Chronic disease incidence explained by stepwise models and co-occurrence among them.

Multimorbidity (MM) is the co-occurrence of two or more chronic diseases. We provided a dynamic approach revealing the MM complexity constructing a multistep incidence-age model for all patients with MM between 2014 and 2021 in the Basque Health System, Spain. The multistep model, with eight steps for males and nine for females, is a very well-fitting representation of MM. To gain insight into the MM components, we modeled the 19 diseases used to calculate the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). We observed that the CCI diseases formed a complex interaction network. Hierarchical clustering of the incidence-age profiles clustered the CCI diseases into low- and high-risk of dying pathologies. Diseases with a higher number of steps are better represented by a multistep model. Anatomically, diseases associated with the central nervous system have the highest number of steps, followed by those associated with the kidney, heart, peripheral vasulature, pancreas, joints, cerebral vasculature, lung, stomach, and liver.

Adalimumab in Elderly Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis. Safety and Efficacy.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in elderly patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU).Methods: An observational, retrospective, multicenter study was done. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), inflammatory activity parameters, central retinal thickness (CRT), and the occurrence of adverse events (AE) developed during follow-up were recorded.Results: A total of 82 eyes from 41 patients 60 years of age and older with noninfectious uveitis treated with adalimumab were included. A significant improvement in BCVA (71.5 to 75.4 letters, p = .001) and in CRT (311.1 µm to 265 µm, p = .001) was observed. Moreover, a significant decrease from baseline in the rate of patients with anterior chamber cell (ACC) >0+ (34.6% to 5.7%, p = <0.001) or vitreous haze>0+ (21.3% to 4.3%, p = .002) was determined. AEs were observed in 11 patients (26.8%).Conclusion: Adalimumab can be safe and efficacious for the treatment of NIU in patients 60 years of age and older.

Consumption of Stilbenes and Flavonoids is Linked to Reduced Risk of Obesity Independently of Fiber Intake.

BACKGROUND: Polyphenol consumption is implicated in gut microbiome composition and improved metabolic outcomes, but it is unclear whether the effect is independent of dietary fiber. METHODS: We investigated the links between (poly)phenol intake, gut microbiome composition (16s RNA) and obesity independently of fiber intake in UK women (n = 1810) and in a small group of UK men (n = 64). RESULTS: (Poly)phenol intakes correlated with microbiome alpha diversity (Shannon Index) after adjusting for confounders and fiber intake. Moreover, flavonoid intake was significantly correlated with the abundance of Veillonella, (a genus known to improve physical performance), and stilbene intake with that of butyrate-producing bacteria (Lachnospira and Faecalibacterium). Stilbene and flavonoid intake also correlated with lower odds of prevalent obesity (Stilbenes: Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) (OR(95%CI)) = 0.80 (0.73, 0.87), p = 4.90 × 10-7; Flavonoids: OR(95%CI) = 0.77 (0.65, 0.91), p = 0.002). Formal mediation analyses revealed that gut microbiome mediates ~11% of the total effect of flavonoid and stilbene intake on prevalent obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of (poly)phenol consumption for optimal human health.

Circulating levels of the anti-oxidant indoleproprionic acid are associated with higher gut microbiome diversity.

The gut microbiome has recently emerged as an important regulator of insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. The tryptophan metabolite generated by the gut microbiome, indoleproprionic acid (IPA) has been shown to predict the onset of type 2 diabetes. IPA is a metabolite produced by gut microbes from dietary tryptophan that exhibits a high degree of inter-individual variation. The microbiome composition parameters that are associated with circulating levels of this potent anti-oxidant have however not been investigated to date in human populations. In 1018 middle-aged women from the TwinsUK cohort, we assessed the relationship between serum IPA levels and gut microbiome composition targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Microbiome alpha-diversity was positively correlated with serum indoleproprionic acid levels (Shannon Diversity: Beta[95%CI] = 0.19[0.13;0.25], P = 6.41 × 10-10) after adjustment for covariates. Sixteen taxa and 12 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with IPA serum levels. Among these are positive correlations with the butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, the class Mollicutes and the order RF39 of the Tenericutes, and Coprococcus Negative correlations instead were observed with Eubacterium dolichum previously shown to correlate with visceral fat mass and several genera in the Lachnospiraceae family such as Blautia and Ruminococcus previously shown to correlate with obesity. Microbiome composition parameters explained ~20% of the variation in circulating levels of IPA, whereas nutritional and host genetic parameters explained only ~4%. Our data confirm an association between IPA circulating levels and metabolic syndrome parameters and indicate that gut microbiome composition influences IPA levels.

