mild COVID-19 than in those with moderate or severe disease. KL-6 is associated with systemic inflammatory, hepatic enzyme and thrombosis biomarkers.

Correction: Helium nanodroplets as an efficient tool to investigate hydrogen attachment to alkali cations.

Correction for 'Helium nanodroplets as an efficient tool to investigate hydrogen attachment to alkali cations' by Siegfried Kollotzek et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 462-470, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP03841B.

Observation of Multiple Ordered Solvation Shells in Doped Helium Droplets: The Case of HeNCa2.

In this Letter, we report the experimental detection of likely the largest ordered structure of helium atoms surrounding a monatomic impurity observed to date using a recently developed technique. The mass spectrometry investigation of HeNCa2+ clusters, formed in multiply charged helium nanodroplets, reveals magic numbers at N = 12, 32, 44, and 74. Classical optimization and path integral Monte Carlo calculations suggest the existence of up to four shells surrounding the calcium dication which are closed with well-ordered Mozartkugel-like structures: He12Ca2+ with an icosahedron, the second at He32Ca2+ with a dodecahedron, the third at He44Ca2+ with a larger icosahedron, and finally for He74Ca2+, we find that the outermost He atoms form an icosidodecahedron which contains the other inner shells. We analyze the reasons for the formation of such ordered shells in order to guide the selection of possible candidates to exhibit a similar behavior.

Helium nanodroplets as an efficient tool to investigate hydrogen attachment to alkali cations.

We report a novel method to reversibly attach and detach hydrogen molecules to positively charged sodium clusters formed inside a helium nanodroplet host matrix. It is based on the controlled production of multiply charged helium droplets which, after picking up sodium atoms and exposure to H2 vapor, lead to the formation of Nam+(H2)n clusters, whose population was accurately measured using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass spectra reveal particularly favorable Na+(H2)n and Na2+(H2)n clusters for specific "magic" numbers of attached hydrogen molecules. The energies and structures of these clusters have been investigated by means of quantum-mechanical calculations employing analytical interaction potentials based on ab initio electronic structure calculations. A good agreement is found between the experimental and the theoretical magic numbers.

Metástasis cutáneas por leiomiosarcoma / Skin metastases from leiomyosarcoma

Los leiomiosarcomas son tumores malignos poco frecuentes. Existen pocos casos publicados con metástasis cutáneas. Se comunica el caso de un varón de 47 años diagnosticado de leiomiosarcoma en muslo derecho que desarrolló metástasis cutáneas en cuero cabelludo y cara (AU)

Retículo pigmentado negativo en un nevus melanocítico en crecimiento / Negative pigment networt in a growing melanocytic nevus

Durante el seguimiento de una paciente con múltiples nevus melanocíticos se detectó una lesión pigmentada con crecimiento focal. El examen dermoscópico reveló en el área en crecimiento una zona ligeramente azulada y un sector con un retículo pigmentado negativo. En el diagnóstico diferencial se consideró la posibilidad de melanoma incipiente. El estudio histológico mostró en el área en crecimiento un nevus compuesto con atipia arquitectural pero sin atipia citológica (AU)

Aspergilosis en el trasplante pulmonar / Aspergillosis in lung transplantation

Fundamento: Las infecciones por hongos son una causa frecuente de morbimortalidad en los receptores de trasplante. Aspergillus spp. es un hongo ubicuo, capaz de producir diversas entidades clínicas con diferente gravedad. Objetivo: Estudiar la incidencia y gravedad de las infecciones por Aspergillus spp. en el trasplante pulmonar, analizando los diferentes cuadros clínicos y la respuesta a los fármacos antifúngicos. Métodos: Hemos revisado las historias clínicas de todos los pacientes con trasplante pulmonar y cultivos positivos para Aspergillus spp., realizados en nuestro centro entre junio de 1991 y diciembre de 1996. Resultados: Once de 49 pacientes trasplantados (22 por ciento) han desarrollado infección por Aspergillus spp. Cuatro pacientes presentaron aspergilosis invasiva y siete diferentes formas de traqueobronquitis. Han fallecido, como consecuencia directa de la infección, 3 pacientes con aspergilosis invasiva (30 por ciento), a pesar del tratamiento antifúngico. Los 7 pacientes con traqueobronquitis respondieron al tratamiento antifúngico. A pesar de la profilaxis con itraconazol, 3 pacientes (10,3 por ciento) desarrollaron infecciones por Aspergillus spp. Conclusión: La aspergilosis invasiva en el postrasplante inmediato fue mortal a pesar del tratamiento. Contrariamente, las diferentes formas de traqueobronquitis aspergilar se han resuelto con tratamiento combinado con anfotericina B liposomal o lipídica intravenosa, itraconazol y anfotericina nebulizada (AU)