Metallomic Signatures of Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase LC risk. Metallomics may provide insights into both of these tobacco-related diseases and their shared etiology. We conducted an observational study of 191 human serum samples, including those of healthy controls, LC patients, COPD patients, and patients with both COPD and LC. We found 18 elements (V, Al, As, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, W, Mo, Sb, Pb, Tl, Cr, Mg, Ni, and U) in these samples. In addition, we evaluated the elemental profiles of COPD cases of varying severity. The ratios and associations between the elements were also studied as possible signatures of the diseases. COPD severity and LC have a significant impact on the elemental composition of human serum. The severity of COPD was found to reduce the serum concentrations of As, Cd, and Tl and increased the serum concentrations of Mn and Sb compared with healthy control samples, while LC was found to increase Al, As, Mn, and Pb concentrations. This study provides new insights into the effects of LC and COPD on the human serum elemental profile that will pave the way for the potential use of elements as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. It also sheds light on the potential link between the two diseases, i.e., the evolution of COPD to LC.

Changes and Clinical Consequences of Smoking Cessation in Patients With COPD: A Prospective Analysis From the CHAIN Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Despite the existing evidence-based smoking cessation interventions, chances of achieving that goal in real life are still low among patients with COPD. We sought to evaluate the clinical consequences of changes in smoking habits in a large cohort of patients with COPD. METHODS: CHAIN (COPD History Assessment in Spain) is a Spanish multicenter study carried out at pulmonary clinics including active and former smokers with COPD. Smoking status was certified by clinical history and co-oximetry. Clinical presentation and disease impact were recorded via validated questionnaires, including the London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). No specific smoking cessation intervention was carried out. Factors associated with and clinical consequences of smoking cessation were analyzed by multivariate regression and decision tree analyses. RESULTS: One thousand and eighty-one patients with COPD were included (male, 80.8%; age, 65.2 [SD 8.9] years; FEV1, 60.2 [20.5]%). During the 2-year follow-up time (visit 2, 906 patients; visit 3, 791 patients), the majority of patients maintained the same smoking habit. Decision tree analysis detected chronic expectoration as the most relevant variable to identify persistent quitters in the future, followed by an LCADL questionnaire (cutoff 9 points). Total anxiety HADS score was the most relevant clinical impact associated with giving up tobacco, followed by the LCADL questionnaire with a cutoff value of 10 points. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-life prospective COPD cohort with no specific antismoking intervention, the majority of patients did not change their smoking status. Our study also identifies baseline expectoration, anxiety, and dyspnea with daily activities as the major determinants of smoking status in COPD. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No. NCT01122758; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Clinical application of the COPD assessment test: longitudinal data from the COPD History Assessment in Spain (CHAIN) cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) has been proposed for assessing health status in COPD, but little is known about its longitudinal changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate 1-year CAT variability in patients with stable COPD and to relate its variations to changes in other disease markers. METHODS: We evaluated the following variables in smokers with and without COPD at baseline and after 1 year: CAT score, age, sex, smoking status, pack-year history, BMI, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), lung function, BODE (BMI, obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capacity) index, hospital admissions, Hospital and Depression Scale, and the Charlson comorbidity index. In patients with COPD, we explored the association of CAT scores and 1-year changes in the studied parameters. RESULTS: A total of 824 smokers with COPD and 126 without COPD were evaluated at baseline and 441 smokers with COPD and 66 without COPD 1 year later. At 1 year, CAT scores for patients with COPD were similar (± 4 points) in 56%, higher in 27%, and lower in 17%. Of note, mMRC scale scores were similar (± 1 point) in 46% of patients, worse in 36%, and better in 18% at 1 year. One-year CAT changes were best predicted by changes in mMRC scale scores (ß-coefficient, 0.47; P < .001). Similar results were found for CAT and mMRC scale score in smokers without COPD. CONCLUSIONS: One-year longitudinal data show variability in CAT scores among patients with stable COPD similar to mMRC scale score, which is the best predictor of 1-year CAT changes. Further longitudinal studies should confirm long-term CAT variability and its clinical applicability. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01122758; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Actividad física y su relación con el estado de salud en pacientes EPOC estables / Physical Activity and its Relationship with the State of Health of Stable Copd Patients

