The Expression of Alamandine Receptor MrgD in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Is Associated with a Worse Prognosis and Unfavorable Response to Antiangiogenic Therapy.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies in Western countries, marked by its notable heterogeneity, which contributes to an unpredictable clinical trajectory. The insufficiency of dependable biomarkers adds complexity to assessing this tumor progression. Imbalances of several components of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (iRAS) significantly impact patient prognoses and responses to first-line immunotherapies. In this study, we analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of the Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor D (MrgD), which recognizes the novel RAS peptide alamandine (ALA), in a series of 87 clear cell renal cell (CCRCCs), 19 papillary (PRCC), 7 chromophobe (ChRCC) renal cell carcinomas, and 11 renal oncocytomas (RO). MrgD was expressed in all the renal tumor subtypes, with a higher mean staining intensity in the PRCCs, ChRCCs, and ROs. A high expression of MrgD at the tumor center and at the infiltrative front of CCRCC tissues was significantly associated with a high histological grade, large tumor diameter, local invasion, and locoregional node and distant metastasis. Patients with worse 5-year cancer-specific survival and a poorer response to antiangiogenic tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) showed higher MrgD expression at the center of their primary tumors. These findings suggest a possible role of MrgD in renal carcinogenetic processes. Further studies are necessary to unveil its potential as a novel biomarker for CCRCC prognosis and response to frontline therapies.

Using the Synergy between HPLC-MS and MALDI-MS Imaging to Explore the Lipidomics of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Lipid imaging mass spectrometry (LIMS) has been tested in several pathological contexts, demonstrating its ability to segregate and isolate lipid signatures in complex tissues, thanks to the technique's spatial resolution. However, it cannot yet compete with the superior identification power of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and therefore, very often, the latter is used to refine the assignment of the species detected by LIMS. Also, it is not clear if the differences in sensitivity and spatial resolution between the two techniques lead to a similar panel of biomarkers for a given disease. Here, we explore the capabilities of LIMS and HPLC-MS to produce a panel of lipid biomarkers to screen nephrectomy samples from 40 clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. The same set of samples was explored by both techniques, and despite the important differences between them in terms of the number of detected and identified species (148 by LIMS and 344 by HPLC-MS in negative-ion mode) and the presence/absence of image capabilities, similar conclusions were reached: using the lipid fingerprint, it is possible to set up classifiers that correctly identify the samples as either healthy or tumor samples. The spatial resolution of LIMS enables extraction of additional information, such as the existence of necrotic areas or the existence of different tumor cell populations, but such information does not seem determinant for the correct classification of the samples, or it may be somehow compensated by the higher analytical power of HPLC-MS. Similar conclusions were reached with two very different techniques, validating their use for the discovery of lipid biomarkers.

Efficacy of the unified protocol for the treatment of emotional disorders in the Spanish public mental health system using a group format: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Emotional disorders, which include both anxiety and depressive disorders, are the most prevalent psychological disorders according to recent epidemiological studies. Consequently, public costs associated with their treatment have become a matter of concern for public health systems, which face long waiting lists. Because of their high prevalence in the population, finding an effective treatment for emotional disorders has become a key goal of today's clinical psychology. The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders might serve the aforementioned purpose, as it can be applied to a variety of disorders simultaneously and it can be easily performed in a group format. METHODS: The study is a multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority controlled clinical trial. Participants will be 220 individuals with emotional disorders, who are randomized to either a treatment as usual (individual cognitive behavioral therapy) or to a Unified Protocol condition in group format. Depression, anxiety, and diagnostic criteria are the primary outcome measures. Secondary measures include the assessment of positive and negative affect, anxiety control, personality traits, overall adjustment, and quality of life. An analysis of treatment satisfaction is also conducted. Assessment points include baseline, post-treatment, and three follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months. To control for missing data and possible biases, intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed. DISCUSSION: This is the first randomized, controlled clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic intervention in a group format for the treatment of emotional disorders in public settings in Spain. Results obtained from this study may have important clinical, social, and economic implications for public mental health settings in Spain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ . Trial NCT03064477 (March 10, 2017). The trial is active and recruitment is ongoing. Recruitment is expected to finish by January 2020.

Modelling the kinetics and structural property evolution of a versatile reaction: aqueous HCN polymerization.

