https://hdl.handle.net/2072/478917 2026-04-01T00:30:15Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228585 <br />Abuse and misuse of tramadol in patients with non-oncologic pain in a region of Southern Europe<u>.</u> Perelló, Maria; Rio Aige, Karla; Cereza García, María Gloria; Rius, Pilar; Pérez-Cano, Francisco J.; Rabanal i Tornero, Manel Tramadol can cause dependence even within the recommended dose range. Its use has increased recently, especially in patients with chronic pain, and although a growing body of literature identifies a non-therapeutic use, patterns of misuse of tramadol is so far limited.<strong>Methods</strong>Two-year observational and cross-sectional study (January 2020 - December 2021) was conducted in 75 community pharmacies from Catalonia. To estimate the potential abuse and misuse of tramadol by patients visiting community pharmacy, and to establish the demographic characteristics of the tramadol users, a validated questionnaire based on the Finch criteria was designed. A total of 251 cases were registered.<strong>Results</strong>Data show that women were more involved (56.6%) and the highest proportion was found in the age interval of 46-65 years (42.6%). The combination of tramadol and paracetamol was reported in 54.6% of the cases and 73.7% corresponded to immediate-release tablets. In 93.6% of the cases, the request was preceded by previous use. Conversely, young men showed a higher non-prescription request for tramadol, reporting acute pain (<em>p</em> < 0.05). These results indicate that there is non-therapeutic use among patients who visit community pharmacies for information on two profiles.<strong>Conclusion</strong>This study shows that being an aged woman and suffering from chronic pain seems to involve a risk of generating dependence on tramadol. Likewise, a suspicion of recreational use of tramadol by young people has also been identified. There is a need to investigate how to manage chronic pain, given its complexity and take into account the risk of misuse that may come with tramadol. The involvement of characteristics such as gender as well as the pharmaceutical form in the development of tramadol misuse also needs to be analysed deeply. It is mandatory to evaluate the criteria for prescribing tramadol and initiatives to improve the knowledge of the health professionals and the population. 2026-03-30T10:37:26Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228609 Exploring Metacognition in a Spanish-Speaking Population: Adaptation and Validation of the Metacognition Self-Assessment Scale (MSAS); Explorando la Metacognición en Población de Habla Hispana: Adaptación y Validación de la Escala de Autoevaluación de la Metacognición (MSAS) Alabèrnia Segura, Miquel; Mullins, Danielle; Carulla Flix, Anna; Feixas i Viaplana, Guillem El presente estudio tiene como objetivo adaptar y validar la Escala de Autoevaluación de la Metacognición (MSAS) para población de habla hispana. Empleando un enfoque modular de la metacognición, esta investigación se centra en analizar subfunciones específicas de la metacognición, como la auto-monitorización, la autoevaluación y la selección de estrategias. Una muestra de 138 individuos de habla hispana participó en el estudio, que incluyó tanto la traducción del MSAS, como la realización de pruebas de fiabilidad y validez. Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio apoyan la estructura original del MSAS, que incluye cuatro factores: Autorreflexión, Distancia Crítica, Comprensión de la Mente del Otro y Dominio. Además, se estableció la validez convergente del MSAS con la Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20), demostrando una fuerte correlación negativa entre ambos instrumentos. Esta adaptación y validación de la versión en español del MSAS proporciona un valioso instrumento disponible para fines clínicos y de investigación. Esta contribución sienta las bases para inves 2026-03-30T15:27:34Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228590 Novel protocol for metabolomics data normalization and biomarker discovery in human tears. Serrano-Marín, Joan; Bernal Casas, David; Marín Martínez, Silvia; Iglesias, Arnau; Lillo, Jaume; Garrigós, Claudia; Capó, Toni; Reyes Resina, Irene; Alkozi, Hanan Awad; Cascante i Serratosa, Marta; Franco Fernández, Rafael; Sánchez-Navés, Juan Objectives: Human tear analysis holds promise for biomarker discovery, but its clinical utility is hindered by the lack of standardized reference values, limiting interindividual comparisons. This study aimed at developing a protocol for normalizing metabolomic data from human tears, enhancing its potential for biomarker identification.<strong> Methods: </strong> Tear metabolomic profiling was conducted on 103 donors (64 females, 39 males, aged 18-82 years) without ocular pathology, using the AbsoluteIDQ™ p180 Kit for targeted metabolomics. A predictive normalization model incorporating age, sex, and fasting time was developed to correct for interindividual variability. Key metabolites from six compound families (amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins) were identified as normalization references. The approach was validated using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to test its ability to classify donor sex based on metabolite concentrations.<strong> Results: </strong> Metabolite concentrations exhibited significant interindividual variability. The normalization model, which predicted metabolite concentrations based on a reference "concomitant" metabolite from each compound family, successfully reduced this variability. Using the ratio of observed-to-predicted concentrations, the model enabled robust comparisons across individuals. LDA classification of donor sex using acylcarnitine C4 achieved 78 % accuracy, correctly identifying 92 % of female donors. This approach outperformed traditional statistical and machine learning methods (Lasso logistic regression and Random Forest classification) in sex discrimination based on tear metabolomics.<strong> Conclusions: </strong> This novel normalization protocol significantly improves the reliability of tear metabolomics by enabling standardized interindividual comparisons. The approach facilitates biomarker discovery by mitigating variability in metabolite concentrations and may be extended to other biological fluids, enhancing its applicability in precision medicine. 2026-03-30T12:00:31Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228593 Consensus-based validation of key quality indicators in pancreatic cancer surgery in Catalonia: a modified Delphi study Guarga, Laura; Esteban, Laura; Busquets Barenys, Juli; Ausania, Fabio; García-Domingo, M.; Borràs, JM.; Manchon-Walsh, P. ABSTRACT Introduction: Pancreatic cancer surgery is highly complex and associated with significantperioperative risk, high mortality and morbidity, low quality of life, and increased healthcarecosts. Establishing quality indicators to monitor these procedures may improve care qualityand outcomes. This study aims to define a set of quality indicators to evaluate pancreatic cancersurgery in Catalonia.Methods: A preliminary list of quality indicators was developed based on a literature review.Subsequently, a modified Delphi study was undertaken, involving 11 expert pancreaticsurgeons, one from each center where these complex surgeries are authorized in Catalonia, toachieve consensus on quality indicators for pancreatic cancer surgery.Results: The literature review yielded 21 potential quality indicators. After 4 rounds of voting,the expert panel accepted 17 indicators and rejected 4. The final set of quality indicatorsencompasses critical aspects including positive tumor resection margin, lymph nodes retrieved,Journal Pre-proof3 /21postoperative complications, hospital readmission, reoperation, 90-day mortality and one-yearsurvival.Conclusion: The outcome of this study is a set of agreed quality indicators to measure, describeand monitor the quality and outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgery. These quality indicatorscan be used as a foundation for benchmarking studies and systematic evaluations of quality ofcare and enhanced surgical performance in pancreatic cancer. 2026-03-30T12:30:49Z