Hydroxytyrosol, a Promising Supplement in the Management of Human Stroke: An Exploratory Study.

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a bioactive olive oil phenol with beneficial effects in a number of pathological situations. We have previously demonstrated that an HT-enriched diet could serve as a beneficial therapeutic approach to attenuate ischemic-stroke-associated damage in mice. Our exploratory pilot study examined this effect in humans. Particularly, a nutritional supplement containing 15 mg of HT/day was administered to patients 24 h after the onset of stroke, for 45 days. Biochemical and oxidative-stress-related parameters, blood pressure levels, serum proteome, and neurological and functional outcomes were evaluated at 45 and 90 days and compared to a control group. The main findings were that the daily administration of HT after stroke could: (i) favor the decrease in the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and diastolic blood pressure, (ii) control the increase in nitric oxide and exert a plausible protective effect in oxidative stress, (iii) modulate the evolution of the serum proteome and, particularly, the expression of apolipoproteins, and (iv) be beneficial for certain neurological and functional outcomes. Although a larger trial is necessary, this study suggests that HT could be a beneficial nutritional complement in the management of human stroke.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and SARS-CoV-2 variants: a two-year ambispective multicentric cohort study in Catalonia, Spain.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe disease temporarily related to SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of all MIS-C cases diagnosed in children < 18 years old in Catalonia (Spain) to study their trend throughout the pandemic. This was a multicenter ambispective observational cohort study (April 2020-April 2022). Data were obtained from the COVID-19 Catalan surveillance system and from all hospitals in Catalonia. We analyzed MIS-C cases regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants for demographics, symptoms, severity, monthly MIS-C incidence, ratio between MIS-C and accumulated COVID-19 cases, and associated rate ratios (RR). Among 555,848 SARS-CoV-2 infections, 152 children were diagnosed with MIS-C. The monthly MIS-C incidence was 4.1 (95% CI: 3.4-4.8) per 1,000,000 people, and 273 (95% CI: 230-316) per 1,000,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections (i.e., one case per 3,700 SARS-CoV-2 infections). During the Omicron period, the MIS-C RR was 8.2 (95% CI: 5.7-11.7) per 1,000,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections, which was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that for previous variant periods in all age groups. The median [IQR] age of MIS-C was 8 [4-11] years, 62.5% male, and 80.2% without comorbidities. Common symptoms were gastrointestinal findings (88.2%) and fever > 39 °C (81.6%); nearly 40% had an abnormal echocardiography, and 7% had coronary aneurysm. Clinical manifestations and laboratory data were not different throughout the variant periods (p > 0.05).  Conclusion: The RR between MIS-C cases and SARS-CoV-2 infections was significantly lower in the Omicron period for all age groups, including those not vaccinated, suggesting that the variant could be the main factor for this shift in the MISC trend. Regardless of variant type, the patients had similar phenotypes and severity throughout the pandemic. What is Known: • Before our study, only two publications investigated the incidence of MIS-C regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants in Europe, one from Southeast England and another from Denmark. What is New: • To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating MIS-C incidence in Southern Europe, with the ability to recruit all MIS-C cases in a determined area and analyze the rate ratio for MIS-C among SARS-CoV-2 infections throughout variant periods. • We found a lower rate ratio of MISC/infections with SARS-CoV-2 in the Omicron period for all age groups, including those not eligible for vaccination, suggesting that the variant could be the main factor for this shift in the MISC trend.

