Diabetes and previous stroke: hazards for intravenous thrombolysis?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Alteplase licensing approval in Europe does not advocate intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for diabetic ischaemic stroke (IS) patients with previous cerebral infarction (PCI). Our aim was to assess whether concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM) and PCI are associated with symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (SICH) and poor outcome after IVT. METHODS: Multicentre prospective registry, which included consecutive IVT-treated, acute IS patients from January 2003 to December 2010. The frequency of SICH (SITS-MOST criteria) and 3-month outcomes (mRS) were compared between the following groups: (i) diabetic patients with PCI (DM+/PCI+); (ii) diabetic patients without PCI (DM+/PCI-); (iii) non-diabetic patients with PCI (DM-/PCI+); and (iv) patients without diabetes or PCI (DM-/PCI-). RESULTS: A total of 1475 patients were included. Thirty-four patients (2.3%) had known DM and PCI, 258 (17.5%) were diabetics without PCI, and 119 (8.1%) had a PCI and no DM. Thirty-six patients (2.6%) developed SICH, with no differences between groups (P = 985). Fifteen (40.9%) DM+/PCI+ patients, 113 (46.5%) DM+/PCI- patients, 47 (42%) DM-/PCI+ patients and 414 (40.9%) DM-/PCI- patients had mRS ≥ 3 at 3 months (P = 427). The presence neither of DM nor of PCI, nor their combination, had any impact on the risk of SICH or on outcome at 3 months after adjusting for age, stroke severity and glucose levels on admission. CONCLUSIONS: Acute IS diabetic patients with PCI who were treated with IVT had similar outcomes to patients without such history, with no increase in the rates of SICH. Thus, they should not be excluded from IVT only on the basis of DM and PCI.

Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitaminK antagonists among outpatients attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology. The ALADIN study. / Factores asociados al mal control de la anticoagulación con antivitaminaK en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de Medicina Interna y Neurología. Estudio ALADIN.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitaminK antagonists (VKA) among outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in Neurology and Internal Medicine in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional and multicenter study, from the ALADIN database, of outpatients with NVAF treated with VKA and attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Spain. Rates of anticoagulation control were determined with the direct and Rosendaal methods, considering data from the 6months before the inclusion. RESULTS: Out of 1,337 patients included in the ALADIN study, 750 were taking VKA, and complete information about INR values in the last 6months was available in 383 patients. Mean scores of Charlson Index, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were 1.94±1.54; 3.10±1.26; 4.63±1.54, and 2.20±0.90, respectively. 46.2% and 47.0% of patients had an adequate anticoagulation control according to the direct and Rosendaal methods, respectively. Inadequate anticoagulation control according to the direct method was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.511; 95%CI: 1.144-5.659), prior labile INR (OR: 35.371; 95%CI: 15.058-83.083) and the determination of >6INR controls in the last 6months (OR: 4.747; 95%CI: 2.094-10.759), and according to the Rosendaal method, with prior labile INR (P<.001) and HAS-BLED score (OR: 3.991; 95%CI: 2.520-6.319). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high thromboembolic risk, only a little more than a half of patients were well controlled. Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control were diabetes, labile INR, >6INR controls and HAS-BLED.

Maximal biliary transport of sulfobromophthalein in patients with a T-tube placed in the common bile duct.

In 19 adult patients with choledocholithiasis who were operated on, excretion of free and conjugated sulfobromophthalein (BSP) in the bile collected through a T-tube inserted in the common bile duct was determined. The transport maximum (Tm) for BSP was calculated by the constant-infusion technique after an intravenous infusion of the dye at a rate of 0.3 and 0.09 mg/kg/min for the first and second hour, respectively. Free and conjugated BSP were measured in blood samples obtained at 30, 40, and 50 min of each hourly-infusion period, and in bile collected during the first 30 min (sample A) and between 30-50 min (sample B) after starting the first BSP infusion, and during the first 30 min (sample C) and between 30-50 min (sample D) after starting the second infusion. No correlations between Tm of BSP and glutathione transferase activity and between Tm and bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in serum were found. Although there was an overall correlation between Tm of BSP and biliary excretion of BSP after 30 min of starting the BSP infusion (samples B, C and D) (r = 0.4716; P = 0.41), Tm values were always lower than recoveries of free BSP in bile. It seems that Tm of BSP (measured with the Wheeler's method) overestimates the actual values of biliary excretion of free BSP, and that the percentage of conjugated BSP in serum is related to the degree of impairment of biliary transport of BSP.

