Impact of Universal Use of the McGrath Videolaryngoscope as a Device for All Intubations in the Cardiac Operating Room. A Prospective Before-After VIDEOLAR-CAR Study.

OBJECTIVE: Tracheal intubation in cardiac surgery patients has a higher incidence of difficult laryngoscopic views compared with patients undergoing other types of surgery. The authors hypothesized that using the McGrath Mac videolaryngoscope as the first intubation option for cardiac surgery patients improves the percentage of patients with "easy intubation" compared with using a direct Macintosh laryngoscope. DESIGN: A prospective, observational, before-after study. SETTING: At a tertiary-care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand one hundred nine patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTION: Consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery were intubated using, as the first option, a Macintosh laryngoscope (preinterventional phase) or a McGrath Mac videolaryngoscope (interventional phase). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The main objective was to assess whether the use of the McGrath videolaryngoscope, as the first intubation option, improves the percentage of patients with "easy intubation," defined as successful intubation on the first attempt, modified Cormack-Lehane grades of I or IIa, and the absence of the need for adjuvant airway devices. A total of 1,109 patients were included, 801 in the noninterventional phase and 308 in the interventional phase. The incidence of "easy intubation" was 93% in the interventional phase versus 78% in the noninterventional phase (p < 0.001). First-success-rate intubation was higher in the interventional phase (304/308; 98.7%) compared with the noninterventional phase (754/801, 94.1%; p = 0.005). Intubation in the interventional phase showed decreases in the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy (12/308 [3.9%] v 157/801 [19.6%]; p < 0.001), as well as moderate or difficult intubation (5/308 [1.6%] v 57/801 [7.1%]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the McGrath videolaryngoscope as the first intubation option for tracheal intubation in cardiac surgery improves the percentage of patients with "easy" intubation," increasing glottic view and first-success-rate intubation and decreasing the incidence of moderate or difficult intubation.

Influence of social support and stressful life events on adherence to colorectal cancer screening using faecal occult blood test in Spanish medium risk population.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Five-year survival rate in Spain is 57%. The most important prognostic factor is the stage of the tumor at the diagnosis. CRC can be early diagnosed, but the adherence to screening programs is low (<50%). This study aims to ascertain the influence of social support and stressful life events on the adherence to the population screening of CRC with fecal occult blood test in Spanish average risk population. METHODS: Multicenter case-control study. We conducted a simple random sampling among individuals invited to participate in the colorectal cancer screening program. We analyzed epidemiological and social variables associated with lifestyle and behavioral factors. We performed a descriptive and a bivariant analyses and a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Four hundred and eight patients (237 cases and 171 controls) were included. Multivariant analyses showed independent association between higher adherence to the screening program and older age (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.10), stable partner (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.08-2.89) and wide social network (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.07-2.66). Otherwise, lower adherence was associated to perceiving barriers to participate in the program (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88-0.96). We find a statistically significant association between lower adherence and high impact stressful life events in the bivariant analyses, and the tendency was maintained (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.37-1.08) in the multivariant. CONCLUSION: Social variables decisively influence the adherence to colorectal cancer screening. The implementation of social interventions that improve social support, reduce impact of stressful life events and the design of screening programs that decrease the perceived barriers, will contribute to increase the participation on these programs. Secondary, the colorectal cancer diagnosis will be made in early-stages with the consequent mortality reduction.

Adaptation and validation of an abbreviated version of the SIPAT integrated psychosocial risk scale in patients with liver cirrhosis candidates for liver transplantation (SIPAT-11). / Adaptación y validación de una versión abreviada de la escala SIPAT de riesgo psicosocial integrado en pacientes con cirrosis hepática candidatos a trasplante hepático (SIPAT-11).

