Research with spanish-speaking populations in the United States: lost in the translation. A commentary and a plea

Verbal material used to assess the cognitive abilities of Spanish-speakers in the the United States is frequently of linguistically unacceptable quality. The use of these materials in research settings is thought to pose a serious threat to test validity and hence to the validity of claimed results or conclusions. The authors explain how and why incorrect language finds its way into cognitive tests used in research and other settings and suggest solutions to this serious problem.     

Primary graft dysfunction and other selected complications of lung transplantation: A single-center experience of 983 patients

OBJECTIVES: We sought to review the incidence and outcome of lung transplantation complications observed over 15 years at a single center. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review from our databases, tracking outcomes after adult and pediatric lung transplantation. The 983 operations between July 1988 and September 2003 included 277 pediatric and 706 adult recipients. Bilateral (74%), unilateral (19%), and living lobar transplants (4%) comprised the bulk of this experience. Retransplantations accounted for 44 (4.5%) of the operations. RESULTS: The groups differed by indication for transplantation. The adults included 57% with emphysema and 17% with cystic fibrosis, and the children included no patients with emphysema and 50% with cystic fibrosis. Hospital mortality was 96 (9.8%) of 983, including 46 (17%) of 277 of the children and 50 (7%) of 706 of the adults. The overall survival curves did not differ between adults and children ( P = .56). Freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome at 5 and 10 years was 45% and 18% for adults and 48% and 30% for children, respectively ( P = .53). The causes of death for adults included bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (40%), respiratory failure (17%), and infection (14%), whereas the causes of death in children included bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (35%), infection (28%), and respiratory failure (21%) ( P < .01). Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease occurred in 12% of pediatric recipients and 6% of adults ( P < .01). The frequency of treated airway complications did not differ between adults and children (9% vs 11%, P = .48). The frequency of primary graft dysfunction did not differ between children (22%) and adults (23%), despite disparity in the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSION: These results highlight major complications after lung transplantation. Despite differences in underlying diagnoses and operative techniques, the 2 cohorts of patients experienced remarkably similar outcomes.     

Drug utilization study in patients with Crohn's disease in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To discover the therapeutic strategies for Crohn's disease used in Spain and to analyse the factors associated with the use of each treatment. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study of patients with Crohn's disease who attended hospitals in Spain. METHODS: Two structured questionnaires were used, one completed by gastroenterologists about demographic clinical data and disease activity, and the other a telephone interview with the patients to obtain epidemiological and drug utilization data. RESULTS: A total of 635 patients from 39 hospitals were included. Aminosalicylates (77%) and corticosteroids (41%) were the most commonly used drugs. Monotherapy was used in 52% of the patients and was associated with less severe disease and relapse. Aminosalicylate use was associated with relapse and associated inversely with use of immunosuppressors. Corticosteroid use was associated with relapse, disease activity, and emergency visit frequency, and associated inversely with perianal disease. Use of immunosuppressors was associated with perianal disease, chronic active disease, and routine visit frequency, and associated inversely with aminosalicylate use. Antibiotic use was associated with relapse, perianal disease, chronic active disease and hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and a combination of both drugs are the drugs used most frequently against Crohn's disease in Spain. Gender, age, clinical pattern and location were not associated with the type of drug used either in monotherapy or in combined therapy.     

Improved real-time PCR for rapid detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates

In this study we designed two pairs of probes for the detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with real-time PCR procedures. One pair of probes spans the region between codon 510 and 528 of the rpoB gene, and the other one screens for mutation at the regulatory region of the inhA gene. We have evaluated these probes in combination with two other pairs of probes previously described to detect mutations in 20 susceptible and 53 unique resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. We were able to detect nine different mutations affecting five codons of the rpoB gene, two different mutations at codon 315 of the katG gene and a nucleotide substitution (C209T) in the regulatory region of the inhA gene within two hours turnaround.     

Postoperative pain and emotional intelligence

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relation between emotional intelligence (the ability to understand and regulate feelings) and postoperative pain in patients who had undergone abdominal surgery. METHODS: In a prospective intra-subject design we studied 32 patients in a natural context in which they underwent digestive and urological surgery. We used a structured interview, psychometric tests, and two quantitative scales for evaluating pain. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant negative correlation between the variable repair of feelings and pain scores on both verbal and visual analog scales (p < 0.05). The pain scores on each scale were highly correlated (p < 0.01). Likewise, the score on the visual analog scale on the first postoperative day and the overall score correlated (p < 0.01). Regression analysis indicated a significant effect of clarity and repair of feelings on the perception of postoperative pain. CONCLUSION: Patients showing higher emotional intelligence scores (clarity and repair) assessed their postoperative pain as less intense.     

Optimisation of ISO 10705-1 on enumeration of F-specific bacteriophages

During the European project 'Bacteriophages in bathing waters' (January 1996-June 1999), research was carried out to optimise the method for detection and enumeration of F-specific (RNA) phages in water. It was evaluated whether further optimisation would be possible/needed for the procedure as described in the standard method of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 10705-1. The research focused mainly on optimisation of the different steps for culturing the host strain WG49 Salmonella Typhimurium. It was concluded that all steps described in ISO 10705-1 are necessary and, if followed carefully, using a culture of host strain WG49 Salmonella Typhimurium of good quality, reliable results could be obtained for the enumeration of F-specific RNA phages.     

Interleukin-15 decreases lipid intestinal absorption

Administration of a single acute intravenous injection of interleukin-15 (IL-15) (100 microg/kg bw) to rats resulted in a significant decrease (22%) in triacylglycerol absorption, as measured by using [14C]-triolein load. The cytokine, however, did not influence the oxidation of the exogenously administered lipid or the tissue uptake of [14C]-triolein; this is in concordance with the lack of effects found in the measurement of the tissue lipoprotein lipase activity. Concerning the mechanism involved in the decreased intestinal absorption associated with IL-15 administration, the results presented clearly demonstrate that changes in gastric emptying and intestinal mobility are not involved, as the effect is specific for triacylglycerols. In conclusion, intestinal absorption may be an additional mechanism to take into consideration to explain the 'anti-fat' effect of this cytokine.