Prognostic Relevance of Preoperative Immune, Inflammatory, and Nutritional Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy for Resectable Gastric Adenocarcinoma: An Observational Multicentre Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate different preoperative immune, inflammatory, and nutritional scores and their best cut-off values as predictors of poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients who underwent curative gastric cancer resection. Methods: This was a retrospective observational multicentre study based on data of the Spanish EURECCA Esophagogastric Cancer Registry. Time-dependent Youden index and log-rank test were used to obtain the best cut-offs of 18 preoperative biomarkers for OS and DFS. An adjusted Cox model with variables selected by bootstrapping was used to identify the best preoperative biomarkers, which were also analysed for every TNM stage. Results: High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high monocyte systemic inflammation index (moSII), and low prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were identified as independent predictors of poor outcome: NLR > 5.91 (HR:1.73; 95%CI [1.23-2.43]), moSII >2027.12 (HR:2.26; 95%CI [1.36-3.78]), and PNI >40.31 (HR:0.75; 95%CI [0.58-0.96]) for 5-year OS and NLR > 6.81 (HR:1.75; 95%CI [1.24-2.45]), moSII > 2027.12 (HR:2.46; 95%CI [1.49-4.04]), and PNI > 40.31 (HR:0.77; 95%CI [0.60,0.97]) for 5-year DFS. These outcomes were maintained in the whole cohort for NLR and moSII (p < 0.05) but not in stage II and for PNI in all tumoral stages. The associations of NLR-PNI and moSII-PNI were also a relevant prognostic factor for OS. Conclusions: High NLR, high moSII (for stages I and III), and low PNI (regardless of tumour stage) were the most promising preoperative biomarkers to predict poor OS and DFS in gastric cancer patients treated with curative intent.

Cost analysis of a patient blood management program for patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery.

Patient Blood Management (PBM) programs have probed to reduce blood transfusions and postoperative complications following gastric cancer resection, but evidence on their economic benefit is scarce. A recent prospective interventional study of our group described a reduction in transfusions, infectious complications and length of stay after implementation of a multicenter PBM program in patients undergoing elective gastric cancer resection with curative intent. The aim of the present study was to analyze the economic impact associated with these clinical benefits. The mean [and 95% CI] of total healthcare cost per patient was lower (-1955 [-3764, -119] €) after the PBM program implementation. The main drivers of this reduction were the hospital stay (-1847 [-3161, -553] €), blood transfusions (-100 [-145, -56] €), and post-operative complications (-162 [-718, 411] €). Total societal cost was reduced by -2243 [-4244, -210] € per patient. These findings highlight the potential economic benefit of PBM strategies.

Simultaneous Treatment of Complex Incisional Hernia and Stoma Reversal.

Purpose: The simultaneous repair of incisional hernias (IH) and the reconstruction of the intestinal transit may pose a challenge for many surgeons. Collaboration between units specialized in abdominal wall and colorectal surgery can favor simultaneous treatment. Methods: Descriptive study of patients undergoing simultaneous surgery of complex IH repair and intestinal transit reconstruction from the start of treatment in a joint team. All interventions were performed electively and with the collaboration of surgeons experts in abdominal wall and colorectal surgery. Results: 23 patients are included. 11 end colostomies, 1 loop colostomy, 6 end ileostomies and 5 loop ileostomies. Seven (30%) patients presented with a medial laparotomy incisional hernia, 3 (13%) with a parastomal incisional hernia, and 13 (56%) with a medial and parastomal incisional hernia. Closure of the hernial defect was achieved in 100% of cases, and reconstruction of the intestinal tract was achieved in 22 (95%). Component separation was required in 17 patients (74%), which were 11 (48%) posterior and 6 (26%) anterior. In-hospital morbidity was 9%, and only two patients presented Clavien-Dindo morbidity > III when requiring reoperation, one due to hemorrhage of the surgical bed and another due to dehiscence of the coloproctostomy. The mean follow-up was 11 months, with 20 (87%) patients having no complications. Mesh had to be removed in one patient with anastomotic dehiscence, no mesh had to be removed due to surgical site infection.

