Impact of double stent retriever configuration on first-pass effect in stroke: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Efficient recanalization of occluded cerebral arteries is crucial in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Double stent retrievers have shown the potential to enhance the rates of recanalization on the first pass. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the double stent retriever technique and the predictors of achieving first-pass effect in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This prospective multicenter study involved 209 patients from 16 comprehensive stroke centers in Spain. Patients with occlusions in the anterior circulation were treated using the Aperio Hybrid double stent retriever. The study examined various deployment techniques, including simultaneous and sequential deployment and stent configurations, comparing the Y-shaped and parallel configurations. RESULTS: The double stent retriever technique achieved a first-pass effect in 72.7% of cases and a final successful recanalization rate of 99.5%. The Y-shaped configuration was significantly associated with higher recanalization rates on the first pass (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.18 to 5.68, P=0.02). Procedural complications were mild to moderate in 6.7% and severe in 1.5% of cases, with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurring in 3.3% of patients. At 3 months follow-up, 57.2% of patients achieved a good clinical outcome, with a mortality rate of 15.1%. CONCLUSION: The findings support the efficacy of the double stent retriever technique, particularly the Y-shaped configuration, in achieving high recanalization rates on the first pass with an acceptable safety profile. This technique may offer clinical benefits for future acute ischemic stroke treatment protocols.

Demographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome data from 2 global, phase 3 trials of chronic cough.

BACKGROUND: The current characterization of patients with refractory or unexplained chronic cough (RCC and UCC, respectively) primarily stems from relatively small clinical studies. OBJECTIVE: To report the baseline medical history and clinical characteristics of individuals with RCC or UCC who were enrolled in COUGH-1 and COUGH-2, 2 large, global, phase 3 trials of gefapixant, a P2 × 3-receptor antagonist. METHODS: Adults with a chronic cough lasting for more than 1 year, diagnosis of RCC or UCC, and score greater than 40 mm on a 100-mm cough severity visual analog scale at both screening and baseline were eligible for enrollment. Demographics, medical history, and cough characteristics were collected at baseline. Cough-related measures included objective cough frequency, cough severity visual analog scale, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, and Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of 2044 participants, 75% were women; mean age was 58 years, and mean cough duration was approximately 11 years. Among all participants, 73% were previously diagnosed with asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or upper airway cough syndrome. The mean Leicester Cough Questionnaire total score was 10.4, with domain scores reflecting impaired cough-specific quality of life across physical, psychological, and social domains. The mean Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire score was 39.6, with some of the most burdensome reported items being consistent with features of cough-reflex hypersensitivity. Participant characteristics and cough burden were comparable across geographic regions. CONCLUSION: Participants with RCC or UCC had characteristics consistent with published demographics associated with chronic cough. These data reflect a global population with burdensome cough of long duration and substantial impairment to quality of life. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: COUGH-1, NCT03449134 (https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT03449134); COUGH-2, NCT03449147 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03449147).

Validation and Meaningful Change Thresholds for an Objective Cough Frequency Measurement in Chronic Cough.

PURPOSE: Objective cough frequency is used to assess efficacy of chronic cough (CC) treatments. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between objective cough frequency and cough-specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and estimate a clinically meaningful change threshold (MCT) for objective cough frequency. METHODS: Data collected in a phase 2b study in participants with refractory or unexplained CC were used to investigate the relationship between 24-h cough frequency (measured using an ambulatory cough monitor) and cough-specific PROs (i.e., cough severity visual analog scale, cough severity diary, Leicester Cough Questionnaire). Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman ρ. An MCT for 24-h cough frequency was estimated using the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scale as an anchor. RESULTS: Correlations between 24-h cough frequency and cough-specific PROs at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 were significant (P < 0.0001) but low to moderate in strength (ρ = 0.30-0.58). Participants categorized as very much improved/much improved (i.e., PGIC of 1 or 2) or minimally improved (i.e., PGIC of 3) had mean 24-h cough frequency reductions of 55% and 30%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a 24-h cough frequency reduction of 38% optimizes sensitivity and specificity for predicting a PGIC score of 1-3. CONCLUSION: Objective 24-h cough frequency is significantly associated with cough-specific PROs, but cough frequency and PROs most likely capture distinct aspects of CC. A ≥ 30% reduction in 24-h cough frequency is a reasonable MCT to define treatment response in CC clinical trials.

