OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and one-year prognosis associated with frailty in a contemporary cohort of older patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). METHODS: The IMPACT-TIMING-GO registry (IMPACT of Time of Intervention in patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non-ST seGment elevation. ManaGement and Outcomes) prospectively included 1020 patients with NSTEACS undergoing invasive coronary angiography between April and May 2021. For this sub-study, patients ≥ 65 years were selected. Frailty was assessed according to FRAIL scale. We studied all-cause mortality and the composite of all-cause mortality or all-cause hospitalizations at one-year follow-up after discharge. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty seven patients (mean age: 75.8 ± 6.7 years, 28.2% women) were included: 316 (55.7%) were robust, 183 (32.3%) prefrail, and 68 (12.0%) frail. Frail patients were significantly older, more often women, and presented a worse baseline clinical profile. There were no differences among groups regarding pretreatment with a P2Y12 inhibitor. An urgent angiography (< 24 h) was less frequently performed in frail patients, with no differences regarding revascularization approach or in main in-hospital adverse events, although acute kidney disease occurred more frequently in frail patients. At 1-year follow-up, 20 patients died (3.6%). Chronic kidney disease was independently associated with 1-year all-cause death, although a trend towards higher mortality was observed in frail patients (HR = 3.01; 95% CI: 0.93-9.78; P = 0.065). Frailty was independently associated with higher 1-year all-cause mortality or all-cause rehospitalizations (HR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.43-3.46; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In older patients with NSTEACS, frailty independently associates higher all-cause mortality or all-cause hospital admissions at one-year follow-up.

Background: Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASP) have improved empirical and directed antibiotic treatment in Gram-negative Bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. A decrease in mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization has been reported. Materials and Methods: A pre–post-quasi-experimental study was conducted between November and April 2015–2016 (pre-intervention period), 2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019 (post-intervention periods), to analyse the impact of ASP on empirical, directed, and entire treatment optimization, as well as mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization, in hospitalized patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. Results: One hundred seventy-four patients were included (41 in the pre-intervention group, 38 in the first-year post-intervention group, 50 in the second-year post-intervention group, and 45 in the third-year post-intervention group). There was a significant improvement in directed treatment optimization (43.9% in the pre-intervention group, 68.4% in the first-year post-intervention group, 74% in the second-year post-intervention group, and 88.9% in the third-year post-intervention group, P <0.001), as well as in entire treatment optimization (19.5%, 34.2%, 40.0%, and 46.7%, respectively, P=0.013), with increased optimal directed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–8.58) and entire treatment (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.27–8.58). Although a tendency toward improvement was observed in empirical treatment after ASP implementation, it did not reach statistical significance (41.5% vs. 57.9%, P=0.065). No changes in mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization were detected. Conclusion ASP implementation improved both directed and entire treatment optimization in patients with GNB bloodstream infections over time. Nevertheless, no improvement was found in clinical outcomes such as mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization.

Background: While multidimensional and interdisciplinary assessment of older adult patients improves their short-term outcomes after evaluation in the emergency department (ED), this assessment is time-consuming and ill-suited for the busy environment. Thus, identifying patients who will benefit from this strategy is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to identify older adult patients suitable for a different ED approach as well as independent variables associated with poor short-term clinical outcomes. Methods: We included all patients ≥65 years attending 52 EDs in Spain over 7 days. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, and baseline functional status data were collected. The outcomes were 30-day mortality, re-presentation, hospital readmission, and the composite of all outcomes. Results: During the study among 96,014 patients evaluated in the ED, we included 23,338 patients ≥65 years—mean age, 78.4±8.1 years; 12,626 (54.1%) women. During follow-up, 5,776 patients (24.75%) had poor outcomes after evaluation in the ED: 1,140 (4.88%) died, 4,640 (20.51) returned to the ED, and 1,739 (7.69%) were readmitted 30 days after discharge following the index visit. A model including male sex, age ≥75 years, arrival by ambulance, Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3, and functional impairment had a C-index of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.82) for 30-day mortality. Conclusion Male sex, age ≥75 years, arrival by ambulance, functional impairment, or severe comorbidity are features of patients who could benefit from approaches in the ED different from the common triage to improve the poor short-term outcomes of this population.

