How are risk ratios reported in orthopaedic surgery journals? A descriptive study of formats used to report absolute risks

The numerical format in which risks are communicated can affect risk comprehension and perceptions of medical professionals. We investigated what numerical formats are used to report absolute risks in empirical articles, estimated the frequency of biasing formats and rated the quality of figures used to display the risks. Descriptive study of reporting practices. We randomly sampled articles published in seven leading orthopaedic surgery journals during a period of 13 years. From these, we selected articles that reported group comparisons on a binary outcome (eg, revision rates in two groups) and recorded the numerical format used to communicate the absolute risks in the results section. The quality of figures was assessed according to published guidelines for transparent visual aids design. Prevalence of information formats and quality of figures. The final sample consisted of 507 articles, of which 14% reported level 1 evidence, 13% level 2 and 73% level 3 or lower. The majority of articles compared groups of different sizes (90%), reported both raw numbers and percentages (64%) and did not report the group sizes alongside (50%). Fifteen per cent of articles used two formats identified as biasing: only raw numbers (8%, '90 patients vs 100 patients') or raw numbers reported alongside different group sizes (7%, '90 out of 340 patients vs 100 out of 490 patients'). The prevalence of these formats decreased in more recent publications. Figures (n=79) had on average two faults that could distort comprehension, and the majority were rated as biasing. Authors use a variety of formats to report absolute risks in scientific articles and are likely not aware of how some formats and graph design features can distort comprehension. Biases can be reduced if journals adopt guidelines for transparent risk communication but more research is needed into the effects of different formats

Analyses of H2O2 production in time during wound healing

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been traditionally con- sidered as toxic species due to their capacity to damage macromolecules. However, their deleterious effect is lim- ited to high concentrations. At lower levels, further studies have shown that at least hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) acts as a second messenger and results crucial for basic biological functions. Wound healing is one of those: in several animal models, this molecule is emitted in cellular wound margins, leading to neutrophil chemoattraction, while inducing epithe- lial cell migration during skin regeneration. Nevertheless, there are no references to this phenomenon in human ex- perimental set-ups. In this study, human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), previously modified to express a H2O2-specific ra- tiometric fluorescent sensor (HyPer7) were monitored using live imaging after generating a mechanical-like injury. The time evolution ratio of the probe and the gap area were mea- sured for both cells near the margin and for topologically secondary cells, establishing a relationship between cytosolic H2O2 fluxes and the process of refilling a wound. In addition, comparison of movement rates between HyPer7-expressing and non-expressing HaCaT cells demonstrated a profound dependency of H2O2 availability for the process to occur.This project is the result of previous work carried out by exceptional scientists in the redox field and has been developed in the UC3M facility core CleanRooms for Bioengineering. Financial support was provided by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of ”Research Funds for Beatriz Galindo Fellow- ships” (REDOXSKIN-CM-UC3M), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation”, and from “Proyectos de I + D + I” (PID2020-114230 GA-I00) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/

Analyses of H2O2 production in time during wound healing

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been traditionally con- sidered as toxic species due to their capacity to damage macromolecules. However, their deleterious effect is lim- ited to high concentrations. At lower levels, further studies have shown that at least hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) acts as a second messenger and results crucial for basic biological functions. Wound healing is one of those: in several animal models, this molecule is emitted in cellular wound margins, leading to neutrophil chemoattraction, while inducing epithe- lial cell migration during skin regeneration. Nevertheless, there are no references to this phenomenon in human ex- perimental set-ups. In this study, human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), previously modified to express a H2O2-specific ra- tiometric fluorescent sensor (HyPer7) were monitored using live imaging after generating a mechanical-like injury. The time evolution ratio of the probe and the gap area were mea- sured for both cells near the margin and for topologically secondary cells, establishing a relationship between cytosolic H2O2 fluxes and the process of refilling a wound. In addition, comparison of movement rates between HyPer7-expressing and non-expressing HaCaT cells demonstrated a profound dependency of H2O2 availability for the process to occur.This project is the result of previous work carried out by exceptional scientists in the redox field and has been developed in the UC3M facility core CleanRooms for Bioengineering. Financial support was provided by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of ”Research Funds for Beatriz Galindo Fellow- ships” (REDOXSKIN-CM-UC3M), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation”, and from “Proyectos de I + D + I” (PID2020-114230 GA-I00) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/

Biomarkers in ocular chronic graft versus host disease: tear cytokine- and chemokine-based predictive model.

