Annual Scientific Report

Annual Scientific Report 

Rosselló, 149-153 

08036 Barcelona 

www.idibaps.org 

Hospital Clínic – Fundació Clínic 

University of Barcelona – Faculty of Medicine 

CSIC – Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona 

Generalitat de Catalunya – Departament d’Economia i Coneixement

Published by: 

IDIBAPS 

Rosselló, 149-153 – 08036 Barcelona 

Editorial Board: 

Dr. Ramon Gomis, Director of IDIBAPS 

Dr. Joan Rodés, Director of IIS IDIBAPS - Hospital Clínic 

Dr. Pastora Martínez, Managing Director of IDIBAPS 

Dr. Albert Barberà, IDIBAPS Scientific Manager 

Mrs. Teresa Peña, Fundació Clínic Research Management Office 

Mrs. Sandra Vidal, Fundació Clínic Technical Office 

Mr. Àlex Argemí, IDIBAPS Communication Officer 

Production and design: 

BPMO Edigrup 

C/ Guitard, 43, 1ª planta 


Tel.: 933 637 840 

www.bpmoedigrup.com 

Legal Deposit: B-47.798-2005 

Centres de recerca 

de Catalunya 

This centre has been cofinanced by the European Union through 

the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 

IDIBAPS is accredited as a Health 

Care Research Institute by the 

Carlos III Health Institute

INDEX 

Foreword IDIBAPS 

• Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 

• Presentation..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 

• Organisation chart....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 

• IDIBAPS Research and Innovation.............................................................................................................................................. 13 

• Platforms.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 

• Networking...................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 

• International projection............................................................................................................................................................ 61 

• Biotrack............................................................................................................................................................................................. 63 

• Training............................................................................................................................................................................................. 64 

• IDIBAPS and society......................................................................................................................................................................... 68 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

AREA 1 Biological aggression and response mechanism ............................................................................................. 70 

AREA 2 Respiratory, cardiovascular, renal and pathobiology bioengineering ..................................................... 102 

AREA 3 Liver, digestive system and metabolism ............................................................................................................... 142 

AREA 4 Clinical and experimental neuroscience .............................................................................................................. 196 

AREA 5 Oncology and haematology ..................................................................................................................................... 246 

Transversal research groups ...................................................................................................................................... 294 

Index 

• TEAM LEADER INDEX........................................................................................................................................................................... 308

INTRODUCTION 

Josep Maria Martorell i Rodon 

Director General of Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and President of the Steering Committee of IDIBAPS 

The Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), a secure mark of value related to research conducted 

in Catalonia, works with renewed energy to maintain its excellence in the midst of a complex international scenario. 

Therefore it gives me great satisfaction to be in charge of introducing this Annual Report, which reflects a year of 

advances made by a large team of professionals with the highest scientific standards. 

IDIBAPS is the flagship of biomedical research conducted in Catalonia, focused on the patient and destined to improve 

public health. Since its creation in 1996, many successful projects have served to define IDIBAPS as the most productive 

biomedical research centre in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain, as its scientific publications demonstrate. 

The past, present and future of IDIBAPS speak of this excellence. The Institute honours the reputed Catalan physician, 

August Pi i Sunyer, who contributed to establishing Medicine as we know it today in Catalonia. The present IDIBAPS 

is founded upon initiatives merging both public and private efforts –such as the Esther Koplowitz centre–, to ensure 

sustainability of the research work. Based on solid foundations, this Institute looks to the future with enthusiasm, with 

projects such as the creation of the new Cellex Biomedical Research Centre - the future headquarters of IDIBAPS. This 

enormous potential for capturing resources and their conversion into results applicable to clinical practice constitute the 

best guarantee for securing the future of the Centre. 

As Director General of Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and President of the Steering Committee of this Institute, 

I will strive to consolidate research in our country, and the ascending trajectory of centres such as IDIBAPS. This demands 

reorganization of the research system in Catalonia and firm efforts to consolidate and extrapolate those initiatives 

which offer added value, such as the ICREA - a key tool for the recruitment and preservation of talent. We must strive to 

ensure that the research centres in Catalonia continue to serve as a model of excellence and the capture of competitive 

funding. It is essential to intensify the scientific and technological capacities of Catalonia and its unique facilities that allow 

it to compete at top international level. It is advisable to shorten the interval between the generation of new knowledge 

and its application - this likewises represents a key objective for IDIBAPS. 

I invite you to learn further about the achievements of our professionals, through the pages of this Report. 

Josep Maria Martorell i Rodon 

Director General of Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and President 

of the Steering Committee of IDIBAPS 

7

Presentation 

IDIBAPS Foreword 

Introduction 

We are very pleased to present the Scientific Memorandum of the Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer 

(IDIBAPS), one of the first Health Care Research Institutes accredited by the Carlos III Health Institute in 2009. The research 

activities of the centre are divided into five different areas, which group around 55 top-level research teams. This Memorandum 

offers a summary of the objectives and configuration of each of these research teams, together with an exhaustive presentation 

of the data relating to their scientific production. The objective of this document is to underscore the enormous potential of the 

investigators of the IDIBAPS and to reflect the numerous financing entities and collaborators that make it all possible. 

In addition to the information on the different areas, we have also included the research made by three transversal groups: 

Primary Care, Clinical Pharmacology and Nursing – these groups are very important to ensure top-quality research and enhance 

the valorisation and transfer of the knowledge gained to the patient. Moreover, a summary of the research made by the 

Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB) has also been included due to the tight collaboration between 

the two CERCA institutes, since CRESIB was created from the IDIBAPS’ area 6 of International Health. 

A good indicator of the good health of IDIBAPS is the number of publications made by its investigators. In 2010, IDIBAPS 

published a total of 846 original articles in international journals, with a global impact factor of 4.176,72. This means an average 

of 4,94 impact factor points per article – an important figure that adequately reflects the quality of our research which has 

significantly increased from 2009. 

All considered, we have nothing but admiration for the professionals who allow the Institute to advance, allowing us to view 

the future with optimism. In this Memorandum you will find interesting lines of research and front-line initiatives. We have 

achieved many things, but we can most certainly achieve many more. We have human potential, institutional and economical 

support, and the desire to continue moving forward. 

Management Report 

1. Funding of IDIBAPS. The funding of IDIBAPS during 

2010 totalled 18.339.000 Euros. Twenty three percent of this 

amount corresponds to the contribution of the Department of Innovation, 

Universities and Enterprise (Departament d’Innovació, 

Universitats i Empresa) of the Catalan government (Generalitat 

de Catalunya). The rest of the funding received by IDIBAPS during 

2010 corresponds to calls for research funding (71%), as 

well as contracts and cooperation agreements with private entities 

(5%), and financial income sources (1%). 

IDIBAPS FUNDING FINANTIAL YEAR 2010 

COMPETITIVE 

PROJECTS 

(CALLS FOR 

FUNDING) 

13.031.000 € 

PRIVATE FUNDING 

948.000 € 

FINANCIAL 

INCOME 

174.000 € 

DIUE 

CONTRIBUTION 

4.186.000 € 

2. Resource volume generated by the IDIBAPS researchers. 

A significant aspect is the resource volume generated by 

the IDIBAPS research groups. In this context, the resources 

executed by researchers of the IDIBAPS during the financial 

year corresponding to 2010 totalled 43.319.435 Euros. These 

resources have been managed by different institutions: 

IDIBAPS itself (12.622.559 Euro) and the Fundació Clínic per a 

la Recerca Biomèdica (30.696.876 Euro). 

It is important to mention that 63% of the resources executed by 

investigators of IDIBAPS during 2010 (more than 27 MEuro) correspond 

to competitive research projects and grant basis (calls 

for funding). The remaining 37% is distributed as follows: 19% 

contracts with private entities, 5% clinical trials managed by the 

Fundació Clínic, 10% donations, and 4% teaching contracts. 

RESOURCES GENERATED BY THE IDIBAPS 

INVESTIGATORS IN 2010 

COMPATITIVE 

PROJECTS 

27.098.759 € 63% 

PRIVATE 

FUNDING 

8.380.685 € 19% 

CLINICAL 

TRIALS 

2.011.198 € 5% 

DONATIONS 

4.205.317 € 10% 

TEACHING 

1.623.475 € 4% 

8

Enhancing the Impact of Research and Innovation at IDIBAPS 

Enhancing the Impact of Research and Innovation at IDIBAPS 

For many years IDIBAPS has been one of the leading institutions in Spain and a major player in Europe in terms of the 

scientific impact of its biomedical and clinical research. This is thanks to the scientific excellence of its partners that work 

together in order to ensure fruitful cooperation between basic biomedical research and patient driven clinical research. 

A few years ago, the governing bodies of IDIBAPS decided to move several steps ahead and start fostering and measuring 

additional outcomes closely related with the impact of the job done by IDIBAPS researchers beyond the scientific 

impact factor, specifically the impact on clinical guidelines and the ability of the institution to partner and to create new 

opportunities in the biotech and medtech sectors. 

It is remarkable to see that the scientific output of IDIBAPS has kept its growing trend in 2010, but even more remarkable 

is the fact that this biomedical and clinical research output has influenced as many as 23 clinical guidelines. 

In terms of patenting and transferring activity, it is worth mentioning that 3 additional patents have been extended internationally 

and that 6 technologies developed at IDIBAPS have already been transferred or were in an advanced stage to 

be transferred to industry partners in 2010. 

A new spin-off, Immunovative Developments, was created in February 2010 aimed at developing new biological therapies 

for the prevention and treatment of immunological disorders. Immunovative Developments, as well as the other two 

start – up companies created from IDIBAPS research, has been able to raise enough capital to move forward in spite of 

the difficult economical environment. 

The opening of the new Esther Koplowitz Center has been another remarkable achievement in 2010, that will provide additional 

competitive capacities to keep on pursuing our objective of striving to advance medical knowledge that is actually 

applied to patients, and that has the potential of making an impact on healthcare and on society overall. 

Idibaps and the Health University of Barcelona Campus (HUBc) 

In 2010 the University of Barcelona obtained the accolade ‘excellence of research in health’. This recognition was called Health 

Universitat de Barcelona Campus (HUBc). IDIBAPS is an active member of the HUBc project. It participated in the design of 

the new Campus and is one of the key players for the success of its research strategy. 

The HUBc project has its origins in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona, one of the constituent institutions 

of IDIBAPS. The faculty is the main hub for the various connections that make up the campus, from top hospitals and research 

centres committed to training and medical research, to business sectors closely linked to technological development and the 

progress of innovation. 

The main strength of HUBc is its high level of specialization in the field of health, which is the reason for the strategic alliance 

to promote excellence, the ability to attract talent, internationalization and the power to transform the local environment. 

The HUBc project aims to take the opportunity to accelerate the positive factors driving this circle shaped by teaching, research 

and healthcare. At the same time, because it is a complex project involving multiple participants, HUBc also has the 

opportunity to become a means of forging relationships with the production sector, of creating new wealth and transforming 

the local urban environment. 

For further information: 

http://hub.ub.edu 

9

Organisation chart 

Governing Board 2010 

Chairman 

Joan Roca i Acín, 

Director General of Research, Catalan Government 

(Generalitat de Catalunya) 

Vice-Chairman 

Cristina Suñol, 

Director of Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Board members 

Jordi Alberch, 

Research Vice-Dean of University of Barcelona 

Josep Maria Piqué, 

General Manager of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona 

Joan Bigorra, 

Innovation Director of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona 

Lluís Calvo i Calvo, 

Institutional Coordinator of the CSIC in Catalonia 

Francesc Cardellach, 

Dean of the University of Barcelona School of 

Medicine 

Miquel Gómez, 

Secretari d’Estratègia i Coordinació - Catalan 

Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) 

Ramon Gomis, 

Director of IDIBAPS 

Secretary 

Pastora Martínez, 

Managing Director of IDIBAPS 

Scientific council 

Jesús Ávila, 

Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre, Madrid 

José A. Berciano, 

Neurology Department, Hospital Universitario 

Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander 

Lisardo Bosca, 

Biochemical Institute, Universidad Complutense, 

Madrid 

Jesús Florez, 

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School 

of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander 

Roberto Gallego, 

Neuroscience Institute, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 

Alicante 

Francisco Javier García-Sancho, 

Biology and Molecular Genetics Institute, School of 

Medicine, Valladolid 

Roberto Groszmann, 

Hepatic Hemodinamic Lab. Yale University School of 

Medicine, West Haven 

José López Barneo, 

Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, 

School of Medicine, Seville 

Carlos López Otín, 

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 

University of Oviedo 

José M. Mato, 

Cooperative Bioscience Research Centre 

(CIC bioGUNE), Biscay 

Federico Mayor, 


Ginés Morata, 


Miguel Ángel del Pozo, 

Integrin Signalling Laboratory, National Cardiovascular 

Research Centre (CNIC), Madrid 

Ciril Rozman, 

Haematology Department, Hospital Clínic de 

Barcelona, University of Barcelona 

Margarita Salas, 


Jesús San Miguel, 

Haematology Department, Hospital Clínico de 

Salamanca 

Francisco Sánchez-Madrid, 

Immunology Department, Hospital La Princesa, 

Madrid 

Eugenio Santos, 

Cancer Research Centre, Salamanca 

10

Director’s Advisory Committee 

Management Committee 

Ramon Gomis, 

Director of IDIBAPS and of the Fundació Clínic for 

Biomedical Research 

Cristina Suñol, 

Director of Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute 

Francesc Cardellach, 

Dean of the UB School of Medicine 

Persons representing the Institutions 

Xavier Bosch, 

Hospital Clínic de Barcelona Doctors’ Representatives 

Guadalupe Mengod, 

Researcher at IIBB-CSIC 

Persons representing the Areas 

Area 1 

Jordi Vila Estapé, Coordinator 

Ana Angulo, Representative 

Area 2 

Ramón Farré, Coordinator 

Joan Albert Barberà, Representative 

Area 3 

Julià Panés, Coordinator 

Jorge Ferrer, Representative 

Area 4 

Anna Planas, Coordinator 

Pablo Villoslada, Representative 

Area 5 

Dolors Colomer, Coordinator 

Cristina Nadal, Representative 

Neus Agell, 

School of Medicine (UB) 

Guest members 

Joan Rodés, 

Director of IDIBAPS Health Research Institute - 

Hospital Clínic 

Antonio Sisó, 

CAPSE-GESCLINIC Research Coordinator 

Joan Bigorra, 

Hospital Clínic Innovation Director 

Jaume Bosch 

CIBERehd Scientific Director 

Josep M. Gatell, 

National Coordinator of the RETIC on AIDS 

Secretary 

Albert Barberà, 

Scientific coordinator of IDIBAPS 

Teaching Coordinator 

11

INNOVATION 

IDIBAPS Organisation chart 

The IDIBAPS organisation chart is shown below. With a view to ensuring smooth functioning, the research structure of 

IDIBAPS is supported by the Management and Administration Departments offered by the Fundació Clínic. 

Ethical Committee 

in Clinical Research 

Ethical Committee 

in Animal 

Experimentation 

Governing 

Board 

Director 

Scientific 

Council 

Director’s Consultant 

Council 

Research Areas 

Scientific Manager 

Managing Director 

Biological 

aggression 

and response 

mechanisnms 

Respiratory, 

Cardiovascular 

and Kidney 

Bioengineering and 

Biopathology 

Scientific Platforms 

Biobank 

Flow Cytometry 

and cell separation 

Functional 

Genomics 

Scientific Management 

Laboratories 

Management 

Knowledge 

Management 

Biosecurity 

Administration Units 

Research 

Management 

Office 

Liver, Digestive 

System and 

Metabolism 

Medical Imaging 

Innovation 

Management 

Office 

Clinical and 

Experimental 

Neurosciences 

Bioinformatics 

International 

Cooperation 

Office 

Oncology and 

Hematology 

Accounting 

& Finance 

Human 

Resources 

Purchases 

& General 

Services 

12

IDIBAPS Research and Innovation 

Scientific production 

Since its creation in 1996, IDIBAPS has shown constant growth of the principal quality indicators of a research centre: The 

number of scientific publications, theimpact factor, the economic resources, and the contracting of qualified personnel. 

This section aims to show the evolution of these indicators and other success factors over time, in a graphic and comprehensible 

manner. 

Scientific production 

The number of publications and their impact factor represent one of the most reliable indicators of the competitiveness 

of a research centre. Both parameters show a clear rising trend in IDIBAPS, and in the year 2010 there have been 846 

original publications in scientific journals with an important impact factor. 

An original paper is taken to be an article contributing new knowledge as a result of experiments performed by investigators 

of the Institute. In order to be counted as such, the article must have among its signing authors at least one member 

of the IDIBAPS pertaining to one of the research teams reflected in this Report, with specific mention of IDIBAPS or of 

the entities with which agreements have been signed. 

ORIGINALS 2002-2010 

The investigators of the IDIBAPS, originating from the different 

institutions that conform it, are distributed into 5 fields of 

activity. Each area is divided into different teams that combine 

in-house research conducted with their own lines of research or 

in cooperation with other teams. It should be commented that in 

this Report, and apart from the 5 areas of the IDIBAPS, there is a 

specific section dedicated to research in Primary Care, Nursing, 

Pharmacology and Clinical Trials, which also play a very important 

role in translational research. 

A good part of the Area of International Health comprises the 

activity carried out within the setting of the Research Centre in 

International Health in Barcelona (Centre de Recerca en Salut 

Internacional de Barcelona) (CRESIB), a centre which thanks to 

the support of the Catalan government (Generalitat de Catalunya) 

and other sources of funding has been consolidated due to its 

solid foundations established over time in IDIBAPS. This implies 

that the level of growth in number of publications has been attenuated 

due to the fact that this year it has not been possible to 

assume as proprietary of IDIBAPS the activities of the mentioned 

centre, which now takes its own course. Nevertheless, close 

scientific and administrative ties are maintained with the setting 

of the IDIBAPS. 

900 

850 

840 

846 

800 

750 

736 

700 

686 

650 

600 

577 

550 

531 

537 

500 

475 

450 

452 

400 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

200 

160 

ORIGINALS 2008-2010 

197 

210 

232 

212 

221 

2008 

2009 

2010 

156 

162 

168 

187 

163 

163 

161 

Below is a list of the reported areas, with a graphic representation 

of the scientific production of each of them - once again considering 

only the number of original papers. 

120 

135 

138 

144 

1. Biological aggression and response mechanisms 

2. Respiratory, cardiovascular and renal pathobiology and 

bioengineering 

3. Liver, digestive system and metabolism 

4. Clinical and experimental neuroscience 

5. Oncology and haematology 

80 

40 

0 

Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 

13

It should be mentioned that the sum of the articles per area is 

higher than the institutional total. This is because publications 

resulting from collaboration between teams in two different areas 

have been counted once for each area. The representation 

shows that production in all the areas has been of a very high 

level, and collaboration among areas has increased notoriously 

compared with the previous year. 

The impact factor (IF) of the journals in which publication is 

made constitutes a measure or marker of the influence of the 

research carried out in a given centre. This comprises statistical 

data measured based on the number of times the articles 

published in a certain journal are cited. Even though there are 

probably many factors that are just as important or even more 

important for analysing the work carried out by our researchers, 

the IF is an objective piece of information that serves as a guide. 

The progression of the total IF for IDIBAPS publications in recent 

years is shown in the following figure. In 2010, the 846 articles 

published by investigators of IDIBAPS have reached a total of 

4.176,72 IF points. This means that the mean IF points per article 

published by IDIBAPS during 2010 is 4,94 - a figure that implies 

an important increase with respect to the 4,62 points recorded in 

2009. Added to this, close to 60% of these original papers, have 

appeared in journals pertaining to the upper quartile of impact 

in their field. Thus, while the number of publications increases 

yearly, their quality does not decrease. 

4200 

4100 

4000 

3900 

3800 

3700 

3600 

3500 

3400 

3300 

3200 

3100 

3000 

2900 

2800 

2700 

2600 

2500 

2400 

2300 

2200 

2100 

2000 

1900 

1800 

IMPACT FACTOR 2002-2010 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

It should be commented that the number of editorials (72) and 

reviews (102) has also been outstanding. This reflects the role 

as opinion leaders of the members of IDIBAPS. On the other 

hand, the present Report documents 47 multicentre studies, in 

which the professionals of IDIBAPS have participated actively, 

but without being the main signing authors of the studies. These 

authors are specifically mentioned in some section or annex of 

the article, forming part of the work group. 

846 originals IF: 4.176,72 Mean: 4,94 

102 reviews 463,24 4,54 

72 editorials 441,07 6,13 

23 guies 128,17 5,57 

47 multicentrics studies 452,82 9,63 

It should be mentioned that for the first time, the 23 clinical 

guides published in 2010 in high impact factor journals have 

been contemplated as an independent category. This has reduced 

the number of original papers and reviews that would 

have been registered if the methodology of the preceding year 

had been followed. Nevertheless, this decision allows us to 

underscore the importance of these documents through which 

the members of the IDIBAPS leave their mark upon international 

clinical practice. 

14

Since the impact factor (IF) refers to the journals and not to the specifically published articles, a figure is presented below, 

indicating the number of citations received by the studies published by the investigators of the IDIBAPS (data calculated 

through the ISI Web of Knowledge): 

45000 

CITATIONS 

40000 

35000 

35978 

38267 

39236 

30000 

29032 

25000 

20000 

15000 

10000 

5000 

0 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

The total is 142.513 citations received by IDIBAPS studies in the last four years. This figure confirms the international projection 

of the work carried out by this Institute. 

Another important aspect to be taken into account is the type of research reflected in the original works published by our 

investigators. Of note is the fact that over 15% of the original publications listed in this Report have been carried out in 

collaboration between two or more IDIBAPS teams, while 26,5% of the publications have received the collaboration of 

two or more teams of the IDIBAPS. In the collaborative projects, the joining of efforts between basic and clinical research 

teams accounted for 30% of the studies carried out among different IDIBAPS teams. 

It also should be noted that 23% of the originals have been developed in collaboration with other Spanish institutions, 

corresponding to all the Autonomous Communities, and that 28% of the original publications have been made in collaboration 

with leading foreign institutions. 

15

Research resources 

The funding obtained from public institutions is one of the main driving forces of research. The table below shows the 

large number of projects granted in 2010 by different entities that make the excellence of the IDIBAPS possible: 

Public funding (competitive calls for funding) 

Funding Institutions 

Number of Projects 

Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) / National Plan I+D+i 22 

Carlos III Hralth Institute (MICINN) 50 

CDTI (MICINN 4 

Ministerio de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad 11 

Autonomus Communities – Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government) 1 

Agencia d’Avaluació de Tecnologies i Recerca Mèdica 3 

European Comission 16 

National Institute of Health (NIH) 1 

Private funding (competitive calls for funding) 



Asociación Española contra el Cancer 1 

Fundació Marató TV3 4 

FIPSE 3 

Fundació Caja Navarra 5 

Fundació Mutua Madrileña 2 

Fundació Olga Torres 1 

RECERCAIXA 2 

High Q Foundation 2 

In the area of Human Resources, it should be mentioned that many of the professionals of IDIBAPS come from the different 

institutions that make up the latter. The table below shows the origin of the 416 accredited investigators: 

Hospital Clínic and University of Barcelona 161 

Hospital Clínic de Barcelona 135 

CSIC 32 

University of Barcelona 35 

IDIBAPS 36 

Fundació Clínic 13 

ICREA 4 

TOTAL: 416 

16

In order to carry out their work, these investigators are supported by the contributions of investigating and research support 

personnel contracted through the Clinical Foundation for Biomedical Research (Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica) 

(472 contracts) and the IDIBAPS itself (290 contracts). 

Also of great importance is funding from public calls for research aids, allowing us to expand our number of top-line investigators: 

HUMAN RESOURCES 

1. Public funding (competitive 

calls for funding) 

2. IDIBAPS’ calls 


Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) 

Number Aids 

(Grants and contracts) 


a) Ramon y Cajal 6 

b) Juan de la Cierva 2 

c) Research Personnel Training (FPI) 7 

d) Supporting Technicians 2 

Carlos III Health Institute (MICINN) 

a) Miguel Servet 2 

b) Post-doctorate training (CD) 4 

c) Río Hortega (Post-medical residency) 5 

d) Research Personnel training (FI) 5 

e) Supporting Technicians 3 

Ministry of Education 

a) University Professor Training (FPU) 1 

Autonomous Communities – Generalitat de Catalunya 

(Catalan Goverment) 

a) Beatriu de Pinós scholarships 2 

b) Research Personnel Training (FI-DGR) 3 

a) Pre-doctorate 18 

b) Post-doctorate 4 

17

Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) 

The Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, ICREA) is a 

foundation that is supported by both the Catalan Government through the Catalan Ministry of Innovation, Universities and 

Enterprise (Departament d’Innovació, Universitats i Empresa, DIUiE), and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation 

(Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació, FCRI). 

Through its programme for contracting of senior investigators, ICREA reinforces the principal Catalan research institutions. 

The IDIBAPS has four ICREA investigators that contribute knowledge, experience and leadership for the teams to 

which they have been incorporated: 

Dr. Josep M. Llovet 

Translational research group in liver oncology 

The Translation research group in liver oncology was created in 2006 by Dr. Josep M. Llovet, ICREA 

Research Professor of the DIBAPS-Hospital Clínic and Professor of Medicine of the Mount Sinai 

School of Medicine. The group is composed of 8 people from the IDIBAPS and leads an international 

consortium on genomic research in liver cancer, the HCC Genomic Consortium, with about 

30 investigators. In 2009 it received the AACR-Landon International Innovator Award, and was acknowledged 

as a Singular Research Group by the Catalan Government. In 2010 the group received 

a European Project, FP-7-HEALTH (HEPTROMIC), involving the coordination of 6 academic centres 

and two companies, with the purpose of identifying new oncogenes and treatment targets. 

The fundamental contributions of the group during these years 

have been the following: 

• Definition of a molecular classification of hepatocellular carcinoma 

(Chang, Can Res, 2008; Hoshida, Cancer Res 2009). 

• Identification of key oncogenes in hepatocarcinogenesis, such 

as miRNA Let-7 (Viswanathan, Nature Genetics 2009), EGF 

and c-MET (Keng, Nature Biotech 2009), AEG-1 (Yoo, J Clin 

Invest, 2009) and the signalling pathway of IGFR1 (Tovar, J 

Hepatol 2010). 

Dr. Albert Pol 

Cell proliferation and signalling 

The aim of our project is to characterize - in health and in illness - the cellular processes that 

are regulated or altered due to lipid accumulation within the cells. All prokaryote and eukaryote 

cells maintain the evolutive competence of accumulating lipids in organelles known as 

intracellular lipid bodies. In healthy cells, a small population of lipid bodies is present at all 

times, though these organelles become abundant in response to different physiopathological 

conditions such as obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease (steatosis), liver cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, 

arteriosclerosis and even cancer. Globally, these disorders affect over half of the population 

in western countries. Recent advances in the cellular biology of lipid bodies have shown 

the latter to be multifunctional organelles that are metabolically very active and thus constitute 

key elements in the complex system of lipids and proteins in constant movement within the cells. 

Dr. Antonio Postigo 

Transcriptional regulation of genic expression laboratory 

The laboratory investigates mechanisms involved in the regulation of genic expression during cell differentiation and in 

cancer, using as models the ZEB transcription factors. The ZEB1 and ZEB2 proteins regulate key events during embryonic 

development, the truncal maintenance of normal stem cells and cancer cells, the differentiation of many tissues, tumour 

invasion, and metastasis. 

18

The main lines of research being developed are the following: 

• Study of the mechanisms by which ZEB1 and ZEB2 regulate E-cadherin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) 

during tumour invasion and carcinoma metastasis. 

• Role of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in genic regulation during normal haematopoietic differentiation and its malignant transformation. 

Dr. Maria V. Sánchez-Vives 

Cortical networks and EVENT Lab (Virtual Environments in Neuroscience and Technology) 

Dr. Sánchez-Vives joined the IDIBAPS in 2008 and is the head of the Systems Neurosciences 

Group of the IDIBABS, acknowledged by the AGAUR as a Consolidated Research Group. 

Understanding how the brain processes information and how brain activity is generated and 

modulated in neuronal networks is crucial for intervening in cerebral function when the latter 

has been altered. 

Neuron connectivity and the cellular and synaptic properties conform brain activity, and the latter at the same time has 

effects upon the network. The objective of the group is to determine how these processes take place, particularly as 

regards the generation of brain rhythms: how information is generated, synchronized or encoded. These activity patterns 

are altered under pathological conditions, and their restoration may contribute to recover function. The models of diseases 

in genetically modified mice allow us to carry out such studies. 

Another line of research of the group is referred to the integration of information in the brain cortex, resulting in body 

representation. We use virtual reality and brain-computer interfaces with a view to understanding and acting upon these 

processes. At present, and within the setting of a project integrated in the European Union, we are studying the usefulness 

of body representation in virtual reality for the treatment of pain and the restoration of motor function. 

Dr. Josep Dalmau 

Autoimmunity against synaptic antigens 

The Autoimmunity Against Synaptic Antigens team is led by Dr. Josep Dalmau i Obrador, 

ICREA Research Professor of the DIBAPS-Hospital Clínic and Professor of Neurology at the 

University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Dalmau is a clinical neuro-oncologist trained and 

working as Associate Professor of Neurology in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 

in New York. His research focuses on a group of diseases located at the intercrossing of autoimmunity, 

cancer and synaptic proteins. This includes the description of new syndromes, 

the associated immune mechanisms, isolation of the target antigens, and the development of 

diagnostic tests and treatment strategies. These studies have identified 17 autoantigens and 

have led to diagnostic tests - some of which are used all over the world. 

In the last 5 years we have discovered a new category of autoimmune processes resulting in alterations of memory, 

behaviour and cognition, and which may cause psychosis. These processes are associated with autoimmune responses 

characterized by antibodies targeted to synaptic proteins and receptors such as for example the glutamate receptors 

(NMDA, AMPA) or the GABA(B) receptors, or to synaptic proteins related with epilepsy (LGI1, Caspr2), among others. 

Once the antigens have been identified, our studies focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms whereby the antibodies 

alter the function of the synaptic proteins and receptors and produce the symptoms. The results of these studies 

have had an impact on many medical disciplines and on neuroscience, since they offer a link between immune processes 

and synaptic activity related to memory, behaviour, psychosis, epilepsy and neuron degeneration. 

19

Innovation and transference 

With the aim of improving people’s health, the IDIBAPS is firmly committed to innovation in the healthcare sector. Above and 

beyond evaluating research and protecting knowledge, IDIBAPS is concerned with promoting the use of new medical technologies 

that will improve patients’ state of health, their quality of life and the efficiency of healthcare processes. 

Taking innovation into consideration is not a complementary task in the routine work of researchers, but a philosophy that is 

present in all the activities they carry out. It is important for researchers, for patients and for the Institute. 

A list is provided below of the patents that have evolved during 2010. 

Patents applied for: 

Official code Inventors Assignees Title Tipology 

P201031183 

EP10382224 

B333810 

10382087.4 - 1216 

European Patent Office 

Farré Ventura, Ramon 

Navajas Navarro, Daniel 

Montserrat Canal, 

Josep Mº 

Sánchez Fueyo, Alberto 

LOZANO, Juan José 

Martínez Llordella, Marc 

Rimola Castella, Antoni 

Bohne, Felix 

Berruezo Sanchez, 

Antonio 

Silvia García, Etelvino 

Andreu Caballero, David 

Gabriel Alvarado; 

Francesc Artigas; Analía 

Bortolozzi; Andrés 

Montefeltro; Miquel Vila 

Universitat de Barcelona Hospital 

Clínic de Barcelona 

Ciber de enfermedades respiratorias 

Institut d’investigacions 

Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer 

Hospital Clínic de Barcelona 

Centro de Investigación Biomédica 

en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas 

y Digestivas (CIBEREHD) 

Universitat de Barcelona Hospital 

Clínic de Barcelona 

Fundacio Clinic per la recerca 

biomedica 

nLife Therapeutics, S.L. 

Dispositivo para regenerar 

una obstrucción de las vías 

respiratorias superiores en 

animales 

Method and Kit for the diagnosis 

and prognosis of tolerance in liver 

transplantation employing liver 

tissue 

Tissue characterization tool kit 

Compositions and methods 

for selective delivery of 

oligonucleotide molecules to 

specific neuron types 

Medical 

Device 

Diagnostics 

ICT 

Treatment 

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCTs): 

PCT/ES2010/070710 

PCT/ES2010/070531 

PCT/EP2010/001239 

PCT/IB2010/002351 

PCT/IB2010/002340 

61/325,515 - United 

States Patent 

PCT Inventors Assignees Title Tipology 

Morales Funciños, 

Miguel; Gasull 

Casanova, Xavier; 

Acebes Vindel, Ángel; 

Ferrús Gamero, Alberto; 

Pintor Just, Jesús 

Campo Güerri, Elías; 

Salamero García, Olga; 

Fernàndez Pascual, 

Verònica; Jares 

Gerboles, Pedro; López 

Guillermo, Armando 

Chamorro Sánchez, 

Àngel 

Moreno, Beatriz; 

Villoslada, Pablo; 

Navarro, Gloria; 

Messeguer, Joaquín; 

Messeguer, Àngel 






Gabriel Alvarado, 

Francesc Artigas, Analía 

Bortolozzi, Andrés 

Montefeltro, Miquel Vila 

Universitat de Barcelona 

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones 

Científicas (CSIC) 

Universidad Complutense de Madrid 

Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques 

August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) 

Fundación Rioja Salud 


Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques 

August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) 

Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca 

Biomèdica 



Institut d’Investigacions 


(IDIBAPS) 





(IDIBAPS) 



nLife Therapeutics, S.L 

Péptidos para el tratamiento 

de la hipertensión ocular y/o el 

glaucoma 

Método y kit para el pronóstico 

de linfoma de células del manto 

Pharmaceutical composition for 

neuroprotective treatment in 

patients with ictus 

Peptoid agonists of nerve 

growth factor and their use as 

medicaments 

3 -Oxopiperazinium derivatives as 

agonists of nerve growth factor 

and their use as medicaments 

Compositions and methods 

for selective delivery of 

oligonucleotide molecules to 

specific neuron types 

Treatment 

Diagnostics 

Treatment 

Treatment 

Treatment 

Treatment 

20

Patents in course of transference: 

Official code Inventors Assignees Title Licensed to 

WO2009141470 

WO2009153336 

WO2008119851 

WO2010066827 

WO2011024079 

WO2011024078 

WO2009138446 

Carmen Peralta 

(IDIBAPS); Joan Roselló 

(CSIC); Ismail Ben 

(CSIC); Ramón Bartrons 

(UB) 

López Soto, Francisco; 

Vera Fernández, Jorge 

López Soto, Francisco; 

Sarrias, Maria Rosa 

Gratacós Solsona, 

Eduard; Amat Roldán, 

Iván 











Fondevila, Constantino; 

Ruíz, Ángel; García- 

Valdecasas, Juan Carlos 




(IDIBAPS) 





Biomèdica 




Biomèdica 





(IDIBAPS) 





(IDIBAPS) 




Biomèdica 

Aqueous solution for the 

preservation of tissues and 

organs 

CD5 pharmaceutical 

compositions for the 

treatment of infectious and 

inflammatory processes of 

fungal origin 

Protein product for the 

treatment of infectious 

diseases and related 

inflammatory processes 

Equipment for infrared vision 

of anatomical srtuctures and 

signal processing methods 

thereof 

Peptoid agonists of nerve 

growth factor and their use as 

medicaments 

3 -Oxopiperazinium derivatives 

as agonists of nerve growth 

factor and their use as 

medicaments 

Devide for the preservation 

of a hepatic graft in 

normothermia 

Janus 

Developments 

Immunovative 

Developments 

Immunovative 

Developments 

Transmural 

Biotech 

Bionure Farma 

Bionure Farma 

Grífols 

21

Spin-off companies 

The knowledge dealt with from the IDIBAPS usually completes its cycle when transferred to the industry. In other cases the 

link with the centre is maintained through the creation of spin-off companies. 

A new company has been created in the course of 2010: 

ImmunNovative Developments S.L. (IND). This spin-off company was created in February 2010, based on the transference 

of two patents pertaining to the University of Barcelona, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and the Fundació Clínic per 

a la Recerca Biomèdica. The activity of IND focuses on the development of new biological therapies for the prevention and 

treatment of inflammatory disorders with an immune basis. 

For further information: www.immunnovative.com 

Other spin-off companies in the setting of the IDIBAPS are: 

Bionure (2009). Spin-off of Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS and CSIC for the development of new neuroprotective drugs for the 

treatment of multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. 

For further information: www.bionure.com 

Transmural Biotech (2009). Spin-off of the Hospital Clínic and the UB, for the development and commercialization of different 

diagnostic devices in the gynecology field. 

For further information: www.transmuralbiotech.com 

Health Services (2009). Linkcare HS administers a Patient-Centric, Case Management oriented Open Health Care model 

that has been designed as a joined effort of several leading medical care research centers in Europe leaded by Hospital 

Clínic. Linkcare’s Open Source platform links clinical data from different systems such as Primary Care Information (PCIS), 

Hospital Information (HIS), Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Enterprise Resource Programming (ERP) Systems with a 

library of customized patient profile protocols. Linkcare application main areas are: Chronicity, Fragility, End of life care, Reproduction 

and perinatology, Wellness and Clinical Research. 

For further information: info@linkcare.es 

Neurotec Pharma (2006). A R&D company which centres its activity on the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic 

tools for acute and chronic central nervous system diseases that occur with inflammation and/or neurodegeneration such 

as Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson (PD) and Alzheimer disease (AD), among 

others. 

For further information: www.neurotec-pharma.com 

22


Clinical trials approved by the CREC 

The IDIBAPS constitutes the ideal setting for completing a number of the crucial steps in the development of new medicinal 

products. Basic biomedical research and applied clinical research, together with quality specialized healthcare practice, are aspects 

of IDIBAPS that may be very useful for the development of drugs. 

The table below summarizes the number of clinical trials approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CREC) in the past 

years. Of note is the large number of clinical trials designed and promoted by the investigators of the IDIBAPS setting themselves: 

Clinical trials 

presented 

to the CREC 

Clinical trials 

promoted by 

investigators of the 

IDIBAPS 

Clinical trial type 

Approved 

in 2010 

Single centre trial 10 

2000 244 22 

2001 254 21 

2002 286 17 

2003 293 17 

2004 266 13 

2005 270 13 

Multicentre (reference ethics 

committee) 

Medical devices 9 

Multicentre (concerned ethics 

committee) 

Observational/non-comparative 

phase IV study 

32 

154 

Other 3 

11 

Total 219 

2006 214 5 

2007 288 17 

2008 248 7 

2009 230 14 

2010 219 ? 

350 

CLINICAL TRIALS PRESENTED TO THE CREC 

300 

286 

293 

288 

250 

200 

244 

254 

266 270 

214 

248 

230 

219 

150 

100 

50 

0 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

23

Impact upon clinical practice 

The fundamental objective of IDIBAPS is to combine clinical research of proven quality with high-level basic research. It can 

thereby achieve a more effective transfer of scientific advances in the prevention and treatment of the most common health 

problems. 

As a measure of such transference, the list below reflects the participation of investigators of the IDIBAPS in clinical guides 

published in international journals subject to peer review. In addition to contributing new data for improving patient treatment, 

the influence of the investigators of the IDIBAPS places them at the head of expert committees that establish the new tendencies 

to be followed in medical practice. The names of the investigators of the IDIBAPS are reflected in capital letters under 

the section Authors: 

Title 

Associated Journal 

Short Text 

IF 

Authors Text 

Diagnosis and treatment of 

melanoma: European consensusbased 

interdisciplinary guideline 

EUR J CANCER 

2010; 46:270-283 

4,121 

Garbe C, Peris K, Hauschild A, Saiag P, 

Middleton M, Spatz A, Grob JJ, MALVEHY J, 

Newton-Bishop J, Stratigos A, Pehamberger H, 

Eggermont A 

Venice Chart International Consensus 

Document on Ventricular Tachycardia/ 

Ventricular Fibrillation Ablation 

J CARDIOVASC 

ELECTR 2010; 

21:339-379 

3,703 

Natale A, Raviele A, Al-Ahmad A, Alfieri O, 

Aliot E, Almendral J, Breithardt G, BRUGADA 

J, Calkins H, Callans D, Cappato R, Camm JA, 

DellaBella P, Guiraudon GM, Haissaguerre M, 

Hindricks G, Ho SY, Kuck KH, Marchlinski F, 

Packer DL, Prystowsky EN, Reddy VY, Ruskin 

JN, Scanavacca M, Shivkumar K, Soejima K, 

Stevenson WJ, Themistoclakis S, Verma A, 

Wilber D 

Guidelines for the use of 

bisphosphonates in multiple 

myeloma: Recommendations of the 

expert committee of the Spanish 

Myeloma Group from the PETHEMA 

group 

MED CLIN- 

BARCELONA 2010; 

134:268-278 

1,231 

Garcia-Sanz R, Alegre A, Capote FJ, Hernandez 

JM, Rosinol L, DeLaRubia J, Sureda A, DeArriba 

F, Bargay J, Mediavilla JD, Garcia-Larana J, 

Lahuerta JJ, Mateos MV, Prosper F, Miguel JS, 

BLADE J 

The second European evidencebased 

Consensus on the diagnosis 

and management of Crohn’s disease: 

Definitions and diagnosis 

J CROHNS COLITIS 

2010; 4:7-27 

1,729 

VanAssche G, Dignass A, PANES J, Beaugerie L, 

Karagiannis J, Allez M, Ochsenkuhn T, Orchard 

T, Rogler G, Louis E, Kupcinskas L, Mantzaris G, 

Travis S, Stange E 

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) A 

Global Perspective 

J CLIN 

GASTROENTEROL 

2010; 44:239-245 

2,207 

Ferenci P, Fried M, Labrecque D, BRUIX J, 

Sherman M, Omata M, Heathcote J, Piratsivuth 

T, Kew M, Otegbayo JA, Zheng SS, Sarin S, 

Hamid SS, Modawi SB, Fleig W, Fedail S, 

Thomson A, Khan A, Malfertheiner P, Lau G, 

Carillo FJ, Krabshuis J, LeMair A 

Recommendations for diagnosis, 

staging and treatment of pancreatic 

cancer (Part I). Grupo Español de 

Consenso en Cáncer de Páncreas 

MED CLIN- 


134:643-655 

1,231 

NAVARRO S, Vaquero E, MAUREL J, BOMBI 

JA, DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz LF, GINES A, Girela 

E, Rodriguez R, Sabater L 

Recommendations for diagnosis, 


cancer (Part II) 

MED CLIN- 


134:692-702 

1,231 

NAVARRO S, Vaquero E, MAUREL J, BOMBI 

JA, DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz LF, GINES A, Girela 

E, Rodriguez R, Sabater L 

24

Title 


Short Text 

IF 

Authors Text 

Consensus guidelines for the optimal 

management of adverse events in 

newly diagnosed, transplant-ineligible 

patients receiving melphalan and 

prednisone in combination with 

thalidomide (MPT) for the treatment 

of multiple myeloma 

ANN HEMATOL 2010; 

89:803-811 

2,919 

Palumbo A, Davies F, Kropff M, BLADE J, 

Delforge M, DaCosta FL, Sanz RG, Schey S, 

Facon T, Morgan G, Moreau P 

Familial colorectal cancer risk: ESMO 

Clinical Practice Guidelines 

ANN ONCOL 2010; 

21:v78-v81 

5,647 Balmana J, CASTELLS A, Cervantes A 

Antiretroviral Treatment of Adult HIV 

Infection 2010 Recommendations of 

the International AIDS Society-USA 

Panel 

JAMA-J AM MED 

ASSOC 2010; 

304:321-333 

28,899 

Thompson MA, Aberg JA, Cahn P, Montaner 

JSG, Rizzardini G, Telenti A, GATELL JM, 

Gunthard HF, Hammer SM, Hirsch MS, Jacobsen 

DM, Reiss P, Richman DD, Volberding PA, Yeni P, 

Schooley RT 

European League Against 

Rheumatism recommendations for 

monitoring patients with systemic 

lupus erythematosus in clinical 

practice and in observational studies 

ANN RHEUM DIS 

2010; 69:1269-1274 

8,111 

Mosca M, Tani C, Aringer M, Bombardieri S, 

Boumpas D, Brey R, CERVERA R, Doria A, Jayne 

D, Khamashta MA, Kuhn A, Gordon C, Petri M, 

Rekvig OP, Schneider M, Sherer Y, Shoenfeld Y, 

Smolen JS, Talarico R, Tincani A, VanVollenhoven 

RF, Ward MM, Werth VP, Carmona L 

Development and implementation of 

guidelines in allergic rhinitis - an ARIA- 

GA2LEN paper 

ALLERGY 2010; 

65:1212-1221 

6,38 

Bousquet J, Schunemann HJ, Zuberbier T, 

Bachert C, Baena-Cagnani CE, Bousquet PJ, 

Brozek J, Canonica GW, Casale TB, Demoly P, 

GerthVanWijk R, Ohta K, Bateman ED, Calderon 

M, Cruz AA, Dolen WK, Haughney J, Lockey 

RF, Lotvall J, O’byrne P, Spranger O, Togias A, 

Bonini S, Boulet LP, Camargos P, Carlsen KH, 

Chavannes NH, Delgado L, Durham SR, Fokkens 

WJ, Fonseca J, Haahtela T, Kalayci O, Kowalski 

ML, Larenas-Linnemann D, Li J, Mohammad Y, 

MULLOL J, et al. 

25

Title 


Short Text 

IF 

Authors Text 

EULAR points to consider in the 

development of classification and 

diagnostic criteria in systemic 

vasculitis 

ANN RHEUM DIS 

2010; 69:1744-1750 

8,111 

Basu N, Watts R, Bajema I, Baslund B, Bley 

T, Boers M, Brogan P, Calabrese L, CID MC, 

Cohen-Tervaert JW, Flores-Suarez LF, Fujimoto 

S, DeGroot K, Guillevin L, Hatemi G, Hauser T, 

Jayne D, Jennette C, Kallenberg CGM, Kobayashi 

S, Little MA, Mahr A, Mclaren J, Merkel PA, Ozen 

S, Puechal X, Rasmussen N, Salama A, Salvarani 

C, Savage C, Scott DGI, Segelmark M, Specks U, 

Sunderkoetter C, Suzuki K, Tesar V, Wiik A, Yazici 

H, Luqmani R 

Guidelines on acute pulmonary 

embolism from the European Society 

of Cardiology: reflections from 

the perspective of the emergency 

physician 

EMERGENCIAS 2010; 

22:61-67 

3,08 JIMENEZ S 

Community Acquired Pneumonia. 

New Guidelines of the Spanish 

Society of Chest Diseases and 

Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) 

ARCH 

BRONCONEUMOL 

2010; 46:543-558 

2,166 

Menendez R, TORRES A, Aspa J, Capelastegui 

A, Prat C, DeCastro FR 

EULAR recommendations for the 

management of systemic lupus 

erythematosus with neuropsychiatric 

manifestations: report of a task force 

of the EULAR standing committee for 

clinical affairs 

ANN RHEUM DIS 

2010; 69:2074-2082 

8,111 

Bertsias GK, Ioannidis JPA, Aringer M, Bollen E, 

Bombardieri S, Bruce IN, CERVERA R, Dalakas 

M, Doria A, Hanly JG, Huizinga TWJ, Isenberg D, 

Kallenberg C, Piette JC, Schneider M, Scolding 

N, Smolen J, Stara A, Tassiulas I, Tektonidou M, 

Tincani A, VanBuchem MA, VanVollenhoven R, 

Ward M, Gordon C, Boumpas DT 

Colorectal Cancer OncoGuia: surgical 

pathology report guidelines 

CLIN TRANSL 

ONCOL 2010; 12:211- 

213 

1,146 Sanjuan X, SALAS A, Lloreta J, Walsh PM 

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on 

Asthma (ARIA) guidelines: 2010 

Revision 

J ALLERGY CLIN 

IMMUN 2010; 

126:466-476 

9,165 

Brozek JL, Bousquet J, Baena-Cagnani CE, Bonini 

S, Canonica GW, Casale TB, VanWijk RG, Ohta K, 

Zuberbier T, Schunemann HJ (MULLOL J) 

26

Title 


Short Text 

IF 

Authors Text 

Guidelines on myocardial 

revascularization The Task Force on 

Myocardial Revascularization of the 

European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 

and the European Association for 

Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) 

EUR HEART J 2010; 

313:2501-2555 

9,8 Wijns W, Kolh P 

Guidelines on myocardial 

revascularization The Task Force on 

Myocardial Revascularization of the 


and the European Association for 

Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) 

EUR J CARDIO- 

THORAC 2010; 

38:S1-S52 

2,397 

Kolh P, Wijns W, Danchin N, DiMario C, Falk V, 

Folliguet T, Garg S, Huber K, James S, Knuuti J, 

Lopez-Sendon J, Marco J, Menicanti L, Ostojic 

M, Piepoli MF, Pirlet C, POMAR JL, Reifart N, 

Ribichini FL, Schalij MJ, Sergeant P, Serruys PW, 

Silber S, Uva MS, Taggart D 

EASL clinical practice guidelines 

on the management of ascites, 

spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and 

hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis 

European Association for the Study of 

the Liver 

J HEPATOL 2010; 

53:397-417 

7,818 

GINES P, Angeli P, Lenz K, Møller S, Moore K, 

Moreau R, Merkel C, Ring-Larsen H, Bernardi M, 

Garcia-Tsao G, Hayers P 

Colorectal Cancer OncoGuia 

CLIN TRANSL 

ONCOL 2010; 12:188- 

210 

1,146 

ManchonWalsh P, Borras JM, Ferro T, Espinas JA 

(CASTELLS A) 

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: 

Management of chronic hepatitis B 

J HEPATOL 2010; 

50:227-242 

7,818 FORNS X, et. Al. 

27

IDIBAPS IN FIGURES 

Surgical innovations 

Another way of exerting an impact upon patient care through research is surgical innovation. It is also possible to improve the 

processes that take place in the operating room through experimental surgical facilities and the daily experience of many of 

the investigators of the IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic, as well as collaboration with pioneering companies. 

Some of the advances made during 2010 by different IDIBAPS teams are: 

Area 3 

Gynaecological endocrinology and human reproduction 

The use of minimally invasive surgical techniques is 

one of the options for improving the medical care of 

our patients. This makes it essential to investigate 

surgical innovations with a view to expanding procedures 

of this kind. Minimally invasive surgery is a 

surgical innovation representing a clear quality marker 

for the benefit of patients. 

Our group was the first to introduce such minimally 

invasive techniques in both benign and malignant 

gynaecological diseases. In this context, we have extensive 

experience in the conservative management 

of fertility in cervical cancer patients (Pahisa J, Int J 

Gynecol Cancer 2010); have been the first to describe 

the learning curve associated with the conservative 

treatment of severe deep endometriosis via laparoscopy 

(Carmona F, Fertil Steril 2009); and have gained 

extensive experience in the detection of the sentinel 

node in laparoscopically treated gynaecological cancers - with the description of a specific technique for detecting the mentioned 

node in endometrial cancer (Torné A, Rev Esp Med Nuc 2009). 

Our recent research activity has focused on demonstrating that the inflammatory response and haemodynamic effects of a 

type of ultra-minimally invasive surgery known as LESS (Laparoendoscopic Single-site Surgery) in experimental animals (Yorkshire 

pigs) are similar to those found in conventional laparoscopic surgery. On the other hand, we have introduced a new technique 

for improving the intraoperative search for sentinel nodes in difficult locations, based on the use of a portable gamma 

camera (Vidal S, J Nucl Med 2010). 

Area 3 

Gastrointestinal and pancreatic oncology 

Innovation and minimum invasiveness in surgery 

The experimental research conducted by IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic, as 

well as close participation of the industrial sector, have allowed the 

development of surgical innovation, paving a new way towards the 

obtainment of improved results in patient care. The development of a 

technological application through new experimental procedures aims 

to offer a practical demonstration of the feasibility and safety of a new 

technical resource for transfer to the operating room and to the patient 

- avoiding its inherent risks and taking advantage of its benefits, with 

the objective of minimizing tissue damage, reducing pain, and shortening 

the time to healing and recovery. 

28

Through its investigators, the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of the IDIBAPS - Hospital Clínic de Barcelona offers some 

examples of innovation in surgery. The Department, and particularly its Director, Dr. Antonio Lacy, represent a pioneering effort 

in Spain and throughout the world in technological advances for the development of surgical procedures in the treatment of benign 

and malignant gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in the management of morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome. 

The Department is a leader in innovation in minimally invasive techniques. It has been the first to develop laparoscopic surgery 

technology in digestive cancer treatment, with excellent oncological results. It has also been the first to publish a randomized 

study demonstrating the safety and reliability of this new approach compared with conventional open surgery. The Department 

is also regularly called upon for reviews in important topics in laparoscopy. 

Revision surgery after sleeve gastrectomy. Lacy AM, Ibarzabal A, Pando E, Adelsdorfer C, Delitala A, Corcelles R, Delgado S, 

Vidal J. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech, 2010; 20 (6): 428-33. 

Some examples of the main contributions to surgical innovation are the following: 

NOTES surgery 

NOTES (Natural Orifices Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) is 

the combination of two imaging guided surgical approaches 

- flexible endoscopy and laparoscopy - in which access to the 

abdominal cavity is gained through the human body’s orifices: 

the mouth (transgastric route), vagina, urethra and anus (transrectal 

route) - lessening surgical aggression by reducing or eliminating 

abdominal wall incisions; minimizing pain and disability; 

and improving the aesthetic component, with avoidance of 

the complications associated with conventional surgery. This 

technique started in 2008 with the extraction of a gallbladder, 

followed by the caecal appendix via the transgastric approach. 

Following technological improvements and the adoption of experimental 

protocols to evaluate safety and feasibility of use, 

the complexity of the procedures has increased with very 

successful results in the extraction of gastric and colorectal 

tumours via the vaginal, transgastric and transanal routes. 

Rectal resection through NOTES, using TEM (Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery), in the management of rectal cancer; the 

first case in the world of transrectal low anterior resection was performed by this group. Prior experience had been limited to 

experiments in animals. NOTES transanal rectal cancer resection using transanal endoscopic microsurgery and laparoscopic 

assistance. Sylla P, Rattner DW, Delgado S, Lacy AM. Surg Endosc, 2010 May; 24 (5): 1205-1210. 

MA-NOS (Mini-laparoscopic Assisted Natural Orifices Surgery) is a hybrid procedure combining mini-laparoscopic surgery 

(instruments measuring 2-3 mm in diameter) with transvaginal natural orifices surgery. This technique has been used for the 

extraction of colorectal tumours in over 30 patients, as well as for the resection of a gastric tumour (GIST) measuring 9 cm 

in diameter. Hybrid vaginal MA-NOS sleeve gastrectomy: technical note on the procedure in a patient. Lacy AM, Delgado S, 

Rojas OA, Ibarzabal A, Fernandez-Esparrach G, Taura P. Surg Endosc, 2009 May; 23 (5): 1130-1137. MA-NOS radical sigmoidectomy: 

report of a transvaginal resection in the human. Lacy AM, Delgado S, Rojas OA, Almenara R, Blasi A, Llach J. Surg 

Endosc, 2008; 22: 1717-1723. 

29

Study of experimental surgery in large animals (Yorkshire pigs). The results of the research done in these animals has shown 

that the effects of NOTES upon the microcirculation of the intraabdominal organs is not altered compared with the situation 

found in conventional laparoscopic surgery. Effects of pneumoperitoneum on intra-abdominal organs perfusion during natural 

orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: the role of NAC and hypertonic saline pre-treatment. Euro NOTES 2010. Research 

Fund Project Grant Winners. 

Single-port surgery 

Surgery with the same objectives as NOTES as regards to the minimization of surgical invasion, involving a single peri-umbilical 

port using the same instrumentation as in conventional laparoscopic surgery. We have used this technique to perform 

sleeve gastrectomy in 30 morbidly obese individuals, with long-term results that warrant its use. 

Area 5 

Diagnosis and therapy in oncology 

This team has promoted innovations such as the three-dimensional reconstruction of SPECT/CT images with volume rendering 

to assess the sentinel node in surgical patients. 

30

IDIBAPS ReSeARch AnD InnovAtIon 

jouRnAl InDex 

This list reflects all the journals with an impact factor over 5 in which the investigators of the IDIBAPS have published original 

articles during 2010. The publications with an impact factor over 10 points are highlighted. 

Abreviated Journal Name 

Original Articles Published 

in 2010 

Impact Factor (IF) 

Quartiles 

AIDS 7 5,632 1 

ALLERGY 4 5,334 1 

AM J CLIN NUTR 1 6,562 1 

AM J GASTROENTEROL 5 5,608 1 

AM J PATHOL 4 5,917 1 

AM J RESP CRIT CARE 8 9,091 1 

AM J TRANSPLANT 6 6,843 1 

ANN INTERN MED 2 14,78 1 

ANN NEUROL 1 8,051 1 

ANN ONCOL 4 5,179 1 

ANN RHEUM DIS 5 5,767 1 

ANNU REV MED 1 13,237 1 

ARCH INTERN MED 1 7,92 1 

ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO 2 5,204 1 

ARTERIOSCL THROM VAS 1 6,883 1 

ARTHRITIS RHEUM-US 3 7,332 1 

BIOL PSYCHIAT 1 7,154 1 

BIOMATERIALS 1 5,196 1 

BLOOD 12 10,37 1 

BRAIN 2 7,617 1 

BRAIN PATHOL 1 5,274 1 

BRIT MED J 1 9,245 1 

CANCER CELL 2 24,077 1 

CANCER RES 3 7,656 1 

31



in 2010 


Quartiles 

CANCER-AM CANCER SOC 1 5,418 1 

CARDIOVASC RES 2 5,826 1 

CELL 1 29,194 1 

CELL DEATH DIFFER 1 7,463 1 

CEREB CORTEX 1 6,368 1 

CIRCULATION 4 10,94 1 

CLIN CANCER RES 5 6,177 1 

CLIN CHEM 1 5,454 1 

CLIN INFECT DIS 2 6,186 1 

CNS NEUROL DISORD-DR 1 14,75 1 

CURR PHARM DESIGN 2 5,27 1 

DIABETES CARE 2 7,912 1 

DIABETOLOGIA 2 5,247 1 

EMBO REP 1 8,175 1 

ENDOCRINOLOGY 1 5,236 1 

EUR HEART J 4 7,286 1 

EUR RESPIR J 12 5,076 1 

GASTROENTEROLOGY 12 12,457 1 

GENOME RES 1 10.256 1 

GUT 8 9,002 1 

HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J 8 5,032 1 

HEPATOLOGY 19 10,446 1 

HUM MUTAT 1 6,473 1 

HYPERTENSION 1 6,007 1 

INT J NEUROPSYCHOPH 3 5,184 1 

J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUN 1 8,829 1 

32



in 2010 


Quartiles 

J AM CHEM SOC 1 7,696 1 

J AM SOC NEPHROL 1 7,371 1 

J BIOL CHEM 4 5,808 1 

J CELL SCI 1 6,427 1 

J CLIN ENDOCR METAB 1 5,799 1 

J CLIN ONCOL 5 13,598 1 

J CLIN PSYCHIAT 11 5,533 1 

J HEPATOL 16 6,073 1 

J IMMUNOL 2 6,293 1 

J MED CHEM 1 5,115 1 

J NATL CANCER I 1 15,271 1 

J NEUROSCI 3 7,453 1 

J PATHOL 1 5,759 1 

J PROTEOME RES 2 5,151 1 

J VIROL 2 5,341 1 

JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC 2 23,175 1 

LANCET 2 25,8 1 

LANCET INFECT DIS 1 11,808 1 

LANCET NEUROL 5 9,479 1 

LANCET ONCOL 3 10,119 1 

LEUKEMIA 1 6,146 1 

MEDICINE 3 5,167 1 

NANOMED-NANOTECHNOL 1 5,44 1 

NAT GENET 6 24,176 1 

NAT MED 2 28,588 1 

NATURE 1 26,681 1 

33



in 2010 


Quartiles 

NEUROBIOL AGING 1 5,599 1 

NEUROIMAGE 2 5,559 1 

NEUROLOGY 2 5,69 1 

NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOL 2 5,889 1 

NEW ENGL J MED 5 51,296 1 

ONCOGENE 3 6,582 1 

ONCOLOGIST 1 5,206 1 

P NATL ACAD SCI USA 1 9,643 1 

PEDIATRICS 2 5,012 1 

PHARMACOL THERAPEUT 1 8,657 1 

PLOS GENET 1 7,671 1 

PROTEOMICS 2 5,735 1 

SEMIN LIVER DIS 4 5,302 1 

THORAX 2 6,064 1 

TRAFFIC 1 6,612 1 

34

Platforms 

Scientific Platforms and Services 

High-level biomedical research requires the use of high-cost techniques and equipment. In addition, the high competitiveness 

of many of these techniques requires the dedication of specialized personnel. In many cases a given technique is applied by 

different research teams without any of them requiring an exclusive and permanent use of the methodology. 

IDIBAPS promotes the constitution of common service platforms to support research for use by all researchers, with the purpose 

of improving the performance and profitability of investments and efficiency in the use of available resources. 

The IDIBAPS has 5 scientific platforms of its own: 

• Biobank of Hospital Clínic – IDIBAPS (Page 36) 

• Bioinformatics (Page 39) 

• Cytometry and cell sorting (Page 40) 

• Functional genomics (Page 42) 

• Medical imaging (Page 43) 

In turn, other services are shared with the entities with which agreements have been established: 

• Proteomics Unit (IDIBAPS-UB-PCB platform) (Page 44) 

• Animal housing facilities (UB) (Page 45) 

• DNA unit (Hospital Clínic) (Page 46) 

• Confocal microscopy unit (UB) (Page 47) 

• Electronic microscopy unit (UB) (Page 48) 

35

INTRODUCTION 

IDIBAPS Platforms 

Biobank of Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS 

www.clinicbiobanc.org 

The Biobank is a centralised institutional support platform for coordinating the collection, processing, storage and transfer of 

biological samples to promote biomedical research of the highest standard. 

When it was first set up, the Biobank had a dual mission: 

• To provide the scientific community with standard, well characterised biological samples with high added value, in order to 

promote, foster and develop biomedical research in accordance with current legislation. 

• To standardise all the Institute’s research sample collections (in accordance with article 67 of Law 14/2007, relating to Biomedical 

Research Act). 

The bank’s catalogue of samples is divided into three broad categories which are available for scientific purposes for the consolidation 

of personalized medicine: 

1) Neurological Tissue Biobank 

A nervous tissue repository (brain and spinal cord) created from donations from cadavers with or without neurological conditions, 

helping to facilitate research into neurological illnesses in order to improve diagnoses and enhance patient assistance. 

2) Tumour Biobank and Anatomical Pathologies Collections 

A Repository of tumorous tissue and samples from cancer patients. This biobank also manages an extensive collection of 

other disease-related tissue provided by the Department of Anatomical Pathology at the Hospital Clínic from excess samples 

used in their diagnoses. This material is essential to providing current large-scale tissue research projects with the samples 

they require. 

3) Blood and Fluid Biobank 

This repository contains samples of metabolic, inflammatory bowel, hepatic, digestive and maternal and foetal diseases, 

among others. It houses a large range of samples of scientific interest, primarily DNA, serum and plasma, which are provided 

by doctors’ surgeries and laboratories where blood and fluid are taken for lab tests and blood and fluid donation. 

Services 

The Biobank of Hospital Clínic – IDIBAPS offers a wide range of samples and services. The scientific community may make 

full use of the bank’s equipment and professional staff to achieve their most ambitious goals. The work of the biobank 

goes beyond simply providing samples; they offer support to researchers during the various stages of projects requiring the 

use of biological samples. 

Sample providing 

• Nerve tissue from cadaveric donors affected by neurologic diseases 

• Frozen biological samples and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks representing the most common tumours 

• DNA, serum, plasma and PBMCs from different diseases as well as from control donors 

Technical and scientific advice 

• Creation and management of new collections 

• Methodology (technical guidance) 

• Experimental design with human and animal tissue samples 

• Design and interpretation of immunohistochemical studies 

• Quality management programmes 

• Harmonization of quality procedures for the handling of DNA samples 

• Technical assessment for the manipulation of the Biobank equipment (microdissector and morphometre) 

36

Private collections management 

• Collection management of multicentre studies 

• Storage of pre-existing collections 

Histological techniques 

• Processing of frozen and paraffin embedded tissues (macroscopy, cryopreservation, paraffin blocks) 

• Lasser microdissection 

• Tissue microarrays (TMA) 

• Histological staining 

• Definitive neuropathological diagnosis of neurological diseases 

Cellular techniques 

• Purification and cryopreservation of mononuclear cells 

• Immortalization of B lymphocytes 

• Explant obtaining 

Molecular techniques 

• DNA extraction from peripheral blood 

• DNA/RNA/protein extraction from tissue (frozen and paraffin embedded) 

• WGA 

• Serum and plasma isolation 

Equipment 

• -20ºC, -80ºC and -150ºC freezers with safety systems 

• Vapour phase liquid Nitrogen tanks 

Neurological tissue bank 

• Cubicles for obtaining the material in sterile conditions 

• Instruments for preparing samples for the microscope 

• Filing cabinets for collecting paraffined samples 

• Gas filtration cabinet 

• Automated immunostaining appliance 

• Combination refrigerator and -40ºC freezer for preserving fungibles 

• Autoclave for sterilising surgical material 

Tumour bank 

• Equipment for preparing tissue microarrays 

• Tissue microdissection microscope with laser 

• Microtome and cryostat 

Blood and Fluid Biobank 

• Programmable freezer with a controlled freezing ramp 

• “Chemagic MSM1®” automated device for obtaining DNA from large volumes of blood 

• “Tecan EVO150®” automated station for the aliquoting of samples 

• “CoulterZ1®” cells and particles counter 

• Cabinets for isolating cells in sterile conditions 

• Cell immortalisation platform 

• Computer systems for managing samples and related data 

37

People 

Scientific coordinator(s): 

Director 

Dr. Joan Albert Barberà 

HCB 

jbarbera@clinic.ub.es 

Scientific coordinator 

Dr. Anna Bosch Comas 

IDIBAPS 

abosch1@clinic.ub.es 

Managing assistant 

Ms. Meritxell Rufet 

Fundació Clínic 

mrufet@clinic.ub.es 

Dr. Ellen Gelpí 

Neurologist. Senior Technician I (UB) 

Ms. Carina Antiga 

Secretary (IDIBAPS) 

Ms. Sara Charif 

Laboratory technician (IDIBAPS) 

Ms. Rosa Rivera 

Specialised technician – III (UB) 

Ms. Verónica Santiago 

Laboratory technician (CIBERNED) 

Mr. Abel Muñoz 

Autopsy Assistant (Fundació Clínic) 

Informed Consent Manager 

Ms. Ángela Martín 


martin3@clinic.ub.es 

Lab Manager 

Ms. Regina A. Cañaveras 


rcanaver@clinic.ub.es 

Ms. Leyre Etxarri 

Autopsy Assistant (Fundació Clínic) 

• Tumour bank 

Laura Gelabert 

Laboratory technician (Fundació Clínic) 

Mónica Marín 

Laboratory technician (Hospital Clínic) 

• Neurological tissue bank 

Dr. Francesc Graus 

(HC-UB) 

fgraus@clinic.ub.es 

Eva Fernández López 

Laboratory technician (Hospital Clínic) 

Raquel Bermudo Gascón 

Bank Manager (Fundació Clínic) 

• Tumour bank 

Dr. Pedro L. Fernández 

HC 

plfernan@clinic.ub.es 

• Blood and Fluid Biobank 

Albert Davins 

Laboratory technician (CIBERDEM) 

Roser Mas 

Laboratory technician and quality supervisor (IDIBAPS) 

• Blood and Fluid Biobank 

Dra. Anna Bosch Comas 

IDIBAPS 

abosch1@clinic.ub.es 

Anna Morales 

Laboratory technician (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Tugores 

Nurse (IDIBAPS) 

Staff: 


Dr. Maria Jesús Rey 

Neuropathologist. Senior technician – I (UB) 

Location: 


Faculty of Medicine UB. South wing, floor 0 (~140 sq m) 

• Tumour bank, Blood and Fluid Biobank 

C/ Roselló 149-153, -1 Floor 

38


Bioinformatics 

The Bioinformatics Unit is mainly devoted to the analysis and support in the interpretation of data coming from OMICS disciplines. 

The integration of data coming from the Genomics, Proteomics, or Metabolomics fields requires huge efforts in the 

development of common languages, tools, and specific databases. 

Differential expression or classification studies in every OMICS field usually face two big challenges: the high dimensionality 

and the small sample size. Furthermore, clinical research is frequently aimed at understanding very complex biological problems 

for the discovery of specific biomarkers for diagnosis. It is then necessary to use sophisticated tools with complex statistical 

methodologies to derive information in the usual conditions of high-throughput experiments. At this current moment, 

the emerging field of Systems Biology is aimed at analyzing and integrating data from the entire OMICS field to ultimately 

create working models of entire biological systems. 

Services 

Bioinformatic support in different areas of biomedical research, particularly in OMICS technologies; development of new tools 

and diffusion: 

• Consultancy: counselling in experimental design; low-level and quality control analyses; orientation on biostatistical resources; 

assistance in tool utilisation; intensive analysis of OMICS technology data in collaborative settings; interpretation of 

results. 

• Bioinformatic resources development and administration: software processing; access to computer resources via proprietary 

Linux services; development of customised tools and databases, particularly in web settings. 

Equipment 

• IBM eServer BladeCenter HS21 server. 1 Intel (R) Xeon (R) E5345 @ 2.33 Ghz CPU. 64 Bit. RAM: 16 GB. H.D: 465 GB (Raid 

5) OS: Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10 

• Intel Dual Xeon 3.0 GHz Server. 32 Bit. RAM 3 GB. HD 120 GB. OS Linux Red Hat 9 

• Intel Dual Xeon 3.0 GHz Server. 32 Bit. RAM 3 GB. HD 120 GB. OS Windows 2003 OS 

• HP XW4200 Server. Pentium IV 3.5 GHz. HD 120 GB. RAM 2 GB. OS Windows XP 

• 2 PC Intel Core 2 Duo® E8400 @3.0GHz. Arq. 32 Bits, Memoria RAM 3.5GB, HD: 250 GB. OS: Windows XP 

Scientific coordinator: 

• Dr. Susana Kalko (IDIBAPS) 

skalko@clinic.ub.es 

Staff: 

• Dr. Nuria Queralt Rosinach 

Technician (IDIBAPS) 

• Sr. Joan Protasio 


Location: 

• Bioinformatics Platform CEK 

C/ Roselló, 149-153, -1 Floor 

39

Cytometry and cell sorting 

www.idibaps.ub.edu/citomica 

Flow cytometry measures and analyzes the characteristics of single particles, normally cells, as they move in a stream and are 

passed through a laser. Thousands of cells can be analyzed by a flow cytometer in a single second. It is possible to mark the 

particles with one or more fluorescent substances that then makes it possible to measure physical characteristics such as cell 

size, shape, internal complexity and any cell component or function that can be detected by a fluorescent compound. 

The applications of flow cytometry are numerous, and this has led to the widespread use of these instruments in the biological 

and medical fields. 

The facility is subdivided into four groups: FACS analysis, data analysis, cell sorting and high resolution images of each cell 

directly in flow. 

1. Analysis of population of interest (Up to 18 colors) 

• FACSCalibur (Up to 4 colors) 

• FACSCantoI (Up to 6 colors) 

• FACSCantoII (Up to 8 colors) 

• LSRFortessa SORP HTS 4 LASER (Up to 16 colors) 

• LSRFortessa SORP 5 LASER (Up to 18 colors) 

2. Apoptosi 

• FACSCalibur 

• FACSCantoI 

• FACSCantoII 

• LSRFortessa SORP HTS 4 LASER 

• LSRFortessa SORP 5 LASER 

3. Cell cycles 






4. Functional Analysis 






5. Stem Cells 


6. Viability 






40

7. Multiparameter quantitative trials on soluble molecules and phosphoproteins (CBA and CBA Flex Set) 






8. Cell sorting 

• autoMACS (magnetic sorter) 

• FACSAria II (Up to 9 colors) 

• FACSAria SORP 5 LASER (Up to 18 colors) 

9. High resolution microscopy in flow (Cell Signaling and molecular translocation, Internalization, Co-localization, Cellcell 

Interaction, Morphology Analysis, Cell Death and Autophagy, Cell Cycle and Mitosi, DNA damage and repair) 

• ImageStreamX : 2 cameras, 4 LASER (AMNIS Corporation) 

Equipment 

• FACSCalibur cytofluorimeter (IDIBAPS) 

• FACSCantoll cytofluorimeter (IDIBAPS) 

• Vantage SE FACS cell sorter (IDIBAPS) 

• FACSAriaII cell sorter (IDIBAPS) 


• Scientific advisor 

Dr. Pablo Engel 

UB 

pengel@ub.edu 

• Department head 

Isabel Crespo 

Specialist technician (IDIBAPS) 

icrespo@clinic.ub.es 

Staff: 

• Cristina López 


Location: 

• Cytomics Platform CEK 


41

SOCIETY 

Functional Genomics 

The Genomic Unit of IDIBAPS provides access to different genome wide protocols. We manage samples for genomic projects 

starting from quantitative and qualitative analysis of nucleic acids up to genome wide gene expression, genotyping and gene 

dose analysis using different platforms including real-time PCR and microarrays. Recently we have incorporated a next generation 

sequencer in our facility. 

Services 

• Quantification of nucleic acids 

• Qualitative analysis of nucleic acids 

• Expression analysis by Real-time PCR 

• Genotyping analysis by Real-time PCR 

• Digital PCR 

• Genome Wide Expression analysis (Affymetrix microarrays) 

• Genome Wide Genotyping analysis (Affymetrix microarrays) 

• High thought put expression analysis (GeneTitan Affymetrix) 

• High thought put Genotyping analysis (GeneTitan Affymetrix) 

• CGH-Arrays (Agilent) 

• Scanner Axon 4000B 

• Next generation sequencing (Illumina) 

In addition to these services, the Platform offers advice on experimental design for transcriptomic studies, on extracting RNA 

and on analysis of microarray data. 

Equipment 

• NanoDrop 

• Sinergy2 

• Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent) 

• Viia7 (Applied Biosystems) 

• Fluidigim (BioMark) 

• GeneChip Affymetrix genetic analysis system 

• GeneTitan Affymetrix genetic analysis system 

• Agilent platform 

• Axon 4000B scanner 

• GenomeAnalyzer IIx (Illumina) 

Scientific director: 

• Dr. Elías Campo 

HC-UB 

ecampo@clinic.ub.es 

Scientific coordinator: 

• Dr. Pedro Jares 

HC-UB 

pjares@clinic.ub.es 

Unit manager: 

• Dra. Magda Pinyol 

mpinyolm@clinic.ub.es 

Staff: 

• Montse Sánchez 


• Laura Plà 


• Helena Suárez 


• Dra. Anna Enjuanes 


Location: 

• Genomics Platform CEK 


42


Medical Imaging 

Main objectives 

• To provide services related to medical imaging techniques for researchers from IDIBAPS and other institutions, and to industries 

connected with health. 

• To perform first-rate basic and clinical research into medical imaging using structural and functional magnetic resonance, resonance 

spectroscopy, molecular imaging, image processing and other types of medical imaging. 

• Researcher training in techniques and basic research to enable them to conduct experimental and clinical studies, thereby 

allowing them to explore the advantages of translational research. 

Departments and equipment 

Clinical Imaging Research (3T MRI Unit) 

• RM 3T- Siemens 3T TRIO, B17 software 

• 32 phased-array head coil 

• 8 phased-array head coil 

• Body coil 

• Others phase array coil 

Experimental Imaging Research (7T MRI Unit) 

• Bruker BioSpec 70/30 (gradient system of 400 mT/m) 

• Imaging volume coils for mice, rat and small cats or rabbits 

• Surface coil for rat and mouse brain imaging 

• Surface coil for rat heart imaging (with CINE acquisition sequence) 

• Volume coils for 1H/13C, 1H/31P and 1H/19F spectroscopy 

• Surface coil for 1H/13C spectroscopy 

• Electric stimulator for fMRI 

• Inhalation anaesthetic system including animal monitoring 

• 4 PC for imaging post-processing and analysis 

Post-processing Imaging Lab 

• 3 dedicated workstations (1 Mac, 2 linux) and 7 high performance PC (5 dual windows-linux, 2 windows) for image postprocessing 

• 10 standard PC 

• Software licenses: 10 Matlab, 2 LcModel, 1 AnalyzeDirect 


• Clinical Imaging Research (3T MRI Unit) 

Dr. Núria Bargalló Alabart 

Hospital Clinic 

bargallo@clinic.ub.es 

• Post-processing Imaging Lab 

Dr. Carles Falcón Falcón 

IDIBAPS 

cfalcon@clinic.ub.es 

• Experimental Imaging Research (7T MRI Unit) 

Dra. Guadalupe Soria Rodríguez 

IDIBAPS 

gsoriar@clinic.ub.es 

Dr. Raúl Tudela (CIBER-BBN, GIB-UB) 

Location: 

• 3T MRI Unit 7T MRI Unit 

Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, floor 0, 3a stairs 

• Post-processing Imaging Lab 


Imaging Lab, CEK 

43

INTRODUCTION 

Shared Platforms 

Proteomics Unit (IDIBAPS-UB-PCB Platform) 

Services 

• Separation of peptides and proteins 

• Characterisation and sequencing of peptides and proteins 

• Analysis of complex protein samples 

• Quantitative analysis of complex protein samples (DIGE, ITRAQ, LABEL-FREE LC-MS) 

• Whole protein analysis (top-down proteomics) 

Equipment 

• Strips Protean IPG Bio-Rad system for sorting of proteins by pl (IDIBAPS) 

• SDS-PAGE system for sorting of Protean Dodecacell Bio-Rad gels (IDIBAPS) 

• SDS-PAGE system for sorting of Mini Protean Dodecacell Bio-Rad gels (IDIBAPS) 

• PDQUEST Bio-Rad analysis software for 2-dimensional gels (IDIBAPS) 

• Scanner for digitising G-810 Bio-Rad gels (IDIBAPS) 

• Fluro-S Bio-Rad analyser (IDIBAPS) 

• Solution automatic genomic digester (IDIBAPS) 

• Espectròmetre de masses: MALDI-TOF-TOF 4800 (Applied Biosystems) 

• MALDITOF Voyager DE Prespective (IDIBAPS) 

• Thermo Finnigan NanoESI-Ion Trap LCQ DECA XP (IDIBAPS) 

• VELOS ORBITRAP-ETD NanoESI LTQ Linear Ion Trap (UB) 

• PROXEON LC nanoEASY (IDIBAPS) 

• Thermo Finnigan MicroHPLC Surveyor (IDIBAPS) 

• Typhoon (GE HealthCare) for quantitative analysis of proteins (UB) 

• Decyder; computer analysis of differential studies (UB) 

• Peptide and protein analytical software (SEQUEST, PROTEOME DISCOVERER, PEAKS, etc.) 


• Dr. Oriol Bachs 

UB 

obachs@ub.edu 

Staff: 

• Dr. Josep Maria Estanyol 

Unit supervisor (SCT-UB) 

jmestanyol@ub.edu 

• Dr. M. José Fidalgo 

UB. Masses supervising technician 

• Dr. Eva Olmedo 

IDIBAPS. Technician 

• Mr. Juan Martínez Heredia 

IDIBAPS. Technician 

Location: 

• UB School of Medicine 

5th floor, South Wing, Casanova, 143 

44


Animal housing facilities (UB) 

Services 

• To comply with the applicable legislation on protecting animals used for experiments and for other scientific purposes: 

- Curing and maintenance of the housed species 

- Accreditation control of the personnel implicated in the handling of animals, according to legislation 

- Control of the procedures approved by the Catalan Environmental Departament. Generalitat de Catalunya 

• Forming part of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (CEEA-UB) 

• Crossbreeding and maintenance of colonies of transgenic breeds, knock-out and special breeds of rat 

• Technical and veterinary counselling. Veterinary control 

• Supervision of reception and the shipment of animals to other centres 

Equipment 

• Stabling drawers and racks (FC + UB) 

• Ventilated racks (UB) 

• Extractors (UB + FC) 

• Biological safety chamber (UB) 

• Siemens X-ray equipment (FC) 

• Experimental large animal operating theatre (UB + FC) 

• Surgical lenses (UB) 

• Ventilators (UB + FC) 

• Anaesthesia equipment (UB) 

• Autoclaves (UB) 

• Equipment washer and bottle washer (UB) 

• SAS (UB) 


• Dr. Jordi Alberch 

UB 

alberch@ub.edu 

• Dr. Jaume Bosch 

HC 

jbosch@clinic.ub.es 

• Dr. Josep Mª Tusell 

CSIC 

jmtnqi@iibb.csic.es 

Staff: 

• Dr. Amèrica Giménez 

Animal housing facilities supervisor. Senior technician (UB) 

agimenez@ub.edu 

• Mr. Josep Ma Marimon 

Cryopreservation and embyonic transference supervisor. 

Senior technician (UB) 

• Ms. Leire Barguín 

Veterinarian (UB) 

• Mr. David Almató 

Experimenter. Category III stabling technician (UB) 

• Ms. Dolores Ruiz 

Experimenter. Category III stabling technician (UB) 

• Ms. Blanca Caballero 

Keeper. Stabling assistant (FC) 

• Sr. David López 

Keeper. Stabling assistant (FC) 

• Mr. Ivan Ortega 

Experimenter. Category III stabling technician 

• Mr. Raul Ramírez 


• Mr. Robert Fortea 


• Cleaning personnel 

1FC and 3UB 

Location: 

• 6th floor, School of Medicine (~600 sq m) 

45

SOCIETY 

DNA Unit (Hospital Clínic) 

Services 

• DNA extraction 

• DNA sequencing 

• Genotyping (Analysis of DNA fragments, microsatellites, SNPs, MLPA, etc.) 

Equipment 

• One DNA capillary sequencer (IDIBAPS) 

• One ultra-deep sequencing system (HC) 

• Two genetic analyzers (HC/IDIBAPS) 

• Two automatic DNA extraction systems (HC) 


• Dr. Joan Clària 

HC 

jclaria@clinic.ub.es 

Staff: 

• Ms. Montserrat Bernat 

Specialist technician (HC) 

• Ms. Anabel Martínez 

Specialist technician (IDIBAPS) 

Location: 

• Hospital Clinic’s Biological Diagnosis Centre 

Stairway 7, 5th floor. HC (~20 sq m) 

46


Confocal microscopy unit (SCT-UB) 

Services 

Light microscopy 

• Confocal laser microscopy 

• Two-photon excitation microscope (multiphoton) 

• Wide-field microscopy 

Light microscopy applications 

• Fluorescent, reflection and transmitted light, multi-channel and 

multidimensional (xyztλ) images. Mosaic and multi-position images 

• Live cell microscopy 

• Molecular proximity analysis: FRET (Fluorescence resonance energy 

transfer) 

• Molecular dynamics analysis by photobleaching and photolabelling 

techniques: 

- FRAP (Fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching) 

- Inversed FRAP 

- FLIP (Fluorescence loss in photo-bleaching) 

- Photo-activation, photo-conversion 

• Intravital Microscopy (live animal): 

- Confocal, multi-photon 

- Resonant scan (high speed) 

• Two photon excitation microscopy (Multi-photon): 

- Fluorescence 

- Second Harmonic Generation 

Cell culture and micromanipulation 

• Maintenance of cell lines for microscopy experiments 

• Microinjection 

• Molecular and cellular dyes (transfection, staining) 

Equipment 

• Multiphoton and high-velocity spectral confocal microscope (Leica 

TCS-SP5) 

• Spectral confocal microscope (Leica TCS-SL) 

• Confocal microscope (Leica TCS-NT) 

• Microinjector (Leica AS TP) 

• Wide-field fluorescence microscope (Leica DMI6000 B) (Faculty of 

Medicine) 

• General laboratory 

• Culture room 

• Imaging analysis workstations 


• Dr. Carles Enrich 

Department of Cellular Biology, UB 

enrich@ub.edu 

Staff: 

• Dr. Maria Calvo 

Senior technician and head of the Confocal Microscopy Unit, 

IDIBAPS 

mcalvo@sct.ub.es 

• Anna Bosch 

Specialised technician, IDIBAPS 

abosch@sct.ub.es 

Location: 

• Faculty of Medecine, 

South Wing, 5 floor (c/ Casanova, 143, 08036, Barcelona) 

Image processing and analysis 

• Technical assistance in image processing and analysis (3D 

reconstruction, quantification, co-localization, FRET analysis, 

molecular dynamics analysis, particle tracking) 

• Development of custom instructions macros 

• Training days of image processing and analysis 

User support and innovation 

• Assistance in planning, preparation, performance and analysis of 

light microscopy experiments 

• Training in the use of equipment 

• Development of new methodologies 

47

SOCIETY 

Electronic Microscopy Unit (UB) 

Services 

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) 

• Ultrastructure studies of tissues and cell cultures (on different subtrates) 

• Studies of suspensions ( bacteria, virus, flagella, lipid vesicles...) 

• Studies of cellular organelles extraction (reticulum, mitochondria, exosomes...) 

• Molecular localization and colocalization of proteins, glucidic residues,... 

• Molecular localization of DNA or RNA sequences by “in situ” hybridation 

• Cytochemical studies (enzymatic activity, enzymatic digestions...) 

• Correlative techniques (optical, confocal and electron microscope) 

• Preparing of samples for TEM-based microanalysis 

• Studies of viruses, organules and proteins by negative staining 

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 

• Microstructural analysis of surface cell cultures on different substrates (glass, thermanox, aclar,...) 

• Surface characterization of tissues or organs 

• Studies of cellular suspensions(bacteira 

• Studies of surfaces: bony, teeth, cornea, skin,... 

• Characterization of biofilms and their formation 

• Morphological studies of small organisms and micro-organisms 

• Surface molecular localization 

• Characterization of biomaterials, implants... 

• Study, analysis and assessment of the images 

Examples of applications 

• Biomedical characterization of any kind of cell culture or tissues by SEM or TEM 

• Studies of markers incorporation (colloidal gold, quantum-dots..) inside the tissues or cell culture (ex. Inhalation of nanogold 

and their localisation by light and transmissionn electron microscopy) 

• Sperm cell study by TEM and SEM for diagnosis 

• Studies of biofilms on water filters, tracheal tubes, historical monuments... 

• Characterization of protein aggregates for example in Alzheimer’s disease 

• Biopsies in pathology 

• Calcium microanalysis detection 

Sample preparation types 

• Cryomethods preparation (cryofixation) 

- High pressure cryofixation, cryosubstitution, cryo embedding in epoxy resins ( for ultrastructural studies) 

- High pressure cryofixation, cryosubstitution, cryo embedding in acrylic resins at low temperatures (molecular location studies: 

immunolocalization, “in situ” hybridization, etc.) 

- High pressure cryofixation, cryosubstitution, critical point process (3-D studies using scanning electron microscopy) 

• Standard preparation method (chemical fixation) 

- Chemical fixation, dehydration and embedding in epoxy resins for ultrastructural studies 

- Ultramicrotomy at room temperature 

- Negative staining (viruses, flagella, proteins, etc.) 

- Cytochemical techniques (detection of enzymes, glycoproteins, sugars, etc.) 

- Chemical fixation, dehydration, critical point (scanning electron microscopy) 

48

• Mixed preparation: combination of standard methods and cryomethods 

- Chemical fixation, cryoprotection, cryosubstitution and embedding in epoxy resins (ultrastructural study) 

- Chemical fixation, cryofixation and embedding in epoxy resins (ultrastructural study) 

- Chemical fixation, cryoprotection, cryosubstitution and embedding at low temperatures (molecular localization studies: 

immunolocalization, “in situ” hybridization, etc.) 

- Chemical fixation, cryoprotection, cryofixation and cryoultramicrotomy (molecular location studies: immunolocalization, 

“in situ” hybridization, etc.) 

- Chemical fixation, cryofixation, cryosubstitution, critical point process (for scanning electron microscopy) 

• Molecular localization 

- Proteins, sugar residues,... 

- Markers: nanogold, silver enhancement, colloidal gold, quantum-dots, lectins,.. 

• Correlative techniques 

- To observe the “same” cell (for example a dynamic process) by light microscopy (at low resolution) and by transmission 

electron microscopy (higher resolution) using cryofixtion or chemical fixation 

Equipment 

• Jeol EM 1010 transmission electronic microscope 

• Zeiss DSM 940A scanning electron microscope 

• EM PACT cryofixation system (Leica) 

• Cryosubstitution systems 

- AFS (Leica) 

- AFS2 (Leica) 

• Ultramicrotomes 

- Ultracut (Reichert-Jung) 

- Ultracut E (Reichert-Jung) 

- Ultracut UCT (Leica) + FCS Cryoultramicrotomy Unit (Leica) 

• VGMicrotech CPD 7501 critical point system 

• Fisons Instrument FC510 Sputtering System 

• Optical microscopes 

- Leica DMLS 

- Olympus CX41 RF + Olympus DP 70 digital camera 


• Dr Núria Cortadellas 

Unit Head 

nuriac@ccit.ub.es 

Tel. 93 403 44 07 - 93 403 98 59 

Staff: 

• Ms Almudena Garcia 

Ultramicrotomy Section Manager 

• Ms Ana Ribera 

Laboratory technician 

• Ms Eva Fernández 

IDIBAPS technician – research support contract 

Location: 

• UB Faculty of Medicine, 

North Wing, 6th floor 

49

NETWORKING 

Spanish excellence networks (CIBERS, RETICS and CAIBER) 

The Ministry of Science and Innovation promotes health research through the Carlos III Health Institute. In the last few years 

much of its economical effort has focused on the consolidation of the Spanish National Research Networks. The Networked 

Biomedical Research Centres (Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red, CIBERs), Health Cooperative Research Topic Networks 

(Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud, RETICs), and the Networked Biomedical Research Support 

Consortium - Spanish Clinical Trials Platform (Consorcio de Apoyo a la Investigación Biomédica en Red – Plataforma Española 

de Ensayos Clínicos, CAIBER), represent a new way of understanding cooperative biomedical research that has given excellent 

results during recent years. 

The IDIBAPS participates in most of these virtual research structures and leads some of them. Investigators of the IDIBAPS 

direct the following networks: 

• Networked Biomedical Research Centre for Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red 

de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, CIBERehd) 

• Networked Biomedical Research Centre for Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (Centro de Investigación Biomédica 

en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, CIBERDEM) 

• CIBER for Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES) 

• AIDS Research Network (RIS) 

• Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network (REEM) 

50

Networked Biomedical Research Centre for Hepatic 

and Digestive Diseases 

(Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, CIBERehd) 

www.ciberehd.org 

CIBERehd was created on 29 November 2006, and is presently composed of 49 groups (one 

of them on an associated basis), corresponding to 28 centres in 10 Autonomous Communities 

throughout Spain. It is headed by a Scientific Director, Dr. Jaume Bosch, and its activities are 

supervised by an external Steering Committee and Scientific Committee. Its central facilities are 

located in calle Córcega 180, in Barcelona. 

Director: Dr. Jaume Bosch 

The objectives of the CIBER for Liver and Digestive Diseases are the following: 

• To promote top level research in liver and digestive diseases, in an international context, promoting interaction among 

the best Spanish groups. 

• Preferentially focusing on translation research, favouring the obtainment of results that can be transferred to clinical 

practice and to biotechnological applications. 

• Activity as a promoting and facilitating agent in the national setting, and serving as a reference in international 

cooperation. 

The scientific activity of the CIBERehd fundamentally focuses on its research programs and strategic actions, and is complemented 

by the training programme, the platforms and common resources. The CIBERehd has its own platforms in genomics, 

transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, genic silencing and bioinformatics, as well as a biobank (integrated within the 

IDIBAPS biobank), a steatosic liver bank and telemedicine platforms for diagnostic and therapeutic support in liver cancer, and 

genetic counselling in colorectal cancer. 

The CIBERehd has 6 major research programs: 

• Portal hypertension and mechanisms of transition to cirrhosis 

• Hepatitis viruses 

• Cholestasis and metabolic disorders 

• Liver immunology, cell therapy and transplantation 

• Liver and digestive cancer 

• Gastrointestinal inflammation and motility 

Its budget, totalling 6,3 million euros in 2010, covers the salaries of the investigators that work in the different groups, the 

scientific infrastructure, training programmes and strategies actions - involving the implementation of large research projects 

that can only be addressed through firm cooperative action. 

The activity of the CIBERehd is reflected in its annual report, with the publication of over 200 articles a year in journals pertaining 

to the upper quartile of the SCI, and numerous clinical guides, as well as the conduction of over 50 clinical trials. In the 

last year, the CIBERehd has obtained two large projects of the INPACTO programme and the CDTI, and moreover participates 

in many European consortiums. 

51

Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes 

and Associated Metabolic Disorders 

(Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes 

y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, CIBERDEM) 

www.ciberdem.org 

www.investigaladiabetes.org 

The CIBER in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders is a public state consortium established 

by the Carlos III Health Institute-Ministry of Science and Innovation. Constituted 

by 32 elite research groups in 19 associate institutions, it represents the biggest network of 

scientific diabetes research in Spain. Its objectives are to lead highest standards of research 

practice and to accelerate the translation of scientific results into clinical application. 

Director: Dr. Ramon Gomis 

CIBERDEM began its activity over three years ago and it is now time to take stock of its achievements. Some are already 

evident and among these is the qualitative leap forward as regards the number and excellence of publications. To this 

success we should add others such as the ability of groups to work together, especially in the case of clinical and basic 

research groups, which is a clear indication of our strong commitment to translational research, as well as an obvious 

demonstration that these associations between groups are advantageous when it comes to obtaining funding. 

With the objective of achieving pioneering biomedical advances, CIBERDEM fosters the development of projects in collaboration 

with other national and international institutes, and it counts on its own two technological platforms: the Biobank, 

which with more than 10.000 samples provides characterised human DNA and other types of biological samples to 

the scientific community; and the Metabolomics Platform which offers high performance technology for the profiling and 

identification of metabolites. 

The consortium looks to involve not only the scientific community but also the business sector in R&D investment. It 

offers companies the possibility of working together on research projects, scientific consultancy, organisation of scientific 

events and socially responsible corporate actions. Furthermore, it diffuses and divulges its scientific work through 

multiple actions such as the periodic organisation of scientific seminars and its annual Science Open Day always with the 

active collaboration of patient associations. 

In its mision to promote diabetes research CIBERDEM has created «Investiga la diabetes», an initiative which seeks to 

increase awareness of the diabetes problem in Spain. Its objective is to generate active participation from society and 

business with the aim of collecting funds which will enable the continued promotion and financing of scientific activity to 

find new means of preventing, diagnosing, treating and curing diabetes. 

52

CIBER for Respiratory Diseases 

(CIBERES) 

www.ciberes.org 

The CIBER for respiratory diseases (CIBERES) is a networked, multidisciplinary and multicentre 

research institution integrating basic, clinical and populational research in respiratory illnesses. 

CIBERES is composed of 34 research groups, of which 60% belong to hospitals and 40% to 

universities and research centres. The Scientific director of CIBERES is Dr. Alvar Agustí (Chest 

Institute, Hospital Clinic). The administrative centre of CIBERES is in the Fundació Caubet-Cimera 

in Mallorca. 

Director: Dr. Àlvar Agustí 

The research activity of CIBERES is structured upon the basis of Corporate Research Programmes (Programes Corporatius 

de Investigació) (PCI). Each PCI comprises a series of projects that in a cooperative and integrated manner address a relevant 

healthcare problem in the field of respiratory disease. At present, CIBERES has 10 active PCIs: 

• Refractory asthma 

• Pulmonary fibrosis 

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 

• Thoracic cancer 

• Acute lung injuries 

• Sleep apnoea syndrome 

• Tuberculosis 

• Respiratory infections and sepsis 

• New therapeutic targets 

• H1N1 influenza 

In parallel to these PCIs, CIBERES has organized a series of research support platforms, such as: (1) Pulmonary biobank; (2) 

Technological development and transference; (3) Training program; and (4) Communications Department. CIBERES organizes 

annual scientific sessions and different monographic research seminars. 

53

AIDS Research Network 

(RIS) 

www.retic-ris.net 

The AIDS Research Network (Red de Investigación en SIDA) (RIS) was created in 2003, and established the 

bases for driving vanguard research in the field of AIDS. In its second call (2007-2010), the Network has become 

consolidated and has centred its activity on the creation of common platforms (Cohorts, Laboratories and Resistances) 

that generate data and biological samples on which the research strategies are founded (clinico-epidemiological, 

clinico-therapeutic, immunopathogenesis and vaccines). Priority has focused on those projects that 

require a network in order to function, and on those subjects which are specific to our country, or in which we are 

able to make high-level original contributions. 

Director: Dr. Josep M. Gatell 

The AIDS network aims to address original problems through novel technological approaches. A series of large scale projects 

have been defined. The strategies used to reach the established objectives are based on references which can only be addressed 

through network-based effort and the creation of different platforms. A numerous cohort has been defined, corresponding 

to different groups of patients of homogeneous characteristics which allows us to evaluate the efficacy of new treatment protocols 

and intervention strategies, and to carry out studies on toxicity, resistances and pathogenesis. The particular characteristics 

of the HIV epidemic in our country allows the study of certain pathologies associated to HIV infection, such as hepatitis C. 

The AIDS network is composed of 19 research groups, 17 clinical healthcare groups and three associated groups, and includes 

groups with different experience in virology, immunology, and cellular and molecular biology that contribute complementary 

points of view and techniques to globally address complex problems in relation to the pathogenesis of HIV infection, such as 

immune reconstitution, virus-host interaction and the mechanisms underlying cell damage. 

54

Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network 

(REEM) 

www.reem.es 

The Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network (Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple) (REEM) is composed of basic 

and clinical investigators at national level, interested in the aetiopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and in the 

development of new diagnostic and treatment methods with which to combat the disease. The Director of 

the institution is Dr. Pablo Villoslada, Head of the IDIBAPS Neuroimmunology team. 

Approved by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in 2008, it is coordinated through the IDIBAPS by Dr. Pablo 

Villoslada and his management team, composed of a project manager and an assistant. 

Director: Dr. Pablo Villoslada 

The REEM has three objectives: 

• Development of a cooperative research programme on the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. 

• Promotion of the creation of shared resources among the different centres participating in the REEM, such as biobanks 

or clinical databases. 

• Training of young investigators in the knowledge of multiple sclerosis, based on courses, conferences and stays in 

other laboratories. 

Multiple sclerosis presently affects over two million people throughout the world, and our greatest challenge is to improve the 

quality of life of the affected patients. 

55

Networked Biomedical Research Support Consortium 

(Consorcio de Apoyo a la Investigación Biomédica en Red) 

Spanish Clinical Trials Platform 

(Plataforma Española de Ensayos Clínicos, CAIBER) 

The CAIBER is composed of 40 Central Units of Clinical Research in Clinical Trials (Unidades Centrales de Investigación 

Clínica en Ensayos Clínicos, UCICEC), distributed in centres with research excellence in 16 Spanish Autonomous Communities, 

coordinated by the Central Unit of the CAIBER (UCCA), located in the central or core facilities of the CAIBER in the 

Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Different clinical investigators of the IDIBAPS form part of the UCICEC. 

The aim of the CAIBER is to promote the development of clinical research programs and clinical trials generated internally and 

conducted on a networked basis, particularly those lacking commercial interest, together with preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic 

and services studies, in the subject areas reflected in the Strategic Action in Health, as most relevant groups of social 

and healthcare interest. The idea is to facilitate and promote the conduction of multicentre clinical trials that are safe, rigorous, 

controlled and with guarantees for preserving quality of the study, patient safety and data reliability. 

56

INTRODUCTION 

CIBERs and RETICs in which IDIBAPS takes part 

The IDIBAPS also actively participates in the rest of CIBER and RETIC research networks, through its research teams: 

Networked Biomedical Research Centres (CIBERs) 

CIBER IDIBAPS Team Principal investigator 

CIBERdem - Diabetes y enfermedades Diabetes: metabolic and molecular networks Anna Maria Novials Sardà 

metabolicas 

CIBERdem - Diabetes y enfermedades 

metabólicas 

CIBERdem - Diabetes y enfermedades 

metabólicas 

CIBERehd - Enfermedades hepáticas y 

digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 


digestivas 

CIBERned - Enfermedades 

neurodegenerativas 









CIBERer - Enfermedades raras 

Genomic Programming of Beta Cells and Diabetes 

Diabetes: metabolic and molecular networks 

Physiopathology and treatment of ascites and 

altered renal function in liver cirrhosis 

Liver hemodynamics and portal hypertension. 

Digestive bleeding secondary to ruptured 

esophageal varicose veins 

Hepatic oncology 

Gastrointestinal and pancreatic oncology 

Viral hepatitis in the immune competent host and 

in liver transplant patients 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 

Cholestasis and bone pathology 

Liver transplantation and graft viability 

Mitochondrial regulation of cell death and 

steatohepatitis 

Neurodegenerative diseases: Clinical and 

experimental research 

Neuropharmacology and experimental 

neuropathology. 

Cellular biology of pathological processes 

Neurobiology Unit 


neuropathology. 

Secondary lesions due to chronic alcohol 

ingestion, muscle pathology 

Jorge Pedro Ferrer Marrades 

Ramon Gomis Barbarà 

Vicente Arroyo Pérez 

Jaime Bosch Genover 

Jordi Bruix Tudó 

Antoni Castells Garangou 

Xavier Forns Bernhardt 

Julián Panés Díaz 

Albert Parés Darnaculleta 

Antonio Rimola Castellà 

José Carlos Fernández-Checa 

Eduard Tolosa Sarró 

Guadalupe Mengod 

Jordi Alberch 

Ramon Trullas Oliva 

Eduard Rodríguez Farré 

Francesc Cardellach López 

CIBERer - Enfermedades raras Fetal and perinatal medicine Eduard Gratacós Solsona 

CIBERer - Enfermedades raras Genetics Montserrat Milà Recasens 

CIBERer - Enfermedades raras Hereditary metabolic diseases Maria Antònia Ribes Rubio 

CIBERes - Enfermedades respiratorias 




Physiopathological mechanisms of respiratory 

illnesses 

Applied research in infectious respiratory 

diseases, critically ill patients and lung cancer 

Clinical and Experimental Respiratory 

Immunoallergy (IRCE) 



Joan Albert Barberà Mir 

José María Montserrat Canal 

César Picado Vallés 

Antoni Torres Martí 

57

CIBER IDIBAPS Team Principal investigator 

CIBERes - Enfermedades respiratorias Respiratory biophysics and bioengineering Ramón Farré 

CIBERobn - Fisiopatología de la obesidad y 

nutrición 

CIBERobn - Fisiotatología de la obesidad y 

nutrición 

CIBERsam - Salud Mental 



CIBER-BBN - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y 

Nanomedicina (Grupo Asociado) 

CIBER-BBN - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y 

Nanomedicina 

Hypertension, lipids and cardiovascular risk 



Biological bases of psychiatric disorders and 

nuclear psychiatry 

Biological bases of psychiatric disorders and 

nuclear psychiatry 


neuropathology 

Respiratory biophysics and bioengineering 


Emili Ros Rahola 

Ramon Estruch Riba 

Miguel Bernardo Arroyo 

Eduard Vieta Pascual 

Francesc Artigas 

Ramón Farré 

Javer Pavia 

Cooperative Health Research Thematic Networks (RETICs) 

RETIC IDIBAPS Team Principal investigator 

REDINSCOR - Red de Investigación en 

Insuficiencia Cardíaca en España 

Arrhythmias, resynchronization and cardiac 

imaging 

Josep Brugada Terradellas 

RIS - Red Española de Investigación en SIDA Infectious diseases and AIDS Josep Maria Gatell Artigas 

REIPI - Red española de investigación en 

patología infecciosa (REIPI) 

HERACLES - Determinantes Genéticos y 

Ambientales de la Disfunción Vascular en la 

Hipertensión y Cardiopatía Isquémica 

HERACLES - Determinantes genéticos y 

ambientales de la disfunción vascular 

Immune receptors of the innate and adaptive 

system 

Atherosclerosis and coronary disease 

Hemotherapy - hemostasis 

Francisco Lozano Soto 

Maria Magdalena Heras Fortuny 

Ginés Escolar Albaladejo 

Red de Terapia Celular Cellular biology of pathological processes Josep Mª Canals Coll 

RETICEF - Red temática de investigación 

cooperativa en envejecimiento y fragilidad 

RECAVA - Factores de Riesgo, Evolución 

y Tratamiento de las Enfermedades 

Cardiovasculares y sus Mecanismos 

REDINREN - Red de Investigación en 

Enfermedades Renales 

REDINREN - Red de Investigación en 

Enfermedades Renales 

RED DE CANCER - Red temática de 

investigación cooperativa de cáncer 












neuropathology 


Nephro-urological diseases and kidney 

transplantation 

Nephro-urological diseases and kidney 

transplantation 

Hematological oncology 


Cell proliferation and signaling 

Hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation 

Physiopathology and molecular bases in 

hematology 


Coral Sanfeliu Pujol 

Maria Àfrica Muxí Pradas 

Esteban Poch López de Briñas 

Josep Maria Campistol Plana 

Francisco Cervantes Requena 

Juan Bladé Creixenti 

Oriol Bachs Valldeneu 

Álvaro Urbano Ispizúa 

Dolors Colomer Pujol 

Francisca Eugenia Pons Pons 

58

RETIC IDIBAPS Team Principal investigator 





RED DE CANCER - Red tematica de 

investigación cooperativa de cancer. 

RED DE CANCER - Red tematica de 

investigación cooperativa de cancer 

Human and experimental functional 

oncomorphology 


Molecular and translational oncology 


Elias Campo Guerri 

Emili Montserrat Costa 

Pedro Gascón Vilaplana 

Carles Enrich 

REEM - Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple Clinical and experimental neuroimmunology Pablo Villoslada Díaz 

REEM - Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple Clinical and experimental neuroimmunology Francesc Graus Ribas 

RIRAAF - Red de Investigación de Reacciones 

Adversas a Alérgenos y Fármacos 

RIER - Red de investigación en inflamación y 

enfermedades reumáticas 

RETIC de Biobancos 

RETICS INNOVACIÓN - RETICS de Innovación 

en Tecnologías Médicas y Sanitarias 

OFTARED - RETIC en Oftalmología 



Inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) 


illnesses 

Direction of Innovation, Hospital Clínic of 

Barcelona 

Neurophysiology and functional studies of the 

nervous system 

Joan Bartra Tomàs 

Juan de Dios Cañete Crespillo 

Joan Albert Barberà Mir / Anna 

Bosch 

Juan Bigorra Llosas 

Arcadi Gual 

59

CENITS AND CONSOLIDERS 

CENITs and CONSOLIDERs 

In addition to the necessary traditional research projects, where a point line of investigation is financed, there are more ambitious 

long-term options. In effect, more important funding is possible for developing projects aimed at transference and the 

definition of settings for broad scientific collaboration. In this context, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation promotes 

major initiatives within the setting of the Inventiveness Programme (Programa Ingenio). 

CONSOLIDER is a strategic line focusing on research excellence, with the formation of large cooperative research groups. The 

increase in critical mass and research excellence through this programme makes it possible to improve the competitiveness of 

the Spanish research groups. 

The CENIT programme (National Strategic Consortiums for Technological Research) (Consorcios Estratégicos Nacionales de 

Investigación Tecnológica) aims to stimulate cooperation in R&D+I among companies, universities public research organisms 

and centres, scientific and technological institutions and technological centres. In this way cooperation between the public and 

private sectors is reinforced. 

The IDIBAPS has again formed part of the Consolider and CENIT programmes with new projects in the calls for 2010: 

• CONSOLIDER: BRAINAGE - Brain dysfunction in ageing: relevance to Alzheimer’s disease 

A program headed by the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre (CBM) of the CSIC, with very active participation on the 

part of the IDIBAPS team, Neurodegenerative diseases. Its planned duration is until 2015, and the programme will make 

it possible to define the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for functional deterioration of the brain in ageing, 

and particularly in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) - validating this knowledge in primary diagnosis of the disease, its evolution 

and/or treatment. 

• CENIT: Projects evaluated and approved by the Industrial Technological Development Centre (Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico 

Industrial, CDTI) 

- DENDRIA - Innovative Solutions Aimed at Accelerating Novel Drug Discovery and Development for Nervous 

System Pathologies. DENDRIA Consortium is composed of 12 specialized biopharmaceutical companies: Noscira, 

S.A. (leader company of the consortium), Faes Farma, S.A., Palau Pharma, S.A., Sylentis, S.A.U., Instituto Biomar, 

S.A., Biocross, S.L., Brainco Biopharma, S.L., Protein Alternatives, S.L., One Way Liver Genomics, S.L., Neurosciences 

Technologies, S.L., nLife Therapeutics, S.L. and Oryzon Genomics, S.A. The project also includes 24 state biomedical 

research centers, including three IDIBAPS teams: Respiratory biophysics and bioengineering, Systems neuropharmacology 

and Neurophysiology. 

- AMIT: Advanced Molecular Imaging Technologies. The AMIT consortium is composed of 10 companies and 13 

public research organisms that have joined their efforts to overcome technological barriers in the field of molecular 

imaging technology, in benefit of Medicine and Biomedicine. This discipline offers important biological information in 

clinical medicine and biomedicine, and promises exponential expansion of its applications. However, in practice the 

development of its full potential is hampered by limiting factors, identified during the CDTEAM project; the solution 

of these problems would represent an important step forward, with technological, scientific and medical implications. 

The Respiratory Biophysics and Bioengineering team of the IDIBAPS participates in this project in reference to definition 

of the system, simulations and design, biomarkers and animal models, and in the integration and evaluations of 

the demonstrators. 

60

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTION 

European projects and international networks 

International projection is one of the strategic objectives of IDIBAPS, with a view both to establishing collaborative ties with reference 

entities in other countries and to gain access to international calls for research funding. The presence of investigators of this 

Institute in major international projects is a growing reality. 

A good example is offered by the increasing presence of investigators of the IDIBAPS in research projects financed by the European 

Commission. At present we are participating in 86 projects financed by the European Commission (FPVI and FPVII). Of these 

projects we coordinate a total of 17; in 64 we participate as partners; and we have 5 monocontract Marie Curie projects. 

Of note is the fact that this year we have received coordination of the HEPTROMIC project (Genomic predictors and oncogenic 

drivers in hepatocellular carcinoma), headed by an ICREA investigator (Dr. Josep M. Llovet). This project aims to establish a new 

approach to the fight against hepatocellular carcinoma (www.heptromic.eu). 

We also wish to mention that in July 2010, the IDIBAPS - together with the CDTI - organized a Spanish-French Partnering Session 

involving Catalan and French investigators, with a view to establishing new collaborations. 

The collaborative projects in which the IDIBABPS participates are not limited to Europe. In the year 2010 we also participated in 

8 projects financed by the United States National Institutes of Health, with the following working teams: Mitochondrial regulation 

of cell death and steatohepatitis; Genomic programming of beta-cells and diabetes; Human and experimental functional oncomorphology; 

Liver transplantation and graft viability; Damage secondary to chronic alcohol consumption; Muscle disease; and Biological 

bases of psychic disorders and nuclear psychiatry. 

Some of the international networks in which the IDIBAPS participates with its investigators of greatest projection are presented 

below: 

European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network and biotherapy facilities: Preparation Phase for the 

Infrastructure (ECRIN-PPI) 

Coordinating centre: INSERM - DRCT Institut Thématique Santé Publique 

Coordinator of the Spanish node: Xavier Carné 

PI IDIBAPS: Xavier Carné 

2008 - 2011 

Funding source: European Commission 

Official code: 211738 

NoE - Diagnostic Molecular Imaging (DiMI) 

Coordinating centre: Klinikum Der Universität München 

PI IDIBAPS: Anna Planas-Obradors 

2005 - 2010 


Official code: LSHB-CT-2005-512146 

NoE-Strengthen and develop scientific and technological excellence in research and therapy of leukemia 

(CML,AML,ALL,CLL,MDS,CMPD) by integration of the leading national leukemia networks and their interdisciplinary 

partner groups in Europe (EUROPEAN LEUKEMIANET) 

Coordinating centre: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg 

PI IDIBAPS: Emili Montserrat 

2004 - 2010 


Official code: LSHC-CT-2004-503216 

61

NoE - Genetic and environmental risk factors for melanoma: translation into behavioural change (GenoMel) 

Coordinating centre: University of Leeds 

PI IDIBAPS: Susana Puig 

2005 - 2010 


Official code: LSHM-CT-2006-018702 

NoE - Integrated Genomics, Clinical Research and Care in Hypertension (InGenious Hypercare) 

Coordinating centre: ISCCS Instituto Auxologico Italiano 

PI IDIBAPS: Antonio Coca 

2006 - 2010 


Official code: LHSM-CT-2006-037093 

NoE - European AIDS Treatment Network (NEAT) 

Coordinating centre: Instituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive 

PI IDIBAPS: Josep Maria Gatell 

2007 - 2012 


Official code: LSHP-CT-2006-037570 

Estudio de la genómica de Leucemia Linfática Crónica (International Cancer Genome Consortium) 

Coordinating centre: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona - Fundació Clínic 

Coordinator of the Spanish node: Elías Campo 

PI IDIBAPS: Elías Campo 

2009 - 2012 

Funding source: MICINN - ISCIII (Spanish part) 

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Genomic Consortium (HCC Genomic Consortium - AARC) 

Coordinating centre: IDIBAPS LLOVET-BAYER, Josep M. 

PI IDIBAPS: Josep Maria Llovet 

2009 - 2011 

Funding source: American Association for Cancer Research 

62

BIOTRACK 

BIOTRACK is a co-funded project by the Marie Curie Actions of 

the 7 th Framework Program of the European Commission and the 

IDIBAPS consortium for the Professional Training and Career Development 

in Biomedicine. With this programme, IDIBAPS creates 

new positions and helps researchers in their further development 

and expertise, to keep being part of the most productive Biomedical 

Research Consortium in Southern Europe. 

For more information visit: 

www.idibaps.org/biotrack 

63

TRAINING 

Research seminars 

The research seminars of the Biomedical Research Institute August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) reflect clear teaching dedication, as 

well as being orientated towards the creation of networks. The speakers participating in the seminars organized by this Institute 

always offer added value that can contribute to the knowledge of our investigators. The goal is to share knowledge as it 

becomes available, with the consolidation of alliances all over the world in order to secure better research. 

The institutional seminars organized by the management of IDIBAPS during the year 2010 have been the following: 

• Neurocritical care of stroke 

Stephan A. Mayer 

Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, 

Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons; 

Director, Neurological Intensive Care Unit, New York 

Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia 

• The chemical environment and the neurodevelopment 

Jordi Sunyer 

Centre for Research on Environmental Epidemiology 

(CREAL), Barcelona 

• Cortex and Memory: Emergence of a New Paradigm 

Joaquin M. Fuster 

Professor of Psychiatry and Cognitive Neuroscience, 

University of California Los Angeles 

• Seeing and hearing actions: Phenomenology and neural 

correlates 

Salvatore M Aglioti 

Cognitive and Social Neuroscience Laboratory Sapienza 

University of Rome (Italy) 

• Pattern recognition proteins containing fibrinogen-related 

domains: The case of FIBCD1, a new acetyl-group binding 

molecule with a possible role as a chitin-receptor 

Uffe Holmskov 

Head of Institute of Molecular Medicine Winsløwparken, 

Odense (Denmark) 

• TAM receptor regulation of the innate immune response 

Greg Lemke 

Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Immunobiology and 

Microbial Pathogenesis Laboratory, The Salk Institute 

(La Jolla) 

• Identification of drivers through sequencing in cancer 

Jessica Zucman-Rossi 

Head of Inserm unit U674, Génomique Fonctionnelle des 

tumeurs solides 

• From Molecules to Nutritional Interventions for Healthy 

Aging 

Rafael de Cabo 

Ph.D., Investigator; Aging, Metabolism, and Nutrition Unit; 

National Institutes of Aging (NIA-NIH), Bethesda, USA 

• Harnessing autoregulatory T-Cell memory for the treatment 

of autoimmune disease 

Pere Santamaria 

Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Chair, 

Julia Mc Farlane Diabetes Research Centre (Calgary) 

Apart from the institutional seminars, the setting of IDIBAPS offers numerous scientific sessions and seminars from the 

other institutions in the consortium: the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, the University of Barcelona School of Medicine, and the 

Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute of the CSIC. In the year 2010 alone, under the communications coordination of the 

IDIBAPS, over 100 activities were registered in the IDIBAPS website, related to its research activities, and over 200 scientific 

seminars were announced in the weekly sessions calendar. 

64

BIOTRACK 

Doctoral theses 

The training dedication of the IDIBAPS is also reflected by the large number of doctoral theses that are driven and supported by the IDIBAPS 

integrated members. A list is provided below of the 69 doctoral theses directed by investigators from this centre during 2010: 

Author Title Doctorate thesis reader 

Morales, Emma M. 

Sara de Mateo López, 


Anna Serra-Pérez 

Ana Celia Adet Caldelari 

Anàlisis de prevalença, despesa sanitària i morbimortalitat cardiovascular 

del dolor crònic no-oncológic a l’atenció primària 

Proteomic and molecular characterization of human spermatozoa in 

infertile patients and controls 

Efecte de la glucosa en un model d’isquèmia in vitro: modulació del factor 

induït per hipòxia i de la mort cel·lular programada 

Neoplasias quísticas del páncreas: Análisis descriptivo y factores 

predictivos de malignidad 

Siso A 

Oliva R 

Santalucia T, Planas A 

Castells A, Navarro S 

Elena Alcover Bloch 

Seguimiento del desarrollo psicomotor de prematuros extremos mediante 

la Escala del Desarrollo Infantil de Kent(EDIK) cumplimnetada por los 

padres y situación neuroevolutiva a los 2 y 5 años 

Figueras-Aloy J 

Jordi Altirriba Gutierrez 

Blanca Alvarez Moya 

Marta Amigo Correig 

Maria del mar Bennasar Sans 

Carolina Berga Cullere 

Guillem Bori Tuneu 

Beatriz Bosch Capdevila 

David Calatayud Mizrahi 

Bases Moleculares del efecto del tungstato de sodio sobre la plasticidad 

pancreática y Tmem27 

Regulación de la funcionalidad de K-Ras4B por unión A Cam y 

fosforilación de la Ser 181 

Efecte Hipotalàmic del tungstat de sodi i la seva relació amb la via de la 

leptina: una possible teràpia antiobesitat 

Aplicación de la ecografia 4D-STIC(Spatio temporal image correlation) en 

el diagnóstico prenatal de las cardiopatías 

Acontecimientos adversos producidos por medicamentos en pacientes 

hospitalizados: Influencia de las estrategias de actuación en su detección 

y prevención 

Utilitat de la histologia en el diagnòstic de la infecció de l’ artroplàstia de 

maluc 

Influencia de la reserva cognitiva en la estructura y funcionalidad cerebral 

en el envejecimiento sano y patologico 

La perfusión normotérmica “Ex - Situ” como continuación de la “ 

Recirculación Normotérmica” en la obtención de injertos hepáticos 

procedentes de donantes a corazón parado. 

Gomis R 

Agell N 

Carmona MC, Gomis R 

Martinez JM, Puerto B 

Codina C 

Garcia S, Soriano A 

Bartres D, Molinuevo JL 

Fondevila C, Garcia- 

Valdecasas JC 

Joaquim Carreras Esteban Factors pronòstics en neoplàsies limfoides B de cèl·lula petita Campo E 

Alba Carreras Palou 

Jose Antonio Carrion Rodriguez 

Carlos Cervera Alvarez 

Laura Conde del Campo 

Desamparats Crespo March 

Activation of bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a rat model of 

obstructive sleep apnea 

Tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica C antes y despues del trasplante 

Hepático(TH) y diagnóstico no invasivo de su recurrencia tras el TH 

Influencia de los poliformismos de los genes de la inmunidad innata en 

el desarrollo y evolución de las infecciones tras un trasplante de órgano 

sólido 

Mecanismos moleculares implicados en el desarrollo del carcinoma 

escamoso de laringe 

Caracterizacion de los factores de transcripcion de la familia Ikaros 

durante el desarrollo estriatal 

Farre R 

Forns X 

Lozano F, Moreno A 

Nadal A 

Canals JM 

Nuria Cruz Culebra 

Diagnostic specifiers of the onset, course and outcome of bipolar disorder Colom F, Vieta E 

Rogelio Cruz Martinez 

Sara de Mateo Lopez 

Cerebral and cardiac doppler parameters in the identification of fetuses 

with late-onset intrauterine growth restriction at risk of adverse perinatal 

and neurobehavioral outcome 

Proteomic and molecular characterization of human spermatozoa in 

infertile patients and control 

Gratacos E 

Oliva R 

65


Emilio Fernandez Egea 

Davinia Fernández Espejo 

Alejandro Forner Gonzalez 

Diferencias en la respuesta a pruebas de reconocimiento facial de 

las emociones entre pacientes esquizofrénicos deficitarios versus 

esquizofrénicos no deficitarios 

The vegetative and the minimally conscious state: brain function, 

connectivity and structural abnormalities 

Actitud a seguir ante la detección de una lesión focal inferior o igual a 2 

cm de tamaño en un paciente con cirrosis hepática. 

Parellada E, Bernardo M 

Junque C 

Bruix J 

Miguel Angel Galicia Paredes 

Ana García Martínez 

Yoelvis Garcia Mesa 

Ellen Gelpi Mantius 

Eva Giné Soca 

Albert Giralt Torroella 

Marta Gomez Nuñez 

Jose Maria Guilemany Toste 

Eva Guisantes Pintos 

Raquel Horrillo Saura 

Laura Izquierdo Reyes 

Vincenzo La Mura 

Aportaciones a al epidemiologia y a las manisfestaciones clínicas de las 

sobredosis causadas por la cocaina y las nuevas drogas de diseño 

Consecuencias clínicas de la persistencia de actividad inflamatoria en la 

arteritis de células gigantes. Estudio de factores implicados. 

El ejercicio físico voluntario como terapia para la enfermedad de 

Alzheimer. Estudio en ratones tripletransgénicos 3xTg-AD 

Fatal Human Tick-Borne Encephalitis: Immunohistochemical 

characterisation of viral distribution and inflammatory reaction 

Estudi del fenomen de la transformació histològica en síndromes 

limfoproliferatives indolents 

Estudio de los procesos activadores de la patologia en la enfermedad 

de Huntington: Alteraciones en la plasticidad sinaptica y perspectivas 

terapeuticas 

Vacunas con células dendríticas y pépticos en el tratamiento de las 

enfermedades neoplásicas 

Asociación de bronquiectasias pulmonares y patologia nasosinusal. 

Estudio de los aspectos epidemiológicos etiológicos, de diagnóstico y 

tratamiento 

Injertos de tejido adiposo autólogo en la lipoatrofia facial de pacientes 

VIH+: Comparación de dos estrategias de tratamiento y utilidad de la 

tomografia computerizado en la evaluación de su durabilidad. 

Paper de la ciclooxigenasa-2 i la 5-lipooxigenasa en la inflamació hepàtica i 

del teixit adipós. 

Factores pronóstico moleculares en el carcinoma urotelial de tracto 

urinario superior 

Valor pronóstico de nuevos parámetros hemodinámicos en el tratamiento 

de la hipertensión portal 

Miro O, Nogue S 

Cid MC 

Sanfeliu C 

Ribalta T 

Bosch F 

Alberch J 

Cervantes F 

Mullol J 

Martinez-Chamorro E 

Claria J 

Alcaraz A 

Bosch J 

Laia Lladó Pelfort Paper del receptor 5HT 1A en el mecanisme d’ acció de psicofàrmacs Artigas F, Celada MP 

Ingrid Lopez Lerma 

Estudio de moléculas de adhesión en procesos dermatológicos 

malignos(Micosis fungoide-síndrome de Sézary) y benignos mediados por Estrach MT 

células T 

Luis Mº Lozano Lizarraga Artroplastia total de rodilla en pacientes obesos graves y mórbidas Macule F, Segur JM, Suso S 

Victor Angel Macias Hernandez 

Radioterapia hipofraccionada acelerada como tratamiento curativo del 

cáncer de próstata localizado: Análisis prospectivo de la toxicidad aguda y 

de la toxicidad tardía 

Biete A 

Marc Mejias Hernandez Implicació de l’ angiogènesi en al patofisiologia de la hipertensió portal Bosch J, Fernandez M 

Pedro Melgar Lesmes 

Jose Maria Mora Guix 

Montserrat Moreno Sanchez 

Fisiopatologia del edema y de la formacion de ascitis en la cirrosis 

hepática experimental 

Nuevo protocolo de lectura de imágenes y sistemas de clasificacion de las 

fracturas del humero proximal(FHP) 

Investigación de nuevas estrategias terapeúticas para la inflamación y la 

fibrosis hepática. 

Jimenez W 

Suso S 

Bataller R 

66


Susagna Padrissa Altes 

Noves dianes terapèutiques en el trasplantament de fetge amb empelt de 

mida reduïda 

Nuria Palau Balaña Plasticitat de la cèlula Beta en l’ obesitat Gomis R 

Daniel Orós López 

Paola Paoletti Rubia 

Marta Perez de Lis Novo 

Perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcome of late-onset growth 

restricted fetuses 

Estudio de las vías de supervivencia y muerte neuronal en modelos de la 

nefermedad de Huntington 

Impacto de la enfermedad cardiovascular en el síndrome de Sjögren 

primario 

Peralta C, Rosello-Catafau J 

Figueras F 

Gines S 

Coca A, Ramos M 

Isabel Puig-pey Comas Phenotypic and transcriptional biomarkets in organ transplantation Sanchez-Fueyo A 

Santseharay Ramirez Almeida 

Mariana Rickmann Ashwell 

Francisco Rodriguez Moranta 

Estudio de la evolución genética y la compartimentalización del virus de la 

hepatitis C 

Estudio de los tocotrienoles como inductores de muerte programada en 

las células estrelladas del páncreas 

Prevención del cáncer colorrectal: Nuevas estrategias de cribado, 

vigilancia y quimioprofilaxis 

Forns X 

Vaquero E 

Ignasi Salaet Madorran Paper de P27kip1 en la respiració cel·lular Bachs O 

Jacobo Sellares Torres 

Fisiopatología y papel de la ventilación no invasiva en el fracaso del 

weaning 

Castells A, Pique JM 

Ferrer M, Torres A 

Juan Turnes Vazquez 

Xabier Urra Nuin 

Nasiruddin Khan 

Implicaciones pronósticas de la reducción farmacologica de la presión 

portal en pacientes con cirrosis hepatica.Mecanismos fisiopatologicos de 

no respuesta a los betabloqueantes y nuevas estrategias terapeuticas 

Implicaciones Clínicas y pronósticas del síndrome de inmunodepresión 

mediado por el ictus agudo 

Interaction between cocoa polyphenols and inflammatory biomarkers of 

atherosclerosis in high-risk subjects for cardiovascular disease 

Bosch J, Garcia-Pagan JC 

Chamorro A, Planas A 

Andres-Lacueva C, Estruch 

R, Monagas M 

Raquel Bermudo Gascón Perfiles transcripcionales del cáncer de próstata Fernandez PL 

Benito Herreros Gilarte Repercusiones Cardiovasculares de la Anorexia Nerviosa Mont L 

Gemma Gay Jordi 

Efecto del ejercicio crónico en el desarrollo de fibrosis cardíaca: 

mecanismos implicados 

Mont L, Serrano-Mollar A 

Gelabert Arbiol E. Depresión posparto y rasgos de la personalidad Martin-Santos R 

Marta Díez Cuñado 

María Umpiérrez 

María Jesús Álvarez López 

Julita de la Vega Arias 

Rosario Jesús Perea Palazón 

Lluís González de Paz, Universitt 

de Barcelona. 

Mecanismos implicados en la diferenciación de las células progenitoras 

endoteliales durante el remodelado vascular pulmonar 

Impact of aging and physical exercise on transcriptional and epigenetic 

profiles (brain and cardiac studies) 

Estudio epigenético y transcripcional de un modelo murino de 

envejecimiento acelerado (estudio en linfocitos) 

Real time analysis of hippocampal activity for the control of external 

devices. 

Utilidad de la resonancia magnética en pacientes con fibrilación 

auricular tributarios de tratamiento con ablación percutánea de las venas 

pulmonares 

Vigència de la Carta de Drets i Deures dels ciutadans en relació a la Salut 

i l’Atenció Sanitària entre els usuaris dels serveis d’Atenció Primària de 

Salut 

Peinado V, Barbera JA 

Kaliman P 

Kaliman P 

Sanchez-Vives MV 

Brugada J, DeCaralt MT 

Siso A, Navarro D 

67

IDIBAPS and society 

This research centre does not wish to conclude its work with new biomedical discoveries. The idea is to inform society of the 

advances, of the basic and healthcare novelties, and the principal research lines being pursued. The responsibility of informing 

society is based upon the principle that a well informed person is a healthier person. 

A key aspect is the relationship with the communication and news media, where IDIBAPS and its professionals have a very 

important presence. But this is not the only way to reach society. Thanks to the involvement of many investigators, under 

communications coordination of the IDIBAPS, each year numerous informative activities are promoted or shared with the contribution 

of the Institute. Some noteworthy examples are the following: 

• School visits to the laboratories of the IDIBAPS. Each year different centres visit the scientific facilities of the IDIBAPS, 

where they can interact with professionals in different fields. Some of these visits are set within the ESCOLAB project, 

promoted and propelled by the Barcelona city authorities. 

• Virtual Laboratory divulgating project. Thanks to initial funding by the Generalitat de Catalunya through the ACDC aids, 

and posteriorly with the implication of the Foundation “La Caixa”, the IDIBAPS coordinates informative activities targeted 

at school children. The generation of contents linked to the teaching programmes of the secondary school students is 

carried out in collaboration with many specialists and with the company Ambientech, dedicated to the creation and presentation 

of contents of this kind. 

• World Brain Week. This is an initiative promoted by the Dana Foundation and organized by the Centre de Regulació 

Genòmica (CRG) and the Institut d’Educació de Barcelona, in the setting of the programme Barcelona Ciència 2010. The 

World Brain Week was held in the month of March simultaneously in 76 countries with over 2200 collaborating centres, 

with the aim of informing about the efforts being made in the study of the human brain. In Catalonia over 30 groups participated, 

including the IDIBAPS team in Brain ischemia: Clinical and experimental studies, with Dr. Anna M. Planas and Dr. 

Guadalupe Soria of the IIBB-CSIC-IDIBAPS as leading experts. 

• Cell therapy, the Medicine of the future. Cell therapy is one of the treatment alternatives of the future, and aims to restore 

the function of organs and tissues damaged as a result of trauma or chronic degenerative illnesses. In order to make 

this therapy known, Dr. Josep M. Canals, of the IDIBAPS team Cellular biology of disease processes, and a Professor of 

the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona, has developed and directed the informative video: “Cell therapy, 

the Medicine of the future”. This documentary has been produced by the Audiovisual Department of the University of 

Barcelona, and has been coordinated by the Cell Therapy Network of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. 

68

69

Inflammatory joint diseases 72 

Systemic autoimmune diseases 73 

Infectious diseases and AIDS 79 

Immune receptors of 

the innate and adaptive system 89 

Musculoskeletal repair and plasticity 92 

Immunogenetics of the 

autoinflammatory response 95 

Emergencies: Processes and pathologies 97 

Molecular and cellular bases of inflammation. 

Structural and biological mass spectrometry 100

AREA 1 

BIOLOGICAL AGGRESSION 

AND RESPONSE MECHANISMS 

Team envolved in: 

Red de Investigación en Inflamación 

y Enfermedades Reumáticas (RIER) 

Inflammatory joint diseases 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

PUBLICATIONS 

IDIBAPS MEMBERS: 

Juan D. Cañete (Hospital Clínic) 

Postdoctoral fellows: 

Raquel Celis (Fundació Clínic) 

Maria Victoria Hernández (Fundació Clínic) 

Research Fellows: 

Virginia Ruiz-Esquide (Fundació Clínic) 

Collaborators: 

Guadalupe Ercilla (Hospital Clínic) 

Jaume Pomés (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Tomas (Hospital Clínic) 

Odette Viñas (Hospital Clínic) 

J.A. Gómez-Puerta (Fundació Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Raimon Sanmartí 

(Hospital Clínic) 

Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2236/2604) 

E-mail: 

sanmarti@clinic.ub.es 

Promotion of research into the most 

prevalent chronic forms of arthritis: 

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis, 

including psoriatic arthritis. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Prognostic factors in initial arthritis 

a. Prognostic factors (clinical and 

immunogenetic) in patients with 

initial rheumatoid arthritis. 

b. Production of new synthetic 

citrullinated peptides for the 

design of immunoassays with 

diagnostic and prognostic value 

in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis. 

2. Immunopathology of synovitis 

in chronic arthritis 

a. Utility in differential diagnosis 

and prognosis. Immunopathological 

changes related to biological 

treatments. Synovial response 

biomarkers. 

3. Role of synovial fibroblasts in 

arthritis refractory to antirheumatic 

treatment 

4. Role of autoinflammatory genes 

in the pathogenesis of chronic 

arthritis 

a. MEFV gene mutations in intermittent 

arthritis. 

Originals 

I.F.: 10,06 

1 Alonso A, Julia A, Tortosa R, Canaleta 

C, Canete JD, Ballina J, Balsa A, Tornero 

J, Marsal S. CNstream: A method for the 

identification and genotyping of copy number 

polymorphisms using Illumina microarrays. 

BMC BIOINFORMATICS, 2010. 11:-. 

I.F.:3,43. 

2 Graell E, Arostegui JI, Sanmarti R, Blanco 

FJ, Yague J, Pinto JA, Plaza S, Fernandez- 

Sueiro JL, Gonzalez A, Canete JD. Possible 

association between NOD2 variants and 

joint surgery in psoriatic arthritis. CLIN EXP 

RHEUMATOL, 2010. 28:30-34. I.F.:2,40. 

3 Balsa A, DelAmo J, Blanco F, Caliz R, 

Silva L, Sanmarti R, Martinez FG, Tejedor D, 

Artieda M, Pascual-Salcedo D, Oreiro N, Collado 

MD, Andreu JL, Graell E, Simon L, Martinez 

A, Mulero J. Prediction of functional 

impairment and remission in rheumatoid 

arthritis patients by biochemical variables 

and genetic polymorphisms. RHEUMATOL- 

OGY, 2010. 49:458-466. I.F.:4,24. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 8,11 

1 Canete JD, Celis R, Hernandez V, Pablos 

JL, Sanmarti R. Synovial immunopathological 

changes associated with successful 

abatacept therapy in a case of severe 

refractory psoriatic arthritis. ANN RHEUM 

DIS, 2010. 69:935-U195. I.F.:8,11. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 8,11 

1 Garcia-Doval I, Perez-Zafrilla B, Descalzo 

MA, Rosello R, Hernandez MV, Gomez- 

Reino JJ, Carmona L. Incidence and risk of 

hospitalisation due to shingles and chickenpox 

in patients with rheumatic diseases 

treated with TNF antagonists. ANN RHEUM 

DIS, 2010. 69:1751-1755. I.F.:8,11. 