Use of failure-to-rescue after emergency surgery as a dynamic indicator of hospital resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multicenter retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical failure-to-rescue (FTR, death rate following complications) is a reliable cross-sectional quality of care marker, but has not been evaluated dynamically. We aimed to study changes in FTR following emergency surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Matched cohort study including all COVID-19-non-infected adult patients undergoing emergency general surgery in 25 Spanish hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic peak (March-April 2020), non-peak (May-June 2020), and 2019 control periods. A propensity score-matched comparative analysis was conducted using a logistic regression model, in which period was regressed on observed baseline characteristics. Subsequently, a mixed effects logistic regression model was constructed for each variable of interest. Main variable was FTR. Secondary variables were post-operative complications, readmissions, reinterventions, and length of stay. RESULTS: 5003 patients were included (948, 1108, and 2947 in the pandemic peak, non-peak, and control periods), with comparable clinical characteristics, prognostic scores, complications, reintervention, rehospitalization rates, and length of stay across periods. FTR was greater during the pandemic peak than during non-peak and pre-pandemic periods (22.5% vs. 17.2% and 12.7%), being this difference confirmed in adjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] 2.13, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.27-3.66). There was sensible inter-hospital variability in FTR changes during the pandemic peak (median FTR change +8.77%, IQR 0-29.17%) not observed during the pandemic non-peak period (median FTR change 0%, IQR -6.01-6.72%). Greater FTR increase was associated with higher COVID-19 incidence (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.31-4.16) and some hospital characteristics, including tertiary level (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.27-8.00), medium-volume (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.14-7.34), and high basal-adjusted complication risk (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.07-4.72). CONCLUSION: FTR following emergency surgery experienced a heterogeneous increase during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting it to behave as an indicator of hospital resilience. FTR monitoring could facilitate identification of centres in special needs during ongoing health care challenges.

Machine Learning Risk Prediction Model of 90-day Mortality After Gastrectomy for Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a risk prediction model of 90-day mortality (90DM) using machine learning in a large multicenter cohort of patients undergoing gastric cancer resection with curative intent. BACKGROUND: The 90DM rate after gastrectomy for cancer is a quality of care indicator in surgical oncology. There is a lack of well-validated instruments for personalized prognosis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent potentially curative gastrectomy between 2014 and 2021 registered in the Spanish EURECCA Esophagogastric Cancer Registry database were included. The 90DM for all causes was the study outcome. Preoperative clinical characteristics were tested in four 90DM predictive models: Cross Validated Elastic regularized logistic regression method (cv-Enet), boosting linear regression (glmboost), random forest, and an ensemble model. Performance was evaluated using the area under the curve by 10-fold cross-validation. RESULTS: A total of 3182 and 260 patients from 39 institutions in 6 regions were included in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. The 90DM rate was 5.6% and 6.2%, respectively. The random forest model showed the best discrimination capacity with a validated area under the curve of 0.844 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.841-0.848] as compared with cv-Enet (0.796, 95% CI: 0.784-0.808), glmboost (0.797, 95% CI: 0.785-0.809), and ensemble model (0.847, 95% CI: 0.836-0.858) in the development cohort. Similar discriminative capacity was observed in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: A robust clinical model for predicting the risk of 90DM after surgery of gastric cancer was developed. Its use may aid patients and surgeons in making informed decisions.

