Factors associated with the decision of the rheumatologist to order sacroiliac joints magnetic resonance imaging (SI-MRI) or HLA-B27 testing in the diagnostic work-up of patients with spondyloarthritis in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patients' characteristics associated with the clinical decision to request SI-MRI and/or HLA-B27 in patients with SpA in daily practice. METHODS: Patients referred to a rheumatology outpatient-clinic in a national referral-centre were selected. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of SpA according to the rheumatologist were included. SI-MRI and HLA-B27 was available for patients in whom the rheumatologists had ordered these tests. Characteristics associated with ordering SI-MRI or HLA-B27 were identified with univariable analyses. Variables with p-value <0.05 and >80% completeness were selected for further analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the determinants related with the decision to perform SI-MRI and/or HLA-B27 and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 581 patients with SpA were included in the cohort, 72% were men, mean age 34.6±12.1 and disease duration 7.3±9.7 years. Of these patients, 24% (n=137) had SI-MRI and 77% (n=441) had HLA-B27 tests ordered. Independently predictive factors for ordering a SI-MRI were the presence of IBP (OR=1.81), enthesitis (OR=1.57) and the number of initial-symptoms at presentation (OR=1.27 per additional symptom present). Independently predictive factors of HLA-B27 testing were the number of initial-symptoms (OR=1.45 per symptom) and uveitis (OR=3.19). CONCLUSIONS: This study strongly suggests that rheumatologists use certain clinical clues to decide if they order expensive and scarce tests in the diagnostic work-up of SpA patients. These manifestations may increase the efficiency of these tests in clinical practice and suggest that clinical reasoning follows principles of Bayesian theory.

Current profile controlled transdermal delivery of pramipexole from an iontophoretic patch system in vitro and in vivo.

The objective was to evaluate the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of pramipexole using constant and complex multi-phasic current profiles from an iontophoretic patch system in vitro and in vivo. Preliminary in vitro experiments were performed to optimize iontophoretic patch design and configuration. "Single" compartment systems containing only pramipexole dihydrochloride, and designed to maximize delivery efficiency, suffered from an insufficiency of chloride ions with anodal electrochemistry passing from an Ag/AgCl couple to an Ag dissolution electrode. Addition of NaCl to provide more chloride ions decreased pramipexole delivery efficiency due to competition between pramipexole and sodium cations. A "two-compartment" iontophoretic patch where the drug reservoir was separated from the anodal compartment, which now included NaCl, was shown to be a good compromise since it ensured Ag/AgCl electrochemistry at the anode and an acceptable delivery efficiency. In vivo studies using this iontophoretic patch demonstrated that the plasma concentration of pramipexole closely followed the variation of the applied continuous and multi-phasic current profiles and underlined the control provided by iontophoresis and its unique ability to rapidly change drug input rates. The applied current density and duration of current application were also shown to modulate pramipexole delivery to the brain and CSF.

Effect of continuous and multi-phasic current profiles on the iontophoretic transport of pramipexole, rasagiline and huperzine A: Depicting temporal variation and biodistribution in the skin.

Transdermal iontophoresis is an interesting option for the non-invasive controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The current profile controls drug delivery kinetics and enables complex drug input profiles to be obtained. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal variation in transport of pramipexole (PRA), rasagiline (RAS) and huperzine A (HUP) using continuous and multi-phasic current profiles by measuring cumulative permeation, transdermal flux and drug retention in the skin upon modulation of the applied current profile during a single experiment in vitro. Initial experiments with continuous current were conducted to establish a correlation between total delivery of PRA, RAS and HUP (i.e. sum of the cumulative permeation and skin deposition) and the amount of charge transferred. Subsequent experiments with multi-phasic current profiles, confirmed that the relationship between amounts of charge transferred and total delivery was able to predict the total delivery of each drug. Experimental values were within ± 15% of the predicted values. Current density and duration of current application were also shown to have a significant impact on the skin biodistribution of PRA. These results also provide insight into the rate of formation of iontophoretic drug reservoirs in the skin.