The kinetics of the reaction of the synthesis of HCN polymers in aqueous medium at high temperatures have been analysed to ascertain a suitable model for this material, for which it was recently demonstrated that prebiotic chemistry may now be adapted in the development of a new generation of high performance coatings and adhesives with biomedical applications. These experimental conditions were chosen for the simplicity of the reagents, being particularly convenient in regard to potential industrial scale-up of coating technology, where these polymers have revealed an interesting field of application. The kinetics of the precipitation polymerization of HCN in water were studied under isothermal conditions at four different temperatures between 75 °C and 90 °C throughout gravimetric measurements. The use of the Kamal-Sourour autocatalytic kinetic model was proposed, properly describing the overall formation process of this insoluble HCN polymer. All of the kinetic parameters, including reaction orders, kinetic constants and activation energy, were determined for the cross-linking polymerization reaction under study, and a relevant autocatalysis effect was observed. An isoconversion method was also used to analyse the variation of the global activation energy with conversion; and characterization by means of elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out. This study demonstrates the autocatalytic, robust and straightforward character of this heterogeneous aqueous HCN polymerization, and to the best of our knowledge, this report describes the first time that a systematic and extended kinetic analysis has been conducted to obtain a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of this complex reaction, which is of great interest to the origin of life and, currently, to materials science.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse in Galicia, Spain: HPV 16 prevalence and vaccination impact.

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) can influence the efficacy of Public Health preventive strategies. This study aimed to determine the high-risk papillomavirus (HR-HPV) prevalence in CIN2+ cases in unvaccinated women in Galicia (Spain), the expected impact of bivalent vaccination, and the distribution of HPV 16 in squamous lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-four histologically confirmed cases of CIN2+ (2009-2010) were retrospectively studied: 23 CIN2, 58 CIN3- squamous carcinoma in situ (CIN3-CIS), 5 adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), and 8 invasive squamous cervical cancer (SCC). Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) was performed on the cervical specimens. Bivalent vaccination impact was calculated, based on regional vaccination coverage data, local HR-HPV prevalence, and reported efficacy (direct and cross-protection) of the vaccine. RESULTS: HR-HPV prevalence was 96.8%. The most frequent genotypes were HPV 16 (48.8-58.2%) and HPV 31 (9.3%-12.1%), considering single infections or single-multiple infections, respectively (hierarchical attribution). In squamous lesions, HPV 16 prevalence in women younger than 45 years of age increased in severe lesions (CIN3-CIS/SCC, OR 4.2), and was higher than in older women (OR 5.5). The vaccine could reduce the cumulative incidence of CIN2+ by 50.6% (direct protection), or by 62.7% (direct and cross-protection). CONCLUSION: HPV vaccination could have a great impact in women younger than 45 years of age due to the high prevalence of HPV 16 in their lesions.

Early anticoagulation after aortic valve replacement with porcine bioprosthesis randomized control trial(ANTIPRO). 3 years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Most evidence for anticoagulation in aortic bioprosthesis is centered on embolic events, bleeding and re-intervention risk. The effect of anticoagulation on hemodynamics has not been previously assessed. Our hypothesis was that patients with anticoagulation (AC) early after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with porcine bioprosthesis have better hemodynamics at 3 years of follow-up. METHODS: This is a follow-up evaluation of the ANTIPRO trial. All patients undergoing AVR with porcine bioprosthesis were consecutively recruited. The AC group received warfarin+aspirin and the non-AC(control) only aspirin. The primary outcome was mean gradient after 3 years of AVR and change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Secondary outcomes were major and minor bleeding and embolic events. RESULTS: Of 140 participants in the study, 71 were assigned to the AC group and 69 to the control group. Mean age of the overall population was 72.4(SD: 7.1) years. Global euroSCORE was 7.65(SD: 5.73). At 3 years the mean gradient was similar between both groups (19.4(SD: 9.6 mmHg) and 18.6(SD: 8.2 mmHg) in the control and AC group respectively, p = 0.7). No differences in functional class at 3 years were found among groups. No differences were found among groups in the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of 3 months of oral anticoagulation to anti-aggregation treatment did not affect bioprosthetic hemodynamics nor functional class at years after AVR.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 mRNA as a triage test after detection of HPV 16 and HPV 18 DNA.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection provides high sensitivity but low specificity for moderate-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse histological identification. A prospective study evaluated mRNA testing efficacy for predicting this histological diagnosis in case of HPV 16 and/or 18 DNA detection. A total of 165 endocervical samples harboring HPV 16 and/or 18 DNA were tested with NucliSENS-EasyQ® HPV E6/E7-mRNA-assay (Biomerieux, Marcy l´Etoile, France). Women with cytological alterations were referred to colposcopy (n = 111). Moderate-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse was diagnosed in 25.8% of women presenting atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and in 89.8% of women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. mRNA sensitivity was 81.3% and 84.1%, respectively. Specificity was 52.2%, and 80.0%, respectively. Negative predictive value (NPV) was 88.9% in undetermined or low-grade squamous lesions. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 97.4% in high-grade squamous lesions. mRNA reduced colposcopies by 44.3% in undetermined or low-grade squamous lesions. Direct treatment of mRNA-positive cases reduced 77.5% of colposcopies in high-grade squamous lesions. Women without cytological alterations were followed for 18 months (n = 35), and moderate-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse was diagnosed in 34.3%; mRNA sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 86.9%, respectively. PPV and NPV were 76.9% and 90.9%, respectively for predicting moderate-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse in 18 months. mRNA reduced the number of visits for follow-up in 62.2%. In conclusion, NucliSENS-EasyQ® HPV E6/E7-mRNA-assay (Biomerieux) can serve as a triage test in case of HPV 16 and/or 18 DNA detection.

