Dynamic Compression of the Ulnar Nerve Associated With the Anconeus Epitrochlearis Muscle: Do We Really Know Everything?

Ulnar nerve compression associated with the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle (AE) is an uncommon cause of peripheral nerve compression at the elbow. It is often seen in young women with a hypertrophied or severely edematous muscle. Its causes are unclear. Numerous observed features, such as a hypertrophic AE, a palpable mass on the medial side of the elbow, and the dynamic nature of symptoms, have sparked controversy in the literature. Its clinical presentation is often insidious, and occasionally symptoms only occur in prolonged positions (dynamic compression). EMG tests are usually negative, and a correct diagnosis relies on imaging. We present the case of a 21-year-old student and clarinet player who presented with dynamic compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow associated with AE. Much remains to be elucidated about the incidence, pathophysiology, and contributing factors of this peripheral form of cubital compression. It may be time to revisit this condition.

In vitro antibacterial activity of antiretroviral drugs on key commensal bacteria from the human microbiota.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy has improved life expectancy in HIV-infected patients. However, people living with HIV under antiretroviral therapy are at higher risks of developing chronic complications and acquiring multidrug resistant bacteria than healthy population. These factors have been associated with shifts in gut microbiome composition and immune activation. It is unclear how antiretroviral drugs affect gut microbiota composition, but it has been observed that antiretroviral treatment is not able to fully restore gut health after HIV infection. Additionally, some antiretroviral drugs have shown antibacterial activity suggesting that these drugs could have a direct impact on the human microbiome composition. Methods: We determined the in vitro antibacterial activity of 16 antiretroviral drugs against a set of key clinically relevant and human commensal bacterial strains. Results: Our results demonstrate that 5 antiretroviral drugs have in vitro antibacterial activity against gut and vaginal human commensal bacteria. Zidovudine has antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Prevotella bivia, abacavir against Gardnerella vaginalis, efavirenz against G. vaginalis and P. bivia and bictegravir against Enterococcus spp. and G. vaginalis. Moreover, we describe for the first time that elvitegravir has antibacterial activity against G. vaginalis and P. bivia and, most importantly, against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains with MIC values of 4-16 and 4 µg/mL, respectively showing high level of effectiveness against the tested multidrug-resistant bacteria. Discussion: Our results underscore that some antiretroviral drugs may influence the human microbiota composition. In addition, we report the potential use of elvitegravir to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria warranting the need of clinical studies to repurpose this antiretroviral drug.

Clonal Spread and Intra- and Inter-Species Plasmid Dissemination Associated With Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales During a Hospital Outbreak in Barcelona, Spain.

Objectives: The study aimed to characterize the clonal spread of resistant bacteria and dissemination of resistance plasmids among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at a tertiary hospital in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: Isolates were recovered from surveillance rectal swabs and diagnostic samples. Species identification was by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Molecular typing was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by gradient-diffusion and carriage of bla genes was detected by PCR. Plasmid typing, conjugation assays, S1-PFGE studies and long-read sequencing were used to characterize resistance plasmids. Results: From July 2018 to February 2019, 125 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacterales were recovered from 101 inpatients from surveillance (74.4%) or clinical samples (25.6%), in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Clonality studies identified a major clone of Klebsiella pneumoniae belonging to sequence type ST15 and additional isolates of K. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter sp. from different STs. All isolates but one carried the bla KPC-2 allelic variant. The bla KPC-2 gene was located in an IncFIIk plasmid of circa 106 Kb in a non-classical Tn4401 element designated NTEKPC-pMC-2-1. Whole-genome sequencing revealed different rearrangements of the 106 Kb plasmid while the NTEKPC-pMC-2-1 module was highly conserved. Conclusion: We report a hospital outbreak caused by the clonal dissemination of KPC-producing ST15 K. pneumoniae but also the intra- and inter-species transmission of the bla KPC-2 gene associated with plasmid conjugation and/or transposon dissemination. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an outbreak caused by KPC-producing Enterobacterales isolated from human patients in Catalonia and highlights the relevance of surveillance studies in the early detection and control of antibiotic resistant high-risk clones.