[Barrett esophagus as precancerous lesion]. / El esófago de Barrett como lesión precancerosa.

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus is still little known. Our objective has been to study the incidence of this lesion in our environment as well as the frequency of malignant degeneration in our endoscopic material. Among 12,450 upper digestive endoscopies done in the past 7 years, 945 instances of peptic esophagitis have been diagnosed (7.59%). Among them, 172 cases of endobrachiesophagus (Barrett's esophagus) were detected (1.38% of the entire endoscopy series and 18.2% of all cases of esophagitis). Twenty two of th 172 patients with Barrett's esophagus were diagnosed as having carcinoma (12.79%). Barrett's esophagus is a frequent complication of peptic esophagitis and as the possibilities of malignant changes are as high as 12.79 it should be considered as a precancerous lesion and monitored as such.

[Recurrence factors in benign gastric ulcer]. / Factores de recidiva de la úlcera gástrica benigna.

Among 7015 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies done during five consecutive years (1984-1988) 642 patients were diagnosed as having benign gastric ulcer. Of this group, 213 patients have been followed-up during an adequate period of time. A recurrence was diagnosed endoscopically in 43 (20.18%). The authors analyze the influence on recurrences of general factors (age, sex, alcohol, tobacco and drugs), family history and local factors (site and size of the ulcer, histological lesions, concomitant duodenal ulcer or single or multiple ulcers). The conclusions are that in females and in males over 60 years of age, NSAIDS are the factors which greatly influence recurrences, while in males under 60 years of age, excessive smoking and alcohol. Chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia are common in recurrent ulcers. Multiple ulcers as well as those associated with duodenal ulcers have a greater tendency to recur. Recurring ulcers are more common at the incisura angularis. Recurrences are usually located at the site of a previous ulcer.

Barrett's esophagus, markers to distinguish risk groups.

BACKGROUND: As compared to the general population, patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) present a 30 to 40 times higher risk of developing cancer. Their prognosis is poor and it will only be changed trying to recognize and detect preneoplastic changes early in order to provide these patients with an effective surgical therapy. Although epithelial dysplasia is still the "gold standard" as a marker of increased risk for malignancy, in view of the inter and intraobserver differences for interpreting it, both as regards its existence and grade, we have investigated other markers which can show this increased cancer risk. OBJECTIVE: Our aim has been to analyze which parameters, in addition to dysplasia, can distinguish groups with a higher or lower risk of progression to malignancy for a differentiated follow-up, so that the cost-benefit ratio is adequate and a sufficiently early diagnosis can be achieved which allows for a healing surgical therapy in most patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients have been studied, 9 with BE without dysplasia (control group), 9 with Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia, and 9 adenocarcinomas over BE, in all of which the presence of p53, c-erb-2, PCNA and CEA was established by histochemistry and the existence of aneuploidy by static cytometry. RESULTS: PCNA was positive in the three groups, though it was not at the surface epithelium in 55.5% of the control cases. C-erb-2 was negative in all control cases and positive in 5 cases with dysplasia, and 2 with adenocarcinoma. Protein p53 was positive in one control case, in 2 with dysplasia, and 4 with adenocarcinoma. CEA was positive in 7 control cases and in all cases with dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Finally, aneuploidy was found by static cytometry in 5 of 9 control cases, in 4 of 9 with dysplasia, and in all adenocarcinomas. From the analysis of the results obtained, it can be concluded that a positive marker, even in the absence of dysplasia, suggests the presence of a "genomic instability" which may lead to progression to malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: This study allows us to establish three risk groups (high, low and intermediate) for a differentiated follow-up which allows an early diagnosis, with an adequate cost-benefit ratio.

