To identify and quantify associations between baseline characteristics on hospital admission and mortality in patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Spain. This retrospective case series included 238 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio (Granada, Spain) who were discharged or who died. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain information on sex, age, personal antecedents, clinical features, findings on physical examination, and laboratory results for each patient. Associations between mortality and baseline characteristics were estimated as hazard ratios (HR) calculated with Cox regression models. Series mortality was 25.6%. Among patients with dependence for basic activities of daily living, 78.7% died, and among patients residing in retirement homes, 80.8% died. The variables most clearly associated with a greater hazard of death were age (3% HR increase per 1-year increase in age; 95%CI 1–6), diabetes mellitus (HR 2.42, 95%CI 1.43–4.09), SatO₂/FiO₂ ratio (43% HR reduction per 1-point increase; 95%CI 23–57), SOFA score (19% HR increase per 1-point increase, 95%CI 5–34) and CURB-65 score (76% HR increase per 1-point increase, 95%CI 23–143). The patients residing in retirement homes showed great vulnerability. The main baseline factors that were independently associated with mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were older age, diabetes mellitus, low SatO₂/FiO₂ ratio, and high SOFA and CURB-65 scores.

Despite the growing use of computed tomo graphy (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of spinal disorders, radiography still plays an important role in many conditions affecting the spine. However, the study and interpretation of spine radiograph is receiving less attention and radiologists are increasingly unfamiliar with the typical findings in normal and pathologic conditions of the spine. The aim of this article is to review the radiologic indications of radiograph in different pathologic conditions that affect the spine, including congenital, traumatic, degenerative, inflammatory, infectious and tumour disorders, as well as their main radiographic manifestations.

Introduction: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) represent a new therapeutic strategy in biomedicine with many potential applications, especially in musculoskeletal disorders. Preclinical and clinical studies based on the administration of ASCs support their efficacy in bone regeneration, joint repair, tendon injury and skeletal muscle alterations. Many of these novel treatments may improve patients’ quality of life and prognosis. However, several concerns about the use of stem cells remain unsolved, particularly regarding their safety and side effects. The present work aims to review the nature, clinical trials and patents involving the use of ASCs in musculoskeletal disorders. Area covered: In this article, we describe ASCs’ isolation, culture and differentiation in vivo and in vitro, advances on ASCs’ applications in bone, cartilage, muscle and tendon repair, and patents involving the use of ASCs. Expert opinion: The use of ASCs in musculoskeletal disorders presents significant therapeutic advantages, including limited autoimmune response, potential cell expansion ex vivo, high plasticity to differentiate into several mesodermal cell lineages, and additional effects of therapeutic interest such as secretion of neurotrophic factors and anti-inflammatory properties. For these reasons, ASCs are promising therapeutic agents for clinical applications in musculoskeletal disorders.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are significant contributors to the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance. OXA-48-like enzymes and their variants are unique carbapenemases with low or null hydrolytic activity toward carbapenems but no intrinsic activity against expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. CPEs have been classified by the WHO as high-priority pathogens given their association with morbidity and mortality and the scarce number of effective antibiotic treatments. In Spain, the frequency of OXA-48 CPE outbreaks is higher than in other European countries, representing the major resistance mechanism of CPEs. Horizontal transfer of plasmids and poor effective antibiotic treatment are additional threats to the correct prevention and control of these hospital outbreaks. One of the most important risk factors is antibiotic pressure, specifically carbapenem overuse. We explored the use of these antibiotics in Spain and analyzed the frequency, characteristics and prevention of CPE outbreaks. Future antibiotic stewardship programs along with specific preventive measures in hospitalized patients must be reinforced and updated in Spain.

Background and Objective: Ultrasound guidance plays a pivotal role in percutaneous procedures for diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal disorders. Such procedures encompass biopsies for tumor, diagnostic aspiration and therapeutic drainage of abscesses, hematomas, cysts and fluid collections, therapeutic injections into joints, nerves, and tendons, as well as aspirations of calcium deposits and extraction of foreign bodies. This review aims to compile the most frequent ultrasound-guided procedures in the musculoskeletal system and present the state-of-the-art in current advances and evidence. Methods: We performed a literature review on interventional ultrasound in the musculoskeletal system, and included reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and clinical trials published during the last 10 years. Articles related to imaging techniques different from ultrasound, or spinal, thoracoabdominal and facial procedures were excluded. A total of 120 articles were selected and included in this review. We qualitatively synthesized the main findings and complemented the review with illustrative images from our daily practice. Key Content and Findings: Most of the reviewed studies found superiority of ultrasound-guided versus landmark-guided procedures. Ultrasound was generally considered as a valuable tool for many specialists in diagnosing and treating many musculoskeletal pathologies, but some disparities in needle approaches, techniques, medication, and doses make it difficult to draw strong evidence in different clinical scenarios. Conclusions: Advances in ultrasound-guided procedures in the musculoskeletal system have enabled radiologists and other specialists to achieve high accuracy in diagnosing and treating various musculoskeletal conditions, including tumors, inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, tendinopathies, and bursal pathologies.