Leptomeningeal Interfoliar Enhancement on Vessel Wall MR Imaging as a Unique Radiologic Finding of Susac Syndrome.

Susac syndrome is a rare disorder affecting the brain, retina, and inner ear, probably triggered by an immune-mediated endotheliopathy. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and ancillary test findings (brain MR imaging, fluorescein angiography, and audiometry). Recently, vessel wall MR imaging has shown increased sensitivity in the detection of subtle signs of parenchymal, leptomeningeal, and vestibulocochlear enhancement. In this report, we describe a unique finding identified using this technique in a series of 6 patients with Susac syndrome and discuss its potential value for diagnostic work-up and follow-up.

Caffeinated coffee consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation in two Spanish cohorts.

AIMS: The association between caffeinated coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation remains unclear. Recent studies suggest an inverse association only between a moderate caffeinated coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation, but others have reported no association. The aim of our study was to prospectively assess the association between caffeinated coffee consumption and atrial fibrillation in two Spanish cohorts, one of adults from a general population and another of elderly participants at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 18,983 and 6479 participants from the 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' (SUN) and 'Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea' (PREDIMED) cohorts, respectively. Participants were classified according to their caffeinated coffee consumption in three groups: ≤3 cups/month, 1-7 cups/week, and >1 cup/day. We identified 97 atrial fibrillation cases after a median follow-up of 10.3 years (interquartile range 6.5-13.5), in the SUN cohort and 250 cases after 4.4 years median follow-up (interquartile range 2.8-5.8) in the PREDIMED study. No significant associations were observed in the SUN cohort although a J-shaped association was suggested. A significant inverse association between the intermediate category of caffeinated coffee consumption (1-7 cups/week) and atrial fibrillation was observed in PREDIMED participants with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio = 0.53 (95% confidence interval 0.36-0.79) when compared with participants who did not consume caffeinated coffee or did it only occasionally. No association was found for higher levels of caffeinated coffee consumption (>1 cup per day), hazard ratio = 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.49-1.28). In the meta-analysis of both PREDIMED and SUN studies, the hazard ratio for intermediate consumption of caffeinated coffee was 0.60 (95% confidence interval 0.44-0.82) without evidence of heterogeneity. Similar findings were found for the association between caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation risk. CONCLUSION: Intermediate levels of caffeinated coffee consumption (1-7 cups/week) were associated with a reduction in atrial fibrillation risk in two prospective Mediterranean cohorts.

Health-related quality of life in individuals with metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of various cardiovascular risk factors with a major impact on morbidity and premature mortality. However, the impact of MetS on self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unknown. This study evaluated the HRQoL in a Spanish adult population aged 55 years and older with MetS. METHOD: A cross-sectional analysis was performed with baseline data from the PREDIMED-Plus multicentre randomized trial. The participants were 6430 men and women aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥27 and ≤40kg/m2) and MetS. The SF-36 questionnaire was used as a tool to measure HRQoL. Scores were calculated on each scale of the SF-36 by gender and age. RESULTS: Participants showed higher scores in the social function (mean 85.9, 95% CI; 85.4-86.4) and emotional role scales (mean 86.8, 95% CI; 86.0-87.5). By contrast, the worst scores were obtained in the aggregated physical dimensions. In addition, men obtained higher scores than women on all scales. Among men, the worst score was obtained in general health (mean 65.6, 95% CI; 65.0-66.2), and among women, in body pain (mean 54.3, 95%CI; 53.4-55.2). A significant decrease was found in the aggregated physical dimensions score among participants 70-75 years old, but an increased one in the aggregated mental dimensions, compared to younger participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reflect that the MetS may negatively affect HRQoL in the aggregated physical dimensions, body pain in women, and general health in men. However, this adverse association was absent for the psychological dimensions of HRQoL, which were less affected.