Textbook outcome and survival after gastric cancer resection with curative intent: A population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: The concept of textbook outcome (TO) has been proposed for analyzing quality of surgical care. This study assessed the incidence of TO among patients undergoing curative gastric cancer resection, predictors for TO achievement, and the association of TO with survival. METHOD: All patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers undergoing curative gastrectomy between January 2014-December 2017 were identified from a population-based database (Spanish EURECCA Registry). TO included: macroscopically complete resection at the time of operation, R0 resection, ≥15 lymph nodes removed and examined, no serious postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥II), no re-intervention, hospital stay ≤14 days, no 30-day readmissions and no 90-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to assess the adjusted achievement of TO. Cox survival regression was used to compare conditional adjusted survival across groups. RESULTS: In total, 1293 patients were included, and TO was achieved in 541 patients (41.1%). Among the criteria, "macroscopically complete resection" had the highest compliance (96.5%) while "no serious complications" had the lowest compliance (63.7%). Age (OR 0.53 for the 65-74 years and OR 0.34 for the ≥75 years age group), Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.34-0.82), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR 0.24, 95%CI 0.08-0.70), multivisceral resection (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.33-0.91), and surgery performed in a community hospital (OR 0.65, CI95% 0.46-0.91) were independently associated with not achieving TO. TO was independently associated with conditional survival (HR 0.67, 95%CI 0.55-0.83). CONCLUSION: TO was achieved in 41.1% of patients who underwent gastric cancer resection with curative intent and was associated with longer survival.

Prevention of Incisional Hernia after Open Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Most hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) procedures are still performed through open approach. Incisional hernia (IH) is one of the most common complications after open surgery. To date, published data on IH after HPB surgery are scarce; therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the current evidence regarding incidence, risk factors, and prevention. METHODS: Medline/PubMed (1946-2020), EMBASE (1947-2020), and the Cochrane library (1995-2020) were searched for studies on IH in open HPB surgery. Animal studies, editorials, letters, reviews, comments, short case series and liver transplant, laparoscopic, or robotic procedures were excluded. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020163296). RESULTS: A total of 5,079 articles were retrieved. Eight studies were finally included for the analysis. The incidence of IH after HPB surgery ranges from 7.7% to 38.8%. The identified risk factors were body mass index, surgical site infection, ascites, Mercedes or reversed T incisions, and previous IH. Prophylactic mesh might be safe and effective. CONCLUSIONS: IH after open HPB surgery is still an important matter. Some of the risk factors are specific for the HPB operations and the incision type should be carefully considered. Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the role of prophylactic mesh after HPB operations.

Effect of Perioperative Blood Transfusions and Infectious Complications on Inflammatory Activation and Long-Term Survival Following Gastric Cancer Resection.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of perioperative blood transfusion and infectious complications on postoperative changes of inflammatory markers, as well as on disease-free survival (DFS) in patients undergoing curative gastric cancer resection. Methods: Multicenter cohort study in all patients undergoing gastric cancer resection with curative intent. Patients were classified into four groups based on their perioperative course: one, no blood transfusion and no infectious complication; two, blood transfusion; three, infectious complication; four, both transfusion and infectious complication. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was determined at diagnosis, immediately before surgery, and 10 days after surgery. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the relationship of perioperative group and dynamic changes of NLR with disease-free survival. Results: 282 patients were included, 181 in group one, 23 in group two, 55 in group three, and 23 in group four. Postoperative NLR changes showed progressive increase in the four groups. Univariate analysis showed that NLR change > 2.6 had a significant association with DFS (HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.06−2.26; p = 0.025), which was maintained in multivariate analysis (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.14−2.46; p = 0.009). Perioperative classification was an independent predictor of DFS, with a progressive difference from group one: group two, HR 0.80 (95% CI: 0.40−1.61; p = 0.540); group three, HR 1.42 (95% CI: 0.88−2.30; p = 0.148), group four, HR 2.85 (95% CI: 1.64−4.95; p = 0.046). Conclusions: Combination of perioperative blood transfusion and infectious complications following gastric cancer surgery was related to greater NLR increase and poorer DFS. These findings suggest that perioperative blood transfusion and infectious complications may have a synergic effect creating a pro-inflammatory activation that favors tumor recurrence.

