Melanoma Registry of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (REGESMEL): Description and Data in its First Year of Operation. / Registro de Melanoma de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología (REGESMEL): descripción y datos en el primer año de funcionamiento.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of melanoma is rising in Spain. The prognostic stages of patients with melanoma are determined by various biological factors, such as tumor thickness, ulceration, or the presence of regional or distant metastases. The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) has encouraged the creation of a Spanish Melanoma Registry (REGESMEL) to evaluate other individual and health system-related factors that may impact the prognosis of patients with melanoma. The aim of this article is to introduce REGESMEL and provide basic descriptive data for its first year of operation. METHODS: REGESMEL is a prospective, multicentre cohort of consecutive patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma that collects demographic and staging data as well as individual and healthcare-related baseline data. It also records the medical and surgical treatment received by patients. RESULTS: A total of 450 cases of invasive cutaneous melanoma from 19 participant centres were included, with a predominance of thin melanomas≤1mm thick (54.7%), mainly located on the posterior trunk (35.2%). Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 40.7% of cases. Most cases of melanoma were suspected by the patient (30.4%), or his/her dermatologist (29.6%). Patients received care mainly in public health centers (85.2%), with tele-dermatology resources being used in 21.6% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the pathological and demographic variables of melanoma cases is consistent with data from former studies. REGESMEL has already recruited patients from 15 Spanish provinces and given its potential representativeness, it renders the Registry as an important tool to address a wide range of research questions.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients Being Treated for Scabies in Spain: Opportunities for Improvement - A Multicenter Cross-Sectional CLINI-AEDV Study. / Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de pacientes diagnosticados de escabiosis en España: oportunidades de mejora. Estudio transversal multicéntrico CLINI-AEDV.

BACKGROUND: Several studies support the hypothesis that scabies is on the rise in Spain. There are also concerns about the possible development of resistance to treatment and an increase in atypical presentations. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with scabies seen by dermatologists in Spain, to identify the possible emergence of atypical forms of scabies, and to explore the frequency of treatment failures and associated risk factors. METHODS: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of data collected prospectively in April and May 2023 using the CLINI-AEDVp platform created by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). RESULTS: Participating dermatologists from 31 hospitals in 15 of Spain's autonomous communities recorded 186 cases of active scabies (51% in women) during the study period. A diagnostic certainty level of A, B or C as per the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria was required for diagnosis. Overall, 92% of patients had typical scabies and 66% had already been treated with a scabicide for the current episode. Of the treated patients, only 36% had received and completed adequate treatment (including the simultaneous treatment of all household members) and 50% had not received clear written recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: In a high proportion of the cases of scabies studied, the patient had already received treatment. In those cases, we observed several remediable shortcomings that could explain why some of these treatments had failed. Remedying these deficiencies should lead to better control of scabies and an improved assessment of the actual effectiveness of currently available scabicides.

[Translated article] Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients Being Treated for Scabies in Spain: Opportunities for Improvement - A Multicenter Cross-Sectional CLINI-AEDV Study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies support the hypothesis that scabies is on the rise in Spain. There are also concerns about the possible development of resistance to treatment and an increase in atypical presentations. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with scabies seen by dermatologists in Spain, to identify the possible emergence of atypical forms of scabies, and to explore the frequency of treatment failures and associated risk factors. METHODS: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of data collected prospectively in April and May 2023 using the CLINI-AEDVp platform created by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). RESULTS: Participating dermatologists from 31 hospitals in 15 of Spain's autonomous communities recorded 186 cases of active scabies (51% in women) during the study period. A diagnostic certainty level of A, B or C as per the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria was required for diagnosis. Overall, 92% of patients had clinical features of classic scabies and 66% had already been treated with a scabicide for the current episode. Of the treated patients, only 36% had received and completed adequate treatment (including the simultaneous treatment of all household members) and 50% had not received clear written recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: In a high proportion of scabies cases, the patient has already received treatment. In those cases, we observe several remediable shortcomings that could explain why some of these treatments fail. Remedying these deficiencies should lead to better control of scabies and an improved assessment of the actual effectiveness of currently available scabicides.

Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several observational studies have assessed the association between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with inconclusive results. We set out to investigate the association between psoriasis, PsA and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Observational studies assessing the relationship between psoriasis or PsA and type 2 diabetes mellitus up to December 2012 were identified by electronic and hand searches in Medline, Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Google Scholar. For each study we collected the first author's last name, publication year, country of origin, study design, characteristics of participants (sample size, age and sex), the variables incorporated into the multivariable analyses, and the odds ratios (ORs) of psoriasis associated with diabetes along with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). From the data provided in each article, the crude OR was also calculated. Forty-four observational studies (in 37 articles) were identified for the final analysis. The pooled OR from random-effects analysis was determined to be 1·76 (95% CI 1·59-1·96). The highest risk was for patients suffering from PsA (OR 2·18, 95% CI 1·36-3·50). We also observed a dose effect in the risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, as patients considered as having severe psoriasis had higher risk (OR 2·10, 95% CI 1·73-2·55) than the pooled OR. We perform meta-regression and sensitivity analyses to explore sources of heterogeneity among the studies and to determine how they would influence the estimates, and found no significant influence in the results of the meta-analyses. The findings support the association between psoriasis, PsA and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some caution must be taken in the interpretation of these results because there may be heterogeneity between studies.

Evaluation of four phenotypic methods to detect plasmid-mediated AmpC ß-lactamases in clinical isolates.

Four phenotypic methods (three dimensional test, AmpC test, cloxacillin synergy test and cefotetan/cefotetan-cloxacillin E-test) to detect plasmid-mediated AmpC ß-lactamases (pAmpC) were compared in 125 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates with AmpC profile: 74 E. coli (bla (CMY-2): 70; bla (DHA-1): 4), five K. pneumoniae (bla (CMY-2): 2; bla (DHA-1): 3), six P. mirabilis (bla (CMY-2): 6) and 40 negative isolates for pAmpC ß-lactamases. All evaluated methods showed a good sensitivity (>95%) but low values of specificity (<60%) in E. coli, explained by an increase of AmpC expression caused by chromosomal ampC promoter/attenuator mutations (-42, -18, -1, +58, predominantly). The cefotetan/cefotetan-cloxacillin or cloxacillin synergy test may be advocated as phenotypic screening test, and the AmpC test as confirmatory test for detection of pAmpC in isolates that lack or minimally express chromosomally encoded AmpC ß-lactamases. In the case of E. coli, the phenotypic evaluated tests were not able to differentiate between chromosomal ampC overexpression or acquisition of plasmid-encoded ampC genes.

Evaluation of an immunochromatographic dip strip test for simultaneous detection of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia duodenalis, and Entamoeba histolytica antigens in human faecal samples.

Immunochromatographic (IC) tests may play an important role in the future diagnosis of parasitic diseases because of their speed and simplicity of use. A recently developed test to detect Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica was evaluated. Microscopy and PCR were the "gold standard" reference techniques and the results of this IC test were compared with those obtained with ELISA and IC single test for the three parasites. One hundred sixty stool samples were assayed. Using microscopy, 22 samples were diagnosed as positive for Cryptosporidium spp., 31 for Giardia duodenalis, 41 for Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, and 68 had a negative diagnosis for the three parasites. Results of IC tests show sensitivities of 70-72% for Cryptosporidium, 90-97% for Giardia and 62.5% for Entamoeba histolytica. Specificities were of 93.6-94.9%, >99% and 96.1%, respectively. In all diagnoses, agreement with microscopy and PCR was over 90%, except in the triple test and microscopy in E. histolytica detection that was 76.3%, due to the inability of microscopy to differentiate E. histolytica from nonpathogenic species such as E. dispar or E. moshkovskii. The triple stool immunoassays provide adequate sensitivities and specificities for use in outbreak situations, for screening proposals and for massive assays in endemic areas where a large number of samples must be analysed or as complementary test for individual diagnosis.

Detection and characterization of a ST6 clone of vanB2-Enterococcus faecalis from three different hospitals in Spain.