72

AREA 1 



Systemic autoimmune diseases 

Group Members 

Strategic Objectives 

IDIBAPS MEMBERS: 

Gerard Espinosa Garriga 


Miguel Ingelmo Morín 


Manuel Ramos Casals 


Alfredo Adán (Hospital Clínic) 

Albert Bové (Facultat de Medicina) 

Ricardo P. Casaroli (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Cinta Cid (Hospital Clínic) 

José Hernández Rodríguez 


Elena Millá (Hospital Clínic) 


Joan Plaza Nicolau (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana García Martínez (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergio Prieto (Hospital Clínic) 

Georgina Espígol (IDIBAPS) 

Marc Corbera (IDIBAPS) 

Montserrat Butjosa (Hospital Clínic) 

Miguel Angel Plasín (Hospital Clínic) 

Guillermo Pons-Estel (IDIBAPS) 

Juan Carlos Mejía (Hospital Clínic) 

Cándido Díaz-Lagares (Hospital Clínic) 

Ester Planas (IDIBAPS) 

TEAM LEADER 

Dr. Ricard Cervera 

Segura (Hospital Clínic) 

Tel.: 93 227 57 74 

Fax: 93 227 17 07 

E-mail: rcervera@clinic.ub.es 

Administrative Staff: 

Isabel Chaves (Hospital Clínic) 


Silvia Bucciarelli (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Bosch Aparici (Hospital Clínic) 

María Teresa Sainz de la Maza 


Antoni Sisó (GESCLINIC) 

Visiting Scientists: 

María Kourilovitch (Cuenca, Ecuador) 

Marta Pérez de Lis (Vigo) 

Roberto Pérez-Alvarez (Vigo) 

Rafael Belenguer (València) 

Miriam Akasbi (Madrid) 

Miriam Gandía (Cádiz) 

The Systemic Autoimmune Diseases 

research group promotes basic, clinical 

and translational research in these 

diseases in a multidisciplinary manner, 

with the participation of members of 

the following Departments: Autoimmune 

Diseases, Ophthalmology, Internal 

Medicine, Nephrology, Immunology, 

Hemostasis, Hepatology, Obstetrics and 

Dermatology, among others. 

These activities are carried out in close collaboration 

with different international work 

groups, of which the team members are 

national and/or international coordinators: 

European Working Party on Systemic Lupus 

Erythematosus (EWPSLE), European 

Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibodies 

(EFAPL), Catastrophic Antiphospholipid 

Syndrome (CAPS) Registry Project 

Group, International Pediatric Register 

of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Ped-APS 

Register), Systemic Lupus International 

Collaborative Centers (SLICC), Sjögren’s 

Syndrome-Hepatitis C Virus (SS-HCV) 

Heart valve damage in a patient with 

primary antiphospholipid syndrome 

requiring valve replacement surgery. 

73




Study Group, HISPAMEC Study Group, 

Systemic Autoimmune Disease Study 

Group – Use of Biological Therapies (BIO- 

GEAS), Spanish Sjögren’s Syndrome Multicenter 

Study Group (GEMESS), European 

Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS), European 

League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 

Systemic Vasculitis Task Force, EULAR 

Standing Committee for International Clinical 

Studies Including Therapeutics, and the 

American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 

Work Group for Development of Classification 

Criteria for Rheumatic Polymyalgia, 

among others. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Systemic lupus erythematosus 

and antiphospholipid syndrome: 

• Epidemiological multicenter 

studies on the clinical 

manifestations and long-term 

evolution of these diseases. 

Emergent Group 

Autoimmune ophthalmopathy 

research Group 

Systemic vasculitis 

• Clinical trials in new biological 

therapies. 

• Study of genetic polymorphisms as 

risk factors of the different clinical 

manifestations of these diseases. 

• Study of the cardiovascular and 

endothelial damage risk factors 

found in these diseases. 

• Basic research in animal models 

on the mechanism of action of 

antiphospholipid antibodies. 

2. Sjögren’s syndrome and 

autoimmune manifestations of 

hepatitis C virus infection: 

• Epidemiological multicenter studies 

on the clinical manifestations and longterm 

evolution of these diseases. 

• Study of lymphomas associated 

with Sjögren’s syndrome. 

• Study of the cardiovascular and 

endothelial damage risk factors 

found in this syndrome. 

• Clinical and basic studies in mixed 

Cryoglobulinemia. 

Group Leader: Alfredo Manuel Adan (Hospital Clínic) 

This group studies the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic 

aspects of autoimmune eye diseases. The scientific contribution 

of this line of research is very competitive and is 

internationally renowned. The group also studies the genetic 

polymorphisms of uveitis as risk factors for the different clinical manifestations 

of the disease, and participates in different clinical trials involving novel 

biological treatments. 

Group Leader: Maria Cinta Cid (Hospital Clínic) 

This group studies the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic 

aspects of systemic vasculitic disorders, as well as the 

mechanisms producing vascular damage in these diseases. 

The scientific contribution of this line of research is very 

competitive and is internationally renowned. Clinical studies are also made 

of the systemic vascular lesions characterizing giant cell arteritis, exploring 

the mechanisms that produce these vascular lesions in this disease, and participating 

in different clinical trials involving new biological treatments. The 

group also coordinates the Spanish registries of vasculitis associated with 

antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and Behçet’s disease. 

• International registry of treatments 

with biological drugs for systemic 

autoimmune disorders (BIOGEAS). 

3. Systemic vasculitis: 

• Investigation of the mechanisms 

involved and the clinical 

consequences of the persistence 

of vascular inflammation in giant 

cell arteritis. Identification of new 

therapeutic targets. 

• Study of the mechanisms involved 

in the development of abnormal 

vascular remodelling (occlusion 

or dilatation) and its clinical 

consequences. 

• Development of an organ culture 

model for studying the factors 

implicated in the perpetuation 

of inflammation and in vascular 

remodelling. 

• Study of the prevalence of large 

vessel inflammatory involvement 

at the start and during the course 

of giant cell arteritis. 

• Clinical trials promoted 

fundamentally for investigating 

new biological therapies in 

the management of systemic 

vasculitis. 

• Spanish systemic vasculitis 

registry. 

• Spanish Behçet’s disease registry. 

4. Autoimmune ophthalmopathy: 

• Clinical trials in new biological 

therapies. 

• Study of genetic polymorphisms 

in uveitis as risk factors of the 

different clinical manifestations of 

such ophthalmological disorders. 

• Treatment with anti-Vascular 

Endothelial Growth Factor 

(VEGF) drugs for choroid 

neovascularization and cystic 

macular edema secondary to 

uveitis. 

74

AREA 1 

BIOLOGICAL AGGRESSION AND RESPONSE MECHANISMS 


PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 173,60 

1 Houssiau FA, D’cruz D, Sangle 

S, Remy P, Vasconcelos C, Petrovic 

R, Fiehn C, Garrido ED, Gilboe IM, 

Tektonidou M, Blockmans D, Ravelingien 

I, LeGuern V, Depresseux G, 

Guillevin L, Cervera R. Azathioprine 

versus mycophenolate mofetil for 

long-term immunosuppression in 

lupus nephritis: results from the 

MAINTAIN Nephritis Trial. ANN 

RHEUM DIS., 2010. 69:2083-2089. 

I.F.:8,11. 

2 Espinosa C, Cervera R. Belimumab, 

a blys-specific inhibitor for 

the treatment of systemic lupus 

erythematosus. DRUG TODAY, 2010. 

46:891-899. I.F.:1,59. 

3 Soto-Cardenas MJ, Perez-De-Lis 

M, Bove A, Navarro C, Brito-Zeron P, 

Diaz-Lagares C, Gandia M, Akasbi M, 

Siso A, Ballester E, Torres A, Ramos- 

Casals M. Bronchiectasis in primary 

Sjogren’s syndrome: prevalence 

and clinical significance. CLIN EXP 

RHEUMATOL, 2010. 28:647-653. 

I.F.:2,40. 

4 Perez-De-Lis M, Akasbi M, Siso 

A, Diez-Cascon P, Brito-Zeron P, Diaz- 

Lagares C, Ortiz J, Perez-Alvarez R, 

Ramos-Casals M, Coca A. Cardiovascular 

risk factors in primary Sjogren’s 

syndrome: a case-control study in 

624 patients. LUPUS, 2010. 19:941- 

948. I.F.:2,59. 

5 Pinazo MJ, Espinosa G, Gallego 

M, Lopez-Chejade PL, Urbina JA, 

Gascon J. Case Report: Successful 

Treatment with Posaconazole of a 

Patient with Chronic Chagas Disease 

and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. 

AM J TROP MED HYG, 2010. 82:583- 

587. I.F.:2,80. 

6 Ramos-Casals M, Brito-Zeron 

P, Perez-De-Lis M, Diaz-Lagares C, 

Bove A, Soto MJ, Jimenez I, Belenguer 

R, Siso A, Muxi A, Pons F. Clinical 

and Prognostic Significance of 

Parotid Scintigraphy in 405 Patients 

with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome. 

J RHEUMATOL, 2010. 37:585-590. 

I.F.:3,85. 

7 Ruiz-Irastorza G, Ramos-Casals M, 

Brito-Zeron P, Khamashta MA. Clinical 

efficacy and side effects of antimalarials 

in systemic lupus erythematosus: a 

systematic review. ANN RHEUM DIS, 

2010. 69:20-28. I.F.:8,11. 

8 Martinez-Zamora MA, Tassies 

D, Carmona F, Espinosa G, Cerverac 

R, Reverter JC, Balasch J. Clot 

lysis time and thrombin activatable 

fibrinolysis inhibitor in severe preeclampsia 

with or without associated 

antiphospholipid antibodies. J RE- 

PROD IMMUNOL, 2010. 86:133- 

140. I.F.:2,52. 

9 Vera-Recabarren MA, Garcia-Carrasco 

M, Ramos-Casals M, Herrero 

C. Comparative analysis of subacute 

cutaneous lupus erythematosus and 

chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus: 

clinical and immunological study 

of 270 patients. BRIT J DERMATOL, 

2010. 162:91-101. I.F.:4,26. 

10 Luceno F, Castilla JA, Gomez- 

Palomares JL, Cabello Y, Hernandez J, 

Marqueta J, Herrero J, Vidal E, Fernandez-Shaw 

S, Coroleu B. Comparison of 

IVF cycles reported in a voluntary ART 

registry with a mandatory registry in 

Spain. HUM REPROD, 2010. 25:3066- 

3071. I.F.:3,86. 

11 Vera-Recabarren MA, Garcia- 

Carrasco M, Ramos-Casals M, Herrero 

C. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: 

clinical and immunological study of 

308 patients stratified by gender. CLIN 

EXP DERMATOL, 2010. 35:729-735. 

I.F.:1,55. 

12 Adan A, Serra-Grabulosa JM. 

Effects of caffeine and glucose, alone 

and combined, on cognitive performance. 

HUM PSYCHOPHARM CLIN, 

2010. 25:310-317. I.F.:2,50. 

13 Mendoza-Pinto C, Garcia- 

Carrasco M, Jimenez-Hernandez M, 

Hernandez CJ, Riebeling-Navarro 

C, Zavala AN, Recabarren MV, Espinosa 

G, Quezada JJ, Cervera R. Etiopathogenesis 

of Behcet’s disease. 

AUTOIMMUN REV, 2010. 9:241-245. 

I.F.:6,37. 

14 Rojas-Villarraga A, Toro CE, Espinosa 

G, Rodriguez-Velosa Y, Duarte- 

Rey C, Mantilla RD, Iglesias-Gamarra 

A, Cervera R, Anaya JM. Factors influencing 

polyautoimmunity in systemic 

lupus erythematosus. AUTOIMMUN 

REV, 2010. 9:229-232. I.F.:6,37. 

15 Pisoni CN, Brucato A, Ruffatti 

A, Espinosa G, Cervera R, Belmonte- 

Serrano M, Sanchez-Roman J, Garcia- 

Hernandez FG, Tincani A, Bertero MT, 

Doria A, Hughes GRV, Khamashta MA. 

Failure of Intravenous Immunoglobulin 

to Prevent Congenital Heart Block 

Findings of a Multicenter, Prospective, 

Observational Study. ARTHRITIS 

RHEUM-US, 2010. 62:1147-1152. 

I.F.:7,33. 

16 Smithson A, Perello R, Aibar 

J, Espinosa G, Tassies D, Freire C, 

Castro P, Suarez B, Lozano F, Nicolas 

JM. Genotypes Coding for Low Serum 

Levels of Mannose-Binding Lectin 

Are Underrepresented among Individuals 

Suffering from Noninfectious 

Systemic Inflammatory Response 

Syndrome. CLIN VACCINE IMMUNOL, 

2010. 17:447-453. I.F.:2,37. 

75

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17 Serra-Grabulosa JM, Adan A, 

Falcon C, Bargallo N. Glucose and 

caffeine effects on sustained attention: 

an exploratory fMRI study. HUM 

PSYCHOPHARM CLIN, 2010. 25:543- 

552. I.F.:2,50. 

18 Colli A, Mestres CA, Espinosa 

G, Plasin MA, Pomar JL, Font J, 

Cervera R. Heart valve surgery in 

patients with the antiphospholipid 

syndrome: analysis of a series of 

nine cases. EUR J CARDIO-THORAC, 

2010. 37:154-158. I.F.:2,40. 

19 Lozano E, Segarra M, Corbera- 

Bellalta M, Garcia-Martinez A, 

Espigol-Frigole G, Pla-Campo A, 

Hernandez-Rodriguez J, Cid MC. 

Increased expression of the endothelin 

system in arterial lesions 

from patients with giant-cell arteritis: 

association between elevated 

plasma endothelin levels and the 

development of ischaemic events. 

ANN RHEUM DIS, 2010. 69:434- 

442. I.F.:8,11. 

20 Ramos-Casals M, Garcia- 

Hernandez FJ, DeRamon E, Callejas 

JL, Martinez-Berriotxoa A, Pallares 

L, Caminal-Montero L, Selva- 

O’callaghan A, Oristrell J, Hidalgo C, 

Perez-Alvarez R, Mico ML, Medrano 

F, Gomez-De-La-Torre R, Diaz-Lagares 

C, Camps M, Ortego N, Sanchez- 

Roman J. Off-label use of rituximab 

in 196 patients with severe, refractory 

systemic autoimmune diseases. 

CLIN EXP RHEUMATOL, 2010. 

28:468-476. I.F.:2,40. 

21 Siso A, Ramos-Casals M, Bove 

A, Brito-Zeron P, Soria N, Nardi N, 

Testi A, Perez-De-Lis M, Diaz-Lagares 

C, Darnell A, Sentis J, Coca A. Outcomes 

in Biopsy-Proven Lupus Nephritis 

Evaluation of 190 White Patients 

From a Single Center. MEDICINE, 

2010. 89:300-307. I.F.:5,05. 

22 Praprotnik S, Agmon-Levin N, 

Porat-Katz BS, Blank M, Meroni PL, 

Cervera R, Miesbach W, Stojanovich 

L, Szyper-Kravitz M, Rozman B, Tomsic 

M, Shoenfeld Y. Prolactin’s role 

in the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid 

syndrome. LUPUS, 2010. 

19:1515-1519. I.F.:2,59. 

23 Hanly JG, Urowitz MB, Su 

L, Bae SC, Gordon C, Wallace DJ, 

Clarke A, Bernatsky S, Isenberg D, 

Rahman A, Alarcon GS, Gladman 

DD, Fortin PR, Sanchez-Guerrero J, 

Romero-Diaz J, Merrill JT, Ginzler E, 

Bruce IN, Steinsson K, Khamashta 

M, Petri M, Manzi S, Dooley MA, 

Ramsey-Goldman R, VanVollenhoven 

R, Nived O, Sturfelt G, Aranow C, 

Kalunian K, Ramos-Casals M, Zoma 

A, Douglas J, Thompson K, Farewell 

V. Prospective analysis of neuropsychiatric 

events in an international 

disease inception cohort of patients 

with systemic lupus erythematosus. 

ANN RHEUM DIS, 2010. 69:529-535. 

I.F.:8,11. 

24 Quintana G, Coral-Alvarado P, 

Aroca G, Patarroyo PM, Chalem P, 

Iglesias-Gamarra A, Ruiz AI, Cervera 

R. Single anti-P ribosomal antibodies 

are not associated with lupus nephritis 

in patients suffering from active 

systemic lupus erythematosus. AU- 

TOIMMUN REV, 2010. 9:750-755. 

I.F.:6,37. 


P, Perez-De-Lis M, Jimenez I, Blanco 

MJ, Bove A, Soto MJ, Akasbi M, 

Diaz C, Sentis J, Siso A. Sjogren 

Syndrome or Sjogren Disease? The 

Histological and Immunological Bias 

Caused by the 2002 Criteria. CLIN 

REV ALLERG IMMU, 2010. 38:178- 

185. I.F.:2,60. 

26 O’neill S, Cervera R. Systemic 

lupus erythematosus. BEST PRACT 

RES CL RH, 2010. 24:841-855. 

I.F.:2,90. 

27 Segarra M, Lozano E, Corbera- 

Bellalta M, Vilardell C, Cibeira MT, 

Esparza J, Izco N, Blade J, Cid MC. 

Thalidomide decreases gelatinase 

production by malignant B lymphoid 

cell lines through disruption of multiple 

integrin-mediated signaling 

pathways. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 

2010. 95:456-463. I.F.:6,42. 

28 Houssiau FA, Vasconcelos C, 

D’cruz D, Sebastiani GD, Garrido 

ED, Danieli MG, Abramovicz D, 

Blockmans D, Cauli A, Direskeneli 

H, Galeazzi M, Gul A, Levy Y, Petera 

P, Popovic R, Petrovic R, Sinico RA, 

Cattaneo R, Font J, Depresseux G, 

Cosyns JP, Cervera R. The 10-year 

follow-up data of the Euro-Lupus Nephritis 

Trial comparing low-dose and 

high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide. 

ANN RHEUM DIS, 2010. 

69:61-64. I.F.:8,11. 

29 Galarza-Maldonado C, Kourilovitch 

MR, Molineros JE, Cardiel 

MH, Zurita L, Soroka NF, Yagur VY, 

Doukh N, Cervera R. The administration 

of low doses of rituximab 

followed by hydroxychloroquine, 

prednisone and low doses of mycophenolate 

mofetil is an effective 

therapy in Latin American patients 

with active systemic lupus erythematosus. 

AUTOIMMUN REV, 2010. 

10:108-111. I.F.:6,37. 

30 Espinosa G, Mendizabal A, 

Minguez S, Ramo-Tello C, Capellades 

J, Olive A, Cervera R. Transverse 

Myelitis Affecting More Than 4 Spinal 

Segments Associated with Systemic 

Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical, 

Immunological, and Radiological 

Characteristics of 22 Patients. SEMIN 

ARTHRITIS RHEU, 2010. 39:246-256. 

I.F.:4,72. 

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31 Ramos-Casals M, Tzioufas 

AG, Stone JH, Siso A, Bosch X. 

Treatment of Primary Sjogren Syndrome 

A Systematic Review. JAMA-J 

AM MED ASSOC, 2010. 304:452- 

460. I.F.:28,90. 

32 Garcia-Martinez A, Hernandez- 

Rodriguez J, Espigol-Frigole G, Prieto- 

Gonzalez S, Butjosa M, Segarra M, 

Lozano E, Cid MC. Clinical Relevance 

of Persistently Elevated Circulating 

Cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor 

alpha and Interleukin-6) in the Long- 

Term Followup of Patients With Giant 

Cell Arteritis. ARTHRIT CARE RES. 

62 (6): 835-841. I.F.: 4,75 

33 Urowitz MB, Gladman D, Ibanez 

D, Bae SC, Sanchez-Guerrero J, Gordon 

C, Clarke A, Bernatsky S, Fortin 

PR, Hanly JG, Wallace DJ, Isenberg 

D, Rahman A, Alarcon GS, Merrill 

JT, Ginzler E, Khamashta M, Nived 

O, Sturfelt G, Bruce IN, Steinsson K, 

Manzi S, Ramsey-Goldman R, Dooley 

MA, Zoma A, Kalunian K, RAMOS M, 

van Vollenhoven RF, Aranow C, Stoll 

T, Petri M, Maddison P. Atherosclerotic 

Vascular Events in a Multinational 

Inception Cohort of Systemic Lupus 

Erythematosus . ARTHRIT CARE 

RES. 62 (6): 881-887. I.F.: 4,75 

Reviews 

I.F.: 25,341 

1 Ramos-Casals M, ROBERTO- 

PEREZ-ALVAREZ, Diaz-Lagares C, 

Cuadrado MJ, Khamashta MA. Autoimmune 

diseases induced by biological 

agents A double-edged sword?. 

AUTOIMMUN REV, 2010. 9:188-193. 

I.F.:6,37. 

2 Cervera R, Balasch J. Autoimmunity 

and Recurrent Pregnancy Losses. 

CLIN REV ALLERG IMMU, 2010. 

39:148-152. I.F.:2,60. 

3 Cervera R. Catastrophic antiphospholipid 

syndrome (CAPS): update 

from the ‘CAPS Registry’. LUPUS, 

2010. 19:412-418. I.F.:2,59. 

4 Erkan D, Espinosa G, Cervera R. 

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: 

Updated diagnostic algorithms. 

AUTOIMMUN REV, 2010. 10:74-79. 

I.F.:6,37. 

5 Serra-Grabulosa JM, Adan A, Perez-Pamies 

M, Lachica J, Membrives 

S. Neural bases of numerical processing 

and calculation. REV NEURO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 50:39-46. I.F.:1,23. 

6 Espinosa G, Cervera R. RECENT 

TRENDS IN THE MANAGEMENT 

OF ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDRO- 

ME (HUGHES SYNDROME). DRUG 

TODAY, 2010. 46:39-47. I.F.:1,59. 

7 Hernandez-Rodriguez J, Hoffman 

GS, Koening CL. Surgical 

interventions and local therapy for 

Wegener’s granulomatosis. CURR 

OPIN RHEUMATOL, 2010. 22:29- 

36. I.F.:4,60. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 3,713 

1 Cervera R, Espinosa G. Antiphospholipid 

syndrome: long-time 

research on pathogenic mechanisms 

has finally lead to new therapeutic 

strategies. EXPERT OPIN THER TAR, 

2010. 14:1279-1282. I.F.:3,71. 

Clinical Guidelines 

I.F.: 24,33 

1 Mosca M, Tani C, Aringer M, 

Bombardieri S, Boumpas D, Brey R, 

Cervera R, Doria A, Jayne D, Khamashta 

MA, Kuhn A, Gordon C, Petri 

M, Rekvig OP, Schneider M, Sherer 

Y, Shoenfeld Y, Smolen JS, Talarico R, 

Tincani A, VanVollenhoven RF, Ward 

MM, Werth VP, Carmona L. European 

League Against Rheumatism recommendations 

for monitoring patients 

with systemic lupus erythematosus 

in clinical practice and in observational 

studies. ANN RHEUM DIS, 2010. 

69:1269-1274. I.F.:8,11. 

2 Basu N, Watts R, Bajema I, Baslund 

B, Bley T, Boers M, Brogan P, 

Calabrese L, Cid MC, Cohen-Tervaert 

JW, Flores-Suarez LF, Fujimoto S, De- 

Groot K, Guillevin L, Hatemi G, Hauser 

T, Jayne D, Jennette C, Kallenberg 

CGM, Kobayashi S, Little MA, Mahr 

A, Mclaren J, Merkel PA, Ozen S, 

Puechal X, Rasmussen N, Salama A, 

Salvarani C, Savage C, Scott DGI, Segelmark 

M, Specks U, Sunderkoetter 

C, Suzuki K, Tesar V, Wiik A, Yazici H, 

Luqmani R. EULAR points to consider 

in the development of classification 

and diagnostic criteria in systemic 

vasculitis. ANN RHEUM DIS, 2010. 

69:1744-1750. I.F.:8,11. 

3 Bertsias GK, Ioannidis JPA, Aringer 

M, Bollen E, Bombardieri S, Bruce 

IN, Cervera R, Dalakas M, Doria 

A, Hanly JG, Huizinga TWJ, Isenberg 

D, Kallenberg C, Piette JC, Schneider 

M, Scolding N, Smolen J, Stara A, 

Tassiulas I, Tektonidou M, Tincani 

A, VanBuchem MA, VanVollenhoven 

R, Ward M, Gordon C, Boumpas 

DT. EULAR recommendations for 

the management of systemic lupus 

erythematosus with neuropsychiatric 

manifestations: report of a task force 

of the EULAR standing committee 

for clinical affairs. ANN RHEUM DIS, 

2010. 69:2074-2082. I.F.:8,11. 

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LOGOS 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 12,08 

1 Ginzler EM, Wofsy D, Isenberg 

D, Gordon C, Lisk L, Dooley MA. 

Nonrenal Disease Activity Following 

Mycophenolate Mofetil or Intravenous 

Cyclophosphamide as Induction 

Treatment for Lupus Nephritis. 

ARTHRITIS RHEUM-US, 2010. 

62:211-221. I.F.:7,33. 

2 Seror R; Mariette X; Bowman S; 

Baron G; Gottenberg JE; Boostma 

H; Theander E; Tzioufas A; Vitali 

C; Ravaud P . Accurate Detection 

of Changes in Disease Activity in 

Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome by the 

European League Against Rheumatism 

Sjogren’s Syndrome Disease 

Activity Index4,152. ARTHRIT CARE 

RES. 62 (4): 551-558. I.F.: 4,75 

Grants for research 

in progress 

Cid MC. Mechanisms involved in 

the development of neurologic ischemic 

complications in giant-cell 

arteritis. Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, 60710. Amount: 

170.375,00 euros. Duration: 

06/02/2007-05/02/2010. 

Identificación de dianas terapéuticas. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio de Ciencia 

e Innovación (Plan Nacional I+D), SAF 

08/04328. Amount: 232.320,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Ramos M. Alteraciones genéticas 

del sistema inmunitario innato y estado 

protrombótico como factores 

predisponentes de arteriosclerosis 

subclínica y enfermedad cardiovascular 

en pacientes con síndrome de 

Sjögren primario. Sponsored by: FIS, 

PI040154. Amount: 68.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Casaroli R. Análisis celular y molecular 

de las células progenitoras mesenquimales 

estromales de la medula 

ósea humana y su potencial en la en 

la terapia celular para la superficie 

ocular. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 

DE SALUD CARLOS III, PI09/0992. 

Amount: 102.074,40 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Ramos M. Multilingual Organic 

Information Management in the 

Medical Domain. Sponsored by: 

European Comission, Coordinador: 

Kentro Erevnon Notioanatolikis Evropis 

Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki, 250534. 


01/03/2010-31/08/2012. 

Casaroli R. Medicina Regenerativa 

en la Superfície Ocular: Aplicación de 

terapia celular para la reparación de la 

superficie oculr mediante amplificación 

ex vivo de éclulas progenitoras 

autólogas del limbo esclerocorneal 

sobre membrana amniótica. Sponsored 

by: MINISTERIO DE SANIDAD, 

POLÍTICA SOCIAL E IGUALDAD, 

TRA-072. Amount: 110.160,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Cid MC. Consecuencias clínicas de la 

persistencia de actividad inflamatoria 

en la arteritis de células gigantes. 

Estudio de factores implicados. PhD 

student: Ana García Martínez 

Coca A, Ramos M. Impacto de la 

enfermedad cardiovascular en el 

síndrome de Sjögren primario. PhD 

student: Marta Pérez de Lis Novo 

Adan AM. Estudio aleatorizado y 

abierto de la eficacia, seguridad y 

tolerabilidad de dosis repetidas de 

bevacizumab intravítreo en pacientes 

con edema macular uveítico 

refractario. Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigaciones Sanitarias, 

EC08/00096. Amount: 218.405,00 

euros. Duration: 01/01/2008- 

31/12/2011. 

Ramos M. Susceptibilitat immunogenètica 

i alteracions metabòliques 

com a factors etiopatogènics de dolor 

crònic en pacients amb síndrome 

de Sjögren en comparació amb pacients 

atesos a l’àmbit de l’atenció 

primària. Sponsored by: FUNDA- 

CIÓ LA MARATÓ DE TV3, 071810. 


13/02/2008-12/08/2012. 

Cid MC. Mecanismos implicados 

y consecuencias clínicas de la persistencia 

de la inflamación vascular 

en la arteritis de células gigantes. 

78

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Infectious diseases and AIDS 

Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Josep M. Gatell 


Tel.: 93 227 54 30 

Fax: 93 451 54 38 

E-mail: 

jmgatell@clinic.ub.es 

Idibaps members: 

Mireia Arnedo (IDIBAPS) 

Miguel Caballero (Hospital Clínic) 

Felipe García (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Laguno (Fundació Clínic) 

Josep Mallolas (Hospital Clínic) 

Esteban Martínez (Hospital Clínic) 

José Antonio Martínez 


José Mensa (Hospital Clínic) 

José M. Miró (Hospital Clínic) 

Asunción Moreno (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Plana (IDIBAPS) 

Alex Soriano (Hospital Clínic) 

M. Eloisa Yuste (IDIBAPS) 


Victor Casanova 

(Facultat de Farmàcia) 

Maria Lopez-Dieguez (Fundació Clínic) 

Christian Manzardo (Fundació Clínic) 

Hodei Arneras (Fundació Clínic) 

Nicolas Boulanger (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Linares (IDIBAPS) 

Gemma Sanclemente (Hospital Clínic) 

Irma Hoyo (UB) 

Carolina Ferreira (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Pilar Callau (Fundació Clínic) 

Tuixent Escriba (IDIBAPS) 

Ana García (Fundació Clínic) 

Maria Teresa García (Fundació Clínic) 

Carmen Hurtado (Fundació Clínic) 

M. José Maleno (Fundació Clínic) 

Laia Miralles (IDIBAPS) 

Sara Nieto (IDIBAPS) 

Yolanda Armero (Fundació Clínic) 

Alberto Crespo (IDIBAPS) 

Manuel Enric Bargalló (IDIBAPS) 

Carmen Álvarez (Fundació Clínic) 

Cristina Rovira (Fundació Clínic) 

Alberto Merino (IDIBAPS) 

Nursing Staff: 

Emmanuela Fernandez (Fundació 

Clínic) 


Carmen Mensa (IDIBAPS) 

Irene Ruíz (Fundació Clínic) 

Staticians: 

Jose Ignacio Pérez (Fundació Clínic) 


José Luis Blanco (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Calvo (Fundació Clinic) 

Carlos Cervera (Hospital Clínic) 

Nuria Climent (IDIBAPS) 

Ana del Rio (Fundació Clínic) 

Teresa Gallart (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Gil (IDIBAPS) 

Joan Joseph (Fundació Clínic) 

Elisa de Lazzari (Fundació Clínic) 

Agathe León (Fundació Clínic) 

Montserrat Loncà (Fundació Clínic) 

Sonsoles Sánchez-Palomino 

(Fundació Clínic) 

Narcís Saubí (IDIBAPS) 

Sara Varea (Fundació Clínic) 

Laura Zamora (Fundació Clínic) 

María Martínez (IDIBAPS) 

Víctor Sánchez-Merino 


Cristina García de la María 


Ana Muñoz (Fundació Clínic) 

Ana Gonzalez (Fundació Clínic) 

Florencia Etcheverry (Fundació Clínic) 

Luisa Benito Serrano (GESCLINIC) 

Zoe Herreras Pérez (CAPSE) 

Ignacio Menacho Pascual (GESCLINIC) 

Ethel Sequeira Aymar (CAPSE) 

Olga Barba (CAPSE) 

Mª Angeles Moreno Ubiedo (CAPSE) 

Marta Catalán (CAPSE) 

Valentín Araunde (CAPSE) 

Ana Picas (GESCLINIC) 

Jordi Hoyo (GESCLINIC) 

Mª José Giner (GESCLINIC) 

Dani Cararach (GESCLINIC) 

Eloisa Molés (GESCLINIC) 

Mª Luisa Moro (GESCLINIC) 

Pilar Arrabal (GESCLINIC) 


Sebastien Lyonnais (IDIBAPS) 

Gilles Mirambeau (UB) 

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Strategic 

Objectives 

1. In the AIDS field: 

• Immunotherapy of the disease 

and natural and acquired 

defense mechanisms, 

including the development of 

therapeutic and preventive 

vaccines. 

• Efficacy and resistance and 

tolerance mechanisms of new 

antiretrovirals. 

• Immunopathogenesis, treatment 

response and resistance 

mechanisms of certain 

opportunistic infections, including 

tuberculosis, pneumocystis 

carinii pneumonia (PCP) and 

toxoplasmosis. 

2. In the general infections field: 

• Prevention and treatment support 

in endocarditis due to multiresistant 

germs, including animal models. 

• Infection in solid-organ transplant 

recipients. 

• Interactions between nosocomial 

infections and antibiotic use. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. In the AIDS field: 

• The most important line focuses on 

the peripheral (blood) and central 

response (lymphatic tissue and cerebrospinal 

fluid) to different antiretroviral 

therapies when administered 

in very early evolutive stages (CD4 

> 500 mm 3 ). We have developed 

ultrasensitive techniques for the determination 

of viral load in plasma and 

tissues, as well as techniques for the 

determination of genotypic resistance 

and for immunophenotyping and 

the evaluation of CD4+ lymphocyte 

proliferation in response to antigens 

of the HIV virus. Techniques for the 

determination of drug levels have 

also been developed in collaboration 

with the clinical pharmacology group. 

Having ruled out the possibility of 

eradicating the HIV virus, the working 

hypothesis is to see whether it is possible 

to almost completely suppress 

HIV replication over the long term, 

recover the host immune system and 

quantify the degree of such recovery. 

The interruption of treatment leads to 

a rapid disease rebound effect. 

RESEARCH GROUP 

Endocarditis. Cardiovascular infections. 

Experimental model 

Group Leader: 

Josep Maria Miro 


Levels of a-defensins 1-3 produced by imMDDC from HIV-infected individuals. 

(A) Comparison between the secreted levels of a-defensins 1-3 by imMDDC 

from HIV-controllers (elite controllers and viremic controllers; n = 19) and HIV 

non-controllers (viremic non-controllers and patients with HAART; n = 20). (B) 

Secreted levels of a-defensins 1-3 by imMDDC from healthy non-infected (NI; 

n = 15), elite controllers (ELITE; n = 4), viremic controllers (VC; n = 15), viremic 

non-controllers (VNC; n = 11) and patients receiving HAART (HAART; n = 9). 

Dots indicate each patient, and lines represent median 6 interquartile ranges 

(Rodriguez-Garcia M, et al. PloS ONE 2010;5:1-10). 

This group studies the epidemiological, 

clinical, diagnostic, 

preventive and therapeutic aspects of infectious 

endocarditis. This is done based on studies 

of local, national or international cohorts (ICE) 

that have revealed an increase in endocarditis 

produced by methicillin-sensitive and -resistant 

Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA, 

respectively). Studies using the experimental 

model of endocarditis due to MRSA and glycopeptide 

intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus 

aureus (GISA) have evaluated the activity of 

new antibiotic combinations (phosphomycin and 

imipenem), or new antibiotics such as daptomycin 

and telavancin. 

80

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• The mechanism by which the virus 

is able to escape the cytotoxic 

immune response is subject to 

study, and could correspond to the 

selection of quasispecies different 

from the reservoirs (immunological 

resistance). For this reason we have 

started a research line aimed at developing 

techniques for stimulating 

the immune system, with a view to 

associating them with antiretroviral 

therapy. Cyclic interruption of the 

treatment can induce recovery of 

the specific immune response to 

HIV antigens, associated with a 

spontaneous decrease in viral load, 

which is correlated to the degree of 

proliferative and specific cytotoxic 

response against HIV-1 in a small 

percentage of patients. 

• We have also developed an immunotherapeutic 

technique based 

on the administration of autologous 

dendritic cells stimulated ex 

vivo with the virus of the patient. 

The first phase I study in patients 

has already been completed and 

published. The second study, using 

higher viral concentrations to induce 

the ex vivo stimulation of the 

autologous dendritic cells, has now 

practically been completed. 

• We are developing different immunogens 

which may be potential 

candidates for therapeutic or preventive 

vaccines. 

2. In the general infections field: 

• Clinical and experimental endocarditis, 

including endocarditis in 

illegal drug abusers (Dr. J.M. Miró). 

• Infections in transplant recipients. 

Microbiological diagnosis and prognostic 

markers (Dr. A. Moreno). 

• Predictive factors and markers of 

treatment response in nosocomial 

infections (Dr. J. Mensa). 

• Response to treatment, resistance 

and transmission of tuberculosis. 

• Prognostic factors of communityacquired 

and nosocomial respiratory 

infections in both immunocompetent 

and immune depressed individuals. 

• The genetic fundaments of host 

susceptibility and the biochemical, 

molecular and replicative capacity 

bases of the resistant strains. 


www.idibaps.org/aidsresearch 


Infections in solid-organ transplant 

recipients 

Group Leader: 

Asunción Moreno 


In the last year, this group has 

studied the clinical and evolutive 

characteristics of bacteremias in patients subjected 

to different solid organ transplants (kidney, liver, heart 

and renal-pancreatic). We have shown that mannose 

binding to lectin polymorphisms (MBL) condition an 

increase in the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) 

disease, and have analyzed the mortality risk factors 

of pneumonia in transplant patients. Studies have 

been made of the prevalence of other viruses of the 

herpes group (HHV-6 and -7) in the transplant population, 

as well as their pathogenic role in the post-transplantation 

period. These studies have been made 

jointly with investigators specialized in Microbiology 

and Immunology, and with the different Transplantation 

Units (Institutes of Digestive, Renal and Thoracic 

Diseases). 


AIDS and HIV infection 

Group Leader: 

Josep Maria Gatell 


This group studies the 

clinical, diagnostic, 

therapeutic and preventive aspects of 

HIV infection. The scientific contribution 

of this line of research is very competitive 

and is internationally renowned. 

This group of investigators focuses on 

exploration of the potential for eradicating 

HIV infection and on reconstruction 

of the immune system, including 

the development of preventive and 

therapeutic vaccines. Since its start in 

2002, Dr. Gatell has coordinated the 

Spanish network of research groups 

in AIDS (RIS), funded by the FIS, and 

since 2007 has coordinated the HIVA- 

CAT project on research into vaccines 

against HIV infection. 


Nosocomial infection 

study group 

Group Leader: 

Álex Soriano 


This group studies 

the clinical, 

diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive 

aspects of nosocomial 

(in-hospital) infections. The scientific 

contribution is particularly 

notorious in the treatment and 

management of bacteremia, 

infections in Intensive Care 

Units, and infections related to 

orthopedic implants. Its components 

are members of the REIPI 

(Spanish Research Network in 

Infectious Disease), and participate 

actively in multicenter projects 

financed by the FIS. 

81

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PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 207,37 

1 Martinez E, Larrousse M, Podzamczer 

D, Perez I, Gutierrez F, Lonca 

M, Barragan P, Deulofeu R, Casamitjana 

R, Mallolas J, Pich J, Gatell 

JM. Abacavir-based therapy does not 

affect biological mechanisms associated 

with cardiovascular dysfunction. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:F1-F9. I.F.:4,91. 

2 Lujan B, Hakim S, Moyano S, Nadal 

A, Caballero M, Diaz A, Valera A, 

Carrera M, Cardesa A, Alos L. Activation 

of the EGFR/ERK pathway in highgrade 

mucoepidermoid carcinomas of 

the salivary glands. BRIT J CANCER, 

2010. 103:510-516. I.F.:4,35. 

3 Lalani T, Cabell CH, Benjamin DK, 

Lasca O, Naber C, Fowler VG, Corey 

GR, Chu VH, Fenely M, Pachirat O, 

Tan RS, Watkin R, Ionac A, Moreno 

A, Mestres CA, Casabe J, Chipigina 

N, Eisen DP, Spelman D, Delahaye F, 

Peterson G, Olaison L, Wang A. Analysis 

of the Impact of Early Surgery on 

In-Hospital Mortality of Native Valve 

Endocarditis Use of Propensity Score 

and Instrumental Variable Methods to 

Adjust for Treatment-Selection Bias. 

CIRCULATION, 2010. 121:1005-1013. 

I.F.:14,82. 

4 Ortega M, Marco F, Soriano A, Almela 

M, Martinez JA, Pitart C, Mensa 

J. Candida spp. bloodstream infection: 

influence of antifungal treatment on 

outcome. J ANTIMICROB CHEMOTH, 

2010. 65:562-568. I.F.:4,35. 

5 Tuset M, Lopez-Sune E, Cervera C, 

Moreno A, Miro JM. Characteristics of 

antiviral drugs, excluding antiretroviral 

agents: Update 2009. ENFERM INFEC 

MICR CL, 2010. 28:199-199. I.F.:1,39. 

6 Lopez-Sune E, Tuset M, Laguno 

M, Moreno A, Miro JM. Characteristics 

of hepatitis and influenza antivirals: 

update 2009. ENFERM INFEC 

MICR CL, 2010. 28:253-253. I.F.:1,39. 

7 Fernandez-Ruiz M, Cervera C, 

Pitart C, Perez G, DelRio A, Miro 

JM, Marco F, Moreno A. Community-Acquired 

Methicillin-Resistant 

Staphylococcus aureus Meningitis 

Complicated by Cerebral Infarction. 

Role of Antibiotic Combination of Linezolid 

Plus Levofloxacin. INTERNAL 

MED, 2010. 49:1971-1974. I.F.:1,04. 

8 Kanafani Z, Boucher H, Fowler 

V, Cabell C, Hoen B, Miro JM, Lalani 

T, Vigliani G, Campion M, Corey R, 

Levine D. Daptomycin compared to 

standard therapy for the treatment of 

native valve endocarditis. ENFERM 

INFEC MICR CL, 2010. 28:498-503. 

I.F.:1,39. 

9 Garcia-De-La-Maria C, Marco F, 

Armero Y, Soy D, Moreno A, DelRio A, 

Almela M, Cervera C, Ninot S, Falces 

C, Mestres CA, Gatell JM, DeAnta 

MTJ, Miro JM. Daptomycin Is Effective 

for Treatment of Experimental 

Endocarditis Due to Methicillin-Resistant 

and Glycopeptide-Intermediate 

Staphylococcus epidermidis. ANTIMI- 

CROB AGENTS CH, 2010. 54:2781- 

2786. I.F.:4,80. 

10 Lifson AR, Belloso WH, Davey 

RT, Duprez D, Gatell JM, Hoy JF, 

Krum EA, Nelson R, Pedersen C, Perez 

G, Price RW, Prineas RJ, Rhame 

FS, Sampson JH, Worley J. Development 

of Diagnostic Criteria for Serious 

Non-AIDS Events in HIV Clinical Trials. 

HIV CLIN TRIALS, 2010. 11:205-219. 

I.F.:1,63. 

11 Trullas JC, Mocroft A, Cofan F, 

Tourret J, Moreno A, Bagnis CI, Fux 

CA, Katlama C, Reiss P, Lundgren J, 

Gatell JM, Kirk O, Miro JM. Dialysis 

and Renal Transplantation in HIV- 

Infected Patients: a European Survey. 

JAIDS-J ACQ IMM DEF, 2010. 55:582- 

589. I.F.:4,21. 

12 Puisac B, Arnedo M, Casale 

CH, Ribate MP, Castiella T, Ramos 

FJ, Ribes A, Perez-Cerda C, Casals 

N, Hegardt FG, Pie J. Differential 

HMG-CoA lyase expression in human 

tissues provides clues about 

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria. J 

INHERIT METAB DIS, 2010. 33:405- 

410. I.F.:3,60. 

13 Poveda E, Anta L, Blanco JL, 

Casado JL, Gutierrez F, Garcia F, 

Gomez-Sirvent JL, Iribarren JA, Soriano 

V, DeMendoza C. Drug Resistance 

Mutations in HIV-Infected Patients in 

the Spanish Drug Resistance Database 

Failing Tipranavir and Darunavir 

Therapy. ANTIMICROB AGENTS CH, 

2010. 54:3018-3020. I.F.:4,80. 

14 Herrera E, Tenckhoff S, Gomara 

MJ, Galatola R, Bleda MJ, Gil C, Ercilla 

G, Gatell JM, Tillmann HL, Haro 

I. Effect of Synthetic Peptides Belonging 

to E2 Envelope Protein of GB 

Virus C on Human Immunodeficiency 

Virus Type 1 Infection. J MED CHEM, 

2010. 53:6054-6063. I.F.:4,80. 

15 Veloso S, Olona M, Garcia F, 

Domingo P, Alonso-Villaverde C, Broch 

M, Peraire J, Vilades C, Plana M, 

Pedrol E, Lopez-Dupla M, Aguilar C, 

Gutierrez M, Leon A, Tasias M, Gatell 

JM, Richart C, Vidal F. Effect of TNF-a 

genetic variants and CCR5 Delta 32 

on the vulnerability to HIV-1 infection 

and disease progression in Caucasian 

Spaniards. BMC MED GENET, 2010. 

11:63-63. I.F.:2,84. 

16 Gonzalez R, Castro P, Garcia 

F, Plana M, Bayas JM, Lafuente S, 

Serrano B, Mora B, Argelich R, Gatell 

JM, Vilella A. Effects of highly active 

antiretroviral therapy on vaccine-induced 

humoral immunity in HIV-infected 

82

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adults. HIV MED, 2010. 11:535-539. 

I.F.:2,88. 

17 Cobos-Trigueros N, Pitart C, 

Marco F, Martinez JA, Almela M, Lopez 

J, Ortega M, Soriano A, Mensa J. 

Epidemiology and clinical presentation 

of Panton-Valentine leukocidin positive 

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 

aureus. REV ESP QUIM, 2010. 23:93- 

99. I.F.:0,73. 

18 Hoyo I, Linares L, Cervera C, 

Almela M, Marcos MA, Sanclemente 

G, Cofan F, Ricart MJ, Moreno A. 

Epidemiology of Pneumonia in Kidney 

Transplantation. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:2938-2940. I.F.:0,99. 

19 Mocroft A, Kirk O, Reiss P, 

DeWit S, Sedlacek D, Beniowski M, 

Gatell J, Phillips AN, Ledergerber B, 

Lundgren JD. Estimated glomerular 

filtration rate, chronic kidney disease 

and antiretroviral drug use in HIV-positive 

patients. AIDS, 2010. 24:1667- 

1678. I.F.:4,91. 

20 Poveda E, Anta L, Blanco JL, 

Perez-Elias MJ, Garcia F, Leal M, Ribera 

E, Gutierrez F, Soriano V, DeMendoza 

C. Etravirine resistance associated 

mutations in HIV-infected patients failing 

efavirenz or nevirapine in the Spanish 

antiretroviral resistance database. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:469-471. I.F.:4,91. 

21 Diaz A, Alos L, Leon A, Mozos 

A, Caballero M, Martinez A, Plana M, 

Gallart T, Gil C, Leal M, Gatell JM, Garcia 

F. Factors associated with collagen 

deposition in lymphoid tissue in longterm 

treated HIV-infected patients. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:2029-2039. I.F.:4,91. 

22 Freitas P, Santos AC, Carvalho D, 

Pereira J, Marques R, Martinez E, Sarmento 

A, Medina JL. Fat Mass Ratio: 

An Objective Tool to Define Lipodystrophy 

in HIV-Infected Patients Under 

Antiretroviral Therapy. J CLIN DENSI- 

TOM, 2010. 13:197-203. I.F.:2,39. 

23 Buzon MJ, Massanella M, Llibre 

JM, Esteve A, Dahl V, Puertas MC, 

Gatell JM, Domingo P, Paredes R, 

Sharkey M, Palmer S, Stevenson M, 

Clotet B, Blanco J, Martinez-Picado 

J. HIV-1 replication and immune 

dynamics are affected by raltegravir 

intensification of HAART-suppressed 

subjects. NAT MED, 2010. 16:460- 

U143. I.F.:27,14. 

24 Miro JM, Manzardo C, Pich 

J, Domingo P, Ferrer E, Arribas JR, 

Ribera E, Arrizabalaga J, Lonca M, 

Cruceta A, DeLazzari E, Fuster M, 

Podzamczer D, Plana M, Gatell JM. 

Immune Reconstitution in Severely 

Immunosuppressed Antiretroviral- 

Naive HIV Type 1-Infected Patients 

Using a Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase 

Inhibitor-Based or a Boosted 

Protease Inhibitor-Based Antiretroviral 

Regimen: Three-Year Results. AIDS 

RES HUM RETROV, 2010. 26:747- 

757. I.F.:2,18. 

25 Fortun J, Martin-Davila P, Pascual 

J, Cervera C, Moreno A, Gavalda 

J, Aguado JM, Pereira P, Gurgui M, 

Carratala J, Fogueda M, Montejo 

M, Blasco F, Bou G, Torre-Cisneros 

J. Immunosuppressive therapy and 

infection after kidney transplantation. 

TRANSPL INFECT DIS, 2010. 12:397- 

405. I.F.:2,06. 

26 Rodriguez-Garcia M, Climent 

N, Oliva H, Casanova V, Franco R, 

Leon A, Gatell JM, Garcia F, Gallart T. 

Increased alpha-Defensins 1-3 Production 

by Dendritic Cells in HIV-Infected 

Individuals Is Associated with Slower 

Disease Progression. PLOS ONE, 

2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

27 Martinez JA, Cobos-Trigueros 

N, Soriano A, Almela M, Ortega M, 

Marco F, Pitart C, Sterzik H, Lopez 

J, Mensa J. Influence of Empiric 

Therapy with a beta-Lactam Alone or 

Combined with an Aminoglycoside 

on Prognosis of Bacteremia Due 

to Gram-Negative Microorganisms. 

ANTIMICROB AGENTS CH, 2010. 

54:3590-3596. I.F.:4,80. 

28 Linares L, Cervera C, Hoyo I, 

Sanclemente G, Marco F, Cofan F, 

Ricart MJ, Navasa M, Moreno A. 

Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in 

Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: 

Epidemiology and Antibiotic Resistance. 

TRANSPL P, 2010. 42:2941-2943. 

I.F.:0,99. 

29 Steigbigel RT, Cooper DA, 

Teppler H, Eron JJ, Gatell JM, Kumar 

PN, Rockstroh JK, Schechter M, Katlama 

C, Markowitz M, Yeni P, Loutfy 

MR, Lazzarin A, Lennox JL, Clotet 

B, Zhao J, Wan H, Rhodes RR, Strohmaier 

KM, Barnard RJ, Isaacs RD, 

Nguyen BYT. Long-Term Efficacy and 

Safety of Raltegravir Combined with 

Optimized Background Therapy in 

Treatment-Experienced Patients with 

Drug-Resistant HIV Infection: Week 

96 Results of the BENCHMRK 1 and 

2 Phase III Trials. CLIN INFECT DIS, 

2010. 50:605-612. I.F.:8,20. 

30 Gatell JM, Katlama C, Grinsztejn 

B, Eron JJ, Lazzarin A, Vittecoq D, 

Gonzalez CJ, Danovich RM, Wan H, 

Zhao J, Meibohm AR, Strohmaier KM, 

Harvey CM, Isaacs RD, Nguyen BYT. 

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of the 

HIV Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir in 

Patients With Limited Treatment Options 

in a Phase II Study. JAIDS-J ACQ 

IMM DEF, 2010. 53:456-463. I.F.:4,21. 

31 Joseph J, Fernandez-Lloris 

R, Pezzat E, Saubi N, Cardona PJ, 

Mothe B, Gatell JM. Molecular Characterization 

of Heterologous HIV- 

1gp120 Gene Expression Disruption 

83

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in Mycobacterium bovis BCG Host 

Strain: A Critical Issue for Engineering 

Mycobacterial Based-Vaccine Vectors. 

J BIOMED BIOTECHNOL, 2010. :-. 

I.F.:1,75. 

32 Polverino E, Dambrava P, Cilloniz 

C, Balasso V, Marcos MA, Esquinas 

C, Mensa J, Ewig S, Torres A. Nursing 

home-acquired pneumonia: a 10 year 

single-centre experience. THORAX, 

2010. 65:354-359. I.F.:7,04. 

33 Moreno A, Sanchez F, Nelson 

J, Miro JM, Cayla JA. On the way to 

shortening tuberculosis treatments: 

clinical trials of the Unitat d’ Investagacio 

en Tuberculosi de Barcelona 

supported by the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention. GAC SANIT, 

2010. 24:171-171. I.F.:1,17. 

34 Pion M, Serramia MJ, Diaz L, 

Bryszewska M, Gallart T, Garcia F, 

Gomez R, DeLaMata FJ, Munoz-Fernandez 

MA. Phenotype and functional 

analysis of human monocytes-derived 

dendritic cells loaded with a carbosilane 

dendrimer. BIOMATERIALS, 2010. 

31:8749-8758. I.F.:7,37. 

35 Etcheverry MF, DeLazzari E, 

Fuchs JD, Merono M, Sierra E, DelRomero 

J, Evans JL, Mendez-Arancibia 

E, Jacques C, Rojas D, Segu M, Gatell 

JM, Joseph J. Pilot Study Assessing 

HIV Vaccine Trial Readiness Among 

Female Sex Workers, Injection and 

Non-injection Drug Users, and Men 

Who Have Sex with Men in Spain. 

AIDS BEHAV, 2010. 14:607-617. 

I.F.:3,04. 

36 Perello R, Miro O, Marcos MA, 

Almela M, Bragulat E, Sanchez M, 

Agusti C, Miro JM, Moreno A. Predicting 

bacteremic pneumonia in HIV- 

1-infected patients consulting the ED. 

AM J EMERG MED, 2010. 28:454- 

459. I.F.:1,54. 

37 Rodriguez D, Almirante B, 

Cuenca-Estrella M, Rodriguez-Tudela 

JL, Mensa J, Ayats J, Sanchez F, 

Pahissa A. Predictors of candidaemia 

caused by non-albicans Candida species: 

results of a population-based 

surveillance in Barcelona, Spain. CLIN 

MICROBIOL INFEC, 2010. 16:1676- 

1682. I.F.:4,01. 

38 Letang E, Almeida JM, Miro 

JM, Ayala E, White IE, Carrilho C, 

Bastos R, Nhampossa T, Menendez 

C, Campbell TB, Alonso PL, Naniche 

D. Predictors of Immune Reconstitution 

Inflammatory Syndrome- 

Associated With Kaposi Sarcoma in 

Mozambique: A Prospective Study. 

JAIDS-J ACQ IMM DEF, 2010. 

53:589-597. I.F.:4,21. 

39 Alvarez-Martinez MJ, Miro JM, 

Valls ME, Mas J, DeLaBellacasa JP, 

Sued O, Sole M, Rivas PV, DeLazzari 

E, Benito N, Garcia F, Agusti C, 

Wilson PE, Gatell JM, DeAnta MTJ, 

Meshnick SR, Moreno A. Prevalence 

of dihydropteroate synthase genotypes 

before and after the introduction 

of combined antiretroviral therapy 

and their influence on the outcome of 

Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV-1-infected 

patients. DIAGN MICR INFEC 

DIS, 2010. 68:60-65. I.F.:2,45. 

40 Telli M, Guiral E, Martinez JA, 

Almela M, Bosch J, Vila J, Soto SM. 

Prevalence of enterotoxins among 

Escherichia coli isolates causing bacteraemia. 

FEMS MICROBIOL LETT, 

2010. 306:117-121. I.F.:2,20. 

41 Guerra S, Gonzalez JM, Climent 

N, Reyburn H, Lopez-Fernandez LA, 

Najera JL, Gomez CE, Garcia F, Gatell 

JM, Gallart T, Esteban M. Selective 

Induction of Host Genes by MVA-B, 

a Candidate Vaccine against HIV/ 

AIDS. J VIROL, 2010. 84:8141-8152. 

I.F.:5,15. 

42 Mocroft A, Reiss P, Gasiorowski 

J, Ledergerber B, Kowalska J, Chiesi 

A, Gatell J, Rakhmanova A, Johnson 

M, Kirk O, Lundgren J. Serious Fatal 

and Nonfatal Non-AIDS-Defining Illnesses 

in Europe. JAIDS-J ACQ IMM 

DEF, 2010. 55:262-270. I.F.:4,21. 

43 Martinez E, Larrousse M, Llibre 

JM, Gutierrez F, Saumoy M, Antela 

A, Knobel H, Murillas J, Berenguer J, 

Pich J, Perez I, Gatell JM. Substitution 

of raltegravir for ritonavir-boosted 

protease inhibitors in HIV-infected patients: 

the SPIRAL study. AIDS, 2010. 

24:1697-1707. I.F.:4,91. 

44 Martinez E, Visnegarwala F, 

Grund B, Thomas A, Gibert C, Shlay J, 

Drummond F, Pearce D, Edwards S, 

Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Carr A. The effects 

of intermittent, CD4-guided antiretroviral 

therapy on body composition and 

metabolic parameters. AIDS, 2010. 

24:353-363. I.F.:4,91. 

45 Montes AH, Valle-Garay E, 

Suarez-Zarracina T, Melon S, Martinez 

E, Carton JA, Collazos J, Asensi 

V. The MMP1 (-16071G/2G) single 

nucleotide polymorphism associates 

with the HAART-related lipodystrophic 

syndrome. AIDS, 2010. 24:2495-2502. 

I.F.:4,91. 

46 Ferrer M, Liapikou A, Valencia 

M, Esperatti M, Theessen A, Martinez 

JA, Mensa J, Torres A. Validation 

of the American Thoracic Society- 

Infectious Diseases Society of America 

Guidelines for Hospital-Acquired 

Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit. 

CLIN INFECT DIS, 2010. 50:945-952. 

I.F.:8,20. 

47 Gatell JM. When and why to 

start antiretroviral therapy?. J ANTIMI- 

CROB CHEMOTH, 2010. 65:383-385. 

I.F.:4,35. 

84

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Reviews 

I.F.: 4,34 

1 DeLaCamara R, Mensa J, Carreras 

E, Estrella MC, Rodriguez JAG, 

Gobernado M, Picazo J, Aguado JM, 

Sanz MA. Antifungal prophylaxis in 

oncohematologic patients: Literature 

review and recommendations. MED 

CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 134:222- 

233. I.F.:1,23. 

2 Candel FJ, Martinez-Sagasti F, Borges 

M, Maseda E, Herrera-Gutierrez 

M, Garnacho-Montero J, Maynar FJ, 

Zaragoza R, Mensa J, Azanza JR. 

Endotoxin adsortion as adjuvant therapy 

in gramnegative severe sepsis. 

REV ESP QUIM, 2010. 23:115-121. 

I.F.:0,73. 

3 Llibre JM, Antela A, Arribas JR, 

Domingo P, Gatell JM, Lopez-Aldeguer 

J, Lozano F, Miralles C, Molto J, 

Moreno S, Ortega E, Riera M, Rivero 

A, Villalonga C, Clotet B. Role of fixeddose 

combinations of antiretrovirals in 

HIV-1 therapy. ENFERM INFEC MICR 

CL, 2010. 28:615-620. I.F.:1,39. 

4 Miro JM, Ricart MJ, Trullas JC, 

Cofan F, Cervera C, Brunet M, Tuset 

M, Manzardo C, Oppenheimer F, 

Moreno A. Simultaneous Pancreas- 

Kidney Transplantation in HIV-infected 

Patients: A Case Report and Literature 

Review. TRANSPL P, 2010. 42:3887- 

3891. I.F.:0,99. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 3,08 

1 Gatell JM, Zulaica D, DelRomero 

J, Robledo T. How to promote and facilitate 

the early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection: 

the emergency department’s 

role. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 22:230- 

232. I.F.:3,08. 


I.F.: 28,90 

1 Thompson MA, Aberg JA, Cahn 

P, Montaner JSG, Rizzardini G, Telenti 

A, Gatell JM, Gunthard HF, Hammer 

SM, Hirsch MS, Jacobsen DM, Reiss 

P, Richman DD, Volberding PA, Yeni P, 

Schooley RT. Antiretroviral Treatment 

of Adult HIV Infection 2010 Recommendations 

of the International AIDS 

Society-USA Panel. JAMA-J AM MED 

ASSOC, 2010. 304:321-333. I.F.:28,90. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 118,83 

1 Fryer HR, Frater J, Duda A, Roberts 

MG, Phillips RE, Mclean AR. 

Modelling the Evolution and Spread of 

HIV Immune Escape Mutants. PLOS 

PATHOG, 2010. 6:-. I.F.:8,98. 

2 Trevino A, Soriano V. Current situation 

of human immunodeficiency virus 

type 2 and Human T lymphotropic 

virus in Spain. ENFERM INFEC MICR 

CL, 2010. 28:442-445. I.F.:1,39. 

3 Friis-Moller N, Thiebaut R, Reiss 

P, Weber R, Monforte AD, DeWit S, 

El-Sadr W, Fontas E, Worm S, Kirk O, 

Phillips A, Sabin CA, Lundgren JD, 

Law MG. Predicting the risk of cardiovascular 

disease in HIV-infected patients: 

the Data collection on Adverse 

Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs Study. EUR 

J CARDIOV PREV R, 2010. 17:491- 

501. I.F.:2,51. 

4 Nahid P, Bliven EE, Kim EY, Mac- 

Kenzie WR, Stout JE, Diem L, Johnson 

JL, Gagneux S, Hopewell PC, 

Kato-Maeda M. Influence of M. tuberculosis 

Lineage Variability within a Clinical 

Trial for Pulmonary Tuberculosis. 

PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

5 Lodwick R, Costagliola D, Reiss 

P, Torti C, Teira R, Dorrucci M, Ledergerber 

B, Mocroft A, Podzamczer D, 

Cozzi-Lepri A, Obel N, Masquelier B, 

Staszewski S, Garcia F, DeWit S, Castagna 

A, Antinori A, Judd A, Ghosn J, 

Touloumi G, Mussini C, Duval X, Ramos 

J, Meyer L, Warsawski J, Thorne 

C, Masip J, Perez-Hoyos S, Pillay D, 

VanSighem A, LoCaputo S, Gunthard 

H, Paredes R, DeLuca A, Paraskevis 

D, Fabre-Colin C, Kjaer J, Chene G, 

Lundgren JD, Phillips AN. Triple-Class 

Virologic Failure in HIV-Infected Patients 

Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy 

for Up to 10 Years. ARCH INTERN 

MED, 2010. 170:410-419. I.F.:9,81. 

6 Caro-Murillo AM, Luciano AG, 

Rubio GN, Noval ML, Ramos JRB. HIV 

infection in different age groups: Potential 

implications for prevention. Co- 

RIS Cohort, Spain, 2004-2008. MED 


527. I.F.:1,23. 

7 Soriano V, Mocroft A, Peters L, 

Rockstroh J, Antunes F, Kirkby N, 

DeWit S, Monforte AD, Flisiak R, 

Lundgren J. Predictors of hepatitis B 

virus genotype and viraemia in HIV-infected 

patients with chronic hepatitis 

B in Europe. J ANTIMICROB CHE- 

MOTH, 2010. 65:548-555. I.F.:4,35. 

8 Marshall V, Martro E, Labo N, Ray 

A, Wang DA, Mbisa G, Bagni RK, Volfovsky 

N, Casabona J, Whitby D. Kaposi 

Sarcoma (KS)-Associated Herpesvirus 

MicroRNA Sequence Analysis and 

KS Risk in a European AIDS-KS Case 

Control Study. J INFECT DIS, 2010. 

202:1126-1135. I.F.:5,87. 

9 Tavel JA. Effects of Intermittent 

IL-2 Alone or with Peri-Cycle Antiretroviral 

Therapy in Early HIV Infection: 

The STALWART Study. PLOS ONE, 

2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

85

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10 Dore GJ, Soriano V, Rockstroh J, 

Kupfer B, Tedaldi E, Peters L, Neuhaus 

J, Puoti M, Klein MB, Mocroft A, Clotet 

B, Lundgren JD. Frequent hepatitis B 

virus rebound among HIV-hepatitis B 

virus-coinfected patients following antiretroviral 

therapy interruption. AIDS, 

2010. 24:857-865. I.F.:4,91. 

14 Worm SW, Friis-Moller N, Bruyand 

M, Monforte AD, Rickenbach 

M, Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Phillips A, 

Lundgren J, Sabin C. High prevalence 

of the metabolic syndrome in HIVinfected 

patients: impact of different 

definitions of the metabolic syndrome. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:427-435. I.F.:4,91. 

Touloumi G, Carrieri P, Guest JL, 

Brockmeyer NH, Phillips AN. Death 

rates in HIV-positive antiretroviralnaive 

patients with CD4 count greater 

than 350 cells per mu L in Europe 

and North America: a pooled cohort 

observational study. LANCET, 2010. 

376:340-345. I.F.:30,76. 

11 Ray M, Logan R, Sterne JAC, 

Hernandez-Diaz S, Robins JM, Sabin 

C, Bansi L, VanSighem A, DeWolf F, 

Costagliola D, Lanoy E, Bucher HC, 

VonWyl V, Esteve A, Casabona J, DelAmo 

J, Moreno S, Justice A, Gouler 

J, Lodi S, Phillips A, Seng R, Meyer L, 

Perez-Hoyos S, DeOlalla PG, Herman 

MA, Phillips AN, Gilson R, Easterbrook 

P, Fisher M, Gazzard B, Johnson M, 

Walsh J, Leen C, Orkin C, Anderson 

J, Pillay D, Delpech V, Schwenk A, 

Dunn D, Gompels M, Hill T, Porter K, 

Babiker A. The effect of combined 

antiretroviral therapy on the overall 

mortality of HIV-infected individuals. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:123-137. I.F.:4,91. 

12 Smith C, Sabin CA, Lundgren JD, 

Thiebaut R, Weber R, Law M, Monforte 

AD, Kirk O, Friis-Moller N, Phillips A, 

Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Pradier C, Worm 

SW. Factors associated with specific 

causes of death amongst HIV-positive 

individuals in the D:A:D study The Data 

Collection on Adverse Events of Anti- 

HIV drugs (D:A:D) Study Group. AIDS, 

2010. 24:1537-1548. I.F.:4,91. 

13 Worm SW, Sabin C, Weber R, 

Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Dabis F, DeWit 

S, Law M, Monforte AD, Friis-Moller 

N, Kirk O, Fontas E, Weller I, Phillips 

A, Lundgren J. Risk of Myocardial 

Infarction in Patients with HIV Infection 

Exposed to Specific Individual 

Antiretroviral Drugs from the 3 Major 

Drug Classes: The Data Collection 

on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs 

(D:A:D) Study. J INFECT DIS, 2010. 

201:318-330. I.F.:5,87. 

15 Aldeguer JL, Et AL. AIDS Study 

Group/Spanish AIDS Plan consensus 

document on antiretroviral therapy in 

adults with human immunodeficiency 

virus infection (updated January 

2010). ENFERM INFEC MICR CL, 

2010. 28:-. I.F.:1,39. 

16 Gutierrez F, Et AL. Diagnosis, 

treatment and prevention of renal 

diseases in HIV infected patients. 

Recommendations of the Spanish 

AIDS Study Group/National AIDS 

Plan28(8):520.e1-22. ENFERM INFEC 

MICR CL, 2010. 28:-. I.F.:1,39. 

17 Reekie J, Kosa C, Engsig F, 

Monforte AD, Wiercinska-Drapalo A, 

Domingo P, Antunes F, Clumeck N, 

Kirk O, Lundgren JD, Mocroft A. Relationship 

Between Current Level of 

Immunodeficiency and Non-Acquired 

Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Defining 

Malignancies. CANCER-AM CANCER 

SOC, 2010. 116:5306-5315. I.F.:5,42. 

18 Reekie J, Mocroft A, Ledergerber 

B, Beniowski M, Clotet B, VanLunzen 

J, Chiesi A, Pradier C, Machala L, 

Lundgren JD. History of viral suppression 

on combination antiretroviral therapy 

as a predictor of virological failure 

after a treatment change*. HIV MED, 

2010. 11:469-478. I.F.:2,88. 

19 Lodwick RK, Sabin CA, Porter K, 

Ledergerber B, VanSighem A, Cozzi- 

Lepri A, Khaykin P, Mocroft A, Jacobson 

L, DeWit S, Obel N, Castagna A, 

Wasmuth JC, Gill J, Klein MB, Gange 

S, Riera M, Mussini C, Gutierrez F, 

20 Weber R, Sabin C, Reiss P, 

DeWit S, Worm SW, Law M, Dabis 

F, Monforte AD, Fontas E, El-Sadr W, 

Kirk O, Rickenbach M, Phillips A, Ledergerber 

B, Lundgren J. HBV or HCV 

coinfections and risk of myocardial infarction 

in HIV-infected individuals: the 

D:A:D Cohort Study. ANTIVIR THER, 

2010. 15:1077-1086. I.F.:4,32. 

21 Mocroft A, Phillips AN, Ledergerber 

B, Smith C, Bogner JR, Lacombe 

K, Wiercinska-Drapalos A, Reiss P, 

Kirk O, Lundgren JD. Estimated average 

annual rate of change of CD4(+) T- 

cell counts in patients on combination 

antiretroviral therapy. ANTIVIR THER, 

2010. 15:563-570. I.F.:4,32. 


in progress 

Gatell JM. CA - The EuroSIDA 

Network 2005-2009. Clinical and 

Virological outcome of patients with 

HIV under care in Europe. Sponsored 

by: European Comission, LSHP- 

CT-2006-018632. Amount: 11.578,00 


28/02/2010. 

Gatell JM. NoE - European AIDS 

Treatment Network. Sponsored 

by: European Commission, LSHP- 

CT-2006-037570. Amount: 45.000,00 


31/01/2012. 

86

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Mallolas J. Cohorte de GESIDA de 

pacientes coinfectados por VIH y 

virus de hepatitis C que reciben 

tratamiento para la hepatitis C (2008- 

2010). Sponsored by: Fundación 

para la Investigación y la Prevención 

del Sida en España, 36702/07. 


19/11/2007-18/11/2010. 

Martinez JA. Eficacia y seguridad 

del tratamiento de infecciones 

nosocomiales graves causadas 

por Acinetobacter Baumannii multiresistente 

con rifampicina más 

imipenem. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Sanidad y Consumo, EC07/90565. 


29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Miro JM. Tratamiento antiretroviral 

una vez al dia en pacientes con infecciones 

por el VIH-1 no tratados 

previamente y con cifras de linfocitos 

CD4+ inferiores a 100 céls/MM3. 

Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado, 

multicéntrico y abierto. Estudio 

advanz-3. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Plana M. Caracterización Ex Vivo 

de la respuesta inmunitaria celular 

frente al VIH-1 mediante vectores 

virales. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Sanidad y Consumo, PI070291. 


26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Caballero M. Desarrollo de un modelo 

experimental en cobaya de enfermedad 

de vías aéreas superiores por exposición 

al humo de tabaco. Estudio de los 

cambios anatomopatológicos y de los 

marcadores de inflamación. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio Sanidad y Consumo, 


Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Gatell JM. Red de SIDA. Sponsored 


RD06/0006/0000. Amount: 

1.426.015,20 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Arnedo M. Factores genéticos implicados 

en el desarrollo de dislipemia 

en pacientes infectados por VIH-1 

que inician tratamiento antiretroviral 

de gran actividad. Sponsored by: 

FIPSE-FUNDACION PARA INVES- 

TIGACIÓN Y PREVENCIÓN DEL 

SIDA EN ESPAÑA, PS09/00396. 


30/10/2008-29/10/2011. 

Miro JM. Optimización farmacocinética/farmacodinámica 

del 

tratamiento con vancomicina de 

la endocarditis experimental por 

Staphylococcus aureus resistente o 

no a la meticilina causada por cepas 

con una CMI a la vancomicina de 

0.5, 1 o 2 mcg/mL. Sponsored by: 

FIS, PI080268. Amount: 81.675,00 


31/12/2011. 

Miro JM. Proyecto de constitución y 

organización del banco de muestras 

biológicas de pacientes coinfectados 

vih-VHC y/o VHB de la cohorte de 

trasplante hepático (TOH). Sponsored 

by: FIPSE, BB-TOH/VIH-07. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Miro JM. Estudio FIPSE de trasplante 

hepático en pacientes 

infectados por el VIH en España. 

Sponsored by: FIPSE, TOH/VIH-08. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Miro JM. Supervivencia de los pacientes 

con infección por el VIH 

en terapia renal sustitutiva o trasplante 

renal en España. Sponsored 

by: FIPSE, 24-0858-09. Amount: 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Garcia F. Desarrollo de una vacuna 

frente a VIH: Estudio de los cambios 

de la biología de células dendríticas 

humanas tras interacción con 

distintos inmunógenos. Sponsored 

by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 

PS09/01297. Amount: 219.615,00 


31/12/2013. 

Arnedo M. Factores genéticos implicados 

en el desarrollo de dislipemia 

en pacientes infectados por VIH-1 

que inician tratamiento antiretroviral 

de gran actividad. Sponsored by: 

INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III, 

PI09/0396. Amount: 80.465,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Eloisa Yuste. Desarrollo de una 

vacuna frente al VIH: aislamiento 

y caracterización de nuevos anticuerpos 

neutralizantes de amplio 

espectro. Diseño de inmunógenos 

capaces de generar dichos anticuerpos. 

Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Gatell JM. Evaluación del impacto 

de nuevos sistemas de información 

en el cuidado de pacientes VIH 

crónicos. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Miro JM. Supervivencia de los pacientes 

con infección por el VIH en 

terapia renal sustitutiva o trasplante 

renal en España. Sponsored by: 

FIPSE-FUNDACIÓN PARA INVES- 

TIGACIÓN Y PREVENCIÓN DEL 

SIDA EN ESPAÑA, 24-0858-09. 


04/01/2010-03/01/2012. 

87

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Joseph J. Inclusión social, sanitaria y 

laboral de personas vulnerables que 

se encuentran en riesgo de exclusión 

social y pobreza: mujeres que ejercen 

la prostitución en la calle, usuarios de 

drogas y/o población inmigrante con 

bajos recursos económicos. Sponsored 

by: FUNDACIO “LA CAIXA”, 

ES100192. Amount: 24.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 09/07/2010-30/09/2011. 

Garcia F. Estudio en fase I abierto 

para evaluar la seguridad e inmunogenicidad 

de la vacuna frente a VIH-1 

MVA-B en pacientes infectados por 

VIH crónicos en tratamiento antirretroviral 

(RISVAC03). Sponsored by: 

MINISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLÍTI- 

CA SOCIAL E IGUALDAD, TRA-094. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Lozano F, Moreno A. Influencia de los 

poliformismos de los genes de la inmunidad 

innata en el desarrollo y evolución 

de las infecciones tras un trasplante 

de órgano sólido. PhD student: Carlos 

Cervera Alvarez. 

Martinez-Chamorro E. Injertos de tejido 

adiposo autólogo en la lipoatrofia facial 

de pacientes VIH+: Comparación de 

dos estrategias de tratamiento y utilidad 

de la tomografia computerizado 

en la evaluación de su durabilidad. PhD 

student: Eva Guisantes Pintos. 

Moreno A. Evaluar la eficacia y la 

seguridad de la cambinación de 

fosfomicina (F) e imipenem (I) para 

el tratamiento de la endocarditis (EI) 

sobre la válvula nativa o protésica 

por S.aureus resistente a meticilina 

(MRSA). Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 

DE SALUD CARLOS III, EC08/00190. 


01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

88

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Immune receptors of the innate 

and adaptive system 

Group Members 


Red Española de Investigación 

en Patología Infecciosa (REIPI) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Francisco Lozano 

(Hospital Clínic/UB) 

Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 4217/4546) 

Fax: 93 451 80 38 

E-mail: 

flozano@clinic.ub.es 


Ana Angulo (IDIBAPS) 

Pablo Engel (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Carles Serra (Hospital Clínic) 

Ricardo Bastos (IDIBAPS) 


Esther Carrasco Miguel (Fundació Clínic) 

Mario Martínez Florensa (UB-FBG) 

Vanesa G. Martínez (Fundació Clínic) 


Lyzette Bonet (Fundació Clínic) 

Rafael Fenutría (Fundació Clínic) 

Elena Isern (IDIBAPS) 

Jordi Sintes (UB) 

Antonio Guilabert Vidal (FIS-FSE) 

Cristina Miró (MEC/FPU) 

Cristina Escoda (MEC/FPI) 

Natalia Pérez Carmona (UB) 

Jessica Matesanz (IDIBAPS) 

Jose de Salort (UB) 

M. Carmen Diaz-Ramos (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Adriana Lázaro (Fundació Clínic) 

Laia Llinas (Fundació Clínic) 

Noelia Armiger Borràs (IDIBAPS) 

1. Genetic and molecular characterization 

of receptors of both the innate 

and adaptive immune system. 

2. Functional characterization of the 

ligand- receptor interactions responsible 

for intercellular communication 

between the innate and adaptive immune 

system components. 

3. Molecular characterization of pathogenhost 

interactions. 

4. Molecular characterization of the 

biology, pathogenesis and immunology 

of cytomegalovirus (CMV). 

1. Study of the structure and function 

of the SLAM (Signaling Lymphocytic 

Activation Molecule) and SAP 

(SLAM-Associated Protein) leukocyte 

molecule families. 

2. Identification and characterization of 

leukocyte receptors and intracellular 

ligands of the 3BP2 adaptor molecule. 

Molecular dissection of the 3BP2 

signaling pathways in lymphocytes. 

3. Study of the molecules that intervene in 

leukocyte adhesion and inflammation. 

4. Immunogenetics of receptors and molecules 

implicated in the regulation of 

innate and adaptive immune responses. 

5. Study of the role of the CD5 and 

CD6 receptors in lymphocyte activation 

and differentiation. 

6. Molecular and functional characterization 

of nonlymphoid members of 

the superfamily of receptors with 

extracellular domains rich in cysteine 

(SRCR, Scavenger Receptor 

Cysteine-Rich) residues. 

7. Characterization of the genic regulation 

mechanisms of CMV and identification 

of functions encoded for by CMV. 

8. Study of CMV mediated modulation 

of immune response and immune 

evasion strategies. 


Molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of CMV disease 

Group Leader: Ana Angulo (IDIBAPS) 

Immunohistochemical staining 

of a normal tonsil specimen 

exhibiting secondary 

folicles. Brown, CD279/PD-1 

(Programmed death-1) positive 

cells (activated T and B 

lymphocytes). Red, CD23 

positive cells (activated B cells 

and Follicular Dendritic Cells). 

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an ubiquitous pathogen that 

establishes latent infections for life – with serious consequences 

for immune-compromised individuals. The group 

studies different aspects of the interactions between CMV 

and the host, with special emphasis on the mechanisms that regulate viral 

genic expression, the determination of new functions encoded by the virus, 

and the identification of processes of interference with the immune system. 

89

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Immune receptors of the innate 

and adaptive system 

PUBLICATIONS 

originals 

I.F.: 55,45 

1 Smithson A, Perello R, Aibar J, 

Espinosa G, Tassies D, Freire C, Castro 

P, Suarez B, Lozano F, Nicolas JM. 

Genotypes Coding for Low Serum 

Levels of Mannose-Binding Lectin Are 

Underrepresented among Individuals 

Suffering from Noninfectious Systemic 

Inflammatory Response Syndrome. 

CLIN VACCINE IMMUNOL, 2010. 

17:447-453. I.F.:2,37. 

2 Herrero-Gonzalez JE, Iranzo P, 

Benitez D, Lozano F, Herrero C, Mascaro 

JM. Correlation of Immunological 

Profile with Phenotype and Disease 

Outcome in Pemphigus. ACTA 

DERM-VENEREOL, 2010. 90:401-405. 

I.F.:3,01. 

3 Wang NH, Calpe S, Westcott J, 

Castro W, Ma CY, Engel P, Schatzle 

JD, Terhorst C. Cutting Edge: The 

Adapters EAT-2A and -2B Are Positive 

Regulators of CD244- and CD84- 

Dependent NK Cell Functions in the 

C57BL/6 Mouse. J IMMUNOL, 2010. 

185:5683-5687. I.F.:5,65. 

4 Fink DR, Holm D, Schlosser 

A, Nielsen O, Latta M, Lozano F, 

Holmskov U. Elevated numbers of 

SCART1(+) gamma delta T cells in 

skin inflammation and inflammatory 

bowel disease. MOL IMMUNOL, 

2010. 47:1710-1718. I.F.:3,20. 

5 Podlech J, Pintea R, Kropp KA, 

Fink A, Lemmermann NAW, Erlach 

KC, Isern E, Angulo A, Ghazal P, 

Reddehase MJ. Enhancerless Cytomegalovirus 

Is Capable of Establishing 

a Low-Level Maintenance Infection in 

Severely Immunodeficient Host Tissues 

but Fails in Exponential Growth. 

J VIROL, 2010. 84:6254-6261. 

I.F.:5,15. 

6 Cervera A, Planas AM, Justicia C, 

Urra X, Jensenius JC, Torres F, Lozano 

F, Chamorro A. Genetically-Defined 

Deficiency of Mannose-Binding Lectin 

Is Associated with Protection after 

Experimental Stroke in Mice and 

Outcome in Human Stroke. PLoS 

ONE. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

7 Muntasell A, Magri G, Pende D, 

Angulo A, Lopez-Botet M. Inhibition 

of NKG2D expression in NK cells by 

cytokines secreted in response to 

human cytomegalovirus infection. 

BLOOD, 2010. 115:5170-5179. 

I.F.:10,56. 

8 Sintes J, Romero X, DeSalort J, 

Terhorst C, Engel P. Mouse CD84 is a 

pan-leukocyte cell-surface molecule 

that modulates LPS-induced cytokine 

secretion by macrophages. J LEU- 

KOCYTE BIOL, 2010. 88:687-697. 

I.F.:4,40. 

9 Valles X, Roca A, Lozano F, Morais 

L, Suarez B, Casals F, Mandomando 

I, Sigauque B, Nhalungo D, Esquinas 

C, Quinto L, Alonso PL, Torres A. 

Serotype-specific pneumococcal disease 

may be influenced by mannosebinding 

lectin deficiency. EUR RESPIR 

J, 2010. 36:856-863. I.F.:5,53. 

10 Guilabert A, Lozano F, Iranzo P, 

Julia M, Suarez-Casasus B, Moreno N, 

Herrero-Gonzalez J, Mascaro JM. The 

role of Fc gamma receptors polymorphisms 

in bullous pemphigoid. J AM 

ACAD DERMATOL, 2010. 63:161-163. 

I.F.:4,11. 

11 Sanchez-Tillo E, Lazaro A, Torrent 

R, Cuatrecasas M, Vaquero EC, 

Castells A, Engel P, Postigo A. ZEB1 

represses E-cadherin and induces 

an EMT by recruiting the SWI/SNF 

chromatin-remodeling protein BRG1. 

ONCOGENE, 2010. 29:3490-3500. 

I.F.:7,14. 


in progress 

Lozano F. Estudio de las propiedades 

inmunomoduladoras de miembros 

linfoides y no linfoides de la superfamilia 

de receptores SRCR (Scavenger 

Receptor Cysteine-Rich). Sponsored 

by: Ministerio Educación y Ciencia, 

SAF2007-62197. Amount: 376.310,00 


30/11/2010. 

Angulo A. Regulación transcripcional 

y funciones de los genes principales 

inmediatamente tempranos: implicaciones 

en la patogénesis viral. 

Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE EDU- 

CACIÓN Y CIENCIA, SAF2008-00382. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Lozano F. Red Española de Investigación 

en Patología Infecciosa (REIPI). 

Sponsored by: Instituto de Salud Carlos 

III, RD06/0008. Amount: 60.000,00 


31/12/2010. 

Lozano F. Nova bioteràpia en sepsis 

fùngica i polimicrobiana. Sponsored 

by: Centre d’Innovació i Desenvolupament 

Empresarial (CIDEM), VAL- 

TEC08-2-0034. Amount: 62.998,11 


31/12/2010. 

Lozano F. Immunoreceptores del 

Sistema Inmunitario Innato y Adaptativo. 

Sponsored by: Agència de 

Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de 

Recerca (AGAUR), 2009/SGR/00252. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Lozano F. Papel modulador de receptroes 

linfocitarios tipo scavenger 

(CD5 y CD6) en la patofisiología de la 

infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia 

humana 1 (VIH-1). Spon- 

90

AREA 1 


Immune receptors of the innate and adaptive system 

sored by: FIPSE-FUNDACION PARA 

INVESTIGACIÓN Y PREVENCIÓN 

DEL SIDA EN ESPAÑA, 36-0773-09. 


04/01/2010-03/01/2013. 

Engel P. Estudio de las moléculas 

CD150/SLAM en la función efectora 

de los linfocitos B de “tipo innato”. 


e Innovación, SAF2009-07071. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Thesis 

Lozano F, Moreno A. Influencia de 

los poliformismos de los genes de la 

inmunidad innata en el desarrollo y 

evolución de las infecciones tras un 

trasplante de órgano sólido. PhD student: 

Carlos Cervera Alvarez. 

91

AREA 1 



Musculoskeletal repair and plasticity 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Joaquim Forés i Viñeta 


Tel.: 93 227 93 14 

E-mail: jfores@clinic.ub.es 

Our research group, which was incorporated 

to the IDIBAPS in 2007, 

aims to agglutinate and generate 

synergies among specialists in different 

disciplines that work in the field 

of the locomotor system. This is a 

field with a growing social and technological 

demand, but with scant 

incidence in the research setting of 

this institution. 


Jesús Benito (Hospital Clínic) 

Andrés Combalía (Hospital Clínic) 

Francisco Maculé (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Nuñez (Hospital Clínic) 

Jaume Pomés (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep M. Segur (Hospital Clínic) 

Sebastián García (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergi Sastre (Hospital Clínic) 

Santiago Suso (Hospital Clínic) 


Antònia Bayo (Hospital Clínic) 


Alex Soriano (Hospital Clínic) 

M.ª Teresa Anglada (Hospital Clínic) 

Jordi Asunción (Hospital Clínic) 

Misericordia Basora (Hospital Clínic) 

Guillem Bori (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Carné (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana Carreño (Hospital Clínic) 

Adela Faulí (Hospital Clínic) 

Jenaro A. Fernández-Valencia 


Joan Xavier Fontdevila (Hospital Clínic) 

Salvador Fuster (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Gallart (Hospital Clínic) 

Eloy M. García Díez 

Ruben García Elvira 

Raquel García Tarriño 

Anna López Gutiérrez 

Felipe Orient (Hospital Clínic) 

Lluis Peidro (Hospital Clínic 

Daniel Poggio (Hospital Clínic) 

Dragos Popescu (Hospital Clínic) 

Salvi Prat (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Riba (Hospital Clínic) 

Moisés Rios (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Sala (Hospital Clínic) 

Isabel Sañudo (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Tomás (Hospital Clínic) 

Pere Torner (Hospital Clínic) 

Antoni Trilla (Hospital Clínic) 

Raquel Vilarrasa (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep M. Serra (Hospital Clínic) 

There are many aspects of new 

knowledge related to the musculoskeletal 

system: cellular, genic and 

pharmacological therapies; new 

materials and implants; robotics; 

top-level surgical and anesthetic 

technology; and sophisticated imaging 

techniques. The lack of clinical 

scientific evidence relating to much 

of the new knowledge, and the great 

volume of patients in our setting, 

with limited resources, represent 

an important source of work from 

which to derive intellectual benefit. 

Working with humbleness but 

“thinking big” seems to us to be the 

best strategy for reaching the objective 

of being a reference group in our 

setting. 

Navigation and robotics applied 

to skeletal grafts. 

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MUSCULOSKELETAL REPAIR AND PLASTICITY 

Main Lines 

of Research 

PUBLICATIONS 

1. Bone physiopathology, pathological 

variation with age, evaluation of 

fracture setting techniques and 

bone substitutes. 

2. Cartilage, degeneration and repair 

through tissue engineering. 

3. Evaluation and design of new 

prosthetic implants. 

4. Minimally invasive surgery with 

new technology and instruments. 

5. Infections of the locomotor apparatus, 

their prevention and treatment. 

6. Acute postoperative pain and chronic 

musculoskeletal pain. 

7. Functional re-adaptation, prevalence 

and evaluation of health results 

in degenerative arthropathies. 

8. Biology of autologous adipose tissue 

grafts. 

9. Musculoskeletal system tissue 

bank. 

10. Imaging diagnosis, new technologies 

in diagnosis and follow-up. 

11. Collaboration in joint projects with 

the UASP. 

12. Acute-phase response in open 

fractures. Use of IL-6, C-reactive 

protein and CK in predicting results, 

and correlation with the Gustilo 

classification. 

13. Vascular anatomy of the upper 

extremity applied to reconstructive 

procedures. 

14. Surgical management of facial 

lipoatrophy based on the injection 

of autologous adipose tissue in HIVinfected 

patients. 

15. Nervous system: 

• Tubulization repair of peripheral 

nervous system damage. 

• Experimental reimplantation of 

nerve root preganglionic avulsions. 

originals 

I.F.: 27,313 

1 Ortega M, Marco F, Soriano A, Almela 

M, Martinez JA, Pitart C, Mensa 

J. Candida spp. bloodstream infection: 

influence of antifungal treatment on 

outcome. J ANTIMICROB CHEMOTH, 

2010. 65:562-568. I.F.:4,35. 

2 Martinez JA, Cobos-Trigueros N, 

Soriano A, Almela M, Ortega M, Marco 

F, Pitart C, Sterzik H, Lopez J, Mensa 

J. Influence of Empiric Therapy with a 

beta-Lactam Alone or Combined with an 

Aminoglycoside on Prognosis of Bacteremia 

Due to Gram-Negative Microorganisms. 

ANTIMICROB AGENTS CH, 

2010. 54:3590-3596. I.F.:4,80. 

3 Basora M, Pereira A, Soriano A, Martinez-Pastor 

JC, Sanchez-Etayo G, Tio M, 

Salazar F. Allogeneic blood transfusion 

does not increase the risk of wound 

infection in total knee arthroplasty. VOX 

SANG, 2010. 98:124-129. I.F.:2,59. 

4 Martinez-Pastor JC, Vilchez F, Pitart 

C, Sierra JM, Soriano A. Antibiotic resistance 

in orthopaedic surgery: acute 

knee prosthetic joint infections due to 

extended-spectrum beta-lactamase 

(ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. 

EUR J CLIN MICROBIOL, 2010. 

29:1039-1041. I.F.:2,61. 

5 Font-Vizcarra L, Garcia S, Martinez- 

Pastor JC, Sierra JM, Soriano A. Blood 

Culture Flasks for Culturing Synovial 

Fluid in Prosthetic Joint Infections. CLIN 

ORTHOP RELAT R, 2010. 468:2238- 

2243. I.F.:2,07. 

6 Sastre S, Popescu D, Nunez M, 

Pomes J, Tomas X, Peidro L. Doublebundle 

versus single-bundle ACL 

reconstruction using the horizontal 

femoral position: a prospective, randomized 

study. KNEE SURG SPORT TR A, 

2010. 18:32-36. I.F.:1,67. 

7 Ruiz-Gaspa S, Guanabens N, Enjuanes 

A, Peris P, Martinez-Ferrer A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Gonzalez B, Alvarez 

L, Monegal A, Combalia A, Pares A. 

Lithocholic acid downregulates vitamin 

D effects in human osteoblasts. 

EUR J CLIN INVEST, 2010. 40:25-34. 

I.F.:2,64. 

8 Popescu D, Sastre S, Caballero M, 

Lee JWK, Claret I, Nunez M, Lozano 

L. Meniscal repair using the FasT-Fix 

device in patients with chronic meniscal 

lesions. KNEE SURG SPORT TR A, 

2010. 18:546-550. I.F.:1,67. 

9 Jansa M, Hernandez C, Vidal M, 

Nunez M, Bertran MJ, Sanz S, Castell 

C, Sanz G. Multidimensional analysis 

of treatment adherence in patients 

with multiple chronic conditions. A 

cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital. 

PATIENT EDUC COUNS, 2010. 

81:161-168. I.F.:1,98. 

10 Rodriguez-Blanco T, Fernandez- 

San-Martin I, Balague-Corbella M, 

Berenguera A, Moix J, Montiel-Morillo 

E, Nunez-Juarez E, Gonzalez-Moneo 

MJ, Pie-Oncins M, Martin-Penacoba 

R, Roura-Olivan M, Nunez-Juarez M, 

Pujol-Ribera E. Study protocol of effectiveness 

of a biopsychosocial multidisciplinary 

intervention in the evolution 

of non-speficic sub-acute low back 

pain in the working population: cluster 

randomised trial. BMC HEALTH SERV 

RES, 2010. 10:-. I.F.:1,66. 

11 Enjuanes A, Ruiz-Gaspa S, Peris 

P, Ozalla D, Alvarez L, Combalia A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Monegal A, Pares 

A, Guanabens N. The effect of the 

alendronate on OPG/RANKL system 

in differentiated primary human osteoblasts. 

ENDOCRINE, 2010. 37:180- 

186. I.F.:1,28. 

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MUSCULOSKELETAL REPAIR AND PLASTICITY 


in progress 

Soriano A. Estudio aleatorizado y doble 

ciego para establecer el momento más 

apropiado de la administración de la 

proxilaxis antibiótica en la artroplastia 

total de rodilla cuando se realiza bajo 

isquemia. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Fores J. Taller sobre el dolor per 

pacients i familiars (Chronic pain 

workshop for patients and relatives). 

Sponsored by: Fundació Marató TV3, 

72810. Amount: 198.468,76 euros. Duration: 

22/01/2008-21/01/2011. 

Nuñez M. Calidad de vida relacionada 

con la salud, dependencia física y costes 

en pacientes con artrosis después 

de artroplastia total de rodilla. Estudio 

prospectivo. Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS) Instituto de 

Salud Carlos III, PS09/01148. Amount: 

35.695,00 euros. Duration: 01/01/2010- 

31/12/2012. 

Nuñez M. Efectivitat d’una intervenció 

multidisciplinària en l’evolució de la 

lumbàlgia subaguda inespecífica en 

població activa. Sponsored by: Patronat 

de la Fundació de la Marató de TV3, 

TV3 071610. Amount: 177.425,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

un antibiótico puede reducir la incidencia 

de infección en pacientes con cultivos 

positivos durante una artroplastia 

de cadera. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Soriano A. Estudio comparativo de la 

eficacia de pautas “cortas” y “largas” 

de la combinación rifampicina-levofloxacino 

en la infección estafilocócica 

postquirúrgica precoz y hematógena 

de prótesis articular.. Sponsored by: 


EC08/00189. Amount: 6.050,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Garcia S, Soriano A. Utilitat de la histologia 

en el diagnòstic de la infecció de 

l’ artroplàstia de maluc. PhD student: 

Guillem Bori Tuneu. 

Macule F, Segur JM, Suso S. Artroplastia 

total de rodilla en pacientes obesos 

graves y mórbidas. PhD student: Luis 

Mª Lozano Lizarraga. 

Suso S. Nuevo protocolo de lectura de 

imágenes y sistemas de clasificacion 

de las fracturas del humero proximal 

(FHP). PhD student: Jose Maria Mora 

Guix. 

Fores J. Eficacia del tratamiento con 

condroitin sulfato en la rizartrosis. 

Medicion con test sensoriales y funcionales 

cuantitativos y analisis de concordancia 

con escalas subjetivas de dolor. 

Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE SALUD 

CARLOS III, EC08/00079. Amount: 


30/12/2011. 

Garcia S. Estudio aleatorizado y abierto 

para determinar si la administración de 

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autoinflammatory response 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

PUBLICATIONS 

TEAM LEADER 

Jordi Yagüe 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext: 2155) 

Fax: 93 451 80 38 

E-mail: 

jyague@clinic.ub.es 


Juan Ignacio Aróstegui (Hospital Clínic) 

Manel Juan (Hospital Clínic) 


Emma Garcia Melchor (Agaur) 


Laura Carretero (IDIBAPS) 

Mariona Pascal (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Gonzalez Roca (Hospital Clínic) 

In the field of autoinflammatory 

diseases: 

Promotion of basic, clinical and 

translation research in the physiopathology 

of autoinflammatory diseases 

as a model for gaining in-depth 

knowledge of the regulation of the 

normal inflammatory response, its 

dysfunctions, and its repercussions 

upon the immune response. 

In the field of immune response: 

Determination of the components of 

normal and pathological inflammatory 

response is essential for modulating 

the specific recognition phenomena 

of the immune response. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

In the field of autoinflammatory 

diseases: 

• Determination of the genetic and 

molecular bases of the autoinflammatory 

process. 

• Characterization of the regulatory 

mechanisms of the inflammasome 

and its dysfunction. 

• Characterization of the specific 

transcriptional profiles of autoinflammatory 

diseases. 

• Isolation of new genes responsible 

for hereditary autoinflammatory 

diseases and identification of genetic 

susceptibility factors for the 

development of polygenic autoinflammatory 

processes. 

• Definition of new therapeutic targets 

for the treatment of autoinflammatory 

diseases. 

originals 

I.F.: 19,96 

1 Graell E, Arostegui JI, Sanmarti R, 

Blanco FJ, Yague J, Pinto JA, Plaza 

S, Fernandez-Sueiro JL, Gonzalez A, 

Canete JD. Possible association between 

NOD2 variants and joint surgery 

in psoriatic arthritis. CLIN EXP RHEUMA- 

TOL, 2010. 28:30-34. I.F.:2,40. 

2 Arostegui JI, Saldana MDL, Pascal 

M, Clemente D, Aymerich M, Balaguer 

F, Goel A, DelCastillo CF, Rius J, Plaza 

S, Robledillo JCL, Juan M, Ibanez M, 

Yague J. A Somatic NLRP3 Mutation as 

a Cause of a Sporadic Case of Chronic 

Infantile Neurologic, Cutaneous, Articular 

Syndrome/Neonatal-Onset Multisystem 

Inflammatory Disease Novel 

Evidence of the Role of Low-Level Mosaicism 

as the Pathophysiologic Mechanism 

Under. ARTHRITIS RHEUM-US, 

2010. 62:1158-1166. I.F.:7,33. 

3 Picard C, VonBernuth H, Ghandil 

P, Chrabieh M, Levy O, Arkwright PD, 

Mcdonald D, Geha RS, Takada H, Krause 

JC, Creech CB, Ku CL, Ehl S, Marodi L, 

Al-Muhsen S, Al-Hajjar S, Al-Ghonaium 

A, Day-Good NK, Holland SM, Gallin JI, 

Chapel H, Speert DP, Rodriguez-Gallego 

C, Colino E, Garty BZ, Roifman C, Hara 

T, Yoshikawa H, Nonoyama S, Domachowske 

J, Issekutz AC, Tang M, Smart 

J, Zitnik SE, Hoarau C, Kumararatne 

DS, Thrasher AJ, Davies EG, Bethune 

C, Sirvent N, DeRicaud D, Camcioglu 

Y, Vasconcelos J, Guedes M, Vitor AB, 

Rodrigo C, Almazan F, Mendez M, 

Arostegui JI, Alsina L, Fortuny C, Reichenbach 

J, Verbsky JW, Bossuyt X, 

Doffinger R, Abel L, Puel A, Casanova 

JL. Clinical Features and Outcome of 

Patients With IRAK-4 and MyD88 Deficiency. 

MEDICINE, 2010. 89:403-425. 

I.F.:5,05. 

95

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autoinflammatory response 

4 Faner R, James E, Huston L, Pujol- 

Borrel R, Kwok WW, Juan M. Reassessing 

the role of HLA-DRB3 T-cell 

responses: Evidence for significant 

expression and complementary antigen 

presentation. EUR J IMMUNOL, 

2010. 40:91-102. I.F.:5,18. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 3,01 

Yagüe J. Análisis de las vías de señalización 

TOLL/IL-1 receptor (TIR), NOD- 

LIKE receptor (NLR) y NF-kB en las 

formas hereditarias y no hereditarias 

de las enfermedades autoinflamatorias. 

Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

1 Colobran R, Pedrosa E, Carretero- 

Iglesia L, Juan M. Copy number 

variation in chemokine superfamily: 

the complex scene of CCL3L-CCL4L 

genes in health and disease. CLIN 

EXP IMMUNOL, 2010. 162:41-52. 

I.F.:3,01. 


in progress 

Juan M. Variantes de CCL4 (MIP-1beta) 

y linfocitos T intratiroideos: modelo 

de la implicación de las quimiocinas 

en el reconocimiento de los linfocitos 

T CD4+ autorreactivos. Sponsored by: 

Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PI070329. 


23/01/2008-30/12/2010. 

Yagüe J. Análisis de las vías de señalización 

TOLL/IL-1 receptor (TIR), NOD- 

LIKE receptor (NLR) y NF-kB en las 

formas hereditarias y no hereditarias 

de las enfermedades autoinflamatorias. 

Sponsored by: FIS, PS09/01182. 


01/01/2010-30/12/2012. 

Lozano F. Nova bioteràpia en sepsis 

fùngica i polimicrobiana. Sponsored 

by: Centre d’Innovació i Desenvolupament 

Empresarial (CIDEM), 

VALTEC08-2-0034. Amount: 62.998,11 


31/12/2010. 

96

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EMERGENCIES: PROCESSES AND PATHOLOGIES 

Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Oscar Miró Andreu 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 3153) 

E-mail: 

omiro@clinic.ub.es 


Santiago Nogué Xarau (Hospital Clínic) 

Miguel Sánchez Sánchez (Hospital Clínic) 

Blanca Coll-Vinent Puig (Hospital Clínic) 

Sònia Jiménez Hernández (Hospital Clínic) 


Emilio Salgado García (Hospital Clínic) 

Beatriz López Barbeito (Hospital Clínic) 

Albert Antolín Santaliestra (Hospital Clínic) 

María Torres Oliveros (Hospital Clínic) 

Núria Corominas García (Hospital Clínic) 

María Teresa Ruiz (Hospital Clínic) 

Victor Gil Espinosa (Hospital Clínic) 

Sira Aguiló Mir (Hospital Clínic) 

Rafel Perelló Carbonell (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Escoda Turón (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Xavier Escalada Roig (SEM) 

Núria Díaz Miranda (Pedagoga, Escola Molina, 

Barcelona) 

Alba Riesgo (Facultat de Medicina) 

Maria Luisa Benito (CAP Les Corts) 


Montserrat Amigó Tadín (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Gómez Rodríguez (Hospital Clínic) 


Elisenda Gómez Angelats (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Ramon Alonso Viladot (Hospital Clínic) 

Miguel Galicia Paredes (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Xavier Jiménez Fábrega (SEM) 

Mar Ortega Romero (Hospital Clínic) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

The group has a general interest in the 

study of all processes and pathologies 

inherent to the emergency setting - in 

all cases adopting a patient – centered 

approach and focusing on the acute 

process leading to emergency consultation. 

This approach is absolutely unique 

in Catalonia and in Spain, in view of the 

topic involved and the perspective from 

which it is addressed. The processes 

seen in the Emergency Department are 

exclusive and unique, and improvement 

in their knowledge leads to healthcare 

and organizational implications with 

considerable scope and repercussion. 

While the transverse characteristics 

of emergency disease conditions 

cause them to be dealt with by other 

disciplines, in the first few hours of 

their presentation they are exclusively 

addressed by the Emergency Department, 

where clinical research has not 

classically been considered. As a result, 

the possibilities for gaining in-depth 

and new knowledge on the part of the 

group are immense. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Functional aspects of Hospital 

Emergency Departments. 

Since 1997, the group has dedicated 

an important part of its research 

effort to exploring the fundamental 

functional mechanisms of a Hospital 

Emergency Department. In 

a series of studies, the group has 

demonstrated that the most important 

limiting element regarding the 

efficacy, effectiveness and quality 

of the Emergency Department is 

fundamented upon extrinsic rather 

than upon intrinsic factors (service 

demand). Among the intrinsic factors, 

those dependent upon the 

Hospital rather than on the Emergency 

Department as such are the 

most decisive in determining the 

functionality of a given Emergency 

Department. 

2. Clinical aspects of intoxicated 

patients. 

This is a line of long tradition and history 

in our research group. The Clinic 

Hospital is a reference centre in Catalonia 

for healthcare and research in relation 

to intoxications of all kinds. It is 

a member of the SEMES-TOX group, 

which is the toxicology working group 

of the Spanish Society of Emergency 

Care Medicine and Urgencies, and of 

the STC-AETOX group of the Spanish 

Association of Toxicology. 

3. Treatment of arrhythmias in the 

emergency room. 

For over 10 years the group has 

participated in a coordinated manner 

with the cardiologists of the center, 

with primary care physicians working 

in clinics in their corresponding 

reference areas, and with other 

investigators in Spain who work in 

Emergency Departments (the group 

forms part of the arrhythmias chapter 

of the Spanish Society of Emergency 

Care Medicine and Urgencies), in the 

investigation of disorders of this kind. 

The most relevant contributions of 

the group in this setting have been in 

reference to ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. 

4. Evaluation of chest pain in the 

Emergency Department. 

The group coordinates and conducts 

important research work in the only 

structural chest pain unit currently operating 

in Spain, which began its activities 

in 2002. From the start, the group 

has centered its efforts on taking advantage 

of this fact to investigate the 

medical care of these patients, and to 

further knowledge of a subgroup of 

these subjects who had not been diagnosed 

at the time with acute coronary 

disease, and had therefore not been 

sufficiently investigated. 

5. Diffusion of the teaching of cardiopulmonary 

resuscitation maneuvers 

among the general population. 

This is an interdisciplinary line of work 

which, from its start in the year 2000, 

has involved different professionals 

(physicians and nurses in both out- 

97

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PUBLICATIONS 

and in-hospital emergency services, 

with pedagogical support). Its main objective 

is to explore all the possibilities 

and difficulties for diffusing knowledge 

of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers 

among the general population. 

The setting in which the research 

activity has been most intense is 

among students in secondary education 

(14-16 years of age), where the 

approach is made through a specific 

program, the PROCES (Programa de 

Reanimació cardiopulmonar Orientat a 

Centres d’Ensenyament Secundari, or 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation program 

oriented towards secondary education 

centres) designed exclusively for 

application in the current Catalan educational 

model, which has been fully 

developed by members of the group 

(Òscar Miró i Andreu, Miquel Sánchez- 

Sánchez, and Núria Díaz-Miranda). 

6. Emergency medical care for problems 

caused by drug abuse. 

Originally conceived as a toxicological 

variant, the importance and specificity 

of research in this field made it 

possible in 2001 to create this line of 

research. The advantages derived as a 

result of research from the emergency 

care perspective has made it possible 

to clearly improve our knowledge of 

this group of disorders. At present, the 

group works in collaboration with other 

groups in Spain and in other countries. 

7. Acute heart failure. 

This more recently created research 

line focuses on the differential aspects 

(both clinical and epidemiological) of 

acute decompensated heart failure. 

Investigation of this syndrome – highly 

prevalent in Emergency Departments – 

is carried out in combination with other 

Emergency Departments throughout 

Spain, within the context of the acute 

heart failure working group of the 

Spanish Society of Emergency Care 

Medicine and Urgencies. 

originals 

I.F.: 40,833 

1 Perello R, Miro O, Marcos MA, Almela 

M, Bragulat E, Sanchez M, Agusti 

C, Miro JM, Moreno A. Predicting bacteremic 

pneumonia in HIV-1-infected patients 

consulting the ED. AM J EMERG 

MED, 2010. 28:454-459. I.F.:1,54. 

2 Miro O, Martin-Sanchez FJ, Burillo- 

Putze G, Julian A, Tomas S, Pacheco A, 

Sanchez M. Bibliometric and publication 

quality markers of Emergencias from 

2005 to 2009 and comparison with 

emergency medicine journals included 

in Journal Citation Reports. EMERGEN- 

CIAS, 2010. 22:165-174. I.F.:3,08. 

3 Noguera A, Moren C, Rovira N, 

Sanchez E, Garrabou G, Nicolas M, Munoz-Almagro 

C, Cardellach F, Miro O, 

Fortuny C. Evolution of Mitochondrial 

DNA Content After Planned Interruption 

of HAART in HIV-Infected Pediatric 

Patients. AIDS RES HUM RETROV, 

2010. 26:1015-1018. I.F.:2,18. 

4 Miro O, Galicia M, Sanchez M, Nogue 

S. Factors related to emergency 

department revisits after cocaine use. 

EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 22:408-414. 

I.F.:3,08. 

5 Miro O, Burillo-Putze G, Plunkett PK, 

Brown AFT. Female representation on 

emergency medicine editorial teams. EUR 

J EMERG MED, 2010. 17:84-88. I.F.:0,73. 

6 Duenas-Laita A, Putze GB, Alonso 

JR, Bajo A, Climent B, Corral E, Felices 

F, Ferrer A, Frutos MDH, Nogue 

S, Puiguriguer J. Fundamentals in the 

clinical management of intoxication due 

to smoke inhalation. EMERGENCIAS, 

2010. 22:384-394. I.F.:3,08. 

7 Antolin A, Ambros A, Mangiron P, 

Alves D, Sanchez M, Miro O. Grade of 

knowledge about the advance directive 

document by the chronic patient who comes 

to the emergency department. REV 

CLIN ESP, 2010. 210:379-388. I.F.:0,58. 

8 Riesgo A, Herrero P, Llorens P, Jacob 

J, Martin-Sanchez FJ, Bragulat E, 

Miro O. Influence of patient’s sex in the 

form of presentation and the management 

of acute heart failure in Spanish 

emergency rooms. MED CLIN-BARCE- 

LONA, 2010. 134:671-677. I.F.:1,23. 

9 Coll-Vinent B, Sanchez M, Nogue R, 

Miro O. Instruction in emergency medicine 

at university schools of medicine: 

the current situation in Spain. EMER- 

GENCIAS, 2010. 22:21-27. I.F.:3,08. 

10 Antolin A, Sanchez M, Llorens 

P, Sanchez FJM, Gonzalez-Armengol 

JJ, Ituno JP, Carbajosa JF, Fernandez- 

Canadas JM, DelCastillo JG, Miro O. 

Knowledge About Disease Course and 

Living Wills Among Patients With Heart 

Failure. REV ESP CARDIOL, 2010. 

63:1410-1418. I.F.:2,75. 

11 Coll-Vinent B, Torres S, Sanchez 

A, Miro N, Sanchez M, Miro O. Medical 

students’ predisposition to specialize in 

emergency medicine. EMERGENCIAS, 

2010. 22:15-20. I.F.:3,08. 

12 Negredo E, Romeu J, Rodriguez- 

Santiago B, Miro O, Garrabou G, Puig J, 

Perez-Alvarez N, Moren C, Ruiz L, Bellido 

R, Miranda C, Clotet B. Mild Improvement 

in Mitochondrial Function After 

a 3-Year Antiretroviral Treatment Interruption 

Despite Persistent Impairment 

of Mitochondrial DNA Content. CURR 

HIV RES, 2010. 8:379-385. I.F.:1,98. 

13 Xarau SN, Romay MA, Martinez 

JMM, Clanchet JD, Prat ER, Sola JF. 

Multiple chemical sensitivity: Epidemiological, 

clinical and prognostic differences 

between occupational and non-occupational 

cases. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 

2010. 135:52-58. I.F.:1,23. 

98

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14 Miro O, Llorens P, Martin-Sanchez 

FJ, Herrero P, Jacob J, Perez- 

Dura MJ, Gonzalez C, Alonso H, Gil 

V, Alvarez AB, Perello R, Gonzalez- 

Armengol JJ. Predicting the risk of 

reattendance for acute heart failure 

patients discharged from Spanish 

Emergency Department observation 

units. EUR J EMERG MED, 2010. 

17:197-202. I.F.:0,73. 

15 Bosch X, Loma-Osorio P, 

Guasch E, Nogue S, Ortiz JT, Sanchez 

M. Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics 

and Risk of Myocardial 

Infarction in Patients With Cocaine- 

Related Chest Pain. REV ESP CAR- 

DIOL, 2010. 63:1028-1034. I.F.:2,75. 

Sitges M, Pare C, Bosch X, Bragulat 

E, Sanchez M. Utility of coronary computed 

tomography to rule out acute 

coronary syndrome in the emergency 

department: a pilot study. EMERGEN- 

CIAS, 2010. 22:101-108. I.F.:3,08. 

21 Galicia M, Nogue S, Sanjurjo E, 

Miro O. Visits to the emergency department 

due to ecstasy (MDMA) and 

amphetamine derivative consumption: 

Epidemiological, clinical and evolutional 

profile. REV CLIN ESP, 2010. 210:371- 

378. I.F.:0,58. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 3,08 


I.F.: 3,08 

1 Jimenez S. Guidelines on acute pulmonary 

embolism from the European Society 

of Cardiology: reflections from the perspective 

of the emergency physician. EMER- 

GENCIAS, 2010. 22:61-67. I.F.:3,08. 


in progress 

Coll-Vinent B. Utilidad de la detección precoz 

de la fibrilación auricular. Sponsored 

by: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, 

PI070278. Amount: 99.220,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2008-30/12/2010. 

16 Jimenez S, Aguilo S, Gil V, 

Antolin A, Prieto S, Bragulat E, 

Coll-Vinent B, Miro O, Sanchez M. 

Psychosocial factors determine 

patients’ acceptance of emergency 

department discharge directly to 

hospital-at-home care. GAC SANIT, 

2010. 24:303-308. I.F.:1,17. 

17 Fonseca M, Sanclemente G, 

Hernandez C, Visiedo C, Bragulat E, 

Miro O. Residents, duties and burnout 

syndrome. REV CLIN ESP, 2010. 

210:209-215. I.F.:0,58. 

18 Nogue S, Ramos A, Portillo 

M, Bohils M. Triage and assignment 

of responsibility for care in cases of 

acute intoxication in the emergency 

department. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 

22:338-344. I.F.:3,08. 

19 Amigo M, Nogue S, Miro O. 

Use of activated charcoal in acute 

poisonings: Clinical safety and factors 

associated with adverse reactions in 

575 cases. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 

2010. 135:243-249. I.F.:1,23. 

20 Miro O, Ortiz-Perez JT, Leon 

R, Lopez B, Perea R, DeCaralt TM, 

1 Oliu G, Nogue S, Miro O. Carbon 

monoxide poisoning: pathophysiologic 

principles underlying good treatment. 

EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 22:451-459. 

I.F.:3,08. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 12,32 

1 Ferrando JP, Martin BB, Puig TC, 

Xarau SN. Assessing risk of liver toxicity 

in acute paracetamol intoxication 

when basing treatment on a Rumack- 

Matthew toxicity nomogram is not 

feasible. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 

22:365-368. I.F.:3,08. 

2 Miro O. Nenikekamen We have 

prevailed!. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 

22:401-403. I.F.:3,08. 

3 Miro O. Project EMEGER: A bonis 

ad meliora. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 

22:1-2. I.F.:3,08. 

4 Miro O. Specialization in emergency 

medicine: a residency program 

that is needed and in demand. 

EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 22:321-322. 

I.F.:3,08. 

Miro O. Grup de recerca consolidat. Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, SGR 

2009-1385. Amount: 45.760,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Miro O, Gomez E, Bragulat E, Nogue S, 

Sanchez M. Prevalencia, perfil demográfico, 

social y clínico, y pronóstico de los 

pacientes consumidores de cocaína que 

acuden a urgencias por dolor torácico. 

Sponsored by: Fondo de Investigaciones 

Sanitarias, PI07/0089. Amount: 32.500,00 

euros. Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Miro O. “Comparación de dos metodologías 

diferentes para la difusión de la enseñanza 

de la reanimación cardiopulmonar 

básica durante la escolarización obligatoria”. 

Sponsored by: Fondo de Investigación 

Sanitaria (FIS), PI 07/0073. Amount: 


31/12/2010. 

Thesis 

Miro O, Nogue S. Aportaciones a al epidemiologia 

y a las manisfestaciones clínicas 

de las sobredosis causadas por la cocaina y 

las nuevas drogas de diseño. PhD student: 

Miguel Angel Galicia Paredes. 

99

AREA 1 



Molecular and cellular bases of inflammation. 


Structural and biological mass spectrometry 

Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Daniel Closa 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Tel.: 93 363 83 43 

Fax: 93 363 83 01 

E-mail: daniel.closa@iibb.csic.es 

Strategic 

Objectives 

1. Molecular and cellular bases of 

inflammation: 

Study of inflammatory response in 

general. 

1. Structural and biological mass 

spectrometry: 

Development of techniques for 

solving problems in proteomics and 

in the analysis of biomolecules in 

general. Application to the study of 

antigen presentation in autoimmune 

diseases and to the investigation of 

therapeutic targets and markers of 

the disease. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Molecular and cellular bases of 

inflammation: 

• Mechanisms involved in the 

development of systemic 

inflammatory processes. 

• New therapies for idiopathic 

pulmonary fibrosis. 

• Study of the protein associated 

with pancreatitis. 


Oriol Bulbena (IIBB-CSIC) 

Emili Gelpí (IIBB-CSIC) 

Joaquín Abián (IIBB-CSIC-UAB) 

Montserrat Carrascal (IIBB-CSIC) 

Emma Folch (IBB-CSIC) 


Gemma Gay 

S. Gea (TS) 

C. Lebrero (GENAME) 

R. Guillamat (CIBERES) 

Technicians: 

L. Ignacio Sanchez 

V. Sirenko (IDIBAPS) 

Edita Bueno (JAE-TEC) 

Joan Villanueva (Proteored) 

Ana González (Proteored) 

D. Ovelleiro (Proteored) 

V. Casas (TS- MICINN) 


F. Pí (IIBB-CSIC) 

A. Salas (RC) 

A. Serrano (IIBB-CSIC) 

M. Gay (JAE-DOC) 

N. Franco (CIBEREHD) 

2. Structural and biological mass 

spectrometry: 

• Phosphoproteomics of the human 

T lymphocyte. 

• Diagnostic and prognostic markers 

in cancer and other diseases. 

• External scientific-technical 

services. Proteomics Services 

and Coordination of Proteored 

Network. 

100

AREA 1 


MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BASES OF INFLAMMATION. STRUCTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY 

PUBLICATIONS 

originals 

I.F.: 51,15 

1 Gay M, Carrascal M, Gorga M, 

Pares A, Abian J. Characterization of 

peptides and proteins in commercial 

HSA solutions. PROTEOMICS, 2010. 

10:172-181. I.F.:4,43. 

2 Carrascal M, Gay M, Ovelleiro 

D, Casas V, Gelpi E, Abian J. Characterization 

of the Human Plasma 

Phosphoproteome Using Linear Ion 

Trap Mass Spectrometry and Multiple 

Search Engines. J PROTEOME RES, 

2010. 9:876-884. I.F.:5,13. 

3 Rodriguez-Trigo G, Zock JP, Pozo- 

Rodriguez F, Gomez FP, Monyarch 

G, Bouso L, Coll MD, Verea H, Anto 

JM, Fuster C, Barbera JA. Health 

Changes in Fishermen 2 Years After 

Clean-up of the Prestige Oil Spill. 

ANN INTERN MED, 2010. 153:489- 

W176. I.F.:16,23. 

4 Gutierrez P, Closae D, Piner R, 

Bulbena O, Menendez R, Torres A. 

Macrophage activation in exacerbated 

COPD with and without communityacquired 

pneumonia. EUR RESPIR J, 

2010. 36:285-291. I.F.:5,53. 

5 Vendrell I, Carrascal M, Campos 

F, Abian J, Suñol C. Methylmercury 

disrupts the balance between phosphorylated 

and non-phosphorylated 

cofilin in primary cultures of mice 

cerebellar granule cells A proteomic 

study. TOXICOL APPL PHARM, 

2010. 242:109-118. I.F.:3,36. 

6 Lopez-Font I, Gea-Sorli S, De- 

Madaria E, Gutierrez LM, Perez- 

Mateo M, Closa D. Pancreatic and 

pulmonary mast cells activation during 

experimental acute pancreatitis. 

WORLD J GASTROENTERO, 2010. 

16:3411-3417. I.F.:2,09. 

7 Franco-Pons N, Gea-Sorli S, Closa 

D. Release of inflammatory mediators 

by adipose tissue during acute pancreatitis. 

J PATHOL, 2010. 221:175-182. 

I.F.:6,47. 

8 Ponce J, Brea D, Carrascal M, Guirao 

V, Degregorio-Rocasolano N, Sobrino 

T, Castillo J, Davalos A, Gasull T. The 

effect of simvastatin on the proteome 

of detergent-resistant membrane domains: 

Decreases of specific proteins 

previously related to cytoskeleton regulation, 

calcium homeostasis and cell 

fate. PROTEOMICS, 2010. 10:1954- 

1965. I.F.:4,43. 

9 Banon-Maneus E, Diekmann F, 

Carrascal M, Quintana LF, Moya-Rull 

D, Bescos M, Ramirez-Bajo MJ, Rovira 

J, Gutierrez-Dalmau A, Sole-Gonzalez 

A, Abian J, Campistol JM. Two-Dimensional 

Difference Gel Electrophoresis 

Urinary Proteomic Profile in the Search 

of Nonimmune Chronic Allograft Dysfunction 

Biomarkers. TRANSPLANTA- 

TION, 2010. 89:548-558. I.F.:3,50. 


in progress 

Closa D. Caracterización de la activación 

de macrófagos intersticiales y 

alveolares en patologías respiratorias 

no infecciosas. Sponsored by: SEPAR, 

2009-841. Amount: 12.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Abian J. ProteoRed (Instituto Nacional 

de Proteómica). Sponsored by: Genoma 

España, 0000. Amount: 432.829,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/06/2005-01/06/2010. 

Abian J. GENAME: Defining targets for 

therapeutics in spinal muscular atrophy. 

Sponsored by: Genoma España, 0000. 


01/03/2007-31/05/2010. 

Abian J. Análisis proteómico de marcadores 

de enfermedad en suero 

humano. Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Industria, Turismo y Comercio, CENIT/ 

ONCNOSIS. Amount: 499.903,00 euros. 

Duration: 18/01/2006-18/01/2010. 

Abian J. La activación linfocitaria a 

través del análisis del fosfoproteoma. 

Determinación de perfiles de fosforilación 

in vivo. Sponsored by: MICINN, 

BIO2009-11735. Amount: 147.000,00 


31/12/2012. 

Closa D. Trasplante de macrófagos 

reprogramados ex vivo como terapia 

para la pancreatitis aguda experimental. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Ciencia e 

Innovación, SAF2009-07605. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Closa D. Derivados lipídicos como 

agentes moduladores de la respuesta 

hiperinflamatoria sistémica. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación, 

201022002. Amount: 18.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/06/2010-01/06/2011. 

Bulbena O. Trasplante de células alveolares 

tipo II, derivadas de células madre 

adultas, para el tratamiento de la fibrosis 

pulmonar idiopática. Sponsored by: 

FIS, 201022002. Amount: 169.400,00 


31/12/2013. 

Thesis 

Mont L, Serrano-Mollar A. Efecto del 

ejercicio crónico en el desarrollo de 

fibrosis cardíaca: mecanismos implicados. 

PhD student: Gemma Gay Jordi 

101

2

Respiratory, 

cardiovascular, 

renal AND 

pathobiology 

bioengineering 

Atherosclerosis and coronary disease 104 

Arrhythmias, resynchronization and cardiac imaging 109 

Nephro-urological diseases and kidney transplantation 114 

Hypertension, lipids and cardiovascular risk 118 

Respiratory biophysics and bioengineering 122 

Applied research in infectious respiratory diseases, critically 

ill patients and lung cancer 125 


illnesses 131 


Immunoallergy (IRCE) 134 

Inflammation and repair in respiratory illnesses 138 

Urological genetics and tumors 140

AREA 2 

Respiratory, cardiovascular, renal 

pathobiology and bioengineering 


GROUP Members 


Determinantes genéticos y ambientales de la disfunción 

vascular en la hipertensión y cardiopatía isquémica 

(Red HERACLES) 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Magda Heras Fortuny (Hospital Clínic) 

Amadeu Betriu (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Bosch (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana Paula Dantas (IDIBAPS) 

Carles Paré (Hospital Clínic) 

Félix Pérez Villa (Hospital Clínic) 

José Luis Pomar (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Rigol (IDIBAPS) 

Mercè Roqué (Hospital Clínic) 


Luis Álvarez Contreras 

Technicians: 

Nadia Castillo (Fundació Clínic) 


Anna Barrabés (Fundació Clínic) 

Elisabet de Mingo (IDIBAPS) 

TEAM LEADER 

Manel Sabaté 


Tel.: 93 227 93 05 

Fax: 93 227 93 05 

E-mail: masabate@clinic.ub.es 


Montserrat Vázquez González (FCRB) 

Mª Ángeles Álvarez (Hospital Clínic) 


Montserrat Batlle (IDIBAPS) 

Mònica Masotti (Hospital Clínic) 

África Muxí (Hospital Clínic) 

Núria Solanes (FCRB) 

José Ortiz Pérez (Hospital Clínic) 

Alessandro Sionis (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Novensà (IDIBAPS) 

Rut Andrea (Hospital Clínic) 

Manel Azqueta (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Cardona (Hospital Clínic) 

Carles Falces (Hospital Clínic) 

Victoria Martín Yuste (Hospital Clínic) 

Sussanna Prat (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª José Pulgarín (IDIBAPS) 

1. Physiopathology and improvement 

in the diagnosis and 

treatment of acute coronary 

syndrome. Role of the vascular 

inflammation mechanisms and 

thrombosis. 

a. Identification of different clinical 

signs and biomarkers of inflammation, 

necrosis and hemodynamic 

stress allowing improved 

diagnostic evaluation and risk 

stratification of patients with chest 

pain and negative troponin findings. 

b. Evaluation of the role of different 

inflammatory biomarkers and 

thrombosis in the physiopathology 

and course of patients with myocardial 

infarction. 

2. Prevention of ventricular dysfunction 

in patients subjected to 

chemotherapy. A randomized study 

evaluating different drugs in the 

prevention of ventricular dysfunction 

in oncological patients subjected to 

high-dose chemotherapy with drugs 

of known cardiotoxicity. 

3. Control mechanisms of post-vascular 

lesion intimal hyperplasia 

and regulation of vascular tone: 

a. Porcine model with femoral artery 

transplantation. 

b. Graft vasculopathy model with aortic 

transplantation in the rat. 

c. Model of femoral artery damage in 

the mouse. 

d. Porcine model of intimal hyperplasia 

of the coronary arteries. 

4. Post-infarction myocardial regeneration. 

Study of the mechanisms of 

implantation, differentiation and regeneration 

of pluripotent stem cells in 

a porcine model of acute myocardial 

infarction. 

5. Determination of the mechanisms involved 

in the regulation of nitric oxide 

and superoxide anion systems 

through steroid receptors, and their 

role in regulating the development of 

cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, 

hypertension, diabetes 

and metabolic syndrome. 

104

AREA 2 

Respiratory, cardiovascular, renal pathobiology and bioengineering 


6. Clinical evaluation of new devices 

for the treatment of ischemic and 

structural heart disease. 

7. Evaluation of the efficacy of cellular 

therapy in patients with refractory 

angina. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Physiopathology and improvement in 

the diagnosis and treatment of acute 

coronary syndrome. Role of the vascular 

inflammation mechanisms and 

thrombosis. Evaluation of circulating 

endothelial cells and precursor endothelial 

cells. 

2. Prevention of ventricular dysfunction 

in patients subjected to chemotherapy. 

3. Study of the impact of gender difference 

upon ischemic heart disease. 

Evaluation of the characteristics of 

cardiovascular diseases in women 

and the different factors influencing 

their prognosis. 

4. Vascular biology. Study of the mechanisms 

underlying post-revascularization 

procedure intimal hyperplasia. 

Within this line of work we have 

different projects involving different 

vascular lesion models in both large 

animals (such as pigs) and in small 

mammals (rats and mice). Specifically, 

in the experimental cardiology laboratory 

we have a model of angioplasty 

and stent placement in pigs, a model 

of intimal hyperplasia development in 

mice - with which studies in genetically 

modified animals are made – and 

two vascular transplant models in pigs 

and rats. 

5. Study of neurohormonal activation 

and the fibrotic process associated 

with ventricular remodelling 

in heart failure in idiopathic or ischemic 

dilatory myocardiopathies. We 

use molecular biological and immunohistochemical 

techniques in 

myocardial tissue and serum neurohormonal 

determinations. This 

line will allow us to gain in-depth 

knowledge of the physiopathological 

mechanisms and evolutive 

course of heart failure. 

6. Study of neurohormonal activation 

and the fibrotic process associated 

with ventricular remodelling in 

heart failure in idiopathic or ischemic 

dilatory myocardiopathies. This 

line will allow us to gain in-depth 

knowledge of the physiopathological 

mechanisms and evolutive course of 

heart failure. 

7. Investigation of the mechanisms by 

which aging and menopause affect 

the signaling pathways of the nitric 

oxide and superoxide anion systems, 

and their role in regulating cardiovascular 

function in both healthy individuals 

and in patients with pre-existing 

cardiovascular diseases. 

8. Clinical studies for evaluating the 

efficacy and safety of intracoronary 

devices (stents). 

9. Chronic total coronary artery 

occlusion in humans: from physiopathology 

to the clinical implications 

of successful recanalization via percutaneous 

coronary intervention. 

10. Cellular therapy in patients with 

refractory angina not amenable to 

recanalization. 

11. Structural heart disease: study of 

quality of life in patients subjected 

to TAVI. 

12. Mechanical circulatory assist devices. 

Ventricular assist as a bridge 

to transplantation. 

The role of estrogens upon oxidative 

stress in vivo. Representative images 

at left show mesenteric arterioles under 

visible light, and at right under fluorescent 

light, nuclei stained with ethidium 

bromide, 60 minutes after starting the 

hydroethidine perfusion. A)arterioles of 

a spontaneously hypertensive female 

rat (SHR) with physiological stress (OE); 

B) arterioles of an ovariectomized SHR 

(OVX); C) arterioles of an ovariectomized 

SHR treated with estrogen (OVX + E2). 

105

AREA 2 




Team PUBLICATIONS 

Members 

Originals 

I.F.: 131,29 

1 Colli A, Mestres CA, Espinosa G, 

Plasin MA, Pomar JL, Font J, Cervera R. 

Heart valve surgery in patients with the 

antiphospholipid syndrome: analysis of 

a series of nine cases. EUR J CARDIO- 

THORAC, 2010. 37:154-158. I.F.:2,40. 



Almela M, Cervera C, Ninot S, Falces C, 

Mestres CA, Gatell JM, DeAnta MTJ, 

Miro JM. Daptomycin Is Effective for 

Treatment of Experimental Endocarditis 

Due to Methicillin-Resistant and Glycopeptide-Intermediate 

Staphylococcus 

epidermidis. ANTIMICROB AGENTS 

CH, 2010. 54:2781-2786. I.F.:4,80. 

3 Bosch X, Loma-Osorio P, Guasch 

E, Nogue S, Ortiz JT, Sanchez M. 

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics 

and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in 

Patients With Cocaine-Related Chest 

Pain. REV ESP CARDIOL, 2010. 

63:1028-1034. I.F.:2,75. 

4 Miro O, Ortiz-Perez JT, Leon R, 

Lopez B, Perea R, DeCaralt TM, Sitges 

M, Pare C, Bosch X, Bragulat E, 

Sanchez M. Utility of coronary computed 



department: a pilot study. EMERGEN- 

CIAS, 2010. 22:101-108. I.F.:3,08. 

5 Abu-Assi E, Ferreira-Gonzalez I, 

Ribera A, Marsal JR, Cascant P, Heras 

M, Bueno H, Sanchez PL, Aros F, 

Marrugat J, Garcia-Dorado D, Pena-Gil 

C, Gonzalez-Juanatey JR, Permanyer- 

Miralda G. “Do GRACE (Global Registry 

of Acute Coronary events) risk 

scores still maintain their performance 

for predicting mortality in the era of 

contemporary management of acute 

coronary syndromes?”. AM HEART J, 

2010. 160:826-U73. I.F.:4,36. 

6 Martinez-Olondris P, Sibila O, Agusti 

C, Rigol M, Soy D, Esquinas C, Piner R, 

Luque N, Guerrero L, Quera MA, Marco 

F, DeLaBellacasa JP, Ramirez J, Torres 

A. An experimental model of pneumonia 

induced by methicillin-resistant 

Staphylococcus aureus in ventilated 

piglets. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 36:901- 

906. I.F.:5,53. 

7 Ortiz-Perez JT, Betriu A, Lee DC, 

DeCaralt TM, Meyers SN, Davidson CJ, 

Perea RJ, Sitges M, Bosch X, Bonow 

RO, Masotti M, Brugada J, Wu E. Angiographic 

and Magnetic Resonance 

Imaging Evaluation of In-Hospital Delay 

in Primary Percutaneous Intervention 

Delivery on Myocardial Salvage. AM J 

CARDIOL, 2010. 106:924-930. I.F.:3,58. 

8 Garcia-Alvarez A, Sitges M, Garcia- 

Albeniz X, Sionis A, Loma-Osorio P, 

Bosch X. Atypical cardiac manifestation 

of hypereosinophilic syndrome and reversible 

cardiotoxicity to imatinib. INT J 

CARDIOL, 2010. 139:E29-E31. I.F.:3,47. 

9 Ferreira-Gonzalez I, Marsal JR, 

Ribera A, Permanyer-Miralda G, Garcia- 

DelBlanco B, Marti G, Cascant P, 

Martin-Yuste V, Brugaletta S, Sabate M, 

Alfonso F, Capote ML, DeLaTorre JM, 

Ruiz-Lera M, Sanmiguel D, Cardenas 

M, Pujol B, Baz JA, Iniguez A, Trillo R, 

Gonzalez-Bejar O, Casanova J, Sanchez- 

Gila J, Garcia-Dorado D. Background, 

Incidence, and Predictors of Antiplatelet 

Therapy Discontinuation During the First 

Year After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation. 

CIRCULATION, 2010. 122:1017- 

U122. I.F.:14,82. 

10 Miguel-Velado E, Perez-Carretero 

FD, Colinas O, Cidad P, Heras M, 

Lopez-Lopez JR, Perez-Garcia MT. Cell 

cycle-dependent expression of Kv3.4 

channels modulates proliferation of 

human uterine artery smooth muscle 

cells. CARDIOVASC RES, 2010. 86:383- 

391. I.F.:5,80. 

11 Garcia-Alvarez A, Sitges M, Pinazo 

MJ, Regueiro-Cueva A, Posada E, Poyatos 

S, Ortiz-Peerez JT, Heras M, Azqueta M, 

Gascon J, Sanz G. Chagas Cardiomiopathy: 

The Potential of Diastolic Dysfunction 

and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the Early 

Identification of Cardiac Damage. PLOS 

NEGLECT TROP D, 2010. 4:-. I.F.:4,69. 

12 Cidad P, Moreno-Dominguez A, 

Novensa L, Roque M, Barquin L, Heras 

M, Perez-Garcia MT, Lopez-Lopez JR. 

Characterization of Ion Channels Involved 

in the Proliferative Response of 

Femoral Artery Smooth Muscle Cells. 

ARTERIOSCL THROM VAS, 2010. 

30:1203-U297. I.F.:7,24. 

13 Rodriguez-Guardado A, Miquel R, 

Perez F, Fresno M, Corachan M. Colonic 

polyposis due to Schistosoma intercalatum. 

T ROY SOC TROP MED H, 2010. 

104:443-445. I.F.:2,55. 

14 Guerrero L, Martinez-Olondris P, 

Rigol M, Esperatti M, Esquinas C, Luque 

N, Piner R, Torres A, Soy D. Development 

and validation of a high performance 

liquid chromatography method 

to determine linezolid concentrations in 

pig pulmonary tissue. CLIN CHEM LAB 

MED, 2010. 48:391-398. I.F.:1,89. 

15 Sanchez MA, Jimenez-Navarro M, 

Crespo M, Alonso-Pulpon L, DeTeresa 

E, Castro-Beiras A, Roig E, Artigas R, 

Zapata A, DeUlibarri IL, Muniz J. Effect 

of a Training Program for Primary Care 

Physicians on the Optimization of Beta- 

Blocker Treatment in Elderly Patients 

With Heart Failure. REV ESP CARDIOL, 

2010. 63:677-685. I.F.:2,75. 

