Anxiety and depression in patients with narcolepsy.

We analysed the co-existence of psychopathology in patients with narcolepsy at our centre. We performed an observational retrospective descriptive analysis of patients with a diagnosis of narcolepsy, with and without psychopathology, who attended our sleep disorders unit from October 2012 to October 2021. A total of 51patients with narcolepsy (mean [SD] age 41.10 [14.71] years; 23 [45.1%] males and 28 [54.90%] females) were included. In all, 27 patients (52.94%) and 24 patients (47.06%) had narcolepsy with and without cataplexy, respectively. Of the total, 18 (33.33%) had a mood disorder: 18 with anxiety disorder (33.33%). Of these patients 14 (27.45%) had major depression, two (4%) had attempted suicide, one (2%) had manic outbreak, and one (2%) had substance abuse. Of the 18 patients with anxiety and depression, 10 (55.55%) and eight (44.44%) had narcolepsy with and without cataplexy, respectively. In the comparative analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between younger age and the presence of anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with narcolepsy was triple that of the general population, especially in younger patients. Psychopathology precedes the diagnosis of narcolepsy in most patients, not being reactive to diagnosis. This high prevalence suggests a possible biological relationship between both disorders, which should be assessed with larger studies.

Melatonin in the Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers (MeCOVID): A Randomised Clinical Trial.

We evaluated in this randomised, double-blind clinical trial the efficacy of melatonin as a prophylactic treatment for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Healthcare workers fulfilling inclusion criteria were recruited in five hospitals in Spain and were randomised 1:1 to receive melatonin 2 mg administered orally for 12 weeks or placebo. The main outcome was the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections. A total of 344 volunteers were screened, and 314 were randomised: 151 to placebo and 163 to melatonin; 308 received the study treatment (148 placebo; 160 melatonin). We detected 13 SARS-CoV-2 infections, 2.6% in the placebo arm and 5.5% in the melatonin arm (p = 0.200). A total of 294 adverse events were detected in 127 participants (139 in placebo; 155 in melatonin). We found a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events related to treatment: 43 in the placebo arm and 67 in the melatonin arm (p = 0.040), and in the number of participants suffering from somnolence related to treatment: 8.8% (n = 14) in the melatonin versus 1.4% (n = 2) in the placebo arm (p = 0.008). No severe adverse events related to treatment were reported. We cannot confirm our hypothesis that administration of melatonin prevents the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers.

[The importance of sleep problems in children with headache and other neurodevelopmental disorders in neuropaediatric services]. / Importancia de los problemas de sueño en los niños con cefalea y otros trastornos del neurodesarrollo en las consultas de neuropediatria.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disorders are common in children with neurological disorders. The aim of this study is to know the opinion of neuropediatricians and the prevalence of these disturbances in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multicenter cross-sectional study (12 Spanish hospitals, 15 researchers). BEARS survey was collected in three groups: A (2-5 years), (6-12 years), and C (> 12 years). The opinion of neuropediatricians was also collected. RESULTS: 939 questionnaires were filled. The main results in groups B and C were ADHD (32.4% and 30.1% respectively) and headache (25.1% and 27.6% respectively), whereas in group A neurodevelopmental disorders (32.4%) and epilepsy (21.4%) were the main diagnoses. Disturbances in at least one area of sleep were found in 92% of children in group A (n = 209, mean 3 years), 64.2% in group B (n = 534, mean 9.4 years) and 58.2% in group C (n = 196, mean 13.7 years). Sixty-one surveys were answered by neuropediatricians (16.75% of the total sent), estimating that less than a quarter of the patients (24.5%) suffered. Even, up to 23% of doctors claimed that the prevalence of sleep disorders was < 10%. CONCLUSIONS: 58-92% of parents-patients under follow up at a neuropediatrician office in Spain have some degree of disturbed sleep. Although most neurologists emphasize the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children with neurological disorders, its frequency is often underestimated (risk of underdiagnosis).

