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Introduction: There is not much information about the care of infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in Spain. This includes whether protocols are routinely used, the type of neuro-monitoring performed, and how information on the neurological prognosis is presented to families. The answers to these would allow to detect and implement areas of improvement. Method: A cross-sectional analysis was performed on the responses to structured questionnaires sent to all the Spanish neonatal units that were performing TH in June 2015. Questions were divided into 5 sections: (1) the availability of protocols and technological resources, (2) the use of neuro-monitoring tools, (3) the knowledge and training of the professionals; (4) the prognostic information given to the parents; and (5) the discharge report and the follow-up plan. Results: Most centres (95%) use servo controlled whole-body cooling methods and have specific management protocols. Sedation is used in 70% of centres, and in 68% of them the onset of enteral feeding is delayed until the end of the cooling period. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography monitoring is used in more than 80% of the centres, although only in 50% are nurses able to interpret it. Cerebral oxygen saturation is not often monitored (16%). As regards diagnostic-prognostic studies, neuroimaging is universal, but brain damage biomarkers are hardly used (29%). Prognostic information is offered within the first 72 posnatal hours in 21% of the centres, and is given without the presence of the nurse in 70% of the centres. Follow-up is performed by a neuro-paediatrician (84%), with an uneven duration between centres. Conclusions: The care of infants with HIE treated with TH in Spain is generally adequate, although there are areas for improvement in neuromonitoring, sedation, prognostic information, teamwork, and duration of follow-up. Resumen: Introducción: Apenas conocemos cómo es la asistencia de los recién nacidos (RN) con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica (EHI) en hipotermia terapéutica (HT), especialmente si existen protocolos asistenciales, la neuromonitorización que se realiza o cómo es la aproximación al pronóstico neurológico. Este conocimiento permite detectar e implementar áreas de mejora asistencial. Método: Estudio transversal de los 57 hospitales españoles que realizaban HT en 2015, mediante cuestionario sobre: 1) la disponibilidad de protocolos y de recursos tecnológicos; 2) el uso de herramientas de neuromonitorización; 3) los conocimientos de los profesionales; 4) la información pronóstica que se da los padres, y 5) el informe al alta y del plan de seguimiento. Resultados: El 95% utiliza enfriamiento corporal-total servocontrolado y dispone de protocolos específicos de actuación. El 70% utiliza sedación y el 68% deja al paciente a dieta absoluta. La monitorización con electroencefalografía integrada por amplitud se utiliza en más del 80% de los centros, aunque solo en el 50% la enfermera es capaz de interpretarlo. La saturación de oxígeno cerebral es escasamente monitorizada (16%). Entre los estudios diagnóstico-pronósticos, la neuroimagen es universal, pero los neurobiomarcadores apenas se utilizan (29%). Solo el 21% ofrece información pronóstica antes de las 72 h de vida; sin presencia de la enfermera en el 70%. El seguimiento lo realiza el neuropediatra (84%), con una duración desigual entre centros. Conclusiones: La asistencia del RN con EHI en España es adecuada, con áreas de mejora en: neuromonitorización, sedación, marco temporal de la información pronóstica, trabajo en equipo y estandarización de la duración del seguimiento.

