Prevalencia preoperatoria de portadores asintomáticos de COVID-19 en hospitales de Cataluña durante la primera ola tras el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica / Pre-operative prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 in hospitals in Catalonia during the first wave after the resumption of surgical activity

Introducción La pandemia producida por COVID-19 ocasionó la cancelación de los procedimientos quirúrgicos no esenciales en marzo de 2020. Con el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica, los pacientes que se sometían a una cirugía fueron uno de los primeros grupos poblacionales a los que se realizó test PCR de forma sistemática. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de portadores asintomáticos de SARS-CoV-2 tras el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica no esencial. Métodos Estudio observacional multicéntrico retrospectivo de los pacientes programados para cirugía o que se sometieron a cirugía urgente en Cataluña entre el 20 de abril y el 31 de mayo de 2020. Se revisaron los resultados microbiológicos de los test PCR preoperatorios, las historias clínicas y se realizó una encuesta epidemiológica a los pacientes con PCR positiva para SARS-CoV-2. Resultados Un total de 10.838 pacientes programados para una intervención quirúrgica o a los que se realizó una cirugía urgente fueron sometidos a cribado para COVID-19. Ciento dieciocho pacientes (1,09%) fueron positivos para SARS-CoV-2 en las 72h previas a la cirugía. La prevalencia de portadores asintomáticos fue del 0,7% (IC95%: 0,6-0,9%). La primera semana del estudio presentó la prevalencia más alta de portadores asintomáticos [1,9% (IC95%: 1,1-3,2%)]. Conclusiones Los bajos niveles de portadores asintomáticos de infección por COVID-19 obtenidos en la población quirúrgica de los hospitales de Cataluña tras el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica muestran que la mayoría de pacientes se pudieron someter a procedimientos quirúrgicos sin los riesgos de las complicaciones asociadas al COVID-19 en el periodo perioperatorio (AU)

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of non-essential surgical procedures in March 2020. With the resumption of surgical activity, patients undergoing surgery were one of the first population groups to be systematically tested for PCR. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers after the resumption of non-essential surgical activity. Methods Retrospective multicenter observational study of patients scheduled for surgery or undergoing emergency surgery in Catalonia between 20 April and 31 May 2020. The microbiological results of preoperative PCR tests and clinical records were reviewed, and an epidemiological survey was conducted on patients with positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Results A total of 10,838 patients scheduled for surgery or who underwent emergency surgery were screened for COVID-19. One hundred and eighteen patients (1.09%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the 72hours prior to surgery. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was 0.7% (95%CI: 0.6% - 0.9%). The first week of the study presented the highest prevalence of asymptomatic carriers [1.9% (95%CI: 1.1%-3.2%)]. Conclusions The low levels of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 infection obtained in the surgical population of hospitals in Catalonia after the resumption of surgical activity, shows that most patients were able to undergo surgical procedures without the risks of COVID-19 associated complications in the perioperative period (AU)

Implicación en Cataluña de los Servicios de Anestesiología y Reanimación en la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Una solución real coste-efectiva para una crisis sanitaria sin precedentes / Involvement in Catalonia of the Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Services in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A real, cost-effective solution to an unprecedented health crisis

No disponible

Modalidades de fototerapia para el tratamiento de la dermatitis atópica: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Phototherapy in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Antecedentes: La fototerapia es una opción terapéutica empleada en dermatitis atópica (DA) y recomendada en múltiples guías. Objetivos: Evaluar la eficacia de las distintas modalidades de fototerapia y fotoquimioterapia en el tratamiento de pacientes con DA moderada-grave, mediante una revisión sistemática. Material y métodos: Consideramos los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) realizados en pacientes con DA, aceptando cualquier medida de desenlace. Localizamos los artículos mediante una búsqueda electrónica, utilizando Medline (vía Ovid), Embase y Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Adicionalmente, buscamos los ensayos clínicos registrados en Current Controlled Trials y en la WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Resultados: Incluimos 21 ECA en el análisis cualitativo (961 pacientes). Dos ECA incluyeron niños y adolescentes (32 pacientes). Las modalidades UVBBE y UVA1 mostraron resultados de eficacia similares en diversas medidas de desenlace. Dos ECA incluyeron la terapia PUVA. No se describieron efectos secundarios graves. En general, el riesgo de sesgos fue elevado y la calidad de las publicaciones baja, en cuanto a comunicación de la metodología empleada y los resultados obtenidos. Conclusiones: Existe evidencia para el uso de UVBBE y UVA1 en DA moderada-grave. La evidencia para el uso de PUVA en DA es mínima, así como los datos del uso de la fototerapia en la infancia. En futuros estudios sería recomendable estandarizar los criterios de gravedad de la DA y las escalas de valoración de los pacientes, homogeneizar las técnicas de irradiación y establecer un periodo de seguimiento mínimo (AU)

