The relationship between fructose intake and insulin resistance remains controversial. Our purpose was to determine whether a reduction in dietary fructose is effective in decreasing insulin ...resistance (HOMA2-IR). This field trial was conducted on 438 adults with overweight and obese status, without diabetes. A total of 121 patients in a low fructose diet (LFD) group and 118 in a standard diet (SD) group completed the 24-week study. Both diets were prescribed with 30-40% of energy intake restriction. There were no between-group differences in HOMA2-IR. However, larger decreases were seen in the LFD group in waist circumference (-7.0 vs. -4.8 = -2.2 cms, 95% CI: -3.7, -0.7) and fasting blood glucose -0.25 vs. -0.11 = -0.14 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.028, -0.02). The percentage of reduction in calorie intake was similar. Only were differences observed in the % energy intake for some nutrients: total fructose (-2 vs. -0.6 = -1.4, 95% CI: -2.6, -0.3), MUFA (-1.7 vs. -0.4 = -1.3, 95% CI: -2.4, -0.2), protein (5.1 vs. 3.6 = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.1, 2.7). The decrease in fructose consumption originated mainly from the reduction in added fructose (-2.8 vs. -1.9 = -0.9, 95% CI: -1.6, -0.03). These results were corroborated after multivariate adjustments. The low fructose diet did not reduce insulin resistance. However, it reduced waist circumference and fasting blood glucose concentration, which suggests a decrease in hepatic insulin resistance.
Background: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are increased in patients with COPD and correlate modestly with variables predictive
of outcomes. In epidemiologic studies, CRP level is ...associated with all-cause mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate
disease.
Objective: To determine if CRP levels are associated with survival in patients with moderate to very severe COPD in comparison with
other well-known prognostic parameters of the disease.
Methods: In 218 stable patients with COPD, we measured baseline serum CRP level, BODE (body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea, and
exercise capacity) index and its components, arterial oxygenation (Pa o 2 ), inspiratory capacity (IC) to total lung capacity (TLC) ratio, and Charlson comorbidity score. We followed up the patients
over time and evaluated the strength of the association between the variables and all-cause mortality.
Results: During the follow-up time (median, 36 months; 25th to 75th percentiles, 24 to 50 months), 54 patients (25%) died. CRP levels
were similar between survivors and the deceased (median, 3.8 mg/L; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 8.1; vs median, 4.5 mg/L;
95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 11.5; p = 0.22) and was not significantly associated with survival.
Conclusions: In this population of patients with clinically moderate to very severe COPD, the level of CRP level was not associated with
survival compared with other prognostic clinical tools such as the BODE index, modified Medical Research Council scale, 6-min
walk distance, percentage of predicted FEV 1 , IC/TLC ratio < 0.25, and Pa o 2 . Other long-term studies of well-characterized patients with COPD could help determine the exact role of CRP levels as a
biomarker in patients with clinical COPD.
COPD
C-reactive protein
survival
Secondary bacteraemia infections (SBI) are poorly studied. We analyse the epidemiology of nosocomial SBI, potential risk factors and mortality of affected patients.
Prospective study of patients with ...bacteraemia from 2009 to 2014 in a tertiary hospital. For each SBI was recorded: primary source of infection, aetiological agent, demographic data, intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and mortality during the episode.
429/1918 episodes of Nosocomial Bacteraemia (NB) (22%) were SBI (average Incidence Density: 0.41% days of admission). Onco-hematological services had the highest Incidence Density of SBI. Surgical Site Infection-SBI (SSI-BSI) was the most frequent SBI (27%), followed by Urinary Tract Infection-SBI (UTI-BSI) (24%). Gram-negative bacteria were the most prevalent microorganism (61.1%). The median interval between SBI episodes to discharge was 37±59days. Mortality rate was 29%. These patients had many intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors such as urinary catheterization (68%), CVC (69%), Arterial hypertension (48%) and hospitalization in the six previous months (45%).
Mean age was significantly higher in patients with UTI-BSI and SSI-BSI. Average stay from admission to the development of bacteraemia was statistically lower in patients with Intra-abdominal Infection bacteraemia (IAB-BSI). Patient with SSI-BSI had oncologic processes and had undergone for more Mechanical ventilation than UTI-SSBI and Respiratory Tract Infections Bacteraemia (RTI-BSI). The use of CVC was significantly higher in RTI-BSI.
SBI accounts for almost a quarter of all NB. Patients has multiple comorbidities, increases hospital stay and mortality. It would be necessary to establish measures to rapidly diagnose and treat the primary infection, in order to prevent the onset of SBI.
The distance walked in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) predicts mortality in patients with severe COPD. Little is known about its prognostic value in patients with a wider range of COPD severity, living ...in different countries, and the potential additional impact of oxygen desaturation measured during the test.