Early anticoagulation after aortic valve replacement with porcine bioprosthesis randomized control trial (ANTIPRO).

OBJECTIVES: Most evidence for anticoagulation (AC) in aortic bioprosthesis is centred on embolic events, bleeding and reintervention risk. The effect of AC on haemodynamics has not been previously assessed. Our hypothesis was that patients with early AC after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with porcine bioprosthesis have better haemodynamics at 1 year of follow-up. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, open-label trial conducted at 2 cardiac surgery centres. All patients undergoing AVR with porcine bioprosthesis were consecutively recruited. The anticoagulated group received warfarin + aspirin and the non-anticoagulated (control) only aspirin. The primary outcome was mean gradient after 1 year of AVR and change in New York Heart Association class. Secondary outcomes were major and minor bleeding, embolic events and prosthetic leak. RESULTS: Of 140 participants in the study, 71 were assigned to the anticoagulated group and 69 to the control group. The mean age of the overall population was 72.4 (SD: 7.1) years. Global EuroSCORE was 7.65 (SD: 5.73). At 1 year, the mean gradient was similar between both groups [18.6 (SD: 1.1 mmHg) and 18.1 (SD: 1.0 mmHg) in the control and anticoagulated groups, respectively, P = 0.701]. No differences in functional class at 3 months or 1 year were found among groups. No differences were found among groups in the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of 3 months of oral AC to anti-aggregation treatment was not detected to affect bioprosthetic haemodynamics nor functional class at 1 year after AVR. Likewise, AC does not lead to the higher incidence of complications.

Clinical Implications of (Pro)renin Receptor (PRR) Expression in Renal Tumours.

(1) Background: Renal cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in Western countries, with an unpredictable clinical outcome, partly due to its high heterogeneity and the scarcity of reliable biomarkers of tumour progression. (Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is a novel receptor of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that has been associated with the development and progression of some solid tumours by RAS-dependent and -independent mechanisms. (2) Methods: In this study, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of PRR at the centre and border in a series of 83 clear-cell renal cell (CCRCCs), 19 papillary (PRCC) and 7 chromophobe (ChRCC) renal cell carcinomas, and the benign tumour renal oncocytoma (RO, n = 11). (3) Results: PRR is expressed in all the tumour subtypes, with higher mean staining intensity in ChRCCs and ROs. A high expression of PRR at the tumour centre and at the infiltrative front of CCRCC tissues is significantly associated with high grade, tumour diameter, local invasion and stage, and with high mortality risk by UCLA integrated staging system (UISS) scale. (4) Conclusions: These findings indicate that PRR is associated with the development and progression of renal tumours. Its potential as a novel biomarker for RCC diagnosis/prognosis and as a promising therapeutic target should be taken into account in the future.

Soluble PD-L1 Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

(1). Background: Immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) is being used to evaluate advanced malignancies with potential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We evaluated both plasma and tissue expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in the same cohort of patients, including non-metastatic and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Concomitant plasma and tissue expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was evaluated with emphasis on diagnostic and prognostic implications. (2) Methods: we analyzed PD-1 and PD-L1 IHC expression in tumor tissues and soluble forms (sPD-1 and sPD-L1) in plasma from 89 patients with CCRCC, of which 23 were metastatic and 16 received systemic therapy. The primary endpoint was evaluation of overall survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox regression model. Plasma samples from healthy volunteers were also evaluated. (3) Results: Interestingly, sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels were lower in cancer patients than in controls. sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels and their counterpart tissue expression both at the tumor center and infiltrating front were not associated. Higher expression of both PD-1 and PD-L1 were associated with tumor grade, necrosis and tumor size. PD-1 was associated to tumor stage (pT) and PD-L1 to metastases. sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were not associated with clinico-pathological parameters, although both were higher in patients with synchronous metastases compared to metachronous ones and sPD-L1 was also higher for metastatic patients compared to non-metastatic patients. sPD-1 was also associated with the International Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Database Consortium (IMDC) prognostic groups in metastatic CCRCC and also to the Morphology, Attenuation, Size and Structure (MASS) response criteria in metastatic patients treated with systemic therapy, mainly tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Regarding prognosis, PD-L1 immunostaining at the tumor center with and without the tumor front was associated with worse survival, and so was sPD-L1 at a cut-off >793 ng/mL. Combination of positivity at both the tissue and plasma level increased the level of significance to predict prognosis. (4) Conclusions: Our findings corroborate the role of PD-L1 IHC to evaluate prognosis in CCRCC and present novel data on the usefulness of plasma sPD-L1 as a promising biomarker of survival in this neoplasia.