Improvements in Objective and Subjective Measures of Chronic Cough with Gefapixant: A Pooled Phase 3 Efficacy Analysis of Predefined Subgroups.

INTRODUCTION: In phase 3 trials (COUGH-1/COUGH-2), gefapixant 45 mg twice daily significantly reduced 24-h cough frequency vs placebo in refractory or unexplained chronic cough (RCC or UCC). METHODS: Here, the efficacy of gefapixant 45 mg vs placebo was evaluated across COUGH-1/COUGH-2 in predefined subgroups based on sex, region, age, cough duration, cough severity, cough frequency, and diagnosis (RCC, UCC). Awake cough frequency reductions at Week 12 and LCQ response rates (i.e., ≥ 1.3-point improvement) at Week 24 were assessed. RESULTS: Among 1360 participants analyzed, gefapixant 45 mg resulted in consistent awake cough frequency reductions overall and across predefined subgroups at Week 12. Gefapixant also resulted in improved LCQ scores across subgroups at Week 24; ≥ 70% of participants in each subgroup treated with gefapixant 45 mg had an LCQ response. CONCLUSION: These data suggest gefapixant 45 mg provides consistent objective and subjective efficacy across subgroups of individuals with RCC or UCC.

A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, clinical study to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of gefapixant in Japanese adult participants with refractory or unexplained chronic cough.

BACKGROUND: In two phase 3, global clinical trials (COUGH-1 and COUGH-2), the P2X3-receptor antagonist gefapixant significantly reduced objective 24-h cough frequency in participants with refractory or unexplained chronic cough (RCC or UCC) at a dosage of 45 mg twice daily (BID), with an acceptable safety profile. The primary objective of this phase 3, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was to assess the safety and tolerability of gefapixant in Japanese participants with RCC or UCC (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03696108; JAPIC-CTI, 184154). METHODS: Participants aged ≥20 years with chronic cough lasting ≥4 months and a diagnosis of RCC or UCC despite treatment in accordance with Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines were randomized 1:1 to receive gefapixant 15 or 45 mg BID for 52 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of gefapixant, including adverse events (AEs) and discontinuations due to AEs. Cough-specific quality of life was assessed using the Leicester Cough Questionnaire as a secondary objective. RESULTS: Of 169 randomized and treated participants, 63% were female and mean age was 58 years. Adverse events were reported by 79 (94%) and 82 (96%) participants in the 15- and 45-mg BID groups, respectively. Most treatment-related AEs were taste related. Discontinuations due to AEs occurred in 6 (7%) and 17 (20%) participants receiving gefapixant 15 or 45 mg BID, respectively. There were no serious treatment-related AEs or deaths. Leicester Cough Questionnaire total scores improved from baseline through Week 52. CONCLUSIONS: Gefapixant had an acceptable safety profile, with no serious treatment-related AEs in Japanese participants.

Leicester Cough Questionnaire validation and clinically important thresholds for change in refractory or unexplained chronic cough.

INTRODUCTION: The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), a cough-specific quality-of-life measure, evaluates the impact of cough across physical, psychological, and social domains in patients with chronic cough (CC). This study assessed the psychometric properties of the LCQ. METHODS: Data from a phase IIb, randomized controlled trial of the P2X3-receptor antagonist gefapixant were analyzed (NCT02612610). Subjective [Cough Severity Diary, cough severity visual analogue scale, and patient global impression of change (PGIC)] and objective (awake and 24-h cough frequency) data were used to validate the LCQ for use in patients with refractory or unexplained CC (RCC and UCC, respectively). Psychometric analyses included confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, validity, responsiveness, and estimated within-patient thresholds for clinically meaningful change. RESULTS: Model-fit values for the proposed three-factor LCQ domains and most individual items were acceptable. Analyses suggest that a mean improvement ranging from 1.3 to 2.3 points for the LCQ total and ⩾0.8, ⩾0.9, and ⩾0.8 points for physical, psychological, and social domain scores, respectively, had the best sensitivity and/or specificity for predicting patient ratings of improvement on the PGIC. CONCLUSIONS: The LCQ is a valid and reliable measure to evaluate cough-specific quality of life and is a fit-for-purpose measure for use in patients with RCC or UCC. Although a single threshold for defining clinically meaningful change depends on the context of use, the results can help guide both treatment decisions and drug development. Therefore, clinicians may consider a ⩾1.3-point increase in the LCQ total score as clinically meaningful.

