Evidence of respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza-3 virus in Mexican sheep.

This is a first report in Mexico of the presence of antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza-3 virus in Mexican sheep in different productive stages. We determine the association of serological positivity with age and production system, and obtain molecular evidence of infection by both virus. RSV prevalence in adult sheep was 47% (49/105) at the tropic and 64% (63/99) at the uplands. A significant difference in RSV seropositivity between animals from the tropic and the uplands was observed (P < 0.05). Seropositivity correlated with production system (P = 0.003, OR = 2.042), with a risk of showing antibodies was 2.042 times higher in sheep under an extensive production system. A significant difference in PI3V seropositivity between animals from either provenance (P = 0.017, OR = 0.475) were also found, with a risk of showing antibodies 0.475 times higher in sheep under an extensive production system. Genetic material from RSV and PI3V was identified by RT-PCR in nasal swab samples from clinically healthy lambs and confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Serological results show that sheep are susceptible to infection by both viruses, and molecular results suggest that the identified antibodies are result of natural infections and reinfections.

Correlation of IL-12, IL-22, and IL-23 in patients with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease characterised by proliferation of keratinocytes, primarily due to cytokines Th1 and Th17. This profile is involved in pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, a frequently found comorbidity in patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: In this study we determine the correlation of levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-23, IL-12, and IL-22 in patients with psoriasis with and without metabolic syndrome and clinically healthy controls. METHODS: We included 55 patients with plaque psoriasis: 30 with metabolic syndrome (PPMS), 25 without metabolic syndrome (PP), 15 healthy subjects (HS) and 15 with metabolic syndrome (MS). Quantification of serum levels of IL-12, TNF-α, IL-22, and IL-23 was done by ELISA. RESULTS: We observed that serum levels of IL-12 were more elevated in PP group, while the lowest levels of TNF-α were seen in HS group. IL-22 was found to be higher in PP than in PPMS (p<0.05). PP patients with PASI scores rating as severe showed higher levels of IL-12. TNF-α level analysis showed significant differences in HS group compared with the others; levels of this cytokine were lower in patients with PP and moderate PASI scores than in MS group (p<0.05). We found no correlation between cytokine levels and psoriasis or between cytokines and PASI scores. In PP group, a positive correlation was observed between IL-23 and fasting glucose (r=0.432, p<0.05), as well as a negative correlation between IL-23, IL-22, and IL-12 versus waist circumference (r=-0.504, r=-0.556 and r=-0.511, respectively; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis is not just a skin disorder, but rather a condition with systemic implications, with intervention of pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to metabolic syndrome and other comorbidities, which in turn increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Evaluación de la calidad de las páginas webs de los hospitales del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía / Evaluation of the Andalusia Public Health System hospital websites in the period 2010-2012

Objetivos: Evaluar la calidad, la accesibilidad y la presencia de herramientas 2.0 de las páginas webs de los hospitales del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía. Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo durante el periodo 2010-2012. Las variables analizadas fueron: calidad, accesibilidad y presencia de herramientas 2.0. La calidad se evaluó mediante el cuestionario de Bermúdez-Tamayo, la accesibilidad con la herramienta Test de Accesibilidad Web y las herramientas 2.0 por observación directa. Resultados: Disponían de página web en 2010, 31 de los 45 hospitales (68,9%), incrementándose hasta 34 (75,5%) en 2012. La puntuación media + desviación estándar (DE) del cuestionario de calidad Bermúdez Tamayo fue de 11,1 + 3,8 puntos en 2010 y de 12,3 + 3,9 puntos en el año 2012, observándose una diferencia entre las medias de 0,25 (IC del 95%, 0,00 a 0,50) estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,007). En la evaluación de la accesibilidad, solo 7 páginas webs (n = 31) en 2010 y 10 (n = 34) en 2012 cumplían criterios legales de accesibilidad. El uso de herramientas 2.0 se incrementó a lo largo del estudio. En 2010 disponían de este tipo de herramientas el 19,4% (n = 6) de las páginas webs de los hospitales y en 2012 el 58,8% (n = 20). Conclusiones: La calidad evaluada con el cuestionario Bermúdez-Tamayo, en general, fue buena. Sin embargo, se observó un incumplimiento de la legislación en materia de accesibilidad, que debe ser revisada y adaptada a la normativa legal vigente. Se constató la incipiente utilización de los recursos web 2.0 como estrategias de educación y comunicación en materia de salud (AU)

