Multiple sclerosis and cognitive decline: is ApoE-4 a surrogate marker?

BACKGROUND - The role of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism has been well demonstrated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer. However, its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. AIMS - The aims of our study were as follows: (i) to assess whether ApoE-4 might be a surrogate marker of cognitive decline in MS; (ii) to confirm the presence of cognitive impairment in mildly disabled patients treated with interferon-beta; and (iii) to analyse the correlation between cognitive disturbances and clinical variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS - Fifty relapsing-remitting MS patients underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests and were genotyped for ApoE. Their scores were compared with those of 35 controls. RESULTS - No association was found between ApoE-4 and cognitive impairment. Significant differences in most domains were observed between MS and the control group. Cognitive decline was not related to disability progression. CONCLUSION - No association between cognitive impairment and ApoE-4 or clinical markers was detected in our MS patients.

Impact of antibiotic therapy on systemic cytokine expression in pneumococcal pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to compare the evolution of systemic cytokine levels over time in patients with pneumococal pneumonia treated either with ß-lactam monotherapy or with combination therapy (ß-lactam plus fluoroquinolone). Prospective observational study of hospitalized non-immunocompromised adults with PP. Concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Patients on ß-lactam monotherapy were compared with those receiving combination therapy. Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 decreased rapidly in the first days after admission, in accordance with the mean time to defervescence. High levels of IL-6 were found in patients with the worst outcomes, measured by the need for intensive care unit admission and mortality. No major differences in demographic or clinical characteristics or severity of disease were found between patients treated with ß-lactam monotherapy and those treated with combination therapy. IL-6 levels fell more rapidly in patients with combination therapy in the first 48 h (p = 0.016). Our data suggest that systemic expression of IL-6 production in patients with PP correlates with prognosis. Initial combination antibiotic therapy produces a faster decrease in this cytokine in the first 48 h.

Poor agreement between Goldmann and Pascal tonometry in eyes with extreme pachymetry.

AIM: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer (PDCT) with the standard Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and to correlate them with the central corneal thickness (CCT) in a non-glaucomatous population. METHODS: We prospectively measured IOP using PDCT and GAT in random order in 100 normal eyes. CCT was analysed with an ultrasonic pachymeter in each case. Statistical analysis of baseline and stratified data included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Lin correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis to evaluate the agreement between both techniques.ResultsGAT was used first in 51 eyes and PDCT in 48 cases. Mean IOP was 14.8 mm Hg with GAT and 20.3 mm Hg with PDCT. Mean pachymetry was 553.23 micrometres (microm) (SD: 4.7 microm). Global agreement of IOP between GAT and PDCT was 0.09 by ICC and 0.170 by Lin correlation. When CCT values ranged between 540 and 545 microm, the agreement between both tonometers was optimal (ICC 0.54 and Lin 0.61). Outside these pachymetry values, agreement between both tonometers diminished dramatically. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant agreement between both devices was reached only at intermediate pachymetry readings in contrast with other studies that show excellent global agreement between GAT and PDCT.

A study comparing two protocols of treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare two treatment options for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD): (1) bevacizumab administered once a month for 3 months and thereafter as needed (loading dose (LD)); and (2) bevacizumab administered as needed, after the first injection (pro re nata (as needed) (PRN)). METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients were enrolled in this prospective study. The first 25 patients were included in the LD group and the last 25 patients in the PRN group. In both groups, the need for re-treatment was based on the presence of persistent or recurrent macular oedema, subretinal fluid or pigment epithelial detachment on optical coherence tomography scans. RESULTS: At the 6-month follow-up, mean visual acuity improved by 13.7 letters (p<0.001) in the LD group and 4.6 in the PRN group (p<0.001). Thirty-six per cent of patients in the LD group compared with 12% in the PRN group gained 15 or more letters (p = 0.04). Mean foveal thickness decreased by 91.3 microm (p<0.001) in the LD group and 48.2 microm in the PRN group (p<0.001). No ocular or systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with CNV secondary to AMD treated with a LD protocol had better results than patients treated with a PRN protocol with intravitreal bevacizumab.