Normalization of widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity after total hip replacement in patients with hip osteoarthritis is associated with clinical and functional improvements.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relevance of ongoing nociceptive joint inputs to the maintenance of widespread pain hypersensitivity in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine whether a reversal in the widespread pressure hypersensitivity together with an improvement in pain and function occurs after total hip replacement in these patients. METHODS: Forty patients with hip OA participated. Twenty patients underwent total hip replacement, and the other 20 patients were assigned to a waiting list. Pressure-pain thresholds (PPTs) over the second metacarpal bone and the gluteus medius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior muscles were assessed bilaterally with a pressure algometer before and 3 months after total hip replacement surgery. Assessments of pain intensity (by visual analog scale [VAS]), physical function (by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), and health status (by the Short Form 12 health survey and the EuroQol 5-domain index) were also performed. RESULTS: Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty exhibited a reduction in widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia (increases in PPTs) over local and distant pain-free areas, as compared with before surgery and as compared with the patients assigned to the waiting list. PPTs were related to hip pain intensity, and significant correlations were found between higher VAS scores and lower average PPTs over all points assessed (-0.409 < r < -0.306, P < 0.05). Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty exhibited a greater decrease in pain intensity and greater increases in function and health status than did those who were on the waiting list. Changes in the intensity of hip pain were moderately associated with changes in pressure pain sensitivity in the hip arthroplasty group. CONCLUSION: Normalization of widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia was found after successful hip joint replacement in patients with hip OA. Altered pain processing seems to be driven by ongoing peripheral joint pathology, which stresses the importance of reducing pain in OA.

Body mass index as predictor of health-related quality-of-life changes after total hip arthroplasty: a cross-over study.

The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of patient weight and other preoperative variables to improvements in the general physical health of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Data were prospectively collected on 63 THA patients (28 males and 35 females). The primary outcome measure was the improvement in general health (Short Form-12 Health Survey questionnaire) at three months post-THA. Patients with body mass index >28kg/m(2) showed greater improvements in function and in the physical component of general health after THA. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that the BMI and WOMAC general index were independent and significant predictors of physical function and together explained 34.2% of the variance in physical function scores. These findings suggest that the body mass index before surgery and improvements in hip function are relevant contributors to post-THA improvements in general health.

First documented outbreak of arthritis caused by Kingella kingae in a Spanish childcare center.

BACKGROUND: Recently, Kingella kingae (K. kingae) has been described as the most common agent of skeletal system infections in children 6 months-2 years of age. More exceptional is the clinical presentation in clusters of invasive K. kingae infections. We describe the investigation of the first outbreak of 3 cases of arthritis caused by K. kingae documented in Spain detected in a daycare center in Roses, Girona. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In December of 2015 surveillance throat swabs obtained from all attendees from the same class of the index daycare center were assessed to study the prevalence of K. kingae colonization. The sample was composed of 9 toddlers (range: 16-23 months of age). Investigation was performed by culture and K. kingae-specific RT-PCR. Combined amoxicillin-rifampicin prophylaxis was offered to all attendees who were colonized by K. kingae. Following antimicrobial prophylaxis, a new throat swab was taken to confirm bacterial eradication. RESULTS: K. kingae was detected by RT-PCR throat swabs in the 3 index cases and 5 of the 6 daycare attendees. Cultures were negative in all cases. After administration of prophylactic antibiotics, 3 toddlers were still positive for K. kingae-specific RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Clusters of invasive K. kingae infections can occur in daycare facilities and closed communities. Increased awareness and use of sensitive detection methods are needed to identify and adequately investigate outbreaks of K. kingae disease. In our experience, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics could result in partial eradication of colonization. No further cases of disease were detected after prophylaxis.

First documented outbreak of arthritis caused by Kingella kingae in a Spanish childcare center. / Primer brote documentado de artritis séptica por Kingella kingae en una guardería de España.

