Application of tissue engineering in perianal Crohn´s Disease

En este trabajo se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica de los artículos más relevantes que han sido publicados en revistas científicas de impacto durante los últimos años con el objetivo de conocer las nuevas opciones terapéuticas en el tratamiento de las complicaciones fistulosas de la Enfermedad de Crohn que repercuten de forma importante en la calidad de vida de los pacientes que la padecen. Las Terapias Avanzadas en este campo, se centran en las células madre como nuevo enfoque en el tratamiento de las fístulas perianales de los enfermos de Crohn. Dentro de la Ingeniería Tisular, el método empleado es la transferencia de células que pueden proceder de diferentes fuentes (mesenquimales o hematopoyéticas) y con diferentes formas de aplicación (local o sistémica) además de distinto origen (alogénico o autólogo). Las células madre pueden obtenerse de tejido adiposo, médula ósea o de origen hematopoyético. La forma más frecuente empleada es a partir de tejido adiposo alogénico administrándolas de forma local en el trayecto de la fístula ya que de esta manera existen menos efectos adversos y la obtención tiene menor morbimortalidad en comparación con el resto de métodos. Las células de origen hematopoyético, hasta hoy, tienen un número relativamente elevado de efectos adversos que no las convierten en una opción aceptable en el tratamiento de estas complicaciones. Actualmente, a pesar de ser una opción de tratamiento aparentemente eficaz y segura, son necesarios más estudios que impliquen mayor número de pacientes con muestras más homogéneas y con un seguimiento mayor en el tiempo.In this work we have reviewed the most relevant articles that have been published in scientific journals of great impact for the last years in order to know the new therapeutic options in the treatment of the fistulous complications in Crohn's Disease, which widely affect to the quality of life in those patients who suffer from it. Advanced Therapies in this field focus on stem cells as a new approach in the treatment of perianal fistulas of Crohn's patients. Within Tissue Engineering, the method used is the transfer of cells that can come from different sources (mesenchymal or hematopoietic) and with different ways of application (local or systemic) as well as from different origin (allogeneic or autologous). Stem cells can be obtained from adipose tissue, bone marrow or hematopoietic origin. The most frequent form used is from allogenic adipose tissue, administering them locally in the path of the fistula since, this way, there are fewer adverse effects and its obtaining has lower morbidity and mortality compared to the rest of the methods. Cells of hematopoietic origin, up to now, have a relatively high number of adverse effects that do not make them an acceptable option in the treatment of these complications. Currently, despite being an apparently effective and safe treatment, it is completely necessary to have more patients with more homogeneous samples and a longer follow-up over time

Does the pharmacy expenditure of patients always correspond with their morbidity burden? Exploring new approaches in the interpretation of pharmacy expenditure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The computerisation of primary health care (PHC) records offers the opportunity to focus on pharmacy expenditure from the perspective of the morbidity of individuals. The objective of the present study was to analyse the behaviour of pharmacy expenditure within different morbidity groups. We paid special attention to the identification of individuals who had higher values of pharmacy expenditure than their morbidity would otherwise suggest (i.e. outliers).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Observational study consisting of 75,574 patients seen at PHC centres in Zaragoza, Spain, at least once in 2005. Demographic and disease variables were analysed (ACG^®8.1), together with a response variable that we termed 'total pharmacy expenditure per patient'. Outlier patients were identified based on boxplot methods, adjusted boxplot for asymmetric distributions, and by analysing standardised residuals of tobit regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The pharmacy expenditure of up to 7% of attendees in the studied PHC centres during one year exceeded expectations given their morbidity burden. This group of patients was responsible for up to 24% of the total annual pharmacy expenditure. There was a significantly higher number of outlier patients within the low-morbidity band which matched up with the higher variation coefficient observed in this group (3.2 vs. 2.0 and 1.3 in the moderate- and high-morbidity bands, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With appropriate validation, the methodologies of the present study could be incorporated in the routine monitoring of the prescribing profile of general practitioners. This could not only enable evaluation of their performance, but also target groups of outlier patients and foster analyses of the causes of unusually high pharmacy expenditures among them. This interpretation of pharmacy expenditure gives new clues for the efficiency in utilisation of healthcare resources, and could be complementary to management interventions focused on individuals with a high morbidity burden.</p

Post-Franco Theatre

In the multiple realms and layers that comprise the contemporary Spanish theatrical landscape, “crisis” would seem to be the word that most often lingers in the air, as though it were a common mantra, ready to roll off the tongue of so many theatre professionals with such enormous ease, and even enthusiasm, that one is prompted to wonder whether it might indeed be a miracle that the contemporary technological revolution – coupled with perpetual quandaries concerning public and private funding for the arts – had not by now brought an end to the evolution of the oldest of live arts, or, at the very least, an end to drama as we know it