[Age distribution of uveal melanoma and its relationship to survival]. / Distribución por edades del melanoma de úvea y su relación con la supervivencia.

PURPOSE: To study the age distribution and survival in patients with uveal melanoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 303 patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma. We analysed the clinical characteristics: age, gender, tumor size and origin, follow-up time, systemic state, survival time and cause of death. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 60.09 years. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival of patients less than 50 years of age at diagnosis was 91.41%, 81.83% and 61.45% respectively. The 2-, 5- and 10-year survival of patients equal to or older than 50 years was 90.86%, 73.18% and 58.28% respectively. No significant difference was found between these two age groups. When we considered a possible relationship between the sex factor and survival, in patients equal to or older than 50 years of age, we found a higher survival in men than in women (log-rank test; p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Uveal melanoma in Spain has a similar age distribution to that of other countries, and it is not an infrequent diagnosis in patients under 40 years of age. Survival rates are also similar to that of other series. We have not found any significant difference between the age of our patients and the survival, although if we analysed the subgroups, we found that the men equal to or over 50 years of age had a better survival than the women of the same age.

Distribución por edades del melanoma de úvea y su relación con la supervivencia / Age distribution of uveal melanoma and its relationship to survival

Propósito: Estudiar la distribución por edades del melanoma de úvea y relacionarlo con la supervivencia Método: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo en pacientes diagnosticados de melanoma de úvea. Se han analizado entre otras las variables clínicas: edad, sexo, origen y tamaño tumoral, tiempo de seguimiento, estado sistémico actual, fecha y causa de muerte. Resultados: Se han estudiado 303 pacientes afectos de melanoma de úvea. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 60,09 años. La supervivencia en los pacientes = 50 años a los 2, 5 y 10 años es del 90,86%, 73,18% y 58,28% respectivamente, diferencia no estadísticamente significativa entre estos dos grupos de edad. Cuando consideramos el factor sexo en los pacientes >= 50 años encontramos una mayor supervivencia entre los hombres respecto a las mujeres (logrank; p=0,038). Conclusiones: El melanoma de úvea en nuestro medio sigue un patrón de distribución por edades muy similar al descrito en otras series de otros países, no siendo infrecuente el diagnóstico en pacientes jóvenes = 50 años

Purpose: To study the age distribution and survival in patients with uveal melanoma. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 303 patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma. We analysed the clinical characteristics: age, gender, tumor size and origin, follow-up time, systemic state, survival time and cause of death. Results: The median age of the patients was 60.09 years. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival of patients less than 50 years of age at diagnosis was 91.41%, 81.83% and 61.45% respectively. The 2-, 5- and 10- year survival of patients equal to or older than 50 years was 90.86%, 73.18% and 58.28% respectively. No significant difference was found between these two age groups. When we considered a possible relationship between the sex factor and survival, in patients equal to or older than 50 years of age, we found a higher survival in men than in women (logrank test; p=0.038). Conclusions: Uveal melanoma in Spain has a similar age distribution to that of other countries, and it is not an infrequent diagnosis in patients under 40 years of age. Survival rates are also similar to that of other series. We have not found any significant difference between the age of our patients and the survival, although if we analysed the subgroups, we found that the men equal to or over 50 years of age had a better survival than the women of the same age