INTRODUCTION: Patients with liver cirrhosis who are candidates for liver transplantation must be evaluated both clinically and socially in order to obtain the optimal outcomes and avoid futile therapeutic measures. For the evaluation of the social aspects in these patients, no validated scale in Spanish is available. The SIPAT (Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation) scale is an instrument that measures the social, family and psychological aspects in candidates for solid organ transplantation. The objective of this study is to adapt and validate an abbreviated version of the SIPAT scale in Spanish for patients with liver cirrhosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study carried out in the Hepatology Unit of the La Fe Unversity Hospital in Valencia, by questionnaire validation methodology. To analyze the reliability of the questionnaire, the internal consistency of all variables was calculated, for variability an exploratory factor analysis, and for stability the test-retest test was carried out. RESULTS: 96 patients who were admitted for decompensated cirrhosis to the Hepatology Unit of the La Fe Hospital in Valencia between November 1, 2017 and January 31, 2017 were selected. 84% were men, the mean age was 60.01 (SD 10.12) years. In 73.2% of those admitted, the etiology of cirrhosis was alcoholic. 14.4% had a Child's stage A, 57.7% B and 27.8% C. The internal consistency of all variables reached a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.766. In the exploratory factor analysis, 6 dimensions of the questionnaire were identified that explain 84.27% of the total variability. To see the stability of the instrument, the measurement was repeated at 2 and 6 months of follow-up, obtaining in the test-retest a kappa agreement of 0.612 and 0.565 respectively. CONCLUSION: The SIPAT-11 questionnaire has good psychometric characteristics in cirrhotic patients who are candidates for liver transplantation. It is easy to complete and can be administered by professionals who are not specialists in the area of ​​Mental Health.

[Critical patients COVID-19 has changed the management and outcomes in the ICU after 1 year of the pandemic? A multicenter, prospective, observational study]. / Pacientes críticos COVID-19. ¿Han variado el manejo y los resultados en la UCI tras un año de pandemia? Estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo, observacional.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics, treatments, and evolution of critical patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated in intensive care units (ICU) after one year of pandemic. Methodology: Multicenter, prospective study, which included critical COVID-19 patients in 9 ICUs in northwestern Spain. The clinical characteristics, treatments, and evolution of patients admitted to the ICU during the months of March-April 2020 (period 1) were compared with patients admitted in January-February 2021 (period 2). Results: 337 patients were included (98 in period 1 and 239 in period 2). In period 2, fewer patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (65% vs. 84%, P < .001), using high-flow nasal cannulas (CNAF) more frequently (70% vs. 7%, P < .001), ventilation non-invasive mechanical (NIMV) (40% vs. 14%, P < .001), corticosteroids (100% vs. 96%, P = .007) and prone position in both awake (42% vs. 28%, P = .012), and intubated patients (67% vs. 54%, P = .034). The days of IMV, ICU stay and hospital stay were lower in period 2. Mortality was similar in the two periods studied (16% vs. 17%). Conclusions: After one year of pandemic, we observed that in patients admitted to the ICU, CNAF, NIMV, use of the prone position, and corticosteroids have been used more frequently, reducing the number of patients in IMV, and the length of stay in the ICU and hospital stay. Mortality was similar in the two study periods.

Perceived barriers and benefits in the participation in faecal occult blood test colorectal cancer screening programme.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second cancer-related cause of death in the world. Tumour stage at diagnosis is the principal prognosis factor of survival. However, the participation in the programme is around 50%. The aim of the study was to identify the benefits and barriers perceived by the population when participating in a colorectal cancer screening programme with faecal occult blood test. METHODS: We carried out a cases-controls study with 408 participants. We analyzed epidemiological and social variables associated with lifestyle and behavioural factors based in the Health Belief Model. We conducted a descriptive analysis, and identified variables associated to adherence by a logistic regression. RESULTS: Variables independently associated with the participation in a colorectal cancer screening programme were age (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11), having a stable partner (OR 1.96; 95% CI: 1.20-3.18), the level of education (OR 1.59; 95% CI: 1.02-2.47) and two of the barriers to participate in the faecal occult blood test screening: "you don't know how to do one" (OR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.23-0.93) and "it is not that important right now" (OR=0.43; 95% CI: 0.24-0.78). CONCLUSION: The existing barriers for screening with faecal occult blood test are the best factor predicting. This is relevant when designing the intervention programmes, as they should focus on reducing perceived barriers to increase the participation in colorectal cancer screening, thereby reducing colorectal cancer mortality.

