Prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis without/with nasal polyps according to severity in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence range of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is 5-12%; from this, 20 % have nasal polyps. Due to the little epidemiological data about CRS in the Spanish population, this study analyses the prevalence and severity of CRS with (CRSwNP) or without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps, and their connection with other coexisting type 2 inflammatory diseases in Spain. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective, large-scale, nationwide, epidemiological study based on the electronic medical records from the BIG-PAC® database. Patients diagnosed of CRSsNP and CRSwNP were identified using specific disease codes. The severe form of the disease was defined as patients who received at least a long course of antibiotics in CRSsNP or ≥2 short courses of systemic corticosteroids in CRSwNP in ≤12 months during the last 2 years, and/or had previous sinus surgery. Physician-diagnosed prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and disease severity were assessed. RESULTS: Out of a cohort of 1,012,257 patients (≥18 years old), 42,863 and 7,550 patients with diagnosed CRSsNP and CRSwNP, respectively, were analysed. The overall prevalence of diagnosed CRS was 5.1%, being 4.3% and 0.8% for CRSsNP and CRSwNP, respectively. Patients with CRSwNP and severe forms of the disease were older and had higher levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers than CRSsNP patients and non-severe disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although CRSsNP was more prevalent than CRSwNP, the severe forms of CRS were more frequent in patients with CRSwNP. In addition, CRSwNP patients had a higher incidence of coexisting type 2 inflammatory diseases.

[Knowledge about Biosimilars in Primary Care: a study by the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN)]. / Conocimiento sobre biosimilares en Atención Primaria: Un estudio de la Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN).

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness and training needs on biosimilar drugs in Primary Care (PC) physicians. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study based on an on-line questionnaire with a total of 34 multiple choice questions, published on the SEMERGEN website. The main Knowledge areas were: biosimilar definition; regulatory and legal framework; prescription, traceability, interchangeability and pharmacovigilance; availability of biosimilars in the PC setting, and the biosimilars contribution to sustainability. The software used for the analysis and data processing was the Barbwin 7.5. RESULTS: An analysis was performed on the responses from 701 questionnaires completed. There was a slight majority (57%) of women participants. The majority of participant worked in urban centres (60.91%). The definition of biosimilar was not known by 58% of those that responded, and 73% were unaware that the management of biosimilars and generics was not comparable. Most (84%) of those that responded were not aware that the studies required for the approval of biosimilars is different from reference biological medicines. Around two-thirds (66%) those that responded did not know of any biosimilars available in PC setting, and the 94% were also unaware of the Spanish legal framework for the management of biosimilar medicines. CONCLUSIONS: The current knowledge about biosimilars among PC physicians is low. The critical areas in need of further training include specific information on biosimilars currently available in PC setting, as well as key aspects regarding prescription, interchangeability and pharmacovigilance requirements. Six out of ten doctors do not know of any biosimilar used in PC in Spain.

[Intravenous drugs infusion safety through smart pumps]. / Seguridad en la administración intravenosa de medicamentos mediante bombas de infusión inteligentes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of smart infusion pumps in reducing errors related with the administration of intravenous medications. METHOD: Retrospective, observational study analyzing the implementation of a system with smart intravenous infusion pumps (Hospira MedNetTM) and the role of the safety system for the detection of errors during the administration of drugs, sera, and blood. We included infusions administered at the day-care hospitals of hematology, oncology, rheumatology, and oncopediatrics. We analyzed adherence to the safety system, the number of programming errors detected, the commonly implicated drugs in these errors, and improvement actions. RESULTS: During the study period, 120 smart pumps were implemented and data on 70,028 infusions were gathered. The rate of adherence to the safety program was 62.30% in hematology (6,887 infusions), 60,30% in oncology (28,127 infusions), 46,50% in rheumatology (1,950 infusions) and 1.8% in oncopediatrics (139 infusions). 3,481 out of the established limits programming alerts were generated by the pumps: 2,716 of relative limit and 765 of absolute limit. En 807 infusions (2.17%), errors that could have had consequences for the patients could be prevented. These findings allowed implementing a series of strategies aimed at minimizing these errors in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The Hospira MedNetTM system detects deviations from the established protocols of intravenous infusion, preventing in this way potential adverse events for the patients. It also allows establishing correction measures and implementing the improvement strategies.

OBJETIVO: Analizar el papel de las bombas de infusión inteligentes en la reducción de errores relacionados con la administración de medicación intravenosa. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo que analiza la implementación de un sistema de bombas inteligentes de infusión intravenosa (Hospira MedNetTM) y el papel de este sistema de seguridad en la detección de errores en la fase de administración de fármacos, sueros y sangre. Se incluyeron infusiones administradas en los hospitales de día de hematología, oncología, reumatología y oncopediatría. Se analizó la adherencia al sistema de seguridad, el número de errores de programación detectados, los fármacos comúnmente implicados en estos errores y las acciones de mejora. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de estudio se implementaron 120 bombas inteligentes y se recogieron los datos de 70.028 infusiones. La adherencia al programa de seguridad fue del 62,30% en hematología (6.887 infusiones), del 60,30% en oncología (28.127 infusiones), del 46,50% en reumatología (1.950 infusiones) y del 1,8% en oncopediatría (139 infusiones). Se notificaron 3481 alertas por programación de las bombas fuera de los límites establecidos: 2716 de límite relativo y 765 de límite absoluto. En 807 infusiones (2,17%), se evitaron errores que podrían haber tenido consecuencias para los pacientes. Gracias a estos hallazgos, se implementaron una serie de estrategias con objeto de minimizar dichos errores en el futuro. CONCLUSIONES: El sistema Hospira MedNetTM intercepta desviaciones con respecto a los protocolos establecidos en la infusión intravenosa, evitando potenciales efectos adversos a pacientes. También permite establecer medidas correctoras e implementar estrategias de mejora.

A method for the purification of phospho(Tyr)calmodulin free of nonphosphorylated calmodulin.

Phosphocalmodulin has been shown to have a differential biological activity compared to nonphosphorylated calmodulin when assayed on a variety of calmodulin-dependent systems. However, the phosphocalmodulin preparations used so far in those experiments were not necessarily free of nonphosphorylated calmodulin. Therefore, the results obtained may not unquestionably show the real effect of pure phosphocalmodulin on the systems under study. To solve this problem, we describe here a method for the purification of phospho(Tyr)calmodulin free of nonphosphorylated calmodulin. The procedure consists of the following steps: (i) phosphorylation of calmodulin by a fraction enriched in epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase from rat liver isolated by calmodulin affinity chromatography, (ii) isolation of a calmodulin/phosphocalmodulin mixture by Ca(2+)-dependent chromatography in phenyl-Sepharose, (iii) purification of phospho(Tyr)calmodulin using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody immobilized in agarose upon elution with phenyl phosphate, and (iv) removal of phenyl phosphate from the phospho(Tyr)calmodulin preparation by filtration chromatography in a Bio-Gel P-2 column. The obtained phospho(Tyr)calmodulin preparation was highly pure and essentially free of nonphosphorylated calmodulin because of the use of anti-phosphotyrosine affinity chromatography. We demonstrate that this ultrapure phospho(Tyr)calmodulin preparation is totally incapable of activating the calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. In contrast, when a nonpurified phospho(Tyr)calmodulin preparation was used a partial activation of this enzyme was observed.