Analysis of satisfaction and surgical outcomes of a major ambulatory surgery program for penile implant. / Análisis de satisfacción y resultados quirúrgicos de un programa de cirugía mayor ambulatoria para el implante de prótesis de pene.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Penile prosthesis (PP) surgery is performed in many institutions as an inpatient procedure. We have recently initiated a major ambulatory surgery (MAS) program, thus reducing the hospital stay. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, complications and satisfaction of the implantation of outpatient surgery PP program in our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study evaluating the results and satisfaction of PP implanted as an outpatient procedure in Bellvitge University Hospital during 2018. RESULTS: During 2018 we implanted 49 PP: 27 (55%) inpatient surgeries vs. 22 (45%) outpatient surgeries. Of these 22, 2 (9%) were second implants. All patients underwent both general anesthesia and crural, proximal dorsal nerve and transversus abdominis plane block (TAP). Complication rates between inpatient and outpatient procedures were similar, 2 (7%) and 1 (5%), respectively, without reporting infections or requiring PP removal. Postoperatively, a satisfaction telephone survey was conducted in 19 (86%) patients: 16 (84%) considered the time of hospital stay as appropriate, 15 (79%) would have preferred to be operated again in an outpatient care setting and 15 (79%) would recommend it. The patients' main concerns were related to being at home with no medical assistance at home and about coming back the next day for drainage removal. All patients reported well-controlled pain without requiring opioid intake in any case. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, PP implantation in an ambulatory care setting is feasible and safe. Although there are some aspects that should be improved, the program showed acceptable satisfaction rates and an adequate postoperative pain control, neither raising the administration of opioids, nor increasing complications and re-admission rates.

Disease activity impacts disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Although solid information on the natural history of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is available, evidence regarding impact of disease activity on PPMS progression remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics, presence or absence of MRI activity, and natural history of a PPMS cohort from two referral centers in Argentina and assess whether clinical and/or radiological disease activity correlated with disability worsening. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted at two MS clinics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, through comparative analysis of patients with and without evidence of disease activity. RESULTS: Clinical and/or radiologic activity was presented in 56 (31%) of 178 patients. When stratified by age at onset, we found that for every 10 years of increase in age at onset, risk of reaching EDSS scores of 4 and 6 increased by 26% and 31%, respectively (EDSS 4: HR 1.26, CI 95%: 1.06-1.50; EDSS 6: HR 1.31, CI 95%: 1.06-1.62). Patients who presented clinical exacerbations reached EDSS scores of 6, 7 and 8 faster than those without associated exacerbations (p = 0.009, p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively). Likewise, patients who presented gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the course of disease reached EDSS scores of 7 earlier (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Older age at onset and presence of clinical and/or radiological disease activity correlated with accelerated disability progression in this cohort of PPMS patients.

Longitudinal changes in Mediterranean diet and transition between different obesity phenotypes.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is known about the impact of specific dietary patterns on the development of obesity phenotypes. We aimed to determine the association of longitudinal changes in adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) with the transition between different obesity phenotypes. METHODS: Data of 5801 older men and women at high cardiovascular risk from PREDIMED trial were used. Adherence to MedDiet was measured with the validated 14p-Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Using the simultaneous combination of metabolic health- and body size-related parameters participants were categorized into one of four phenotypes: metabolically healthy and abnormal obese (MHO and MAO), metabolically healthy and abnormal non-obese (MHNO and MANO). Cox regression models with yearly repeated measures during 5-year of follow-up were built with use of Markov chain assumption. RESULTS: Each 2-point increase in MEDAS was associated with the following transitions: in MAO participants, with a 16% (95% CI 3-31%) greater likelihood of becoming MHO; in MHO participants with a 14% (3-23%) lower risk of becoming MAO; in MHNO participants with a 18% (5-30%) lower risk of becoming MHO. In MANO women, but not in men, MEDAS was associated with 20% (5-38%) greater likely of becoming MHNO (p for interaction by gender 0.014). No other significant associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Better adherence to the traditional MedDiet is associated with transitions to healthier phenotypes, promoting metabolic health improvement in MAO, MANO (only in women), and MHO, as well as protecting against obesity incidence in MHNO subjects.