The Beneficial Effect of Anticoagulation in Aortic Bioprosthesis is Associated with its Size.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in aortic valve replacement (AVR) patients with aortic bioprosthesis under oral anticoagulation (OA). METHODS: Patients who underwent AVR with bioprosthesiswere prospectively enrolled. They were classified based on postoperative use of OA. Clinical and operative variables were collected. Echocardiographic and clinical follow-ups were performed two years after surgery. The primary outcome evaluated was change in transprosthetic gradient. Secondary outcomes analyzed were change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, major bleeding episodes, hospitalization, stroke, and transient ischemic attack. RESULTS: We included 103 patients (61 without OA and 42 with OA). Clinical characteristics were similar among groups, except for younger age (76±6.3 vs. 72.4±8.1 years, P=0.016) and higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (0% vs. 23.8%, P<0.001) in the OA group. Mean (21.4±10 mmHg vs. 16.8±7.7 mmHg, P=0.037) and maximum (33.4±13.7 mmHg vs. 28.4±10.2 mmHg, P=0.05) transprosthetic gradients were higher in patients without OA. Improvement in NYHA class was more frequent in patients with OA (73% vs. 45.3%, P=0.032). Major bleeding, stroke, and hospitalization were similar among groups. OA was the only independent predictor for improvement of NYHA class after multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-29.4; P=0.028). Stratification by prosthesis size showed that patients with ≤ 21 mm prosthesis benefited from OA. CONCLUSION: Early anticoagulation after AVR with bioprosthesis was associated with significant decrease of transprosthesis gradient and improvement in NYHA class. These associations were seen mainly in patients with ≤ 21 mm prosthesis.

Speech treatment in nemaline myopathy: A single-subject experimental study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this work was to verify the efficacy of a treatment based on myofunctional therapy techniques which aimed to improve the tongue strength, precision, and speed of a ten-year-old girl with nemaline myopathy (NM) and the repercussions of this therapy on her speech intelligibility. NM is a rare congenital muscle disorder that causes extreme muscle weakness, especially in the face and neck, as well as severe dysarthria and dysphagia, although this does not affect the nervous system or cognitive development. METHOD: This was a single-subject experimental study which used an interrupted pre- and post-treatment time-series design, and which applied autoregressive integrated moving-average predictive models and Holt exponential smoothing. During the treatment phases, the participant's tongue strength and the rate of speech diadochokinesia and voluntary lingual movements were estimated and the repercussions of the intervention in terms of speech intelligibility were ascertained via an experiment with 'naïve' judges. RESULTS: The treatment produced a sustained and significant increase in the maximum strength of the patient's tongue, which increased from an initial 4 kPa to 11 kPa at the end of the treatment phase. However, this was far from the average 58 kPa for age- and sex-matched normative data. There were no significant changes either in the rates of voluntary lingual mobility or speech diadochokinesia. Speech intelligibility, as assessed by naïve judges, improved from 40 % in the pre-treatment phase to 67 % in the post-treatment phase. CONCLUSIONS: NM and other rare primary muscle disorders allow us to estimate the effects of severe muscle weakness in people with dysarthria without cognitive impairment or alterations in central nervous system, peripheral nervous system or in gap junction. In this case, the treatment did not increase the patient's lingual and articulatory movement speed but did increase her tongue strength from 5 % to 10 % of the levels otherwise expected for her age and significantly improved the intelligibility of her speech and communication.

Previous Cardiac Surgery: a Predictor of Mortality in Aortic Valve Replacement?

INTRODUCTION: Previous cardiac surgery (PCS) is a risk factor for operative mortality in pa-tients undergoing reoperative aortic valve replacement (AVR) and may be influenced by the volume of patients in each center. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of AVR in patients with previous cardiac surgery in a low volume cardiac center (400 cases per year). METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2016, 854 patients underwent isolated AVR surgery at our institution. Of these, 70 had PCS. Propensity match (PM) was per-formed to balance basal covariates. Operative mortality and survival were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: The PCS and first-time surgery (FTS) groups had significant differences in base-line characteristics (PCS group were older, higher incidence of hypertension, endocarditis, NYHA III/IV, lower LVEF, higher creatinine and higher EuroSCORE). In the unmatched population, patients with PCS had higher operative mortality (17.1% vs. 4.6%, P=0.001). In the PM groups, this difference was not significant (12.5% and 3.6%, P=0.08). The only independent predictors for operative mortality found in the PCS group were age and fe-male gender. Age and diabetes were identified as the only independent predictors of sur-vival. CONCLUSION: PCS was not a predictor for operative mortality nor long-term survival in pa-tients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement.

Sensory Acceptability of Infant Cereals with Whole Grain in Infants and Young Children.