Thirteen vancomycin-resistant and teicoplanin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis isolates were recovered from unrelated patients in three Spanish hospitals from November 2009 to December 2010. All isolates carried the vanB2 gene, showed indistinguishable or closely-related PFGE patterns and were ascribed to the sequence type ST6 (included into the high-risk clonal-complex CC2). They showed a multiresistance phenotype (erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and high-level-resistance to streptomycin, gentamicin and kanamycin) and harboured the aac(6')-aph(2"), ant(6)-Ia, and tet(M)+/-tet(L) genes. All isolates produced gelatinase and harboured the gelE gene, but not the esp or hyl genes. The inclusion of the vanB2 gene into the Tn5382 transposon was demonstrated in one isolate. Clonal dissemination of vanB2-containing the E. faecalis strain is demonstrated.

Assessment of short-term survival after liver transplant by the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.

UNLABELLED: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has demonstrated the ability to predict mortality among patients with chronic liver disease on the liver waiting list. The aim of this study was to assess the capability of the MELD score to correctly predict posttransplantation survival in Spain and to determine specific thresholds of MELD above which liver transplantation should be discouraged and the patient removed from the waiting list. METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively applied the MELD score to 168 patients at time of transplantation to estimate 1-month and 3-month posttransplant survivals by stratifying them into four groups: group A, MELD score < 10; group B, MELD score 10-18; group C, MELD score 19-24; group D, MELD score > 24. RESULTS: One-, 2-, and 3-month survivals were 84.3%, 80% and 79.5%, respectively. One-, 2-, and 3-month survivals in group A (18 patients) were identical (77.8%). In group B (80 patients), 1-month survival was 84.8%, and 2- and 3-month survivals were 78.4%. In group C (42 patients) 1-month survival was 90.5% and 2- and 3-month survivals were 88%. One-, 2-, and 3-month survivals in group D (28 patients) were 77.9%, 74%, and 70%, respectively. We defined a new group (group E) formed by patients with MELD score < or =24. When we compared 1-, 2-, and 3-month survival rates in group E (85.6%, 81.25%, and 81.25%, respectively) with survival rates in group D, the difference was not significant (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although overall outcomes of patients whose MELD scores were high at the time of liver transplantation were inferior to those of patients whose MELD scores were lower, there was no significant difference for specific thresholds of MELD above which liver transplantation should be discouraged and the patient removed from the waiting list.

Emerging and reemerging pathogens.

From 1973 to 1995, 29 new and reemerging pathogenic microbes were recognized. However, in discussions about emerging infectious diseases, the focus is often on the clinical effects of the host-parasite relationship, rather than the examination of the biology of the pathogen. Many of what we refer to as emerging diseases are characterized better as 'diseases of human progress'. Thus, the aerosolization of water has played an important role in the emergence of Legionella pneumophila infections. New diseases are superimposed on endemic diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. In addition, many pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to standard antimicrobial drugs, making treatment difficult and in some cases impossible. We summarize our experience on emerging parasitic diseases (primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, respiratory cryptosporidiosis, and diplogonoporiasis), and selected problems of bacterial resistance (MDR tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis and macrolide-resistance mechanisms of Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. pyogenes).

Susceptibility of penicillin-resistant and penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae to newer antimicrobial agents.

Agar dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methodology, according to NCCLS guidelines, was used to test the activity of three glycopeptides (LY 333328 [LY], vancomycin [VAN], and teicoplanin [TEI]), four fluoroquinolones (trovafloxacin [TRO], BAY 12-8039 [BAY], ciprofloxacin [CIP], and ofloxacin [OFL]), five macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin antibiotics (erythromycin [ERY], azithromycin [AZI], miocamycin [MOM], clindamycin CLN], and quinupristin-dalfopristin [SYN] against 126 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, isolated in Lozano Blesa Hospital of Zaragoza (Spain). MIC50/MIC90 (microg/ml) values for penicillin-susceptible (PS), penicillin-intermediate (PI) and penicillin-resistant (PR) strains show an excellent antipneumococcal activity of LY 333326--a new glycopeptide, for the fluoroquinolones trovafloxacin and moxifloxacin [BAY 12-8039], and for quinupristin/dalfopristin, regardless of the resistance phenotype of the strains.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation of memory deficits and activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot study.