P-POSSUM as mortality predictor in COVID-19-infected patients submitted to emergency digestive surgery. A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is associated with a higher mortality rate in surgical patients, but surgical risk scores have not been validated in the emergency setting. We aimed to study the capacity for postoperative mortality prediction of the P-POSSUM score in COVID-19-positive patients submitted to emergency general and digestive surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing emergency general and digestive surgery from March to June 2020, and from March to June 2019 in 25 Spanish hospitals were included in a retrospective cohort study. MAIN OUTCOME: 30-day mortality. P-POSSUM discrimination was quantified by the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curves; calibration was assessed by linear regression slope (ß estimator); and sensitivity and specificity were expressed as percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: 4988 patients were included: 177 COVID-19-positive; 2011 intra-pandemic COVID-19-negative; and 2800 pre-pandemic. COVID-19-positive patients were older, with higher surgical risk, more advanced pathologies, and higher P-POSSUM values (1.79% vs. 1.09%, p < 0.001, in both the COVID-19-negative and control cohort). 30-day mortality in the COVID-19-positive, intra-pandemic COVID-19-negative and pre-pandemic cohorts were: 12.9%, 4.6%, and 3.2%. The P-POSSUM predictive values in the three cohorts were, respectively: AUC 0.88 (95% CI 0.81-0.95), 0.89 (95% CI 0.87-0.92), and 0.91 (95% CI 0.88-0.93); ß value 0.97 (95% CI 0.74-1.2), 0.99 (95% CI 0.82-1.16), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.82); sensitivity 83% (95% CI 61-95), 91% (95% CI 84-96), and 89% (95% CI 80-94); and specificity 81% (95% CI 74-87), 76% (95% CI 74-78), and 80% (95% CI 79-82). CONCLUSION: The P-POSSUM score showed a good predictive capacity for postoperative mortality in COVID-19-positive patients submitted to emergency general and digestive surgery.

Improved postoperative outcomes and reduced transfusion rates after implementation of a Patient Blood Management program in gastric cancer surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer patients are often transfused with red blood cells, with negative impact on postoperative course. This multicenter prospective interventional cohort study aimed to determine whether implementation of a Patient Blood Management (PBM) program, was associated with a decrease in transfusion rate and improvements in clinical outcomes in gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: We compared transfusion practices and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing elective gastric cancer resection before and after implementing a PBM program, including strategies to detect and treat anemia and restrictive transfusion practice (2014-2018). Primary outcome was transfusion rate (TR). Secondary outcomes were complications, reoperations, length of stay, readmissions, 90-day mortality and failure-to-rescue. Differences were adjusted by confounding factors. RESULTS: Some 789 patients were included (496 pre- and 293 post-PBM). TR decreased from 39.1% to 27.0% (adjusted difference -9.1, 95% CI -15.2 to -2.9), being reduction particularly significant in patients with anemia, ASA score 3-4, locally advanced tumors, undergoing open surgery and total gastrectomy. Infectious complications diminished from 25% to 16.4% (-6.1, 95%CI -11.5 to -0.7), reoperations from 8.1% to 6.1% (-2.2, 95%CI -5.1 to +0.6), median length of stay from 11 [IQR 8-18] to 8 [7-12] days (p < 0.001), hospital readmission from 14.1% to 8.9% (-5.4, 95%CI -9.6 to -1.1), mortality from 7.9% to 4.8% (-2.4, 95%CI -4.7 to -0.01), and failure-to rescue from 62.7% to 32.7% (-23.1, 95%CI -37.7 to -8.5). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a PBM program was associated with a reduction in transfusion rate and improvement in postoperative outcomes in gastric cancer patients undergoing curative resection.

