Physical Activity Monitoring and Acceptance of a Commercial Activity Tracker in Adult Patients with Haemophilia

Physical activity (PA) is highly beneficial for people with haemophilia (PWH), however, studies that objectively monitor the PA in this population are scarce. This study aimed to monitor the daily PA and analyse its evolution over time in a cohort of PWH using a commercial activity tracker. In addition, this work analyses the relationship between PA levels, demographics, and joint health status, as well as the acceptance and adherence to the activity tracker. Twenty-six PWH were asked to wear a Fitbit Charge HR for 13 weeks. According to the steps/day in the first week, data were divided into two groups: Active Group (AG; ≥10,000 steps/day) and Non-Active Group (NAG; 0.05) in PA levels or adherence to wristband were produced. Only the correlation between very active minutes and arthropathy was significant (r = −0.40, p = 0.045). Results of the questionnaire showed a high level of satisfaction. In summary, PWH are able to comply with the PA recommendations, and the Fitbit wristband is a valid tool for a continuous and long-term monitoring of PA. However, by itself, the use of a wristband is not enough motivation to increase PA levels

HemoKinect: A Microsoft Kinect V2 Based Exergaming Software to Supervise Physical Exercise of Patients with Hemophilia

Patients with hemophilia need to strictly follow exercise routines to minimize their risk of suffering bleeding in joints, known as hemarthrosis. This paper introduces and validates a new exergaming software tool called HemoKinect that intends to keep track of exercises using Microsoft Kinect V2's body tracking capabilities. The software has been developed in C++ and MATLAB. The Kinect SDK V2.0 libraries have been used to obtain 3D joint positions from the Kinect color and depth sensors. Performing angle calculations and center-of-mass (COM) estimations using these joint positions, HemoKinect can evaluate the following exercises: elbow flexion/extension, knee flexion/extension (squat), step climb (ankle exercise) and multi-directional balance based on COM. The software generates reports and progress graphs and is able to directly send the results to the physician via email. Exercises have been validated with 10 controls and eight patients. HemoKinect successfully registered elbow and knee exercises, while displaying real-time joint angle measurements. Additionally, steps were successfully counted in up to 78% of the cases. Regarding balance, differences were found in the scores according to the difficulty level and direction. HemoKinect supposes a significant leap forward in terms of exergaming applicability to rehabilitation of patients with hemophilia, allowing remote supervision

Consensus Statement on Hemostatic Management, Anticoagulation, and Antiplatelet Therapy in Liver Transplantation

Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies are increasingly used in liver transplant (LT) candidates and recipients due to cardiovascular comorbidities, portal vein thrombosis, or to manage posttransplant complications. The implementation of the new direct-acting oral anticoagulants and the recently developed antiplatelet drugs is a great challenge for transplant teams worldwide, as their activity must be monitored and their complications managed, in the absence of robust scientific evidence. In this changing and clinically heterogeneous scenario, the Spanish Society of Liver Transplantation and the Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis aimed to achieve consensus regarding the indications, drugs, dosing, and timing of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies initiated from the inclusion of the patient on the waiting list to post-LT surveillance. A multidisciplinary group of experts composed by transplant hepatologists, surgeons, hematologists, transplant-specialized anesthesiologists, and intensivists performed a comprehensive review of the literature and identified 21 clinically relevant questions using the patient-intervention-comparison-outcome format. A preliminary list of recommendations was drafted and further validated using a modified Delphi approach by a panel of 24 transplant delegates, each representing a LT institution in Spain. The present consensus statement contains the key recommendations together with the core supporting scientific evidence, which will provide guidance for improved and more homogeneous clinical decision making

Análisis del switch guiado por farmacocinética de factores VIII de semivida estándar a factores de semivida extendida