Incontinencia pigmenti / Pigment incontinence

La incontinencia pigmenti es una genodermatosis poco frecuente, de herencia dominante ligada al X, que se caracteriza por la presencia de lesiones cutáneas típicas que pueden asociarse con afectación de otros tejidos derivados del neuroectodermo. Es una enfermedad potencialmente grave, que requiere un diagnóstico precoz y un seguimiento multidisciplinario de por vida.Se presenta el caso de un paciente de sexo femenino de 6 días de vida con diagnóstico clínico y anatomopatológico de incontinencia pigmenti

Incontinentiapigmenti is a rare, X-linked dominantgenodermatosis, characterized by the presence of typical skin lesions that may be associated with involvement of other tissues derived from neuroectoderm. It is a potentially serious disease that requires early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary life-long follow up.Wereport the case of a 6 day old femalewith a clinical and anatomopathological diagnosis of incontinenciapigmenti.

Incorporating Budget Impact Analysis in the Implementation of Complex Interventions: A Case of an Integrated Intervention for Multimorbid Patients within the CareWell Study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a framework for the management of complex health care interventions within the Deming continuous improvement cycle and to test the framework in the case of an integrated intervention for multimorbid patients in the Basque Country within the CareWell project. METHODS: Statistical analysis alone, although necessary, may not always represent the practical significance of the intervention. Thus, to ascertain the true economic impact of the intervention, the statistical results can be integrated into the budget impact analysis. The intervention of the case study consisted of a comprehensive approach that integrated new provider roles and new technological infrastructure for multimorbid patients, with the aim of reducing patient decompensations by 10% over 5 years. The study period was 2012 to 2020. RESULTS: Given the aging of the general population, the conventional scenario predicts an increase of 21% in the health care budget for care of multimorbid patients during the study period. With a successful intervention, this figure should drop to 18%. The statistical analysis, however, showed no significant differences in costs either in primary care or in hospital care between 2012 and 2014. The real costs in 2014 were by far closer to those in the conventional scenario than to the reductions expected in the objective scenario. The present implementation should be reappraised, because the present expenditure did not move closer to the objective budget. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the capacity of budget impact analysis to enhance the implementation of complex interventions. Its integration in the context of the continuous improvement cycle is transferable to other contexts in which implementation depth and time are important.

Unexpected consequences of a drier world: evidence that delay in late summer rains biases the population sex ratio of an insect.

The complexity of animal life histories makes it difficult to predict the consequences of climate change on their populations. In this paper, we show, for the first time, that longer summer drought episodes, such as those predicted for the dry Mediterranean region under climate change, may bias insect population sex ratio. Many Mediterranean organisms, like the weevil Curculio elephas, become active again after summer drought. This insect depends on late summer rainfall to soften the soil and allow adult emergence from their underground refuges. We found that, as in many protandric species, more C. elephas females emerged later in the season. Male emergence timing was on average earlier and also more dependent on the beginning of late summer rainfall. When these rains were delayed, the observed weevil sex ratio was biased towards females. So far, the effects of global warming on animal sex ratios has been reported for temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles. Our results show that rainfall timing can also bias the sex ratio in an insect, and highlight the need for keeping a phenological perspective to predict the consequences of climate change. We must consider not just the magnitude of the predicted changes in temperature and rainfall but also the effects of their timing.