16 Rigol M, Solanes N, Farre J, Roura 

S, Roque M, Berruezo A, Bellera N, Novensa 

L, Beng DT, Prat-Vidal C, Huzman 

MA, Batlle M, Hoefsloot M, Sitges M, 

Ramirez J, Dantas AP, Merino A, Sanz 

G, Brugada J, Bayes-Genis A, Heras M. 

Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem 

106

AREA 2 



Cell Therapy After Myocardial Infarction: 

Impact of the Route of Administration. J 

CARD FAIL, 2010. 16:357-366. I.F.:3,25. 

17 Novensa L, Selent J, Pastor 

M, Sandberg K, Heras M, Dantas AP. 

Equine Estrogens Impair Nitric Oxide 

Production and Endothelial Nitric Oxide 

Synthase Transcription in Human Endothelial 

Cells Compared With the Natural 

17 beta-Estradiol. HYPERTENSION, 

2010. 56:405-U140. I.F.:6,61. 

predictor of poor response to cardiac 

resynchronization therapy. EUR J HEART 

FAIL, 2010. 12:492-498. I.F.:3,71. 

23 Diaz-Ricart M, Brunso L, Pino M, 

Navalon F, Jou JM, Heras M, White JG, 

Escolar G. Preanalytical treatment of 

EDTA-anticoagulated blood to ensure 

stabilization of the mean platelet volume 

and component measured with the 

ADVIA counters. THROMB RES, 2010. 

126:E30-E35. I.F.:2,41. 

27 Delgado JF, Crespo-Leiro MG, 

Gomez-Sanchez MA, Paniagua MJ, 

Gonzalez-Vilchez F, DePrada JAV, Fernandez-Yanez 

J, Pascual D, Almenar L, 

Martinez-Dolz L, Diaz B, Roig E, Segovia 

J, Arizon JM, Garrido I, Blasco T, Lopez 

J, Brossa V, Manito N, Muniz J. Risk factors 

associated with moderate-to-severe 

renal dysfunction among heart transplant 

patients: results from the CAPRI study. 

CLIN TRANSPLANT, 2010. 24:E194-E200. 

I.F.:2,00. 

18 Novella S, Dantas AP, Segarra G, 

Novensa L, Bueno C, Heras M, Hermenegildo 

C, Medina P. Gathering of aging and 

estrogen withdrawal in vascular dysfunction 

of senescent accelerated mice. EXP 

GERONTOL, 2010. 45:868-874. I.F.:3,34. 

19 Molina BD, Leiro MGC, Pulpon 

LA, Mirabet S, Yanez JF, Bonet LA, 

Vilchez FG, Delgado JF, Manito N, Rabago 

G, Arizon JM, Romero N, Roig 

E, Blasco T, Pascual D, DeLaFuente L, 

Muniz J. Incidence and Risk Factors for 

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer After Heart 


42:3001-3005. I.F.:0,99. 

20 Colli A, D’amico R, Mestres CA, 

Pomar JL, Camara ML, Ruyra X, Mulet 

J. Is Early Antithrombotic Therapy 

Necessary after Tissue Mitral Valve Replacement?. 

J HEART VALVE DIS, 2010. 

19:405-411. I.F.:1,03. 

21 Bellera MN, Ortiz JT, Caralt MT, 

Perez-Rodon J, Mercader J, Fernandez- 

Gomez C, Pare C, Heras M. Magnetic 

resonance reveals long-term sequelae 

of apical ballooning syndrome. INT J 

CARDIOL, 2010. 139:25-31. I.F.:3,47. 

22 Tolosana JM, Mont L, Sitges M, 

Berruezo A, Delgado V, Vidal B, Tamborero 

D, Morales M, Batlle M, Roig E, Castel 

MA, Perez-Villa F, Godoy M, Brugada J. 

Plasma tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 

(TIMP-1): an independent 

24 Crespo-Leiro MG, Delgado JF, Paniagua 

MJ, DePrada JAV, Fernandez-Yanez J, 

Almenar L, Diaz-Molina B, Roig E, Arizon 

JM, Alonso-Pulpon L, Garrido IP, Sanz ML, 

DeLaFuente L, Mirabet S, Manito N, Muniz 

J. Prevalence and severity of renal dysfunction 

among 1062 heart transplant patients 

according to criteria based on serum creatinine 

and estimated glomerular filtration 

rate: results from the CAPRI study. CLIN 

TRANSPLANT, 2010. 24:E88-E93. I.F.:2,00. 

25 Sanchis J, Bosch X, Bodi V, Nunez 

J, Doltra A, Heras M, Mainar L, Santas 

E, Bragulat E, Garcia-Alvarez A, Carratala 

A, Llacer A. Randomized comparison 

between clinical evaluation plus N-terminal 

pro-B-type natriuretic peptide versus 

exercise testing for decision making 

in acute chest pain of uncertain origin. 

AM HEART J, 2010. 159:-. I.F.:4,36. 

26 Widimsky P, Wijns W, Fajadet J, 

DeBelder M, Knot J, Aaberge L, Andrikopoulos 

G, Baz JA, Betriu A, Claeys 

M, Danchin N, Djambazov S, Erne P, 

Hartikainen J, Huber K, Kala P, Klinceva 

M, Kristensen SD, Ludman P, Ferre JM, 

Merkely B, Milicic D, Morais J, Noc M, 

Opolski G, Ostojic M, Radovanovic D, 

DeServi S, Stenestrand U, Studencan 

M, Tubaro M, Vasiljevic Z, Weidinger F, 

Witkowski A, Zeymer U. Reperfusion 

therapy for ST elevation acute myocardial 

infarction in Europe: description of the 

current situation in 30 countries. EUR 

HEART J, 2010. 31:943-957. I.F.:9,80. 

28 Sionis A, Garcia-Alvarez A, Castel 

MA, Cordero M, Josa M, Perez-Villa F, 

Roig E. Severe aortic regurgitation and 

reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: 

Outcomes after isolated aortic valve 

replacement and combined surgery. J 

HEART LUNG TRANSPL, 2010. 29:445- 

448. I.F.:3,54. 

29 Sola R, Bruckert E, Valls RM, 

Narejos S, Luque X, Castro-Cabezas M, 

Domenech G, Torres F, Heras M, Farres 

X, Vaquer JV, Martinez JM, Almaraz MC, 

Anguera A. Soluble fibre (Plantago ovata 

husk) reduces plasma low-density lipoprotein 

(LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, 

insulin, oxidised LDL and systolic blood 

pressure in hypercholesterolaemic patients: 

A randomised trial. ATHEROSCLE- 

ROSIS, 2010. 211:630-637. I.F.:4,52. 

30 Portillo K, Santos S, Madrigal I, 

Blanco I, Pare C, Borderias L, Peinado VI, 

Roca J, Mila M, Barbera JA. Study of the 

BMPR2 Gene in Patients with Pulmonary 

Arterial Hypertension. ARCH BRON- 

CONEUMOL, 2010. 46:129-134. I.F.:2,17. 

31 Castel A, Magnani S, Mont L, 

Roig E, Tamborero D, Mendez-Zurita F, 

Femenia JF, Tolosana JM, Perez-Villa F, 

Brugada J. Survival in New York Heart 

Association class IV heart failure patients 

treated with cardiac resynchronization 

therapy compared with patients on 

optimal pharmacological treatment. EU- 

ROPACE, 2010. 12:1136-1140. I.F.:1,87. 

107

AREA 2 




32 Gonzalez-Vilchez F, Almenar L, 

Arizon JM, Mirabet S, Delgado JF, 

DeMolina BD, Gomez M, Paniagua 

MJ, Perez-Villa F, Roig E, DePrada 

JAV. Temporal Trends in the Use of 

Proliferation Signal Inhibitors in Maintenance 

Heart Transplantation: A Spanish 

Multicenter Study. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:2997-3000. I.F.:0,99. 

33 Martinez-Olondris P, Rigol M, 

Torres A. What lessons have been 

learnt from animal models of MRSA 

in the lung?. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

35:198-201. I.F.:5,53. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 8,40 

1 Bosch X, Marrugat J, Sanchis J. 

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers 

during percutaneous coronary intervention 

and as the initial medical treatment 

of non-ST segment elevation acute 

coronary syndromes. COCHRANE DB 

SYST REV, 2010. :-. I.F.:5,65. 

2 Segovia J, Bermejo J, Alfonso F, 

Heras M. The Right Heart and Pulmonary 

Circulation. Is It Really a Minor 

Circulation?. REV ESP CARDIOL, 

2010. 63:77-80. I.F.:2,75. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 6,91 

1 Bosch X. Safeguarding good scientific 

practice in Europe The increasingly 

global reach of science requires the 

harmonization of standards. EMBO 

REP, 2010, 2010. 11:252-257. I.F.:6,91. 


I.F.: 12,20 

1 Wijns W, Kolh P. Guidelines on myocardial 

revascularization The Task Force 

on Myocardial Revascularization of the 


and the European Association for Cardio- 

Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). EUR HEART J, 

2010. 31:2501-2555. I.F.:9,80. 

2 Kolh P, Wijns W, Danchin N, DiMario C, 

Falk V, Folliguet T, Garg S, Huber K, James 

S, Knuuti J, Lopez-Sendon J, Marco J, 

Menicanti L, Ostojic M, Piepoli MF, Pirlet 

C, Pomar JL, Reifart N, Ribichini FL, Schalij 

MJ, Sergeant P, Serruys PW, Silber S, Uva 

MS, Taggart D. Guidelines on myocardial 

revascularization The Task Force on Myocardial 

Revascularization of the European 

Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European 

Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 

(EACTS). EUR J CARDIO-THORAC, 

2010. 38:S1-S52. I.F.:2,40. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 61,87 

1 Gerstein HC, Ratner RE, Cannon CP, 

Serruys PW, Garcia-Garcia HM, VanEs 

GA, Kolatkar NS, Kravitz BG, Miller DM, 

Huang C, Fitzgerald PJ, Nesto RW. Effect 

of Rosiglitazone on Progression of Coronary 

Atherosclerosis in Patients With 

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary 

Artery Disease. CIRCULATION, 2010. 

121:1176-1187. I.F.:14,82. 

2 Mehta SR, Bassand JP, Chrolavicius 

S, Diaz R, Eikelboom JW, Fox KAA, 

Granger CB, Jolly S, Joyner CD, Rupprecht 

HJ, Widimsky P, Afzal R, Pogue 

J, Yusuf S. Dose Comparisons of Clopidogrel 

and Aspirin in Acute Coronary 

Syndromes. NEW ENGL J MED, 2010. 

363:930-942. I.F.:47,05. 


in progress 

Heras M. HERACLES - Determinantes 

Genéticos y Ambientales de la Disfunción 

Vascular en la Hipertensión 

y Cardiopatía Isquémica. Sponsored 


RD06/0009/0008. Amount: 204.018,22 


Batlle M. Análisis del papel del péptido 

Ang1-7 del Sistema Renina Angiotensina 

en el desarrollo del remodelado 

ventricular en la Insuficiencia Cardíaca. 

Sponsored by: Sociedad Española 

de Cardiología, IP004486. Amount: 


31/12/2010. 

Dantas AP. Regulación hormonal del 

perfil proteómico y la función vascular 

durante el envejecimiento y la evolución 

de enfermedades cardiovasculares. 

Sponsored by: FIS, PI040171. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Heras M. Células endoteliales circulantes 

y células progenitoras endoteliales 

en la enfermedad cardiovascular aguda. 

Correlación con la función endotelial 

y la evolución clínica. Sponsored by: 

FIS, PI080272. Amount: 68.002,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Bosch X. Prevención de la disfunción 

ventricular con enalapril y carvedilol en 

pacientes sometidos a quimioterapia 

intensiva para el tratamiento de hemopatías 

malignas. Sponsored by: Instituto 

de Salud Carlos III, EC07/90211. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Roque M, Heras M, Novensà L, Rigol 

M, Solanes N. Prevenció i tractament 

de la hiperplàsia de l’íntima mitjançant 

l’ús de bloquejants del canal Kv1.3. 

Sponsored by: Generalitat de Catalunya 

(VALTEC), PI040823. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Sabate M. Chronic total occlusions of 

human coronary arteries: from pathophysiology 

to long-term clinical implications 

of successful recanalization by 

means of percutaneous coronary intervention. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACIÓ LA 

MARATÓ DE TV3, 082130. Amount: 


04/03/2012. 

108

AREA 2 

Respiratory, cardiovascular and renal 


Arrhythmias, resynchronization 

and cardiac imaging 

Group Members 


Red de Investigación en Insuficiencia 

Cardiaca en España (REDINSCOR) 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Lluis Mont (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Sitges (Hospital Clínic) 

Teresa M. de Caralt (Hospital Clínic) 

Vidal, Bárbara (Hospital Clínic) 

José Tomás Ortiz (Hospital Clínic) 


Gemma Gay-Jordi (FIS) 

Montserrat Batlle (Fundació Clínic) 

Montserrat Rigor (Fundació Clínic) 

Núria Solanes (Fundació Clínic) 


Etel Silva (Fundació Clínic - cvREMOD) 

Paola Berne (CNIC) 

Eduard Guasch (Rio Ortega- 

IDIBAPS-ISC III) 

David Andreu (Fundació Clínic) 

Silvia Montserrat (Hospital Clínic- Fundació 

Clínic) 

Juan Fernández-Armenta 

(Fundacio Clínic - cvREMOD) 

Ada Doltra (Fundació Clínic - 

cvREMOD) 

Naiara Calvo (Hospital Clínic - Premi fi 

de residència, 3 anys) 

Pablo Ramos (Premi fi de residència 

HCP, 1 any) 

Esther Guiu (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Cira Rubies (Fundació Cinic - 

HERACLES) 

TEAM LEADER 

Josep Brugada 


Tel.: 93 227 55 51 

E-mail: jbrugada@clinic.ub.es 


Mariona Matas (Hospital Clínic) 

Silvia Poyatos (Fundació Clínic) 

Anna Barrabes (Fundació Clínic) 

Silvia Vidorreta (Fundació Clínic - 

iCARDEA) 

Sara Hevia (Fundació Clínic - 

REDINSCOR) 


Neus Portella (Fundació Clínic) 

Staticians: 

Roger Borras (Fundació Clínic) 


Antonio Berruezo (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Àngels Castel (Hospital Clínic) 

José Mª Tolosana (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosario J Perea (Hospital Clínic) 


Csaba Herczku (Beca EHRA, 

European Heart Rhythm Association) 

Hervoika M Zeljo (Beca EHRA, 

European Heart Rhythm Association) 

Edi Belu (Beca EHRA, European Heart 

Rhythm Association) 

Freddy E. Diaz (Fellow Venezuela) 

Damian Azocar (Beca Fundación 

Carolina, Argentina) 

The aims for the coming year are 

fundamentally to continue developing 

the five main research lines of the group: 

genetic cardiovascular diseases, atrial 

fibrillation, cardiac resynchronization, 

ventricular tachycardias, and 

experimental models of etiological factors 

in atrial fibrillation. A new research line 

may be added in sports cardiology, taking 

advantage of our previous experience 

in arrhythmias and cardiac imaging, 

and in the previous development of a 

murine experimental model of chronic 

training. Another strategic aim of the 

group is to consolidate the Cardiac 

Imaging Subgroup, which collaborates 

with all the group research lines, applying 

cardiac imaging techniques to the study 

of the physiopathology of arrhythmias 

and their mechanics. Furthermore, we 

wish to continue promoting prospective 

multicenter projects allowing the 

obtainment of transcendental clinical 

results, without abandoning practical 

clinical research, with a view to improving 

patient care. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Cardiovascular genetic diseases: 

• This year patients continue to be 

included in the multicenter study 

‘Sudden cardiac death: Translating 

basic science into clinical care’, 

in collaboration with Dr. Ramon 

Brugada of the Cardiovascular 

Genetics Center UdG-IDIBGI, in 

Girona. 

2. Experimental models for the 

study of etiological factors in 

atrial fibrillation: 

• We wish to continue analyzing 

the mechanisms conditioning the 

appearance of atrial and ventricular 

fibrosis in the rat model of 

resistance exercise. 

• We are continuing collaboration with 

the Pneumology Sleep Unit and the 

Department of Physical Medicine of 

the Faculty of Medicine of Barcelona 

109

AREA 2 





University, with the purpose of 

studying the repercussions of 

obstructive apnea upon the heart, 

using an experimental model in rats. 

3. Atrial fibrillation (AF): 

• On one hand we are continuing the 

study of etiological factors in primary 

atrial fibrillation, specifically with the 

FUTURE study, which analyzes the 

role of undetected hypertension and 

physical exercise. 

• Recruitment is continuing in 

the SARA study (Spanish Atrial 

Fibrillation vs Antiarrhythmic Drugs). 

Comparative multicenter study of 

the efficacy of ablation versus drug 

treatment. 

• Recruitment has been completed in 

two randomized, prospective studies 

designed to compare different 

ablation techniques. 

4. Ventricular tachycardia (VT): 

• Multicenter study of antiarrhythmic 

drugs versus ablation in ischemic 

patients with automated implantable 

defibrillators. 

• A prospective study evaluating 

the ejection fraction following 

ventricular extrasystolia ablation 

in patients with ventricular 

extrasystoles and structural heart 

disease. 

• Different prospective studies are 

being conducted, evaluating the 

clinical usefulness of epicardial 

ablation in different substrates. 

• Software has been developed to 

delimit the slow conduction zones 

within myocardial scars by means 

of magnetic resonance studies 

and their fusion with images 

obtained from three-dimensional 

navigation sysems. 

• Siemens has has sponsored a 

prospective study to evaluate 

remodelling and sudden death 

risk predictive capacity with MRI 

and biomarker levels in patients 

with structural heart disease. 

5. Sports cardiology: 

• We are continuing work on 

the murine experimental 

model of cardiac adaptation to 

chronic training, developed for 

the study of atrial fibrillation 

physiopathology, focusing 

research mainly on right ventricle 

adaptation. 

• We have incorporated the 

human clinical model thanks to 

collaboration of the group with 

elite sports entities (FC Barcelona 

and the Consell Català de la 

Salut), performing cardiac imaging 

studies of all the athletes, 

and again focusing on cardiac 

adaptation to chronic training. 

(A) Map of atrial fibrillation: Atrial fibrillation ablation procedure. We see the 

ablation scheme and integration of the 3D reconstruction of a CAT scan 

within the navigator. This system allows real time catheter localization 

within the heart of the patient. 

(B) Map of ventricular tachycardia: Ventricular tachycardia ablation procedure. 

In this case we see an epicardial map of the left ventricle in a patient with 

structural heart disease (right). The 3D reconstruction derived from an MRI 

scan with gadolinium contrast injection allows noninvasive characterization 

of the tissue and planning of the intervention (left). 


Cardiac resynchronization 

Group Leader: Lluis Mont (Hospital Clínic) 

Our group focuses its research on 

the applications and results of cardiac 

resynchronization techniques. At 

present we are carrying out a number of 

studies:- We are continuing recruitment in two studies 

to evaluate the effect of optimization in the success 

of cardiac resynchronization. BEST study.- Inclusion is 

continuing in the ECHO-CRT study on the efficacy of 

cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with 

narrow QRS waves.- Inclusion has ended in the multicenter 

SEPTAL-CRT trial, designed to evaluate the efficacy of 

septal versus right ventricle apical stimulation.- We have 

started the CRT CAT project, which is a multicenter 

prospective study in Catalonia, designed to evaluate the 

efficacy, cost and complications of cardiac resynchronization 

in our setting.- We have started the multicenter SPARE 

III study, designed to evaluate the efficacy of CRT in atrial 

fibrillation. - The cvREMOD study is ongoing, financed by 

the CENIT (CDTI). This project has allowed us to develop a 

porcine experimental model of mechanical dyssynchrony, 

with the purpose of producing the tools necessary for 

further exploring the mechanisms of action of CRT. 

110

AREA 2 


Arrhythmias, resynchronization and cardiac imaging 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 93,71 


Armero Y, Soy D, Moreno A, Del 

Rio A, Almela M, Cervera C, Ninot 

S, Falces C, Mestres CA, Gatell 

JM, DeAnta MTJ, Miro JM. Daptomycin 

Is Effective for Treatment of 

Experimental Endocarditis Due to 

Methicillin-Resistant and Glycopeptide-Intermediate 

Staphylococcus 

epidermidis. ANTIMICROB AGENTS 

CH, 2010. 54:2781-2786. I.F.:4,80. 

2 Miro O, Ortiz-Perez JT, Leon R, 

Lopez B, Perea R, DeCaralt TM, Sitges 

M, Pare C, Bosch X, Bragulat E, 

Sanchez M. Utility of coronary computed 



department: a pilot study. 

EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 22:101-108. 

I.F.:3,08. 

3 Ortiz-Perez JT, Betriu A, Lee DC, 

DeCaralt TM, Meyers SN, Davidson 

CJ, Perea RJ, Sitges M, Bosch X, 

Bonow RO, Masotti M, Brugada J, 

Wu E. Angiographic and Magnetic 

Resonance Imaging Evaluation of 

In-Hospital Delay in Primary Percutaneous 

Intervention Delivery on 

Myocardial Salvage. AM J CARDIOL, 

2010. 106:924-930. I.F.:3,58. 

4 Garcia-Alvarez A, Sitges M, 

Garcia-Albeniz X, Sionis A, Loma- 

Osorio P, Bosch X. Atypical cardiac 

manifestation of hypereosinophilic 

syndrome and reversible cardiotoxicity 

to imatinib. INT J CARDIOL, 2010. 

139:E29-E31. I.F.:3,47. 

5 Garcia-Alvarez A, Sitges M, Pinazo 

MJ, Regueiro-Cueva A, Posada E, 

Poyatos S, Ortiz-Peerez JT, Heras M, 

Azqueta M, Gascon J, Sanz G. Chagas 

Cardiomiopathy: The Potential of 

Diastolic Dysfunction and Brain Natriuretic 

Peptide in the Early Identification of 

Cardiac Damage. PLOS NEGLECT TROP 

D, 2010. 4:-. I.F.:4,69. 






G, Brugada J, Bayes-Genis A, Heras M. 

Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem 

Cell Therapy After Myocardial Infarction: 

Impact of the Route of Administration. 

J CARD FAIL, 2010. 16:357-366. 

I.F.:3,25. 



D, Morales M, Batlle M, Roig 

E, Castel MA, Perez-Villa F, Godoy M, 

Brugada J. Plasma tissue inhibitor of 

matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1): an 

independent predictor of poor response 

to cardiac resynchronization therapy. 

EUR J HEART FAIL, 2010. 12:492-498. 

I.F.:3,71. 

8 Castel A, Magnani S, Mont L, Roig E, 

Tamborero D, Mendez-Zurita F, Femenia 

JF, Tolosana JM, Perez-Villa F, Brugada J. 

Survival in New York Heart Association 

class IV heart failure patients treated 

with cardiac resynchronization therapy 

compared with patients on optimal 

pharmacological treatment. EUROPACE, 

2010. 12:1136-1140. I.F.:1,87. 

9 Kapplinger JD, Tester DJ, Alders M, 

Benito B, Berthet M, Brugada J, Brugada 

P, Fressart V, Guerchicoff A, Harris- 

Kerr C, Kamakura S, Kyndt F, Koopmann 

TT, Miyamoto Y, Pfeiffer R, Pollevick 

GD, Probst V, Zumhagen S, Vatta M, 

Towbin JA, Shimizu W, Schulze-Bahr E, 

Antzelevitch C, Salisbury BA, Guicheney 

P, Wilde AAM, Brugada R, Schott JJ, 

Ackerman MJ. An international compendium 

of mutations in the SCN5Aencoded 

cardiac sodium channel in 

patients referred for Brugada syndrome 

genetic testing. HEART RHYTHM, 2010. 

7:33-46. I.F.:4,56. 

10 Partemi S, Berne PM, Batlle M, 

Berruezo A, Mont L, Riuro H, Ortiz JT, 

Roig E, Pascali VL, Brugada R, Brugada 

J, Oliva A. Analysis of mRNA from human 

heart tissue and putative applications 

in forensic molecular pathology. 

FORENSIC SCI INT, 2010. 203:99-105. 

I.F.:2,10. 

11 Silva E, Sitges M, Doltra A, Mont 

L, Vidal B, Castel MA, Tolosana JM, 

Berruezo A, Juanatey JRG, Brugada J. 

Analysis of temporal delay in myocardial 

deformation throughout the cardiac 

cycle: Utility for selecting candidates 

for cardiac resynchronization therapy. 

HEART RHYTHM, 2010. 7:1580-1586. 

I.F.:4,56. 

12 Auricchio A, Brugada J, Ellenbogen 

KA, Gold MR, Leyva F. Assessment 

of a novel device-based diagnostic algorithm 

to monitor patient status in moderate-to-severe 

heart failure: rationale and 

design of the CLEPSYDRA study. EUR 

J HEART FAIL, 2010. 12:1363-1371. 

I.F.:3,71. 

13 Tamborero D, Mont L, Berruezo 

A, Guasch E, Rios J, Nadal M, Matiello 

M, Andreu D, Sitges M, Brugada J. Circumferential 

pulmonary vein ablation: 

Does use of a circular mapping catheter 

improve results? A prospective randomized 

study. HEART RHYTHM, 2010. 

7:612-618. I.F.:4,56. 

14 Vidal B, Delgado V, Mont L, 

Poyatos S, Silva E, Castel MA, Tolosana 

JM, Berruezo A, Brugada J, Sitges M. 

Decreased likelihood of response to cardiac 

resynchronization in patients with 

severe heart failure. EUR J HEART FAIL, 

2010. 12:283-287. I.F.:3,71. 

111

AREA 2 





15 Berruezo A, Zeljko HM, Bartrons 

J, Mayol J, Prada F, Brugada J. 

Defibrillation threshold decrease with 

the supradiaphragmatic extracardiac 

implantable cardioverter-defibrillator 

implantation technique. EUROPACE, 

2010. 12:1649-1651. I.F.:1,87. 

16 Calvo N, Mont L, Tamborero D, 

Berruezo A, Viola G, Guasch E, Nadal 

M, Andreu D, Vidal B, Sitges M, Brugada 

J. Efficacy of circumferential pulmonary 

vein ablation of atrial fibrillation 

in endurance athletes. EUROPACE, 

2010. 12:30-36. I.F.:1,87. 

17 Wu J, Shimizu W, Ding WG, 

Ohno S, Toyoda F, Itoh H, Zang WJ, 

Miyamoto Y, Kamakura S, Matsuura H, 

Nademanee K, Brugada J, Brugada P, 

Brugada R, Vatta M, Towbin JA, Antzelevitch 

C, Horie M. KCNE2 modulation 

of Kv4.3 current and its potential 

role in fatal rhythm disorders. HEART 

RHYTHM, 2010. 7:199-205. I.F.:4,56. 

18 DePotter T, Berruezo A, Mont L, 

Matiello M, Tamborero D, Santibanez 

C, Benito B, Zamorano N, Brugada J. 

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction by 

itself does not influence outcome of 

atrial fibrillation ablation. EUROPACE, 

2010. 12:24-29. I.F.:1,87. 

19 Matiello M, Nadal M, Tamborero 

D, Berruezo A, Montserrat J, Embid C, 

Rios J, Villacastin J, Brugada J, Mont 

L. Low efficacy of atrial fibrillation 

ablation in severe obstructive sleep 

apnoea patients. EUROPACE, 2010. 

12:1084-1089. I.F.:1,87. 

20 Herrera-Mundo N, Sitges M. 

Mechanisms underlying striatal vulnerability 

to 3-nitropropionic acid. J NEU- 

ROCHEM, 2010. 114:597-605. I.F.:4,00. 

21 Richter S, Sarkozy A, Paparella 

G, Henkens S, Boussy T, Chierchia 

GB, Brugada R, Brugada J, Brugada 

P. Number of electrocardiogram leads 

displaying the diagnostic coved-type pattern 

in Brugada syndrome: a diagnostic 

consensus criterion to be revised. EUR 

HEART J, 2010. 31:1357-1364. I.F.:9,80. 

22 Criado E, Sanchez M, Ramirez J, 

Arguis P, DeCaralt TM, Perea RJ, Xaubet 

A. Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: Typical and 

Atypical Manifestations at High-Resolution 

CT with Pathologic Correlation. 

RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 30:1567-U155. 

I.F.:2,75. 

23 Pepi M, Evangelista A, Nihoyannopoulos 

P, Flachskampe FA, Athanassopoulos 

G, Colonna P, Habib G, 

Ringelstein EB, Sicari R, Zamorano JL, 

Sitges M. Recommendations for echocardiography 

use in the diagnosis and 

management of cardiac sources of embolism. 

EUR J ECHOCARDIOGR, 2010. 

11:461-476. I.F.:1,48. 

24 Pava LF, Perafan P, Badiel M, 

Arango JJ, Mont L, Morillo CA, Brugada 

J. R-wave peak time at DII: A new criterion 

for differentiating between wide 

complex QRS tachycardias. HEART 

RHYTHM, 2010. 7:922-926. I.F.:4,56. 

25 Moreno J, Quintanilla JG, Lopez- 

Farre A, Archondo T, Cervigon R, 

Aragoncillo P, Usandizaga E, Silva J, 

Rodriguez-Bobada C, Rojo JL, Perez- 

Castellano N, Mironov S, Mont L, DePrada 

TP, Macaya C, Perez-Villacastin J. Skeletal 

myoblast implants induce minor propagation 

delays, but do not promote arrhythmias 

in the normal swine heart. EUROPACE, 

2010. 12:1637-1644. I.F.:1,87. 

26 Prystowsky EN, Camm J, Lip 

GYH, Allessie M, Bergmann JF, Breithardt 

G, Brugada J, Crijns H, Ellinor PT, 

Mark D, Naccarelli G, Packer D, Tamargo 

J. The Impact of New and Emerging 

Clinical Data on Treatment Strategies 

for Atrial Fibrillation. J CARDIOVASC 

ELECTR, 2010. 21:946-958. I.F.:3,70. 

27 Merkely B, Roka A, Kutyifa V, Boersma 

L, Leenhardt A, Lubinski A, Oto 

A, Proclemer A, Brugada J, Vardas PE, 

Wolpert C. Tracing the European course 

of cardiac resynchronization therapy 

from 2006 to 2008. EUROPACE, 2010. 

12:692-701. I.F.:1,87. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 10,65 

1 Capulzini L, Brugada P, Brugada J, 

Brugada R. Arrhythmia and Right Heart 

Disease: From Genetic Basis to Clinical 

Practice. REV ESP CARDIOL, 2010. 

63:963-983. I.F.:2,75. 

2 Mont L. Arrhythmias and sport practice. 

HEART, 2010. 96:398-405. I.F.:5,39. 

3 Giada F, Biffi A, Cannom DS, Cappato 

R, Capucci A, Corrado D, Delise 

P, Drezner JA, El-Sherif N, Estes M, 

Furlanello F, Heidbuchel H, Inama G, 

Lindsay BD, Maron BJ, Maron MS, 

Mont L, Olshansky B, Pelliccia A, Thiene 

G, Viskin S, Zeppilli P, Natale A, Raviele 

A. Sports and arrhythmias: a report of 

the International Workshop Venice Arrhythmias 

2009. EUR J CARDIOV PREV 

R, 2010. 17:607-612. I.F.:2,51. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 9,80 

1 Auer J, Brugada J. Restoration of 

sinus rhythm in patients undergoing 

surgery for rheumatic valvular heart disease: 

is it worth the effort?. EUR HEART 

J, 2010. 31:2572-2574. I.F.:9,80. 

112

AREA 2 


Arrhythmias, resynchronization and cardiac imaging 


I.F.: 3,70 

1 Natale A, Raviele A, Al-Ahmad A, 

Alfieri O, Aliot E, Almendral J, Breithardt 

G, Brugada J, Calkins H, Callans 

D, Cappato R, Camm JA, DellaBella P, 

Guiraudon GM, Haissaguerre M, Hindricks 

G, Ho SY, Kuck KH, Marchlinski 

F, Packer DL, Prystowsky EN, Reddy 

VY, Ruskin JN, Scanavacca M, Shivkumar 

K, Soejima K, Stevenson WJ, 

Themistoclakis S, Verma A, Wilber D. 

Venice Chart International Consensus 

Document on Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular 

Fibrillation Ablation. J 

CARDIOVASC ELECTR. 21:339-379. 

I.F.:3,70. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 5,94 

1 Ruiter JH, Mulder E, Schuchert A, 

Burri H, Stuhlinger MC, Hartikainen J, 

Sermasi S, Vlasinova J, Mairesse GH, 

Bub E, Lewalter T. The Feasibility of 

Fully Automated Pacemaker Advise in 

Treating Atrial Tachyarrhythmias. PACE. 

33:605-614. I.F.:1,58. 

2 Boriani G, Kranig W, Donal E, Calo 

L, Casella M, Delarche N, Lozano 

IF, Ansalone G, Biffi M, Boulogne E, 

Leclercq C. A randomized double-blind 

comparison of biventricular versus 

left ventricular stimulation for cardiac 

resynchronization therapy: The Biventricular 

versus Left Univentricular Pacing 

with ICD Back-up in Heart Failure 

Patients (B-LEFT HF) trial. AM HEART 

J. 159:1052-U12. I.F.:4,36. 


in progress 

Brugada J. Integración de las diferentes 

técnicas de imagen médica en una 

única imagen multimodal. Desarrollo 

de distintos modelos de aplicación. Estudios 

electrofisiológicos y de imagen 

cardiaca. Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Industria Turismo y Comercio, CD- 

TEAM1. Amount: 500.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 11/01/2006-11/01/2010. 

Brugada J. REDISCOR - Red de Investigación 

en Insuficiencia Cardíaca 

en España. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Sanidad y Consumo, RD06/0003/0008. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Mont L. Estudi de la terapia de resincronització 

a Catalunya (TRC-CAT). 

Sponsored by: AATRM (Agencia 

d’Avaluació de Tecnología i Recerca 

Mèdiques, 0000. Amount: 76.800,00 


31/12/2012. 

Brugada J. Mecanismos y reversibilidad 

de la fibrosis miocàrdica asociada al 

ejercicio. Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Ciencia e Innovación, DEP2009-12455. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Brugada J. Arítmies i Estimulació 

Cardíaca. Sponsored by: Agència 

de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de 

Recerca, 2009 SGR 1104. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Brugada J. iCARDEA. Sponsored 

by: European Comission, PI040847. 


01/02/2010-31/01/2013. 

Brugada J. Mecanismos y Reversibilidad 

de la Fibrosis Miocárdica Asociada al 

Ejercicio. Sponsored by: MINISTERIO 

DE EDUCACIÓN, DEP2009_12455. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Ortiz JT. Utilidad de la angiografía coronaria 

no invasiva mediante tomografía 

computerizada multidetector en el diagnóstico 

del síndrome coronario agudo 

en urgencias. Sponsored by: INSTITU- 

TO DE SALUD CARLOS III, PI09/90513. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Brugada J. An Intelligent Platform for 

Personalized Remote Monitoring of the 

Cardiac Patients with Electronic Implant 

Devices. Sponsored by: SRDC YAZILIM 

ARASTIRMA VE GELISTIRME VE DAN- 

ISMANLIK TICARET, 248240. Amount: 


31/01/2013. 

Thesis 

Mont L. Repercusiones Cardiovasculares 

de la Anorexia Nerviosa. PhD student: 

Benito Herreros Gilarte. 

Mont L, Serrano-Mollar A. Efecto del 

ejercicio crónico en el desarrollo de fibrosis 

cardíaca: mecanismos implicados. 

PhD student: Gemma Gay Jordi. 

Brugada J, De Caralt MT. Utilidad de la 

resonancia magnética en pacientes con 

fibrilación auricular tributarios de tratamiento 

con ablación percutánea de las venas 

pulmonares. PhD student: Rosario 

Jesús Perea Palazón. 

113

AREA 2 



Nephro-urological diseases 

and kidney transplantation 

GROUP Members 


Red de Investigación en 

Enfermedades Renales (REDINRED) 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Pilar Arrizabalaga (Hospital Clínic) 

Albert Botey (Hospital Clínic) 

Aleix Cases (Hospital Clínic) 

Guadalupe Ercilla (Hospital Clínic) 

Georgina Hotter (IIBB-CSIC) 

Jaume Martorell (Hospital Clínic) 

Eduard Mirapeix (Hospital Clínic) 

Federico Oppenheimer (Hospital 

Clínic) 

Esteban Poch (Hospital Clínic) 


Joan Nistal (Fundació Clínic) 

Michaela Jung (IIBB-CSIC) 

Marina Ventayol (IIBB-CSIC) 

Chrysa Mastora (IIBB-CSIC) 

TEAM LEADER 

Josep Mª Campistol 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 (Ext.: 9346) 

E-mail: jmcampis@clinic.ub.es 

Technicians: 

Maite del Hierro (IIBB-CSIC) 


Celia Bádenas (Fundació Clínic) 

Pablo Carretero (Hospital Clínic) 

Federico Cofán (Hospital Clínic) 

Elisabeth Coll (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Crespo (Hospital Clínic) 

Nuria Esforzado (Hospital Clínic) 

V. Fortuna (Hospital Clínic) 

J. Jiménez (Hospital Clínic) 

O. Millán (Fundació Clínic) 

Vicenç Torregrosa (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Sola (IIBB-CSIC) 

José Luis Viñas (IIBB-CSIC) 

Eugenia Vinuesa (IIBB-CSIC) 

The general objectives of this research 

team are to gain in-depth knowledge 

of the physiopathology and treatment 

of diseases of the kidneys, urinary 

tract and male genital apparatus, as 

well as of the medical complications 

derived from renal replacement 

therapy in the form of dialysis or 

transplantation. The objectives 

include particularly the study of 

immunosuppression in aspects 

relating to pharmacokinetics and 

pharmacodynamics. 

On the other hand, with the 

incorporation of a team specialized in 

transplant immunology, our objectives 

also include the improvement of 

allograft and xenograft tolerance, 

and minimization of the need for 

immunosuppressors. Another 

new challenge is to gain in-depth 

knowledge of the degree of immune 

depression achieved in patients 

in accordance with their needs: 

pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic 

(PK/PD) relationship. 

114

AREA 2 


nephro-urological diseases and kidney transplantation 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Hereditary renal diseases, 

especially renal polycystosis, Alport 

syndrome and benign familial 

hematuria. 

2. Amyloidosis associated with 

dialysis or beta-2-microglobulin, and 

other types of hereditary and nonhereditary 

amyloidosis with renal 

involvement. 

3. Diabetic nephropathy and 

antiproteinuric effect of ARA II 

drugs. 

4. Anemia of renal origin, and 

erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins 

in uremia. 

5. Uremic myopathy. 

6. Renal osteodystrophy and calciumphosphorus 

metabolism. 

7. Cardiovascular risk and accelerated 

arteriosclerosis in the renal patient. 

8. Hepatitis C virus infection in 

patients on dialysis and renal 


9. Endothelial dysfunction and effect 

of the uremic medium upon the 

endothelial cells. 

10. Chronic rejection and role of TGFbeta. 

11. Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular 

risk in renal transplantation, and 

apolipoprotein polymorphisms. 

12. Immunosuppressor drug 

pharmacokinetics and 

pharmacodynamics: Calcineurin 

inhibitors, sirolimus, rapamycin and 

MMF. 

13. Renal-pancreatic transplantation 

and metabolic control. 

14. Neoplasms of the urinary system 

(kidney, prostate and bladder). 

15. Erectile dysfunction and the use of 

sildenafil in kidney transplantation. 

16. Experimental kidney 


17. Definition of the molecular bases of 

the mechanisms regulating clonal 

anergy or deletion in a model of 

allogenic or xenogenic presentation, 

thus determining transplant antigen 

tolerance. 

18. Definition of the pharmacokinetic 

and pharmacodynamic parameters 

allowing the minimization of 

immune depression to meet the 

needs of each individual organ 

recipient. 

19. Identification of strategies allowing 

the replacement of cell, organ or 

tissue functions with minimization 

of immune depressor use. 

Our investigators also have lines of 

research shared with other teams 

of the IDIBAPS, very particularly in 

the fields of arterial hypertension, 

endothelial dysfunction and systemic 

autoimmune diseases with renal 

involvement. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 117,61 

1 Herrera E, Tenckhoff S, Gomara MJ, 

Galatola R, Bleda MJ, Gil C, Ercilla G, 

Gatell JM, Tillmann HL, Haro I. Effect of 

Synthetic Peptides Belonging to E2 Envelope 

Protein of GB Virus C on Human 

Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection. 

J MED CHEM, 2010. 53:6054- 

6063. I.F.:4,80. 

2 Banon-Maneus E, Diekmann F, Carrascal 

M, Quintana LF, Moya-Rull D, 

Bescos M, Ramirez-Bajo MJ, Rovira J, 

Gutierrez-Dalmau A, Sole-Gonzalez A, 

Abian J, Campistol JM. Two-Dimensional 

Difference Gel Electrophoresis 

Urinary Proteomic Profile in the Search 

of Nonimmune Chronic Allograft Dysfunction 

Biomarkers. TRANSPLANTA- 

TION, 2010. 89:548-558. I.F.:3,50. 

3 Durrbach A, Pestana JM, Pearson 

T, Vincenti F, Garcia VD, Campistol J, 

Rial MD, Florman S, Block A, DiRusso 

G, Xing J, Garg P, Grinyo J. A Phase 

III Study of Belatacept Versus Cyclosporine 

in Kidney Transplants from 

Extended Criteria Donors (BENEFIT-EXT 

Study). AM J TRANSPLANT, 2010. 

10:547-557. I.F.:6,43. 

4 Oppenheimer F, Revuelta I, Serra N, 

Lozano M, Gutierrez-Dalmau A, Esforzado 

N, Cofan F, Ricart MJ, Torregrosa 

JV, Crespo M, Paredes D, Martorell J, 

Alcaraz A, Campistol JM. ABO incompatible 

living donor kidney transplantation: 

a dream come true. Experience of 

Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. NEFROLO- 

GIA, 2010. 30:54-63. I.F.:0,53. 

5 Gomara MJ, Fernandez L, Perez 

T, Ercilla G, Haro I. Assessment of 

synthetic chimeric multiple antigenic 

peptides for diagnosis of GB virus C 

infection. ANAL BIOCHEM, 2010. 

396:51-58. I.F.:3,29. 

115

BIOLOGICAL AGGRESSION AND RESPOBNSE 

MECHANISMS 

Nephro-urological diseases 

and kidney transplantation 

Team Members 

6 Larsen CP, Grinyo J, Medina- 

Pestana J, Vanrenterghem Y, Vincenti 

F, Breshahan B, Campistol JM, Florman 

S, Rial MD, Kamar N, Block A, Di- 

Russo G, Lin CS, Garg P, Charpentier 

B. Belatacept-Based Regimens Versus 

a Cyclosporine A-Based Regimen in 

Kidney Transplant Recipients: 2-Year 

Results From the BENEFIT and BENE- 

FIT-EXT Studies. TRANSPLANTATION, 

2010. 90:1528-1535. I.F.:3,50. 

7 Go T, Jungebluth P, Baiguero S, 

Asnaghi A, Martorell J, Ostertag H, 

Mantero S, Birchall M, Bader A, Macchiarini 

P. Both epithelial cells and 

mesenchymal stem cell-derived chondrocytes 

contribute to the survival of 

tissue-engineered airway transplants 

in pigs. J THORAC CARDIOV SUR, 

2010. 139:437-443. I.F.:3,06. 

8 Puig-Pey I, Bohne F, Benitez C, 

Lopez M, Martinez-Llordella M, Oppenheimer 

F, Lozano JJ, Gonzalez- 

Abraldes J, Tisone G, Rimola A, 

Sanchez-Fueyo A. Characterization of 

gamma delta T cell subsets in organ 

transplantation. TRANSPL INT, 2010. 

23:1045-1055. I.F.:3,25. 

9 Baccaro ME, Pepin MN, Guevara 

M, Colmenero J, Torregrosa JV, 

Martin-Llahi M, Sola E, Esforzado N, 

Fuster J, Campistol JM, Arroyo V, 

Navasa M, Garcia-Valdecasas J, Gines 

P. Combined liver-kidney transplantation 

in patients with cirrhosis and 

chronic kidney disease. NEPHROL 

DIAL TRANSPL, 2010. 25:2356-2363. 

I.F.:3,31. 

10 Brouard S, Puig-Pey I, Lozano 

JJ, Pallier A, Braud C, Giral M, Guillet 

M, Londono MC, Oppenheimer F, 

Campistol JM, Soulillou JP, Sanchez- 

Fueyo A. Comparative Transcriptional 

and Phenotypic Peripheral Blood 

Analysis of Kidney Recipients Under 

Cyclosporin A or Sirolimus Monotherapy. 

AM J TRANSPLANT, 2010. 10:2604- 

2614. I.F.:6,43. 

11 Gutierrez-Dalmau A, Revuelta I, 

Ferrer B, Mascaro JM, Oppenheimer 

F, Albanell J, Campistol JM. Distinct 

Immunohistochemical Phenotype of 

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers Between 

Renal Transplant and Immunocompetent 

Populations. TRANSPLANTATION, 2010. 

90:986-992. I.F.:3,50. 

12 Duran CE, Torregrosa JV, Almaden 

Y, Canalejo A, Campistol JM, Rodriguez 

M. Dynamics of calcium-regulated PTH 

secretion in secondary hyperparathyroidism: 

comparison between “in vivo” 

vs. “in vitro” responses. NEFROLOGIA, 

2010. 30:73-77. I.F.:0,53. 

13 Gomez-Alamillo C, Fernandez- 

Fresnedo G, Ortega F, Campistol JM, Gentil 

MA, Arias M. Erythropoietin Resistance 

as Surrogate Marker of Graft and Patient 

Survival in Renal Transplantation: 3-Year 

Prospective Multicenter Study. TRANSPL 

P, 2010. 42:2935-2937. I.F.:0,99. 

14 Clemente PA. Feminisation and 

nephrology. NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 

30:110-113. I.F.:0,53. 

15 Hor H, Kutalik Z, Dauvilliers Y, Valsesia 

A, Lammers GJ, Donjacour CEHM, 

Iranzo A, Santamaria J, Adrados RP, Vicario 

JL, Overeem S, Arnulf I, Theodorou 

I, Jennum P, Knudsen S, Bassetti C, Mathis 

J, Lecendreux M, Mayer G, Geisler 

P, Beneto A, Petit B, Pfister C, Burki JV, 

Didelot G, Billiard M, Ercilla G, Verduijn 

W, Claas FHJ, Vollenwider P, Waeber G, 

Waterworth DM, Mooser V, Heinzer R, 

Beckmann JS, Bergmann S, Tafti M. Genome-wide 

association study identifies 

new HLA class II haplotypes strongly protective 

against narcolepsy. NAT GENET, 

2010. 42:786-U80. I.F.:34,28. 

16 Maduell F, Arias M, Garro J, Vera 

M, Fontsere N, Barros X, Masso E, Martina 

MN, Sentis A, Duran C, Bergada E, 

Cases A, Campistol JM. Guidelines for 

Automated Manual Infusion: A Practical 

Way of Prescribing Postdilution On-line 

Haemodiafiltration. NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 

30:349-353. I.F.:0,53. 

17 Duran CE, Torregrosa JV, Canalejo 

A, Almaden Y, Campistol JM, Portillo 

MR. In vitro dynamics of parathyroid 

hormone secretion regulated by calcium 

and effects on the cell cycle: parathyroid 

hyperplasia versus adenoma. NEFRO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 30:413-419. I.F.:0,53. 

18 Morales JM, Campistol JM, 

Dominguez-Gil B, Andres A, Esforzado N, 

Oppenheimer F, Castellano G, Fuertes A, 

Bruguera M, Praga M. Long-Term Experience 

With Kidney Transplantation From 

Hepatitis C-Positive Donors Into Hepatitis 

C-Positive Recipients. AM J TRANS- 

PLANT, 2010. 10:2453-2462. I.F.:6,43. 

19 Campistol JM. Long-Term Maintenance 

Therapy With Calcineurin Inhibitors: 

An Update. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:S21-S24. I.F.:0,99. 

20 Campistol JM, DeFijter JW, 

Flechner SM, Langone A, Morelon E, 

Stockfleth E. mTOR inhibitor-associated 

dermatologic and mucosal problems. 

CLIN TRANSPLANT, 2010. 24:149-156. 

I.F.:2,00. 

21 Musquera M, Peri LL, Alvarez-Vijande 

R, Oppenheimer F, Gil-Vernet JM, 

Alcaraz A. Orthotopic Kidney Transplantation: 

An Alternative Surgical Technique 

in Selected Patients. EUR UROL, 2010. 

58:927-933. I.F.:7,67. 

22 Collado S, Coll E, Deulofeu R, 

Guerrero L, Pons M, Cruzado JM, DeLa- 

Torre B, Vera M, Azqueta M, Nicolau C, 

Cases A. Prevalence of cardiovascular 

disease in uraemia and relevance of cardiovascular 

risk factors. NEFROLOGIA, 

2010. 30:342-348. I.F.:0,53. 

116

AREA 2 


nephro-urological diseases and kidney transplantation 

23 Fons C, Arias A, Sempere A, 

Poo P, Pineda M, Mas A, Lopez- 

Sala A, Garcia-Villoria J, Vilaseca MA, 

Ozaez L, Lluch M, Artuch R, Campistol 

J, Ribes A. Response to creatine 

analogs in fibroblasts and patients 

with creatine transporter deficiency. 

MOL GENET METAB, 2010. 99:296- 

299. I.F.:2,90. 

24 Marti J, Fuster J, Hotter G, Sola 

AM, Deulofeu R, Modolo MM, Loera 

MA, Ferrer J, Fondevila C, Garcia- 

Valdecasas JC. Serum neutrophil 

gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients 

with colorectal liver metastases: 

preliminary results of an exploratory 

prospective study. INT J BIOL MARK- 

ER, 2010. 25:21-26. I.F.:1,42. 

25 Pinto JR, Torres EMA, Franco 

A, Morales JM, Ruiz JC, Diekmann 

F, Alperovich G, Campistol JM. Sirolimus 

monotherapy as maintenance 

immunosuppression: a multicenter 

experience. TRANSPL INT, 2010. 

23:307-312. I.F.:3,25. 

26 Polanco N, Gutierrez E, Covarsi 

A, Ariza F, Carreno A, Vigil A, Baltar 

J, Fernandez-Fresnedo G, Martin C, 

Pons S, Lorenzo D, Bernis C, Arrizabalaga 

P, Fernandez-Juarez G, Barrio 

V, Sierra M, Castellanos I, Espinosa 

M, Rivera F, Oliet A, Fernandez-Vega 

F, Praga M. Spontaneous Remission 

of Nephrotic Syndrome in Idiopathic 

Membranous Nephropathy. J AM 

SOC NEPHROL, 2010. 21:697-704. 

I.F.:7,69. 

27 Cabanas NS, Freiria XB, Martinez 

JG, Pelicano MB, Canals FM, 

Rabasa AT, DeBrinas EPL. The monitoring 

of dialysis dose by ionic dialysance-based 

Kt reveals less dialysis 

adequacy than the Kt/V-UREA-based 

measurement in critically ill patients 

with acute renal failure. NEFROLO- 

GIA, 2010. 30:232-235. I.F.:0,53. 

28 Izquierdo L, Peri L, Piqueras M, 

Revuelta I, Alvarez-Vijande R, Musquera 

M, Oppenheimer F, Alcaraz A. 

Third and Fourth Kidney Transplant: 

Still a Reasonable Option. TRANSPL P, 

2010. 42:2498-2502. I.F.:0,99. 

29 Oliveras A, Armario P, Hernandez-DelRey 

R, Arroyo JA, Poch 

E, Larrousse M, Roca-Cusachs A, 

DeLaSierra A. Urinary albumin excretion 

is associated with true resistant 

hypertension. J HUM HYPERTENS, 

2010. 24:27-33. I.F.:2,29. 

30 Maduell F, Arias M, Fontsere N, 

Vera M, Masso E, Garro J, Barros X, 

Martina MN, Elena M, Bergada E, Cases 

A, Bedini JL, Campistol JM. What 

Infusion Flow Should Be Used for Mid- 

Dilution Hemodiafiltration?. BLOOD 

PURIFICAT, 2010. 30:25-33. I.F.:1,89. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 0,99 

1 Miro JM, Ricart MJ, Trullas JC, 

Cofan F, Cervera C, Brunet M, Tuset 

M, Manzardo C, Oppenheimer F, 

Moreno A. Simultaneous Pancreas- 

Kidney Transplantation in HIV-infected 

Patients: A Case Report and Literature 

Review. TRANSPL P, 2010. 42:3887- 

3891. I.F.:0,99. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 0,99 

1 Campistol JM. Conclusions From 

the Symposium. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:S47-S48. I.F.:0,99. 


in progress 

Alcaraz A. Determinación de la diseminación 

linfática del carcinoma urotelial 

de vejiga mediante marcadores moleculares 

y utilización de éstos para 

pronosticar la evolución clínica de la 

enfermedad. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Poch E. REDINREN - Red de Investigación 

en Enfermedades Renales. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Sanidad y 

Consumo, RD06/0016/0015. Amount: 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Alcaraz A. Red de Investigación de 

Reacciones Adversas a Alérgenos 

y Fármacos (RIRAAF). Sponsored 


RD07/0064/0006. Amount: 6.000,00 


31/12/2011. 

Martorell J, Rimola A, Millan O, Ruiz 

A. Valor predictivo de parámetros 

inmológicos pre-trasplante del receptor 

y de donante en el desarrollo 

de rechazo e infección en el trasplante 

hepático. Sponsored by: FIS, 

PS09/00418. Amount: 92.565,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Poch E. Análisis de biomarcadores 

predictores de insuficiencia renal 

aguda post cirugía cardíaca. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Campistol JM. Análisis de biomarcadores 

urinarios en la disfunción crónica 

del injerto: estudio de validación 

e implicación de la vía WNT/BETA- 

CATENINA. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

117

AREA 2 




CIBER en Fisiología de la obesidad y nutrición 

(CIBERobn) 


GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Emili Ros 


Tel.: 93 227 93 83 

E-mail: eros@clinic.ub.es 

The general aim of our group is to gain 

in-depth knowledge of the epidemiology, 

pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment 

and prevention of arterial hypertension, 

dyslipidemia and associated 

cardiovascular risk. The research lines 

we wish to continue consolidating are 

the following: 


Antonio Coca (Hospital Clínic) 

Daniel Zambón (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Sierra (Hospital Clínic) 


Montserrat Cofán (ISCIII) 

Aleix Sala-Vila (ISCIII) 


Verònica Escurriol (AGAUR) 

Cinta Valls (ISCIII) 


Anna López (ISCIII) 

Dietists: 

Ana Mª Pérez-Heras 


Mercè Serra (ISCIII) 

Staticians: 

Emili Corbella (IDIBELL) 


Núria Bargalló (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Teresa de Caralt (Hospital 

Clínic) 

Mònica Doménech (Fundació Clínic) 

Ramón Estruch (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Gilabert (Hospital Clínic) 

Isabel Núñez (Hospital Clínic) 


Nagila R. Teixeira Damasceno 

(University of Sao Paulo) 

Ana Paula de Queiroz Mello 

(University of Sao Paulo) 

Patricia Casas Agustench (URV) 

1. Mechanisms and consequences 

of silent lesions in target organs of 

hypertension. 

2. Interaction of environmental 

determinants in cardiovascular disease, 

such as salt intake and the salt 

sensitivity phenomenon. 

3. Candidate genes of hypertension and 

its complications. 

4. Characterization of genetic 

dyslipidemias. 

5. Detection of preclinical atherosclerosis. 

6. Study of the intestinal absorption of 

cholesterol. 

7. Phytosterolemia as a cardiovascular 

risk factor. 

8. Determination of the fatty acids 

profile in phospholipids and blood cell 

membranes, and their associations 

with diet, metabolic syndrome, 

cardiovascular risk phenotype and 

preclinical arteriosclerosis. 

9. Study of the cardiovascular 

functionality of foods, including the 

effects of foods rich in omega-3 fatty 

acids upon carotid atheroma plaque 

characteristics. 

10. Effects of the Mediterraenan diet upon 

carotid atheroma plaque vulnerability 

evaluated by MRI. 

11. Identification of genetic variants 

associated with different responses to 

foods and nutrients (nutrition genetics). 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. External arterial ultrasound applied 

to femoral and carotid arteries, 

coronary CAT and carotid plaque 

MRI. Relationship between 

preclinical atherosclerosis and 

conventional and emergent risk 

118

AREA 2 


hypertension, lipids and cArdiovascular risk 

An updated scheme of the cardiovascular continuum. Abbreviations: BNP, brain natriuretic 

peptide; CHF, chronic heart failure; CV, cardiovascular; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; 

HF-PEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive 

protein; LAD, left atrial dilatation; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; MI, myocardial infarction; 

PAD, peripheral arterial disease; UAE, urinary albumin excretion. 

factors and biomarkers of the 

usual diet, including unsaturated 

fatty acids and phospholipids in 

plasma, circulating vitamins and 

phytosterols. Influence of diet upon 

carotid atheroma plaque vulnerability 

evaluated by sequential MRI. 

Correlation of plaque composition by 

MRI with histology. 

2. Circadian patterns, arterial pressure 

variability and target organ damage. 

Sensitivity to salt in arterial 

hypertension. Inflammation in 

hypertension. Hypertension and 

atrial fibrillation as manifestation 

of hypertension-induced cardiac 

damage. 

3. Candidate genes for cerebrovascular 

stroke risk in hypertensive 

patients. Candidate genes for the 

development of left ventricular 

hypertrophy and heart failure in 

hypertensive patients. 

4. Functionality of the dietary 

standards and complete foods: 

influence upon arterial pressure 

evaluated by ambulatory and home 

monitoring, insulin resistance, 

biological markers of cholesterol 

absorption and vascular risk, dietary 

biomarkers (unsaturated fatty acids 

in whole blood, carotenes and 

vitamin E in plasma, polyphenols 

in urine) and physicochemical 

properties of the low-density 

lipoproteins (LDLs) and high-density 

lipoproteins (HDLs). 

5. Mild age-associated cognitive 

impairment in participants in the 

PREDIMED study after two years 

of intervention with Mediterranean 

diets or low-fat diets. 

6. Effect of hypercholesterolemia of 

different origins and severity upon 

cognitive function as assessed 

by neuropsychological tests and 

functional brain MRI. 

7. Cholesterol absorption and 

synthesis evaluated by the 

determination of plasma non- 

cholesterol sterol levels using gas 

chromatography: measurement, 

genetic conditioning factors, 

influence upon cardiovascular 

risk and relationship with lipid 

response to phytosterols, 

ezetimibe and statins. 

8. Influence of polyunsaturated 

long-chain fatty acids (plant 

and marine omega-3) upon 

preclinical atherosclerosis of the 

carotid arteries, evaluated by 

high-resolution ultrasound with 

microbubble contrast and with MRI. 

9. Associations of the fatty 

acids profile in whole plasma, 

whole blood and a circulating 

phospholipid fraction with SCD1 

activity; cardiometabolic risk 

factors and non-alcoholic liver 

steatosis; dietary determinants of 

the omega-3 index in whole blood; 

fatty acids composition of the 

“lipid rafts”; and effect upon cell 

signaling. 

119

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Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 97,91 

1 Perez-De-Lis M, Akasbi M, 

Siso A, Diez-Cascon P, Brito-Zeron 

P, Diaz-Lagares C, Ortiz J, Perez- 

Alvarez R, Ramos-Casals M, Coca A. 

Cardiovascular risk factors in primary 

Sjogren’s syndrome: a case-control 

study in 624 patients. LUPUS, 2010. 

19:941-948. I.F.:2,59. 

2 Siso A, Ramos-Casals M, Bove 

A, Brito-Zeron P, Soria N, Nardi 

N, Testi A, Perez-De-Lis M, Diaz- 

Lagares C, Darnell A, Sentis J, Coca 

A. Outcomes in Biopsy-Proven 

Lupus Nephritis Evaluation of 190 

White Patients From a Single Center. 

MEDICINE, 2010. 89:300-307. 

I.F.:5,05. 

3 Martin B, Solanas-Barca M, 

Garcia-Otin AL, Pampin S, Cofan M, 

Ros E, Rodriguez-Rey JC, Pocovi M, 

Civeira F. An NPC1L1 gene promoter 

variant is associated with autosomal 

dominant hypercholesterolemia. 

NUTR METAB CARDIOVAS, 2010. 

20:236-242. I.F.:3,52. 

4 Guillen D, Cofan F, Ros E, Millan 

O, Cofan M, Brunet M. Biomarker 

Assessment of the Immunomodulator 

Effect of Atorvastatin in Stable 

Renal Transplant Recipients and Hypercholesterolemic 

Patients. MOL 

DIAGN THER, 2010. 14:357-366. 

I.F.:2,17. 

5 Tovillas-Moran FJ, Vilaplana- 

Cosculluela M, Zabaleta-Del-Olmo E, 

Dalfo-Baque A, Galceran JM, Coca A. 

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality 

and electrocardiographic criteria 

of left ventricular hypertrophia in hypertensive 

patients treated in primary 

care. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 

135:397-401. I.F.:1,23. 

6 Corella D, Carrasco P, Amiano 

P, Arriola L, Chirlaque MD, Huerta 

JM, Martinez C, Martinez-Camblor P, 

Molina E, Navarro C, Quiros JR, Rodriguez 

L, Sanchez MJ, Ortega-Azorin C, 

Ros E, Sala N, Gonzalez CA, Moreno 

C. Common cholesteryl ester transfer 

protein gene variation related to highdensity 

lipoprotein cholesterol is not 

associated with decreased coronary 

heart disease risk after a 10-year 

follow-up in a Mediterranean cohort: 

Modulation by alcohol consumption. 

ATHEROSCLEROSIS, 2010. 211:531- 

538. I.F.:4,52. 

7 Tovillas-Moran FJ, Vilaplana-Cosculluela 

M, Dalfo-Pibernat A, Zabaleta- 

Del-Olmo E, Galceran JM, Coca A, 

Dalfo-Baque A. Decreased glomerular 

filtration rate using the Cockgroft- 

Gaultand MDRD formulas does not 

always predict cardiovascular morbidity 

and mortality in hypertensive 

primary care patients. NEFROLOGIA, 

2010. 30:653-660. I.F.:0,53. 

8 Lohse B, Psota T, Estruch R, Zazpe 

I, Sorli JV, Salas-Salvado J, Serra M, 

Krall JS, Marquez F, Ros E. Eating 

Competence of Elderly Spanish Adults 

Is Associated with a Healthy Diet and 

a Favorable Cardiovascular Disease 

Risk Profile. J NUTR. 140:1322-1327, 

2010. I.F.:4,09. 

9 Llorente-Cortes V, Estruch R, 

Mena MP, Ros E, Gonzalez MAM, Fito 

M, Lamuela-Raventos RM, Badimon 

L. Effect of Mediterranean diet on the 

expression of pro-atherogenic genes 

in a population at high cardiovascular 

risk. ATHEROSCLEROSIS, 2010. 

208:442-450. I.F.:4,52. 

10 Prieto RM, Fiol M, Perello J, 

Estruch R, Ros E, Sanchis P, Grases 

F. Effects of Mediterranean diets with 

low and high proportions of phytaterich 

foods on the urinary phytate 

excretion. EUR J NUTR, 2010. 49:321- 

326. I.F.:2,87. 

11 Cabre A, Lazaro I, Cofan M, 

Jarauta E, Plana N, Garcia-Otin AL, 

Ascaso JF, Ferre R, Civeira F, Ros E, 

Masana L. FABP4 plasma levels are 

increased in familial combined hyperlipidemia. 

J LIPID RES, 2010. 51:1173- 

1178. I.F.:4,92. 

12 Redon J, Coca A, Lazaro P, Aguilar 

MD, Cabanas M, Gil N, Sanchez- 

Zamorano MA, Aranda P. Factors 

associated with therapeutic inertia in 

hypertension: validation of a predictive 

model. J HYPERTENS, 2010. 28:1770- 

1777. I.F.:4,99. 

13 Sala-Vila A, Cofan M, Perez- 

Heras A, Nunez I, Gilabert R, Junyent 

M, Mateo-Gallego R, Cenarro A, 

Civeira F, Ros E. Fatty acids in serum 

phospholipids and carotid intimamedia 

thickness in Spanish subjects 

with primary dyslipidemia. AM J CLIN 

NUTR, 2010. 92:186-193. I.F.:6,31. 

14 Corella D, Carrasco P, Fito 

M, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Salas- 

Salvado J, Aros F, Lapetra J, Guillen 

M, Ortega-Azorin C, Warnberg J, Fiol 

M, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Serra-Majem L, 

Martinez JA, Ros E, Estruch R. Geneenvironment 

interactions of CETP 

gene variation in a high cardiovascular 

risk Mediterranean population. J LIPID 

RES, 2010. 51:2798-2807. I.F.:4,92. 

15 Zambon D, Quintana M, Mata P, 

Alonso R, Benavent J, Cruz-Sanchez F, 

Gich J, Pocovi M, Civeira F, Capurro S, 

Bachman D, Sambamurti K, Nicholas 

J, Pappolla MA. Higher Incidence of 

Mild Cognitive Impairment in Familial 

Hypercholesterolemia. AM J MED, 

2010. 123:267-274. I.F.:4,47. 

16 Junyent M, Gilabert R, Jarauta 

E, Nunez I, Cofan M, Civeira F, Pocovi 

120

AREA 2 


hypertension, lipids and cArdiovascular risk 

M, Mallen M, Zambon D, Almagro F, 

Vega J, Tejedor D, Ros E. Impact of 

low-density lipoprotein receptor mutational 

class on carotid atherosclerosis 

in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. 

ATHEROSCLEROSIS, 

2010. 208:437-441. I.F.:4,52. 

17 Pladevall M, Brotons C, Gabriel 

R, Arnau A, Suarez C, DeLaFiguera M, 

Marquez E, Coca A, Sobrino J, Divine 

G, Heisler M, Williams LK. Multicenter 

Cluster-Randomized Trial of a Multifactorial 

Intervention to Improve Antihypertensive 

Medication Adherence 

and Blood Pressure Control Among 

Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk 

(The COM99 Study). CIRCULATION, 

2010. 122:1183-U81. I.F.:14,82. 

18 Sabate J, Oda K, Ros E. Nut 

Consumption and Blood Lipid Levels 

A Pooled Analysis of 25 Intervention 

Trials. ARCH INTERN MED, 2010. 

170:821-827. I.F.:9,81. 

19 Escurriol V, Cofan M, Moreno- 

Iribas C, Larranaga N, Martinez C, 

Navarro C, Rodriguez L, Gonzalez CA, 

Corella D, Ros E. Phytosterol plasma 

concentrations and coronary heart disease 

in the prospective Spanish EPIC 

cohort. J LIPID RES, 2010. 51:618- 

624. I.F.:4,92. 

20 Zazpe I, Estruch R, Toledo E, 

Sanchez-Tainta A, Corella D, Bullo 

M, Fiol M, Iglesias P, Gomez-Gracia 

E, Aros F, Ros E, Schroder H, Serra- 

Majem L, Pinto X, Lamuela-Raventos 

R, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Martinez-Gonzalez 

MA. Predictors of adherence to a 

Mediterranean-type diet in the PRED- 

IMED trial. EUR J NUTR, 2010. 49:91- 

99. I.F.:2,87. 

21 Perona JS, Covas MI, Fito M, Cabello-Moruno 

R, Aros F, Corella D, Ros 

E, Garcia M, Estruch R, Martinez-Gonzalez 

MA, Ruiz-Gutierrez V. Reduction 

in systemic and VLDL triacylglycerol 

concentration after a 3-month Mediterranean-style 

diet in high-cardiovascularrisk 

subjects. J NUTR BIOCHEM, 2010. 

21:892-898. I.F.:4,29. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 3,52 

1 Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Jimenez 

F, Ros E, DeCaterina R, Badimon L, 

Covas MI, Escrich E, Ordovas JM, 

Soriguer F, Abia R, DeLaLastra CA, 

Battino M, Corella D, Chamorro-Quiros 

J, Delgado-Lista J, Giugliano D, Esposito 

K, Estruch R, Fernandez-Real 

JM, Gaforio JJ, LaVecchia C, Lairon 

D, Lopez-Segura F, Mata P, Menendez 

JA, Muriana FJ, Osada J, Panagiotakos 

DB, Paniagua JA, Perez-Martinez P, 

Perona J, Peinado MA, Pineda-Priego 

M, Poulsen HE, Quiles JL, Ramirez- 

Tortosa MC, Ruano J, Serra-Majem L, 

Sola R, Solanas M, Solfrizzi V, DeLa- 

Torre-Fornell R, Trichopoulou A, Uceda 

M, Villalba-Montoro JM, Villar-Ortiz JR, 

Visioli F, Yiannakouris N. Olive oil and 

health: Summary of the II international 

conference on olive oil and health 

consensus report, Jaen and Cordoba 

(Spain) 2008. NUTR METAB CARDIO- 

VAS, 2010. 20:284-294. I.F.:3,52. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 5,75 

1 Camafort M, Coca A. Hypertension 

and Analgesic Intake: Light and 

Shade on an Old Problem. REV ESP 

CARDIOL, 2010. 63:265-267. I.F.:2,75. 

2 Salinas AM, Coca A. Obesity, 

physical activity and cardiovascular 

risk: ergoanthropometric classification, 

pharmacological variables, biomarkers 

and “obesity paradox”. MED CLIN- 

BARCELONA, 2010. 134:492-498. 

I.F.:1,23. 

3 Volpe M, Camm J, Coca A, Unger 

T. The cardiovascular continuum 

refined: A hypothesis. BLOOD PRES- 

SURE, 2010. 19:273-277. I.F.:1,77. 

Grants in research 

in progress 

Coca A. NoE - Integrated Genomics, 

Clinical Research and Care in Hypertension. 

Sponsored by: European 

Commission, INGENIOUS HYPER- 

CARE, LHSM-CT-2006-037093. 


01/11/2006-31/10/2010. 

Ros E. Projecte d’investigació postdoctoral: 

Ácidos grasos omega-3 y 

aterosclerosis carotídea evaluada 

mediante técnicas de bioimagen. 

Sponsored by: FIS, CD07/00083. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Ros E. Contribución de la variabilidad 

en el promotor del gen del receptor 

LDL a la hipercolesterolemia poligénica. 

Subproyecto 5: Análisis de biomarcadores 

de absorción y síntesis de 

colesterol. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Coca A, Ramos M. Impacto de la 

enfermedad cardiovascular en el 

síndrome de Sjögren primario. PhD 

student: Marta Perez de Lis Novo. 

121

AREA 2 

Respiratory, cardiovascular and renal 




& 

Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina 

(CIBER-bbn) 

GRUOP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Ramon Farré 

(Universitat 

de Barcelona) 

Tel.: 93 402 45 15 

Fax: 93 403 52 78 

E-mail: 

rfarre@ub.edu 


Javier Pavía (Hospital Clínic) 

Domènec Ros (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Mar Rotger (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

The general objectives of the group are 

the study of the biophysical mechanisms 

determining respiratory function, and the 

development of models and methods 

for the processing of biomedical images 

and signals. The work of the group is 

based on an interdisciplinary approach, 

with integration between basic and 

clinical research. In parallel to the 

scientific objectives, our group promotes 

transfer to the industrial setting of the 

technological advances derived from the 

research work. 

1. Respiratory mechanics. 

The aim of research in respiratory 

mechanics is to investigate the 

viscoelastic properties of the airways 

and lung tissues. At present, the 

work fundamentally focuses on the 

study of upper airway collapsibility 

in obstructive apnea-hypopnea 

during sleep and in the monitoring of 

noninvasive mechanical ventilation 

during respiratory failure. The clinical 

aim of this research is to obtain 

improved noninvasive diagnostic 

techniques, and to optimize the 

treatment methods based on 

ventilation assist measures. 


Theodora Tsapikouni (CIBERES) 

Elena Garreta (Marie Curie - IDIBAPS) 

Laura Chimenti (Marie Curie - European Respiratory 

Society) 


Irene Acerbi (MEC) 

Alba Carreras (MEC) 

Núria Roé (IDIBAPS) 

Berta Martí (CIBER-BBN) 

Esther Melo (MEC) 

Valentina Isetta (UE) 

Foteini Popota (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Miguel Rodríguez (UB) 

Rocío Nieto (CIBERES) 


Carles Falcón (IDIBAPS) 

Raúl Tudela (CIBER-BBN) 

Albert Cot (UB-CIBER-BBN) 

Jordi Alcaraz (UB) 

Xavier Trepat (UB-IBEC) 

Daniel Navajas (UB-IBEC) 

De-cellularized rat lung. 

122

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2. Molecular and cellular 

nanomechanics. 

The introduction of nanotechnologies 

allowing the manipulation of 

materials on the nanometric and pico- 

Newton scale has opened up new 

perspectives for the investigation 

of individual biomolecules and 

cells. Our group uses atomic force 

microscopy, magnetic microspheres 

and traction force microscopy 

to study cell adhesion and the 

mechanical properties of lung cells 

and leukocytes. Studies are also 

made of the mechanical properties of 

embryonic and adult stem cells during 

the differentiation process, and of the 

way in which mechanical stimuli can 

enhance differentiation towards the 

alveolar epithelial phenotype. One of 

our projects in this setting focuses 

on organ regeneration. Specifically, 

work is done on the bioartificial 

production of functional rat lungs 

by means of the re-cellularization of 

the extracellular matrix of the organ 

with stem cells, and recreation of 

the mechanical pulmonary micronano 

environment, to optimize cell 

differentiation. 

3. Biomedical imaging analysis. 

Research in imaging analysis currently 

focuses on the processing of photon 

emission tomography (SPECT) and 

positron emission tomography (PET) 

images, with the purpose of securing 

more precise quantification of 

gammagraphic (scintigraphic) studies. 

With this objective in mind, iterative 

algorithms are being developed for 

the three-dimensional reconstruction 

of images and for the fusion of SPECT 

and magnetic resonance imaging 

(MRI) images. 


www.ub.edu/biofisica 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 48,63 

1 Fernandez-Egea E, Parellada E, 

Lomena F, Falcon C, Pavia J, Mane 

A, Horga G, Bernardo M. (18)FDG 

PET study of amygdalar activity 

during facial emotion recognition 

in schizophrenia. EUR ARCH PSY 

CLIN N, 2010. 260:69-76. I.F.:2,75. 

2 Lage E, Villena JL, Tapias G, 

Martinez NP, Soto-Montenegro ML, 

Abella M, Sisniega A, Pino F, Ros 

D, Pavia J, Desco M, Vaquero JJ. 

A SPECT Scanner for Rodent Imaging 

Based on Small-Area Gamma 

Cameras. IEEE T NUCL SCI, 2010. 

57:2524-2531. I.F.:1,59. 

3 Almendros I, Montserrat JM, 

Torres M, Gonzalez C, Navajas D, 

Farre R. Changes in oxygen partial 

pressure of brain tissue in an animal 

model of obstructive apnea. 

RESP RES, 2010. 11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

4 Iranzo A, Lomena F, Stockner 

H, Valldeoriola F, Vilaseca I, Salamero 

M, Molinuevo JL, Serradell M, 

Duch J, Pavia J, Gallego J, Seppi 

K, Hogl B, Tolosa E, Poewe W, 

Santamaria J. Decreased striatal 

dopamine transporter uptake and 

substantia nigra hyperechogenicity 

as risk markers of synucleinopathy 

in patients with idiopathic rapideye-movement 

sleep behaviour 

disorder: a prospective study. LAN- 

CET NEUROL, 2010. 9:1070-1077. 

I.F.:18,13. 

5 Martinez-Vidal B, Farre R, Montserrat 

JM, Torres M, Almendros I, 

Aguilar F, Embid C, Vilaseca I. Effects 

of heated humidification on 

nasal inflammation in a CPAP rat 

model. SLEEP MED, 2010. 11:413- 

416. I.F.:3,70. 

6 Iranzo A, Isetta V, Molinuevo JL, 

Serradell M, Navajas D, Farre R, Santamaria 

J. Electroencephalographic 

slowing heralds mild cognitive impairment 

in idiopathic REM sleep behavior 

disorder. SLEEP MED, 2010. 

11:534-539. I.F.:3,70. 

7 Aguiar P, Rafecas M, Ortuno JE, 

Kontaxakis G, Santos A, Pavia J, Ros 

D. Geometrical and Monte Carlo 

projectors in 3D PET reconstruction. 

MED PHYS, 2010. 37:5691-5702. 

I.F.:2,70. 

8 Bullich S, Cot A, Gallego J, 

Gunn RN, Suarez M, Pavia J, Ros 

D, Laruelle M, Catafau AM. Impact 

of scatter correction on D-2 receptor 

occupancy measurements using 

I-123-IBZM SPECT: Comparison to 

C-11-Raclopride PET. NEUROIMAGE, 

2010. 50:1511-1518. I.F.:5,74. 

9 Carreras A, Almendros I, Montserrat 

JM, Navajas D, Farre R. 

Mesenchymal stem cells reduce inflammation 

in a rat model of obstructive 

sleep apnea. RESP PHYSIOL 

NEUROBI, 2010. 172:210-212. 

I.F.:2,14. 

10 Carreras A, Rojas M, Tsapikouni 

T, Montserrat JM, Navajas D, 

Farre R. Obstructive apneas induce 

early activation of mesenchymal 

stem cells and enhancement of endothelial 

wound healing. RESP RES, 

2010. 11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

11 Guerrero A, Embid C, Farre R, 

Navajas D, Masa JF, Duran J, Montserrat 

JM. Sleep Breathing Flow 

Characteristics as a Sign for the 

Detection of Wakefulness in Patients 

with Sleep Apnea. RESPIRATION, 

2010. 80:495-499. I.F.:1,94. 

123

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Team Members 


in progress 

Farré R. Efecto de los estímulos 

mecánicos en la diferenciación 

de células madres hacia el fenotipo 

epitelial alveolar. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, 

SAF2008-02991. Amount: 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Ros D. Desarrollo del proyecto 

“Tecnologías de Imagen Molecular 

Avanzada (AMIT)”. Sponsored by: 

CDTI - CETIR, CENTRE MEDIC, S.A., 

10/192. Amount: 50.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-01/01/2013. 

Ros D. Cuantificación de estudios de 

SPECT cerebral utilizando ligandos 

del transportador de dopamina en 

modelos animales y en diagnóstico 

clínico. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, SAF2009- 

08076. Amount: 36.300,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Pavia J, Ros D. Caracterización de 

gammacámaras: estandarización 

de estudios para SPECT cerebral. 

Sponsored by: GEHE - GE HEALTH- 

CARE BIO-SCIENCES,S.A, 09/484. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Farre R. Activation of bone Marrow 

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a rat 

model of obstructive sleep apnea. 

PhD student: Alba Carreras Palou. 

Estrach MT. Estudio de moléculas 

de adhesión en procesos dermatológicos 

malignos(Micosis fungoide-síndrome 

de Sézary) y benignos 

mediados por células T. PhD student: 

Ingrid Lopez Lerma. 

Farré R. Michromechanics of airway 

smooth muscle in culture. Sponsored 

by: NIHE - National Institutes 

of Health (USA), 2RO1-HL65960-06. 

Amount: 3.360.362,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2005-31/12/2010. 

Farré R. An open, ubiquitous and 

adptive chronic disease management 

platform fr COPD and renal 

insufficiency (CHRONIOUS). 7COICT 

- COOPERATION. ICT. 7è Programa 

Marc. Information and Communication 

Technologies (Tecnologies de la 

Informació i la Comunicació). Sponsored 

by: European Commission, 

FP7-ICT-2007-1#216461. Amount: 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

124

AREA 2 






GROUP Members 



Carles Agustí (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Ramon Badia (Hospital Clínic) 

Miquel Ferrer (Hospital Clínic) 

Ramon Marrades (Hospital Clínic) 

Néstor Soler (Hospital Clínic) 

Dolors Soy (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Mª Montserrat 

Marc Miravitlles (Fundació Clínic) 


Gianluigi Li Bassi (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Guerrero (IDIBAPS) 

Isaac Almendros (CIBERes) 


Mariano Esperatti (FIS) 

Arnoldo Guerrero (Hospital Clínic) 

Arturo Huerta (FIS) 

Catia Cillóniz (SGR) 

Gema Tirado (SEPAR) 

Laia Fernàndez (CIBERes) 

Hugo Loureiro (Hospital Clínic) 

Carmen Lucena (Hospital Clínic) 

Zinka Matkovic (ERS) 

Lina María Saucedo 


Marta Torres (CIBERes) 

TEAM LEADER 

Antoni Torres (Hospital Clínic) 

Tel.: 93 227 55 49 

Fax: 93 227 55 49 

E-mail: atorres@clinic.ub.es 


Patrícia Fernández (FIS) 

Encarnación Moreno 


Alicia San José (CIBERes) 

Isabel Martín (Fundació Clínic) 

Rebeca Domingo (FIS) 


Elisabet Sancho (CIBERes) 

Staticians: 

Albert Gabarrús Barri (CIBERes) 

Physiotherapists: 

Joan Daniel Martí (Fundació Clínic) 

Beatriz Herrero (Fundació Clínic) 


Núria Sànchez (CAPSE) 

Jacobo Sellarés (Hospital Clínic) 

Pilar Martínez (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Polverino (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Rigol (IDIBAPS) 

1. Study of community-acquired 

respiratory infections, nosocomial 

infections and infections in immune 

depressed patients. 

2. Study of invasive and noninasive 

mechanical ventilation in acute 

respiratory failure, particularly in 

weaning from artificial ventilation. 

3. Study of the exacerbation of chronic 

obstructive pulmonary disease 

(COPD) and the implication of 

bacterial, viral and fungal infectious 

agents. 

4. Physiopathological and treatment 

studies in an animal model of 

ventilation associated pneumonia. 

5. Human and animal model research in 

sleep apnea syndrome. 

6. Multicenter studies in relation to 

sleep respiratory pathology and 

cardiovascular disease. 

7. Epidemiology, diagnosis and 

treatment of adult bronchiectasia 

not associated with cystic fibrosis: 

Study of inflammatory response, 

new treatment modalities and 

immunoglobulin replacement 

therapy. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis 

and new treatments of pneumonias 

associated with artificial ventilation. 

Resistances of microorganisms. 

Study of biofilms in endotracheal 

tubes. 

2. Epidemiology and diagnosis of 

community-acquired pneumonia. 

Multicenter studies in the setting 

of community-acquired pneumonia. 

New treatments. Resistances of microorganisms. 

3. Study of the risk factors, microbiology 

and prognosis of Health Care 

Associated Pneumonia (HCAP). 

4. Etiopathogenesis, bronchial infection 

and inflammation in the patient with 

chronic obstructive pulmonary 

disease (COPD). Role of infections 

in exacerbation of the disease. Study 

of bronchial and associated systemic 

125

AREA 2 





response. Analysis of the risk and 

prognostic factors in acute episodes. 

Smoking. Epidemiology and diagnosis 

of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. 

5. Chronic pulmonary infections: 

bronchiectasia not associated with 

cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies 

and cystic fibrosis in the adult. 

Control of bronchial colonization. 

Study of bronchial inflammatory 

and associated systemic response. 

New treatment modalities (nebulizer 

antibiotic treatment). Replacement 

therapy with immunoglobulins. 

6. Infectious lung complications 

in immune depressed patients. 

Evaluation of the etiological factors. 

Optimization of the diagnostic techniques. 

Study of bronchial inflammatory 

and associated systemic response. 

Analysis of prognostic factors. 

7. Invasive and noninvasive mechanical 

ventilation: epidemiology, 

cost-effectiveness and physiopathology. 

New techniques. Weaning from 

mechanical ventilation: role of the 

inflammatory response and respiratory 

failure following extubation. 

8. Study of the pharmacokinetics of 

antibiotics and other drugs in the 

ventilated and non-ventilated patient. 

9. Porcine model of acute pulmonary 

damage due to P. aeruginosa and 

methicillin-resistant S. aureus: study 

of new coadjuvant drugs in the 

treatment of pneumonia, study of 

new antibiotics, prevention of ventila- 

Noninvasive ventilation after extubation significantly improves 

patient survival in relation to conventional treatment with oxygen 

therapy (Lancet; 374: 1082–88). 

tor-associated pneumonia (VAP), and 

new forms of mechanical ventilation. 

10. Chronic sleep apnea models. 

11. European studies of respiratory 

infections. Participation in the GRA- 

CE, MOSAR and THERAEDGE projects, 

which respectively investigate 

community-acquired respiratory infections, 

in-hospital respiratory infections 

and new diagnostic methods. 


www.idibapsrespiratoryresearch.org 


Breathing disturbances in sleep 

Group Leader: Josep M. Montserrat (Hospital Clínic) 

The main research line of this group is the analysis of respiratory 

disturbances in sleep. Specifically, the two most important 

lines are the following: the study of diagnostic methods and 

effects of treatment in a population of apneic patients in which 

the indication is not clear; and the study of animal models for exploring the 

mechanisms underlying the origin and consequences of the disorder. Both lines 

are carried out in the context of national multicenter clinical trials. 

126

AREA 2 


Applied research in infectious respiratory diseases, critically ill patients and lung cancer 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 197,85 


M, Bove A, Navarro C, Brito-Zeron P, 

Diaz-Lagares C, Gandia M, Akasbi M, 

Siso A, Ballester E, Torres A, Ramos- 

Casals M. Bronchiectasis in primary 

Sjogren’s syndrome: prevalence and 

clinical significance. CLIN EXP RHEU- 

MATOL, 2010. 28:647-653. I.F.:2,40. 



Almela M, Cervera C, Ninot S, Falces 

C, Mestres CA, Gatell JM, DeAnta 

MTJ, Miro JM. Daptomycin Is Effective 

for Treatment of Experimental Endocarditis 

Due to Methicillin-Resistant 

and Glycopeptide-Intermediate Staphylococcus 

epidermidis. ANTIMICROB 

AGENTS CH, 2010. 54:2781-2786. 

I.F.:4,80. 

3 Polverino E, Dambrava P, Cilloniz 

C, Balasso V, Marcos MA, Esquinas 

C, Mensa J, Ewig S, Torres A. Nursing 

home-acquired pneumonia: a 10 year 

single-centre experience. THORAX, 

2010. 65:354-359. I.F.:7,04. 

4 Perello R, Miro O, Marcos MA, 

Almela M, Bragulat E, Sanchez M, 

Agusti C, Miro JM, Moreno A. Predicting 

bacteremic pneumonia in HIV-1-infected 

patients consulting the ED. AM 

J EMERG MED, 2010. 28:454-459. 

I.F.:1,54. 




E, Benito N, Garcia F, Agusti C, Wilson 

PE, Gatell JM, DeAnta MTJ, Meshnick 

SR, Moreno A. Prevalence of 

dihydropteroate synthase genotypes 

before and after the introduction of 

combined antiretroviral therapy and 

their influence on the outcome of 



DIS, 2010. 68:60-65. I.F.:2,45. 

6 Ferrer M, Liapikou A, Valencia M, 

Esperatti M, Theessen A, Martinez JA, 

Mensa J, Torres A. Validation of the 

American Thoracic Society-Infectious 

Diseases Society of America Guidelines 

for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia 

in the Intensive Care Unit. CLIN IN- 

FECT DIS, 2010. 50:945-952. I.F.:8,20. 

7 Valles X, Roca A, Lozano F, Morais 

L, Suarez B, Casals F, Mandomando 

I, Sigauque B, Nhalungo D, Esquinas 

C, Quinto L, Alonso PL, Torres A. 

Serotype-specific pneumococcal disease 

may be influenced by mannosebinding 

lectin deficiency. EUR RESPIR 

J, 2010. 36:856-863. I.F.:5,53. 

8 Gutierrez P, Closae D, Piner R, 

Bulbena O, Menendez R, Torres A. 

Macrophage activation in exacerbated 

COPD with and without communityacquired 

pneumonia. EUR RESPIR J, 

2010. 36:285-291. I.F.:5,53. 

9 Martinez-Olondris P, Sibila O, 

Agusti C, Rigol M, Soy D, Esquinas C, 

Piner R, Luque N, Guerrero L, Quera 

MA, Marco F, DeLaBellacasa JP, 

Ramirez J, Torres A. An experimental 

model of pneumonia induced by methicillin-resistant 

Staphylococcus aureus 

in ventilated piglets. EUR RESPIR 

J, 2010. 36:901-906. I.F.:5,53. 

10 Guerrero L, Martinez-Olondris 

P, Rigol M, Esperatti M, Esquinas C, 

Luque N, Piner R, Torres A, Soy D. 

Development and validation of a high 

performance liquid chromatography 

method to determine linezolid concentrations 

in pig pulmonary tissue. CLIN 

CHEM LAB MED, 2010. 48:391-398. 

I.F.:1,89. 

11 Martinez-Olondris P, Rigol M, 

Torres A. What lessons have been 

learnt from animal models of MRSA 

in the lung?. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

35:198-201. I.F.:5,53. 

12 Almendros I, Montserrat JM, 

Torres M, Gonzalez C, Navajas D, 

Farre R. Changes in oxygen partial 

pressure of brain tissue in an animal 

model of obstructive apnea. RESP 

RES, 2010. 11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

13 Martinez-Vidal B, Farre R, Montserrat 

JM, Torres M, Almendros I, 

Aguilar F, Embid C, Vilaseca I. Effects 

of heated humidification on nasal 

inflammation in a CPAP rat model. 

SLEEP MED, 2010. 11:413-416. 

I.F.:3,70. 

14 Carreras A, Almendros I, 

Montserrat JM, Navajas D, Farre 

R. Mesenchymal stem cells reduce 

inflammation in a rat model of obstructive 

sleep apnea. RESP PHYS- 

IOL NEUROBI, 2010. 172:210-212. 

I.F.:2,14. 

15 Carreras A, Rojas M, Tsapikouni 

T, Montserrat JM, Navajas D, Farre 

R. Obstructive apneas induce early 

activation of mesenchymal stem 

cells and enhancement of endothelial 

wound healing. RESP RES, 2010. 11:-. 

I.F.:3,13. 

16 Guerrero A, Embid C, Farre R, 

Navajas D, Masa JF, Duran J, Montserrat 

JM. Sleep Breathing Flow Characteristics 

as a Sign for the Detection 

of Wakefulness in Patients with Sleep 

Apnea. RESPIRATION, 2010. 80:495- 

499. I.F.:1,94. 

17 Soler N, Ballester E, Martin 

A, Gobartt E, Miravitlles M, Torres 

A. Changes in management of 

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

(COPD) in primary care: EMMEPOC 

study. RESP MED, 2010. 104:67-75. 

I.F.:2,33. 

127

AREA 2 





Team Members 

18 Malinis M, Myers J, Bordon J, 

Peyrani P, Kapoor R, Nakamatzu R, 

Lopardo G, Torres A, Feldman C, Allen 

M, Arnold F, Ramirez J. Clinical 

outcomes of HIV-infected patients 

hospitalized with bacterial communityacquired 

pneumonia. INT J INFECT 

DIS, 2010. 14:E22-E27. I.F.:2,17. 

19 Miravitlles M, Marin A, Monso 

E, Vila S, DeLaRoza C, Hervas R, 

Esquinas C, Garcia M, Millares L, 

Morera J, Torres A. Colour of sputum 

is a marker for bacterial colonisation 

in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

airway. RESP RES, 2010. 11:-. 

I.F.:3,13. 

20 Pino-Yanes M, Corrales A, Casula 

M, Blanco J, Muriel A, Espinosa 

E, Garcia-Bello M, Torres A, Ferrer M, 

Zavala E, Villar J, Flores C. Common 

Variants of TLR1 Associate with Organ 

Dysfunction and Sustained Pro-Inflammatory 

Responses during Sepsis. 

PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

21 Duran-Cantolla J, Aizpuru F, 

Montserrat JM, Ballester E, Teran- 

Santos J, Aguirregomoscorta JI, Gonzalez 

M, Lloberes P, Masa JF, De La 

Pena M, Carrizo S, Mayos M, Barbe F. 

Continuous positive airway pressure 

as treatment for systemic hypertension 

in people with obstructive sleep 

apnoea: randomised controlled trial. 

BRIT MED J, 2010. 341:-. I.F.:13,66. 

22 Partridge MR, Miravitlles M, 

Stahl E, Karlsson N, Svensson K, 

Welte T. Development and validation 

of the Capacity of Daily Living during 

the Morning questionnaire and the 

Global Chest Symptoms Questionnaire 

in COPD. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

36:96-104. I.F.:5,53. 

23 Soriano JB, Miravitlles M, Borderias 

L, Duran-Tauleria E, Rio FG, 

Martinez J, Montemayor T, Munoz L, 

Pineiro L, Sanchez G, Serra J, Soler- 

Cataluna JJ, Torres A, Viejo JL, Sobradillo-Pena 

V, Ancochea J. Geographical 

Variations in the Prevalence of COPD 

in Spain: Relationship to Smoking, 

Death Rates and other Determining 

Factors. ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:522-530. I.F.:2,17. 

24 Almirall J, Bolibar I, Serra-Prat 

M, Palomera E, Roig J, Hospital 

I, Carandell E, Agusti M, Ayuso P, 

Estela A, Torres A. Inhaled drugs as 

risk factors for community-acquired 

pneumonia. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

36:1080-1087. I.F.:5,53. 

25 Miravitlles M, Herr C, Ferrarotti 

I, Jardi R, Rodriguez-Frias F, Luisetti 

M, Bals R. Laboratory testing of 

individuals with severe alpha(1)-antitrypsin 

deficiency in three European 

centres. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 35:960- 

968. I.F.:5,53. 

26 Barbe F, Duran-Cantolla J, Capote 

F, DeLaPena M, Chiner E, Masa 

JF, Gonzalez M, Marin JM, Garcia-Rio 

F, DeAtauri JD, Teran J, Mayos M, 

Monasterio C, DelCampo F, Gomez 

S, DeLaTorre MS, Martinez M, 

Montserrat JM. Long-term Effect of 

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure 

in Hypertensive Patients with Sleep 

Apnea. AM J RESP CRIT CARE, 2010. 

181:718-726. I.F.:10,69. 

27 Esperatti M, Ferrer M, Theessen 

A, Liapikou A, Valencia M, Saucedo 

LM, Zavala E, Welte T, Torres A. Nosocomial 

Pneumonia in the Intensive 

Care Unit Acquired by Mechanically 

Ventilated versus Nonventilated Patients. 

AM J RESP CRIT CARE, 2010. 

182:1533-1539. I.F.:10,69. 

28 Polverino E, Nava S, Ferrer M, 

Ceriana P, Clini E, Spada E, Zanotti 

E, Trianni L, Barbano L, Fracchia C, 

Balbi B, Vitacca M. Patients’ charac- 

terization, hospital course and clinical 

outcomes in five Italian respiratory 

intensive care units. INTENS CARE 

MED, 2010. 36:137-142. I.F.:5,17. 

29 Arnold FW, Brock GN, Peyrani 

P, Rodriguez EL, Diaz AA, Rossi P, 

Ramirez JA. Predictive accuracy of 

the pneumonia severity index vs 

CRB-65 for time to clinical stability: 

Results from the Community- 

Acquired Pneumonia Organization 

(CAPO) International Cohort Study. 

RESP MED, 2010. 104:1736-1743. 

I.F.:2,33. 

30 Diez-Padrisa N, Bassat Q, 

Machevo S, Quinto L, Morais L, 

Nhampossa T, O’callaghan-Gordo C, 

Torres A, Alonso PL, Roca A. Procalcitonin 

and C-Reactive Protein for 

Invasive Bacterial Pneumonia Diagnosis 

among Children in Mozambique, 

a Malaria-Endemic Area. PLOS ONE, 

2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

31 Sethi S, Jones PW, Theron MS, 

Miravitlles M, Rubinstein E, Wedzicha 

JA, Wilson R. Pulsed moxifloxacin 

for the prevention of exacerbations 

of chronic obstructive pulmonary 

disease: a randomized controlled trial. 

RESP RES, 2010. 11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

32 Soriano JB, Ancochea J, Miravitlles 

M, Garcia-Rio F, Duran-Tauleria 

E, Munoz L, Jimenez-Ruiz CA, Masa 

JF, Viejo JL, Villasante C, Fernandez- 

Fau L, Sanchez G, Sobradillo-Pena V. 

Recent trends in COPD prevalence in 

Spain: a repeated cross-sectional survey 

1997-2007. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

36:758-765. I.F.:5,53. 

33 Ewig S, Welte T, Chastre J, 

Torres A. Rethinking the concepts 

of community-acquired and healthcare-associated 

pneumonia. LANCET 

INFECT DIS, 2010. 10:279-287. 

I.F.:15,58. 

128

AREA 2 


Applied research in infectious respiratory diseases, critically ill patients and lung cancer 

34 Garcia-Rio F, Miravitlles M, Soriano 

JB, Munoz L, Duran-Tauleria E, 

Sanchez G, Sobradillo V, Ancochea 

J. Systemic inflammation in chronic 

obstructive pulmonary disease: a 

population-based study. RESP RES, 

2010. 11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

35 Miravitlles M, Ferrara G, Lange 

C, Dimopoulos G, Rohde G, Blasi F, 

Migliori GB. TB or not TB: update 

from the ERS Respiratory Infection 

Assembly 10. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

36:665-670. I.F.:5,53. 

36 Pinazo MJ, Munoz J, Posada E, 

Lopez-Chejade P, Gallego M, Ayala E, 

DelCacho E, Soy D, Gascon J. Tolerance 

of Benznidazole in Treatment of 

Chagas’ Disease in Adults. ANTIMI- 

CROB AGENTS CH, 2010. 54:4896- 

4899. I.F.:4,80. 

37 Butler CC, Hood K, Kelly MJ, 

Goossens H, Verheij T, Little P, Melbye 

H, Torres A, Molstad S, Godycki- 

Cwirko M, Almirall J, Blasi F, Schaberg 

T, Edwards P, Rautakorpi UM, Hupkova 

H, Wood J, Nuttall J, Coenen 

S. Treatment of acute cough/lower 

respiratory tract infection by antibiotic 

class and associated outcomes: a 

13 European country observational 

study in primary care. J ANTIMICROB 

CHEMOTH, 2010. 65:2472-2478. 

I.F.:4,35. 

38 Torres A, Rello J. Update in 

Community-acquired and Nosocomial 

Pneumonia 2009. AM J RESP CRIT 

CARE, 2010. 181:782-787. I.F.:10,69. 

39 Espana PP, Capelastegui A, Quintana 

JM, Bilbao A, Diez R, Pascual S, 

Esteban C, Zalacain R, Menendez R, 

Torres A. Validation and comparison of 

SCAP as a predictive score for identifying 

low-risk patients in communityacquired 

pneumonia. J INFECTION, 

2010. 60:106-113. I.F.:3,06. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 13,55 

1 Bassi GL, Ferrer M, Saucedo LM, 

Torres A. Do guidelines change outcomes 

in ventilator-associated pneumonia?. 

CURR OPIN INFECT DIS, 

2010. 23:171-177. I.F.:4,72. 

2 Gomez-Caro A, Badia JR, Ausin P. 

Extracorporeal Lung Assist in Severe 

Respiratory Failure and ARDS. Current 

Situation and Clinical Applications. 

ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 2010. 

46:531-537. I.F.:2,17. 

3 Anzueto A, Miravitlles M. Shortcourse 

fluoroquinolone therapy in exacerbations 

of chronic bronchitis and 

COPD. RESP MED, 2010. 104:1396- 

1403. I.F.:2,33. 

4 Martinez-Garcia MA, Duran-Cantolla 

J, Montserrat JM. Sleep Apnea- 

Hypopnea Syndrome in the Elderly. 


46:479-488. I.F.:2,17. 

5 Sevilla-Sanchez D, Soy-Muner D, Soler-Porcar 

N. Usefulness of Macrolides 

as Anti-Inflammatories in Respiratory 

Diseases. ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:244-254. I.F.:2,17. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 16,35 

1 Torres A, Menendez R. Enterobacteriaceae 

and Pseudomonas 

aeruginosa in community-acquired 

pneumonia: the reality after a decade 

of uncertainty?. EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 

35:473-474. I.F.:5,53. 

2 Ferrer M. Non-Invasive Mechanical 

Ventilation and the Prognosis 

in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 

Disease. ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:399-401. I.F.:2,17. 

3 Ewig S, Torres A. Severity scores 

for CAP. ‘Much workload for the next 

bias’. THORAX, 2010. 65:853-855. 

I.F.:7,04. 

4 Polverino E, Ferrer M. VAP surveillance: 

role of non-quantitative culture 

of endotracheal aspirates (NQC-ETA). 

MINERVA ANESTESIOL, 2010. 

76:572-574. I.F.:1,61. 


I.F.: 2,17 

1 Menendez R, Torres A, Aspa J, 

Capelastegui A, Prat C, DeCastro 

FR. Community Acquired Pneumonia. 

New Guidelines of the Spanish 

Society of Chest Diseases and Thoracic 

Surgery (SEPAR). ARCH BRON- 

CONEUMOL. 46:543-558. I.F.:2,17. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 47,05 

1 Sciurba FC, Ernst A, Herth FJF, 

Strange C, Criner GJ, Marquette CH, 

Kovitz KL, Chiacchierini RP, Goldin J, 

Mclennan G. A Randomized Study of 

Endobronchial Valves for Advanced 

Emphysema. NEW ENGL J MED. 

363:1233-1244. I.F.:47,05. 


in progress 

Ferrer M. Eficacia de los glucocorticoides 

en la neumonía asociada a la 

ventilación mecánica estudio clínico 

aleatorizado. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Soy D. Eficacia del tratamiento con 

Linezolid comparado con vancomicina 

en la neumonia asociada a la venti- 

129

AREA 2 





Team Members 

lación mecánica (NAVM) por Staphylococcus 

Aureus Meticilin-resistente. 

Estudio en un modelo porcino. Sponsored 


PI070419. Amount: 87.107,90 


30/12/2010. 

Soler N. Evalución prospectiva 

de la purulencia del esputo y la 

procalcitonina como marcadores 

de infección respiratoria discal 

en la agudización de la enfermedad 

pulmonar obstructiva crónica 

(EPOC). Sponsored by: Ministerio 



26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Torres A. GENOMICS TO COMBAT 

RESISTANCE AGAINST ANTIBIOT- 

ICS IN COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED 

LRTI IN EUROPE. Sponsored 

by: Universiteit Antwerpen, 

LSHM-CT-2005-518226. Amount: 


01/03/2007-28/02/2011. 

Torres A. An integrated platform 

enabling Theranostic applications 

at the Point of Primary Care. 

Sponsored by: NTE, S.A., 216027. 


01/03/2008-29/02/2012. 

Torres A. Health Care Associated 

Pneumonia (HCAP). Sponsored by: 

Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Torres A. Coordinador de equipo del 

Grup de Recerca de Qualitat . Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 

SGR/911. Amount: 58.240,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Ferrer M. Papel de la respuesta 

inflamatoria y el estrés oxidativo 

sistémico en la retirada de la ventilación 

mecánica invasiva. Sponsored 

by: Fondo de Investigación 

Sanitaria, PI080232. Amount: 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Marrades R. Expresión y cuantificación 

de micrornas en sangre 

periférica, tejido tumoral y tejido 

normal en pacientes con cáncer de 

pulmón: relaciones terapéuticas y 

pronósticas. Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigación Sanitaria, PI080135. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Soler N. Utilidad del tratamiento 

antibiótico en las agudizaciones de 

la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva 

crónica (EPOC) sin purulencia en el 

esputo: ensayo clínico aleatorizado, 

controlado y doble ciego de eficacia 

y seguridad. Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigación Sanitaria, EC08/00061. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Torres A. Mastering of Hospital 

Antimicrobial Resistance (MO- 

SAR) Surgical WP4. Sponsored by: 

European Comisión, CP040280. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Torres A. Mastering of Hospital 

Antimicrobial Resistance (MO- 

SAR) ICU WP3. Sponsored by: 

European Comisión, CP040280. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Torres A. Efectos de los flujos insipartorio-respiratorio 

y la presión positiva 

al final de la espiración en el aclaramiento 

de secreciones y la neumonía 

asociada al ventilador. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Montserrat JM. Efectos sistémicos 

del síndrome de las apneas durante 

el sueño. Análisis mediante modelos 

animales y estudios cognitivos en 

humanos.. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



31/12/2008-30/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Ferrer M, Torres A. Fisiopatología y 

papel de la ventilación no invasiva en 

el fracaso del weaning. PhD student: 

Jacobo Sellares Torres. 

Torres A, Polverino E. Fracaso del 

tratamiento en la neumonía adquirida 

en la comunidad. Factores de riesgo 

de exceso de inflamación y su impacto 

en el pronóstico. Sponsored 

by: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria 

(FIS), PI080472. Amount: 27.346,00 


31/12/2010. 

130

AREA 2 



Physiopathological mechanisms of respiratory illnesses 


& 

RETICS de Biobancos 

GROUP Members 



Josep Roca (Hospital Clínic) 

Robert Rodríguez-Roisín 


Elizabeth Zavala (Hospital Clínic) 


Melina Musri (IDIBAPS) 


Marta Díez (FIS) 

Elisabeth Ferrer (FIS) 

Diego Rodríguez (ERS-SEPAR) 

Karina Portillo (Fundació Clínic) 

Ebymar Arismendi (Fundació Clínic) 

Jéssica Garcia (Fundació Clínic) 

David Domínguez (Fundació Clínic) 

Borja Lobo (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Raquel Puig-Pey (IDIBAPS) 

Núria Coll (Fundació Clínic) 


Conchi Gistau (Hospital Clínic) 

Yolanda Torralba (CIBERES) 

Maite Simó (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Palomo (Fundació Clínic) 

Xavier Alsina (Hospital Clínic) 

Beatriz Valeiro (Fundació Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Joan Albert Barberà (Hospital Clínic) 

Tel.: 93 227 57 47 

Fax: 93 227 54 55 

E-mail: jbarbera@clinic.ub.es 


Mirjam Hillenius (Fundació Clínic) 

Julio Más (Fundació Clínic - 

CIBERES) 

Physiotherapists: 

Anael Barberan (Fundació Clínic) 

Ane Arbillaga (Fundació Clínic) 


Albert Alonso (Fundació Clínic) 

Isabel Blanco (Hospital Clínic) 

Felip Burgos (Hospital Clínic) 

Federico Gómez (Universitat de 

Barcelona) 

Carme Hernández (Hospital Clínic) 

Graciela Martínez-Pallí (Hospital 

Clínic) 

Victor I. Peinado (CIBERES) 

Sandra Pizarro (Hospital Clínic) 

Jordi Vilaró (Fundació Clínic) 

Elena Gimeno (IDIBAPS) 

1. Investigation of the molecular and cellular bases of 

chronic respiratory diseases, with special emphasis 

on pulmonary circulatory disorders and systemic 

manifestations. 

2. Study of the physiopathological and pathogenic mechanisms 

related to acute and chronic respiratory 

failure, focusing on chronic obstructive diseases, 

hepatopulmonary disorders and obesity. 

3. Evaluation of the potential of cell therapy and tissue 

engineering applied to respiratory diseases. 

4. Development of artificial and bioartificial lung models 

for the support of patients with acute and chronic 

respiratory failure. 

5. Study of the determining factors of the clinical 

course and healthcare resource utilization in chronic 

respiratory diseases. 

Main Lines of Research 

1. Biopathology and physiopathology of pulmonary 

circulation disorders. 

2. Physical activity, cell bioenergetics and systemic 

effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

(COPD). 

3. Physiopathological mechanisms underlying gas exchange 

alterations in airway obstructive diseases. 

4. Interaction between systemic and pulmonary inflammation 

in COPD and morbid obesity. 

5. Tissue engineering and bioartificial lung models. 

6. Prognostic and determining factors of healthcare 

resource utilization in chronic respiratory disease. 

7. Analysis of inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers 

in exhaled air in the study of respiratory 

diseases. 

View of two precursor vascular cells with interdifferential 

technology. One of the cells maintains 

the precursor phenotype, while the other has 

acquired a smooth muscle cell phenotype. 

131

AREA 2 



Physiopathological mechanisms 

of respiratory illnesses 

Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 121,18 

1 Rodriguez-Trigo G, Zock JP, Pozo- 

Rodriguez F, Gomez FP, Monyarch G, 

Bouso L, Coll MD, Verea H, Anto JM, 

Fuster C, Barbera JA. Health Changes 

in Fishermen 2 Years After Clean-up 

of the Prestige Oil Spill. ANN INTERN 

MED, 2010. 153:489-W176. I.F.:16,23. 


Blanco I, Pare C, Borderias L, Peinado 

VI, Roca J, Mila M, Barbera JA. Study 

of the BMPR2 Gene in Patients with 

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. 


46:129-134. I.F.:2,17. 

3 Go T, Jungebluth P, Baiguero S, 

Asnaghi A, Martorell J, Ostertag H, 

Mantero S, Birchall M, Bader A, Macchiarini 

P. Both epithelial cells and 

mesenchymal stem cell-derived chondrocytes 

contribute to the survival of 

tissue-engineered airway transplants 

in pigs. J THORAC CARDIOV SUR, 

2010. 139:437-443. I.F.:3,06. 

4 Pino-Yanes M, Corrales A, Casula 

M, Blanco J, Muriel A, Espinosa E, 

Garcia-Bello M, Torres A, Ferrer M, 

Zavala E, Villar J, Flores C. Common 

Variants of TLR1 Associate with Organ 

Dysfunction and Sustained Pro-Inflammatory 

Responses during Sepsis. 

PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

5 Esperatti M, Ferrer M, Theessen 

A, Liapikou A, Valencia M, Saucedo 

LM, Zavala E, Welte T, Torres A. Nosocomial 

Pneumonia in the Intensive 

Care Unit Acquired by Mechanically 

Ventilated versus Nonventilated Patients. 


182:1533-1539. I.F.:10,69. 

6 Melgosa MT, Ricci GL, Garcia- 

Pagan JC, Blanco I, Escribano P, 

Abraldes JG, Roca J, Bosch J, Barbera 

JA. Acute and Long-Term Effects of 

Inhaled Iloprost in Portopulmonary 

Hypertension. LIVER TRANSPLANT, 

2010. 16:348-356. I.F.:3,72. 

7 Haq I, Chappell S, Johnson SR, 

Lotya J, Daly L, Morgan K, Guetta- 

Baranes T, Roca J, Rabinovich R, 

Millar AB, Donnelly SC, Keatings V, 

Macnee W, Stolk J, Hiemstra PS, 

Miniati M, Monti S, O’connor CM, 

Kalsheker N. Association of MMP-12 

polymorphisms with severe and very 

severe COPD: A case control study 

of MMPs - 1, 9 and 12 in a European 

population. BMC MED GENET, 2010. 

11:-. I.F.:2,84. 

8 Macchiarini P, Rovira I, Ferrarello 

S. Awake Upper Airway Surgery. ANN 

THORAC SURG, 2010. 89:387-390. 

I.F.:3,64. 

9 Barreiro E, Peinado VI, Galdiz JB, 

Ferrer E, Mann-Corral J, Sanchez F, 

Gea J, Barbera JA. Cigarette Smokeinduced 

Oxidative Stress A Role 

in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 

Disease Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction. 


182:477-488. I.F.:10,69. 

10 Azzalini L, Ferrer E, Ramalho 

LN, Moreno M, Dominguez M, Colmenero 

J, Peinado VI, Barbera JA, Arroyo 

V, Gines P, Caballeria J, Bataller R. 

Cigarette Smoking Exacerbates Nonalcoholic 

Fatty Liver Disease in Obese 

Rats. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:1567- 

1576. I.F.:10,84. 

11 Mascia L, Pasero D, Slutsky 

AS, Arguis MJ, Berardino M, Grasso 

S, Munari M, Boifava S, Cornara G, 

DellaCorte F, Vivaldi N, Malacarne P, 

DelGaudio P, Livigni S, Zavala E, Filippini 

C, Martin EL, Donadio PP, Mastromauro 

I, Ranieri VM. Effect of a Lung 

Protective Strategy for Organ Donors 

on Eligibility and Availability of Lungs 

for Transplantation A Randomized 

Controlled Trial. JAMA-J AM MED AS- 

SOC, 2010. 304:2620-2627. I.F.:28,90. 

12 Diez M, Musri MM, Ferrer E, 

Barbera JA, Peinado VI. Endothelial 

progenitor cells undergo an endothelial-to-mesenchymal 

transition-like 

process mediated by TGF beta RI. 

CARDIOVASC RES, 2010. 88:502-511. 

I.F.:5,80. 

13 Vilaro J, Ramirez-Sarmiento 

A, Martinez-Llorens JM, Mendoza 

T, Alvarez M, Sanchez-Cayado N, 

Vega A, Gimeno E, Coronell C, Gea 

J, Roca J, Orozco-Levi M. Global 

muscle dysfunction as a risk factor of 

readmission to hospital due to COPD 

exacerbations. RESP MED, 2010. 

104:1896-1902. I.F.:2,33. 

14 Blanco I, Gimeno E, Munoz PA, 

Pizarro S, Gistau C, Rodriguez-Roisin 

R, Roca J, Barbera JA. Hemodynamic 

and Gas Exchange Effects of Sildenafil 

in Patients with Chronic Obstructive 

Pulmonary Disease and Pulmonary 

Hypertension. AM J RESP CRIT 

CARE, 2010. 181:270-278. I.F.:10,69. 

15 Blanco I, Villaquiran C, Valera 

JL, Molina-Molina M, Xaubet A, Rodriguez-Roisin 

R, Barbera JA, Roca J. 

Peak Oxygen Uptake During the Sixminute 

Walk Test in Diffuse Interstitial 

Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension. 

ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:122-128. I.F.:2,17. 

16 Sanchez-Lorente D, Go T, Jungebluth 

P, Rovira I, Mata M, Ayats 

MC, Macchiarini P. Single double-lumen 

venous-venous pump-driven extracorporeal 

lung membrane support. 

J THORAC CARDIOV SUR, 2010. 

140:558-U105. I.F.:3,06. 

132

AREA 2 


Physiopathological mechanisms of respiratory illnesses 

Reviews 

I.F.: 2,75 

1 Subias PE, Mir JAB, Suberviola V. 

Current Diagnostic and Prognostic Assessment 

of Pulmonary Hypertension. 

REV ESP CARDIOL, 2010. 63:583- 

596. I.F.:2,75. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 50,08 





Endobronchial Valves for Advanced 

Emphysema. NEW ENGL J MED, 

2010. 363:1233-1244. I.F.:47,05. 

2 Leidy NK, Wilcox TK, Jones PW, 

Murray L, Winnette R, Howard K, 

Petrillo J, Powers J, Sethi S. Development 

of the EXAcerbations of Chronic 

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Tool 

(EXACT): A Patient-Reported Outcome 

(PRO) Measure. VALUE HEALTH, 

2010. 13:965-975. I.F.:3,03. 


in progress 

Roca J. Indicators for Monitoring 

COPD and Asthma in the Eu - IMCA 

11. Sponsored by: FUNDACIO IMIM- 

PARC DE RECERCA BIOMÈDICA, 

2005121. Amount: 240.115,00 euros. 

Duration: 15/12/2006-30/06/2010. 

Roca J. IP - Healthcare by Biosensor 

Measurements And Networking. 

Sponsored by: European Commision, 

NMP4-CT-2006-017333. 


01/11/2005-31/10/2010. 

Barbera JA. Estudio de los efectos de 

sildenafilo sobre el intercambio gaseoso, 

la hemodinámica pulmonar y la 

tolerancia al esfuerzo en pacientes con 

hipertensión pulmonar asociada a la enfermedad 

pulmonar obstructiva crónica. 


Sanitaria (FIS), EC0790049. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Roca J. Healthier and Independent 

Living for Chronic Patients and Elderly 

- NEXES». Sponsored by: Unión Europea, 

FP7 (CIP-ICT) 225025. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Peinado V. Mecanismos moleculares de 

la diferenciación de células progenitoras 

endoteliales durante la reparación del 

endotelio en la hipertensión pulmonar. 


08/1310. Amount: 195.725,63 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Barbera JA. Estudio de nuevas dianas 

terapéuticas en el tratamiento de la 

hipertensión pulmonar asociada a la 

enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva 

crónica. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE 

SALUD CARLOS III, PI09/0536. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Roca J. Servicios innovadores de atención 

integrada para pacientes crónicos. 


CARLOS III, PI09/90634. Amount: 


31/12/2012. 

Rodriguez R. Obesidad mórbida e 

inflamación sistématica y pulmonar. 




30/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Peinado V, Barbera JA. Mecanismos 

implicados en la diferenciación de las 

células progenitoras endoteliales durante 

el remodelado vascular pulmonar. 

PhD student: Marta Díez Cuñado. 

133

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Clinical and Experimental Respiratory Immunoallergy (IRCE) 


& 

Red de Investigación de 

Reacciones Adversas a 

Alérgenos y Fármacos 

(RIRAAF) 

Team Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Joaquim Mullol (IDIBAPS) 

Antoni Xaubet (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Bartra (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Valero (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Pujols Tarrés (Fundació Clínic) 

Isam Alobid (Hospital Clínic) 


Josep Maria Guilemany (FIS - SEORL) 

Jordi Roca-Ferrer (UB) 


Rosa Maria Muñoz-Cano (FIS) 

Francisco Garcia Garcia (FIS) 

Laura Fernández-Bertolin (IDIBAPS) 

Francisco de Borja Callejas (FIS) 

Marta Gabasa (CIBERES) 

Suha Jabr (Ministeri d’Afers Exteriors 

i Cooperació) 

Jaume Sánchez López 


Maria Rueda (Fundació Clínic) 

Liliana Carbalho (Erasmus Portugal) 

Franklin Mariño Sánchez 


Erola Ainsua Enrich (FPI) 

Esteban Cano (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

César Picado 

(Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona) 

Tel.: 93 227 26 34 

Fax: 93 227 98 13 

E-mail: cpicado@clinic.ub.es 

Technicians: 

Mireia Fuentes Prado 


María Pérez Gonzalez 



Sílvia Centellas (Hospital Clínic) 

Sarai Sánchez Fuentes 



Elena Arrufat (Fundació Clínic) 


Assumpció Martínez-Antón 

(CCMD NIH) 

Yvonne Torres (Ministeri d’Educació, 

Govern de Panamà) 

Rosa Torres (FIS) 

María del Carmen Vennera 

(CIBERes) 

Joaquim Ensenyat Nora 


Margarita Martin Andorrà 


Damiana Alvarez Errico 

(Juan de la Cierva) 

1. Investigation of the mechanisms regulating 

inflammatory response and 

remodelling in bronchial asthma, rhinosinusitis 

and pulmonary interstitial 

diseases. 

2. Investigation of the mechanisms underlying 

food allergies. 

3. Investigation of the mechanisms 

involved in anaphylaxis of complex 

etiopathogenesis. 

4. Investigation of the mechanisms involved 

in loss of smell. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Molecular and cellular bases of the 

inflammatory response in asthma, 

rhinosinusitis and pulmonary interstitial 

diseases. 

2. Role of the MUC genes in the modulation 

of mucosal secretion in respiratory 

diseases, and glucocorticoid 

regulation. 

3. Role of arachidonic acid metabolites 

(prostaglandins and leukotrienes) in 

the etiopathogenesis of asthma, rhinosinusitis 

and pulmonary interstitial 

diseases. 

4. Role of the angiotensin system in 

lung fibrosis. 

5. Study of the mechanisms regulating 

the response to glucocorticoid 

treatment in inflammatory respiratory 

diseases. 

6. Study of the mechanisms involved in 

severe asthma and relationship with 

alterations in glucocorticoid receptor 

function. 

7. Study of the relationship between 

upper airway disorders (nasal and 

sinuses) and alterations of the lower 

airway (asthma, bronchiectasia, chronic 

obstructive pulmonary disease). 

8. Study of the mechanisms regulating 

the response to food allergens and 

relationship with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory 

drugs and arachidonic 

acid metabolism. 

134

AREA 2 



PUBLICATIONS 

9. New therapeutic modalities (endothelin, 

proteosome and COX-2 

inhibitors; prostaglandin E2 receptor 

3 agonists) in asthma, rhinosinusitis 

and pulmonary interstitial diseases 

based on in vitro models and animal 

models of asthma and pulmonary 

fibrosis. 

10. Study of the mechanisms of anaphylactic 

reactions of multiple origin 

(indolent mastocytosis, predisposing 

genetic alterations). 

11. Study of quality of life in nasosinusal 

pathology. 

12. Loss of smell: role of nasosinusal 

inflammation, Parkinson’s disease 

and congenital alterations. 

Immunohistochemical study showing the 

presence of mucin 5C in the epithelial goblet 

cells of a nasal polyp. 

Originals 

I.F.: 58,14 

1 Criado E, Sanchez M, Ramirez 

J, Arguis P, DeCaralt TM, Perea RJ, 

Xaubet A. Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: 

Typical and Atypical Manifestations at 

High-Resolution CT with Pathologic 

Correlation. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:1567-U155. I.F.:2,75. 

2 Blanco I, Villaquiran C, Valera 

JL, Molina-Molina M, Xaubet A, 

Rodriguez-Roisin R, Barbera JA, Roca 

J. Peak Oxygen Uptake During the 

Six-minute Walk Test in Diffuse Interstitial 

Lung Disease and Pulmonary 

Hypertension. ARCH BRONCONEU- 

MOL, 2010. 46:122-128. I.F.:2,17. 

3 Xaubet A, Fu WJ, Li M, Serrano- 

Mollar A, Ancochea J, Molina-Molina 

M, Rodriguez-Becerra E, Morell F, 

Rodriguez-Arias JM, Pereda J, Casanova 

A, Molins L, Picado C. A haplotype 

of cyclooxygenase-2 gene is 

associated with idiopathic pulmonary 

fibrosis. SARCOIDOSIS VASC DIF, 

2010. 27:121-130. I.F.:1,06. 


Nasosinusal Inflammatory and Olfactory Research Group (INGENIO) 

Group Leader: Joaquim Mullol (IDIBAPS) 

In this group we investigate different aspects of inflammatory 

nasosinusal disorders (allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, chronic 

rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis): 

• We explore the physiopathological mechanisms of nasosinusal mucosal 

hypersecretion and the regulation of mucins and MUC genes. 

• We analyze the physiopathological and clinical association of nasosinusal 

disorders with asthma, atopy, NSAID intolerance and bronchiectasia, and their 

impact upon patient quality of life. 

• We evaluate olfactory alterations and their mechanisms of action as diagnostic 

and severity markers. We have validated a proprietary olfactometric test (BAST- 

24), and have carried out an epidemiological study (OLFACAT) on olfactory 

function in the Catalan population. 

• We use an eosinophil and epithelial cell culture model for testing and 

comparing the antiinflammatory action of different drugs employed in situations 

of respiratory inflammation, such as corticosteroids, antihistamines and 

antileukotrienes. 

4 Munoz-Cano R, Salvador R, Valero 

A, Berenguer J, Alobid I, Bartra J, 

Guilemany JM, Mullol J, Picado C. 

Accuracy of acoustic rhinometry 

versus computed tomography in the 

evaluation of nasal cavity in patients 

with nasal polyposis. RHINOLOGY, 

2010. 48:224-227. I.F.:2,18. 

5 Palacin A, Bartra J, Munoz R, 

Diaz-Perales A, Valero A, Salcedo G. 

Anaphylaxis to Wheat Flour-Derived 

Foodstuffs and the Lipid Transfer 

Protein Syndrome: A Potential Role 

of Wheat Lipid Transfer Protein Tri a 

14. INT ARCH ALLERGY IMM, 2010. 

152:178-183. I.F.:2,54. 

6 Romero ADB, Nora JE, Topczewski 

TE, DeAguiar PHP, Alobid I, 

Rodriguez EF. Cerebrospinal fluid 

135

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fistula after endoscopic transsphenoidal 

surgery Experience in a spanish 

center. ARQ NEURO-PSIQUIAT, 

2010. 68:414-417. I.F.:0,55. 

7 Sastre J, Olaguibel J, Vega JM, 

DelPozo V, Picado C, Vina AL. Cut-off 

points for defining asthma control in 

three versions of the Asthma Control 

Questionnaire. J ASTHMA, 2010. 

47:865-870. I.F.:1,37. 

8 Valero A, Ferrer M, Baro E, Sastre 

J, Navarro AM, Marti-Guadano E, 

Davila I, DelCuvillo A, Colas C, Antepara 

I, Alonso J, Mola O, Izquierdo 

I, Mullol J. Discrimination between 

moderate and severe disease may be 

used in patients with either treated or 

untreated allergic rhinitis. ALLERGY, 

2010. 65:1609-1613. I.F.:6,38. 

9 Bousquet J, Bachert C, Canonica 

GW, Mullol J, VanCauwenberge P, 

Jensen CB, Fokkens WJ, Ring J, 

Keith P, Gopalan G, Lorber R, Zuberbier 

T. Efficacy of Desloratadine in 

Persistent Allergic Rhinitis - A GA(2) 

LEN Study. INT ARCH ALLERGY 

IMM, 2010. 153:395-402. I.F.:2,54. 

10 Ebbens FA, Toppila-Salmi SK, 

Renkonen JA, Renkonen RLO, Mullol 

J, VanDrunen CM, Fokkens WJ. 

Endothelial L-selectin ligand expression 

in nasal polyps. ALLERGY, 2010. 

65:95-102. I.F.:6,38. 

11 Serrano C, Torrego A, Loosli A, 

Valero A, Picado C. Hypersensitivity 

Pneumonitis after Exposure to Candida 

spp. ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:275-277. I.F.:2,17. 

12 Zoccatelli G, Pokoj S, Foetisch 

K, Bartra J, Valero A, SanMiguel- 

Moncin MD, Vieths S, Scheurer S. 

Identification and characterization 

of the major allergen of green bean 

(Phaseolus vulgaris) as a non-specific 

lipid transfer protein (Pha v 3). MOL 

IMMUNOL, 2010. 47:1561-1568. 

I.F.:3,20. 

13 Sastre J, Olaguibel JM, Vina 

AL, Vega JM, DelPozo V, Picado C. 

Increased Body Mass Index Does Not 

Lead to a Worsening of Asthma Control 

in a Large Adult Asthmatic Population in 

Spain. J INVEST ALLERG CLIN, 2010. 

20:551-555. I.F.:1,19. 

14 Bellido-Casado J, Plaza V, Perpina 

M, Picado C, Bardagi S, Martinez-Bru 

C, Torrejon M. Inflammatory Response 

of Rapid Onset Asthma Exacerbation. 


46:587-593. I.F.:2,17. 

15 Mullol J, Callejas FB, Mendez-Arancibia 

E, Fuentes M, Alobid I, Martinez-Anton 

A, Valero A, Picado C, Roca-Ferrer J. 

Montelukast reduces eosinophilic inflammation 

by inhibiting both epithelial cell 

cytokine secretion (GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-8) 

and eosinophil survival. J BIOL REG HO- 

MEOS AG, 2010. 24:403-411. I.F.:3,17. 

16 Castillo JA, Molina J, Valero A, Mullol 

J. Prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis 

in asthmatic patients attending primary 

care in Spain (the RINOASMAIR study). 

RHINOLOGY, 2010. 48:35-40. I.F.:2,18. 

17 Ibanez MD, Navarro A, Sanchez 

MC, Rondon C, Montoro J, Mateu V, 

Lluch-Bernal M, Fernandez-Parra B, 

Dordal MT, Davila I, Conde J, Anton E, 

Colas C, Valero A. Rhinitis and its Association 

With Asthma in Patients Under 

14 Years of Age Treated in Allergy Departments 

in Spain. J INVEST ALLERG 

CLIN, 2010. 20:402-406. I.F.:1,19. 

18 Marino-Sanchez FS, Alobid I, 

Centellas S, Alberca C, Guilemany JM, 

Canals JM, DeHaro J, Mullol J. Smell 

training increases cognitive smell skills 

of wine tasters compared to the general 

healthy population. The WINECAT 

Study. RHINOLOGY, 2010. 48:273-276. 

I.F.:2,18. 

19 Iniguez-Cuadra R, Alobid I, Bores- 

Domenech A, Menendez-Colino LM, 

Caballero-Borrego M, Bernal-Sprekelsen 

M. Type III Tympanoplasty With 

Titanium Total Ossicular Replacement 

Prosthesis: Anatomic and Functional 

Results. OTOL NEUROTOL, 2010. 

31:409-414. I.F.:1,44. 

20 Bousquet PJ, Bachert C, Canonica 

GW, Casale TB, Mullol J, Klossek JM, 

Zuberbier T, Bousquet J. Uncontrolled 

allergic rhinitis during treatment and its 

impact on quality of life: A cluster randomized 

trial. J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUN, 

2010. 126:666-668. I.F.:9,17. 

21 DelCuvillo A, Montoro J, Bartra J, 

Valero A, Ferrer M, Jauregui I, Davila 

I, Sastre J, Mullol J. Validation of ARIA 

duration and severity classifications in 

Spanish allergic rhinitis patients - The 

ADRIAL cohort Study. RHINOLOGY, 

2010. 48:201-205. I.F.:2,18. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 7,47 

1 Pujols L, Mullol J, Picado C. Importance 

of glucocorticoid receptors in upper 

and lower airways. FRONT BIOSCI, 

2010. 15:789-800. I.F.:3,74. 

2 Pujols L, Mullol J, Picado C. mportance 

of glucocorticoid receptors in upper 

and lower airways. FRONT BIOSCI, 

2010. 15:789-800. I.F.:3,74. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 14,94 

1 Sanchez-Lopez J, Munoz-Cano R, 

Bartra J, Valero A, Picado C. Desensitization 

to clopidogrel: a growing need. AL- 

LERGY, 2010. 65:279-280. I.F.:6,38. 

2 Alobid I. Nasal polyposis, sense of 

smell, and surgery. RHINOLOGY, 2010. 

48:377-378. I.F.:2,18. 

136

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3 Munoz-Cano R, Sanchez-Lopez J, 

Bartra J, Valero A. Yellow fever vaccine 

and egg allergy: really a problem?. AL- 

LERGY, 2010. 65:533-534. I.F.:6,38. 


I.F.: 15,55 

1 Bousquet J, Schunemann HJ, Zuberbier 

T, Bachert C, Baena-Cagnani CE, et 

al. Development and implementation of 

guidelines in allergic rhinitis - an ARIA- 

GA2LEN paper. ALLERGY, 2010. 65:1212- 

1221. I.F.:6,38. 

2 Brozek JL, Bousquet J, Baena-Cagnani 

CE, Bonini S, Canonica GW, Casale 

TB, VanWijk RG, Ohta K, Zuberbier T, 

Schunemann HJ. Allergic Rhinitis and 

its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines: 

2010 Revision. J ALLERGY CLIN IM- 

MUN, 2010. 126:466-476. I.F.:9,17. 


in progress 

Mullol J. Global Allergy and Asthma 

European Network. Sponsored by: 

Universiteit Gent Directie Financiën, 

FOOD-CT-2004-506378. Amount: 


31/01/2010. 

Valero AL. Inhibición del efecto de 

la administración nasal del Factor de 

Activación Plaquetaria (PAF) tras la 

administración de Rupatadina (NARU- 

PAF). Sponsored by: Beca Grupo Uriach 

Pharma , DC/03/RUP/I/08. Amount: 


31/03/2010. 

Pujols L. Papel de la prostaglandina E2 

en la determinación de la sensibilidad de 

los glucocorticoides en enfermedades 

respiratorias de origen inflamatorio. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Sanidad y Consumo, 

PI080419. Amount: 91.718,00 


Mullol J. Estudio del papel de la inflamación 

neurógenano alérgica en la 

expresión de mucinas y el proceso de 

remodelado de la mucosa respiratoria 

nasosinusal. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Picado C. Estudio de la regulación 

epigenética del gen de la COX-2 en 

el asama con intolerancia a los antiinflamatorios 

no esteroideos. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Xaubet A. Implicación del sistema de 

la angiotensina en la etiopatogenia de 

la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática. Sponsored 


PI0900672. Amount: 209.171,49 


30/12/2012. 

Valero AL. Efecto clínico e inflamatorio 

nasal tras la aplicación frl factor de 

agregación plaquetaria (PAF). Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2010-30/12/2012. 

Valero AL. Efecto clínico e inflamatorio 

nasal tras la aplicación del factor de 

agregación plaquetaria (PAF). Sponsored 

by: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III, 


Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Xaubet A. Implicación del sistema de 

la angiotensina en la etiopatogenia 

de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática. 

Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE 

SALUD CARLOS III, PI09/0672. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Pujols L. Papel de la prostsglandina E2 

en la determinación de la sensibilidad a 

los glucocorticoides en enfermedades 

respiratorias de origen inflamatorio. 




30/12/2011. 

Xaubet A. Trasplante de células alveolares 

tipoII para el tratamiento de la 

fibrosis pulmonar idiopática. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Sanidad y Política Social, 

CP09/00233. Amount: 240.000,00 


Thesis 

Mullol J. Asociación de bronquiectasias 

pulmonares y patología nasosinusal. 

Estudio de los aspectos epidemiológicos 

etiológicos, de diagnóstico y tratamiento. 

PhD student: Jose Maria Guilemany 

Toste. 

137

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Inflammation and repair in respiratory illnesses 

GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

PUBLICATIONS 


Eugeni Ballester (Hospital Clínic) 


Dra. Patricia Sobradillo (CIBERes) 

Dra. Rosa Faner (CIBERes) 

Sra. Gemma Sunyer (CIBERes) 

Nuria Gonzalez (CIBERes) 

TEAM LEADER 

Alvar Agustí 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 (1701) 

Fax: 93 227 98 68 

E-mail: 

alvar.agusti@clinic.ub.es 

(A) Healthy lung, 

(B) Unstructured lung of a COPD patient. 

The general objective of the group is to 

investigate the inflammatory and tissue 

repair mechanisms in chronic obstructive 

pulmonary disease (COPD), their clinicalfunctional 

correlation, the diagnostic, 

prognostic and therapeutic implications 

of such knowledge, and particularly 

their relevance in relation to pulmonary 

oncogenesis. COPD is presently the fourth 

most common cause of death in the world, 

and will rank third within a decade. Lung 

cancer is the most common malignant 

tumor in males (and soon also will be the 

most common malignancy in females), and 

involves one of the poorest prognosis with 

the currently available treatment options. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Mechanisms of autoimmunity and 

autoinflammation that may contribute 

to the pathogenesis of acute outbreaks 

of the disease (in collaboration with the 

group headed by Dr. J. Yagüe, of the 

Department of Immunology of the Clinic 

Hospital). 

2. Mechanisms of abnormal katabasis 

(resolution of the inflammation) that 

perpetuate the inflammatory response 

even after smoking cessation (a 

necessary yet insufficient treatment 

measure) (in collaboration with Dr. J. 

Clària, of the Clinic Hospital Biomedical 

Diagnostic Center). 

3. Mechanisms of oncogenesis in COPD 

(in collaboration with investigators of 

the Fundació Caubet-Cimera in Mallorca 

and the CIBER of respiratory diseases 

(CIBERES): SINECAN project). 

4. Application of the methodology of systems 

biology (“omic” platforms and 

bioinformatics) to COPT, with a view to 

integrating the cellular and molecular 

alterations with clinical data. This line is 

developed in the setting of the CIBER 

of respiratory diseases (www.ciberes. 

org), involving a strategic alliance with 

the Institute for Systems Biology 

(Seattle, USA), Harvard University 

(USA) and the pharmaceutical industry 

with an interest in COPD. 