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Treatment of perianal fistulae in crohn's disease with mesenchymal stem cells

Crohn's disease is a chronic syndrome of the gastrointestinal tract that produces idiopathic inflammation. Approximately half of the patients develop abscesses and/or fistulas throughout their history that are located, mainly, in the perianal region. Current treatments are based on individualized plans that generally use combined pharmacology for symptomatic relief based on glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants or immunomodulators, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, probiotics, and antibodies, or surgical therapies such as intestinal resections or ostomizations (colostomy and ileostomy) that tend to cause notable side effects in a considerable percentage of patients and a significant decrease in their quality of life.Perianal fistulas consist of abnormal tracts, inflammatory tunnels, or chronic tracts of granular tissue that connect two surfaces lined with epithelium, have an external hole in the skin that borders the anus, and an internal hole located inside it around the anal canal, rectus and sphincters.&nbsp;Treatment is a complex process that requires a multidisciplinary approach and the combination of several treatments. In the short term, the goal is to drain abscesses, reduce inflammatory and infectious processes, guard the fistulous tract with seton or lax lines, facilitate patency, and hinder new formations. In the long term, a total cure and the avoidance of complications that require surgery or the creation of intestinal stomas are pursued.For this reason, new effective remedies with fewer adverse effects continue to be investigated, one of the most promising being the use of mesenchymal stem cells for the regeneration and cure of perianal fistulas and the remission of symptoms. The present bibliographic review delves into this new therapy and analyzes the current state of the situation regarding its efficacy and safety

Surgical treatment of gunshot wound in inguinal region. About a case.

Las lesiones por armas de fuego son heridas causadas por proyectiles que pueden producir graves daños e incluso causar la muerte. Con mayor frecuencia encontramos lesiones en miembro inferior y en ocasiones pueden afectar a vasos vitales. En estos casos es fundamental una estabilización rápida del paciente, un diagnóstico precoz y un pronto tratamiento quirúrgico de ser necesario. En este trabajo presentamos el caso de un paciente de 61 años que recibió un disparo por un arma de fuego en la región inguinal y mano izquierdas. Se trataba de una escopeta de perdigones que había sido disparada a muy corta distancia. Ante la sospecha de lesión vascular fue llevado a quirófano, donde no se evidenció la misma, se extrajo el proyectil y desbridó la herida.Firearm injuries are injuries from projectiles that can cause serious damage and even death. More often we find lesions on the lower limb and can sometimes affect vital vessels. In these cases, rapid stabilization of the patient, early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are essential. In this paper we present the case of a 61 year old patient who was shot by a firearm in the left inguinal region and left hand. It was a shotgun shot that had been fired at close range. Before the suspicion of vascular injury was taken to the operating room, where it was not evidenced the same, the projectile was extracted and it debrided the wound

Multimorbidity Patterns in Primary Care: Interactions among Chronic Diseases Using Factor Analysis

<div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>The primary objective of this study was to identify the existence of chronic disease multimorbidity patterns in the primary care population, describing their clinical components and analysing how these patterns change and evolve over time both in women and men. The secondary objective of this study was to generate evidence regarding the pathophysiological processes underlying multimorbidity and to understand the interactions and synergies among the various diseases.</p> <h3>Methods</h3><p>This observational, retrospective, multicentre study utilised information from the electronic medical records of 19 primary care centres from 2008. To identify multimorbidity patterns, an exploratory factor analysis was carried out based on the tetra-choric correlations between the diagnostic information of 275,682 patients who were over 14 years of age. The analysis was stratified by age group and sex.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>Multimorbidity was found in all age groups, and its prevalence ranged from 13% in the 15 to 44 year age group to 67% in those 65 years of age or older. Goodness-of-fit indicators revealed sample values between 0.50 and 0.71. We identified five patterns of multimorbidity: cardio-metabolic, psychiatric-substance abuse, mechanical-obesity-thyroidal, psychogeriatric and depressive. Some of these patterns were found to evolve with age, and there were differences between men and women.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Non-random associations between chronic diseases result in clinically consistent multimorbidity patterns affecting a significant proportion of the population. Underlying pathophysiological phenomena were observed upon which action can be taken both from a clinical, individual-level perspective and from a public health or population-level perspective.</p> </div

Factor score for each EDC in men 15 to 44 years of age.

<p>Note: factor scores ≥0.25 have been highlighted in bold.</p