Design and Interrater Reliability of the Pediatric Version of the Race Scale: PedRACE.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of pediatric death and disability. A clinical scale adapted for children can ensure early detection of candidates for urgent acute ischemic stroke treatment. The Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) scale for adults, which scores 5 items (facial palsy 0-2; arm motor function 0-2; leg motor function 0-2; head/gaze deviation 0-1; and aphasia or agnosia 0-2), has good sensitivity and specificity in detecting large vessel occlusion. METHODS: We adapted the previously validated RACE scale for use in children as the Pediatric RACE scale. This adapted scale was tested by prehospital/emergency room staff attending to patients covered by the Catalan Pediatric Stroke Code and child neurologists for its correlation with the Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and for interrater reliability. RESULTS: The study included 50 children, 18 with confirmed strokes (7 acute ischemic strokes and 11 hemorrhagic strokes). Prehospital/emergency staff and child neurologists agreed fully regarding 82% of patients and 100% regarding head/gaze deviation and agnosia. The Pediatric RACE scale correlated strongly with the Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in evaluations by child neurologists (Spearman ρ, 0.852; P<0.001) and prehospital/emergency staff (Spearman ρ, 0.781; P<0.001). The median Pediatric RACE score was significantly higher in patients with large vessel occlusion (6.5; interquartile range, 6-7) than with other etiologies. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric RACE, showing good interrater reliability and correlation with the Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, is a simple scale to detect candidates for pediatric acute stroke treatment, designed for both prehospital and in-hospital use by non-neurologist medical staff.

Increased prevalence of Kidney cysts in individuals carrying heterozygous COL4A3 or COL4A4 pathogenic variants.

BACKGROUND: Clinical variability among individuals with heterozygous pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in the COL4A3/COL4A4 genes (also called autosomal dominant Alport syndrome or COL4A3/COL4A4 related disorder) is huge; many individuals are asymptomatic or show microhematuria, while others may develop proteinuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of simple kidney cysts (KC) in the general population varies according to age, and patients with advanced CKD are prone to have them. A possible association between heterozygous COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 P/LP variants and KC has been described in small cohorts. The presence of KC in a multicenter cohort of individuals with heterozygous P/LP variants in the COL4A3/COL4A4 genes is assessed in this study. METHODS: We evaluated the presence of KC by ultrasound in 157 individuals with P/LP variants in COL4A3 (40.7%) or COL4A4 (53.5%) without kidney replacement therapy. The association between presence of KC and age, proteinuria, eGFR, and causative gene was analyzed. Prevalence of KC was compared with historical case series in the general population. RESULTS: Half of the individuals with P/LP variants in COL4A3/COL4A4 showed KC, which is a significantly higher percentage than in the general population. Only 3.8% (6/157) had cystic nephromegaly. Age and eGFR showed an association with the presence of KC (p<0.001). No association was found between KC and proteinuria, sex, or causative gene. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with COL4A3/COL4A4 P/LP variants are prone to develop KC more frequently than the general population, and their presence is related to age and to eGFR. Neither proteinuria, sex nor the causative gene influences the presence of KC in these individuals.

Should patients with exceptional longevity be treated for osteoporosis after a hip fracture?

BACKGROUND: There are no studies focusing on treatment for osteoporosis in patients with exceptional longevity after suffering a hip fracture. OBJECTIVE: To assess the advisability of initiating treatment for osteoporosis after a hip fracture according to the incidence of new fragility fractures after discharge, risk factors for mortality and long-term survival. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: A tertiary university hospital serving a population of ~425 000 inhabitants in Barcelona. SUBJECTS: All patients >95 years old admitted with a fragility hip fracture between December 2009 and September 2015 who survived admission were analysed until the present time. METHODS: Pre-fracture ambulation ability and new fragility fractures after discharge were recorded. Risk factors for 1-year and all post-discharge mortality were calculated with multivariate Cox regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses were performed. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-five patients were included. Median survival time was 1.32 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.065-1.834], with a maximum of 9.2 years. Male sex [hazard ratio (HR) 2.488, 95% CI 1.420-4.358] and worse previous ability to ambulate (HR 2.291, 95% CI 1.417-3.703) were predictors of mortality. After discharge and up to death or the present time, 10 (5.7%) patients had a new fragility fracture, half of them during the first 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Few new fragility fractures occurred after discharge and half of these took place in the first 6 months. The decision to start treatment of osteoporosis should be individualised, bearing in mind that women and patients with better previous ambulation ability will have a better chance of survival.

Patient-related factors influencing the effectiveness and safety of Janus Kinase inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: a real-world study.