Originals 

I.F.: 99,55 

1 Soto-Cardenas MJ, Perez-De- 

Lis M, Bove A, Navarro C, Brito- 

Zeron P, Diaz-Lagares C, Gandia 

M, Akasbi M, Siso A, Ballester E, 

Torres A, Ramos-Casals M. Bronchiectasis 

in primary Sjogren’s 

syndrome: prevalence and clinical 

significance. CLIN EXP RHEUMA- 

TOL, 2010. 28:647-653. I.F.:2,40. 

2 Soler N, Ballester E, Martin 

A, Gobartt E, Miravitlles M, Torres 

A. Changes in management 

of chronic obstructive pulmonary 

disease (COPD) in primary care: 

EMMEPOC study. RESP MED, 

2010. 104:67-75. I.F.:2,33. 

3 Duran-Cantolla J, Aizpuru 

F, Montserrat JM, Ballester E, 

Teran-Santos J, Aguirregomoscorta 

JI, Gonzalez M, Lloberes 

P, Masa JF, DeLaPena M, Carrizo 

S, Mayos M, Barbe F. Continuous 

positive airway pressure as treatment 

for systemic hypertension 

in people with obstructive sleep 

apnoea: randomised controlled 

trial. BRIT MED J, 2010. 341:-. 

I.F.:13,66. 

4 Sala E, Villena C, Balaguer C, 

Rios A, Fernandez-Palomeque 

C, Cosio BG, Garcia J, Noguera 

A, Agusti A. Abnormal Levels of 

Circulating Endothelial Progenitor 

Cells During Exacerbations 

of COPD. LUNG, 2010. 188:331- 

338. I.F.:1,58. 

5 Sorheim IC, Bakke P, Gulsvik 

A, Pillai SC, Johannessen A, 

Gaarder PI, Campbell EJ, Agusti 

A, Calverley PMA, Donner CF, 

Make BJ, Rennard SI, Vestbo J, 

Wouters EFM, Pare PD, Levy RD, 

138

AREA 2 


Inflammation and repair in respiratory illnesses 

Coxson HO, Lomas DA, Hersh CP, 

Silverman EK. alpha(1)-Antitrypsin 

Protease Inhibitor MZ Heterozygosity 

Is Associated With Airflow 

Obstruction in Two Large Cohorts. 

CHEST, 2010. 138:1125-1132. 

I.F.:6,36. 

6 Agusti A, Calverley PMA, Celli 

B, Coxson HO, Edwards LD, Lomas 

DA, Macnee W, Miller BE, Rennard 

S, Silverman EK, Tal-Singer R, Wouters 

E, Yates JC, Vestbo J. Characterisation 

of COPD heterogeneity in the 

ECLIPSE cohort. RESP RES, 2010. 

11:-. I.F.:3,13. 

7 Pozo-Rodriguez F, Alvarez CJ, 

Castro-Acosta A, Moreno CM, Capelastegui 

A, Esteban C, Carcereny 

CH, Lopez-Campos JL, Alonso JLI, 

Quilez AL, Agusti A. Clinical Audit 

of Patients Admitted to Hospital in 

Spain due to Exacerbation of COPD 

(AUDIPOC Study): Method and 

Organisation. ARCH BRONCONEU- 

MOL, 2010. 46:349-357. I.F.:2,17. 

8 Soriano JB, Rigo F, Guerrero D, 

Yanez A, Forteza JE, Frontera G, Togores 

B, Agusti A. High Prevalence 

of Undiagnosed Airflow Limitation 

in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. 

CHEST, 2010. 137:333-340. 

I.F.:6,36. 

9 Gomez-Caro A, Garcia S, Reguart 

N, Arguis P, Sanchez M, Gimferrer 

JM, Marrades R, Lomena F. Incidence 

of occult mediastinal node 

involvement in cNO non-small-cell 

lung cancer patients after negative 

uptake of positron emission tomography/computer 

tomography scan. 

EUR J CARDIO-THORAC, 2010. 

37:1168-1174. I.F.:2,40. 

10 Sala E, Balaguer C, Villena C, 

Rios A, Noguera A, Nunez B, Agusti 

A. Low Erythropoietin Plasma Levels 

during Exacerbations of COPD. 

RESPIRATION, 2010. 80:190-197. 

I.F.:1,94. 

11 Renom F, Yanez A, Garau M, 

Rubi M, Centeno MJ, Gorriz MT, 

Medinas M, Ramis F, Soriano JB, 

Agusti A. Prognosis of COPD patients 

requiring frequent hospitalization: 

Role of airway infection. RESP 

MED, 2010. 104:840-848. I.F.:2,33. 

12 Hurst JR, Vestbo J, Anzueto A, 

Locantore N, Mullerova H, Tal-Singer 

R, Miller B, Lomas DA, Agusti A, 

Macnee W, Calverley P, Rennard S, 

Wouters EFM, Wedzicha JA. Susceptibility 

to Exacerbation in Chronic 

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.. 

NEW ENGL J MED, 2010. 363:1128- 

1138. I.F.:47,05. 

13 Barcelo A, Pierola J, Lopez- 

Escribano H, DeLaPena M, Soriano 

JB, Alonso-Fernandez A, Ladaria A, 

Agusti A. Telomere shortening in 

sleep apnea syndrome. RESP MED, 

2010. 104:1225-1229. I.F.:2,33. 

14 Marin A, Monso E, Garcia-Nunez 

M, Sauleda J, Noguera A, Pons 

J, Agusti A, Morera J. Variability and 

effects of bronchial colonisation 

In patients with moderate COPD. 

EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 35:295-302. 

I.F.:5,53. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 32,07 

1 Han MK, Agusti A, Calverley PM, 

Celli BR, Criner G, Curtis JL, Fabbri 

LM, Goldin JG, Jones PW, Macnee 

W, Make BJ, Rabe KF, Rennard SI, 

Sciurba FC, Silverman EK, Vestbo 

J, Washko GR, Wouters EFM, Martinez 

FJ. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 

Disease Phenotypes The Future of 

COPD. AM J RESP CRIT CARE, 2010. 

182:598-604. I.F.:10,69. 

2 Cosio BG, Agusti A. Update in 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

2009. AM J RESP CRIT CARE, 2010. 

181:655-660. I.F.:10,69. 

3 Agusti A, Barnes PJ. What the Journal 

Would Like to Publish on Chronic 

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. AM 

J RESP CRIT CARE, 2010. 182:1-2. 

I.F.:10,69. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 47,05 





Endobronchial Valves for Advanced Emphysema. 

NEW ENGL J MED, 2010. 

363:1233-1244. I.F.:47,05. 


in progress 

Agusti A. Cohorte Española de Pacientes 

con EPOC Avanzada (CEPA): 

Inflamosoma, comorbilidad y curso 

clínico. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

139

AREA 2 



Team involved in: 

Urological genetics and tumours 

GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

PUBLICATIONS 


Maria José Ribal (Hospital Clínic) 

Mireia Musquera (Hospital Clínic) 


Lourdes Mengual (Fundació Clínic) 


Cristina Gázquez (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Mercedes Ingelmo-Torres (IDIBAPS) 


Maite Dalet (Fundació Clínic) 


Laura Izquierdo (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Antonio Alcaraz 


Tel.: 93 227 55 45 

Fax: 93 227 55 45 

E-mail: 

aalcaraz@clinic.ub.es 

At present, the research group in urological 

oncology is conducting two main lines of 

research, based on the two most frequent 

urological tumors: urothelial and prostate 

cancer. 

The objectives are summarized below: 

1. Identification of molecular markers in 

the urine of bladder cancer patients, 

for the non-invasive diagnosis of the 

disease. 

2. Identification of molecular markers for the 

noninvasive diagnosis of prostate cancer. 

3. Identification of molecular markers 

for the prognosis of muscle invading 

bladder cancer. 

4. Study of the prognostic factors of upper 

urinary tract tumors. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Microchips for the diagnosis and 

prognosis of bladder tumors. 

2. Identification of micro-RNA for the 

noninvasive diagnosis of bladder 

tumors. 

3. Determination of disseminated tumor 

disease in patients with muscle invading 

bladder cancer, based on evaluation of 

the genic expression of bladder-specific 

markers in lymph nodes and peripheral 

blood. 

4. Determination of the genic expression 

profile associated with treatment 

response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy 

with cisplatin and gemcitabine in patients 

with muscle invading bladder cancer. 

5. Study of the prognostic factors of 

upper urinary tract tumors based on 

immunohistochemistry and quantitative 

PCR. 

6. Microchips for the diagnosis and 

prognosis of prostate tumors. 

7. Identification of micro-RNA for the 

noninvasive diagnosis of prostate tumors. 

Originals 

I.F.: 42,53 

1 Oppenheimer F, Revuelta I, Serra 

N, Lozano M, Gutierrez-Dalmau A, 

Esforzado N, Cofan F, Ricart MJ, Torregrosa 

JV, Crespo M, Paredes D, 

Martorell J, Alcaraz A, Campistol JM. 

ABO incompatible living donor kidney 

transplantation: a dream come true. 

Experience of Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. 

NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 30:54- 

63. I.F.:0,53. 

2 Musquera M, Peri LL, Alvarez- 

Vijande R, Oppenheimer F, Gil-Vernet 

JM, Alcaraz A. Orthotopic Kidney 

Transplantation: An Alternative Surgical 

Technique in Selected Patients. 

EUR UROL, 2010. 58:927-933. 

I.F.:7,67. 

3 Izquierdo L, Peri L, Piqueras M, 

Revuelta I, Alvarez-Vijande R, Musquera 

M, Oppenheimer F, Alcaraz A. 

Third and Fourth Kidney Transplant: 

Still a Reasonable Option. TRANSPL 

P, 2010. 42:2498-2502. I.F.:0,99. 

4 Izquierdo L, Peri L, Alvarez-Vijande 

R, Alcaraz A. Audit of an Initial 

100 Cases of Laparoscopic Live Donor 

Nephrectomy. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:3437-3439. I.F.:0,99. 

5 Alcaraz A, Peri L, Molina A, 

Goicoechea I, Garcia E, Izquierdo L, 

Ribal MJ. Feasibility of Transvaginal 

NOTES-Assisted Laparoscopic 

Nephrectomy. EUR UROL, 2010. 

57:233-237. I.F.:7,67. 

6 Mengual L, Burset M, Ribal MJ, 

Ars E, Marin-Aguilera M, Fernandez 

M, Ingelmo-Torres M, Villavicencio 

H, Alcaraz A. Gene Expression Signature 

in Urine for Diagnosing and Assessing 

Aggressiveness of Bladder 

Urothelial Carcinoma. CLIN CANCER 

RES, 2010. 16:2624-2633. I.F.:6,75. 

140

AREA 2 


Urological genetics and tumours 

7 Izquierdo L, Truan D, Mengual 

L, Mallofre C, Alcaraz A. HER-2/AKT 

Expression in Upper Urinary Tract 

Urothelial Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications. 

ANTICANCER RES, 2010. 

30:2439-2445. I.F.:1,43. 

8 Garcia-Cruz E, Vera-Rivera M, Molina 

JMC, Mallafre-Sala JM, Alcaraz A. 

Laparoscopic placement of peritoneal 

dialysis catheter: description and results 

of a two-port technique. NEFRO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 30:354-359. I.F.:0,53. 

9 Izquierdo L, Mengual L, Gazquez 

C, Ingelmo-Torres M, Alcaraz A. 

Molecular characterization of upper 

urinary tract tumours. BJU INT, 2010. 

106:868-872. I.F.:2,87. 

10 Siddiqui K, Chopra R, Vedula 

S, Sugar L, Haider M, Boyes A, 

Musquera M, Bronskill M, Klotz L. 

MRI-guided Transurethral Ultrasound 

Therapy of the Prostate Gland Using 

Real-time Thermal Mapping: Initial 

Studies. UROLOGY, 2010. 76:1506- 

1511. I.F.:2,37. 

14 Fourcade RO, Benedict A, 

Black LK, Stokes ME, Alcaraz A, 

Castro R. Treatment costs of prostate 

cancer in the first year after diagnosis: 

a short-term cost of illness 

study for France, Germany, Italy, 

Spain and the UK. BJU INT, 2010. 

105:49-56. I.F.:2,87. 

15 Casas F, Borras JM, Ferrer F, 

Guanyabens N, Gutierrez R, Leon C, 

Lopez J, Mellado B, Morote J, Puig 

J, Ribal J, Serra A, Valls V, Zapatero 

A. Evidence-based consensus recommendations 

to improve the quality of 

life in prostate cancer treatment. CLIN 

TRANSL ONCOL, 2010. 12(5):346- 

355. I.F.:1,15. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 7,67 

1 Greco F, Hoda MR, Alcaraz A, Bachmann 

A, Hakenberg OW, Fornara P. 

Laparoscopic Living-Donor Nephrectomy: 

Analysis of the Existing Literature. 

EUR UROL, 2010. 58:498-509. I.F.:7,67. 

Alcaraz A. Determinación de la disem 

inación linfática del carcinoma urotelial 

de vejiga mediante marcadores 

moleculares y utilización de estos 

para pronosticar la evolución clínica 

de la enfermedad. Sponsored by: 

Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias 

(FIS), PI070040. Amount: 61.468,00 


31/12/2010. 

Thesis 

Alcaraz A. Factores pronóstico moleculares 

en el carcinoma urotelial de 

tracto urinario superior. PhD student: 

Laura Izquierdo Reyes. 

11 Sebastia C, Peri L, Salvador R, 

Bunesch L, Revuelta I, Alcaraz A, 

Nicolau C. Multidetector CT of Living 

Renal Donors: Lessons Learned from 

Surgeons. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:1875-1890. I.F.:2,75. 

12 Alcover J, Filella X, Luque P, 

Molina R, Izquierdo L, Auge JM, 

Alcaraz A. Prognostic Value of IL-6 

in Localized Prostatic Cancer. ANTI- 

CANCER RES, 2010. 30:4369-4372. 

I.F.:1,43. 

13 Hou M, Venier N, Sugar L, Musquera 

M, Pollak M, Kiss A, Fleshner 

N, Klotz L, Venkateswaran V. Protective 

effect of metformin in CD1 mice 

placed on a high carbohydrate-high 

fat diet. BIOCHEM BIOPH RES CO, 

2010. 397:537-542. I.F.:2,55. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 7,67 

1 Alcaraz A. Nephron-Sparing Surgery: 

Some Considerations Regarding 

an Underused Standard of Care. EUR 

UROL, 2010. 58:346-348. I.F.:7,67. 


in progress 

Alcaraz A. Estudio de validación 

prospectivo de método no invasivo 

para el diagnóstico del cáncer de 

próstata. Sponsored by: Beca “Pedro 

Cifuentes Díaz”, Fundación de 

Investigación en Urología (FIU), 0000. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

141

3

Liver, 

digestive 

system 

metabolism 

Gynecological endocrinology and human reproduction 144 

Fetal and perinatal medicine 148 

Metabolic regulation and molecular pathology 153 

Viral hepatitis in the immune competent host 

and in liver transplant patients 154 

Physiopathology and treatment of ascites 

and altered renal function in liver cirrhosis 157 

Hepatic oncology 161 

Liver hemodynamics and portal hypertension. 

Digestive bleeding secondary to ruptured 

esophageal varicose veins 164 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 169 

Cholestasis and bone pathology 172 

Mitochondrial regulation of cell death and steatohepatitis 175 

Liver transplantation and graft viability 178 

Gastrointestinal and pancreatic oncology 182 

Hereditary metabolic diseases 186 

AND 

Genomic Programming of Beta Cells and Diabetes 189 

Diabetes: metabolic and molecular networks 191

AREA 3 

LIVER, DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND METABOLISM 

Gynecological endocrinology 

and human reproduction 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Juan Balasch 


Tel.: 93 227 54 36 

Fax: 93 227 93 25 

E-mail: 

jbalasch@ub.edu 

IDIBAPS Members: 

Francisco Carmona (Hospital Clínic) 

Camil Castelo-Branco (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Creus (Hospital Clínic) 

Dolors Manau Trullás (Fundació Clínic) 

Jaume Ordi (Hospital Clínic) 

Bienvenido Puerto (Hospital Clínic) 

Francisco Fábregues (Hospital Clínic) 

Jaume Pahisa (Hospital Clínic) 

Aureli Torné (Hospital Clínic) 

The global aim of this research group 

for the coming years is to advance in 

the knowledge of different aspects 

relating to the physiopathology 

of human reproduction: from endocrinological 

considerations to the 

most important benign and malignant 

pathological processes of the female 

reproductive system, as well as the 

investigation and treatment of human 

reproduction failure. 

More specifically, the main objectives 

of our research group are to advance 

in the existing lines of work, with the 

purpose of: 

1. Determining the most relevant mechanisms 

in the pathogenesis of reproductive 

failure (sterility, repeated 

miscarriages, repeated implant failure 

after in vitro fertilization) and of the 

principal female reproductive disease 

processes (endometriosis, uterine 

myoma, genital cancer). 

2. Optimizing and innovating as far as 

possible the preventive or therapeutic 

potential in the aforementioned 

situations. 

1. Reproductive failure markers. 

Analysis of the possible role of new 

markers of hemostasis alterations 

as a new pathogenic mechanism of 

thrombotic disease in early and advanced 

pregnancy, in patients with or 

without antiphospholipid syndrome. 

Study is also made of the usefulness 

of immunohistochemical and quantitative 

and qualitative proteomic parameters 

in the human endometrium 

as markers of endometrial receptiveness. 

In-depth research of the pathogenic 

mechanisms involved in the 

block of pre-implantation embryonic 

development in vitro. 

2. Ovarian dysfunction and stimulation/hyperstimulation. 

Investigation of the possibilities of 

ultrasound, hormonal, endocrinemetabolic 

and genetic markers in 

relation to the prediction of ovarian 

response. Study of the role of LH and 

the androgens as ovarian sensitizing 

factors in relation to ulterior stimulation 

with FSH. Investigation of the 

possible role of the ovarian follicular 

cells (granulosum, macrophages) in 


Elena Suárez Cisneros (IDIBAPS) 


Gemma Casals (Hospital Clínic) 

Roser Casamitjana (Hospital Clínic) 

Salvadora Cívico (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Guimerà (Hospital Clínic) 

José Luís Ballescá (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Angels Martínez-Zamora (Hospital Clínic) 

Joana Peñarrubia Alonso (Funació Clínic) 

Radical cervix resection piece obtained via laparoscopic surgery from a young 

patient with invasive cervical cancer, but with a wish to preserve fertility. 

144

AREA 3 

Liver, digestive system and metabolism 

Gynecological endocrinology and human reproduction 

the pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation 

syndrome, with the exploration 

of new ovarian stimulation 

or endometrial preparation protocols 

allowing improved results in assisted 

reproduction techniques. 

3. Optimization of the surgical management 

of diseases of the reproductive 

apparatus. 

Designed to analyze the role of the 

surgical variables allowing improvement 

of the results and reduction 

of the morbidity in the surgical 

treatment of benign and malignant 

disorders of the female reproductive 

apparatus. This also implies defining 

the prognostic value of HPV (human 

papillomavirus) detection and viral 

typing as prognostic markers of the 

neoplastic evolution of precancerous 

lesions of the cervix. 

PUBLICATIONS 

ORIGINALS 

I.F.: 89,86 

1 Martinez-Zamora MA, Tassies D, 

Carmona F, Espinosa G, Cerverac R, Reverter 

JC, Balasch J. Clot lysis time and 

thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor 

in severe preeclampsia with or without 

associated antiphospholipid antibodies. 

J REPROD IMMUNOL, 2010. 86:133- 

140. I.F.:2,52. 

2 Bennasar M, Martinez JM, Gomez 

O, Bartrons J, Olivella A, Puerto B, Gratacos 

E. Accuracy of four-dimensional 

spatiotemporal image correlation echocardiography 

in the prenatal diagnosis of 

congenital heart defects. ULTRASOUND 

OBST GYN, 2010. 36:458-464. I.F.:3,15. 

3 Vidal-Sicart S, Paredes P, Zanon G, 

Pahisa J, Martinez-Roman S, Caparros 

X, Vilalta A, Rull R, Pons F. Added Value 

of Intraoperative Real-Time Imaging in 

Searches for Difficult-to-Locate Sentinel 

Nodes. J NUCL MED, 2010. 51:1219- 

1225. I.F.:6,42. 

rience. INT J GYNECOL CANCER, 2010. 

20:173-178. I.F.:2,18. 

7 Bergeron C, Ordi J, Schmidt D, 

Trunk MJ, Keller T, Ridder R. Conjunctive 

p16(INK4a) Testing Significantly 

Increases Accuracy in Diagnosing High- 

Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia. 

AM J CLIN PATHOL, 2010. 133:395- 

406. I.F.:2,47. 

8 Reina MF, Ciaravino H, Llovera 

N, Castelo-Branco C. Contraception 

knowledge and sexual behaviour in secondary 

school students. GYNECOL EN- 

DOCRINOL, 2010. 26:479-483. I.F.:1,36. 

9 Cruz-Martinez R, Moreno-Alvarez 

O, Hernandez-Andrade E, Castanon 

M, Done E, Martinez JM, Puerto B, 

Deprest J, Gratacos E. Contribution of 

intrapulmonary artery Doppler to improve 

prediction of survival in fetuses with 

congenital diaphragmatic hernia treated 

with fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion. 

ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 

35:572-577. I.F.:3,15. 

4 Castelo-Branco C, Steinvarcel F, 

Osorio A, Ros C, Balasch J. Atherogenic 

metabolic profile in PCOS patients: role 

of obesity and hyperandrogenism. GY- 

NECOL ENDOCRINOL, 2010. 26:736- 

742. I.F.:1,36. 

5 DelPino M, Torne A, Alonso I, Mula 

R, Masoller N, Fuste V, Ordi J. Colposcopy 

Prediction of Progression in 

Human Papillomavirus Infections With 

Minor Cervical Lesions. OBSTET GYNE- 

COL, 2010. 116:1324-1331. I.F.:4,36. 

6 Pahisa J, Martinez-Roman S, Torne 

A, Fuste P, Alonso I, Lejarcegui JA, 

Balasch J. Comparative Study of Laparoscopically 

Assisted Radical Vaginal 

Hysterectomy and Open Wertheim- 

Meigs in Patients With Early-Stage 

Cervical Cancer Eleven Years of Expe- 

10 Penarrubia J, Peralta S, Fabregues 

F, Carmona F, Casamitjana R, Balasch 

J. Day-5 inhibin B serum concentrations 

and antral follicle count as predictors of 

ovarian response and live birth in assisted 

reproduction cycles stimulated with 

gonadotropin after pituitary suppression. 

FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 94:2590-2595. 

I.F.:3,97. 

11 Castelo-Branco C, Palacios S, 

Ferrer-Barriendos J, Alberich X. Do 

Patients Lie? An Open Interview vs. a 

Blind Questionnaire on Sexuality. J SEX 

MED, 2010. 7:873-880. I.F.:4,88. 

12 Valduvieco I, Rovirosa A, Colomo 

L, DeSanJuan A, Pahisa J, Biete A. Endometrial 

stromal sarcoma. Is there a 

place for radiotherapy?. CLIN TRANSL 

ONCOL, 2010. 12:226-230. I.F.:1,15. 

145

AREA 3 


Gynecological endocrinology 

and human reproduction 

13 Molina R, Auge JM, Escudero 

JM, Filella X, Zanon G, Pahisa J, 

Farrus B, Munoz M, Velasco M. Evaluation 

of tumor markers (HER-2/neu 

oncoprotein, CEA, and CA 15.3) in patients 

with locoregional breast cancer: 

prognostic value. TUMOR BIOL, 2010. 

31:171-180. I.F.:1,94. 

14 Borras A, Gomez O, Sanz M, 

Martinez JM, Puerto B. Feticide Followed 

by Mifepristone-Misoprostol 

Regimen for Midtrimester Termination 

of Pregnancy in Two Cases of Complete 

Placenta Previa. FETAL DIAGN 

THER, 2010. 28:114-116. I.F.:0,91. 

15 DeSanjose S, Quint WGV, Alemany 

L, Geraets DT, Klaustermeier 

JE, Lloveras B, Tous S, Felix A, Bravo 

LE, Shin HR, Vallejos CS, DeRuiz PA, 

Lima MA, Guimera N, Clavero O, Alejo 

M, Llombart-Bosch A, Cheng-Yang 

C, Tatti SA, Kasamatsu E, Iljazovic E, 

Odida M, Prado R, Seoud M, Grce 

M, Usubutun A, Jain A, Suarez GAH, 

Lombardi LE, Banjo A, Menendez 

C, Domingo EJ, Velasco J, Nessa A, 

Chichareon SCB, Qiao YL, Lerma E, 

Garland SM, Sasagawa T, Ferrera A, 

Hammouda D, Mariani L, Pelayo A, 

Steiner I, Oliva E, Meijer CJLM, Al- 

Jassar WF, Cruz E, Wright TC, Puras 

A, Llave CL, Tzardi M, Agorastos T, 

Garcia-Barriola V, Clavel C, Ordi J, 

Andujar M, Castellsague X, Sanchez 

GI, Nowakowski AM, Bornstein J, 

Munoz N, Bosch FX. Human papillomavirus 

genotype attribution in invasive 

cervical cancer: a retrospective 

cross-sectional worldwide study. LAN- 

CET ONCOL, 2010. 11:1048-1056. 

I.F.:14,47. 

16 Cruz-Martinez R, Figueras F, 

Hernandez-Andrade E, Puerto B, 

Gratacos E. Longitudinal brain perfusion 

changes in near-term small-forgestational-age 

fetuses as measured 

by spectral Doppler indices or by 

fractional moving blood volume. AM 

J OBSTET GYNECOL, 2010. 203:-. 

I.F.:3,28. 

17 Casals G, Ordi J, Creus M, 

Fabregues F, Carmona F, Casamitjana 

R, Balasch J. Osteopontin and 

alpha V beta 3 integrin as markers of 

endometrial receptivity: the effect of 

different hormone therapies. REPROD 

BIOMED ONLINE, 2010. 21:349-359. 

I.F.:2,38. 

18 Sanjuan A, Escaramis G, Vidal- 

Sicart S, Illa M, Zanon G, Pahisa J, 

Rubi S, Velasco M, Santamaria G, Farrus 

B, Munoz M, Garcia Y, Fernandez 

PL, Pons F. Predicting Non-Sentinel 

Lymph Node Status in Breast Cancer 

Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement: 

Evaluation of Two Scoring 

Systems. BREAST J, 2010. 16:134- 

140. I.F.:1,61. 

19 Sanz-Cortes M, Martinez JM, 

Bennasar M, Puerto B, Graracos E. 

Prenatal diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis 

and analysis using magnetic resonance 

spectroscopy. ULTRASOUND 

OBST GYN, 2010. 36:522-524. 

I.F.:3,15. 

20 Fuste V, DelPino M, Perez A, 

Garcia A, Torne A, Pahisa J, Ordi J. 

Primary squamous cell carcinoma 

of the vagina: human papillomavirus 

detection, p16INK4A overexpression 

and clinicopathological correlations. 

HISTOPATHOLOGY, 2010. 57:907- 

916. I.F.:3,86. 

21 Molina R, Auge JM, Farrus B, 

Zanon G, Pahisa J, Munoz M, Torne A, 

Filella X, Escudero JM, Fernandez P, 

Velasco M. Prospective Evaluation of 

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and 

Carbohydrate Antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) 

in Patients with Primary Locoregional 

Breast Cancer. CLIN CHEM, 2010. 

56:1148-1157. I.F.:6,26. 

22 Martinez JM, Gomez O, Bennasar 

M, Olivella A, Crispi F, Puerto 

B, Gratacos E. The ‘question mark’ 

sign as a new ultrasound marker of 

tetralogy of Fallot in the fetus. ULTRA- 

SOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 36:556- 

560. I.F.:3,15. 

23 Castelo-Branco C, Coloma JL. 

The role of intranasal estradiol spray 

in the management of moderate to 

severe vasomotor symptoms in menopausal 

women. GYNECOL ENDO- 

CRINOL, 2010. 26:23-29. I.F.:1,36. 

24 Martinez-Zamora MA, Creus 

M, Tassies D, Bove A, Reverter JC, 

Carmona F, Balasch J. Thrombin 

activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and 

clot lysis time in women with recurrent 

miscarriage associated with 

the antiphospholipid syndrome. 

FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 94:2437- 

2440. I.F.:3,97. 

25 Castelo-Branco C, Cortes X, 

Ferrer M. Treatment persistence and 

compliance with a combination of calcium 

and vitamin D. CLIMACTERIC, 

2010. 13:578-584. I.F.:2,57. 

26 Arjona JE, Serrano JJ, Povedano 

B, Carrasco S, Castelo-Branco 

C. Unintended pregnancy after longterm 

Essure microinserts placement. 

FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 94:2793-2795. 

I.F.:3,97. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 12,55 

1 Cervera R, Balasch J. Autoimmunity 

and Recurrent Pregnancy Losses. 

CLIN REV ALLERG IMMU, 2010. 

39:148-152. I.F.:2,60. 

2 Balasch J. Ageing and infertility: an 

overview. GYNECOL ENDOCRINOL, 

2010. 26:855-860. I.F.:1,36. 

146

AREA 3 


Gynecological endocrinology and human reproduction 

3 Castelo-Branco C, Cancelo MJ. 

Comprehensive clinical management 

of hirsutism. GYNECOL ENDOCRI- 

NOL, 2010. 26:484-493. I.F.:1,36. 

4 Gameiro CM, Romao F, Castelo- 

Branco C. Menopause and aging 

Changes in the immune system-A review. 

MATURITAS, 2010. 67:316-320. 

I.F.:2,09. 

5 Martinez-Maestre MA, Gonzalez- 

Cejudo C, Machuca G, Torrejon R, 

Castelo-Branco C. Periodontitis and 

osteoporosis: a systematic review. CLI- 

MACTERIC, 2010. 13:523-529. I.F.:2,57. 

6 Al-Azzawi F, Bitzer J, Brandenburg 

U, Castelo-Branco C, Graziottin A, 

Kenemans P, Lachowsky M, Mimoun 

S, Nappi RE, Palacios S, Schwenkhagen 

A, Studd J, Wylie K, Zahradnik 

HP. Therapeutic options for postmenopausal 

female sexual dysfunction. 

CLIMACTERIC, 2010. 13:103-120. 

I.F.:2,57. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 0,77 

1 Munoz M, Pahisa J, Caparros FX, 

Vidal-Sicart S. Sentinel lymph node 

and neoadjuvant therapy in breast 

cancer. REV ESP MED NUCL, 2010. 

29:319-320. I.F.:0,77. 


in progress 

Balasch J. Caracterización del proteoma 

del epitelio y del estroma 

endometriales y expresión proteica 

diferencial en la ventana de implantación. 

Sponsored by: Fundación Salud 

2000, PI040634. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Balasch J. Grup de Fisiopatologia de la 

Reproducció Humana. Sponsored by: 

Generalitat de Catalunya, 2009 SGR 

1099. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Ordi J. Patrones de expresión de 

miRNA en la progresión y la transformación 

maligna de las lesiones 

precursoras del cáncer de cérvix 

uterino. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

TORNE, AURELI. Valor clínico de la 

infección múltiple por virus del papiloma 

humano (VPH) en pacientes con 

lesiones premalignas y cáncer de cuello 

uterino. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Martinez JM, Puerto B. Aplicación de 

la ecografía 4D-STIC (Spatio temporal 

image correlation) en el diagnóstico 

prenatal de las cardiopatías. PhD student: 

Maria del mar Bennasar Sans. 

Balasch J. Efectos de los fármacos 

empleados para la estimulación 

ovárica sobre las células foliculares. 

Implicaciones en el síndrome de 

hiperestimulación ovárica. Sponsored 


PI070355. Amount: 47.190,00 


30/12/2010. 

147

AREA 3 



CIBER en enfermedades raras 

(CIBERer) 

Fetal and perinatal medicine 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Eduard Gratacós 


Tel.: 93 227 99 46 

Fax: 93 227 56 05 

E-mail: gratacos@clinic.ub.es 

The principal strategic objective is 

to search for solutions to prenatal 

diseases, identifying the mechanisms 

involved in fetal brain and cardiac 

reprogramming, developing new 

technologies allowing an early 

diagnosis, and identifying potential 

therapeutic targets. 


Antoni Borrell (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Botet (Hospital Clínic) 

Vicenç Cararach (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Carbonell (Hospital Clínic) 

Elena Casals (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Figueras (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Figueras (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Maria Martinez-Crespo (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Palacio (Hospital Clínic) 


Emilia Ruthy Acosta-Rojas 

(Fundació Clínic-CIBER-ER) 

Fátima Crispi (IDIBAPS) 

Nelly Fabiola Padilla (Fundació Clínic) 

Magdalena Sanz (IDIBAPS) 


Ivan Amat-Roldan (Fundació Clínic) 

Montse Comas (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna González (pre-doc IDIBAPS) 

Alvaro Pérez (IDIBAPS) 

Dafnis Batallé (CIBER-ER) 

Jesús Mª Domínguez (CIBER-ER) 

Violeta Tenorio (Fundació Clínic) 

Mónica Cruz-Lemini (Fundació Clínic) 

Patricia Garcia (Fundació Clínic) 

Stefan Savchev (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Imma Mercade (Fundació Clínic) 

Marina Coll (Fundació Clínic) 

Ariadna Arbat (Fundació Clínic) 


Angela Arranz (Fundació Clínic) 


Maite Aguilera (Fundació Clínic) 

Estefanía Callado (Fundació Clínic) 

Pere Lorente (Fundació Clínic) 


Jordi Bellart (Hospital Clínic) 

Olga Gómez (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Gonce (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Miracle (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Dolors Salvía (Hospital Clínic) 

Iratxe Torre (Fundació Clínic-Sara Borrell) 

Rogelio Cruz (Fundació Clínic) 

Elisenda Eixarch (IDIBAPS-Rio Hortega) 

Joan Junyent (Fundació Clínic) 

Teresa Cobo (IDIBAPS - Río Hortega) 

Mar Benassar (Hospital Clínic) 

Leticia Vinyoles (Fundació Clínic) 

Alba Camacho (Fundació Clínic) 

Marta García (Fundació Clínic) 


R. Bartrons 

D. Valsky 

Iosefine Stergitou 

Other objectives of the team are the 

development and consolidation of 

the existing lines of work in different 

fields, such as perinatal infections, HIV 

and neonatal infection, fetal therapy 

and surgery, screening strategies 

and prediction of fetal and maternal 

pathology in large populations, 

preeclampsia and prematureness. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Neurological damage of fetal and 

perinatal origin. Characterization 

of the physiopathology and 

development of methods for the 

diagnosis and treatment of prenatal 

brain damage, with preferential 

use of fetal growth retardation as 

a model. The group possesses 

an important interdisciplinary 

structure for the characterization 

and prediction of perinatal brain 

damage, with special attention to the 

fetal reprogramming mechanisms 

secondary to chronic hypoxia. The 

line is structured into major interrelated 

areas: fetal and neonatal 

brain imaging (ultrasound, moving 

blood fraction and MRI- DTI-RMS), 

neurological damage biomarkers, 

and follow-up of neurological 

development over the long term. 

2. Cardiac function and cardiovascular 

programming in the fetus. The aim 

of this research line is to characterize 

cardiac function and develop 

methods for the prediction and 

treatment of fetal programming in 

the context of cardiac dysfunction 

in fetuses and infants. This includes 

new echocardiographic markers 

148

AREA 3 


FETAL AND PERINATAL MEDICINE 

of fetal myocardial function, 

biochemical and genomic markers 

of ischemia and immune/endothelial 

hyperactivation. 

3. Fetal therapy and surgery. As 

members of the European 

Eurofoetus group, we study the fetal 

surgical treatment of complications 

of monochorial gestation and 

congenital diaphragmatic herniation, 

and the tissue engineering repair 

of fetal membranes. Screening of 

aneuploidy and maternal disease 

markers. 

4. Perinatal pathology. This is a mixed 

line that groups projects relating to 

prematureness (chorioamnionitis, 

aggressive nutrition), clinical 

pathology (diabetes, autoimmune 

diseases), preeclampsia and 

placental disorders (developing 

methods for early prediction), HIV 

and pregnancy, neonatal respiratory 

disease (study of pulmonary 

inflammation and prevention of 

bronchopulmonary dysplasia), 

and investigation of neonatal 

infection (perinatal and nosocomial 

infections, respiratory syncytial 

virus infection, etc.). 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 120,82 

1 Sola R, Bruckert E, Valls RM, Narejos 

S, Luque X, Castro-Cabezas M, 

Domenech G, Torres F, Heras M, Farres 

X, Vaquer JV, Martinez JM, Almaraz 

MC, Anguera A. Soluble fibre (Plantago 

ovata husk) reduces plasma low-density 

lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, 

insulin, oxidised LDL and systolic 

blood pressure in hypercholesterolaemic 

patients: A randomised trial. ATHEROS- 

CLEROSIS, 2010. 211:630-637. I.F.:4,52. 


O, Bartrons J, Olivella A, Puerto B, Gratacos 

E. Accuracy of four-dimensional 

spatiotemporal image correlation echocardiography 

in the prenatal diagnosis of 

congenital heart defects. ULTRASOUND 

OBST GYN, 2010. 36:458-464. I.F.:3,15. 

3 Cruz-Martinez R, Moreno-Alvarez O, 

Hernandez-Andrade E, Castanon M, Done 

E, Martinez JM, Puerto B, Deprest J, 

Gratacos E. Contribution of intrapulmonary 

artery Doppler to improve prediction of survival 

in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic 

hernia treated with fetal endoscopic 

tracheal occlusion. ULTRASOUND OBST 

GYN, 2010. 35:572-577. I.F.:3,15. 

4 Borras A, Gomez O, Sanz M, Martinez 

JM, Puerto B. Feticide Followed by 

Mifepristone-Misoprostol Regimen for 

Midtrimester Termination of Pregnancy 

in Two Cases of Complete Placenta Previa. 

FETAL DIAGN THER, 2010. 28:114- 

116. I.F.:0,91. 

5 Cruz-Martinez R, Figueras F, Hernandez-Andrade 

E, Puerto B, Gratacos 

E. Longitudinal brain perfusion changes 

in near-term small-for-gestational-age 

fetuses as measured by spectral Doppler 

indices or by fractional moving blood volume. 

AM J OBSTET GYNECOL, 2010. 

203:-. I.F.:3,28. 

6 Sanz-Cortes M, Martinez JM, Bennasar 

M, Puerto B, Graracos E. Prenatal 

diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis and 

analysis using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 

ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 

2010. 36:522-524. I.F.:3,15. 

7 Martinez JM, Gomez O, Bennasar M, 

Olivella A, Crispi F, Puerto B, Gratacos E. 

The ‘question mark’ sign as a new ultrasound 

marker of tetralogy of Fallot in the 

fetus. ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 

36:556-560. I.F.:3,15. 

8 Sanz-Cortes M, Figueras F, Bargallo 

N, Padilla N, Amat-Roldan I, Gratacos 

E. Abnormal brain microstructure and 

metabolism in small-for-gestational-age 

term fetuses with normal umbilical artery 

Doppler. ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 

2010. 36:159-165. I.F.:3,15. 

9 Martinez JM, Comas M, Borrell A, 

Bennasar M, Gomez O, Puerto B, Gratacos 

E. Abnormal first-trimester ductus 

venosus blood flow: a marker of cardiac 

defects in fetuses with normal karyotype 

and nuchal translucency. ULTRASOUND 

OBST GYN, 2010. 35:267-272. I.F.:3,15. 

10 Illa M, Bennasar M, Eixarch E, Berge 

R, Font C, Palacio M. Acute Coronary 

Artery Vasospasm Associated with Misoprostol 

for Termination of Pregnancy. 

FETAL DIAGN THER, 2010. 27:174-177. 

I.F.:0,91. 

11 Badenas C, Rodriguez-Revenga L, 

Morales C, Mediano C, Plaja A, Perez- 

Iribarne MM, Soler A, Clusellas N, Borrell 

A, Sanchez MA, Miro E, Sanchez A, Mila 

M, Jimenez W. Assessment of QF-PCR 

as the First Approach in Prenatal Diagnosis. 

J MOL DIAGN, 2010. 12:828-834. 

I.F.:3,41. 

12 Moreno R, Martinez-Gonzalez I, Rosal 

M, Farwati A, Gratacos E, Aran JM. 

Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem 

149

AREA 3 



Team Members 

Cells Isolated from the Rabbit Fetal Liver. 

STEM CELLS DEV, 2010. 19:1579- 

1588. I.F.:4,15. 

13 Munoz M, Arigita M, Bennasar 

M, Soler A, Sanchez A, Borrell A. Chromosomal 

anomaly spectrum in early 

pregnancy loss in relation to presence 

or absence of an embryonic pole. 

FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 94:2564-2568. 

I.F.:3,97. 

14 Botet F, Figueras J, Carbonell- 

Estrany X, Arca G. Effect of maternal 

clinical chorioamnionitis on neonatal 

morbidity in very-low birthweight infants: 

a case-control study. J PERINAT 

MED, 2010. 38:269-273. I.F.:1,74. 

15 Skupski DW, Chervenak FA, 

Mccullough LB, Bancalari E, Haumont 

D, Simeoni U, Saugstad O, Donn S, 

Arabin B, Greenough A, Donzelli G, 

Levene M, Sen C, Carbonell X, Dudenhausen 

JW, Vladareanu R, Antsaklis A, 

Papp Z, Aksit M, Carrapato M. Ethical 

dimensions of periviability. J PERINAT 

MED, 2010. 38:579-583. I.F.:1,74. 

16 Crispi F, Bijnens B, Figueras 

F, Bartrons J, Eixarch E, LeNoble F, 

Ahmed A, Gratacos E. Fetal Growth 

Restriction Results in Remodeled 

and Less Efficient Hearts in Children. 

CIRCULATION, 2010. 121:2427-U123. 

I.F.:14,82. 

17 Esteban FJ, Padilla N, Sanz- 

Cortes M, DeMiras JR, Bargallo N, 

Villoslada P, Gratacos E. Fractaldimension 

analysis detects cerebral 

changes in preterm infants with and 

without intrauterine growth restriction. 

NEUROIMAGE, 2010. 53:1225-1232. 

I.F.:5,74. 

18 Xuncla M, Badenas C, Dominguez 

M, Rodriguez-Revenga L, Madrigal 

I, Jimenez L, Soler A, Borrell A, 

Sanchez A, Mila M. Fragile X syndrome 

prenatal diagnosis: parental attitudes 

and reproductive responses. REPROD 

BIOMED ONLINE, 2010. 21:560-565. 

I.F.:2,38. 


O, Figueras F, Olivella A, Puerto 

B, Gratacos E. Intra- and interobserver 

repeatability of fetal cardiac examination 

using four-dimensional spatiotemporal 

image correlation in each trimester of 

pregnancy. ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 

2010. 35:318-323. I.F.:3,15. 

20 Figueras-Aloy J, Rodriguez-Miguelez 

JM, Iriondo-Sanz M, Salvia-Roiges 

MD, Botet-Mussons F, Carbonell- 

Estrany X. Intravenous Immunoglobulin 

and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Newborns 

With Hemolytic Disease. PEDIA- 

TRICS, 2010. 125:139-144. I.F.:4,69. 

21 Cruz-Martinez R, Figueras F, 

Moreno-Alvarez O, Martinez JM, Gomez 

O, Hernandez-Andrade E, Gratacos 

E. Learning curve for lung area to head 

circumference ratio measurement in 

fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic 

hernia. ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 

2010. 36:32-36. I.F.:3,15. 

22 Moreno-Alvarez O, Cruz-Martinez 

R, Hernandez-Andrade E, Done E, Gomez 

O, Deprest J, Gratacos E. Lung 

tissue perfusion in congenital diaphragmatic 

hernia and association with the 

lung-to-head ratio and intrapulmonary 

artery pulsed Doppler. ULTRASOUND 

OBST GYN, 2010. 35:578-582. I.F.:3,15. 

23 Oros D, Figueras F, Cruz-Martinez 

R, Padilla N, Meler E, Hernandez- 

Andrade E, Gratacos E. Middle versus 

anterior cerebral artery Doppler for 

the prediction of perinatal outcome 

and neonatal neurobehavior in term 

small-for-gestational-age fetuses with 

normal umbilical artery Doppler. UL- 

TRASOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 35:456- 

461. I.F.:3,15. 

24 Gomez O, Borras A, Rabanal A, 

Palacio M, Carceller A, Coll O, Gratacos 

E. Mifepristone-misoprostol midtrimester 

abortion: impact of gestational age on the 

induction-to-abortion interval. CONTRA- 

CEPTION, 2010. 81:97-101. I.F.:2,37. 

25 Boer K, England K, Godfried MH, 

Thorne C, Newell ML, Mahdavi S, Giaquinto 

C, Rampon O, Mazza A, DeRossi A, 

Worner IG, Mok J, DeJose MI, Martinez 

BL, Pena JM, Garcia JG, Lopez JRA, Rodriguez 

MCG, Asensi-Botet F, Otero MC, 

Perez-Tamarit D, Scherpbier HJ, Kreyenbroek 

M, Nellen FJB, Naver L, Bohlin AB, 

Lindgren S, Kaldma A, Belfrage E, Levy J, 

Barlow P, Manigart Y, Hainaut M, Goetghebuer 

T, Brichard B, DeBruycker JJ, 

Thiry N, Waterloos H, Viscoli C, DeMaria 

A, Bentivoglio G, Ferrero S, Gotta C, Mur 

A, Paya A, Lopez-Vilchez MA, Carreras R, 

Valerius NH, Rosenfeldt V, Coll O, Suy A, 

Perez JM, Fortuny C, Boguna J, Savasi V, 

Fiore S, Crivelli M, Vigano A, Giacomet V, 

Cerini C, Raimondi C, Zuccotti G, Alberico 

S, Tropea M, Businelli C, Taylor GP, Lyall 

EGH, Penn Z, Buffolano W, Tiseo R, Martinelli 

P, Sansone M, Maruotti G, Agangi A, 

Tibaldi C, Marini S, Masuelli G, Benedetto 

C, Niemiec T, Marczynska M, Dobosz S, 

Popielska J, Oldakowska A, Malyuta R, Semenenko 

I, Pilipenko T. Mode of delivery 

in HIV-infected pregnant women and prevention 

of mother-to-child transmission: 

changing practices in Western Europe. HIV 

MED, 2010. 11:368-378. I.F.:2,88. 

26 Carbonell-Estrany X, Simoes EAF, 

Dagan R, Hall CB, Harris B, Hultquist M, 

Connor EM, Losonsky GA. Motavizumab 

for Prophylaxis of Respiratory Syncytial 

Virus in High-Risk Children: A Noninferiority 

Trial. PEDIATRICS, 2010. 125:E35-E51. 

I.F.:4,69. 

27 Stensballe LG, Fullarton JR, Carbonell-Estrany 

X, Simoes EAF. Population 

based external validation of a European 

predictive model for respiratory syncytal 

virus hospitalization of premature infants 

150

AREA 3 



born 33 to 35 weeks of gestational age. 

PEDIATR INFECT DIS J, 2010. 29:374- 

376. I.F.:2,85. 

28 Gonce A, Borrell A, Meler E, Arigita 

M, Martinez JM, Botet F, Sanchez A, Gratacos 

E. Prevalence and perinatal outcome 

of dichorionic and monochorionic 

twins with nuchal translucency above the 

99(th) percentile and normal karyotype. 

ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 35:14- 

18. I.F.:3,15. 

29 Meler E, Figueras F, Mula R, Crispi F, 

Benassar M, Gomez O, Gratacos E. Prognostic 

Role of Uterine Artery Doppler in 

Patients with Preeclampsia. FETAL DIAGN 

THER. 27:8-13. I.F.:0,91. 

30 Bodri D, Guillen JJ, Lopez M, Vernaeve 

V, Coll O. Racial disparity in oocyte 

donation outcome: a multiethnic, matched 

cohort study. HUM REPROD, 2010. 

25:436-442. I.F.:3,86. 

31 Benavides-Serralde JA, Hernandez-Andrade 

E, Figueroa-Diesel H, 

Oros D, Feria LA, Scheier M, Figueras 

F, Gratacos E. Reference Values for 

Doppler Parameters of the Fetal Anterior 

Cerebral Artery throughout Gestation. 

GYNECOL OBSTET INVES, 2010. 69:33- 

39. I.F.:1,05. 

32 Valsky DV, Eixarch E, Martinez JM, 

Crispi F, Gratacos E. Selective intrauterine 

growth restriction in monochorionic 

twins: pathophysiology, diagnostic 

approach and management dilemmas. 

SEMIN FETAL NEONAT M, 2010. 

15:342-348. I.F.:2,74. 

33 Srisupundit K, Brady PD, Devriendt 

K, Fryns JP, Cruz-Martinez R, Gratacos 

E, Deprest JA, Vermeesch JR. Targeted 

array comparative genomic hybridisation 

(array CGH) identifies genomic imbalances 

associated with isolated congenital 

diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). PRENATAL 

DIAG, 2010. 30:1198-1206. I.F.:1,71. 

34 Meler E, Figueras F, Bennasar 

M, Gomez O, Crispi F, Gratacos E. The 

prognostic role of uterine artery Doppler 

investigation in patients with severe 

early-onset preeclampsia. AM J OBSTET 

GYNECOL, 2010. 202:-. I.F.:3,28. 

35 Padilla N, Perapoch J, Carrascosa A, 

Acosta-Rojas R, Botet F, Gratacos E. Twelve-month 

neurodevelopmental outcome 

in preterm infants with and without intrauterine 

growth restriction. ACTA PAEDIA- 

TR, 2010. 99:1498-1503. I.F.:1,77. 

36 Munim S, Figueras F, Shah SM, 

Khan F, Gardosi J. Ultrasound estimation 

of fetal weight: A formula for a Pakistani 

population. J OBSTET GYNAECOL RE, 

2010. 36:479-483. I.F.:0,78. 

37 Comas M, Crispi F, Cruz-Martinez 

R, Martinez JM, Figueras F, Gratacos E. 

Usefulness of myocardial tissue Doppler 

vs conventional echocardiography in the 

evaluation of cardiac dysfunction in earlyonset 

intrauterine growth restriction. AM J 

OBSTET GYNECOL, 2010. 203:-. I.F.:3,28. 

38 Carbonell-Estrany X, Simoes EAF, 

Fullarton JR, Ferdynus C, Gouyon JB. 

Validation of a model to predict hospitalization 

due to RSV of infants born at 33- 

35 weeks’ gestation. J PERINAT MED, 

2010. 38:411-417. I.F.:1,74. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 5,69 

1 Lopez M, Coll O. Chronic Viral 

Infections and Invasive Procedures: Risk 

of Vertical Transmission and Current Recommendations. 

FETAL DIAGN THER, 

2010. 28:1-8. I.F.:0,91. 

2 Valsky DV, Eixarch E, Martinez JM, 

Gratacos E. Selective intrauterine growth 

restriction in monochorionic diamniotic 

twin pregnancies. PRENATAL DIAG, 

2010. 30:719-726. I.F.:1,71. 

3 Deprest JA, Flake AW, Gratacos E, 

Ville Y, Hecher K, Nicolaides K, Johnson 

MP, Luks FI, Adzick NS, Harrison MR. 

The making of fetal surgery. PRENATAL 

DIAG, 2010. 30:653-667. I.F.:1,71. 

4 Arca G, Botet F, Palacio M, Carbonell-Estrany 

X. Timing of umbilical cord 

clamping: New thoughts on an old 

discussion. J MATERN-FETAL NEO M, 

2010. 23:1274-1285. I.F.:1,36. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 1,19 

1 Deprest J, Breysem L, Gratacos E, 

Nicolaides K, Claus F, Debeer A, Smet 

MH, Proesmans M, Fayoux P, Storme 

L. Tracheal side effects following fetal 

endoscopic tracheal occlusion for severe 

congenital diaphragmatic hernia. PEDIA- 

TR RADIOL, 2010. 40:670-673. I.F.:1,19. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 13,66 

1 Zhang WH, Deneux-Tharaux C, 

Brocklehurst P, Juszczak E, Joslin M, 

Alexander S. Effect of a collector bag 

for measurement of postpartum blood 

loss after vaginal delivery: cluster randomised 

trial in 13 European countries. 

BRIT MED J, 2010. 340:-. I.F.:13,66. 


in progress 

Coll JO. Paediatric European Network 

Treatment AIDS and European Collaborative 

Study on HIV-infected pregnant 

women and their children. Sponsored 

by: European Commission, LSHP- 

CT-2006-018865. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/03/2006-28/02/2010. 

Gratacos E. IP- Soft tissue engineering 

for congenital birth defects in 

151

AREA 3 



children: new treatment modalities for 

spina bifida, urogenital and abdominal 

wall defects (EuroSTEC). Sponsored 

by: European Commision, LSHB- 

CT-2006-037409. Amount: 91.500,00 


Palacio M. Progesterona vaginal como 

tratamiento de mantenimiento de gestantes 

con amenaza de parto pretérmino. 

(Promesa). Sponsored by: Ministerio 



29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Gratacos E. Novel ultrasound-based 

tridimensional tools for structural and 

fucntional evaluation of interest in 

human organs. (Uvolumes). Sponsored 

by: European Commision , PIAP- 

GA-2008-219911. Amount: 695.550,00 


Gratacos E. A multidisciplinary research 

programme for the evaluation of diagnostic 

techniques and intervention. 

Measures for preantal brain damage 

using growth restriction as a model. 

Sponsored by: Cerebra Foundation, CE- 

REBRA_07_001. Amount: 850.930,00 


Gratacos E. Clinical use of assesing reginal 

brain circulation perfusion to identify 

long term neurodevelopmental anomalies 

in small for gestational age fetuses (SGA). 

Sponsored by: Thrasher Research Fund, 

THRASHER08_001. Amount: 289.792,00 


Gratacos E. eVV-endovascular vision. 

Sponsored by: Generalitat de Catalunya 

(ACC1Ó), VALTEC09-1-0048. Amount: 


30/06/2011. 

Figueras F. Acciones estratégicas en 

salud. Cambios hemodinámicas adaptativos 

a la insuficiencia placentaria crónica 

y relación con la lesión neurológica 

perinatal en modelo animal de coneja 

gestante. Sponsored by: FIS, PI08/0230. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Gratacos E. Desarrollo de marcadores 

predictivos y búsqueda de mecanismos 

moleculares responsables de la reprogramación 

cardíaca en la restricción de crecimiento 

fetal. Sponsored by: MINISTERIO 

DE EDUCACIÓN, SAF2009_08815. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Borrell A. Aplicación clínica del genotipado 

RHD fetal en sangre materna en 

una población general de estantes RHD 

negativas. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Figueras F. Evaluación de fracción sanguínea 

en movimiento como estrategia 

de cribado de hipoxia crónica cerebral 

fetal para la perdicción de alteraciones 

del neurodesarrollo. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Gratacos E. Evaluación de la eficacia 

de un algoritmo combinando variables 

biológicas maternas, ecografía y marcadores 

bioquímicos para la predicción de 

preeclampsia y retraso de crecimiento 

intrauterino en primer trimestre de gestación. 

Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE SA- 

LUD CARLOS III, PI09/90404. Amount: 


30/06/2011. 

Gratacos E. Diagnóstico precoz en niños 

con daño cerebral y trastornos del aprendizaje. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACION CAJA 

NAVARRA, 14802. Amount: 14.422,69 


Gratacos E. eVV- endoVascularVision: 

new endoscopic tools for real time 

vascular assisted vision. Sponsored by: 

EUROPEAN COMISSION, 251356. Amount: 


30/08/2014. 

Palacio M. PROgesterona vaginal como tratamiento 

de Mantenimiento en gEStantes 

con Amenaza de parto pretérmino. Ensayo 

clínico aleatorizado, enmascarado a doble 

ciego y controlado con placebo. Sponsored 

by: MINISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLÍTICA 

SOCIAL E IGUALDAD, TRA-096. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Gratacos E. Biomarcadors quantitatius 

d’imatge: Nous mètodes per a la predicció 

del neurodesenvolupament anormal en 

nens amb retard de creixement fetal basats 

en connectòmica. Sponsored by: CAIXA 

D’ESTALVIS I PENSIONS, 10/503. Amount: 

1.228.315,00 euros. Duration: 03/12/2010- 

31/12/2013. 

Thesis 

Figueras-Aloy J. Seguimiento del desarrollo 

psicomotor de prematuros extremos mediante 

la Escala del Desarrollo Infantil de 

Kent (EDIK) cumplimnetada por los padres 

y situación neuroevolutiva a los 2 y 5 años. 

PhD student: Elena Alcover Bloch. 

Martinez JM, Puerto B. Aplicación de la 

ecografia 4D-STIC (Spatio temporal image 

correlation) en el diagnóstico prenatal de las 

cardiopatías. PhD student: Maria del mar 

Bennasar Sans. 

Gratacos E. Cerebral and cardiac doppler 

parameters in the identification of fetuses 

with late-onset intrauterine growth restriction 

at risk of adverse perinatal and neurobehavioral 

outcome. PhD student: Rogelio 

Cruz Martinez. 

Figueras F. Perinatal and neurodevelopmental 

outcome of late-onset growth restricted 

fetuses. PhD student: Daniel Orós López. 

152

AREA 3 


Metabolic regulation and molecular pathology 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

PUBLICATIONS 


Ferran Climent (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Roser Cussó (Facultat de Medicina UB) 


Feliu Roset (Facultat de Medicina) 

Maria Carmen Eraso (Facultat de Medicina) 

Technicians: 

Mario Guerrero (Facultat de Medicina) 

Anna Belén Sánchez (Facultat de Medicina) 


Joan Aureli Cadefau Surroca 

(Facultat de Medicina) 

Anna Novials (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Brugnara (IDIBAPS) 

Andreu Farran Codina 

(Facultat de Farmàcia) 

Mª Antonia Lizárraga 

(Facultat Medicina, Bellvitge) 

TEAM LEADER 

Josep Carreras 

(Facultat Medicina UB) 

Tel.: 93 402 45 41 

Fax: 93 403 58 82 

E-mail: 

jcarreras@ub.edu 

1. Study of rabbit and rat muscle metabolism 

and proteome in fast and 

slow fibers, and the modifications 

associated with electrostimulation 

and training work. 

2. Use of biochemical markers to determine 

muscle damage. 

3. Study of the metabolic alterations of 

the transplanted heart and its preservation. 

4. Study of apoptosis extrinsic pathway 

in the transplanted heart and its 

blockage. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Study of the fast and slow muscle 

proteome in trained and sedentary 

rats. 

2. Metabolic analyses of human muscle 

biopsies in relation to training. 

3. Study of the serum fast and slow 

myosins as muscle damage markers. 

Effect of exercise in athletes 

and diabetics. 

4. Reversal of metabolic block in the 

transplanted heart based on TAT- 

FLIPS proteins. 

5. Use of TAT-FLIPS protein to block 

apoptosis in the transplanted heart. 

Penetration of PTD-galactosidase in 

erythrocytes (left) and myocytes (right). 

Originals 

I.F.: 4,35 

1 Gorostiaga EM, Navarro- 

Amezqueta I, Cusso R, Hellsten 

Y, Calbet JAL, Guerrero M, Granados 

C, Gonzalez-Izal M, Ibanez 

J, Izquierdo M. Anaerobic Energy 

Expenditure and Mechanical Efficiency 

during Exhaustive Leg Press 

Exercise. PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. 

I.F.:4,35. 

Grants for 

research in 

progress 

Cusso R. Marcadores moleculares 

de la lesión muscular. Sponsored 

by: TRACE Ministerio de Ciencia 

e Innovación, PET2008-0224. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Cusso R. Astronaut exercise prescriptions 

promoting Health and 

fitness on hearth. Sponsored by: 

Agencia Europea de l‘Espai, ESA- 

A0-2010. Amount: 300.000,00 


31/12/2013. 

Cusso R. Marcadors de lesió 

muscular i de tendó. Fundació 

MuscleTech. Sponsored by: Fundación 

FC Barcelona, Generalitat de 

Catalunya, La Caixa, ESA-A0-2010. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2013. 

Cusso R. Valoración de las isoformas 

de miosina como marcadores 

de lesión muscular en jugadores 

de fútbol y baloncesto durante una 

temporada deportiva. Sponsored 

by: Consejo Superior de Deportes, 

042/UPB10/11. Amount: 12.000,00 


31/12/2011. 

153

AREA 3 



Viral hepatitis in the immune competent 

host and in liver transplant patients 

Group Members 


Jose M Sánchez-Tapias (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Maria Barrera (Hospital Clínic) 

Miquel Bruguera (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Costa (Hospital Clínic) 

Miquel Navasa (Hospital Clínic) 


Jakub Dragun (Marie Curie) 

Stella Martínez (Fundació Clínic) 

Mairene Coto (MAEC-AECI) 

Gonzalo Crespo (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Mensa (CIBERehd) 

TEAM LEADER 

Xavier Forns 


Tel.: 93 227 54 99 

E-mail: 

xforns@clinic.ub.es 


Investigation of epidemiological, pathogenic, 

diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of hepatitis 

virus infections in immune competent 

patients and liver transplant recipients. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Study of host factors in relation to 

the natural history and treatment 

response among patients with 

chronic hepatitis C. 

In this setting, mention should be 

made of the studies which the group 

is carrying out on the influence of polymorphisms 

of the IL28B gene (which 

encodes for interferon lambda-3) upon 

the natural history and antiviral treatment 

response of chronic hepatitis C 

(in immune competent individuals and 

liver transplant recipients). In transplant 

patients with hepatitis C, our group 

has shown that the presence of a 

favorable IL28B polymorphism in the 

recipient, if associated with the favorable 

polymorphism in the donor liver, 

significantly increases the antiviral treatment 

response (Fig. 1). In the coming 

months, evaluation will be made of the 

role of this polymorphism in relation to 

the natural history of chronic hepatitis C 

virus infection. 

2. Development of models for the in 

vitro study of the hepatitis C virus 

(HCV). 

At present there is only a single model 

for studying the complete life cycle of 

HCV. This is a limited model, since it 

is based on the culture of a single cell 

line, in which only one viral strain grows. 

Over the last year we have started the 

development of new cell culture systems 

based on different cell lines with 

incorporated markers, allowing the detection 

of viral replication and the screening 

of biological samples with considerable 

rapidity. The ultimate aim of these 

studies is to establish one or more HCV 

culture systems allowing the growth 

and adaptation of viruses from biological 

samples, and which are therefore more 

representative of real life situations. 

3. Detection of HCV antigens in liver 

tissue. 

This is a project which in a sense represents 

continuity of the work started in 

2008 with the purpose of characterizing 

the expression of HCV penetration receptors 

(claudin-1, occludin SR-B1 and 

CD81). Following completion of this 

project, we wish to detect viral antigens 

in liver tissue. While this may seem an 

easy project, to date it has not been 

possible to detect these antigens in a 

reproducible manner. Since we have 

samples from transplant patients with 

Technicians: 

Patricia González (CIBERehd) 


Concepció Bartrés (Fundació Clínic) 


Sofia Pérez del Pulgar (CIBERehd) 

Georgios Koutsoudakis (CIBERehd) 

Influence of polymorphisms of the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene upon antiviral 

treatment response in liver transplant patients with hepatitis C. Those patients 

with a favorable polymorphism (CC) and who receive a liver from an IL28 CC 

d onor have a high probability of healing the infection with interferon and ribavirin. 

154

AREA 3 


VIRAL HEPATITIS IN THE IMMUNE COMPETENT HOST AND IN LIVER TRANSPLANT PATIENTS 

very high viral loads, and taking advantage 

of the experience gained over the past 

years with confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry 

techniques, we aim 

to evaluate the presence of different viral 

antigens in liver biopsies. Success with 

the project could have clinical applications 

in aspects as relevant as the differential 

diagnosis of rejection and the recurrence 

of hepatitis C after transplantation. 

4. Noninvasive diagnosis of chronic 

hepatitis C. 

This is a consolidated line of research within 

the group. Over the past years, different 

studies by our group have demonstrated 

the diagnostic validity of transient elastometry 

(TE, Fibroscan) in diagnosing advanced 

liver fibrosis or portal hypertension in 

patients with HCV infection and subjected 

to liver transplantation. During 2009 and 

2010, other non-invasive markers of liver 

fibrosis have been evaluated (such as the 

combination of different serum markers 

of fibrogenesis). Within a more ambitious 

project (LiverBiomark) forming part of the 

Ciberehd, the group has proposed the 

utilization of metabolomics in an attempt 

to secure the early identification of those 

patients with hepatitis C presenting a risk 

of developing serious forms of the disease 

(in both immune competent individuals and 

in liver transplant recipients). 

5. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C. 

Logically, our group continues to focus 

great effort on improving the efficacy and 

safety of antiviral therapy in patients with 

chronic HCV infection. Different aspects 

are included within this line of research: 

1) Participation in clinical trials of new 

antiviral molecules (in both early stages 

and in pre-marketing phases); and 2) Study 

of the predictive factors of treatment response 

and designing of models allowing 

a reliable prediction of treatment results 

– particularly as regards the prediction 

of infection relapse in patients that have 

been able to achieve negative conversion 

of HCV during treatment. In the last year 

we have found that direct antiviral drug 

treatment (therefore not requiring interferon) 

is able to definitively eliminate HCV, 

and thus heal the chronic infection. This is 

an important step in the field of hepatitis, 

which will lead to radical changes in treatment 

in the next 10 years. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.:90,08 

1 Linares L, Cervera C, Hoyo I, Sanclemente 

G, Marco F, Cofan F, Ricart 

MJ, Navasa M, Moreno A. Klebsiella 

pneumoniae Infection in Solid Organ 

Transplant Recipients: Epidemiology 

and Antibiotic Resistance. TRANSPL P, 

2010. 42:2941-2943. I.F.:0,99. 

2 Baccaro ME, Pepin MN, Guevara M, 

Colmenero J, Torregrosa JV, Martin- 

Llahi M, Sola E, Esforzado N, Fuster 

J, Campistol JM, Arroyo V, Navasa M, 

Garcia-Valdecasas J, Gines P. Combined 

liver-kidney transplantation in patients 

with cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease. 

NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, 2010. 

25:2356-2363. I.F.:3,31. 

3 Morales JM, Campistol JM, Dominguez-Gil 

B, Andres A, Esforzado N, 

Oppenheimer F, Castellano G, Fuertes 

A, Bruguera M, Praga M. Long-Term 

Experience With Kidney Transplantation 

From Hepatitis C-Positive Donors Into 

Hepatitis C-Positive Recipients. AM J 

TRANSPLANT, 2010. 10:2453-2462. 

I.F.:6,43. 

4 Benitez CE, Puig-Pey I, Lopez M, 

Martinez-Llordella M, Lozano JJ, Bohne 

F, Londono MC, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, 

Bruguera M, Navasa M, Rimola A, Sanchez-Fueyo 

A. ATG-Fresenius Treatment 

and Low-Dose Tacrolimus: Results of 

a Randomized Controlled Trial in Liver 

Transplantation. AM J TRANSPLANT, 

2010. 10:2296-2304. I.F.:6,43. 

5 Bellot P, Garcia-Pagan JC, Frances 

R, Abraldes JG, Navasa M, Perez- 

Mateo M, Such J, Bosch J. Bacterial 

DNA Translocation Is Associated With 

Systemic Circulatory Abnormalities and 

Intrahepatic Endothelial Dysfunction in 

Patients With Cirrhosis. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 52:2044-2052. I.F.:10,84. 

6 Vilaplana C, Montane E, Pinto S, 

Barriocanal AM, Domenech G, Torres 

F, Cardona PJ, Costa J. Double-blind, 

randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I 

Clinical Trial of the therapeutical antituberculous 

vaccine RUTI (R). VACCINE, 

2010. 28:1106-1116. I.F.:3,62. 

7 Moreno M, Chaves JF, Sancho-Bru P, 

Ramalho F, Ramalho LN, Mansego ML, 

Ivorra C, Dominguez M, Conde L, Millan 

C, Mari M, Colmenero J, Lozano JJ, 

Jares P, Vidal J, Forns X, Arroyo V, Caballeria 

J, Gines P, Bataller R. Ghrelin Attenuates 

Hepatocellular Injury and Liver 

Fibrogenesis in Rodents and Influences 

Fibrosis Progression in Humans. HEPA- 

TOLOGY, 2010. 51:974-985. I.F.:10,84. 

8 Ramirez S, Perez-Del-Pulgar S, 

Carrion JA, Coto-Llerena M, Mensa L, 

Dragun J, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Navasa 

M, Forns X. Hepatitis C virus superinfection 

of liver grafts: a detailed analysis 

of early exclusion of non-dominant virus 

strains. J GEN VIROL, 2010. 91:1183- 

1188. I.F.:3,26. 

9 Carrion JA, Torres F, Crespo G, Miquel 

R, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Navasa 

M, Forns X. Liver Stiffness Identifies 

Two Different Patterns of Fibrosis Progression 

in Patients with Hepatitis C 

Virus Recurrence After Liver Transplantation. 

HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:23-34. 

I.F.:10,84. 

10 Fernandez-Rodriguez CM, Alonso 

S, Martinez SM, Forns X, Sanchez-Tapias 

JM, Rincon D, Rodriguez-Caravaca 

G, Barcena R, Serra MA, Romero-Gomez 

M, Fernandez I, Garcia-Samaniego 

J, Fuente J, Sola R, Moreno-Otero R, 

Planas R. Peginterferon Plus Ribavirin 

and Sustained Virological Response in 

HCV-Related Cirrhosis: Outcomes and 

Factors Predicting Response. AM J 

GASTROENTEROL, 2010. 105:2164- 

2172. I.F.:6,01. 

155

AREA 3 


VIRAL HEPATITIS IN THE IMMUNE COMPETENT 

HOST AND IN LIVER TRANSPLANT PATIENTS 

11 Plans P, Costa J, Dominguez 

A, Torner N, Borras E, Plasencia A. 

Prevalence of Protective Measles Virus 

Antibody Levels in Umbilical Cord 

Blood Samples in Catalonia, Spain. 


17:691-694. I.F.:2,37. 

12 Carrion JA, Navasa M, Forns 

X. Retransplantation in patients with 

hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation. 

J HEPATOL, 2010. 53:962- 

970. I.F.:7,82. 

13 Carrion JA, Fernandez-Varo G, 

Bruguera M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Garcia- 

Valdecasas JC, Perez-Del-Pulgar 

S, Forns X, Jimenez W, Navasa M. 

Serum Fibrosis Markers Identify 

Patients With Mild and Progressive 

Hepatitis C Recurrence After Liver 

Transplantation. GASTROENTEROLO- 

GY, 2010. 138:147-158. I.F.:12,90. 

14 Lens S, Crespo G, Carrion JA, 

Miquel R, Navasa M. Severe acute hepatitis 

in the dress syndrome: Report 

of two cases. ANN HEPATOL, 2010. 

9:198-201. I.F.:1,67. 

15 Ruiz-Antoran B, Escasany AA, 

Ferraz AV, Carreras ID, Riba N, Escudero 

SM, Costa J, Santiago MBS, 

Laredo L, Quintana JAD, Castillo JR, 

Abad-Santos F, Herrera CP, DeRada 

BSD, Ontanon EG. Use of non-specific 

intravenous human immunoglobulins 

in Spanish hospitals; need for a hospital 

protocol. EUR J CLIN PHARMA- 

COL, 2010. 66:633-641. I.F.:2,74. 

Editorials 

I.F.:18,66 

2 Forns X, Bruix J. Treating hepatitis 

C in patients with cirrhosis: The effort is 

worth it. J HEPATOL, 2010. 52:624-626. 

I.F.:7,82. 


I.F.:7,82 

1 Forns X, Et AL. EASL Clinical Practice 

Guidelines: Management of chronic 

hepatitis B. J HEPATOL. 50:227-242. 

I.F.:7,82. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.:43,66 

1 Kwo PY, Lawitz EJ, Mccone J, Schiff 

ER, Vierling JM, Pound D, Davis MN, 

Galati JS, Gordon SC, Ravendhran N, 

Rossaro L, Anderson FH, Jacobson IM, 

Rubin R, Koury K, Pedicone LD, Brass 

CA, Chaudhri E, Albrecht JK. Efficacy of 

boceprevir, an NS3 protease inhibitor, in 

combination with peginterferon alfa-2b 

and ribavirin in treatment-naive patients 

with genotype 1 hepatitis C infection 

(SPRINT-1): an open-label, randomised, 

multicentre phase 2 trial. LANCET, 

2010. 376:705-716. I.F.:30,76. 

2 Zeuzem S, Sulkowski MS, Lawitz 

EJ, Rustgi VK, Rodriguez-Torres M, 

Bacon BR, Grigorescu M, Tice AD, Lurie 

Y, Cianciara J, Muir AJ, Cronin PW, 

Pulkstenis E, Subramanian GM, Mchutchison 

JG. Albinterferon Alfa-2b Was 

Not Inferior to Pegylated Interferonalpha 

in a Randomized Trial of Patients 

With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 

1. GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 

139:1257-1266. I.F.:12,90. 


in progress 

Forns X. Entry Inhibitors for the 

treatment of HCV Infection. Sponsored 

by: European Commission, 

MRTN-CT-2006-035599. Amount: 


01/10/2006-30/09/2010. 

Forns X. Caracterización de la expresión 

hepática de los receptores 

de entrada del virus de la hepatitis 

C y su relación con la cinética de 

infección del injerto y la evolución 

clínica después del trasplante hepático. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, PI080239. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Forns X. Tratamiento de la hepatitis 

crónica C antes y después del trasplante 

Hepático (TH) y diagnóstico no 

invasivo de su recurrencia tras el TH. 

PhD student: Jose Antonio Carrion 

Rodríguez. 

Forns X. Estudio de la evolución genética 

y la compartimentalización del 

virus de la hepatitis C. PhD student: 

Santseharay Ramirez Almeida. 

1 Navasa M, Bruix J. Multifaceted 

Perspective of the Waiting List for 

Liver Transplantation: The Value of 

Pharmacokinetic Models. HEPATO- 

LOGY, 2010. 51:12-15. I.F.:10,84. 

156

AREA 3 



Physiopathology and treatment of ascites and 

altered renal function in liver cirrosis 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Vicente Arroyo 


Tel.: 93 227 17 24 

Fax: 93 312 94 03 

E-mail: varroyo@clinic.ub.es 

This is an interdisciplinary group 

that investigates the mechanisms 

and treatment of liver fibrotic 

inflammation leading to cirrhosis, 

as well as the pathogenesis 

and treatment of the multiorgan 

complications derived from the 

existence of established liver 

cirrhosis. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Ramón Bataller (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Clària (Hospital Clínic) 

Pere Ginès (Hospital Clínic) 

Mónica Guevara (IDIBAPS) 

Wladimiro Jiménez (Hospital Clínic) 

Manuel Morales-Ruiz (Hospital Clínic) 

Javier Fernández-Gómez (Hospital Clínic) 


Josefa Ros (FIS-IDIBAPS) 

Ana González-Périz (CIBERehd) 

Esther Titos (CIBERehd) 

Guillermo Fernandez Varó (CIBERehd) 

Marta López-Parra (MCyT) 

Pau Sancho (Fundació Clínic) 

Gregori Casals (Fundació Clínic) 


Raquell Horrillo (Generalitat de Catalunya) 

Marta Martín (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Moreno (CIBERehd) 

Montserrat Pauta (FPI-MEC) 

Jordi Ribera (CIBERehd) 

Marcos Martínez-Clemente (MEC) 

Eva Morán (FPU-MEC) 

Juan Acevedo (Hospital Clínic) 

Marcella Marinelli (Fundació Clínic) 

Cristina López Vicario (IDIBAPS) 

Vedrana Reichemback (Fundació Clínic) 

Silvia Affò (IDIBAPS) 

Oriol Morales (IDIBAPS) 

José Altamirano (IDIBAPS) 

Gustavo Henrique Santos Pereira 

(Fundació Clinic) 

Claudia Fagundes Gonçalves 


Elsa Solà (Hospital Clinic) 

Bibiana Rius Boadas (Fundació Clínic) 

Verónica García Alonso (FPI MEC) 

Daniel Rodrigo Torres (FPU-MEC) 

Javier Michelena (CIBERehd) 

Ignacio Barrau (Fundació Clínic) 

Denisse Oro Bozzini (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Montse Bernat (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Díez (Hospital Clínic) 

Carmen Escofet (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Millán (IDIBAPS) 

Anabel Martinez (IDIBAPS) 

Carmen Cano (Hospital Clínic) 


Miriam Castro (CIBERehd) 

Raquel Cela (Hospital Clínic) 


Jordi Colmenero (Hospital Clínic) 

Marco Pavesi (CIBERehd) 

1. Molecular determinants of liver 

inflammation. Role of the Kupffer 

cells. 

2. Acute bacterial infections in 

cirrhosis. 

3. Physiopathology and treatment of 

hepatorenal syndrome and renal 

failure associated with bacterial 

infections. 

4. Evaluation of cirrhotic 

myocardiopathy. 

5. Relationship between hepatic 

encephalopathy and alterations in 

renal function in cirrhosis. 

6. Pathogenesis, clinical implications 

and treatment of hyponatremia. 

7. Evaluation of different brain 

MRI techniques in cirrhotic 

patients. Relationship to hepatic 

encephalopathy. 

8. Role of endogenous cannabinoids 

in the physiopathology of arterial 

vasodilatation. 

9. Application of genomics and gene 

therapy to liver dysfunction. 

10. Angiogenesis, endothelial 

dysfunction, edema and vascular 

remodeling in liver cirrhosis. 

11. Pathogenesis of liver fibrosis: 

cellular bases and identification of 

new therapeutic strategies. 


arterial vasodilatation. 


ascites. 

14. Artificial liver support systems. 

15. Identification of new therapeutic 

targets in alcoholic hepatitis. 

157

AREA 3 


PHYSIOPATHOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF ASCITES 

AND ALTERED RENAL FUNCTION IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.:240,99 



D, Morales M, Batlle M, Roig 

E, Castel MA, Perez-Villa F, Godoy M, 

Brugada J. Plasma tissue inhibitor of 

matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1): an 

independent predictor of poor response 

to cardiac resynchronization therapy. 

EUR J HEART FAIL, 2010. 12:492-498. 

I.F.:3,71. 


M, Colmenero J, Torregrosa JV, Martin- 

Llahi M, Sola E, Esforzado N, Fuster 




with cirrhosis and chronic kidney 

disease. NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, 

2010. 25:2356-2363. I.F.:3,31. 

3 Azzalini L, Ferrer E, Ramalho LN, 

Moreno M, Dominguez M, Colmenero 

J, Peinado VI, Barbera JA, Arroyo V, 

Gines P, Caballeria J, Bataller R. Cigarette 

Smoking Exacerbates Nonalcoholic 

Fatty Liver Disease in Obese 

Rats. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:1567- 

1576. I.F.:10,84. 

4 Badenas C, Rodriguez-Revenga L, 

Morales C, Mediano C, Plaja A, Perez- 

Iribarne MM, Soler A, Clusellas N, 

Borrell A, Sanchez MA, Miro E, Sanchez 

A, Mila M, Jimenez W. Assessment of 

QF-PCR as the First Approach in Prenatal 

Diagnosis. J MOL DIAGN, 2010. 

12:828-834. I.F.:3,41. 

5 Moreno M, Chaves JF, Sancho-Bru 

P, Ramalho F, Ramalho LN, Mansego 

ML, Ivorra C, Dominguez M, Conde L, 

Millan C, Mari M, Colmenero J, Lozano 

JJ, Jares P, Vidal J, Forns X, Arroyo 

V, Caballeria J, Gines P, Bataller R. 

Ghrelin Attenuates Hepatocellular Injury 

and Liver Fibrogenesis in Rodents 

and Influences Fibrosis Progression in 

Humans. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:974- 

985. I.F.:10,84. 

6 Carrion JA, Fernandez-Varo G, Bruguera 

M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Garcia-Valdecasas 

JC, Perez-Del-Pulgar S, Forns X, 

Jimenez W, Navasa M. Serum Fibrosis 

Markers Identify Patients With Mild and 

Progressive Hepatitis C Recurrence After 

Liver Transplantation. GASTROENTERO- 

LOGY, 2010. 138:147-158. I.F.:12,90. 

7 Horrillo R, Gonzalez-Periz A, Martinez- 

Clemente M, Lopez-Parra M, Ferre N, 

Titos E, Moran-Salvador E, Deulofeu R, 

Arroyo V, Claria J. 5-Lipoxygenase Activating 

Protein Signals Adipose Tissue 

Inflammation and Lipid Dysfunction in 

Experimental Obesity. J IMMUNOL, 

2010. 184:3978-3987. I.F.:5,65. 

8 Martinez-Clemente M, Ferre N, 

Gonzalez-Periz A, Lopez-Parra M, Horrillo 

R, Titos E, Moran-Salvador E, Miquel 

R, Arroyo V, Funk CD, Claria J. 5-Lipoxygenase 

Deficiency Reduces Hepatic 

Inflammation and Tumor Necrosis Factor 

alpha-Induced Hepatocyte Damage in 

Hyperlipidemia-Prone ApoE-Null Mice. 

HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:817-827. 

I.F.:10,84. 

9 Moles A, Tarrats N, Morales A, 

Dominguez M, Bataller R, Caballeria J, 

Garcia-Ruiz C, Fernandez-Checa JC, Mari 

M. Acidic Sphingomyelinase Controls 

Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and in 

Vivo Liver Fibrogenesis. AM J PATHOL, 

2010. 177:1214-1224. I.F.:5,67. 

10 Altamirano J, Zapata L, Poblano M, 

Rodriguez A, Camargo L, Martinez B, 

Bataller R. Acute Pylephlebitis Following 

Gastrointestinal Infection: An Unrecognized 

Cause of Septic Shock. SOUTH MED 

J, 2010. 103:956-959. I.F.:0,92. 

11 Melgar-Lesmes P, Casals G, Pauta 

M, Ros J, Reichenbach V, Bataller 

R, Morales-Ruiz M, Jimenez W. Apelin 

Mediates the Induction of Profibrogenic 

Genes in Human Hepatic Stellate Cells. 

ENDOCRINOLOGY, 2010. 151:5306- 

5314. I.F.:4,75. 

12 Altamirano J, Bataller R. Cigarette 

smoking and chronic liver diseases. GUT, 

2010. 59:1159-1162. I.F.:9,36. 

13 Gines P, Wong F, Watson H, Terg R, 

Bruha R, Zarski JP, Dudley F. Clinical trial: 

short-term effects of combination of satavaptan, 

a selective vasopressin V-2 receptor 

antagonist, and diuretics on ascites in 

patients with cirrhosis without hyponatraemia 

- a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled 

study. ALIMENT PHARM THER, 

2010. 31:834-845. I.F.:4,36. 

14 Martinez-Clemente M, Ferre N, Titos 

E, Horrillo R, Gonzalez-Periz A, Moran-Salvador 

E, Lopez-Vicario C, Miquel R, Arroyo 

V, Funk CD, Claria J. Disruption of the 

12/15-Lipoxygenase Gene (Alox15) Protects 

Hyperlipidemic Mice from Nonalcoholic 

Fatty Liver Disease. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 52:1980-1991. I.F.:10,84. 

15 Wong F, Gines P, Watson H, Horsmans 

Y, Angeli P, Gow P, Minini P, Bernardi 

M. Effects of a selective vasopressin 

V-2 receptor antagonist, satavaptan, on 

ascites recurrence after paracentesis in 

patients with cirrhosis. J HEPATOL, 2010. 

53:283-290. I.F.:7,82. 

16 VanDeVeire S, Stalmans I, Heindryckx 

F, Oura H, Tijeras-Raballand A, 

Schmidt T, Loges S, Albrecht I, Jonckx 

B, Vinckier S, VanSteenkiste C, Tugues 

S, Rolny C, DeMol M, Dettori D, Hainaud 

P, Coenegrachts L, Contreres JO, Van- 

Bergen T, Cuervo H, Xiao WH, LeHenaff 

C, Buysschaert I, Masouleh BK, Geerts 

A, Schomber T, Bonnin P, Lambert V, 

Haustraete J, Zacchigna S, Rakic JM, 

Jimenez W, Noel A, Giacca M, Colle I, 

Foidart JM, Tobelem G, Morales-Ruiz M, 

Vilar J, Maxwell P, Vinores SA, Carmeliet 

158

AREA 3 


PHYSIOPATHOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF ASCITES AND ALTERED RENAL FUNCTION IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS 

G, Dewerchin M, Claesson-Welsh L, 

Dupuy E, VanVlierberghe H, Christofori 

G, Mazzone M, Detmar M, Collen D, 

Carmeliet P. Further Pharmacological 

and Genetic Evidence for the Efficacy 

of PlGF Inhibition in Cancer and Eye 

Disease. CELL, 2010. 141:178-190. 

I.F.:31,15. 

17 Sancho-Bru P, Juez E, Moreno M, 

Khurdayan V, Morales-Ruiz M, Colmenero 

J, Arroyo V, Brenner DA, Gines P, Bataller 

R. Hepatocarcinoma cells stimulate 

the growth, migration and expression of 

pro-angiogenic genes in human hepatic 

stellate cells. LIVER INT, 2010. 30:31-41. 

I.F.:2,99. 

18 Sola E, Lens S, Guevara M, Martin- 

Llahi M, Fagundes C, Pereira G, Pavesi 

M, Fernandez J, Gonzalez-Abraldes J, 

Escorsell A, Mas A, Bosch J, Arroyo 

V, Gines P. Hyponatremia in Patients 

Treated With Terlipressin for Severe 

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Portal 

Hypertension. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

52:1783-1790. I.F.:10,84. 

19 Fernandez-Varo G, Melgar-Lesmes 

P, Casals G, Pauta M, Arroyo V, Morales- 

Ruiz M, Ros J, Jimenez W. Inactivation 

of extrahepatic vascular Akt improves 

systemic hemodynamics and sodium 

excretion in cirrhotic rats. J HEPATOL, 

2010. 53:1041-1048. I.F.:7,82. 

20 Ki SH, Park O, Zheng MQ, Morales- 

Ibanez O, Kolls JK, Bataller R, Gao B. 

Interleukin-22 Treatment Ameliorates 

Alcoholic Liver Injury in a Murine Model 

of Chronic-Binge Ethanol Feeding: Role 

off Signal Transducer and Activator of 

Transcription 3. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

52:1291-1300. I.F.:10,84. 

21 Padrissa-Altes S, Zaouali MA, Franco-Gou 

R, Bartrons R, Boillot O, Rimola 

A, Arroyo V, Rodes J, Peralta C, Rosello- 

Catafau J. Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 

in Reduced-Size Liver Transplantation: 

Beyond the Matrix. AM J TRANSPLANT, 

2010. 10:1167-1177. I.F.:6,43. 

22 Kluwe J, Pradere JP, Gwak GY, 

Mencin A, DeMinicis S, Osterreicher 

CH, Colmenero J, Bataller R, Schwabe 

RF. Modulation of Hepatic Fibrosis by 

c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase Inhibition. GAS- 

TROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 138:347-359. 

I.F.:12,90. 

23 Nazar A, Pereira GH, Guevara M, 

Martin-Llahi M, Pepin MN, Marinelli M, 

Sola E, Baccaro ME, Terra C, Arroyo 

V, Gines P. Predictors of Response to 

Therapy with Terlipressin and Albumin in 

Patients with Cirrhosis and Type 1 Hepatorenal 

Syndrome. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:219-226. I.F.:10,84. 

24 Titos E, Ferre N, Lozano JJ, Horrillo 

R, Lopez-Parra M, Arroyo V, Claria J. Protection 

from hepatic lipid accumulation 

and inflammation by genetic ablation of 

5-lipoxygenase. PROSTAG OTH LIPID M, 

2010. 92:54-61. I.F.:2,56. 

25 Moreno M, Gonzalo T, Kok RJ, 

Sancho-Bru P, VanBeuge M, Swart J, 

Prakash J, Temming K, Fondevila C, Beljaars 

L, Lacombe M, VanDerHoeven P, 

Arroyo V, Poelstra K, Brenner DA, Gines 

P, Bataller R. Reduction of Advanced Liver 

Fibrosis by Short-Term Targeted Delivery 

of an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker 

to Hepatic Stellate Cells in Rats. HEPA- 

TOLOGY, 2010. 51:942-952. I.F.:10,84. 

26 Guevara M, Baccaro ME, Rios J, 

Martin-Llah M, Uriz J, DelArbol LR, Planas 

R, Monescillo A, Guarner C, Crespo 

J, Banares R, Arroyo V, Gines P. Risk 

factors for hepatic encephalopathy in 

patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites: 

relevance of serum sodium concentration. 

LIVER INT, 2010. 30:1137-1142. 

I.F.:2,99. 

27 Albillos A, Nieto M, Ubeda M, 

Munoz L, Fraile B, Reyes E, Lledo L, 

Blanco I, Pastor O, Salas C, Lario M, 

Monserrat J, Bataller R, Alvarez-Mon 

M. The biological response modifier 

AM3 attenuates the inflammatory 

cell response and hepatic fibrosis in 

rats with biliary cirrhosis. GUT, 2010. 

59:943-952. I.F.:9,36. 

28 Romero-Gomez M, Jover M, Del- 

Campo JA, Royo JL, Hoyas E, Galan 

JJ, Montoliu C, Baccaro E, Guevara 

M, Cordoba J, Soriano G, Navarro JM, 

Martinez-Sierra C, Grande L, Galindo A, 

Mira E, Manes S, Ruiz A. Variations in 

the Promoter Region of the Glutaminase 

Gene and the Development of Hepatic 

Encephalopathy in Patients With 

Cirrhosis A Cohort Study. ANN INTERN 

MED, 2010. 153:281-294. I.F.:16,23. 

Reviews 

I.F.:12,46 

1 Salerno F, Guevara M, Bernardi M, 

Moreau R, Wong F, Angeli P, Garcia- 

Tsao G, Lee SS. Refractoryascites: 

pathogenesis, definition and therapy 

of a severe complication in patients 

with cirrhosis. LIVER INT, 2010. 

30:937-947. I.F.:2,99. 

2 Sola E, Gines P. Renal and circulatory 

dysfunction in cirrhosis: Current management 

and future perspectives. J HE- 

PATOL, 2010. 53:1135-1145. I.F.:7,82. 

3 Gonzalez-Periz A, Claria J. Resolution 

of Adipose Tissue Inflammation. 

THESCIENTIFICWORLDJO, 2010. 

10:832-856. I.F.:1,66. 

Editorials 

I.F.:1,65 

1 Claria J. Resolution of Acute Inflammation 

and the Role of Lipid Mediators. 

THESCIENTIFICWORLDJO, 2010. 

10:1553-1555. I.F.:1,66. 

159

AREA 3 


PHYSIOPATHOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF ASCITES 

AND ALTERED RENAL FUNCTION IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS 


I.F.:7,82 

1 Gines P, Angeli P, Lenz K, Møller S, 

Moore K, Moreau R, Merkel C, Ring-Larsen 

H, Bernardi M, Garcia-Tsao G, Hayers 

P. EASL clinical practice guidelines on the 

management of ascites, spontaneous bacterial 

peritonitis, and hepatorenal syndrome 

in cirrhosis European Association for the 

Study of the Liver. J HEPATOL, 2010. 

53:397-417. I.F.:7,82. 


in progress 

Gines P. Efecto de la administración prolongada 

de albúminay midodrina en la prevención 

de complicaciones en pacientes 

en lista de espera de transplante hepático. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Sanidad y Consumo, 

EC07/90077. Amount: 666.710,00 


Guevara M. Estudio Aleatorizado y controlado 

sobre la eficacia de la albúmina en 

la prevención de las complicaciones de 

pacientes de cirrosis en la lista de espera 

de trasplante hepático. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio Sanidad y Consumo, PI070443. 


26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Claria J. Participación de los mediadores lipídicos 

derivados del ácido araquidónico en 

el desarrollo y progresión de la inflamación 

y esteatosis hepática. Efecto de los ácidos 

grasos poliinsaturados Omega-3. Sponsored 


SAF2006-03191. Amount: 244.420,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/10/2006-30/09/2010. 

Jimenez W. Remodelado tisular y disfunción 

circulatoria en modelos experimentales 

de enfermedad hepática. Identificación y 

caracterización de nuevas dianas terapéuticas. 


e Innovación, SAF2009-08839. Amount: 


30/09/2012. 

Bataller R. Projecte TRACE 2009. Desarrollo 

de un test genético para predecir la 

progresión de la fibrosis en pacientes con 

hepatitis crónica C” (POLIGEN). Sponsored 


PET2008_0304. Amount: 121.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/03/2009-28/02/2011. 

Bataller R. Investigación traslacional en pacientes 

con hepatopatías crónicas: desarrollo 

de métodos pronósticos e identificación de 

nuevas dianas terapéuticas. Sponsored by: 

Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS), PI08/0237. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Arroyo V. Investigació hepàtica: Recerca bàsica 

i experimental. Sponsored by: AGAUR, 

2009SGR3009. Amount: 43.680,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Gines P. Grup de recerca en hepatologia clínica. 

Sponsored by: AGAUR, 2009SGR1401. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Gines P. Disfunción Renal en la cirrosis 

hepática: Investigación de nuevos métodos 

diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Instituto 

de Salud Carlos III, PI 080126. Amount: 


31/12/2012. 

Jimenez W. Remodelado tisular y disfunción 

circulatoria en modelos experimentales de 

enfermedad hepática. Identificación y caracterización 

de nuevas dianas terapeuticas. 

Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCA- 

CIÓN, SAF2009_08839. Amount: 254.100,01 


Bataller R. Hepatic Microfluidic Bioreactor. 

Sponsored by: Katholieke Universiteit 

Leuven, FP7-2010-TESTING_1. Amount: 


02/02/2015. 

Jimenez W. Grupo de Investigación traslacional 

en nuevas estrategias de diagnóstico 

y tratamiento de la enfermedad hepática. 

Sponsored by: GENERALITAT DE CATALUN- 

YA, 2009_SGR_1496. Amount: 42.640,00 


Thesis 

Claria J. Paper de la ciclooxigenasa-2 i la 

5-lipooxigenasa en la inflamació hepàtica i 

del teixit adipós. PhD student: Raquel Horrillo 

Saura. 

Jimenez W. Fisiopatologia del edema y de 

la formacion de ascitis en la cirrosis hepática 

experimental. PhD student: Pedro Melgar 

Lesmes. 

Bataller R. Investigación de nuevas estrategias 

terapeúticas para la inflamación y la 

fibrosis hepática. PhD student: Montserrat 

Moreno Sanchez. 

Morales M. Función fisiopatológica de la 

activación de las células endoteliales hepáticas 

en la cirrosis. Posibles implicaciones 

terapéuticas. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Educación y Ciencia, SAF2007-63069. 


01/10/2007-04/10/2010. 

Claria J. Papel de los mediadores lipídicos 

en la inflamación del tejido adiposo y su 

influencia sobre la respuesta esteatogénica 

del higado en la obesidad. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Educación, SAF2009_08767. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

160

AREA 3 



HEPATIC ONCOLOGY 

Group Members 


M. Carmen Ayuso (Hospital Clínic) 

Concepció Bru (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Fuster (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep M. Llovet (ICREA) 

Ramon Vilana (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Jordi Bruix 


Tel.: 93 227 98 03 

Fax: 93 227 57 92 

E-mail: 

jbruix@clinic.ub.es 


Clara Alsinet (Fundació Clínic) 

María Reig (IDIBAPS) 

Carlos Rodriguez de Lope (Hospital Clínic) 

Helena Cornella (IDIBAPS) 

Silvia Tremosini (Fundació Clínic) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

This multidiscipline group, internationally 

known as the Barcelona Clinic Liver 

Cancer (BCLC) group, carries out clinical 

research into hepatocellular carcinoma 

and translation research. The objective is 

to investigate both the efficacy of clinical 

and therapeutic interventions and the 

mechanisms that regulate the progression 

of this disease. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

At clinical level, work is done in the 

definition of new diagnostic tools and, 

with a view to evaluating treatment efficacy, 

the optimum criteria for indicating 

radical treatment are perfected (surgical 

resection, transplantation, percutaneous 

approach with ablation) – with the aim of 

ensuring maximum efficacy in terms of 

both survival and associated morbidity. 

In the treatment setting, evaluations are 

made of the options for improving the 

efficacy of non-curative therapies which 

have been shown to improve survival (arterial 

chemical embolization, sorafenib). 

In this sense, phase 1, 2 and 3 studies 

are carried out and led at international 

level, with a view to determining the efficacy 

of new molecular agents. At the 

same time, evaluations 

are being made of the 

efficacy of antiangiogenic 

treatment to prevent 

relapse after surgical 

treatment or ablation. 

Likewise, prevention 

studies are being conducted 

in patients with 

liver cirrhosis. 

In relation to translation 

research, studies are being 

made of the pathogenesis 

of hepatocellular 

carcinoma, together 

with the analysis of new 

signaling pathways and 

genomic aberrations 

implicated in the development 

of the tumor, as 

well as the identification 

of novel therapeutic 

targets. An international 

genomic research consortium 

has been created 

in hepatocellular carcinoma, 

in collaboration 

with the Mount Sinai 

Medical School, Harvard 

University and the Instituto 

di Tumori in Milan, 

which has consolidated 

a tissue bank of capital 

importance. 

Diagnosis of 

early stage 

HCC based on 

staining with 

GPC3 (A), 

HSP70 (B) and 

GS (C). 

Technicians: 

Juan M. López (Fundació Clínic) 

Ingrid Rengel (CIBERehd) 


Adela Godoy (Fundació Clínic) 

Neus Llarch (Fundació Clínic) 


Núria Pérez (Fundació Clínic) 

Diana Segarra (CIBERehd) 

Ariadna Farré (IDIBAPS) 


Loreto Boix (CIBERehd) 

Judit Peix (CIBERehd) 

Manel Solé (Hospital Clínic) 

Victoria Tovar (IDIBAPS) 

Alejandro Forner (CIBERehd) 

Jordi Rimola (CDIC) 

Marta Burrel (CDIC) 

Maria Isabel Real (CDIC) 

Lluís Bianchi (CDIC) 

Augusto Villanueva (Ciberehd) 

M. Angeles García-Criado (Hospital Clínic) 


Translational research in liver oncology 

Group Leader: Josep M. Llovet (ICMDM) 

The group was created in the year 2006 with the purpose of 

conducting genomic studies in hepatocellular carcinoma and of 

identifying therapeutic targets and new molecular treatments. 

We have established two lines of research in the context of an 

international consortium (HCC Genomic Project), organized by 

Dr. Llovet, and involving the participation of the BCLC-Clínic-IDIBAPS, the Mount 

Sinai School of Medicine (NY), the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad 

Institute (Boston), and the National Tumor Institute (Milan):1. Genomics. Identification 

of the genomic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and clarification 

of their implications in relation to diagnosis and treatment. Integral analysis 

of the transcriptome (oligonucleotide microarrays) and of the genomic aberrations 

(SNP arrays). Identification of markers for the early diagnosis of HCC.2. Signaling 

pathways and molecular therapies. Identification of the role of the signal 

transduction pathways in the pathogenesis of HCC, and identification of new 

therapeutic targets and new molecular treatments. We are currently studying the 

signaling pathways corresponding to Akt/mTOR, EGFR-Ras-MAPK, IGF and Wnt, 

in human samples, cell lines and experimental animals. Recently, the group has 

been coordinating a European Project, FP-7-HEALTH (HEPTROMIC) with 6 academic 

centers and two companies, with the purpose of exploring the prognostic 

oncogenes and potential treatment targets in liver cancer. 

161

AREA 3 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 62,23 


M, Colmenero J, Torregrosa JV, Martin-Llahi 

M, Sola E, Esforzado N, Fuster 




with cirrhosis and chronic kidney 

disease. NEPHROL DIAL TRANSPL, 

2010. 25:2356-2363. I.F.:3,31. 



MA, Ferrer J, Fondevila C, Garcia-Valdecasas 

JC. Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated 

lipocalin in patients with 

colorectal liver metastases: preliminary 

results of an exploratory prospective 

study. INT J BIOL MARKER, 2010. 

25:21-26. I.F.:1,42. 

3 Cabibbo G, Enea M, Attanasio M, 

Bruix J, Craxi A, Camma C. A Meta- 

Analysis of Survival Rates of Untreated 

Patients in Randomized Clinical Trials 

of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. HEPATO- 

LOGY, 2010. 51:1274-1283. I.F.:10,84. 

4 Greten TF, Forner A, Korangy F, 

N’kontchou G, Barget N, Ayuso C, Ormandy 

LA, Manns MP, Beaugrand M, 

Bruix J. A phase II open label trial evaluating 

safety and efficacy of a telomerase 

peptide vaccination in patients with 

advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. 

BMC CANCER, 2010. 10:-. I.F.:2,74. 

5 Plessier A, Darwish-Murad S, 

Hernandez-Guerra M, Consigny Y, 

Fabris F, Trebicka J, Heller J, Morard 

I, Lasser L, Langlet P, Denninger MH, 

Vidaud D, Condat B, Hadengue A, 

Primignani M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Janssen 

HLA, Valla D. Acute Portal Vein 

Thrombosis Unrelated to Cirrhosis: 

A Prospective Multicenter Follow-up 

Study. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:210- 

218. I.F.:10,84. 

6 Tovar V, Alsinet C, Villanueva A, Hoshida 

Y, Chiang DY, Sole M, Thung S, Moyano 

S, Toffanin S, Minguez B, Cabellos L, 

Peix J, Schwartz M, Mazzaferro V, Bruix 

J, Llovet JM. IGF activation in a molecular 

subclass of hepatocellular carcinoma and 

pre-clinical efficacy of IGF-1R blockage. J 

HEPATOL, 2010. 52:550-559. I.F.:7,82. 

7 Vilana R, Forner A, Bianchi L, Garcia- 

Criado A, Rimola J, DeLope CR, Reig 

M, Ayuso C, Bru C, Bruix J. Intrahepatic 

Peripheral Cholangiocarcinoma in Cirrhosis 

Patients May Display a Vascular Pattern 

Similar to Hepatocellular Carcinoma on 

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound. HEPATO- 

LOGY, 2010. 51:2020-2029. I.F.:10,84. 

8 Hessheimer AJ, Forner A, Varela M, 

Bruix J. Metabolic risk factors are a major 

comorbidity in patients with cirrhosis independent 

of the presence of hepatocellular 

carcinoma. EUR J GASTROEN HEPAT, 

2010. 22:1239-1244. I.F.:1,66. 

9 Fondevila C, Hessheimer AJ, Taura P, 

Sanchez O, Calatayud D, DeRiva N, Munoz 

J, Fuster J, Rimola A, Garcia-Valdecasas 

JC. Portal Hyperperfusion: Mechanism 

of Injury and Stimulus for Regeneration 

in Porcine Small-for-Size Transplantation. 

LIVER TRANSPLANT, 2010. 16:364-374. 

I.F.:3,72. 

10 Taura P, Fuster J, Mercadal J, 

Martinez-Palli G, Fondevila C, Blasi A, 

Balust J, Garcia-Valdecasas JC. The use 

of beta-adrenergic drugs improves hepatic 

oxygen metabolism in cirrhotic patients 

undergoing liver resection. J HEPATOL, 

2010. 52:340-347. I.F.:7,82. 

11 Varela M, Reig M, DeLaMata M, 

Matilla A, Bustamante J, Pascual S, Turnes 

J, Aracil C, DelVal A, Pascasio JM, Rodriguez 

M, Bruix J. Treatment approach of 

hepatocellular carcinoma in Spain. Analysis 

of 705 patients from 62 centers. MED 

CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 134:569-576. 

I.F.:1,23. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 40,02 

1 Zender L, Villanueva A, Tovar V, 

Sia D, Chiang DY, Llovet JM. Cancer 

gene discovery in hepatocellular carcinoma. 

J HEPATOL, 2010. 52:921-929. 

I.F.:7,82. 

2 Forner A, Reig ME, DeLope CR, 

Bruix J. Current Strategy for Staging 

and Treatment: The BCLC Update and 

Future Prospects. SEMIN LIVER DIS, 

2010. 30:61-74. I.F.:5,17. 

3 Villanueva A, Minguez B, Forner A, 

Reig M, Llovet JM. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 

Novel Molecular Approaches 

for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy. 

ANNU REV MED, 2010. 61:317-328. 

I.F.:9,94. 

4 Lencioni R, Llovet JM. Modified 

RECIST (mRECIST) Assessment for 

Hepatocellular Carcinoma. SEMIN LI- 

VER DIS, 2010. 30:52-60. I.F.:5,17. 

5 Hoshida Y, Toffanin S, Lachenmayer 

A, Villanueva A, Minguez B, Llovet 

JM. Molecular Classification and Novel 

Targets in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 

Recent Advancements. SEMIN LIVER 

DIS, 2010. 30:35-51. I.F.:5,17. 

6 Villanueva A, Hoshida Y, Toffanin 

S, Lachenmayer A, Alsinet C, Savic R, 

Cornella H, Llovet JM. New Strategies 

in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Genomic 

Prognostic Markers. CLIN CANCER 

RES, 2010. 16:4688-4694. I.F.:6,75. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 108,53 

1 Navasa M, Bruix J. Multifaceted 

Perspective of the Waiting List for Liver 

Transplantation: The Value of Pharmacokinetic 

Models. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 51:12-15. I.F.:10,84. 

162

AREA 3 



2 Forns X, Bruix J. Treating hepatitis C in 

patients with cirrhosis: The effort is worth 

it. J HEPATOL, 2010. 52:624-626. I.F.:7,82. 

3 Forner A, Bruix J. Ablation for hepatocellular 

carcinoma: Is there need to have 

a winning technique?. J HEPATOL, 2010. 

52:310-312. I.F.:7,82. 

4 DeLope CR, Bruix J. Failure of interferon 

to prevent disease progression and 

liver cancer in hepatitis C virus infection: 

proof of absence or absence of proof?. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 138:777- 

779. I.F.:12,90. 

5 Lachenmayer A, Hoshida Y, Llovet 

JM. Hippo tumor supressor pathway: 

novel implications for the treatment of 

hepatocellular carcinoma. GASTROENTE- 

ROLOGY, 2010. 139:692-694. I.F.:12,90. 

6 Boix L, Bruix J. MicroRNA analysis for 

outcome prediction in hepatitis B virusrelated 

liver cancer. GASTROENTEROLO- 

GY, 2010. 138:1624-1626. I.F.:12,90. 

7 Toffanin S, Villanueva A, Llovet JM. 

miRNA delivery: emerging therapy for hepatocellular 

carcinoma. GASTROENTERO- 

LOGY, 2010. 138 (3):1202-1204. I.F.:12,90. 

8 Toffanin S, Friedman SL, Llovet JM. 

Obesity, Inflammatory Signaling, and 

Hepatocellular Carcinoma-An Enlarging 

Link. CANCER CELL, 2010. 17:115-117. 

I.F.:25,29. 

9 Bruix J, Llovet JM. Two Decades of 

Advances in Hepatocellular Carcinoma 

Research FOREWORD. SEMIN LIVER 

DIS, 2010. 30:1-2. I.F.:5,17. 


I.F.: 2,21 

1 Ferenci P, Fried M, Labrecque D, Bruix 

J, Sherman M, Omata M, Heathcote J, 

Piratsivuth T, Kew M, Otegbayo JA, Zheng 

SS, Sarin S, Hamid SS, Modawi SB, Fleig 

W, Fedail S, Thomson A, Khan A, Malfertheiner 

P, Lau G, Carillo FJ, Krabshuis J, 

LeMair A. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) 

A Global Perspective. J CLIN GASTROEN- 

TEROL, 2010. 44:239-245. I.F.:2,21. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 28,90 

1 Paoletti X, Oba K, Burzykowski T, 

Michiels S, Ohashi Y, Pignon JP, Rougier 

P, Sakamoto J, Sargent D, Sasako 

M, VanCutsem E, Buyse M. Benefit of 

Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resectable 

Gastric Cancer A Meta-analysis. JAMA-J 

AM MED ASSOC, 2010. 303:1729-1737. 

I.F.:28,90. 


in progress 

Bru C. Integración de las diferentes técnicas 

de imagen médica en una única 

imagen multimodal. Desarrollo de distintos 

modelos de aplicación. Angiología 

cerebral y cardiológica (TC, RM, SPECT). 

Sponsored by: Ministerio de Industria 

Turismo y Comercio, CDTEAM. Amount: 


18/01/2010. 

Llovet JM. Papel de la vía de señalización 

del IGF en el carcinoma hepatocelular 

(CHC). Terapia molecular in vitro e in 

vivo. Sponsored by: Ministerio Educación 

y Ciencia, SAF2007-61898. Amount: 


04/10/2010. 

Llovet JM. Integrative genomic analysis 

in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sponsored 

by: National Institutes of Health, 

1R01DK076986-01. Amount: 142.780,00 


Bruix J. Identificación y caracterización 

de la población de células madre adultas 

tumorales en líneas celulares derivadas 

de carcinoma hepatocelular humano. 


Sanitaria, PI080146. Amount: 105.754,00 


Bruix J. Grup de Recerca Consolidat -Oncologia 

Hepàtica- Barcelona Clinic Liver 

Cancer (BCLC). Sponsored by: AGAUR. 

(Generalitat de Catalunya), SGR 1100. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2014. 

Llovet JM. Grup de Recerca Singular- 

Recerca Translacional en Oncologia 

Hepàtica. Sponsored by: AGAUR (Generalitat 

de Catalunya), SGR 1186. Amount: 


31/12/2014. 

Llovet JM. AACR-Landon INNOVATION 

Award for International Collaborations 

AACR Annual Meeting, Denver, USA. 

Sponsored by: American Association 

for Cancer Research, 0000. Amount: 


01/06/2011. 

Llovet JM. Genomic predictors and 

oncogenic drivers in hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Sponsored by: EUROPEAN CO- 

MISSION, 259744. Amount: 796.901,00 


Llovet JM. Oncogenic addiction and 

gatekeepper genes in hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Sponsored by: AMERICAN AS- 

SOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH, 

09-60-27-LLOV. Amount: 100.000,00 


Thesis 

Bruix J. Actitud a seguir ante la detección 

de una lesión focal inferior o igual 

a 2 cm de tamaño en un paciente con 

cirrosis hepática. PhD student: Alejandro 

Forner Gonzalez. 

163

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LIVER HEMODYNAMICS AND PORTAL HYPERTENSION. DIGESTIVE 

BLEEDING SECONDARY TO RUPTURED ESOPHAGEAL VARICOSE VEINS 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Jaume Bosch 


Tel.: 93 227 57 90 

Fax: 93 227 93 48 

E-mail: jbosch@clinic.ub.es 

The gaining of in-depth knowledge of 

the mechanisms underlying portal hypertension 

– the main complication of liver 

diseases – and development of new 

treatments for this syndrome, and new 

noninvasive assessment techniques. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Ramon Deulofeu (Hospital Clínic) 

Àngels Escorsell (Hospital Clínic) 

Mercè Fernández Lobato (IDIBAPS) 

Joan C. García-Pagán (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Rosa Gilabert (Hospital Clínic) 

Carles Nicolau (Hospital Clínic) 

Juan Manuel Salmerón (Hospital Clínic 

Juan González-Abraldes (Hospital Clínic) 


Aina Rodríguez (CIBERehd) 

Jordi Gracia-Sancho (CIBERehd) 


Marta Divi (FIS) 

Marcos Pasarín (FIS) 

Sebastián Raffa (Fundació Clínic) 

Eva Erice (CIBERehd) 

Susana Seijó (Beca Río Hortega) 

Mario d’Amico (IDIBAPS) 

Vincenzo La Mura (Fundació Clínic) 

Lucía Russo (CIBERehd) 

Andrea Ribeiro (Fundació Clínic) 

Giusi Marrone (ISCIII) 

Javier Gallego (CIBERehd) 

Marc Mejías (SAF) 

Eugeni Rosado (CIBERehd) 

Eyal Ashkenazi (CIBERehd) 

Mª Gabriela Delgado Navas 


Marco di Pascoli (EASL) 

Enric Reverter (Fundació Clínic) 

Federica Cerini (MRLD) 

Cintia de Meireles (MRLD) 

Maeva Guillaume (Aide Jeunes Chercheurs) 

Dinesh Mani Tripathi 

(ACI-COLABORA 2009-0938) 

Technicians: 

Esther García (CIBERehd) 

Héctor García (CIBERehd) 

Montse Monclús (Idibaps) 


Rosa Sáez (CIBERehd) 


Annalisa Berzigotti (Hospital Clínic) 

1. Factors regulating liver microcirculation 

under normal conditions and 

in cirrhosis, based on isolated liver 

perfusion studies and studies in liver 

sinusoid endothelial cells. 

2. Intrahepatic endothelial dysfunction 

in liver cirrhosis. 

3. Post-transcriptional regulation of endothelial 

nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) 

activity. Relevance in the treatment 

of portal hypertension. 

4. Regulation of the transcription of liver 

sinusoid endothelial cell protecting 

genes: relevance in the physiopathology 

of portal hypertension and in ex 

vivo liver preservation. 

5. Regulation of the development of 

collateral circulation, hyperdynamic 

circulation and liver fibrogenesis by 

angiogenic factors. 

6. New noninvasive methods for evaluating 

cirrhosis. 

7. Randomized clinical studies of novel 

treatments for portal hypertension. 

8. Hepatic vascular diseases. 

164

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LIVER HEMODYNAMICS AND PORTAL HYPERTENSION. DIGESTIVE BLEEDING SECONDARY TO RUPTURED ESOPHAGEAL VARICOSE VEINS 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 211,12 

Tracing of liver venous pressure gradient. 


Regulation of liver microcirculation in cirrhosis 

and hepatic vascular diseases 

Group Leader: Juan Carlos García-Pagán (Hospital Clínic) 

One of the mechanisms responsible for the development of 

portal hypertension and its serious consequences is the increase 

in portal resistance observed within the cirrhotic liver. 

Part of this increase is dynamic and amenable to modification 

by means of drugs. Therefore, improved knowledge based on 

experimental models in animals of the cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms 

regulating this dynamic component will allow us to design new strategies 

for the treatment of these disorders.Liver vascular disorders, particularly 

Budd-Chiari syndrome and non-cirrhotic portal thrombosis, are infrequent causes 

of portal hypertension. This complicates progress in our knowledge of these 

illnesses, their prognosis and treatments. This circumstance is of particular 

relevance, since these diseases mainly affect young patients with a potentially 

long life expectancy. For a number of years, our group has served as a reference 

center for these illnesses – thus allowing us to propose new treatment options 

and to advance in furthering our knowledge. 


Angiogenesis in liver diseases 

Group Leader: Mercè Fernandez Lobato (IDIBAPS) 

We focus our research on the implication and regulation of 

angiogenesis in the physiopathology of portal hypertension. 

Recent studies in experimental models of portal hypertension 

have shown that angiogenesis or the formation of new blood 

vessels is crucial to two of the most important components 

of the physiopathology of portal hypertension: the formation of portosystemic 

collateral vessels and the development of hyperdynamic splanchnic circulation. 

The results of these studies may contribute valuable information with a view 

to improving our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms implicated in the 

physiopathology of portal hypertension and chronic liver diseases – these being 

a leading cause of mortality and an important indication for liver transplantation 

both in this country and worldwide. Our aim is that the studies of this project 

can lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches designed to reduce 

the morbidity and mortality of patients diagnosed with these disorders. 


D, Perez I, Gutierrez F, Lonca M, Barragan 

P, Deulofeu R, Casamitjana R, Mallolas J, 

Pich J, Gatell JM. Abacavir-based therapy 

does not affect biological mechanisms associated 

with cardiovascular dysfunction. 

AIDS, 2010. 24:F1-F9. I.F.:4,91. 

2 Puig-Pey I, Bohne F, Benitez C, Lopez 

M, Martinez-Llordella M, Oppenheimer F, 

Lozano JJ, Gonzalez-Abraldes J, Tisone 

G, Rimola A, Sanchez-Fueyo A. Characterization 

of gamma delta T cell subsets 

in organ transplantation. TRANSPL INT, 

2010. 23:1045-1055. I.F.:3,25. 

3 Collado S, Coll E, Deulofeu R, Guerrero 

L, Pons M, Cruzado JM, De LaTorre 

B, Vera M, Azqueta M, Nicolau C, Cases 

A. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease 

in uraemia and relevance of cardiovascular 

risk factors. NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 

30:342-348. I.F.:0,53. 

4 Marti J, Fuster J, Hotter G, Sola AM, 

Deulofeu R, Modolo MM, Loera MA, Ferrer 

J, Fondevila C, Garcia-Valdecasas JC. 

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated 

lipocalin in patients with colorectal liver 

metastases: preliminary results of an exploratory 

prospective study. INT J BIOL 

MARKER, 2010. 25:21-26. I.F.:1,42. 

5 Sala-Vila A, Cofan M, Perez-Heras A, 

Nunez I, Gilabert R, Junyent M, Mateo- 

Gallego R, Cenarro A, Civeira F, Ros E. 

Fatty acids in serum phospholipids and 

carotid intima-media thickness in Spanish 

subjects with primary dyslipidemia. AM J 

CLIN NUTR, 2010. 92:186-193. I.F.:6,31. 

6 Junyent M, Gilabert R, Jarauta E, 

Nunez I, Cofan M, Civeira F, Pocovi M, 

Mallen M, Zambon D, Almagro F, Vega J, 

Tejedor D, Ros E. Impact of low-density 

lipoprotein receptor mutational class on 

165

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Team Members 

carotid atherosclerosis in patients with 

familial hypercholesterolemia. ATHE- 

ROSCLEROSIS, 2010. 208:437-441. 

I.F.:4,52. 

7 Melgosa MT, Ricci GL, Garcia- 

Pagan JC, Blanco I, Escribano P, 

Abraldes JG, Roca J, Bosch J, Barbera 

JA. Acute and Long-Term Effects of 

Inhaled Iloprost in Portopulmonary 

Hypertension. LIVER TRANSPLANT, 

2010. 16:348-356. I.F.:3,72. 

8 Sebastia C, Peri L, Salvador R, 

Bunesch L, Revuelta I, Alcaraz A, 

Nicolau C. Multidetector CT of Living 

Renal Donors: Lessons Learned from 

Surgeons. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:1875-1890. I.F.:2,75. 

9 Bellot P, Garcia-Pagan JC, Frances 

R, Abraldes JG, Navasa M, Perez-Mateo 

M, Such J, Bosch J. Bacterial DNA 

Translocation Is Associated With Systemic 

Circulatory Abnormalities and 

Intrahepatic Endothelial Dysfunction in 

Patients With Cirrhosis. HEPATOLO- 

GY, 2010. 52:2044-2052. I.F.:10,84. 

10 Carrion JA, Fernandez-Varo G, 

Bruguera M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Garcia- 

Valdecasas JC, Perez-Del-Pulgar 

S, Forns X, Jimenez W, Navasa M. 

Serum Fibrosis Markers Identify 

Patients With Mild and Progressive 

Hepatitis C Recurrence After Liver 

Transplantation. GASTROENTEROLO- 

GY, 2010. 138:147-158. I.F.:12,90. 

12 Sola E, Lens S, Guevara M, 

Martin-Llahi M, Fagundes C, Pereira 

G, Pavesi M, Fernandez J, Gonzalez- 

Abraldes J, Escorsell A, Mas A, Bosch 

J, Arroyo V, Gines P. Hyponatremia in 

Patients Treated With Terlipressin for 

Severe Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due 

to Portal Hypertension. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 52:1783-1790. I.F.:10,84. 


Hernandez-Guerra M, Consigny Y, 

Fabris F, Trebicka J, Heller J, Morard 

I, Lasser L, Langlet P, Denninger MH, 

Vidaud D, Condat B, Hadengue A, 

Primignani M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Janssen 

HLA, Valla D. Acute Portal Vein 

Thrombosis Unrelated to Cirrhosis: 

A Prospective Multicenter Follow-up 


218. I.F.:10,84. 

14 Tandon P, Saez R, Berzigotti A, 

Abraldes JG, Garcia-Pagan JC, Bosch 

J. A Specialized, Nurse-Run Titration 

Clinic: A Feasible Option for Optimizing 

beta-Blockade in Non-Clinical Trial 

Patients. AM J GASTROENTEROL, 

2010. 105:1917-1921. I.F.:6,01. 

15 Coll M, Martell M, Raurell I, 

Ezkurdia N, Cuenca S, Hernandez- 

Losa J, Esteban R, Guardia J, Bosch 

J, Genesca J. Atrophy of mesenteric 

sympathetic innervation may contribute 

to splanchnic vasodilation in rat 

portal hypertension. LIVER INT, 2010. 

30:593-602. I.F.:2,99. 

18 Thabut D, D’amico G, Tan P, 

DeFranchis R, Fabricius S, Lebrec 

D, Bosch J, Bendtsen F. Diagnostic 

performance of Baveno IV criteria in 

cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal 

bleeding: Analysis of the F7 

liver-1288 study population. J HEPA- 

TOL, 2010. 53:1029-1034. I.F.:7,82. 

19 Garcia-Pagan JC, Caca K, Bureau 

C, Laleman W, Appenrodt B, 

Luca A, Abraldes JG, Nevens F, Vinel 

JP, Mossner J, Bosch J. Early Use of 

TIPS in Patients with Cirrhosis and Variceal 

Bleeding.. NEW ENGL J MED, 

2010. 362:2370-2379. I.F.:47,05. 

20 Pietrobattista A, Luciani M, 

Abraldes JG, Candusso M, Pancotti 

S, Soldati M, Monti L, Torre G, Nobili 

V. Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis 

in children and adolescents: Influence 

of genetic thrombophilic disorders. 

WORLD J GASTROENTERO, 2010. 

16:6123-6127. I.F.:2,09. 

21 Mas A, Escorsell A, Fernandez 

J. Liver Transplantation for Acute 

Liver Failure: A Spanish Perspective. 

TRANSPL P, 2010. 42:619-621. 

I.F.:0,99. 

22 Miraglia R, Luca A, Maruzzelli L, 

Spada M, Riva S, Caruso S, Maggiore 

G, Gridelli B, Bosch J. Measurement 

of hepatic vein pressure gradient in 

children with chronic liver diseases. J 

HEPATOL, 2010. 53:624-629. I.F.:7,82. 

11 Horrillo R, Gonzalez-Periz A, 

Martinez-Clemente M, Lopez-Parra 

M, Ferre N, Titos E, Moran-Salvador 

E, Deulofeu R, Arroyo V, Claria J. 5-Lipoxygenase 

Activating Protein Signals 

Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Lipid 

Dysfunction in Experimental Obesity. 

J IMMUNOL, 2010. 184:3978-3987. 

I.F.:5,65. 

16 Mehta G, Abraldes JG, Bosch J. 

Developments and controversies in 

the management of oesophageal and 

gastric varices. GUT, 2010. 59:701- 

705. I.F.:9,36. 

17 Nicolau C, Bunesch L, Sebastia 

C, Salvador R. Diagnosis of bladder 

cancer: contrast-enhanced ultrasound. 

ABDOM IMAGING, 2010. 35:494-503. 

I.F.:1,79. 

23 Berzigotti A, Bellot P, DeGottardi 

A, Garcia-Pagan JC, Gagnon C, 

Spenard J, Bosch J. NCX-1000, a 

Nitric Oxide-Releasing Derivative of 

UDCA, Does Not Decrease Portal 

Pressure in Patients With Cirrhosis: 

Results of a Randomized, Double- 

Blind, Dose-Escalating Study. AM J 

GASTROENTEROL, 2010. 105:1094- 

1101. I.F.:6,01. 

166

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LIVER HEMODYNAMICS AND PORTAL HYPERTENSION. DIGESTIVE BLEEDING SECONDARY TO RUPTURED ESOPHAGEAL VARICOSE VEINS 

24 To-Figueras J, Lopez RM, Deulofeu 

R, Herrero C. Preliminary report 

Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients 

with acute intermittent porphyria. 

METABOLISM, 2010. 59:1809-1810. 

I.F.:2,59. 

25 Mejias M, Garcia-Pras E, Gallego 

J, Mendez R, Bosch J, Fernandez 

M. Relevance of the mTOR signaling 

pathway in the pathophysiology of 

splenomegaly in rats with chronic portal 

hypertension. J HEPATOL, 2010. 

52:529-539. I.F.:7,82. 

26 Tandon P, Abraldes JG, Berzigotti 

A, Garcia-Pagan JC, Bosch J. Reninangiotensin-aldosterone 

inhibitors in 

the reduction of portal pressure: A 

systematic review and meta-analysis. 

J HEPATOL, 2010. 53:273-282. 

I.F.:7,82. 

27 La Mura V, Abraldes JG, Berzigotti 

A, Erice E, Flores-Arroyo A, 

Garcia-Pagan JC, Bosch J. Right Atrial 

Pressure Is Not Adequate to Calculate 

Portal Pressure Gradient in Cirrhosis: 

A Clinical-Hemodynamic Correlation 


2116. I.F.:10,84. 

28 Iqbal F, Item CB, Vilaseca MA, 

Jalan A, Muhl A, Couce ML, Duat A, 

Delgado MP, Bosch J, Puche A, Campistol 

J, Pineda M, Bodamer OA. The 

identification of novel mutations in 

the biotinidase gene using denaturing 

high pressure liquid chromatography 

(dHPLC). MOL GENET METAB, 2010. 

100:42-45. I.F.:2,90. 

29 Berzigotti A, Abraldes JG, 

Tandon P, Erice E, Gilabert R, Garcia- 

Pagan JC, Bosch J. Ultrasonographic 

evaluation of liver surface and transient 

elastography in clinically doubtful 

cirrhosis. J HEPATOL, 2010. 52:846- 

853. I.F.:7,82. 

30 Bargallo X, Carrera A, Sala- 

Blanch X, Santamaria G, Morro R, Llusa 

M, Gilabert R. Ultrasound-anatomic 

correlation of the peripheral nerves of 

the upper limb. SURG RADIOL ANAT, 

2010. 32:305-314. I.F.:0,93. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 54,87 

1 Garcia-Tsao G, Bosch J. Current 

Concepts: Management of Varices 

and Variceal Hemorrhage in Cirrhosis. 

NEW ENGL J MED, 2010. 362:823- 

832. I.F.:47,05. 

2 Bosch J, Abraldes JG, Fernandez 

M, Garcia-Pagan JC. Hepatic endothelial 

dysfunction and abnormal angiogenesis: 

New targets in the treatment of 

portal hypertension. J HEPATOL, 2010. 

53:558-567. I.F.:7,82. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 13,83 

1 De Gottardi A, Abraldes JG. An 

uncommon cause of massive scrotal 

enlargement. LIVER INT, 2010. 

30:995-995. I.F.:2,99. 

2 Bosch J. Carvedilol for Portal Hypertension 

in Patients with Cirrhosis. 

HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 51:2214-2218. 

I.F.:10,84. 


in progress 

Garcia-Pagan JC. Mecanismos moleculares 

de la disfunción endotelial 

intrahepática en la cirrosis. Nuevas 

dianas terapéuticas de la hipertensión 

portal. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



01/10/2007-04/10/2010. 

Gonzalez-Abraldes J. Insulino resistencia 

y disfunción endotelial sinusoidal 

en las hepatopatías crónicas. Mecanismos 

moleculares y significación 

clínica. Sponsored by: FIS, PI08/0193. 


01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Mercè Fernández Lobato. Regulación 

de la angiogénesis en la hipertensión 

portal y la cirrosis hepática. Evaluación 

de nuevos enfoques terapéuticos. 


e Innovación, SAF2008-02461. 


01/01/2009-01/01/2012. 

Mercè Fernández Lobato. Regulació 

de l’angiogènesi en la hipertensió 

portal. Avaluació de noves estratègies 

terapèutiques. Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, MARATO-081210. 


01/01/2009-01/01/2012. 

Escorsell A. Eficacia y seguridad de 

la prótesis esofágica autoexpandible 

versus sonda-balón de sengstaken 

como tratamiento hemostático de 

emergencia en pacientes con hemorragia 

aguda por varices esofágicas y 

fracaso del tratamiento farmacólogico 

y endoscópico. Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la 

Seguridad Social, FIS PI 08/0504. 

Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Bosch J. Reconocimiento GRUP DE 

RECERCA CONSOLIDAT-AGAUR: 

“HEMODINAMICA HEPATICA I HIP- 

ERTENSIO PORTAL”. Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 2009_ 

SGR_1108. Amount: 47.840,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Bosch J. Mecanismos celulares 

y moleculares en la hipertensión 

portal no cirrótica. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación 

167

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(FCCI-ACI-Colabora), ACI2009-0938. 


01/12/2009-30/11/2012. 

Bosch J. Estudio multicéntrico, 

aleatorizado, doble-ciego, controlado 

con placebo, sobre la eficacia del 

tratamiento de beta-bloqueantes 

para prevenir la descompensación 

de la cirrosis con hipertensión portal. 


Sanitaria (FIS), EC 08/00091 . 


01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Bosch J. Hepatic hemodynamics and 

portal hypertension in cirrhosis. Advances 

in the pathophysiology, non-invasive 

evaluation and therapy. (Clinical 

& experimental studies). Sponsored 

by: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS 

III, PI09/1261. Amount: 655.215,00 


31/12/2013. 

Thesis 

Bosch J. Valor pronóstico de nuevos 

parámetros hemodinámicos en el 

tratamiento de la hipertensión portal. 

PhD student: Vincenzo La Mura. 

Bosch J, Fernandez M. Implicació de 

l’ angiogènesi en al patofisiologia de la 

hipertensió portal. PhD student: Marc 

Mejias Hernández. 

Bosch J, Garcia-Pagan JC. Implicaciones 

pronósticas de la reducción 

farmacologica de la presión portal 

en pacientes con cirrosis hepatica. 

Mecanismos fisiopatologicos de no 

respuesta a los betabloqueantes y 

nuevas estrategias terapéuticas. PhD 

student: Juan Turnes Vázquez. 

Bosch J. Asociación de estatinas al 

tratamiento estándar en la prevención 

de la recidiva hemorrágica en 

pacientes con cirrosis y hemorragia 

por varices.. Sponsored by: MIN- 

ISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLITICA 

SOCIAL E IGUALDAD, TRA-074. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Bosch J. Estudio multicéntrico, 

aleatorizado, doble-ciego, controlado 

con placebo, sobre la eficacia del 

tratamiento con beta-bloqueantes 

para la prevención de la descompensación 

de la cirrosis con hipertensión 

portal. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE 

SALUD CARLOS III, EC08/00091. 


01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

168

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Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Josep Mª Bordas (Hospital Clínic) 

Faust Feu (Hospital Clínic) 

Glòria Lacima (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Llach (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep M. Piqué (Hospital Clínic) 

Azucena Salas (IDIBAPS) 

Elena Ricart (Hospital Clínic) 

Salvadora Delgado (Hospital Clínic) 

Miquel Sans (IDIBAPS) 

TEAM LEADER 

Julián Panés 


Tel.: 93 227 54 18 

Fax: 93 227 93 87 

E-mail: jpanes@clinic.ub.es 

The strategic objectives of the 

research group in inflammatory 

bowel disease comprise aspects 

relating to the physiopathology, 

diagnosis and treatment of these 

disorders, as specified by the following 

points: 

• The development of new treatment 

strategies for Crohn’s 

disease and ulcerative colitis, 

focused on cell therapy and the 

identification of new therapeutic 

targets susceptible to pharmacological 

modulation. 

• Further in-depth knowledge of 

the genetic and environmental 

factors responsible for susceptibility 

and the course of the disease, 

with a view to designing 

personalized therapies. 

• Optimization of the radiological 

and biochemical diagnostic techniques 

with the aim of adapting 

treatment to the needs of each 

individual patient, avoiding invasive 

explorations. 

1. Hematopoietic stem cell autotransplantation 

in refractory Crohn’s 

disease in conventional treatment 

and biological therapies. 

2. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety 

of treatment with autologous 

dendritic cells derived from peripheral 

blood monocytes in refractory 

Crohn’s disease. 

3. Optimization of magnetic resonance 

imaging and ultrasound 

techniques with contrast injection, 

for evaluation of the extent and severity 

of the inflammatory lesions 

in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative 

colitis. 

4. Evaluation of the prognostic value 

of the magnetic resonance imaging 

findings in predicting the 

course of the disease and treatment 

response. 

5. Characterization of the genetic factors 

determining susceptibility and 

phenotype in Crohn’s disease and 

ulcerative colitis. Construction of 

diagnostic genetic chips. 

6. Study of the environmental factors 

influencing susceptibility and 

the course of inflammatory bowel 

d isease. 


Marisol Veny (Fundació Clínic) 

Maria del Carme Masamunt 


Raquel Cabezón (Fundació Clínic) 

Rut Mora (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Carolina España (Ciberhed) 

Miriam Esteller (CIBERehd) 


Susana Pinó (Fundació Clínic) 

Marta Gallego (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Ramírez (CIBERehd) 


Montserrat Aceituno (Hospital Clínic) 

Orlando García (Hospital Clínic) 

Ingrid Ordás (Hospital Clínic) 

Daniel Benítez (CIBERehd) 

Culture of intestinal fibroblasts. Vimentin positivity. 

169

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Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 115,79 

1 Gonzalo V, Lozano JJ, Munoz J, Balaguer 

F, Pellise M, DeMiguel CR, Andreu 

M, Jover R, Llor X, Giraldez MD, Ocana 

T, Serradesanferm A, Alonso-Espinaco V, 

Jimeno M, Cuatrecasas M, Sendino O, 

Castellvi-Bel S, Castells A. Aberrant Gene 

Promoter Methylation Associated with 

Sporadic Multiple Colorectal Cancer. PLOS 

ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

2 Hanauer SB, Panes J, Colombel JF, 

Bloomfield R, Schreiber S, Sandborn WJ. 

Clinical trial: impact of prior infliximab therapy 

on the clinical response to certolizumab 

pegol maintenance therapy for Crohn’s 

disease. ALIMENT PHARM THER, 2010. 

32:384-393. I.F.:4,36. 

3 Rimola J, Ordas I, Rodriguez S, Panes J. 

Colonic Crohn’s disease: value of magnetic 

resonance colonography for detection and 

quantification of disease activity. ABDOM 

IMAGING, 2010. 35:422-427. I.F.:1,79. 

4 Bujanda L, Sarasqueta C, Hijona E, Hijona 

L, Cosme A, Gil I, Elorza JL, Asensio JI, 

Larburu S, Enriquez-Navascues JM, Jover 

R, Balaguer F, Llor X, Bessa X, Andreu M, 

Paya A, Castells A. Colorectal cancer prognosis 

twenty years later. WORLD J GAS- 

TROENTERO, 2010. 16:862-867. I.F.:2,09. 

5 DelRio AS, Baudet JS, Rodriguez AN, 

DeLosRios RCF, Franco IS, Tormo JRA, 

Munoz DS, Llach J, Molina AH, Parra-Blanco 

A, Acosta JAD. Development and validation 

of quality standards for colonoscopy. 

MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 134:49-56. 

I.F.:1,23. 

6 Sendino O, Fernandez-Esparrach G, 

Sole M, Colomo L, Pellise M, Llach J, Navarro 

S, Bordas JM, Gines A. Endoscopic 

ultrasonography-guided brushing increases 

cellular diagnosis of pancreatic cysts: A 

prospective study. DIGEST LIVER DIS, 

2010. 42:877-881. I.F.:2,97. 