Objectives: Evaluate the quality, accessibility and presence of Web 2.0 tools in the Andalusia Public Health System hospitals websites Methods: Observational, descriptive study carried out between 2010 and 2012. The variables analyzed were: quality, accessibility and innovation. The quality was evaluated using a Bermudez-Tamayo questionnaire. Accessibility was measured using the Web Accessibility Test (TAW) tool. Web 2.0 tools were identified by direct observation. Results: A total of 31 of the 45 hospitals (68.9%) had a website in the year 2010, increasing to 34 (75.5%) in 2012. The average score + standard deviation (SD) of the Bermudez-Tamayo quality questionnaire was 11.1 + 3.8 points in 2010, and 12.3 + 3.9 points in 2012, observing a statistically significant difference of 0.25 being observed between the means (P=.007), 95% CI; 0.00 to 0.50) In the accessibility evaluation only 7 websites (n = 31) in 2010, and 10 (n = 34) in 2012, fulfilled the legal criteria for accessibility. The use of Web 2.0 tools has increased throughout the study. In 2010, 19.4% (n = 6) of the hospital websites had this type of tool, in comparison to 58.8% (n = 20) in 2012. Conclusions: In general, the quality of the websites studied is good. However, current legislation regarding accessibility is not fulfilled and must be revised and adapted to the current legal rules. There is an incipient use of Web 2.0 resources as education and communication strategies with regard to health

[Evaluation of the Andalusia Public Health System hospital websites in the period 2010-2012]. / Evaluación de la calidad de las páginas webs de los hospitales del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the quality, accessibility and presence of Web 2.0 tools in the Andalusia Public Health System hospitals websites METHODS: Observational, descriptive study carried out between 2010 and 2012. The variables analyzed were: quality, accessibility and innovation. The quality was evaluated using a Bermudez-Tamayo questionnaire. Accessibility was measured using the Web Accessibility Test (TAW) tool. Web 2.0 tools were identified by direct observation. RESULTS: A total of 31 of the 45 hospitals (68.9%) had a website in the year 2010, increasing to 34 (75.5%) in 2012. The average score+standard deviation (SD) of the Bermudez-Tamayo quality questionnaire was 11.1+3.8 points in 2010, and 12.3+3.9 points in 2012, observing a statistically significant difference of 0.25 being observed between the means (P=.007), 95% CI; 0.00 to 0.50) In the accessibility evaluation only 7 websites (n=31) in 2010, and 10 (n=34) in 2012, fulfilled the legal criteria for accessibility. The use of Web 2.0 tools has increased throughout the study. In 2010, 19.4% (n=6) of the hospital websites had this type of tool, in comparison to 58.8% (n=20) in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the quality of the websites studied is good. However, current legislation regarding accessibility is not fulfilled and must be revised and adapted to the current legal rules. There is an incipient use of Web 2.0 resources as education and communication strategies with regard to health.

Body mass interacts with fat quality to determine the postprandial lipoprotein response in healthy young adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Postprandial lipemia predicts the evolution of cardiovascular disease. Obesity is associated with an increase in the magnitude of postprandial lipemia. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the effects of acute ingestion of different types of fat on the postprandial lipemic response. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-one healthy men followed a 4-week baseline diet and then consumed three fat-loaded meals that included 1g fat/kg body wt (65%fat) according to a randomized crossover design. The compositions of the three meals were olive oil meal (22% saturated fatty acids (SFA), 38% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 4% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)); butter meal (35% SFA, 22% MUFA, 4% PUFA); walnuts meal (20% SFA, 24% MUFA, 16% PUFA, and 4% α-linolenic acid). Higher-weight (HW) subjects (BMI greater than the median 26.18 kg/m(2), n = 11) presented higher incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for triglycerides (TG), both in large- and small-TG rich lipoproteins (TRL) than lower-weight (LW) subjects (BMI<26.18 kg/m(2), n = 10) (p<0.05), and a similar trend for plasma TG (p = 0.084). Moreover, HW subjects presented higher concentrations for small TRL-cholesterol and small TRL-TG in different timepoints of the postprandial lipemia after the intake of enriched walnuts or butter meals compared with the olive oil-enriched meal (p < 0.05) No significant differences were observed between the three types of meals in the postprandial response of LW subjects. CONCLUSION: HW subjects present a greater postprandial response than LW subjects, and they benefit from the consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil, to lower their levels of TRL particles during the postprandial state.