Mediterranean alcohol-drinking pattern, low to moderate alcohol intake and risk of atrial fibrillation in the PREDIMED study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is ongoing controversy about the effect of a low to moderate alcohol consumption on atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim is to assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern and AF incidence. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total 6527 out of the 7447 participants in the PREDIMED trial met our inclusion criteria. A validated frequency food questionnaire was used to measure alcohol consumption. Participants were classified as non-drinkers, Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern (MADP) (10-30 g/d in men and 5-15 g/day in women, preferably red wine consumption with low spirits consumption), low-moderate drinking (<30 g/day men y and < 15 g/day women), and heavy drinking. We performed multivariable Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of incident AF according to alcohol drinking patterns. After a mean follow up of 4.4 years, 241 new incident AF cases were confirmed. Alcohol consumption was not associated to AF incidence among low-moderate drinkers (HR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.67-1.37), adherents to MADP (HR: 1.15 95%CI: 0.75-1.75), or heavy drinkers (HR: 0.92; 95%CI: 0.53-1.58), compared with non-drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: In a high cardiovascular risk adult population, a Mediterranean alcohol consumption pattern (low to moderate red wine consumption) was not associated with an increased incidence of AF. CLINICAL TRIALS: URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639.

Clinical and imaging features distinguishing Susac syndrome from primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

INTRODUCTION: To assess clinical and/or imaging features useful to distinguish between Susac syndrome (SuS) and primary angiitis of central nervous system (PACNS). METHODS: Multicenter retrospective analysis of two cohorts of Argentine patients diagnosed with SuS and PACNS. RESULTS: 13 patients diagnosed with SuS (6 women and 7 men, mean age 35 ±â€¯10 years) and 15 with PACNS (10 women and 5 men, mean age 44 ±â€¯18 years) were analyzed. Cognitive impairment (11 out of 13 patients vs. 5 out of 15, p = .006), ataxia (7 out of 13 vs. 2 out of 15, p = .042) and auditory disturbances (7 out of 13 vs. 0 out of 15, p = .003) were more frequent in SuS patients; whereas seizures were more frequent in PACNS patients (8 out of 15 vs. 1 out of 13, p = .035). On MRI, corpus callosum (CC) involvement was observed more often in SuS, with abnormalities in CC genu, in 13 out of 13 SuS patients vs. only 2 out of 15 PACNS patients (p < .001); in CC body these were present in 13 out of 13 SuS patients vs. 1 out of 15 PACNS patients, (p < .001); and in CC splenium in 12 out of 13 Sus patients vs. 1 of 15 PACNS, p < .001). Cortical lesions were more frequent in PACNS patients (10 out of 15 vs. 3 out of 13 SuS patients, p = .02), as were hemorrhages (5 out of 15 vs. 0 out of 13 SuS, p = .04) and multiple basal ganglia infarcts (7 out of 15 vs. 1 out of 13 Sus, p = .037). CONCLUSION: Specific clinical and/or MRI findings may help distinguish SuS from PACNS with potential therapeutic implications.

Gender ratio trends over time in multiple sclerosis patients from Argentina.

Several studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest a trend of increasing disease frequency in women during the last decades. A direct comparison of gender ratio trends among MS populations from Argentina remains to be carried out. The objective of the study was to compare gender ratio trends, over a 50-year span in MS populations from Argentina. METHODS: multicenter study that included patients from 14 MS Centers of Argentina. Patients with definite MS with birth years ranging from 1940 to 1989 were included. Gender ratios were calculated by five decades based on year of birth and were adjusted for the F/M born-alive ratio derived from the Argentinean national registry of births. The F/M ratios were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression per five decades by the year of birth approach. Analyses were performed using Stata 10.1. RESULTS: 1069 patients were included. Gender ratios showed a significant increase from the first to the last decade in the whole MS sample (from 1.8 to 2.7; p value for trend=0.023). The Gender ratio did not show differences considering MS subtype. CONCLUSION: our study showed a modest increase of the F/M ratio (from 1.8 to 2.7) over time among patients affected by MS in Argentina.

Egg consumption and cardiovascular disease according to diabetic status: The PREDIMED study.