Resumen: Introducción: Apenas conocemos cómo es la asistencia de los recién nacidos (RN) con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica (EHI) en hipotermia terapéutica (HT), especialmente si existen protocolos asistenciales, la neuromonitorización que se realiza o cómo es la aproximación al pronóstico neurológico. Este conocimiento permite detectar e implementar áreas de mejora asistencial. Método: Estudio transversal de los 57 hospitales españoles que realizaban HT en 2015, mediante cuestionario sobre: 1) la disponibilidad de protocolos y de recursos tecnológicos; 2) el uso de herramientas de neuromonitorización; 3) los conocimientos de los profesionales; 4) la información pronóstica que se da los padres, y 5) el informe al alta y del plan de seguimiento. Resultados: El 95% utiliza enfriamiento corporal-total servocontrolado y dispone de protocolos específicos de actuación. El 70% utiliza sedación y el 68% deja al paciente a dieta absoluta. La monitorización con electroencefalografía integrada por amplitud se utiliza en más del 80% de los centros, aunque solo en el 50% la enfermera es capaz de interpretarlo. La saturación de oxígeno cerebral es escasamente monitorizada (16%). Entre los estudios diagnóstico-pronósticos, la neuroimagen es universal, pero los neurobiomarcadores apenas se utilizan (29%). Solo el 21% ofrece información pronóstica antes de las 72 h de vida; sin presencia de la enfermera en el 70%. El seguimiento lo realiza el neuropediatra (84%), con una duración desigual entre centros. Conclusiones: La asistencia del RN con EHI en España es adecuada, con áreas de mejora en: neuromonitorización, sedación, marco temporal de la información pronóstica, trabajo en equipo y estandarización de la duración del seguimiento. Abstract: Introduction: There is not much information about the care of infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in Spain. This includes whether protocols are routinely used, the type of neuro-monitoring performed, and how information on the neurological prognosis is presented to families. The answers to these would allow to detect and implement areas of improvement. Method: A cross-sectional analysis was performed on the responses to structured questionnaires sent to all the Spanish neonatal units that were performing TH in June 2015. Questions were divided into 5 sections: 1) the availability of protocols and technological resources, 2) the use of neuro-monitoring tools, 3) the knowledge and training of the professionals; 4) the prognostic information given to the parents; and 5) the discharge report and the follow-up plan. Results: Most centres (95%) use servo controlled whole-body cooling methods and have specific management protocols. Sedation is used in 70% of centres, and in 68% of them the onset of enteral feeding is delayed until the end of the cooling period. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography monitoring is used in more than 80% of the centres, although only in 50% are nurses able to interpret it. Cerebral oxygen saturation is not often monitored (16%). As regards diagnostic-prognostic studies, neuroimaging is universal, but brain damage biomarkers are hardly used (29%). Prognostic information is offered within the first 72 posnatal hours in 21% of the centres, and is given without the presence of the nurse in 70% of the centres. Follow-up is performed by a neuro-paediatrician (84%), with an uneven duration between centres. Conclusions: The care of infants with HIE treated with TH in Spain is generally adequate, although there are areas for improvement in neuromonitoring, sedation, prognostic information, teamwork, and duration of follow-up.

Introduction: The process of care and assistance from birth to the starting of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is crucial in order to improve its effectiveness and prevent the worsening of hypoxic-ischaemic injury. Methods: A national cross-sectional study carried out in 2015 by use of a questionnaire sent to all level III units on the care of the newborn ≥ 35 weeks gestation within the first hours of life after a perinatal asphyxia event. According to clinical practice guidelines, the quality of care was compared between the hospitals that carried out or did not carry out TH, and according to the level of care. Results: A total of 89/90 hospitals participated, of which 57/90 performed TH. They all used resuscitation protocols and turned off the radiant warmer after stabilisation. All of them performed glucose and blood gas analysis, monitored the central temperature, put the newborn on a diet, and performed at least two examinations for the diagnosis of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Greater than one-third (35%) of hospitals did not have amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram, and 6/57 were TH-hospitals. The quality of care among hospitals with and without TH was similar, childbirth being better in those that performed TH, and those with a higher level of care. Level IIIc hospitals had higher scores than the others. The TH-hospitals mentioned not always having neonatologists with experience in neurological assessment and interpretation of amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (25%), or in brain ultrasound (62%). Conclusions: In response to the recommendations of the asphyxiated newborn, there is a proper national health care standard with differences according to the level of care and whether TH is offered. More amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram devices are necessary, as well as more neonatologists trained in the evaluations that will be required by the newborn with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Resumen: Introducción: El proceso asistencial hasta el inicio de la hipotermia terapéutica (HT) es crucial para mejorar su efectividad y prevenir el agravamiento del daño hipóxico-isquémico. Método: Estudio transversal nacional realizado en 2015 mediante cuestionario a todas las unidades nivel iii sobre la asistencia al recién nacido (RN) con asfixia perinatal en las primeras horas de vida. Se comparó la calidad asistencial entre los hospitales que realizaban o no HT y según el nivel asistencial, de acuerdo a las guías de práctica clínica. Resultados: Participaron 89/90 hospitales, 57/90 realizaban HT. Todos utilizaban protocolos de reanimación y apagaban la cuna tras estabilización. Fue universal realizar medición de glucemia y gasometría, monitorizar la temperatura, dejar al RN a dieta y realizar al menos 2 exploraciones para el diagnóstico de encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica. El 35% no disponía de electroencefalograma integrado por amplitud; 6/57 eran hospitales que realizaban HT. La calidad asistencial entre los hospitales con/sin HT fue similar, siendo mejor la del parto en los que hacían HT, y la de aquellos con mayor nivel asistencial. El 25% de aquellos que realizaban HT no tenían neonatólogos con experiencia en la exploración neurológica o en la interpretación del electroencefalograma integrado por amplitud; ni en la realización de ecografía cerebral en el 62%. Conclusiones: Atendiendo a las recomendaciones del RN asfíctico, existe un adecuado estándar asistencial nacional, con diferencias según el nivel asistencial y si realizan o no hipotermia. Son necesarios más equipos de electroencefalograma integrado por amplitud y formación de los neonatólogos en las evaluaciones que requerirá el RN con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica.