Producción CientíficaPurpose: To develop a tear molecule level-based predictive model based on a panel of tear cytokines and their correlation with clinical features in ocular chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). Methods: Twenty-two ocular cGVHD patients and 21 healthy subjects were evaluated in a controlled environmental research laboratory (CERLab). Clinical parameters were recorded, and tears were collected. Levels of 15 molecules (epidermal growth factor [EGF], IL receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra], IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, interferon inducible protein [IP]-10/CXCL10, IFN-γ, VEGF, TNF-α, eotaxin 1, and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted [RANTES]) were measured by multiplex-bead assay and correlated with clinical parameters. Logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model. Leave-one-out cross-validation was applied. Classification capacity was evaluated in a cohort of individuals with dry eye (DE) of other etiologies different from GVHD. Results: Epidermal growth factor and IP-10/CXCL10 levels were significantly decreased in ocular cGVHD, positively correlating with tear production and stability and negatively correlating with symptoms, hyperemia, and vital staining. Interleukin-1Ra, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-10 were significantly increased in ocular cGVHD, and the first two correlated positively with symptoms, hyperemia, and ocular surface integrity while negatively correlating with tear production and stability. Predictive models were generated, and the best panel was based on IL-8/CXCL8 and IP-10/CXCL10 tear levels along with age and sex, with an area under the receiving operating curve of 0.9004, sensitivity of 86.36%, and specificity of 95.24%. Conclusions: A predictive model based on tear levels of IL-8/CXCL8 and IP-10/CXCL10 resulted in optimal sensitivity and specificity. These results add further knowledge to the search for potential biomarkers in this devastating ocular inflammatory disease.Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain, SAF-2010 15631 (AES)

Psychological factors related to time to help-seeking for cancer symptoms: A meta-analysis across cancer sites.

The time patients wait before seeking help for cancer symptoms is among the most important factors contributing to diagnostic delays in cancer. We reviewed the association between time to help-seeking and three psychological factors: symptom knowledge, symptom interpretation, and beliefs about cancer (Prospero review protocol CRD42018088944). Forty-seven studies published between 1990 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria, providing data on 44,961 participants from 22 countries concerning seven cancer sites. A series of random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted. Better symptom knowledge was related to lower odds of a long help-seeking interval in both studies with healthy populations (OR = .73, 95% CI [.63, .84], k = 19) and with patients (OR = .40, 95% CI [.23, .69], k = 12), and so was interpreting experienced symptoms as cancer-related (OR = .52, 95% CI [.36, .75], k = 13 studies with patients). More positive beliefs about cancer (i.e., that cancer is treatable) were associated with lower odds of a long help-seeking interval in both studies with healthy populations (OR = .70, 95% CI [.52, .92], k = 11) and with patients (OR = .51, 95% CI [.32, .82], k = 7). Symptom knowledge, interpretation, and beliefs about cancer are likely to be universal predictors of help-seeking. Theoretical models of patient help-seeking and interventions aiming to reduce delays should incorporate these factors

Geodetic Research on Deception Island and its Environment (South Shetland Islands, Bransfield Sea and Antarctic Peninsula) During Spanish Antarctic Campaigns (1987-2007)

Since 1987, Spain has been continuously developing several scientific projects, mainly based on Earth Sciences, in Geodesy, Geochemistry, Geology or Volcanology. The need of a geodetic reference frame when doing hydrographic and topographic mapping meant the organization of the earlier campaigns with the main goals of updating the existing cartography and of making new maps of the area. During this period of time, new techniques arose in Space Geodesy improving the classical methodology and making possible its applications to other different fields such as tectonic or volcanism. Spanish Antarctic Geodetic activities from the 1987/1988 to 2006/2007 campaigns are described as well as a geodetic and a levelling network are presented. The first network, RGAE, was designed and established to define a reference frame in the region formed by the South Shetlands Islands, the Bransfield Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula whereas the second one, REGID, was planned to control the volcanic activity in Deception Island. Finally, the horizontal and vertical deformation models are described too, as well as the strategy which has been followed when computing an experimental geoid

Experiencia inicial del uso de SelectMDx® en el diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata en un entorno de práctica clínica habitual «real-world evidence».

Introducción El uso de biomarcadores en la detección del cáncer de próstata (CP) puede disminuir el sobrediagnóstico y sobretratamiento de CP no significativos. Analizamos la utilidad y aplicabilidad del marcador SelectMDx® en un entorno de práctica clínica habitual. Material y métodos Estudio retrospectivo de 48 pacientes evaluados mediante el test SelectMDx® entre julio de 2017 y abril de 2019. Los pacientes se estratificaron en dos grupos según el riesgo estimado por el test de CP clínicamente significativo (CP-CS): 2%. Los resultados se expresaron en función de los antecedentes de biopsia prostática (BP) y resonancia magnética multiparamétrica (RMmp). Resultados En pacientes con BP negativa y RMmp normal/dudosa el riesgo fue 2% presentaron un CP-CS. De los 14 pacientes sin BP ni RMmp previas, 9 presentaron un riesgo 2%. En el resto de subgrupos el número de pacientes es pequeño como para poder extraer conclusiones. En todos los casos con tacto rectal patológico el test demostraba un riesgo de padecer CP > 2%. Conclusión SelectMDx® es un test prometedor para detectar pacientes con un riesgo muy bajo de CP-CS, especialmente en pacientes con sospecha de CP con o sin BP negativas, en los que la RMmp muestre un resultado normal/dudoso. La presencia de un tacto rectal patológico puede condicionar el resultado del test.pre-print203 K