Inadequate social support decreases survival in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Inadequate social support is associated with higher mortality both in the general population and in patients with chronic diseases. There are no studies that have described social support in liver cirrhosis and its impact on prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact social support has in the survival of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Prospective multicentric cohort study (2016-2019). Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were included. Epidemiological, clinical and social variables were collected, using the validated Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, with a 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were included, of which 79.5% were men. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol (74.8%), mean age was 60 years (SD 10.29), mean MELD was 15.6 (SD 6.3) and most of the patients had a Child-Pugh B (53.5%) or C (35.4%). In the assessment of social support, we observed that most of the patients (92.2%) had adequate global support. At the end of the follow-up (median 314 days), 70.1% of the patients survived. The 1-year survival rate in patients with inadequate global social support was 30%, compared to 73.5% in the presence of social support. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, inadequate social support predicted survival with an adjusted HR of 5.5 (95% CI 2,3-13,4) independently of MELD (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1-1.2), age (HR 1, 95% CI 1-1.1) and hepatocarcinoma (HR 10.6, 95% CI 4.1-27.4). CONCLUSION: Adequate social support improves survival in liver cirrhosis, independently of clinical variables. Social intervention strategies should be considered for their management.

Relationship between time from symptom's onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with the time from symptom onset to diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate this association, with the assumption that this relationship was nonlinear and with adjustment for multiple confounders, such as tumor grade, symptoms, or admission to an emergency department. METHODS: This multicenter study with prospective follow-up was performed in five regions of Spain from 2010 to 2012. Symptomatic cases of incident CRC from a previous study were examined. At the time of diagnosis, each patient was interviewed, and the associated hospital and clinical records were reviewed. During follow-up, the clinical records were reviewed again to assess survival. Cox survival analysis with a restricted cubic spline was used to model overall and CRC-specific survival, with adjustment for variables related to the patient, health service, and tumor. RESULTS: A total of 795 patients had symptomatic CRC and 769 of them had complete data on diagnostic delay and survival. Univariate analysis indicated a lower HR for death in patients who had diagnostic intervals less than 4.2 months. However, after adjustment for variables related to the patient, tumor, and utilized health service, there was no relationship of the diagnostic delay with survival of patients with colon and rectal cancer, colon cancer alone, or rectal cancer alone. Cubic spline analysis indicated an inverse association of the diagnostic delay with 5-year survival. However, this association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the duration of diagnostic delay had no significant effect on the outcome of patients with CRC. We suggest that the most important determinant of the duration of diagnostic delay is the biological profile of the tumor. However, it remains the responsibility of community health centers and authorities to minimize diagnostic delays in patients with CRC and to implement initiatives that improve early diagnosis and provide better outcomes.

Description of multimorbidity clusters of admitted patients in medical departments of a general hospital.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify patterns of disease clusters among inpatients of a general hospital and to describe the characteristics and evolution of each group. METHODS: We used two data sets from the CMBD (Conjunto mínimo básico de datos - Minimum Basic Hospital Data Set (MBDS)) of the Lucus Augusti Hospital (Spain), hospitalisations and patients, realising a retrospective cohort study among the 74 220 patients discharged from the Medic Area between 01 January 2000 and 31 December 2015. We created multimorbidity clusters using multiple correspondence analysis. RESULTS: We identified five clusters for both gender and age. Cluster 1: alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic dependency syndrome, lung and digestive tract malignant neoplasms (age under 50 years). Cluster 2: large intestine, prostate, breast and other malignant neoplasms, lymphoma and myeloma (age over 70, mostly males). Cluster 3: malnutrition, Parkinson disease and other mobility disorders, dementia and other mental health conditions (age over 80 years and mostly women). Cluster 4: atrial fibrillation/flutter, cardiac failure, chronic kidney failure and heart valve disease (age between 70-80 and mostly women). Cluster 5: hypertension/hypertensive heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, dyslipidaemia, obesity and sleep apnea, including mostly men (age range 60-80). We assessed significant differences among the clusters when gender, age, number of chronic pathologies, number of rehospitalisations and mortality during the hospitalisation were assessed (p<0001 in all cases). CONCLUSIONS: We identify for the first time in a hospital environment five clusters of disease combinations among the inpatients. These clusters contain several high-incidence diseases related to both age and gender that express their own evolution and clinical characteristics over time.