In the present study, 21 validated QSAR models that discriminate compounds with high Caco-2 permeability (Papp ≥8×10(-6)  cm/s) from those with moderate-poor permeability (Papp <8×10(-6)  cm/s) were developed on a novel large dataset of 674 compounds. 20 DRAGON descriptor families were used. The global accuracies of obtained models were ranking between 78-82 %. A general model combining all types of molecular descriptors was developed and it classified correctly 81.56 % and 83.94 % for training and test sets, respectively. An external set of 10 compounds was predicted and 80 % was correctly assessed by in vitro Caco-2 assays. The potential use of the final model was evaluated by a virtual screening of a human intestinal absorption database of 269 compounds. The model predicted 121 compounds with high Caco-2 permeability and the 90 % of them had high values of human intestinal absorption (HIA≥80). This study provides the most comprehensive database of Caco-2 permeability and evidenced the utility of the combined methodology (in silico+in vitro) in the prediction of Caco-2 permeability. It suggests that the present methodology can be used in the design of large libraries of compounds with appropriate values of permeability and to perform virtual screening in the early stages of drug development., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Aim: To assess effectiveness of peritoneal drainages for necrotizing enterocolitis., Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study (years 2000 to 2006). Laparotomy or patient's death were considered as failure., Study Variables: sex, gestational age, weight at delivery, Apgar score at minutes 1 and 5, modified Bell score, radiology and ventilatory status., Results: 25 patients were diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis and treated with peritoneal drainages. Sample's Bell score was: 13(52%) Ia, 6 (24%) IIa, 5 (20%) IIb, and 1 (4%) IIIa. Mean gestational age was 31.8 (+/- 4.2) weeks, and mean weight 1,564 (+/- 810) g. Patients classified as Bell I presented statistically significat differences compared with Bell II-III as for radiology (unspecific), delivery weight (lower) and ventilatory status (higher mechanical ventilation rates). For the 12 patients with Bell scores II-III, peritoneal drains were enough for 5 cases (41.7%) and failed in 7 (58.3%), who were operated on. Multivariate analysis (logistic regression) was not able to show any conection with collected variables. However, a bayesian analysis using data from similar studies showed that the probability for drainage success rate to be higher than 50% is 99%., Conclusions: In our centre, 52% of peritoneal drainages were used in patinets with low clinical suspect for necrotizing enetrocolitis, maybe in relation with their lower body weight and need for ventilatory support. In patients affected with necrotizing enterocolitis, drainages were effective in 41.7%. Although limited for its retrospective nature, our study suggests that peritoneal drainages can be curative in, at least, 50% of patients with necrotizing enterocolitis without pneumoperitoneum and clinical signs of peritonitis.

We present a case of Trichosporon asahii fatal infection recognized post mortem in a premature newborn baby of 685 g. Trichosporon asahii isolated from endovascular catheters and endotraqueal tube, is an opportunistic yeast described like an emergent pathogen in serious systemic infections and nosocomial infections in the neonatal intensive care units. The colonization and disease by this uncommon microorganism, usually is unspecific and has similar clinical presentation to other fungal infections with a bad prognosis.

An acute gastric volvulus in a 10 years old boy with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is reported. He was immediately operated on and an organoaxial volvulus secondary to spleen agenesia was found. No other visceral malformation was present. Because of gastric ischemia, a second-look procedure was performed 48 hours later in order to asses necrosis extent. Gastric fundus had to be resected and the stomach was definitively fixed to the abdominal wall. Clinical, radiological and therapeutic characteristics of this unusual pathology are reviewed.