In many countries, infant cereals are one of the first foods introduced during the complementary feeding stage. These cereals are usually made with refined cereal flours, even though several health benefits have been linked to the intake of whole grain cereals. Prior evidence suggests that food preferences are developed at early stages of life, and may persist in later childhood and adulthood. Our aim was to test whether an infant cereal with 30% of whole grain was similarly accepted both by parents and infants in comparison to a similar cereal made from refined flour. A total of 81 infants between 4 and 24 months old were included in the study. Parent-infant pairs participated in an 8-day experimental study. Acceptance was rated on hedonic scales (4-points for infants and 7-points for parents). Other attributes like color, smell, and taste were evaluated by the parents. Acceptability for infant cereals with whole grain and refined cereals was very similar both for infants (2.30 ± 0.12 and 2.32 ± 0.11, p = 0.606) and parents (6.1 ± 0.8 and 6.0 ± 0.9, p = 0.494). Therefore, our findings show that there is an opportunity to introduce whole grain cereals to infants, including those who are already used to consuming refined infant cereals, thereby accelerating the exposure of whole grain in early life.

Trombosis de válvulas protésicas biológicas / Biological prosthetic valve thrombosis / Trombose da válvula protética biológica

Resumen: La trombosis de la válvula protésica biológica (TVPB) era considerada una entidad relativamente rara. Sin embargo, debido al aumento del uso de bioprótesis en cirugía cardíaca y al advenimiento de las prótesis biológicas transcatéter, ha adquirido mayor interés al ser reconocida como causa de disfunción protésica. Aún no se ha establecido la relevancia a largo plazo de la trombosis subclínica, ni están definidas las estrategias terapéuticas óptimas para prevenir la TVPB ni las complicaciones tromboembólicas. En esta revisión se analizan la fisiopatología, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la TVPB para contribuir al conocimiento de esta patología.

Summary: Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis was considered a relatively rare entity. However, due to the increased use of bioprostheses in cardiac surgery and the advent of transcatheter biological prostheses, it has acquired more attention as a cause of prosthetic dysfunction. The long-term relevance of subclinical thrombosis has not yet been elucidated, nor are the optimal therapeutic strategies to prevent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis or thromboembolic complications. This review aims to provide a summary of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis to contribute to the knowledge of this pathology.

Resumo: A trombose de prótese biológica foi considerada uma entidade relativamente rara. No entanto, devido ao aumento do uso de biopróteses em cirurgia cardíaca e o advento de próteses biológicas transcateter, tornou-se mais interessante como causa de disfunção protética. A relevância a longo prazo da trombose subclínica ainda não foi elucidada, nem são definidas as estratégias terapêuticas ideais para prevenir a trombose de prótese biológica ou complicações tromboembólicas. Esta revisão tem como objetivo fornecer um resumo da fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e tratamento da trombose de prótese biológica para contribuir o conhecimento desta patologia

COVID-19 con afectación cardiovascular. Reporte de un caso / COVID-19 with cardiovascular involvement. Case report / COVID-19 com envolvimento cardiovascular. Relato de um caso

Resumen: Estamos transitando el inicio de la pandemia COVID-19 por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Se ha reconocido que la forma de presentación puede ser con síntomas de la esfera cardiovascular. Reportamos el primer caso de un paciente ingresado a terapia intensiva con COVID-19 en Uruguay, quien se presentó al ingreso con sintomatología cardiovascular.

Summary: We are transiting the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It has been recognized that the form of presentation may be with cardiovascular symptoms. We report the first case of a patient admitted to intensive care affected with COVID-19 in Uruguay, who was admitted with cardiovascular symptoms.

Resumo: Estamos no início da pandemia de COVID-19 causada pelo novo coronavírus SARS-CoV-2. Foi reconhecido que a forma de apresentação pode estar com sintomas cardiovasculares. Relatamos o primeiro caso de um paciente admitido em terapia intensiva afetada pelo COVID-19 no Uruguai, que foi admitido com sintomas cardiovasculares.

The beneficial effect of anticoagulation in aortic bioprosthesis is associated with its size