In real-world scenarios, Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors are often offered to "difficult-to-treat" rheumatoid arthritis patients, quite different from those included in randomized controlled trials. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of patient-related factors on the effectiveness and safety of JAK inhibitors in real-world clinical practice. This observational retrospective study involved rheumatoid arthritis patients who received treatment with either tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, or filgotinib. At 12 months of treatment, reasons for and rates of JAK inhibitor treatment discontinuation were examined. Treatment retentions were analyzed through Cox proportional hazard regression models and Kaplan-Meier estimates. Patient-related factors that could influence treatment retention were evaluated for the discontinuation reasons of lack of effectiveness and adverse events. At 12 months of treatment, discontinuation rates for 189 JAK inhibitor treatments were: lack of effectiveness (24.3%), adverse events (20.6%), and other reasons (3.7%). The remaining 51.4% represents the treatment continuation rate. No patient-related factors evaluated had an influence on treatment discontinuation due to lack of effectiveness. Ae significantly increased the risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (p = 0.030). In terms of age, at 12 month of treatment, discontinuation rates due to adverse events were: < 65 years, 14.4% vs. 65 years or older, 26.3% (p = 0.019). Rheumatoid arthritis patients aged 65 years or older showed an increased risk of JAK inhibitor treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. Factors not related to treatment discontinuation were: sex, rheumatoid arthritis disease duration, rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, seropositivity for rheumatoid factor, seropositivity for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides, number of prior biologic treatments, number of prior JAK inhibitor treatments, concomitant use of glucocorticoids, and concomitant use of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Influence of preoperative emotional state on postoperative pain following orthopedic and trauma surgery / Influência do estado emocional pré-operatório na dor pós-operatória após cirurgias ortopédicas e traumatológicas / Influencia del estado emocional prequirúrgico en el dolor postoperatorio tras cirugía ortopédica y traumatológica

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the relationship between preoperative emotional state and the prevalence and intensity of postoperative pain and to explore predictors of postoperative pain. METHOD: observational retrospective study undertaken among 127 adult patients of orthopedic and trauma surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed with the verbal numeric scale and with five variables of emotional state: anxiety, sweating, stress, fear, and crying. The Chi-squared test, Student's t test or ANOVA and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: the prevalence of immediate postoperative pain was 28%. Anxiety was the most common emotional factor (72%) and a predictive risk factor for moderate to severe postoperative pain (OR: 4.60, 95% CI 1.38 to 15.3, p<0.05, AUC: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.83). Age exerted a protective effect (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: preoperative anxiety and age are predictors of postoperative pain in patients undergoing orthopedic and trauma surgery. .

OBJETIVOS: analisar a relação entre o estado emocional pré-operatório e a prevalência e a intensidade da dor pós-operatória e explorar fatores preditivos de dor pós-operatória. MÉTODO: estudo retrospectivo observacional, realizado com 127 pacientes adultos submetidos a cirurgias ortopédicas e traumatológicas. A dor pós-operatória foi avaliada usando a escala numérica verbal e cinco variáveis do estado emocional: ansiedade, sudorese, estresse, medo e choro. Para a análise estatística, foram utilizados os testes do qui-quadrado, teste t de Student ou análise de variância e uma análise de regressão logística multivariada. RESULTADOS: a prevalência de dor pós-operatória imediata foi de 28%. A ansiedade foi o fator emocional mais comum (72%) e fator preditivo de risco para dor pós-operatória severa (OR: 4,60, IC 95%: 1,38 a 15,3, p<0,05, AUC: 0,72, IC 95%: 0,62 a 0,83). A idade exerceu efeito protetor (OR 0,96, IC 95%: 0,94-0,99, p<0,01). CONCLUSÃO: a ansiedade pré-operatória e a idade são fatores preditivos de dor pós-operatória em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias ortopédicas e traumatológicas. .

OBJETIVOS: analizar la relación entre el estado emocional preoperatorio y la prevalencia e intensidad de dolor postoperatorio inmediato y explorar los factores predictivos de dolor postoperatorio. MÉTODO: estudio observacional y retrospectivo realizado a 127 pacientes adultos de cirugía ortopédica y traumatológica. El dolor postoperatorio se evaluó con la escala verbal numérica y el estado emocional con 5 variables: ansiedad, sudor, tensión, miedo, lloros. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron las pruebas de χ2, t de Student o ANOVA y un análisis multivariado con regresión logística. RESULTADOS: la prevalencia de dolor postoperatorio inmediato fue del 28%. La ansiedad fue el factor emocional más frecuente (72%) y un factor de riesgo predictivo para el dolor postoperatorio moderado-intenso (OR: 4,60, IC95%: 1,38-15,3, p<0,05; AUC: 0,72, IC95%: 0,62-0,83). La edad ejercía un efecto protector (OR: 0,96; IC95%: 0,94-0,99, p<0.01). CONCLUSIÓN: la ansiedad prequirúrgica y la edad son factores predictivos del dolor postoperatorio en pacientes sometidos a cirugía ortopédica y traumatológica. .