Prediction of insulin therapy in women with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

OBJECTIVES: To identify antenatal risk factors that may predict the need for insulin treatment upon diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM), that is, to identify the specific characteristics of women diagnosed with GDM who did not achieve good glycemic control through lifestyle modifications. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Science Direct, Ebsco, and Scielo for studies evaluating the associations between antenatal factors and the need for insulin treatment published until January 28th, 2021. Random-effects models were used to estimate risk ratios and their 95% confidence interval. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used to estimate outcomes, and effects reported as risk ratio and their 95% confidence interval. The systematic review and meta-analysis were registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: Eighteen observational studies were selected, reporting 14,951 women with GDM of whom 5,371 received insulin treatment. There were statistically significant associations between the need for insulin treatment and BMI ≥ 30 (RR:2.2; 95%CI: 1.44-3.41), family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (RR:1.74; 95%CI: 1.56-1.93), prior personal history of GDM (RR:2.10; 95%CI: 1.56-2.82), glycated hemoglobin value at GDM diagnosis (RR:2.12; 95%CI: 1.77-2.54), and basal glycemia obtained in the diagnostic curve (RR: 1.2; 95%CI: 1.12-1.28). Nulliparity and maternal age were not determinants factor. There was moderate-to-high heterogeneity among the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: the strong causal association between BMI ≥ 30, family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, prior history of GDM and glycosylated hemoglobin with the need for insulin treatment was revealed.

Rawl's questionnaire spanish validation for colorectal cancer screening with faecal occult blood testing. / Validación al castellano del cuestionario Rawl de cribado de cáncer colorrectal con sangre oculta en heces.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer 5-years-survival is 57%, partway due to a low rate of participation in screening programmes. Instruments analyzing causes of low adherence are needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and internal consistency of the Spanish version of Rawl's Questionnaire for the screening of colorectal cancer by faecal occult blood testing. TYPE OF STUDY: Questionnaire validation methodology. LOCATION: Three Primary Care Centres in Valencia. VARIABLES: Age, sex, civil status, educational level, social class, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, personal and family history of cancer. RESULTS: We analyzed 408 individuals (237 cases and 171 controls). Mean age was 59.45 years (SD 5.17). Internal consistency of all variables reached a Cronbach's alfa of 0.796. The Cronbach's alfa benefit dimension of the screening was 0.871 and for the barrier dimension of the screening it was 0.817. Intraclass correlation coefficients of the test-retest for the benefit dimension of the screening was 0.809 (CI 95% 0.606-0.913) and 0.499 (CI 95% 0.126-0.750) for the barrier dimension. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of Rawl's Questionnaire is valid, reliable and reproducible, so we have this validated instrument with which to identify barriers and benefits in a colorectal screening programme in Spain.

Determination of organic pollutants in meconium and its relationship with fetal growth. Case control study in Northwestern Spain.

OBJECTIVES: Antenatal exposure to organic pollutants is a leading public health problem. Meconium is a unique matrix to perform prenatal studies because it enables us to retrospectively evaluate fetal exposure accumulated during the second and third trimester. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between organic pollutant levels in meconium and birth weight in NW Spain. METHODS: In this study, we quantify the concentrations of 50 organic pollutants together with the total values of the most important chemical groups in meconium using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers were detected with the highest levels in meconium from small for gestational age newborns. It was estimated that several congeners were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, organophosphorus pesticides attained higher concentrations in newborns with an appropriate weight. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of transplacental transfer can be confirmed. Prenatal exposure to organic pollutants was associated with a decrease in birth weight and, therefore, organic pollutants could have an impact on fetal growth. Nevertheless, these results need validation in larger sample sized studies.

Online education about end-of-life care and the donation process after brain death and circulatory death. Can we influence perception and attitudes in critical care doctors? A prospective study.