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in aortic valve replacement (AVR) patients with aortic bioprosthesis under oral anticoagulation (OA). Methods: Patients who underwent AVR with bioprosthesiswere prospectively enrolled. They were classified based on postoperative use of OA. Clinical and operative variables were collected. Echocardiographic and clinical follow-ups were performed two years after surgery. The primary outcome evaluated was change in transprosthetic gradient. Secondary outcomes analyzed were change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, major bleeding episodes, hospitalization, stroke, and transient ischemic attack. Results: We included 103 patients (61 without OA and 42 with OA). Clinical characteristics were similar among groups, except for younger age (76±6.3 vs. 72.4±8.1 years, P=0.016) and higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (0% vs. 23.8%, P<0.001) in the OA group. Mean (21.4±10 mmHg vs. 16.8±7.7 mmHg, P=0.037) and maximum (33.4±13.7 mmHg vs. 28.4±10.2 mmHg, P=0.05) transprosthetic gradients were higher in patients without OA. Improvement in NYHA class was more frequent in patients with OA (73% vs. 45.3%, P=0.032). Major bleeding, stroke, and hospitalization were similar among groups. OA was the only independent predictor for improvement of NYHA class after multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-29.4; P=0.028). Stratification by prosthesis size showed that patients with ≤ 21 mm prosthesis benefited from OA. Conclusion: Early anticoagulation after AVR with bioprosthesis was associated with significant decrease of transprosthesis gradient and improvement in NYHA class. These associations were seen mainly in patients with ≤ 21 mm prosthesis.

Perfil clínico y etiológico de pacientes operados con endocarditis activa. Seguimiento a diez años / Clinical and etiological profile of patients operated on with active endocarditis. Follow-up at 10 years / Perfil clínico e etiológico dos pacientes operados com endocardite ativa. Acompanhamento aos 10 anos

Resumen: Antecedentes: la endocarditis infecciosa es una enfermedad con elevada morbimortalidad, la cual se encuentra en torno al 25%. Aproximadamente el 50% de los casos requiere tratamiento quirúrgico. En nuestro medio se desconocen las características clínicas y evolutivas de pacientes operados por endocarditis infecciosa activa. Objetivos: primario, determinar mortalidad operatoria (MO) y sobrevida a largo plazo; secundario, definir predictores de embolias, complicaciones locales (CL), MO y endocarditis protésica (EP) en la evolución. Métodos: trabajo retrospectivo y analítico. Se identificaron pacientes que recibieron cirugía cardíaca por endocarditis activa entre enero de 2006 y diciembre de 2017. Mediante regresión logística multivariada se identificaron predictores para los objetivos enunciados. Resultados: se incluyeron 101 pacientes. El microorganismo más frecuentemente encontrado fue Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (15,8%). La topografía fue protésica en 20,8%, aórtica en 46,5%, mitral en 23,8% y mitro-aórtica en 13,9%. La MO fue 11,3% y 29,5% (p=0,025), según ausencia o presencia de CL, único predictor independiente de mortalidad (OR=3,38). El 47,5% presentó CL, siendo la más frecuente el absceso (25,7%). Fueron predictores independientes: EP (OR=5,8), endocarditis valvular aórtica (OR=2,9) y sexo masculino (OR=3,5). La incidencia de EP precoz fue 3% y tardía 4%. El 30% de los pacientes adquirió la EI como consecuencia de un procedimiento médico invasivo en los 6 meses previos. De los siete pacientes con EP en la evolución, seis tenían CL (p<0,05). El 31,7% presentaba embolias, resultando predictores independientes: Staphylococcus aureus (OR=4,6), vegetación en el velo mitral posterior (OR=3,2) y antecedente de hipertensión arterial (OR=3,32). La sobrevida a cinco y diez años fue de 88,20%±0,04 y 81,50%±0,05 respectivamente. Conclusiones: la MO de la endocarditis activa en nuestro medio es similar a la reportada internacionalmente. La presencia de CL se asocia a EP en la evolución y resultó ser un predictor independiente de sobrevida a largo plazo, y de MO. La sobrevida a largo plazo es similar a la reportada internacionalmente. Se observó una alta incidencia de agentes intrahospitalarios y procedimientos invasivos como causas probables.

Summary: Introduction: infective endocarditis is a high morbidity and mortality disease, which is about 25%. About fifty percent of patients require heart surgery. In our environment, clinical and evolutionary characteristics of patients operated with active endocarditis are unknown. Objective: primary, determine operative mortality and long-term survival; secondary, define predictors of embolisms, local complications, operative mortality and prosthetic endocarditis in evolution. Methods: retrospective, analytical study. Patients who received cardiac surgery for active endocarditis between January 2006 and December 2017 were identified. Through multivariate logistic regression, predictors were identified for the stated objectives. Results: one hundred and one patients were included. The most frequently found microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus (15.8%). The topography was prosthetic in 20.8%, aortic 46.5%, mitral 23.8% and mitro-aortic 13.9%. The operative mortality was 11.3% and 29.5% (p = 0.025) according to the absence or presence of local complications , the only independent predictor of mortality (OR = 3.32). Local complications were present in 47.5%, the most frequent were abscess (25.7%), independent predictors were: prosthetic endocarditis (OR=5.8), aortic endocarditis (OR=2.9) and male sex (OR=3.5). The incidence of early prosthetic endocarditis was 3% and late 4%. Thirty percent of patients acquired infective endocarditis as a result of an invasive medical procedure in the previous 6 months. Of the seven patients with prosthetic endocarditis in evolution, six had local complications (p <0.05). Embolic events were present in 31.7% of patients, were independent predictors: Staphylococcus aureus (OR=4.6), presence of vegetation in the posterior mitral leaflet (OR=3.2) and history of hypertension (OR=3.32). Survival at 5 and 10 years was 88.20% ± 0.04 and 81.50% ± 0.05 respectively. Conclusions: operative mortality of active endocarditis in our environment is high and similar to that reported internationally. The presence of local complications is associated with prosthetic endocarditis in evolution and proved to be an independent predictor of long-term survival, and operative mortality. Long-term survival is similar to that reported internationally. A high incidence of in-hospital agents was observed and invasive procedures as probable causes.