CO-170 Introducción y objetivos: Los factores VIII (FVIII) de semivida extendida (EHL) han mostrado en los ensayos clínicos mejoras de al menos 1, 3 veces la semivida plasmática (t1/2) y 1, 25 veces el área bajo la curva (AUC) respecto a los FVIII estándar (SHL). Herramientas basadas en modelos farmacocinéticos (PK) poblacionales permiten estimar los parámetros PK individuales y ajustar la profilaxis. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el switch PK-guiado de SHL a EHL en pacientes con hemofilia A (HA). Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico comparativo, cruzado, prospectivo que analiza las diferencias PK tras el cambio de factores SHL a EHL (Elocta® y Adynovi®) en pacientes con HA grave/moderada en profilaxis. Se ha empleado el PopPK WAPPS-Hemo® con 2-3 muestras para realizar un perfil PK individualizado de los valores de FVIII. Los parámetros PK analizados son: t1/2, AUC, nivel pico (NP), nivel valle a las 24, 48 y/o 72 h (NV24/NV48/NV72) y tiempo para alcanzar niveles de FVIII del 5%, 2% y 1% (T5%/T2%/T1%). También analizamos los ratios de t1/2 y AUC, el nº dosis semanales y la dosis/kg/semana. Para comparar los parámetros PK entre ambos periodos empleamos los test de Wilcoxon y Kruskal-Wallis (SPSS®). Los resultados se expresaron con la mediana y el rango o rango intercuartílico (RIC). Resultados: Se han analizado 64 pacientes procedentes de 8 hospitales españoles (48 switch a Elocta® y 16 a Adynovi®), 62 con HA grave y 2 con HA moderada, con una mediana de edad de 32 años (rango=5-64) y sin diferencias en el peso entre ambos periodo [71, 0 (rango=12-116) vs 72, 0 (16, 9- 116) kg; p=0, 156]. La dosis/kg/semana se redujo tras el switch a EHL [74, 5 (RIC:59, 2-108, 1) vs 69, 2 (RIC:46, 2-96, 7) UI/kg/semana; p<0, 0001], así como ..

Unraveling the effect of silent, intronic and missense mutations on VWF splicing : contribution of next generation sequencing in the study of mRNA

Large studies in von Willebrand disease patients, including Spanish and Portuguese registries, led to the identification of >250 different mutations. It is a challenge to determine the pathogenic effect of potential splice site mutations on VWF mRNA. This study aimed to elucidate the true effects of 18 mutations on VWF mRNA processing, investigate the contribution of next-generation sequencing to in vivo mRNA study in von Willebrand disease, and compare the findings with in silico prediction. RNA extracted from patient platelets and leukocytes was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using Sanger and next generation sequencing techniques. Eight mutations affected VWF splicing: c.1533+1G>A, c.5664+2T>C and c.546G>A (p.=) prompted exon skipping; c.3223-7_3236dup and c.7082-2A>G resulted in activation of cryptic sites; c.3379+1G>A and c.7437G>A) demonstrated both molecular pathogenic mechanisms simultaneously; and the p.Cys370Tyr missense mutation generated two aberrant transcripts. Of note, the complete effect of three mutations was provided by next generation sequencing alone because of low expression of the aberrant transcripts. In the remaining 10 mutations, no effect was elucidated in the experiments. However, the differential findings obtained in platelets and leukocytes provided substantial evidence that four of these would have an effect on VWF levels. In this first report using next generation sequencing technology to unravel the effects of VWF mutations on splicing, the technique yielded valuable information. Our data bring to light the importance of studying the effect of synonymous and missense mutations on VWF splicing to improve the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind von Willebrand disease. identifier:02869074

Molecular and clinical profile of von Willebrand disease in Spain (PCM-EVW-ES) : comprehensive genetic analysis by next-generation sequencing of 480 patients

Molecular diagnosis of patients with von Willebrand disease is pending in most populations due to the complexity and high cost of conventional molecular analyses. The need for molecular and clinical characterization of von Willebrand disease in Spain prompted the creation of a multicenter project (PCM-EVW-ES) that resulted in the largest prospective cohort study of patients with all types of von Willebrand disease. Molecular analysis of relevant regions of the VWF, including intronic and promoter regions, was achieved in the 556 individuals recruited via the development of a simple, innovative, relatively low-cost protocol based on microfluidic technology and next-generation sequencing. A total of 704 variants (237 different) were identified along VWF, 155 of which had not been previously recorded in the international mutation database. The potential pathogenic effect of these variants was assessed by in silico analysis. Furthermore, four short tandem repeats were analyzed in order to evaluate the ancestral origin of recurrent mutations. The outcome of genetic analysis allowed for the reclassification of 110 patients, identification of 37 asymptomatic carriers (important for genetic counseling) and re-inclusion of 43 patients previously excluded by phenotyping results. In total, 480 patients were definitively diagnosed. Candidate mutations were identified in all patients except 13 type 1 von Willebrand disease, yielding a high genotype-phenotype correlation. Our data reinforce the capital importance and usefulness of genetics in von Willebrand disease diagnostics. The progressive implementation of molecular study as the first-line test for routine diagnosis of this condition will lead to increasingly more personalized and effective care for this patient population

Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison of Efficacy and Consumption of rVIII-SingleChain Versus Two Recombinant FVIII Products Used for Prophylactic Treatment of Adults/Adolescents with Severe Haemophilia A.