Impact of training on end-of-life care (EOLC) and the deceased donation process in critical care physicians' perceptions and attitudes was analysed. A survey on attitudes and perceptions of deceased donation as part of the EOLC process was delivered to 535 physicians working in critical care before and after completion of a online training programme (2015-17). After training, more participants agreed that nursing staff should be involved in the end-of-life decision process (P < 0.001) and that relatives should not be responsible for medical decisions (P < 0.001). Postcourse, more participants considered 'withdrawal/withholding' as similar actions (P < 0.001); deemed appropriate the use of pre-emptive sedation in all patients undergoing life support treatment adequacy (LSTA; P < 0.001); and were favourable to approaching family about donation upon LSTA agreement, as well as admitting them in the intensive care unit (P < 0.001) to allow the possibility of donation. Education increased the number of participants prone to initiate measures to preserve the organs for donation before the declaration of death in patients undergoing LSTA (P < 0.001). Training increased number of positive terms selected by participants to describe donation after brain and circulatory death. Training programmes may be useful to improve physicians' perception and attitude about including donation as part of the patient's EOLC.

Randomized clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of CO-oximetry and anti-smoking brief advice in a cohort of kidney transplant patients who smoke.

Background: measure the efficacy of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) measurement plus brief advisory sessions to reduce smoking exposure and smoking behaviour in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: Randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial at a Spanish hospital.Smoking kidney transplant recipients giving their consent to participate were randomized to control (brief advice, n=63) or intervention group (brief advisory session plus measuring exhaled CO, n=59). Measurements: Sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, treatment, rejection episodes, infections, self-reported smoking, drug use, level of dependence and motivation to stop smoking (Fagerström's and Richmond's test) and stage of change (Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages). Efficacy was assessed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months as: cotinine test, CO levels in exhaled air, nicotine dependence, motivational stages of change, motivation to stop smoking, pattern of tobacco use and smoking cessation rates. Logistic regression models were computed. Results: At 12 months of follow-up, differences were found in exhaled CO between the intervention and control group(6.1±6.8vs.10.2±9.7ppm;p=0.028). Carboxyhemoglobin levels were lower in the intervention group as well as the positive cotinine test (1.2±1.2%vs.2.0±2.4%;p=0.039),(53.4%vs.74.2%). At 12 months, intervention reduces the probability of a positive urine test by 28%. Conclusions: Co-oximetry is a clinically relevant intervention for reduction of tobacco exposure in kidney transplant recipients.

Characterisation of long-term cancer survivors and application of statistical cure models: a protocol for an observational follow-up study in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Improved colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates have been reported over the last years, with more than half of these patients surviving more than 5 years after the initial diagnosis. Better understanding these so-called long-term survivors could be very useful to further improve their prognosis as well as to detect other problems that may cause a significant deterioration in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Cure models provide novel statistical tools to better estimate the long-term survival rate for cancer and to identify characteristics that are differentially associated with a short or long-term prognosis. The aim of this study will be to investigate the long-term prognosis of CRC patients, characterise long-term CRC survivors and their HRQoL, and demonstrate the utility of statistical cure models to analyse survival and other associated factors in these patients. METHODS: This is a single-centre, ambispective, observational follow-up study in a cohort of n = 1945 patients with CRC diagnosed between 2006 and 2013. A HRQoL sub-study will be performed in the survivors of a subset of n = 485 CRC patients for which baseline HRQoL data from the time of their diagnosis is already available. Information obtained from interviews and the clinical records for each patient in the cohort is already available in a computerised database from previous studies. This data includes sociodemographic characteristics, family history of cancer, comorbidities, perceived symptoms, tumour characteristics at diagnosis, type of treatment, and diagnosis and treatment delay intervals. For the follow-up, information regarding local recurrences, development of metastases, new tumours, and mortality will be updated using hospital records. The HRQoL for long-term survivors will be assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. An analysis of global and specific survival (competitive risk models) will be performed. Relative survival will be estimated and mixture cure models will be applied. Finally, HRQoL will be analysed through multivariate regression models. DISCUSSION: We expect the results from this study to help us to more accurately determine the long-term survival of CRC, identify the needs and clinical situation of long-term CRC survivors, and could be used to propose new models of care for the follow-up of CRC patients.

