Barbara Romero-Gomez

La succión es un reflejo necesario para la supervivencia y el prematuro suele presentar problemas en el desarrollo de la succión. Además, es expresión primaria del funcionamiento cerebral, por lo que aumentan los estudios que la relacionan con los movimientos generales (MG) y el neurodesarrollo posterior. Actualmente, la herramienta más usada para evaluarla, es la escala NOMAS, pero los patrones de succión descritos en esta escala como desorganizados muestra una correlación poco fiable con el neurodesarrollo. Por esto, se planteó analizar en profundidad la evolución de la succión no nutritiva (SNN) en relación con los MG, con el fin de aportar valor predictivo precoz. Para ello, se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo prospectivo longitudinal, con 66 participantes prematuros <32 semanas de gestación y/o <1500gr al nacimiento, sin malformación neurológica, orofacial o diagnóstico genético. Se estudió la evolución de la SNN y MG desde el nacimiento hasta el alta hospitalaria, y al cumplir 4 años, se recogió la valoración del neurodesarrollo. Los datos mostraron que la edad gestacional al nacimiento es un factor importante a la hora de valorar riesgo de alteración en el neurodesarrollo posterior. Las diferentes subpruebas de SNN presentaron distintos grados de correlación, siendo el patrón y ritmo de succión las más relacionadas con ausencia de alteración. Los más inmaduros (23-24 semanas) mostraron mejores resultados que subgrupos nacidos posteriormente. En contraste, los nacidos entre 25-26 semanas, presentaron más riesgo de alteración futura. La semana de nacimiento parece determinante respecto al neurodesarrollo, mostrando diferente evolución de SNN, por lo que podría constituir una valoración complementaria a los MG. El presente estudio aporta conocimiento en el análisis precoz de la SNN y el neurodesarrollo, aunque se hace necesario realizar futuras investigaciones con mayores muestras y con mayor control de todas las variables influyentes.

(1) Background: Our aim was to determine changes in the prevalence of physical activity (PA) in adults with asthma between 2014 and 2020 in Spain, investigate sex differences and the effect of other variables on adherence to PA, and compare the prevalence of PA between individuals with and without asthma. (2) Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, population-based, matched, case–control study using European Health Interview Surveys for Spain (EHISS) for 2014 and 2020. (3) Results: We identified 1262 and 1103 patients with asthma in the 2014 and 2020 EHISS, respectively. The prevalence of PA remained stable (57.2% vs. 55.7%, respectively), while the percentage of persons who reported walking continuously for at least 2 days a week increased from 73.9% to 82.2% (p < 0.001). Male sex, younger age, better self-rated health, and lower body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with greater PA. From 2014 to 2020, the number of walking days ≥2 increased by 64% (OR1.64 95%CI 1.34–2.00). Asthma was associated with less PA (OR0.87 95%CI 0.47–0.72) and a lower number of walking days ≥2 (OR0.84 95%0.72–0.97). (4) Conclusions: Walking frequency improved over time among people with asthma. Differences in PA were detected by age, sex, self-rated health status, and BMI. Asthma was associated with less LTPA and a lower number of walking days ≥2.

(1) Background: Anaphylaxis is a rapid-onset, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. This study explores the epidemiological trends and clinical outcomes of adult patients with and without asthma hospitalized for anaphylaxis in Spain from 2016 to 2021. (2) Methods: Data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database (RAE-CMBD) were analyzed. We stratified patients with anaphylaxis based on their asthma diagnosis and evaluated various comorbidities and clinical outcomes. Propensity score matching was used to match confounders. (3) Results: The total number of hospitalizations for anaphylaxis remained stable, with a decrease in 2020 probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug-induced anaphylaxis increased, in addition to being the main triggering factor. Asthma prevalence among those admitted for anaphylaxis emerged from 7.63% to 10.69%, with a higher frequency of respiratory failure and need for mechanical ventilation in this group; despite this, ICU admissions and in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Asthma was also not a risk factor for severe anaphylaxis. Multivariable analysis identified advanced age, ischemic heart disease, acute respiratory failure, and invasive mechanical ventilation as factors associated with severe anaphylaxis. (4) Conclusions: This study provides valuable information on the complexity of anaphylaxis, its relationship with asthma, and factors influencing its severity. Overall, clinical outcomes did not differ significantly in asthmatic patients compared to non-asthmatic patients, although asthmatic patients had more respiratory complications. Further research is necessary to delve deeper into the multifactorial nature of anaphylaxis and its implications in clinical practice.