Background: Phototherapy is a treatment option for atopic dermatitis recommended by several guidelines. Objective: To perform a systematic review of the efficacy of different modalities of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Material and methods: We considered all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) performed in patients with atopic dermatitis, and accepted all outcome measures. Articles were identified via an online search of the MEDLINE (via Ovid) and Embase databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We also searched for clinical trials registered in Current Controlled Trials and in the World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Results: Twenty-one RCTs (961 patients) were included in the qualitative analysis. Two of the trials included children and adolescents (32 patients). The efficacy of narrow-band UV-B and UV-A1 phototherapy was similar for the different outcome measures contemplated. Two RCTs assessed the efficacy of psoralen plus UV-A therapy (PUVA). No serious adverse events were described. In general, the publications reviewed were characterized by a high risk of bias and poor reporting of methodology and results. Conclusions: There is evidence for the use of narrow-band UV-B and UV-A1 phototherapy in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Evidence supporting the use of PUVA in atopic dermatitis is scarce and there is little information on the use of phototherapy in childhood. For the purpose of future studies, it would be advisable to use comparable criteria and scales for the evaluation of disease severity and patients, to standardize radiation methods, and to establish a minimum follow-up time (AU)

Phototherapy in atopic dermatitis: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Phototherapy is a treatment option for atopic dermatitis recommended by several guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of the efficacy of different modalities of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We considered all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) performed in patients with atopic dermatitis, and accepted all outcome measures. Articles were identified via an online search of the MEDLINE (via Ovid) and Embase databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We also searched for clinical trials registered in Current Controlled Trials and in the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. RESULTS: Twenty-one RCTs (961 patients) were included in the qualitative analysis. Two of the trials included children and adolescents (32 patients). The efficacy of narrow-band UV-B and UV-A1 phototherapy was similar for the different outcome measures contemplated. Two RCTs assessed the efficacy of psoralen plus UV-A therapy (PUVA). No serious adverse events were described. In general, the publications reviewed were characterized by a high risk of bias and poor reporting of methodology and results. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence for the use of narrow-band UV-B and UV-A1 phototherapy in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Evidence supporting the use of PUVA in atopic dermatitis is scarce and there is little information on the use of phototherapy in childhood. For the purpose of future studies, it would be advisable to use comparable criteria and scales for the evaluation of disease severity and patients, to standardize radiation methods, and to establish a minimum follow-up time.

Fotosensibilidad por tiazidas / Photosensitivity Due to Thiazides

Las tiazidas son diuréticos que se comenzaron a usar en la década de 1950 y su uso está muy extendido en la actualidad. Poco después de su introducción se describieron las primeras reacciones de fotosensibilidad, aunque han sido descritas solo de forma infrecuente con posterioridad. Revisamos los casos de fotosensibilidad por tiazidas publicados hasta diciembre de 2011. Encontramos 62 casos, de los cuales 33 eran mujeres y 29 varones. La forma de presentación más común fue con lesiones eccematosas fotodistribuidas. La hidroclorotiazida fue el agente causal más frecuente. Solo algunos casos publicados recogen el resultado del estudio fotobiológico. En la mayoría el fototest mostró un respuesta alterada a ultravioleta A (UVA) sola y a UVA + ultravioleta B (UVB). En algunos casos el fototest fue normal y solo el fotoparche estaba alterado. El diagnóstico de fotosensibilidad por tiazidas requiere un alto índice de sospecha. De forma ideal debería confirmarse mediante estudio fotobiológico

Thiazides are widely used diuretics that first became available in the 1950s. The first reports of photosensitivity reactions to thiazides were published shortly after the introduction of these drugs, but few cases have been described since. We review all the cases of photosensitivity due to thiazides published up to December 2011. We found 62 cases, 33 in women and 29 in men. The most common presentation was eczematous lesions in a photodistributed pattern, and the most common causative agent was hydrochlorothiazide. The results of photobiological studies were published in only some of the cases reviewed. In most cases, phototesting revealed an abnormal response to UV-A alone or to both UV-A and UV-B. In some cases, the results of phototesting were normal and only photopatch testing yielded abnormal results. Diagnosis of photosensitivity due to thiazides requires a high degree of suspicion. Ideally, diagnosis should be confirmed by a photobiological study

Photosensitivity due to thiazides.