We enrolled 576 stable COPD outpatients in Spain and the United States and observed them for at least 3 years (median, 60 months). We measured FEV1, body mass index, Pao2, Charlson comorbidity score, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (Spo2) during the 6MWT. Desaturation was defined as a fall in Spo2 ≥ 4% or Spo2 < 90%. Regression analysis helped determine the association between these variables and all-cause and respiratory mortality.
The 6MWD was a good predictor of all-cause and respiratory mortality primarily in patients with FEV1 < 50% of predicted (p < 0.001) after adjusting for all covariates. Patients with desaturation during the 6MWT had a higher mortality rate than patients without desaturation (67% vs 38%, p < 0.001). Oxygen desaturation predicted mortality (relative risk, 2.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 4.51; p < 0.001) but with less power than Pao2 at rest.
The 6MWD helps predict mortality primarily in patients with severe COPD. Although the oxygen desaturation profile during the 6MWT improves the predictive ability of the 6MWD, it appears to be of less relevance than in other lung diseases and than the resting Pao2.
Abstract Context A reliable and valid measure of the structure and process of end-of-life care is important for improving the outcomes of care. Objectives This study evaluated the validity and ...reliability of the Spanish adaptation of a satisfaction tool of the Care Evaluation Scale (CES), which was developed in Japan to evaluate palliative care structure and process from the perspective of family members. Methods Standard forward-backward translation and a pilot test were conducted. A multicenter survey was conducted with the relatives of patients admitted to palliative care units for symptom control. The dimensional structure was assessed using confirmatory factor analyses. Concurrent and discriminant validity were tested by correlation with the SERQVHOS, a Spanish hospital care satisfaction scale and with an 11-point rating scale on satisfaction with care. The reliability of the CES was tested by Cronbach α and by test-retest correlation. Results A total of 284 primary caregivers completed the CES, with low missing response rates. The results of the factor analysis suggested a six-factor solution explaining 69% of the total variance. The CES moderately correlated with the SERQVHOS and with the overall satisfaction scale (intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.66 and 0.44, respectively; P = 0.000). Cronbach α was 0.90 overall and ranged from 0.85 to 0.89 for subdomains. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.88 ( P = 0.000) for test-retest analysis. Conclusion The Spanish CES was found to be a reliable and valid measure of the satisfaction with end-of-life care structure and process from family members' perspectives.
Hypoxia is involved in the development of chronic inflammatory processes. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A, VEGF and VEGFR2 are expressed and mediate the course of the resultant disease. The aim of the ...present study was to define the associations between tSNPs in these genes and COPD susceptibility and progression in a Spanish cohort. The T alleles in rs3025020 and rs833070 SNPs (VEGFA gene) were less frequent in the group of COPD cases and were associated with a lower risk of developing the disease (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0. 39-0.93; p = 0.023 and OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.38-0.96; p = 0.034, respectively) under a dominant model of inheritance. The haplotype in which both SNPs presented the T allele confirmed the association found (OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.66; p = 0.03). Moreover, patients with COPD carrying the T allele in homozygosis in rs3025020 SNP showed higher lung function values and this association remained constant during 3 years of follow-up. In conclusion, T allele in rs833070 and rs3025020 may confer a protective effect to COPD susceptibility in a Spanish population and the association of the SNP rs3025020 with lung function may be suggesting a role for VEGF in the progression of the disease.
The emergence of carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) has become a major public health concern. Long-term care facilities (LTCF) are potential reservoirs for multidrug-resistant micro-organisms ...(MDRO). However, data on CPB is limited. The study aims to determine the prevalence of MDRO and risk factors for CPB colonization among residents of LTCFs.
A point-prevalence study was conducted at 14 LTCFs in Tenerife (Spain) between October 2020 and May 2021. Nasal and rectal swabs were cultured for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, MDR Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular detection of resistance genes were performed. Risk factors for colonization by carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis.
A total of 760 LTCF residents were recruited. The prevalence of colonization by CPB was 9.3% (n = 71) with the following distribution: 35 (49.3%) K. pneumoniae, 26 (36.6%) MDR-Ab, 17 (23.9%) E. coli, and 1 (1.4%) C. koseri. In addition, the prevalence of colonization by MRSA was 28.1% (n = 215) and only one case of VRE was isolated. Multivariate analysis identified male sex (odds ratio OR, 1.86; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.86-3.11; P = 0.01), having a high health requirement (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.91-20.92; P = 0.003) and previous hospitalization (OR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.59-8.15 P = 0.002) as independent risk factors for CPB rectal carriage.
LTCFs are an important reservoir for MDRO, including CPB. We have identified some predictors of colonization by CPB, which enable a more targeted management of high-risk residents. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes and infection control preventive measures are needed to stop acquisition and transmission of MDRO.