Evaluating the effect of using non-Saccharomyces on Oenococcus oeni and wine malolactic fermentation.

Interest in using non-Saccharomyces yeasts in winemaking has increased in recent years due to their ability to improve wine quality. However, little information has been published regarding the possible effect on malolactic fermentation (MLF), carried out mostly by Oenococcus oeni. The aim of this paper is therefore to evaluate the effect of the most representative non-Saccharomyces species on O. oeni and wine MLF. Different strains of Torulaspora delbrueckii, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Hanseniaspora vineae and Starmerella bacillaris (syn. Candida zemplinina) were used in sequential alcoholic fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The resulting wines were inoculated with four O. oeni strains. The action of non-Saccharomyces affected the final wine composition and the later role of O. oeni. Some of its strains could not perform MLF in H. uvarum wine due to high SO2 concentrations. In some cases, MLF was inhibited in wines inoculated with S. bacillaris. All the H. uvarum and H. vineae strains notably increased acetic acid concentrations, thus threatening wine quality. The best conditions for MLF were provided by some T. delbruecckii and M. pulcherrima strains, which showed increased concentrations of mannoproteins - compounds described as MLF activators -, no production of SO2, and low consumption of L-malic acid. In conclusion, non-Saccharomyces yeasts have diverse effects on O. oeni and MLF depending on the species, with T. delbrueckii and M. pulcherrima being those that showed the best compatibility with MLF development.

[Use of mobile immunization teams to increase influenza vaccination coverage among heatlthcare workers. A community intervention trial]. / Uso de equipos móviles para aumentar la cobertura vacunal antigripal entre el personal sanitario. Ensayo comunitario de intervención.

OBJECTIVE: The use of mobile immunization teams has been proposed as a strategy to increase influenza vaccination (IV) coverage among healthcare workers (HCW), but has not been evaluated in Primary Healthcare (PHC). The objective of this work was to determine if the use of mobile immunization teams increases IV coverage among HCW of a basic health area in the Valencian Community. METHODS: Community intervention trial that included all HCWs from a basic health area in the Valencian Community. The assignment was by conglomerates in one stage, with the HCWs of a health center as an intervention group and that of the rest of the centers as a control group. The intervention group was visited by a team consisting of a doctor and a nurse who offered on-site IV, while the control group did not receive such a visit. The independent variable was the visit of the mobile immunization team and the dependent variable was IV in the study season (2015-2016). Data analysis was done both for the total IV coverage and separately for sex, age, professional category and history of IV in the previous seasons. A McNemar test was used to compare frequency distributions of paired data. RESULTS: The control group went from 14 (31.8%) vaccinated in the 2014-2015 season to 19 (45.2%) in the 2015-2016 season, while the intervention group went from 19 (30.6%) to 34 (54.8%). Among the total of the WHCs it went from 33 (31.3%) vaccinated to 53 (50.0%). This increase was significant. By groups, the increase was significant among those who received the visit of the mobile team (p = 0.0003), but not in the control group (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: The visit of a mobile immunization team is a significant factor favorable to IV among HCW in our setting.

