Reporting guidelines and a touch of critical appraisal.

The biomedical research process must follow certain quality criteria in its design and development to ensure that the results are credible and reliable. Once completed, the time comes to write an article for publication. The article must present in sufficient detail, and in a clear and transparent manner, all the information on the research work that has been carried out. In this way, readers, after a critical reading of the published content, will be able to judge the validity and relevance of the study and, if they so wish, make use of the findings. In order to improve the description of the research process for publication, a series of guidelines have been developed which, in a simple and structured way, guide authors in the preparation of a manuscript. They are presented in the form of a list, flowchart, or structured text, and are an invaluable aid when writing an article. This article presents the reporting guidelines for the most common designs along with the corresponding checklists.

Guías para la elaboración de manuscritos y unas pinceladas de lectura crítica / Reporting guidelines and a touch of critical appraisal

El proceso de investigación biomédica debe seguir unos criterios de calidad en su diseño y elaboración que garanticen que los resultados son creíbles y fiables. Una vez finalizado, llega el momento de escribir un artículo para su publicación. Este debe presentar con suficiente detalle, y de forma clara y transparente, toda la información del trabajo de investigación realizado. De esta forma, los lectores, tras una lectura crítica de lo publicado, podrán juzgar la validez y la relevancia del estudio, y si lo consideran, utilizar los hallazgos. Con el objetivo de mejorar la descripción del proceso de investigación para su publicación, se han desarrollado una serie de guías que, de forma sencilla y estructurada, orientan a los autores a la hora de elaborar un manuscrito. Se presentan en forma de lista, diagrama de flujo, o texto estructurado, y son una ayuda inestimable a la hora de escribir un artículo. Este artículo presenta las guías de elaboración de manuscritos de los diseños más habituales, con sus listas de verificación.(AU)

The biomedical research process must follow certain quality criteria in its design and development to ensure that the results are credible and reliable. Once completed, the time comes to write an article for publication. The article must present in sufficient detail, and in a clear and transparent manner, all the information on the research work that has been carried out. In this way, readers, after a critical reading of the published content, will be able to judge the validity and relevance of the study and, if they so wish, make use of the findings. In order to improve the description of the research process for publication, a series of guidelines have been developed which, in a simple and structured way, guide authors in the preparation of a manuscript. They are presented in the form of a list, flowchart, or structured text, and are an invaluable aid when writing an article. This article presents the reporting guidelines for the most common designs along with the corresponding checklists.(AU)

Hipercalcemia hipocalciúrica familiar: Descripción de un caso / Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia: A case report

La presencia de hipercalcemia mantenida obliga a realizar pruebas complementarias para determinar su origen. Es benigna y, generalmente, no requiere tratamiento. La secuenciación del gen CaSR confirma el diagnóstico y evita tratamientos innecesarios. Se presenta a un niño de 12 años, asintomático, con hipercalcemia persistente entre 11,4 y 12,2 mg/dl. El padre y dos hermanos tenían hipercalcemia asintomática. El análisis de laboratorio mostró valores de magnesio, fósforo y vitamina D normales y de hormona paratiroidea llamativamente normal para el valor de la hipercalcemia. Indice de calcio/creatinina urinario: 0,11 mg/mg; y calciuria de 24 h: 1,8 mg/kg/día. Ecografía abdominal, paratiroides, radiografías de huesos largos y densitometría ósea, normales. El estudio genético mostró mutación en exón 6 (c.1651A>G) del gen CaSR (en heterocigosis), confirmada en el padre y los hermanos.

The finding of persistent hypercalcemia suggests doing other medical tests to find the cause. Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is usually benign and it requires no treatment. It is important to do CASR gene sequencing to avoid unnecessary treatments. We report a 12-year-old child, asymptomatic, with calcemia between 11.4 and 12.2 mg/dl. His father and two brothers presented asymptomatic hypercalcemia. The blood test with magnesium, phosphorus, 25(OH)Vit D was normal, remarkable normal parathyroid hormone for the level of hypercalcemia. Urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was 0,11 mg/dl and 24-hour urinary calcium was 1,8 mg/kg per day. Abdominal and parathyroid ecography, long bone radiographs and densitometry were normal. Genetic study showed a mutation, c.1651A>G, in exon 6 of the calciumsensing receptor gene, confirmed in father and brothers, too.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia: A case report. / Hipercalcemia hipocalciúrica familiar: Descripción de un caso.