Chondroptosis: an immunohistochemical study of apoptosis and Golgi complex in chondrocytes from human osteoarthritic cartilage.

The Golgi complex is thought to play an important role in the apoptotic process of osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes. However, the exact relationship between modifications of the Golgi complex and apoptosis in human OA cartilage requires to be established. We compared the patterns and immunolabeling intensities for anti-Golgi 58 K protein with apoptosis markers such as TUNEL and caspase-2L in OA cartilage removed from patients during knee total replacement surgery. We observed important modifications in labeling of the Golgi 58 K protein in OA chondrocytes compared with normal cell. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed co-localization between 58 K protein and caspase-2L, suggesting that this enzyme was localized in Golgi complex of OA chondrocytes. In addition, these cells labeled positive with the TUNEL technique, but in different proportions to caspase-2L. Our results support the concept, previously reported, that apoptosis in OA cartilage (chondroptosis) might be a variant of the classical apoptosis.

[Effectiveness and safety of topiramate in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder]. / Efectividad y seguridad del topiramato en el trastorno bipolar resistente.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topiramate as add-on therapy for treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. METHODS: Twenty-one DSM-IV bipolar patients, considered resistant to treatment with lithium, carbamazepine or valproate, gave informed consent to receive increasing doses of the novel anticonvulsant topiramate as adjunctive therapy for their manic (n= 9), depressive (n= 6), hypomanic (n= 3), mixed (n= 2) or schizoaffective manic (n= 1) symptoms. The dosage of other mood stabilizer drugs remained unchanged throughout the 6-week follow-up. Outcome measures included the YMRS, HDRS-17, and CGI scales. Fifteen out of 21 patients completed the 6-week follow-up. RESULTS: Six patients (40% of completers, 29% by intention-to-treat) were considered responders to topiramate (> 50% reduction in YMRS or HDRS-17 and a decrease of 2 points in CGI). The drug was less effective in intially depressed patients. Topiramate was well tolerated and only one patient discontinued due to side-effects. The most common adverse effect was paresthesia (n= 2). Ten patients experienced moderate weight loss during the follow-up. The mean topiramate dose at endpoint was 158 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that topiramate may be a useful therapy for bipolar disorders, with promising results even in the most treatment-refractory patients.

Efectividad y seguridad del topiramato en el trastorno bipolar resistente / Effectiveness and safety of topiramate in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder

Introducción: Se describe un estudio abierto de serie de casos diseñado para evaluar la efectividad y seguridad de topiramato como tratamiento coadyuvante del trastorno bipolar fármacorresistente. Pacientes y método: Se reclutaron 21 pacientes con trastorno bipolar según criterios DSM-IV, considerados resistentes a litio, carbamacepina o valproico. Los pacientes dieron consentimiento informado para realizar el tratamiento coadyuvante con topiramato para su sintomatología maníaca (n= 9), depresiva (n= 6), hipomaníaca (n= 3), mixta (n= 2) o esquizoafectiva bipolar maníaca (n= 1). El estudio duró seis semanas durante las cuales el tratamiento eutimizante concomitante se mantuvo constante. Se evaluaron semanalmente a los pacientes con las escalas YMRS, HDRS-17 y CGI. Resultados: De los 21 pacientes iniciales, 15 completaron la totalidad del estudio. Seis pacientes (40 por ciento de los que terminaron el estudio, 29 por ciento por intención de tratar) fueron considerados como respondedores al tratamiento (reducción > 50 por ciento en la escala YMRS o HDRS-17 y disminución de dos o más puntos en la CGI). El tratamiento fue menos efectivo en aquellos pacientes con depresión inicial. El topiramato fue bien tolerado y sólo un paciente abandonó debido a efectos secundarios. El efecto adverso más frecuente fueron las parestesias (n= 2). Diez pacientes experimentaron descenso moderado de peso durante el estudio. La dosis media de topiramato al final del estudio fue de 158 mg/día. Conclusiones: Estos resultados preliminares sugieren que topiramato puede ser útil en el tratamiento del trastorno bipolar, con resultados prometedores incluso en los pacientes más refractarios a otras terapéuticas (AU)

[Psychogeriatric emergencies in the general hospital]. / Les urgences psychogériatriques à l'hôpital général.

Geriatric emergencies are almost 10% of total emergencies. Usually women come more often and frequently patients are forced to come by familiar decision. Depressive and organic cerebral disorders are the most common and we obtained organic pathology associated in the 35%.