Evolution of quality indicators in acute stroke during the RACECAT Trial: Impact in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke patients not referred directly to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) have reduced access to endovascular treatment (EVT). The RACECAT trial is a population-based cluster-randomized trial, designed to compare mothership and drip-and-ship strategies in acute ischemic stroke patients outside the catchment area of a CSC. AIMS: To analyze the evolution of performance indicators in the regions that participated in RACECAT. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal observational study included all stroke alerts evaluated by emergency medical services in Catalonia between February 2016 and February 2020. Cases were classified geographically according to the nearest SC: local SC (Local-SC) and CSC catchment areas. We analyzed the evolution of EVT rates and relevant workflow times in Local-SC versus CSC catchment areas over three study periods: P1 (February 2016 to April 2017: before RACECAT initiation), P2 (May 2017 to September 2018), and P3 (October 2018 to February 2020). RESULTS: We included 20603 stroke alerts, 10,694 (51.9%) of which were activated within Local-SC catchment areas. The proportion of patients receiving EVT within Local-SC catchment areas increased (P1 vs. P3: 7.5% (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.4-8.7) to 22.5% (95% CI, 20.8-24.4) p < 0.001). Inequalities in the odds of receiving EVT were reduced for patients from CSC versus Local-SC catchment areas (P1: odds ratio (OR) 3.9 (95% CI, 3.2-5) vs. P3: OR 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3-1.7) In Local-SC, door-to-image (P1: 24 (interquartile range (IQR) 15-36), P2: 24 (15-35), P3: 21 (13-32) min, p < 0.001) and door-to-needle times (P1: 42 (31-60), P2: 41 (29-58), P3: 35 (25-50) p < 0.001) reduced. Time from Local-SC arrival to groin puncture also decreased over time (P1: 188 [151-229], P2: 190 (157-233), P3: 168 (127-215) min, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An increase in EVT rates in Local-SC regions with a significant decrease in workflow times occurred during the period of the RACECAT trial.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care workers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, yet studies in primary care workers are scarce. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of and associated factors for psychological distress in primary care workers during the first COVID-19 outbreak. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted in primary healthcare workers in Spain, between May and September 2020. METHOD: Healthcare workers were invited to complete a survey to evaluate sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, COVID-19 infection status, exposure to patients with COVID-19, and resilience (using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), in addition to being screened for common mental disorders (depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, and substance use disorder). Positive screening for any of these disorders was analysed globally using the term 'any current mental disorder'. RESULTS: A total of 2928 primary care professionals participated in the survey. Of them, 43.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 41.9 to 45.4) tested positive for a current mental disorder. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.61, 95% CI = 1.25 to 2.06), having previous mental disorders (OR 2.58, 95% CI = 2.15 to 3.10), greater occupational exposure to patients with COVID-19 (OR 2.63, 95% CI = 1.98 to 3.51), having children or dependents (OR 1.35, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.76 and OR 1.59, 95% CI = 1.20 to 2.11, respectively), or having an administrative job (OR 2.24, 95% CI = 1.66 to 3.03) were associated with a higher risk of any current mental disorder. Personal resilience was shown to be a protective factor. CONCLUSION: Almost half of primary care workers showed significant psychological distress. Strategies to support the mental health of primary care workers are necessary, including designing psychological support and resilience-building interventions based on risk factors identified.

[Under-diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases in patients of 80 years and older]. / Infradiagnóstico de enfermedades neuromusculares en ancianos de 80 y más años.

Myasthenia gravis (MG), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) have been classically considered as exceptional or unusual diseases in people with a geriatric profile. Over the past 25 years, several population-based studies have been conducted in the Osona area (Barcelona), which, for the first time, has led to describing the high global incidences in the elderly, especially those over 80 years-old. The results suggest the possibility of underdiagnosis of these neuromuscular diseases in the elderly, a fact that could be especially relevant in the case of MG and GBS, since they are 2potentially reversible entities with high mortality in the event of underdiagnosis and absence of treatment.

[IgG4- and MPO-ANCA-associated hypertrophic pachymeningitis]. / Paquimeningitis hipertrófica relacionada con IgG4 y MPO-ANCA.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a fibroinflammatory immune-mediated disease of the dura mater. Its diagnosis requires the preclusion of infectious, tumoral and other inflammatory diseases. In recent years new entities have been reported that can present with hypertrophic pachymeningitis, such as IgG4-associated disease and MPO-ANCA+ pachymeningitis, as a form of vasculitis limited to the central nervous system. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 64 years-old male with headaches and cervicalgia, predominantly at night, and clinical signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression. Following the diagnosis of craniocervical hypertrophic pachymeningitis provided by the magnetic resonance imaging study, an aetiological study was conducted. Infectious and tumoral diseases were precluded. The clinical features did not show any systemic involvement and high levels of IgG4 and MPO-ANCA+ were found in the results of the analyses. The clinical signs and symptoms quickly improved following treatment with corticoids. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-related disease and MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis limited to the central nervous system can account for a high percentage of the cases of hypertrophic pachymeningitis that were considered idiopathic, and their diagnosis requires a biopsy and a histological study.