The finding of persistent hypercalcemia suggests doing other medical tests to find the cause. Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is usually benign and it requires no treatment. It is important to do CASR gene sequencing to avoid unnecessary treatments. We report a 12-year-old child, asymptomatic, with calcemia between 11.4 and 12.2 mg/dl. His father and two brothers presented asymptomatic hypercalcemia. The blood test with magnesium, phosphorus, 25(OH)Vit D was normal, remarkable normal parathyroid hormone for the level of hypercalcemia. Urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was 0,11 mg/dl and 24-hour urinary calcium was 1,8 mg/kg per day. Abdominal and parathyroid ecography, long bone radiographs and densitometry were normal. Genetic study showed a mutation, c.1651A>G, in exon 6 of the calciumsensing receptor gene, confirmed in father and brothers, too.

La presencia de hipercalcemia mantenida obliga a realizar pruebas complementarias para determinar su origen. Es benigna y, generalmente, no requiere tratamiento. La secuenciación del gen CaSR confirma el diagnóstico y evita tratamientos innecesarios. Se presenta a un niño de 12 años, asintomático, con hipercalcemia persistente entre 11,4 y 12,2 mg/dl. El padre y dos hermanos tenían hipercalcemia asintomática. El análisis de laboratorio mostró valores de magnesio, fósforo y vitamina D normales y de hormona paratiroidea llamativamente normal para el valor de la hipercalcemia. Indice de calcio/creatinina urinario: 0,11 mg/mg; y calciuria de 24 h: 1,8 mg/kg/día. Ecografía abdominal, paratiroides, radiografías de huesos largos y densitometría ósea, normales. El estudio genético mostró mutación en exón 6 (c.1651A>G) del gen CaSR (en heterocigosis), confirmada en el padre y los hermanos.

¿Son útiles los antidepresivos para el dolor abdominal funcional? / Are antidepressants useful for functional abdominal pain?

Conclusiones de los autores del estudio: los antidepresivos fueron eficaces para el tratamiento del dolor abdominal funcional, siendo mayor la respuesta a los inhibidores de la recaptación de serotonina que a los antidepresivos tricíclicos, independientemente del componente psiquiátrico asociado. Se valoran poco los síntomas gastrointestinales provocados por el fármaco, frecuente causa de la retirada de la medicación. Comentario de los revisores: los antidepresivos parecen ser eficaces para el tratamiento del dolor abdominal funcional, con una ventaja terapéutica de los inhibidores de la recaptación de serotonina frente a los tricíclicos. Sin embargo, dadas las limitaciones metodológicas del trabajo, la falta de concordancia con otros datos disponibles y el porcentaje alto de efectos adversos, parece prudente esperar a la realización de estudios más amplios y de mayor calidad para poder recomendar su uso en esta patología funcional

Authors' conclusions: patients had more response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors than to tricyclic antidepressants, independently of the associated psychiatric component. They give little importance to the gastrointestinal symptoms caused by the drug that could be the cause of the withdrawal of the medication. Reviewers' commentary: antidepressants appear to be effective for the treatment of functional abdominal pain, with a therapeutic advantage of serotonin reuptake inhibitors over tricyclics. However, given the methodological limitations of the study, the lack of concordance with other available data and the high percentage of adverse effects, it seems prudent to wait for larger and higher quality studies to be able to recommend its use in this functional pathology

Serum cystatin C levels in preterm newborns in our setting: Correlation with serum creatinine and preterm pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Cystatin C (CysC) is a renal function marker that is not as influenced as creatinine (Cr) by endogenous or exogenous agents, so it is therefore proposed as a marker in preterm infants. OBJECTIVES: To determine serum CysC values in preterm infants during the first week of life, compared to Cr. To analyze alterations caused by prematurity diseases. METHOD: The design involved a longitudinal, observational study of prospective cohorts. Groups were based on gestational age (GA): Group A (24-27 weeks), Group B (28-33 weeks), Group C (34-36 weeks). Blood samples were collected at birth, within 48-72hours and after 7 days of life. STATISTICS: SPSS v.20 software was used. The statistical methods applied included chi-squared test and ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 109 preterm infants were included in the study. CysC levels were: 1.54mg/L (±0.28) at birth; 1.38mg/L (±0.36) within 48-72hours of life; 1.50mg/L (±0.31) after 7 days (p<0.05). Cr levels were: 0.64mg/dL (±0.17) at birth; 0.64mg/dL (±0.28) within 48-72hours; 0.56mg/dL (±0.19) after 7 days (P<.05). CysC values were lower in hypotensive patients and those with a respiratory disease (P<.05), and no alterations associated with other diseases were observed. There were no differences in Cr levels associated with any disease. Creatinine levels were higher in patients ≤1.500g (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum CysC decreased within 48-72hours of life, and this decline showed significance (P<.05). The levels increased after 7 days in all 3 GA groups, and there was no difference in CysC levels among the groups. More studies in preterm infants with hypotension and respiratory disease are required. CysC is a better glomerular filtration (GF) marker in ≤1.500g preterm infants.