(1) Background: Worldwide, asthma, back pain, and migraine are major public health problems due to their high prevalence, effect on the quality of life, and huge economic costs. The association of asthma with an increased risk of these types of pain has been suggested; however, no conclusive results have been obtained to date. The aims of our study were (1) to describe and compare the prevalence of three types of pain localization, namely migraine or frequent headaches (MFH), chronic neck pain (CNP), and chronic low back pain (CLBP), in adults with and without asthma in Spain during the years 2014 and 2020 and (2) to identify which variables were associated with the presence of these types of pain in adults with asthma. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study and a case–control study were conducted. The 2014 and 2020 European Health Interview Surveys for Spain were used as the data source. (3) Results: A total of 2463 individuals were interviewed and had self-reported asthma. In this group, the prevalence of pain was high, with CLBP (30.9%) being the most common, followed by CNP (26.7%) and MFH (13.3%). All types of pain remained stable from 2014 to 2020. In both surveys, the women with asthma reported a remarkably higher prevalence of all the types of pain analyzed than the men with asthma. After matching by age and sex, the prevalence of all pain types was significantly higher in the patients with asthma than in the matched individuals without asthma. Multivariable adjustment showed that asthma increased the likelihood of CNP by 1.45 times (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.19–1.76), that of CLBP by 1.37 times (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.11–1.64), and that of MFH by 1.19 times (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.02–1.51). The three types of pain analyzed were associated with the female sex and worse self-rated health. (4) Conclusions: Among the men and women with asthma, the prevalence of all the pain types was high and remained stable over time. The prevalence was higher and the severity was greater among the women with asthma than among the men with asthma. The prevalence of any pain was significantly higher in people with asthma than in the sex–age-matched individuals without asthma. Multivariable analysis showed that the variables associated with the reporting of the three types of pain in people with asthma were female sex, worse self-reported health, and self-reported mental illness.

(1) Background: We analyzed the association between atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) and in-hospital mortality (IHM) among patients who underwent solid organ transplants in Spain from 2004 to 2021. (2) Methods: We gathered information from all hospital admissions for lung, liver, kidney, and heart transplants. (3) Results: A total of 71,827 transplants were analyzed (4598 lung transplants; 18,127 liver transplants; 45,262 kidney transplants; and 4734 heart transplants). One third of these were for women. Overall, the prevalence of AF was 6.8% and increased from 5.3% in 2004–2009 to 8.6% in 2016–2021. The highest prevalence of AF was found for heart transplants (24.0%), followed by lung transplants (14.7%). The rates for kidney and liver transplants were 5.3% and 4.1%, respectively. The AF code increased over time for all of the transplants analyzed (p < 0.001). The patients’ IHM decreased significantly from 2004–2009 to 2016–2021 for all types of transplants. AF was associated with a higher IHM for all of the types of transplants analyzed, except for heart transplants. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of AF among patients admitted for solid organ transplants was highest for those who underwent heart transplants. The mortality rate during the patients’ admission for lung, liver, kidney, or heart transplants decreased over time. AF was independently associated with a higher risk of dying in the hospital for those who underwent lung, liver, or kidney transplants.

Background. Ischemia‐reperfusion injury is one of the most critical phenomena in lung transplantation and causes primary graft failure. Its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, although the inflammatory response and apoptosis play key roles. Lidocaine has anti‐inflammatory properties. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of intravenous lidocaine on the inflammatory and apoptotic responses in lung ischemia‐reperfusion injury. Methods. We studied the histological and immunohistochemical changes in an experimental model of lung transplantation in pigs. Twelve pigs underwent left pneumonectomy, cranial lobectomy, caudal lobe reimplantation, and 60 minutes of graft reperfusion. Six of the pigs made up the control group, while six other pigs received 1.5 mg/kg of intravenous lidocaine after induction and a 1.5 mg/kg/h intravenous lidocaine infusion during surgery. In addition, six more pigs underwent simulated surgery. Lung biopsies were collected from the left caudal lobe 60 minutes after reperfusion. We conducted a double study on these biopsies and assessed the degree of inflammation, predominant cell type (monocyte‐macrophage, lymphocytes, or polymorphous), the degree of congestion, and tissue edema by hematoxylin and eosin stain. We also conducted an immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies against CD68 antigens, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), Bcl‐2, and caspase‐9. Results. The lungs subjected to ischemia‐reperfusion injury exhibited a higher degree of inflammatory infiltration. The predominant cell type was monocyte‐macrophage cells. Both findings were mitigated by intravenous lidocaine administration. Immunohistochemical detection of anti‐CD68 and anti‐MCP‐1 showed higher infiltration in the lungs subjected to ischemia‐reperfusion injury, while intravenous lidocaine decreased the expression. Ischemia‐reperfusion induced apoptotic changes and decreased Bcl‐2 expression. The group treated with lidocaine showed an increased number of Bcl‐2‐positive cells. No differences were observed in caspase‐9 expression. Conclusions. In our animal model, intravenous lidocaine was associated with an attenuation of the histological markers of lung damage in the early stages of reperfusion.

The VIII nerve is formed by sensory neurons that innervate the inner ear, i.e., the vestibular and the auditory receptors. Neurons of the auditory portion, the cochlear afferent fibers that innervate the sensory hair cells of the organ of Corti, have their somas in the cochlear spiral ganglion where two types of neurons can be distinguished. Afferent Type‐I neurons are the 95% of the total population. Bipolar and myelinated fibers, each one innervates only one cochlear inner hair cell (IHC). In contrast, afferent Type‐II neurons are only the 5% of the spiral ganglion population. They are pseudounipolar and unmyelinated fibers and innervate the cochlear outer hair cells (OHC) so that one afferent Type‐II fiber contacts with multiple OHCs, but each OHC only receives one contact from one Type‐II neuron. Both types of VIII nerve fibers are glutamatergic, but these asymmetric innervations of the cochlear sensory cells could suggest that the IHC codifies the truly auditory message but the OHC only informs about mechanical aspects of the state of the organ of Corti. In fact, the central nervous system (CNS) has control over the information transmitted by the Type‐I neuron by means of axons from the superior olivary complex that innervate them to modulate, filter and/or inhibit the entry of auditory message to CNS. The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the auditory portion of the VIII nerve. Anat Rec, 302:463–471, 2019.