Mirtazapine as Appetite Stimulant in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Anorexia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Currently there is no standard therapy to improve cancer-related anorexia, hampering survival. Mirtazapine has been suggested as a feasible option in this context. Objectives: To assess the effect of mirtazapine on appetite and energy consumption in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial including adults was performed in a tertiary cancer care center from August 2018 to May 2022 with a follow-up of 8 weeks. Overall, 134 patients were screened; 114 were assessed for eligibility and 28 were excluded. Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive mirtazapine, 15 mg, or placebo for 2 weeks followed by a dose escalation to 30 mg until week 8 or placebo. Both groups received nutritional assessment and dietary advice. Main outcomes and measures: Appetite was assessed by the Anorexia Cachexia Scale and energy intake. Dietary parameters were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, with a 24-hour dietary recall, and energy quantification based on the Mexican system of nutritional equivalents. Results: A total of 86 patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to the placebo (n = 43) or the mirtazapine group (n = 43). The mean (SD) age was 63.5 (11.2) years, 41 were women (57.7%) and had adenocarcinoma, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale score of 1, stage IV NSCLC, and were receiving first-line treatment. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. There was no difference in appetite scores in patients who received mirtazapine or placebo after 4 and 8 weeks. After 4 weeks, mirtazapine significantly increased energy intake (379.3 kcal; 95% CI, 1382.6-576.1; P < .001) including proteins (22.5 g; 95% CI, 11.5-33.4; P = .001), carbohydrates (43.4 g; 95% CI, 13.1-73.8; P = .006), and fats (13.2 g; 95% CI, 6.0-20.4; P = .006). Fats intake was significantly higher in patients in the mirtazapine group (14.5 g vs 0.7 g; P = .02) after 8 weeks. The mirtazapine group significantly decreased the proportion of patients with sarcopenia (82.8% vs 57.1%, P = .03) at 8 weeks. Patients on mirtazapine tolerated the treatment well, but reported a higher perception of nightmares at 2 weeks based on a 10 cm VAS score (0 [25th-75th percentile, 0-1] vs 0 [25th-75th percentile, 0-0] in the control group; P = .009) but this finding was nonsignificant after 4 and 8 weeks. Conclusion and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of patients with advanced NSCLC, there was no difference in appetite scores in all patients who received mirtazapine or placebo, but the mirtazapine group had a significant increase in energy intake through the 4- and 8-week follow-up, mainly in fat intake, which is a better and crucial source of energy. The addition of mirtazapine in the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC and anorexia may help these patients achieve their energy requirements and improve health-related quality of life, specifically emotional and cognitive functioning. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04748523.

Acute meningitis followed by Campylobacter jejuni associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a pediatric patient with COVID-19: a case report.

Aim of the study: The association of GBS and meningitis in a pediatric population is infrequent. Given the limited number of reported cases from pediatric patients and considering that treatment guidelines are predominantly based on data gathered from adult patients; this is an opportunity to pay attention to different perspectives.Materials and methods: We present a case of a pediatric patient with a positive SARS-CoV2 test and acute meningitis followed by Campylobacter jejuni associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome.Results: To our knowledge, this is the first case of a pediatric patient presenting with the combination Guillain-Barré Syndrome following acute meningitis in the setting of a SARS-CoV2 infection.Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of recognizing vague and non-specific symptoms in pediatric patients, such as gait unsteadiness. Improving awareness of uncommon associations improves treatment and patient outcomes.

Molecular and Biochemical Assessment of Gene Therapy in the Canine Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Mutations in the dystrophin gene result in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a progressive muscle-wasting disease. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene replacement, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing hold the potential to treat DMD. Molecular and biochemical analyses are essential to determine gene transfer efficiency and therapeutic efficacy. In this chapter, we present a series of methods routinely used in our laboratory to extract and quantify DNA, RNA, and protein in gene therapy studies performed in the canine DMD model.

Assessment of the Gene Therapy Immune Response in the Canine Muscular Dystrophy Model.

The immune response is a primary hurdle in the development of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases. Both innate and adaptive immune responses have been observed in human trials. The canine model is an excellent platform to understand immunological consequences of gene therapy. Over the last several decades, we have conducted gene replacement and gene repair therapies in the canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression of the highly abbreviated micro-dystrophin gene, the larger mini-dystrophin gene, and the Cas9-based CRISPR genome editing machinery. We have evaluated the innate, humoral, and cellular immune responses to the AAV vector and the transgene product. In this chapter, we share our experience in collecting and processing of the dog blood samples for immunological assays, and our protocols for quantitative evaluation of cytokines and chemokines, antibodies, and T-cell responses.