OBJETIVO: El uso de equipos móviles ha sido propuesto como estrategia para aumentar la cobertura de vacunación antigripal (VAG) entre el personal sanitario (PS), pero no ha sido evaluado en Atención Primaria (AP). El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si el uso de equipos móviles aumenta la cobertura de la VAG entre el PS de una zona básica de salud de AP de la Comunidad Valenciana. METODOS: Ensayo de intervención comunitaria que incluyó a todo el PS de AP de una zona básica de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana. La asignación fue por conglomerados en una etapa, con el PS de un centro de salud como grupo de intervención y el del resto de centros como grupo control. El PS del grupo de intervención recibió la visita de un equipo formado por un médico y un enfermero que ofreció in situ la vacunación antigripal, mientras que el grupo control no recibió tal visita. La variable independiente fue la visita del equipo móvil y la variable dependiente fue la VAG en la temporada de estudio (2015-2016). El análisis de los datos se realizó tanto para las coberturas de VAG totales como separadamente por sexo, edad, categoría profesional y antecedentes de VAG en las temporadas anteriores. Para comparar las distribuciones de frecuencia de datos apareados se usó la prueba de McNemar. RESULTADOS: El grupo control pasó de 14 (31,8%) vacunados en la temporada 2014-2015 a 19 (45.2%) en la 2015-2016, mientras que el grupo de intervención pasó de 19 (30,6%) a 34 (54,8%). Entre el total del PS se pasó de 33 (31,3%) vacunados a 53 (50,0%). Este aumento fue significativo. Por grupos, el aumento fue significativo entre los que recibieron la visita del equipo móvil (p=0,0003), pero no en el grupo de control (p=0,18). CONCLUSIONES: La visita de un equipo móvil es un factor significativo favorable a la VAG entre el PS de AP en nuestro medio.

Uso de equipos móviles para aumentar la cobertura vacunal antigripal entre el personal sanitario. Ensayo comunitario de intervención / Use of mobile immunization teams to increase influenza vaccination coverage among heatlthcare workers. A community intervention trial

OBJETIVO: El uso de equipos móviles ha sido propuesto como estrategia para aumentar la cobertura de vacunación antigripal (VAG) entre el personal sanitario (PS), pero no ha sido evaluado en Atención Primaria (AP). El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si el uso de equipos móviles aumenta la cobertura de la VAG entre el PS de una zona básica de salud de AP de la Comunidad Valenciana. MÉTODOS: Ensayo de intervención comunitaria que incluyó a todo el PS de AP de una zona básica de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana. La asignación fue por conglomerados en una etapa, con el PS de un centro de salud como grupo de intervención y el del resto de centros como grupo control. El PS del grupo de intervención recibió la visita de un equipo formado por un médico y un enfermero que ofreció in situ la vacunación antigripal, mientras que el grupo control no recibió tal visita. La variable independiente fue la visita del equipo móvil y la variable dependiente fue la VAG en la temporada de estudio (2015-2016). El análisis de los datos se realizó tanto para las coberturas de VAG totales como separadamente por sexo, edad, categoría profesional y antecedentes de VAG en las temporadas anteriores. Para comparar las distribuciones de frecuencia de datos apareados se usó la prueba de McNemar. RESULTADOS: El grupo control pasó de 14 (31,8%) vacunados en la temporada 2014-2015 a 19 (45.2%) en la 2015-2016, mientras que el grupo de intervención pasó de 19 (30,6%) a 34 (54,8%). Entre el total del PS se pasó de 33 (31,3%) vacunados a 53 (50,0%). Este aumento fue significativo. Por grupos, el aumento fue significativo entre los que recibieron la visita del equipo móvil (p=0,0003), pero no en el grupo de control (p=0,18). CONCLUSIONES: La visita de un equipo móvil es un factor significativo favorable a la VAG entre el PS de AP en nuestro medio

OBJECTIVE: The use of mobile immunization teams has been proposed as a strategy to increase influenza vaccination (IV) coverage among healthcare workers (HCW), but has not been evaluated in Primary Healthcare (PHC). The objective of this work was to determine if the use of mobile immunization teams increases IV coverage among HCW of a basic health area in the Valencian Community. METHODS: Community intervention trial that included all HCWs from a basic health area in the Valencian Community. The assignment was by conglomerates in one stage, with the HCWs of a health center as an intervention group and that of the rest of the centers as a control group. The intervention group was visited by a team consisting of a doctor and a nurse who offered on-site IV, while the control group did not receive such a visit. The independent variable was the visit of the mobile immunization team and the dependent variable was IV in the study season (2015-2016). Data analysis was done both for the total IV coverage and separately for sex, age, professional category and history of IV in the previous seasons. A McNemar test was used to compare frequency distributions of paired data. RESULTS: The control group went from 14 (31.8%) vaccinated in the 2014-2015 season to 19 (45.2%) in the 2015-2016 season, while the intervention group went from 19 (30.6%) to 34 (54.8%). Among the total of the WHCs it went from 33 (31.3%) vaccinated to 53 (50.0%). This increase was significant. By groups, the increase was significant among those who received the visit of the mobile team (p = 0.0003), but not in the control group (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: The visit of a mobile immunization team is a significant factor favorable to IV among HCW in our setting