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) gradually lose their cognitive competence, particularly memory, and the ability to perform daily life tasks. Neuropsychological rehabilitation is used to improve cognitive functions by facilitating memory performance through the use of external aids and internal strategies. The effect of neuropsychological rehabilitation through memory training - motor movements, verbal association, and categorization - and activities of daily living (ADL) training was tested in a sample of 5 elderly out-patients (mean age: 77.4 +/- 2.88 years), with mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination score: 22.20 +/- 2.17) and their caregivers. All patients had been taking rivastigmine (6-12 mg/day) for at least 3 months before being assigned to the rehabilitation sessions, and they continued to take the medication during the whole program. Just before and after the 14-week neuropsychological rehabilitation program all patients were assessed by interviewers that did not participate in the cognitive training, using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montgomery-Alsberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Interview to Determine Deterioration in Functioning in Dementia, Functional Test, Memory Questionnaire of Daily Living for patient and caregiver, Quality of Life Questionnaire for patient and caregiver, and a neuropsychological battery. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in ADL measured by Functional Test (P = 0.04), and only a small improvement in memory and psychiatric symptoms. Our results support the view that weekly stimulation of memory and training of ADL is believed to be of great value in AD treatment, not only delaying the progress of the disease, but also improving some cognitive functions and ADL, even though AD is a progressively degenerative disease.

[Study of macrolide-resistant genes in group C and G streptococci]. / Estudio de los genes de resistencia a macrólidos en estreptococos de los grupos C y G.

In the present study we investigated the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance in 47 clinical isolates of group C beta-hemolytic streptococci and 17 group G streptococci. Resistance to erythromycin was found in 31.6%; and 47%, respectively. On the basis of the erythromycin-clindamycin double-disk test, all strains were assigned to the MLSB phenotype. None of the strains were of the M phenotype. The distribution of the erythromycin-resistant genes were studied by dot blot hybridization and PCR. Resistance to erythromycin was due to the presence of mefA, ermB and ermTR genes. The ermTR gene was predominant among the group C and G streptococci (90% of the strains). Different mechanisms of erythromycin resistance predominate in group C and G streptococci than in Streptococcus pyogenes where there is an association between erythromycin resistance and active-efflux mechanism. Two of the strains harbored more than one erythromycin-resistant gene.

[Association between MLS antibiotic and tetracycline resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae]. / Asociación de los genes de resistencia a antibióticos MLS y a tetraciclina en Streptococcus pneumoniae.

In Streptococcus pneumoniae, resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin type B (MLS(B)) antibiotics is mediated by erm(B) and mef(A) determinants. Tetracycline resistance is always associated with resistance to minocycline and is due to the presence of the tet(M) gene. The erm(B) determinant is predominant. We demonstrated that the erm(B) gene could be present with mef(A), which is of streptococcal origin, and msr(A), which is of staphylococcal origin, this being an example of genetic promiscuity. The tet(M) determinant was associated with pneumococci harboring the erm(B) gene, while it was not associated with the strains harboring the mef(A) gene. This association is due to the fact that, in most of the cases, erm(B) and tet(M) reside in the same chromosomal conjugative transposon.

[Quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica]. / Resistencia a quinolonas en Salmonella enterica.

Nalidixic acid resistance is a marker of quinolone sensibility in Salmonella spp. In our laboratory we observed an increase of nalidixic acid resistant strains from 0.44% in 1990 to 13.7% in 1996. The purpose of this work was to study the evolution of nalidixic acid resistance in Salmonella spp., as well as the association with certain serotypes and the cross-resistance to others agents. A total of 1,782 isolates of Salmonella enterica were studied from fecal and blood sources over a 7-year period; 45 strains (2.52%) were resistant to nalidixic acid (MIC > 16 microgram/ml). Two isolates required 2 microgram/ml of ciprofloxacin for inhibition, while the remaining 43 strains required 1 microgram/ml. The most frequent serotypes in nalidixic acid resistant strains were the following: enteritidis (33.3%), hadar (31.11%) and virchow (15.5%). In 1996, enteritidis was the predominant serotype (13/31), and hadar serotype was found to have the greatest nalidixic acid resistance at 80% of strains. No differences of sensibility to other agents were detected between the nalidixic acid resistant group and nalidixic acid sensitive strains. This type of resistance appears regularly in uncommon serotypes such as hadar. The increasing incidence of resistant isolates in enteritidis in 1996 is of even greater concern.