The influence of gender on the expression of COPD has received limited attention. Quality of Life (QoL) has become an important outcome in COPD patients. The aim of our study was to explore factors ...contributing to gender differences in Quality of Life of COPD patients.
In 146 men and women with COPD from a pulmonary clinic we measured: Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), age, smoking history, PaO2, PaCO2, FEV1, FVC, IC/TLC, FRC, body mass index (BMI), 6 minute walk distance (6MWD), dyspnea (modified MRC), degree of comorbidity (Charlson index) and exacerbations in the previous year. We explored differences between genders using Mann-Whitney U-rank test. To investigate the main determinants of QoL, a multiple lineal regression analysis was performed using backward Wald's criteria, with those variables that significantly correlated with SGRQ total scores.
Compared with men, women had worse scores in all domains of the SGRQ (total 38 vs 26, p = 0.01, symptoms 48 vs 39, p = 0.03, activity 53 vs 37, p = 0.02, impact 28 vs 15, p = 0.01). SGRQ total scores correlated in men with: FEV1% (-0.378, p < 0.001), IC/TLC (-0.368, p = 0.002), PaO2 (-0.379, p = 0.001), PaCO2 (0.256, p = 0.05), 6MWD (-0.327, p = 0.005), exacerbations (0.366, p = 0.001), Charlson index (0.380, p = 0.001) and MMRC (0.654, p < 0.001). In women, the scores correlated only with FEV1% (-0.293, p = 0.013) PaO2 (-0.315, p = 0.007), exacerbations (0.290, p = 0.013) and MMRC (0.628, p < 0.001). Regression analysis (B, 95% CI) showed that exercise capacity (0.05, 0.02 to 0.09), dyspnea (17.6, 13.4 to 21.8), IC/TLC (-51.1, -98.9 to -3.2) and comorbidity (1.7, 0.84 to 2.53) for men and dyspnea (9.7, 7.3 to 12.4) and oxygenation (-0.3, -0.6 to -0.01) for women manifested the highest independent associations with SGRQ scores.
In moderate to severe COPD patients attending a pulmonary clinic, there are gender differences in health status scores. In turn, the clinical and physiological variables independently associated with those scores differed in men and women. Attention should be paid to the determinants of QoL scores in women with COPD.
Abstract The dose ratio that is effective when switching opioid therapy from morphine to methadone in cancer patients varies widely. There are no conclusive data explaining the source of this ...variability. We analyzed 54 cancer patients undergoing opioid rotation to clarify those factors that influenced the morphine/methadone dose ratio (MMEDR) at Day 10 after the switch. Reasons for switching were uncontrolled pain (10 patients) or side effects (with or without pain, 44 patients). Initial MMEDR was 5:1 or 10:1 (82% or 18% of patients, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify the demographic, cancer-related, and treatment-related variables that were potential predictors of MMEDR. Median previous morphine dose for the entire sample was 220 mg/day (range: 30–1000 mg/day). The stable MMEDR median was 5:1 (range: 2:1–15:1). In the univariate analysis, reasons for opioid rotation, age, and previous morphine doses were associated with MMEDR. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only the reason for switching (pain vs. side effects; P < 0.001) and previous morphine doses (lower vs. upper to 300 mg/day; P < 0.001) were associated with MMEDR. From this analysis, the MMEDRs for patients rotated for side effects at 300 mg/day or more or less than 300 mg/day of morphine were 9.1:1 or 5.6:1, respectively, and the MMEDRs for those switched for pain at 300 mg/day or more or less than 300 mg/day of morphine were 4.9:1 or 3:1, respectively. Both the reasons for opioid rotation and previous morphine doses are predictive factors and should be used to select the MMEDR more accurately.
Background Active surveillance systems are effective in reducing health care-associated infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Nonetheless, some patients develop ...MRSA infection despite control measures. We tried to identify risk factors related to the appearance of MRSA at sites other than the nasal fossa in patients who were nasal carriers of MRSA. Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted in an active surveillance program for MRSA between January 2009 and December 2010 at a Spanish teaching hospital. Cases were patients with MRSA in the anterior nares and a length of stay of at least 5 days who developed MRSA-positive clinical culture after decolonization treatment had started. Controls were patients with the same characteristics as the case group, except that they did not develop MRSA-positive clinical culture as verified by negative clinical cultures. Results After intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors were analyzed, the emergence of mupirocin-resistant MRSA clones after decolonization treatment, and residence in a nursing home were marginally significant in the univariate analysis. The detection of the emergence of mupirocin-resistant MRSA clones was independently associated with the detection of MRSA in other clinical locations. Conclusions In an active surveillance program for MRSA it is important to determine the mupirocin susceptibility of the isolates to determine appropriate treatment and to verify negativity after decolonizing treatment has been completed.
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