MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis (MASK-rhinitis): the new generation guideline implementation

Several unmet needs have been identified in allergic rhinitis: identification of the time of onset of the pollen season, optimal control of rhinitis and comorbidities, patient stratification, multidisciplinary team for integrated care pathways, innovation in clinical trials and, above all, patient empowerment. MASK-rhinitis (MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a simple system centred around the patient which was devised to fill many of these gaps using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools and a clinical decision support system (CDSS) based on the most widely used guideline in allergic rhinitis and its asthma comorbidity (ARIA 2015 revision). It is one of the implementation systems of Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). Three tools are used for the electronic monitoring of allergic diseases: a cell phone-based daily visual analogue scale (VAS) assessment of disease control, CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) and e-Allergy screening (premedical system of early diagnosis of allergy and asthma based on online tools). These tools are combined with a clinical decision support system (CDSS) and are available in many languages. An e-CRF and an e-learning tool complete MASK. MASK is flexible and other tools can be added. It appears to be an advanced, global and integrated ICT answer for many unmet needs in allergic diseases which will improve policies and standards.

Integrated care pathways for airway diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs)

The objective of Integrated Care Pathways for Airway Diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs) is to launch a collaboration to develop multi-sectoral care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases in European countries and regions. AIRWAYS-ICPs has strategic relevance to the European Union Health Strategy and will add value to existing public health knowledge by: 1) proposing a common framework of care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases, which will facilitate comparability and trans-national initiatives; 2) informing cost-effective policy development, strengthening in particular those on smoking and environmental exposure; 3) aiding risk stratification in chronic disease patients, using a common strategy; 4) having a significant impact on the health of citizens in the short term (reduction of morbidity, improvement of education in children and of work in adults) and in the long-term (healthy ageing); 5) proposing a common simulation tool to assist physicians; and 6) ultimately reducing the healthcare burden (emergency visits, avoidable hospitalisations, disability and costs) while improving quality of life. In the longer term, the incidence of disease may be reduced by innovative prevention strategies. AIRWAYSICPs was initiated by Area 5 of the Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. All stakeholders are involved (health and social care, patients, and policy makers).

ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.

Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5)

Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) focuses on the integrated care of chronic diseases. Area 5 (Care Pathways) was initiated using chronic respiratory diseases as a model. The chronic respiratory disease action plan includes (1) AIRWAYS integrated care pathways (ICPs), (2) the joint initiative between the Reference site MACVIA-LR (Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif) and ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), (3) Commitments for Action to the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the AIRWAYS ICPs network. It is deployed in collaboration with the World Health Organization Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has proposed a 5-step framework for developing an individual scaling up strategy: (1) what to scale up: (1-a) databases of good practices, (1-b) assessment of viability of the scaling up of good practices, (1-c) classification of good practices for local replication and (2) how to scale up: (2-a) facilitating partnerships for scaling up, (2-b) implementation of key success factors and lessons learnt, including emerging technologies for individualised and predictive medicine. This strategy has already been applied to the chronic respiratory disease action plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing.

Renal toxicity mediated by continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a potent lymphokine with antitumoral activity, was used in continuous intravenous infusion for 5 days (18,000,000 IU/m2/day) in 9 treatment cycles in 5 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. During the infusion, patients received aggressive fluid replacement titrated by invasive hemodynamic monitoring, aiming at a stable central volemia. Body weight went up an average of 4.5 kg in 5 days, mean arterial blood pressure dropped slightly from day 1 to day 5 (105.4 +/- 11.6 to 86.1 +/- 12.5 mm Hg, p < 0.05), systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1304.7 +/- 242.1 to 871.7 +/- 237.2 dyn/s/cm-5 (p < 0.05), with stable pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac output and central venous pressure. The urinary output significantly dropped from 1.9 +/- 1.2 to 0.2 +/- 0.1 ml/min (p < 0.05) with very significant rises in serum creatinine from 76.0 +/- 28.3 to 242.2 +/- 144.9 mumol/l (0.86 +/- 0.32 to 2.47 +/- 1.64 mg/dl) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase urinary activity from 4.97 +/- 5.0 to 23.0 +/- 12.1 U/l, and significant decrement of creatinine clearance (1.86 +/- 0.65 to 0.29 +/- 0.27 ml/s or 111.5 +/- 38.9 to 17.1 +/- 16.6 ml/min) and urinary sodium (113.8 +/- 78.3 to 9.0 +/- 6.7 mmol/l). Urine sediment evolved from normal at day 1 to 9.0 +/- 3.7 epithelial cells/mm3 and 6.9 +/- 3.6 brown casts/mm3 (p = 0.001). We concluded that cancer treatment with IL-2 in continuous infusion, even with stable hemodynamics, induces an acute renal failure in most patients treated.

Erratum to: Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13601-016-0116-9.].

Thiemann's disease

We report a case of early stage Thiemann's disease in a 12-yr-old girl. This may be the first report of this disease from Portugal. The clinical and radiological aspects of this condition are discussed. Based on a review of the literature, preliminary diagnostic criteria are proposed.

Prognostic value of cardiac troponin I release kinetics in unstable angina

BACKGROUND

Cardiac Troponins (cTn) are useful in unstable angina (UA). Moreover the different elevation patterns that can be observed in this condition seem to have different prognostic implications.

AIM

To study cTn kinetics and cTn nadir in patients with UA, defined as angina at rest within the last 24 hours before admission accompanied by ischemic ECG changes and no myocardial infarction (MI) enzymatic criteria.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Samples were collected from 156 patients for cardiac enzymes and cTnI at admission and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours. The chemilluminescence method (Access/Sanofi Pasteur) was used for cTnI. The primary end-point at 30 days was the combined occurrence of death, MI and recurrent ischemia.

RESULTS

All determinations were below 0.10 ng/ml (group N) in 114 patients and the other 42 pts (group P) had at least one value equal to or above 0.10 ng/ml. The primary endpoint was observed in 24.6% of group N pts compared with 45.2% of group P pts (p = 0.02). Three different patterns of cTnI kinetics were observed. This enabled the identification of a subgroup--group N pts with increasing cTnI values within the first 12 hours and a total differential value > or = 0.03 ng/ml--with an increased risk (50.0% versus 21.4%--p = 0.02--Kaplan-Meier test).

CONCLUSION

Besides the prognostic value conferred by cTnI elevation, cTnI kinetics analysis established another sub-group of patients with an adverse prognosis at 30 days follow-up, despite having a negative cTnI.