Fructose malabsorption in asymptomatic children and in patients with functional chronic abdominal pain: a prospective comparative study.

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to compare fructose malabsorption in patients with functional chronic abdominal pain and in healthy children. The sample was divided into two groups: asymptomatic children and pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders according to the Rome IV criteria. All children were tested for fructose malabsorption by a standardized breath hydrogen test. Hydrogen and methane were measured and the test was presumed positive when it exceeded 20 ppm above baseline. If positive, patients were given a low-fructose diet and the response was evaluated. One hundred five children were included (34 healthy children, 71 with functional chronic abdominal pain), with similar demographic characteristics in both groups (35.2% male, age 9.5 ± 2.8 years). Hydrogen levels in breath were tested through a hydrogen test for fructose demonstrating malabsorption in 58.8% of healthy children (95%CI 40.8%-76.8%) and in 40.8% of children with chronic abdominal pain (95%CI 28.7%-53.0%), removing those who had bacterial overgrowth. Twenty-one of 31 patients with symptoms and a positive test (72.4%) reported an improvement on a low-fructose diet.Conclusion: Fructose malabsorption is more common in asymptomatic children than in patients with chronic abdominal pain. Better standardized test conditions are necessary to improve accuracy of diagnosis before using this test in clinical practice. What is Known: • Although fructose malabsorption is believed to be related with chronic abdominal pain, high-quality evidence is lacking. • Concerns have raised regarding the use of breath hydrogen test for fructose malabsorption in children with chronic abdominal pain. What is New: • Fructose malabsorption is not more common in children with pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders than in asymptomatic children. • Improvement in symptoms with low-fructose diet may indicate that, although patients with pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders did not have a higher percentage of malabsorption, they had greater fructose intolerance.

Evaluation of occult hepatitis B infection in tissue donors: a multicenter analysis in Spain.

Traditionally, when antibody to the Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibody to the Hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) are positive, the donor is considered suitable. However, the literature contains cases with this profile and circulating hepatitis B virus DNA. The aim of the study is to analyze the incidence of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI). Retrospective data were evaluated for deceased tissue donors in ten Tissue Establishments (Spain) during 2017. The data included demographic data and the serological markers for hepatitis B that each tissue establishment performed. A total number of 1933 tissue donors were evaluated. A total of 180 donors were excluded: 6 (0.3%) with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs positive), and 174 in which DNA testing was not performed. Anti-HBc was positive in 175 donors (10%), in which anti-HBs was negative in 30 (17.1%) and positive in 145 (82.9%). In total, 27 donors with DNA positive (1.5%) were found, of which 3 of 117 donors (1.7%) showed anti-HBc negative and anti-HBs positive (> 10 IU/ml), 4 of 30 donors (13.3%) showed anti-HBc positive and anti-HBs negative and 20 of 145 donors (13.8%) showed both anti-HBc and anti-HBs positive. The highest probability of finding DNA occurs when anti-HBc is positive, regardless of the presence of anti-HBs. In our study, the probability of OBI was 1.5%. The classic concept that when anti-HBc and anti-HBs are positive (even with a titer of over 100 IU/ml) the donor can be accepted should, therefore, be reconsidered, and DNA testing should be mandatory.

Structural, Dermal and Ungual Characteristics of the Foot in Patients with Type II Diabetes.

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic and metabolic disease, considered as an important public health problem. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of podiatric pathology in type II diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study of prevalence in the endocrinology service of Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC) (A Coruña-Spain) was carried out (n = 153). Type II diabetic patients included, of legal age who signed the informed consent. Sociodemographic variables were studied (age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, alcohol consumption, family history), disease variables (time of evolution of diabetes, treatments, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose), podiatric variables: measurement of the footprint, metatarsal and digital formula, nail, skin, hindfoot and forefoot alterations. The data collection was done in 2018 and the data analysis was carried out in 2019. Results: The patients with type II diabetes had greater age, obesity and arterial hypertension it compared to the general population. Diabetic patients had a higher prevalence of flat feet than the general population (71.2% vs. 20.7%, p < 0.001), with a predominance of normal foot according to the podoscope. The predominant podological pathology was the presence of claw toes (94.8%), followed by dermal (78.4%) and nail (71.9%) alterations, and the Hallux Valgus (66.0%). The Clarke angle and the Chippaux index showed a Kappa concordance index of 0.26 with the type of footprint measured with the podoscope. The Staheli index showed a Kappa index of 0.27 associated with an observed agreement of 54%. Conclusions: This study shows that foot problems continue to be prevalent in subjects with type II diabetes mellitus and for this reason, podiatry is essential in its treatment.