Thiazides are widely used diuretics that first became available in the 1950s. The first reports of photosensitivity reactions to thiazides were published shortly after the introduction of these drugs, but few cases have been described since. We review all the cases of photosensitivity due to thiazides published up to December 2011. We found 62 cases, 33 in women and 29 in men. The most common presentation was eczematous lesions in a photodistributed pattern, and the most common causative agent was hydrochlorothiazide. The results of photobiological studies were published in only some of the cases reviewed. In most cases, phototesting revealed an abnormal response to UV-A alone or to both UV-A and UV-B. In some cases, the results of phototesting were normal and only photopatch testing yielded abnormal results. Diagnosis of photosensitivity due to thiazides requires a high degree of suspicion. Ideally, diagnosis should be confirmed by a photobiological study.

Hamartoma pulmonar gigante. Presentación de un caso / No disponible

Se presenta un caso de una paciente de 58 años de edad con una masa de 9,5 x 9,3 x 8,5 cm, localizada en el segmento lingular inferior del lóbulo pulmonar izquierdo. Se practicó toracotomía izquierda con enucleación completa del tumor de aspecto lobulado constituido por cartílago maduro, tejido adiposo y hendiduras revestidas por epitelio de tipo respiratorio. El diagnóstico definitivo fue hamartoma pulmonar gigante (AU)

That is a case of a 58 year old woman with a mass located in the lingular segment of left lung. The tumor size was 9.5 x9.3 x 8.5 cm. A left thoracothomy was made and the mass was extirpated completely. Microscopically, it consists of nodules of cartilage, fat and clefts lined by respiratory epithelium. The final diagnostic was giant hamartoma of the lung (AU)

Different conformation of two supernumerary 18p isochromosomes, one with a concomitant partial 18q trisomy.

The presence of a supernumerary 18p isochromosome is a rare chromosomal abnormality that results in 18p tetrasomy. This is a report on the clinical, cytogenetic and molecular findings of 2 non-related patients with a supernumerary 18p isochromosome. Both patients present some features of the 18p tetrasomy syndrome (strabismus, low-set ears, long and narrow fingers and toes), but additional characteristics were also observed. Cytogenetic analysis, FISH, MLPA and SNP array techniques showed that one of the isochromosomes is symmetric and monocentric, while the other is asymmetric and dicentric, yet resulting in a similar tetrasomy of the 18pter-18p10 region, followed by a partial 18q11.2 trisomy, an unprecedented finding in the literature.

Scleroderma-like syndrome due to hydroxyurea.

Scleroderma-like cutaneous changes have been reported in association with several drugs, but not with hydroxyurea (HU), to our knowledge. We report the case of a 67-year-old man who was treated with HU (hydroxycarbamide) for 12 years for a myeloproliferative disorder, and presented a progressive pruritic woody induration, symmetrically affecting both legs. He also had Gottron-like papules on the back of the metacarpophalangeal joints, and a retroauricular undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma. On histological examination of a skin biopsy taken from the leg, massive dermal fibrosis was seen, with thickening of collagen bundles throughout the entire dermis. Six months after HU withdrawal, the skin induration resolved without scarring. Scleroderma-like syndrome has not been previously considered one of the secondary effects of HU. The evolution of our patient's condition supports a causal relationship between the HU treatment and the sclerodermiform changes of the skin.

Characterization of "oil on copper" paintings by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence is a common analytical tool for layer thickness measurements in quality control processes in the coating industry, but there are scarce microanalytical applications in order to ascertain semi-quantitative or quantitative information of painted layers. "Oil on copper" painting becomes a suitable material to be analysed by means of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, due to the metallic nature of substrate and the possibility of applying layered models as used in coating industry. The aim of this work is to study the suitability of a quantitative energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence methodology for the assessment of the areal distribution of pigments and the characterization of painting methods on such kind of pictorial artworks. The method was calibrated using standard reference materials: dried droplets of monoelemental standard solutions laid on a metallic plate of copper. As an example of application, we estimated pigment mass distribution of two "oil on copper" paintings from the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Pictorial layers have been complementarily analysed by X-ray diffraction. Apart of the supporting media made of copper or brass, we could identify two different superimposed layers: (a) a preparation layer mainly composed by white lead and (b) the pictorial layer of variable composition depending on the pigments used by the artist on small areas of the painting surface. The areal mass distribution of the different elements identified in the painting pigments (Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb) have been determined by elemental mapping of some parts of the artworks.

Marfan Database (third edition): new mutations and new routines for the software.

The Marfan database is a software that contains routines for the analysis of mutations identified in the FBN1 gene that encodes fibrillin-1. Mutations in this gene are associated not only with Marfan syndrome but also with a spectrum of overlapping disorders. The third version of the Marfan database contains 137 entries. The software has been modified to accommodate four new routines and is now accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.umd.necker.fr