Atención médica a domicilio en pacientes con covid-19 / Home medical care for patients with covid-19

La atención de salud en domicilio es un servicio que brindan los profesionales sanitarios en los hogares de los pacientes en tiempos de pandemia por Covid-19; este servicio sufrió alteraciones en su proceso desde la planificación hasta la atención. Objetivo: Describir el proceso de atención medica a domicilio en pacientes con covid-19. Materiales y Método: Con el objetivo de describir el proceso de atención médica en domicilio a pacientes con Covid-19, se realiza el presente artículo elaborado como una revisión bibliográfica; de un nivel de investigación tipo descriptivo en donde se realizó un análisis sistemático de los documentos encontrados en la web. Resultados: Se encontraron estudios relacionados, donde indican que las visitas domiciliarias a personas con Covid-19 y se priorizó la identificación temprana de los signos de peligro. Conclusión: A pesar del riesgo de contagio de los profesionales de salud, continuaron realizando las visitas domiciliarias brindando una atención médica adecuada(AU)

Home health care is a service provided by health professionals in patients' homes in times of the Covid-19 pandemic; This service suffered changes in its process from planning to care. Objective: To describe the process of home health care in patients with covid-19Materials and Method: With the aim of describing the process of medical care at home for patients with Covid-19, this article is prepared as a bibliographic review; of a descriptive type research level where a systematic analysis of the documents found on the web was carried out. Results: Related studies were found, indicating that home visits to people with Covid-19 and early identification of danger signs were prioritized. Conclusion: Despite the risk of infection of health professionals, they continued to make home visits providing adequate medical care(AU)

Satisfacción de la población atendida por los posgradistas de medicina familiar y comunitaria del centro de salud primavera 2. Año 2021 / Satisfaction of the population served by the postgraduate students of family and community medicine at the primavera 2 health center. year 2021

El nivel de satisfacción de la población atendida por los médicos posgradistas de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria cobra importancia por ser el eje fortalecedor del primer nivel de atención complementando la atención primaria de salud. Objetivo: Describir el nivel de satisfacción de la población atendida por los posgradistas de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria en el Centro de Salud Primavera 2 en el año 2021. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional de corte transversal, mediante muestreo aleatorio simple probabilístico se seleccionaron a 350 personas que fueron atendidas. Resultados: El 91,7% de la población expresó que el proceso de atención fue entre excelente y buena, el 89,1% manifestó que la relación médico paciente es satisfactoria, además se encontró que la satisfacción global es muy satisfactorio y medianamente satisfactorio con el 82,9% y el 16% respectivamente. Conclusiones: Las actividades académicas, la falta de medicamentos, la estrechez de los tiempos asignados en la atención y las limitaciones en el proceso de atención ocasionadas por la pandemia de Covid-19, probablemente influyeron en los resultados de insatisfacción de la investigación(AU)

the level of satisfaction of the population attended by postgraduate doctors of Family and Community Medicine becomes important for being the strengthening axis of the first level of care complementing primary health care. Objective: to describe the level of satisfaction of the population served by postgraduate students in Family and Community Medicine in the Primavera 2 Health Center in the year 2021. Materials and Methods: a study was carried out cross-sectional observational study, through probabilistic simple random sampling, they selected 350 people who were attended. Results: 91.7% of the population expressed that the care process was between excellent and good, 89.1% stated that the doctor-patient relationship is satisfactory, it was also found that global satisfaction is very satisfactory and moderately satisfactory with 82.9% and 16% respectively. Conclusions: the academic activities, the lack of medicines, the narrowness of the times assigned in care and the limitations in the care process caused by the pandemic of Covid-19, probably influenced the dissatisfaction results of the investigation(AU)

Cas9-specific immune responses compromise local and systemic AAV CRISPR therapy in multiple dystrophic canine models.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 editing holds promise to treat many diseases. The immune response to bacterial-derived Cas9 has been speculated as a hurdle for AAV-CRISPR therapy. However, immunological consequences of AAV-mediated Cas9 expression have thus far not been thoroughly investigated in large mammals. We evaluate Cas9-specific immune responses in canine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) following intramuscular and intravenous AAV-CRISPR therapy. Treatment results initially in robust dystrophin restoration in affected dogs but also induces muscle inflammation, and Cas9-specific humoral and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses that are not prevented by the muscle-specific promoter and transient prednisolone immune suppression. In normal dogs, AAV-mediated Cas9 expression induces similar, though milder, immune responses. In contrast, other therapeutic (micro-dystrophin and SERCA2a) and reporter (alkaline phosphatase, AP) vectors result in persistent expression without inducing muscle inflammation. Our results suggest Cas9 immunity may represent a critical barrier for AAV-CRISPR therapy in large mammals.

Tumor Intraventricular de tipo astrocitoma subependimario de células gigantes en un paciente con esclerosis tuberosa / Angiotomography in stenosis of the hepatic intraventricular tumor of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in a patient with tuberous sclerosis

Paciente de sexo femenino, de 3 años de edad, con diagnóstico de esclerosis tuberosa y epilepsia refractaria a los farmacos antiepilépticos, que presenta en la resonancia magnética nuclear del cerebro (Figura1) un proceso ocupativo de aproximadamente 36x25x26 mm a nivel ependimario del asta frontal derecha, del núcleo caudado derecho y de la rodilla de la cápsula interna vecinal, que produce efecto de masa al septum pelucidum desplazándole a la izquierda. Es una imagen compatible con astrocitoma.(AU)

Tumor Intraventricular de tipo astrocitoma subependimario de células gigantes en paciente con esclerosis tuberosa / Angiotomography in stenosis of the hepatic intraventricular tumor of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in a patient with tuberous sclerosis

Paciente de sexo femenino, de 3 años de edad, con diagnóstico de esclerosis tuberosa y epilepsia refractaria a los farmacos antiepilépticos, que presenta en la resonancia magnética nuclear del cerebro (Figura1) un proceso ocupativo de aproximadamente 36x25x26 mm a nivel ependimario del asta frontal derecha, del núcleo caudado derecho y de la rodilla de la cápsula interna vecinal, que produce efecto de masa al septum pelucidum desplazándole a la izquierda. Es una imagen compatible con Astrocitoma. (AU)