Efectividad de la terapia láser combinada con la técnica convencional en pacientes con discromías dentales / Effectiveness of laser therapy combined with the conventional technique in patients with dental dischromya

Introducción: La discromía dental es una afectación estética, de causa multifactorial, caracterizada por el cambio de coloración de uno o varios dientes. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la terapia láser como fuente de luz y calor en pacientes con discromías dentales. Método: Se realizó un estudio cuasi experimental, de intervención terapéutica, en 24 pacientes con discromías dentales atendidos en la Clínica Estomatológica Provincial DocenteMártires del Moncada de Santiago de Cuba, desde julio de 2017 hasta julio de 2018. Los integrantes del estudio se asignaron de forma aleatoria a 2 grupos de tratamiento:a los pares (grupo de estudio) se les aplicó láser combinado con la técnica convencional de peróxido de hidrógeno;a los impares (grupo control), tratamiento convencional solamente.Se utilizaron las frecuencias absoluta y relativa como medidas de resumen, así como la prueba de X 2 de homogeneidad para la validación estadística, con un nivel de significación de 0,05. Resultados: Para los pacientes del grupo de estudio, la segunda y tercera sesiones fueron más efectivas. Al culminar el tratamiento, ambos resultaron efectivos, pero los que recibieron láser evolucionaron más rápidamente que los tratados solo con peróxido de hidrógeno. Conclusiones: El uso de la terapia láser y peróxido de hidrógeno fue efectivo en pacientes con discromías dentales y demostró que no provoca efectos adversos en los dientes tratados.

Introduction: The dental dischromya is an esthetic disorder, of multifactorial cause, characterized by the change of coloration of one or several teeth. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of laser therapy as a source of light and heat in patients with dental dischromya. Method: A quasi-experiment, of therapeutic intervention study, was carried out in 24 patients with dental dischromya assisted in Mártires del Moncada Teaching Provincial Stomatological Clinic in Santiago de Cuba, from July, 2017 to March, 2018. The members of the study were assigned at random with 2 treatment groups: a study group (pairs) to whom laser combined with the conventional technique of peroxide of hydrogen was applied; to odd number patients (control group), conventional treatment only. The absolute and relative frequencies were used as summary measures, as well as the chi-square test of homogeneity for the statistical validation, with a level of significance of 0.05. Results: For the patients of the study group, the second and third sessions were more effective. When culminating the treatment, both were effective, but those that received laser evolved more quickly than those treated with peroxide of hydrogen. Conclusions: The use of the laser therapy and peroxide of hydrogen was effective in patients with dental dischromya and it was demonstrated that doesn't cause adverse effects in the treated teeth.

Diagnostico de hipobetalipoproteinemia en un nino de 8 años? / Diagnosis of hypobetalipoproteinemia in an 8-year-old child? / Diagnostico hipobetalipoproteinemia numa crianca de 8 anos?

La hipobetalipoproteinemia familiar es un trastorno hereditario autosomico dominante que afecta a las lipoproteinas que contienen Apo B, una proteina indispensable para el transporte de los quilomicrones en el intestino y que ademas participa en la sintesis y transporte de las VLDL en el higado. La concentracion de Apo B se usa junto con otras pruebas lipidicas para establecer el riesgo individual de un paciente de desarrollar enfermedad cardiovascular. Presentacion del caso: Paciente de 8 anos, varon, que acude a la consulta de Pediatria del Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena de Sevilla con sintomas de dolor abdominal, deposiciones blandas y diarreicas, sobrepeso y unas quebradizas. El paciente fue derivado al laboratorio para su estudio con sospecha de hipobetalipoproteinemia. Se le solicito un hemograma, frotis sanguineo, pruebas de coagulacion, bioquimica general y estudio de riesgo vascular. Los datos del estudio bioquimico descartaron la celiaquia (IgA 174 mg/dL [100- 400 mg/dL] y antitransglutaminasa 5 U/mL [< 20]). Las determinaciones incluidas en el perfil de riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) fueron: colesterol total 83 mg/dL (45 mg/dL), c-LDL 32 mg/dL (< 160 mg/dL), colesterol no HDL 35 mg/dL, c-VLDL 3 mg/dL (< 40 mg/dL), trigliceridos 28 mg/dL, Apo-A1 112 mg/dL (119-240 mg/dL), Apo B-100 25 mg/dL (40-125 mg/dL), us-PCR 1,47 mg/dL (< 3 mg/dL), Lp (a) 2 mg/dL (< 30 mg/ dL), homocisteina 5,8 µmol/L (< 15 µmol/L), vitamina A 42 µg/dL (50-200 µg/ dL), vitamina E 1051 µg/dL (50-180 µg/dL) y 25-(OH) D 48,9 ng/mL (30-54 ng/mL) en intervalos de normalidad. El HLA-27 fue negativo. Tras encontrar hallazgos bioquimicos de bajas concentraciones de lipoproteinas con Apo B, se le solicito al paciente una prueba de saliva para realizacion de estudio genetico de LipochipR para mutaciones en el gen de Apo B y PCSK9. Se concluye que el paciente presento una disminucion de la concentracion de las lipoproteinas que contienen Apo B y trigliceridos. La sintomatologia de dolor abdominal y heces pastosas apoyaron el diagnostico clinico. La inexistencia de deficit vitaminico, retraso mental, acantocitosis y demas sintomatologia asociada, hizo pensar en una herencia heterocigota, que con las herramientas disponibles no se pudo describir geneticamente ya que LipochipR no detecta positividad para este paciente para una mutacion de cambio de aminoacidos en el gen y exon de Apo 26, PCSK9-7, PCSK9-4, PCSK9-10.