Psychopathology and psychosocial adjustment in patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy

OBJECTIVE: To study whether patients with HIV-1 associated lipodystrophy (LD) on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) have more psychopathology and worse psychosocial adjustment than a similar group without this syndrome. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, observational study we compared 47 HIV-1 infected patients with LD (LD group) with 39 HIV-1 infected patients without LD (non-LD group). All participants were on HAART. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ-60) were administered. Levels of familial, work and social adjustment and adjustment to stressful events were evaluated in a semi-structured interview. Clinical information was extracted from the clinical records. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis patients with LD showed higher state anxiety scores (p = 0.009) and worse work adjustment (p = 0.019) than those without LD. A total of 45.3% of LD patients scored above the cut-off point on the trait anxiety scale, and over 33.3% scored above the cut-off point on the BDI, GHQ and state anxiety scales. However, in multivariate analyses LD was not independently associated with psychopathology or with worse adjustment in the studied areas. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that LD was not a predictor of greater psychopathology or worse psychosocial adjustment in HIV-1 infected patients, despite the high scores found, suggests that factors not taken into account in this study, such as LD severity and self-perception should have been included in the analysis. Further studies including a greater number of variables and a larger sample size will advance our understanding of this complex condition.

Bajo peso al nacer: exploración de algunos factores de riesgo en el Hospital Universitario San José en Popayán (Colombia) / Low birth weight: exploring of some risk factors at the San José teaching hospital in Popayán, Colombia

Introducción: el bajo peso al nacer (BPN) es un importante problema de salud pública en los países endesarrollo y es un indicador de la salud materno-infantil. El peso al nacer por debajo de 2.500 g contribuyea problemas de salud materno-infantiles de corto y largo plazo. Objetivo: establecer los factores asociados con el bajo peso al nacer en el Hospital Universitario San José, Popayán (Colombia), en el período comprendidoentre los años 2005 y 2006. Métodos y materiales: estudio de casos y controles. Los casos (n=344) fueron los recién nacidos con peso menor a 2.500 g que nacieron en este hospital.Los controles (n=483) fueron recién nacidos con peso mayor a 2.500 g que nacieron el mismo día. Se realizó una entrevista en mujeres despuésdel parto para recoger información acerca de losfactores de riesgo; y se estimó el Odds Ratio (OR, por sus siglas en inglés) y sus respectivos intervalosde confianza (IC95 por ciento) utilizando un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: como factores de protección se consideraron: antecedentes de estrato socioeconómico medio/superior (OR=0,33; IC95 por ciento 0,12-0,91), sexo femenino del recién nacido (OR=0,73; IC95 por ciento 0,55-0,98), tener más de 5 controles prenatales (OR=0,54; IC95 por ciento 0,39-0,75) y no tener antecedentesprevios de BPN (OR=0,30; IC95 por ciento 0,15-0,58). Entre los factores de riesgo se encontraron: antecedentes de infecciones del tracto urinario (OR=1,78;IC95 por ciento 1,30-2,45) y cesárea anterior (OR=1,88; IC95 por ciento 1,13-3,16). Conclusión: el bajo peso al nacer está asociado con el estrato socioeconómico, por lo que intervenir en la falta de equidad social es un factor de importancia para la reducción del BPN en el área de influencia de este centro de atención terciaro

Introduction: low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem and maternal-infant health indicator in developing countries. A birth weightbelow 2.500 g contributes towards poor short- and long-term maternal-infant health outcomes. Objective: establishing risk factors for LBW in the San José teaching hospital in Popayán, Colombia, 2005-2006. Methods and materials: this was a case-control study. Cases (n=344) were newborn (<2.500 g) who had been born in this hospital; the controls (n=483) were newborn (>2.500 g) who were born on the same day. An interview was conducted to collect information regarding risk factors from post-partum females. A logistic regression modelwas used for estimating risk factors by Odds Ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (95 percent CI).Results: having a middle/upper socio-economic class background (OR=0,33; 95 percent CI 0,12-0,91), the newborn being female (OR=0,73; 95 percent CI 0,55-0,98), having had more than 5 prenatalcontrols (OR=0,54; 95 percent CI 0,39-0,75), having no background of previous LBW (OR=0,30; 95 percent CI 0,15-0,58) were protective factors for LBW. Havinga background of urinary tract infection (OR=1,78; 95 percent CI 1,30-2,45) and having undergone a previous caesarean section (OR=1,88; 95 percent CI 1,13-3,16)were low birth weight risk factors. Conclusion: LBW was thus seen to be associated with coming from a lower socio-economic class. Interventions regarding the lack of social equity istherefore an important factor in reducing LBW in this third-level hospital’s area of influence.