Risk factors for three-vessel coronary artery disease in patients of Northwest Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Three-vessel coronary artery disease is an advanced manifestation of atherosclerosis, with high prevalence in Mexico. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe coronary risk factors in a group of patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease in Northwest Mexico. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on a population with three-vessel coronary artery disease from May 2015 to February 2016. The disease was defined when ≥70% stenosis was present in each major epicardial coronary artery. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in each patient. Ankle-Brachial Index was measured with vascular ultrasound, and Syntax score calculation with an on-line application. Statistical analysis for qualitative differences was performed using Pearson X2 test, with p<0.05 being considered as significant. RESULTS: The study included 100 patients, of whom 75 were male (mean age 63±9 years) and 25 female (mean age 69±9 years). The coronary risk factors observed were diabetes (58%), hypertension (86%), smoking (68%), dyslipidaemia (100%), metabolic syndrome (71%), and obesity/overweight (75%). Diabetes and metabolic syndrome prevalence was higher in women (p=0.03), but smoking was higher in men (76%, p=0.003). Ankle-Brachial Index was abnormal in 58% of patients, the mean Syntax score was in 36.9±11.5, and the prevalence of left main coronary heart disease was 36%. CONCLUSIONS: This group of patients with complex coronary lesions has a high prevalence of coronary risk factors, which could represent a worse prognosis.

Risk factors for three-vessel coronary artery disease in patients of Northwest Mexico / Factores de riesgo para la enfermedad arterial coronaria de tres vasos en pacientes del noroeste de México

Abstract Introduction: Three-vessel coronary artery disease is an advanced manifestation of atherosclerosis, with high prevalence in Mexico. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe coronary risk factors in a group of patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease in Northwest Mexico. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a population with three-vessel coronary artery disease from May 2015 to February 2016. The disease was defined when ≥70% stenosis was present in each major epicardial coronary artery. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in each patient. Ankle-Brachial Index was measured with vascular ultrasound, and Syntax score calculation with an on-line application. Statistical analysis for qualitative differences was performed using Pearson X2 test, with p < 0.05 being considered as significant. Results: The study included 100 patients, of whom 75 were male (mean age 63 ± 9 years) and 25 female (mean age 69 ± 9 years). The coronary risk factors observed were diabetes (58%), hypertension (86%), smoking (68%), dyslipidaemia (100%), metabolic syndrome (71%), and obesity/overweight (75%). Diabetes and metabolic syndrome prevalence was higher in women (p = 0.03), but smoking was higher in men (76%, p = 0.003). Ankle-Brachial Index was abnormal in 58% of patients, the mean Syntax score was in 36.9 ± 11.5, and the prevalence of left main coronary heart disease was 36%. Conclusions: This group of patients with complex coronary lesions has a high prevalence of coronary risk factors, which could represent a worse prognosis.

Resumen Introducción: La enfermedad coronaria de tres vasos (ECTV) es una manifestación avanzada de aterosclerosis, con alta prevalencia en el noroeste de México. Objetivo: Describir los factores de riesgo coronario (FRC) en un grupo de enfermos con ECTV en el noroeste de México. Métodos: De mayo de 2015 a febrero de 2016 se realizó un estudio transversal en una población del noroeste de México diagnosticada con ECTV. Se definió ECTV cuando existía estenosis ≥70% en cada una de las arterias coronarias epicárdicas mayores. Se midieron parámetros antropométricos y bioquímicos en cada paciente. Los parámetros para el índice tobillo-brazo (ITB) se obtuvieron con ultrasonido vascular (Edan SonoTrax 8 Hz) y un cálculo de puntaje Syntax con una aplicación en línea. Análisis estadístico con 32 de Pearson para diferencias cualitativas Se consideró significativo cuando p ≤ 0.05. Resultados: Se estudiaron 25 mujeres (edad 69 ± 9 años) y 75 varones (edad 63 ± 9 años). Los FRC observados fueron diabetes (58%), hipertensión (86%), antecedente de tabaquismo (68%), dislipidemia (100%), síndrome metabólico (71%) y sobrepeso/obesidad (75%). En las mujeres la prevalencia de diabetes y síndrome metabólico fue mayor que en los varones (p = 0.03), pero el tabaquismo fue más prevalente en los varones (76%, p = 0.003). El ITB se encontró anormal en el 58% de los pacientes, el puntaje Syntax promedio fue de 36.9 ± 11.5 y la prevalencia de la enfermedad del tronco de la arteria coronaria izquierda fue del 36%. Conclusión: En este grupo de estudio con lesiones coronarias complejas existe alta prevalencia de FRC que se refleja en y posiblemente un peor pronóstico.