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is a dominant autosomal inherited disorder that affects lipoproteins containing Apo B. It is an essential protein for the transport of chylomicrons in the intestine and it is involved in the synthesis and transport of VLDL in the liver. This concentration is used along with other lipid tests to establish a patient's individual risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is the case of an 8 year-old male patient who presented at the University Hospital Virgen Macarena in Seville with symptoms of abdominal pain, loose stools and diarrhea, overweight and broken nails. The patient was referred to the laboratory for examination with suspected hypobetalipoproteinemia. He was requested a complete blood count, blood smear, coagulation, biochemistry and vascular risk study. Biochemical data discarded celiac disease (IgA 174 mg/dL [100-400 mg/dL] y antitransglutaminase antibody 5 U/mL [< 20]). Determinations were RCV's profile: Total cholesterol 83 mg/dL (45 mg/dL), c-LDL 32 mg/dL (< 160 mg/dL), non-HDL cholesterol 35 mg/dL, c-VLDL 3 mg/dL (< 40 mg/dL), triglycerides 28 mg/dL, Apo-A1 112 mg/dL (119-240 mg/dL), Apo B-100 25 mg/dL (40-125 mg/dL), us-PCR 1,47 mg/dL (< 3 mg/dL), Lp (a) 2 mg/dL (< 30 mg/dL), Homocysteine 5,8 µmol/L (< 15 µmol/L), Vitamin A 42 µg/dL (50-200 µg/dL), Vitamine E 1051 µg/dL (50-180 µg/dL) and 25-(OH) D 48,9 ng/mL (30-54 ng/mL) in normal ranges. HLA-27 Negative. After biochemical findings of low concentrations of lipoproteins with Apo B100, the patient was requested a saliva test for genetic study conducting LipochipR for mutations of Apo B and PCSK9. It can be concluded that the patient had a decreased concentration of lipoproteins containing Apo-B and triglycerides. The symptoms of abdominal pain and tarry stools supported the clinical diagnosis. The lack of vitamin deficiency, mental retardation, acanthocytosis and other associated sintomatology, made it possible to consider it an heterozygous inheritance. which could not be genetically described with the tools available since LipochipR does not detect in this patient positivity for a mutation to the amino acid change in the gene and exon 26 of Apo, Apo 26, PCSK9-7, PCSK9- 4, PCSK9-10.

