The prevalence, incidence, and clinical assessment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in patients with demyelinating diseases.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is characterised by recurrent attacks of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. The purpose of this work was to identify the incidence and prevalence of NMOSD and its clinical characteristics in the population treated for demyelinating diseases in Western Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive, retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, at the Sub-specialty Medical Unit, Specialties Hospital (known by its Spanish abbreviation UMAE-HE), of the National Western Medical Center (CMNO), Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). A review of the electronic files for all patients with a diagnosis of NMOSD in 2019, was carried out in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients with NMOSD were included in the study. The incidence was 0.71/100 000 (CI 0.60-0.85) and the prevalence was 1.09/100 000 (CI 0.84-1.42). There were 79.3% women, and 20.6% were men (P = .01). All (100%) patients presented with anti-aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G, and 89.6% showed seropositivity for anti-aquaporin-4 (CI 82.6-94.9). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 100% of patients, where 34.4% were normal, and 65.5% (38) abnormal, presenting with non-specific subcortical lesions (P = 0.04). The initial clinical presentation was optic neuritis (ON) in 58.6%; where 31.0% was bilateral ON, 20.7% was left ON, and 6.9% were right ON; transverse myelitis in 26.0%, area postrema syndrome (APS) in 10.3%, among others. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of NMOSD exceeds 0.71/100 000, the prevalence is low at 1.09/100 000, and NMOSD is predominantly found in women.

Nutritional Status in Patients with Probable Alzheimer's Disease: Effect of Rivastigmine.

IMPORTANCE: Altough disease-modifying factors such as malnutrition and diet have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), little is known about the effects of pharmacological therapies on the nutritional status of AD patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional status, prealbumin, and albumin serum levels and several anthropometric measurements in patients with probable moderate-stage AD, with and without rivastigmine drug treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 34 patients were included, 17 with rivastigmine treatment and 17 without pharmacological treatment, over 60 years of both sexes. MEASUREMENTS: The nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Albumin and prealbumin (transthyretin) levels and anthropometric evaluation were assessed using standard methods. RESULTS: A polarity of malnutrition was detected in the untreated group. According to the MNA survey, the risk of malnutrition is higher without rivastigmine treatment (p = 0.0001). There are a less loss of appetite, less psychological stress, greater mobility and independence in those patients receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.003, 0.008, 0.016 and 0.018, respectively). The body mass index does not show a statistical difference, however, categorizing it for older adults, this index was improved in those receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.016). The serum levels of albumin and prealbumin showed no significant statistical difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Rivastigmine treatment shows a protective effect on malnutrition in patients with moderate-stage AD.

A purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa) controls experimentally induced diabetes in rats.

The hypoglycemic activity of a purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa) was evaluated on STZ-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were reduced to normal values by a combined treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract. When insulin was withdrawn from the combined treatment, the prickly pear extract alone maintained normoglycemic state in the diabetic rats. The blood glucose response to administered glucose also showed that the rats receiving the combination treatment of insulin and Opuntia extract for 7 weeks followed by Opuntia extract alone were capable of rapidly returning blood glucose to the levels of the nondiabetic rats. Although the mechanism of action is unknown, the magnitude of the glucose control by the small amount of Opuntia extract required (1 mg/kg body weight per day) preclude a predominant role for dietary fiber. These very encouraging results for diabetes control by the purified extract of this Opuntia cactus make the need for clinical studies in humans evident.

[Experimental testicular fibrosis and atrophy induced by intratesticular propylene glycol injection]. / Atrofia y fibrosis testicular experimentalmente inducida por inyección intratesticular de propilenglicol.

Fifty-four 15 day old male Wistar rats were given single intratesticular injection of experimental preparations which contained formaldehyde, xylocaine and epinephrine diluted in propylene glycol (FXEP); xylocaine in propylene glycol (XP): epinephrine in propylene glycol (EP) propylene glycol (P); formaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (F); an one control group. The group of rats that were given FXEP underwent testicular weight reduction; body weight and size were not affected. Also the treatment with P produced atrophy and fibrosis in testis and a more severe testicular weight reduction. The sclerosing effect of P treatment was more satisfactory than treatment with FXEP, and apparently no one affected body weight and size, thus, this could be a safe, easy and inexpensive method for non surgical castration.

Fluorescent characteristics of carbamazepine.

Previously undescribed carbamazepine fluorescence data were found in ethanolic solutions within a range of 200-550 nm. Concentrated H2S04, bidistilled ethanol and a 1:1 mixture of them showed lambda Exc. at 470 nm. A 10-fold fluorescence increase at 470 nm and 520 nm peaks were observed when 10 micrograms of ethanolic carbamazepine solution was activated with the same acid (1:1). A lambda Exc. of 300 nm and Anal. of 357 nm amounted to 60 per cent of the carbamazepine relative fluorescence values in comparison to 95 per cent when a 470/515 nm monochromators combination were used. A 12 hours fluorescence duration was detected for "activated" carbamazepine. The "filter effect" appeared within the range of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml of carbamazepine. Temperature induced an acute fluorescence decay starting at 23 degrees C. Identical wavelengths and others still unidentified were detected from carbamazepine extracted from human serum. The monochromators combination at 300/357 nm might be useful for serum extracted carbamazepine measurements.

Caracteristicas fluorescentes de la carbamacepina. / Fluorescent characteristics of carbamazepine

Describimos las caracteristicas fluorescentes de la carbamacepina. Esta, en solucion etanoliga, manifiesta lambda exc. a 470 y 520 nm.El etanol no muestra maximos de excitacion entre 200 y 550 nm; en cambio, el H2SO4 concentrado y su mezcla etanolica lo hacen a 479 nm, en proporcion 10 veces menor en ausencia de carbamacepina. Una meseta a lambda exc.de 300 nm y una lambda de anal de 357 brindan valores de 60 por ciento, en comparacion con 95 por ciento de fluorescencia relativa encontrados con la combinacion 470/515 nm para 10 micrograma de carbamacepina. Se detecta una duracion de 12 horas de la fluorescencia correspondiente a la carbamacepina "activada" El efecto de filtro se manifiesta entre los 10 y los 100 micrograma. La temperatura induce la declinacion de la emision despues de los 23oC hasta llegar a valores del reactivo de activacion a los 25oC. La carbamacepina extraida de suero humano revela las mismas lambdas exc. y valores intermedios correspondientes a compuestos sericos no investigados