Predictive factors of meticillin resistance among patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections at hospital admission.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent throughout the healthcare system in Spain, particularly in long-term care facilities (LTCF) and the incidence of MRSA bloodstream infection (MRSA-BSI) at hospital admission is increasing. This study aimed to determine factors that predict meticillin resistance among patients who require hospitalization for S. aureus BSI. We performed a case-control study comparing patients with S. aureus at hospital admission from January 1991 to December 2003. Case patients with MRSA-BSI at hospital admission (N=50) were compared with control patients with meticillin-susceptible S. aureus bloodstream infection (MSSA-BSI) at hospital admission (N=98). The incidence of MRSA-BSI at hospital admission increased significantly from 0.08 cases/1000 hospital admissions in 1991 to 0.37 cases in 2003 (P<0.001). Univariate analysis comparing patients with MRSA- and MSSA-BSI found a significant association between meticillin resistance and age >60 years, female sex, prior MRSA isolation and healthcare-related BSI. No differences were found in underlying conditions such as diabetes, haemodialysis, immunosuppression, source of infection or mortality between the two groups. Multivariate analyses identified prior MRSA isolation [odds ratio (OR): 41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4-350] and admission from long-term care facilities (OR: 37; 95% CI: 4.5-316) as independent risk factors for MRSA-BSI.

Early post-operative ACTH and cortisol as predictors of remission in Cushing's disease.

AIM: To study the value of early (24 h) post-operative ACTH and serum cortisol as predictors of remission after transsphenoidal surgery in Cushing's disease. METHODS: We prospectively studied 44 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing's disease between 1997 and 2005. The mean follow-up period of patients after surgery was 49 months (19-102 months). The predictive value of clinical characteristics, pre-operative hormonal studies, radiological, surgical and histological findings, and post-operative hormonal studies were analysed. For the post-operative hormonal study plasma ACTH and serum cortisol were determined at 8.00 a.m. the day after surgery. RESULTS: After surgery, Cushing's disease remitted in 39 patients (89%) and persisted in 5 patients (11%). Three patients relapsed during the follow-up period. Only three study variables were predictive of persistence of Cushing's disease after surgery: the non identification of the adenoma in histology (an adenoma was found in 87% of the patients in remission, and in 20% of treatment failures, p = 0.01), the early post-operative plasma ACTH (patients in remission: 2 pmol/L (1.1-10.8 pmol/L), treatment failures: 8.2 pmol/L (1.1-12 pmol/L), p = 0.019), and the early post-operative serum cortisol (patients in remission: 128.4 nmol/L (27.6-4644 nmol/L), treatment failures: 797 nmol/L (606-1037 nmol/L), p = 0.003). ROC curves indicated that plasma ACTH < or = 7.55 pmol/L distinguished patients in remission from treatment failures with 80% sensitivity and 97.4% specificity, and serum cortisol < or = 585 nmol/L with 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four hours after transsesphenoidal surgery for Cushing's disease, and without glucocorticoids replacement, patients with serum cortisol concentrations higher than 585 nmol/L, and/or plasma ACTH higher than 7.55 pmol/L, and/or those in which an adenoma is not identified in the histological study, have a high risk of treatment failure.

Anatomical redistribution of sweating after T2-T3 thoracoscopic sympathicolysis: a study of 210 patients.

BACKGROUND: The cutaneous influence areas of the different sympathetic ganglia have not been fully established to date. The aim of this study was to define the cutaneous influence area of sympathetic ganglia T2-T3. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PH) underwent 420 thoracoscopic sympathicolysis procedures of ganglia T2-T3 in a prospective study. All completed a preoperative questionnaire and a second questionnaire 12 months after the operation. The questionnaires evaluated perspiration in the different body areas. Only the zones of anhidrosis were considered in delimiting the cutaneous expression of sympathetic ganglia T2-T3. RESULTS: Redistribution of perspiration as reported by the patients comprised significant reduction in the palms, axillas, and soles, and an increase in the abdomen, back, and gluteal and popliteal regions. Regarding the incidence of anhidrosis by anatomical location, statistically significant changes were recorded in the head, hands, axillas, and soles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral upper thoracic sympathicolysis is followed by redistribution of body perspiration, with a clear decrease in the zones regulated by mental or emotional stimuli, and an increase in the areas regulated by environmental stimuli, though we are unable to establish the etiology of this redistribution.