Valores de cistatina C sérica en recién nacidos pretérmino en nuestro medio. Relación con valores de creatinina sérica y patologías de la prematuridad / Serum cystatin C levels in preterm newborns in our setting: Correlation with serum creatinine and preterm pathologies

Antecedentes: La cistatina C (CisC) es un marcador de función renal no tan influenciado como la creatinina (Cr) por agentes endógenos o exógenos, por lo que se propone como marcador en el pretérmino. Objetivos: Determinar valores de CisC sérica en pretérminos en la primera semana de vida, comparándola con la Cr. Analizar modificaciones por patologías de la prematuridad. Método: Estudio longitudinal, observacional, de cohortes prospectivo. Grupos por edad gestacional (EG): grupo A (24-27 semanas), grupo B (28-33 semanas), grupo C (34-36 semanas). Se recogieron muestras de sangre al nacimiento, a las 48-72h y a los 7días. Estadística: Programa SPSS v.20. Métodos estadísticos utilizados χ2 y ANOVA. Resultados: N=109 pretérminos. CisC al nacimiento: 1,54mg/l (±0,28), a las 48-72h de vida: 1,38mg/l (±0,36), a los 7días: 1,50mg/l (±0,31) (p<0,05). Cr al nacimiento: 0,64mg/dl (±0,17), a las 48-72h: 0,64mg/dl (±0,28), a los 7días: 0,56mg/dl (±0,19) (p<0,05). Valores de CisC más bajos en pacientes con patología respiratoria e hipotensos (p<0,05) sin modificación según patologías restantes. No diferencias en valores de Cr según patología. Valores de creatinina más altos en pacientes ≤1.500g (p<0,05). Conclusiones: Descenso de CisC sérica a las 48-72h de vida, siendo esta caída en el tiempo significativa (p<0,05), ascenso a los 7días, en los 3 grupos de EG y sin diferencias en valores de CisC entre los grupos. Se requieren más estudios en pretérminos con patología respiratoria y situaciones de hipotensión. En ≤1.500g la CisC es mejor marcador de filtrado glomerular (FG) (AU)

Background: Cystatin C (CysC) is a renal function marker that is not as influenced as creatinine (Cr) by endogenous or exogenous agents, so it is therefore proposed as a marker in preterm infants. Objectives: To determine serum CysC values in preterm infants during the first week of life, compared to Cr. To analyze alterations caused by prematurity diseases. Method: The design involved a longitudinal, observational study of prospective cohorts. Groups were based on gestational age (GA): Group A (24-27 weeks), Group B (28-33 weeks), Group C (34-36 weeks). Blood samples were collected at birth, within 48-72hours and after 7 days of life. Statistics: SPSS v.20 software was used. The statistical methods applied included chi-squared test and ANOVA. Results: A total of 109 preterm infants were included in the study. CysC levels were: 1.54mg/L (±0.28) at birth; 1.38mg/L (±0.36) within 48-72hours of life; 1.50mg/L (±0.31) after 7 days (p<0.05). Cr levels were: 0.64mg/dL (±0.17) at birth; 0.64mg/dL (±0.28) within 48-72hours; 0.56mg/dL (±0.19) after 7 days (P<.05). CysC values were lower in hypotensive patients and those with a respiratory disease (P<.05), and no alterations associated with other diseases were observed. There were no differences in Cr levels associated with any disease. Creatinine levels were higher in patients ≤1.500g (P<.05). Conclusions: Serum CysC decreased within 48-72hours of life, and this decline showed significance (P<.05). The levels increased after 7 days in all 3 GA groups, and there was no difference in CysC levels among the groups. More studies in preterm infants with hypotension and respiratory disease are required. CysC is a better glomerular filtration (GF) marker in ≤1.500g preterm infants (AU)