Given the relatively small number of patients with haemophilia A, head-to-head comparisons between recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products are difficult to conduct. This study compared the efficacy and consumption of rVIII-SingleChain (lonoctocog alfa, AFSTYLA®) with rAHF-PFM (octocog alfa, Advate®) and rFVIIIFc (efmoroctocog alfa, Elocta®), for the prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes in previously treated adolescents/adults with severe haemophilia A, through a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC). A systematic literature review identified published clinical trials for rAHF-PFM and rFVIIIFc. Individual patient data for rVIII-SingleChain were used to match baseline patient characteristics to those from published trials, using an approach similar to propensity score weighting. After matching, annualized bleeding rates (ABR), percentage of patients with zero bleeds, and rFVIII consumption were compared across trial populations. Published data were identified from two rAHF-PFM trials and one rFVIIIFc trial. rVIII-SingleChain had similar ABR (risk ratio [RR]: 0.74 [0.16; 3.48]; RR: 1.18 [0.85; 1.65]) and percentage of patients with zero bleeds (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34 [0.56; 3.22]; OR: 0.78 [0.47; 1.31]) versus rAHF-PFM and rFVIIIFc, respectively. Annual rVIII-SingleChain consumption was significantly lower than rAHF-PFM (mean difference: - 1507.66 IU/kg/year [- 2011.71; - 1003.61]) and equivalent to rFVIIIFc (RR: 0.96 [0.62; 1.49]). Although limited to published information for comparator trials, these results suggest that with an annualized rFVIII consumption comparable to rFVIIIFc, but significantly lower than rAHF-PFM, routine prophylaxis with rVIII-SingleChain is able to maintain a similar ABR and percentage of patients with zero bleeds, attesting to the long-acting nature of rVIII-SingleChain

Incidencia de infección por hepatitis C en donantes de cabezas femorales para el banco de tejidos

The live donors of femoral heads belong to a highly specific group in terms of age and pathological characteristic, forming the core of the group who supply many tissue banks with spongy bone, to cover the needs of several specialities in the field of repair and corrective surgery. Analysis for the presence of the hepatitis C virus in this population was conducted as a part of quality control programs, while habitual blood donors from the same geographical location were used as the control group. Although the comparison of results could give rise to erroneous interpretations, due to the lack of qualitative fit between the groups, a much higher incidence of infection by VHC was found in the donors of spongy bone than was the case for blood donors (3.816% vs. 0.569%), although a smaller proportion of donors had hepatic alterations (measured by transaminases). In spite of the fact that the prevalence of VHC is almost 6 times that corresponding to the population as a whole, the elimination of live donors of spongy bone would create serious problems with supply to tissue banks. We therefore propose that more severe exclusion criteria be applied to the selection of bone donors, and also that sterilisation techniques be employed, using physical - chemical procedures (liophilisation, dehydration, chemical treatment, irradiation) to process these tissues. We also recommend that younger multiple organ tissue donors be used as sources of spongy bone for cold storage that is not to be subjected to any additional sterilisation treatment.Los donantes vivos de cabezas femorales constituyen un grupo de edad y características patológicas muy concreto, y forman el núcleo más importante que nutre de hueso esponjoso a muchos Bancos de Tejidos, para dar cobertura a las necesidades de diversas especialidades quirúrgicas reparadoras y correctoras. Dentro de los programas de control de calidad, se analizó la prevalencia de infección por virus de hepatitis C entre esta población, tomando como grupo de control poblacional a donantes de sangre habituales de la misma localización geográfica, y cuyos datos constaban en los registros del Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad Valenciana, en donde está ubicado el propio Banco de Tejidos. Aunque la comparación de resultados puede dar origen de interpretaciones erróneas debido al desajuste cualitativo de los grupos, se encontró una incidencia mucho más elevada de infección por VHC entre los donantes de hueso esponjoso que entre los donantes de sangre (3,816% vs. 0,569%), aunque con una proporción menor de donantes con alteraciones enzimáticas hepáticas (por medición de transaminasas). A pesar de que la incidencia hallada de VHC fue casi 6 veces la de la población general, la decisión de prescindir de los donantes vivos de hueso esponjoso crearía serios problemas de abastecimiento a los Bancos de Tejidos. Por ello se propone extremar la aplicación de los criterios de exclusión en la selección de donantes de hueso, y la implantación de técnicas de esterilización por procedimientos físico-químicos (liofilización, deshidratación, tratamiento químico, irradiación) para procesar estos tejidos, al tiempo que emplear los donantes multiorgánicos de tejidos, de edad más joven, como fuente de hueso esponjoso destinado a criopreservación sin tratamiento de esterilización adicional