Conducta transfusional perioperatoria en la cirugía del cáncer gástrico: análisis del registro del grupo español EURECCA de cáncer esófago-gástrico / Perioperative transfusion management in gastric cancer surgery: Analysis of the Spanish subset of the EURECCA oesophago-gastric cancer registry

INTRODUCCIÓN: Este estudio evaluó la tasa de transfusión de concentrados de hematíes alogénicos (TCHA) en la cirugía de resección del cáncer gástrico y la difusión de los protocolos de ahorro transfusional (PAT). MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de todos los pacientes operados por adenocarcinoma gástrico con intención curativa en Cataluña y Navarra (2011-2013) e incluidos en el registro del grupo español EURECCA de cáncer esófago-gástrico. Los hospitales con PAT disponían de un circuito de optimización preoperatoria de la hemoglobina (Hb) y de política transfusional restrictiva. Los factores predictores de TCHA se identificaron mediante una regresión logística multinomial. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 652 pacientes, 274 (42%) de los cuales recibieron TCHA. Seis de los 19 hospitales disponían de PAT (22% de los pacientes). La Hb baja al diagnóstico (10 vs. 12,4 g/dL), una puntuación ASA III/IV, pT3-4, la cirugía abierta, la resección visceral asociada y haber sido atendido en un hospital sin PAT fueron factores predictores de TCHA, con la Hb baja, la resección visceral asociada y la intervención en un centro sin PAT persistiendo como predictores en el análisis multivariante. Hubo un mayor porcentaje de uso de hierro en el preoperatorio (26,2 vs. 13,2%) y un menor porcentaje de transfusiones (31,7 vs. 45%) en los hospitales con PAT. CONCLUSIONES: La tasa transfusional en la cirugía del cáncer gástrico fue del 42%. Los PAT resultaron eficaces pero su implementación fue solo del 22%. La Hb baja, la intervención en un centro sin PAT y la resección visceral asociada fueron predictores de transfusión

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated allogenic packed red blood cell (aPRBC) transfusion rates in patients undergoing resection for gastric cancer and the implementation of blood-saving protocols (BSP). METHODS: Retrospective study of all gastric cancer patients operated on with curative intent in Catalonia and Navarra (2011-2013) and included in the Spanish subset of the EURECCA Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Registry. Hospitals with BSP were defined as those with a preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) optimisation circuit associated with restrictive transfusion strategies. Predictors of aPRBC transfusion were identified by multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 652 patients were included, 274 (42.0%) of which received aPRBC transfusion. Six of the 19 participating hospitals had BSP and treated 145 (22.2%) patients. Low Hb level at diagnosis (10 vs 12.4g/dL), ASA score III/IV, pT3-4, open surgery, associated visceral resection, and having being operated on in a hospital without BSP were predictors of aPRBC transfusion, while low Hb level, associated visceral resection, and non-BSP hospital remained predictors in the multivariate analysis. In case of comparable risk factors for aPRBC transfusion, there was a higher use of preoperative intravenous iron treatment (26.2% vs 13.2%) and a lower percentage of transfusions (31.7% vs 45%) in hospitals with BSP. CONCLUSIONS:The perioperative transfusion rate in gastric cancer was 42%. Hospitals with BSP showed a significant reduction of blood transfusions but treated only 22% of patients. Main predictors of aPRBC were low Hb level, associated visceral resection, and undergoing surgery at a hospital without BSP

Perioperative transfusion management in gastric cancer surgery: Analysis of the Spanish subset of the EURECCA oesophago-gastric cancer registry. / Conducta transfusional perioperatoria en la cirugía del cáncer gástrico: análisis del registro del grupo español EURECCA de cáncer esófago-gástrico.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated allogenic packed red blood cell (aPRBC) transfusion rates in patients undergoing resection for gastric cancer and the implementation of blood-saving protocols (BSP). METHODS: Retrospective study of all gastric cancer patients operated on with curative intent in Catalonia and Navarra (2011-2013) and included in the Spanish subset of the EURECCA Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Registry. Hospitals with BSP were defined as those with a preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) optimisation circuit associated with restrictive transfusion strategies. Predictors of aPRBC transfusion were identified by multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 652 patients were included, 274 (42.0%) of which received aPRBC transfusion. Six of the 19 participating hospitals had BSP and treated 145 (22.2%) patients. Low Hb level at diagnosis (10 vs 12.4g/dL), ASA score III/IV, pT3-4, open surgery, associated visceral resection, and having being operated on in a hospital without BSP were predictors of aPRBC transfusion, while low Hb level, associated visceral resection, and non-BSP hospital remained predictors in the multivariate analysis. In case of comparable risk factors for aPRBC transfusion, there was a higher use of preoperative intravenous iron treatment (26.2% vs 13.2%) and a lower percentage of transfusions (31.7% vs 45%) in hospitals with BSP. CONCLUSIONS: The perioperative transfusion rate in gastric cancer was 42%. Hospitals with BSP showed a significant reduction of blood transfusions but treated only 22% of patients. Main predictors of aPRBC were low Hb level, associated visceral resection, and undergoing surgery at a hospital without BSP.