[Antimicrobial resistance of clinical strains of Salmonella enterica isolated in Zaragoza]. / Resistencia antibiótica en cepas clínicas de Salmonella enterica aisladas en Zaragoza.

In order to identify any changes in the incidence of Salmonella enterica serotypes and their resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents, we conducted a retrospective study of all the strains isolated from stool samples at Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa in Zaragoza from 1997 to 2000. We observed an increase in the number of isolates of Salmonella and Campylobacter and a decrease in other enteropathogens. Enteritidis was the most frequently isolated serotype (55.2%), showing an increasing tendency (from 44.1% in 1997 to 60.6% in 2000). Hadar, glostrup and virchow showed the highest rate of resistance to nalidixic acid. Enteritidis also showed an important increase in resistance to nalidixic acid (from 17.6% in 1997 to 41.4% in 2000). Typhimurium showed the highest resistance levels to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole. No resistance to fluoroquinolones or to cefotaxime was detected, with the exception of 0.5% of the S. enteritidis strains, which showed resistance to fluoroquinolones.

[Intestinal transplantation in adults: present situation and future prospects]. / Trasplante intestinal del adulto. Situación actual y perspectivas de futuro.

Intestinal transplantation is becoming more firmly established as a treatment for intestinal failure in patients whose home parenteral nutrition regimens have caused serious side effects. Outcomes have improved spectacularly over recent years thanks to the refinement of surgical techniques and the introduction of new immunosuppressants, and also to greater experience in anesthetic and postoperative management of intestinal transplant patients. The main causes of high morbidity and mortality continue to be sepsis and acute rejection of the graft. Both graft and patient survival have improved with the advent of the immunosuppressant regimens based on Tacrolimus, although survival rates are still far below those reported for other solid organ transplants. The first intestinal transplant performed in Spain took place in July 2002 in our hospital and the results were promising. Given this new challenge for anesthesiologists, we decided to review current trends in the perioperative management of patients receiving isolated intestinal transplants, the main complications that arise, treatment strategies, and future prospects.

Plasmid-mediated QnrS2 determinant in an Aeromonas caviae isolate recovered from a patient with diarrhoea.

A qnrS2 gene was identified in an Aeromonas caviae isolate (MICs of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin >32 mg/L) from a stool sample collected from a patient with gastroenteritis. The analysis of the gyrA and parC genes revealed amino acid substitutions Ser83-Ile and Ser80-Thr, respectively. In addition, five out of 41 nalidixic acid-resistant Aeromonas isolates studied (26 identified as Aeromonas veronii bv sobria and 15 identified as A. caviae) showed ciprofloxacin resistance. The identification of plasmid-mediated qnr genes outside of the Enterobacteriaceae underlines a possible diffusion of these resistance determinants among Gram-negative rods. This emphasizes the importance of monitoring the emergence of these determinants as well as their dissemination among the Aeromonadaceae.

Correlation between the presence of symptoms and the Giardia duodenalis genotype.

Clinical manifestations of Giardia duodenalis infection vary from asymptomatic infection to chronic diarrhoea. We study the correlation between the presence of symptoms and the G. duodenalis genotype in 108 patients with giardiasis. Patient age ranged from 2 to 72 years old. We found a correlation between assemblage AII and symptomatic infections, and between assemblage B and asymptomatic infections in the overall patient group and in patients less than five years of age. Nevertheless, if only patients of more than five years of age were considered, no statistically significant relationship between assemblage and symptomatic or asymptomatic Giardia infections was found. In these patients, host factors may affect the presence of clinical manifestations more than Giardia assemblage.