Supervised exercise therapy versus laser-guided exercise therapy on postural control in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Among the most effective therapeutic interventions in non-specific chronic low back pain, clinical practice guidelines highlight exercise therapy and patient education. However, the variability in the type of exercise and its dosage means that there is no clear evidence regarding the most optimal form of therapeutic exercise. AIM: The main objective of this study was to ascertain the effects produced by two different exercise interventions (supervised exercise therapy and laser-guided exercise therapy) and pain neuroscience education on postural control measured by the displacement center of pressure (CoP) and energy spectral density (ESD) in subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain. DESIGN: This is a single-blinded randomized clinical comparative controlled trial. SETTING: The study was carried out in different private physiotherapy care centers. POPULATION: We enrolled 60 subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain of at least 3-month duration, aged 18-45 years. METHODS: Both groups performed a total of 16 therapeutic exercise sessions and 8 pain neuroscience education sessions, with the laser-guided exercise therapy group performing laser-guided exercises. The main outcome measures evaluated were ESD and displacement of CoP measured at 3 different times (baseline, post-treatment, and 3 month follow-up). RESULTS: The most important differences for ESD and displacement of CoP variables were obtained for eyes open, unstable surface anteroposterior axis (F(2,92)=7.36, P=0.001, d=0.71) and eyes closed, stable surface mediolateral axis (F(2,92)=3.24, P<0.001, d=0.76). Further, time × group interactions showed significant statistical differences in both cases as well as significant differences between baseline and 3 month's follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both exercise modalities (supervised exercise therapy and laser-guided exercise therapy) showed changes in variables related to postural control (displacement of CoP and ESD). However, the laser-guided exercise therapy program showed greater improvements in ESD. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Analysis of a new approach for the quantification of data obtained from postural control assessment relying on widely used devices (accelerometers and pressure platforms).

Pulmonary injury as a predictor of cerebral hypoxia in traumatic brain injury: from physiology to physiopathology.

Traumatic brain injury is caused by mechanical forces impacting the skull and its internal structures and constitutes one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Clinically, severe traumatic brain injury is associated with the development of acute lung injury and so far, few studies have evaluated the cellular, molecular and immunological mechanisms involved in this pathophysiological process. Knowing and investigating these mechanisms allows us to correlate pulmonary injury as a predictor of cerebral hypoxia in traumatic brain injury and to use this finding in decision making during clinical practice. This review aims to provide evidence on the importance of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury-acute lung injury, and thus confirm its role as a predictor of cerebral hypoxia, helping to establish an appropriate therapeutic strategy to improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality.

COVID-19 in elderly kidney transplant recipients.

The SARS-Cov-2 infection disease (COVID-19) pandemic has posed at risk the kidney transplant (KT) population, particularly the elderly recipients. From March 12 until April 4, 2020, we diagnosed COVID-19 in 16 of our 324 KT patients aged ≥65 years old (4.9%). Many of them had had contact with healthcare facilities in the month prior to infection. Median time of symptom onset to admission was 7 days. All presented with fever and all but one with pneumonia. Up to 33% showed renal graft dysfunction. At infection diagnosis, mTOR inhibitors or mycophenolate were withdrawn. Tacrolimus was withdrawn in 70%. The main treatment combination was hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. A subset of patients was treated with anti-retroviral and tocilizumab. Short-term fatality rate was 50% at a median time since admission of 3 days. Those who died were more frequently obese, frail, and had underlying heart disease. Although a higher respiratory rate was observed at admission in nonsurvivors, symptoms at presentation were similar between both groups. Patients who died were more anemic, lymphopenic, and showed higher D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and IL-6 at their first tests. COVID-19 is frequent among the elderly KT population and associates a very early and high mortality rate.

[Use of the aluminum phosphate-binders in hemodialysis in the ultrapure water era]. / Uso de captores alumínicos en hemodiálisis en la era del agua ultrapura.

INTRODUCTION: Aluminium binder has been ill-advised, but his use remain applicable in the clinique practice in very seleccionated and particular patients. The repercussion of prolonged treatment with low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders in haemodialysis was studied. The haemodialysis unit had a double osmosis inverse and the aluminium levels in haemodialysis liquid was less than 2 micrograms/liter. METHODS: 41 patients of the 295 on haemodialysis received aluminium phosphate-binders since the 2005 January to the 2007 November. The mean time of treatment was 17.8 months, and the doses was 3.9 tablets day (mean of 463 grams in the studied period). The association of low doses of aluminium phosphate-binders permitted a better control of phosphorus (6.8 to 4.8 mg/dl; p<0.0001), with a reduction of the others phosphate-binders: sevelamer (10.4 a 8 tablets/day; p<0.0001) and calcium phosphate-binders (4.6 to 3.1 tablets/day; p<0.0001). The serum aluminium increased after the aluminium treatment (6.8 to 13.8 mcg/l; p<0.0001), and no toxicity indirect signs were observed on CMV, haemoglobin, none PTH. Five patients (12.1%) reached aluminium serum levels higher 20 mcg/l, and none reached the 40 mcg/l. CONCLUSIONS: The aluminium phosphate-binders were effective, economical and, now, with an apparent better security profile than in a previous time, but it is very important to be careful with this use and to follow a vigilance strict on patients and haemodialysis liquid.

Consequences of the implementation of K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease in a population of patients on chronic hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: After application of K/DOQI recommendations, a large proportion of our patients failed to reach the proposed targets. This study examined the causes of these findings. METHODS: Patients (n=163) were compared in 2 periods (8 months before and after application of K/DOQI guidelines). Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium x phosphate product (Ca x P); mean dialysate Ca content; mean doses of vitamin D; and average prescription of Ca-based phosphate binders and sevelamer in both periods were analyzed. RESULTS: Prescription of Ca salts as phosphate-binding agents decreased and prescription of sevelamer increased in an attempt to maintain serum Ca levels between 8.4 and 9.5 mg/dL post-K/DOQI. Increased serum PTH levels were associated with decreased serum Ca levels (relative risk [RR] = 41.1, p<0.001) and increased serum P levels (RR=6.81, p<0.01). Use of dialysis fluids with Ca content of 2.5 mEq/L was associated with an increased risk of having PTH levels >300 pg/mL (RR=11.4, p<0.003). Vitamin D metabolites had to be discontinued in 26 patients (37.1% of those receiving them from study start) due to hyperphosphoremia or hypercalcemia post-K/DOQI; and serum PTH significantly increased (445.8 +/- 238.2 pg/mL vs. 715.2 +/- 549.5 pg/mL; p<0.001). Ninety-three patients (57%) did not receive vitamin D at study start; in 20 of those (21.5%), vitamin D had to be started post-K/DOQI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical guidelines do not appear to be sufficient to overcome all difficulties arising in daily management of these patients.