Tocilizumab in uveitis refractory to other biologic drugs: a study of 3 cases and a literature review.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical response to Tocilizumab (TCZ) in three patients with non-infectious uveitis refractory to anti-TNF-α drugs. METHODS: Assessment of TCZ-treated patients with immune-mediated uveitis from two Spanish medical referral centers. Uveitis had been refractory to previous standard synthetic immunosuppressive drugs and at least one TNF-α inhibitor. A literature review of patients with immune-mediated uveitis treated with TCZ therapy was also conducted. RESULTS: 3 women (5 eyes) with uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy and at least one anti-TNF-α drug were treated with TCZ. The mean age of the patients was 48.6±16.1 (range 37-67) years. In two cases uveitis was bilateral and in the other unilateral. The underlying diseases were rheumatoid arthritis in one case and Behçet's disease in the other two cases. After a mean follow-up of 7.3±5.7 (range 1-12) months using TCZ therapy, all patients experienced ocular improvement. Also, in 3 eyes inactive intraocular inflammation was achieved. None of the patients had side effects during the period of treatment with this drug. A literature review disclosed that our observations are in keeping with other reports that showed good response to TCZ in 11 of 12 patients with immune-mediated uveitis refractory to other biologic agents. CONCLUSIONS: TCZ appears to be an effective and safe therapy for the management of patients with uveitis refractory to other biologic drugs.

[Lichen nitidus. Report of two cases, one of them with a generalized distribution]. / Liquen nitidus. Presentación de dos casos, uno de ellos generalizado.

Lichen nitidus is a dermatosis of unknown origin, characterized by the presence of shiny, pinpoint, skin-colored papules that may be asymptomatic or slightly pruriginous. They usually affect forearms, abdomen, buttocks and genitals. We report two cases, one of them with a generalized presentation. Both were treated with topical steroids with good results. A review of this pathology and its therapeutic options is held.

Liquen nitidus. Presentación de dos casos, uno de ellos generalizado / Lichen nitidus. Report of two cases, one of them with a generalized distribution

El liquen nitidus es una dermatosis de origen desconocido caracterizada por pequeñas pápulas brillantes, color piel normal, del tamaño de la cabeza de un alfiler, asintomáticas o ligeramente pruriginosas, que se localizan principalmente en antebrazos,abdomen, glúteos y genitales. Presentamos dos casos, uno de ellos generalizado. En ambos pacientes se indicaron corticoides tópicos y emolientes; con buena respuesta.Se realiza una revisión de esta patología y sus posibilidades terapéuticas

[Urticaria pigmentosa: two different clinical presentations in pediatric patients]. / Urticaria pigmentosa: dos presentaciones clínicas diferentes en pediatría.

Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) is the most frequent clinical feature of cutaneous mastocytosis. It usually begins in a bimodal way: a peak of incidence from birth to the age of 3 and the other one between 2(nd) and 6(th) decades of life. Darier's sign is constant over the affected skin without affecting the surrounding skin. When UP starts early, it has a good prognosis disappearing into adolescence, while late onset is often associated with persistent or systemic involvement. This article reports two cases of UP, one with the classic description of the disease and the other with an unusual clinical presentation, prompting the pediatrician to incorporate both forms as different manifestations of the same entity.

Urticaria pigmentosa: dos presentaciones clínicas diferentes en pediatría / Urticaria pigmentosa: two different clinical presentations in pediatric patients

La urticaria pigmentosa es la forma más común de mastocitosis cutánea. Suele iniciarse de manera bimodal: un pico de incidencia desde el nacimiento hasta los 3 años de vida y otro entre la 2ª y 6ª décadas de la vida. El signo de Darier es constante sobre el área afectada, sin extenderse a piel vecina. La forma de comienzo precoz tiene buen pronóstico y desaparece hacia la adolescencia, pero la de comienzo tardío suele ser persistente o asociarse a afectación sistémica. Se comunican dos casos de urticaria pigmentosa, uno con la descripción clásica de la enfermedad y otro con presentación clínica infrecuente, por lo cual el pediatra debe incorporar ambas formas como manifestaciones distintas de una misma entidad.

Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) is the most frequent clinical feature of cutaneous mastocytosis. It usually begins in a bimodal way: a peak of incidence from birth to the age of 3 and the other one between 2nd and 6th decades of life. Darier's sign is constant over the affected skin without affecting the surrounding skin. When UP starts early, it has a good prognosis disappearing into adolescence, while late onset is often associated with persistent or systemic involvement. This article reports two cases of UP, one with the classic description of the disease and the other with an unusual clinical presentation, prompting the pediatrician to incorporate both forms as different manifestations of the same entity.

Síndrome de Kawasaki. Persistencia de la fiebre luego del tratamiento / Kawasaki syndrome. Fever persistence after treatment

El síndrome de Kawasaki es un trastorno multisistémico, de etiología desconocida, que afecta a niños menores de 5 años. Presentamos el caso de un niño de 2 años con síndrome de Kawasaki, que recibió tratamiento con inmunoglobulina en infusión única y ácido acetilsalicílico, con respuesta rápida y favorable del cuadro cutáneo pero persistencia de la fiebre y reaparición del exantema a las 72 horas, por lo que se debió repetir la administración de inmunoglobulina. El ecocardiograma inicial revelaba dilatación de la arteria coronaria izquierda de 1,6 vez el diámetro del vaso adyacente.

Síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann en un paciente con hemangiomatosis neonatal benigna / Beckwit – Wiedemann´s syndrome associated with bening neonatal hemangiomatosis

El síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann (SBW) es un desorden esporádico o heredado, infrecuente, que se caracteriza por peso elevado al nacimiento, macroglosia, defectos de la pared abdominal y menos frecuentemente hipoglucemia, hemihipertrofia y visceromegalia. Se presenta un paciente de sexo femenino de un mes de vida con antecedentes de nefromegalia evidenciada por ecografía prenatal con múltiples hemangiomas en tronco y labio superior. Al examen físico se evidenció notable macroglosia, hemihipertrofia con compromiso de genitales externos, onfalocele y percentilo de peso mayor a 90. El laboratorio demostró alfa fetoproteína de 608ng/ml. Se realizó diagnóstico de síndrome de Beckwith Wiedemann. El paciente evolucionó con aumento del número y tamaño de las lesiones hemangiomatosas, descenso de los niveles de alfa fetoproteína y su maduración psicomotriz fue adecuada a su edad. Presentamos un síndrome infrecuente en un paciente con hemangiomatosis neonatal benigna (HNB), asociación no descripta previamente en la literatura. Destacamos la importancia del examen físico en la consulta dermatológica como oportunidad diagnóstica.

Beckwith-Wiedemann’s syndrome is a sporadic or hereditary rare disor-der characterized by macroglosia, omphalocele, visceromegalia, hypo-glycemia and hemihypertrophy.We report the case of a 1 month-old infant with a history of nephromegalia detected by prenatal ultrasound scan, who presented various generalized hemangiomas.On examination she had macroglosia, hemihypertrophy, omphalocele and high body weight. She also had alpha feto protein 608 ng/ml withno further abnormalities, leading us to diagnose Beckwith-Wiedemann ́s syndrome.The interest of this case is to report an infrecuent syndrome in a patient with diagnosis of neonatal hemangiomatosis. This association has not been previously reported in the literature. We wish to emphasize the importance of a thorough physical exam as part of the dermatologic consultation leading to the correct diagnosis.

Acrodermatitis enteropática / Acrodermatitis enteropathica

La acrodermatitis enteropática es una rara patología de herenciaautosómica recesiva ocasionada por una deficiente absorcióndel zinc de la dieta. Se caracteriza por la tríada de alopecía,diarrea y dermatitis acral y periorificial. Se presenta una paciente de 11 meses de edad con síntomas característicos cuyo diagnóstico fue confirmado por bajos niveles plasmáticos de zinc (37,7 µg%). Se realizó tratamiento consulfato de zinc a dosis de 5 mg/kg/día con evolución claramente favorable.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recesive disorder, caused by impaired absorption of zinc dietary intake. It is characterized by a triad of alopecia, diarrhea and acral and periorificial dermatitis. We report an 11 month-old girl with tipical symptoms in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by decreased plasma zinc level (37,7 µg%). The patient was given zinc sulfate 5 mg/kg/day and showed marked improvement.