[Hepatic activity of glutathione transferase and bromsulphalein metabolism]. / Actividad hepática de la glutatión transferasa y metabolismo de la bromosulfotaleína.

The gluthatione transferase activity has been studied in liver biopsies from patients suffering with different hepatic lesion and related to the bromsulphalein (BSP) maximal transport (MT) and the conjugated dye present in serum. Results prove that the MT of BSP is independent of the enzyme activity, but is correlated to the conjugated BSP present in serum during the first perfusion. The enzyme activity, the MT of BSP and BSP conjugated rare in serum are not related to the liver lesion stage. From the analysis of our results we conclude that in the beginning the BSP conjugated proportion is determined by the enzyme activity which is not a restrictive factor of the BSP maximal transport.

Antioxidant capacity, quality, and anthocyanin and nutrient contents of several peach cultivars [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] grown in Spain.

Antioxidant capacity, quality, and anthocyanin and nutrient contents of 106 peach cultivars from different breeding programs were evaluated at the Estació Experimental de Lleida, IRTA (Catalonia, Spain), during two growing seasons (2010 and 2011). High variability was found among cultivars within each quality trait, where different cultivars were scored as the best and the worst. For example, a 5-fold range (2.17-12.07 g of malic acid L⁻¹), 6-fold range (144.20-711.73 µg of Trolox g⁻¹ of FW), and 11-fold range (0.70-11.43 mg of cyanidin-3-glucoside kg⁻¹ of FW) were observed in titratable acidity, relative antioxidant capacity, and anthocyanin content, respectively. The breeding program within each fruit type (melting peach, nectarine, and flat peach) and qualitative pomological traits also had significant effects on the quality. Nevertheless, each breeding program had specific characteristics that distinguished it from the others. Even so, within each breeding program, there is high variability among cultivars. Therefore, growers should not base their strategy exclusively on the choice of breeding program. Principal component analysis for each fruit type (melting peach, nectarine, nonmelting peach, and flat peach) allowed a selection of a set of cultivars from different breeding programs with the highest quality performance. For example, cultivars such as 'Azurite', 'IFF 1230', 'Amiga', 'Fire Top', 'African Bonnigold', 'Ferlot', 'Mesembrine', and 'Platifirst' had higher sweetness and flavor compared to the others. Therefore, this study could help breeders to make decisions for the selection of new cultivars able to improve the quality features of fruit intake, technicians to know better quality performance of peach cultivars, and consumers to meet their expectations for fruit with high health benefits and a specific taste.

[Neurovascular intervention in the acute phase of cerebral infarction]. / Intervencionismo neurovascular en la fase aguda del infarto cerebral.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapies in acute ischaemic stroke may offer benefits to patients that are not eligible for standard use of intravenous tissue activator plasminogen (iv t-PA) or when this is not effective. Our aim is to present the initial experience in with endovascular techniques in the Community of Madrid. METHODS: We present data from our registry of acute ischaemic strokes treated with endovascular re-perfusion therapies in five University Hospitals in Madrid (Spain) during the period 2005-2009. We recorded demographic data, vascular risk factors, risk severity with the NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), endovascular techniques, complications and mortality rates. Functional outcome and neurological disability at 90 days was defined by the modified Rankin scale (mRs). RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were treated with endovascular therapies. Mean age was 58.6 ± 19.9, and 56.1% were males. Of those 22 patients had an anterior circulation stroke and 19 had a posterior circulation stroke. Baseline NIHSS score was: median, 17 [range, 2-34]; 7 patients had previously received iv t-PA. The following endovascular techniques were performed: mechanical disruption (26 patients), intra-arterial infusion of t-PA (26 patients), angioplasty and stenting (5 patients), mechanical use of MERCI device (3 patients). Partial or total re-canalization was achieved in 32 patients (78%). Only one patient had a symptomatic cerebral haemorrhage. Three months after stroke, 53.6% of the patients were independent (mRs ≤ 2) and overall mortality rate was 19.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Acute ischaemic stroke is a potentially treatable medical emergency within the first hours after the onset of symptoms. Stroke endovascular procedures constitute an alternative for patients with iv t-PA exclusion criteria or when this is not effective.