7 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Sendino O, 

Sole M, Pellise M, Colomo L, Pardo A, 

Martinez-Palli G, Arguello L, Bordas JM, 

Llach J, Gines A. Endoscopic ultrasoundguided 

fine-needle aspiration and trucut 

biopsy in the diagnosis of gastric stromal 

tumors: a randomized crossover 

study. ENDOSCOPY, 2010. 42:292-299. 

I.F.:5,55. 

8 Franke A, Mcgovern DPB, Barrett 

JC, Wang K, Radford-Smith GL, Ahmad 

T, Lees CW, Balschun T, Lee J, Roberts 

R, Anderson CA, Bis JC, Bumpstead S, 

Ellinghaus D, Festen EM, Georges M, 

Green T, Haritunians T, Jostins L, Latiano 

A, Mathew CG, Montgomery GW, 

Prescott NJ, Raychaudhuri S, Rotter JI, 

Schumm P, Sharma Y, Simms LA, Taylor 

KD, Whiteman D, Wijmenga C, Baldassano 

RN, Barclay M, Bayless TM, Brand 

S, Buning C, Cohen A, Colombel JF, Cottone 

M, Stronati L, Denson T, DeVos M, 

D’inca R, Dubinsky M, Edwards C, Florin 

T, Franchimont D, Gearry R, Glas J, Van- 

Gossum A, Guthery SL, Halfvarson J, Verspaget 

HW, Hugot JP, Karban A, Laukens 

D, Lawrance I, Lemann M, Levine A, Libioulle 

C, Louis E, Mowat C, Newman W, 

Panes J, Phillips A, Proctor DD, Regueiro 

M, Russell R, Rutgeerts P, Sanderson J, 

Sans M, Seibold F, Steinhart AH, Stokkers 

PCF, Torkvist L, Kullak-Ublick G, Wilson D, 

Walters T, Targan SR, Brant SR, Rioux JD, 

D’amato M, Weersma RK, Kugathasan 

S, Griffiths AM, Mansfield JC, Vermeire 

S, Duerr RH, Silverberg MS, Satsangi J, 

Schreiber S, Cho JH, Annese V, Hakonarson 

H, Daly MJ, Parkes M. Genome-wide 

meta-analysis increases to 71 the number 

of confirmed Crohn’s disease susceptibility 

loci. NAT GENET, 2010. 42:1118-U121. 

I.F.:34,28. 

9 Schreiber S, Colombel JF, Bloomfield 

R, Nikolaus S, Scholmerich J, Panes J, 

Sandborn WJ. Increased Response and 

Remission Rates in Short-Duration Crohn’s 

Disease With Subcutaneous Certolizumab 

Pegol: An Analysis of PRECiSE 2 

Randomized Maintenance Trial Data. AM J 

GASTROENTEROL, 2010. 105:1574-1582. 

I.F.:6,01. 

10 Veny M, Esteller M, Ricart E, Pique 

JM, Panes J, Salas A. Late Crohn’s disease 

patients present an increase in peripheral 

Th17 cells and cytokine production compared 

with early patients. ALIMENT PHARM THER, 

2010. 31:561-572. I.F.:4,36. 

11 Loras C, Gisbert JP, Minguez M, Merino 

O, Bujanda L, Saro C, Domenech E, Barrio J, 

Andreu M, Ordas I, Vida L, Bastida G, Gonzalez-Huix 

F, Piqueras M, Ginard D, Calvet 

X, Gutierrez A, Abad A, Torres M, Panes J, 

Chaparro M, Pascual I, Rodriguez-Carballeira 

M, Fernandez-Banares F, Viver JM, Esteve 

M. Liver dysfunction related to hepatitis B 

and C in patients with inflammatory bowel 

disease treated with immunosuppressive 

therapy. GUT, 2010. 59:1340-1346. I.F.:9,36. 

12 Lacima G, Pera M, Amador A, Escaramis 

G, Pique JM. Long-term results of biofeedback 

treatment for faecal incontinence: 

a comparative study with untreated controls. 

COLORECTAL DIS, 2010. 12:742-749. 

I.F.:2,41. 

13 Sylla P, Rattner DW, Delgado S, Lacy 

AM. NOTES transanal rectal cancer resection 

using transanal endoscopic microsurgery and 

laparoscopic assistance. SURG ENDOSC, 

2010. 24:1205-1210. I.F.:3,31. 

14 Lacy A, Ibarzabal A, Pando E, Adelsdorfer 

C, Delitala A, Corcelles R, Delgado S, 

Vidal J. Revisional Surgery After Sleeve Gastrectomy. 

SURG LAPARO ENDO PER, 2010. 

20:351-356. I.F.:0,83. 

15 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Bordas JM, 

Giraldez MD, Gines A, Pellise M, Sendino 

O, Martinez-Palli G, Castells A, Llach J. Severe 

Complications Limit Long-Term Clinical 

Success of Self-Expanding Metal Stents in 

Patients With Obstructive Colorectal Cancer. 

AM J GASTROENTEROL, 2010. 105:1087- 

1093. I.F.:6,01. 

170

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16 Abuli A, Bessa X, Gonzalez JR, Ruiz- 

Ponte C, Caceres A, Munoz J, Gonzalo V, 

Balaguer F, Fernandez-Rozadilla C, Gonzalez 

D, DeCastro L, Clofent J, Bujanda L, Cubiella 

J, Rene JM, Morillas JD, Lanas A, Rigau J, 

Garcia AM, Latorre M, Salo J, Banares FF, 

Arguello L, Pena E, Vilella A, Riestra S, Carreno 

R, Paya A, Alenda C, Xicola RM, Doyle 

BJ, Jover R, Llor X, Carracedo A, Castells 

A, Castellvi-Bel S, Andreu M. Susceptibility 

Genetic Variants Associated With Colorectal 

Cancer Risk Correlate With Cancer 

Phenotype. GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 

139:788-U129. I.F.:12,90. 

17 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Estepar RS, 

Guarner-Argente C, Martinez-Palli G, Navarro 

R, DeMiguel CR, Cordova H, Thompson CC, 

Lacy AM, Donoso L, Ayuso-Colella JR, Gines 

A, Pellise M, Llach J, Vosburgh KG. The role 

of a computed tomography-based image registered 

navigation system for natural orifice 

transluminal endoscopic surgery: a comparative 

study in a porcine model. ENDOSCOPY, 

2010. 42:1096-1103. I.F.:5,55. 

18 Nunes T, Barreiro-DeAcosta M, Nos 

P, Marin-Jimenez I, Bermejo F, Ceballos D, 

Iglesias E, Gomez-Senent S, Torres Y, Ponferrada 

A, Arevalo JA, Hernandez V, Calvet X, 

Ginard D, Monfort D, Chaparro M, Mancenido 

N, Dominguez-Antonaya M, Villalon C, 

Perez-Calle JL, Munoz C, Nunez H, Carpio 

D, Aramendiz R, Bujanda L, Estrada-Oncins 

S, Hermida C, Barrio J, Casis MB, Duenas- 

Sadornil MC, Fernandez L, Calvo-Cenizo MM, 

Botella B, DeFrancisco R, Ayala E, Sans M. 

Usefulness of oral beclometasone dipropionate 

in the treatment of active ulcerative colitis 

in clinical practice: The RECLICU Study. J 

CROHNS COLITIS, 2010. 4:629-636. I.F.:1,73. 

19 Guarner-Argente C, Cordova H, Martinez- 

Palli G, Navarro R, Cuatrecasas M, DeMiguel 

CR, Beltran M, Lacy AM, Gines A, Pellise M, 

Llach J, Fernandez-Esparrach G. Yes, we can: 

reliable colonic closure with the Padlock-G 

clip in a survival porcine study (with video). 

GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, 2010. 72:841-844. 

I.F.:6,71. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 4,36 

1 Garcia-Bosch O, Ricart E, Panes J. Review 

article: stem cell therapies for inflammatory 

bowel disease - efficacy and safety. 

ALIMENT PHARM THER, 2010. 32:939- 

952. I.F.:4,36. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 38,16 

1 Lanas A, Calvet X, Feu F, Ponce J, Gisbert 

JP, Barkun A. First spanish consensus 

on peptic ulcer bleeding management. 

MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 135:608- 

616. I.F.:1,23. 

2 Veny M, Salas A, Panes J. Is Lack of 

“Education” a Mechanism Driving Loss 

of Tolerance in Crohn’s Disease?. GAS- 

TROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 139:1056-1058. 

I.F.:12,90. 

3 Panes J, Ricart E, Rimola J. New MRI 

modalities for assessment of inflammatory 

bowel disease. GUT, 2010. 59:1308-1309. 

I.F.:9,36. 

4 Salas A, Panes J. The 2-phase model 

of Crohn’s disease: from immune defect to 

hyperresponse. GASTROENTEROLOGY, 

2010. 138:1204-1206. I.F.:12,90. 

5 Sans M. Trying to Reconcile Genetic 

Findings with Resistance to Lymphocyte 

Apoptosis in Crohn’s Disease Pathogenesis. 

DIGESTION, 2010. 81:244-245. I.F.:1,77. 


I.F.: 2,88 

1 VanAssche G, Dignass A, Panes J, 

Beaugerie L, Karagiannis J, Allez M, 

Ochsenkuhn T, Orchard T, Rogler G, Louis 

E, Kupcinskas L, Mantzaris G, Travis S, 

Stange E. The second European evidencebased 

Consensus on the diagnosis and 

management of Crohn’s disease: Definitions 

and diagnosis. J CROHNS COLITIS, 2010. 

4:7-27. I.F.:1,73. 

2 Sanjuan X, Salas A, Lloreta J, Walsh PM. 

Colorectal Cancer OncoGuia: surgical pathology 

report guidelines. CLIN TRANSL ONCOL. 

12:211-213. I.F.:1,15. 


in progress 

Panes J. Terapia con células dendríticas tolerogénicas 

en la enfermedad de Crohn refractaria. 

Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, 

SAF2009_07272. Amount: 254.100,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Sans M. ECCO Fellowship 2010 Agreement. 

Prize awarded to Dr. Sans for ECCO’s interest 

in supporting future research in the field 

of “Molecular determinations of homing of 

stem cells in IBD.”. Sponsored by: European 

Crohn’s & Colitis Organisation ECCO, 

10/311. Amount: 30.000,00 euros. Duration: 

09/09/2010-09/09/2011. 

Panes J. Tratamiento de la enfermedad de 

Crohn refractaria con células dendríticas reguladoras: 

estudio piloto.. Sponsored by: MI- 

NISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLITICA SOCIAL 

E IGUALDAD, TRA-097. Amount: 155.856,00 


Sans M. Estudio de la fibrogénesis intestinal 

en la enfermedad de Crohn. Evaluación de 

nuevas estratégias para el tratamiento de 

la fibrosis intestinal. Sponsored by: MINIS- 

TERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, SAF2008-03676. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Thesis 

Castells A, Pique JM. Prevención del cáncer 

colorrectal: Nuevas estrategias de cribado, 

vigilancia y quimioprofilaxis. PhD student: 

Francisco Rodriguez Moranta. 

171

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Cholestasis and bone pathology 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Albert Parés 


Tel.: 93 227 57 53 

Fax: 93 451 55 22 

E-mail: 

apares@clinic.ub.es 

TEAM LEADER 

Núria Guanyabens 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2235) 

E-mail: 

nguana@clinic.ub.es 

1. Study of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, 

diagnosis and treatment of adult 

chronic cholestatic disorders and 

autoimmune hepatitis. 

2. Knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms 

underlying pruritus and osteoporosis 

in primary biliary cirrhosis. 

3. Definition of the therapeutic potential 

of different artificial liver support procedures 

in liver failure. 

4. Investigation of the pathogenic and 

therapeutic aspects of metabolic 

bone diseases. 

RESEARCH Group 

Cholestasis 

The research lines of this team are divided 

into two research groups. 

Group Leader: Albert Pares (Hospital Clínic) 

1. Epidemiology, natural history and therapeutic response of 

chronic cholestatic disorders in adults. Determination of the 

prevalence and incidence of cholestatic disorders in adults in 

Spain, and definition of the factors associated with the forms 

of presentation of primary biliary cirrhosis – particularly of its asymptomatic 

forms. Evaluation of the factors conditioning treatment response, and proposition 

of new treatment regimens in patients showing suboptimum response to 

ursodeoxycholic acid. Relevance of the anionic exchanger AE2. 

2. Diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. Development of a new diagnostic 

procedure for autoimmune hepatitis, based on peptide mapping – a project 

conducted in collaboration with 6 centers in Europe and one in Israel. 


Antoni Mas (Hospital Clínic) 

M. Lluisa Álvarez (Hospital Clínic) 

Pilar Peris (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana Monegal Brancós (Hospital Clínic) 


Pau Bosch (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Marta Dubreuil (CIBERehd) 


Lucia Lorente (CIBERehd) 

Rosana Ahuir (CIBERehd) 


Mª Jesús Martinez de Osaba (Hospital Clinic) 

Àngels Martinez-Ferrer (Hospital Clínic) 

Silvia Ruiz-Gaspá (CIBERehd) 

3. Pruritus in chronic cholestasis and treatment response to albumin dialysis: 

proteomic analysis. Evaluation of treatment response based on albumin dialysis 

in patients with chronic cholestasis and refractory pruritus, and identification 

of the eliminated peptides and proteins using MARS. Study of the skin 

of these patients, in order to identify potential molecules associated with 

pruritus. Evaluation of the bile acid fractions and their eliminated conjugates 

based on the MARS system, and their relationship to diminished pruritus. 

4. Pathogenesis of osteoporosis and fracture development in primary biliary 

cirrhosis and other chronic cholestatic disorders. In collaboration with 

the Bone Metabolic Diseases group, evaluation of the factors underlying 

fractures in primary biliary cirrhosis, and the proposal of new therapeutic 

modalities for increasing bone mass. Likewise, investigation is conducted 

into the repercussion of retained bile acids and bilirubin in cholestasis upon 

the development of bone disease. 

5. Artificial liver support. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of different bioartificial 

liver and hepatic support systems in treating acute liver failure and 

exacerbated chronic liver failure. An open-label, prospective randomized 

study versus conventional treatment involving cryopreserved human hepatocytes 

from organs not apt for transplantation. 

172

AREA 3 


CHOLESTASIS AND BONE PATHOLOGY 

PUBLICATIONS 

Effect of dialysis with albumin (MARS) on 

pruritus in patients with chronic cholestasis. 

VAS: visual analogue scale. 


Bone metabolic disease 

Group Leader: 

Nuria Guanyabens 


1. Osteoporosis in premenopausal 

women 

and in males. Study of the clinical characteristics 

and mechanisms involved in 

the development of the disorder. 

2. Osteoporosis in primary biliary cirrhosis. 

Clinical and “in vitro” analysis. 

Evaluation of the key factors in the low 

development of bone mass and the appearance 

of fractures, and proposal of 

new therapeutic protocols. In addition, 

evaluation of the effect of bilirubin and 

bile acids upon primary osteoblasts in 

culture. 

3. Osteoporosis in liver transplantation. 

Evaluation of the hormonal changes 

regulating bone remodeling in this pathology. 

4. Analysis of the efficacy of vertebroplasty. 

Evaluation of the clinical usefulness 

and the complications of this procedure 

in the treatment of pain secondary to 

recent vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis. 

5. Evaluation of bone remodeling regulators. 

Evaluation of the role of sclerostin 

and, through this protein, investigation 

of the influence of osteocytes upon 

bone loss associated with glucocorticoid 

treatment and immobilization. 

ORIGINALS 

I.F.: 59,69 

1 Ruiz-Gaspa S, Guanabens N, Enjuanes 

A, Peris P, Martinez-Ferrer A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Gonzalez B, Alvarez 

L, Monegal A, Combalia A, Pares A. 

Lithocholic acid downregulates vitamin 

D effects in human osteoblasts. 

EUR J CLIN INVEST, 2010. 40:25-34. 

I.F.:2,64. 

2 Enjuanes A, Ruiz-Gaspa S, Peris P, 

Ozalla D, Alvarez L, Combalia A, DeOsaba 

MJM, Monegal A, Pares A, Guanabens 

N. The effect of the alendronate 

on OPG/RANKL system in differentiated 

primary human osteoblasts. ENDOCRI- 

NE, 2010. 37:180-186. I.F.:1,28. 

3 Gay M, Carrascal M, Gorga M, 

Pares A, Abian J. Characterization of 

peptides and proteins in commercial 

HSA solutions. PROTEOMICS, 2010. 

10:172-181. I.F.:4,43. 

4 Sola E, Lens S, Guevara M, Martin- 

Llahi M, Fagundes C, Pereira G, Pavesi 

M, Fernandez J, Gonzalez-Abraldes J, 

Escorsell A, Mas A, Bosch J, Arroyo 

V, Gines P. Hyponatremia in Patients 

Treated With Terlipressin for Severe 

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Portal 

Hypertension. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

52:1783-1790. I.F.:10,84. 

5 Mas A, Escorsell A, Fernandez J. 

Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver 

Failure: A Spanish Perspective. TRANS- 

PL P, 2010. 42:619-621. I.F.:0,99. 

6 Hernandez MV, Peris P, Monegal A, 

Reyes R, Muxi A, Gifre L, Guanabens 

N. Effects of Intravenous Pamidronate 

on Renal Function, Bone Mineral Metabolism 

and Bone Mass in Patients With 

Severe Osteoporosis. AM J MED SCI, 

2010. 339:225-229. I.F.:1,20. 

7 Casas F, Borras JM, Ferrer F, Guanyabens 

N, Gutierrez R, Leon C, Lopez 

J, Mellado B, Morote J, Puig J, Ribal J, 

Serra A, Valls V, Zapatero A. Evidencebased 

consensus recommendations to 

improve the quality of life in prostate 

cancer treatment. CLIN TRANSL ON- 

COL, 2010. 12(5):346-355. I.F.:1,15. 

8 Guanabens N, Cerda D, Monegal A, 

Pons F, Caballeria L, Peris P, Pares A. 

Low Bone Mass and Severity of Cholestasis 

Affect Fracture Risk in Patients 

With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. GAS- 

TROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 138:2348- 

2356. I.F.:12,90. 

9 Palenzuela L, Mas A, Montaner J, 

Cordoba J. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 

in Fulminant Hepatic Failure. HEPATO- 

LOGY, 2010. 51:1475-1476. I.F.:10,84. 

10 Arboleya L, Diaz-Curiel M, DelRio 

L, Blanch J, Diez-Perez A, Guanabens 

N, Quesada JM, Sosa M, Gomez C, 

Munoz-Torres M, Ramirez E, Combalia 

J. Prevalence of vertebral fracture in 

postmenopausal women with lumbar 

osteopenia using MorphoXpress (R) 

(OSTEOXPRESS Study). AGING CLIN 

EXP RES, 2010. 22:419-426. I.F.:1,26. 

11 Gabaroi DC, Peris P, Monegal A, 

Albaladejo C, Martinez MA, Muxi A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Suris X, Guanabens N. 

Search for hidden secondary causes in 

postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. 

MENOPAUSE, 2010. 17:135-139. 

I.F.:3,08. 

12 Enjuanes A, Ruiz-Gaspa S, Peris 

P, Ozalla D, Alvarez L, Combalia A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Monegal A, Pares 

A, Guanabens N. The effect of the 

alendronate on OPG/RANKL system 

in differentiated primary human osteoblasts. 

ENDOCRINE, 2010. 37:322-328. 

I.F.:1,28. 

173

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CHOLESTASIS AND BONE PATHOLOGY 

13 Pares A, Herrera M, Aviles J, 

Sanz M, Mas A. Treatment of resistant 

pruritus from cholestasis with 

albumin dialysis: Combined analysis 

of patients from three centers. J HE- 

PATOL, 2010. 53:307-312. I.F.:7,82. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 3,05 

Peris P. Efecte de la vertebroplastia 

percutània en la qualitat de vida dels 

pacients amb dolor relacionat amb 

fractures vertrebals osteroporòtiques. 

Comparació amb el tractament 

conservador. Sponsored by: FUNDA- 



13/02/2008-30/08/2011. 

1 Guanabens N, Pares A. Liver and 

bone. ARCH BIOCHEM BIOPHYS, 

2010. 503:84-94. I.F.:3,05. 

Grants for 

research in progress 

Pares A. Enfermedades hepáticas autoinmunes. 

Nuevos procedimientos 

diagnósticos mediante mapeo peptídico. 

Sponsored by: Instituto de Salud 

Carlos III, PI07/1318E (E-RARE). 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Peris P. Efecte de la vertebroplàstia 

percutània en la qualitat de vida 

dels pacients amb dolor relacionat 

amb fractures vertebrals osteoporòtiques. 

Comparació amb el 

tractament conservador. Sponsored 

by: Fundació Marató TV3, 0000. 


01/01/2007-01/01/2010. 

Pares A. Prurito de la colestasis: 

fisiopatología y análisis proteómico. 


y Tecnología, SAF200804012. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Guanyabens N. Influencia de la bilirrubina 

y los ácidos biliares sobre la 

formación ósea. Estudio “in vitro” 

en osteoblastos humanos. Sponsored 

by: Ministeri Sanitat i Consum , 


Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

174

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Mitochondrial regulation of 

cell death and steatohepatitis 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Joan Caballeria (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Colell (IIBB-CSIC) 

Carmen García Ruíz (IIBB-CSIC) 

Montserrat Marí (IDIBAPS) 

Albert Morales (IIBB-CSIC) 

TEAM LEADER 

José Carlos 

Fernández-Checa 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Tel.: 93 227 57 09 

Fax: 93 363 83 01 

1. Determination of intracellular signaling 

and the role of mitochondria in 

cell susceptibility in inflammation, 

hypoxia and chemotherapy, and their 

relevance in relation to liver carcinogenesis. 

2. Determination of the mechanisms of 

cholesterol and sphingolipid participation 

in hepatocellular death in different 

disorders such as non-alcoholic 

steatohepatitis (NASH) or ischemia/ 

reperfusion damage. 

3. Analysis of the role of free cholesterol 

in patients with non-alcoholic 

steatohepatitis. 

4. Contribution of the physicochemical 

properties of the mitochondrial membrane 

in cell death. 

1. Ischemia-reperfusion liver cell 

damage mechanisms and their 

regulation based on antioxidant and 

antiinflammatory strategies. 

2. Sphingolipid and mitochondrial oxidative 

stress regulation of cell death. 

3. Regulation of cholesterol homeostasis 

in patients and experimental models 

of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. 

4. Mechanisms responsible for cholesterol 

mitochondrial transit. 

5. Role of cholesterol in hepatocellular 

carcinoma response to chemotherapy. 

6. Role of cholesterol and mitochondrial 

GSH in Alzheimer’s disease. 

7. Contribution of acid sphingomyelinase 

to liver fibrosis. 


Laura Conde de la Rosa (CSIC) 

Claudia Von Montfort (CSIC) 


Anna Fernández (McyT) 

Anna Moles (FIS) 

Raquel Fucho (CIBERehd) 

Nuria Matias (MCyT) 

Nuria Tarrats (FIS) 

Elisabeth Barbero (CSIC) 

Cristina Bárcena (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Martínez (MCyT) 

Milica Stefanovic (CSIC) 

Technicians: 

Susana Núñez Pozuelo (Ciberehd) 

In vivo analysis of the liver production of reactive oxygen 

species (ROS) of mitochondrial origin based on 

two-photon confocal microscopy. The induction of nutritional 

liver steatosis was carried out by administering 

a high-cholesterol (HC) diet or a choline-deficient diet 

(Lombarda) during 48 hours. The administration of DCF 

and TMRE was carried out via the portal vein, examining 

the fluorescence emission of both probes in intact liver 

in vivo with two-photon confocal microscopy. 

175

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MITOCHONDRIAL REGULATION 

OF CELL DEATH AND STEATOHEPATITIS 

PUBLICATIONS 

Three lines in which we have obtained 

important results are: 

1. Alterations of the mitochondrial 

antioxidants glutathione and 

S-adenosylmethionine in the 

development of non-alcoholic 

steatohepatitis (NASH). 

A diet deficient in methionine 

and choline is the typically 

applied animal model of nonalcoholic 

steatohepatitis (NASH), 

since it reflects the steatosis, 

mitochondrial dysfunction, liver 

cell damage, oxidative stress, 

inflammation and fibrosis 

characteristic of the human 

disease. Our study in the Journal 

of Biological Chemistry shows 

that methionine deficiency is 

specifically the cause of the 

decrease in mitochondrial 

antioxidant defense (glutathione 

and S-adenosylmethionine) and 

of the increase in mitochondrial 

membrane rigidity. These 

mitochondrial alterations 

favor liver cell sensitivity to 

“second impacts” such as the 

inflammatory cytokines. For this 

reason, therapies with permeable 

pro-glutathion compounds can 

be effective for avoiding the 

progression of non-alcoholic 

steatohepatitis. 

2. Acid sphingomyelinase 

participates in the activation 

of stellate cells and in liver 

fibrosis. 

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) 

participate in the development of 

liver fibrosis through their transdifferentiation/activation 

to yield 

myofibroblast-type cells. Acid 

sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is 

a known sphingolipid enzyme 

that regulates liver cell death 

induced by oxidative stress 

and through the mediation of 

death receptors. Our article 

in the American Journal of 

Pathology shows that ASMase is 

activated during HSC activation 

in parallel to an increase in 

catepsin B and D processing. 

The pharmacological inhibition 

of ASMase or its genic silencing 

reduces catepsin activation 

and the trans-differentiation 

and proliferation of HSCs. In 

samples from patients with 

fibrosis induced by non-alcoholic 

steatohepatitis (NASH), the 

ASMase/catepsin axis is clearly 

increased compared with 

the situation found in healthy 

subjects. These results point to 

the importance of the ASMase/ 

catepsin pathway in HSC 

activation, and suggest that their 

antagonism may prove relevant 

in the treatment of liver fibrosis. 

3. Growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) 

protein induces liver protection 

against murine ischemia/ 

reperfusion (I/R) damage. 

While GAS6 is known to promote 

cell growth and survival during 

cell repair and the development of 

different organs, its participation in 

the protection and posterior repair 

of liver cell damage caused by 

ischemia/reperfusion had not been 

previously explored. Our paper 

published in Hepatology evidences 

that GAS6 activates post-ischemic 

protection mechanisms (AKT) in the 

liver, and that animals deficient in 

this protein are highly sensitive to 

I/R. Moreover, recombinant GAS6 

is able to protect the ischemic liver, 

administered to both wild-strain 

animals and animals deficient in 

this protein. Thus, GAS6 appears 

as a liver protective molecule and 

as a potential therapeutic target 

for increasing protection against 

I/R and possibly also against other 

hepatotoxic stimuli. 

Originals 

I.F.: 70,69 

1 Azzalini L, Ferrer E, Ramalho LN, 

Moreno M, Dominguez M, Colmenero 

J, Peinado VI, Barbera JA, Arroyo 

V, Gines P, Caballeria J, Bataller 

R. Cigarette Smoking Exacerbates 

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in 

Obese Rats. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:1567-1576. I.F.:10,84. 



ML, Ivorra C, Dominguez M, Conde 

L, Millan C, Mari M, Colmenero J, 

Lozano JJ, Jares P, Vidal J, Forns X, 

Arroyo V, Caballeria J, Gines P, Bataller 

R. Ghrelin Attenuates Hepatocellular 

Injury and Liver Fibrogenesis in Rodents 

and Influences Fibrosis Progression 

in Humans. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:974-985. I.F.:10,84. 

3 Moles A, Tarrats N, Morales A, 

Dominguez M, Bataller R, Caballeria 

J, Garcia-Ruiz C, Fernandez-Checa 

JC, Mari M. Acidic Sphingomyelinase 

Controls Hepatic Stellate 

Cell Activation and in Vivo Liver 

Fibrogenesis. AM J PATHOL, 2010. 

177:1214-1224. I.F.:5,67. 

4 Montero J, Mari M, Colell A, 

Morales A, Basanez G, Garcia-Ruiz 

C, Fernandez-Checa JC. Cholesterol 

and peroxidized cardiolipin in mitochondrial 

membrane properties, 

permeabilization and cell death. 

BBA-BIOENERGETICS, 2010. 

1797:1217-1224. I.F.:3,69. 

5 Llacuna L, Barcena C, Bellido- 

Martin L, Fernandez L, Stefanovic M, 

Mari M, Garcia-Ruiz C, Fernandez- 

Checa JC, DeFrutos PG, Morales A. 

Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 Is 

Hepatoprotective Against Murine Ischemia/Reperfusion 

Injury. HEPATOL- 

OGY, 2010. 52:1371-1379. I.F.:10,84. 

176

AREA 3 


MITOCHONDRIAL REGULATION OF CELL DEATH AND STEATOHEPATITIS 

6 Vazquez-Chantada M, Fernandez- 

Ramos D, Embade N, Martinez- 

Lopez N, Varela-Rey M, Woodhoo A, 

Luka Z, Wagner C, Anglim PP, Finnell 

RH, Caballeria J, Laird-Offringa 

IA, Gorospe M, Lu SC, Mato JM, 

Martinez-Chantar ML. HuR/Methyl- 

HuR and AUF1 Regulate the MAT 

Expressed During Liver Proliferation, 

Differentiation, and Carcinogenesis. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY. 138:1943- 

U97. I.F.:12,90. 

7 Barr J, Vazquez-Chantada M, 

Alonso C, Perez-Cormenzana M, 

Mayo R, Galan A, Caballeria J, 

Martin-Duce A, Tran A, Wagner C, 

Luka Z, Lu SC, Castro A, LeMarchand-Brustel 

Y, Martinez-Chantar 

ML, Veyrie N, Clement K, Tordjman 

J, Gual P, Mato JM. Liquid Chromatography-Mass 

Spectrometry- 

Based Parallel Metabolic Profiling 

of Human and Mouse Model Serum 

Reveals Putative Biomarkers Associated 

with the Progression of 

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. 

J PROTEOME RES, 2010. 9:4501- 

4512. I.F.:5,13. 

8 Rodriguez-Suarez E, Duce AM, 

Caballeria J, Arrieta FM, Fernandez 

E, Gomara C, Alkorta N, Ariz 

U, Martinez-Chantar ML, Lu SC, 

Elortza F, Mato JM. Non-alcoholic 

fatty liver disease proteomics. 

PROTEOM CLIN APPL, 2010. 

4:362-371. I.F.:1,88. 

9 Fernandez-Checa JC, Fernandez 

A, Morales A, Mari M, Garcia-Ruiz 

C, Colell A. Oxidative Stress and 

Altered Mitochondrial Function in 

Neurodegenerative Diseases: Lessons 

From Mouse Models. CNS 

NEUROL DISORD-DR, 2010. 9:439- 

454. I.F.:3,57. 

10 Caballero F, Fernandez A, Matias 

N, Martinez L, Fucho R, Elena 

M, Caballeria J, Morales A, Fernandez-Checa 

JC, Garcia-Ruiz C. Specific 

Contribution of Methionine and 

Choline in Nutritional Nonalcoholic 

Steatohepatitis Impact on mitochondrial 

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine and 

glutathione. J BIOL CHEM, 2010. 

285:18528-18536. I.F.:5,33. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 10,97 

1 Seth D, El-Guindy NBD, Apte 

M, Mari M, Dooley S, Neuman M, 

Haber PS, Kundu GC, Darwanto A, 

DeVilliers WJ, Vonlaufen A, Xu Z, 

Phillips P, Yang S, Goldstein D, Pirola 

RM, Wilson JS, Moles A, Fernandez 

A, Colell A, Garcia-Ruiz C, Fernandez-Checa 

JC, Meyer C, Meindl- 

Beinker NM. Alcohol, Signaling, and 

ECM Turnover. ALCOHOL CLIN EXP 

RES, 2010. 34:4-18. I.F.:3,39. 

2 Mari M, Colell A, Morales A, 

VonMontfort C, Garcia-Ruiz C, 

Fernandez-Checa JC. Redox Control 

of Liver Function in Health and 

Disease. ANTIOXID REDOX SIGN, 

2010. 12:1295-1331. I.F.:7,58. 


in progress 

Mari M. Catepsinas en la Fibrosis 

Hepática: Regulación por TNF. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Sanidad 

y Consumo, PI070193. Amount: 


26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Carmen Garcia Ruiz. Papel de los esfingolipidos 

en la esteatohepatitis no 

alcohólica y resistencia a la insulina 

hepática. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Educación y Ciencia, SAF2008- 

02199. Amount: 100.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Colell A. Papel del colesterol y la 

autofagia en la muerte celular inducida 

por péptidos beta-amiloides. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Educación 

y Ciencia, SAF2008- 04974. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

García C. Papel de la ceramida y los 

esfingolípidos en la estetohepatitis. 

Sponsored by: Fundación de Investigación 

Médica Mútua Madrileña, 


31/12/2008-30/12/2011. 

Fernández-Checa JC. Mitochondrial 

cholesterol and sphingolipids in ALD: 

trafficking and cross-talk with the 

ER. Sponsored by: National Institute 

of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

(NIAAA -NIH), P50-AA11999 . 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Caballeria J. Desarrollo de métodos 

diagnósticos no invasivos para el 

diagnóstico y pronóstico de las enfermedades 

hepáticas inducidas por 

el alcohol. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Fernández-Checa JC. Mitocondria y 

cáncer: papel del colesterol, GSH y cardiolipina 

en la regulación de la permeabilización 

de la membrana mitocondrial 

y muerte celular. Sponsored by: Ministerio 


11417. Amount: 359.950,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Morales A. Interacción parénquimaestroma 

en patologías hepáticas 

asociadas al eje inflamación-cáncer 

e isquemia/reperfusión: implicaciones 

terapéuticas. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

177

AREA 3 



LIVER TRANSPLANTATION AND GRAFT VIABILITY 

Group Members 


TEAM LEADER 

Antoni Rimola 


Tel.: 93 227 57 53 

Fax: 93 451 55 22 

E-mail: arimola@clinic.ub.es 

Investigation of clinical, mechanistic 

and therapeutic aspects of liver transplantation. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Ischemia-reperfusion liver damage 

in different models: warm ischemia; 

experimental liver transplantation 

in the rat with normal reduced or 

steatosic grafts; experimental liver 

transplantation in the pig with whole 

or partial grafts, or grafts obtained 

from donors in asystolia; and liver 

transplantation in humans. 

2. Immune suppression, with special 

interest in three fields: immune 

tolerance of the allograft, biomarkers 

of the effects of immune 

suppressors, and identification of 

populations with different risks of 

rejection. 


Constantino Fondevila (Hospital Clínic) 

Juan C. García-Valdecasas (Hospital Clínic) 

Martí Manyalich (Hospital Clínic) 

Albert Sánchez Fueyo (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Rosselló-Catafau (IIBB-CSIC) 

Carmen Peralta (IDIBAPS) 

Brunet, Mercedes (Hospital Clínic) 


Felix Bohne (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) 

Isabel Puig-Pey (CIRIT) 

Araní Casillas (Soc. Catalana de Trasplantament) 

Susana Padrissa (MCyT) 


Lourdes Rafael-Valdivia (Fundació Clínic) 

Belinda Martínez (Fundació Clínic) 

Amine Zauali (IDIBAPS) 

Xavier Muñoz (CIBERehd) 

Isabel Alfany (IDIBAPS) 

Mª Carlota Londoño 

(Hospital Clínic, Premi Final Residència) 

Ana Teresa Menjívar (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Anna Rodríguez (CIBEREHD) 

Mariangeles Bintanel (IDIBAPS) 


Pilar Sesé (IDIBAPS) 


David Calatayud (Hospital Clínic) 

Jose Fuster (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Massip (CIBERehd) 

Marta López (IDIBAPS) 

Olga Millán (CIBEREHD) 

Chloë Ballesté (UB) 


Eleonora Boncompagni (EASL) 

Ex vivo normothermal perfusion 

machine with oxygenation for the 

liver. The essential elements are 

an organ receptacle, a perfusion 

pump, an oxygenator and a heater. 

The graft shows the drainage of bile 

from the perfused liver. 

178

AREA 3 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 110,83 

1 Puig-Pey I, Bohne F, Benitez 

C, Lopez M, Martinez-Llordella M, 

Oppenheimer F, Lozano JJ, Gonzalez- 

Abraldes J, Tisone G, Rimola A, 

Sanchez-Fueyo A. Characterization of 

gamma delta T cell subsets in organ 

transplantation. TRANSPL INT, 2010. 

23:1045-1055. I.F.:3,25. 


M, Colmenero J, Torregrosa JV, 

Martin-Llahi M, Sola E, Esforzado N, 

Fuster J, Campistol JM, Arroyo V, 

Navasa M, Garcia-Valdecasas J, Gines 

P. Combined liver-kidney transplantation 

in patients with cirrhosis and 

chronic kidney disease. NEPHROL 

DIAL TRANSPL, 2010. 25:2356-2363. 

I.F.:3,31. 

3 Brouard S, Puig-Pey I, Lozano JJ, 

Pallier A, Braud C, Giral M, Guillet M, 

Londono MC, Oppenheimer F, Campistol 

JM, Soulillou JP, Sanchez-Fueyo A. 

Comparative Transcriptional and Phenotypic 

Peripheral Blood Analysis of Kidney 

Recipients Under Cyclosporin A or 

Sirolimus Monotherapy. AM J TRANS- 

PLANT, 2010. 10:2604-2614. I.F.:6,43. 



MA, Ferrer J, Fondevila C, Garcia- 

Valdecasas JC. Serum neutrophil 

gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients 

with colorectal liver metastases: 

preliminary results of an exploratory 

prospective study. INT J BIOL MAR- 

KER, 2010. 25:21-26. I.F.:1,42. 

5 Guillen D, Cofan F, Ros E, Millan 

O, Cofan M, Brunet M. Biomarker 

Assessment of the Immunomodulator 

Effect of Atorvastatin in Stable Renal 

Transplant Recipients and Hypercholesterolemic 

Patients. MOL DIAGN 

THER, 2010. 14:357-366. I.F.:2,17. 

6 Benitez CE, Puig-Pey I, Lopez M, 

Martinez-Llordella M, Lozano JJ, Bohne 

F, Londono MC, Garcia-Valdecasas 

JC, Bruguera M, Navasa M, Rimola 

A, Sanchez-Fueyo A. ATG-Fresenius 

Treatment and Low-Dose Tacrolimus: 

Results of a Randomized Controlled 

Trial in Liver Transplantation. AM J 

TRANSPLANT, 2010. 10:2296-2304. 

I.F.:6,43. 

7 Ramirez S, Perez-Del-Pulgar S, 

Carrion JA, Coto-Llerena M, Mensa 

L, Dragun J, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, 

Navasa M, Forns X. Hepatitis C virus 

superinfection of liver grafts: a detailed 

analysis of early exclusion of nondominant 

virus strains. J GEN VIROL, 

2010. 91:1183-1188. I.F.:3,26. 

8 Carrion JA, Torres F, Crespo G, Miquel 

R, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Navasa 

M, Forns X. Liver Stiffness Identifies 

Two Different Patterns of Fibrosis 

Progression in Patients with Hepatitis 

C Virus Recurrence After Liver 

Transplantation. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:23-34. I.F.:10,84. 

9 Carrion JA, Fernandez-Varo G, Bruguera 

M, Garcia-Pagan JC, Garcia-Valdecasas 

JC, Perez-Del-Pulgar S, Forns 

X, Jimenez W, Navasa M. Serum 

Fibrosis Markers Identify Patients 

With Mild and Progressive Hepatitis 

C Recurrence After Liver Transplantation. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 

138:147-158. I.F.:12,90. 

10 Padrissa-Altes S, Zaouali MA, 

Franco-Gou R, Bartrons R, Boillot O, 

Rimola A, Arroyo V, Rodes J, Peralta 

C, Rosello-Catafau J. Matrix Metalloproteinase 

2 in Reduced-Size Liver 

Transplantation: Beyond the Matrix. 

AM J TRANSPLANT, 2010. 10:1167- 

1177. I.F.:6,43. 

11 Moreno M, Gonzalo T, Kok RJ, 

Sancho-Bru P, VanBeuge M, Swart 

J, Prakash J, Temming K, Fondevila 

C, Beljaars L, Lacombe M, VanDer- 

Hoeven P, Arroyo V, Poelstra K, Brenner 

DA, Gines P, Bataller R. Reduction 

of Advanced Liver Fibrosis by Short- 

Term Targeted Delivery of an Angiotensin 

Receptor Blocker to Hepatic 

Stellate Cells in Rats. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 51:942-952. I.F.:10,84. 

12 Fondevila C, Hessheimer AJ, 

Taura P, Sanchez O, Calatayud D, 

DeRiva N, Munoz J, Fuster J, Rimola 

A, Garcia-Valdecasas JC. Portal Hyperperfusion: 

Mechanism of Injury and 

Stimulus for Regeneration in Porcine 

Small-for-Size Transplantation. LIVER 

TRANSPLANT, 2010. 16:364-374. 

I.F.:3,72. 

13 Taura P, Fuster J, Mercadal J, 

Martinez-Palli G, Fondevila C, Blasi A, 

Balust J, Garcia-Valdecasas JC. The 

use of beta-adrenergic drugs improves 

hepatic oxygen metabolism in cirrhotic 

patients undergoing liver resection. J 

HEPATOL, 2010. 52:340-347. I.F.:7,82. 

14 BenMosbah I, Rosello-Catafau J, 

Alfany-Fernandez I, Rimola A, Parellada 

PP, Mitjavila MT, Lojek A, BenAbdennebi 

H, Boillot O, Rodes J, Peralta 

C. Addition of Carvedilol to University 

Wisconsin Solution Improves Rat 

Steatotic and Nonsteatotic Liver Preservation. 

LIVER TRANSPLANT, 2010. 

16:163-171. I.F.:3,72. 

15 Vidal O, Valentini M, Ginesta C, 

Espert JJ, Marti J, Martinez A, Ruiz 

C, Soliva R, Martrat A, Benarroch G, 

Garcia-Valdecasas JC. Appendectomy 

using single-incision laparoscopic 

surgery: experience in an emergency 

department. EMERGENCIAS, 2010. 

22:361-364. I.F.:3,08. 

179

AREA 3 



Team Members 

16 Millan O, Benitez C, Guillen D, 

Lopez A, Rimola A, Sanchez-Fueyo 

A, Brunet M. Biomarkers of immunoregulatory 

status in stable liver transplant 

recipients undergoing weaning 

of immunosuppressive therapy. CLIN 

IMMUNOL, 2010. 137:337-346. 

I.F.:3,86. 

17 Zaouali MA, BenMosbah I, Boncompagni 

E, BenAbdennebi H, Mitjavila 

MT, Bartrons R, Freitas I, Rimola A, 

Rosello-Catafau J. Hypoxia inducible 

factor-1 alpha accumulation in steatotic 

liver preservation: Role of nitric 

oxide. WORLD J GASTROENTERO, 

2010. 16:3499-3509. I.F.:2,09. 

18 Sanchez-Fueyo A. Identification 

of tolerant recipients following liver 

transplantation. INT IMMUNOPHAR- 

MACOL, 2010. 10:1501-1504. 

I.F.:2,21. 

19 Zaouali MA, Padrissa-Altes S, 

BenMosbah I, Alfany-Fernandez I, 

Massip-Salcedo M, Casillas-Ramirez 

A, Bintanel-Morcillo M, Boillot O, 

Serafin A, Rimola A, Rodes J, Rosello- 

Catafau J, Peralta C. Improved Rat 

Steatotic and Nonsteatotic Liver 

Preservation by the Addition of Epidermal 

Growth Factor and Insulin-Like 

Growth Factor-I to University of Wisconsin 

Solution. LIVER TRANSPLANT, 

2010. 16:1098-1111. I.F.:3,72. 

20 Zaouali MA, Padrissa-Altes S, 

BenMosbah I, BenAbdennebi H, Boillot 

O, Rimola A, Saidane-Mosbahi D, 

Rosello-Catafau J. Insulin like growth 

factor-1 increases fatty liver preservation 

in IGL-1 solution. WORLD J GAS- 

TROENTERO, 2010. 16:5693-5700. 

I.F.:2,09. 

21 Pascual J, DelCastillo D, Cabello 

M, Pallardo L, Grinyo JM, Fernandez 

AM, Brunet M. Interaction Between 

Everolimus and Tacrolimus in Renal 

Transplant Recipients: A Pharmacokinetic 

Controlled Trial. TRANSPLANTA- 

TION, 2010. 89:994-1000. I.F.:3,50. 

22 Vidal O, Valentini M, Ginesta 

C, Marti J, Espert JJ, Benarroch G, 

Garcia-Valdecasas JC. Laparoendoscopic 

single-site surgery appendectomy. 

SURG ENDOSC, 2010. 24:686-691. 

I.F.:3,31. 

23Zaouali MA, BenMosbah I, BenAbdennebi 

H, Calvo M, Boncompagni 

E, Boillot O, Peralta C, Rosello-Catafau 

J. New Insights Into Fatty Liver Preservation 

Using Institute Georges Lopez 

Preservation Solution. TRANSPL 

P, 2010. 42:159-161. I.F.:0,99. 

24 Zaouali MA, BenMosbah I, 

Padrissa-Altes S, Calvo M, BenAbdennebi 

H, Saidane-Mosbahi D, Bjaoui 

M, Garcia-Gil FA, Panisello A, Rosello- 

Catafau J. Relevance of Epidermal 

Growth Factor to Improve Steatotic 

Liver Preservation in IGL-1 Solution. 

TRANSPL P, 2010. 42:3070-3075. 

I.F.:0,99. 

25 Marmol F, Sanchez J, Lopez 

D, Martinez N, Xaus C, Peralta C, 

Rosello-Catafau J, Mitjavila MT, Puig- 

Parellada P. Role of Oxidative Stress 

and Adenosine Nucleotides in the 

Liver of Aging Rats. PHYSIOL RES, 

2010. 59:553-560. I.F.:1,43. 

26 Manyalich M, Paredes D, Balleste 

C, Menjivar A. The PIERDUB 

Project: International Project on Education 

and Research in Donation at 

University of Barcelona: Training University 

Students About Donation and 


42:117-120. I.F.:0,99. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 5,45 

1 Miro JM, Ricart MJ, Trullas JC, Cofan 

F, Cervera C, Brunet M, Tuset M, Manzardo 

C, Oppenheimer F, Moreno A. Simultaneous 

Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation 

in HIV-infected Patients: A Case Report 

and Literature Review. TRANSPL P, 2010. 

42:3887-3891. I.F.:0,99. 

2 Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Fondevila C. 

In-vivo normothermic recirculation: an update. 

CURR OPIN ORGAN TRAN, 2010. 

15:173-176. I.F.:1,22. 

3 Londono MC, Lopez MC, Sanchez- 

Fueyo A. Minimization of immunosuppression 

in adult liver transplantation: 

new strategies and tools. CURR OPIN 

ORGAN TRAN, 2010. 15:685-690. 

I.F.:1,22. 

4 Zaouali MA, BenAbdennebi H, 

Padrissa-Altes S, Mahfoudh-Boussaid A, 

Rosello-Catafau J. Pharmacological strategies 

against cold ischemia reperfusion 

injury. EXPERT OPIN PHARMACO, 2010. 

11:537-555. I.F.:2,02. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 6,43 

1 Fondevila C. Is Extracorporeal Support 

Becoming the New Standard for the Preservation 

of DCD Grafts?. AM J TRANS- 

PLANT, 2010. 10:1341-1342. I.F.:6,43. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 33,74 

1 Paoletti X, Oba K, Burzykowski T, 

Michiels S, Ohashi Y, Pignon JP, Rougier 

P, Sakamoto J, Sargent D, Sasako M, Van- 

Cutsem E, Buyse M. Benefit of Adjuvant 

Chemotherapy for Resectable Gastric 

Cancer A Meta-analysis. JAMA-J AM MED 

ASSOC, 2010. 303:1729-1737. I.F.:28,90. 

180

AREA 3 



2 Kuypers DRJ, LeMeur Y, Cantarovich 

M, Tredger MJ, Tett SE, Cattaneo D, 

Tonshoff B, Holt DW, Chapman J, Van- 

Gelder T. Consensus Report on Therapeutic 

Drug Monitoring of Mycophenolic 

Acid in Solid Organ Transplantation. CLIN 

J AM SOC NEPHRO, 2010. 5:341-358. 

I.F.:4,84. 


in progress 

Sanchez A. IP: Reprogramming the 

Immune System for the Establishment 

of Tolerance. Sponsored by: European 

Commision, 512090. Amount: 


28/02/2010. 

Martorell J, Rimola A, Millan O, Ruiz A. 

Valor predictivo de parámetros inmológicos 

pre-trasplante del receptor y de 

donante en el desarrollo de rechazo e infección 

en el trasplante hepático. Sponsored 

by: FIS, PS09/00418. Amount: 


31/12/2012. 

Sanchez A. Métodos para inducir y 

diagnosticar la tolerancia inmunológica 

en el trasplante hepático. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia 

España, Programa I+D, SAF2008-04092. 


01/12/2008-31/12/2011. 

Sanchez A. Effect of rapamycin on tolerance 

biomarkers in liver transplantation. 

Sponsored by: Immune Tolerance Network 

(Consorcio financiado por el National 

Institute of Health, USA), Sirolimus 

Liver Tolerance. Amount: 172.932,00 


Sanchez A. Impact of hepatitis C virus 

infection on tolerance acquisition 

after liver transplantation. Sponsored 

by: Roche Organ Transplantation 

Research Foundation, ROTRF. 


01/09/2007-30/09/2010. 

Fondevila C. Efecto de la modificación 

farmacológica del flujo portal sobre 

la aparición del síndrome “small-forsize” 

en el trasplante hepático en 

cerdos. Sponsored by: FIS, PI080273. 


01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Brunet M. Estudio multicéntrico para 

la validación de los biomarcadores de 

elección que reflejen la respuesta individual 

de los pacientes trasplantados 

de órganos sólidos al tratamiento inmunosupresor. 

Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigación Sanitaria, PI080300. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Peralta C. Una conservación acuosa 

para la conservación de órganos. 

Sponsored by: CIDEM, Generalitat 

de Catalunya, VALTEC08-2-0033. 


01/03/2009-31/03/2011. 

Manyalich M. European living donor 

psychosocial follow-up (ELIPSY). 

Sponsored by: Executive Agency for 

Health and Consumers (EAHC), by the 

Commission of the European Communities, 

20081104. Amount: 498.835,00 


30/05/2012. 

Rimola A. Valor predictivo de parametros 

inmunológicos pretrasplante del 

receptor y del donante en el desarrollo 

de rechazo e infección en el trasplante 

hepático. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Peralta C. Regulación del RBP4 en 

trasplante de higados esteatósicos. 

Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE 

EDUCACIÓN, BFU2009_07410. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Peralta C. Mecanismos de protección 

del precondicionamiento isquémico en 

el injerto esteatósico. Sponsored by: 

FIS, PI060021. Amount: 89.540,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2007-31/03/2010. 

Thesis 

Fondevila C, Garcia-Valdecasas JC. 

La perfusión normotérmica “ex-situ” 

como continuación de la “Recirculación 

Normotérmica” en la obtención 

de injertos hepáticos procedentes de 

donantes a corazón parado. PhD student: 

David Calatayud Mizrahi. 

Peralta C, Rosello-Catafau J. Noves 

dianes terapèutiques en el trasplantament 

de fetge amb empelt de mida 

reduïda. PhD student: Susagna Padrissa 

Altes. 

Sanchez-Fueyo A. Phenotypic and 

transcriptional biomarkets in organ 

transplantation. PhD student: Isabel 

Puig-pey Comas. 

181

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GASTROINTESTINAL AND PANCREATIC ONCOLOGY 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Antoni Castells 


Tel.: 93 227 57 39 

Fax: 93 227 55 89 

E-mail: castells@clinic.ub.es 

The gaining of in-depth knowledge of 

the mechanisms underlying the development 

and progression of gastrointestinal 

and pancreatic premalignant and 

malignant lesions, with a view to defining 

new diagnostic, therapeutic and/or 

preventive strategies. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Juan Ramon Ayuso (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergi Castellví (IDIBAPS) 

José Ignacio Elizalde (Hospital Clínic) 

Laureano Fernández-Cruz (Hospital Clínic) 

Àngels Ginès(Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Lacy (Hospital Clínic) 

Salvador Navarro (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Pellisé (Hospital Clínic) 

Glòria Fernández (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Balaguer Prunes (Hospital Clínic) 


Mariana Rickmann Ashwell (CIBERehd, 

Hospital Clinic) 


Victòria Gonzalo Pascual (Hospital Clínic) 

Oriol Sendino Garcia (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Dolores Giráldez Jiménez 


María López-Cerón Pinilla (Fundació Clínic) 

Xavier Borrat (Hospital Clínic) 

Leticia Moreira Ruiz (Hospital Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Jennifer Muñoz Sancho (CIBERehd, Hospital 

Clínic) 

Georgina Ramirez Ramal (Fundació Clínic) 

Esther Samper Lirola (CIBERehd, Hospital 

Clínic) 


Teresa Ocaña Bombardo (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Rodríguez de Miguel 


Anna Serradesanferm Fabregas 



Pere Gambús Cerillo (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Vaquero Raya (Hospital Clínic) 

Virginia Alonso Espinaco 

(CIBERehd, Hospital Clínic) 

Meritxell Gironella Cos 

(CIBERehd. Hospital Clínic) 

Imma Garrell Lluis (CAPSE) 

The activity of the research group in 

gastrointestinal and pancreatic oncology 

is divided into four areas, and these 

in turn correspond to different lines of 

investigation: 

1. Physiopathology of colorectal 

cancer: 

• Hereditary forms of colorectal cancer, 

screening and vigilance. 

• Genetic susceptibility in colorectal 

cancer. 

• Epigenetics of colorectal cancer. 

2. Physiopathology of pancreatic 

cancer: 

• Implication of microRNAs in pancreatic 

cancer. 

• Epithelial-mesenchymal transition 

in the local and metastatic spread 

of pancreatic cancer. 

3. Research and innovation in endoscopy: 

• Endoscopic ultrasound. 

• Advanced diagnostic techniques. 

• Endoscopic therapies. 

4. Research and innovation in surgery: 

• Surgery for colorectal cancer. 

• Surgery for pancreatic cancer. 

182

AREA 3 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 132,71 

1 Balaguer F, Link A, Lozano JJ, 

Cuatrecasas M, Nagasaka T, Boland 

CR, Goel A. Epigenetic Silencing of 

miR-137 Is an Early Event in Colorectal 

Carcinogenesis. CANCER RES, 2010. 

70:6609-6618. I.F.:7,54. 

2 Sanchez-Tillo E, Lazaro A, Torrent R, 

Cuatrecasas M, Vaquero EC, Castells 

A, Engel P, Postigo A. ZEB1 represses 

E-cadherin and induces an EMT by 

recruiting the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling 

protein BRG1. ONCOGENE, 

2010. 29:3490-3500. I.F.:7,14. 



F, Goel A, DelCastillo CF, Rius J, Plaza 

S, Robledillo JCL, Juan M, Ibanez M, 

Yague J. A Somatic NLRP3 Mutation 

as a Cause of a Sporadic Case of Chronic 

Infantile Neurologic, Cutaneous, 

Articular Syndrome/Neonatal-Onset 

Multisystem Inflammatory Disease 

Novel Evidence of the Role of Low- 

Level Mosaicism as the Pathophysiologic 

Mechanism Under. ARTHRITIS 

RHEUM-US, 2010. 62:1158-1166. 

I.F.:7,33. 


Hernandez-Guerra M, Consigny Y, Fabris 

F, Trebicka J, Heller J, Morard I, Lasser 

L, Langlet P, Denninger MH, Vidaud D, 

Condat B, Hadengue A, Primignani M, 

Garcia-Pagan JC, Janssen HLA, Valla D. 

Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis Unrelated 

to Cirrhosis: A Prospective Multicenter 

Follow-up Study. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:210-218. I.F.:10,84. 




T, Serradesanferm A, Alonso-Espinaco 

V, Jimeno M, Cuatrecasas M, Sendino 

O, Castellvi-Bel S, Castells A. Aberrant 

Gene Promoter Methylation Associated 

with Sporadic Multiple Colorectal Cancer. 

PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

6 Bujanda L, Sarasqueta C, Hijona E, Hijona 

L, Cosme A, Gil I, Elorza JL, Asensio 

JI, Larburu S, Enriquez-Navascues JM, Jover 

R, Balaguer F, Llor X, Bessa X, Andreu 

M, Paya A, Castells A. Colorectal cancer 

prognosis twenty years later. WORLD 

J GASTROENTERO, 2010. 16:862-867. 

I.F.:2,09. 

7 Sendino O, Fernandez-Esparrach G, 

Sole M, Colomo L, Pellise M, Llach J, 

Navarro S, Bordas JM, Gines A. Endoscopic 

ultrasonography-guided brushing increases 

cellular diagnosis of pancreatic cysts: A 

prospective study. DIGEST LIVER DIS, 2010. 

42:877-881. I.F.:2,97. 

8 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Sendino O, Sole 

M, Pellise M, Colomo L, Pardo A, Martinez- 

Palli G, Arguello L, Bordas JM, Llach J, Gines 

A. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle 

aspiration and trucut biopsy in the diagnosis 

of gastric stromal tumors: a randomized crossover 

study. ENDOSCOPY, 2010. 42:292- 

299. I.F.:5,55. 

9 Sylla P, Rattner DW, Delgado S, Lacy AM. 

NOTES transanal rectal cancer resection 

using transanal endoscopic microsurgery and 

laparoscopic assistance. SURG ENDOSC, 

2010. 24:1205-1210. I.F.:3,31. 

10 Lacy A, Ibarzabal A, Pando E, Adelsdorfer 

C, Delitala A, Corcelles R, Delgado S, 

Vidal J. Revisional Surgery After Sleeve Gastrectomy. 

SURG LAPARO ENDO PER, 2010. 

20:351-356. I.F.:0,83. 

11 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Bordas JM, 

Giraldez MD, Gines A, Pellise M, Sendino 

O, Martinez-Palli G, Castells A, Llach J. Severe 

Complications Limit Long-Term Clinical 

Success of Self-Expanding Metal Stents in 

Patients With Obstructive Colorectal Cancer. 

AM J GASTROENTEROL, 2010. 105:1087- 

1093. I.F.:6,01. 

12 Abuli A, Bessa X, Gonzalez JR, Ruiz- 

Ponte C, Caceres A, Munoz J, Gonzalo V, 

Balaguer F, Fernandez-Rozadilla C, Gonzalez 

D, DeCastro L, Clofent J, Bujanda L, Cubiella 

J, Rene JM, Morillas JD, Lanas A, Rigau J, 

Garcia AM, Latorre M, Salo J, Banares FF, 

Arguello L, Pena E, Vilella A, Riestra S, Carreno 

R, Paya A, Alenda C, Xicola RM, Doyle 

BJ, Jover R, Llor X, Carracedo A, Castells 

A, Castellvi-Bel S, Andreu M. Susceptibility 

Genetic Variants Associated With Colorectal 

Cancer Risk Correlate With Cancer Phenotype. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 139:788- 

U129. I.F.:12,90. 

183

AREA 3 



Team Members 

13 Fernandez-Esparrach G, Estepar 

RS, Guarner-Argente C, Martinez-Palli 

G, Navarro R, DeMiguel CR, Cordova H, 

Thompson CC, Lacy AM, Donoso L, Ayuso-Colella 

JR, Gines A, Pellise M, Llach 

J, Vosburgh KG. The role of a computed 

tomography-based image registered navigation 

system for natural orifice transluminal 

endoscopic surgery: a comparative 

study in a porcine model. ENDOSCOPY, 

2010. 42:1096-1103. I.F.:5,55. 

14 Guarner-Argente C, Cordova H, Martinez-Palli 

G, Navarro R, Cuatrecasas M, 

DeMiguel CR, Beltran M, Lacy AM, Gines 

A, Pellise M, Llach J, Fernandez-Esparrach 

G. Yes, we can: reliable colonic closure 

with the Padlock-G clip in a survival porcine 

study (with video). GASTROINTEST 

ENDOSC, 2010. 72:841-844. I.F.:6,71. 

15 Fernández-Esparrach G, Matthes 

EL, Maurice D, Enderle M, Thompson CC, 

Carr-Locke DL. A novel device for endoscopic 

submucosal dissection that combines 

water-jet submucosal hydrodissection and 

elevation with electrocautery: initial experience 

in a porcine model. GASTROINTEST 

ENDOSC, 2010. 71:615-618. I.F.:6,71. 

16 Alfaro I, Ocana T, Castells A, Cordero 

C, Ponce M, Cajal TRY, Andreu M, Bujanda 

L, Herraiz M, Molina AJH, Fernandez- 

Banares F, Riestra-Menendez S, Gargallo C, 

Ruiz A, Bustamante M, Blanco I, DeJuan 

FM. Characteristics of patients with familial 

adenomatous polyposis in Spain. First 

results of the Spanish Registry of Familial 

Adenomatous Polyposis. MED CLIN-BAR- 

CELONA, 2010. 135:103-108. I.F.:1,23. 

17 Tomlinson IPM, Dunlop M, Campbell 

H, Zanke B, Gallinger S, Hudson 

T, Koessler T, Pharoah PD, Niittymaki I, 

Tuupanen S, Aaltonen LA, Hemminki K, 

Lindblom A, Forsti A, Sieber O, Lipton L, 

VanWezel T, Morreau H, Wijnen JT, Devilee 

P, Matsuda K, Nakamura Y, Castellvi- 

Bel S, Ruiz-Ponte C, Castells A, Carracedo 

A, Ho JWC, Sham P, Hofstra RMW, Vodicka 

P, Brenner H, Hampe J, Schafmayer C, 

Tepel J, Schreiber S, Volzke H, Lerch MM, 

Schmidt CA, Buch S, Moreno V, Villanueva 

CM, Peterlongo P, Radice P, Echeverry 

MM, Velez A, Carvajal-Carmona L, Scott 

R, Penegar S, Broderick P, Tenesa A, 

Houlston RS. COGENT (COlorectal cancer 

GENeTics): an international consortium to 

study the role of polymorphic variation on 

the risk of colorectal cancer. BRIT J CAN- 

CER, 2010. 102:447-454. I.F.:4,35. 

18 Fernandez-Rozadilla C, Tarrio R, 

Clofent J, DeCastro L, Brea-Fernandez 

A, Bessa X, Abuli A, Andreu M, Jover R, 

Xicola R, Llor X, Castells A, Castellvi-Bel S, 

Carracedo A, Ruiz-Ponte C. Colorectal Cancer 

Susceptibility Quantitative Trait Loci in 

Mice as a Novel Approach to Detect Low- 

Penetrance Variants in Humans: A Two-Stage 

Case-Control Study. CANCER EPIDEM 

BIOMAR, 2010. 19:619-623. I.F.:4,31. 

19 Obstein KL, Martins FP, Fernandez- 

Esparrach G, Thompson CC. Endoscopic 

ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis 

using a reverse phase polymer. WORLD 

J GASTROENTERO, 2010. 16:728-731. 

I.F.:2,09. 

20 Link A, Balaguer F, Shen Y, Nagasaka 

T, Lozano JJ, Boland CR, Goel A. Fecal 

MicroRNAs as Novel Biomarkers for Colon 

Cancer Screening. CANCER EPIDEM 

BIOMAR, 2010. 19:1766-1774. I.F.:4,31. 

21 Maurel J, Martins AS, Poveda A, 

Lopez-Guerrero JA, Cubedo R, Casado 

A, Martinez-Trufero J, Ayuso JR, Lopez- 

Pousa A, Garcia-Albeniz X, DelMuro XG, 

De Alava E. Imatinib Plus Low-Dose 

Doxorubicin in Patients With Advanced 

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Refractory 

to High-Dose Imatinib A Phase I-II 

Study by the Spanish Group for Research 

on Sarcomas. CANCER-AM CANCER 

SOC, 2010. 116:3692-3701. I.F.:5,42. 

22 Perez-Carbonell L, Alenda C, Paya A, 

Castillejo A, Barbera VM, Guillen C, Rojas 

E, Acame N, Gutierrez-Avino FJ, Castells 

A, Llor X, Andreu M, Soto JL, Jover R. 

Methylation Analysis of MLH1 Improves 

the Selection of Patients for Genetic 

Testing in Lynch Syndrome. J MOL DIAGN, 

2010. 12:498-504. I.F.:3,41. 

23 Borras E, Pineda M, Blanco I, Jewett 

EM, Wang F, Teule A, Caldes T, Urioste M, 

Martinez-Bouzas C, Brunet J, Balmana J, 

Torres A, Cajal TRY, Sanz J, Perez-Cabornero 

L, Castellvi-Bel S, Alonso A, Lanas A, Gonzalez 

S, Moreno V, Gruber SB, Rosenberg NA, 

Mukherjee B, Lazaro C, Capella G. MLH1 

Founder Mutations with Moderate Penetrance 

in Spanish Lynch Syndrome Families. 

CANCER RES, 2010. 70:7379-7391. I.F.:7,54. 

24 Mora M, Ricart MJ, Casamitjana R, Astudillo 

E, Lopez I, Jimenez A, Fernandez-Cruz 

L, Esmatjes E. Pancreas and kidney transplantation: 

long-term endocrine function. CLIN 

TRANSPLANT, 2010. 24:E236-E240. I.F.:2,00. 

25 Moize V, Moize L, Lacy A, Vidal J. Pica 

secondary to iron deficiency 1 year after gastric 

bypass. SURG OBES RELAT DIS, 2010. 

6:316-318. I.F.:3,86. 

26 Fernandez-Rozadilla C, DeCastro L, Clofent 

J, Brea-Fernandez A, Bessa X, Abuli A, 

Andreu M, Jover R, Xicola R, Llor X, Castells 

A, Castellvi-Bel S, Carracedo A, Ruiz-Ponte C. 

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Wnt 

and BMP Pathways and Colorectal Cancer 

Risk in a Spanish Cohort. PLOS ONE, 2010. 

5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 4,25 

1 Link A, Balaguer F, Goel A. Cancer 

chemoprevention by dietary polyphenols: 

Promising role for epigenetics. BIOCHEM 

PHARMACOL, 2010. 80:1771-1792. I.F.:4,25. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 12,89 

1 Castellvi-Bel S, Castells A. Differential risk 

depending on parental origin: a new layer of 

complexity for genetic susceptibility variants. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 139:689-690. 

I.F.:12,90. 

184

AREA 3 




I.F.: 10,41 

1 Navarro S, Vaquero E, Maurel J, Bombi JA, 

DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz LF, Gines A, Girela E, 

Rodriguez R, Sabater L. Recommendations for 

diagnosis, staging and treatment of pancreatic 

cancer (Part I). Grupo Español de Consenso en 

Cáncer de Páncreas. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 

2010. 134:643-655. I.F.:1,23. 

2 Navarro S, Vaquero E, Maurel J, Bombi JA, 

DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz LF, Gines A, Girela E, 

Rodriguez R, Sabater L. Recommendations for 

diagnosis, staging and treatment of pancreatic 

cancer (Part II). MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 

134:692-702. I.F.:1,23. 

3 Balmana J, Castells A, Cervantes A. Familial 

colorectal cancer risk: ESMO Clinical Practice 

Guidelines. ANN ONCOL, 2010. 21:v78-v81. 

I.F.:5,65. 

4 Sanjuan X, Salas A, Lloreta J, Walsh PM. 

Colorectal Cancer OncoGuia: surgical pathology 

report guidelines. CLIN TRANSL ONCOL, 2010. 

12:211-213. I.F.:1,15. 

5 ManchonWalsh P, Borras JM, Ferro T, Espinas 

JA. Colorectal Cancer OncoGuia. CLIN 

TRANSL ONCOL. 12:188-210. I.F.:1,15. 


in progress 

Castells A. Cribado del cáncer colorrectal en 

población de riesgo intermedio: estudio multicéntrico, 

aleatorizado y controlado en el que 

se compara la prueba de detección de sangre 

oculta en heces mediante método inmunológico 

y la colonoscopia. Sponsored by: Fundación de 

la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC), 

AECC_07/185. Amount: 300.000,00 euros. Duration: 

01/03/2007-30/06/2011. 

Castells A. Hipermetilación de la región 

promotora de los genes MLH1, MGMT, CDK- 

N2A, RASSF1A, CDX1 y SFRP1 en mucosa 

colorrectal no tumoral como factor favorecedor 

del desarrollo del cáncer colorrectal. 

Sponsored by: Comisión Interministerial de 

Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT), SAF-2007- 


02/07/2007-31/12/2010. 

Castellvi S, Castells A, Balaguer F, Giraldez 

M, Ocaña T. Caracterización clínica, histológica 

y molecular del cáncer colorrectal diagnosticado 

antes de los 50 años. Sponsored 

by: Fundación Investigación Médica Mutua 

Madrileña, PI040296. Amount: 30.000,00 


Castellvi S, Castells A, Balaguer F, Gonzalo 

V. Genetic study of common hereditary 

bowel cancers in Hispania and the Americas 

(CHIBCHA). Sponsored by: European 

Commission, 7th Framework Programme, 


01/06/2009-30/11/2012. 

Fernandez M, Almela M, Bombi JA, Delgado 

S, Filella X, Gines A, Lacy A, Llach J, 

Martinez G, Rodriguez C, Pellise M. Estudio 

comparativo de los cambios fisiológicos 

e inmunológicos de la NOTES utilizando diferentes 

vías de acceso versus la laparoscopia. 


III, PI08/90026. Amount: 97.526,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-01/06/2010. 

Gironella M, Castells A, Navarro S, Miquel 

R, Gines A, Alonso V, Gonzalo V. Implicación 

de los microRNAs en la fisiopatología 

y quimioresistencia del cáncer de páncreas. 

Sponsored by: Fundación Mutua Madrileña, 

FMM-MG2008-11. Amount: 50.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 31/07/2008-31/07/2011. 

Castells A. Grup de Recerca en Oncología 

Gastrointestinal i Pancreàtica . Sponsored 

by: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris 

i de Recerca (AGAUR), 2009-SGR- 


01/07/2009-30/06/2014. 

Vaquero EC, Rickmann M, Navarro S, 

Miquel R. Transición Epitelio-Mesénquima 

y reclutamiento de fibrocitos en el desarrollo 

y extensión del cáncer de Páncreas. 

Sponsored by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Castellvi S, Pique JM, Giraldez M, Ocaña T. 

Componentes genéticos comunes y de baja 

penetrancia implicados en cáncer colorrectal: 

correlación genotipo-fenotipo e identificación 

de variantes genómicas de riesgo. 

Sponsored by: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, 

FIS08/0024. Amount: 95.469,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Castells A. Convenio de colaboración entre 

la Fundació Clínic y la AECC para el proyecto 

“Cribado del cáncer colorrectal en 

población de riesgo intermedio: estudio 

multicéntrico, aleatorizado y controlado en 

el que se compara la prueba de detección 

de sangre oculta e. Sponsored by: Asociación 

Española Contra el Cáncer, CP040377. 


09/10/2008-30/06/2011. 

Castells A. Subproductos de la desinfección y 

otros determinantes ambientales, genéticos y 

moleculares del cáncer colorrectal. Sponsored 

by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PI080533. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Pellise M. Implicación de los focos de criptas 

aberrantes en la carcinogénesis colorrectal: estudio 

morfológico con técnicas de endoscopia 

avanzada y caracterización molecular. Sponsored 


PI09/0669. Amount: 68.365,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Castells A, Navarro S. Neoplasias quísticas del 

páncreas: Análisis descriptivo y factores predictivos 

de malignidad. PhD student: Ana Celia 

Adet Caldelari. 

Vaquero E. Estudio de los tocotrienoles como 

inductores de muerte programada en las células 

estrelladas del páncreas. PhD student: 

Mariana Rickmann Ashwell. 

Castells A, Pique JM. Prevención del cáncer 

colorrectal: Nuevas estrategias de cribado, 

vigilancia y quimioprofilaxis. PhD student: Francisco 

Rodriguez Moranta. 

185

AREA 3 




(CIBERer) 

Hereditary metabolic diseases 

Group Members 


Paz Briones (CSIC) 

Laura Gort (Hospital Clínic) 

Teresa Pàmpols (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Josep Coll (Hospital Clínic) 


Frederic Tort (CIBERer) 

Aleix Navarro-Sastre (CIBERer) 

Angela Arias (CIBERer) 

TEAM LEADER 

Antonia Ribes 


Tel.: 93 227 56 72 

(Ext.: 9340) 

Fax: 93 227 56 68 

E-mail: 

aribes@clinic.ub.es 


Judith Macías (Fundació Niemann Pick) 

Nuria Bujan (FIS) 

Aida Font (FIS) 

Leslie Matalonga (Fundació Clínic) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

The strategic objective of our group 

is to investigate the genetic and biochemical 

bases, as well as the physiopathological 

mechanisms, of hereditary 

metabolic diseases. The ultimate aim 

is to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic 

strategies. 

On the other hand, we conducttranslational 

research, stimulating the transfer 

of knowledge from basic research to the 

clinical practice setting, and vice versa. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

Within the general line of hereditary 

metabolic diseases, our concrete research 

lines are based on the following: 

1. In vitro therapeutic approaches. 

This study involves the testing of 

chemical and peptide libraries. Selection 

has been made of disease stop 

mutations and mis-sense mutations 

previously identified by our group. 

We make use of fibroblasts IPI cells 

and neuron cultures as cell models. 

2. CoQ10 deficiency. We are carrying 

out the biochemical selection of patients 

with CoQ10 deficiency, based 

on the study of the mitochondrial 

respiratory chain and the analysis of 

the metabolic pathways, using stable 

isotopes in fibroblasts from the previously 

selected patients. Posteriorly, in 

patients that prove negative for mutations 

of the genes known to date, an 

exome analysis will be made to identify 

the gene causing the disease. 

3. Cerebral creatine deficiency. Our 

group has been a pioneer in the identification 

of patients with cerebral 

creatine deficiency. At present we 

are centered on the evaluation of different 

creatine derivatives with the 

purpose of establishing a treatment 

for creatine transport deficiency. 

these creatine uptake studies are carried 

out in neurons derived from IPI 

cells and HUVEC and HBMEC cells 

silenced with interference RNA. 

4. mtDNA depletion. A nucleotide 

metabolic defect may give rise to mitochondrial 

DNA depletion. Since we 

have identified patients with these 

characteristics, without mutations of 

the genes known to date, our objective 

is to explore new genes capable 

of explaining the disease. 

5. Type C Niemann-Pick disease. The 

study of patients with this disorder has 

been carried out in a knock-in murine 

model, with a view to gaining further 

knowledge of the underlying physiopathology. 

On the other hand, this model 

will be used to test different drugs that 

act upon proteosomal degradation. 


Marisa Girós (Hospital Clínic) 

Judit Garcia-Villoria (Hospital Clínic) 

José Luis Marin (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Maria López (Hospital Clínic) 

Calculation of the 

number of mitochondrial 

DNA 

copies, based on 

real-time PCR. 

186

AREA 3 


HEREDITARY METABOLIC DISEASES 

Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 59,95 

1 Navarro-Sastre A, Garcia-Silva 

MT, Martin-Hernandez E, Lluch M, 

Briones P, Ribes A. Functional splicing 

assay supporting that c.70 + 5G > A 

mutation in the MPV17 gene is disease 

causing. J INHERIT METAB DIS, 

2010. :-. I.F.:3,60. 

2 Puisac B, Arnedo M, Casale CH, Ribate 

MP, Castiella T, Ramos FJ, Ribes 

A, Perez-Cerda C, Casals N, Hegardt 

FG, Pie J. Differential HMG-CoA lyase 

expression in human tissues provides 

clues about 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric 

aciduria. J INHERIT METAB DIS, 

2010. 33:405-410. I.F.:3,60. 

3 Fons C, Arias A, Sempere A, Poo 

P, Pineda M, Mas A, Lopez-Sala A, 

Garcia-Villoria J, Vilaseca MA, Ozaez L, 

Lluch M, Artuch R, Campistol J, Ribes 

A. Response to creatine analogs in 

fibroblasts and patients with creatine 

transporter deficiency. MOL GENET 

METAB, 2010. 99:296-299. I.F.:2,90. 

4 Pineda M, Montero R, Aracil A, 

O’callaghan MM, Mas A, Espinos C, 

Martinez-Rubio D, Palau F, Navas P, 

Briones P, Artuch R. Coenzyme Q(10)- 

Responsive Ataxia: 2-Year-Treatment 

Follow-up. MOVEMENT DISORD, 

2010. 25:1262-1268. I.F.:4,01. 

5 Quintana E, Pineda M, Font A, 

Vilaseca MA, Tort F, Ribes A, Briones 

P. Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase 

(DLD) deficiency in a Spanish patient 

with myopathic presentation due to 

a new mutation in the interface domain. 

J INHERIT METAB DIS, 2010. 

:-. I.F.:3,60. 

6 VanKuilenburg ABP, Dobritzsch 

D, Meijer J, Meinsma R, Benoist JF, 

Assmann B, Schubert S, Hoffmann 

GF, Duran M, DeVries MC, Kurlemann 

G, Eyskens FJM, Greed L, Sass JO, 

Schwab KO, Sewell AC, Walter J, 

Hahn A, Zoetekouw L, Ribes A, Lind 

S, Hennekam RCM. Dihydropyrimidinase 

deficiency: Phenotype, genotype 

and structural consequences in 17 

patients. BBA-MOL BASIS DIS, 2010. 

1802:639-648. I.F.:4,14. 

7 Serra-Perez A, Planas AM, Nunez- 

O’mara A, Berra E, Garcia-Villoria 

J, Ribes A, Santalucia T. Extended 

ischemia prevents HIF1alpha degradation 

at reoxygenation by impairing 

prolyl-hydroxylation: role of Krebs cycle 

metabolites. J BIOL CHEM, 2010. 

285:18217-18224. I.F.:5,33. 

8 Marti R, Nascimento A, Colomer 

J, Lara MC, Lopez-Gallardo E, Ruiz- 

Pesini E, Montoya J, Andreu AL, 

Briones P, Pineda M. Hearing Loss in 

a Patient With the Myopathic Form of 

Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome 

and a Novel Mutation in the TK2 

Gene. PEDIATR RES, 2010. 68:151- 

154. I.F.:2,61. 

9 Pampols T. Inherited Metabolic 

Rare Disease. ADV EXP MED BIOL, 

2010. 686:397-431. I.F.:2,02. 

10 Serrano M, Garcia-Silva MT, 

Martin-Hernandez E, O’callaghan 

MD, Quijada P, Martinez-Aragon A, 

Ormazabal A, Blazquez A, Martin MA, 

Briones P, Lopez-Gallardo E, Ruiz- 

Pesini E, Montoya J, Artuch R, Pineda 

M. Kearns-Sayre syndrome: Cerebral 

folate deficiency, MRI findings and 

new cerebrospinal fluid biochemical 

features. MITOCHONDRION, 2010. 

10:429-432. I.F.:4,15. 

11 Urreizti R, Moya-Garcia AA, 

Pino-Angeles A, Cozar M, Langkilde 

A, Fanhoe U, Esteves C, Arribas J, 

Vilaseca MA, Perez-Duenas B, Pineda 

M, Gonzalez V, Artuch R, Baldellou 

A, Vilarinho L, Fowler B, Ribes A, 

Sanchez-Jimenez F, Grinberg D, Balcells 

S. Molecular characterization of 

five patients with homocystinuria due 

to severe methylenetetrahydrofolate 

reductase deficiency. CLIN GENET, 

2010. 78:441-448. I.F.:3,30. 

12 Quintana E, Gort L, Busquets C, 

Navarro-Sastre A, Lissens W, Moliner 

S, Lluch M, Vilaseca MA, DeMeirleir 

L, Ribes A, Briones P. Mutational study 

in the PDHA1 gene of 40 patients 

suspected of pyruvate dehydrogenase 

complex deficiency. CLIN GENET, 

2010. 77:474-482. I.F.:3,30. 

13 Serrano M, Martins C, Perez- 

Duenas B, Gomez-Lopez L, Murgui E, 

Fons C, Garcia-Cazorla A, Artuch R, 

Jara F, Arranz JA, Haberle J, Briones 

P, Campistol J, Pineda M, Vilaseca 

MA. Neuropsychiatric Manifestations 

in Late-Onset Urea Cycle Disorder 

Patients. J CHILD NEUROL, 2010. 

25:352-358. I.F.:1,59. 

14 Amorosi CA, Treslova H, DodelsonDeKremer 

R, Coll MJ, Dvorakova 

L, OllerRamirez AM. Novel human 

pathological mutations. Gene symbol: 

ABCD1. Disease: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. 

HUM GENET, 2010. 

127:486-487. I.F.:4,52. 

15 Sempere A, Arias A, Farre G, 

Garcia-Villoria J, Rodriguez-Pombo P, 

Desviat LR, Merinero B, Garcia-Cazorla 

A, Vilaseca MA, Ribes A, Artuch R, 

Campistol J. Study of inborn errors of 

metabolism in urine from patients with 

unexplained mental retardation. J INHE- 

RIT METAB DIS, 2010. 33:1-7. I.F.:3,60. 

16 Flanagan JM, Mcmahon G, Chia 

SHB, Fitzpatrick P, Tighe O, O’neill C, 

Briones P, Gort L, Kozak L, Magee A, 

Naughten E, Radomyska B, Schwartz 

M, Shin JS, Strobl WM, Tyfield LA, 

Waterham HR, Russell H, Bertorelle 

G, Reichardt JKV, Mayne PD, Croke 

187

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HEREDITARY METABOLIC DISEASES 

DT. The role of human demographic 

history in determining the distribution 

and frequency of transferase-deficient 

galactosaemia mutations. HEREDITY, 

2010. 104:148-154. I.F.:4,12. 

17 Garcia-Villoria J, Gort L, Madrigal 

I, Fons C, Fernandez C, Navarro- 

Sastre A, Mila M, Briones P, Garcia- 

Cazorla A, Campistol J, Ribes A. 

X-inactivation of HSD17B10 revealed 

by cDNA analysis in two female patients 

with 17 beta-hydroxysteroid 

dehydrogenase 10 deficiency. EUR J 

HUM GENET, 2010 . 18:1353-1355. 

I.F.:3,56. 


in progress 

Pampols T. Defining targets for therapeutics 

in Spinal Muscular Atrophy 

(GENAME). Grupo 5. Sponsored by: 

Genoma España, GenEsp2006-07/107. 


01/03/2007-28/02/2010. 

Briones P. Estudios bioquímicos 

y mutacionales en pacientes con 

deficiencias primarias de CoQ. Selección 

bioquímica de pacientes y 

análisis de la vía metabólica mediante 

sustratos marcados con isótopos 

estables. Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigación Sanitaria, FIS 08/00082. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Ribes A. Desarrollo de compuestos 

capaces de inducir la lectura de codones 

de terminación temprana (PTCs). 


Sanitaria. BCN-Peptides, 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Ribes A. Estudios de captación de 

creatina, con distintos preparados 

de la misma, en neuronas derivadas 

de células IPS y en células HUVEC 

silenciadas con RNA de interferencia. 

Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigación Sanitaria, PS09/02128. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Ribes A. Diagnóstico, fisiopatología y 

tratamiento en la deficiencia cerebral 

de creatina. Subproyecto 4. Estudios 

de captación de creatina, con distintos 

preparados de la misma, en neuronas 

derivadas de células IPS y en células 

HUVEC silenciadas con RNA de 

INTERF. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Ribes A. Automatización de métodos 

de diagnóstico molecular de enfermedades 

mitocondriales. Parte 4, 

Hospital Clínic: Depleción de mtDNA; 

Cálculo del número de copias de mtD- 

NA y obtención de valores de referencia 

según edad y tejido. Sponsored 

by: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, 

ETES PI08/90348. Amount: 70.785,00 


31/12/2010. 

188

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GENOMIC PROGRAMMING OF BETA CELLS 

AND DIABETES 

Group Members 


Ildem Akerman (IDIBAPS) 

TEAM LEADER 

Jorge Ferrer 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 4542) 

Fax: 93 312 94 09 

E-mail: 

jferrer@clinic.ub.es 

Strategic 

Objectives 

1. Use of genomic tools for establishing 

the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms 

that modify the risk of developing 

diabetes. 

2. Identification of pathogenic mechanisms 

and new therapeutic options 

for monogenic forms of diabetes. 

3. Discovery of new pancreatic regeneration 

pathways. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Pancreatic regeneration and programming. 

2. Epigenomic regulation of beta cells 

and diabetes. 

3. Monogenic diabetes. 


www.betacellregulation.net 


Joris van Arensbergen (Fundació Clínic) 

Myriam Solar (Fundació Clínic) 

Ignasi Moran (Fundació Clínic) 

Miguel Angel Correa (Marie Curie, IDIBAPS) 

Nikolina Nakic (Marie Curie, IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Vanessa Grau (CIBERDEM) 

Xavier Garcia (CIBERDEM) 


Takao Nammo (IDIBAPS) 

Lorenzo Pasquali (IDIBAPS) 

Miguel Angel Maestro (CIBERDEM) 

Santiago Rodriguez (IDIBAPS) 

Immunofluorescence 

of E13.5 mouse embryonic 

pancreas. Nuclear 

staining of ductal cells, 

hnf1b (blue). Nuclear 

staining of endocrine 

cells, nkx2.2 (red). Cytoplasmic 

staining of acinar 

cells, CPA1 (green). 

189

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GENOMIC PROGRAMMING 

OF BETA CELLS AND DIABETES 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 64,59 


in progress 

1 Gaulton KJ, Nammo T, Pasquali 

L, Simon JM, Giresi PG, Fogarty MP, 

Panhuis TM, Mieczkowski P, Secchi A, 

Bosco D, Berney T, Montanya E, Mohlke 

KL, Lieb JD, Ferrer J. A map of 

open chromatin in human pancreatic 

islets. NAT GENET, 2010. 42:255-U41. 

I.F.:34,28. 

2 Van Arensbergen J, Garcia- 

Hurtado J, Moran I, Maestro MA, Xu 

XB, VanDeCasteele M, Skoudy AL, 

Palassini M, Heimberg H, Ferrer J. 

Derepression of Polycomb targets during 

pancreatic organogenesis allows 

insulin-producing beta-cells to adopt a 

neural gene activity program. GENO- 

ME RES, 2010. 20:722-732. I.F.:11,34. 

3 Boj SF, Petrov D, Ferrer J. Epistasis 

of Transcriptomes Reveals Synergism 

between Transcriptional Activators 

Hnf1 alpha and Hnf4 alpha. PLOS GE- 

NET, 2010. 6:-. I.F.:9,53. 

4 Garin I, Edghill EL, Akerman I, 

Rubio-Cabezas O, Rica I, Locke JM, 

Maestro MA, Alshaikh A, Bundak R, 

DelCastillo G, Deeb A, Deiss D, Fernandez 

JM, Godbole K, Hussain K, 

O’connell M, Klupa T, Kolouskova S, 

Mohsin F, Perlman K, Sumnik Z, Rial 

JM, Ugarte E, Vasanthi T, Johnstone 

K, Flanagan SE, Martinez R, Castano 

C, Patch AM, Fernandez-Rebollo E, 

Raile K, Morgan N, Harries LW, Castano 

L, Ellard S, Ferrer J, DeNanclares 

G, Hattersley AT. Recessive mutations 

in the INS gene result in neonatal 

diabetes through reduced insulin 

biosynthesis. P NATL ACAD SCI USA, 

2010. 107:3105-3110. I.F.:9,43. 

Ferrer J. Analysis of the plasticity 

of pancreatic duct cells. Sponsored 

by: JUVENILE DIABETES 

RES.FOUNDATION, 26-2008-633. 


01/08/2008-31/07/2010. 

Ferrer J. Regulación epigenética 

y plasticidad de las células beta 

pancreáticas. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Ferrer J. Collaborative European Effort 

to Develop Diabetes Diagnosis. Sponsored 

by: VII Programa Marc, UE, 

223211. Amount: 196.363,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/12/2008-30/11/2012. 

Ferrer J. Biology of Liver and Pancreatic 

Development and Disease. 

Sponsored by: VII Programa Marc, UE, 

238821. Amount: 377.055,77 euros. 

Duration: 01/09/2009-31/08/2013. 

Ferrer J. Empleo de epigenomas celulares 

para optimizar la terapia celular 

a partir de células madre. Sponsored 

by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, 

PLE2009-0162. Amount: 265.000,00 


01/11/2011. 

190

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DIABETES: METABOLIC AND MOLECULAR NETWORKS 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Ramon Gomis 


Tel.: 93 227 98 84 

Fax: 93 451 66 38 

E-mail: rgomis@clinic.ub.es 

1. Molecular mechanisms regulating 

plasticity of the islets in diabetes 

and obesity. 

2. Molecular determinants regulating 

pancreatic beta-cell function: etiopathogenic 

role in diabetes. 

3. Diabetes andobesity as cardiovascular 

disease. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Roser Casamitjana (Hospital Clínic) 

Ignacio Conget (Hospital Clínic) 

Enric Esmatjes (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Gasa (IDIBAPS) 

Marcelina Parrizas (IDIBAPS) 

Joan Marc Servitja (IDIBAPS) 

Josep Vidal (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Novials (IDIBAPS) 

Marc Claret (IDIBAPS) 

Pablo Miguel García-Roves 

Carles Lerin (IDIBAPS) 

Antonio Ceriello (IDIBAPS) 


Rebeca Fernández (CIBERDEM) 

Sandra Rebuffat (CIBERDEM) 

Maud Soty (CIBERDEM) 

Paola Casini (IDIBAPS) 

Nathalie Nicod (IDIBAPS) 

Sara Cervantes (IDIBAPS) 

Rita Malpique (IDIBAPS) 

Elena Gonzalez (CIBERDEM) 


Esther Llagostera (Universitat de Barcelona) 

Joana Duarte (Fundació Clínic) 

Miriam Ejarque (IDIBAPS) 

Fabian Pardo (Fundació Clínic) 

Gemma Pujadas (Fundació Clínic) 

Montse Visa (Fundació Clínic) 

Alba Moreno (IDIBAPS) 

Katerina Papageorgiou (IDIBAPS) 

Silvia Canivell (IDIBAPS) 

Lisa Cadavez (IDIBAPS) 

Marc Schneeberger 

(Universitat de Barcelona) 

Marta Pradas (Fundació Clínic) 

Mariona Balfego (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Carlos Castaño (CIBERDEM) 

Yaiza Esteban (CIBERDEM) 

Ainhoa García (CIBERDEM) 

Marta Julià (CIBERDEM) 

Sandra Piquer (CIBERDEM) 

Lidia Sanchez (IDIBAPS) 


Judith Viaplana (IDIBAPS) 

Mercè Lara (CIBERDEM) 

Dietists: 

Serafín Murillo (CIBERDEM) 


María José Coves (CIBERDEM) 

Marga Gimenez (Hospital Clínic) 

Belén Nadal (Universitat de Barcelona) 

Alexandra Felicia Hanzu (IDIBAPS) 

Laura Brugnara (CIBERDEM) 

Lilliam Flores (Hospital Clínic) 

Emilio Ortega (Hospital Clínic) 

Pere Leyes (Hospital Clínic) 

1. Analysis of the transcriptional circuits 

regulating the beta-cell population 

and its function. 

2. Description of the modulating effects 

of the transcription factors 

neuroD1 and neurogenin 3 in the 

embryonic development of the 

pancreas. 

3. Description of the molecular pathways 

involved in the antiobesity 

and antidiabetic effects of sodium 

tungstate in experimental animals. 

4. Impact of normal blood glucose 

upon endothelial dysfunction: use 

of treatments with insulin pumps. 

5. Determination of the role of the hypothalamus 

in the control of energy 

homeostasis in obesity. 

6. Analysis of the epigenetic regulation 

of adipogenesis. 

7. Determination of the molecular effects 

of SNP rs7903146 of TCF7L2 

and its role in the risk of developing 

diabetes. 


www.diabetisiobesitat.org 

www.ciberdem.org 

191

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PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 84,13 


D, Perez I, Gutierrez F, 

Lonca M, Barragan P, Deulofeu R, 

Casamitjana R, Mallolas J, Pich J, 

Gatell JM. Abacavir-based therapy 

does not affect biological mechanisms 

associated with cardiovascular 

dysfunction. AIDS, 2010. 

24:F1-F9. I.F.:4,91. 

Expression of b-site amyloidogenic cleavage of precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 

(BACE) in the human pancreas. BACE (red), insulin (blue) and glucagon (green) 

(BACE co-localization with insulin: magenta). 

2 Penarrubia J, Peralta S, Fabregues 

F, Carmona F, Casamitjana R, 

Balasch J. Day-5 inhibin B serum 

concentrations and antral follicle 

count as predictors of ovarian 

response and live birth in assisted 

reproduction cycles stimulated 

with gonadotropin after pituitary 

suppression. FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 

94:2590-2595. I.F.:3,97. 


Pancreatic islets: biomarkers and function 

Group Leader: Ramon Gomis (IDIBAPS) 

The group headed by Dr. Ramon Gomis investigates the physiology 

of pancreatic islets and adipose tissue, and the causes 

leading to dysfunction of these tissues. A central aspect of 

these studies is the determination of the molecular mechanisms 

implicated in cell mass balance at both embryonic development level 

and as refers to adult age – with special emphasis on cell regeneration and 

apoptotic processes. 


Molecular and metabolic alterations in diabetes 

Group Leader: Anna Novials (IDIBAPS) 

The main line of research of the group headed by Dr. Novials 

involves the study of the molecular, genetic and environmental 

factors critical to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and destruction 

in type 2 diabetes. 

3 Casals G, Ordi J, Creus M, Fabregues 

F, Carmona F, Casamitjana 

R, Balasch J. Osteopontin and 

alpha V beta 3 integrin as markers 

of endometrial receptivity: the 

effect of different hormone therapies. 

REPROD BIOMED ONLINE, 

2010. 21:349-359. I.F.:2,38. 

4 Moreno M, Chaves JF, Sancho- 

Bru P, Ramalho F, Ramalho LN, 

Mansego ML, Ivorra C, Dominguez 

M, Conde L, Millan C, Mari M, 

Colmenero J, Lozano JJ, Jares P, 

Vidal J, Forns X, Arroyo V, Caballeria 

J, Gines P, Bataller R. Ghrelin 

Attenuates Hepatocellular Injury 

and Liver Fibrogenesis in Rodents 

and Influences Fibrosis Progression 

in Humans. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:974-985. I.F.:10,84. 

5 Lacy A, Ibarzabal A, Pando E, 

Adelsdorfer C, Delitala A, Corcelles 

R, Delgado S, Vidal J. Revisional 

192

AREA 3 



Team Members 

Surgery After Sleeve Gastrectomy. 

SURG LAPARO ENDO PER, 

2010. 20:351-356. I.F.:0,83. 

6 Casas S, Casini P, Piquer S, 

Altirriba J, Soty M, Cadavez L, 

Gomis R, Novials A. BACE2 plays 

a role in the insulin receptor trafficking 

in pancreatic beta-cells. 

AM J PHYSIOL-ENDOC M, 2010. 

299:E1087-E1095. I.F.:4,40. 

7 Flores L, Osaba MJM, Andreu 

A, Moize V, Rodriguez L, Vidal J. 

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation 

after Gastric Bypass Should 

Be Individualized to Improve or 

Avoid Hyperparathyroidism. OBES 

SURG, 2010. 20:738-743. I.F.:2,93. 

8 Ceriello A, Esposito K, Ihnat 

M, Thorpe J, Giugliano D. Effect 

of acute hyperglycaemia, longterm 

glycaemic control and insulin 

on endothelial dysfunction and 

inflammation in Type 1 diabetic 

patients with different characteristics. 

DIABETIC MED, 2010. 

27:911-917. I.F.:2,87. 

9 Komajda M, Mcmurray JJV, 

Beck-Nielsen H, Gomis R, Hanefeld 

M, Pocock SJ, Curtis PS, 

Jones NP, Home PD. Heart failure 

events with rosiglitazone in type 2 

diabetes: data from the RECORD 

clinical trial. EUR HEART J, 2010. 

31:824-831. I.F.:9,80. 

10 Musri MM, Carmona MC, 

Hanzu FA, Kaliman P, Gomis R, 

Parrizas M. Histone Demethylase 

LSD1 Regulates Adipogenesis. J 

BIOL CHEM, 2010. 285:30034- 

30041. I.F.:5,33. 

11 Moize VL, Pi-Sunyer X, 

Mochari H, Vidal J. Nutritional 

Pyramid for Post-gastric Bypass 

Patients. OBES SURG. , 2010 

20:1133-1141. I.F.:2,93. 

12 Murillo S, Brugnara L, Novials 

A. One year follow-up in a group of 

half-marathon runners with type-1 

diabetes treated with insulin analogues. 

J SPORT MED PHYS FIT, 

2010. 50:506-510. I.F.:0,76. 

13 Hanzu F, Gomis R, Coves MJ, 

Viaplana J, Palomo M, Andreu A, Szpunar 

J, Vidal J. Proof-of-concept trial 

on the efficacy of sodium tungstate in 

human obesity. DIABETES OBES ME- 

TAB, 2010. 12:1013-1018. I.F.:4,13. 

14 Andreu A, Moize V, Rodriguez 

L, Flores L, Vidal J. Protein Intake, 

Body Composition, and Protein 

Status Following Bariatric Surgery. 

OBES SURG, 2010. 20:1509-1515. 

I.F.:2,93. 

15 Esmatjes E, Montana X, Real 

MI, Blanco J, Conget I, Casamitjana 

R, Rovira M, Gomis R, Marin P. Regeneration 

of insulin production by 

autologous bone marrow blood autotransplantation 

in patients with type 

1 diabetes. DIABETOLOGIA, 2010. 

53:786-789. I.F.:6,55. 

16 Fernandez-Real JM, Valdes S, 

Manco M, Chico B, Botas P, Campo 

A, Casamitjana R, Delgado E, 

Salvador J, Fruhbeck G, Mingrone 

G, Ricart W. Surfactant Protein D, a 

Marker of Lung Innate Immunity, Is 

Positively Associated With Insulin 

Sensitivity. DIABETES CARE, 2010. 

33:847-853. I.F.:6,72. 

17 Gimenez M, Lara M, Conget 

I. Sustained Efficacy of Continuous 

Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion in 

Type 1 Diabetes Subjects with 

Recurrent Non-Severe and Severe 

Hypoglycemia and Hypoglycemia 

Unawareness: A Pilot Study. 

DIABETES TECHNOL THE, 2010. 

12:517-521. I.F.:2,62. 

18 Luque-Ramirez M, Portoles 

GR, Varela C, Albero R, Halperin I, 

Moreiro J, Soto A, Casamitjana R. 

The Efficacy of Octreotide LAR as 

Firstline Therapy for Patients with 

Newly Diagnosed Acromegaly is 

Independent of Tumor Extension: 

Predictive Factors of Tumor and 

Biochemical Response. HORM ME- 

TAB RES, 2010. 42:38-44. I.F.:2,69. 

19 ltirriba J, Gasa R, Casas S, 

Ramirez-Bajo MJ, Ros S, Gutierrez- 

Dalmau A, DeVilla MCR, Barbera A, 

Gomis R. The role of transmembrane 

protein 27 (TMEM27) in islet physiology 

and its potential use as a beta 

cell mass biomarker. DIABETOLO- 

GIA, 2010. 53:1406-1414. I.F.:6,55. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 5,12 

1 Ceriello A, Ihnat MA. ‘Glycaemic 

variability’: a new therapeutic 

challenge in diabetes and the critical 

care setting. DIABETIC MED, 

2010. 27:862-867. I.F.:2,87. 

2 Ceriello A. The glucose triad and 

its role in comprehensive glycaemic 

control: current status, future 

management. INT J CLIN PRACT, 

2010. 64:1705-1711. I.F.:2,25. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 6,72 

1 Ceriello A. Point: Postprandial 

Glucose Levels Are a Clinically 

Important Treatment Target. DIA- 

BETES CARE, 2010. 33:1905-1907. 

I.F.:6,72. 

193

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in progress 

Servitja JM. Estudio de la respuesta 

del islote pancreático 

a la hipoxia: papel de HIF-1. 


y Ciencia, BFU2006-09072. 


01/10/2006-30/11/2011. 

Esmatjes E. Efectos del by-pass 

gástrico sobre la presión arterial 

y la disfunción endotelial en 

personas con obesidad grave. 




01/01/2006-31/12/2010. 

Gomis R. Dianes moleculares 

inducidas por tungstato en la obesidad. 



07382. Amount: 560.000,00 


30/09/2011. 

Gomis R. FOOD FOR LIFE-Supporting 

Healthy Lifestyles in the 

Mediterranean Area. Sponsored 

by: Marie Curie Actions - International 

Research Staff Exchange 

Scheme , FP7- PEOPLE - IRSES 

- 2008. Amount: 54.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Gomis R. The role of adipose tissue 

in obesity: beta cell crosstalk 

(ADIBET). Sponsored by: FP7 

PEOPLE-2007-3-1-IAPP , 218131. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Gomis R. Diabetis experimental, 

investigació cel·lular i molecular 

en models de diabetis experimental. 

Sponsored by: Direcció 

General de Recerca. Generalitat 

de Catalunya: Ajuts de suport als 

grups de recerca de Catalunya 

(SGR), 2009 SGR 1426. Amount: 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Gomis R. Papel de la fracción noadipocitaria 

del tejido adiposo visceral 

en el inicio y la propagación 

de la enfermedad aterotrombótica. 

Sponsored by: I Beca Boston 

Scientific de Investigación Cardiovascular 

en Diabetes (Sociedad 

Española de Diabetes), 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Gasa R. Cascada transcripcional 

inducida por neurogenina3 en el 

páncreas: estudio de los factores 

de transcripción math6 y ebf1. 


e Innovación, BFU2008-02299/ 

BMC. Amount: 100.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Novials A. Papel del enzima bace 

(beta-site amyloid precursor protein 

cleaving enzyme) en la funcionalidad 

del islote pancreático. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Sanidad, PI080088. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Marcelina Parrizas. Papel de la 

demetilasa de histonas LSD1 

en la adipogénesis. Sponsored 

by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCA- 

CIÓN, BFU2009-09988. Amount: 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Servitja JM. Epigenetic control 

of gene expression in pancreatic 

islets. Sponsored by: EUROPEAN 

FOUNDATION FOR THE STUDY OF 

DIABETES, EFSD/LILLY_10_001. 


08/05/2010-07/11/2012. 

Claret M. Role of hypothalamic 

mitochondrial fusion in appetite 

and body weight control: potential 

therapeutic target for the treatment 

of obesity.. Sponsored by: AS- 

SOC CAT UNIVERSITATS PUBLI- 

QUES - ACUP, 2010ACUP_00275. 


01/12/2010-30/11/2012. 

Vidal J. GLP-1 y resolución tras 

el bypass gástrico de la diabetes 

tipo 2 asociada a obesidad. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACION DE 

INVESTIGACION MEDICA MUTUA, 

AP62572009. Amount: 65.000,00 


31/07/2011. 

Vidal J. Estudi aleatoritzat prospectiu 

sobre els efectes del tractament 

mèdic intensiu amb o sense bypass 

gàstric en Y de Roux, sobre el gruix 

de la íntima mitja carotídea en 

malalts amb obesitat grau I. Sponsored 

by: AGENCIA D’AVALUACIÓ 

DE TECNOLOGIA MÈDICA, 

401/17/2008. Amount: 70.541,00 


30/11/2012. 

Claret M. Role of miRNAs in 

hypothalamic populations of neurons 

upon energy and glucose 

homeostasis: potential targets for 

obesity and diabetes treatment. 


SALUD CARLOS III, CP09/00233. 


20/01/2010-19/01/2016. 

194

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Thesis 

Gomis R. Bases Moleculares del 

efecto del tungstato de sodio sobre 

la plasticidad pancreática y 

Tmem27. PhD student: Jordi Altirriba 

Gutierrez. 

Carmona MC, Gomis R. Efecte Hipotalàmic 

del tungstat de sodi i la 

seva relació amb la via de la leptina: 

una possible teràpia antiobesitat. 

PhD student: Marta Amigo Correig. 

Gomis R. Plasticitat de la cèlula 

Beta en l’ obesitat. PhD student: 

Nuria Palau Balaña. 

195

4

Clinical and 

experimental 

neuroscience 

Neuropharmacology 

and experimental neuropathology 198 

Brain ischemia: Clinical 

and experimental studies 203 

Neurodegenerative diseases: 

Clinical and experimental research 206 

Neurophysiology and functional 

studies of the nervous system 211 

Secondary lesions due to chronic 

alcohol ingestion, muscle pathology 212 

Cellular biology of 

pathological processes 218 

Biological bases of psychiatric 

disorders and nuclear psychiatry 221 

Neuropsychology 233 

Systems neuroscience 236 

Clinical and experimental 

neuroimmunology 240 

Neurobiology Unit 244

AREA 4 

Clinical and experimental neuroscience 

Neuropharmacology and experimental neuropathology 

GROUP Members 


CIBER en enfermedades 


(CIBERned) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

& 

CIBER en salud mental 

(CIBERsam) 

RETIC en envejecimiento 

y fragilidad (RETICEF) 

TEAM LEADER 

Guadalupe Mengod (IIBB-CSIC) 

Tel.: 93 363 83 23 

Fax: 93 636 83 01 

E-mail: gmlnqr@iibb.csic.es 

Furthering of knowledge of the 

physiopathological mechanisms of 

neurological and psychiatric diseases 

and neurotoxic and aging processes 

of the central nervous system, with 

a view to identifying new cellular and 

functional targets and proposing new 

treatments. 


Systems neuropharmacology 

group 


Albert Adell (IIBB-CSIC) 

Francesc Artigas (IIBB-CSIC) 

Analia Bortolozzi (IDIBAPS) 

Anna Castañé (IIBB-CSIC) 

Pau Celada (IDIBAPS) 

Roser Cortés (IIBB-CSIC) 

Rosa Cristòfol (IIBB-CSIC) 

Sebastià Pons (IIBB-CSIC) 

Eduard Rodriguez Farré 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Coral Sanfeliu (IIBB-CSIC) 

Josep Saura (Facultat de 

Medicina UB) 

Joan Serratosa (IIBB-CSIC) 

Carme Solà (IIBB-CSIC) 

Cristina Suñol (IIBB-CSIC) 

Josep Maria Tusell 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Mª Teresa Vilaró (IIBB-CSIC) 


Julián de Almeida 

(FPI-MCyT) 

Mercedes Barzi 

(FPI-IDIBAPS) 

Jordi Berenger (CSIC) 

Victor Briz (FPI-IDIBAPS) 

Yoelvis García 

(Marató TV3-IDIBAPS) 

Núria Gresa (I3P-CSIC) 

Emily Johansson (FPI-CSIC) 

Pilar Mancera (Marató TV3) 

Mercè Masana (I3P-CSIC) 

Cristina Sanabra (FPI- 

IDIBAPS) 

Marco Straccia (I3P-CSIC) 

Anna García (FPI-IDIBAPS) 

Giuseppe Mocci (JAE-CSIC) 

Rocío Rodríguez-Minguela 

(CIBERNED) 

Susana Revilla (FPU-MICINN) 

Eva Troyano (FPI-CSIC) 

Aina Palou (FPI-IDIBAPS) 

Antonio Herrera-Camacho 

(FPI-IDIBAPS) 

Guido Dentesano 

(Marató TV3) 

Cristina Viéitez (La Caixa) 

Núria Paúl (IIBB-CSIC) 

Laura Jiménez (IDIBAPS) 

Maurizio Riga (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Mireia Galofré 


Leticia Campa (IIBB-CSIC) 

Rocío Martín-Álvarez 

(IIBB – CSIC) 

Anghara Menéndez 

(IDIBAPS) 

Albert Parull (IIBB-CSIC) 

Sara Sánchez-Redondo 

(CIBERESP) 

Verónica Paz (CIBERSAM) 

Silvia Serrano (CIBERNED) 

Noemí Jurado (CSIC) 

Jofre Serret (RETICS) 

Irene Porcar (IIBB-CSIC) 

Rosario Ruiz (UB) 


María Jaramillo (CIBERSAM) 


Elisenda Rodríguez Vargas 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Xavier López Gil (IIBB-CSIC) 

Laia Lladó (IIBB-CSIC) 

Noemí Santana (CIBERSAM) 

Tamara Romón (IDIBAPS) 

Tony Valente (IDIBAPS) 

Beatriz Caballero (CIBERESP) 

Group Leader: 

Francesc Artigas 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

The group 

studies the 

neuronal circuits implicated in the 

physiopathology and treatment 

of depression and schizophrenia. 

Special emphasis is placed 

on the prefrontal cortex and 

anatomically and functionally related 

areas. It also explored chemical 

neurotransmission processes and 

physiology in animal models of 

mental disease, with a view to 

identifying new therapeutic targets. 


Neuronal proliferation 

control group 

Group Leader: Sebastián Pons 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

This group centers its efforts on 

the description of mechanisms 

implicated in the regulation of 

neuronal proliferation. Specifically, 

it studies the molecules opposing 

proliferation induced by the Sonic 

Hedgehog oncogene in cerebellar 

granular cells. 

198

AREA 4 



PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 105,96 


Neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration 

mechanisms group 

Group Leader: 

Cristina Suñol (IIBB-CSIC) 

The group carries out studies 

on cytotoxicity, oxidative 

stress, synaptic functions and 

proteomics, for the determination of altered 

targets in toxicity and aging processes of the 

central nervous system. It also focuses on 

neuroprotective strategies and the development 

of in vitro methods for predicting neurotoxicity. 

Human astrocytes suffer 

inflammatory morphological 

changes and apoptosis 

(arrow) under amyloid beta 

and pro-oxidant treatment. 

Cultures are stained with 

anti-GFAP and bisbenzimide. 

Scale bar = 20 µm. 


Molecular neuropharmacology group 

Group Leader: 

Guadalupe Mengod 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

The group studies 

neurotransmission and its 

anatomical, cellular and molecular aspects 

implicated in neurodegenerative disorders 

with an inflammatory component. The 

objective is to identify and characterize 

new targets for therapeutic action. 

1 Vendrell I, Carrascal M, Campos 

F, Abian J, Suñol C. Methylmercury 

disrupts the balance 

between phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated 

cofilin in primary 

cultures of mice cerebellar granule 

cells A proteomic study. TOXICOL 

APPL PHARM, 2010. 242:109-118. 

I.F.:3,36. 

2 Suñol C, Babot Z, Cristofol R, 

Sonnewald U, Waagepetersen HS, 

Schousboe A. A Possible Role of 

the Non-GAT1 GABA Transporters 

in Transfer of GABA From GABAergic 

to Glutamatergic Neurons in 

Mouse Cerebellar Neuronal Cultures. 

NEUROCHEM RES, 2010. 

35:1384-1390. I.F.:2,72. 

3 Ejarque-Ortiz A, Gresa-Arribas 

N, Straccia M, Mancera P, Sola C, 

Tusell JM, Serratosa J, Saura J. 

CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein 

Delta in Microglial Activationº. J 

NEUROSCI RES, 2010. 88:1113- 

1123. I.F.:2,99. 


Cellular neurobiology group 

Group Leader: Josep Saura (IIBB-CSIC) 

It has been suggested that glial activation plays an important role in the 

development of many neurodegenerative disorders. Glial activation is an 

inflammation-type process that takes place in the presence of neuron damage, and 

implies morphological changes as well as changes in the expression of different 

molecules in both astrocytes and microglial cells. It is still not clear whether glial activation is 

a consequence of neuron degradation or a phenomenon that precedes such degradation. The 

principal objective is to obtain information allowing the development of new strategies capable 

of contributing to the prevention of neurodegenerative processes characterized by chronic glial 

activation, based on adequate animal and cellular models. We are exploring the implication of 

certain transcription factors(C/EBPs and NF-B) and other proteins (CD200, CD200R, TREM) in the 

glial activation process and in the associated neurotoxicity. Our hypothesis is that modulation of the 

function of these proteins may constitute a therapeutic target in relation to the neuroinflammation 

and neuron damage observed in neurodegenerative diseases. We conduct in vitro and in vivo 

studies using experimental animals, primary cell cultures (mixed glial cultures, cultures enriched 

with microglia, astrocytes or neurons, mixed neuron-glia cultures) and cell lines. We are specialized 

in histological, cytological and molecular and cellular biology techniques. 

4 Scorza MC, Castane A, Bortolozzi 

A, Artigas F. Clozapine does 

not require 5-HT1A receptors to 

block the locomotor hyperactivity 

induced by MK-801 Clz and MK- 

801 in KO1A mice. NEUROPHAR- 

MACOLOGY, 2010. 59:112-120. 

I.F.:3,91. 

5 DeAlmeida J, Mengod G. D2 

and D4 dopamine receptor mRNA 

distribution in pyramidal neurons 

and GABAergic subpopulations in 

monkey prefrontal cortex: implications 

for schizophrenia treatment. 

NEUROSCIENCE, 2010. 170:1133- 

1139. I.F.:3,29. 

199

AREA 4 



and experimental neuropathology 

Team Members 

6 DeGortari P, Mengod G. Dopamine 

D1, D2 and mu-opioid receptors are 

co-expressed with adenylyl cyclase 

5 and phosphodiesterase 7B mRNAs 

in striatal rat cells. BRAIN RES, 2010. 

1310:37-45. I.F.:2,46. 

7 Bortolozzi A, Masana M, Diaz- 

Mataix L, Cortes R, Scorza MC, 

Gingrich JA, Toth M, Artigas F. 

Dopamine release induced by 

atypical antipsychotics in prefrontal 

cortex requires 5-HT1A receptors 

but not 5-HT2A receptors. INT J 

NEUROPSYCHOPH, 2010. 13:1299- 

1314. I.F.:4,87. 

8 Martin-Carrasco M, Otermin P, 

Perez-Camo V, Pujol J, Aguera L, Martin 

MJ, Gobartt AL, Pons S, Balana M. 

EDUCA study: Psychometric properties 

of the Spanish version of the 

Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. AGING 

MENT HEALTH, 2010. 14:705-711. 

I.F.:1,13. 

9 Garcia I, Mayol G, Rodriguez E, 

Sunol M, Gershon TR, Rios J, Cheung 

NKV, Kieran MW, George RE, Perez- 

Atayde AR, Casala C, Galvan P, DeTorres 

C, Mora J, Lavarino C. Expression 

of the neuron-specific protein CHD5 is 

an independent marker of outcome in 

neuroblastoma. MOL CANCER, 2010. 

9:-. I.F.:4,16. 

10 Galofre M, Babot Z, Garcia DA, 

Iraola S, Rodriguez-Farre E, Forsby A, 

Suñol C. GABA(A) receptor and cell 

membrane potential as functional endpoints 

in cultured neurons to evaluate 

chemicals for human acute toxicity. 

NEUROTOXICOL TERATOL, 2010. 

32:52-61. I.F.:3,27. 

11 Aschner M, Levin ED, Suñol 

C, Olopade JO, Helmcke KJ, Avila 

DS, Sledge D, Ali RH, Upchurch L, 

Donerly S, Linney E, Forsby A, Ponnuru 

P, Connor JR. Gene-environment 

interactions: Neurodegeneration in 

non-mammals and mammals. NEU- 

ROTOXICOLOGY, 2010. 31:582-588. 

I.F.:2,92. 

12 Martin-Ibanez R, Crespo E, 

Urban N, Sergent-Tanguy S, Herranz 

C, Jaumot M, Valiente M, Long JE, 

Pineda JR, Andreu C, Rubenstein JLR, 

Marin O, Georgopoulos K, Mengod G, 

Farinas I, Bachs O, Alberch J, Canals 

JM. Ikaros-1 Couples Cell Cycle Arrest 

of Late Striatal Precursors With Neurogenesis 

of Enkephalinergic Neurons. 

J COMP NEUROL, 2010. 518:329- 

351. I.F.:3,72. 

13 Moreno M, Cardona D, Gomez 

MJ, Sanchez-Santed F, Tobena A, 

Fernandez-Teruel A, Campa L, Suñol 

C, Escarabajal MD, Torres C, Flores 

P. Impulsivity Characterization in the 

Roman High- and Low-Avoidance Rat 

Strains: Behavioral and Neurochemical 

Differences. NEUROPSYCHOP- 

HARMACOL, 2010. 35:1198-1208. 

I.F.:6,99. 

14 Garcia-Matas S, DeVera N, Aznar 

AO, Marimon JM, Adell A, Planas 

AM, Cristofol R, Sanfeliu C. In Vitro 

and In Vivo Activation of Astrocytes 

by Amyloid-beta is Potentiated by Pro- 

Oxidant Agents. J ALZHEIMERS DIS, 

2010. 20:229-245. I.F.:3,83. 

15 Gresa-Arribas N, Serratosa J, 

Saura J, Sola C. Inhibition of CCAAT/ 

enhancer binding protein delta expression 

by chrysin in microglial cells 

results in anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective 

effects. J NEUROCHEM, 

2010. 115:526-536. I.F.:4,00. 

16 Sans-Fons MG, Sole S, Sanfeliu 

C, Planas AM. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 

and Cell Division in Neuroblastoma 

Cells and Bone Marrow 

Macrophages. AM J PATHOL, 2010. 

177:2870-2885. I.F.:5,67. 

17 Slevin M, Matou-Nasri S, Turu M, 

Luque A, Rovira N, Badimon L, Boluda 

S, Potempa L, Sanfeliu C, DeVera N, 

Krupinski J. Modified C-Reactive Protein 

Is Expressed by Stroke Neovessels and 

Is a Potent Activator of Angiogenesis 

In Vitro. BRAIN PATHOL, 2010. 20:151- 

165. I.F.:5,90. 

18 Ventura M, Mateo F, Serratosa J, 

Salaet I, Carujo S, Bachs O, Pujol MJ. 

Nuclear translocation of glyceraldehyde- 

3-phosphate dehydrogenase is regulated 

by acetylation. INT J BIOCHEM CELL B, 

2010. 42:1672-1680. I.F.:4,89. 

19 Llado-Pelfort L, Assie MB, Newman-Tancredi 

A, Artigas F, Celada P. Preferential 

in vivo action of F15599, a novel 

5-HT1A receptor agonist, at postsynaptic 

5-HT1A receptors. BRIT J PHARMACOL, 

2010. 160:1929-1940. I.F.:5,20. 

20 Vidal R, Valdizan EM, Vilaro MT, 

Pazos A, Castro E. Reduced signal 

transduction by 5-HT4 receptors after 

long-term venlafaxine treatment in rats. 

BRIT J PHARMACOL, 2010. 161:695- 

706. I.F.:5,20. 

21 Briz V, Galofre M, Suñol C. Reduction 

of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission 

by Prolonged Exposure to Dieldrin 

Involves NMDA Receptor Internalization 

and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 

5 Downregulation. TOXICOL SCI, 2010. 

113:138-149. I.F.:4,81. 

22 Castane A, Theobald DEH, Robbins 

TW. Selective lesions of the dorsomedial 

striatum impair serial spatial 

reversal learning in rats. BEHAV BRAIN 

RES, 2010. 210:74-83. I.F.:3,22. 

23 Martinez-Boubeta C, Balcells L, 

Cristofol R, Sanfeliu C, Rodriguez E, 

Weissleder R, Lope-Piedrafita S, Simeonidis 

K, Angelakeris M, Sandiumenge F, 

Calleja A, Casas L, Monty C, Martinez 

B. Self-assembled multifunctional Fe/ 

200

AREA 4 



MgO nanospheres for magnetic 

resonance imaging and hyperthermia. 

NANOMED-NANOTECHNOL, 2010. 

6:362-370. I.F.:5,44. 

24 Mnie-Filali O, Amraei MG, Berimbarek 

S, Archer-Lahlou E, Penas-Cazorla 

R, Vilaro MT, Boye SM, Pineyro G. Serotonin 

4 receptor (5-HT4R) internalization 

is isoform-specific: Effects of 5-HT and 

RS67333 on isoforms A and B. CELL 

SIGNAL, 2010. 22:501-509. I.F.:4,09. 

25 Barzi M, Berenguer J, Menendez 

A, Alvarez-Rodriguez R, Pons S. 

Sonic-hedgehog-mediated proliferation 

requires the localization of PKA 

to the cilium base. J CELL SCI, 2010. 

123:62-69. I.F.:6,14. 

26 Mori F, Perez-Torres S, DeCaro 

R, Porzionato A, Macchi V, Beleta J, 

Gavalda A, Palacios JM, Mengod G. 

The human area postrema and other 

nuclei related to the emetic reflex express 

cAMP phosphodiesterases 4B 

and 4D. J CHEM NEUROANAT, 2010. 

40:36-42. I.F.:1,75. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 10,08 

1 Adell A. Lu-AA21004, a multimodal 

serotonergic agent, for the potential 

treatment of depression and anxiety. 

IDRUGS, 2010. 13:900-910. I.F.:1,93. 

2 Artigas F. The prefrontal cortex: a 

target for antipsychotic drugs. ACTA 

PSYCHIAT SCAND, 2010. 121:11-21. 

I.F.:3,73. 

3 Lopez-Gil X, Artigas F, Adell A. 

Unraveling Monoamine Receptors 

Involved in the Action of Typical and 

Atypical Antipsychotics on Glutamatergic 

and Serotonergic Transmission in 

Prefrontal Cortex. CURR PHARM DE- 

SIGN, 2010. 16:502-515. I.F.:4,41. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 9,23 

1 Adell A. New Strategies in the 

Search of Antipsychotic Drugs. CURR 

PHARM DESIGN, 2010. 16:486-487. 

I.F.:4,41. 

2 Suñol C. Use of Gene Expression 

of Neural Markers in Cultured Neural 

Cells to Identify Developmental 

Neurotoxicants. TOXICOL SCI, 2010. 

113:1-3. I.F.:4,81. 


in progresss 

Sanfeliu C. Counteracting Alzheimer’s 

disease progession: effects of 

early-environmental treatments on 

the triple-transgenic 3xTgAD mic. 


62931. Amount: 120.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 14/03/2007-13/03/2010. 

Serratosa J. Excitotoxic mechanisms, 

neuroinflammatory response and 

seric factors in experimental and human 

amyotrophyc lateral esclerosis. 



02/03/2007-01/03/2010. 

Adell A. Alteraciones de las conexiones 

de la corteza prefrontal en 

el modelo de esquizofrenia de antagonismo 

NMDA. Sitio de acción y 

mecanismo de los fármacos antipsicóticos. 




26/11/2007-30/06/2011. 

Artigas F. Monoaminergic neurotransmission 

in prefrontal cortex: 

Target for augmentation strategies in 

schizophrenia. Sponsored by: SENY- 

Fundació - Schizophrenia Research 

Foundation, SenyFund_07_002. 


22/05/2007-31/12/2010. 

Artigas F. Modulación serotoninérgica 

de la corteza prefrontal: relevancia en 

el tratamiento de la depresión y la esquizofrenia. 




01/10/2007-04/10/2011. 

Suñol C. Optimization and pre-validation 

of an in vitro test strategy for 

predicting human acute toxicity (A- 

Cute-Tox). Sponsored by: European 

Commission, LSHB-CT-2004-512051. 


01/01/2005-30/06/2010. 

Sanfeliu C. Red temática de investigación 

cooperativa en envejecimiento 

y fragilidad (RETICEF). Sponsored 


RD06/0013/1004. Amount: 74.954,00 


07/10/2010. 

Saura J. ¿Es C/EBPbeta una diana 

para atenuar la respuesta neuroinflamatoria 

asociada a enfermedades 

neurodegenerativas?. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Celada MP. Actividad cortical y alucinaciones. 

Nuevo modelo experimental 

para la identificación de dianas 

terapeuticas en esquizofrenia. Sponsored 

by: Instituto de Salud Carlos 

III, PS09/01245. Amount: 74.415,00 


31/12/2012. 

Artigas F. Estudio del mecanismo de 

acción de la estimulación cerebral 

profunda sobre la neurotransmisión 

serotoninérgica y dopaminérgica. 


e Innovación, 201020E046. 

201

AREA 4 



and experimental neuropathology 

Team Members 


01/01/2010-03/06/2011. 

Bortolozzi A. In vivo silencing of 

5-HT2A receptor and serotonin 

transporter by RNA interference 

mechanism. Relevance to the 

cognitive-affective disorder in schizophrenia 

and depression. Sponsored 

by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, P91C. 


02/06/2009-02/06/2011. 

Artigas F. Grup de Recerca Consolidat, 

Neuroquímica i Neurofarmacologia. 

Sponsored by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 

2009SGR220. Amount: 49.920,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Artigas F. Novel Methods leading to 

New Medications in Depression and 

Schizophrenia (NEWMEDS). Sponsored 

by: IMI JU, (Comisión Europea 

- CE y la Federación Europea de Industrias 

y Asociaciones Farmacéuticas - 

EFPIA), Grant Agreement N° 115008. 


01/09/2009-31/08/2014. 

Cortés R. Estudio de la aplicación 

de nanopartículas metálicas para 

usos de diagnóstico y terapéutica de 

enfermedades del sistema nervioso 

central. Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Ciencia en Innovación, PET2008-0066. 


01/03/2009-28/02/2011. 

Pons S. de la proliferación de los precursores 

de neuronas granulares del 

cerebelo. Sponsored by: Instituto de 

Investigaciones Biomedicas de Barcelona 

CSIC, MCI BFU2008-024024BFI. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Joan Serratosa Serda. Mecanismes 

excitotòxics, resposta inflamatòria 

i factors sèrics en l’escelorosi 

lateral amiotròfica humana i experimental. 

Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, V-2006-TV063031-O. 


01/03/2008-31/10/2010. 

Solá C. Inhibición de la activación 

glial como diana terapéutica en 

enfermedades neurodegenerativas. 

Sponsored by: FIS, PI081396. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Cortés R. Títol del projecte: Expresión 

de marcadores neuronales en demencias: 

enfermedad de los granos 

argirófilos y Alzheimer. Sponsored by: 

MICINN - Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 


Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Sanfeliu C. Implicación de la sirtuina 

1 en procesos neurodegenerativos. 

Sponsored by: MICINN, SAF2009- 

13093-C02-02. Amount: 181.500,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Mengod G. Neuroinflamación: Regulación 

molecular de la señalización 

por AMPc en el modelo EAE murino 

de esclerosis múltiple. Sponsored 

by: Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia 

y Tecnología, SAF2009-11052. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2010. 

Mengod G. Fármacos innovadores 

para la esclerosis múltiple. Sponsored 

by: Fundación Española para la Ciencia 

y Tecnología (FECYT), INC-0367. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Artigas F, Bortolozzi A. DENDRIA - 

Modulación de los genes asociados al 

sistema serotonérgico con moléculas 

RNA antisentido (siRNA) y su efecto 

en modelo. Sponsored by: nLife Therapeutics, 

10/166. Amount: 97.500,00 


31/12/2013. 

Celada MP. DENDRIA -Estudios de 

la actividad oscilatoria cortical. Sponsored 

by: BRAINco Biopharma, S.L., 

10/156. Amount: 24.200,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/07/2010-31/12/2013. 

Artigas F. Deep Brain Stimulation in 

patients with Resistant Major Depressive 

Disorder. Mechanism of action, 

clinical and preclinical studies. Sponsored 


P82. Amount: 20.000,00 euros. Duration: 

21/11/2008-21/11/2011. 

Sanfeliu C. Disfunción cerebral durante 

el envejecimiento: relevancia 

para la enfermedad de Alzheimer 

(BrainAge). Sponsored by: MICINN, 

CSD2010-00045. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 27/12/2010-26/12/2015. 

Vilaró MT. Efecto de la activación de 

receptores 5-HT4 de serotonina sobre 

la deposición del péptido amiloide Aß‚ 

en un ratón triple transgénico de la 

enfermedad de Alzheimer. Sponsored 

by: MICINN - Instituto de Salud Carlos 

III, PS09/00468. Amount: 59.500,00 


31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Sanfeliu C. El ejercicio físico voluntario 

como terapia para la enfermedad de 

Alzheimer. Estudio en ratones tripletransgénicos 

3xTg-AD. PhD student: 

Yoelvis Garcia Mesa. 

Artigas F, Celada MP. Paper del receptor 

5HT 1A en el mecanisme d’ acció 

de psicofàrmacs. PhD student: Laia 

Lladó Pelfort. 

202

AREA 4 


Brain ischemia: Clinical and experimental studies 

GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Anna M. Planas (IIBB-CSIC) 

Tel.: 93 363 83 27 

Fax: 93 363 83 01 

E-mail: ampfat@iibb.csic.es 

Study of cerebrovascular pathology from 

the clinical and basic perspective, with 

special emphasis on inflammation and 

immune response, as well as on the use 

of neuroimaging techniques. The ultimate 

aim is to develop therapeutic strategies in 

application to stroke. 


Ángel Chamorro (Hospital Clínic) 

Tomàs Santalucia (IDIBAPS) 

Luisa Camon (IIBB-CSIC) 

Nuria de Vera (IIBB-CSIC) 

Emili Martínez (IIBB-CSIC) 

Esther Pozas (IDIBAPS) 

Justicia, Carles (IIBB-CSIC) 

Cervera, Álvaro (Hospital Clínic) 

Valérie Petegnief (IIBB-CSIC) 


Sergi Amaro (FIS) 

Miriam Font Nieves 

de la Vega (MEC) 

Manuel Gómez-Choco 


Anna Serra (IDIBAPS) 

Xabier Urra (FIS) 

Isabel Pérez de Puig (IDIBAPS) 

Xavier de la Rosa Siles (CSIC) 

Fernando Yepes Calderón (CSIC) 

Unai Perpiñá Martín (IDIBAPS) 


Víctor Obach (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Vargas (Fundació Clínic) 

Fernando Pérez Asensio 

(Juan de la Cierva, CSIC) 

Guadalupe Soria 

(contracte I3P, CSIC) 

Leonardo J. Márquez 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Luca Maggioni (IDIBAPS) 

Glòria Sans Fons (IDIBAPS) 

Study of the rat brain using magnetic 

resonance imaging. 

A) Fractional anisotropy map offering 

information on the magnitude of white 

matter fibre anisotropy, showing the 

anatomy of the rat brain. Control of 

the coronal section at three different 

levels of the brain. B) The same brain 

sections, with a colour-code map 

providing information on the threedimensional 

orientation of the white 

matter fibres using the diffusion tensor 

imaging (DTI) technique. C) Coronal 

sections of fractional anisotropy map 

images of the brain of an animal 7 

days after occlusion of the middle cerebral 

artery during 90 minutes. 

D) Colour-code map of the same ischemic 

brain sections. 

Technicians: 

Noelia Montoya (IDIBAPS) 

Francisca Ruiz (IDIBAPS) 

203

AREA 4 


Brain ischemia: 

Clinical and experimental studies 

PUBLICATIONS 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Immunological mechanisms 

implicated in the progression 

of ischemic stroke and in 

the appearance of infectious 

complications. Study of 

inflammatory and innate immune 

responses in stroke. Genetic 

aspects of immune response. 

2. Identification of new antioxidant 

treatments in stroke. Preclinical 

studies of the protective effects 

of these treatments and of the 

mechanisms involved. Design and 

conduction of a phase IIb study 

involving the administration of uric 

acid in stroke treated with rtPA. 

3. Use of intraarterial rescue 

treatments with rtPA in patients 

previously treated with intravenous 

rtPA and selected by multimodal 

imaging techniques. 

4. Neuroimaging in brain ischemia: 

application of magnetic resonance 

(MR) techniques for the in vivo 

noninvasive monitorization of 

patients and experimental animals in 

relation to anatomical and functional 

parameters of brain damage – 

including immune response. 

5. Signals implicated in neuron death 

and survival in ischemia: role of 

endoplasmic reticulum stress and 

molecular regulation of hypoxiainducible 

factor (HIF-1a). 

6. Neurological repair and 

neurogenesis in brain ischemia: 

effect of inflammation upon 

neurogenesis. 

Originals 

I.F.: 90,59 

1 Cervera A, Planas AM, Justicia C, 

Urra X, Jensenius JC, Torres F, Lozano 


Deficiency of Mannose-Binding Lectin 

Is Associated with Protection after 

Experimental Stroke in Mice and Outcome 

in Human Stroke. PLoS ONE, 

2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

2 Serra-Perez A, Planas AM, Nunez- 

O’mara A, Berra E, Garcia-Villoria 

J, Ribes A, Santalucia T. Extended 

ischemia prevents HIF1alpha degradation 

at reoxygenation by impairing 

prolyl-hydroxylation: role of Krebs cycle 

metabolites. J BIOL CHEM, 2010. 

285:18217-18224. I.F.:5,33. 

3 Garcia-Matas S, DeVera N, Aznar 

AO, Marimon JM, Adell A, Planas AM, 

Cristofol R, Sanfeliu C. In Vitro and In 

Vivo Activation of Astrocytes by Amyloid-beta 

is Potentiated by Pro-Oxidant 

Agents. J ALZHEIMERS DIS, 2010. 

20:229-245. I.F.:3,83. 

4 Sans-Fons MG, Sole S, Sanfeliu 

C, Planas AM. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 

and Cell Division in Neuroblastoma 

Cells and Bone Marrow 

Macrophages. AM J PATHOL, 2010. 

177:2870-2885. I.F.:5,67. 

5 Slevin M, Matou-Nasri S, Turu 

M, Luque A, Rovira N, Badimon L, 

Boluda S, Potempa L, Sanfeliu C, 

DeVera N, Krupinski J. Modified C- 

Reactive Protein Is Expressed by 

Stroke Neovessels and Is a Potent 

Activator of Angiogenesis In Vitro. 

BRAIN PATHOL, 2010. 20:151-165. 

I.F.:5,90. 

6 Perez-Asensio FJ, DeLaRosa X, 

Jimenez-Altayo F, Gorina R, Martinez 

E, Messeguer A, Vila E, Chamorro A, 

Planas AM. Antioxidant CR-6 protects 

against reperfusion injury after a transient 

episode of focal brain ischemia in 

rats. J CEREBR BLOOD F MET, 2010. 

30:638-652. I.F.:5,46. 

7 Rodriguez G, Soria G, Coll E, Rubio 

L, Barbosa-Barros L, Lopez-Iglesias C, 

Planas AM, Estelrich J, DeLaMaza A, 

Lopez O. Bicosomes: Bicelles in Dilute 

Systems. BIOPHYS J, 2010. 99:480- 

488. I.F.:4,39. 

8 Ederle J, Dobson J, Featherstone RL, 

Bonati LH, VanDerWorp HB, et al. Carotid 

artery stenting compared with endarterectomy 

in patients with symptomatic 

carotid stenosis (International Carotid 

Stenting Study): an interim analysis of 

a randomised controlled trial. LANCET, 

2010. 375:985-997. I.F.:30,76. 

9 Canas N, Gorina R, Planas AM, 

Verges J, Montell E, Garcia AG, Lopez 

MG. Chondroitin sulfate inhobits Lipopolysaccharide-inducedinflammation 

in rat 

astrocytes by preventing nuclear factor 

kappa activation. NEUROSCIENCE, 2010. 

167:872-879. I.F.:3,29. 

10 Chamorro A. Dual antiplatelet 

therapy is not optimal for stroke prevention 

in patients with atrial fibrillation. 

INT J STROKE, 2010. 5:28-29. 

I.F.:2,87. 

11Paco S, Pozas E, Aguado F. Secretogranin 

III Is an Astrocyte Granin 

That Is Overexpressed in Reactive Glia. 

CEREB CORTEX, 2010. 20:1386-1397. 

I.F.:6,98. 