Background: Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASP) have improved empirical and directed antibiotic treatment in Gram-negative Bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. A decrease in mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization has been reported. Materials and Methods: A pre–post-quasi-experimental study was conducted between November and April 2015–2016 (pre-intervention period), 2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019 (post-intervention periods), to analyse the impact of ASP on empirical, directed, and entire treatment optimization, as well as mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization, in hospitalized patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. Results: One hundred seventy-four patients were included (41 in the pre-intervention group, 38 in the first-year post-intervention group, 50 in the second-year post-intervention group, and 45 in the third-year post-intervention group). There was a significant improvement in directed treatment optimization (43.9% in the pre-intervention group, 68.4% in the first-year post-intervention group, 74% in the second-year post-intervention group, and 88.9% in the third-year post-intervention group, P <0.001), as well as in entire treatment optimization (19.5%, 34.2%, 40.0%, and 46.7%, respectively, P=0.013), with increased optimal directed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–8.58) and entire treatment (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.27–8.58). Although a tendency toward improvement was observed in empirical treatment after ASP implementation, it did not reach statistical significance (41.5% vs. 57.9%, P=0.065). No changes in mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization were detected. Conclusion ASP implementation improved both directed and entire treatment optimization in patients with GNB bloodstream infections over time. Nevertheless, no improvement was found in clinical outcomes such as mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization.

Background: Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASP) have improved empirical and directed antibiotic treatment in Gram-negative Bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. A decrease in mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization has been reported. Materials and Methods: A pre–post-quasi-experimental study was conducted between November and April 2015–2016 (pre-intervention period), 2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019 (post-intervention periods), to analyse the impact of ASP on empirical, directed, and entire treatment optimization, as well as mortality, readmission, and length of hospitalization, in hospitalized patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) bloodstream infections. Results: One hundred seventy-four patients were included (41 in the pre-intervention group, 38 in the first-year post-intervention group, 50 in the second-year post-intervention group, and 45 in the third-year post-intervention group). There was a significant improvement in directed treatment optimization (43.9% in the pre-intervention group, 68.4% in the first-year post-intervention group, 74% in the second-year post-intervention group, and 88.9% in the third-year post-intervention group, P <0.001), as well as in entire treatment optimization (19.5%, 34.2%, 40.0%, and 46.7%, respectively, P=0.013), with increased optimal directed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–8.58) and entire treatment (aOR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.27–8.58). Although a tendency toward improvement was observed in empirical treatment after ASP implementation, it did not reach statistical significance (41.5% vs. 57.9%, P=0.065). No changes in mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization were detected. Conclusion ASP implementation improved both directed and entire treatment optimization in patients with GNB bloodstream infections over time. Nevertheless, no improvement was found in clinical outcomes such as mortality, readmission, or length of hospitalization.

External male genitalia have rarely been evaluated on fetal ultrasound. Apart from visualization of the penis for fetal sex determination, there are no specific instructions or recommendations from scientific societies. This study aimed to review the current knowledge about prenatal diagnosis of the scrotum and internal structures, with discussion regarding technical aspects and clinical management. We conducted an article search in Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for studies in English or Spanish language that discussed prenatal scrotal pathologies. We identified 72 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Relevant data were grouped into sections of embryology, ultrasound, pathology, and prenatal diagnosis. The scrotum and internal structures show a wide range of pathologies, with varying degrees of prevalence and morbidity. Most of the reported cases have described incidental findings diagnosed via striking ultrasound signs. Studies discussing normative data or management are scarce.