Pain Associated With Treatment of Dupuytren Contracture With Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to quantify the degree of pain associated with collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injection and to determine whether it is related to other factors in the intervention. METHODS: A prospective study of 135 patients was performed to evaluate pain at 3 points during treatment: (1) after CCH injection, using a numerical rating scale (NRS), (2) a binary (positive/negative) assessment before manipulation 24 hours after CCH and after removing the bandage, and (3) after joint manipulation performed with wrist block anesthesia. RESULTS: The average NRS for pain during infiltration was 4.7. Pain was present before manipulation in 52.6% of patients. Pain from manipulation showed an average NRS score of 3.6. The amounts of pain at CCH infiltration, pain after 24 hours, and pain from the manipulation were correlated because patients who experienced pain during CCH infiltration were more likely to report experiencing pain during manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum injection for treating Dupuytren contracture can be a painful process. There is a clear relationship between a patient's level of pain during injection of CCH and the likelihood that the patient will experience pain during manipulation, even with the use of local anesthesia. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Use of resources and costs associated with the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture at an orthopedics and traumatology surgery department in Denia (Spain): collagenase clostridium hystolyticum versus subtotal fasciectomy.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to analyze and compare the use of direct health resources and costs generated in the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture using two different techniques: subtotal fasciectomy and infiltration with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (CCH) in regular clinical practice at the Orthopedic and Traumatology Surgery (OTS) Department at the Hospital de Denia (Spain). METHODS: Observational, retrospective study based on data from the computerized clinical histories of two groups of patients- those treated surgically using a one or two digit subtotal fasciectomy technique (FSC) and those treated with CCH infiltration, monitored in regular clinical practice from February, 2009 to May, 2012. Demographic (age, sex), clinical (number of digits affected and which ones) and use of resources (hospitalizations, medical visits, tests and drugs) data were collected. Resource use and associated costs, according to the hospital's accounting department, were compared based on the type of treatment from Spain's National Health Service. RESULTS: 91 patients (48 (52.8%) in the FSC group) were identified. The average age and number of digits affected was 65.9 (9.2) years and 1.33 (0.48) digits affected in the FSC group, and 65.1 (9.7) years and 1.16 (0.4) digits in the CCH group.Overall, the costs of treating Dupuytren's disease with subtotal FSC amount to €1,814 for major ambulatory surgery and €1,961 with hospital stay including admission, surgical intervention (€904), examinations, dressings and physiotherapy. As to collagenase infiltration, costs amount to €952 (including minor surgery admission, vial with product, office examination and dressings). Finally, comparing total costs for treatments, a savings of €388 is estimated in favor of CCH treatment in the best-case scenario (patient under MAS system with no need for physiotherapy) and €1,008 in the worst-case scenario (patient admitted to hospital needing subsequent physiotherapy), implying a savings of 29% and 51%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that treating patients with DC by injection with CCH at the OTS department of the Hospital de Denia generates a total savings of 29% and 51% (€388 and €1008) compared with fasciectomy at the time of treatment. Long term evolution of CCH treatment is uncertain and the recurrence rate unknown.