BACKGROUND: Recently, Kingella kingae (K. kingae) has been described as the most common agent of skeletal system infections in children 6 months-2 years of age. More exceptional is the clinical presentation in clusters of invasive K. kingae infections. We describe the investigation of the first outbreak of 3cases of arthritis caused by K. kingae documented in Spain detected in a daycare center in Roses, Girona. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In December of 2015 surveillance throat swabs obtained from all attendees from the same class of the index daycare center were assessed to study the prevalence of K. kingae colonization. The sample was composed of 9 toddlers (range: 16-23 months of age). Investigation was performed by culture and K. kingae-specific RT-PCR. Combined amoxicillin-rifampicin prophylaxis was offered to all attendees who were colonized by K. kingae. Following antimicrobial prophylaxis, a new throat swab was taken to confirm bacterial eradication. RESULTS: K. kingae was detected by RT-PCR throat swabs in the 3index cases and 5of the 6daycare attendees. Cultures were negative in all cases. After administration of prophylactic antibiotics, 3toddlers were still positive for K. kingae-specific RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Clusters of invasive K. kingae infections can occur in daycare facilities and closed communities. Increased awareness and use of sensitive detection methods are needed to identify and adequately investigate outbreaks of K. kingae disease. In our experience, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics could result in partial eradication of colonization. No further cases of disease were detected after prophylaxis.

[Aicardi syndrome: a report of four Venezuelan patients]. / Síndrome de Aicardi. Descripción de cuatro casos venezolanos.

Aicardi syndrome is characterized by agenesis of the corpus callosum, infantile spasms and chorioretinal lacunae. The evolution of this disorder is variable, with a severe outcome over the first five years of age. The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the spectrum of the clinical phenotype and the course of this disorder in four Venezuelan patients. All patients met the major criteria, had severe psychomotor impairment and early onset seizures. There were microphtalmia in two of the patients. Three patients (75%) showed coloboma, interhemispheric cyst and periventricular heterotopias. The first patient, with longer follow-up, is currently aged 22. They all exhibited a typical asymmetric pattern on the electroencephalogram. These cases illustrate the variable clinical expression and severity of the Aicardi syndrome. A diagnosis of this disorder should be considered in girls with developmental delay, particularly, when there are accompanying recurrent seizures occurring in early childhood.

Síndrome de Aicardi: descripción de cuatro casos venezolanos / Aicardi syndrome: a report of four venezuelan patients

El síndrome de Aicardi (SA) se caracteriza por agenesia del cuerpo calloso, espasmos infantiles y lesiones lacunares coriorretinianas. Su espectro evolutivo es variable, con pronóstico habitualmente muy grave en los primeros cinco años de vida. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir el espectro del fenotipo clínico y evolución de este trastorno en cuatro pacientes venezolanos. Todas las pacientes evaluadas cumplieron los criterios diagnósticos mayores, mostraron retraso psicomotor grave y convulsiones de inicio muy temprano. En dos pacientes se observó microftalmía. En tres (75 por ciento) de ellas se observó coloboma del nervio óptico, quistes interhemisféricos y heterotopías periventriculares. La primera paciente, con mayor tiempo de evolución, tiene actualmente 22 años. Todos los casos exhibieron un patrón asimétrico de hipsarritmia alternante en el electroencefalograma. Estos casos ilustran la expresión clínica y gravedad variables del síndrome de Aicardi. Su diagnóstico debe considerarse en niñas con retardo del desarrollo psicomotor y crisis convulsivas recurrentes iniciadas en la infancia temprana.

Aicardi syndrome is characterized by agenesis of the corpus callosum, infantile spasms and chorioretinal lacunae. The evolution of this disorder is variable, with a severe outcome over the first five years of age. The purpose of this report was to demonstrate the spectrum of the clinical phenotype and the course of this disorder in four Venezuelan patients. All patients met the major criteria, had severe psychomotor impairment and early onset seizures. There were microphtalmia in two of the patients. Three patients (75 percent) showed coloboma, interhemispheric cyst and periventricular heterotopias. The first patient, with longer follow-up, is currently aged 22. They all exhibited a typical asymmetric pattern on the electroencephalogram. These cases illustrate the variable clinical expression and severity of the Aicardi syndrome. A diagnosis of this disorder should be considered in girls with developmental delay, particularly, when there are accompanying recurrent seizures occurring in early childhood.