TITLE: Paquimeningitis hipertrofica relacionada con IgG4 y MPO-ANCA.Introduccion. La paquimeningitis hipertrofica idiopatica es una enfermedad fibroinflamatoria de la duramadre. Su diagnostico requiere la exclusion de enfermedades infecciosas, tumorales y otras enfermedades inflamatorias. En los ultimos años se han descrito nuevas entidades que pueden presentarse con paquimeningitis hipertrofica: la enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 y la paquimeningitis MPO-ANCA+ como forma de vasculitis limitada al sistema nervioso central. Caso clinico. Varon de 64 años con cefalea y cervicalgia de predominio nocturno y clinica de compresion medular. Tras el diagnostico de paquimeningitis hipertrofica craneocervical facilitado por el estudio de resonancia magnetica, se realizo un estudio etiologico. Se descartaron enfermedades infecciosas y tumorales. La clinica no mostraba afectacion sistemica y en la analitica presentaba IgG4 elevada y MPO-ANCA+. Tras tratamiento con corticoides presento una rapida mejoria de la clinica. Conclusiones. La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 y la vasculitis asociada a MPO-ANCA limitada al sistema nervioso central pueden representar un alto porcentaje de las paquimeningitis hipertroficas que se consideraban idiopaticas, y su diagnostico requiere biopsia y estudio histologico.

[Influence of meteorological and chronological factors in epilepsy]. / Influencia en la epilepsia de factores meteorológicos y cronológicos.

INTRODUCTION: The professionals who deal with medical emergencies observe peaks in the incidence of epileptic seizures. Some epileptic patients attribute their seizures to climatic and seasonal changes. AIMS. To analyse the relationship between meteorological, calendar-related and circadian variables and the appearance of epileptic seizures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a residential home for persons with intellectual disability. RESULTS: The 16 residents who were studied presented 855 epileptic attacks, including 159 in peaks or clusters, over the period 2009-2012. The predominance of seizures observed in autumn and during the fourth quarter of the year is not significant (p > 0.05). There is no statistically significant relation between the presence of epileptic seizures and the phases of the moon or days of the week. Most epileptic seizures (87.2%) occur during the daytime (p < 0.001). Findings showed that 36.3% occur in the morning between 08:00 and 10:59. There is no statistical correlation between the number of epileptic seizures and the atmospheric pressure, rainfall, degree of humidity or mean temperature (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of peaks or clustering of epileptic seizures was observed. Their presence shows a marked circadian component. The influence of meteorological factors, the phases of the moon and seasons of the year on epilepsy is not significant.

TITLE: Influencia en la epilepsia de factores meteorologicos y cronologicos.Introduccion. Los profesionales que atienden urgencias medicas observan picos de incidencia de crisis epilepticas. Algunos pacientes epilepticos atribuyen sus crisis a cambios climaticos y estacionales. Objetivo. Analizar la relacion de variables meteorologicas, de calendario y circadianas con la aparicion de crisis epilepticas. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio retrospectivo en un centro residencial de personas con discapacidad intelectual. Resultados. Los 16 residentes estudiados presentan 855 crisis epilepticas, entre ellas 159 en picos o cumulos, a lo largo del periodo 2009-2012. El predominio de crisis encontrado en otoño y durante el cuarto trimestre del año no es significativo (p > 0,05). No hay relacion estadisticamente significativa entre la presencia de crisis epilepticas con las fases lunares y los dias de la semana. La mayoria de crisis epilepticas (87,2%) se presenta en horario diurno (p < 0,001). El 36,3% aparece entre las 8:00 y las 10:59 h. No hay correlacion estadistica entre el numero de crisis epilepticas respecto a la presion atmosferica, la precipitacion, el grado de humedad y la temperatura media (p > 0,05). Conclusiones. Se constata la aparicion de picos o cumulos de crisis epilepticas. La presencia de estas presenta un marcado componente circadiano. La influencia en la epilepsia de los factores meteorologicos estudiados, fases lunares y estaciones del año no es significativa.

[Paroxysmal dyskinesia secondary to non-ketotic hyperglycaemia with a diabetic onset]. / Discinesia paroxística secundaria a hiperglucemia no cetogénica de inicio diabético.

TITLE: Discinesia paroxistica secundaria a hiperglucemia no cetogenica de inicio diabetico.

Agentes químicos. Cadmio

Guía que tiene como objetivo establecer recomendaciones para efectuar la vigilancia de la salud de los trabajadores expuestos al cadmio y así poder detectar de forma rápida los trastornos de salud relacionados con esta exposición e identificar al personal especialmente sensible a los efectos de este contaminante químico.

Agentes químicos. Cromo y compuestos

Guía que tiene como objetivos establecer recomendaciones para efectuar la vigilancia de la salud de los trabajadores expuestos alcromo y sus compuestos y así poder detectar de forma rápida los trastornos de salud relacionados con esta exposición e identificar al personal especialmente sensible a los efectos de este contaminante químico.

Agentes químicos. Plomo inorgànico

Guía que tiene como objetivos establecer recomendaciones para efectuar la vigilancia de la salud de los trabajadores expuestos alplomo en su lugar de trabajo, detectar de forma rápida los trastornos de salud relacionados con esta exposición, identificar al personal especialmente sensible a los efectos de este contaminante químico y emitir consejos y recomendaciones preventivas para los trabajadores y las empresas.