How Often are Patient and Surgeon Recovery Expectations for Total Joint Arthroplasty Aligned? Results of a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons strive to set patient expectations for recovery following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, some patients report dissatisfaction after surgery due to unmet expectations. PURPOSE: We compared patients' and surgeon's recovery expectations prior to primary THA and TKA. METHODS: Sixty eight patients scheduled to undergo primary total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) surgery were enrolled. Before surgery, patients filled out a validated recovery expectations questionnaire that quantified expectations of postoperative pain relief, function, and well-being with a value from 0 to 100 (higher being more optimistic). The surgeon independently completed the same questionnaire for each patient. Overall score and item-specific comparisons were conducted. Correlations were explored between agreement level, demographics, patient-reported health status measures, and patients' assessments of the risk of complications associated with surgery. RESULTS: Most patients undergoing THR or TKR had higher expectations for recovery than their surgeon. Applying the clinically meaningful difference in expectations (≥7 points), 52.5% of the TKA patients' expectations exceeded those of the surgeon, while 22.5% expected less than their surgeon and 60.7% of THA patients' expectations exceeded those of the surgeon, while 21.4% expected less than their surgeon. THA patients with either lower or higher expectations than their surgeon had lower physical and mental health status scores. TKA patients with lower expectations compared to their surgeon had a higher expectation of complications. CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of the patients had higher expectations than their surgeon and this was driven by expectations of high-level activities and extreme range of motion. Further investigations are needed to understand these differences so as to enhance patient preoperative education.

Specific cardiac disorders in 402 consecutive patients with ischaemic cardioembolic stroke.

BACKGROUND: To determine the cardiological substrate in acute stroke patients presenting with a cardioembolic stroke subtype. METHODS: Data of 402 consecutive patients with cardioembolic stroke (cerebral infarction, n=347; transient ischaemic attack, n=55) were collected from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry in which data on 2000 stroke patients over a 10-year period were included. In all patients, specific cardiac disorders were identified by physical examination and results of electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography. Holter monitoring and more sensitive techniques of cardiac imaging were used in selected cases. RESULTS: Cardioembolic cerebral ischaemia accounted for 20% of all acute strokes (25% of ischaemic cerebrovascular events). Cardiac sources of embolism included the following: (a) structural cardiac disorders associated with arrhythmia (n=232), the most frequent being left ventricular hypertrophic hypertensive disease (n=120) and rheumatic mitral valve disease (n=49); (b) structural cardiac disease with sustained sinus rhythm (n=81), the most frequent being systolic left ventricular dysfunction of both ischaemic (n=35) or non-ischaemic (n=24) aetiology; and (c) isolated atrial dysrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, n=88 and atrial flutter, n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertrophic hypertensive cardiac disease complicated with atrial fibrillation was the most frequent cardiac source of emboli in cardioembolic stroke. Other important cardiac sources were isolated atrial fibrillation, rheumatic mitral valve disease, and systolic left ventricular dysfunction of ischaemic and non-ischaemic cause. The incidence of traditional emboligenous-prone cardiac disorders, such as mitral valve prolapse and mitral annular calcification was low.

[Valvular heart disease associated with benfluorex]. / Valvulopatía cardíaca asociada al uso de benfluorex.

We report the first case of valvular heart disease due to benfluorex. A 50-year-old woman who had been taking the anorectic agent benfluorex intermittently for one year developed severe fibrosis and regurgitation of the mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves. Clinical, echocardiographic and histopathological findings were analogous to those reported with fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. The similarity between the histopathological lesion documented in patients treated with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine and benfluorex and the valvular lesions reported in valve disease associated with ergot alkaloid use and carcinoid heart disease suggest a common pathophysiological mechanism and a central role for serotonin in the development of the disease.

Valvulopatía cardíaca asociada al uso de benfluorex / Valvular heart disease associated with benfluorex

Presentamos un caso asociado al tratamiento con benfluorex, con fibrosis tetravalvular subaguda que inducía intensa regurgitación mitral, aórtica y tricuspídea, además de moderada insuficiencia pulmonar. Las características clínicas, ecocardiográficas e histológicas del cuadro son análogas a las descritas con fenfluramina y dexfenfluramina, por lo que debería añadirse el benfluorex a la lista de fármacos anorexígenos que pueden inducir valvulopatía. La similitud entre la histopatología valvular hallada en los pacientes tratados con estos tres tipos de anorexígenos serotoninérgicos y la asociada al consumo de alcaloides ergotamínicos y a la cardiopatía carcinoide hacen pensar en la existencia de un mecanismo fisiopatológico común y un papel central de la serotonina como mediador de la lesión valvular. (AU)