Factores asociados al mal control de la anticoagulación con antivitaminaK en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular atendidos en consultas de Medicina Interna y Neurología. Estudio ALADIN / Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitaminK antagonists among outpatients attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology. The ALADIN study

Objetivo: Identificar los factores asociados con el mal control de la anticoagulación con antagonistas de la vitaminaK (AVK) en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular (FANV) atendidos en consultas de Neurología y Medicina Interna de España. Métodos: Estudio transversal, multicéntrico, anidado en el estudio ALADIN, de sujetos con FANV, tratados con AVK, atendidos en consultas de Medicina Interna o Neurología de España. El grado de control de la anticoagulación se estudió mediante el método directo y el de Rosendaal, considerando los 6meses previos a la inclusión. Resultados: De los 1.337 pacientes incluidos en ALADIN, 750 estaban tratados con AVK, con información completa sobre el INR de los últimos 6meses en 383 pacientes. Las puntuaciones medias del índice de Charlson, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc y HAS-BLED fueron 1,94±1,54; 3,10±1,26; 4,63±1,54 y 2,20±0,90, respectivamente. El 46,2% y el 47,0% de los pacientes presentaban un control adecuado de la anticoagulación por los métodos directo y Rosendaal, respectivamente. El control inadecuado de la anticoagulación se asoció por el método directo con diabetes (OR: 2,511; IC95%: 1,144-5,659), antecedentes de INR inestable (OR: 35,371; IC95%: 15,058-83,083) y la realización de >6 controles en los últimos 6meses (OR: 4,747; IC95%: 2,094-10,759), y por el método de Rosendaal, con los antecedentes de INR inestable (p<0,001) y con HAS-BLED (OR: 3,991; IC95%: 2,520-6,319). Conclusiones: Pese al alto riesgo tromboembólico, sólo estaban bien controlados algo más de la mitad. Los factores asociados al mal control de la anticoagulación fueron la diabetes, INR inestable, >6 controles de INR y el HAS-BLED

Objective: To identify factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitaminK antagonists (VKA) among outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in Neurology and Internal Medicine in Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional and multicenter study, from the ALADIN database, of outpatients with NVAF treated with VKA and attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Spain. Rates of anticoagulation control were determined with the direct and Rosendaal methods, considering data from the 6months before the inclusion. Results: Out of 1,337 patients included in the ALADIN study, 750 were taking VKA, and complete information about INR values in the last 6months was available in 383 patients. Mean scores of Charlson Index, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were 1.94±1.54; 3.10±1.26; 4.63±1.54, and 2.20±0.90, respectively. 46.2% and 47.0% of patients had an adequate anticoagulation control according to the direct and Rosendaal methods, respectively. Inadequate anticoagulation control according to the direct method was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.511; 95%CI: 1.144-5.659), prior labile INR (OR: 35.371; 95%CI: 15.058-83.083) and the determination of >6INR controls in the last 6months (OR: 4.747; 95%CI: 2.094-10.759), and according to the Rosendaal method, with prior labile INR (P<.001) and HAS-BLED score (OR: 3.991; 95%CI: 2.520-6.319). Conclusions: Despite the high thromboembolic risk, only a little more than a half of patients were well controlled. Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control were diabetes, labile INR, >6INR controls and HAS-BLED

[Complications of endoscopic sclerosis of esophageal varices]. / Complicaciones de la esclerosis endoscópica de las varices esofágicas.

In recent years endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices has proliferated enormously, but the technique is not free of complications, which can be divided into three large areas, depending on the moment when they appear: complications due to technical errors, early complications and late complications. The authors analyze the complications in 105 patients who had a total of 385 sclerosis sessions. After describing the results and discussing them, it is concluded that the use of adequate material and sufficient technical experience are the best guarantee against the first type of complications, that hemorrhage is the most common early complication and that esophageal stenosis is the most frequent late complication. Finally, the existence of postsclerotherapy pseudo-polyps, which are asymptomatic, can pose a differential diagnosis with benign or malignant tumors of the distal third of the esophagus.