Resumo: Antecedentes: a endocardite infecciosa é uma doença com alta morbimortalidade. Requerem tratamento cirúrgico o 50%. Em nosso meio, as características clínicas e evolutivas dos pacientes operados com endocardite ativa são desconhecidas. Objetivos: primário, determinar a mortalidade operatória e a sobrevida a longo prazo; secundário: Definir preditores de embolias, complicações locais, mortalidade operatória e endocardite protética na evolução. Métodos: trabalho retrospectivo, analítico. Foram identificados no banco de dados pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de endocardite ativa entre janeiro de 2006 e dezembro de 2017. Através de regressão logística multivariada, os preditores foram identificados para os objetivos estabelecidos. Resultados: cento e um pacientes foram incluídos. Staphylococcus aureus foi o microrganismo mais frequente (15,8%). A topografia foi protética em 20,8%, aórtica 46,5%, mitral 23,8% e mitroaórtica 13,9%. A mortalidade operatória foi de 11,3% e 29,5% (p = 0,025), de acordo com a ausência ou presença de complicações locais, o único preditor independente de mortalidade (OR). Um 47,5% apresentaram complicações locais, sendo o mais frequente o abscesso (25,7%). Os preditores independentes foram: endocardite protética (OR = 5,8), endocardite valvar aórtica (OR=2,9)) e sexo masculino (OR = 3,5). A incidência de endocardite protética precoce foi de 3% e tardia de 4%. Trinta por cento dos pacientes adquiriram endocardite infecciosa como resultado de um procedimento médico invasivo nos 6 meses anteriores. Dos pacientes com endocardite protética na evolução, 85,7% apresentava complicações locais (p <0,05). O 31,7% apresentava embolia, resultando em preditores independentes: Staphylococcus aureus (OR = 4,6), vegetação no véu mitral posterior (OR = 3,2) e história de hipertensão arterial (OR = 3,32). A sobrevida em 5 e 10 anos foi de 88,20% ± 0,04 e 81,50% ± 0,05, respectivamente. Conclusões: a mortalidade operatória da endocardite ativa em nosso ambiente é alto e semelhante ao relatado internacionalmente. A presença de complicações locais está associada à endocardite protética na evolução e provou ser um preditor independente de sobrevida a longo prazo e mortalidade operatória. A sobrevivência a longo prazo é semelhante à relatada internacionalmente. Foi observada alta incidência de agentes hospitalares e procedimentos invasivos como causas prováveis.

Seguridad de la exclusión quirúrgica del apéndice auricular izquierdo en pacientes con fibrilación auricular sometidos a cirugía valvular mitral / Safety of left atrial appendage exclusion in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery / Segurança da exclusão cirúrgica do apêndice atrial esquerdo em pacientes com fibrilação atrial submetidos a cirurgia valvar mitral

Resumen: Introducción: la fibrilación auricular (FA) es la arritmia sostenida más frecuente en la práctica clínica. Asocia un aumento significativo de morbimortalidad. La prevención de fenómenos embólicos es un pilar del tratamiento, basado en gran medida en la anticoagulación oral (ACO). Hay un porcentaje significativo de pacientes que presentan contraindicaciones para ACO, a los cuales se deben ofrecer tratamientos alternativos. La exclusión quirúrgica del apéndice auricular izquierdo (AAI) determina beneficios en tal sentido y se asocia a una menor tasa de eventos neurológicos. Objetivo: primario, valorar la seguridad de la exclusión quirúrgica del AAI en pacientes con FA sometidos a cirugía valvular mitral; secundario, analizar la incidencia de ataque cerebrovascular (ACV) en dicha población y analizar la sobrevida entre los pacientes con y sin exclusión del AAI. Método: estudio unicéntrico, analítico, observacional, retrospectivo, comparando exclusión o no del AAI en pacientes con FA sometidos a cirugía cardíaca sobre válvula mitral, entre enero de 2012 y diciembre de 2018. Las variables se obtuvieron de la base de datos institucional. El seguimiento fue telefónico y la sobrevida fue derivada de datos oficiales nacionales. Resultados: se incluyeron 69 pacientes (en 45 se realizó exclusión del AAI). Como características con diferencias significativas destacan la edad (69,1±8,2 años sin exclusión del AAI; 63,6±10,3 años con exclusión del AAI, p=0,026) y el porcentaje de ablación quirúrgica de FA en cada grupo (29,2% sin exclusión del AAI; 68,9% con exclusión del AAI, p=0,002). Se obtuvo un seguimiento de 33 pacientes, entre los cuales no hubo diferencias significativas en los parámetros considerados. Se evaluó la sobrevida del total de los pacientes incluidos, sin diferencia a largo plazo. Conclusión: según los datos analizados, la exclusión del AAI es un procedimiento seguro que no agrega complicaciones a la cirugía valvular mitral en pacientes con FA. No fue posible demostrar que la exclusión del AAI reduzca de manera significativa la prevalencia de ACV isquémico a largo plazo, ni modifique la sobrevida.