BACKGROUND: Eggs are a major source of dietary cholesterol and their consumption has been sometimes discouraged. A relationship between egg consumption and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been suggested to be present exclusively among patients with type2 diabetes. AIMS: To assess the association between egg consumption and CVD in a large Mediterranean cohort where approximately 50% of participants had type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We prospectively followed 7216 participants (55-80 years old) at high cardiovascular risk from the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study for a mean of 5.8 years. All participants were initially free of CVD. Yearly repeated measurements of dietary information with a validated 137-item food-frequency questionnaire were used to assess egg consumption and other dietary exposures. The endpoint was the rate of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes). RESULTS: A major cardiovascular event occurred in 342 participants. Baseline egg consumption was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events in the total population. Non-diabetic participants who ate on average >4 eggs/week had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-2.76) in the fully adjusted multivariable model when compared with non-diabetic participants who reported the lowest egg consumption (<2 eggs/week). Among diabetic participants, the HR was 1.33 (0.72-2.46). There was no evidence of interaction by diabetic status. HRs per 500 eggs of cumulative consumption during follow-up were 0.94 (0.66-1.33) in non-diabetics and 1.18 (0.90-1.55) in diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: Low to moderated egg consumption was not associated with an increased CVD risk in diabetic or non-diabetic individuals at high cardiovascular risk. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639.

Increasing prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

UNLABELLED: In 1996, the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) for the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires using the capture-recapture method was estimated to be between 14 and 19.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The aim of this study was to update the prevalence to 2014 following the same methodology. METHODS: Gran Buenos Aires is the denomination that refers to the megalopolis comprised by the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the surrounding conurbation of the province of Buenos Aires. The study was carried out taking December 2014 as the prevalence month. We used the capture-recapture method to estimate the prevalence of MS cross-matching registries from 6 MS Centers from the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. Log-linear model Poisson regression was used to estimate the number of affected MS patients not detected by any of the 6 sources considered. RESULTS: 1035 registries were obtained from the 6 lists from 910 different patients detected. The population of the area based on 2010 census was 12,806,866, the number of MS cases estimated amongst source interactions were 4901. The estimated prevalence was 38.2 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI 36.1-41.2). CONCLUSION: The study is an update almost 20 years after the first one in the area showing a significant increase in the previous reported prevalence. Our findings are in line with previous studies performed in other regions of the world.

Comparative analysis between 2 periods of acute myocardial infarction after a decade in Mallorca. IBERIA Study (996-1998) and Infarction-Code (2008-2010). / Análisis comparativo de 2 registros de infarto agudo de miocardio tras una década de cambios. Estudio IBERICA (1996-1998) y Código Infarto-Illes Balears (2008-2010).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in mortality at 28 days and other prognostic variables in 2 periods: IBERICA-Mallorca (1996-1998) and Infarction Code of the Balearic Islands (IC-IB) (2008-2010). DESIGN: Two observational prospective cohorts. SETTING: Hospital Universitario Son Dureta, 1996-1998 and 2008-2010. PATIENTS: Acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation of≤24h of anterior and inferior site. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, site of AMI, time delays, reperfusion therapy with fibrinolysis and primary angioplasty, administration of acetylsalicylic acid, beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Killip class, malignant arrhythmias, mechanical complications and death at 28 days were included. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty-two of the 889 patients included in the IBERICA-Mallorca and 498 of 847 in the IC-IB were analyzed. The site and Killip class on admission were similar in both cohorts. The main significant difference between IBERICA and IC-IB group were age (64 vs. 58 years), prior myocardial infarction (17.9 vs. 8.1%), the median symtoms to first ECG time (120 vs. 90min), median first ECG to fibrinolysis time (60 vs. 35min), fibrinolytic therapy (54.8 vs. 18.7%), patients without revascularization treatment (45.9 vs. 9.2%), primary angioplasty (1.0% vs. 92.0%). The mortality at 28 days was lower in the IC-IB (12.2 vs. 7.2%; hazard ratio 0.560; 95% CI 0.360-0.872; P=.010). CONCLUSION: The 28-day mortality in acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation in Mallorca has declined in the last decade, basically due to increased reperfusion therapy with primary angioplasty and reducing delays time to reperfusion.

Disease onset in familial and sporadic multiple sclerosis in Argentina.