12 Ramos-Cabrer P, Justicia C, 

Wiedermann D, Hoehn M. Stem Cell 

Mediation of Functional Recovery after 

Stroke in the Rat. PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. 

I.F.:4,35. 

13 Amaro S, Canovas D, Castellanos 

M, Gallego J, Marti-Fabregas J, Segura 

T, Chamorro A. The URICO-ICTUS study, 

204

AREA 4 


Brain ischemia: Clinical and experimental studies 

a phase 3 study of combined treatment 

with uric acid and rtPA administered 

intravenously in acute ischaemic stroke 

patients within the first 4 center dot 5 h 

of onset of symptoms. INT J STROKE, 

2010. 5:325-328. I.F.:2,87. 

14 Casteels C, Martinez E, Bormans 

G, Camon L, DeVera N, Baekelandt V, 

Planas AM, VanLaere K. Type 1 cannabinoid 

receptor mapping with [F-18]MK- 

9470 PET in the rat brain after quinolinic 

acid lesion: a comparison to dopamine 

receptors and glucose metabolism. EUR 

J NUCL MED MOL I. 37:2354-2363. 

I.F.:4,53. 


in progress 

(MICINN), SAF2008-04515-C02-02. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Valerie Petegnief. Mecanismos de 

muerte y neuroprotección en la 

isquemia cerebral. Efecto de la inflamación 

y papel de la UPR. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación 

(FIS), PI081932. Amount: 80.586,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-01/12/2011. 

Carles Justicia. Estudio de la función 

cerebral por resonancia magnética de 

alto campo en modelos experimentales 

de isquemia: Degeneración y regeneración 

de la sustancia blanca. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Ciencia e innovación 

(FIS), PI081880. Amount: 171.215,00 


Planas A. Diagnostic for Molecular Imaging. 

European Network of Excellence. 

Sponsored by: European Community. 

Sixth Framework Programme (Life Sciences, 

genomics and biotechnology for 

health), LSHB-CT-2005-512146. Amount: 


30/03/2010. 

Planas A. Affording recovery in Stroke 

(ARISE). Sponsored by: European 

Community. Seventh Framework Programme 

(Life Sciences,), 0000. Amount: 


01/03/2013. 

Planas A. Inflamación y respuesta inmune 

innata como dianas terapéuticas 

en la isquemia cerebral. Sponsored 

by: Programa Nacional de Biomedicina 

(MICINN), 0000. Amount: 255.000,00 


Chamorro A. Estudio de marcadores inmunológicos 

circulantes y tisulares (tejido 

linfoide y cerebro) y de su relación 

pronóstica en el paciente con ictus isquémico. 




31/12/2012. 

Esther Pozas. Neurogenesis endógena 

e inflamación en la isquemia cerebral 

en modelos experimentales murinos y 

en pacientes con ictus. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (FIS), 


Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Tomás Santalucía. Efecto de la glucosa 

sobre la función de HIF-1alfa en neuronas 

y glía sometidas a isquemia y 

estímulos proinflamatorios. Sponsored 

by: Programa Nacional de Biomedicina 

Thesis 

Santalucia T, Planas A. Efecte de la glucosa 

en un model d’isquèmia in vitro: 

modulació del factor induït per hipòxia 

i de la mort cel·lular programada. PhD 

student: Anna Serra-Pérez. 

Chamorro A, Planas A. Implicaciones 

Clínicas y pronósticas del síndrome de 

inmunodepresión mediado por el ictus 

agudo. PhD student: Xabier Urra Ruin. 

205

AREA 4 


Neurodegenerative diseases: Clinical 

and experimental research 

GROUP Members 



neurodegenerativas (CIBERned) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Eduardo Tolosa (Hospital Clínic) 

Tel.: 93 227 57 85 

E-mail: etolosa@clinic.ub.es 


Mario Ezquerra (Fundació Clínic) 

Conxita Marín (IDIBAPS) 

Maria Josep Martí (Hospital Clínic) 

José Luís Molinuevo (Hospital Clínic) 

Esteban Muñoz (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Valldeoriola (Hospital Clínic) 

Albert Lladó (Hospital Clínic) 

Raquel Sánchez del Valle (Hospital Clínic) 

Lorena Rami (Fundació Clínic) 

1. Development of research projects, 

with results that may find short term 

application, with a view to improving 

the diagnosis and treatment of 

degenerative neurological diseases. 

Many of the research lines are linked 

to clinical research protocols of 

the Clinic Hospital Department of 

Neurology. 

2. Investigation of the molecular 

mechanisms implicated in 

dopaminergic neuron degeneration 

and in the physiopathology of the 

motor complications induced by drug 

treatment, in experimental models 

of Parkinson’s disease and other 

movement disorders. 


Beatriz Bosch (IDIBAPS - 

Pharmacog) 

Anna Antonell (IDIBAPS - 

Consolider) 

Cristina Solé Padulles 



Yaroslau Compta (Hospital Clínic) 

Carles Gaig (ISC3, Hospital Clínic) 

Claustre Pont (CIBERNED) 

Teresa Botta 

Judith Navarro (Hospital Clínic) 

Magda Castellví (Hospital Clínic) 

Juan Fortea (Hospital Clínic) 

Mircea Balasa (Hospital Clínic) 

Jaume Olives (Fundació Clínic) 

Rebeca Adánez (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Esther Aguilar (Fundació Clínic) 

Mercè Bonastre (CIBERNED) 

Eva Caballero 

(Grup Suport Generalitat) 

Manel Fernández (Fundació Clínic) 

Maria Teresa Buongiorno 


Ana Camara (Fundació Clínic) 


Rosa Maria Álvarez (Fundació 

Clínic) 


Rubén Fernández-Santiago 

(IDIBAPS) 

Results of a brain transcriptomic study using 

Heat map analysis showed partial segregation 

of the expression profiles of controls, 

idiopathic PD (IPD) and LRRK2-associated 

mutation PD (MPD). IPD and controls have 

expression patterns that are clearly different, 

while MPD tissues show heterogeneous 

patterns - two resembling controls and one 

resembling IPD. This suggests the presence 

of different transcription processes in the 

putamen of MPD versus IPD. 

206

AREA 4 


Neurodegenerative diseases: Clinical and experimental research 

Main Lines 

of Research 

Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

1. Genetic analyses, biological markers 

and experimental therapies in 

Parkinson’s disease and other 

movement disorders. Genetic and 

expression studies in parkinsonisms. 

2. Studies in in vivo and in vitro 

experimental modelsof the 

physiopathological mechanisms 

involved in Parkinson’s disease and 

other movement disorders. 

3. Genetic and diagnostic and 

predictive marker studies in 

Alzheimer’s disease and other 

dementias. Experimental functional 

neuroimaging studies in healthy and 

in pathological aging. 

4. Study of the biological and molecular 

bases of Alzheimer’s disease and 

Parkinson’s disease in preclinical 

stages: mild cognitive impairment 

and pre-motor Parkinson’s disease. 

5. Study of neurogenesis in the 

subventricular zone, olfactory bulb 

and striate nucleus in experimental 

models of Parkinson’s disease and 

tardive dyskinesia. 


Parkinson’s disease 

and movement disorders 

Group Leader: 

Eduardo Tolosa 


We have consolidated 

the line of genetics in 

degenerative disorders, particularly 

Parkinson’s disease. This year we 

have explored or published different 

studies on genetic brain expression 

of genes potentially implicated in 

progressive supranuclear paralysis 

(isoforms of tau, CRHR1, IMP5, 

cdk5, GSK3 and saitohin). In 

addition, we have determined the 

frequency of the most common 

mutations of the LRRK2 gene in 

patients with Parkinson’s disease 

seen in our Department, and 

in cases of parkinsonism in the 

Neurological Tissue Bank. 

Originals 

I.F.: 188,85 

1 Iranzo A, Lomena F, Stockner H, 

Valldeoriola F, Vilaseca I, Salamero M, 

Molinuevo JL, Serradell M, Duch J, 

Pavia J, Gallego J, Seppi K, Hogl B, 

Tolosa E, Poewe W, Santamaria J. Decreased 

striatal dopamine transporter 

uptake and substantia nigra hyperechogenicity 

as risk markers of synucleinopathy 

in patients with idiopathic 

rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour 

disorder: a prospective study. LAN- 

CET NEUROL, 2010. 9:1070-1077. 

I.F.:18,13. 

2 Iranzo A, Isetta V, Molinuevo JL, 

Serradell M, Navajas D, Farre R, Santamaria 

J. Electroencephalographic 

slowing heralds mild cognitive impairment 

in idiopathic REM sleep behavior 

disorder. SLEEP MED, 2010. 11:534- 

539. I.F.:3,70. 

3 Llado A, Fortea J, Ojea T, Bosch B, 

Sanz P, Valls-Sole J, Clarimon J, Molinuevo 

JL, Sanchez-Valle R. A novel 

PSEN1 mutation (K239N) associated 

with Alzheimer’s disease with wide 

range age of onset and slow progression. 

EUR J NEUROL, 2010. 17:994- 

996. I.F.:2,51. 

4 Guardia-Laguarta C, Pera M, Clarimon 

J, Molinuevo JL, Sanchez-Valle 

R, Llado A, Coma M, Gomez-Isla T, 

Blesa R, Ferrer I, Lleo A. Clinical, Neuropathologic, 

and Biochemical Profile 

of the Amyloid Precursor Protein 

1716F Mutation. J NEUROPATH EXP 

NEUR, 2010. 69:53-59. I.F.:4,56. 

5 Bosch B, Batres-Faz D, Rami 

L, Arenaza-Urquijo EM, Fernandez- 

Espejo D, Junque C, Sole-Padulles C, 

Sanchez-Valle R, Bargallo N, Falcon 

C, Molinuevo JL. Cognitive reserve 

modulates task-induced activations 

and deactivations in healthy elders, 

amnestic mild cognitive impairment 

and mild Alzheimer’s disease. COR- 

TEX, 2010. 46:451-461. I.F.:4,06. 

6 VanDeerlin VM, Sleiman PMA, 

Martinez-Lage M, Chen-Plotkin A, 

Wang LS, Graff-Radford NR, Dickson 

DW, Rademakers R, Boeve BF, 

Grossman M, Arnold SE, Mann DMA, 

Pickering-Brown SM, Seelaar H, Heutink 

P, VanSwieten JC, Murrell JR, 

Ghetti B, Spina S, Grafman J, Hodges 

J, Spillantini MG, Gilman S, Lieberman 

AP, Kaye JA, Woltjer RL, Bigio 

EH, Mesulam M, Al-Sarraj S, Troakes 

C, Rosenberg RN, White CL, Ferrer 

I, Llado A, Neumann M, Kretzschmar 

HA, Hulette CM, Welsh-Bohmer KA, 

Miller BL, Alzualde A, DeMunain AL, 

Mckee AC, Gearing M, Levey AI, Lah 

JJ, Hardy J, Rohrer JD, Lashley T, 

Mackenzie IRA, Feldman HH, Hamilton 

RL, Dekosky ST, VanDerZee J, 

Kumar-Singh S, VanBroeckhoven C, 

Mayeux R, Vonsattel JPG, Troncoso 

JC, Kril JJ, Kwok JBJ, Halliday GM, 

Bird TD, Ince PG, Shaw PJ, Cairns NJ, 

Morris JC, Mclean CA, Decarli C, Ellis 

WG, Freeman SH, Frosch MP, Growdon 

JH, Perl DP, Sano M, Bennett DA, 

Schneider JA, Beach TG, Reiman EM, 

Woodruff BK, Cummings J, Vinters 

HV, Miller CA, Chui HC, Alafuzoff I, 

Hartikainen P, Seilhean D, Galasko D, 

Masliah E, Cotman CW, Tunon MT, 

Martinez MCC, Munoz DG, Carroll SL, 

Marson D, Riederer PF, Bogdanovic 

N, Schellenberg GD, Hakonarson H, 

Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Common 

variants at 7p21 are associated with 

frontotemporal lobar degeneration 

with TDP43 inclusions. NAT GENET, 

2010. 42:234-U34. I.F.:34,28. 

7 Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Ramirez-Ruiz 

B, Junque C, Marti MJ, Valldeoriola 

F, Bargallo N, Juanes S, Tolosa E. Differential 

progression of brain atrophy 

in Parkinson’s disease with and without 

visual hallucinations. J NEUROL 

207

AREA 4 




Team Members 

NEUROSUR PS, 2010. 81:650-657. 

I.F.:4,87. 

8 Timmermann L, Pauls KAM, Wieland 

K, Jech R, Kurlemann G, Sharma 

N, Gill SS, Haenggeli CA, Hayflick SJ, 

Hogarth P, Leenders KL, Limousin P, 

Malanga CJ, Moro E, Ostrem JL, Revilla 

FJ, Santens P, Schnitzler A, Tisch 

S, Valldeoriola F, Vesper J, Volkmann 

J, Woitalla D, Peker S. Dystonia in 

neurodegeneration with brain iron 

accumulation: outcome of bilateral 

pallidal stimulation. BRAIN, 2010. 

133:701-712. I.F.:9,49. 

9 Valldeoriola F, Regidor I, Minguez- 

Castellanos A, Lezcano E, Garcia- 

Ruiz P, Rojo A, Salvador A, Castro A, 

Grandas F, Kulisevsky J, Marti MJ, 

Martinez-Martin P, Relova L, Rumia J, 

Camara A, Burguera JA, Linazasoro 

G, DeVal JL, Obeso J, Rodriguez-Oroz 

MC, Tolosa E. Efficacy and safety of 

pallidal stimulation in primary dystonia: 

results of the Spanish multicentric 

study. J NEUROL NEUROSUR PS, 

2010. 81:65-69. I.F.:4,87. 

10 Guerreiro RJ, Baquero M, Blesa 

R, Boada M, Bras JM, Bullido MJ, 

Calado A, Crook R, Ferreira C, Frank 

A, Gomez-Isla T, Hernandez I, Lleo A, 

Machado A, Martinez-Lage P, Masdeu 

J, Molina-Porcel L, Molinuevo 

JL, Pastor P, Perez-Tur J, Relvas R, 

Oliveira CR, Ribeiro MH, Rogaeva E, 

Sa A, Samaranch L, Sanchez-Valle 

R, Santana I, Tarraga L, Valdivieso F, 

Singleton A, Hardy J, Clarimon J. Genetic 

screening of Alzheimer’s disease 

genes in Iberian and African samples 

yields novel mutations in presenilins 

and APP. NEUROBIOL AGING, 2010. 

31:725-731. I.F.:5,94. 

11 Sala-Llonch R, Bosch B, Arenaza-Urquijo 

EM, Rami L, Bargallo N, 

Junque C, Molinuevo JL, Bartres-Faz 

D. Greater Default-Mode Network 

Abnormalities Compared to High 

Order Visual Processing Systems in 

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: 

An Integrated Multi-Modal MRI Study. 

J ALZHEIMERS DIS, 2010. 22:523- 

539. I.F.:3,83. 

12 Fortea J, Sala-Llonch R, Bartres- 

Faz D, Bosch B, Llado A, Bargallo 

N, Molinuevo JL, Sanchez-Valle R. 

Increased Cortical Thickness and 

Caudate Volume Precede Atrophy 

in PSEN1 Mutation Carriers. J ALZ- 

HEIMERS DIS, 2010. 22:909-922. 

I.F.:3,83. 

13 Stocchi F, Rascol O, Kieburtz 

K, Poewe W, Jankovic J, Tolosa E, 

Barone P, Lang AE, Olanow CW. Initiating 

Levodopa/Carbidopa Therapy 

With and Without Entacapone in Early 

Parkinson Disease The STRIDE-PD 

Study. ANN NEUROL, 2010. 68:18-27. 

I.F.:9,32. 

14 Coelho M, Marti MJ, Tolosa E, 

Ferreira JJ, Valldeoriola F, Rosa M, 

Sampaio C. Late-stage Parkinson’s 

disease: the Barcelona and Lisbon 

cohort. J NEUROL, 2010. 257:1524- 

1532. I.F.:2,90. 

15 Sanchez-Benavides G, Gomez- 

Anson B, Molinuevo JL, Blesa R, 

Monte GC, Buschke H, Pena-Casanova 

J. Medial Temporal Lobe Correlates 

of Memory Screening Measures in 

Normal Aging, MCI, and AD. J GERI- 

ATR PSYCH NEUR, 2010. 23:100-108. 

I.F.:1,92. 

16 Emre M, Tsolaki M, Bonuccelli 

U, Destee A, Tolosa E, Kutzelnigg A, 

Ceballos-Baumann A, Zdravkovic S, 

Bladstrom A, Jones R. Memantine for 

patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia 

or dementia with Lewy bodies: 

a randomised, double-blind, placebocontrolled 

trial. LANCET NEUROL, 

2010. 9:969-977. I.F.:18,13. 

17 Laugel V, Dalloz C, Durand M, 

Sauvanaud F, Kristensen U, Vincent 

MC, Pasquier L, Odent S, Cormier- 

Daire V, Gener B, Tobias ES, Tolmie 

JL, Martin-Coignard D, Drouin-Garraud 

V, Heron D, Journel H, Raffo E, 

Vigneron J, Lyonnet S, Murday V, 

Gubser-Mercati D, Funalot B, Brueton 

L, DelPozo JS, Munoz E, Gennery AR, 

Salih M, Noruzinia M, Prescott K, Ramos 

L, Stark Z, Fieggen K, Chabrol B, 

Sarda P, Edery P, Bloch-Zupan A, Fawcett 

H, Pham D, Egly JM, Lehmann 

AR, Sarasin A, Dollfus H. Mutation 

Update for the CSB/ERCC6 and CSA/ 

ERCC8 Genes Involved in Cockayne 

Syndrome. HUM MUTAT, 2010. 

31:113-126. I.F.:6,89. 

18 Llado A, Sanchez-Valle R, Rey 

MJ, Mercadal P, Almenar C, Lopez- 

Villegas D, Fortea J, Molinuevo JL. 

New mutation in the PSEN1 (E120G) 

gene associated with early onset 

Alzheimer’s disease. NEUROLOGIA, 

2010. 25:13-16. I.F.:0,60. 

19 Costa J, Gonzalez HA, Valldeoriola 

F, Gaig C, Tolosa E, Valls-Sole J. 

Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Oscillatory 

Repetitive Movements in Parkinson’s 

Disease and Essential Tremor. 

MOVEMENT DISORD. 25:2577-2586. 

I.F.:4,01. 

20 Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Junque C, 

Marti MJ, Valldeoriola F, Vendrell P, 

Bargallo N, Zarei M, Tolosa E. Olfactory 

Impairment in Parkinson’s 

Disease and White Matter Abnormalities 

in Central Olfactory Areas: A 

Voxel-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging 

Study. MOVEMENT DISORD, 2010. 

25:1888-1894. I.F.:4,01. 

21 Barone P, Poewe W, Albrecht 

S, Debieuvre C, Massey D, Rascol O, 

Tolosa E, Weintraub D. Pramipexole 

for the treatment of depressive symptoms 

in patients with Parkinson’s 

208

AREA 4 


Neurodegenerative diseases: Clinical and experimental research 

disease: a randomised, double-blind, 

placebo-controlled trial. LANCET NEU- 

ROL, 2010. 9:573-580. I.F.:18,13. 

22 Kollensperger M, Geser F, Ndayisaba 

JP, Boesch S, Seppi K, Ostergaard 

K, Dupont E, Cardozo A, Tolosa 

E, Abele M, Klockgether T, Yekhlef F, 

Tison F, Daniels C, Deuschl G, Coelho 

M, Sampaio C, Bozi M, Quinn N, 

Schrag A, Mathias CJ, Fowler C, Nilsson 

CF, Widner H, Schimke N, Oertel 

W, DelSorbo F, Albanese A, Pellecchia 

MT, Barone P, Djaldetti R, Colosimo C, 

Meco G, Gonzalez-Mandly A, Berciano 

J, Gurevich T, Giladi N, Galitzky M, 

Rascol O, Kamm C, Gasser T, Siebert 

U, Poewe W, Wenning GK. Presentation, 

Diagnosis, and Management of 

Multiple System Atrophy in Europe: 

Final Analysis of the European Multiple 

System Atrophy Registry. MOVE- 

MENT DISORD, 2010. 25:2604-2612. 

I.F.:4,01. 

23 Sanchez-Benavides G, Gomez- 

Anson B, Quintana M, Vives Y, Manero 

RM, Sainz A, Blesa R, Molinuevo 

JL, Pena-Casanova J. Problem-solving 

abilities and frontal lobe cortical thickness 

in healthy aging and mild cognitive 

impairment. J INT NEUROPSYCH 

SOC, 2010. 16:836-845. I.F.:2,77. 

24 Montagut N, Sanchez-Valle R, 

Castellvi M, Rami L, Molinuevo JL. 

Relearning vocabulary. A comparative 

analysis between a case of dementia 

and Alzheimer’s disease with predominant 

compromise of language. REV 

NEUROLOGIA, 2010. 50:152-156. 

I.F.:1,23. 

25 Eggert K, Squillacote D, Barone 

P, Dodel R, Katzenschlager R, Emre M, 

Lees AJ, Rascol O, Poewe W, Tolosa 

E, Trenkwalder C, Onofrj M, Stocchi 

F, Nappi G, Kostic V, Potic J, Ruzicka 

E, Oertel W. Safety and Efficacy of 

Perampanel in Advanced Parkinson’s 

Disease: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled 

Study. MOVEMENT DISORD, 

2010. 25:896-905. I.F.:4,01. 

26 Beyer K, Domingo-Sabat M, 

Santos C, Tolosa E, Ferrer I, Ariza A. 

The decrease of beta-synuclein in 

cortical brain areas defines a molecular 

subgroup of dementia with Lewy 

bodies. BRAIN, 2010. 133:3724-3733. 

I.F.:9,49. 

27 Rami L, Bosch B, Sanchez-Valle 

R, Molinuevo JL. The memory alteration 

test (M@T) discriminates between 

subjective memory complaints, 

mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s 

disease. ARCH GERONTOL 

GERIAT, 2010. 50:171-174. I.F.:1,36. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 41,00 

1 Marin C, Obeso JA. Catechol-Omethyltransferase 

inhibitors in preclinical 

models as adjuncts of L-dopa 

treatment. INT REV NEUROBIOL, 

2010. 95:191-205. I.F.:4,02. 

2 Valls-Pedret C, Molinuevo JL, 

Rami L. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s 

disease: the prodromal and preclinical 

phase. REV NEUROLOGIA, 2010. 

51:471-480. I.F.:1,23. 

3 Pont-Sunyer C, Marti MJ, Tolosa E. 

Focal limb dystonia. EUR J NEUROL, 

2010. 17:22-27. I.F.:2,51. 

4 Valldeoriola F, Camara A. Intraduodenal 

infusion of levodopa. REV NEU- 

ROLOGIA, 2010. 51:41-48. I.F.:1,23. 

5 Obeso JA, Rodriguez-Oroz MC, 

Goetz CG, Marin C, Kordower JH, Rodriguez 

M, Hirsch EC, Farrer M, Schapira 

AHV, Halliday G. Missing pieces 

in the Parkinson’s disease puzzle. NAT 

MED, 2010. 16:653-661. I.F.:27,14. 

6 Kagi G, Bhatia KP, Tolosa E. The 

role of DAT-SPECT in movement disorders. 

J NEUROL NEUROSUR PS, 

2010. 81:5-12. I.F.:4,87. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 2,51 

1 Tolosa E, Molinuevo JL. Cognition 

in essential tremor: should we worry 

about progressive cognitive decline?. 

EUR J NEUROL, 2010. 17:1227-1228. 

I.F.:2,51. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 16,34 

1 Cubo E, Martin PM, Martin-Gonzalez 

JA, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Kulisevsky 

J. Motor Laterality Asymmetry 

and Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson’s 

Disease. MOVEMENT DISORD, 

2010. 25:70-75. I.F.:4,01. 

2 Cubo E, Martin PM, Gonzalez 

M, Bergareche A, Campos V, Fernandez 

JM, Alvarez M, Bayes A, 

RODRIGUEZ-BALZQUEZ. What contributes 

to driving ability in Parkinson’s 

disease. DISABIL REHABIL, 2010. 

32:374-378. I.F.:1,56. 

3 Forjaz MJ, Ayala A, Rodriguez- 

Blazquez C, Frades-Payo B, Martinez- 

Martin P. Assessing autonomic 

symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with 

the SCOPA-AUT: a new perspective 

from Rasch analysis. EUR J NEUROL, 

2010. 17:273-279. I.F.:2,51. 

4 Feldman HH, Doody RS, Kivipelto 

M, Sparks DL, Waters DD, Jones RW, 

Schwam E, Schindler R, Hey-Hadavi 

J, Demicco DA, Breazna A. Randomized 

controlled trial of atorvastatin 

in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease 

LEADe. NEUROLOGY, 2010. 74:956- 

964. I.F.:8,17. 

209

AREA 4 




Team Members 


in progress 

Marti M. Combined use of neuropsychological, 

biochemical, and neuroimaging 

biomarkers for assessment of 

risk of dementia in Parkinson disease. 


60510. Amount: 105.970,00 euros. 

Duration: 06/02/2007-05/02/2010. 

Tolosa E. Genetic and environment 

factors influencing disease expression 

in Parkinson’s disease caused by 

LRRK2 mutations. Clinical and imaging 

studies in LRRK2 mutation carriers 

without parkinsonism. Sponsored by: 

Fundació Marató TV3, 061130/31. 


02/03/2007-01/03/2010. 

Valldeoriola F. Estudio de la enervación 

simpática cardíaca a través de 

gammagrafía con 123I-MIBG en la 

enfermedad de parkinson, parkinsonismo 

vascular y en pacientes con mutaciones 

del gen LRRK2. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Tolosa E. Síntomas no-motores e integridad 

de la vía nigroestriatal en portadores 

“asintomáticos” de mutaciones 

en el gen LRRK2. Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigaciones Sanitarias de 

la Seguridad Social (FISS), PI080155. 


01/10/2008-31/10/2011. 

Marti M, Tolosa E, Valldeoriola F, 

Compta Y. Valor predictivo y diagnóstico 

de demencia en la enfermedad 

de parkinson de los marcadores 

de patología tau y beta-amiloide en 

líquido cefalorraquídeo y tomografía 

de emisión de positrones. Sponsored 

by: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias 

de la Seguridad Social (FISS), 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Tolosa E. Grup de recerca de malalties 

neurològiques. Sponsored by: 

AGAUR (Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts 

Universitaris i de Recerca -Generalitat 

de Catalunya), 2009 SGR1019. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Ezquerra M. Factores genéticos y 

ambientales modificadores de la 

expresividad de las mutaciones del 

gen LRRK2 en la enfermedad de 

Parkinson. Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad 

Social (FISS), CP06/00126. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2013. 

Marin C. Disfunción olfativa en la enfermedad 

de Parkinson y su relación 

con la neurogénesis en la zona 

subventricular: estudio funcional, molecular 

e in vitro en el parkinsonismo 

experimental. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación: Fondo 

de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS), 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Ezquerra M. Identificación de biomarcadores 

de mirnas en el líquido 

cefalorraquídeo con interés diagnóstico 

para la enfermedad de Parkinson 

y otros parkinsonismos relacionados. 




01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Tolosa E. European Project on Mendelian 

Forms of Parkinson’s Disease. 

Sponsored by: Eberhard-Karls 

Universitaet Tuebingen, 241791. 


01/04/2010-31/03/2013. 

Molinuevo JL. Disfunción cerebral 

durante el envejecimiento: relevancia 

para la enfermedad de Alzheimer. 

Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE CIEN- 

CIA E INNOVACION, CSD2010-00045. 


27/12/2010-26/12/2015. 

Marti M. Combined use of neuropsychological, 

biochemical, and 

neuroimaging biomarkers for assessment 

of risk of dementia in Parkinson 

disease.. Sponsored by: FUNDACIÓ 

LA MARATÓ DE TV3, 060510. 


06/02/2007-05/11/2010. 

Sanchez R. Estudio portadores de mutaciones 

determinantes de demencias 

monogénicas en fase preclínica: valoración 

cognitiva, estudio por RMN de 

volúmenes y conectividad cerebral y 

de marcadores en LCR. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Tolosa E. Grup de recerca de malalties 

neurològiques. Sponsored by: GE- 

NERALITAT DE CATALUNYA, 2009_ 


Duration: 15/09/2009-31/12/2013. 

Rami L. Caracterización de sujetos 

con pérdida objetiva o subjetiva de 

memoria mediante biomarcadores de 

enfermedad de alzheimer. Análisis de 

líquido cefalorraquídeo y resonancia 

magnética como predictores de la 

evolución cognitiva.. Sponsored by: 


CP08/00147. Amount: 223.287,50 euros. 

Duration: 07/01/2009-06/01/2015. 

Thesis 

Bartres D, Molinuevo JL. Influencia de 

la reserva cognitiva en la estructura y 

funcionalidad cerebral en el envejecimiento 

sano y patologico. PhD student: 

Beatriz Bosch Capdevila. 

210

AREA 4 


Neurophysiology and functional studies 

of the nervous system 

GROUP Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Josep Valls Solé 


Tel.: 93 227 54 13 

Fax: 93 227 57 83 

E-mail: 

javalls@clinic.ub.es 


Mar Carreño (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Gasull (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Arcadi Gual (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Alejandro Iranzo (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Santamaria (Hospital Clínic) 


RETIC en Oftalmología 

(OFTARED) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Expansion of scientific knowledge 

on functional aspects of the 

nervous system, with maximum 

integration of the basic and clinical 

aspects, fundamentally using 

neurophysiological techniques. From 

the clinical perspective, the principal 

objectives are the characterization 

of the neurophysiological aspects 

of motor control and perception, 

and the physiopathological aspects 

of neuromuscular diseases, sleep 

disturbances, epilepsy, and conditions 

characterized by neuropathic pain. In 

basic research, the principal objectives 

are the characterization of the cellular 

physiological mechanisms in both 

ocular physiology and in the context of 

neuronal hyper-excitability in neuropathic 

pain, and the in-depth study of the 

synaptic transmission modulatory 

mechanisms. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. The participation of subcortical 

motor systems in the execution of 

movements, postural maintenance 

and reflex control. Study of the 

alarm circuits based on auditory or 

somatosensory stimuli. Prepulse 

phenomena. 

2. Physiology and physiopathology 

of neuropathic pain. Study of 

nociceptive evoked potentials. Reflex 

reactions of the autonomous nervous 

system in response to nociceptive 

stimulation. Conscious sensory 

perception. 


Elena Abad (Facultat de Medicina) 

Germán Cuesto Gil (IDIBAPS) 

Enrique Emilio Syriani (Facultat de Medicina) 

Gisela Lorente (Facultat de Medicina) 

Monica Serradell (Fundació Clínic) 

Astrid Tulleuda (Facultat de Medicina) 

Jordi Casanova (IDIBAPS) 

Javier Aparicio (Hospital Clínic) 

Carlos David Castillo (Hospital clínic) 

Olga Sierra Bernat (IDIBAPS) 

Merche Morales (IDIBAPS) 

Gerard Callejo Martin (Facultat de Medicina) 


Antonio Donaire (Hospital Clínic) 

Jordi Palés (Facultat de Medicina) 

Xavier Sala Blanch (Hospital Clínic) 

Carles Gaig (Hospital Clínic) 

Miguel Morales (IDIBAPS) 

Schematic representation of the experiment carried out to examine 

subjective perception of a somatosensory stimulus. The patient is subjected 

to electroencephalographic and electromyographic monitorization and 

is placed in front of a computer showing a clock with 60 conventional 

divisions but with a single needle travelling at a speed of 2560 ms per 

full cycle. The patient is instructed to state the number between 1 and 60 

marked by the needle at the moment of stimulus perception. The perception 

time is determined by subtracting the number stated by the patient from 

the number corresponding to actual application of the stimulus. The 

perception time can be checked with the potentials evoked by the stimulus 

and the reaction time, and reveals the time required for processing of the 

somatosensory impulse to become conscious. 

211

AREA 4 


Neurophysiology and functional 

studies of the nervous system 

PUBLICATIONS 

3. Study of sleep and its 

disturbances in different 

disorders. Numbness. Sleep 

multiple latency testing. Restless 

legs syndrome. Periodic leg 

movements during sleep. 

4. Epileptic phenomena and their 

treatment. Status epilepticus. 

Monitoring of epileptic seizures. 

Video-EEG and epidural recording. 

Epileptic crisis recordings with 

functional magnetic resonance 

imaging. 

5. The role of actin in the 

regulation of synaptic 

transmission. Characterization 

of the leak channels implicated in 

neuronal hyper-excitability and cell 

memory, in neurons of the dorsal 

root ganglia. 

6. Physiology of aqueous humor 

drainage and physiopathology 

of glaucoma. Ocular pathology in 

aging. Physiology of the cells of the 

ocular trabecular meshwork. 


Neurophysiology 

Group Leader: 

Xavier Gasull 

(UB) 

Within the field of 

neurophysiology, the 

group is interested in establishing 

the functions of different ion 

channels in the regulation of 

different cell processes. In particular, 

at neuron level, we are investigating 

different ion channels implicated 

in cellular excitability in sensory 

neurons of the dorsal root ganglia 

and trigeminal ganglion, and their 

relationship with neuropathic pain. 

On the other hand, in trabecular 

cells that regulate aqueous humor 

flow in the eye, we are exploring 

the role of the cytoskeleton 

and of different ion channels in 

the functioning of these cells 

and their relationship with the 

physiopathology of glaucoma. 

Originals 

I.F.: 107,69 

1 Hor H, Kutalik Z, Dauvilliers Y, Valsesia 

A, Lammers GJ, Donjacour CEHM, Iranzo 

A, Santamaria J, Adrados RP, Vicario JL, 

Overeem S, Arnulf I, Theodorou I, Jennum 

P, Knudsen S, Bassetti C, Mathis 

J, Lecendreux M, Mayer G, Geisler P, 

Beneto A, Petit B, Pfister C, Burki JV, 

Didelot G, Billiard M, Ercilla G, Verduijn 

W, Claas FHJ, Vollenwider P, Waeber G, 

Waterworth DM, Mooser V, Heinzer R, 

Beckmann JS, Bergmann S, Tafti M. Genome-wide 

association study identifies 

new HLA class II haplotypes strongly protective 

against narcolepsy. NAT GENET, 

2010. 42:786-U80. I.F.:34,28. 

2 Iranzo A, Lomena F, Stockner H, Valldeoriola 

F, Vilaseca I, Salamero M, Molinuevo 

JL, Serradell M, Duch J, Pavia J, 

Gallego J, Seppi K, Hogl B, Tolosa E, Poewe 

W, Santamaria J. Decreased striatal 

dopamine transporter uptake and substantia 

nigra hyperechogenicity as risk 

markers of synucleinopathy in patients 

with idiopathic rapid-eye-movement 

sleep behaviour disorder: a prospective 

study. LANCET NEUROL, 2010. 9:1070- 

1077. I.F.:18,13. 

3 Iranzo A, Isetta V, Molinuevo JL, Serradell 

M, Navajas D, Farre R, Santamaria 

J. Electroencephalographic slowing 

heralds mild cognitive impairment in idiopathic 

REM sleep behavior disorder. 

SLEEP MED, 2010. 11:534-539. I.F.:3,70. 

4 Llado A, Fortea J, Ojea T, Bosch B, 

Sanz P, Valls-Sole J, Clarimon J, Molinuevo 

JL, Sanchez-Valle R. A novel 

PSEN1 mutation (K239N) associated with 

Alzheimer’s disease with wide range age 

of onset and slow progression. EUR J 

NEUROL, 2010. 17:994-996. I.F.:2,51. 

5 Costa J, Gonzalez HA, Valldeoriola F, 

Gaig C, Tolosa E, Valls-Sole J. Nonlinear 

Dynamic Analysis of Oscillatory Repetitive 

Movements in Parkinson’s Disease 

and Essential Tremor. MOVEMENT DIS- 

ORD, 2010. 25:2577-2586. I.F.:4,01. 

6 Kumru H, Vidal J, Kofler M, Portell 

E, Valls-Sole J. Alterations in Excitatory 

and Inhibitory Brainstem Interneuronal 

Circuits after Severe Spinal Cord Injury. 

J NEUROTRAUM, 2010. 27:721-728. 

I.F.:4,25. 

7 Pintor L, Bailles E, Matrai S, Carreno 

M, Donaire A, Boget T, Setoain X, Rumia 

J, Bargallo N. Efficiency of Venlafaxine in 

Patients With Psychogenic Nonepileptic 

Seizures and Anxiety and/or Depressive 

Disorders. J NEUROPSYCH CLIN N, 

2010. 22:401-408. I.F.:2,34. 

8 Lauria G, Hsieh ST, Johansson O, 

Kennedy WR, Leger JM, Mellgren SI, Nolano 

M, Merkies ISJ, Polydefkis M, Smith 

AG, Sommer C, Valls-Sole J. European 

Federation of Neurological Societies/ 

Peripheral Nerve Society Guideline on 

the use of skin biopsy in the diagnosis of 

small fiber neuropathy. Report of a joint 

task force of the EFNS and PNS. EUR J 

NEUROL, 2010. 17:903-E49. I.F.:2,51. 

9 Lauria G, Hsieh ST, Johansson O, Kennedy 

WR, Leger JM, Mellgren SI, Noland 

M, Merkies ISJ, Polydefkis M, Smith AG, 

Sommer C, Valls-Sole J. European Federation 

of Neurological Societies/Peripheral 

Nerve Society Guideline on the use of 

skin biopsy in the diagnosis of small fiber 

neuropathy. Report of a joint task force of 

the EFNS and PNS.. J PERIPHER NERV 

SYST, 2010. 15:79-92. I.F.:3,62. 

10 Nijhuis LBO, Allum JHJ, Valls-Sole 

J, Overeem S, Bloem BR. First Trial Postural 

Reactions to Unexpected Balance 

Disturbances: A Comparison With the 

Acoustic Startle Reaction. J NEURO- 

PHYSIOL, 2010. 104:2704-2712. I.F.:3,48. 

11 Penalva JB, Opisso E, Medina J, 

Corrons M, Kumru H, Vidal J, Valls-Sole 

J. H reflex modulation by transcranial 

magnetic stimulation in spinal cord injury 

212

AREA 4 


Neurophysiology and functional studies of the nervous system 

subjects after gait training with electromechanical 

systems. SPINAL CORD, 

2010. 48:400-406. I.F.:1,78. 

12 Weiss D, Wachter T, Breit S, Jacob 

SN, Pomper JK, Asmus F, Valls-Sole J, 

Plewnia C, Gasser T, Gharabaghi A, Kruger 

R. Involuntary eyelid closure after STN- 

DBS: evidence for different pathophysiological 

entities. J NEUROL NEUROSUR 

PS, 2010. 81:1002-1007. I.F.:4,87. 

13 Carreno M, Garcia-Alvarez D, Maestro 

I, Fernandez S, Donaire A, Boget T, 

Rumia J, Pintor L, Setoain X. Malignant 

autosomal dominant frontal lobe epilepsy 

with repeated episodes of status epilepticus: 

successful treatment with vagal 

nerve stimulation. EPILEPTIC DISORD, 

2010. 12:155-158. I.F.:1,20. 

14 Sansa G, Iranzo A, Santamaria J. 

Obstructive sleep apnea in narcolepsy. 

SLEEP MED, 2010. 11:93-95. I.F.:3,70. 

15 Soto O, Valls-Sole J, Kumru H. 

Paired-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation 

During Preparation for Simple and 

Choice Reaction Time Tasks. J NEURO- 

PHYSIOL, 2010. 104:1392-1400. I.F.:3,48. 

16 Sanchez-Gistau V, Pintor L, Sugranyes 

G, Bailles E, Carreno M, Donaire A, 

Boget T, Setoain X, Bargallo N, Rumia J. 

Prevalence of interictal psychiatric disorders 

in patients with refractory temporal 

and extratemporal lobe epilepsy in Spain. 

A comparative study. EPILEPSIA, 2010. 

51:1309-1313. I.F.:4,05. 

17 Kumru H, Murillo N, Samso JV, 

Valls-Sole J, Edwards D, Pelayo R, Valero- 

Cabre A, Tormos JM, Pascual-Leone A. 

Reduction of Spasticity With Repetitive 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in 

Patients With Spinal Cord Injury. NEU- 

ROREHAB NEURAL RE, 2010. 24:435- 

441. I.F.:5,40. 

18 Aiguabella M, Falip M, Veciana M, 

Bruna J, Palasi A, Corral L, Herrero JI, 

Boluda S, Mora J, Iranzo A, Serrano C. 

Refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus 

in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. EPILEP- 

TIC DISORD, 2010. 12:239-242. I.F.:1,20. 

19 Queralt A, Valls-Sole J, Castellote 

JM. Speeding up gait initiation and gaitpattern 

with a startling stimulus. GAIT 

POSTURE, 2010. 31:185-190. I.F.:2,58. 

20 Perez-Diaz H, Iranzo A, Santamaria 

J. Zolpidem-induced sleep-related behavioural 

disorders. NEUROLOGIA, 2010. 

25:491-497. I.F.:0,60. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 12,91 

1 Deval E, Gasull X, Noel J, Salinas 

M, Baron A, Diochot S, Lingueglia E. 

Acid-Sensing Ion Channels (ASICs): 

Pharmacology and implication in pain. 

PHARMACOL THERAPEUT, 2010. 

128:549-558. I.F.:8,90. 

2 Hogl B, Arnulf I, Comella C, Ferreira J, 

Iranzo A, Tilley B, Trenkwalder C, Poewe 

W, Rascol O, Sampaio C, Stebbins GT, 

Schrag A, Goetz CG. Scales to Assess 

Sleep Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: 

Critique and Recommendations. MOVE- 

MENT DISORD, 2010. 25:2704-2716. 

I.F.:4,01. 


in progress 

Valls J. Intervencions sobre els components 

sensorial i emocional de les respostes 

a estímuls de dolor en pacients 

amb dolor neuropàtic crònic (Interventions 

on emotional responses to pain 

stimuli in patients with chronic neuropathic 

pain). Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, 71930. Amount: 121.502,00 


Morales M. Synaptic recovery. A new 

therapy in Alzheimer Disease. Sponsored 

by: Fundación CIEN. Proyecto Alzheimer 

Reina Sofia, 0000. Amount: 50.000,00 


Valls J. Mecanismos fisiopatológicos 

en la cronificación del dolor neuropático 

y en el origen del síndrome regional 

complejo. Sponsored by: Instituto de 

Salud Carlos III, PI080266. Amount: 


30/12/2011. 

Gual A. Patologia ocular del envejecimiento, 

calidad visual y calidad de 

vida. Redes temáticas de centros 

(RETIC). Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Sanidad y Consumo, RD07/0062/0006. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2012. 

Gasull X. El canal de leak TRESK en 

la excitabilidad neuronal nociceptiva: 

implicaciones en el dolor neuropático. 

Sponsored by: FIS, Ministerio de Sanidad 



31/12/2011. 

Gual A. Lab. Neurofisiologia. Grup consolidat 

Generalitat de Catalunya. Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 

SGR869. Amount: 42.640,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Donaire A. Utilidad de la resonancia 

magnética funcional ictal en la localización 

del área epileptógena en pacientes 

pediátricos con epilepsia focal 

fármacorresistente. Sponsored by: FIS- 

ETES, 0000. Amount: 30.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Valls J. Intervencions sobre els components 

sensorial i emocional de 

les respostes a estímuls de dolor en 

pacients amb dolor neuropàtic crònic 

(Interventions on emotional responses 

to pain stimuli in patients with chronic 

neuropathic pain). Sponsored by: FUN- 

DACIÓ LA MARATÓ DE TV3, 071930. 


25/02/2008-31/05/2011. 

213

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Secondary lesions due to chronic alcohol ingestion, muscle pathology 

GROUP Members 



raras (CIBERer) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

CIBER en fisiopatología de la 

& obesidad y nutrición (CIBERobn) 


Francesc Cardellach 


Ramón Estruch (Hospital Clínic) 

Joaquin Fernández 


Josep M. Grau (Hospital Clínic) 

Ferran Masanes (Hospital Clínic) 

José Maria Nicolás 


Emilio Sacanella (Hospital Clínic) 


Glòria Garrabou (CIBERER) 

Mireia Urpí (Sara Borrell FCRB) 

Sara Arranz (Sara Borrell) 


Rosas Casas (PREDIMED) 

Ana García Martínez (SAF08) 

Constanza Morén (CIBERER-FIPSE) 

Georgina Espígol (PostMIR ISCIII) 

Marc Corbera (Marató TV3) 

Sergio Prieto (SAF08) 

Ester Planas (SAF08) 

Anna Sandra Hernàndez 


Jordi Casanova (PostMIR ISCIII) 

Gemma Chiva 

(Beca Manuel de Oya) 

Palmira Valderas (becària UB) 

TEAM LEADER 

Álvaro Urbano Márquez 


Tel.: 93 227 55 39 

Fax: 93 227 55 39 

E-mail: urbano@clinic.ub.es 

Marco Alba (Hospital Clinic) 

Itziar Tavera (Hospital Clinic) 

Sarai Córdoba (Estudiant de 

Màster) 

Marc Catalán 

(Estudiant de Màster) 

Francesc Borrisser 

(Estudiant de Màster) 

Maria Boto (FPU-MICINN) 

Technicians: 

Esther Tobias (PAS UB) 

Mireia Nicolàs (CIBERER) 

Mercedes Morales (Marató TV3) 


Laia de Lama (PREDIMED) 


Maria Ángeles Galán 

Dietists: 

Concha Viñas (PREDIMED) 

Olalla Rey (PREDIMED) 


Emilia Antunez (Facultat de 

Medicina) 

Xavier Bosch (Hospital Clínic) 

Edwin Saúl Romero (CNIC) 

1. Study of the pathological 

mechanisms of alcohol upon the 

organ cells and its pathological 

effects at neurological and 

cardiocirculatory level. 

2. Importance of alcohol in 

intracytosolic calcium transport. 

3. Effect of food upon the prevention 

of chronic diseases and cancer. 

4. Prognosis of alcoholic 

myocardiopathy and its best 

management options. 

5. Study of muscle and myocardial 

apoptosis in subjects presenting 

chronic alcohol abuse. 

6. Study of the physiopathology 

of muscle diseases, particularly 

as regards the muscle 

immunohistochemical, 

immunogenetic and angiogenic 

changes (prognostic factors) in 

inflammatory myopathies. 

7. Study of metabolic myopathic 

disorders, particularly relating to 

glycogenosis and myoadenylate 

deaminase deficiency. 

8. Study of myocardial regeneration 

in alcoholic myocardiopathy. 

9. Clinical and functional 

repercussions of chronic fatigue 

syndrome. 

10. Study of the moderate 

consumption of wine and the 

Mediterranean diet in the 

prevention of cardiovascular 

diseases. 

11. Study of primary mitochondrial 

myopathic disorders in the adult 

and of secondary mitochondrial 

involvement in different 

pathological and toxic situations. 

12. Study of the physiopathological 

mechanisms involved in the 

development of systemic 

vasculitis. 

Our future challenges are: 

1. Furthering of knowledge of the 

action of alcohol upon signals 

translation and the appearance 

of apoptosis at muscle and 

myocardial level, and of the 

214

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impact that alterations in 

mitochondrial DNA and in the 

mitochondrial respiratory chain 

may have upon degenerative 

diseases such as Alzheimer’s 

disease, inflammatory myopathy 

and inclusion body diseases. 

2. Furthering of knowledge 

of the prognostic factors in 

dermatomyositis, with a view to 

allowing early identification of 

those cases requiring stronger 

treatment measures (anti-TNF 

agents, gammaglobulins). 

3. Characterization of the clinical 

and morphological aspects of 

metabolic muscle diseases 

(glycogenosis and MDA 

deficiency). 

4. Study of sarcopenia in the 

geriatric population. 

5. In-depth investigation of 

the mitochondrial toxicity of 

antiretroviral drugs and carbon 

monoxide (CO). 

6. Proteomic studies to clarify the 

mechanisms of skeletal and 

cardiac muscle damage secondary 

to alcohol exposure. 

7. Study of myocardial cell 

regeneration from stem cells 

in the myocardium of chronic 

alcoholic patients. 

8. Study of serum and urine 

biomarkers in relation to food 

consumption and changes in 

cardiovascular disease risk 

factors. 

9. In-depth study of the mechanisms 

involved in the development of 

systemic vasculitis. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

3. Study of mitochondrial diseases, 

with special emphasis on 

biochemical and genetic 

investigations in different cell 

substrates. 

4. Analysis of mitochondrial 

respiration and DNA in muscle, 

adipose tissue and lymphocytes of 

HIV-infected patients subjected to 

antiretroviral therapy. 

5. Effect of smoking, carbon 

monoxide, neuroleptic drugs and 

antibiotics upon the mitochondrial 

function. 

6. Mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis. 

II Vascular inflammation: 

1. Expressions of cytokines and 

growth factors in vascular 

inflammatory lesions and their 

relationship with phenotypic 

expression, complications and the 

prognosis of systemic vasculitis. 

2. Study of the interactions among 

lymphocytes, endothelium 

and extracellular matrix in the 

development and perpetuation 

of vascular inflammation and in 

the mechanisms that participate 

in vascular occlusion and 

regeneration. 

3. Development of a questionnaire 

for evaluating quality of life in 

patients with giant cell arteritis 

(international study). 

4. Expression of angiogenic 

and antiangiogenic factors 

as prognostic data in 

dermatomyositis. 

III Prevention and treatment 

of cardiovascular diseases: 

1. Research is being carried 

out into the relationship 

between alcohol and arterial 

hypertension; the evolution of 

alcoholic myocardiopathy, the 

role of phenolic derivatives in 

wine and alcohol as influencing 

factors in the development 

of atherosclerosis; the effect 

of nicotine and aging upon 

mitochondrial respiration; 

and the presence of growth 

factors and adhesion molecules 

in angiogenesis, apoptosis, 

myocardiopathy and alcoholic 

myopathy. 

2. Study of the effects of 

moderate wine consumption, 

the Mediterranean diet and 

other polyphenol-rich products 

in the primary prevention of 

cardiovascular disease and 

other degenerative disorders. 

3. Proteomic studies of skeletal 

and cardiac muscle in relation 

to the pathogenesis of tissue 

damage secondary to alcohol 

exposure. 

I Research Group in Muscle 

and Mitochondrial Function: 

1. Histological, histochemical and 

immunohistochemical study of 

muscle diseases. 

2. Study of mitochondrial function 

in patients susceptible to 

mitochondrial disorders of genetic 

(primary) or toxic (secondary) 

origin. 

Gomori trichromic staining of a muscle fibre in a patient with HIV infection 

showing mitochondrial toxicity due to antiretroviral treatment with 

zidovudine (AZT). The white arrows indicate the presence of so-called raggedred 

fibres, suggestive of toxic myopathy. 

215

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Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 65,52 

1 Smithson A, Perello R, Aibar J, Espinosa 

G, Tassies D, Freire C, Castro P, 

Suarez B, Lozano F, Nicolas JM. Genotypes 

Coding for Low Serum Levels of 

Mannose-Binding Lectin Are Underrepresented 

among Individuals Suffering 

from Noninfectious Systemic Inflammatory 

Response Syndrome. CLIN 

VACCINE IMMUNOL, 2010. 17:447-453. 

I.F.:2,37. 

2 Lozano E, Segarra M, Corbera-Bellalta 

M, Garcia-Martinez A, Espigol-Frigole 

G, Pla-Campo A, Hernandez-Rodriguez 

J, Cid MC. Increased expression of the 

endothelin system in arterial lesions 

from patients with giant-cell arteritis: 

association between elevated plasma 

endothelin levels and the development 

of ischaemic events. ANN RHEUM DIS, 

2010. 69:434-442. I.F.:8,11. 

3 Noguera A, Moren C, Rovira N, 

Sanchez E, Garrabou G, Nicolas M, 

Munoz-Almagro C, Cardellach F, Miro 

O, Fortuny C. Evolution of Mitochondrial 

DNA Content After Planned Interruption 

of HAART in HIV-Infected Pediatric Patients. 

AIDS RES HUM RETROV, 2010. 

26:1015-1018. I.F.:2,18. 

4 Xarau SN, Romay MA, Martinez 

JMM, Clanchet JD, Prat ER, Sola JF. 

Multiple chemical sensitivity: Epidemiological, 

clinical and prognostic 

differences between occupational 

and non-occupational cases. MED 


I.F.:1,23. 

5 Lohse B, Psota T, Estruch R, Zazpe I, 

Sorli JV, Salas-Salvado J, Serra M, Krall 

JS, Marquez F, Ros E. Eating Competence 

of Elderly Spanish Adults Is Associated 

with a Healthy Diet and a Favorable 

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile. J 

NUTR, 2010. 140:1322-1327. I.F.:4,09. 

6 Llorente-Cortes V, Estruch R, Mena MP, 

Ros E, Gonzalez MAM, Fito M, Lamuela- 

Raventos RM, Badimon L. Effect of 

Mediterranean diet on the expression of proatherogenic 

genes in a population at high 

cardiovascular risk. ATHEROSCLEROSIS, 

2010. 208:442-450. I.F.:4,52. 

7 Prieto RM, Fiol M, Perello J, Estruch 

R, Ros E, Sanchis P, Grases F. Effects of 

Mediterranean diets with low and high 

proportions of phytate-rich foods on the urinary 

phytate excretion. EUR J NUTR, 2010. 

49:321-326. I.F.:2,87. 

8 Corella D, Carrasco P, Fito M, Martinez- 

Gonzalez MA, Salas-Salvado J, Aros F, Lapetra 

J, Guillen M, Ortega-Azorin C, Warnberg 

J, Fiol M, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Serra-Majem L, 

Martinez JA, Ros E, Estruch R. Gene-environment 

interactions of CETP gene variation 

in a high cardiovascular risk Mediterranean 

population. J LIPID RES, 2010. 51:2798- 

2807. I.F.:4,92. 

9 Zazpe I, Estruch R, Toledo E, Sanchez- 

Tainta A, Corella D, Bullo M, Fiol M, Iglesias 

P, Gomez-Gracia E, Aros F, Ros E, Schroder 

H, Serra-Majem L, Pinto X, Lamuela-Raventos 

R, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Martinez-Gonzalez 

MA. Predictors of adherence to a Mediterranean-type 

diet in the PREDIMED trial. EUR 

J NUTR, 2010. 49:91-99. I.F.:2,87. 

10 Perona JS, Covas MI, Fito M, Cabello- 

Moruno R, Aros F, Corella D, Ros E, Garcia 

M, Estruch R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, 

Ruiz-Gutierrez V. Reduction in systemic and 

VLDL triacylglycerol concentration after a 

3-month Mediterranean-style diet in highcardiovascular-risk 

subjects. J NUTR BIO- 

CHEM, 2010. 21:892-898. I.F.:4,29. 

11 Razquin C, Martinez JA, Martinez-Gonzalez 

MA, Salas-Salvado J, Estruch R, Marti 

A. A 3-year Mediterranean-style dietary 

intervention may modulate the association 

between adiponectin gene variants and 

body weight change. EUR J NUTR, 2010. 

49:311-319. I.F.:2,87. 

12 Estruch R. Anti-inflammatory effects 

of the Mediterranean diet: the experience 

of the PREDIMED study. P NUTR SOC, 

2010. 69:333-340. I.F.:4,32. 

13 Selva-O’callaghan A, Grau JM, 

Gamez-Cenzano C, Vidaller-Palacin A, 

Martinez-Gomez X, Trallero-Araguas E, 

Andia-Navarro E, Vilardell-Tarres M. Conventional 

Cancer Screening versus PET/ 

CT in Dermatomyositis/Polymyositis. AM 

J MED, 2010. 123:558-562. I.F.:4,47. 

14 Urpi-Sarda M, Llorach R, Khan N, 

Monagas M, Rotches-Ribalta M, Lamuela- 

Raventos R, Estruch R, Tinahones FJ, 

Andres-Lacueva C. Effect of Milk on the 

Urinary Excretion of Microbial Phenolic 

Acids after Cocoa Powder Consumption 

in Humans. J AGR FOOD CHEM, 2010. 

58:4706-4711. I.F.:2,47. 

15 Cuatrecasas G, Gonzalez MJ, Alegre 

C, Sesmilo G, Fernandez-Sola J, Casanueva 

FF, Garcia-Fructuoso F, Poca-Dias V, Izquierdo 

JP, Puig-Domingo M. High Prevalence 

of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Severe 

Fibromyalgia Syndromes. J CLIN ENDOCR 

METAB, 2010. 95:4331-4337. I.F.:6,20. 

16 Roson B, Monte R, Gamallo R, Puerta 

R, Zapatero A, Fernandez-Sola J, Pastor 

I, Giron JA, Laso J. Prevalence and routine 

assessment of unhealthy alcohol use 

in hospitalized patients. EUR J INTERN 

MED, 2010. 21:458-464. I.F.:1,39. 

17 Prieto S, Grau JM. The geoepidemiology 

of autoimmune muscle disease. 

AUTOIMMUN REV, 2010. 9:A330-A334. 

I.F.:6,37. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 8,12 

1 Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Jimenez F, 

Ros E, DeCaterina R, Badimon L, Covas 

MI, Escrich E, Ordovas JM, Soriguer F, 

Abia R, DeLaLastra CA, Battino M, Core- 

216

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lla D, Chamorro-Quiros J, Delgado-Lista 

J, Giugliano D, Esposito K, Estruch R, 

Fernandez-Real JM, Gaforio JJ, LaVecchia 

C, Lairon D, Lopez-Segura F, Mata 

P, Menendez JA, Muriana FJ, Osada J, 

Panagiotakos DB, Paniagua JA, Perez- 

Martinez P, Perona J, Peinado MA, 

Pineda-Priego M, Poulsen HE, Quiles 

JL, Ramirez-Tortosa MC, Ruano J, Serra- 

Majem L, Sola R, Solanas M, Solfrizzi 

V, DeLaTorre-Fornell R, Trichopoulou A, 

Uceda M, Villalba-Montoro JM, Villar-Ortiz 

JR, Visioli F, Yiannakouris N. Olive oil and 

health: Summary of the II international 

conference on olive oil and health consensus 

report, Jaen and Cordoba (Spain) 

2008. NUTR METAB CARDIOVAS, 2010. 

20:284-294. I.F.:3,52. 

2 Selva-O’callaghan A, Trallero-Araguas 

E, Grau-Junyent JM, Labrador-Horrillo 

M. Malignancy and myositis: novel autoantibodies 

and new insights. CURR 

OPIN RHEUMATOL, 2010. 22:627-632. 

I.F.:4,60. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 35,59 

1 Estruch R, Lamuela-Raventos RM. 

Alcohol, wine and cardiovascular disease, 

two sides of the same coin. INTERN 

EMERG MED, 2010. 5:277-279. I.F.:2,37. 

2 Grau JM, Prieto-Gonzalez S. Biologic 

agents in myositis: unsolved questions. 

MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 135:263- 

264. I.F.:1,23. 

3 Grau JM, Cardellach F. Rare diseases 

and the internal medicine specialist. MED 


I.F.:1,23. 

4 Jubany LI, Selva-O’callaghan A, Perez- 

Vega C, Grau-Junyent JM, Hernandez- 

Losa J, Vilardell-Tarres M. The patient has 

the diagnosis. LANCET, 2010. 376:1436- 

1436. I.F.:30,76. 


in progress 

Estruch R. Balance beneficio / riesgo del 

contenido en polifenoles y alcohol del 

vino: bases científicas de los efectos del 

consumo moderado de vino sobre el 

sistema cardiovascular. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio Educación y Ciencia, AGL2006- 

14228-C03-01. Amount: 38.720,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/10/2006-31/12/2010. 

Estruch R. Efectos de tomate procesado 

casero sobre los biomarcadores inflamatorios 

relacionados con la arteriosclerosis. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio Educación y 

Ciencia, AGL2007-66638-C02-02. Amount: 


30/11/2010. 

Estruch R. Bases biológicas de los Efectos 

Protectores de la Dieta Mediterránea en 

la Enfermedad Cardiovascular: Efectos 

sobre la adiposidad, hormonas relacionadas 

y marcadores de inflamación. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Estruch R. Alimentación saludable en la 

prevención primaria de enfermedades 

crónicas: la Red PREDIMED. Sponsored 


RD06/0045/1003. Amount: 27.840,00 euros. 

Duration: 29/02/2008-31/12/2011. 

Estruch R. Effects of a mediterranean diet 

intervention on atherosclerotic burden 

measured by imaging techniques and systemic 

biomarkers. PREDIMED. (Effects of 

a 2-year Mediterranean diet intervention 

on 3T MRI-monitored carotid plaque 

progression and vulnerability). Sponsored 

by: Centro Nacional de Investigaciones 

Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 06-2007-S01. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2011. 

Cardellach F, Coll JO, Hernandez AS, 

Garrabou G, Morén C. Toxicidad mitocondrial 

inducida por el consumo de tabaco en 

gestantes y sus recién nacidos. Sponsored 

by: FIS ISCIII, PI080229. Amount: 40.250,00 


Estruch R, Sacanella E, Masanes F, Chiva 

G, Casas R. Desarrollo de biomarcadores 

de consumo y de efecto de un patrón de 

alimentación Mediterranea en la prevención 

de la enfermedad cardiovascular. Una 

aproximación metabolómica. Sponsored 


AGL2009-13906-C02-01. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Estruch R. Desarrollo de biomarcadores de 

consumo y efecto de un patrón de alimentación 

mediterráneo en la prevención de la 

enfermedad cardiovascular: biomarcadores 

de inflamación y estabilidad de la placa de 

AT. Sponsored by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCA- 

CIÓN, AGL2009_13906_C02_02. Amount: 


31/12/2012. 

Grau J. Grup de recerca muscular. Sponsored 

by: GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA, 

2009_SGR_1158. Amount: 0,01 euros. Duration: 

23/09/2009-31/12/2013. 

Grau J. Anticossos antitransglutaminasa en 

biòpsies musculars de pacients amb miopatia 

inflamatòria. Sponsored by: FIS-ISCIII, 

PI08/0450. Amount: 33.880,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Grau J. Grup de Recerca Consolidat SGR 

1158. Sponsored by: AGAUR-Generalitat de 

Catalunya, 48/227.06/09. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Andres-Lacueva C, Estruch R, Monagas M. 

Interaction between cocoa polyphenols and 

inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis 

in high-risk subjects for cardiovascular disease. 

PhD student: Nasiruddin Khan. 

217

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& 

Red de Terapia Celular 


GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Josep M. Canals 

(Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Gustavo Egea 


Esther Perez 


Silvia Gines 



Albert Giralt (Facultat de Medicina) 

Miriam Esgleas (RETICS, IDIBAPS) 

Ana Saavedra (CIBERNED, UB) 

Verónica Brito (CHDI Foundation) 

Juan Manuel Durán (UB) 


Olga Carretón (UB) 

Laura Rué (UB) 

Laia Salcedo (FPI, UB) 

Javier Selva (UB) 

TEAM LEADER 

Jordi Alberch 


Tel.: 93 403 52 85 

Fax: 93 402 19 07 

Enrique Gutiérrez (CIRIT) 

Mar Puigdellívol (CHDI Foundation) 

Adrià Sicart (UB) 

Marta Anglada (FPI, UB) 

Andreas Mezger (PLE2009, UB) 

Mónica Pardo (PLE2009, UB) 

Carla Serra (FPI, UB) 

Technicians: 

Cristina Herranz (RETICS, IDIBAPS) 

Ana López (CIBERNED) 

Maite Muñoz (Facultat de Medicina) 

Josep Barrachina (Facultat de 

Medicina) 


Raquel Martín-Ibáñez (CIBERNED- 

UB) 

Bet Sarri (Facultat de Medicina) 

Xavier Xifro (UG) 

1. Study of the cellular and molecular bases 

involved in neuronal dysfunction and 

death associated with basal ganglia 

neurodegenerative disorders, fundamentally 

Huntington’s disease. Our aim is to identify 

intracellular pathways – both neuroprotective 

and apoptotic – that are selectively altered 

in the affected neuron populations, with 

the ultimate purpose of identifying new 

therapeutic targets in the management of 

these neurodegenerative diseases. 

2. Identification of the mechanisms participating 

in the cognitive defects seen in Huntington’s 

disease. Knowledge of these mechanisms will 

make it possible to develop new treatments 

for avoiding the cognitive disorders induced by 

the mutated huntingtin gene. 

3. Characterization of the mechanisms of 

neuron differentiation of stem cells from 

different organs. Our aim is to identify 

different extrinsic and intrinsic factors 

contributing to neuron differentiation, with 

the aim of employing stem cells in cell 

substitution therapies. 

4. Exploration of the molecular mechanisms 

involved in the interaction of the 

cytoskeleton with the cell endomembrane 

system as structural and functional support 

in secretory and endocytic membrane traffic. 

Studies are also made of the way in which 

this interaction is altered in certain diseases 

such as alcoholism and other conditions with 

a strong cardiovascular base such as Marfan 

syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Molecular bases of the interaction of actin 

dynamics with the Golgi apparatus and 

secretory traffic. 

2. Role of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid 

in the formation of transport vesicles and 

in the structural organization of the Golgi 

apparatus. 

3. Study of the signaling pathways that regulate 

the cytoskeleton and actin dynamics, altered 

by ethanol and other toxic agents. 

4. Intracellular traffic and cytokine receptor 

signaling (TGF-beta). 

5. Study of the implication of neurotrophic 

factors in the physiopathology and treatment 

218

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of neurodegenerative diseases of the 

basal ganglia. 

6. Study of the intracellular signaling 

cascades implicated in the degeneration 

of striatal and hippocampal neurons in 

Huntington’s disease. 

7. Study of the mechanisms underlying 

the differentiation of stem cells into 

neurons, for application to cellular therapy 

in neurodegenerative diseases such as 

Huntington’s chorea. 

Distribution of optineurin (red) and 

Golgi (green) in neuron precursors. The 

nucleus is stained with Topro-3 (blue). 


Membrane traffic 

Group Leader: 

Gustavo Egea (UB) 

The objective of this 

group is to understand 

the principles that control 

and regulate transport of the membrane 

components (lipids and proteins) 

within the cell. In particular, we are investigating 

the interaction of the transport 

intermediaries (vesicles and tubules) with 

the actin cytoskeleton and its associated 

proteins and regulators (myosins and Rho 

GTPases). We are also exploring the way 

in which lipid homeostasis (particularly referred 

to diacylglycerol) participates in the 

organization and traffic of membranes 

and in the formation of transport intermediaries. 

Lastly, we wish to establish the 

physiopathological bases whereby ethanol 

alters nerve cell function and the mechanism 

underlying internalization of the 

receptors of cytokines such as TGF-beta 

in the smooth muscle cells of the coronary 

vessels in cardiovascular patients. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 65,35 

1 Martin-Ibanez R, Crespo E, Urban 

N, Sergent-Tanguy S, Herranz C, Jaumot 

M, Valiente M, Long JE, Pineda 

JR, Andreu C, Rubenstein JLR, Marin 

O, Georgopoulos K, Mengod G, Farinas 

I, Bachs O, Alberch J, Canals JM. 

Ikaros-1 Couples Cell Cycle Arrest of 

Late Striatal Precursors With Neurogenesis 


J COMP NEUROL. 518:329-351. 

I.F.:3,72. 

2 Twohig JP, Roberts MI, Gavalda 

N, Rees-Taylor EL, Giralt A, Adams 

D, Brooks SP, Bull MJ, Calder CJ, 

Cuff S, Yong AA, Alberch J, Davies 

A, Dunnett SB, Tolkovsky AM, Wang 

ECY. Age-Dependent Maintenance 

of Motor Control and Corticostriatal 

Innervation by Death Receptor 3. J 

NEUROSCI. 30:3782-3792. I.F.:7,18. 

3 DelToro D, Xifro X, Pol A, Humbert 

S, Saudou F, Canals JM, Alberch 

J. Altered cholesterol homeostasis 

contributes to enhanced excitotoxicity 

in Huntington’s disease. J NEURO- 

CHEM. 115:153-167. I.F.:4,00. 

4 Giralt A, Friedman HC, Caneda- 

Ferron B, Urban N, Moreno E, Rubio 

N, Blanco J, Peterson A, Canals JM, 

Alberch J. BDNF regulation under 

GFAP promoter provides engineered 

astrocytes as a new approach for 

long-term protection in Huntington’s 

disease. GENE THER. 17:1294-1308. 

I.F.:4,75. 

5 Estevez M, Fernandez-Ulibarri I, 

Martinez E, Egea G, Samitier J. Changes 

in the internal organization of the 

cell by microstructured substrates. 

SOFT MATTER. 6:582-590. I.F.:4,87. 

6 Gines S, Paoletti P, Alberch J. 

Impaired TrkB-mediated ERK1/2 Activation 

in Huntington Disease Knock-in 

Striatal Cells Involves Reduced p52/ 

p46 Shc Expression. J BIOL CHEM. 

285:21537-21548. I.F.:5,33. 

7 Urban N, Martin-Ibanez R, Herranz 

C, Esgleas M, Crespo E, Pardo M, 

Crespo-Enriquez I, Mendez-Gomez 

HR, Waclaw R, Chatzi C, Alvarez S, 

Alvarez R, Duester G, Campbell K, 

DeLera AR, Vicario-Abejon C, Martinez 

S, Alberch J, Canals JM. Nolz1 promotes 

striatal neurogenesis through the 

regulation of retinoic acid signaling. 

NEURAL DEV. 5:21-. I.F.:3,39. 

8 Saavedra A, Garcia-Martinez JM, 

Xifro X, Giralt A, Torres-Peraza JF, 

Canals JM, Diaz-Hernandez M, Lucas 

JJ, Alberch J, Perez-Navarro E. PH 

domain leucine-rich repeat protein 

phosphatase 1 contributes to maintain 

the activation of the PI3K/Akt prosurvival 

pathway in Huntington’s disease 

striatum. CELL DEATH DIFFER. 

17:324-335. I.F.:8,24. 

9 Rocher-Ros V, Marco S, Mao JH, 

Gines S, Metzger D, Chambon P, 

Balmain A, Saura CA. Presenilin modulates 

EGFR signaling and cell transformation 

by regulating the ubiquitin 

ligase Fbw7. ONCOGENE. 29:2950- 

2961. I.F.:7,14. 

10 Selva J, Martinez SE, Buceta D, 

Rodriguez-Vazquez MJ, Blanco MC, 

Lopez-Quintela MA, Egea G. Silver 

Sub-nanoclusters Electrocatalyze 

Ethanol Oxidation and Provide Protection 

against Ethanol Toxicity in Cultured 

Mammalian Cells. J AM CHEM 

SOC. 132:6947-6954. I.F.:8,58. 

11 Graus F, Boronat A, Xifro X, 

Boix M, Svigelj V, Garcia A, Palomino 

A, Sabater L, Alberch J, Saiz A. The 

expanding clinical profile of anti-ampa 

receptor encephalitis. NEUROLOGY. 

74:857-859. I.F.:8,17. 

219

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Team Members 


in progress 

Alberch J. Development of neuroprotectve 

strategies with BDNF in 

Huntington’s Disease. Sponsored 



15/02/2007-14/02/2010. 

Canals JM. Red de Terapia Celular. 


y Consumo, RD06/0010/0006. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2011. 

Perez E. Estudio de mecanismos 

moleculares implicados en la vulnerabilidad. 

Sponsored by: Instituto 

de Salud, PI071183. Amount: 


15/10/2007-14/09/2010. 

Egea G. Nanotecnologías en Biomedicina. 


de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), 

CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010-0012. 

Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2006-31/12/2010. 

Alberch J. Generación de nuevos modelos 

de enfermedad de Huntington 

para valorar el papel del BDNF en los 

mecanismos patogénicos y en nuevas 

perspectivas terapéuticas. Sponsored 


(MICINN), SAF2008-04360. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Alberch J. Habilitación de salas GMP 

para el programa de terapia celular 

de la Facultat de Medicina. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Ciencia e 

Innovación (MICINN), PLE2009-0128. 


01/11/2009-31/10/2012. 

Canals JM. Mejora de la supervivencia 

y diferenciación de células madre neurales 

humanas para terapia celular de la 

enfermedad de Huntington. Sponsored 


(MICINN), PLE2009-0089. Amount: 


31/10/2012. 

Gines, S. Role of p75 Neurotrophin 

Receptor in Huntington’s Disease. Sponsored 

by: HIGH Q FOUNDATION - INC 

-OFICIAL, A-3468. Amount: 159.145,00 


Gines, S. Role of Cdk5 in Striatal and 

Hippocamapl Pathology in Huntingtons 

Disease. Sponsored by: HIGH Q 

FOUNDATION - INC -OFICIAL, A-3880. 


01/11/2010-31/10/2012. 

Egea G. Red Nacional sobre Integración 

funcional del tráfico de membranas, la 

señalización intracelular y la dinámica 

del citoesqueleto. Sponsored by: Ministerio 


BFU2008-03958-E/BMC. Amount: 


30/12/2012. 

Egea G. La dinámica de la actina y la 

homeostasis del diacilglicerol en la organización 

del aparato de Golgi. Sponsored 


(MICINN), BFU2009-07186(BMC). 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Egea G. Nanotecnologías en Biomedicina. 

Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), 2010- 

0012. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2006-14/09/2011. 

Gines, S. Estudio de las cascadas de 

señalización asociadas a la activación 

dopaminérgica y glutamatérgica como 

estrategia terapéutica en modelos murinos 

de la enfermedad de Huntington: 

Papel de la vía de Cdk5. Sponsored 


SAF2009-07077. Amount: 108.900,00 


31/12/2012. 

Canals JM. Caracterización de nuevos 

factores de transcripción para la diferencaicaión 

neuronal de células madre 

para la enfermedad neurodegenerativa 

de Huntington. Sponsored by: Ministerio 


SAF2009-07774. Amount: 217.800,00 


Alberch J. Fisiopatología de las enfermedades 

neurodegenerativas. Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, SGR2009- 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Canals JM. Terapia Celular: Implicación 

de células madre adultas. Sponsored 

by: CMRB-Generalitat de Catalunya, 

PROMT-0901. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Thesis 

Canals JM. Caracterizacion de los factores 

de transcripcion de la familia Ikaros 

durante el desarrollo estriatal. PhD student: 

Desamparats Crespo March. 

Alberch J. Estudio de los procesos 

activadores de la patologia en la enfermedad 

de Huntington: Alteraciones en 

la plasticidad sinaptica y perspectivas 

terapeuticas. PhD student: Albert Giralt 

Torroella. 

Gines S. Estudio de las vías de supervivencia 

y muerte neuronal en modelos 

de la nefermedad de Huntington. PhD 

student: Paola Paoletti Rubia. 

220

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CIBER en Salud Mental 

(CIBERsam) 

Biological bases of psychiatric disorders and nuclear psychiatry 

GROUP Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Josefina Castro (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Catalán (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristobal Gastó (Hospital Clínic) 

Antoni Gual (Hospital Clínic) 

Fernando Gutierrez (Hospital Clínic) 

Amalia Lafuente (TU) 

Luisa Lázaro (Hospital Clínic) 

Francisco J. Lomeña (Hospital Clínic) 

Anabel Martínez-Arán (Hospital Clínic) 

Guillem Masana (Hospital Clínic) 

Eduard Parellada (Hospital Clínic) 

Luis Pintor (Hospital Clínic) 

Mercè Torra (Hospital Clínic) 

Manuel Valdés (Hospital Clínic) 

Eduard Vieta (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Benabarre (Hospital Clínic) 

Rocío Martín-Santos (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Colom (Fundació Clínic) 

Lluïsa Garcia (Hospital Clínic) 

Inmaculada Baeza (Hospital Clínic) 

Astrid Morer Liñán (Hospital Clínic) 

Susana Andrés (Hospital Clínic) 

Rafel Penadés (Hospital Clínic) 

Technicians: 

M Alicia Durán (Fundació Clínic) 

Rosa Maria Palaus (Fundació Clínic) 


Ana Meseguer (CIBERSAM) 


Anna Folch (CIBERSAM) 


Jordi Blanch (Hospital Clínic) 

Mercè Comes (Hospital Clínic) 

Jose Manuel Goikolea 


Ester Gómez (Hospital Clínic) 

Joana Guarch (Hospital Clínic) 

Teodoro Marcos (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergi Mas Herrero (Associat) 

Victor Navarro (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan de Pablo (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Reinares (CIBERSAM) 

Jose Toro (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Miguel Bernardo 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 (Ext.: 3142) 

Fax: 93 227 55 48 

E-mail: bernardo@clinic.ub.es 

Carla Torrent (CIBERSAM) 

Elena de la Serna (CIBERSAM) 

Patricia Gasso (Fundació Clínic) 

Eva Baillés (Fundació Clínic) 

Montse Batllé (IDIBAPS) 

Piero Castro Loli (Fund. Clinic) 

Anna Crescenti (FI, Generalitat) 

Caterina del Mar Bonnin (IDIBAPS) 

José Sánchez-Moreno (CIBERSAM) 

Carolina Franco (Hospital Clinic) 

Isabella Pachiarotti (CIBERSAM) 

Adriane R. Rosa (IDIBAPS) 

Marc Valentí (IDIBAPS) 

Clemente Garcia-Rizo (Hospital Clínic) 

Andrea Murru (Fundació Clinic) 

Brisa Solé (IDIBAPS) 

Rosa Calvo (Hospital Clinic) 

Miquel Bioque (CIBERSAM) 

Alicia Valiente (Hospita Clínic) 

Cristina V. Oliveira (Fundació Clínic) 

Claudia Cullell (CIBERSAM) 

Esther Jimenez (IDIBAPS) 

Alessandra Nivoli (Fundació Clínic) 

Pere Castellví (CIBERSAM) 

Núria Cruz (CIBERSAM) 

Javier Goti (Hospital Clínic) 

Rosa Díaz (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Teresa Plana (Hospital Clínic) 

Vanessa Sánchez (Hospital Clínic) 

Soledad Romero (Hospital Clínic) 

Bibiana Cabrera (Fundació Clínic) 

Enric Buisan (ForumClinic) 

Nuria Pujol (IDIBAPS) 

Olga Puig (Hospital Clínic) 

Our group studies serious psychiatric 

disorders from the neurobiological 

and therapeutic perspectives, based 

on the following 6 research lines: 

bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and 

depression-anxiety, pediatric psychiatry 

and psychology, psychiatric intervention 

in medical pathology and alcoholism. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

The bipolar disorders program mainly 

investigates the neurobiological and 

anatomofunctional mechanisms 

implicated in the development of the 

disease (genetics, neuromodulators, 

hormone factors and neuroimaging) 

and its relapses, the clinical course and 

neuropsychological consequences, 

the efficacy of drug treatments and 

novel therapies, and psychological 

interventions for the early detection 

and prevention of recurrences – 

increasing treatment compliance 

and improving the efficacy of the 

therapeutic strategies applied to bipolar 

disorder. The strategic objectives are to 

investigate the causes and mechanisms 

involved in the etiopathogenesis of 

bipolar disorder, and to investigate new 

treatments with a view to improving 

the prognosis of the disease. 

The schizophrenia program focuses 

research on the first schizophrenic 

episodes and on resistant and comorbid 

schizophrenia, through functional 

neuroimaging (brain perfusion and 

receptors SPECT, PET and functional 

magnetic resonance imaging). 

Sensory and cognitive neuroactivation 

studies have been made with frontal 

activation neuropsychological tests 

and dopaminergic receptor occupation 

studies, as well as studies of the 

presynaptic dopaminergic function. 

Likewise, plasma metabolites of 

dopamine have been investigated as 

biological indicators of relapse in a 

prospective longitudinal follow-up and 

treatment response study. We have 

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Biological bases of psychiatric disorders 

and nuclear psychiatry 

examined the role of schizophrenia in 

the development of cardiovascular and 

metabolic diseases, and secondarily 

also the role of antipsychotic 

drugs. The pharmacogenetics 

of antipsychotic drugs has been 

studied to assess the efficacy and 

safety of these drugs on the basis 

of the individual patient genetic 

characteristics. Specifically, we have 

analyzed the pharmacogenetics of 

the extrapyramidal effects caused 

by antipsychotic drug therapy, the 

polymorphisms associated with 

the risk of schizophrenia, and new 

pharmacogenetic techniques for 

implantation at healthcare and hospital 

level. A psychoeducational program 

has been introduced, adopting 

new knowledge transmission 

and exchange formulas, with the 

application of new technologies and 

offering rigorous and communicatively 

adequate contents. The new 

FòrumClínic web is an interactive 

program designed to increase patient 

autonomy in relation to personal 

health. A program is being developed 

for characterizing and preventing 

second psychotic episodes, in order to 

design preventive strategies allowing 

us to influence the course of the 

disease. 

The Alcohol Unit is the reference in 

Catalonia for the treatment of alcohol 

dependency. We are one of the 

main research groups in Spain and at 

present are attempting to consolidate 

a European leadership position in 

the setting of short interventions 

designed to reduce consumption 

among alcohol consumers at risk. A 

number of research lines are being 

conducted in the context of the 

Alcohol Unit. The main lines are the 

following: Prospective longitudinal 

study of alcoholic disease; Follow-up 

of a cohort of 850 patients starting 

treatment in 1987 in the Catalan 

Drug Dependencies Network (Xarxa 

Catalana de Drogodependències); 

Screening instruments and techniques 

for early detection and short counselling 

in alcohol-consumers at risk in 

the hospital setting and in primary 

care; Evaluation and prognosis of 

alcoholic patients candidates for liver 

transplantation; treatment of smoking 

in alcoholic patients; and Evaluation of 

the European alcohol policies and their 

public health impact. 

The line relating to depression aims 

to implement new psychopathological 

and biological endophenotypic 

methods in application to major 

depression, with the development of 

mechanisms for the analysis of the 

mechanism of action of antidepressant 

drugs based on the platelet model 

of depression (developed together 

with the hemostasis group led by 

Prof. Ginés-Escolar); the investigation 

of neurotrophic factors (BDNF) in 

depressive patients; and the exploration 

of factors conditioning the residual 

symptoms of major depression. 

The main research lines of the 

pediatric psychiatry and psychology 

research group of the Clinic hospital 

are the following: 

• Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: 

Study and follow-up of the first 

psychotic episodes, cognitive 

rehabilitation of adolescent patients 

with schizophrenia, study of children 

and adolescents with a high genetic 

risk of developing schizophrenia and 

bipolar disorder (offspring of patients 

with such disorders), study of the 

prodromic manifestations of psychotic 

disorders in children and adolescents, 

and study of the tolerance and safety 

of antidepressants in children and 

adolescents. 

• Anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and 

obsessive-compulsive disorder: 

Study of the common and 

differential alterations (genetic, 

neuropsychological and neuroimaging) 

of anorexia nervosa and obsessivecompulsive 

disorder, study of 

MRI image of a healthy control of 

the study; genotype-phenotype and 

environment interaction. Application 

of a predictive model in first 

psychotic episodes. 

new management approaches 

(psychological and pharmacological) 

in bulimia and anorexia nervosa, and 

study of autoimmune alterations in 

obsessive behavior and in anorexia. 

• Others: mention should be 

made of the investigation of 

addictive behaviors, analyzing 

the percentages of patients seen 

in the Department of Pediatric 

Psychiatry with different disorders 

and who moreover consume, abuse 

of or show dependency of toxic 

substances – exploring the efficacy 

of new multimodal management 

modalities for addictive behavior 

in adolescents. In addition, the 

study line of the efficacy and safety 

of psychoactive drugs in children 

and adolescents focuses on the 

evaluation and follow-up of the side 

effects of these drugs in children 

and adolescents, as well as on the 

identification of pharmacogenetic 

predictors of drug response in such 

patients. The study line in autistic 

spectrum disorders explores the 

efficacy of new psychological and 

pharmacological treatments in these 

disorders, with examination of the 

neuropsychological profile of children 

with high-function autistic spectrum 

disorders and the correlation to clinical 

variables. Mention also should be 

made of the line for the development 

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and validation of scales in application 

to different pathologies or 

symptoms. In turn, the line referred 

to attention deficit hyperactivity 

disorder (ADHA) involves the 

neuropsychological, clinical and 

neuroimaging assessment of 

predominantly inattentive children 

versus children with combinedtype 

attention deficit. Lastly, the 

research line in autoimmune/Tourette 

syndrome explores the inflammatory 

and autoimmune processes, and 

their relation to serious psychiatric 

pathology, in children and 

adolescents. 

The line of psychiatric intervention 

in clinical pathology has focused 

research on knowledge of the 

psychiatric alterations seen in the 

main neurological diseases: dementia, 

multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s 

disease and Huntington’s disease. 

The study of psychiatric disease and 

psychological aspects associated with 

medical-surgical hospital processes 

in turn addresses: transplantation, 

delirium, psychiatric problems in 

clinical patients admitted to a general 

hospital, the evaluation of predictive 

variables and factors associated with 

suicide in a general hospital. Studies 

are also made of the biological markers 

and therapeutic aspects of major 

depression. 

Investigations likewise have been 

conducted into personality disorders: 

the structure of the diagnostic systems, 

their relationship to adjustment to the 

environment and the validation of new 

models and instruments. 


FòrumClínic 

www.forumclinic.org 

Centro de Investigación Biomédica 

En Red de Salud Mental 

(CIBERSAM) 

www.cibersam.es 


Schizophrenia 


Bipolar disorders 

Group Leader: Miquel Bernardo (Hospital Clínic) 

The Clinical Schizophrenia 

Group (GEC) has been 

recognized as a consolidated 

research group 

(2005SGR00223; 2009SGR1295) by the 

Agency for the Management of University and 

Research Aids (Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris 

i de Recerca, AGAUR) since the year 

2005. This is an interdisciplinary group composed 

of psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, 

nurses, physicians specialized in 

nuclear medicine, physicists, pharmacologists, 

toxicologists and biochemists linked to the 

Clinic Hospital and the University of Barcelona. 

Ours is a group of investigators forming part of 

the Clinical Schizophrenia Program (PEC) and 

working in disorders related to schizophrenia. 

This is a clinical care, research and teaching 

program at both hospital and outpatient level 

that includes different management and research 

protocols designed to address problems 

raised by schizophrenia and which integrates 

the different resources of the Barcelona Clinic 

Hospital. In the year 2007, the group became a 

constituting member of the Network of Mental 

Group Leader: Eduard Vieta (Hospital Clínic) 

The bipolar disorder program 

has been recognized as a 

consolidated research group 

(2009 SGR 1022) by the 

Agency for the Management of University 

and Research Aids (Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts 

Universitaris i de Recerca, AGAUR). The bipolar 

disorders program fundamentally investigates 

the neurobiological and anatomofunctional 

mechanisms involved in the development of 

the disease and its clinical course, comorbidity 

with other diseases, the implicated neurocognitive 

mechanisms, and the search for new 

pharmacological, biophysical and psychosocial 

treatments designed to improve the prognosis 

and quality of life of the patients. The program 

is characterized by a multidiscipline approach 

and includes psychiatrists, psychologists, 

Diseases and Affective and Psychotic Disorders 

(REMTAP), and in 2008 we likewise became 

a constituting member of the Center of Biomedical 

Research in Mental Health Network 

(CIBERSAM) (www.cibersam.es).The Clinical 

Schizophrenia Group centers its research on 

the study of the first schizophrenic episodes, 

schizophrenia starting in childhood/adolescence, 

and resistant and comorbid schizophrenia. 

The main research lines are physical health, 

neuroimaging, neuropsychology and psychometric 

assessment, genetics psychological 

education, neurobiology and neuropsychopharmacology 

in schizophrenia, with a supervisor 

for each of them, under the coordination of Dr. 

Miguel Bernardo. Another research line focuses 

on childhood- and adolescent-onset schizophrenia 

– these representing a high risk population 

for schizophrenia. This line is conducted in 

close collaboration with the Department of Childhood 

and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Clinic 

Hospital, directed by Dr. Castro, together with 

Drs. Baeza, Lázaro and Sánchez-Gistau (Study 

of high genetic risk for schizophrenia and early 

onset schizophrenia). 

pharmacologists, biologists, nurses, social 

workers and personnel in training. Our group 

has pioneered effort in the characterization of 

associated neurocognitive dysfunction, in the 

development of new drug treatments, and 

in the implementation of psychoeducational 

techniques targeted at both patients and their 

relatives. As a result of such research and innovation, 

the main international diagnostic and 

treatment guides document these contributions 

and recommend their application in clinical 

practice. Our program is carried out in active 

collaboration with other groups of the IDIBAPS, 

with other groups of the CIBERSAM, and with 

European and other international research 

centers, with a view to conducting multicenter 

studies with a special dedication to translational 

and innovative investigation. 

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PUBLICATIONS 


Clinical depression group 

Group Leader: Cristóbal Gasto (Hospital Clínic) 

Our group is specialized in 

the investigation of the neurobiological 

bases and clinical 

indicators of depression 

associated with treatment 

response and the course of this disease. It 

has been estimated that depression affects 

10% of all people at some point in their 

lives. Depression is currently one of the 

most important health problems, particularly 

considering its slow and sometimes incomplete 

resolution. This disorder significantly 

interferes with the normal functions of the 

patients and their relatives, and implies a 

suicide risk in more than 10% of cases. The 

project of the World Health Organization 

(WHO) for the year 2020 considers that 


Research group in pediatric psychiatry and psychology 

Group Leader: Josefina Castro (Hospital Clínic) 

The research group in 

childhood psychology and 

psychiatry of the Clinic 

Hospital forms part of the 

Department of Childhood and Adolescent 

Psychiatry, which has developed three fields: 

healthcare, teaching and research. These 

fields are all clearly interrelated with a view to 

affording better healthcare, with standardized 

protocols and evaluation and teaching at preand 

post-graduate level. Our aim is to facilitate 

both clinical research and collaboration with 

groups specialized in genetics, neuroimaging 

and neurobiology. The group is predominantly 

composed of members of the Department of 

Childhood Psychology and Psychiatry, and is 

integrated within the Biological Bases of Psychiatric 

Disorders group (coordinated by Dr. 

M. Bernardo). It also forms part of the CIBER- 

SAM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en 

Red de Salud Mental) of the Carlos III Healthcare 

Institute. In addition, it has established 

important collaboration agreements with the 

Department of Adult Psychiatry of the Clinic 

Hospital (especially as refers to schizophrenia, 

bipolar disorder and addictive behavior), as 

well as with other centers at international 

depression will be the second cause of disability 

after cardiovascular disease. In Europe 

it has been estimated that about 30 million 

people suffer some form of depression, 

generating an annual cost of approximately 

100 billion euros. Our group is actively involved 

in the early detection and treatment of 

this disease, and its comorbidities (medical 

and psychiatric). The genetic and neuroendocrine 

markers we are investigating have 

contributed better understanding of the physiopathological 

mechanisms of depression. 

Likewise, a number of investigators in our 

group are actively working on the design of 

new individual- and group-based pharmacological 

and psychotherapeutic management 

strategies. 

level, such as the Childhood Psychiatry Group 

of the ECNP (European College of Neuopsychopharmacology), 

with which relevant 

aspects of childhood psychopharmacology 

are investigated in the context of different 

projects, the University of Pittsburgh Medical 

Center, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Western 

Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh 

(United States), with which studies are made 

in relation to bipolar disorder, and the Child 

and Adolescent Psychiatry Yale Child Study 

Center, New Haven (United States), with 

which aspects relating to autoimmunity are 

studied. Our research objectives are the study 

of the manifestations, causes and treatment 

of the most serious and/or prevalent disorders 

found in these age groups: schizophrenia and 

bipolar disorder, anorexia and bulimia nervosa, 

obsessive-compulsive behavior, autistic disorders, 

attention deficit disorders, and addictive 

behaviors. In parallel, other lines have been 

developed related to the efficacy and safety 

of psychoactive drugs in children and adolescents, 

the development and validation of 

assessment scales, and the investigation of 

autoimmunity and psychiatric disease such as 

Tourette syndrome. 

Originals 

I.F.: 271,16 

1 Fernandez-Egea E, Parellada E, 

Lomena F, Falcon C, Pavia J, Mane A, 

Horga G, Bernardo M. (18)FDG PET 

study of amygdalar activity during facial 

emotion recognition in schizophrenia. 

EUR ARCH PSY CLIN N, 2010. 

260:69-76. I.F.:2,75. 


N, Arguis P, Sanchez M, Gimferrer 

JM, Marrades R, Lomena F. Incidence 

of occult mediastinal node involvement 

in cNO non-small-cell lung 

cancer patients after negative uptake 

of positron emission tomography/ 

computer tomography scan. EUR J 

CARDIO-THORAC, 2010. 37:1168- 

1174. I.F.:2,40. 


M, Donaire A, Boget T, Setoain X, 

Rumia J, Bargallo N. Efficiency of Venlafaxine 

in Patients With Psychogenic 

Nonepileptic Seizures and Anxiety 

and/or Depressive Disorders. J NEU- 

ROPSYCH CLIN N, 2010. 22:401-408. 

I.F.:2,34. 

4 Carreno M, Garcia-Alvarez D, 

Maestro I, Fernandez S, Donaire A, 

Boget T, Rumia J, Pintor L, Setoain X. 

Malignant autosomal dominant frontal 

lobe epilepsy with repeated episodes 

of status epilepticus: successful 

treatment with vagal nerve stimulation. 

EPILEPTIC DISORD, 2010. 

12:155-158. I.F.:1,20. 


G, Bailles E, Carreno M, Donaire 

A, Boget T, Setoain X, Bargallo 

N, Rumia J. Prevalence of interictal 

psychiatric disorders in patients with 

refractory temporal and extratemporal 

lobe epilepsy in Spain. A comparative 

study. EPILEPSIA, 2010. 51:1309- 

1313. I.F.:4,05. 

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6 Martin-Santos R, Torrens M, Poudevida 

S, Langohr K, Cuyas E, Pacifici R, 

Farre M, Pichini S, DeLaTorre R. 5-HTTL- 

PR polymorphism, mood disorders and 

MDMA use in a 3-year follow-up study. 

ADDICT BIOL, 2010. 15:15-22. I.F.:4,73. 

7 ElMallakh RS, Vieta E, Rollin L, 

Marcus R, Carson WH, Mcquade R. 

A comparison of two fixed doses of 

aripiprazole with placebo in acutely 

relapsed, hospitalized patients with 

bipolar disorder I (manic or mixed) in 

subpopulations (CN138-007). EUR NEU- 

ROPSYCHOPHARM, 2010. 20:776-783. 

I.F.:3,68. 

8 Castro-Fornieles J, Caldu X, Andres- 

Perpina S, Lazaro L, Bargallo N, Falcon 

C, Plana MT, Junque C. A cross-sectional 

and follow-up functional MRI study 

with a working memory task in adolescent 

anorexia nervosa. NEUROPSYCHO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 48:4111-4116. I.F.:4,35. 

9 Mas S, Bernardo M, Gasso P, Alvarez 

S, Garcia-Rizo C, Bioque M, Kirkpatrick 

B, Lafuente A. A Functional Variant Provided 

Further Evidence for the Association 

of ARVCF With Schizophrenia. AM J 

MED GENET B, 2010. 153B:1052-1059. 

I.F.:3,48. 

10 Vieta E, Nuamah IF, Lim P, Yuen 

EC, Palumbo JM, Hough DW, Berwaerts 

J. A randomized, placebo- and activecontrolled 

study of paliperidone extended 

release for the treatment of acute 

manic and mixed episodes of bipolar 

I disorder. BIPOLAR DISORD, 2010. 

12:230-243. I.F.:5,50. 

11 Rametti G, Junque C, Bartres-Faz 

D, Zubiaurre-Elorza L, Catalan R, Penades 

R, Bargallo N, Bernardo M. Anterior 

cingulate and paracingulate sulci morphology 

in patients with schizophrenia. 

SCHIZOPHR RES, 2010. 121:66-74. 

I.F.:4,46. 

12 Vieta E, Owen R, Baudelet C, 

Mcquade RD, Sanchez R, Marcus RN. 

Assessment of safety, tolerability and 

effectiveness of adjunctive aripiprazole 

to lithium/valproate in bipolar mania: a 

46-week, open-label extension following 

a 6-week double-blind study. CURR 

MED RES OPIN, 2010. 26:1485-1496. 

I.F.:2,50. 

13 Donner J, Haapakoski R, Ezer S, 

Melen E, Pirkola S, Gratacos M, Zucchelli 

M, Anedda F, Johansson LE, Soderhall 

C, Orsmark-Pietras C, Suvisaari J, 

Martin-Santos R, Torrens M, Silander K, 

Terwilliger JD, Wickman M, Pershagen 

G, Lonnqvist J, Peltonen L, Estivill X, 

D’amato M, Kere J, Alenius H, Hovatta 

I. Assessment of the Neuropeptide S 

System in Anxiety Disorders. BIOL PSY- 

CHIAT, 2010. 68:474-483. I.F.:8,93. 

14 Costas J, Gratacos M, Escaramis 

G, Martin-Santos R, DeDiego Y, Baca- 

Garcia E, Canellas F, Estivill X, Guillamat 

R, Guitart M, Gutierrez-Zotes A, Garcia- 

Esteve L, Mayoral F, Molto MD, Phillips 

C, Roca M, Carracedo A, Vilella E, Sanjuan 

J. Association study of 44 candidate 

genes with depressive and anxiety 

symptoms in post-partum women. J 

PSYCHIATR RES, 2010. 44:717-724. 

I.F.:3,72. 

15 Tohen M, Vieta E, Gonzalez-Pinto 

A, Reed C, Lin D. Baseline Characteristics 

and Outcomes in Patients With First 

Episode or Multiple Episodes of Acute 

Mania. J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 71:255- 

261. I.F.:5,22. 

16 Goti J, Diaz R, Serrano L, Gonzalez 

L, Calvo R, Gual A, Castro J. Brief intervention 

in substance-use among adoles- 

cent psychiatric patients: a randomized 

controlled trial. EUR CHILD ADOLES 

PSY, 2010. 19:503-511. I.F.:1,65. 

17 Plaza A, Garcia-Esteve L, Ascaso 

C, Navarro P, Gelabert E, Halperin I, 

Valdes M, Martin-Santos R. Childhood 

sexual abuse and hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid 

axis in postpartum major depression. 

J AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 

122:159-163. I.F.:3,76. 

18 Kirkpatrick B, Garcia-Rizo C, Tang 

K, Fernandez-Egea E, Bernardo M. 

Cholesterol and triglycerides in antipsychotic-naive 

patients with nonaffective 

psychosis. PSYCHIAT RES, 2010. 

178:559-561. I.F.:2,37. 

19 Bonnin CM, Martinez-Aran A, Torrent 

C, Pacchiarotti I, Rosa AR, Franco 

C, Murru A, Sanchez-Moreno J, Vieta E. 

Clinical and neurocognitive predictors of 

functional outcome in bipolar euthymic 

patients: A long-term, follow-up study. 

J AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 121:156- 

160. I.F.:3,76. 

20 Baeza I, Flamarique I, Garrido JM, 

Horga G, Pons A, Bernardo M, Morer A, 

Lazaro ML, Castro-Fornieles J. Clinical 

Experience Using Electroconvulsive 

Therapy in Adolescents with Schizophrenia 

Spectrum Disorders. J CHILD 

ADOL PSYCHOP, 2010. 20:205-209. 

I.F.:2,59. 

21 DeLaSerna E, Mayoral M, Baeza I, 

Arango C, Andres P, Bombin I, Gonzalez 

C, Rapado M, Robles O, Rodriguez- 

Sanchez JM, Zabala A, Castro-Fornieles 

J. Cognitive Functioning in Children and 

Adolescents in Their First Episode of 

Psychosis Differences Between Previous 

Cannabis Users and Nonusers. J 

NERV MENT DIS, 2010. 198:159-162. 

I.F.:1,77. 

225

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Team Members 

22 Sala R, Axelson DA, Castro- 

Fornieles J, Goldstein TR, Ha W, Liao 

FZ, Gill MK, Iyengar S, Strober MA, 

Goldstein BI, Yen S, Hower H, Hunt 

J, Ryan ND, Dickstein D, Keller MB, 

Birmaher B. Comorbid Anxiety in 

Children and Adolescents With Bipolar 

Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence and 

Clinical Correlates. J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 

2010. 71:1344-1350. I.F.:5,22. 

23 Saus E, Brunet A, Armengol 

L, Alonso P, Crespo JM, Fernandez- 

Aranda F, Guitart M, Martin-Santos 

R, Menchon JM, Navines R, Soria V, 

Torrens M, Urretavizcaya M, Valles V, 

Gratacos M, Estivill X. Comprehensive 

copy number variant (CNV) analysis of 

neuronal pathways genes in psychiatric 

disorders identifies rare variants 

within patients. J PSYCHIATR RES, 

2010. 44:971-978. I.F.:3,72. 

24 Torres A, Navarro P, Garcia-Esteve 

L, Tarragona MJ, Ascaso C, Herreras 

Z, Gelabert E, Imaz M, Roca A, 

Subira S, Martin-Santos R. Detecting 

Domestic Violence: Spanish External 

Validation of the Index of Spouse Abuse. 

J FAM VIOLENCE, 2010. 25:275- 

286. I.F.:0,94. 

25 Vieta E, DeArce R, Jimenez- 

Arriero MA, Rodriguez A, Balanza V, 

Cobaleda S. Detection of Subclinical 

Depression in Bipolar Disorder: A 

Cross-Sectional, 4-Month Prospective 

Follow-Up Study at Community Mental 

Health Services (SIN-DEPRES). J 

CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 71:1465-1474. 

I.F.:5,22. 

26 Gonzalez-Pinto A, Alberich 

S, Barbeito S, Alonso M, Vieta E, 

Martinez-Aran A, Saenz M, Lopez P. 

Different profile of substance abuse 

in relation to predominant polarity in 

bipolar disorder The Vitoria long-term 

follow-up study. J AFFECT DISOR- 

DERS, 2010. 124:250-255. I.F.:3,76. 

27 Fusar-Poli P, Bhattacharyya S, 

Allen P, Crippa JA, Borgwardt S, Martin- 

Santos R, Seal M, O’carroll C, Atakan Z, 

Zuardi AW, Mcguire P. Effect of image 

analysis software on neurofunctional activation 

during processing of emotional 

human faces. J CLIN NEUROSCI, 2010. 

17:311-314. I.F.:1,17. 

28 Lopez-Jaramillo C, Lopera-Vasquez 

J, Gallo A, Ospina-Duque J, Bell 

V, Torrent C, Martinez-Aran A, Vieta E. 

Effects of recurrence on the cognitive 

performance of patients with bipolar 

I disorder: implications for relapse 

prevention and treatment adherence. 

BIPOLAR DISORD, 2010. 12:557-567. 

I.F.:5,50. 

29 VanDerLoos MLM, Mulder P, 

Hartong EGTM, Blom MBJ, Vergouwen 

AC, VanNoorden MS, Timmermans MA, 

Vieta E, Nolen WA. Efficacy and safety 

of two treatment algorithms in bipolar 

depression consisting of a combination 

of lithium, lamotrigine or placebo and 

paroxetine. ACTA PSYCHIAT SCAND, 

2010. 122:246-254. I.F.:3,73. 

30 Cruz N, Sanchez-Moreno J, Torres 

F, Goikolea JM, Valenti M, Vieta E. Efficacy 

of modern antipsychotics in placebo-controlled 

trials in bipolar depression: 

a meta-analysis. INT J NEUROPSYCHO- 

PH, 2010. 13:5-14. I.F.:4,87. 

31 Morer A, Chae W, Henegariu O, 

Bothwell ALM, Leckman JF, Kawikova I. 

Elevated expression of MCP-1, IL-2 and 

PTPR-N in basal ganglia of Tourette syndrome 

cases. BRAIN BEHAV IMMUN, 

2010. 24:1069-1073. I.F.:5,06. 

32 Penades R, Catalan R, Puig O, 

Masana G, Pujol N, Navarro V, Guarch J, 

Gasto C. Executive function needs to be 

targeted to improve social functioning 

with Cognitive Remediation Therapy 

(CRT) in schizophrenia. PSYCHIAT RES, 

2010. 177:41-45. I.F.:2,37. 

33 Rosa AR, Reinares M, Michalak 

EE, Bonnin CM, Sole B, Franco C, Comes 

M, Torrent C, Kapczinski F, Vieta 

E. Functional Impairment and Disability 

across Mood States in Bipolar Disorder. 

VALUE HEALTH, 2010. 13:984-988. 

I.F.:3,03. 

34 Rosa AR, Bonnin CM, Vazquez 

GH, Reinares M, Sole B, Tabares- 

Seisdedos R, Balanza-Martinez V, 

Gonzalez-Pinto A, Sanchez-Moreno J, 

Vieta E. Functional impairment in bipolar 

II disorder: Is it as disabling as bipolar I?. 

J AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 127:71- 

76. I.F.:3,76. 

35 Montoya A, Tohen M, Vieta E, Casillas 

M, Chacon F, Polavieja P, Gilaberte I. 

Functioning and symptomatic outcomes 

in patients with bipolar I disorder in syndromal 

remission: A 1-year, prospective, 

observational cohort study. J AFFECT 

DISORDERS, 2010. 127:50-57. I.F.:3,76. 

36 Colom F, Reinares M, Pacchiarotti 

I, Popovic D, Mazzarini L, Martinez-Aran 

A, Torrent C, Rosa A, Palomino-Otiniano 

R, Franco C, Bonnin CM, Vieta E. Has 

number of previous episodes any effect 

on response to group psychoeducation 

in bipolar patients? A 5-year follow-up 

post hoc analysis. ACTA NEUROPSY- 

CHIATR, 2010. 22:50-53. I.F.:0,94. 

37 Gomez-Gil E, Navines R, DeOsaba 

MJM, Diaz-Ricart M, Escolar G, Salamero 

M, Martin-Santos R, Galan A, Gasto 

C. Hormonal responses to the 5-HT1A 

agonist buspirone in remitted endogenous 

depressive patients after long-term 

imipramine treatment. PSYCHONEU- 

ROENDOCRINO, 2010. 35:481-489. 

I.F.:4,19. 

38 Angst J, Meyer TD, Adolfsson R, 

Skeppar P, Carta M, Benazzi F, Lu RB, 

Wu YH, Yang HC, Yuan CM, Morselli P, 

Brieger P, Katzmann J, Leao IAT, DelPorto 

JA, Moreno DH, Moreno RA, Soares 

226

AREA 4 



OT, Vieta E, Gamma A. Hypomania: a 

transcultural perspective. WORLD PSY- 

CHIATRY, 2010. 9:41-49. I.F.:4,38. 

39 Garcia-Portilla MP, Saiz PA, Benabarre 

A, Florez G, Bascaran MT, Diaz 

EM, Bousono M, Bobes J. Impact of 

substance use on the physical health 

of patients with bipolar disorder. ACTA 

PSYCHIAT SCAND, 2010. 121:437-445. 

I.F.:3,73. 

40 Valdes M, Collado A, Bargallo N, 

Vazquez M, Rami L, Gomez E, Salamero 

M. Increased Glutamate/Glutamine 

Compounds in the Brains of Patients 

With Fibromyalgia A Magnetic Resonance 

Spectroscopy Study. ARTHRITIS 

RHEUM-US, 2010. 62:1829-1836. 

I.F.:7,33. 

41 Gonzalez-Pinto AM, Dardennes R, 

DeZelicourt M, Lopez P, Oliveros RG, 

Vieta E, Barbeito S, Echevarria E, Fagnani 

F. In-patient care costs of patients 

with bipolar I disorder: A comparison 

between two European centers. J 

AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 121:152- 

155. I.F.:3,76. 

42 Gasso P, Mas S, Crescenti A, Alvarez 

S, Parramon G, Garcia-Rizo C, Parellada 

E, Bernardo M, Lafuente A. Lack 

of association between antipsychoticinduced 

extrapyramidal symptoms and 

polymorphisms in dopamine metabolism 

and transport genes. PSYCHIAT RES, 

2010. 175:173-175. I.F.:2,37. 

43 Alvarez S, Mas S, Gasso P, Bernardo 

M, Parellada E, Lafuente A. Lack 

of association between schizophrenia 

and polymorphisms in dopamine metabolism 

and transport genes. FUND 

CLIN PHARMACOL, 2010. 24:741-747. 

I.F.:2,37. 

44 Lopez-Jaramillo C, Lopera-Vasquez 

J, Ospina-Duque J, Garcia J, Gallo A, 

Cortez V, Palacio C, Torrent C, Martinez- 

Aran A, Vieta E. Lithium Treatment 

Effects on the Neuropsychological 

Functioning of Patients With Bipolar 

I Disorder. J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 

71:1055-1060. I.F.:5,22. 

45 Nivoli AMA, Murru A, Vieta E. 

Lithium: Still a Cornerstone in the Long- 

Term Treatment in Bipolar Disorder?. 

NEUROPSYCHOBIOLOGY, 2010. 62:27- 

35. I.F.:2,15. 

46 Aspiazu S, Mosquera F, Ibanez 

B, Vega P, Barbeito S, Lopez P, DeAzua 

SR, Ugarte A, Vieta E, Gonzalez-Pinto 

A. Manic and depressive symptoms 

and insight in first episode psychosis. 

PSYCHIAT RES, 2010. 178:480-486. 

I.F.:2,37. 

47 Moreno C, Merchan-Naranjo J, 

Alvarez M, Baeza I, Alda JA, Martinez- 

Cantarero C, Parellada M, Sanchez B, 

DeLaSerna E, Giraldez M, Arango C. 

Metabolic effects of second-generation 

antipsychotics in bipolar youth: comparison 

with other psychotic and nonpsychotic 

diagnoses. BIPOLAR DISORD, 

2010. 12:172-184. I.F.:5,50. 

48 Rojo E, Pino O, Guilera G, Gomez- 

Benito J, Purdon SE, Crespo-Facorro B, 

Cuesta MJ, Franco M, Martinez-Aran A, 

Segarra N, Tabares-Seisdedos R, Vieta 

E, Bernardo M, Mesa F, Rejas J. Neurocognitive 

diagnosis and cut-off scores of 

the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in 

Psychiatry (SCIP-S). SCHIZOPHR RES, 

2010. 116:243-251. I.F.:4,46. 

49 Baldessarini RJ, Bolzani L, Cruz 

N, Jones PB, Lai M, Lepri B, Perez J, 

Salvatore P, Tohen M, Tondo L, Vieta 

E. Onset-age of bipolar disorders at six 

international sites. J AFFECT DISOR- 

DERS, 2010. 121:143-146. I.F.:3,76. 

50 Bhattacharyya S, Morrison PD, 

Fusar-Poli P, Martin-Santos R, Borgwardt 

S, Winton-Brown T, Nosarti C, O’carroll 

CM, Seal M, Allen P, Mehta MA, Stone 

JM, Tunstall N, Giampietro V, Kapur 

S, Murray RM, Zuardi AW, Crippa 

JA, Atakan Z, Mcguire PK. Opposite 

Effects of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol 

and Cannabidiol on Human 

Brain Function and Psychopathology. 

NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOL, 2010. 

35:764-774. I.F.:6,99. 

51 Colom F, Cruz N, Pacchiarotti 

I, Mazzarini L, Goikolea JM, Popova 

E, Torrent C, Vietac E. Postpartum 

bipolar episodes are not distinct from 

spontaneous episodes: Implications 

for DSM-V. J AFFECT DISORDERS, 

2010. 126:61-64. I.F.:3,76. 

52 Rapado-Castro M, Soutullo C, 

Fraguas D, Arango C, Paya B, Castro- 

Fornieles J, Gonzalez-Pinto A, Parellada 

M, Graell M, Baeza I, Bombin 

I. Predominance of Symptoms Over 

Time in Early-Onset Psychosis: A 

Principal Component Factor Analysis 

of the Positive and Negative Syndrome 

Scale. J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 

71:327-337. I.F.:5,22. 

53 Castro-Fornieles J, Diaz R, 

Goti J, Calvo R, Gonzalez L, Serrano 

L, Gual A. Prevalence and Factors 

Related to Substance Use among 

Adolescents with Eating Disorders. 

EUR ADDICT RES, 2010. 16:61-68. 

I.F.:1,23. 

54 Vieta E, Morralla C. Prevalence 

of mixed mania using 3 definitions. J 

AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 125:61- 

73. I.F.:3,76. 

55 Mazzarini L, Colom F, Pacchiarotti 

I, Nivoli AMA, Murru A, Bonnin 

CM, Cruz N, Sanchez-Moreno J, 

Kotzalidis GD, Girardi P, Tatarelli R, 

Vieta E. Psychotic versus non-psychotic 

bipolar II disorder. J AFFECT 

DISORDERS, 2010. 126:55-60. 

I.F.:3,76. 

227

AREA 4 




Team Members 

56 De La Serna E, Baeza I, Toro J, 

Andres S, Puig O, Sanchez-Guistau V, 

Romero S, Bernardo M, Castro-Fornieles 

J. Relationship between clinical 

and neuropsychological characteristics 

in child and adolescent first degree 

relatives of subjects with schizophrenia. 

SCHIZOPHR RES, 2010. 116:159-167. 

I.F.:4,46. 

57 Garin O, Ayuso-Mateos JL, Almansa 

J, Nieto M, Chatterji S, Vilagut 

G, Alonso J, Cieza A, Svetskova O, 

Burger H, Racca V, Francescutti C, 

Vieta E, Kostanjsek N, Raggi A, Leonardi 

M, Ferrer M. Research Validation 

of the “World Health Organization 

Disability Assessment Schedule, 

WHODAS-2” in patients with chronic 

diseases. HEALTH QUAL LIFE OUT, 

2010. 8:-. I.F.:2,46. 

Trzesniak C, DeSousa JPM, Chagas 

MHN, Souza RM, Martin-Santos R. The 

Fast Alcohol Screening Test (FAST) is as 

Good as the AUDIT to Screen Alcohol 

Use Disorders. SUBST USE MISUSE, 

2010. 45:1542-1557. I.F.:0,73. 

62 Reinares M, Colom F, Rosa AR, 

Bonnin CM, Franco C, Sole B, Kapczinski 

F, Vieta E. The impact of staging 

bipolar disorder on treatment outcome 

of family psychoeducation. J AFFECT 

DISORDERS, 2010. 123:81-86. I.F.:3,76. 

63 Fagundo AB, Cuyas E, Verdejo- 

Garcia A, Khymenets O, Langohr K, 

Martin-Santos R, Farre M, DeLaTorre 

R. The influence of 5-HTT and COMT 

genotypes on verbal fluency in ecstasy 

users. J PSYCHOPHARMACOL, 2010. 

24:1381-1393. I.F.:3,65. 

67 DeDios C, Ezquiaga E, Garcia 

A, Soler B, Vieta E. Time spent with 

symptoms in a cohort of bipolar disorder 

outpatients in Spain: A prospective, 

18-month follow-up study. J AFFECT DI- 

SORDERS, 2010. 125:74-81. I.F.:3,76. 

68 Plana T, Gracia R, Mendez I, Pintor 

L, Lazaro L, Castro-Fornieles J. Total 

serum cholesterol levels and suicide 

attempts in child and adolescent psychiatric 

inpatients. EUR CHILD ADOLES 

PSY, 2010. 19:615-619. I.F.:1,65. 

69 Vieta E, Locklear J, Gunther O, Ekman 

M, Miltenburger C, Chatterton ML, 

Astrom M, Paulsson B. Treatment Options 

for Bipolar Depression A Systematic 

Review of Randomized, Controlled 

Trials. J CLIN PSYCHOPHARM, 2010. 

30:579-590. I.F.:5,09. 

58 Fonseca F, Gratacos M, Escaramis 

G, DeCid R, Martin-Santos R, Fernandez- 

Espejo E, Estivill X, Torrens M. Response 

to Methadone Maintenance Treatment is 

Associated with the MYOCD and GRM6 

Genes. MOL DIAGN THER, 2010. 

14:171-178. I.F.:2,17. 

59 Parellada E, Kouniakis F, Siurkute 

A, Schreiner A, Don L. Safety and 

efficacy of long-acting injectable risperidone 

in daily practice: an open-label, 

noninterventional, prospective study 

in schizophrenia and related disorders. 

INT CLIN PSYCHOPHARM, 2010. 

25:149-154. I.F.:3,35. 

60 Filho AS, Hetem LAB, Ferrari 

MCF, Trzesniak C, Martin-Santos R, 

Borduqui T, Osorio FD, Loureiro SR, 

Busatto G, Zuardi AW, Crippa JAS. 

Social anxiety disorder: what are we 

losing with the current diagnostic 

criteria?. ACTA PSYCHIAT SCAND, 

2010. 121:216-226. I.F.:3,73. 

61 Meneses-Gaya C, Crippa JAS, 

Zuardi AW, Loureiro SR, Hallak JEC, 

64 Selva-Vera G, Balanza-Martinez 

V, Salazar-Fraile J, Sanchez-Moreno 

J, Martinez-Aran A, Correa P, Vieta E, 

Tabares-Seisdedos R. The switch from 

conventional to atypical antipsychotic 

treatment should not be based exclusively 

on the presence of cognitive 

deficits. A pilot study in individuals with 

schizophrenia. BMC PSYCHIATRY, 2010. 

10:-. I.F.:1,83. 

65 Torres X, Bailles E, Collado A, 

Taberner J, Gutierrez F, Peri JM, Arias 

A, Fullana MA, Valdes M. The Symptom 

Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) is Able to 

Discriminate Between Simulation and 

Fibromyalgia. J CLIN PSYCHOL, 2010. 

66:774-790. I.F.:1,53. 

66 Grunze H, Vieta E, Goodwin GM, 

Bowden C, Licht RW, Moller HJ, Kasper 

S. The World Federation of Societies 

of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines 

for the Biological Treatment of 

Bipolar Disorders: Update 2010 on the 

treatment of acute bipolar depression. 

WORLD J BIOL PSYCHIA, 2010. 11:81- 

109. I.F.:5,56. 

70 Gonzalez-Ortega I, Rosa A, Alberich 

S, Barbeito S, Vega P, Echeburua 

E, Vieta E, Gonzalez-Pinto A. Validation 

and Use of the Functioning Assessment 

Short Test in First Psychotic Episodes. 

J NERV MENT DIS, 2010. 198:836-840. 

I.F.:1,77. 

71 Rosa AR, Cruz N, Franco C, Haro 

JM, Bertsch J, Reed C, Aarre TF, Sanchez-Moreno 

J, Vieta E. Why Do Clinicians 

Maintain Antidepressants in Some 

Patients With Acute Mania? Hints From 

the European Mania in Bipolar Longitudinal 

Evaluation of Medication (EMBLEM), 

a Large Naturalistic Study. J CLIN PSY- 

CHIAT, 2010. 71:1000-1006. I.F.:5,22. 

72 Reed C, Goetz I, Vieta E, Bassi M, 

Haro JM. Work impairment in bipolar disorder 

patients - results from a two-year 

observational study (EMBLEM). EUR 

PSYCHIAT, 2010. 25:338-344. I.F.:3,08. 

73 Gasso P, Mas S, Alvarez S, Trias 

G, Bioque M, Oliveira C, Bernardo M, 

Lafuente A. Xenobiotic metabolizing 

and transporter genes: gene-gene inte- 

228

AREA 4 



ractions in schizophrenia and related 

disorders. PHARMACOGENOMICS, 

2010. 11:1725-1731. I.F.:3,89. 

74 Vieta E, Ramey T, Keller D, 

English PA, Loebel AD, Miceli J. Ziprasidone 

in the treatment of acute 

mania: a 12-week, placebo-controlled, 

haloperidol-referenced study. J PSY- 

CHOPHARMACOL, 2010. 24:547-558. 

I.F.:3,65. 

75 Bowden CL, Vieta E, Ice KS, 

Schwartz JH, Wang PP, Versavel M. 

Ziprasidone Plus a Mood Stabilizer in 

Subjects With Bipolar I Disorder: A 

6-Month, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 

Double-Blind Trial. J CLIN PSY- 

CHIAT, 2010. 71:130-137. I.F.:5,22. 

reviews 

I.F.: 35,65 

5 Tamayo JM, Zarate CA, Vieta E, Vazquez 

G, Tohen M. Level of response and 

safety of pharmacological monotherapy 

in the treatment of acute bipolar I disorder 

phases: a systematic review and 

meta-analysis. INT J NEUROPSYCHO- 

PH, 2010. 13:813-832. I.F.:4,87. 

6 Balanza-Martinez V, Selva G, 

Martinez-Aran A, Prickaerts J, Salazar 

J, Gonzalez-Pinto A, Vieta E, Tabares- 

Seisdedos R. Neurocognition in bipolar 

disorders-A closer look at comorbidities 

and medications. EUR J PHARMACOL, 

2010. 626:87-96. I.F.:2,59. 

7 Martin-Santos R, Fagundo AB, 

Crippa JA, Atakan Z, Bhattacharyya S, 

Allen P, Fusar-Poli P, Borgwardt S, Seal 

M, Busatto GF, Mcguire P. Neuroimaging 

in cannabis use: a systematic review of 

the literature. PSYCHOL MED, 2010. 

40:383-398. I.F.:5,01. 

11 Smith LA, Cornelius VR, Azorin 

JM, Perugi G, Vieta E, Young AH, Bowden 

CL. Valproate for the treatment 

of acute bipolar depression: Systematic 

review and meta-analysis. J 

AFFECT DISORDERS, 2010. 122:1-9. 

I.F.:3,76. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 27,03 

1 Gual A. A case of double exclusion. 

EUR J PUBLIC HEALTH, 2010. 

20:618-618. I.F.:2,31. 

2 Colom F. Achieving remission 

and recovery in bipolar disorder. J 

CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 71:e32-e32. 

I.F.:5,22. 

3 Gual A. Conflicts of interest. A golden 

standard to generalize in addiction 

research. ADDICTION, 2010. 105:199- 

200. I.F.:3,84. 

1 Baldessarini RJ, Vieta E, Calabrese 

JR, Tohen M, Bowden CL. Bipolar 

Depression: Overview and Commentary. 

HARVARD REV PSYCHIAT, 2010. 

18:143-157. I.F.:1,34. 

2 Bonnin CM, Martinez-Aran A, Sanchez-Moreno 

J, Torrent C, Franco C, 

Pacchiarotti I, Vieta E. Bipolar disorder, 

cognitive functioning and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid 

axis. ACTAS 

ESP PSIQUIATRI, 2010. 38:223-228. 

I.F.:0,52. 

8 Castro-Fornieles J, Garcia AI, Lazaro 

L, Andres-Perpina S, Falcon C, Plana MT, 

Bargallo N. Prefrontal brain metabolites 

in short-term weight-recovered adolescent 

anorexia nervosa patients. PROG 

NEURO-PSYCHOPH, 2010. 34:1049- 

1053. I.F.:2,82. 

9 Valenti M, Morer A, Lazaro ML, Bernardo 

M, Castro-Fornieles J. Repeated 

transcranial magnetic stimulation in children 

and adolescents. REV NEUROLO- 

GIA, 2010. 50:230-234. I.F.:1,23. 

4 Vieta E. Individualizing treatment 

for patients with schizoaffective disorder. 

J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 71:e26- 

e26. I.F.:5,22. 

5 Vieta E. Long-term treatment of 

bipolar depression and other issues. 

J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 2010. 71:e07-e07. 

I.F.:5,22. 

6 Vieta E. Role of antidepressants in 

bipolar depression. J CLIN PSYCHIAT, 

2010. 71:e21-e21. I.F.:5,22. 

3 Berk L, Hallam KT, Colom F, Vieta E, 

Hasty M, Macneil C, Berk M. Enhancing 

medication adherence in patients with 

bipolar disorder. HUM PSYCHOPHARM 

CLIN, 2010. 25:1-16. I.F.:2,50. 

4 Avila CC, Cabello M, Cieza A, Vieta 

E, Ayuso-Mateos JL. Functioning 

and disability in bipolar disorders: a 

systematic review of literature using 

the ICF as a reference. BIPOLAR DI- 

SORD, 2010. 12:473-482. I.F.:5,50. 

10 Yatham LN, Torres IJ, Malhi GS, 

Frangou S, Glahn DC, Bearden CE, 

Burdick KE, Martinez-Aran A, Dittmann 

S, Goldberg JF, Ozerdem A, Aydemir 

O, Chengappa KNR. The International 

Society for Bipolar Disorders-Battery 

for Assessment of Neurocognition 

(ISBD-BANC). BIPOLAR DISORD, 2010. 

12:351-363. I.F.:5,50. 


in progress 

Bernardo M. Diabetes in Neuropsychiatric 

Disorders. (subaward 

nº 07-20846A1. Sponsored by: 

National Institutes of Health - EU, 

1R01DK069265-01A1 S02078- . 


01/04/2005-31/03/2010. 

229

AREA 4 




Team Members 

Masana G. Ensayo doble ciego controlado 

con placebo de la eficacia 

de reboxetina y citalopram como 

tratamiento coadyuvante de los antipsicóticos 

de segunda generación en 

el tratamiento de los símtomas negativos 

de la esquizofrenia. Sponsored 



Duration: 29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Gasto C. Estrategias terapeuticas en 

trastorno depresivo mayor resistente 

a tratamiento con inhibidores selectivos 

de la recaptación de serotonina. 

Ensayo clínico pragmático, paralelo. 

Aleatorizado con evaluación enmascarada. 




29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Gutierrez F. Una taxonimía con base 

empírica para los transtornos de la 

personalidad: reorganización factorial 

del Eje II (DSM-IV). Sponsored by: 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Castro J. Características psicopatológicas, 

neuropsicológicas y de 

neuroimagen comunes y diferenciales 

en niños y adolescentes hijos 

de pacientes con esquizofrenia o 

con transtorno bipolar. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Penades R. Análisis de los efectos del 

tratamiento de rehabilitación cognitiva 

en la esquizofrenia mediante técnicas 

de neuroimagen funcional. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Lazaro L. Estudio de la relación clínica 

y genética entre un subgrupo de pacientes 

con anorexia nerviosa y pacientes 

con trastorno obsesivo compulsivo 

en niños y adolescentes. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Gual T. Standardizing Measurement of 

Alcohol Related Troubles. Sponsored by: 

INSTYTUT PSYCHIATRII I NEUROLOGII 

(IPIN), 2007308. Amount: 27.275,37 euros. 

Duration: 01/09/2008-31/08/2010. 

Martinez A. Eficacia de la rehabilitación 

cognitiva en pacientes con trastorno 

bipolar: estudio aleatorizado controlado 

para evaluar la mejoría de las disfunciones 

cognitivas y el impacto sobre 

el funcionamiento psicosocial. Sponsored 


CP07/00144. Amount: 92.591,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/02/2008-31/01/2011. 

Lazaro L. Anàlisi dels polimorfismes en 

gens candidats en el trastorn obsessiucompulsiu 

d’inici primerenc. Relació 

amb alteracions cerebrals i dimensions 

simptomàtiques. Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, PI040588. Amount: 


31/12/2012. 

Castro J. Marcadores de pronóstico y 

neurodegeneración en primeros episodios 

psicóticos en niños y adolescentes: 

seguimiento longitudinal a 5 años. Sponsored 

by: Fundación Alicia Koplowitz, 

CP040501. Amount: 11.805,00 euros. 

Duration: 17/07/2009-17/07/2011. 

Castro J. Seguiment a dos anys de nens 

i adolescents fills de pacients amb esquizofrènia 

o trastorn bipolar. Sponsored 

by: Fundació Marató TV3, PI040582. 


01/01/2010-30/12/2012. 

Gutierrez F. Eficacia comparada de 

cuatro modelos diagnósticos de Trastorno 

de la Personalidad. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2009-31/01/2011. 

Bernardo M. Interacción genotipofenotipo 

y ambiente. Aplicación a un 

modelo predictivo en primeros episodios 

psicóticos. Sponsored by: FIS (ISCIII). , 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Parellada E. Apoptosis y cambios estructurales 

progresivos en pacientes 

con un primer episodio de esquizofrenia: 

estudio longitudinal y multimodal 

de neuroimagen y biología molecular. 

Sponsored by: FIS (ISCIII) , PI080055. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Catalan R. Identificación de predictores 

clínicos, neurohormonales, farmacogenéticos 

en la respuesta terapéutica a 

clozapina en pacientes diagnosticados 

de Esquizofrenia Refractaria . Sponsored 

by: FIS (ISCIII) , EC81/00331 . Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Bernardo M. Reconocimiento como Grupo 

Consolidado de Investigación. Sponsored 

by: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts 

Universitaris i de Recerca, Generalitat 

de Catalunya , 2009SGR1295 . Amount: 


31/12/2014. 

Vieta E. Grup de Recerca Consolidat de 

la Generalitat de Catalunya . Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya , 2009_ 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Vieta E. Eficacia comparativa de dos 

estrategias de intervención psicosocial 

(neurocognitiva versus psicoeducativa) 

como tratamiento coadyuvante al farmacológico 

versus tratamiento habitual 

en el trastorno bipolar . Sponsored by: 

Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PI08/90094. 

230

AREA 4 




01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Vieta E. European Network of Bipolar 

Research Expert Centres (ENBREC) . 

Sponsored by: European Union, 223102. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Martinez A. Discapacidad en el trastorno 

bipolar e impacto funcional de una estrategia 

de intervención neurocognitiva. 

Sponsored by: FIS, PI080180. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Martin Santos R, Navines R, Valdes 

M. Estudio farmacogenético y de predicción 

de la depresión inducida por el 

tratamiento con interferón alfa pegilado 

y ribavirina en pacientes con hepatitis C 

crónica (ESTUDIO PSIGEN-VHC). Sponsored 

by: Fondo Investigación Sanitaria, 

EC08/00201. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Martin Santos R, Garcia L, Gutierrez F, 

Navines R, Imaz ML. Grup de Recerca 

en “Vulnerabilitat, psicopatologia 

i gènere” Modalitat Grup de recerca 

emergent. Sponsored by: Generalitat 

de Catalunya, SGR 2009/1435. Amount: 

0,00 euros. Duration: 01/01/2009- 

31/12/2013. 

Garcia L, Imaz ML, Botet F, Ascaso C, 

Salamero M. Estudio farmacogenético y 

de seguridad clínica en niños de madres 

tratadas con inhibidores selectivos de 

la recaptación de serotonina durante el 

embarazo: evaluación del funcionamiento 

cognitivo conductual a los 5 años de 

edad. Sponsored by: European Comission, 

EC08/00170. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Pintor L. Análisis de los indicadores clínicos 

que diferencian entre crisis epilépticas 

y crisis no epilépticas psicógenas 

(CNEP): Hacia un mejor diagnóstico diferencial 

a través de un cuestionario de 

sospecha diagnóstica. Sponsored by: 

Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias 

(FIS), PI080111. Amount: 17.908,00 


31/12/2011. 

Gual A. Alcohol Public Health Research 

Alliance (AMPHORA). Sponsored 

by: Comissió Europea, 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Vieta E. Discapacidad y funcionamiento 

en el trastorno bipolar: seguimiento 

a los 3 años. (FPU). Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, 

AP2008-01923. Amount: 40.060,84 


19/12/2011. 

Colom F. A study of response predictors 

to psychoeducation in bipolar 

disorder. Sponsored by: Instituto 

de Salud Carlos III, CP08/00140. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Benabarre A. Identificación de variables 

clínicas, sociológicas y genéticas 

predictoras de la respuesta 

al tratamiento eutimizante en el 

Trastorno Bipolar. Sponsored by: Instituto 

de Salud Carlos III, PI080247. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Colom F. Factores neurobiológicos, 

cognitivos y clínicos asociados al 

pronóstico clínico y funcional a un año 

de seguimiento de la psicoeducación 

en el trastorno bipolar. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Morer A. Inflamación, autoinmunidad 

y psicopatología: estudio en 

niños y adolescentes con patología 

psiquiátrica aguda y en hijos de madres 

afectadas de lupus eritematoso 

sistémico. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Vieta E. The neural correlates of 

euthymic cognitive impairment 

in bipolar disorder. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Castro J. Paediatric European Risperidone 

Studies. Sponsored by: RAD- 

BOUD UNIVERSITEIT NIJMEGEN, 

241959. Amount: 181.500,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/05/2010-30/04/2015. 

Castro J. Two year follow-up study of 

children and adolescent offspring of 

subjects with schizophrenia or bipolar 

disorders. Sponsored by: FUNDA- 



29/01/2010-28/01/2013. 

Lazaro L. Analysis of polimorphisms in 

candidate genes in early onset obsessive-compulsive 

disorder. Relationship 

with cerebral abnormalit and symptom 

dimensions. Sponsored by: FUNDA- 



29/01/2010-28/01/2013. 

Andres S. Trastornos de la Conducta 

Alimentaria, veinte años después. 

Estudio de estado psicopatológico 

y físico y su relación con el funcionamiento 

general. Sponsored by: 

INSTITUTO DE LA MUJER, 234/09. 


03/02/2010-02/02/2012. 

Gomez E. Adaptación psicosocial, calidad 

de vida, y demanda de asistencia 

sanitaria durante 10 años en personas 

diagnosticadas de trastorno de la 

identidad de género. Sponsored by: 

231

AREA 4 




Team Members 



03/02/2010-02/02/2012. 

Castro J. Suicidality: Treatment 

Occurring in Paediatrics. Sponsored 

by: University College London UCL, 

261411. Amount: 157.500,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/11/2010-30/04/2014. 

Garcia L. Violencia sexual, estrés 

agudo y calidad de vida: estudio de 

los factores de riesgo en las mujeres 

atendidas en urgencias tras 

una agresión sexual. Sponsored by: 



03/02/2010-02/02/2013. 

Catalan R. Identificación de predictores 

clínicos, neurohormonales, farmacogenéticos 

en la respuesta terapéutica a 

clozapina en pacientes diagnosticados 

de esquizofrenia refractaria.. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

Lazaro L. Identificación de predictores 

farmacogenéticos en la respuesta 

terapéutica a fluoxetina en pacientes 

diagnosticados de trastorno obsesivocompulsivo 

en la infancia y la adolescencia. 

Sponsored by: Fundación 

Alicia Koplowitz, PS09/00468. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Bernardo M. Antipsicóticos típicos 

vs. atípicos; impacto de la farmacogenética 

en la farmacocinética, la 

ocupación de receptores estriatales 

y la aparición se sintomatología 

extrapiramidal.. Sponsored by: MI- 

NISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLITICA 



01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Martin Santos R. Estudio farmacogenético 

y de predicción de la depresión 

inducida por el tratamiento de 

la hepatitis C crónica con interferón 

alfa pegilado y rivabirina. Estudio 

psigen-vhc. subproyecto coordinado 

I. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO DE 

SALUD CARLOS III, EC08/00201. 


01/01/2009-31/05/2011. 

Thesis 

Colom F, Vieta E. Diagnostic specifiers 

of the onset, course and outcome of 

bipolar disorder. PhD student: Nuria Cruz 

Culebra. 

Parellada E, Bernardo M. Diferencias en 

la respuesta a pruebas de reconocimiento 

facial de las emociones entre pacientes 

esquizofrénicos deficitarios versus 

esquizofrénicos no deficitarios. PhD 

student: Emilio Fernandez Egea. 

Martin-Santos R. Depresión posparto y 

rasgos de la personalidad. PhD student: 

Gelabert Arbiol E. 

Garcia L. Estudio farmacogenético 

y de seguridad clínica en hijos de 

madres tratadas con antidepresivos 

ISRS durante el embarazo: Evaluación 

del funcionamiento cognitivoconductual 

a los 5 años. Sponsored 


III, EC08/00170. Amount: 177.870,00 


30/12/2011. 