Summary: Introduction: atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrythmia in clinical practice. It is associated to significant morbimortality. The prevention of embolic episodes is a pillar of atrial fibrillation treatment and is based mainly on anticoagulation. However, there is a significant proportion of patients with contraindications for anticoagulation, to whom alternative treatments must be offered. Surgical exclusion of the left atrial appendage offers benefits in this regard, and is associated to a lower rate of neurological events. Objective: primary endpoint: to evaluate the safety of the surgical exclusion of the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery; secondary endpoint: to analyze the incidence of stroke in this population, and to analyze the survival rate in patients with and without left atrial appendage exclusion. Method: a single center, analytic, observational, retrospective study, comparing exclusion and no exclusion of the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery between January 2012 and December 2018. The variables were obtained from the institutional database. The follow up was telephonic and survival rates were obtained from a national official database. Results: 69 patients were included (45 underwent surgical left atrial appendage exclusion). Statistically significant features between the groups were age (69.1±8.2 years without left atrial appendage exclusion; 63.6±10.3 years with left atrial appendage exclusion, p=0.026), and the rate of surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (29.2% without exclusion; 68.9% with exclusion, p=0.002). The follow up was carried out in 33, finding no statistically significant differences between the groups. The survival rate of all patients was analyzed, finding no long term differences. Conclusion: according to the data analyzed, left atrial appendage exclusion is a safe procedure, and adds no further complications to mitral valve surgery in patients with atrial fibrillation. It was not possible to prove that left atrial appendage exclusion significantly reduces the long term prevalence of ischemic stroke or modifies the survival rate.

Resumo: Introdução: a fibrilação atrial é a arritmia sustentada mais frequente na prática clínica. Associa um aumento significativo na morbimortalidade. A prevenção de fenômenos embólicos é um dos pilares do tratamento, amplamente baseado na anticoagulação oral. Existe uma percentagem significativa de pacientes que apresentam contra-indicações, a quem tratamentos alternativos devem ser oferecidos. A exclusão cirúrgica do apêndice atrial esquerdo determina benefícios nesse sentido e está associada a uma menor taxa de eventos neurológicos. Objetivo: primário: avaliar a segurança da exclusão cirúrgica do apêndice atrial esquerdo em pacientes com fibrilação atrial submetidos a cirurgia valvar mitral; secundário: analisar a incidência de ataque cerebrovascular na referida população e análise de sobrevida em pacientes com e sem exclusão de apêndice atrial esquerdo. Método: estudo de centro único, analítico, observacional, retrospectivo que comparou a exclusão ou não de apêndice atrial esquerdo em pacientes com fibrilação atrial submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca na válvula mitral, entre janeiro de 2012 e dezembro de 2018. As variáveis foram obtidas no banco de dados institucional. O acompanhamento foi por telefone e a sobrevivência foi obtida a partir de dados nacionais oficiais. Resultados: 69 pacientes foram incluídos (45 foram excluídos da apêndice atrial esquerdo). Como elementos estatisticamente significativos, destacam-se a idade (69,1 ± 8,2 anos sem exclusão do apêndice atrial esquerdo; 63,6 ± 10,3 anos com exclusão do apêndice atrial esquerdo, p = 0,026) e a taxa de ablação cirúrgica da fibrilação atrial em cada grupo (29,2% sem exclusão; 68,9% com exclusão, p = 0,002). Foi obtido um seguimento de 33 pacientes, entre os quais não houve diferenças significativas nos parâmetros considerados. A sobrevida de todos os pacientes incluídos foi avaliada, sem diferença na sobrevida a longo prazo. Conclusão: de acordo com os dados analisados, a exclusão do apêndice atrial esquerdo é um procedimento seguro que não agrega complicações à cirurgia valvar mitral em pacientes com fibrilação atrial. Não foi possível demonstrar que a exclusão da apêndice atrial esquerdo reduz significativamente a prevalência de ataque vascular cerebral isquêmico a longo prazo, nem modifica a sobrevida.