Predictive score for mortality in patients with COPD exacerbations attending hospital emergency departments

Background: Limited information is available about predictors of short-term outcomes in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (eCOPD) attending an emergency department (ED). Such information could help stratify these patients and guide medical decision-making. The aim of this study was to develop a clinical prediction rule for short-term mortality during hospital admission or within a week after the index ED visit. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with eCOPD attending the EDs of 16 participating hospitals. Recruitment started in June 2008 and ended in September 2010. Information on possible predictor variables was recorded during the time the patient was evaluated in the ED, at the time a decision was made to admit the patient to the hospital or discharge home, and during follow-up. Main short-term outcomes were death during hospital admission or within 1 week of discharge to home from the ED, as well as at death within 1 month of the index ED visit. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed in a derivation sample and validated in a validation sample. The score was compared with other published prediction rules for patients with stable COPD. Results: In total, 2,487 patients were included in the study. Predictors of death during hospital admission, or within 1 week of discharge to home from the ED were patient age, baseline dyspnea, previous need for long-term home oxygen therapy or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, altered mental status, and use of inspiratory accessory muscles or paradoxical breathing upon ED arrival (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.85). Addition of arterial blood gas parameters (oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures (PO2 and PCO2)) and pH) did not improve the model. The same variables were predictors of death at 1 month (AUC = 0.85). Compared with other commonly used tools for predicting the severity of COPD in stable patients, our rule was significantly better. Conclusions: Five clinical predictors easily available in the ED, and also in the primary care setting, can be used to create a simple and easily obtained score that allows clinicians to stratify patients with eCOPD upon ED arrival and guide the medical decision-making process.

Fármacos microencapsulados para el tratamiento del glaucoma

Sobre la base de la problemática de los tratamientos terapéuticos del glaucoma, en especial cuando se administran en forma de gotas oculares y dado el empleo de los beta-bloqueantes como el grupo de fármacos utilizados como primera opción de tratamiento; y teniendo en cuenta las ventajas que ofrece la microencapsulación de fármacos en el sector farmacéutico y el uso de las ciclodextrinas como agentes encapsulantes, el objetivo de este trabajo se centra en la microencapsulación del fármaco beta-bloqueante (timolol) con HP-β-CD en agua para el tratamiento del glaucoma. Para la consecución de este objetivo se ha seleccionado en base a los métodos de encapsulación y agentes encapsulantes descritos en la bibliografía las CDs como agentes encapsulantes, concretamente la HP-β-CD por su mayor facilidad para formar complejos de inclusión y por su baja toxicidad y se ha elegido el método de encapsulación por inclusión, debido a las características mencionadas y a que las propiedades de los principios activos son potenciadas por este método