Growth rate, muscle protein composition, intestinal absorption of D-galactose and L-leucine and nitrogen balance in rats fed the raw legume Chamaecytisus proliferus L.

Growth rate, nitrogen balance, skeletal muscle nitrogen fractions and in vivo intestinal absorption of D-galactose (2 mM) and L-leucine (20 mM) have been measured in male growing rats (90-100 g initial body weight) fed 12% protein diets containing either casein (control) or the raw leafy legume Chamaecytisus proliferus L. (Western Canary Islands). As compared to control casein-fed rats, those fed the raw legume diet exhibited a significant reduction (P less than 0.01) in the rate of growth, nitrogen balance parameters, sarcoplasmic nitrogenous fraction of skeletal musculature and in vivo intestinal absorption of galactose and leucine; however, the non-protein nitrogenous fraction has been found significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than that of control animals, whereas the myofibrillar nitrogenous fraction remained unchanged. The possible nature of these findings is discussed.

Intervencionismo neurovascular en la fase aguda del infarto cerebral / Endovascular treatment for acute stroke: an open field to begin

Introducción: La evidencia de que la recanalización y la reperfusión del lecho vascular distal de pacientes adecuadamente seleccionados son fundamentales para lograr un buen pronóstico funcional ha disparado el interés y la investigación sobre el tratamiento endovascular del ictus isquémico agudo. Desarrollo: La fibrinólisis intravenosa (i.v.) es el tratamiento de elección en pacientes con ictus isquémico agudo, aunque presenta ciertas limitaciones. El tratamiento endovascular supone una alternativa prometedora con ventajas teóricas sobre el tratamiento i.v., como una mayor frecuencia de recanalización y mayor ventana terapéutica. Las estrategias de reperfusión endovascular incluyen fibrinólisis intraarterial con fármacos o tratamiento mecánico con dispositivos que permiten extracción, aspiración, disrupción o atrapamiento del trombo en la pared. El ideal del tratamiento integral del ictus agudo sería aportar especificidad al paciente individual: tratar una oclusión arterial con unas colaterales y con una fisiología de la isquemia cerebral aguda determinadas. Con todos estos datos, ante cualquier paciente podremos decidir la mejor estrategia terapéutica y pasar de un enfoque del paciente basado únicamente en el tiempo a un enfoque basado también en la fisiopatología; por lo tanto, distintos pacientes tendrían diferentes ventanas terapéuticas. La situación del tratamiento endovascular en España es heterogénea y precisa de recursos materiales y humanos para conseguir su implantación en todo el territorio. Conclusiones: El tratamiento endovascular del ictus supone una nueva herramienta terapéutica para lograr la reperfusión de una forma segura en los pacientes no candidatos a alteplasa o que no han conseguido reperfundir con el fibrinolítico i.v (AU)

Introduction: The evidence that recanalization and reperfusion of the distal vascular bed in appropriately selected patients is crucial to achieve good functional outcome has triggered interest and research into endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke.Development: Intravenous (iv) thrombolytic therapy is the treatment of choice in patients with acute ischemic stroke, however, it has certain limitations. Endovascular treatment is a promising alternative with theoretical advantages over iv therapy, such as an increased frequency of recanalization and longer therapeutic windows. Endovascular reperfusion strategies include intra-arterial fibrinolysis with drugs, or endovascular mechanical devices for thrombectomy or thrombus disruption, thromboaspiration, or thrombus entrapment in the vessel wall. The ideal of comprehensive treatment of acute stroke would provide specificity to treat an individual patient: with specific arterial occlusion and collaterals and a determined physiology of acute cerebral ischemia. With all this information, we would decide the best therapeutic strategy for the patient, and move from just a time-based approach to include a pathophysiology approach as well, and thus different patients could have different therapeutic windows. The endovascular treatment situation in Spain is heterogeneous and requires human and material resources to enable it to be implemented throughout the country. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of stroke is a new therapeutic tool for achieving reperfusion safely in patients ineligible for Alteplase or who have failed reperfusion with an iv fibrinolytic (AU)