External male genitalia have rarely been evaluated on fetal ultrasound. Apart from visualization of the penis for fetal sex determination, there are no specific instructions or recommendations from scientific societies. This study aimed to review the current knowledge about prenatal diagnosis of the scrotum and internal structures, with discussion regarding technical aspects and clinical management. We conducted an article search in Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for studies in English or Spanish language that discussed prenatal scrotal pathologies. We identified 72 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Relevant data were grouped into sections of embryology, ultrasound, pathology, and prenatal diagnosis. The scrotum and internal structures show a wide range of pathologies, with varying degrees of prevalence and morbidity. Most of the reported cases have described incidental findings diagnosed via striking ultrasound signs. Studies discussing normative data or management are scarce.

BACKGROUND: One of the most frequent problems caused by diabetes is the so called painful diabetic neuropathy. This condition can be treated through numerous types of therapy. The purpose of this study was to analyze, as a meta-analysis, different treatments used to alleviate painful diabetic neuropathy, with the aim of generating results that help making decisions when applying such treatments to tackle this pathology. METHODS: A search was conducted in the main databases for Health Sciences, such as PUBMED, Web of Science (WOS), and IME biomedicina (Spanish Medical Reports in Biomedicine), to gather randomized controlled trials about treatments used for painful diabetic neuropathy. The analyzed studies were required to meet the inclusion criteria selected, especially those results related to pain intensity. RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials were chosen. The meta-analysis shows significant positive effects for those treatments based on tapentadol [g: −1.333, 95% CI (−1.594; −1.072), P < 0.05], duloxetine [g: −1.622, 95 % CI (−1.650; −1.594), P < 0.05], pregabalin [g: −0.607, 95% CI (−0.980; −0.325), P < 0.05], and clonidine [g: −0.242, 95 % CI (−0.543; −0.058), P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicates the effectiveness of the treatments based on duloxetine, gabapentin and pregabalin, as well as other drugs, such as tapentadol and topic clonidine, whose use is better prescribed in more specific situations. The results provided can help increase the knowledge about the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy and also in the making of clinical practice guidelines for healthcare professionals.
Chronic Pain ; Clonidine ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Duloxetine Hydrochloride ; Pain Management ; Pathology ; Pregabalin

BACKGROUND: Severe aortic stenosis (AS), leads to pathological left ventricular remodeling that may worsen with concomitant overweight and obesity (OW/O). METHODS: We aimed to prospectively analyze the impact of OW/O on ventricular remodeling in severe AS, by evaluating the percentage of intraendomyocardial fibrosis (PIEF) and the percentage of infiltrating intraendocardial lipid vacuoles (PIELV) and its relationship to global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with OW/O. RESULTS: 44 patients with severe AS were included, 13 non-obese (29%) and 31 OW/O (71%), all of them with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 55%. GLS was evaluated with 2D speckle tracking. During valve replacement, an endocardial biopsy was obtained, where PIEF and PIELV were analyzed. Patients with higher PIEF and PIELV had greater body mass index (p < 0.0001) and worse GLS (p < 0.0053). A GLS cut-off point < -14% had a sensitivity of 75%, and a specificity of 92.8% to detect important PIEF (AUC: 0.928, 95% confidence interval: 0.798–1.00). On multivariate analysis, OW/O and PIELV were independently associated to the PIEF, and OW/O and PIEF were independently associated to GLS. A high correlation between the amount of PIELV and PIEF were found. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe AS and OW/O have greater PIEF and PIELV, suggesting more pathological remodeling. GLS is useful to detect subclinical myocardial injury and is potentially useful for endomyocardial fibrosis detection. The presence of higher PIELF may be a trigger factor for the development of intraendomyocardial fibrosis.
Aortic Valve Stenosis* ; Biopsy ; Body Mass Index ; Echocardiography* ; Endomyocardial Fibrosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity* ; Overweight* ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke Volume ; Vacuoles ; Ventricular Remodeling