[Prevalencia de artrosis de rodilla en una muestra aleatoria poblacional en personas de 40 y más años de edad].

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the osteoarticular disease with the highest prevalence worldwide. In industrialized countries, 80% of the population > 65 years suffers from it. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee in a random population sample, its associated variables and its impact on pain and functionality. Methods: Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis carried out at the Cambre Health Center, A Coruña. A sample of 707 patients was included. Anthropometric variables, comorbidity and clinical examination of the knees were assessed. The validated WOMAC and Lequesne questionnaires were used to assess pain and functionality. Results: 56.3% of the patients were females, and mean age was 61.75 years. The prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis in at least one knee was 29.3%. People with osteoarthritis had higher scores in the pain, stiffness and functional capacity dimensions of the WOMAC questionnaire (30.0 ± 35.7, 33.8 ± 40.5 and 25.4 ± 40.1, respectively) and had higher scores in the Lequesne questionnaire as well (9.0 ± 8.8). Conclusions: A high prevalence of people with osteoarthritis has been determined, which is modified with gender, age and body mass index.

Introducción: La artrosis es la enfermedad osteoarticular con mayor prevalencia en todo el mundo. En los países industrializados, 80 % de la población > 65 años la padece. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de artrosis sintomática en rodilla en una muestra aleatoria poblacional, las variables asociadas y su repercusión en el dolor y funcionalidad. Método: Análisis descriptivo y multivariado de regresión logística realizado en el Centro de Salud de Cambre, A Coruña. Se incluyó una muestra de 707 pacientes. Se estudiaron variables antropométricas, comorbilidad y exploración clínica de rodillas. Para evaluar el dolor y la funcionalidad se utilizaron los cuestionarios validados WOMAC y Lequesne. Resultados: 56.3 % de los pacientes eran mujeres y la media de edad de 61.75 años. La prevalencia de artrosis sintomática en al menos una rodilla fue de 29.3 %. Las personas con artrosis presentaron puntuaciones más altas en las dimensiones dolor, rigidez y capacidad funcional del cuestionario WOMAC (30 ± 35.7, 33.8 ± 40.5 y 25.4 ± 40.1, respectivamente), así como puntuaciones más altas en el cuestionario de Lequesne (9.0 ± 8.8). Conclusiones: Se ha determinado alta prevalencia de personas con artrosis que se modifica con el sexo, la edad y el índice de masa corporal.

A validity study of the Spanish-World Health Organization Quality of Life short version instrument in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a psychometric study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity of the Spanish version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) for its use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury and, as secondary objectives, to correlate the results with variables such as functional status, psychological well-being, and social support. SETTING: Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, Galicia (Spain). METHODS: Fifty-four people with spinal cord injury were enrolled in this study. Relevant variables were analyzed based on the scores reported by each participant in the Spanish versions of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Duke-UNC Functional and Social Support Questionnaire. Both parametric and non-parametric tests were used to compare various variables. The instrument's internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also confirmed. RESULTS: The mean scores of each domain of the WHOQOL-BREF were lower, but nonsignificant, among people who need help to perform activities of daily living. The correlation between the scores obtained in the "Psychological" domain and the items of the HADS scale was significant. Significant differences were also observed when comparing the results of the "Social relationships" and "Environment" domains among people with low scores in the Duke questionnaire. Both an adequate consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.887) and test-retest reliability were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire is useful and reliable to evaluate the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injuries in our population of Spanish-speaking people.