Negative-pressure therapy in the postoperative treatment of incisional hernioplasty wounds: a pilot study.

Negative pressure therapy has proven useful in the treatment of the complex complications of surgical wounds. In this pilot study, the authors found that the negative pressure system can be used safely in the postoperative period of incisional hernia surgery and reduces the number of days of drainage.

Treatment of the open abdomen with topical negative pressure therapy: a retrospective study of 46 cases.

The open abdomen is an ongoing challenge for professionals engaged in its treatment. The change in the integrity of the abdominal wall, the loss of fluids, heat and proteins and contamination of the wound are the main problems. The objective of this article is to describe our experience using the abdominal dressing vacuum-assisted closure therapy in treatment of the open abdomen. Since December 2006, all patients requiring treatment with the open abdomen technique have been treated with the abdominal dressing system and vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VAC(®) KCI, San Antonio, USA). The results obtained with this technique in non traumatic patients are analysed herein. The abdominal dressing system was used on 46 patients in the period between January 2006 and December 2009, with a mean 63 years old (29-80), with a gender distribution of 33 men (72%) and 13 women (28%). Closure of the abdominal wall was possible in 24 patients, 5 of which were primary in the recent postoperative phase, 5 had primary suture of the fascia and application of the supra-aponeurotic prosthesis and 14 had closure of the abdominal wall with a composite polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polypropylene mesh. Second intention closure took place in the remaining 22 patients (48%), as their conditions did not allow primary closure. The mean treatment time with abdominal dressing was 26 days (6-92) with an average of eight changes per patient. The abdominal dressing topical negative pressure system is a useful option for consideration in the event of needing to leaves the abdomen open. It stabilises the abdominal wall and quantifies and collects exudate from the wound, protects the intra-abdominal viscera and keeps the fascia intact and the cutaneous plane for subsequent closure of the wall.

LMNA messenger RNA expression in highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-positive patients.

The LMNA gene encodes for lamins A and C as major products, which are involved in nuclear stability, chromatin structure, and gene expression. Several LMNA mutations cause an insulin-resistant lipodystrophy that shares features with HIV-related lipodystrophy. Some HIV-treatment agents alter lamin A/C maturation, organization, and stability in 3T3-L1. We aimed to test the hypothesis that human adipose tissue LMNA expression can be altered in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated HIV-positive patients with lipodystrophy. We have also analyzed both isoforms and explored if their expression is associated with insulin resistance or inflammation in these patients. A cross-sectional study that analyzed abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue from 39 treated HIV-positive patients (25 of whom had lipodystrophy) and 21 uninfected control subjects was performed. We have observed lower levels of lamin A isoform but normal levels of lamin C isoform in all HIV-infected patients, irrespective of the presence or absence of lipodystrophy, which reinforces the idea that an altered lamin A/C ratio could reflect a pathogenic condition. We have also found a correlation between LMNA adipose expression and several cytokine and adipogenic gene markers in HIV-positive patients, regardless of the presence or absence of lipodystrophy. Hence, in the present study, the lower lamin A expression observed in HIV-positive patients is related to HIV itself or to treatments rather than to the presence of lipodystrophy.