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AREA 4 


Neuropsychology 

Group Members 


Núria Bargalló (Hospital Clínic) 

David Bartrés-Faz (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Teresa Boget (Hospital Clínic) 

Teodor Marcos (Hospital Clínic) 

José M. Mercader (Hospital Clínic) 

Manuel Salamero (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep M. Serra (Universitat de Barcelona) 

Pere Vendrell (Facultat de Medicina UB) 


Naroa Ibarretxe (MEC) 

Bárbara Segura (UB) 


Davinia Fernández (MEC) 

Joana B. Pereira (MICINN) 

Leire Zubiaurre (MICINN) 

Eider Martinez de Arenaza (DGR) 

Eva Palacios (IDIBAPS) 

Roser Sala (Becari projecte) 

Didac Vidal (DGR) 

Nuria Pujol (Rio Hortega) 

Technicians: 

Silvia Juanes (UB) 

TEAM LEADER 

Carme Junqué 


Tel.: 93 403 44 46 

Fax: 93 403 92 98 

E-mail: 

cjunque@ub.edu 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Study of the consequences of cerebral 

lesions and dysfunctions in relation to 

behavior and cognition. The technique 

preferentially used in our studies is magnetic 

resonance imaging in its structural 

and functional applications. We are equipped 

with a neuroimaging laboratory with 

different high-performance workstations. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Neuropsychology and neuroimaging 

in normal aging and in degenerative 

diseases. 

Neuroanatomical and neurofunctional 

bases of cognitive impairment 

in normal aging, Pakinson’s disease 

and Alzheimer’s disease. This line 

makes use of combined structural 

and functional magnetic resonance 

imaging to detect early alterations in 

brain connectivity prior to clear cerebral 

atrophy caused by neuron death. 

Identification of the symptoms prior 

to actual clinical manifestations in 

degenerative diseases is a challenge 

for treatment intervention aiming to 

slow the neurodegenerative processes. 

As a subline, mention should be 

made of the study of the contribution 

of the cognitive reserve variables in 

the degree of cognitive deterioration 

associated with age and dementia, as 

well as of the neuroanatomical and 

neurophysiological bases of this phenomenon. 

2. Cerebral plasticity. 

Long-term consequences of brain damage. 

In the field of cerebral plasticity 

we investigate the changes in brain 

structure and function detectable by 

magnetic resonance imaging that 

are induced by transcranial electric 

stimulation. This technique can be 

used to simulate reversible lesions 

or to investigate the changes in brain 

connectivity in normal subjects 

and also in degenerative processes. 

Another line of interest in which work 

is being done is the study of cerebral 

language response in patients who 

as a result of head injuries are in a 

chronic vegetative state or minimally 

responsive state. Brain response in 

the absence of motor response can 

have clear consequences in the differential 

diagnosis of these two conditions. 

Likewise in head injury patients, 

we study the relationship between 

the long-term cognitive sequelae and 

the white matter alterations identified 

by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and 

also analyze the changes in the cortical 

layer related to alterations attributable 

to diffuse axonal damage. 3. Development 

of imaging techniques to study 

the areas of the brain implicated in the 

higher function alterations in epileptic 

patients, based on functional magnetic 

resonance imaging. The aim of this 

line of research is to develop cognitive 

paradigms such as those relating to 

speech, perception or memory, based 

on functional magnetic resonance 

imaging techniques - validating and 

applying them to clinical practice with a 

view to predicting neuropsychological 

sequelae and investigating cerebral 

plasticity mechanisms. 

Regional reductions in thalamus 

morphology in trauma patients in the 

vegetative state (VS) and minimum 

consciousness state (MCS).The color 

bar indicates the value of F. The 

dorsomedial nucleusis correlated to 

the degree of patient disability. 

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PUBLICATIONS 

originals 

I.F.: 100,84 

1 Serra-Grabulosa JM, Adan A, Falcon C, 

Bargallo N. Glucose and caffeine effects on 

sustained attention: an exploratory fMRI 

study. HUM PSYCHOPHARM CLIN, 2010. 

25:543-552. I.F.:2,50. 

2 Iranzo A, Lomena F, Stockner H, Valldeoriola 

F, Vilaseca I, Salamero M, Molinuevo 

JL, Serradell M, Duch J, Pavia J, Gallego 

J, Seppi K, Hogl B, Tolosa E, Poewe W, 

Santamaria J. Decreased striatal dopamine 

transporter uptake and substantia nigra 

hyperechogenicity as risk markers of synucleinopathy 

in patients with idiopathic rapideye-movement 

sleep behaviour disorder: 

a prospective study. LANCET NEUROL, 

2010. 9:1070-1077. I.F.:18,13. 

3 Sanz-Cortes M, Figueras F, Bargallo 

N, Padilla N, Amat-Roldan I, Gratacos E. 

Abnormal brain microstructure and metabolism 

in small-for-gestational-age term fetuses 

with normal umbilical artery Doppler. 

ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 2010. 36:159- 

165. I.F.:3,15. 

4 Esteban FJ, Padilla N, Sanz-Cortes M, 

DeMiras JR, Bargallo N, Villoslada P, Gratacos 

E. Fractal-dimension analysis detects 

cerebral changes in preterm infants with 

and without intrauterine growth restriction. 

NEUROIMAGE, 2010. 53:1225-1232. 

I.F.:5,74. 

5 Bosch B, Batres-Faz D, Rami L, Arenaza- 

Urquijo EM, Fernandez-Espejo D, Junque 

C, Sole-Padulles C, Sanchez-Valle R, Bargallo 

N, Falcon C, Molinuevo JL. Cognitive 

reserve modulates task-induced activations 

and deactivations in healthy elders, 

amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 

mild Alzheimer’s disease. CORTEX, 2010. 

46:451-461. I.F.:4,06. 

6 Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Ramirez-Ruiz B, Junque 

C, Marti MJ, Valldeoriola F, Bargallo N, 

Juanes S, Tolosa E. Differential progression 

of brain atrophy in Parkinson’s disease with 

and without visual hallucinations. J NEUROL 

NEUROSUR PS, 2010. 81:650-657. I.F.:4,87. 

7 Sala-Llonch R, Bosch B, Arenaza-Urquijo 

EM, Rami L, Bargallo N, Junque C, Molinuevo 

JL, Bartres-Faz D. Greater Default-Mode Network 

Abnormalities Compared to High Order 

Visual Processing Systems in Amnestic Mild 

Cognitive Impairment: An Integrated Multi- 

Modal MRI Study. J ALZHEIMERS DIS, 2010. 

22:523-539. I.F.:3,83. 

8 Fortea J, Sala-Llonch R, Bartres-Faz D, 

Bosch B, Llado A, Bargallo N, Molinuevo JL, 

Sanchez-Valle R. Increased Cortical Thickness 

and Caudate Volume Precede Atrophy in 

PSEN1 Mutation Carriers. J ALZHEIMERS 

DIS, 2010. 22:909-922. I.F.:3,83. 

9 Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Junque C, Marti MJ, 

Valldeoriola F, Vendrell P, Bargallo N, Zarei M, 

Tolosa E. Olfactory Impairment in Parkinson’s 

Disease and White Matter Abnormalities 

in Central Olfactory Areas: A Voxel-Based 

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. MOVEMENT 

DISORD, 2010. 25:1888-1894. I.F.:4,01. 

10 Pintor L, Bailles E, Matrai S, Carreno M, 

Donaire A, Boget T, Setoain X, Rumia J, Bargallo 

N. Efficiency of Venlafaxine in Patients With 

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures and Anxiety 

and/or Depressive Disorders. J NEUROP- 

SYCH CLIN N, 2010. 22:401-408. I.F.:2,34. 

11 Carreno M, Garcia-Alvarez D, Maestro 

I, Fernandez S, Donaire A, Boget T, Rumia 

J, Pintor L, Setoain X. Malignant autosomal 

dominant frontal lobe epilepsy with repeated 

episodes of status epilepticus: successful 

treatment with vagal nerve stimulation. EPI- 

LEPTIC DISORD, 2010. 12:155-158. I.F.:1,20. 


G, Bailles E, Carreno M, Donaire A, Boget T, 

Setoain X, Bargallo N, Rumia J. Prevalence of 

interictal psychiatric disorders in patients with 

refractory temporal and extratemporal lobe 

epilepsy in Spain. A comparative study. EPI- 

LEPSIA, 2010. 51:1309-1313. I.F.:4,05. 

13 Castro-Fornieles J, Caldu X, Andres- 

Perpina S, Lazaro L, Bargallo N, Falcon C, Plana 

MT, Junque C. A cross-sectional and follow-up 

functional MRI study with a working memory 

task in adolescent anorexia nervosa. NEUROP- 

SYCHOLOGIA, 2010. 48:4111-4116. I.F.:4,35. 

14 Rametti G, Junque C, Bartres-Faz D, 

Zubiaurre-Elorza L, Catalan R, Penades R, 

Bargallo N, Bernardo M. Anterior cingulate 

and paracingulate sulci morphology in patients 

with schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHR RES, 2010. 

121:66-74. I.F.:4,46. 

15 Gomez-Gil E, Navines R, DeOsaba MJM, 

Diaz-Ricart M, Escolar G, Salamero M, Martin- 

Santos R, Galan A, Gasto C. Hormonal responses 

to the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone in remitted 

endogenous depressive patients after long-term 

imipramine treatment. PSYCHONEUROENDO- 

CRINO, 2010. 35:481-489. I.F.:4,19. 

16 Valdes M, Collado A, Bargallo N, Vazquez 

M, Rami L, Gomez E, Salamero M. Increased 

Glutamate/Glutamine Compounds in the Brains 

of Patients With Fibromyalgia A Magnetic 

Resonance Spectroscopy Study. ARTHRITIS 

RHEUM-US, 2010. 62:1829-1836. I.F.:7,33. 

17 Solana E, Poca MA, Sahuquillo J, Benejam 

B, Junque C, Dronavalli M. Cognitive 

and motor improvement after retesting in 

normal-pressure hydrocephalus: a real change 

or merely a learning effect? Clinical article. J 

NEUROSURG, 2010. 112:399-409. I.F.:2,59. 

18 Fernandez-Espejo D, Junque C, Cruse 

D, Bernabeu M, Roig-Rovira T, Fabregas N, Rivas 

E, Mercader JM. Combination of diffusion 

tensor and functional magnetic resonance 

imaging during recovery from the vegetative 

state. BMC NEUROL, 2010. 10:-. I.F.:2,11. 

19 Carrillo B, Gomez-Gil E, Rametti G, 

Junque C, Gomez A, Karadi K, Segovia S, 

Guillamon A. Cortical activation during mental 

rotation in male-to-female and female-to-male 

transsexuals under hormonal treatment. PSY- 

CHONEUROENDOCRINO, 2010. 35:1213- 

1222. I.F.:4,19. 

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20 Sanchez-Castaneda C, Rene R, Ramirez-Ruiz 

B, Campdelacreu J, Gascon J, 

Falcon C, Calopa M, Jauma S, Juncadella 

M, Junque C. Frontal and Associative 

Visual Areas Related to Visual Hallucinations 

in Dementia with Lewy Bodies 

and Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia. 

MOVEMENT DISORD, 2010. 25:615- 

622. I.F.:4,01. 

21 Grau-Olivares M, Arboix A, Junque 

C, Arenaza-Urquijo EM, Rovira M, 

Bartres-Faz D. Progressive Gray Matter 

Atrophy in Lacunar Patients with Vascular 

Mild Cognitive Impairment. CEREBRO- 

VASC DIS, 2010. 30:157-166. I.F.:3,54. 

22 Fernandez-Espejo D, Junque C, 

Bernabeu M, Roig-Rovira T, Vendrell P, 

Mercader JM. Reductions of Thalamic 

Volume and Regional Shape Changes in 

the Vegetative and the Minimally Conscious 

States. J NEUROTRAUM, 2010. 

27:1187-1193. I.F.:4,25. 

23 Segura B, Jurado MA, Freixenet N, 

Bargallo N, Junque C, Arboix A. White 

matter fractional anisotropy is related to 

processing speed in metabolic syndrome 

patients: a case-control study. BMC NEU- 

ROL, 2010. 10:-. I.F.:2,11. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 2,82 

1 Castro-Fornieles J, Garcia AI, Lazaro 

L, Andres-Perpina S, Falcon C, Plana MT, 

Bargallo N. Prefrontal brain metabolites in 

short-term weight-recovered adolescent 

anorexia nervosa patients. PROG NEU- 

RO-PSYCHOPH. 34:1049-1053. I.F.:2,82. 


in progress 

Bargallo N. Usefulness of ictal functional 

MRI in localization of epileptogenic area 

in patients with refractory focal epilepsy. 



15/02/2007-14/02/2010. 

Salamero M. Desarrollo y validación en 

una nueva escala de somnolencia de aplicación 

clínica. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Sanidad y Consumo, PI070318. Amount: 


30/12/2010. 

Junqué C. Distinció de la Generalitat 

de Catalunya per a la Promoció de la 

Recerca Universitària. Sponsored by: 

Generalitat de Catalunya, UNI/2001/2004. 


31/12/2004-31/12/2010. 

Bargallo N. Red española de investigación 

en patología infecciosa (REIPI). 


III, RD06/0008/1013. Amount: 20.500,00 


Junqué C. Aplicación de la resonancia 

magnética estructural y funcional al estudio 

del estado vegetativo y el estado 

de mínima conciencia en los traumatismos 

craneo encefálicos. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio Educación y Ciencia, SAF 

2007-66077. Amount: 28.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Junqué C. Ajuts de Suport als grups de 

Recerca. Sponsored by: DURSI - Departament 

d’Universitats, Recerca i Societat 

de la Informació, 2009SGR941. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Marcos T. Estudio de la eficacia de la rehabilitación 

cognitiva en el trastorno depresivo 

mayor refractario al tratamiento 

farmacológico. Sponsored by: INSTITU- 

TO DE SALUD CARLOS III, PI09/90126. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Bartres D. Relación entre variables de 

reserva cerebral de tipo ambientales 

y genéticas y la función y estructura 

cerebrales en el envejecimiento sano y 

patológico. Sponsored by: Ministerio de 

Ciencia e Innovación, 052296. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Bartres D. Prediction of cognitive properties 

of new drug candidates for neurodegenerative 

diseases in early clinical 

development. Sponsored by: Cordis 

Europa, 052297. Amount: 660.950,00 


Thesis 

Bartres D, Molinuevo JL. Influencia de la 

reserva cognitiva en la estructura y funcionalidad 

cerebral en el envejecimiento 

sano y patológico. PhD student: Beatriz 

Bosch Capdevila. 

Junque C. The vegetative and the minimally 

conscious state: brain function, 

connectivity and structural abnormalities. 

PhD student: Davinia Fernández Espejo. 

235

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Systems neuroscience 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Maria Victoria Sánchez Vives 

(ICREA-IDIBAPS) 

Tel.: 93 227 5400 

(Ext.: 4301) 

Fax: 93 227 1890 

E-mail: msanche3@clinic.ub.es 

Recently, the growing knowledge of synaptic 

physiology and brain circuits, together with the 

development of new instruments with which 

to register, analyze and model the activity of a 

large number of neurons has made it possible 

to address one of the great pending challenges 

in neuroscience: to understand the relationship 

between the activity of the neuron population 

and behavioral performance. The objective of 

the systems neuroscience group is to address 

this challenge combining experimental studies 

in basal ganglia, hippocampal and cortical networks 

with a theoretical approach. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Albert Compte (IDIBAPS) 

David Robbe 

(IDIBAPS) 

Perla Kaliman (IDIBAPS) 

Jaime de la Rocha 

(IDIBAPS) 

Enrique Pérez-Garci (IDIBAPS) 


Daniel Perez Marcos (IDIBAPS) 

Ramón Reig (IDIBAPS) 

David Borland (IDIBAPS) 

Ilias Bergstrom (IDIBAPS) 

Pavel Rueda-Orozco (IDIBAPS) 

Alexander Roxin (IDIBAPS) 

Rita Almeida (IDIBAPS) 

Klaus Wimmer (IDIBAPS) 

Lucila Kargieman (IDIBAPS) 

Francesca Barbieri 


Maria Cano Colino 

Daniel Jercog 

Diego López Pigozzi 

Maria Pérez Zabalza 

Marcel Ruiz Mejias 

María Jesús Álvarez López 

(FI-AGAUR) 

María Umpierrez 

Thomas Gener 

Juan Abolafia 

Salvador de la Torre 

Marco Castro (IDIBAPS) 

Juan Pablo Ramírez Mahaluf 

Technicians: 

Carolina Sales Carbonell 


Vanessa Fernandez Descalzo 

(IDIBAPS) 

Xavier Palomer 

Lorena Pérez Méndez 

Laura Ciria 

Luis Zapata (IDIBAPS) 

Marcelina Párrizas (IDIBAPS) 

Mercè Pallàs (CIBERNED - UB) 

Julita de la Vega 

(La Caixa, IDIBAPS) 


Maurizio Mattia (Istituto 

Superiore di Sanità, Roma) 

Duane Q. Nykamp 

(Univ. Minnesota, USA) 

Electrical activity generation and control mechanisms 

in neuronal networks – specifically, 

in the brain cortex.Hippocampal and subicular 

mechanisms of spatial processing.Neuronal 

activity synchronization mechanisms in cortical 

networks.Distributed cortical network 

mechanisms implicated in selective attention, 

working memory and executive control.Simple 

motor coding (head movement, lever activation) 

based on striatal clustering.Mechanism of 

information transfer between networks.Effect 

of cannabinoids on high-voltage axes.Use of 

virtual reality in neuroscience, in the context 

of theEVENT Lab (Virtual Environments in 

Neuroscience and Technology), in collaboration 

with Mel Slater (University of Barcelona).Effect 

of behavioral interventions on the epigenetic 

regulation of processes implicated in chronic 

diseases and related to aging. 

1. Cortical networks and EVENT Lab 

(Virtual Environments in Neuroscience 

and Technology). Headed by Dr. Maria 

Victòria Sánchez (IDIBAPS). 

Neuronal connectivity and cellular and synaptic 

properties determine and give shape 

to the emergent population activity (spontaneous 

or invoked) generated by the neuronal 

networks. At the same time, such activity 

has effects upon the network, with the 

regulation of relevant mechanisms such as 

synaptic plasticity. We are interested in different 

aspects of the activity generated: the 

mechanisms that regulate it, the information 

236

AREA 4 



it encodes, and the consequences of 

this activity upon the network. 

The impact which the different cellular 

processes (e.g., ion channel activation) 

have upon the resultant network activity 

tends to be non-intuitive and unpredictable 

– thus making it necessary to 

adopt a theoretical and experimental 

approach. 

As regards the information encoded by 

the network activity, we have worked 

with different sensory modalities (visual, 

tactile, auditory), and are presently 

especially interested in the spatial processing 

that occurs in the hippocampal 

complex. 

Lastly, integration of the cortical 

information giving rise to bodily representation 

and the combination of braincomputer 

interfaces and virtual reality 

for understanding these processes, is 

another research line of our group, as 

part of the EVENT Lab. 


www.sanchez-vives.org 

www.event-lab.org 

2. Theoretical neurobiology of the cortical 

networks. Headed by Dr. Albert 

Compte (IDIBAPS). 

Our research is aimed at clarifying the 

mechanisms that operate in the cortical 

microcircuit, with a view to conducting 

computations of relevance to behavior. 

The tools we use are computerimplemented 

cortical network models 

seeking biological plausibility at all times, 

and technically sophisticated dataanalyzing 

tools. We work in parallel at 

two levels: on one hand, we model 

the activity of the cortical microcircuit 

in order to understand and quantify the 

mechanisms underlying the generation 

of population activity in the circuit, and 

on the other we study the physiological 

bases of cognitive capacities such as 

working memory and selective attention, 

and their dysfunction in psychiatric 

disorders. 


http://complab.fcrb.es 

3. Physiology and basal ganglia networks 

and regulation with cannabinoids. 

Headed by Dr. David Robbe 

(IDIBAPS). 

The principal objective of the laboratory 

is to understand the processing of cognitive 

and motor-sensory (cortical) information 

in the basal ganglia - a group of 

subcortical nuclei that are essential for 

motor coordination and the formation 

of habits, and which are implicated in 

Parkinson’s disease and in addictions. 

Surprisingly, the excellent description 

of the anatomical characteristics of 

the basal ganglia (BG) has given rise 

to two opposed reference models 

of processing carried out in the BG. 

In the first model, the BG have been 

modelled as independent information 

processing channels, while the other 

model postulates that the ganglia act 

as cortical input integrators. In order to 

address this controversy, we use largescale 

electrophysiological recording 

techniques (silica catheters, tetrodes) in 

the course of specific motor activities, 

in combination with advanced analytical 

tools and pharmacological perturbation 

(cannabinoids). 


http://neuro.fcrb.es/BasalGangLab/ 

RobbeLab/Welcome.html 

4. Neuroepigenetics lab. Headed by 

Perla Kaliman (IDIBAPS). 

It is now accepted that brain networks 

and genetic information in adults 

are both sensitive and responsive to 

experience. An increasing number of 

studies in animal models are starting to 

show that behavioral interventions can 

induce changes in epigenetic codes in 

the nervous system that may be critical 

for synaptic plasticity and complex 

processes such as memory, learning 

and stress resistance. In this context, 

our research is aimed at identifying behavioral-induced 

molecular biomarkers 

associated with adaptive psychological 

and physiological changes. Accordingly, 

we investigate the effect of behavioral 

interventions (e.g. voluntary exercise 

and enriched environment in rodents 

and mindfulness-based stress reduction 

trainings in humans) on the epigenetic 

regulation of processes such 

as oxidative stress and inflammation, 

which are at the root of most chronic 

and aging-related diseases. 

5. Cortical Circuit Dynamics Group. 

Headed by Dr. Jaime de la Rocha 

(IDIBAPS). 

The main focus of our research is 

the study of the circuit mechanisms 

underlying perception and decision 

making. In particular we are interested 

in the neural basis of auditory representation 

and its dependence on brain 

state and other contextual variables. 

We investigate the generation of 

ongoing cortical activity, its impact on 

perception and guiding decisions. We 

are particularly interested in the variability 

and co-variability observed in the 

sensory-evoked responses of cortical 

neurons, the mechanisms which generate 

them and their role in a neural 

code. We combine population cortical 

recordings in rats, quantitative analysis 

and computational modeling to address 

these questions. 


http://neuro.fcrb.es/delaRochaLab 

237

AREA 4 



PUBLICATIONS 

6. Laboratory of Dendritic Computation. 

Headed by Enrique Perez- 

Garci (IDIBAPS). 

It is becoming clear now that dendrites 

can be considered as active excitable 

entities which can be subject to 

modulation by different neurotransmitters 

(Dendritic Neuromodulation). 

With the emergence of imaging and 

electrophysiological approaches to 

study dendritic physiology, I believe 

the field is poised to explore the fundamentals 

of dendritic computation. 

With this in mind, I aim to take advantage 

of these developments and 

combined them with pharmacological 

and molecular biological tools, to get a 

more detailed picture of the impact of 

interacting sub-cellular dendritic regions 

and their modulation for determining 

the firing output of the neuron. 

The apical tuft of layer 5 pyramidal 

neurons is innervated by a large number 

of inhibitory inputs with unknown 

functions. Inhibitory postsynaptic 

potentials (IPSPs) evoked by distal 

GABAergic terminals have little or no 

direct impact on the somato-axonic 

compartment of the neuron. A possible 

role for these inhibitory inputs is 

to modulate the so called Na+-Ca2+ 

spikes that occur in the apical tuft. 

My research work focuses on the 

molecular mechanisms by which 

GABA mediates the inhibition of such 

regenerative processes. In particular, 

activation of metabotropic GABAb 

receptors exerts an inhibitory control 

of dendritic spikes by means of a very 

refined molecular machinery. 

Research Techniques: 

• Simultaneous whole-cell recordings 

along the somato-dendritic axis of 

layer 5 pyramidal neurons using the 

in vitro slice preparation. 

• Ca2+ fluorescence recordings. 

• Pharmacology. 

Originals 

I.F.: 51,07 

1 Musri MM, Carmona MC, Hanzu FA, 

Kaliman P, Gomis R, Parrizas M. Histone 

Demethylase LSD1 Regulates Adipogenesis. 

J BIOL CHEM, 2010. 285:30034- 

30041. I.F.:5,33. 

2 Lundqvist M, Compte A, Lansner A. 

Bistable, Irregular Firing and Population 

Oscillations in a Modular Attractor Memory 

Network. PLOS COMPUT BIOL, 

2010. 6:-. I.F.:5,76. 

3 Slater M, Spanlang B, Sanchez-Vives 

MV, Blanke O. First Person Experience 

of Body Transfer in Virtual Reality. PLoS 

ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

4 Fernandez V, Salamero O, Espinet 

B, Sole F, Royo C, Navarro A, Camacho 

F, Bea S, Hartmann E, Amador V, 

Hernandez L, Agostinelli C, Sargent 

RL, Rozman M, Aymerich M, Colomer 

D, Villamor N, Swerdlow SH, Pileri SA, 

Bosch F, Piris MA, Montserrat E, Ott G, 

Rosenwald A, Lopez-Guillermo A, Jares 

P, Serrano S, Campo E. Genomic and 

Gene Expression Profiling Defines Indolent 

Forms of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. 

CANCER RES, 2010. 70:1408-1418. 

I.F.:7,54. 

5 Bermejo-Martin JF, Martin-Loeches 

I, Rello J, Anton A, Almansa R, Xu LL, 

Lopez-Campos G, Pumarola T, Ran LS, 

Ramirez P, Banner D, Ng DC, Socias L, 

Loza A, Andaluz D, Maravi E, Gomez- 

Sanchez MJ, Gordon M, Gallegos MC, 

Fernandez V, Aldunate S, Leon C, Merino 

P, Blanco J, Martin-Sanchez F, Rico L, 

Varillas D, Iglesias V, Marcos MA, Gandia 

F, Bobillo F, Nogueira B, Rojo S, Resino 

S, Castro C, DeLejarazu RO, Kelvin 

D. Host adaptive immunity deficiency in 

severe pandemic influenza. CRIT CARE, 

2010. 14:-. I.F.:4,93. 

6 DeLaPena N, Weil P, Llobera J, Giannopoulos 

E, Pomes A, Spanlang B, 

Friedman D, Sanchez-Vives MV, Slater 

M. Immersive Journalism: Immersive 

Virtual Reality for the First-Person Experience 

of News. PRESENCE-TELEOP 

VIRT, 2010. 19:291-301. I.F.:1,24. 

7 Sanchez-Vives MV, Mattia M, Compte 

A, Perez-Zabalza M, Winograd M, Descalzo 

VF, Reig R. Inhibitory Modulation of 

Cortical Up States. J NEUROPHYSIOL, 

2010. 104:1314-1324. I.F.:3,48. 

8 Ardid S, Wang XJ, Gomez-Cabrero 

D, Compte A. Reconciling Coherent 

Oscillation with Modulation of Irregular 

Spiking Activity in Selective Attention: 

Gamma-Range Synchronization between 

Sensory and Executive Cortical 

Areas. J NEUROSCI, 2010. 30:2856- 

2870. I.F.:7,18. 

9 Brotons-Mas JR, Montejo N, O’mara 

SM, Sanchez-Vives MV. Stability of subicular 

place fields across multiple light and 

dark transitions. EUR J NEUROSCI, 2010. 

32:648-658. I.F.:3,42. 

10 Reig R, Mattia M, Compte A, 

Belmonte C, Sanchez-Vives MV. Temperature 

Modulation of Slow and Fast 

Cortical Rhythms. J NEUROPHYSIOL, 

2010. 103:1253-1261. I.F.:3,48. 

11 Sanchez-Vives MV, Spanlang B, Frisoli 

A, Bergamasco M, Slater M. Virtual 

Hand Illusion Induced by Visuomotor Correlations. 

PLoS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 3,48 

1 Nowak LG, Sanchez-Vives MV, 

Mccormick DA. Spatial and Temporal 

Features of Synaptic to Discharge Receptive 

Field Transformation in Cat Area 

17. J NEUROPHYSIOL, 2010. 103:677- 

697. I.F.:3,48. 

238

AREA 4 




in progress 

Kaliman P. Identificación de vias de 

señalización molecular reguladas por 

DMPK (Myotonic Dystrophy Protein 

Kinase) y su papel en el desarrollo de 

las alteraciones metabólicas asociadas 

a la Distrofia Miotónica. Sponsored 


SAF2007-63353. Amount: 145.200,00 


04/10/2010. 

Robbe D. Dynamic of neuronal network 

interactions in the basal ganglia. Sponsored 

by: EUROPEAN COMISSION, 

230976. Amount: 100.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/09/2008-31/08/2012. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Synthetic Forager. 

Amount: European Commission, 

217148. Amount: 320.309,10 euros. 

Duration: 15/01/2008-14/01/2011. 

Sanchez-Vives MV, Compte A. Estudi 

de tècniques avançades de modelització 

i estimulació neuronalModalitat 

Projectes en Recerca Industrial i Desenvolupament 

Experimental - Projectes 

Comuns. Sponsored by: GENERALITAT 

DE CATALUNYA - CIDEM, RD08-2- 


15/07/2008-15/07/2010. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Grups Consolidats 

de Recerca “Neurociencias de 

Sistemas”. Sponsored by: AGAUR, 

2009 SGR1363. Amount: 45.760,00 


31/12/2013. 

Compte A. Mecanismos de redes 

distribuidas en memoria de trabajo 

y atención selectiva. Sponsored by: 

MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, 

BFU2009_09537. Amount: 234.740,00 


31/12/2012. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Beaming through 

augmented media for natural networked 

gatherings. Sponsored 

by: Starlab Barcelona SL, 248620. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2013. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Virtual Embodiment 

and Robotic Re-Embodiment. Sponsored 

by: UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA FAC- 

ULTAT DE MEDICINA, 257695. Amount: 


31/05/2015. 

Robbe D. Basal Ganglia and the control 

of locomotion. Sponsored by: EURO- 

PEAN COMISSION, 253873. Amount: 


30/09/2012. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Optimización 

de la respuesta terapéutica a la 

modulación de estímulos auditivos. 

Sponsored by: iSOFT SANIDAD, S.A, 

IPT-300000-2010-0010. Amount: 


22/06/2010-31/12/2013. 

Thesis 

Kaliman P. Impact of aging and 

physical exercise on transcriptional 

and epigenetic profiles (brain and 

cardiac studies). PhD student: María 

Umpiérrez. 

Kaliman P. Estudio epigenético y transcripcional 

de un modelo murino de 

envejecimiento acelerado (estudio en 

linfocitos). PhD student: María Jesús 

Álvarez López. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Real time analysis 

of hippocampal activity for the 

control of external devices.. PhD student: 

Julita de la Vega Arias. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Dinámica cortical 

en los diferentes estados de 

activación de la red. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia 

(MICINN), BFU2008-01371/BFI. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Sanchez-Vives MV. Synaptic drugs for 

cognitive disorders: identifying new 

targets for pharmacological intervention. 

Sponsored by: CRG - CENTRE REGULA- 

CIO GENOMICA, FLEJEUNE_2010_001. 


27/05/2010-26/05/2012. 

Robbe D. Entendiendo los efectos de 

los canabinoides en los episodios epilépticos 

en la red talamocortical Tipo 

de proyecto: A. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Educación y Ciencia, BFU2008- 

03946/BFI. Amount: 90.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

De La Rocha J. Network dynamics of 

auditory cortex and the impact of correlations 

on the encoding of sensory 

information. Sponsored by: EUROPEAN 

COMISSION, FP7-PEOPLE-IRG-10_01. 


01/09/2010-31/08/2014. 

239

AREA 4 

clinical and experimental neuroscience 


Clinical and experimental neuroimmunology 

GROUP Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Francesc Graus 


Tel.: 93 227 57 85 

Fax: 93 227 57 83 

E-mail: 

fgraus@clinic.ub.es 

Strategic 

Objectives 

1. The principal objective of the neuroimmunology 

group is the study of inflammation 

of the central nervous system, 

and of the mechanisms that are involved 

in this inflammatory response, and 

their implication in neurological disorders 

- fundamentally multiple sclerosis, 

autoimmune encephalitis and paraneoplastic 

neurological disorders. 

2. Identification and characterization of 

factors implicated in the pathogenesis 

of gliomas, based on the study of 

proteins that control the maintenance, 

differentiation and migration of normal 

neural stem cells. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Pablo Villoslada (IDIBAPS) 

Moreno, Beatriz (IDIBAPS) 

Núria de la Iglesia 

(IDIBAPS) 

Lidia Sabater 


Albert Saiz (Hospital Clínic) 

Yolanda Blanco 



Begonya Otal (IDIBAPS) 

Valeria Colafrancesco 

(IDIBAPS) 


Inna Pertsovskaya (IDIBAPS) 

Oihana Errea (IDIBAPS) 

Ion Agirrezabal (FIS) 

Anna Boronat (FIS) 

Sara Llufriu (Río Hortega) 

Francesco Mannara 


Marta Moreno (FPI) 

Iñigo Gabilondo (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Begoña Fernández (IDIBAPS) 

Alice Taubes (IDIBAPS) 

Nagore Escala (IDIBAPS) 

Mercè Albà (Fundació Clínic) 

Eva Caballero 



Montserrat Artola (REEM, Red 

Española Esclerosis Múltiple) 


Juan Alejandro Virgili (REEM) 

Berta Alcahud (REEM) 

Gemma Castillo 



Ana Catafau (IDIBAPS) 

Bernardo Sanchez-Dalmau 


1. Study of autoimmune mechanisms in 

paraneoplastic neurological disorders. 

2. Synaptic autoimmunity study in encephalitis 

and other autoimmune diseases 

of the central nervous system. 

3. Development of biomarkers and new 

therapies in application to multiple sclerosis 

and other neurological diseases. 

Automatic segmentation of the corpus 

callosum through diffusion tensor imaging 

and 3D-T1 imaging using FSL software. 

In this way it is possible to determine the 

volumetric characteristics of this structure, 

which is frequently altered in multiple sclerosis. 

Accepted for the 17th Annual Meeting of 

the Organization for Human Brain Mapping 

(Quebec, June 2011). 

240

AREA 4 


clinical and experimental neuroimmunology 

4. Functional imaging in neuroimmunology. 

5. Study of the molecular bases of glioma 

pathogenesis: Identification and 

functional characterization of new 

factors implicated in the maintenance, 

differentiation and/or migration of neural 

stem cells, and study of the role of 

these factors in the initiation and invasion 

of gliomas. 


Pathogenesis and new treatments in multiple sclerosis 

Group Leader: 

Pablo Villoslada (IDIBAPS) 

The great challenge for our research team is to 

apply our discoveries to the clinical management 

of patients with multiple sclerosis. By late 2010 we 

plan to enter the clinical phase of the study of methylthioadenosine as 

treatment in cases of multiple sclerosis. As the coordinating team of 

the RETICS REEM (Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network - www.reem. 

es), another of our strategic objectives is the transverse diffusion of 

knowledge and optimum use of synergies, with a view to transferring 

the advances in research to the clinical practice setting and to patients. 

Lastly, the group has a constant commitment to innovation, both in 

terms of the generation of patents and as regards the creation of spinoff 

companies to cover the gap in financing existing between basic 

research and the clinical phase development of new drugs on the part 

of the biopharmaceutical industry. 

Web of the group: 

www.reem.es/idibaps/team.html 


Immunopathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurological disorders 

Group Leader: 

Francesc Graus (Hospital Clínic) 

Paraneoplastic neurological disorders manifest in 

cancer patients generally in very early stages, and 

their correct diagnosis is essential for detecting the 

tumor and for preventing progression of the neurological disease. Our 

group has made a fundamental contribution to confirmation of the 

immunological cause of these disorders, and is an international reference 

center for the evaluation of antineuronal antibodies associated 

to paraneoplastic neurological disorders. The group is interested in the 

characterization of antineuronal antibodies and corresponding antigens 

of potential diagnostic or pathogenic relevance in relation to these 

diseases. Some of the antibodies identified by our group, such as 

anti-Hu, anti-Tr or anti-SOX1, are currently used on a routine basis as 

predictors of paraneoplastic neurological disorders. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 98,76 

1 Esteban FJ, Padilla N, Sanz- 

Cortes M, DeMiras JR, Bargallo 

N, Villoslada P, Gratacos E. Fractaldimension 

analysis detects cerebral 

changes in preterm infants with 

and without intrauterine growth 

restriction. NEUROIMAGE, 2010. 

53:1225-1232. I.F.:5,74. 

2 Graus F, Boronat A, Xifro X, Boix 

M, Svigelj V, Garcia A, Palomino 

A, Sabater L, Alberch J, Saiz A. 

The expanding clinical profile of 

anti-ampa receptor encephalitis. 

NEUROLOGY, 2010. 74:857-859. 

I.F.:8,17. 

3 Lancaster E, Lai MZ, Peng 

XY, Hughes E, Constantinescu R, 

Raizer J, Friedman D, Skeen MB, 

Grisold W, Kimura A, Ohta K, Iizuka 

T, Guzman M, Graus F, Moss SJ, 

Balice-Gordon R, Dalmau J. Antibodies 

to the GABA(B) receptor in 

limbic encephalitis with seizures: 

Case series and characterisation 

of the antigen. LANCET NEUROL, 

2010. 9:67-76. I.F.:18,13. 

4 Villoslada P. Biomarkers for multiple 

sclerosis. DRUG NEWS PERS- 

PECT, 2010. 23:585-595. I.F.:2,10. 

5 Liimatainen S, Peltola M, Sabater 

L, Fallah M, Kharazmi E, Haapala AM, 

Dastidar P, Knip M, Saiz A, Peltola J. 

Clinical significance of glutamic acid 

decarboxylase antibodies in patients 

with epilepsy. EPILEPSIA, 2010. 

51:760-767. I.F.:4,05. 

6 Blanco Y, Hankiewicz K, Llufriu 

S, Sabater L, Graus F, Saiz A. Clinical 

spectrum associated with aquaporin-4 

antibodies (NMO-IgG). NEURO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 25:5-12. I.F.:0,60. 

241

AREA 4 


Clinical and experimental neuroimmunology 

Team Members 

7 Ducray F, Graus F, Vigliani MC, 

Antoine JC, Rogemond V, Saiz A, 

Honnorat J. Delayed onset of a second 

paraneoplastic neurological syndrome 

in eight patients. J NEUROL 

NEUROSUR PS, 2010. 81:937-939. 

I.F.:4,87. 

8 Robinson-Agramonte MA, Goncalves 

CAS, Portela VL, Saiz-Hinarejos 

A, Oses PJ, Motta SL, Muller AP, 

Gonzalez MEM, DeSouza ODG. Differential 

Regulation of IgG-NMO Autoantibodies 

on S100Beta Protein and 

Disability in Relapsing Neuromyelitis 

Optica. NEUROIMMUNOMODULAT, 

2010. 17:177-179. I.F.:2,03. 

9 Soffietti R, Baumert BG, Bello L, 

VonDeimling A, Duffau H, Frenay M, 

Grisold W, Grant R, Graus F, Hoang- 

Xuan K, Klein M, Melin B, Rees J, 

Siegal T, Smits A, Stupp R, Wick W. 

Guidelines on management of lowgrade 

gliomas: report of an EFNS- 

EANO* Task Force. EUR J NEUROL, 

2010. 17:1124-1133. I.F.:2,51. 

10 Lai MZ, Huijbers MGM, Lancaster 

E, Graus F, Bataller L, Balice- 

Gordon R, Cowell JK, Dalmau J. 

Investigation of LGI1 as the antigen 

in limbic encephalitis previously 

attributed to potassium channels: a 

case series. LANCET NEUROL, 2010. 

9:776-785. I.F.:18,13. 

11 Marignier R, Chenevier F, Rogemond 

V, Smitt PS, Renoux C, Cavillon 

G, Androdias G, Vukusic S, Graus F, 

Honnorat J, Confavreux C. Metabotropic 

Glutamate Receptor Type 1 

Autoantibody-Associated Cerebellitis 

A Primary Autoimmune Disease?. 

ARCH NEUROL-CHICAGO, 2010. 

67:627-630. I.F.:6,31. 

12 Otero S, Batlle J, Bonaventura 

I, Brieva L, Bufill E, Cano A, Carmona 

O, Escartin A, Marco M, Moral E, 

Munteis E, Nos C, Pericot I, Perkal H, 

Ramio-Torrenta L, Ramo-Tello C, Saiz 

A, Sastre-Garriga J, Tintore M, Vaque 

J, Montalban X. Multiple sclerosis 

epidemiological situation update: 

pertinence and set-up of a population 

based registry of new cases in 

Catalonia. REV NEUROLOGIA, 2010. 

50:623-633. I.F.:1,23. 

13 Saiz A, Graus F. Neurologic Complications 

of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. 

SEMIN NEUROL, 2010. 

30:287-295. I.F.:2,53. 

14 Giometto B, Grisold W, Vitaliani 

R, Graus F, Honnorat J, Bertolini G. 

Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndrome in 

the PNS Euronetwork Database A European 

Study From 20 Centers. ARCH 

NEUROL-CHICAGO, 2010. 67:330-335. 

I.F.:6,31. 

15 Moreno B, Fernandez-Diez B, 

DiPenta A, Villoslada P. Preclinical 

studies of methylthioadenosine for 

the treatment of multiple sclerosis. 

MULT SCLER, 2010. 16:1102-1108. 

I.F.:3,28. 

16 Martinez-Forero I, Pelaez-Lopez 

A, Villoslada P. Steady State Detection 

of Chemical Reaction Networks Using 

a Simplified Analytical Method. PLOS 

ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

17 Goni J, Martincorena I, 

Corominas-Murtra B, Arrondo G, 

Ardanza-Trevijano S, Villoslada P. 

Switcher-Random-Walks: a cognitiveinspired 

mechanism for network exploration. 

INT J BIFURCAT CHAOS, 2010. 

20:913-922. I.F.:0,92. 

18 Llufriu S, Pujol T, Blanco Y, Hankiewicz 

K, Squarcia M, Berenguer J, Villoslada 

P, Graus F, Saiz A. T2 hypointense rims 

and ring-enhancing lesions in MS. MULT 

SCLER, 2010. 16:1317-1325. I.F.:3,28. 

19 Alcina A, Vandenbroeck K, Otaegui 

D, Saiz A, Gonzalez JR, Fernandez 

O, Cavanillas ML, Cenit MC, Arroyo R, 

Alloza I, Garcia-Barcina M, Antiguedad 

A, Leyva L, Izquierdo G, Lucas M, Fedetz 

M, Pinto-Medel MJ, Olascoaga J, 

Blanco Y, Comabella M, Montalban X, 

Urcelay E, Matesanz F. The autoimmune 

disease-associated KIF5A, CD226 

and SH2B3 gene variants confer susceptibility 

for multiple sclerosis. GENES 

IMMUN, 2010. 11:439-445. I.F.:4,22. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 6,18 

1 Graus F, Saiz A, Dalmau J. Antibodies 

and neuronal autoimmune disorders 

of the CNS. J NEUROL, 2010. 

257:509-517. I.F.:2,90. 

2 Freedman MS, Bar-Or A, Atkins 

HL, Karussis D, Frassoni F, Lazarus 

H, Scolding N, Slavin S, LeBlanc K, 

Uccelli A. The therapeutic potential of 

mesenchymal stem cell transplantation 

as a treatment for multiple sclerosis: 

consensus report of the International 

MSCT Study Group. MULT SCLER, 

2010. 16:503-510. I.F.:3,28. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 3,28 

1 De Stefano N, Curtin F, Stubinski B, 

Blevins G, Drulovic J, Issard D, Shotekov 

P, Gasperini C. Rapid benefits 

of a new formulation of subcutaneous 

interferon beta-1a in relapsing-remitting 

multiple sclerosis. MULT SCLER, 2010. 

16:888-892. I.F.:3,28. 

242

AREA 4 


clinical and experimental neuroimmunology 


in progress 

Villoslada P. United europeans for the 

development of pharmacogenomics 

in multiple sclerosis. Sponsored by: 

European Comisión. Marie Curie 

Training Network, PITN-GA- 212877. 


15/09/2008-15/09/2011. 

Villoslada P. Análisis de la respuesta al 

tratamiento con interferon beta en la 

esclerosis múltiple mediante biología 

de sistemas. Sponsored by: Fundación 

Mutua Madrileña, FMM-2008-061. 


01/07/2008-31/12/2010. 

Villoslada P. Estudio del daño axonal en 

esclerosis múltiple mediante estudios 

de neuroimagen de la vía óptica. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Villoslada P. Estudio de la dinámica remitente-recurrente 

en depresión mayor 

mediante el análisis de redes de conectividad 

funcional por resonancia magnética 

funcional: implicaciones para la 

terapia. Sponsored by: Fundació Marató 

TV3, 0000. Amount: 345.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Graus F. Anticuerpos contra de antígenos 

de membrana neuronal en síndormes 

neurológicos paraneoplásicos del 

sistema nervioso central. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Villoslada P. Studying the relapsing 

dynamics of major depression through 

network analysis of fMRI connectivity 

maps: inplications for therapy.. Sponsored 

by: FUNDACIÓ LA MARATÓ DE 

TV3, 091430. Amount: 237.325,00 euros. 

Duration: 29/01/2010-28/01/2013. 

De La Iglesia N. Factores de mantenimiento 

y diferenciación de células 

madre neurales como actores 

principales en la patogénesis de los 

gliomas. Sponsored by: MINISTERIO 

DE EDUCACIÓN, BFU2009_14616. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Villoslada P. Terapia neuroprotectora 

para EM mediante agonistas 

del Factor de Crecimiento Nervioso 

(NGF). Sponsored by: MINISTERIO 

DE EDUCACIÓN, INC-0059. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Villoslada P. Congreso Internacional 

de Neuroinmunología. Sponsored by: 

MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNO- 

VACION, SAF2010-09238-E. Amount: 


31/05/2011. 

Villoslada P. Congress of the International 

Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI). 

Sponsored by: GENERALITAT DE CATA- 

LUNYA, 2010 ARCS1 00329. Amount: 


30/10/2010. 

Graus F, Dalmau J. Clinical spectrum 

and cellular and synaptic mechanisms 

of autoimmune synaptic encephalitides. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACIÓ LA MARATÓ 

DE TV3, 101530. Amount: 283.200,00 


Saiz A. Analysis of new antigens in seronegative 

(NMO-IgG/AQP4) neuromyelitis 

optica (Devic disease). Sponsored 

by: FUNDACIÓ LA MARATÓ DE TV3, 

101610. Amount: 162.500,00 euros. 

Duration: 10/12/2010-09/12/2013. 

Mahy N, Villoslada P. Nuevas aproximaciones 

terapéuticas para la Esclerosis 

Múltiple y la Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica: 

efectos modificadores de la enfermedad 

y neuroprotección. Sponsored 

by: ADVANCELL-Advanced in vitro 

cell techno., IPT-010000-2010-0035. 


25/06/2010-31/12/2012. 

Saiz A. Trasplante autólogo de células 

madre mesenquimales en esclerosis 

múltiple: ensayo clínico fase II aleatorizado, 

doble-ciego y cruzado con placebo. 


SANIDAD, POLÍTICA SOCIAL E IGUAL- 

DAD, TRA-066. Amount: 181.986,36 


31/12/2011. 

243

AREA 4 






GROUP Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Ramon Trullàs 

(IIBB-CSIC) 

Tel.: 93 363 83 03 

Fax: 93 363 83 24 


Nicole Mahy (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Manuel Rodríguez (Facultat de Medicina UB) 


Montse Batlle (Facultat de Medicina) 

Lluís Benítez (IIBB-CSIC) 

Javier Ortega (Facultat de Medicina) 

Joana Figueiro-Silva (IIBB-CSIC) 

Margot Martínez (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Carmen Andrade (Facultat de Medicina) 

Nuria Serra (IIBB-CSIC) 

Natalia Castro (IIBB-CSIC) 


Kevin Clayton (CIBERNED) 

Marco Pugliese (Facultat de Medicina) 

Petar Podlesniy (IDIBAPS) 

José Manuel Vidal-Taboada (Facultat de Medicina) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

The Neurobiology Unit investigates 

molecular mechanisms of excitotoxic 

and apoptotic neuron death with the 

objective of identifying new therapeutic 

targets for the management of 

neurodegenerative diseases. Another 

objective is to gain knowledge of the 

mechanisms regulating neurogenesis in 

the adult brain. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Investigation of the biochemical 

mechanisms causing excitotoxic 

neuron death. This project postulates 

that the inhibition of phospholipid 

synthesis is a key mechanism in 

neuron death produced by over-activation 

of glutamatergic receptors. 

2. Investigation of the function of neuronal 

pentraxin 1 (NP1) during programmed 

neuron death, with the 

hypothesis that inhibition of the expression 

of this protein may constitute 

a new treatment for chronic 

neurodegenerative disorders. 

3. Study of the mechanism by which 

the KATP channel modulates microglial 

activation, thereby allowing 

the in vivo and in vitro characterization 

of the neuroprotective and 

neurotoxic effect of microglia in 

situations of brain damage, through 

the activation and blockade of this 

channel. 

4. Investigation of the role of the glia 

in the neurogenesis mechanisms 

associated with chronic neurodegeneration 

in the hippocampus of the 

adult brain. 

5. Investigation of the efficacy and 

safety of anti-A beta immunotherapy 

as treatment for Alzheimer’s 

disease. 

We have shown that shortly after activation 

of the apoptotic death program, NP1 

synthesis begins and is directed towards 

the mitochondria, where the protein 

facilitates Bax activation. Blocking the 

synthesis of NP1 prevents Bax activation 

and arrests the apoptotic death process. 

We have also shown that excitotoxic 

hippocampal damage induces a chronic 

neurodegenerative process with the migration 

of neuroblasts from the subventricular 

zone towards the damaged hippocampus 

– this inducing neurogenesis 

independent of that intrinsic to the actual 

hippocampus. Likewise, in the early 

stages of excitotoxic damage, the microglia 

undergoes a change in phenotype, 

evolving from neuroprotective activity 

towards a more proinflammatory profile. 

Under these conditions, we have shown 

that activation of the microglial KATP 

channels reduces this proinflammatory 

activity and reduces neuronal damage. 

Excitatory synapses in 

cortical neurons. Blue: 

VGLUT1 glutamate 

vesicular transporter. 

Red: SYNAPSIN presynaptic 

protein. Green: 

GLUR2 glutamate 

receptor subunit. 

Magenta: SYNAPSIN- 

VGLUT1 distribution in 

excitatory pre-synaptic 

endings. White: 

distribution of the three 

proteins, showing 

the pre-synaptic 

compartment of the 

excitatory synapses. 

244

AREA 4 



PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 16,78 


in progress 

1 Pugliese M, Rodriguez MJ, 

Gimeno-Bayon J, Pujadas L, Billett 

EE, Wells C, Mahy N. Alzheimer’s 

Disease Modifies Progenitor Cell 

Expression of Monoamine Oxidase 

B in the Subventricular Zone. J 

NEUROSCI RES, 2010. 88:2588- 

2597. I.F.:2,99. 

2 Alberdi E, Sanchez-Gomez MV, 

Cavaliere F, Perez-Samartin A, 

Zugaza JL, Trullas R, Domercq M, 

Matute C. Amyloid beta oligomers 

induce Ca2+ dysregulation and 

neuronal death through activation 

of ionotropic glutamate receptors. 

CELL CALCIUM, 2010. 47:264-272. 

I.F.:4,29. 

3 Ortiz O, Delgado-Garcia JM, 

Espadas I, Bahi A, Trullas R, 

Dreyer JL, Gruart A, Moratalla R. 

Associative Learning and CA3-CA1 

Synaptic Plasticity Are Impaired 

in D1R Null, Drd1a(-/-) Mice and 

in Hippocampal siRNA Silenced 

Drd1a Mice. J NEUROSCI, 2010. 

30:12288-12300. I.F.:7,18. 

4 Pugliese M, Carrasco JL, 

Gomez-Anson B, Andrade C, 

Zamora A, Rodriguez MJ, Mascort 

J, Mahy N. Magnetic resonance 

imaging of cerebral involutional 

changes in dogs as markers of 

aging An innovative tool adapted 

from a human visual rating scale. 

VET J, 2010. 186:166-171. I.F.:2,32. 

Mahy N. Validación del efecto 

neuroprotector de la glibenclamida 

en la isquemia cerebral. Sponsored 

by: MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN 

Y CIENCIA, PET2007-0450. 


12/09/2008-11/09/2010. 

Trullas R. Regulación de proteinas 

sinapticas por la pentraxina 

neuronal y disfuncion sinaptica 

en modelos de alzheimer. 


Ciencia e Innovación, SAF2008- 

03514. Amount: 229.900,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Mahy N. Grup de Neuroquímica FM. 

Sponsored by: AGAUR (Generalitat 

de Catalunya), 2009SGR1380. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Mahy N, Villoslada P. Nuevas 

aproximaciones terapéuticas para la 

Esclerosis Múltiple y la Esclerosis 

Lateral Amiotrófica: efectos 

modificadores de la enfermedad 

y neuroprotección. Sponsored by: 

ADVANCELL-Advanced in vitro 

cell techno., IPT-010000-2010- 

0035. Amount: 487.254,00 euros. 

Duration: 25/06/2010-31/12/2012. 

245

5

oncology and 

HAEMATOLOGY 

Biological markers in oncology 248 

Human and experimental functional oncomorphology 250 

Diagnosis and therapy in oncology 256 

Molecular genetics 260 

Genetics 262 

Melanoma: imaging, genetics and immunology 265 

Hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation 268 

Hematological oncology 272 

Physiopathology and molecular bases in hematology 279 

Hemotherapy – hemostasis 282 

Molecular and translational oncology 286 

Cell proliferation and signaling 290

AREA 5 

Oncology and haematology 

Biological markers in oncology 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Xavier Filella (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Maria Ballesta (Hospital Clínic - UB) 


Jose M. Escudero (Hospital Clínic) 

Technicians: 

M. Sánchez (Fundació Bosch i Gimpera) 

TEAM LEADER 

Rafael Molina 

(Hospital Clínic - 

Facultat de Medicina) 

Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

E-mail: rmolina@clinic.ub.es 


C. Aparicio (Hospital Clínic) 

F. Coca (Hospital Clínic) 

Amàlia Lafuente (Facultat de Medicina) 

M. Portas (Hospital Clínic) 

S. Román (Hospital Clínic) 

M. Sasot (Hospital Clínic) 

José María Auge Fradera (Fundació Clínic) 

The activity of the group is fundamentally 

circumscribed to the setting of 

applied clinical research, and takes place 

in collaboration with different clinical 

groups both within and outside the Hospital 

Clínic of Barcelona. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Circulating tumor markers. Development 

of new techniques for the 

study of biological markers, which 

are the peripheral expression of the 

presence of malignant tumors. Study 

of the usefulness of proPSA in the 

diagnosis of prostate cancer. Evaluation 

of new tumor markers such 

as: ProGRP (progastrin releasing 

peptide), of use in undifferentiated 

small cell lung carcinoma, epididymal 

protein HE4, of great interest in 

ovarian cancer; andthymidine kinase 

for lung tumors. Comparison of the 

clinical application of the isoforms of 

squamous cell carcinoma-associated 

antigen, and evaluation of the S-100 

isoforms and their implication in the 

study of malignant melanoma. 

2. Consolidation of diagnostic guides 

to the clinical use of tumor markers. 

Collaboration with European 

and North American groups for establishing 

consensus and publishing 

clinical guides. Diffusion of these guides 

at national level through the Cancer 

Biological Markers Commission, 

created by members of the group, 

within the scientific committee of the 

Spanish Society of Biochemistry and 

Molecular Pathology. 

3. Incorporation of a quantitative 

technique for the detection of 

circulating cells of epithelial tumors 

(CECs), and improvement of 

the methods to obtain, separate 

and quantify them based on the 

detection of mRNA encoding for 

cytokeratin-19. Evaluation of the 

clinical interest of this methodology 

in application to breast and prostate 

248

AREA 5 


Biological markers in oncology 

neoplasms. Study of mutations of 

oncogenes and suppressor genes 

based on PCR-SSCP techniques (ras 

and p53), and p16 and p14 methylation 

studies. 

4. Collaboration in the colon and 

rectal cancer population screening 

program through the detection of 

occult blood in stools. During the 

last year over 15,000 asymptomatic 

individuals have been analyzed. 

5. Development of a software application 

for establishing risk in patients 

with symptoms suggestive 

of lung cancer, assessing risk based 

on the determination of 6 tumors 

markers, with orientation regarding 

the histological type (small cell or 

non-small cell carcinoma). In process 

of license obtainment for diffusion. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 20,19 

1 Alcover J, Filella X, Luque P, Molina 

R, Izquierdo L, Auge JM, Alcaraz 

A. Prognostic Value of IL-6 in Localized 

Prostatic Cancer. ANTICANCER 

RES, 2010. 30:4369-4372. I.F.:1,43. 





oncoprotein, CEA, and CA 15.3) in 

patients with locoregional breast cancer: 

prognostic value. TUMOR BIOL, 

2010. 31:171-180. I.F.:1,94. 

6. Investigation of cytokine involvement 

in cancer development and 

progression. We are consolidating 

research into the clinical usefulness 

of cytokines in cancer patients. This 

line is preferentially developed in 

hematological and urological neoplasms. 

7. Markers used in pharmacogenetics. 

Study of the genetic polymorphisms 

implicated in metabolism and pharmacological 

targets. This line is 

particularly focused on predicting the 

safety and efficacy of antineoplastic 

drugs. During the last year we have 

developed high performance genotyping 

techniques, such as minisequencing-SBE. 

3 Molina R, Auge JM, Farrus B, Zanon 

G, Pahisa J, Munoz M, Torne A, 







56:1148-1157. I.F.:6,26. 

4 Moreno C, Hodgson K, Ferrer G, 

Elena M, Filella X, Pereira A, Baumann 

T, Montserrat E. Autoimmune 

cytopenia in chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia: prevalence, clinical associations, 

and prognostic significance. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:4771-4776. 

I.F.:10,56. 

249

AREA 5 



Red temática de investigación 

cooperativa de cáncer 

Human and experimental functional oncomorphology 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Elías Campo Güerri 


Tel.: 93 227 54 50 

Fax: 93 227 57 17 

E-mail: ecampo@clinic.ub.es 

1. Identification of genetic and molecular 

mechanisms implicated in 

the development and progression 

of human neoplasms. 

2. Development of strategies for 

transferring to clinical practice 

the knowledge generated by basic 

research on human tumors. Identification 

of parameters allowing the 

improved diagnosis and prognosis 

of neoplastic disease, and the 

identification of possible therapeutic 

targets. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Llúcia Alós (Hospital Clínic) 

Virginia Amador (IDIBAPS) 

Silvia M. Beà (Fundació Clínic) 

Josep Antoni Bombí (Hospital Clínic) 

Pedro Luis Fernández (Hospital Clínic) 

Lluis Hernández Pous (IDIBAPS) 

Pedro Jares (Hospital Clínic) 

Carme Mallofré (Hospital Clínic) 

Alfons Nadal (Hospital Clinic) 

Antonio Palacín (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Postigo (ICREA - IDIBAPS) 

José Francisco Ramírez (Hospital Clínic) 

Teresa María Ribalta (Hospital Clínic) 

Manel Solé (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Martínez Pozo (Hospital Clínic) 

Lluis Colomo (Hospital Clínic) 


Ana Enjuanes Guardiola (IDIBAPS) 


Julia Calvo Castillo (Fundació Clínic) 

Alba Navarro López (MCyT) 

Cristina Royo Moreno (MCyT) 

Raquel Bermudo Gascón (IDIBAPS) 

Maria Carmela Vegliante (Fundació Clínic) 

Adriana García Herrera (Hospital Clínic) 

Lourdes Sánchez Cid (IDIBAPS) 

Jara Palomero Gorrindo (MCyT) 

Marta Kulis (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Laura Pla Rodríguez (IDIBAPS) 

Miriam Prieto Beato (IDIBAPS) 

Montse Sánchez Reina (IDIBAPS) 

Sara Guijarro Gallardo (Fundació Clínic) 

Concepción Muñoz Lozano (IDIBAPS) 

Eva Fernández López (Fundació Clínic - CDB) 

Laura Gelabert Blesa (IDIBAPS) 

Cristina Capdevilla (Fundació Clinic) 

Mónica Marín (CDB - XBTC) 

Noelia García Martínez (Fundació Clínic) 

Silvia Martín (Fundació Clínic) 


Judith Safont (Fundació Clínic) 


Carmen Muro (Fundació Clínic) 

Nathalie Villahoz (Fundació Clínic) 

Staticians: 

Guillem Clot Razquin (Fundació Clínic) 


Rosa Miquel Morera (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Conde del Campo (Fundació Clínic) 

Ester Sánchez Tilló (IDIBAPS) 

Magdalena Pinyol Martínez (IDIBAPS) 

Roberto Alonso Gil (Fundació Clínic) 

1. Lymphoid neoplasms 

a) Study of the alterations of the 

molecular mechanisms related 

to the cell cycle, genomic instability 

and the transcriptional 

expression profiles involved in 

the development and progression 

of these tumors as biomarkers 

of clinicopathological 

relevance. 

b) Functional study of molecular 

factors that may contribute to 

tumor pathogenesis, and which 

therefore may be candidates 

for the development of novel 

guided treatment strategies. 

2. Solid neoplasms 

a) Study of the molecular mechanisms 

of invasion and metastasis, 

transcriptional expression 

profiles implicated in the development 

and progression of 

different human tumors in relation 

to development, biological 

aggressivity (adhesion molecules) 

and therapeutic options. 

We focus mainly on breast and 

prostate tumors as neoplasms 

under hormone influence, and 

urological tumors and airway 

neoplasms – including head and 

neck tumors. 

b) Study of the possible criteria of 

treatment response and prognosis 

in neurological tumors. 

250

AREA 5 



Microarray platforms allow the massive-scale 

analysis of genic expression profiles. In our group 

we use this technique in translation research of 

human lymphomas, as can be seen in the image, 

where cluster analysis allows us to detect new types 

of lymphomas at molecular level that also exhibit 

different clinical behaviors. 


Molecular pathology of solid tumors 

Group Leader: Pedro Luis Fernández (Hospital Clínic) 

The group studying the progression of solid neoplasms has continued with the 

analysis of different tumor types, including urological, breast, neurological and head 

and neck neoplasms. In reference to prostate cancer, mention may be made of the 

investigation of practical applications of its genetic signature, based on the analysis 

of surplus biopsy material. Different potential partners in the industry have been contacted to this 

effect. In addition, in collaboration with the group of Dr. Thomson, or the IBM-CSIC in Barcelona, 

studies have been of cellular models of prostate cancer with different aggressivity profiles and 

phenotypes, and which are being extended to “in vivo” studies in mice. In breast cancer, analyses 

have been made of the transcriptional profiles of primary infiltrating ductal carcinomas and their lymph 

node metastases, which have allowed us to define genetic signatures of disease progression and 

potential metabolic pathways affected by them in the early metastatic process. Furthermore, inverse 

genetic studies based on transcriptomic results have given rise to the discovery of genic alterations in 

chromosomes 5 and 12 that may help to differentiate tumors with lymph node metastatic potential. 

In reference to neural neoplasms, confirmation and validation studies are ongoing, referred to 

the candidate genes EPHB1, BNIP3 and STAT1, obtained from the genic expression analyses of 

glioblastomas in patients with an unusually prolonged survival. These identified genes are implicated 

in signaling pathways and intercellular interactions, in the development and function of the nervous 

system, and in cell movement and cancer. On the other hand, analyses are being continued of 1p and 

19q by FISH in oligodendrogial tumors and their morphological correlation, and of the clinical course 

and prognostic or predictive value of the methylation status of MGMT in malignant gliomas amenable 

to treatment with alkylating agents. In 2010, we have introduced the study of a new diagnostic and 

prognostic marker of malignant gliomas, known as IDH1, the full potential role of which remains to be 

defined. The research line in head and neck disorders explores the genetic alterations characterizing 

premalignant lesions of the oral cavity, with special emphasis on those that may be predictive of the 

development of oral carcinoma. In addition, analyses are made of the molecular alterations implicated 

in laryngeal cancer, and particularly of acquisition of the metastatic phenotype. 


Transcriptional regulation 

of genic expression 

Group Leader: Antonio Postigo 

(IDIBAPS) 

The laboratory investigates 

mechanisms involved in the regulation 

of genic expression during cell 

differentiation and in cancer, using 

as models the ZEB transcription 

factors. The ZEB1 and ZEB2 proteins 

regulate key events during embryonic 

development, the truncal maintenance 

of normal stem cells and cancer cells, 

the differentiation of many tissues, 

tumor invasion, and metastasis. The 

main lines of research being developed 

are the following: - Study of the 

mechanisms by which ZEB1 and ZEB2 

regulate E-cadherin and epithelialmesenchymal 

transition (EMT) 

during tumor invasion and carcinoma 

metastasis.- Role of the ZEB1 and 

ZEB2 proteins in genic regulation during 

normal hematopoietic differentiation 

and its malignant transformation.Figure 

legend: ZEB1 and BRG1 regulate the 

initial phases of tumor invasion in 

carcinomas. 

251

AREA 5 




Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 317,65 

1 Lujan B, Hakim S, Moyano S, 

Nadal A, Caballero M, Diaz A, Valera 

A, Carrera M, Cardesa A, Alos L. 

Activation of the EGFR/ERK pathway 

in high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas 

of the salivary glands. BRIT 

J CANCER, 2010. 103:510-516. 

I.F.:4,35. 

2 Diaz A, Alos L, Leon A, Mozos A, 

Caballero M, Martinez A, Plana M, 

Gallart T, Gil C, Leal M, Gatell JM, 

Garcia F. Factors associated with collagen 

deposition in lymphoid tissue 

in long-term treated HIV-infected 

patients. AIDS, 2010. 24:2029-2039. 

I.F.:4,91. 




E, Benito N, Garcia F, Agusti C, 

Wilson PE, Gatell JM, DeAnta MTJ, 

Meshnick SR, Moreno A. Prevalence 

of dihydropteroate synthase genotypes 

before and after the introduction 

of combined antiretroviral therapy 

and their influence on the outcome of 



DIS, 2010. 68:60-65. I.F.:2,45. 

4 Sanchez-Tillo E, Lazaro A, Torrent 

R, Cuatrecasas M, Vaquero EC, 

Castells A, Engel P, Postigo A. ZEB1 

represses E-cadherin and induces 

an EMT by recruiting the SWI/SNF 

chromatin-remodeling protein BRG1. 

ONCOGENE, 2010. 29:3490-3500. 

I.F.:7,14. 

5 Martinez-Olondris P, Sibila O, Agusti 

C, Rigol M, Soy D, Esquinas C, Piner 

R, Luque N, Guerrero L, Quera MA, 

Marco F, DeLaBellacasa JP, Ramirez 

J, Torres A. An experimental model 

of pneumonia induced by methicillinresistant 

Staphylococcus aureus in 

ventilated piglets. EUR RESPIR J, 

2010. 36:901-906. I.F.:5,53. 






G, Brugada J, Bayes-Genis A, Heras 

M. Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived 

Stem Cell Therapy After Myocardial 

Infarction: Impact of the Route of Administration. 

J CARD FAIL, 2010. 16:357- 

366. I.F.:3,25. 

7 Criado E, Sanchez M, Ramirez 

J, Arguis P, DeCaralt TM, Perea RJ, 

Xaubet A. Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: 

Typical and Atypical Manifestations at 

High-Resolution CT with Pathologic 

Correlation. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:1567-U155. I.F.:2,75. 

8 Izquierdo L, Truan D, Mengual L, 

Mallofre C, Alcaraz A. HER-2/AKT Expression 

in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial 

Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications. 

ANTICANCER RES, 2010. 30:2439- 

2445. I.F.:1,43. 

9 Sanjuan A, Escaramis G, Vidal-Sicart 

S, Illa M, Zanon G, Pahisa J, Rubi S, Velasco 

M, Santamaria G, Farrus B, Munoz 

M, Garcia Y, Fernandez PL, Pons F. 

Predicting Non-Sentinel Lymph Node 

Status in Breast Cancer Patients with 

Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement: 

Evaluation of Two Scoring Systems. 

BREAST J, 2010. 16:134-140. I.F.:1,61. 

10 Molina R, Auge JM, Farrus B, 

Zanon G, Pahisa J, Munoz M, Torne A, 







56:1148-1157. I.F.:6,26. 



ML, Ivorra C, Dominguez M, Conde L, 

Millan C, Mari M, Colmenero J, Lozano 

JJ, Jares P, Vidal J, Forns X, Arroyo V, Caballeria 

J, Gines P, Bataller R. Ghrelin Attenuates 

Hepatocellular Injury and Liver 

Fibrogenesis in Rodents and Influences 

Fibrosis Progression in Humans. HEPA- 

TOLOGY, 2010. 51:974-985. I.F.:10,84. 

12 Lacima G, Pera M, Amador A, Escaramis 

G, Pique JM. Long-term results 

of biofeedback treatment for faecal 

incontinence: a comparative study with 

untreated controls. COLORECTAL DIS, 

2010. 12:742-749. I.F.:2,41. 


B, Sole F, Royo C, Navarro A, Camacho 

F, Bea S, Hartmann E, Amador 

V, Hernandez L, Agostinelli C, Sargent 

RL, Rozman M, Aymerich M, Colomer 

D, Villamor N, Swerdlow SH, Pileri SA, 

Bosch F, Piris MA, Montserrat E, Ott 

G, Rosenwald A, Lopez-Guillermo A, 

Jares P, Serrano S, Campo E. Genomic 

and Gene Expression Profiling Defines 

Indolent Forms of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. 

CANCER RES, 2010. 70:1408- 

1418. I.F.:7,54. 

14 Martin M, Segui MA, Anton A, 

Ruiz A, Ramos M, Adrover E, Aranda 

I, Rodriguez-Lescure A, Grosse R, 

Calvo L, Barnadas A, Isla D, DelPrado 

PM, Borrego M, Zaluski J, Arcusa A, 

Munoz M, Vega JM, Mel JR, Munarriz 

B, Llorca C, Jara C, Alba E, Florian J, Li 

JF, Garcia-Asenjo JA, Saez A, Rios M, 

Almenar S, Peiro G, Lluch A. Adjuvant 

Docetaxel for High-Risk, Node-Negative 

Breast Cancer.. NEW ENGL J MED, 

2010. 363:2200-2210. I.F.:47,05. 

15 Davis RE, Ngo VN, Lenz G, Tolar 

P, Young RM, Romesser PB, Kohlhammer 

H, Lamy L, Zhao H, Yang YD, Xu 

WH, Shaffer AL, Wright G, Xiao WM, 

Powell J, Jiang JK, Thomas CJ, Ro- 

252

AREA 5 



senwald A, Ott G, Muller-Hermelink HK, 

Gascoyne RD, Connors JM, Johnson NA, 

Rimsza LM, Campo E, Jaffe ES, Wilson 

WH, Delabie J, Smeland EB, Fisher RI, 

Braziel RM, Tubbs RR, Cook JR, Weisenburger 

DD, Chan WC, Pierce SK, Staudt 

LM. Chronic active B-cell-receptor signalling 

in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 

NATURE, 2010. 463:88-U97. I.F.:34,48. 

16 Gutierrez-Garcia G, Colomo L, Villamor 

N, Arenillas L, Martinez A, Cardesa 

T, Garcia-Herrera A, Setoain X, Rodriguez 

S, Ghita G, Abrisqueta P, Gine E, Bosch F, 

Campo E, Montserrat E, Lopez-Guillermo 

A. Clinico-biological characterization and 

outcome of primary nodal and extranodal 

diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the 

rituximab era. LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA, 

2010. 51:1225-1232. I.F.:2,40. 

17 Crowther-Swanepoel D, Broderick 

P, DiBernardo MC, Dobbins SE, Torres 

M, Mansouri M, Ruiz-Ponte C, Enjuanes 

A, Rosenquist R, Carracedo A, Jurlander 

J, Campo E, Juliusson G, Montserrat 

E, Smedby KE, Dyer MJS, Matutes E, 

Dearden C, Sunter NJ, Hall AG, Mainou- 

Fowler T, Jackson GH, Summerfield G, 

Harris RJ, Pettitt AR, Allsup DJ, Bailey 

JR, Pratt G, Pepper C, Fegan C, Parker A, 

Oscier D, Allan JM, Catovsky D, Houlston 

RS. Common variants at 2q37.3, 

8q24.21, 15q21.3 and 16q24.1 influence 

chronic lymphocytic leukemia risk. NAT 

GENET, 2010. 42:132-U59. I.F.:34,28. 

18 Rui LX, Emre NCT, Kruhlak MJ, 

Chung HJ, Steidl C, Slack G, Wright GW, 

Lenz G, Ngo VN, Shaffer AL, Xu WH, 

Zhao H, Yang YD, Lamy L, Davis RE, Xiao 

WM, Powell J, Maloney D, Thomas CJ, 

Moller P, Rosenwald A, Ott G, Muller- 

Hermelink HK, Savage K, Connors JM, 

Rimsza LM, Campo E, Jaffe ES, Delabie 

J, Smeland EB, Weisenburger DD, Chan 

WC, Gascoyne RD, Levens D, Staudt 

LM. Cooperative Epigenetic Modulation 

by Cancer Amplicon Genes. CANCER 

CELL, 2010. 18:590-605. I.F.:25,29. 

19 Perez-Magan E, DeLope AR, 

Ribalta T, Ruano Y, Campos-Martin Y, 

Perez-Bautista G, Garcia JF, Garcia- 

Claver A, Fiano C, Hernandez-Moneo 

JL, Mollejo M, Melendez B. Differential 

expression profiling analyses identifies 

downregulation of 1p, 6q, and 14q genes 

and overexpression of 6p histone 

cluster 1 genes as markers of recurrence 

in meningiomas. NEURO-ONCOLO- 

GY, 2010. 12:1278-1290. I.F.:4,98. 

20 Bermudo R, Abia D, Benitez D, 

Carrio A, Vilella R, Ortiz AR, Thomson 

TM, Fernandez PL. Discovery of genomic 

alterations through coregulation 

analysis of closely linked genes: a 

frequent gain in 17q25.3 in prostate 

cancer. ANN NY ACAD SCI, 2010. 

1210:17-24. I.F.:2,67. 

21 Costa D, Valera S, Carrio A, Arias 

A, Munoz C, Rozman M, Belkaid M, 

Coutinho R, Nomdedeu B, Campo E. 

Do we need to do fluorescence in situ 

hybridization analysis in myelodysplastic 

syndromes as often as we do?. 

LEUKEMIA RES, 2010. 34:1437-1441. 

I.F.:2,36. 

22 Gine E, Martinez A, Villamor N, 

Lopez-Guillermo A, Camos M, Martinez 

D, Esteve J, Calvo X, Muntanola 

A, Abrisqueta P, Rozman M, Rozman 

C, Bosch F, Campo E, Montserrat E. 

Expanded and highly active proliferation 

centers identify a histological subtype 

of chronic lymphocytic leukemia 

(“accelerated” chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia) with aggressive clinical behavior. 

HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 2010. 

95:1526-1533. I.F.:6,42. 

23 Mani H, Climent F, Colomo L, 

Pittaluga S, Raffeld M, Jaffe ES. Gall 

Bladder and Extrahepatic Bile Duct 

Lymphomas: Clinicopathological Observations 

and Biological Implications. AM 

J SURG PATHOL, 2010. 34:1277-1286. 

I.F.:4,06. 

24 Valera A, Balague O, Colomo L, 

Martinez A, Delabie J, Taddesse-Heath 

L, Jaffe ES, Campo E. IG/MYC Rearrangements 

are the Main Cytogenetic 

Alteration in Plasmablastic Lymphomas. 

AM J SURG PATHOL, 2010. 

34:1686-1694. I.F.:4,06. 

25 Espinet B, Salaverria I, Bea S, 

Ruiz-Xiville N, Balague O, Salido M, 

Costa D, Carreras J, Rodriguez-Vicente 

AE, Garcia JL, Hernandez-Rivas 

JM, Calasanz MJ, Siebert R, Ferrer A, 

Salar A, Carrio A, Polo N, Garcia-Marco 

JA, Domingo A, Gonzalez-Barca 

E, Romagosa V, Marugan I, Lopez- 

Guillermo A, Milla F, Mate JL, Luno E, 

Sanzo C, Collado R, Oliver I, Monzo 

S, Palacin A, Gonzalez T, Sant F, Salinas 

R, Ardanaz MT, Font L, Escoda L, 

Florensa L, Serrano S, Campo E, Sole 

F. Incidence and Prognostic Impact of 

Secondary Cytogenetic Aberrations in 

a Series of 145 Patients with Mantle 

Cell Lymphoma. GENE CHROMO- 

SOME CANC, 2010. 49:439-451. 

I.F.:3,86. 

26 Bonin S, Hlubek F, Benhattar J, 

Denkert C, Dietel M, Fernandez PL, 

Hofler G, Kothmaier H, Kruslin B, Mazzanti 

CM, Perren A, Popper H, Scarpa 

A, Soares P, Stanta G, Groenen PJTA. 

Multicentre validation study of nucleic 

acids extraction from FFPE tissues. 

VIRCHOWS ARCH, 2010. 457:309- 

317. I.F.:2,31. 

27 Hartmann EM, Campo E, Wright 

G, Lenz G, Salaverria I, Jares P, Xiao 

WM, Braziel RM, Rimsza LM, Chan 

WC, Weisenburger DD, Delabie J, 

Jaffe ES, Gascoyne RD, Dave SS, 

Mueller-Hermelink HK, Staudt LM, 

Ott G, Bea S, Rosenwald A. Pathway 

discovery in mantle cell lymphoma by 

integrated analysis of high-resolution 

gene expression and copy number 

profiling. BLOOD, 2010. 116:953-961. 

I.F.:10,56. 

253

AREA 5 




Team Members 

28 Massi D, Franchi A, Alos L, Cook 

M, DiPalma S, Enguita AB, Ferrara 

G, Kazakov DV, Mentzel T, Michal M, 

Panelos J, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Santucci 

M, Tragni G, Zioga A, Tos APD. 

Primary cutaneous leiomyosarcoma: 

clinicopathological analysis of 36 cases. 

HISTOPATHOLOGY, 2010. 56:251-262. 

I.F.:3,86. 

29 Yakirevich E, Sabo E, Klorin G, 

Alos L, Cardesa A, Ellis GL, Shumway 

BS, Gnepp DR. Primary mucin-producing 

tumours of the salivary glands: a 

clinicopathological and morphometric 

study. HISTOPATHOLOGY, 2010. 

57:395-409. I.F.:3,86. 

30 Santamaria G, Velasco M, Bargallo 

X, Caparros X, Farrus B, Fernandez 

PL. Radiologic and Pathologic Findings 

in Breast Tumors with High Signal 

Intensity on T2-weighted MR Images. 

RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 30:533-548. 

I.F.:2,75. 

31 Willers IM, Isidoro A, Ortega 

AD, Fernandez PL, Cuezva JM. Selective 

inhibition of beta-F1-ATPase 

mRNA translation in human tumours. 

BIOCHEM J, 2010. 426:319-326. 

I.F.:5,16. 

32 Steidl C, Lee T, Shah SP, Farinha 

P, Han G, Nayar T, Delaney A, Jones 

SJ, Iqbal J, Weisenburger DD, Bast 

MA, Rosenwald A, Muller-Hermelink 

HK, Rimsza LM, Campo E, Delabie 

J, Braziel RM, Cook JR, Tubbs RR, 

Jaffe ES, Lenz G, Connors JM, Staudt 

LM, Chan WC, Gascoyne RD. Tumor- 

Associated Macrophages and Survival 

in Classic Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. NEW 

ENGL J MED, 2010. 362:875-885. 

I.F.:47,05. 

33 Crowther-Swanepoel D, Mansouri 

M, Enjuanes A, Vega A, Smedby 

KE, Ruiz-Ponte C, Jurlander J, Juliusson 

G, Montserrat E, Catovsky D, 

Campo E, Carracedo A, Rosenquist 

R, Houlston RS. Verification that 

common variation at 2q37.1, 6p25.3, 

11q24.1, 15q23, and 19q13.32 influences 

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia 

risk. BRIT J HAEMATOL, 2010. 

150:473-479. I.F.:4,60. 

34 Papadopoulou V, Postigo A, 

Sanchez-Tillo E, Porter ACG, Wagner 

SD. ZEB1 and CtBP form a repressive 

complex at a distal promoter element 

of the BCL6 locus. BIOCHEM J, 2010. 

427:541-550. I.F.:5,16. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 2,75 

1 Castaner E, Alguersuari A, Gallardo 

X, Andreu M, Pallardo Y, Mata JM, 

Ramirez J. When to Suspect Pulmonary 

Vasculitis: Radiologic and Clinical 

Clues. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:33-U59. I.F.:2,75. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 8,35 

1 Bea S. Amplifications and target 

genes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: 

real targets or consequences of 

structural features of the genome?. 

LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA, 2010. 

51:743-744. I.F.:2,40. 

2 Horcajada JP, Perea RJ, Ribalta 

T, Gonzalez-Martin J. An 80-year-old 

male with pleural effusion and mediastinal 

lymph nodes. MED CLIN- 

BARCELONA, 2010. 135:700-706. 

I.F.:1,23. 

3 Leal L, Vicente MA, Mascaro JM, 

Bombi JA, Gonzalez-Ensenat MA. Picture 

of the Month - Denounement and 

Discussion - Kindler Syndrome. ARCH 

PEDIAT ADOL MED, 2010. 164:875- 

876. I.F.:4,73. 


I.F.: 2,46 

1 Navarro S, Vaquero E, Maurel J, 

Bombi JA, DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz 

LF, Gines A, Girela E, Rodriguez R, 

Sabater L. Recommendations for 

diagnosis, staging and treatment of 

pancreatic cancer (Part I). Grupo Español 

de Consenso en Cáncer de Páncreas. 

MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 

134:643-655. I.F.:1,23. 


Bombi JA, DeJuan C, Feliu J, Cruz LF, 

Gines A, Girela E, Rodriguez R, Sabater 

L. Recommendations for diagnosis, 


cancer (Part II). MED CLIN-BARCELO- 

NA, 2010. 134:692-702. I.F.:1,23. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 34,48 

1 Hudson TJ, Anderson W, Aretz A, 

Barker AD, Bell C, et al. International 

network of cancer genome projects. 

NATURE, 2010. 464:993-998. I.F.:34,48. 


in progress 

Jares P. Identification of Tumor Supressor 

Genes, Epigenetic Portrait, 

and Genotyping of Mantle Cell Lymphomas. 

Sponsored by: Lymphoma 

Research Foundation, 07/168. 


01/05/2007-30/04/2010. 

Postigo A. Regulación de la Cadherina e 

y de la capacidad invasiva/metastásica 

de tumores epiteliales por la familia 

ZEB de represores transcripcionales. 


y Ciencia, BFU2007-60302/BMC. 


01/10/2007-04/10/2010. 

254

AREA 5 



Campo E. Red temática de investigación 

cooperativa de cáncer. Sponsored 


RD06/0020/0039. Amount: 455.296,66 


Martinez A. Estudio de la activación de 

las vías de supervivencia y apoptosis en 

respuesta al estrés secretor dependiente 

del retículo endoplasmítico en linfomas 

de células grandes como una nueva diana 

terapéutica. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

Sanidad y Consumo, PI080095. Amount: 


01/12/2012. 

Bea S. Estudio de las Alteraciones Genómicas 

y los Perfiles de Expresión de 

Neoplasias Linfoides. Identificación de 

genes diana implicados en el desarrollo 

y progresión de estas neoplasias y 

definición de su impacto clínico. Sponsored 



Duration: 31/12/2008-30/12/2011. 

Amador V. Estudio de los mecanismos 

responsables de la estabilización de skp2 

en los linfomas humanos. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, 

V-2006-RC-2110-0. Amount: 15.000,00 


Campo E. Molecular Signatures to 

Improve Diagnosis and Outcome Prediction 

in Lymphomas. Sponsored by: 

National Institutes of Health, USA, 5 U01 

CA114778-03. Amount: 510.948,00 euros. 

Duration: 31/07/2007-31/05/2010. 

Campo E. Caracterización Genética y 

Molecular de Alta Resolución de Neoplasias 

Linfoides. Implicaciones patogenéticas 

y clínicas. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, SAF2008- 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Campo E. Estudio de la Genómica de la 

Leucemia Linfocítica Crónica. Sponsored 

by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 0000. 


27/03/2009-31/12/2012. 

Campo E. Ajuts per donar suport a 

les activitats dels grups de recerca. 

Sponsored by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 

2009, SGR_992. Amount: 


31/12/2013. 

Ribalta T. Ayuda a grupo emergente 

“Grupo de estudio de Tumores del 

Sistema Nervioso Central. Sponsored 

by: Fundación para la Investigación Sanitaria 

en Castilla-La Mancha (FISCAM), 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Jares P. Identificación de potenciales 

genes supresores de tumores en neoplasias 

linfoides y análisis de su implicación 

en el desarrollo y progresión de 

estas neoplasias. Sponsored by: Asociación 

Española contra el cáncer, PI09 

09/004. Amount: 18.000,00 euros. Duration: 

13/10/2008-22/01/2011. 

Fernandez PL. Análisis de los fenotipos 

CSC y EMT y su potencial modulación 

por miRNA en la progresión de 

los tumores mamarios y próstáticos. 


e Innovación FIS, PI080274. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Amador V. Papel de los factores de 

transcripción High-Mobility Group 

(HMG) en los Linformas Malignos 

Agresivos. Sponsored by: MINISTERIO 

DE EDUCACIÓN, BFU2009_09235. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Postigo A. Regulación transcripcional 

de la cadherina E y de la capacidad invasiva 

y metastática de tumores de colon. 

Sponsored by: Fundació Privada Olga 

Torres (FOT), FOT_09_002. Amount: 


31/12/2011. 

Campo E. Procurement of 40 paired 

pre- and post-chemotherapy 

samples of DNA derived from peripheral 

blood for TCGA analysis. 

Sponsored by: European Commission, 

HHSN261201000076I. Amount: 


07/09/2012. 

Thesis 

Campo E. Factors pronòstics en neoplàsies 

limfoides B de cèl·lula petita. PhD 

student: Joaquim Carreras Esteban. 

Nadal A. Mecanismos moleculares implicados 

en el desarrollo del carcinoma 

escamoso de laringe. PhD student: 

Laura Conde del Campo. 

Ribalta T. Fatal Human Tick-Borne 

Encephalitis: Immunohistochemical 

characterisation of viral distribution and 

inflammatory reaction. PhD student: 

Ellen Gelpi Mantius. 

Fernandez PL. Perfiles transcripcionales 

del cáncer de próstata. PhD student: 

Raquel Bermudo Gascón. 

255

AREA 5 




Factores de riesgo, evolución y tratamiento 

de las enfermedades cardiovasculares y 

sus mecanismos (RECAVA) 

& 



Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Francesca Pons 


Tel.: 93 227 54 82 

Fax: 93 451 81 37 

E-mail: 

fpons@clinic.ub.es 


Albert Biete (Hospital Clínic) 

Carles Conill (Hospital Clínic) 

David Fuster (Hospital Clínic) 

Xavier Setoain (Hospital Clínic) 

Martín Velasco (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergi Vidal-Sicart (Hospital Clínic) 

Marià Monzó (Universitat de Barcelona) 

Laura Oleaga (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Africa Muxí 


Sebastián Capurro (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Casas (Hospital Clínic) 

Lluís Donoso Bach (Hospital Clínic) 

Blanca Farrús (Hospital Clínic) 

Mario Pagés (Hospital Clínic) 

Teresa Pujol (Hospital Clínic) 

Sonia Rodríguez (Hospital Clínic) 

Angels Rovirosa (Hospital Clínic) 

Marcelo Sánchez (Hospital Clínic) 

Gorane Santamaría (Hospital Clínic) 

Eugènia Verger (Hospital Clínic) 

Pilar Paredes (Hospital Clínic) 

Francisco Lomeña (Hospital Clínic) 

Javier Pavía (Hospital Clínic) 

Francisco Campos (Hospital Clínic) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

1. Development of techniques for 

improving the diagnosis, prognostic 

evaluation and treatment response 

assessment in oncological patients. 

2. Development and application of new 

therapies in oncology. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Molecular studies in embryonic 

and tumor cells: applications to 

pharmacogenomics. 

Two types of studies are carried out: 

one type analyzes and compares 

microRNA patterns in embryonic 

and tumor tissues, and the other 

uses allelic discrimination to analyze 

polymorphic profiles (SNPs) in 

oncological patients, with a view to 

selecting more specific treatments. 

2. Effects of synchrotron radiation 

upon the neoplastic cell. 

In this study, which is carried out 

jointly with Barcelona Autonomous 

University (UAB), comparison is made 

of the biological action of synchrotron 

radiation (currently the Grenoble system 

until the UAB Alba unit comes into 

operation) with conventional X-rays 

used in radiotherapy. The cell-sensitizing 

effectiveness of gold nanoparticles and 

cisplatin is also studied. 

3. Irradiation of melanoma lymph 

node metastases. 

A study is made of the role of 

the postoperative irradiation of 

melanoma lymph node metastases 

in the locoregional control of the 

disease. 

4. Breast cancer imaging diagnosis. 

Two types of studies are carried 

out. One type of study uses 10G 

needle biopsies to improve the 

presurgical diagnosis of breast 

tumors, particularly in application 

to those with microcalcifications. 

The aim is to minimize the number 

of surgical biopsies required for 

establishing the diagnosis. The 

other type of study assesses 

the response to neoadjuvant 

chemotherapy in breast cancer 

based on breast MRI evaluation. 

5. Gammagraphic (scintigraphic) 

detection of the sentinel node. 

Lymphogammagraphy and posterior 

use of an external detection probe 

during surgery serves to identify 

and remove the sentinel node. 

This technique makes it possible 

to avoid 75% of all unnecessary 

lymphadenectomies. The use 

of a portable gammacamera 

during surgery offers additional 

advantages. 

6. Application of positron emission 

tomography (PET-CT) in 

oncology. 

PET studies are made for the 

staging and control of treatment 

response in different types of 

tumors, including lymphomas, 

breast cancer and digestive 

tract lesions. We plan to use an 

intraoperative PET probe to improve 

the detection of tumor lesions. 

Patient with endometrial 

carcinoma and drainage in 

the paraaortic region (A). A 

portable gammacamera was 

used to locate the sentinel 

node (B). The real time 

images (C) were decisive 

in removal of the sentinel 

node (yellow arrow), through 

coincidence of the 125-I signal 

(green circle) with the activity 

of the node (D). 

256

AREA 5 



PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 67,05 







with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome. 

J RHEUMATOL, 2010. 37:585-590. 

I.F.:3,85. 

2 Vidal-Sicart S, Paredes P, Zanon 

G, Pahisa J, Martinez-Roman S, 

Caparros X, Vilalta A, Rull R, Pons F. 

Added Value of Intraoperative Real-Time 

Imaging in Searches for Difficultto-Locate 

Sentinel Nodes. J NUCL 

MED, 2010. 51:1219-1225. I.F.:6,42. 

3 Valduvieco I, Rovirosa A, Colomo 

L, DeSanJuan A, Pahisa J, Biete A. 

Endometrial stromal sarcoma. Is 

there a place for radiotherapy?. CLIN 

TRANSL ONCOL, 2010. 12:226-230. 

I.F.:1,15. 





oncoprotein, CEA, and CA 15.3) in 

patients with locoregional breast cancer: 

prognostic value. TUMOR BIOL, 

2010. 31:171-180. I.F.:1,94. 


S, Illa M, Zanon G, Pahisa J, Rubi 

S, Velasco M, Santamaria G, Farrus 

B, Munoz M, Garcia Y, Fernandez 

PL, Pons F. Predicting Non-Sentinel 

Lymph Node Status in Breast Cancer 

Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node 

Involvement: Evaluation of Two 

Scoring Systems. BREAST J, 2010. 

16:134-140. I.F.:1,61. 

6 Molina R, Auge JM, Farrus B, Zanon 

G, Pahisa J, Munoz M, Torne A, Filella 

X, Escudero JM, Fernandez P, Velasco 

M. Prospective Evaluation of Carcinoembryonic 

Antigen (CEA) and Carbohydrate 

Antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) in Patients 

with Primary Locoregional Breast Cancer. 

CLIN CHEM, 2010. 56:1148-1157. 

I.F.:6,26. 

7 Hernandez MV, Peris P, Monegal A, 

Reyes R, Muxi A, Gifre L, Guanabens 

N. Effects of Intravenous Pamidronate 

on Renal Function, Bone Mineral Metabolism 

and Bone Mass in Patients With 

Severe Osteoporosis. AM J MED SCI, 

2010. 339:225-229. I.F.:1,20. 

8 Guanabens N, Cerda D, Monegal A, 

Pons F, Caballeria L, Peris P, Pares A. 

Low Bone Mass and Severity of Cholestasis 

Affect Fracture Risk in Patients 

With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. GAS- 

TROENTEROLOGY, 2010. 138:2348- 

2356. I.F.:12,90. 

9 Gabaroi DC, Peris P, Monegal A, 

Albaladejo C, Martinez MA, Muxi A, 

DeOsaba MJM, Suris X, Guanabens N. 

Search for hidden secondary causes in 

postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. 

MENOPAUSE, 2010. 17:135-139. 

I.F.:3,08. 


M, Donaire A, Boget T, Setoain 

X, Rumia J, Bargallo N. Efficiency of 

Venlafaxine in Patients With Psychogenic 

Nonepileptic Seizures and Anxiety 

and/or Depressive Disorders. J NEU- 

ROPSYCH CLIN N, 2010. 22:401-408. 

I.F.:2,34. 

11Carreno M, Garcia-Alvarez D, 

Maestro I, Fernandez S, Donaire A, 

Boget T, Rumia J, Pintor L, Setoain X. 

Malignant autosomal dominant frontal 

lobe epilepsy with repeated episodes 

of status epilepticus: successful 

treatment with vagal nerve stimulation. 

EPILEPTIC DISORD, 2010. 

12:155-158. I.F.:1,20. 

12 Sanchez-Gistau V, Pintor L, 

Sugranyes G, Bailles E, Carreno M, 

Donaire A, Boget T, Setoain X, Bargallo 

N, Rumia J. Prevalence of interictal 

psychiatric disorders in patients with 

refractory temporal and extratemporal 

lobe epilepsy in Spain. A comparative 

study. EPILEPSIA, 2010. 51:1309- 

1313. I.F.:4,05. 

13 Gutierrez-Garcia G, Colomo L, 

Villamor N, Arenillas L, Martinez A, 

Cardesa T, Garcia-Herrera A, Setoain 

X, Rodriguez S, Ghita G, Abrisqueta P, 

Gine E, Bosch F, Campo E, Montserrat 

E, Lopez-Guillermo A. Clinico-biological 

characterization and outcome 

of primary nodal and extranodal diffuse 

large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab 

era. LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA, 

2010. 51:1225-1232. I.F.:2,40. 

14 Santamaria G, Velasco M, 

Bargallo X, Caparros X, Farrus B, Fernandez 

PL. Radiologic and Pathologic 

Findings in Breast Tumors with High 

Signal Intensity on T2-weighted MR 

Images. RADIOGRAPHICS, 2010. 

30:533-548. I.F.:2,75. 

15 Vidal-Sicart S, Aukema TS, Vogel 

WV, Hoefnagel CA, Valdes-Olmos 

RA. Added value of prone position 

technique for PET-TAC in breast cancer 

patients. REV ESP MED NUCL, 

2010. 29:230-235. I.F.:0,77. 

16 Vila A, Sanchez-Reyes A, Conill 

C, Gispert JD, Trampal C, Lainez C, 

Vayreda J, Pedro A. Comparison of positron 

emission tomography (PET) and 

computed tomography (CT) for better 

target volume definition in radiation 

therapy planning. CLIN TRANSL ON- 

COL, 2010. 12:367-373. I.F.:1,15. 

257

AREA 5 



Team Members 

17 Torregrosa JV, Fuster D, Gentil 

MA, Marcen R, Guirado L, Zarraga S, 

Bravo J, Burgos D, Monegal A, Muxi 

A, Garcia S. Open-Label Trial: Effect 

of Weekly Risedronate Immediately 

After Transplantation in Kidney Recipients. 

TRANSPLANTATION, 2010. 

89:1476-1481. I.F.:3,50. 

18 Chawla S, Oleaga L, Wang SM, 

Krejza J, Wolf RL, Woo JH, O’rourke 

DM, Judy KD, Grady MS, Melhem 

ER, Poptani H. Role of Proton Magnetic 

Resonance Spectroscopy in 

Differentiating Oligodendrogliomas 

from Astrocytomas. J NEUROIMA- 

GING, 2010. 20:3-8. I.F.:1,72. 

19 Pinero A, Gimenez J, Vidal- 

Sicart S, Intra M. Selective sentinel 

lymph node biopsy and primary systemic 

therapy in breast cancer. TU- 

MORI, 2010. 96:17-23. I.F.:0,86. 

20 Gonzalez JA, Chust M, Delgado 

R, Gomez A, Rodriguez N, Ruiz MJ, 

Casas F. Spanish radiobiological pattern 

of care in lung cancer: a GOECP/ 

SEOR study. CLIN TRANSL ONCOL, 

2010. 12:292-298. I.F.:1,15. 

21 Oleaga L, Dalal SS, Weigele JB, 

Hurst RW, Lee J, Voorhees A, Melhem 

ER. The role of time-resolved 

3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography 

in the assessment and grading 

of cerebral arteriovenous malformations. 

EUR J RADIOL, 2010. 74:E118- 

E122. I.F.:2,65. 

22 Artells R, Moreno I, Diaz T, 

Martinez F, Gel B, Navarro A, Ibeas R, 

Moreno J, Monzo M. Tumour CD133 

mRNA expression and clinical outcome 

in surgically resected colorectal 

cancer patients. EUR J CANCER, 

2010. 46:642-649. I.F.:4,12. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 1,30 

1 Navarro A, Monzo M. MicroRNAs 

in Human Embryonic and Cancer 

Stem Cells. YONSEI MED J, 2010. 

51:622-632. I.F.:0,77. 

2 Torregrosa JV, Felez I, Fuster D. 

Usefulness of imaging techniques 

in secondary hyperparathyroidism. 

NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 30:158-167. 

I.F.:0,53. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 6,06 





29:319-320. I.F.:0,77. 

2 Domenech B, Fuster D, Haddad 

S, Setoain X, Lafuente S, Pons F. 

Arterial thrombosis of the renal graft 

diagnosed with Tc-99m-MAG 3 renogram 

in a female patient with polycystosis. 

REV ESP MED NUCL, 2010. 

29:40-41. I.F.:0,77. 

3 Olmos RAV, Vidal-Sicart S, 

Nieweg OE. Technological innovation 

in the sentinel node procedure: 

towards 3-D intraoperative imaging. 

EUR J NUCL MED MOL I, 2010. 

37:1449-1451. I.F.:4,53. 


in progress 

Setoain FJ. Development and 

validation of an automatic dose 

injection system for ictal spect in 

epilepsy. Sponsored by: Fundació 

Marató TV3, 60610. Amount: 


06/02/2007-05/02/2010. 

Fuster D. Utilidad de la tomografía por 

Emisión de Positrones con Tomografía 

Computerizada Integrada (PET/TC) 

en la estadificación inicial y en la 

monitorización de la respuesta a la 

quimioradioterapia neoadyuvante del 

adenocarcinoma gástrico. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Pons F. Valoración de la PET-TC 

(Tomografía de Emisión de Positrones- 

Tomografía Computarizada) de baja 

dosis sin utilización de contraste 

radiológico como única exploración 

de imagen para la estadificación y 

re-estadificación de los linfomas. 




26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Muxi A. RECAVA - Factores de 

Riesgo, Evolución y Tratamiento de 

las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares 

y sus Mecanismos. Sponsored by: 


RD06/0014/0024. Amount: 20.940,00 


31/12/2010. 

Pons F. Red temática de investigación 



RD06/0020/0038. Amount: 7.140,00 


31/12/2010. 

258

AREA 5 



Monzó M. Utilidad clínica de 

biomarcadores tumorales mediante 

análisis de microarrays de microRNAs 

en sangre periférica de pacientes con 

cáncer colorrectal. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 

PS09/00547. Amount: 86.515,00 


31/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Biete A. Radioterapia hipofraccionada 

acelerada como tratamiento curativo 

del cáncer de próstata localizado: 

Análisis prospectivo de la toxicidad 

aguda y de la toxicidad tardía. 

PhD student: Victor Angel Macias 

Hernandez. 

Santamaria G. Resonancia magnética 

dinámica del carcinoma in situ de 

mama: utilida en la planificación del 

tratamiento quirúrgico y relación 

de la captación neoplásica con 

la microvascularización tumoral 

y la expresión del factor de 

permeabilidad vascular. Sponsored 

by: Sociedad Española de Radiología 

Médica, 04-GSO-INVESTIGACION- 

SERAM-2007. Amount: 3.000,00 


31/10/2010. 

Monzó M. Utilidad clínica de 

biomarcadores tumorales mediante 

analisis de microarrays de microRNAs 

en sangre periférica de pacientes con 

cáncer colorrectal. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Vidal S. Utilidad clínica del SPECT-CT 

y una gammacamara portátil para la 

detección del ganglio centinela en 

el cáncer de cérvix y endometrio. 




01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Pons F. Imatge Molecular en Medicina 

Nuclear. Sponsored by: GENERALITAT 

DE CATALUNYA, 2009_SGR_1049. 


15/09/2009-31/12/2013. 

259

AREA 5 


Molecular genetics 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Cristóbal Mezquita 


Tel.: 93 402 45 18 

Fax: 93 403 52 79 


Jovita Mezquita (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Rafael Oliva 

(Hospital Clínic i Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Josep Oriola 

(Hospital Clínic i Facultat de Medicina UB) 

The research group comprises the 

laboratories ofGene Expression 

and Cancer and Human Genetics. 

Our research work is set within the 

paradigm of current physiology: the 

study of genic expression mechanisms 

as a new approach to the study of 

the functions of the body. On one 

hand, our work is presently directed 

towards the proteomic and molecular 

characterization of spermatozoa in 

infertile patients and controls, while 

on the other, studies are made of the 

mechanisms involved in angiogenesis 

and in tumor cell invasion. 

The group has traditionally worked 

in relation to mechanisms of genic 

expression and differentiation of the 

spermatogenic germinal line, and 

more recently on the mechanisms 

involved in angiogenesis and in 

tumor cell invasion. 

One of the relevant subjects has 

been the identification of numerous 

new proteins of the spermatozoon, 

with consideration of the potential 

for transmission to the oocyte and 

epigenetic function (Oliva et al., 

2010). We have also contributed 

to the identification of alterations 


Sara de Mateo (Fundació Clínic) 

Meritxell Jodar (Fundació Clinic) 

Rubén Azpiazu (Fundació Clinic) 

Judit Castillo (Fundació Clinic) 

Technicians: 

Montserrat Pau (Facultat de Medicina) 


Betlem Mezquita (Facultat de Medicina) 

José Manuel Vidal (Facultat de Medicina) 

Juan Martínez (Fundació Clínic) 

Josep Lluís Ballescà (Hospital Clínic) 

Principal changes in chromatin structure during spermatogenesis and in 

the early stages of development. The spermatozoon is able to transmit 

epigenetic information through the methylation pattern of different genes, 

through the differential distribution of genes in the regions associated 

to nucleohistone and nucleoprotamine, and through the proteome 

transmitted to the oocyte (Oliva et al., Proteomics 2009; 9:1004-17). 

260

AREA 5 


Molecular genetics 

in relation to protamines in the 

sperm nucleus, predictive of the 

results of assisted reproduction 

techniques (de Mateo et al., 

2010). In another line of research 

we have completed a mutational 

study of the genes encoding for 

protamines 1 and 2 in infertile 

patients – identifying different new 

mutations, polymorphisms and 

haplotypes (Jodar et al., 2010). One 

of the important challenges is to 

elucidate the basic mechanisms 

that operate in the nucleus-histone, 

nucleus-protamine transition during 

spermatogenesis, and to clarify the 

way in which its alterations may 

lead to alterations in the epigenetic 

information of the spermatozoon. 

An additional challenge will be 

the translation of important basic 

investigational findings to the clinical 

setting. 

In relation to the tumor invasion 

mechanisms, the main challenge will 

be to determine the mechanisms 

implicated in regulating the genic 

expression of the new family of 

intracellular truncated forms of the 

VEGFR-1 molecule which we have 

characterized in our laboratory. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 2,94 

1 Mezquita B, Mezquita J, Pau M, 

Mezquita C. A Novel Intracellular 

Isoform of VEGFR-1 Activates Src 

and Promotes Cell Invasion in MDA- 

MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells. J CELL 

BIOCHEM, 2010. 110:732-742. 

I.F.:2,94. 


in progress 

Oliva R. Caracterización proteómica 

y genómica del núcleo del 

espermatozoide humano normal y 

de sus alteraciones en pacientes 

infértiles. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, BFU2009- 

07118. Amount: 187.550,00 euros. 

Duration: 31/12/2009-30/12/2012. 

Thesis 

Oliva R. Proteomic and molecular 

characterization of human spermatozoa 

in infertile patients and controls. 

PhD student: Sara de Mateo López, 

Universitat de Barcelona. 

Oliva R. Proteomic and molecular 

characterization of human spermatozoa 

in infertile patients and control. PhD 

student: Sara de Mateo Lopez. 


www.fisiologia.net 

www.ub.edu/humangen 

261

AREA 5 




(CIBERer) 

Genetics 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Anna Carrió (Hospital Clínic) 

Carmen Herrero (Hospital Clínic) 

Mario Lecha (Hospital Clínic) 

Ester Margarit (Hospital Clínic) 

Aurora Sánchez (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna Soler (Hospital Clínic) 

Jordi To-Figueras (Hospital Clínic) 


Cèlia Badenas (Hospital Clínic) 

Irene Mademont 

Irene Madrigal (CIBERER) 

Carmen Morales (Hospital Clínic) 

Laia Rodriguez Revenga (CIBERER) 

Mar Xunclà (Fundació Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Montserrat Milà 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2784) 

Fax: 93 227 56 97 

E-mail: 

mmila@clinic.ub.es 

Characterization of rare hereditary diseases 

in the clinical, cytogenetic and 

molecular contexts. 

There are four main lines of research. 

Each line has the strategic objectives 

defined by the supporting research 

projects. In this context, the study of 

mental retardation (MR) and identification 

of the causal genetic factors are 

fundamented upon the application of 

high performance array CGH and Next 

Sequencing Generation (NSG) technologies. 

On the other hand, the study 

of fragile X–associated tremor/ataxia 

syndrome (FXTAS) aims to identify a biological 

marker allowing us to establish a 

presymptomatic diagnosis of FXTAS in 

carriers of the premutation in the FMR1 

gene, based on study of the miRNA 

profile. Regarding the porphyrias, the 

strategic objective is to advance in our 

knowledge of the correlation genotype 

– phenotype: biochemical and clinical 

expression. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Identification of the genetic bases 

of mental retardation (MR) of 

genetic origin, both syndromic 

and non-syndromic, using the new 

NSG technologies. 

Application of massive sequencing 

to different groups of clinically 

well characterized MR will 

allow us to identify new genes 

and establish new molecular 

bases in MR. Application is also 

planned to the study of familial 

mental retardation and to sporadic 

cases of non-syndromic MR. 

2. Fragile X syndrome: Study of the 

pathologies associated with premutation 

of the FMR1 gene: POIFX (Premature 

ovarian insufficienciy), FXTAS 

(Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome), 

and fibromyalgia associated with the 

FMR1 gene. Study of the microRNA 

and ASFMR1 gene expression profiles 

as possible susceptibility factors 

for FXTAS. 

MRI images showing characteristic 

findings in FXTAS. 1a. Axial 

FLAIR- MCP sign (middle cerebellar 

peduncle hyperintensities); 1b. 

Axial T1- Cerebellar and pontine 

atrophy; 1c. Coronal T1- Cerebral 

atrophy; 1d. Axial FLAIR- 

Hyperintensities in the cerebral 

white matter. 

3. Detection of cryptic chromosomal 

imbalances and the identification 

of new phenotypes, based on 

cytogenetic - molecular techniques. 

One is conducted in the prenatal 

and postnatal diagnostic setting. 

The aim is to characterize chromosomal 

imbalances in fetuses with 

congenital anomalies and a normal 

karyotype, based on the use of 

CGH arrays. 

4. Study of the genotype-phenotype correlation 

and expression mechanisms 

of porphyria. The research lines aim 

to establish the following: 

• Advance in the study of the alterations 

in iron regulation and metabolism 

in skin and erythropoietic 

porphyria. 

• Investigate the role of modifier 

genes that modulate the clinical 

expression of erythropoietic porphyria. 

• Study of new serum and urine biomarkers 

of acute porphyria severity 

of use in clinical practice. 

The group will remain a member of 

the “European Porphyria Initiative” 

network as a reference center for 

the diagnosis, investigation and 

treatment of porphyria. 

262

AREA 5 


Genetics 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 78,70 



C. Comparative analysis of subacute 

cutaneous lupus erythematosus and 

chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus: 

clinical and immunological study 

of 270 patients. BRIT J DERMATOL, 

2010. 162:91-101. I.F.:4,26. 



C. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: 

clinical and immunological study of 

308 patients stratified by gender. 

CLIN EXP DERMATOL, 2010. 35:729- 

735. I.F.:1,55. 

3 Herrero-Gonzalez JE, Iranzo P, Benitez 

D, Lozano F, Herrero C, Mascaro 

JM. Correlation of Immunological 

Profile with Phenotype and Disease 

Outcome in Pemphigus. ACTA 

DERM-VENEREOL, 2010. 90:401- 

405. I.F.:3,01. 


Blanco I, Pare C, Borderias L, Peinado 

VI, Roca J, Mila M, Barbera JA. 

Study of the BMPR2 Gene in Patients 

with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. 

ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:129-134. I.F.:2,17. 

5 Badenas C, Rodriguez-Revenga 

L, Morales C, Mediano C, Plaja A, 

Perez-Iribarne MM, Soler A, Clusellas 

N, Borrell A, Sanchez MA, Miro E, 

Sanchez A, Mila M, Jimenez W. Assessment 

of QF-PCR as the First Approach 

in Prenatal Diagnosis. J MOL 

DIAGN, 2010. 12:828-834. I.F.:3,41. 

6 Munoz M, Arigita M, Bennasar 

M, Soler A, Sanchez A, Borrell A. 

Chromosomal anomaly spectrum in 

early pregnancy loss in relation to 

presence or absence of an embryonic 

pole. FERTIL STERIL, 2010. 94:2564- 

2568. I.F.:3,97. 

7 Xuncla M, Badenas C, Dominguez 

M, Rodriguez-Revenga L, Madrigal I, 

Jimenez L, Soler A, Borrell A, Sanchez 

A, Mila M. Fragile X syndrome prenatal 

diagnosis: parental attitudes and reproductive 

responses. REPROD BIOMED 

ONLINE, 2010. 21:560-565. I.F.:2,38. 

8 Gonce A, Borrell A, Meler E, Arigita 

M, Martinez JM, Botet F, Sanchez A, 

Gratacos E. Prevalence and perinatal 

outcome of dichorionic and monochorionic 

twins with nuchal translucency 

above the 99(th) percentile and normal 

karyotype. ULTRASOUND OBST GYN, 

2010. 35:14-18. I.F.:3,15. 

9 To-Figueras J, Lopez RM, Deulofeu 

R, Herrero C. Preliminary report Hyperhomocysteinemia 

in patients with acute 

intermittent porphyria. METABOLISM, 

2010. 59:1809-1810. I.F.:2,59. 

10 Garcia-Villoria J, Gort L, Madrigal 

I, Fons C, Fernandez C, Navarro-Sastre 

A, Mila M, Briones P, Garcia-Cazorla A, 

Campistol J, Ribes A. X-inactivation of 

HSD17B10 revealed by cDNA analysis 

in two female patients with 17 betahydroxysteroid 

dehydrogenase 10 

deficiency. EUR J HUM GENET, 2010. 

18:1353-1355. I.F.:3,56. 





analysis of closely linked genes: a 

frequent gain in 17q25.3 in prostate 


1210:17-24. I.F.:2,67. 

12 Madrigal I, Rodriguez-Revenga 

L, Costa L, Xuncla M, Sanchez A, Mila 

M. A study of subtelomeric rearrangements 

in 300 patients with mental 

retardation and multiple congenital 

anomalies: their clinical and molecular 

characterisation. REV NEUROLOGIA, 

2010. 51:465-470. I.F.:1,23. 

13 Demenais F, Mohamdi H, Chaudru 

V, Goldstein AM, Bishop JAN, 

Bishop DT, Kanetsky PA, Hayward NK, 

Gillanders E, Elder DE, Avril MF, Azizi 

E, VanBelle P, Bergman W, Bianchi- 

Scarra G, Bressac-DePaillerets B, Calista 

D, Carrera C, Hansson J, Harland 

M, Hogg D, Hoiom V, Holland EA, 

Ingvar C, Landi MT, Lang JM, Mackie 

RM, Mann GJ, Ming ME, Njauw CJ, 

Olsson H, Palmer J, Pastorino L, Puig 

S, Randerson-Moor J, Stark M, Tsao H, 

Tucker MA, VanDerVelden P, Yang XR, 

Gruis N. Association of MC1R Variants 

and Host Phenotypes With Melanoma 

Risk in CDKN2A Mutation Carriers: A 

GenoMEL Study. J NATL CANCER I, 

2010. 102:1568-1583. I.F.:14,07. 

14 Romanelli V, Belinchon A, 

Benito-Sanz S, Martinez-Glez V, 

Gracia-Bouthelier R, Heath KE, 

Campos-Barros A, Garcia-Minaur S, 

Fernandez L, Meneses H, Lopez- 

Siguero JP, Guillen-Navarro E, Gomez- 

Puertas P, Wesselink JJ, Mercado G, 

Esteban-Marfil V, Palomo R, Mena R, 

Sanchez A, DelCampo M, Lapunzina 

P. CDKN1C (p57(Kip2)) Analysis in 

Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome 

(BWS) Patients: Genotype-Phenotype 

Correlations, Novel Mutations, and 

Polymorphisms. AM J MED GENET 

A, 2010. 152A:1390-1397. I.F.:2,40. 

15 Mademont-Soler I, Morales 

C, Armengol L, Soler A, Sanchez A. 

Description of the Smallest Critical 

Region for Dandy-Walker Malformation 

in Chromosome 13 in a Girl With 

a Cryptic Deletion Related to t(6;13) 

(q23;q32). AM J MED GENET A, 

2010. 152A:2308-2312. I.F.:2,40. 

263

AREA 5 


Genetics 

Team Members 

16 Munoz-Santos C, Guilabert A, 

Moreno N, To-Figueras J, Badenas 

C, Darwich E, Herrero C. Familial and 

Sporadic Porphyria Cutanea Tarda 

Clinical and Biochemical Features and 

Risk Factors in 152 Patients. MEDICI- 

NE, 2010. 89:69-74. I.F.:5,05. 

17 Darwich E, To-Figueras J, Badenas 

C, Herrero C. Hepatoerythropoietic 

Porphyria and Familial Porphyria 

Cutanea Tarda in Spanish Patients: 

G281E Mutation in the Uroporphyrinogen 

Decarboxylase Gene. ARCH 

DERMATOL, 2010. 146:1313-1314. 

I.F.:4,76. 

18 Rodriguez-Revenga L, Pagonabarraga 

J, Gomez-Anson 

B, Lopez-Mourelo O, Madrigal I, 

Xuncla M, Kulisevsky J, Mila M. 

Motor and mental dysfunction in 

mother-daughter transmitted FXTAS. 

NEUROLOGY, 2010. 75:1370-1376. 

I.F.:8,17. 

19 Morales C, Cuatrecasas E, Mademont-Soler 

I, Clusellas N, Peruga 

E, Catala V, Garrido C, Mila M, Soler 

A, Sanchez A. Non-mosaic trisomy 20 

of paternal origin in chorionic villus 

and amniotic fluid also detected in 

fetal blood and other tissues. EUR 

J MED GENET, 2010. 53:197-200. 

I.F.:1,57. 

20 Xuncla M, Rodriguez-Revenga 

L, Madrigal I, Jimenez D, Mila M, 

Badenas C. Protocol proposal for 

Friedreich ataxia molecular diagnosis 

using fluorescent and triplet repeat 

primed polymerase chain reaction. 

TRANSL RES, 2010. 156:309-314. 

I.F.:2,06. 

21 Mademont-Soler I, Morales 

C, Bruguera J, Madrigal I, Clusellas 

N, Margarit E, Sanchez A, Soler A. 

Subtelomeric MLPA: is it really useful 

in prenatal diagnosis?. PRENATAL 

DIAG, 2010. 30:1165-1169. I.F.:1,71. 

22 Madrigal I, Fernandez-Burriel 

M, Rodriguez-Revenga L, Cabrera 

JC, Marti M, Mur A, Mila M. Xq26.2- 

q26.3 microduplication in two 

brothers with intellectual disabilities: 

clinical and molecular characterization. 

J HUM GENET, 2010. 55:822- 

826. I.F.:2,55. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 1,89 

1 Fernandez EL, Pares L, Ajuria I, 

Bandres F, Castanyer B, Campos F, 

Farre C, Pou L, Queralto JM, To-Figueras 

J. State of the art in therapeutic 

drug monitoring. CLIN CHEM LAB 

MED, 2010. 48:437-446. I.F.:1,89. 


in progress 

To-Figueras J. European Porphyria 

Network: providing better healthcare 

for patients and their families. Sponsored 

by: European Commision, PHEA 

2006107. Amount: 5.332,13 euros. 

Duration: 01/04/2007-31/03/2010. 

Mila M. Clinical and molecular study 

of fxtas syndrome (fragile X tremor 

Ataxia Syndrome). Sponsored 



30/01/2007-29/01/2010. 

Mila M. Caracterización y estudio 

de la implicación de las variaciones 

en número de copia en pacientes 

con retraso mental ligado a cromosoma 

X. Sponsored by: Fundación 

Ramón Areces, Areces_06_001. 


25/06/2007-24/06/2010. 

Sánchez A. Caracterización de desequilibrios 

cromosómicos, análisis de 

los puntos de rotura en reordenamientos 

aparentes equilibrados e identificación 

de cromosomas marcadores 

mediante microdisección cromosómica 

y posterior análisis con técnicas de 

array-CGH y/o. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Mila M. Estudio de los perfiles de 

expresión de microRNAS y del gen 

ASFMR1 como factores de susceptibilidad 

para el desarrollo del síndrome 

FXTAS. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 

DE SALUD CARLOS III, PIO9/0413. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Soler N. Utilidad del tratamiento 

antibiótico en las agudizaciones de 

la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva 

crónica (EPOC) sin purulencia en el 

esputo: ensayo clinico aleatorizado, 

controlado y doble ciego de eficacia y 

seguridad. Sponsored by: INSTITUTO 



01/01/2009-30/12/2011. 

264

AREA 5 


Melanoma: imaging, genetics and immunology 

Group Members 


Ramón Vilella (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Malvehy (Hospital Clínic) 


Zighe Ogbah (Fundació Clínic) 

Joan Anton Puig (CIBERER) 

Gabriel Salerni (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Remedios Cervera (CIBERER) 

Dani Gabriel (Fundació Clínic) 

Pablo Iglesias (Fundació Clínic) 

Jordi Milà (Hospital Clínic) 

Luchi Millan (Hospital Clínic) 


Paula Aguilera (Hospital Clínic) 

Pedro Arguís (Hospital Clínic) 

Celia Badenas (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Carrera (Hospital Clínic) 

Antonio Campo (Hospital Clínic) 

Carlos Conill (Hospital Clínic) 

Melinda González (IDIBAPS) 

Ramon Rull (Hospital Clínic) 

Sergi Vidal (Hospital Clínic) 

Ramón Vilana (Hospital Clínic) 

Pedro Zaballos (UB) 

Teresa Castel (Hospital Clínic) 

Antoni Vilalta (Hospital Clínic) 

José Palou (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Susana Puig 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2891) 

Fax: 93 227 54 38 

E-mail: 

spuig@clinic.ub.es 

Strategic 

Objectives 

1. Development of noninvasive imaging 

techniques for the diagnosis of 

melanoma. 

2. Study of the genetic bases implicated 

in susceptibility to melanoma and 

melanoma photocarcinogenesis. 

3. Development of treatment study 

strategies in melanoma and skin 

cancer: target-specific molecular, 

immunological and photoprotection 

therapies. 

4. Application of artificial intelligence 

systems for evaluating complex 

data in melanoma, combining 

imaging, epidemiological, clinical and 

molecular information. 

5. Development of models of 

humanized mouse skin for the 

study of photoprotection and 

photocarcinogenesis. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

Our main lines of research, and some 

of the most relevant results obtained to 

date, are the following: 

1. Dermatoscopy and digital 

dermatoscopy. In dermatoscopy 

studies are being made of the 

diagnostic criteria of different 

disorders that have still not been well 

characterized, the correlations with 

other imaging techniques, the impact 

upon the management of patients 

at risk, and the relationship between 

dermatoscopy and the genetic 

profile of the patients. In digital 

dermatoscopy we are examining 

the use of full body maps and digital 

dermatoscopy in the follow-up of 

patients at risk. 

1.1 Definition of new dermatoscopic 

criteria in different dermatological 

processes (dermatofibromas, 

angiokeratomas, botryomycosis, 

blue nevus, xanthogranuloma, 

leishmaniasis, lichenoid 

keratosis, collision tumors). 

1.2 Development of dermatoscopy 

for introduction in primary care, 

in pathology and dermatology 

(development of combined clinical 

dermatoscopic algorithms for the 

identification of melanomas that 

are difficult to diagnose). 

1.3 Combined dermatoscopic and 

ultrasound protocol of the 

primary tumor for preoperative 

Breslow score estimation. 

2. Confocal microscopy in vivo. 

Description of new algorithms, 

study of the evolution of lesions, 

new classifications and the use of 

telemedicine. 

2.1 Definition of criteria in nodular 

melanoma. 

2.2 Creation of a differential 

diagnostic algorithm for 

melanocytic and non-melanocytic 

lesions. 

2.3 Characterization of pigmented 

basal cell carcinomas. 

2.4 Study of the use of confocal 

microscopy for the correct 

treatment of achromatic or poorly 

delimited lesions (delimitation 

of surgical margins or control of 

relapses). 

2.5 Use of ex vivo confocal 

microscopy for application to 

Mohs surgery. 

3. Genetic epidemiology. Study of 

melanoma susceptibility genes in 

familial melanoma and in sporadic 

melanoma. Study of nevogenicity 

and risk genes in melanoma. Study 

of pigmentation and risk genes in 

melanoma. Identification of new 

genes and new mechanisms of 

melanoma susceptibility using 

Genome Wide Scan. 

3.1 Penetrance and phenotypic 

expression studies in patients 

and families carrying known 

CDKN2A and p14arf mutations. 

3.2 Study of the effect of 

polymorphisms of the MC1R 

gene as modifier gene and low 

penetrance gene in relation to 

melanoma risk, and in reference 

to the clinical and dermatoscopic 

aspects of melanomas. 

3.3 Identification of new melanoma 

and nevogenicity susceptibility 

genes based on the study of 

homozygous genome regions. 

265

AREA 5 



PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 62,31 





analysis of closely linked genes: 

a frequent gain in 17q25.3 in prostate 


1210:17-24. I.F.:2,67. 

4. Study of the mechanisms involved 

in melanoma carcinogenesis and 

photocarcinogenesis. 

4.1 Analysis of oral photoprotection. 

Study of genetic (CDKN2A, 

MC1R)/environmental 

interaction (UVR) in melanoma 

risk. Study of the influence 

of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) 

(UVA; UVB; UVA/UVB) in the 

dermatoscopic, histological 

and immunohistochemical 

characteristics of melanocytic 

nevi. 

4.2 Dermatoscopic and genetic 

characterization of the different 

Clark nevi in dysplastic nevus 

syndrome, in relation to c9orf14 

polymorphisms. 

4.3 Investigation of somatic 

mutations of NRAS, BRAF, 

cKIT, genomic amplifications 

of different oncogenes, and 

genomic losses of 9p21 (MLPA) 

in melanoma. 

4.4 Expression studies (MAGE and 

others) in melanoma. 

4.5 Development of experimental 

models of gene/gene, gene/ 

environment interactions 

between CDKN2A and 

MC1R. Expression studies in 

keratinocytes, melanocytes and 

fibroblasts according to their 

genetic profile. 

5. Development of new treatment 

strategies for melanoma. 

5.1 Hyperthermal perfusion of 

extremities. 

5.2 Vaccines and new therapeutic 

targets in melanoma. 

5.3 Electrochemotherapy in 

melanoma. 

6. Evaluation of immune response in 

melanoma. 

6.1 Genetic expression arrays and 

studies of SNPs associated 

with prognosis and treatment 

response. 

2 Demenais F, Mohamdi H, Chaudru 

V, Goldstein AM, Bishop JAN, 

Bishop DT, Kanetsky PA, Hayward 

NK, Gillanders E, Elder DE, Avril MF, 

Azizi E, VanBelle P, Bergman W, Bianchi-Scarra 

G, Bressac-DePaillerets 

B, Calista D, Carrera C, Hansson J, 

Harland M, Hogg D, Hoiom V, Holland 

EA, Ingvar C, Landi MT, Lang 

JM, Mackie RM, Mann GJ, Ming 

ME, Njauw CJ, Olsson H, Palmer J, 

Pastorino L, Puig S, Randerson-Moor 

J, Stark M, Tsao H, Tucker MA, Van- 

DerVelden P, Yang XR, Gruis N. Association 

of MC1R Variants and Host 

Phenotypes With Melanoma Risk in 

CDKN2A Mutation Carriers: A Geno- 

MEL Study. J NATL CANCER I, 2010. 

102:1568-1583. I.F.:14,07. 

3 Lovato L, Salerni G, Puig S, Carrera 

C, Palou J, Malvehy J. Adult 

Xanthogranuloma Mimicking Basal 

Cell Carcinoma: Dermoscopy, Reflectance 

Confocal Microscopy and 

Pathological Correlation. DERMATO- 

LOGY, 2010. 220:66-70. I.F.:2,74. 

4 Gil I, Segura S, Martinez-Escala E, 

Lloreta J, Puig S, Velez M, Pujol RM, 

Herrero-Gonzalez JE. Dermoscopic 

and Reflectance Confocal Microscopic 

Features of Exogenous Ochronosis. 

ARCH DERMATOL, 2010. 

146:1021-1025. I.F.:4,76. 

266

AREA 5 



5 Haliasos HC, Zalaudek I, Malvehy 

J, Lanschuetzer C, Hinter H, Hofmann- 

Wellenhof R, Braun R, Marghoob AA. 

Dermoscopy of Benign and Malignant 

Neoplasms in the Pediatric Population. 

SEMIN CUTAN MED SURG, 2010. 

29:218-231. I.F.:1,81. 

6 Zaballos P, Carulla M, Ozdemir F, 

Zalaudek I, Banuls J, Llambrich A, Puig 

S, Argenziano G, Malvehy J. Dermoscopy 

of pyogenic granuloma: a morphological 

study. BRIT J DERMATOL, 2010. 

163:1229-1237. I.F.:4,26. 

7 Aspizua SG, Garcia M, Murillas R, 

Retamosa L, Illera N, Duarte B, Holguin 

A, Puig S, Hernandez MI, Meana A, Jorcano 

JL, Larcher F, Carretero M, DelRio 

M. Development of a Bioengineered 

Skin-Humanized Mouse Model for Psoriasis 

Dissecting Epidermal-Lymphocyte 

Interacting Pathways. AM J PATHOL, 

2010. 177:3112-3124. I.F.:5,67. 

8 Kalkhoran S, Milne O, Zalaudek I, 

Puig S, Malvehy J, Kelly JW, Marghoob 

AA. Historical, Clinical, and Dermoscopic 

Characteristics of Thin Nodular 

Melanoma. ARCH DERMATOL, 2010. 

146:311-318. I.F.:4,76. 

9 Garcia M, Llames S, Garcia E, Meana 

A, Cuadrado N, Recasens M, Puig 

S, Nagore E, Illera N, Jorcano JL, Del- 

Rio M, Larcher F. In Vivo Assessment 

of Acute UVB Responses in Normal 

and Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP-C) 

Skin-Humanized Mouse Models. AM 

J PATHOL, 2010. 177:865-872. I.F.:5,67. 

10 Branstrom R, Chang YM, Kasparian 

N, Affleck P, Tibben A, Aspinwall 

LG, Azizi E, Baron-Epel O, Battistuzzi L, 

Bruno W, Chan M, Cuellar F, Debniak T, 

Pjanova D, Ertmanski S, Figl A, Gonzalez 

M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Kanet- 

sky PA, Leaf SL, VanNieuwpoort FA, 

Heisele O, Palmer J, Peric B, Puig S, 

Ruffin AD, Schadendorf D, Gruis NA, 

Brandberg Y, Newton-Bishop J. Melanoma 

risk factors, perceived threat 

and intentional tanning: an international 

online survey. EUR J CANCER 

PREV, 2010. 19:216-226. I.F.:2,21. 

11 Branstrom R, Kasparian NA, 

Chang YM, Affleck P, Tibben A, Aspinwall 

LG, Azizi E, Baron-Epel O, 

Battistuzzi L, Bergman W, Bruno W, 

Chan M, Cuellar F, Debniak T, Pjanova 

D, Ertmanski S, Figl A, Gonzalez 

M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Kanetsky 

PA, Leachman SA, Heisele O, Palmer 

J, Peric B, Puig S, Schadendorf 

D, Gruis NA, Newton-Bishop J, Brandberg 

Y. Predictors of Sun Protection 

Behaviors and Severe Sunburn in an 

International Online Study. CANCER 

EPIDEM BIOMAR, 2010. 19:2199- 

2210. I.F.:4,31. 

12 DiStefani A, Campbell TM, 

Malvehy J, Massone C, Soyer HP, 

Hofmann-Wellenhof R. Shiny white 

streaks: An additional dermoscopic 

finding in melanomas viewed using 

contact polarised dermoscopy. 

AUSTRALAS J DERMATOL, 2010. 

51:295-298. I.F.:0,97. 

13 Argenziano G, Kittler H, Ferrara 

G, Rubegni P, Malvehy J, Puig S, 

Cowell L, Stanganelli I, DeGiorgi V, 

Thomas L, Bahadoran P, Menzies 

SW, Piccolo D, Marghoob AA, Zalaudek 

I. Slow-growing melanoma: 

a dermoscopy follow-up study. BRIT 

J DERMATOL, 2010. 162:267-273. 

I.F.:4,26. 

14 Zaballos P, Salsench E, Serrano 

P, Cuellar F, Puig S, Malvehy J. 

Studying Regression of Seborrheic 

Keratosis in Lichenoid Keratosis with 

Sequential Dermoscopy Imaging. 

DERMATOLOGY, 2010. 220:103-109. 

I.F.:2,74. 

15 Zalaudek I, Kittler H, Blum A, 

Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Marghoob AA, 

Malvehy J, Menzies SW, Puig S, Soyer 

P, Stolz W, Argenziano G. Who benefits 

from prophylactic surgical removal of 

“dysplastic” nevi?. J DTSCH DERMA- 

TOL GES, 2010. 8:279-280. I.F.:1,40. 


I.F.: 4,12 

1 Garbe C, Peris K, Hauschild A, 

Saiag P, Middleton M, Spatz A, Grob 

JJ, Malvehy J, Newton-Bishop J, Stratigos 

A, Pehamberger H, Eggermont A. 

Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma: 

European consensus-based interdisciplinary 

guideline. EUR J CANCER, 

2010. 46:270-283. I.F.:4,12. 


in progress 

Puig S. NoE - Genetic and environmental 

risk factors for melanoma: translation 

into behavioural change. Sponsored 

by: European Commission, LSHM- 

CT-2006-018702. Amount: 322.173,00 


Puig S. Identificación de genes 

implicados en desarrollo y progresión de 

melanoma mediante la caracterización 

de regiones homozigotas. Sponsored 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

267

AREA 5 






Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Álvaro Urbano-Ispizúa 


Tel.: 93 227 54 75 

Fax: 93 227 98 11 

E-mail: aurbano@clinic.ub.es 


Enric Carreras (Hospital Clínic) 

Francesc Fernández-Avilés (Hospital Clínic) 

Pedro Marín (Hospital Clínic) 

Carmen Martínez Muñoz (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Rovira (Hospital Clínic) 

In the last few years our group has 

developed basic and translational 

research lines, thanks to collaboration 

with other research groups of the Clinic 

Hospital (Department of Immunology, 

Department of Hemostasis) and of 

the Medical School (Department of 

Human Anatomy). Very recently, we 

have established research space of our 

own in the CEK, and have expanded 

our collaboration with other research 

groups – particularly in reference to cell 

therapy. Likewise, we have started the 

expansion of hematopoietic precursors 

from umbilical cord blood based on 

co-cultures of mesenchymal cells 

and research lines in antitumor cell 

therapy, anti-infectious treatment and 

cell immune modulation. Functional 

studies of genic polymorphisms 

have also been started. Lastly, 

we plan to develop an important 

line of research in the field of the 

pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics 

and pharmacogenomics of immune 

modulators, as well as in the 

development of in vitro predictive 

models of graft-versus-host disease. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

Clinical research lines 


Beatriz Martin Antonio (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Anna Mantecon (Fundació Clínic) 

Nuria Montfort (Hospital Clínic) 


Ariadna Domènech (Fundació Clínic) 


Josep Mensa (Hospital Clínic) 

Alfons Navarro (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Marià Monzó (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Maribel Díaz Ricart (Hospital Clínic) 

1. Assessment of new hematopoietic 

precursor transplantation (HPT) 

indications. 

Treatment of diseases such as 

amyloidosis, POEMS syndrome, 

scleromyxedema, autoimmune 

disorders (multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s 

disease, lupus erythematosus), 

primary myelofibrosis or paroxysmal 

nocturnal hemoglobinuria – these 

being diseases in which our group 

has the most extensive experience in 

the country. 

268

AREA 5 



2. Evaluation of new progenitor 

sources (high-complexity 

hematopoietic precursor 

transplantation). 

The lack of compatible siblings for all 

patients amenable to hematopoietic 

precursor transplantation is leading 

to the development of transplants 

from non-consanguineous donors 

or umbilical cord blood. We are the 

most active group in the country in 

relation to these high complexity 

procedures, which represent 30% of 

our activity. 

3. Evaluation of new transplant 

modalities: 

• Domiciliary autogenic HPT (the only 

such program in Europe, awarded 

on several occasions by the 

scientific and healthcare societies) 

– a modality which we aim to 

extend to domiciliary allogenic HPT. 

• Umbilical cord blood cell 

transplantation administered via the 

intraosseous route – an innovating 

modality which we and another 

European center are analyzing. 

4. Studies addressing the prevention 

and treatment of the main 

complications of HPT. 

Prevention and treatment of graftversus-host 

disease with new 

agents (anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies, 

new anti-thymocyte globulins, 

alemtuzumab and cell therapy using 

mesenchymal cells). Participation in 

different multicenter studies. 

Basic and translational 

research lines 

1. Study of the post-HPT 

complications originating from 

endothelial dysfunction. 

Different early complications 

appearing after HPT, such as 

veno-occlusive syndrome, capillary 

rupture syndrome, thrombotic 

microangiopathy, graft syndrome, 

and idiopathic pneumonia 

syndrome, appear to originate 

from endothelial dysfunction. Our 

project aims to characterize such 

dysfunction and then to seek 

effective preventive and treatment 

options. This research line is 

supported by two FIS grants and an 

aid from the German José Carreras 

Foundation. 