Introducción: Estudios previos han resaltado que la actividad física (AF) en la EPOC se asocia a mejorcalidad de vida y menor morbimortalidad. Nuestro objetivo ha sido conocer los hábitos de AF en la vidadiaria de pacientes EPOC estables fuera de un programa de rehabilitación respiratoria.Material y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal multicéntrico en pacientes EPOC establescontrolados ambulatoriamente por neumólogos. Para conocer el índice de AF (IAF) se utilizó elMinnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ), diferenciando según el gasto energético,los siguientes grupos: inactivos (menos de 1.000 kcal/semana), moderadamente activos (entre1.000 y 3.000 kcal/semana) y muy activos (más de 3.000 kcal/semana). Se analizó la relación entre el IAFy variables socioeconómicas, de severidad de la enfermedad y de nivel de salud de los pacientes.Resultados: Se incluyó a 132 pacientes (121 varones). Edad media: 66,3 años, FEV1 medio 45%. Un 32,6%de ellos realizaba una AF menor de 1.000 kcal/semana, un 38,6% entre 1.000 y 3.000 y el 28,8% másde 3.000. Los pacientes EPOC más inactivos, tenían mayor obstrucción bronquial, una enfermedad mássevera, referían más disnea y caminaban menos metros en el 6MWT.Conclusiones: Los pacientes EPOC estables realizan un bajo nivel de AF. Una menor AF se asocia con unpeor estado de salud y con una mayor gravedad de la enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) in COPD is associated with a betterquality of life and less morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to study the daily PA in the lives of stableCOPD patients, outside the setting of a pulmonary rehabilitation program.Material and methods: Observational, descriptive and transversal multi-center study in patients with stableCOPD controlled in an outpatient clinic by pneumologists. In order to determine the Physical ActivityIndex (PAI), the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) was used to differentiatethe following groups according to the energy expenditure: inactive (less than 1,000 kilocalories perweek), moderately active (between 1,000 and 3,000 kilocalories per week) and very active (more than3,000 kilocalories per week).Weanalyzed the relationship between PAI and disease severity, health level and socioeconomic variables of the patients. Results: A total of 132 patients (121 men) were included in the study. Mean age was 66; mean FEV1was 45%. Regarding PA, 32.6% had energy expenditures of less than 1,000 kilocalories/week, 38.6% between1,000 and 3,000 and 28.8% more than 3,000. The most inactive COPD patients had more bronchialobstruction, more severe disease, more dyspnea and walked fewer meters in the 6MWT.Conclusions: Stable COPD patients perform low levels of PA. Lower PA is associated with poorer healthand with more severe disease(AU)

[Physical activity and its relationship with the state of health of stable COPD patients]. / Actividad física y su relación con el estado de salud en pacientes EPOC estables.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) in COPD is associated with a better quality of life and less morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to study the daily PA in the lives of stable COPD patients, outside the setting of a pulmonary rehabilitation program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and transversal multi-center study in patients with stable COPD controlled in an outpatient clinic by pneumologists. In order to determine the Physical Activity Index (PAI), the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) was used to differentiate the following groups according to the energy expenditure: inactive (less than 1,000 kilocalories per week), moderately active (between 1,000 and 3,000 kilocalories per week) and very active (more than 3,000 kilocalories per week). We analyzed the relationship between PAI and disease severity, health level and socioeconomic variables of the patients. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients (121 men) were included in the study. Mean age was 66; mean FEV1 was 45%. Regarding PA, 32.6% had energy expenditures of less than 1,000 kilocalories/week, 38.6% between 1,000 and 3,000 and 28.8% more than 3,000. The most inactive COPD patients had more bronchial obstruction, more severe disease, more dyspnea and walked fewer meters in the 6MWT. CONCLUSIONS: Stable COPD patients perform low levels of PA. Lower PA is associated with poorer health and with more severe disease.