TITLE: Importancia de los problemas de sueño en los niños con cefalea y otros trastornos del neurodesarrollo en las consultas de neuropediatria.Introduccion. Los trastornos de sueño son frecuentes en niños con trastornos neurologicos. El objetivo del estudio es conocer la opinion de los neuropediatras y su prevalencia real en España. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio transversal multicentrico (12 hospitales españoles, 15 investigadores). Se administro la encuesta Bedtime, Excesive Daytime Sleepiness, Awakenings, Regularity, Sleep-Disordered Breathing (BEARS) y se definieron tres grupos: A (2-5 años), B (6-12 años) y C (> 12 años). Asimismo, se recogio la opinion de neuropediatras de la Sociedad Española de Neuropediatria mediante una encuesta anonima. Resultados. Se recogieron 939 encuestas. Los principales motivos de consulta en los grupos B y C fueron trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (32,4% y 30,1%, respectivamente) y cefalea (25,1% y 27,6%, respectivamente), y en el grupo A, los trastornos del neurodesarrollo (32,4%) y la epilepsia (21,4%). Al menos un area del sueño alterada se encontro en el 92,9% de niños del grupo A (n = 209; media: 3 años), en el 64,2% del grupo B (n = 534; media: 9,4 años) y en el 58,2% del grupo C (n = 196; media: 13,7 años). Se recibieron 61 encuestas respondidas por los neuropediatras (16,75% de las enviadas), quienes estimaban que los trastornos del sueño afectaban a menos de una cuarta parte de sus pacientes (24,5%), y hasta un 23% afirmo que la prevalencia era inferior al 10%. Conclusion. El 58-92% de los padres-pacientes que acuden a consultas de neuropediatria refiere tener algun aspecto del sueño alterado. Aunque la mayoria de los neuropediatras subraya la importancia de un diagnostico y tratamiento de los trastornos de sueño de los niños con trastornos neurologicos, se suele infraestimar su frecuencia e importancia.

Ataxia-telangiectasia and wilms tumor: reduced treatment but early relapse.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, a high incidence of lymphoreticular tumors, and an increased sensitivity to chemoradiotherapy-induced DNA damage. The appropriate cancer therapy remains unknown because of high toxicity rates with full-dose conventional protocols. We present a patient with A-T and nephroblastoma, who received an adapted treatment regimen. To our knowledge this is the second report on nephroblastoma in a patient with A-T but the first with confirmed premortem studies. Although the patient tolerated the chemotherapy regimen well, the patient relapsed and died a year after initial diagnosis.

[Benign childhood epilepsies: academic difficulties and behavioural disorders]. / Epilepsias benignas de la infancia: dificultades académicas y alteraciones comportamentales.

INTRODUCTION: Some papers published in the literature have shown that patients can present behavioural disorders and learning difficulties in benign childhood epilepsies (BCE). AIMS: To review the patients diagnosed with BCE in our hospital and to determine whether they present such disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study consisted in a retrospective review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with BCE. An electroencephalogram (EEG) or video-EEG-polygraph recordings were performed on all patients during sleep. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was used to evaluate intelligence. RESULTS: Data were collected for 102 patients diagnosed with BCE. Dispersed attention was observed in 51.6% of the patients with rolandic epilepsy and 16.2% displayed an impulsive temperament. In the group of patients with Panayiotopoulos syndrome, 30.3% displayed dispersed attention and 27.3% presented an impulsive temperament. A psychometric evaluation was carried out in 43 patients. The overall mean intelligence quotient was 95 (range: 55-126). In the three groups, academic achievement was good in approximately half the sample, regular in about 30% and poor in around 15%. In the group with rolandic epilepsy, the EEG showed a relation between frontal (p = 0.039) and occipital paroxysms (p = 0.004) and poorer academic achievement. In this group, the children with behaviours classed as dispersed, impulsive or hyperactive showed left-side paroxysms more frequently (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: BCE are conditions with a good prognosis, but seem to be associated to learning and behavioural disorders. Neuropsychological studies should be conducted on these patients to detect these disorders.

[Panayiotopoulos syndrome: academic difficulties and behavioural disorders]. / Síndrome de Panayiotopoulos: dificultades académicas y alteraciones comportamentales.

INTRODUCTION: Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) is one of the benign epilepsies found in childhood. Some papers have shown that patients can present behavioural disorders and learning difficulties. AIMS: To review patients diagnosed with PS in our hospital and to check whether they display evidence of such disorders and if there is any specific feature that allows high-risk patients to be identified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with PS was carried out. An electroencephalogram (EEG) or video-EEG-polygraph recordings were performed on all patients during sleep. The Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children was used to evaluate intelligence. RESULTS: Data were collected for 33 patients, 17 of whom were children. The mean age at onset was 3.2 years and the follow-up was 4.9 years (range: 1-12 years). Irritative EEG phenomena were detected in the occipital (67.7%), temporal (45.2%) or parietal regions (22.5%) in 31 patients. Furthermore, 72.7% of patients presented more than two seizures. Twenty-three patients required treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Two patients were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Additionally, 30.3% reported dispersed attention and 27.3% had an impulsive character. It was found that 51.1% had a good level of academic achievement, in 26.5% it was regular and in 17.6% poor. A total of 39.4% needed assistance in the form of after-school classes. The level of intelligence was evaluated in 11 patients. CONCLUSION: PS is a condition with a good prognosis, but seems to be associated to learning and behavioural disorders.