Hypobetalipoproteinemia familiar e um disturbio autossomico hereditario dominante que afeta as lipoproteinas contendo Apo--B, uma proteina essencial para o transporte de quilomicrons no intestino e esta envolvido na sintese e transporte de VLDL no figado. A concentracao de Apo-B e utilizada, juntamente com outros testes lipidicos, para estabelecer o risco individual de um paciente de desenvolver doencas cardiovasculares. O caso e o de um paciente de 8 anos, do sexo masculino, que se apresenta para consulta de Pediatria do Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, em Sevilha, com sintomas de dor abdominal, fezes brandas e diarreia, sobrepeso e unhas quebradicas. O paciente foi derivado ao laboratorio para exame com suspeita de hypobetalipoproteinemia. Foi pedido um hemograma completo, esfregaco de sangue, coagulacao, bioquimica geral e estudo de risco vascular. Os dados do estudo bioquimico descartaram a doenca celiaca (IgA 174 mg/dL [100-400 mg/dL] e Antitrasglutaminase 5 U/mL [<20]). As determinacoes incluidas no perfil de risco cardiovascular (RCV) foram colesterol total 83 mg/dL (45 mg/dL), LDL-C 32 mg/ dL (<160 mg/dL), colesterol nao-HDL de 35 mg/dL, VLDL-C 3 mg/dL (<40 mg/dL), triglicerideos de 28 mg/dL, Apo-A1 112 mg/ dL (119-240 mg/dL), Apo B-100-25 mg/dL (40-125 mg/dL), us-PCR 1,47 mg/dL (<3 mg/dL) de Lp (a) 2 mg/dL (<30 mg/dL), homocisteina de 5,8 µmol/L (<15 µmol/L), a vitamina A 42 µg/dL (50-200 µg/dL), vitamina E 1051 µg/dL (50-180 µg/dL) e 25- (OH) D 48,9 ng/mL (30-54 ng/mL) em intervalos de normalidade. O HLA-27 foi negativo. Depois de encontrar achados bioquimicos de baixas concentracoes de lipoproteinas com apo-B, foi solicitado ao paciente um teste de saliva para estudo genetico de LipochipR para mutacoes no gene de Apo-B e PCSK9. Conclui-se que o paciente apresentou uma diminuicao na concentracao das lipoproteinas contendo Apo-B e triglicerideos. Os sintomas de dor abdominal e fezes pastosas apoiaram o diagnostico clinico. A inexistencia de deficit vitaminico, retardo mental, acantocitose e outros sintomas associados fez pensar numa heranca heterozigotica, que com as ferramentas disponiveis nao se pode descrever geneticamente ja que LipochipR nao detecta positividade para este paciente para uma mutacao de mudanca de aminoacidos no gene e exon de Apo 26, PCSK9-7, PCSK9- 4, PCSK9-10.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1): Identification of eight unreported mutations in NF1 gene in Italian patients [corrected].

In the present study the entire NF1 coding region was analyzed for mutations in 132 unrelated Italian NF1 patients. Using PTT, SSCP, and DNA sequencing, we found 8 novel mutations. Clinical diagnosis of NF1 was established according to the NIH consensus criteria. We detected 59 truncated fragments, and 46 of them were characterized by SSCP and direct sequencing. Eight mutations represent novel changes that contribute to the germline mutational spectrum of the NF1 gene. In two patients, premature termination was due to substitutions at nucleotide c.3982C>T (Q1298X) and c.7411C>T (Q2471X), respectively. Two other mutations were caused by the deletions (1756delA, 4699delA), and two by the insertions (c.5266_5267insT, c.7464_7465insTCCA) of a small number of nucleotides. Lastly, we found 2 splice-site mutations (c.2252-2A>C, c.2251+1G>A).

Ten novel mutations in the human neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene in Italian patients.

The entire NF1 coding region was analyzed for mutations in a panel of 108 unrelated Italian NF1 patients. Using PTT, SSCP, and DNA sequencing, we found 10 mutations which have never been reported before. Clinical diagnosis of NF1 was established according to the NIH consensus criteria in 100 individuals, while 8 were young children with only multiple cafè-au-lait spots. We detected 46 truncated fragments, and 24 of them were fully characterized by SSCP and direct sequencing. Of the 24, 14 were known mutations (R304X, R681X, Q682X, R1306X, R1362X, R1513X, R1748X, Q1794X, R1947X, Y2264X, R2237X, 2674delA, 6789delTTAC, 2027insC). The other 10 mutations represent novel changes that contribute to the germline mutational spectrum of the NF1 gene (K810X, Q2595X, 6772delT, 7190delCT, 7331delA, 1021insTT, 3921insT, 4106insTA, 7149insC, 2033insCG / 2034delA). PTT in a large number of Italian NF1 patients supports the usefulness of this method for characterization of mutations in disorders where the responsible gene is very large and the disease-causing mutations often create a stop codon. In agreement with previous reports, no mutational hotspots within the NF1 gene were detected.