Impacto de la inmigración desde Rumanía en la tuberculosis de un área mediterránea / No disponible

Fundamento: Conocer las características de la Tuberculosis en la provincia de Castellón y analizar los cambios que ha producido en ella la llegada de la inmigración procedente de Rumanía. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de todos los casos declarados de Tuberculosis en los departamentos 2 y 3 de la Comunidad Valenciana entre los años 2004 y 2007.Resultados: Se estudiaron 306 casos, observando estabilización de casos en autóctonos y progresivo aumento en inmigrantes que en 2007 suponen el 47%, de los cuales el 64%procede de Rumanía. Los pacientes rumanos son más jóvenes (33,8 frente a 47,8 años), previamentesanos, con más proporción de mujeres (47% frente a 67%) y formas clínicas exclusivamente pleuropulmonares. Presentan elevado porcentaje de abandono de tratamiento (7,9%)y pérdidas del caso (15,8%). La tasa global de resistencias a tuberculostáticos en el total de casos ha sido del 4,5% y la de multirresistencia del 1,4%. Las resistencias en el grupo total de inmigrantes han sido del 5,15%: 1,6% en el grupo de inmigrantes rumanos y 11,4% en el grupo de inmigrantes de otras nacionalidades. Conclusiones: El fenómeno de la inmigración está modificando la dinámica de la Tuberculosis en Castellón. Se ha producido un freno en el declive de las tasas anuales de incidencia a expensas del aumento de casos en extranjeros, que en 2007 suponen el 47%, siendo en su mayoría de nacionalidad rumana (AU)

Aim: To know the characteristics of the Tuberculosis in the Castellón’s province and to analyze the changes that this has produced in because of the arrival of the immigration proceeding from Romania. Methods: Retrospective observacional study of all the declared cases of Tuberculosis in the department 2 and 3 of Castellón’s province between the year 2004 and 2007.Results: 306 cases were studied, observing stabilization of cases in autocthonous and progressive increase in immigrants who in 2007 represented 47 %, of which 64 % comes from Romania. The rumanian patients are younger (33,8 from to 47,8 years), previously healthy, with a higher women’s proportion (47% from 67%) and with clinical forms exclusively pleuropulmonars. They present a high percentage of treatment abandon (7,9%) and losses of the case(15,8%). The global rate of resistances to tuberculostáticos in the whole of cases has been 4,5%and of multirresistencia 1,4 %. In the complete group of immigrants, total resistance has been5,15%: 1,6% in the group of rumanian immigrants and 11,4% in the group of immigrants of other nationalities. Conclusions: The phenomenon of immigration is modifying the dynamics of Tuberculosis in Castellón. A brake has taken place in the decline of represented annual rates of TB mainly off the increase of cases in foreigners, who in 2007 suppose 47 %, being in the main of Rumanian nationality (AU)

Grave afectación laringotraqueal secundaria a rinoescleroma por Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. ozaenae / No disponible

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Comentarios al artículo ¿Situación actual de las resistencias de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en la población inmigrante de la Comunidad de Madrid? / On the article ¿Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from immigrants in the Community of Madrid: current assessment?

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[Impact of immigration on drug resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Castellon (Spain): 1995-2003]. / Impacto de la inmigración en las resistencias de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en la provincia de Castellón: 1995-2003.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to know the frequency of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the province of Castellon (Spain) and to determine whether immigration is associated with resistance. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All culture-positive cases diagnosed in Castellon from January 1995 to December 2003 were included in this retrospective study. Susceptibility tests were performed using the Canetti's proportion method and the MB/BacT system. Risk factors associated with tuberculosis were investigated in every case. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-four cases of tuberculosis were studied: 560 were Spaniards and 84 foreigners. The overall frequency of resistant strains was 5%. The total rate of resistance in Spaniards was 3.7% and in foreigners 13.1%. In Spanish new cases, drug resistance was 3.2% and in foreigners new cases it was 13.9%. In previously treated cases, drug resistance was 6.7% in Spaniards and 0% in immigrants. No acquired drug resistance was detected in immigrants. Of those strains with resistance, 71.9% had resistance to only one drug, 18.7% to two drugs and 9.4% to more than two drugs. Multidrug-resistance was found in 9.4% of the resistant cases, and in 0.5% of all the studied population. The presence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis was associated with the fact of having a foreign nationality (OR = 3.87; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis has been diminishing in Spanish patients in Castellon. Nevertheless, there is an important increase in the number of cases in foreigners, which is associated with a major percentage of resistances. Epidemiological vigilance efforts should especially concentrate on this group in order to support the progressive declivity of the disease.