UNLABELLED: The present study was carried out to assess if there is an anticipation of age at onset in younger generations of familial multiple sclerosis (FMS) vs. sporadic MS (SMS) in Argentina. METHODS: multicenter study that included patients from 14 MS Centers of Argentina. Patients were considered as FMS if they had in their family at least one relative of first or second degree diagnosed with MS; otherwise, patients were considered to have SMS. We compared the age at onset between familial and sporadic cases as well as the age at onset between relatives from different generations in FMS vs. SMS. RESULTS: 1333 patients were included, 97 of them were FMS (7.3%). A lower age at onset in the younger generations of FMS cases was found compared with older generations of FMS as well as. SMS cases (24.1±3.7 years vs. 30.3±5.7 years, and 32.4±9.4 respectively; p<0.001). No differences were observed between older generations of FMS vs. SMS cases (p=0.12). CONCLUSION: we observed an anticipation of age at onset of MS in younger generations of patients with FMS vs. older generations of FMS and SMS.

Yogurt consumption and abdominal obesity reversion in the PREDIMED study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Evidence on the association yogurt consumption and obesity is not conclusive. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the association between yogurt consumption, reversion of abdominal obesity status and waist circumference change in elderly. METHODS AND RESULTS: 4545 individuals at high cardiovascular risk were prospectively followed. Total, whole-fat and low-fat yogurt consumption were assessed using food frequency questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the association between yogurt consumption and waist circumference change (measured at baseline and yearly during the follow-up). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of the reversion rate of abdominal obesity for each quintile of yogurt consumption compared with the lowest quintile. After multivariable adjustment, the average yearly waist circumference change in the quintiles of whole-fat yogurt consumption was: Q1: 0.00, Q2: 0.00 (-0.23 to 0.23), Q3: -0.15 (-0.42 to 0.13), Q4: 0.10 (-0.21 to 0.42), and Q5: -0.23 (-0.46 to -0.00) cm; p for trend = 0.05. The ORs for the reversion of abdominal obesity for whole-fat yogurt consumption were Q1: 1.00, Q2: 1.40 (1.04-1.90), Q3: 1.33 (0.94-1.89), Q4: 1.21 (0.83-1.77), and Q5: 1.43 (1.06-1.93); p for trend = 0.26. CONCLUSION: Total yogurt consumption was not significantly associated with reversion of abdominal obesity status and a lower waist circumference. However, consumption of whole-fat yogurt was associated with changes in waist circumference and higher probability for reversion of abdominal obesity. Therefore, it seems that whole-fat yogurt has more beneficial effects in management of abdominal obesity in elderly population at high cardiovascular risk.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality in the PREDIMED study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity, the dietary intake of different antioxidants and mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: A total of 7,447 subjects from the PREDIMED study (multicenter, parallel group, randomized controlled clinical trial), were analyzed treating data as an observational cohort. Different antioxidant vitamin intake and total dietary antioxidant capacity were calculated from a validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline and updated yearly. Deaths were ascertained through contact with families and general practitioners, review of medical records and consultation of the National Death Index. Cox regression models were fitted to assess the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality. Dietary total antioxidant capacity was estimated using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. RESULTS: A total of 319 deaths were recorded after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Subjects belonging to the upper quintile of antioxidant capacity were younger, ex-smokers, with high educational level, and more active and had higher alcohol intake. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed no statistically significant difference between total dietary antioxidant capacity and mortality (Q5 vs. Q1 ref HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.60-1.20) neither for the intake of all the vitamins studied. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant association was found between antioxidant capacity and total mortality in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

Does the Mediterranean diet counteract the adverse effects of abdominal adiposity?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We tested the hypothesis that an intervention with a Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) could mitigate the well-known harmful effects of abdominal obesity on cardiovascular health. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the relationship between baseline waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and major cardiovascular events during a median follow-up of 4.8 years in the Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) randomized primary prevention trial, which tested a MeDiet against a control diet (advice on a low-fat diet). We also examined whether the MeDiet intervention was able to counteract the detrimental cardiovascular effects of an increased WHtR. The trial included 7447 participants (55-80 years old, 57% women) at high cardiovascular risk but free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at enrollment. An increased risk of CVD events (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) was apparent for the highest versus the lowest quartile of WHtR (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio: 1.98) (95% confidence interval: 1.10-3.57; linear trend: p = 0.019) only in the control-diet group, but not in the two groups allocated to intervention with MeDiet (p for interaction = 0.034). This apparent interaction suggesting that the intervention counterbalanced the detrimental cardiovascular effects of adiposity was also significant for body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.01) and waist circumference (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The MeDiet may counteract the harmful effects of increased adiposity on the risk of CVD.