2. Study of immune reconstitution 

following HPT. 

Following characterization of immune 

reconstitution in HPT from bone 

marrow, peripheral blood and in 

reduced intensity regimens, we plan 

to assess immune reconstitution in 

the transplantation of umbilical cord 

blood – this not ever having been 

achieved to date. 

3. Study of the impact of genic 

polymorphisms upon the 

complications and outcomes of HPT. 

Following demonstration of the 

impact of the mannose-binding 

lectin variants upon the incidence 

of fungal infections, of the NOD2/ 

CARD15 gene variants upon survival 

and the incidence of bronchiolitis 

obliterans and, more recently, of the 

impact of the NLRP2 and NLRP3 

gene variants upon HPT survival, we 

plan to continue this line of research, 

assessing new polymorphisms that 

may affect the evolution of HPT. 

4. Study of new techniques for the 

early diagnosis of infections in HPT. 

Following the advances made in the 

early diagnosis of fungal diseases 

(galactomannan antigen, highresolution 

CAT) and viral infections 

(CMV antigenemia and PCR applied 

to all herpes viruses and other 

pathogens), which have facilitated 

our healthcare activities, we plan to 

continue evaluating new diagnostic 

techniques (quantitative PCR for 

EBV, the application of PCR to 

tissue samples, biological markers in 

bronchoalveolar lavage, and PET scan 

assessment of infections). 

A. Sphere obtained after one week of 

bone marrow isolated nestin-positive 

mesenchymal cell culture. 

B. Sphere expansion after four weeks 

of culture. 

269

AREA 5 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 43,66 

1 Escurriol V, Cofan M, Moreno- 

Iribas C, Larranaga N, Martinez C, 

Navarro C, Rodriguez L, Gonzalez CA, 

Corella D, Ros E. Phytosterol plasma 

concentrations and coronary heart disease 

in the prospective Spanish EPIC 

cohort. J LIPID RES, 2010. 51:618- 

624. I.F.:4,92. 

2 Esmatjes E, Montana X, Real 

MI, Blanco J, Conget I, Casamitjana 

R, Rovira M, Gomis R, Marin P. Regeneration 

of insulin production by 

autologous bone marrow blood autotransplantation 

in patients with type 

1 diabetes. DIABETOLOGIA, 2010. 

53:786-789. I.F.:6,55. 

3 DeLaCamara R, Jarque I, Sanz 

MA, Grau S, Casado MA, Sabater FJ, 

Carreras E. Economic evaluation of 

posaconazole vs fluconazole in the 

prevention of invasive fungal infections 

in patients with GVHD following 

haematopoietic SCT. BONE MA- 

RROW TRANSPL, 2010. 45:925-932. 

I.F.:3,00. 

4 Palomo M, Diaz-Ricart M, Carbo C, 

Rovira M, Fernandez-Aviles F, Martine 

C, Ghita G, Escolar G, Carreras E. 

Endothelial Dysfunction after Hematopoietic 

Stem Cell Transplantation: Role 

of the Conditioning Regimen and the 

Type of Transplantation. BIOL BLOOD 

MARROW TR, 2010. 16:985-993. 

I.F.:3,15. 

5 Carreras E, Fernandez-Aviles F, Silva 

L, Guerrero M, DeLarrea CF, Martinez 

C, Rosinol L, Lozano M, Marin 

P, Rovira M. Engraftment syndrome 

after auto-SCT: analysis of diagnostic 

criteria and risk factors in a large 

series from a single center. BONE 

MARROW TRANSPL, 2010. 45:1417- 

1422. I.F.:3,00. 

6 DeLarrea CF, Rosinol L, Cibeira 

MT, Rozman M, Rovira M, Blade J. 

Extensive soft-tissue involvement by 

plasmablastic myeloma arising from 

displaced humeral fractures. EUR 

J HAEMATOL, 2010. 85:448-451. 

I.F.:2,35. 

7 Carreras E, Cahn JY, Puozzo C, 

Kroger N, Sanz G, Buzyn A, Bacigalupo 

A, Vernant JP. Influence on 

Busilvex (R) Pharmacokinetics of 

Clonazepam Compared to Previous 

Phenytoin Historical Data. ANTI- 

CANCER RES, 2010. 30:2977-2984. 

I.F.:1,43. 

8 Pinana JL, Valcarcel D, Fernandez- 

Aviles F, Martino R, Rovira M, Barba P, 

Martinez C, Brunet S, Sureda A, Carreras 

E, Sierra J. MTX or mycophenolate 

mofetil with CsA as GVHD prophylaxis 

after reduced-intensity conditioning 

PBSCT from HLA-identical siblings. 

BONE MARROW TRANSPL, 2010. 

45:1449-1456. I.F.:3,00. 

9 DeLarrea CF, Martinez C, Gaya 

A, Lopez-Guillermo A, Rovira M, 

Fernandez-Aviles F, Lozano M, Bosch 

F, Esteve J, Nomdedeu B, Montserrat 

E, Carreras E. Salvage chemotherapy 

with alternating MINE-ESHAP 

regimen in relapsed or refractory 

Hodgkin’s lymphoma followed by 

autologous stem-cell transplantation. 

ANN ONCOL, 2010. 21:1211-1216. 

I.F.:5,65. 

10 Martinez C, Virgili N, Cuerda C, 

Chicharro L, Gomez P, Moreno JM, 

Alvarez J, Marti E, Matia P, Penacho 

MA, Garde C, DeLuis D, Gonzalo M, 

Lobo G. Transversal study on the 

prevalence of metabolic bone disease 

(MBD) and home parenteral nutrition 

(HPN) in Spain: Data from Nadya 

Grop. NUTR HOSP, 2010. 25:920-924. 

I.F.:1,07. 

11 Ferra C, Sanz J, DeLaCamara 

R, Sanz G, Bermudez A, Valcarcel D, 

Rovira M, Serrano D, Caballero D, Espigado 

I, Morgades M, Heras I, Solano 

C, Duarte R, Barrenetxea C, Garcia- 

Noblejas A, Diez-Martin JL, Iriondo A, 

Carreras E, Sierra J, Sanz MA, Ribera 

JM. Unrelated Transplantation for 

Poor-Prognosis Adult Acute Lymphoblastic 

Leukemia: Long-Term Outcome 

Analysis and Study of the Impact 

of Hematopoietic Graft Source. BIOL 

BLOOD MARROW TR, 2010. 16:957- 

966. I.F.:3,15. 

12 Cordonnier C, Rovira M, Maertens 

J, Olavarria E, Faucher C, Bilger 

K, Pigneux A, Cornely OA, Ullmann 

AJ, Bofarull RM, DeLaCamara R, 

Weisser M, Liakopoulou E, Abecasis 

M, Heussel CP, Pineau M, Ljungman 

P, Einsele H. Voriconazole for secondary 

prophylaxis of invasive fungal 

infections in allogeneic stem cell 

transplant recipients: results of the 

VOSIFI study. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL 

J, 2010. 95:1762-1768. I.F.:6,42. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 15,66 

1 DeLaCamara R, Mensa J, Carreras 

E, Estrella MC, Rodriguez JAG, 

Gobernado M, Picazo J, Aguado JM, 

Sanz MA. Antifungal prophylaxis in 

oncohematologic patients: Literature 

review and recommendations. MED 


233. I.F.:1,23. 

2 Blade J, Rosinol L, Cibeira MT, 

Rovira M, Carreras E. Hematopoietic 

stem cell transplantation for multiple 

myeloma beyond 2010. BLOOD, 

2010. 115:3655-3663. I.F.:10,56. 

270

AREA 5 



3 Coppell JA, Richardson PG, Soiffer 

R, Martin PL, Kernan NA, Chen A, Guinan 

E, Vogelsang G, Krishnan A, Giralt 

S, Revta C, Carreau NA, Iacobelli M, 

Carreras E, Ruutu T, Barbui T, Antin JH, 

Niederwieser D. Hepatic Veno-Occlusive 

Disease following Stem Cell Transplantation: 

Incidence, Clinical Course, and 

Outcome. BIOL BLOOD MARROW TR, 

2010. 16:157-168. I.F.:3,15. 

4 Vallejo C, Rovira M. Prophylaxis and 

treatment of invasive fungal infection in 

neutropenic patients. REV ESP QUIM, 

2010. 23:177-183. I.F.:0,73. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 10,56 

1 Gorin NC, Labopin M, Reiffers J, Milpied 

N, Blaise D, Witz F, DeWitte T, Meloni 

G, Attal M, Bernal T, Rocha V. Higher 

incidence of relapse in patients with acute 

myelocytic leukemia infused with higher 

doses of CD34(+) cells from leukapheresis 

products autografted during the first 

remission. BLOOD, 2010. 116:3157-3162. 

I.F.:10,56. 

Carreras E. Disfunción endotelial 

post-trasplante hematopoyético. 

Impacto de los agentes empleados 

en el régimen de acondicionamiento 

y análisis de posibles agentes 

protectores. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Sanidad y Consumo, PI080156. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Martinez Munoz C. Estudio de la 

farmacogenómica y la farmacodinámica 

de los inmunosupresores en el 

trasplante alogénico de progenitores 

hemopoyéticos y su implicación en 

las reacciones injerto contra huésped 

e injerto-contra-tumor. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Urbano A. Papel de los factores 

inducidos por hipoxia (HIFs), Notch, 

Oct4 y de microRNAs en la patogenia 

y transformación de los síndromes 

mielodisplásicos a leucemia aguda. 




29/07/2010-30/12/2011. 


in progress 

Urbano A. Red temática de 

investigación cooperativa de cáncer. 


CARLOS III, RD06/0020/0012. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Carreras E. Characterization of 

endothelial dysfunction that develops in 

haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: 

role in the main complications appearing 

early after transplantation. Sponsored 

by: Deutsche Jose Carreras Leukämie- 

Stiftung eV, R07/41v. Amount: 


30/09/2010. 

271

AREA 5 






Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Francisco Cervantes 


Tel.: 93 227 54 75 

E-mail: fcervan@clinic.ub.es 


Prof. Emili Montserrat (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Bladé (Hospital Clínic) 

Jordi Esteve (Hospital Clínic) 

Armando López-Guillermo (Hospital Clínic) 

The main strategic objectives of our 

team are clinical, applied and basic 

research in hematological oncology. 

The team is structured into three 

study groups of three major disease 

categories. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Study of lymphoid neoplasms. 

2. Multiple myeloma and other 

monoclonal gammapathies. 

3. Study of myeloid neoplasms. 


Anna Gaya (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Pratcorona (IDIBAPS) 

Gonzalo Gutierrez (Hospital Clínic) 

Margheritta Maffioli (Fundació Clínic) 

Marina Díaz Beyá (Fundació Clínic) 

Alejandra Martínez Trillos (Fundació Clínic) 

Carlos Fernández de Larrea (Fundació Clínic) 

Raquel Jiménez (Fundació Clínic) 

Kate Hodgson (Fundació Clínic) 

Gerardo Ferrer (Fundació Clínic) 


Sonia Chaves (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Carrera (Hospital Clínic) 

Staticians: 

Antonio de la Riva (Fundació Clínic) 

Mª Carmen Pastor (Fundació Clínic) 

Montserrat Pérez (Fundació Clínic) 


Benet Nomdedeu (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Rosiñol (Hospital Clínic) 

Arturo Pereira (Hospital Clínic) 

Eduardo Arellano (Hospital Clínic) 

Maria Teresa Cibeira (Hospital Clínic) 

Alfons Navarro (Universitat de Barcelona) 

Dolors Costa ( Hospital Clínic) 

Ana Carrió (Hospital Clínic) 

Eva Giné (Hospital Clínic) 


Maria José Sánchez Melero (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Cerrato (Hospital Clínic) 

272

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Lymphoid neoplasms study group 

Group Leader: 

Armando López (Hospital Clínic) 

Lymphomas 

• Investigation of the progression mechanisms of 

the disease. 

• Study of minimum residual disease and its clinical significance. 

• Genomic profiles of the different types of lymphoma and their 

clinical significance (in collaboration with the National Cancer 

Institute (USA) and the Leukemia Lymphoma Molecular Profiling 

Project (LLMPP)). 

• New prognostic models in T cell lymphomas (collaboration in 

international studies, particularly the International T-cell Lymphomas 

Project. University of Nebraska) and follicular lymphoma. 

• Utility of PET in evaluating the response of lymphomas and 

chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). 

• Genic profile of Hodgkin lymphoma. 

• Phase I-II clinical trials with new drugs (bevacizumab, bortezomib, 

anti-CD40, aplidin, GA101, etc.), and international phase III trials to 

establish new indications in lymphomas (PRIMA and ZAR studies) 

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia 

• Mechanisms of progression of the disease. 

• Biology of ZAP-70 in relation to BCR. 

• Analysis of transforming CLL. 

• Influence of the cellular microenvironment upon the disease. 

• Study of the immunological alterations and immune reconstitution 

in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL Global Research Foundation 

project). 

• Evaluation of cellular proliferation in CLL. 

• Study of autoimmune phenomena. 

• Multiparametric analysis of prognostic factors in CLL. - Phase I/II 

and III clinical trials. 


Myeloma and other monoclonal gammapathies study group 

Group Leader: Joan Blade (Hospital Clínic) 

• Studies on the role of angiogenesis inhibitors in 

the treatment of multiple myeloma. 

• Clinico-biological studies on the progression 

mechanisms of monoclonal gammapathy of 

uncertain significance and quiescent myeloma. 

• Phase I, II and III clinical trials with new drugs (thalidomide, bortezomib, 

lenalidomide, deacetylase histone inhibitors, aplidin, anti-IL-6 antibodies 

and anti-CD40 antibodies, heat shock protein-90 inhibitors). 

• Clinical trials in the treatment of primary amyloidosis 

(transplantation, therapy with lenalidomide). 


Myeloid neoplasms study group 

Group Leader: 

Francisco Cervantes (Hospital Clínic) 

Myeloproliferative neoplasms 

• Analysis and final evaluation of the Spanish 

protocol for the treatment of chronic 

myeloid leukemia with scaled doses of imatinib versus 

imatinib in combination with interferon(CML/PETHEMA). 

• Treatment of CML with new tyrosine kinase inhibitors. 

• Role of the polymorphisms of the genes encoding for the 

imatinib transporter proteins in resistance to therapy with 

imatinib in CML. 

• Thrombotic mechanisms in chronic myeloproliferative 

syndromes. 

• Primary myelofibrosis prognostic studies. 

• Analysis of the relationship between the mutational status 

and allelic load of JAK2 and MPL, haplotype 46/1 of the 

JAK2 gene, and the initial characteristics, evolutive pattern 

and prognosis of myelofibrosis. 

Acute leukemias 

• Biological prognostic factors in intermediate cytogenetic 

risk AML: genetic mutations, genic expression profile, 

microRNA expression pattern. 

• Analysis of the microRNA expression pattern in AML with 

translocation (8;16)/rearrangement MYST3-CREBBP. 

• Biological and clinical characterization of acute leukemia 

with multiline dysplasia. 

• Analysis of the prognostic value of molecular markers in 

AML in relation to the outcome of hematopoietic progenitor 

cell transplantation. 

• Phase II and III clinical trials of drugs for the treatment 

of AML (midostaurin, Mylotarg, amonafide, AC220, 

azacytidine). 

• Sequential allogenic hematopoietic precursor transplantation 

strategy for the treatment of refractory or relapsing AML. 

Myeloproliferative syndromes 

• Natural history and prognosis of myelodysplastic 

syndromes. 

- transfusional sensitization. 

- prognostic importance of transfusion requirements. 

• Cytogenetic and molecular alterations in myelodysplastic 

syndromes. 

- Prognostic implications of cytogenetic alterations. 

- translocations and myelodysplastic syndromes. 

- microRNA in myelodysplastic syndromes. 

• Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. 

273

AREA 5 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 243,89 

1 Segarra M, Lozano E, Corbera- 

Bellalta M, Vilardell C, Cibeira MT, 

Esparza J, Izco N, Blade J, Cid MC. 

Thalidomide decreases gelatinase 

production by malignant B lymphoid 

cell lines through disruption of multiple 

integrin-mediated signaling 

pathways. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 

2010. 95:456-463. I.F.:6,42. 


B, Sole F, Royo C, Navarro 

A, Camacho F, Bea S, Hartmann E, 

Amador V, Hernandez L, Agostinelli 

C, Sargent RL, Rozman M, Aymerich 

M, Colomer D, Villamor N, Swerdlow 

SH, Pileri SA, Bosch F, Piris MA, 

Montserrat E, Ott G, Rosenwald A, 

Lopez-Guillermo A, Jares P, Serrano 

S, Campo E. Genomic and Gene 

Expression Profiling Defines Indolent 


CANCER RES, 2010. 70:1408-1418. 

I.F.:7,54. 

3 Moreno C, Hodgson K, Ferrer G, 

Elena M, Filella X, Pereira A, Baumann 

T, Montserrat E. Autoimmune 


leukemia: prevalence, clinical associations, 

and prognostic significance. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:4771-4776. 

I.F.:10,56. 











2010. 51:1225-1232. I.F.:2,40. 

5 Crowther-Swanepoel D, Broderick 

P, DiBernardo MC, Dobbins SE, 

Torres M, Mansouri M, Ruiz-Ponte C, 

Enjuanes A, Rosenquist R, Carracedo 

A, Jurlander J, Campo E, Juliusson 

G, Montserrat E, Smedby KE, Dyer 

MJS, Matutes E, Dearden C, Sunter 

NJ, Hall AG, Mainou-Fowler T, Jackson 

GH, Summerfield G, Harris RJ, 

Pettitt AR, Allsup DJ, Bailey JR, Pratt 

G, Pepper C, Fegan C, Parker A, Oscier 

D, Allan JM, Catovsky D, Houlston 

RS. Common variants at 2q37.3, 

8q24.21, 15q21.3 and 16q24.1 influence 

chronic lymphocytic leukemia 

risk. NAT GENET, 2010. 42:132-U59. 

I.F.:34,28. 







centers identify a histological 

subtype of chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia (“accelerated” chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia) with aggressive 

clinical behavior. HAEMATOL-HEMA- 

TOL J, 2010. 95:1526-1533. I.F.:6,42. 

7 Espinet B, Salaverria I, Bea S, 

Ruiz-Xiville N, Balague O, Salido M, 

Costa D, Carreras J, Rodriguez-Vicente 

AE, Garcia JL, Hernandez-Rivas 

JM, Calasanz MJ, Siebert R, Ferrer A, 

Salar A, Carrio A, Polo N, Garcia-Marco 

JA, Domingo A, Gonzalez-Barca 

E, Romagosa V, Marugan I, Lopez- 

Guillermo A, Milla F, Mate JL, Luno E, 

Sanzo C, Collado R, Oliver I, Monzo 

S, Palacin A, Gonzalez T, Sant F, Salinas 

R, Ardanaz MT, Font L, Escoda L, 

Florensa L, Serrano S, Campo E, Sole 

F. Incidence and Prognostic Impact of 

Secondary Cytogenetic Aberrations in 

a Series of 145 Patients with Mantle 

Cell Lymphoma. GENE CHROMO- 

SOME CANC, 2010. 49:439-451. 

I.F.:3,86. 






J HAEMATOL, 2010. 85:448-451. 

I.F.:2,35. 

9 Passamonti F, Cervantes F, Vannucchi 

AM, Morra E, Rumi E, Pereira 

A, Guglielmelli P, Pungolino E, Caramella 

M, Maffioli M, Pascutto C, 

Lazzarino M, Cazzola M, Tefferi A. A 

dynamic prognostic model to predict 

survival in primary myelofibrosis: a 

study by the IWG-MRT (International 

Working Group for Myeloproliferative 

Neoplasms Research and Treatment). 

BLOOD, 2010. 115:1703-1708. 

I.F.:10,56. 

10 Sanchez-Espiridion B, Montalban 

C, Lopez A, Menarguez J, 

Sabin P, Ruiz-Marcellan C, Ramos R, 

Rodriguez J, Canovas A, Camarero C, 

Canales M, Alves J, Arranz R, Acevedo 

A, Salar A, Serrano S, Bas A, Moraleda 

JM, Sanchez-Godoy P, Burgos 

F, Rayon C, Fresno MF, Larana JG, 

Garcia-Cosio M, Santonja C, Lopez 

JL, Llanos M, Mollejo M, Gonzalez- 

Carrero J, Marin A, Forteza J, Garcia- 

Sanz R, Tomas JF, Morente MM, Piris 

MA, Garcia JF. A molecular risk score 

based on 4 functional pathways for 

advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:E12-E17. 

I.F.:10,56. 

11 Mateos MV, Oriol A, Martinez- 

Lopez J, Gutierrez N, Teruel AI, De- 

Paz R, Garcia-Larana J, Bengoechea 

E, Martin A, Mediavilla JD, Palomera 

L, DeArriba F, Gonzalez Y, Hernandez 

JM, Sureda A, Bello JL, Bargay J, Penalver 

FJ, Ribera JM, Martin-Mateos 

ML, Garcia-Sanz R, Cibeira MT, Ramos 

MLM, Vidriales MB, Paiva B, 

Montalban MA, Lahuerta JJ, Blade J, 

SanMiguel JF. Bortezomib, melpha- 

274

AREA 5 



lan, and prednisone versus bortezomib, 

thalidomide, and prednisone as 

induction therapy followed by maintenance 

treatment with bortezomib and 

thalidomide versus bortezomib and 

prednisone in elderly patients with 

untreated multiple myelom. LANCET 

ONCOL, 2010. 11:934-941. I.F.:14,47. 

12 Lahuerta JJ, Mateos MV, Martinez-Lopez 

J, Grande C, DeLaRubia J, 

Rosinol L, Sureda A, Garcia-Larana J, 

Diaz-Mediavilla J, Hernandez-Garcia 

MT, Carrera D, Besalduch J, DeArriba 

F, Oriol A, Escoda L, Garcia-Frade J, 

Rivas-Gonzalez C, Alegre A, Blade 

J, SanMiguel JF. Busulfan 12 mg/ 

kg plus melphalan 140 mg/m(2) 

versus melphalan 200 mg/m(2) as 

conditioning regimens for autologous 

transplantation in newly diagnosed 

multiple myeloma patients included 

in the PETHEMA/GEM2000 study. 

HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 2010. 

95:1913-1920. I.F.:6,42. 

13 Ribera JM, Oriol A, Gonzalez M, 

Vidriales B, Brunet S, Esteve J, Del- 

Potro E, Rivas C, Moreno MJ, Tormo 

M, Martin-Reina V, Sarra J, Parody 

R, DeOteyza JP, Bureo E, Bernal MT. 

Concurrent intensive chemotherapy 

and imatinib before and after stem cell 

transplantation in newly diagnosed Philadelphia 

chromosome-positive acute 

lymphoblastic leukemia. Final resullts 

of the CSTIBES02 trial. HAEMATOL- 

HEMATOL J, 2010. 95:87-95. I.F.:6,42. 

14 Cervantes F, Lopez-Garrido P, 

Montero MI, Jonte F, Martinez J, 

Hernandez-Boluda JC, Calbacho M, 

Sureda A, Perez-Rus G, Nieto JB, Perez-Lopez 

C, Roman-Gomez J, Gonzalez 

M, Pereira A, Colomer D. Early 

intervention during imatinib therapy 

in patients with newly diagnosed 

chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia: 

a study of the Spanish PETHE- 

MA group. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 

2010. 95:1317-1324. I.F.:6,42. 

15 Martinez-Trillos A, Gaya A, 

Maffioli M, Arellano-Rodrigo E, Calvo 

X, Diaz-Beya M, Cervantes F. Efficacy 

and tolerability of hydroxyurea in the 

treatment of the hyperproliferative 

manifestations of myelofibrosis: results 

in 40 patients. ANN HEMATOL, 

2010. 89:1233-1237. I.F.:2,92. 

16 Ernst T, Chase AJ, Score J, Hidalgo-Curtis 

CE, Bryant C, Jones AV, 

Waghorn K, Zoi K, Ross FM, Reiter A, 

Hochhaus A, Drexler HG, Duncombe 

A, Cervantes F, Oscier D, Boultwood 

J, Grand FH, Cross NCP. Inactivating 

mutations of the histone methyltransferase 

gene EZH2 in myeloid 

disorders. NAT GENET, 2010. 42:722- 

U109. I.F.:34,28. 

17 Alvarez-Larran A, Cervantes F, 

Pereira A, Arellano-Rodrigo E, Perez- 

Andreu V, Hernandez-Boluda JC, 

Ayats R, Salvador C, Muntanola A, 

Bellosillo B, Vicente V, Hernandez- 

Nieto L, Burgaleta C, Xicoy B, Besses 

C. Observation versus antiplatelet 

therapy as primary prophylaxis for 

thrombosis in low-risk essential 

thrombocythemia. BLOOD, 2010. 

116:1205-1210. I.F.:10,56. 

18 Ballen KK, Shrestha S, Sobocinski 

KA, Zhang MJ, Bashey A, 

Bolwell BJ, Cervantes F, Devine SM, 

Gale RP, Gupta V, Hahn TE, Hogan 

WJ, Kroger N, Litzow MR, Marks DI, 

Maziarz RT, Mccarthy PL, Schiller G, 

Schouten HC, Roy V, Wiernik PH, 

Horowitz MM, Giralt SA, Arora M. 

Outcome of Transplantation for Myelofibrosis. 

BIOL BLOOD MARROW 

TR, 2010. 16:358-367. I.F.:3,15. 

19 Mateos MV, Cibeira MT, Richardson 

PG, Prosper F, Oriol A, De- 

LaRubia J, Lahuerta JJ, Garcia-Sanz 

R, Extremera S, Szyldergemajn S, 

Corrado C, Singer H, Mitsiades CS, 

Anderson KC, Blade J, SanMiguel J. 

Phase II Clinical and Pharmacokinetic 

Study of Plitidepsin 3-Hour Infusion 

Every Two Weeks Alone or with Dexamethasone 

in Relapsed and Refractory 

Multiple Myeloma. CLIN CANCER 

RES, 2010. 16:3260-3269. I.F.:6,75. 

20 Buda G, Ricci D, Huang CC, 

Favis R, Cohen N, Zhuang SH, Harousseau 

JL, Sonneveld P, Blade J, 

Orlowski RZ. Polymorphisms in the 

multiple drug resistance protein 1 and 

in P-glycoprotein 1 are associated with 

time to event outcomes in patients 

with advanced multiple myeloma treated 

with bortezomib and pegylated 

liposomal doxorubicin. ANN HEMA- 

TOL, 2010. 89:1133-1140. I.F.:2,92. 

21 Mohty M, Labopin M, Volin L, 

Gratwohl A, Socie G, Esteve J, Tabrizi 

R, Nagler A, Rocha V. Reduced-intensity 

versus conventional myeloablative 

conditioning allogeneic stem 

cell transplantation for patients with 

acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective 

study from the European 

Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:4439- 

4443. I.F.:10,56. 

22 Ludwig H, Bolejack V, Crowley 

J, Blade J, SanMiguel J, Kyle RA, 

Rajkumar SV, Shimizu K, Turesson I, 

Westin J, Sonneveld P, Cavo M, Boccadoro 

M, Palumbo A, Tosi P, Harousseau 

JL, Attal M, Barlogie B, Stewart 

AK, Durie B. Survival and Years of 

Life Lost in Different Age Cohorts of 

Patients With Multiple Myeloma. J 

CLIN ONCOL, 2010. 28:1599-1605. 

I.F.:17,79. 

23 Diaz-Beya M, Rozman M, 

Pratcorona M, Torrebadell M, Camos 

M, Aguilar JLI, Esteve J. The prognostic 

value of multilineage dysplasia 

in de novo acute myeloid leukemia 

patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics 

is dependent on NPM1 

mutational status. BLOOD, 2010. 

116:6147-6148. I.F.:10,56. 

275

AREA 5 



Team Members 

24 Barbui T, Carobbio A, Cervantes 

F, Vannucchi AM, Guglielmelli P, Antonioli 

E, Alvarez-Larran A, Rambaldi 

A, Finazzi G, Barosi G. Thrombosis in 

primary myelofibrosis: incidence and 

risk factors. BLOOD, 2010. 115:778- 

782. I.F.:10,56. 

25 Tefferi A, Siragusa S, Hussein 

K, Schwager SM, Hanson CA, Pardanani 

A, Cervantes F, Passamonti F. 

Transfusion-dependency at presentation 

and its acquisition in the first 

year of diagnosis are both equally 

detrimental for survival in primary 

myelofibrosis-prognostic relevance 

is independent of IPSS or karyotype. 

AM J HEMATOL, 2010. 85:14-17. 

I.F.:2,61. 

26 Guillem VM, Cervantes F, Martinez 

J, Alvarez-Larran A, Collado M, 

Camos M, Sureda A, Maffioli M, Marugan 

I, Hernandez-Boluda JC. XPC 

genetic polymorphisms correlate with 

the response to imatinib treatment in 

patients with chronic phase chronic 

myeloid leukemia. AM J HEMATOL, 

2010. 85:482-486. I.F.:2,61. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 76,54 

1 Blade J, Rosinol L, Cibeira MT, 

Rovira M, Carreras E. Hematopoietic 

stem cell transplantation for multiple 

myeloma beyond 2010. BLOOD, 

2010 . 115:3655-3663. I.F.:10,56. 

2 Gine E, Gutierrez-Garcia G, 

Lopez-Guillermo A. Current immunochemotherapy 

strategies in follicular 

lymphoma. ADV THER, 2010. 27:704- 

713. I.F.:0,94. 

3 Ludwig H, Beksac M, Blade J, 

Boccadoro M, Cavenagh J, Cavo M, 

Dimopoulos M, Drach J, Einsele H, 

Facon T, Goldschmidt H, Harousseau 

JL, Hess U, Ketterer N, Kropff M, 

Mendeleeva L, Morgan G, Palumbo 

A, Plesner T, SanMiguel J, Shpilberg 

O, Sondergeld P, Sonneveld 

P, Zweegman S. Current Multiple 

Myeloma Treatment Strategies with 

Novel Agents: A European Perspective. 

ONCOLOGIST, 2010. 15:6-25. 

I.F.:6,70. 

4 Kyle RA, Durie BGM, Rajkumar 

SV, Landgren O, Blade J, Merlini 

G, Kroger N, Einsele H, Vesole DH, 

Dimopoulos M, SanMiguel J, Avet- 

Loiseau H, Hajek R, Chen WM, Anderson 

KC, Ludwig H, Sonneveld P, 

Pavlovsky S, Palumbo A, Richardson 

PG, Barlogie B, Greipp P, Vescio R, 

Turesson I, Westin J, Boccadoro M. 

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined 

significance (MGUS) and 

smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple 

myeloma: IMWG consensus perspectives 

risk factors for progression and 

guidelines for monitoring and management. 

LEUKEMIA, 2010. 24:1121- 

1127. I.F.:8,30. 

5 Dimopoulos MA, Terpos E, 

Chanan-Khan A, Leung N, Ludwig H, 

Jagannath S, Niesvizky R, Giralt S, 

Fermand JP, Blade J, Comenzo RL, 

Sezer O, Palumbo A, Harousseau JL, 

Richardson PG, Barlogie B, Anderson 

KC, Sonneveld P, Tosi P, Cavo M, 

Rajkumar SV, Durie BGM, SanMiguel 

J. Renal Impairment in Patients With 

Multiple Myeloma: A Consensus Statement 

on Behalf of the International 

Myeloma Working Group. J CLIN ON- 

COL, 2010. 28:4976-4984. I.F.:17,79. 

6 Blade J, Dimopoulos M, Rosinol 

L, Rajkumar SV, Kyle RA. Smoldering 

(Asymptomatic) Multiple Myeloma: 

Current Diagnostic Criteria, New Predictors 

of Outcome, and Follow-Up 

Recommendations. J CLIN ONCOL, 

2010. 28:690-697. I.F.:17,79. 

7 Delforge M, Blade J, Dimopoulos 

MA, Facon T, Kropff M, Ludwig H, Palumbo 

A, VanDamme P, San-Miguel JF, 

Sonneveld P. Treatment-related peripheral 

neuropathy in multiple myeloma: the 

challenge continues. LANCET ONCOL, 

2010. 11:1086-1095. I.F.:14,47. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 27,75 

1 Montserrat E. Advances in Biology 

and Therapy of Chronic Lymphocytic 

Leukemia Preface. BEST PRACT 

RES CL HA, 2010. 23:1-2. I.F.:3,13. 

2 Moreno C, Montserrat E. Genetic 

lesions in chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia: what’s ready for prime 

time use?. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 

2010. 95:12-15. I.F.:6,42. 

3 lade J, Rosinol L, Cibeira MT, 

DeLarrea CF. How to Treat Multiple 

Myeloma: Thoughts on a Multicentre 

Survey in Germany. ONKOLOGIE, 

2010. 33:577-578. I.F.:1,23. 

4 Blade J, Cibeira MT, Rosinol L. 

Novel drugs for the treatment of multiple 

myeloma. HAEMATOL-HEMA- 

TOL J, 2010. 95:702-704. I.F.:6,42. 

5 Blade J, Rosinol L. Refining “total 

therapy” for myeloma. BLOOD, 

2010. 115:4152-4153. I.F.:10,56. 

276

AREA 5 




I.F.: 4,15 

1 Garcia-Sanz R, Alegre A, Capote 

FJ, Hernandez JM, Rosinol L, DeLa- 

Rubia J, Sureda A, DeArriba F, Bargay 

J, Mediavilla JD, Garcia-Larana J, 

Lahuerta JJ, Mateos MV, Prosper F, 

Miguel JS, Blade J. Guidelines for the 

use of bisphosphonates in multiple 

myeloma: Recommendations of the 

expert committee of the Spanish 

Myeloma Group from the PETHEMA 

group. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 

2010. 134:268-278. I.F.:1,23. 

2 Palumbo A, Davies F, Kropff M, 

Blade J, Delforge M, DaCosta FL, 

Sanz RG, Schey S, Facon T, Morgan G, 

Moreau P. Consensus guidelines for 

the optimal management of adverse 

events in newly diagnosed, transplantineligible 

patients receiving melphalan 

and prednisone in combination with 

thalidomide (MPT) for the treatment 

of multiple myeloma. ANN HEMATOL, 

2010. 89:803-811. I.F.:2,92. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 51,46 

1 Hudson TJ, Anderson W, Aretz A, 

Barker AD, Bell C, et al. International 

network of cancer genome projects. 

NATURE, 2010. 464:993-998. 

I.F.:34,48. 

2 Oriol A, Vives S, Hernandez-Rivas 

JM, Tormo M, Heras I, Rivas C, 

Bethencourt C, Moscardo F, Bueno 

J, Grande C, DelPotro E, Guardia R, 

Brunet S, Bergua J, Bernal T, Moreno 

MJ, Calvo C, Bastida P, Feliu E, 

Ribera JM. Outcome after relapse of 

acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adult 

patients included in four consecutive 

risk-adapted trials by the PETHEMA 

Study Group. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL 

J, 2010. 95:589-596. I.F.:6,42. 

3 Sanz MA, Montesinos P, Rayon C, 

Holowiecka A, DeLaSerna J, Milone 

G, DeLisa E, Brunet S, Rubio V, Ribera 

JM, Rivas C, Krsnik I, Bergua J, 

Gonzalez J, Diaz-Mediavilla J, Rojas 

R, Manso F, Ossenkoppele G, Gonzalez 

JD, Lowenberg B. Risk-adapted 

treatment of acute promyelocytic 

leukemia based on all-trans retinoic 

acid and anthracycline with addition 

of cytarabine in consolidation therapy 

for high-risk patients: further 

improvements in treatment outcome. 

BLOOD, 2010. 115:5137-5146. 

I.F.:10,56. 


in progress 

Cervantes F. European Treatment 

and Outcome Study for CML. 

Sponsored by: European Comission 

(European LeukemiaNet), 07/350. 


01/07/2007-30/06/2010. 

Cervantes F. Red temática de 



y Consumo, RD06/0020/0004. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Blade J. Red temática de 



CARLOS III, RD06/0020/0005. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Montserrat E. Red temática de 



y Consumo, RD06/0020/0051. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Montserrat E. Diseño de un sistema 

clínico-biológico para el pronóstico 

de los pacientes con leucemia 

linfática crónica (LLC). Sponsored 

by: Instituto Carlos III- Ministerio 



01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

277

AREA 5 



Team Members 

Montserrat E. Grup de Recerca 

Consolidat: Unitat Clínico-Biològica 

per a l’estudi de limfomes i síndromes 

limproliferatives. Sponsored by: 

Generalitat de Catalunya. Ajuts 

a grups de recerca, SGR 1008. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Blade J. Impacto de la variabilidad 

genética individual mediante el análisis 

de single neucleotide polymorphisms 

(SNPS) en la respuesta al tratamiento 

en el mieloma múltiple. Sponsored 




01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Esteve J. Generación de un índice 

pronóstico molecular en los enfermos 

con LMA de riego citogenético 

intermedio: análisis de mutaciones, 

nivel de expresión génico y patrón 

de expresión microRNA. Sponsored 




01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Montserrat E. Unitat Clínico-biològica 

per l’Estudi de Limfomes i Síndromes 

Limfoproliferatives. Sponsored by: 

GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA, 

2009_SGR_1008. Amount: 43.680,00 


31/12/2013. 

Thesis 

Bosch F. Estudi del fenomen de 

la transformació histològica en 

síndromes limfoproliferatives 

indolents. PhD student: Eva Giné 

Soca. 

Cervantes F. Vacunas con células 

dendríticas y pépticos en el 

tratamiento de las enfermedades 

neoplásicas. PhD student: Marta 

Gomez Nuñez. 

Bosch F. Biología y valor pronóstico 

del compartimento celular proliferante 

en la leucemia linfática crónica. 

Sponsored by: Instituto Carlos III- 

Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Lopez A. Estudio de la expresión 

de las citoquinas y receptores de 

citoquinas en los diferentes tipos de 

linfomas T periféricos. Correlación con 

los perfiles genotípicos y significado 

clinicopatológico. Sponsored by: 

Instituto Carlos III. Ministerio de 

Ciencia e Innovación, PI070409. 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

278

AREA 5 


Physiopathology and molecular bases 

in hematology 

Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Dolors Colomer 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2269) 

Fax: 93 227 55 72 

E-mail: 

dcolomer@clinic.ub.es 


Josep Lluís Aguilar (Hospital Clínic) 

Marta Aymerich (Hospital Clínic) 

Teresa Estrach (Hospital Clínic) 

Gael Roue (Fundació Clínic) 

Maria Rozman (Hospital Clínic) 

Neus Villamor (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Lluís Vives Corrons (Hospital Clínic) 

Patricia Pérez Galán (IDIBAPS) 




Strategic 

Objectives 

Epidemiological, genetic, molecular and 

physiopathological study of malignant 

hematological diseases and erythrocyte 

pathology. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Molecular bases of apoptosis 

regulation induced by drugs in 

lymphoid neoplasms. Evaluation of 

new strategies for the treatment of 

these disorders. 

2. Cytological, immunophenotypic 

and molecular study of malignant 

hematological diseases. 

Development of new technologies 

for the diagnosis and follow-up of 

minimum residual disease. 

3. Promotion of cooperative strategies 

in the molecular diagnostic setting of 

leukemias and lymphomas. 

4. Design and implementation of 

internal and external quality control 

programs. 

5. Cutaneous T and B cell lymphomas. 

Clinical, histopathological and 

immunophenotypic study. Prognostic 

factors and epidemiology. 

6. Molecular study of the congenital 

alterations of erythrocytes and of 

the physiopathological mechanisms 

intervening in the production and 

destruction of erythrocytes as a 

cause of anemia or erythrocytosis. 

7. Genetic and epidemiological 

study of hemoglobin diseases and 

thalassemias. 


Mónica Lopez (Hospital Clínic, RTICC) 

Ifigènia Saborit (IDIBAPS) 

Maria del Mar Mañu (ENERCA) 


Laia Rosich (IDIBAPS) 

Silvia Xargay (Ministerio Ciencia e Innovacion) 

Roser Mas (Fundació Clínic) 

Arnau Montraveta (FPI, MICINN) 

Laura Olaya (ENERCA) 

Technicians: 

Sandra Cabezas (Fundació Clínic) 

Laura Jimenez (IDIBAPS, RTICC) 

Jocabed Roldan (IDIBAPS, RTICC) 

Synergism between GX15-070, a BCL-2 protein inhibitor, and 

bortezomib, a proteosome inhibitor in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). 

A) Primary cells of MCL affected patients 

were incubated with 5 or 10 nM of bortezomib and different doses 

of GX15-070 (0.1-1 mM) during 18 hours. Cytotoxicity was evaluated 

by flow cytometry, using annexin V-APC labelling. The associated 

arrows indicate similar cytotoxicities (cases 4 and 7). The arrows 

in cases 2 and 9 indicate that incubation with GX15-070 sensitizes 

the cells to bortezomib. B) Analysis of the expression of Mcl-1, Bak 

and Noxa via western blot after incubation for 18 h with GX15-070 

1 mM and/or bortezomib 5 nM. C) Immunoprecipitation with Mcl-1 

and posterior development with Bak and Noxa in cells treated with 

GX15-070 1 mM and/or bortezomib 5 nM during 5 hours. 

279

AREA 5 


Physiopathology and molecular bases 

in hematology 

Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 78,59 



F, Goel A, DelCastillo CF, Rius 

J, Plaza S, Robledillo JCL, Juan M, 

Ibanez M, Yague J. A Somatic NLRP3 

Mutation as a Cause of a Sporadic 

Case of Chronic Infantile Neurologic, 

Cutaneous, Articular Syndrome/ 

Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory 

Disease Novel Evidence of 

the Role of Low-Level Mosaicism 

as the Pathophysiologic Mechanism 

Under. ARTHRITIS RHEUM-US, 2010. 

62:1158-1166. I.F.:7,33. 


B, Sole F, Royo C, Navarro 

A, Camacho F, Bea S, Hartmann E, 

Amador V, Hernandez L, Agostinelli 

C, Sargent RL, Rozman M, Aymerich 

M, Colomer D, Villamor N, Swerdlow 

SH, Pileri SA, Bosch F, Piris MA, 

Montserrat E, Ott G, Rosenwald A, 

Lopez-Guillermo A, Jares P, Serrano 

S, Campo E. Genomic and Gene 

Expression Profiling Defines Indolent 


CANCER RES, 2010. 70:1408-1418. 

I.F.:7,54. 











2010. 51:1225-1232. I.F.:2,40. 

4 Costa D, Valera S, Carrio A, Arias 

A, Munoz C, Rozman M, Belkaid M, 

Coutinho R, Nomdedeu B, Campo 

E. Do we need to do fluorescence in 

situ hybridization analysis in myelodysplastic 

syndromes as often as we 

do?. LEUKEMIA RES, 2010. 34:1437- 

1441. I.F.:2,36. 







centers identify a histological 

subtype of chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia (“accelerated” chronic lymphocytic 

leukemia) with aggressive 

clinical behavior. HAEMATOL-HEMA- 

TOL J, 2010. 95:1526-1533. I.F.:6,42. 






J HAEMATOL, 2010. 85:448-451. 

I.F.:2,35. 

7 Cervantes F, Lopez-Garrido P, 

Montero MI, Jonte F, Martinez J, 

Hernandez-Boluda JC, Calbacho M, 

Sureda A, Perez-Rus G, Nieto JB, Perez-Lopez 

C, Roman-Gomez J, Gonzalez 

M, Pereira A, Colomer D. Early 

intervention during imatinib therapy 

in patients with newly diagnosed 

chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia: 

a study of the Spanish PETHE- 

MA group. HAEMATOL-HEMATOL J, 

2010. 95:1317-1324. I.F.:6,42. 

8 Diaz-Beya M, Rozman M, Pratcorona 

M, Torrebadell M, Camos M, 

Aguilar JLI, Esteve J. The prognostic 

value of multilineage dysplasia in de 

novo acute myeloid leukemia patients 

with intermediate-risk cytogenetics is 

dependent on NPM1 mutational status. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:6147-6148. 

I.F.:10,56. 

9 Lopez-Royuela N, Perez-Galan 

P, Galan-Malo P, Yuste VJ, Anel A, 

Susin SA, Naval J, Marzo I. Different 

contribution of BH3-only proteins 

and caspases to doxorubicin-induced 

apoptosis in p53-deficient leukemia 

cells. BIOCHEM PHARMACOL, 

2010. 79:1746-1758. I.F.:4,25. 

10 Gulbis B, Eleftheriou A, Angastiniotis 

M, Ball S, Surralles J, Castella 

M, Heimpel H, Hill A, Corrons JLV. 

Epidemiology of Rare Anaemias in 

Europe. ADV EXP MED BIOL, 2010. 

686:375-396. I.F.:2,02. 

11 White HE, Matejtschuk P, 

Rigsby P, Gabert J, Lin F, Wang YL, 

Branford S, Muller MC, Beaufils N, 

Beillard E, Colomer D, Dvorakova 

D, Ehrencrona H, Goh HG, ElHousni 

H, Jones D, Kairisto V, Kamel-Reid 

S, Kim DW, Langabeer S, Ma ESK, 

Press RD, Romeo G, Wang LH, Zoi 

K, Hughes T, Saglio G, Hochhaus 

A, Goldman JM, Metcalfe P, Cross 

NCP. Establishment of the first World 

Health Organization International 

Genetic Reference Panel for quantitation 

of BCR-ABL mRNA. BLOOD, 

2010. 116:E111-E117. I.F.:10,56. 

12 Muniesa C, Estrach T, Pujol 

RM, Gallardo F, Garcia-Muret P, Climent 

J, Servitje O. Folliculotropic 

mycosis fungoides: Clinicopathological 

features and outcome in a series 

of 20 cases. J AM ACAD DERMA- 

TOL, 2010. 62:418-426. I.F.:4,11. 

280

AREA 5 


Physiopathology and molecular bases in hematology 

13 Mollinedo F, DeLaIglesia-Vicente 

J, Gajate C, DeMendoza AEH, 

Villa-Pulgarin JA, DeFrias M, Roue 

G, Gil J, Colomer D, Campanero MA, 

Blanco-Prieto MJ. In vitro and In vivo 

Selective Antitumor Activity of Edelfosine 

against Mantle Cell Lymphoma 

and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 

Involving Lipid Rafts. CLIN CANCER 

RES, 2010. 16:2046-2054. I.F.:6,75. 

14 Salgado R, Servitje O, Gallardo 

F, Vermeer MH, Ortiz-Romero PL, 

Karpova MB, Zipser MC, Muniesa C, 

Garcia-Muret MP, Estrach T, Salido 

M, Sanchez-Schmidt J, Herrera M, 

Romagosa V, Suela J, Ferreira BI, 

Cigudosa JC, Barranco C, Serrano 

S, Dummer R, Tensen CP, Sole F, 

Pujol RM, Espinet B. Oligonucleotide 

Array-CGH Identifies Genomic 

Subgroups and Prognostic Markers 

for Tumor Stage Mycosis Fungoides. 

J INVEST DERMATOL, 2010. 

130:1126-1135. I.F.:5,54. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 7,64 

1 Saborit-Villarroya I, Roue G, 

Lopez-Guerra M, Alonso R, Xargay- 

Torrent S, Rosich L, Colomer D. 

Cell Death Targeting Therapies in 

B Lymphoid Malignancies. CURR 

DRUG TARGETS, 2010. 11:769-780. 

I.F.:3,93. 

2 Lopez-Guerra M, Colomer D. 

NF-kappa B as a therapeutic target 

in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. EX- 

PERT OPIN THER TAR, 2010. 14:275- 

288. I.F.:3,71. 


in progress 

Aymerich M. Desarrollo de un 

biobanco para muestras biológicas 

prospectivas de pacientes oncológicos 

como soporte a la investigación 

biomédica. Sponsored by: Ministerio 



26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Colomer D. Red temática de 



y Consumo, RD06/0020/0014. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Vives JL. European Reference 

Network of Expert Centres in Rare 

Anaemias . Sponsored by: European 

Commission- Executive Agency for 

Health and Consumers, 2008 12 

10. Amount: 1.193.799,97 euros. 

Duration: 01/06/2009-31/05/2012. 

Colomer D. Dianes terapèutiques i 

noves tècniques diagnòstiques en 

neoplasies limfoides. Sponsored 

by: Generalitat de Catalunya, 2009_ 


Duration: 15/09/2009-31/12/2013. 

Roue G. Identificación de nuevas 

dianas terapéuticas para mejorar 

la actividad de VELCADE TM en 

el linfoma de células del manto. 

Sponsored by: ISCIII, CP07/00072. 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Roue G. Identificación de nuevas 

dianas terapéuticas para mejorar la 

actividad del velcade en el linfoma 

de células del manto. Sponsored by: 



Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Colomer D. Utilización de terapias 

selectivas contra rutas de señalización 

desreguladas en neoplasias linfoides. 

Mecanismos de acción y estrategias 

de sensibilización. Sponsored by: 


SAF2009_09503. Amount: 254.100,00 


31/12/2012. 

Vives JL. Creation of a catalan 

network for the diagnosis and clinical 

management of rare anemias due 

to major haemoglobinopathies. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACIÓ LA 

MARATÓ DE TV3, 101730. Amount: 


14/12/2010-13/12/2013. 

281

AREA 5 



Determinantes genéticos y ambientales 

de la disfunción vascular (HERACLES) 

Hemotherapy – hemostasis 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Main Lines 

of Research 

TEAM LEADER 

Ginés Escolar 


Tel.: 93 227 54 00 

(Ext.: 2306) 

E-mail: gescolar@clinic.ub.es 


Antonio Ordinas (Hospital Clínic) 

Maribel Díaz-Ricart (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana M. Galán (Fundació Clínic) 

Pablo García de Frutos (CSIC) 

Miquel Lozano (Hospital Clínic) 

Anna M. Merino (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Monteagudo (Hospital Clínic) 

Arturo Pereira (Hospital Clínic) 

Juan Carles Reverter (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Ch. Sanz (Hospital Clínic) 

M. Dolors Tàssies (Hospital Clínic) 


Irene López-Vilchez (IDIBAPS) 


Marta Palomo de Udaeta (Fundació Clínic) 

Carolina Caballo Gordillo (Fundació Clínic) 

Technicians: 

Marc Pino (Hospital Clínic) 

Patricia Molina Moreno (Fundació Clínic) 

1. Study of the basic mechanisms 

regulating blood cell function and of 

the interactions between such cells, 

with the vascular wall, and with other 

cells. 

2. Evaluation of congenital and acquired 

defects in hemostasis and their 

pharmacological and/or transfusional 

correction. 

3. Laboratory characterization of 

bleeding and thrombotic phenotypes 

and genotypes. 

4. Analysis of the efficacy and safety 

of new strategies for sparing blood 

component transfusions. 

5. Development and evaluation of 

the efficacy of synthetic platelet 

substitutes. 

6. Characterization of animal models of 

hemostasis, preferentially in mice. 

1. Study of the mechanisms involved 

in the development of bleeding and 

thrombotic disorders. Proteomic 

study for determining the changes 

in the vascular system and in the 

different blood cells in thrombotic 

and bleeding disorders. 

2. Evaluation of the physiological 

and pathological implications of 

circulating and/or intraplatelet tissue 

factor in atherothrombosis. 

3. Characterization of endothelial 

dysfunction as a common factor in 

the development of complications 

associated with multiple diseases. 

A physiological, biochemical and 

proteomic approach. 

4. New therapeutic measures 

in autoimmune diseases of a 

fundamentally humoral character. 

Incompatible ABO kidney 

transplantation as a model. 

5. Evaluation of the participation 

of serotoninergic and purinergic 

mechanisms in platelet function. 

Study of the antithrombotic potential 

of pharmacological inhibitors. 

6. Role of the phenotype/genotype of 

fibrinolysis and its repercussions 

upon global or specific functional 

tests in hemorrhagic and thrombotic 

pathology. 

7. Study of the GAS6 vitamin 

K-dependent protein in hemostasis 

and the vascular wall, using knockout 

mice for this gene. 


Rosa Brugués (Hospital Clínic) 

Gabriela Gutiérrez (Hospital Clínic) 

M.Rosa Hernández (Fundació Clínic) 

Josep M. Jou (Hospital Clínic) 

Begoña Hurtado Villarejo (JAEDOC-CSIC) 

Cristina Aresté (JAEDOC-CSIC) 

Joan Cid Vidal (Hospital Clínic) 

Eduardo Arellano Rodrigo (Hospital Clínic) 

Ultrastructural studies of washed platelets exposed to microvesicles rich 

in FT (MV-FT). A) Resting platelets. B) After the first minute of activation 

with MV-FT, the latter are found in different sizes within the open platelet 

canalicular system (arrow), and platelet activation is observed with loss of 

shape and signs of partial degranulation. C) After 5 minutes, the platelets 

return to their resting state, but retain the internalized MV-FT. 

282

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PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 93,91 

1 Martinez-Zamora MA, Tassies 

D, Carmona F, Espinosa G, Cerverac 

R, Reverter JC, Balasch J. Clot 

lysis time and thrombin activatable 

fibrinolysis inhibitor in severe 

preeclampsia with or without 

associated antiphospholipid antibodies. 

J REPROD IMMUNOL, 2010. 

86:133-140. I.F.:2,52. 

2 Smithson A, Perello R, Aibar 

J, Espinosa G, Tassies D, Freire 

C, Castro P, Suarez B, Lozano F, 

Nicolas JM. Genotypes Coding for 

Low Serum Levels of Mannose- 

Binding Lectin Are Underrepresented 

among Individuals Suffering 

from Noninfectious Systemic Inflammatory 

Response Syndrome. 


17:447-453. I.F.:2,37. 

3 Basora M, Pereira A, Soriano A, 

Martinez-Pastor JC, Sanchez-Etayo 

G, Tio M, Salazar F. Allogeneic 

blood transfusion does not increase 

the risk of wound infection in 

total knee arthroplasty. VOX SANG, 

2010. 98:124-129. I.F.:2,59. 

4 Rigol M, Solanes N, Farre J, 

Roura S, Roque M, Berruezo A, 

Bellera N, Novensa L, Beng DT, 

Prat-Vidal C, Huzman MA, Batlle 

M, Hoefsloot M, Sitges M, Ramirez 

J, Dantas AP, Merino A, 

Sanz G, Brugada J, Bayes-Genis 

A, Heras M. Effects of Adipose 

Tissue-Derived Stem Cell Therapy 

After Myocardial Infarction: Impact 

of the Route of Administration. 

J CARD FAIL, 2010. 16:357-366. 

I.F.:3,25. 

5 Diaz-Ricart M, Brunso L, Pino 

M, Navalon F, Jou JM, Heras M, 

White JG, Escolar G. Preanalytical 

treatment of EDTA-anticoagulated 

blood to ensure stabilization of the 

mean platelet volume and component 

measured with the ADVIA 

counters. THROMB RES, 2010. 

126:E30-E35. I.F.:2,41. 

6 Oppenheimer F, Revuelta I, Serra 

N, Lozano M, Gutierrez-Dalmau A, 

Esforzado N, Cofan F, Ricart MJ, 

Torregrosa JV, Crespo M, Paredes 

D, Martorell J, Alcaraz A, Campistol 

JM. ABO incompatible living donor 

kidney transplantation: a dream come 

true. Experience of Hospital Clinic 

of Barcelona. NEFROLOGIA, 2010. 

30:54-63. I.F.:0,53. 

7 Martinez-Zamora MA, Creus 

M, Tassies D, Bove A, Reverter JC, 

Carmona F, Balasch J. Thrombin activatable 

fibrinolysis inhibitor and clot 

lysis time in women with recurrent 

miscarriage associated with the antiphospholipid 

syndrome. FERTIL STE- 

RIL, 2010. 94:2437-2440. I.F.:3,97. 

8 Llacuna L, Barcena C, Bellido- 

Martin L, Fernandez L, Stefanovic M, 

Mari M, Garcia-Ruiz C, Fernandez- 

Checa JC, DeFrutos PG, Morales A. 

Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 Is 

Hepatoprotective Against Murine 

Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. HE- 

PATOLOGY, 2010. 52:1371-1379. 

I.F.:10,84. 

9 Gomez-Gil E, Navines R, DeOsaba 

MJM, Diaz-Ricart M, Escolar G, 

Salamero M, Martin-Santos R, Galan 

A, Gasto C. Hormonal responses 

to the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone in 

remitted endogenous depressive 

patients after long-term imipramine 

treatment. PSYCHONEUROENDO- 

CRINO, 2010. 35:481-489. I.F.:4,19. 

10 Moreno C, Hodgson K, Ferrer 

G, Elena M, Filella X, Pereira A, 

Baumann T, Montserrat E. Autoimmune 


leukemia: prevalence, clinical 

associations, and prognostic significance. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:4771- 

4776. I.F.:10,56. 

11 Palomo M, Diaz-Ricart M, 

Carbo C, Rovira M, Fernandez-Aviles 

F, Martine C, Ghita G, Escolar G, 

Carreras E. Endothelial Dysfunction 

after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: 

Role of the Conditioning 

Regimen and the Type of Transplantation. 

BIOL BLOOD MARROW TR, 

2010. 16:985-993. I.F.:3,15. 

12 Carreras E, Fernandez-Aviles 

F, Silva L, Guerrero M, DeLarrea 

CF, Martinez C, Rosinol L, Lozano 

M, Marin P, Rovira M. Engraftment 

syndrome after auto-SCT: analysis 

of diagnostic criteria and risk factors 

in a large series from a single 

center. BONE MARROW TRANS- 

PL, 2010. 45:1417-1422. I.F.:3,00. 

13 DeLarrea CF, Martinez C, 

Gaya A, Lopez-Guillermo A, Rovira 

M, Fernandez-Aviles F, Lozano M, 

Bosch F, Esteve J, Nomdedeu B, 

Montserrat E, Carreras E. Salvage 

chemotherapy with alternating 

MINE-ESHAP regimen in relapsed 

or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma 

followed by autologous stem-cell 

transplantation. ANN ONCOL, 

2010. 21:1211-1216. I.F.:5,65. 

14 Cervantes F, Lopez-Garrido 

P, Montero MI, Jonte F, Martinez 

J, Hernandez-Boluda JC, Calbacho 

M, Sureda A, Perez-Rus G, Nieto 

JB, Perez-Lopez C, Roman-Gomez 

J, Gonzalez M, Pereira A, Colomer 

D. Early intervention during imatinib 

therapy in patients with newly 

283

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Team Members 

diagnosed chronic-phase chronic 

myeloid leukemia: a study of the 

Spanish PETHEMA group. HAEMA- 

TOL-HEMATOL J, 2010. 95:1317- 

1324. I.F.:6,42. 

15 Alvarez-Larran A, Cervantes 

F, Pereira A, Arellano-Rodrigo E, 

Perez-Andreu V, Hernandez-Boluda 

JC, Ayats R, Salvador C, Muntanola 

A, Bellosillo B, Vicente V, Hernandez-Nieto 

L, Burgaleta C, Xicoy 

B, Besses C. Observation versus 

antiplatelet therapy as primary 

prophylaxis for thrombosis in lowrisk 

essential thrombocythemia. 

BLOOD, 2010. 116:1205-1210. 

I.F.:10,56. 

16 Hurtado B, Abasolo N, 

Munoz X, Garcia N, Benavente Y, 

Rubio F, DeFrutos PG, Krupinski 

J, Sala N. Association study between 

polymorphims in GAS6-TAM 

genes and carotid atherosclerosis. 

THROMB HAEMOSTASIS, 2010. 

104:592-598. I.F.:4,45. 

17 Reesink HW, Panzer S, 

Mcquilten ZK, Wood EM, Marks 

C, Wendel S, Trigo F, Biagini S, 

Olyntho S, Devine DV, Mumford I, 

Cazenave JP, Rasongles P, Garraud 

O, Richard P, Schooneman F, Vezon 

G, AlRadwan R, Brand A, Hervig 

T, Castro E, Lozano M, Navarro L, 

Puig L, Almazan C, Maclennan S, 

Cardigan R, Franklin IM, Prowse 

C. Pathogen inactivation of platelet 

concentrates. VOX SANG, 2010. 

99:85-95. I.F.:2,59. 

18 Pellitero S, Reverter JL, Tassies 

D, Pizarro E, Monteagudo J, 

Salinas I, Aguilera E, Sanmarti A, 

Reverter JC. Polymorphisms in platelet 

glycoproteins Ia and IIIa are 

associated with arterial thrombosis 

and carotid atherosclerosis in type 

2 diabetes. THROMB HAEMOSTA- 

SIS, 2010. 103:630-637. I.F.:4,45. 

19 Lozano M, Heddle N, Williamson 

LM, Wang G, Aubuchon 

JP, Dumont LJ. Practices associated 

with ABO-incompatible platelet 

transfusions: a BEST Collaborative 

international survey. TRANSFU- 

SION, 2010. 5:1743-1748. I.F.:2,98. 

20 Tadokoro K, Reesink HW, 

Panzer S, Chabanel A, Santailler 

G, Guerin T, Socquet D, David B, 

Labrune JL, Lin CK, Tsoi WC, Letowska 

M, Antoniewicz-Papis J, 

Naniewicz J, Dudziak K, Lachert E, 

Lozano M, Schneider K, Snyder EL, 

Champion MH. Problems with irradiators. 

VOX SANG, 2010. 98:78- 

84. I.F.:2,59. 

21 Sanz C, Ghita G, Franquet C, 

Martinez I, Pereira A. Red-bloodcell 

alloimmunization and female 

sex predict the presence of HLA 

antibodies in patients undergoing 

liver transplant. VOX SANG, 2010. 

99:261-266. I.F.:2,59. 

22 Brunso L, Segura D, Monreal 

L, Escolar G, White JG, Diaz-Ricart 

M. The secretory mechanisms in 

equine platelets are independent 

of cytoskeletal polymerization and 

occur through membrane fusion. 

PLATELETS, 2010. 21:658-666. 

I.F.:2,27. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 7,91 

1 Beya MD, Pereira A, Merino 

A. Erythrophagocytosis in cold 

agglutinin disease. TRANSFUSION, 

2010. 50:2310-2310. I.F.:2,98. 

2 Hurtado B, DeFrutos PG. GAS6 

in systemic inflammatory diseases: 

with and without infection. CRIT 

CARE, 2010. 14:-. I.F.:4,93. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 2,98 

1 Cazenave JP, Follea G, Bardiaux 

L, Boiron JM, Lafeuillade B, 

Debost M, Lioure B, Harousseau 

JL, Tabrizi R, Cahn JY, Michallet M, 

Ambruso D, Schots R, Tissot JD, 

Sensebe L, Kondo T, Mccullough 

J, Rebulla P, Escolar G, Mintz P, 

Heddle NM, Goodrich RP, Bruhwyler 

J, Le C, Cook RJ, Stouch 

B. A randomized controlled clinical 

trial evaluating the performance 

and safety of platelets treated 

with MIRASOL pathogen reduction 

technology. TRANSFUSION. 

50:2362-2375. I.F.:2,98. 

284

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in progress 

Reverter JC. Cancer y 

Tromboembolismo: Importancia de la 

generación de trombina relacionada 

con las micropartículas procoagulantes 

circulantes y los polimorfirmos de las 

mismas en el desarrollo de trombosis 

en los pacientes de cancer. Sponsored 



Duration: 26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Galan A. Desarrollo de preparaciones 

con actividad hemostática como 

alternativa a la transfusión plaquetaria 

y al tratamiento procoagulante. 


Educación y Ciencia, PET2007-0169. 


12/09/2008-11/09/2010. 

Escolar G. Red HERACLES: 

Determinantes genéticos y 

ambientales de la disfunción 

vascular. Sponsored by: Instituto de 

Salud Carlos III, RD06/0009/1003. 


29/02/2008-31/12/2010. 

Escolar G. Desarrollo de modelos de 

coagulopatía dilucional y evaluación 

comparativa de eficacia correctora con 

distintos concentrados de factores 

de la coagulación. Sponsored by: 

Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, 

PET2008-0231. Amount: 77.440,00 


28/02/2011. 

García P. Mecanismos de activación 

plaquetar en la interacción plaquetaendotelio. 


de Educación y Ciencia. Programa 

Nacional de Biología Fundamental, 

BFU2007-61699/BFI. Amount: 


01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Marin PJ. Adaptación de la zona 

blanca del Hospital Clínic de 

Barcelona a las Normas de Correcta 

Fabricación de Medicamentos de Uso 

Humano. Sponsored by: Ministerio 

de Ciencia e Innovación, PLE09-135 . 


01/01/2010-31/12/2010. 

Galan A. El sistema serotoninérgico: 

una concexión entre los mecanismos 

de la depresión mayor, la inflamación 

y el riesgo cardiovascular. Sponsored 


III, PI09/0664. Amount: 79.860,00 


31/12/2012. 

Escolar G. Papel de Los receptores 

ligados a proteína G y los mecanismos 

de señalización mediados por kinasas 

en la internalización y expresión 

del factor tisular por plaquetas: 

Implicaciones en la trombogénesis. 


EDUCACIÓN, SAF2009_10365. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

García P. Thrombus stabilization 

as therapeutic target: from in vitro 

studies to animal models. Sponsored 

by: Fundació Marató de TV3, 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

285

AREA 5 






Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 


Juan José Grau (Hospital Clínic) 

Joan Maurel (Hospital Clínic) 

Begoña Mellado (Hospital Clínic) 

Núria Viñolas (Hospital Clínic) 

Cristina Nadal (Hospital Clínic) 

Reguart, Noemí (Hospital Clínic) 

Muñoz, Montserrat (Hospital Clínic) 

Vanessa Almendro (IDIBAPS) 


Anna Vidal (Fundació Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Dr. Pere Gascón Vilaplana 


Tel.: 93 227 54 02 

Fax: 93 454 65 20 

E-mail: gascon@clinic.ub.es 

Technicians: 

Raquel Longarón (Fundació Clínic) 

Eva Maria Pastor (Fundació Clínic) 

Mireia Parés Guerrero (Fundació Clínic) 

Laia Viñals Galí (Fundació Clínic) 


Àngels Olivera (Hospital Clínic) 


Marta Digón (Hospital Clínic) 


Elisabet Ametller (Fundació Clínic) 

Jordi Codony (Fundació Clínic) 

Susana Garcia Recio (Fundació Clínic) 

Cristina Mayordomo (Fundació Bosch 

i Gimpera) 

Mercedes Marin (Fundació Clínic) 

Laura Vidal (Hospital Clínic) 

Laura Visa (Hospital Clínic, Emili Letang) 

Xabier García-Albéniz (Hospital Clínic, 

Josep Font) 

Estela Pineda (Hospital Clínic, Emili Letang) 

Jordi Alcaraz (Unitat Biofísica i 

Bioenginyeria, UB) 

Ana Arance (Hospital Clínic) 

The strategic objectives of the laboratory 

are centered in three fields: 

1. A purely scientific area corresponding 

to the consolidation of the 

investigational lines and groups 

that work in each of them. 

2. A second area corresponding to the 

obtainment of aids and funding for 

research, in order to ensure the good 

functioning of the laboratory. 

3. A third area established in recent 

years aims to expand the 

laboratory - this process being 

completed this year with the transfer 

to the new CEK Building. This 

will make it possible to contract 

new investigators needed for the 

laboratory research objectives. 

The first of the mentioned areas 

(scientific) comprises a qualitative 

and quantitative increase in scientific 

production. In particular, the colorectal 

and breast cancer stem cell lines are in 

their early stages. 

Both the subject and the quality of 

research can attract investigators 

interested in a stay, in preparing a 

doctoral thesis, or in becoming part 

of the laboratory personnel. In this 

sense we have incorporated three new 

biologists into the group. 

As regards the second area (funding 

of research), we must continue with 

the same criterion established years 

ago in order to ensure the continuity of 

all the research lines and facilitate the 

recruitment/contracting of new personnel 

members. At present, the laboratory 

has four FISS grants (2007, 2008, 2009, 

2009), Networks funding from the Carlos 

III Institute, three aids from the Spanish 

Association Against Cancer (2007, 2008, 

2009), and different research grants from 

the CELLEX Foundation. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

1. Tumor chemoresistance 

mechanisms. 

1.1. Resistance mechanisms in 

colorectal cancer linked to the 

286

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extrinsic apoptotic pathway, in 

vitro and in vivo (Joan Maurel). 

1.2. Change in Fas receptor signaling 

during the acquisition of 

chemoresistance in colon cancer 

(Vanessa Almendro; Susana 

Garcia; Elisabet Ametller). 

1.3. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition 

and resistance to chemotherapy 

(Elisabet Ametller; Vanessa 

Almendro; Cristina Mayordomo). 

1.4. Resistance to antitumor drugs in 

head and neck cancer (Principal 

investigator: Juan J. Grau. 

Collaborators: Carmen Muñoz; 

Miguel Caballero; Andrea 

Tagliapietra; Mariano Monzó). 

1.5. Electrochemotherapy in solid 

tumors. Study of electroporation. 

(Principal investigator: Juan J. 

Grau. Collaborators: Carmen 

Muñoz; Miguel Caballero. 

1.6. Implication of IGF-1R and MMP-7 

in the mechanisms of resistance 

to chemotherapy and antibodies 

against tyrosine kinase receptors. 

Therapeutic strategies for the 

reversal of chemoresistance 

(IDIBAPS: Joan Maurel; Jordi 

Codony; Mercedes Marín. 

Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital: 

Albert Abad; Eva Martínez; Anna 

Martínez). 

1.7. Characterization of the role 

of MMP-7 in resistance to 

bevacizumab in colon cancer 

(Joan Maurel; Estela Pineda; 

Jordi Codony; Mercedes Marín; 

Cristobal Mezquita; Jovita 

Mezquita; Betlem Mezquita). 

1.8. Platform in orthotopic murine 

platforms characterized by the 

study of new drugs in pancreatic 

cancer (IDIBAPS: Joan Maurel; 

Pere Gascón; Salvador Navarro; 

David Fuster; Rosa Miquel; Jordi 

Codony. University of Barcelona: 

Adela Mazo; Sandra Pérez-Torras; 

Anna Vidal-Pla; Nerea Urtasun. 

CETIR: Yolanda González;Ignasi 

Carrió). 

2. Stem cells, microenvironment and 

mechanisms of metastasis. 

2.1. Implications of substance P in 

the regulation of avb3 and a5b1 

in breast cancer cell lines (Pere 

Gascón; Vanessa Almendro; 

Susana Garcia). 

2.2. Interaction between GPCRs and 

RTKs (Vanessa Almendro; Elisabet 

Ametller; Susana Garcia). 

2.3. Role of the PPT-I gene in the 

metastatic process (Pere Gascón; 

Vanessa Almendro; Cristina 

Mayordomo; Elisabet Ametller). 

2.4. Pre-angiogenic micrometastases of 

circulating cells (Cristina Nadal). 

2.5. Mechanisms of liver metastasis in 

colorectal cancer (Cristina Nadal). 

3. Pharmacodynamic studies and 

prediction of therapeutic response. 

3.1. Predictive and pharmacodynamic 

study of the response to 

neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 

prostate cancer. (Begoña Mellado). 

3.2. Mechanisms and markers of 

chemoresistance in prostate 

cancer. Therapeutic strategies for 

the reversal of chemoresistance. 

(Begoña Mellado; Jordi Codony; 

Mercedes Marín). 

4. Study on the determination and 

characterization of circulating 

tumor cells. 

4.1. In prostate cancer (Begoña 

Mellado). 

4.2. In breast cancer (Montse Muñoz; 

Xavier González). 

5. Micro-RNAs in the development 

and prognosis of non-small cell 

lung cancer. 

Nuria Viñolas. 

6. Study of the tumor and stroma 

interactions in non-small cell lung 

cancer (NSCLC): role of fibroblasts 

associated with cancer in NSCLC. 

N. Reguart; J. Alcaraz; Marta Puig. 

7. Effect of anomalous hardening of 

tumor tissue in NSCLC. 

J. Alcaraz; N. Reguart; Marta Puig. 

8. Study of sensitivity to trastuzumab 

in relation to the expression of 

topoisomerase I. 

Xavi González; Montse Muñoz; Ana 

Arance. 

9. Characterization of the metastatic 

profile of malignant melanoma 

in circulating cells and primary 

tumors. 

Ana Arance; Laura Visa. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 131,60 


N, Arguis P, Sanchez M, Gimferrer JM, 

Marrades R, Lomena F. Incidence of 

occult mediastinal node involvement in 

cNO non-small-cell lung cancer patients 

after negative uptake of positron emission 

tomography/computer tomography 

scan. EUR J CARDIO-THORAC, 2010. 

37:1168-1174. I.F.:2,40. 

2 Molina R, Auge JM, Escudero JM, 

Filella X, Zanon G, Pahisa J, Farrus B, 

Munoz M, Velasco M. Evaluation of 

tumor markers (HER-2/neu oncoprotein, 

CEA, and CA 15.3) in patients with 

locoregional breast cancer: prognostic 

value. TUMOR BIOL, 2010. 31:171-180. 

I.F.:1,94. 


S, Illa M, Zanon G, Pahisa J, Rubi 

S, Velasco M, Santamaria G, Farrus 

B, Munoz M, Garcia Y, Fernandez PL, 

Pons F. Predicting Non-Sentinel Lymph 

Node Status in Breast Cancer Patients 

with Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement: 

Evaluation of Two Scoring Systems. 

BREAST J, 2010. 16:134-140. 

I.F.:1,61. 

4 Casas F, Borras JM, Ferrer F, Guanyabens 

N, Gutierrez R, Leon C, Lopez 

J, Mellado B, Morote J, Puig J, Ribal J, 

Serra A, Valls V, Zapatero A. Evidencebased 

consensus recommendations to 

improve the quality of life in prostate 

cancer treatment. CLIN TRANSL ON- 

COL, 2010. 12(5):346-355. I.F.:1,15. 

5 Maurel J, Martins AS, Poveda A, 

Lopez-Guerrero JA, Cubedo R, Casado 

A, Martinez-Trufero J, Ayuso JR, Lopez- 

Pousa A, Garcia-Albeniz X, DelMuro 

XG, DeAlava E. Imatinib Plus Low-Dose 

Doxorubicin in Patients With Advanced 

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Refractory 

to High-Dose Imatinib A Phase 

287

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Team Members 

I-II Study by the Spanish Group for 

Research on Sarcomas. CANCER-AM 

CANCER SOC, 2010. 116:3692-3701. 

I.F.:5,42. 

6 Martin M, Segui MA, Anton A, 

Ruiz A, Ramos M, Adrover E, Aranda 

I, Rodriguez-Lescure A, Grosse R, 

Calvo L, Barnadas A, Isla D, DelPrado 

PM, Borrego M, Zaluski J, Arcusa A, 

Munoz M, Vega JM, Mel JR, Munarriz 

B, Llorca C, Jara C, Alba E, Florian 

J, Li JF, Garcia-Asenjo JA, Saez A, 

Rios M, Almenar S, Peiro G, Lluch 

A. Adjuvant Docetaxel for High-Risk, 

Node-Negative Breast Cancer.. NEW 

ENGL J MED, 2010. 363:2200-2210. 

I.F.:47,05. 

7 Gascon P, Fuhr U, Sorgel F, Kinzig- 

Schippers M, Makhson A, Balser 

S, Einmahl S, Muenzberg M. Development 

of a new G-CSF product 

based on biosimilarity assessment. 

ANN ONCOL, 2010. 21:1419-1429. 

I.F.:5,65. 

8 Gascon P, Pirker R, DelMastro 

L, Durrwell L. Effects of CERA 

(continuous erythropoietin receptor 

activator) in patients with advanced 

non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 

receiving chemotherapy: results of a 

phase II study. ANN ONCOL, 2010. 

21:2029-2039. I.F.:5,65. 

9 Arnal-Estape A, Tarragona M, Morales 

M, Guiu M, Nadal C, Massague 

J, Gomis RR. HER2 Silences Tumor 

Suppression in Breast Cancer Cells 

by Switching Expression of C/EBP 

beta Isoforms. CANCER RES, 2010. 

70:9927-9936. I.F.:7,54. 

10 Maio M, Mackiewicz A, Testori 

A, Trefzer U, Ferraresi V, Jassem 

J, Garbe C, Lesimple T, Guillot B, 

Gascon P, Gilde K, Camerini R, Cognetti 

F. Large Randomized Study of 

Thymosin alpha 1, Interferon Alfa, 

or Both in Combination With Dacarbazine 

in Patients With Metastatic 

Melanoma. J CLIN ONCOL, 2010. 

28:1780-1787. I.F.:17,79. 

11 Rojo F, Gracias E, Villena N, 

Cruz T, Corominas JM, Corradino I, 

Cedeno M, Campas C, Osorio M, 

Iznaga N, Bellosillo B, Rovira A, Marsoni 

S, Gascon P, Serrano S, Sessa 

C, Crombet T, Albanell J. Pharmacodynamic 

Trial of Nimotuzumab in 

Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma 

of the Head and Neck: A SENDO 

Foundation Study. CLIN CANCER 

RES, 2010. 16:2474-2482. I.F.:6,75. 

12 Fernandez-Martos C, Pericay C, 

Aparicio J, Salud A, Safont M, Massuti 

B, Vera R, Escudero P, Maurel J, 

Marcuello E, Mengual JL, Saigi E, Estevan 

R, Mira M, Polo S, Hernandez 

A, Gallen M, Arias F, Serra J, Alonso 

V. Phase II, Randomized Study of 

Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy Followed 

by Surgery and Adjuvant Capecitabine 

Plus Oxaliplatin (CAPOX) 

Compared With Induction CAPOX 

Followed by Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy 

and Surgery in Magnetic 

Resonance Imaging-Defined, L. J 

CLIN ONCOL, 2010. 28:859-865. 

I.F.:17,79. 

13 Trabal J, Leyes P, Forga M, 

Maurel J. Potential usefulness of an 

EPA-enriched nutritional supplement 

on chemotherapy tolerability in cancer 

patients without overt malnutrition. 

NUTR HOSP, 2010. 25:736-740. 

I.F.:1,07. 

14 Martin-Broto J, Gutierrez A, 

Garcia-Del-Muro X, Lopez-Guerrero 

JA, Martinez-Trufero J, DeSande LM, 

Lainez N, Maurel J, DeJuan A, Losa 

F, Andres R, Casado A, Tejido PG, 

Blanco R, Carles J, Bellmunt J, Gomez-Espana 

A, Ramos R, Martinez- 

Serra J, Llombart-Bosch A, Poveda 

A. Prognostic time dependence of 

deletions affecting codons 557 and/or 

558 of KIT gene for relapse-free survival 

(RFS) in localized GIST: a Spanish 

Group for Sarcoma Research (GEIS) 

Study. ANN ONCOL, 2010. 21:1552- 

1557. I.F.:5,65. 

15 Ametller E, Garcia-Recio S, 

Costamagna D, Mayordomo C, Fernandez-Nogueira 

P, Carbo N, Pastor- 

Arroyo EM, Gascon P, Almendro V. 

Tumor promoting effects of CD95 

signaling in chemoresistant cells. 

MOL CANCER, 2010. 9:-. I.F.:4,16. 

Reviews 

I.F.: 10,37 

1 Tusquets I, Garcia-Estevez L, 

Adrover E, Calvo L, Alvarez I, Mata JG, 

Fernandez Y, Margueli M, Segui MA, 

Rodriguez C, Lescure AR, Colomer R, 

Gascon P, Martin M, Alba E, Barnadas 

A, Llombart A, Albanell J, Lluch A. Current 

controversies in the management 

of breast cancer. CLIN TRANSL ON- 

COL, 2010. 12:278-286. I.F.:1,15. 

2 Estevez LG, Alvarez I, Segui MA, 

Munoz M, Margeli M, Miro C, Rubio 

C, Lluch A, Tusquets I. Current perspectives 

of treatment of ductal carcinoma 

in situ. CANCER TREAT REV, 

2010. 36:507-517. I.F.:5,30. 

3 Almendro V, Garcia-Recio S, 

Gascon P. Tyrosine Kinase Receptor 

Transactivation Associated to G 

Protein-Coupled Receptors. CURR 

DRUG TARGETS, 2010. 11:1169- 

1180. I.F.:3,93. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 0,76 





29:319-320. I.F.:0,77. 

288

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I.F.: 2,46 





diagnosis, staging and treatment 

of pancreatic cancer (Part I). Grupo 

Español de Consenso en Cáncer de 

Páncreas.. MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 

2010. 134:643-655. I.F.:1,23. 





diagnosis, staging and treatment 

of pancreatic cancer (Part II). MED 


702. I.F.:1,23. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 49,30 

1 Paoletti X, Oba K, Burzykowski 

T, Michiels S, Ohashi Y, Pignon JP, 

Rougier P, Sakamoto J, Sargent D, 

Sasako M, VanCutsem E, Buyse M. 

Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy 

for Resectable Gastric Cancer A 

Meta-analysis. JAMA-J AM MED 

ASSOC, 2010. 303:1729-1737. 

I.F.:28,90. 

2 Beyer J. Prognostic Factors in 

Patients With Metastatic Germ Cell 

Tumors Who Experienced Treatment 

Failure With Cisplatin-Based First- 

Line Chemotherapy. J CLIN ONCOL, 

2010. 28:4906-4911. I.F.:17,79. 

3 Steinberg MH, Mccarthy WF, 

Castro O, Ballas SK, Armstrong FD, 

Smith W, Ataga K, Swerdlow P, Kutlar 

A, Decastro L, Waclawiw MA. The 

risks and benefits of long-term use of 

hydroxyurea in sickle cell anemia: A 

17.5 year follow-up. AM J HEMATOL, 

2010. 85:403-408. I.F.:2,61. 


in progress 

Gascon P. Mecanismos de 

transactivación de los miembros de 

la familia ERB-B en cáncer de mama: 

importancia de las neuroquininas y la 

neurogénesis. Sponsored by: Fondo 

de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la 

Seguridad Social (FISS) , PI080022. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Gascon P. Red temática de 

investigación cooperativa de Cáncer. 

Sponsored by: Instituto de Salud 

Carlos III, RED07/0020/2014. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

Grau JJ. Efectividad y seguridad de la 

electroquimioterapia en el tratamiento 

de tumores sólidos. Sponsored by: 

Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de 

la Seguridad Social (FISS) , PI09/90664. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Reguart N. Papel de los fibroblastos 

asociados a tumores (cafs) en 

el carcinoma broncogénico de 

pulmón: mecanismos de interacción 

en modelos de cultivo celular 

3d. Sponsored by: Fondo de 

Investigaciones Sanitarias de la 

Seguridad Social (FISS) , PS09/01377. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2013. 

Gascon P. La célula stem tumoral: 

estudios moleculares sobre 

mecanismos de metástasis. 

Sponsored by: Fundació CELLEX, 

0000. Amount: 360.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Gascon P. El papel de las taquininas 

en el proceso metástasico. Sponsored 

by: Fundació CELLEX, 0000. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Reguart N. Contribució dels 

fibroblastes asociats a tumors (cafs) 

en el carcinoma pulmonar estudiat 

en models de cultivo tridimensionals. 

Sponsored by: AECC 2009, 0000. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Reguart N. Papel de los fibroblastos 

asociados a tumores (CAFS) en 

el carcinoma broncogénico de 

pulmón: mecanismos de interacción 

de modelos de cultivo celular 3D. 




01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Grau JJ. Efectividad y seguridad de la 

electroquimioterapia en el tratamiento 

de tumores sólidos. Sponsored by: 

INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS 

III, PI09/90664. Amount: 56.144,00 


31/12/2011. 

Reguart N. Contribución de los 

fibroblastos asociados a tumores 

(CAFs) al cáncer de pulmón 

estudiada con modelos de cultivo 

celular tridimensionales. Sponsored 

by: ASOCIACION ESPAÑOLA 

CONTRA EL CANCER, 10/103. 


22/02/2010-21/02/2012. 

Maurel J. Papel de MMP-7 en la 

transactivación IGF-1R-EGFR y la 

resistencia intrínseca a los inhibidores 

de Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 

(EGFR) en cáncer colorectal. 

Sponsored by: FUNDACION DE 

INVESTIGACION MEDICA MUTUA 

MADRILEÑA, AP75002010. 


17/09/2010-16/09/2011. 

289

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Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Oriol Bachs 


Tel.: 93 403 52 86 

Fax: 93 402 19 07 

The general goal of the group is the 

analysis of the mechanisms involved 

in cell cycle progression and signaling 

in health and disease. 

Main Lines 

of Research 


Neus Agell (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Rosa Aligué (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Carles Enrich (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Albert Pol (ICREA) 

Francesc Tebar (Facultat de Medicina UB) 

Montserrat Jaumot (Facultat Medicina UB) 

Maria Jesús Pujol (Facultat Medicina UB) 


María Pérez (Facultat de Medicina) 

Raffaella Pippa (Facultat Medicina) 

Sandra Vilà de Muga (Facultat de Medicina) 

Marta Sanchez (Facultat de Medicina) 

Serena Orlando (IDIBAPS) 

Albert Herms (IDIBAPS) 

Meritxell Reverter (Facultat Medicina) 

Adam Kassan (IDIBAPS) 

Alba Llopis (Facultat Medicina) 

Carles Barceló (Facultat Medicina) 

Natalia de Olano (Facultat de Medicina) 

Anna Alvarez-Guaita (Facultat de Medicina) 

Atilla Biçer (Facultat de Medicina) 

Eugenia Cisneros (Facultat de Medicina) 

Amaia Ercilla (Facultat de Medicina) 

Amaia Ercilla (Facultat de Medicina) 

Mariona Gelabert (Facultat de Medicina) 

Alba Gómez (Facultat de Medicina) 

Noelia Paco (Facultat de Medicina) 

Anna Perearnau (Facultat de Medicina) 

David Soriano (Facultat de Medicina) 

Maite Vidal-Quadras (Facultat de Medicina) 

Gemma Ventura (IDIBAPS) 

Technicians: 

Sonia Brun (Facultat de Medicina) 

Alba Fajardo (Facultat de Medicina) 

María Molinos (Facultat de Medicina) 

Eulalia Rius (Facultat de Medicina) 

David Gimenez (Facultad Medicina) 


Marta Bosch (IDIBAPS) 

Teresa Royo (IDIBAPS) 

Edurne Gallastegui (Facultat de Medicina) 

Carles Rentero (IDIBAPS) 

1. Cell proliferation and Cancer: 

The objective of this line of 

research is the analysis of the 

mechanisms involved in cell cycle 

regulation and its alterations 

during tumorigenesis: - Role of the 

CKI p27(Kip1) on the regulation 

of transcription, splicing and 

translation of genes involved in 

tumorigenesis: 

• Cell cycle regulation by protein 

acetylation. 

• Role of calmodulin in nuclear 

functions. 

2. Cell cycle: signal transduction 

and checkpoints: The main 

topics in this research line are 

the analysis of: the regulation 

of the functionality of K-Ras 

by Calmodulin-binding and by 

phosphorylation; the regulation 

of p21CIP1 localization and 

the relevance of its binding to 

calmodulin and its phosphorylation; 

and, the DNA replication 

checkpoint in not transformed 

versus transformed cell lines. 

3. Signaling and regulation of 

the cell cycle: In eukaryotic 

organisms, the response to stress 

insults is through the activation 

of the MAP kinases pathway, 

Progression through the cell 

cycle is dependent on external 

stimuli and failure to correctly 

integrate the induced signals can 

lead to accumulation of genetic 

damage contributing to cancer 

development. Understanding 

how signaling networks and the 

cellular responses are regulated 

is one of the most crucial 

objectives in biomedical research. 

The aim of this research focuses 

290

AREA 5 



Co-localitzation of p27 (green) and PCAF (red) during apoptosis. 

on identifying the molecular 

mechanisms by which cell cycle 

is regulated by stress-activated 

protein kinases. 

4. Endocytosis, membrane trafficking 

and signaling: This line of research 

include the following activities: 

• Study of endocytosis and 

membrane trafficking in polarized 

cells, such as hepatocytes and in 

non-polarized cells. 

• Study the role of calmodulin in 

the regulation of trafficking and 

signalling of EGFR. 

• Study the role of Annexin A6 

in the transport of caveolin, 

the formation of caveolae, 

homeostasis of cholesterol and 

signaling of Ras/MAPK. 

5. Lipid trafficking and storage: 

The aim of our project is to 

characterize in health and disease, 

the cellular processes regulated or 

deregulated by the accumulation 

of lipids within cells. With an 

special attention to the cellular 

cost of accumulation of cholesterol 

in the organelles and the role 

of the caveolin protein in the 

regulation of these mechanisms. 

291

AREA 5 



Team Members 

PUBLICATIONS 

Originals 

I.F.: 41,72 

1 Martin-Ibanez R, Crespo E, Urban 

N, Sergent-Tanguy S, Herranz C, Jaumot 

M, Valiente M, Long JE, Pineda 

JR, Andreu C, Rubenstein JLR, Marin 

O, Georgopoulos K, Mengod G, Farinas 

I, Bachs O, Alberch J, Canals JM. 

Ikaros-1 Couples Cell Cycle Arrest of 

Late Striatal Precursors With Neurogenesis 


J COMP NEUROL, 2010. 518:329- 

351. I.F.:3,72. 

2 Ventura M, Mateo F, Serratosa J, 

Salaet I, Carujo S, Bachs O, Pujol MJ. 

Nuclear translocation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate 

dehydrogenase is 

regulated by acetylation. INT J BIO- 

CHEM CELL B, 2010. 42:1672-1680. 

I.F.:4,89. 

3 DelToro D, Xifro X, Pol A, Humbert 

S, Saudou F, Canals JM, Alberch 

J. Altered cholesterol homeostasis 

contributes to enhanced excitotoxicity 

in Huntington’s disease. J NEURO- 

CHEM, 2010. 115:153-167. I.F.:4,00. 

4 Grewal T, Koese M, Rentero C, 

Enrich C. Annexin A6-regulator of the 

EGFR/Ras signalling pathway and 

cholesterol homeostasis. INT J BIO- 

CHEM CELL B, 2010. 42:580-584. 

I.F.:4,89. 

5 Woudenberg J, Rembacz KP, 

VanDenHeuvel FAJ, Woudenberg- 

Vrenken TE, Buist-Homan M, Geuken 

M, Hoekstra M, Deelman LE, 

Enrich C, Henning RH, Moshage H, 

Faber KN. Caveolin-1 Is Enriched in 

the Peroxisomal Membrane of Rat 

Hepatocytes. HEPATOLOGY, 2010. 

51:1744-1753. I.F.:10,84. 

6 Alvarez-Moya B, Lopez-Alcala 

C, Drosten M, Bachs O, Agell N. 

K-Ras4B phosphorylation at Ser181 

is inhibited by calmodulin and modulates 

K-Ras activity and function. 

ONCOGENE, 2010. 29:5911-5922. 

I.F.:7,14. 

7 Abella N, Brun S, Calvo M, 

Tapia O, Weber JD, Berciano MT, 

Lafarga M, Bachs O, Agell N. Nucleolar 

Disruption Ensures Nuclear 

Accumulation of p21 upon DNA Damage. 

TRAFFIC, 2010. 11:743-755. 

I.F.:6,26. 


in progress 

Enrich C. Red temática investigación 



RD06/0020/0008. Amount: 


01/01/2007-31/12/2010. 

Bachs O. Red temática de 



y Consumo, RD06/0020/0010. 


01/01/2006-31/12/2011. 

Enrich C. Ras/Mapk signalling 

regulates colesterol efflux. Sponsored 



01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Bachs O. Proteored. Sponsored by: 

Genoma España, 0000. Amount: 


01/06/2005-01/06/2010. 

Agell N. Regulación de la función 

de K-Ras y su localización en 

microdominios de membrana 

plasmática por unión a calmodulina y 

fosforilación en Ser181. Sponsored 

by: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, 

SAF2007-60491. Amount: 263.780,00 


30/09/2010. 

Aligué R. La MAP quinasa p38 y 

la MAPKAP en la señalización de 

respuesta a estrés y el control 

del ciclo celular. Sponsored by: 


BFU-2009-10778/BMC. Amount: 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Bachs O. Papel del regulador del ciclo 

celular p27Kip1 en la oncogénesis. 


EDUCACIÓN, SAF2009- 07769 (GEN). 


01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Bachs O. Proteored. Sponsored by: 

Genoma España, SAF2009- 07769 

(GEN). Amount: 264.000,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2005-31/12/2011. 

Bachs O. Proliferació Cel·lular. 

Sponsored by: Grups de Recerca 

de la Generalitat de Catalunya, 2009 

SGR 1382. Amount: 43.680,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

Enrich C. Ras/MAPK signaling 

regulates cholesterol efflux. 

Sponsored by: MARATÒ DE TV3, 


Duration: 01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Enrich C. Endocitosi, tràfic i 

senyalització. Sponsored by: 

Grups de Recerca de la Generalitat 

de Catalunya, 2009 SGR 1526. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2013. 

292

AREA 5 



Enrich C. Estudio de l tráfico 

intracelular de la caveolina, formación 

de caveolas y la señalización: papel de 

la annexin A6. Sponsored by: MCINN, 

BFU2009-10335. Amount: 359.370,00 


31/12/2012. 

Pol A. Hepatic and brain mitochondrial 

cholesterol/glycosphingolipids and 

altered metabolism contribute to 

the pathology of Niemann Pick type 

C disease and caveolinopathies. 

Sponsored by: Fundació Marató de 

TV3, PI041315. Amount: 147.686,00 


31/12/2014. 

Thesis 

Agell N. Regulación de la 

funcionalidad de K-Ras4B por unión A 

Cam y fosforilación de la Ser 181. PhD 

student: Blanca Alvarez Moya. 

Bachs O. Paper de P27kip1 en la 

respiració cel·lular. PhD student: 

Ignasi Salaet Madorran. 

Pol A. Mechanism of Lipid Droplet 

formation. Sponsored by: MICINN, 

CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010, 

CSD2009.00016. Amount: 420.000,00 


31/12/2014. 

Pol A. Intracellular accumulation 

of lipids: Role of CAV1, molecular 

mechanisms and implications on cell 

proliferation. Sponsored by: MICINN, 

BFU2008-00345. Amount: 210.000,00 


31/12/2011. 

Tebar F. Función de PKCdelta y 

calmodulina en la regulación de la 

dinámica del citoesqueleto de actina 

y del tráfico intracelular del factor de 

crecimiento epidérmico. Sponsored 

by: MICINN, BFU2009-13526/BMC. 


01/01/2010-31/12/2012. 

Tebar F. Integración funcional 

del tráfico de membranas, la 

señalización intracelular y la dinámica 

del citoesqueleto. Sponsored by: 

MICINN, BFU2006-26075-E/BMC. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

293

TransversAL 

Research Groups 

Barcelona Centre for International Health 

Research (CRESIB) 296 

Clinical pharmacology 298 

Transversal group for 

research in primary care 302 

Research in nursing 305

transversal research groups 

Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB) 

CRESIB SENIOR RESEARCHERS 

Research Professors: 

Pedro L. Alonso 

Hernando del Portillo 

Joaquim Gascón 

Edward B. Hayes 

Clara Menéndez 

Ivo Mueller 

Jaume Ordi 

Robert Pool 

Tomàs Pumarola 

Antoni Trilla 

Jordi Vila 

Associate Research Professors: 

John J. Aponte 

Carlota Dobaño 

Marjolein Gysels 

Alfredo Mayor 

IDIBAPS’ area 6 of International Health 

became in 2006 a new CERCA research 

centre monographic in international 

health, the Barcelona Centre for 

International Health Research (CRESIB, 

Hospital Clínic – Universitat de Barcelona) 

from which IDIBAPS is a Trustee 

together with the Generalitat de Catalunya, 

the Hospital Clínic and the Univesitat 

de Barcelona. 

CRESIB has more than 85 researchers 

from different backgrounds including 

molecular biology, genetics, immunology, 

microbiology, epidemiology, clinics, 

statistics, medical anthropology and 

health economy. 

CRESIB’s mission is to improve global 

health through research and training. 

The Centre is scientifically organized 

in a matrix to maximize interaction 

between researchers and promote multidisciplinary, 

translational and crosscutting 

research in order to achieve its 

mission (See Figure). 

CRESIB collaborates with more than 100 

research centres in 40 countries, but we 

have stable strategic partnerships: 

• In Mozambique the Manhiça Health 

Research Centre (CISM), studying 

the most prevalent diseases in sub- 

296

transversAL research groups 

Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB) 

Saharan Africa such as malaria, HIV/ 

AIDS, tuberculosis, pneumonia and 

other bacterial invasive diseases and 

diarrheal disease. 

• In Morocco we develop a broad portfolio 

of activities in maternal and child 

health in partnership with the Ministry 

of Health, the University Hospital of 

Rabat and two main women’s and 

children’s hospitals. 

• In Bolivia we work together with the 

Universidad Mayor de San Simón, 

the Viedma Hospital, CEADES and 

the Ministry of Health to improve the 

understanding of the epidemiology, 

clinical presentation and immunology 

of Chagas disease and develop new 

diagnostic and treatment tools. 

The centre’s scientific output has grown 

continuously over the last years in terms 

of both volume and the impact factor of 

its publications, with 84 original articles 

and an impact factor of 324 in 2010. 

Highlights of our 

results in 2010 

• CRESIB lead the Malaria Eradication 

Research Agenda (malERA) initiative 

which brought together more than 

250 scientists from 36 countries in 

a series of consultations with the 

aim of identifying the research and 

development priorities to potentially 

eradicate malaria. The results will be 

published at the beginning of 2011 in 

a special issue of PLoS Medicine. 

• Several studies have assessed the 

immune response to malaria infection 

in pregnancy and the effect of 

HIV infection, suggesting a higher 

efficacy of the Intermittent Preventive 

Treatment for malaria in 

pregnancy (IPTp) among HIV-positive 

mothers. 

• A novel immune spleen evasion mechanism 

for Plasmodium vivax has 

been described 

• CRESIB promoted the creation of 

the Ibero-American network NHE- 

PACHA, which aims to accelerate 

the development of new diagnostic 

and treatment tools for Chagas disease. 

• 3.3% of the HIV seronegative adult 

patients presenting with fever at the 

Manhiça District Hospital (Mozambique) 

were found to have Acute 

HIV Infection. These individuals may 

be hypertransmitters and could be 

targets for the positive prevention of 

sexually-transmitted HIV. 

• The Microbicide Development Program 

completed its MDP301 Phase 

III trial of a candidate microbicide, 

which included a social science component 

led by CRESIB who developed 

an innovative mixed-methods 

model for studying adherence and 

sexual behavior. 

• A new efflux pump contributing to 

resistance to different classes of antibiotics 

has been characterized. 

• Procalcitonin and reactive-C-protein 

have been shown to be potential 

markers to differentiate viral and 

bacterial pneumonia in a malariaendemic 

area. 

• CRESIB researchers participated in 

the international Brighton Collaboration 

process to develop a casedefinition 

for viscerotropic disease as 

an adverse event after yellow fever 

vaccination. 


www.cresib.cat 

www.manhica.org 

297


Clinical pharmacology 

Group Members 


Joan Albert Arnaiz (Hospital Clínic) 

Gonzalo Calvo (Hospital Clínic) 

José Ríos (IDIBAPS) 

Ferran Torres (IDIBAPS) 


Begoña Gómez (Hospital Clínic) 

Amalia Lafuente (UB) 

Neus Riba (Hospital Clínic) 

Josep Ribas (Hospital Clínic) 

Ana Cruceta (Fundació Clínic) 

Judit Pich (Fundació Clínic) 

Sara Varea (Fundació Clínic) 

Núria Sanz (Fundació Clínic) 

Carles Codina (Hospital Clínic) 

TEAM LEADER 

Xavier Carné 


Tel.: 93 227 91 68 

Fax: 93 227 98 77 

E-mail: xcarne@clinic.ub.es 

Strategic 

Objectives 

The team carries out clinical research 

support activities with different 

Departments: 

1. The Clinical Trials Agency, 

together with the Department 

of Pharmacy, provides support 

of all technical and administrative 

aspects related to clinical 

trials carried out in the Clinic 

Hospital - IDIBAPS. The Agency 

serves as a single window for 

sponsors and investigators, and 

as secretary to the CREC of the 

Clinic Hospital (Clinical Research 

Ethics Committee). 

2. The CTU (Clinical Trials Unit), 

provides support for the conduction 

of clinical trials on the part of 

the investigators of the institution 

that act as sponsors, in aspects 

related to study design, implementation 

and monitorization. 

3. The Statistical and Methodological 

Support Unit (USEM) 

offers counselling in trial data 

analysis and planning. 

4. The Pharmacoepidemiology 

and Therapeutic Evaluation 

Unit, offers support of activities 

in pharmacovigilance, epidemiology 

and the evaluation of 

drugs in our setting. 

298



5. The team collaborates with Dr. 

Amàlia Lafuente (UB) of the 

Pharmacology Unit of the University 

of Barcelona, who conducts 

studies relating genetics 

to drug substance activity and 

response. 

6. Lastly, the team participates in 

the trial follow-up committees 

known as DSMB (Data and 

Safety Monitoring Boards), in 

charge of external supervision of 

the course of the clinical trials, 

and of deciding the pertinence of 

their continuity over time. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

• Ethics in clinical research. 

• Clinical trials, design and 

methodology. 

• Statistical support of clinical research. 

• Pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology. 

• Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics. 

PUBLICATIONS 

originals 

I.F.: 78,15 

1 Izquierdo I, Borja J, Rovira S, Pelagio 

P, Torres F, Cebrecos J, Garcia- 

Rafanell J. Comparative bioavailability 

study of triflusal oral solution vs. 

triflusal capsules in healthy subjects 

A single, randomized, two-way 

cross-over, open-label phase I study. 

ARZNEIMITTEL-FORSCH, 2010. 

60:36-41. I.F.:0,69. 

2 Carretero M, Fontanals J, Agusti 

M, Arguis M, Martinez-Ocon J, Ruiz 

A, Rios J. Monitoring in resuscitation: 

Comparison of cardiac output measurement 

between pulmonary artery 

catheter and NICO. RESUSCITATION, 

2010. 81:404-409. I.F.:2,71. 

3 Roca O, Riera J, Torres F, Masclans 

JR. High-Flow Oxygen Therapy 

in Acute Respiratory Failure. RESP 

CARE, 2010. 55:408-413. I.F.:1,52. 

4 Salvador L, Valero R, Carazo J, 

Caral L, Rios J, Carrero E, Tercero J, 

DeRiva N, Hurtado P, Ferrer E, Fabregas 

N. Pressure Inside the Neuroendoscope: 

Correlation With Epidural 

Intracranial Pressure During Neuroendoscopic 

Procedures. J NEUROSURG 

ANESTH, 2010. 22:240-246. I.F.:2,41. 

5 Poggio D, DeRetana PF, Borda D, 

Hortua P, Asuncion J, Rios J. Analysis 

of the Clinical Score Progressions 

During the First Year After First MTPJ 

Fusion. FOOT ANKLE INT, 2010. 

31:578-583. I.F.:1,10. 

6 Llupia A, Garcia-Basteiro AL, 

Olive V, Costas L, Rios J, Quesada 

S, Varela P, Bayas JM, Trilla A. New 

interventions to increase influenza 

vaccination rates in health care 

workers. AM J INFECT CONTROL, 

2010. 38:476-481. I.F.:3,01. 

7 Kuchinke W, Ohmann C, Yang 

Q, Salas N, Lauritsen J, Gueyffier F, 

Leizorovicz A, Schade-Brittinger C, 

Wittenberg M, Voko Z, Gaynor S, Cooney 

M, Doran P, Maggioni A, Lorimer 

A, Torres F, Mcpherson G, Charwill J, 

Hellstrom M, Lejeune S. Heterogeneity 

prevails: the state of clinical trial 

data management in Europe - results 

of a survey of ECRIN centres. TRIALS, 

2010. 11:-. I.F.:2,02. 

8 Lloberes P, Lozano L, Sampol G, 

Romero O, Jurado MJ, Rios J, Untoria 

MD, Tovar JL. Obstructive sleep apnoea 

and 24-h blood pressure in patients 

with resistant hypertension. J SLEEP 

RES, 2010. 19:597-602. I.F.:3,50. 

9 Cesarini C, Monreal L, Armengou 

L, Delgado MA, Rios J, Jose-Cunilleras 

E. Association of Admission 

Plasma D-Dimer Concentration with 

Diagnosis and Outcome in Horses 

with Colic. J VET INTERN MED, 

2010. 24:1490-1497. I.F.:2,17. 

10 Marti S, Pallero M, Ferrer J, 

Rios J, Rodriguez E, Morell F, Munoz 

X. Predictors of mortality in chest 

wall disease treated with noninvasive 

home mechanical ventilation. RESP 

MED, 2010. 104:1843-1849. I.F.:2,33. 

11Lozano LK, Tovar JL, Sampol G, 

Romero O, Jurado MJ, Segarra A, Espinel 

E, Rios J, Untoria MD, Lloberes 

P. Continuous positive airway pressure 

treatment in sleep apnea patients 

with resistant hypertension: a randomized, 

controlled trial. J HYPERTENS, 

2010. 8:2161-2168. I.F.:4,99. 

12 Armengou L, Monreal L, Delgado 

MA, Rios J, Cesarini C, Jose- 

-Cunilleras E. Low-Molecular-Weight 

Heparin Dosage in Newborn Foals. 

J VET INTERN MED, 2010. 24:1190- 

1195. I.F.:2,17. 

299



13 Esteva-Font C, Wang XY, Ars E, 

Guillen-Gomez E, Sans L, Saavedra 

IG, Torres F, Torra R, Masilamani S, 

Ballarin JA, Fernandez-Llama P. Are 

Sodium Transporters in Urinary Exosomes 

Reliable Markers of Tubular 

Sodium Reabsorption in Hypertensive 

Patients? NEPHRON PHYSIOL, 2010. 

114:P25-P34. I.F.:2,53. 

14 Miro JM, Manzardo C, Pich 

J, Domingo P, Ferrer E, Arribas JR, 

Ribera E, Arrizabalaga J, Lonca M, 

Cruceta A, DeLazzari E, Fuster M, 

Podzamczer D, Plana M, Gatell JM. 

Immune Reconstitution in Severely 

Immunosuppressed Antiretroviral- 

-Naive HIV Type 1-Infected Patients 

Using a Nonnucleoside Reverse 

Transcriptase Inhibitor-Based or a 

Boosted Protease Inhibitor-Based 

Antiretroviral Regimen: Three-Year 

Results. AIDS RES HUM RETROV, 

2010. 26:747-757. I.F.:2,18. 

15 Martinez E, Larrousse M, Llibre 

JM, Gutierrez F, Saumoy M, Antela 

A, Knobel H, Murillas J, Berenguer J, 

Pich J, Perez I, Gatell JM. Substitution 

of raltegravir for ritonavir-boosted 

protease inhibitors in HIV-infected 

patients: the SPIRAL study. AIDS, 

2010. 24:1697-1707. I.F.:4,91. 

16 Cervera A, Planas AM, Justicia 

C, Urra X, Jensenius JC, Torres F, Lozano 


Deficiency of Mannose-Binding 

Lectin Is Associated with Protection 

after Experimental Stroke in Mice 

and Outcome in Human Stroke. PLoS 

ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

17 Sola R, Bruckert E, Valls RM, 

Narejos S, Luque X, Castro-Cabezas 

M, Domenech G, Torres F, Heras M, 

Farres X, Vaquer JV, Martinez JM, 

Almaraz MC, Anguera A. Soluble 

fibre (Plantago ovata husk) reduces 

plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 

cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, 

oxidised LDL and systolic blood 

pressure in hypercholesterolaemic 

patients: A randomised trial. ATHE- 

ROSCLEROSIS, 2010. 211:630-637. 

I.F.:4,52. 

18 Tamborero D, Mont L, Berruezo 

A, Guasch E, Rios J, Nadal 

M, Matiello M, Andreu D, Sitges M, 

Brugada J. Circumferential pulmonary 

vein ablation: Does use of a circular 

mapping catheter improve results? A 

prospective randomized study. HEART 

RHYTHM, 2010. 7:612-618. I.F.:4,56. 

19 Vilaplana C, Montane E, Pinto 

S, Barriocanal AM, Domenech G, Torres 

F, Cardona PJ, Costa J. Doubleblind, 

randomized, placebo-controlled 

Phase I Clinical Trial of the therapeutical 

antituberculous vaccine RUTI 

(R). VACCINE, 2010. 28:1106-1116. 

I.F.:3,62. 

20 Carrion JA, Torres F, Crespo 

G, Miquel R, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, 

Navasa M, Forns X. Liver Stiffness 

Identifies Two Different Patterns of 

Fibrosis Progression in Patients with 

Hepatitis C Virus Recurrence After 

Liver Transplantation. HEPATOLOGY, 

2010. 51:23-34. I.F.:10,84. 

21 Guevara M, Baccaro ME, Rios 

J, Martin-Llah M, Uriz J, DelArbol LR, 

Planas R, Monescillo A, Guarner C, 

Crespo J, Banares R, Arroyo V, Gines 

P. Risk factors for hepatic encephalopathy 

in patients with cirrhosis 

and refractory ascites: relevance of 

serum sodium concentration. LIVER 

INT, 2010. 30:1137-1142. I.F.:2,99. 

22 Garcia I, Mayol G, Rodriguez 

E, Sunol M, Gershon TR, Rios J, 

Cheung NKV, Kieran MW, George RE, 

Perez-Atayde AR, Casala C, Galvan P, 

DeTorres C, Mora J, Lavarino C. Expression 

of the neuron-specific protein 

CHD5 is an independent marker 

of outcome in neuroblastoma. MOL 

CANCER, 2010. 9:-. I.F.:4,16. 

23 Cruz N, Sanchez-Moreno J, Torres 

F, Goikolea JM, Valenti M, Vieta E. Efficacy 

of modern antipsychotics in placebo-controlled 

trials in bipolar depression: 

a meta-analysis. INT J NEUROPSYCHO- 

PH, 2010. 13:5-14. I.F.:4,87. 

Multicentrics 

I.F.: 22,52 

1 Friis-Moller N, Thiebaut R, Reiss 

P, Weber R, Monforte AD, DeWit S, 

El-Sadr W, Fontas E, Worm S, Kirk 

O, Phillips A, Sabin CA, Lundgren 

JD, Law MG. Predicting the risk of 

cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected 

patients: the Data collection on Adverse 

Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs Study. 

EUR J CARDIOV PREV R, 2010. 

17:491-501. I.F.:2,51. 

2 Smith C, Sabin CA, Lundgren JD, 

Thiebaut R, Weber R, Law M, Monforte 

AD, Kirk O, Friis-Moller N, Phillips 

A, Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Pradier C, 

Worm SW. Factors associated with 

specific causes of death amongst 

HIV-positive individuals in the D:A:D 

study The Data Collection on Adverse 

Events of Anti-HIV drugs (D:A:D) Study 

Group. AIDS, 2010. 24:1537-1548. 

I.F.:4,91. 

3 Worm SW, Sabin C, Weber R, 

Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Dabis F, DeWit 

S, Law M, Monforte AD, Friis-Moller 

N, Kirk O, Fontas E, Weller I, Phillips 

A, Lundgren J. Risk of Myocardial 

Infarction in Patients with HIV Infection 

Exposed to Specific Individual 

Antiretroviral Drugs from the 3 Major 

Drug Classes: The Data Collection 

on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs 

(D:A:D) Study. J INFECT DIS, 2010. 

201:318-330. I.F.:5,87. 

300



4 Worm SW, Friis-Moller N, Bruyand 

M, Monforte AD, Rickenbach 

M, Reiss P, El-Sadr W, Phillips A, 

Lundgren J, Sabin C. High prevalence 

of the metabolic syndrome 

in HIV-infected patients: impact of 

different definitions of the metabolic 

syndrome. AIDS, 2010. 24:427-435. 

I.F.:4,91. 

5 Weber R, Sabin C, Reiss P, 

DeWit S, Worm SW, Law M, Dabis 

F, Monforte AD, Fontas E, El-Sadr 

W, Kirk O, Rickenbach M, Phillips 

A, Ledergerber B, Lundgren J. HBV 

or HCV coinfections and risk of 

myocardial infarction in HIV-infected 

individuals: the D:A:D Cohort Study. 

ANTIVIR THER, 2010. 15:1077-1086. 

I.F.:4,32. 


in progress 

Trilla A. European Network for Highly 

Infectious Diseases. Sponsored by: 

European Commission, 2006205. 


01/07/2007-30/06/2010. 

Carne X. Estudio observacional, 

controlado en pacientes hipertensos 

tratados con iecas para valorar riesgo 

genético de hipersensibilidad pulmonar 

(tos seca). Sponsored by: Ministerio 



29/10/2007-30/12/2010. 

Vilella A. Planes de actuación frente 

a una pandemia de gripe: Análisis 

sistemático de los actualmente 

vigentes en España y desarrollo 

de un ejercicio de simulación para 

evaluar localmente su factibilidad. 




26/11/2007-30/12/2010. 

Carne X. European Clinical Research 

Infrastructures Network and biotherapy 

facilities: Preparation Phase for 

the InfrastructureCentre coordinador: 

INSERM. Sponsored by: INSERM 

- DRCT Institut Thématique Santé Publique, 

211738. Amount: 336.074,00 


28/02/2011. 

Arnaiz JA. Fixed Dose Combination 

drugs for Secondary Cardiovascular 

Prevention. Sponsored by: CNIC- 

CENTRO NAC. INVEST. C.CARLOS 

III, 241559. Amount: 482.878,00 


30/06/2013. 

Calvo G. Estudio de cohortes para 

evaluar la seguridad y la efectividad 

del programa de vacunación frente 

a la gripe A (H1N1) en el área de 

cobertura sanitaria de un hospital 

de tercer nivel. Sponsored by: MIN- 

ISTERIO DE SANIDAD, POLITICA 



01/01/2010-31/12/2011. 

Calvo G. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico 

de la incidencia, relevancia 

clínica, factores de riesgo y preventibilidad 

del ingreso hospitalario por 

fracaso renal agudo asociado al uso 

de fármacos inhibidores del sistema 

renina-angiotensina.. Sponsored by: 


EC08/00173. Amount: 43.318,00 


30/12/2011. 

Calvo G. Servicio Técnico para la 

emisión de informes de validación de 

modificacioens de importancia mayor 

de medicamentos de uso humano. 

Nº Procedimiento 48/227.06/09. 

Sponsored by: Agencia Española 

Medicamento AEMPS, 09/484. 


08/02/2010-31/12/8900. 

Calvo G. Servicios de asesoramiento 

en evaluación clínica de solicitudes 

de autorización y comercialización 

de medicamentos de uso humano 

autorizados por procedimiento centralizado. 

Sponsored by: Agencia 

Española de Medicamentos y Productos 

Farmacéuticos, 48/227.06/09. 


09/02/2010-08/02/2012. 

Thesis 

Codina C. Acontecimientos adversos 

producidos por medicamentos en 

pacientes hospitalizados: Influencia 

de las estrategias de actuación en su 

detección y prevención. PhD student: 

Carolina Berga Cullere. 

301


TransversAL group for research in primary care 

Group Members 

TEAM LEADER 

Antoni Sisó Almirall 

(GESCLÍNIC) 

Tel.: 93 227 99 24 

Fax: 93 227 55 97 

E-mail: asiso@clinic.ub.es 

IDIBAPS Members: 

Lluisa Benito Serrano (GESCLINIC) 

Marta Catalán Adell (CAPSE) 

Zoe Herreras Pérez (CAPSE) 

Imma Garrell Lluís (CAPSE) 

Joan Gené Badia (CAPSE) 

Imma Grau Corral (Hospital Clínic) 

Pilar Navarrete Duran (CAPSE) 

Marta Navarro González (CAPSE) 

Jacinto Ortiz Molina (GESCLINIC) 


Emma Marianela Morales Espinoza 

(GESCLINIC) 

Norma Nely Nardi (Hospital Clínic) 


Narly Benachi Sandoval (CAPSE) 

Noemí García (CAPSE) 

Rosa Segarra (CAPSE) 

Esther Blat (GESCLINIC) 

Ignacio Menacho (GESCLINIC) 

Antoni Salvà Riquer (CAPSE) 

Núria Sánchez Ruano (CAPSE) 

Laura Sebastián Montal (GESCLINIC) 

Ethel Sequeira Aymar (CAPSE) 

Josep Miquel Sotoca (Hospital Clínic) 

Marina Rovira (CAPSE) 

Lluís González de Paz (GESCLINIC) 

Elisenda Sant Arderiu (CAPSE) 

Staticians: 

Belchin Adriyanov Kostov 



Sílvia Canivell Fusté (IDIBAPS) 

Jaume Benavent Àreu 

(Institut Català de la Salut) 

Strategic 

Objectives 

Primary care is the point of patient entry 

to the healthcare system, and the 

primary care centers are where most 

of the population health problems are 

dealt with. It is in this setting where 

the relationship between the patient 

and reference primary care physician 

and nurse is a key factor in preventing 

and healing diseases, and in promoting 

healthy habits. In the research context, 

the multidisciplinary and transverse 

nature of the activities of the primary 

care professional favors a biological, 

psychological and social approach to the 

patients and their illnesses, in both the 

consulting office and in the home. The 

integral approach to the individual and 

longitudinal care over the full course of 

the life of the patient makes it possible 

to conduct proprietary and/or collaborative 

studies targeted at knowledge of the 

characteristics of the population, people 

and their illnesses. Primary care aims to 

carry out research inherent to its nature, 

integrating within the existing investigational 

networks and groups, and working 

in a coordinated manner with other consolidated 

research teams from different 

perspectives: 

• Conduction of population-based studies 

(both descriptive and evaluating 

interventions and follow-up), in an accessible 

and well defined population 

of subjects, taking advantage of the 

computer-based filing of clinical data. 

• Conduction of research into healthcare 

results or outcomes. 

• Description of the natural history 

of the patient and disease from a 

biological, psychological and social 

perspective. 

302


Transversal group for research in primary care 

• Conduction of studies of risk factors 

and preventive medicine. 

• Analysis of the morbidity and mortality 

of the most prevalent disorders. 

• Development of collaborative studies 

with the administration and research 

entities or groups allowing the implementation 

of translation research. 

In the year 2010, Research in Primary 

Care has been organized around the 

CAPSE-GESCLINIC Research Unit, integrated 

by Dr. Antoni Sisó (Director of the 

CAPSE_GESCLINIC Unit), Dr. Laura Sebastián 

(Manager of CAPSE-GESCLINIC), 

Dr. Anna Pereira (Management adjunct 

to the CAPSE), Lluís González (DUE- 

GESCLINIC), Elena Mañes (DUE-CAPSE), 

and Narly Benachi (DUE-Clinical Trials- 

CAPSE). 

Main Lines 

of Research 

• Healthcare continuity and management 

of chronic diseases. 

• Use of healthcare services. 

• The fragility – geriatrics – dependency 

– home care axis. 

• Use of medicines. 

• Primary care and autoimmunity. 

• Atherogenesis, risk factors and cardiovascular 

diseases. 

• Chronic pain. 

• Mental health, smoking and other 

addictions. 

• Respiratory diseases. 

• Digestive and liver diseases. 

• HIV infection – AIDS and other infectious 

diseases. 

• 2.0. Health. 


www.forumclinic.org 

PUBLICATIONS 

originals 

I.F.: 49,85 


M, Bove A, Navarro C, Brito-Zeron 

P, Diaz-Lagares C, Gandia M, Akasbi 

M, Siso A, Ballester E, Torres A, 

Ramos-Casals M. Bronchiectasis in 

primary Sjogren’s syndrome: prevalence 

and clinical significance. CLIN 

EXP RHEUMATOL. 28:647-653. 

I.F.:2,40. 

2 Perez-De-Lis M, Akasbi M, Siso 

A, Diez-Cascon P, Brito-Zeron P, Diaz- 

Lagares C, Ortiz J, Perez-Alvarez R, 

Ramos-Casals M, Coca A. Cardiovascular 

risk factors in primary Sjogren’s 

syndrome: a case-control study in 

624 patients. LUPUS. 19:941-948. 

I.F.:2,59. 







with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome. J 

RHEUMATOL. 37:585-590. I.F.:3,85. 

4 Siso A, Ramos-Casals M, Bove A, 

Brito-Zeron P, Soria N, Nardi N, Testi 

A, Perez-De-Lis M, Diaz-Lagares C, 

Darnell A, Sentis J, Coca A. Outcomes 

in Biopsy-Proven Lupus Nephritis 

Evaluation of 190 White Patients 

From a Single Center. MEDICINE. 

89:300-307. I.F.:5,05. 

5 Ramos-Casals M, Brito-Zeron P, 

Perez-De-Lis M, Jimenez I, Blanco 

MJ, Bove A, Soto MJ, Akasbi M, 

Diaz C, Sentis J, Siso A. Sjogren 

Syndrome or Sjogren Disease? The 

Histological and Immunological Bias 

Caused by the 2002 Criteria. CLIN 

REV ALLERG IMMU. 38:178-185. 

I.F.:2,60. 

6 Ramos-Casals M, Tzioufas AG, Stone 

JH, Siso A, Bosch X. Treatment of 

Primary Sjogren Syndrome A Systematic 

Review. JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC. 

304:452-460. I.F.:28,90. 

7 Zambon D, Quintana M, Mata P, Alonso 

R, Benavent J, Cruz-Sanchez F, Gich J, 

Pocovi M, Civeira F, Capurro S, Bachman 

D, Sambamurti K, Nicholas J, Pappolla 

MA. Higher Incidence of Mild Cognitive 

Impairment in Familial Hypercholesterolemia. 

AM J MED. 123:267-274. I.F.:4,47. 


in progress 

Grau I. Desarrollo y coorganización 

del proyecto ForumClinic. Programa 

interactiu per a pacients adreçat a 

què aquests augmentin el seu grau 

d’autonomia respecte a la seva salut 

utilitzant les oportunitats de les noves 

tecnologies. Sponsored by: Fundación 

BBVA, 0000. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2012. 

Juan C. Identificació de grups de pacients 

amb requeriments similars de 

temps de cures d’infermeria en un 

programa d’atenció domiciliària urbà en 

l’àmbit de l’atenció primària. Sponsored 

by: FIS, PI060337. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2008-31/12/2010. 

Siso A. Multilingual OrganiK Information 

management in the medical domain 

(Projecte MORMED). Sponsored by: 

Comission Europea, 250534. Amount: 


31/08/2012. 

Siso A. Usefulness of the VScan in 

Primary Care (PC) daily practice as complementary 

to physical examination. 

Sponsored by: General Electrics Healthcare, 

10/503. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

16/07/2010-31/12/2012. 

303


TransversAL group for research in primary care 

Morales EN. Prevalencia, gasto sanitario 

y morbimortalidad cardiovascular 

del dolor crónico no oncológico 

en Atención Primaria. Sponsored by: 

CAPSE-GESCLINIC, 10/503. Amount: 


01/06/2011. 

Thesis 

Siso A. Anàlisis de prevalença, 

despesa sanitària i morbimortalitat 

cardiovascular del dolor crònic nooncológic 

a l’atenció primària. PhD 

student: Morales, Emma M. 

Serrat M. Intervenció social sobre la 

implantació de grups terapèutics per 

a cuidadors de pacients amb malaltia 

d’Alzheimer. Sponsored by: Fundació 

Pasqual Maragall i Obra Social de La 

Caixa, 10/503. Amount: 0,00 euros. 

Duration: 01/01/2010-31/12/2010. 

Siso A, Navarro D. Vigència de la Carta 

de Drets i Deures dels ciutadans 

en relació a la Salut i l’Atenció Sanitària 

entre els usuaris dels serveis 

d’Atenció Primària de Salut. PhD student: 

Lluís González de Paz, Universitat 

de Barcelona. 

Erdozain MA. Impacte del tractament 

del Dolor amb Acupuntura a l’Atenció 

Primària. Sponsored by: CAPSE, 

10/503. Amount: 0,00 euros. Duration: 

01/01/2009-31/12/2010. 

304


Research in nursing 

Group Members 

Strategic 

Objectives 

TEAM LEADER 

Adelaida Zabalegui 


Tel.: 93 227 54 24 

Fax: 93 227 17 77 

E-mail: azabaleg@clinic.ub.es 


Mercè Piazuelo i Pont (Hospital Clínic) 

Amèlia Pérez González (Hospital Clínic) 

Miquel Sanz Moncosi (Hospital Clínic) 

Mª Teresa Hospital Vidal (Hospital Clínic) 

Mercè Comes Forastero (Hospital Clínic) 

Felip Burgos Rincón (Hospital Clínic) 

Dolors Robles Antúnez (Hospital Clínic) 

Montserrat Amigó Tandin (Hospital Clínic) 

Luis González de Paz (Gesclínic) 

Research in nursing is essential for 

responding to the healing demands of 

the current healthcare system. Its complexity 

in the hospital setting is derived 

from the associated increase in patient 

severity upon admission, the reduction 

in hospital stay, the incorporation of new 

technologies, the aging of the population, 

patient requests for information, 

social change, and the global crisis. 

Main Lines 

of Research 

Internationally, research activity in nursing 

is improving thanks to the definition of 

priorities, the identification of groups 

and the focusing of their research lines, 

increased funding, and integration of the 

results obtained in the clinical practice 

setting. Accordingly, an increase is being 

observed in the number of publications in 

international journals, documented in the 

Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied 

Health Literature (CINAH) and the Medline 

database, affording credibility and acknowledgement 

to our research activities. 

This improved scientific production has 

been achieved through the competitive 

funding of projects and the development 

of research training programs on the part 

of the professional and government organizations, 

and the generalized application 

of anonymous and rigorous peer review 

of the results of the investigations made. 

Research in nursing presents differential 

paradigmatic elements with respect to 

other types of research in the health 

sciences, such as its particular patient 

focus (rather than disease-based focus), 

and the study of physiological, psychological, 

sociocultural and/or spiritual aspects 

of the individual, with a view to improving 

healing. The effort to secure this unique 

approach has resulted in the definition of 

priority research areas in nursing, which 

in this country comprise the following: 

evaluation of the efficacy of nursing interventions; 

the promotion of health and 

the development of strategies designed 

to implicate patients in their own healing; 

305



PUBLICATIONS 

healing based on evidence; the implementation 

and evaluation of results in 

clinical practice; and measurement of the 

quality of nursing care. 

In Spain, research in nursing is still an 

emergent activity. Its consolidation will 

be facilitated by the recent introduction of 

degree programs, masters and doctorate 

courses specifically targeted at nursing, 

with the participation of professionals 

accredited for teaching in research. For 

the first time, nurses following a doctorate 

program will be able to access extensive 

and rigorous training in the scientific 

method, to ensure the quality of their 

scientific production in the field of nursing 

care. Our present challenge is application 

to the healthcare setting: nurses should 

understand research as a driving force in 

their professional development and in the 

improvement of their care of patients and 

their families – incorporating it into their 

daily clinical practice. 

We are aware of the enormous task awaiting 

us. In this context, we are inspired 

by the brilliant trajectory of research in 

nursing in the United States or Europe 

(United kingdom, Sweden, Finland, the 

Netherlands, etc.) – countries where nursing 

has been capable of attracting financial 

support, gaining access to mentors, 

and consolidating its lines of research. 

Nursing in the Clinic Hospital can lead the 

process of incorporating research to clinical 

practice, based on a solid institutional 

reference and a strongly-rooted scientific 

culture. The recent creation of the Nursing 

Research Committee aims to visualize and 

reinforce this activity. We already have 

competitive projects financed by national 

and European agencies, and have ambitious 

plans for improvement that should 

result in an increase in the number and 

relevance of our publications. In sum, our 

hospital has the motivation and scientific 

leadership needed to face the challenge of 

research in nursing. 

Originals 

I.F.: 22,63 

1 Sastre S, Popescu D, Nunez M, 

Pomes J, Tomas X, Peidro L. Doublebundle 

versus single-bundle ACL 

reconstruction using the horizontal 

femoral position: a prospective, randomized 

study. KNEE SURG SPORT TR A, 

2010. 18:32-36. I.F.:1,67. 

2 Popescu D, Sastre S, Caballero M, 

Lee JWK, Claret I, Nunez M, Lozano L. 

Meniscal repair using the FasT-Fix device 

in patients with chronic meniscal lesions. 

KNEE SURG SPORT TR A, 2010. 

18:546-550. I.F.:1,67. 

3 Jansa M, Hernandez C, Vidal M, 

Nunez M, Bertran MJ, Sanz S, Castell 

C, Sanz G. Multidimensional analysis of 

treatment adherence in patients with 

multiple chronic conditions. A crosssectional 

study in a tertiary hospital. 

PATIENT EDUC COUNS, 2010. 81:161- 

168. I.F.:1,98. 

4 Rodriguez-Blanco T, Fernandez- 

San-Martin I, Balague-Corbella M, 

Berenguera A, Moix J, Montiel-Morillo 

E, Nunez-Juarez E, Gonzalez-Moneo 

MJ, Pie-Oncins M, Martin-Penacoba 

R, Roura-Olivan M, Nunez-Juarez M, 

Pujol-Ribera E. Study protocol of effectiveness 

of a biopsychosocial multidisciplinary 

intervention in the evolution of 

non-speficic sub-acute low back pain in 

the working population: cluster randomised 

trial. BMC HEALTH SERV RES, 

2010. 10:-. I.F.:1,66. 

5 Amigo M, Nogue S, Miro O. Use of 

activated charcoal in acute poisonings: 

Clinical safety and factors associated 

with adverse reactions in 575 cases. 

MED CLIN-BARCELONA, 2010. 

135:243-249. I.F.:1,23. 

6 Pozo-Rodriguez F, Alvarez CJ, Castro- 

Acosta A, Moreno CM, Capelastegui A, 

Esteban C, Carcereny CH, Lopez-Campos 

JL, Alonso JLI, Quilez AL, Agusti 

A. Clinical Audit of Patients Admitted to 

Hospital in Spain due to Exacerbation of 

COPD (AUDIPOC Study): Method and 

Organisation. ARCH BRONCONEUMOL, 

2010. 46:349-357. I.F.:2,17. 




T, Serradesanferm A, Alonso-Espinaco 

V, Jimeno M, Cuatrecasas M, Sendino 

O, Castellvi-Bel S, Castells A. Aberrant 

Gene Promoter Methylation Associated 

with Sporadic Multiple Colorectal Cancer. 

PLOS ONE, 2010. 5:-. I.F.:4,35. 

8 Valldeoriola F, Regidor I, Minguez- 

Castellanos A, Lezcano E, Garcia-Ruiz P, 

Rojo A, Salvador A, Castro A, Grandas F, 

Kulisevsky J, Marti MJ, Martinez-Martin 

P, Relova L, Rumia J, Camara A, Burguera 

JA, Linazasoro G, DeVal JL, Obeso J, 

Rodriguez-Oroz MC, Tolosa E. Efficacy 

and safety of pallidal stimulation in primary 

dystonia: results of the Spanish 

multicentric study. J NEUROL NEURO- 

SUR PS, 2010. 81:65-69. I.F.:4,87. 

9 Rosa AR, Reinares M, Michalak EE, 

Bonnin CM, Sole B, Franco C, Comes 

M, Torrent C, Kapczinski F, Vieta E. 

Functional Impairment and Disability 

across Mood States in Bipolar Disorder. 

VALUE HEALTH, 2010. 13:984-988. 

I.F.:3,03. 

306



Reviews 

I.F.: 1,234 

1 Valldeoriola F, Camara A. Intraduodenal 

infusion of levodopa. REV NEURO- 

LOGIA, 2010. 51:41-48. I.F.:1,23. 

Editorials 

I.F.: 5,527 

1 Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, 

Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, Enright 

P, VanDerGrinten C, Gustafsson P, Jensen 

R, Macintyre N, Mckay RT, Pedersen 

OF, Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Wanger J. 

Standardisation of lung function testing: 

the authors’ replies to readers’ comments. 

EUR RESPIR J, 2010. 36:1496- 

1498. I.F.:5,53. 


in progress 

Zabalegui A. Patrones de afrontamiento 

al cuidado oncológico paliativo. Sponsored 


Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, 


Duration: 12/11/2006-30/06/2010. 

Zabalegui A. Grup de recerca reconegut 

com consolidat de Catalunya al “Grup 

de Cures a la Gent Gran Dependent”. 

Sponsored by: Agència de Gestió 

d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 

(AGAUR), 2009 SGR 916. Amount: 0,00 


Zabalegui A. Estudio experimental 

sobre la eficacia de una intervención 

innovadora de información, formación 

y apoyo social “INFOSA” a cuidadores 

principales de personas mayores dependientes. 




31/12/2012. 

Burgos F. Estudio Europeo de Salud 

Respiratoria: Seguimiento de la población 

española a los 18 años de su inicio. 

Sponsored by: FIS, 2009 ECRHS III. 


01/01/2009-31/12/2011. 

Zabalegui A. Improving health services 

for European citizens with dementia: 

Development of best practice strategies 

for the transition from ambulatory 

to institutional long-trem care facilities 

(RightTimePlaceCare). Sponsored 

by: European Commission, 2421153. 


01/01/2010-30/06/2013. 

307

Team leader index 

A 

Àlvar Agustí.............................. 138 

Jordi Alberch............................ 218 

Antonio Alcaraz........................ 140 

Vicente Arroyo.......................... 157 

B 

Oriol Bachs............................... 290 

Juan Balasch............................ 144 

Joan Albert Barberà.................. 131 

Miguel Bernardo....................... 221 

Jaume Bosch........................... 164 

Josep Brugada......................... 109 

Jordi Bruix................................ 161 

C 

Josep Mª Campistol................. 114 

Elías Campo Güerri................... 250 

Xavier Carné............................. 298 

Josep Carreras......................... 153 

Antoni Castells......................... 182 

Francisco Cervantes................. 272 

Ricard Cervera............................ 73 

Daniel Closa............................. 100 

Dolors Colomer........................ 279 

E 

Ginés Escolar........................... 282 

F 

Ramon Farré............................. 122 

José Carlos Fernández-Checa... 175 

Jorge Ferrer............................. 189 

Joaquim Forés i Viñeta............... 92 

Xavier Forns............................. 154 

G 

Pere Gascón Vilaplana.............. 286 

Josep M. Gatell.......................... 79 

Ramon Gomis........................... 191 

Eduard Gratacós....................... 148 

Francesc Graus........................ 240 

Núria Guanyabens.................... 172 

J 

Carme Junqué.......................... 233 

L 

Francisco Lozano........................ 89 

M 

Cristóbal Mezquita.................... 260 

Guadalupe Mengod.................. 198 

Montserrat Milà........................ 262 

Oscar Miró Andreu..................... 97 

Rafael Molina........................... 248 

P 

Julián Panés............................. 169 

Albert Parés............................. 172 

César Picado............................ 134 

Anna M. Planas........................ 203 

Francesca Pons........................ 256 

Susana Puig............................. 265 

R 

Antonia Ribes........................... 186 

Antoni Rimola........................... 178 

Emili Ros.................................. 118 

S 

Manel Sabaté........................... 104 

Maria Victoria Sánchez............. 236 

Raimon Sanmartí........................ 72 

Antoni Sisó Almirall.................. 302 

T 

Eduardo Tolosa......................... 206 

Antoni Torres............................ 125 

Ramon Trullàs........................... 244 

U 

Álvaro Urbano-Ispizúa............... 268 

Álvaro Urbano Márquez............ 212 

V 

Josep Valls Solé....................... 211 

Y 

Jordi Yagüe................................. 95 

Z 

Adelaida Zabalegui.................... 305 

308

Roselló, 149-153 


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