Impacto de la inmigración en las resistencias de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en la provincia de Castellón: 1995-2003 / Impact of immigration on drug resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Castellon (Spain): 1995-2003

Fundamento y objetivo: El objetivo del presente estudio es conocer la frecuencia de las resistencias de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en la provincia de Castellón y la influencia de la inmigración en su aparición. Material y método: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo de todos los casos de tuberculosis con cultivo positivo diagnosticados en la provincia de Castellón entre enero de 1995 y diciembre de 2003 (9 años). El estudio de sensibilidad se ha llevado a cabo por el método de las proporciones de Canetti y por el sistema MB/BacT. Se ha investigado los factores de riesgo relacionados con la tuberculosis en cada uno de los casos. Resultados: Se ha estudiado 644 casos, 560 españoles y 84 extranjeros. Se ha detectado una tasa total de resistencia del 5%. En españoles, las resistencias totales han sido del 3,7% y en extranjeros, del 13,1%. En casos nuevos se ha encontrado un 3,2% de resistencias en españoles y un 13,9% en extranjeros, y en casos con tratamiento previo, un 6,7% en españoles y ninguno en inmigrantes. El 71,9% de las cepas con resistencia la tienen a 1 solo fármaco; el 18,7%, a 2, y el 9,4%, a más de 2. Los casos multirresistentes han supuesto un 9,4% de las resistencias y, con relación al total de la población estudiada, el 0,5%. De todas las variables analizadas, la única relacionada con la aparición de resistencias ha sido la nacionalidad extranjera (odds ratio [OR] = 3,87; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La tuberculosis ha ido disminuyendo entre los pacientes españoles en la provincia de Castellón. Sin embargo, se aprecia un importante aumento del número de casos entre los extranjeros, que se ha relacionado con un mayor porcentaje de resistencias. Por todo ello, creemos que la vigilancia epidemiológica debe incidir especialmente en ese colectivo, a fin de mantener el progresivo declive de la enfermedad en nuestro medio

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to know the frequency of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the province of Castellon (Spain) and to determine whether immigration is associated with resistance. Material and method: All culture-positive cases diagnosed in Castellon from January 1995 to December 2003 were included in this retrospective study. Susceptibility tests were performed using the Canetti's proportion method and the MB/BacT system. Risk factors associated with tuberculosis were investigated in every case. Results: Six hundred and forty-four cases of tuberculosis were studied: 560 were Spaniards and 84 foreigners. The overall frequency of resistant strains was 5%. The total rate of resistance in Spaniards was 3.7% and in foreigners 13.1%. In Spanish new cases, drug resistance was 3.2% and in foreigners new cases it was 13.9%. In previously treated cases, drug resistance was 6.7% in Spaniards and 0% in immigrants. No acquired drug resistance was detected in immigrants. Of those strains with resistance, 71.9% had resistance to only one drug, 18.7% to two drugs and 9.4% to more than two drugs. Multidrug-resistance was found in 9.4% of the resistant cases, and in 0.5% of all the studied population. The presence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis was associated with the fact of having a foreign nationality (OR = 3.87; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tuberculosis has been diminishing in Spanish patients in Castellon. Nevertheless, there is an important increase in the number of cases in foreigners, which is associated with a major percentage of resistances. Epidemiological vigilance efforts should especially concentrate on this group in order to support the progressive declivity of the disease