Valor pronóstico de la resonancia magnética precoz en la morbilidad y mortalidad de la lesión medular traumática / Prognostic value of early magnetic resonance imaging in the morbidity and mortality of traumatic spinal cord injury

Objetivo Valorar en individuos con lesión medular traumática (LMT) la relación en re la mortalidad y la necesidad de UCI y las alteraciones objetivadas mediante resonancia magnética (RM) precoz, analizando alteraciones parenquimatosas, disrupción de ligamentos vertebrales (DLV) y compresión del cordón medular (CCM). Diseño Estudio retrospectivo. Ámbito Hospital de tercer nivel, unidad de lesionados medulares y UCI. Pacientes Individuos con LMT aguda entre los años 2010 y 2019. Intervenciones Análisis de RM realizada en las primeras 72horas. Variables de interés Ingreso en UCI y mortalidad. Resultados Recogidos 269 casos. El patrón que se asoció a una mayor mortalidad fue la hemorragia (16,7%) por 12,5% de los edemas a un nivel y 6,5% de los edemas a múltiples niveles (p=0,125). Lo mismo aconteció con los ingresos en UCI: 69,0% en hemorragia por 60,2% en edema múltiple y 46,3% en edemas cortos (p=0,018). Con respecto a la CCM, la mortalidad fue del 13,4% con 59,2% de ingresos en UCI por 2,2% y 42,2% de quienes no presentaban compresión (p=0,020 y p=0,003). Las cifras de éxitus e ingreso en UCI en los individuos con DLV fueron del 15,0% y el 67,3%, respectivamente, por un 6,2% y 44,4% de los individuos sin DLV (p<0,001 y p=0,013). Conclusiones La presencia de hemorragia medular, CCM y DLV se asoció a una mayor necesidad de UCI. Existe un significativo aumento de la mortalidad en los casos con CCM y DLV (AU)

Objective To assess in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) the relationship between mortality and need for ICU and early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), analyzing spinal parenchymal alterations, disruption of vertebral ligaments (DVL) and spinal cord compression (SCC). Design Retrospective study. Setting Third-level hospital, Spinal Cord Injury Unit and ICU. Patients Individuals with acute TSCI between 2010 and 2019. Interventio Analysis of MRI performed in the first 72h. Variables of interest Admission to ICU and mortality. Results 269 cases collected. The pattern that demonstrated higher mortality was cord hemorrhage (16.7%) for 12.5% of single-level edema and 6.5% of multilevel edema (p=0.125). The same happened with ICU admissions: 69.0% in hemorrhage, 60.2% in multilevel edema and 46.3% in short edema (p=0.018). Analyzing CCM, mortality was 13.4% with 59.2% of ICU admissions, for 2.2% and 42.2% of individuals without cord compression (p=0.020 and p=0.003). The figures of death and ICU admission among cord injuries with DVL were 15.0% and 67.3%, for 6.2% and 44.4% of the individuals without DLV (p<0.001 and p=0.013). Conclusions The presence of spinal cord hemorrhage, SCC and DVL was associated with a higher admission in ICU. A significant increase in mortality was observed in cases with SCC and DVL (AU)

Long-term effects of hydrogen sulfide on the anabolic-catabolic balance of articular cartilage in vitro.

Healthy cartilage maintenance relies on an equilibrium among the anabolic and catabolic processes in chondrocytes. With the onset of osteoarthritis (OA), increased interleukin (IL)-1ß levels induce an inhibition of the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, as well as an increase in proteases. This eventually leads to a predominance of the catabolic phenotype and the progressive loss of articular cartilage. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a small gaseous molecule recognized as the third endogenous gasotransmitter. When administered exogenously, it has shown anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties in several in vitro and in vivo models. Here, OA cartilage disks were co-cultured in vitro with IL-1ß (5 ng/ml) and NaSH or GYY4137 (200 or 1000 µM) for 21 days. The ability of these two H2S-producing compounds to avoid long term extracellular matrix (ECM) destruction was evaluated. We used a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification kit histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate matrix proteins degradation and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) abundance. Through the GAGs quantification assay, safranin O (S-O) and toluidine blue (TB) stains, and keratan/chondroitin sulfate (KS/ChS) IHCs it was shown that co-stimulation with H2S-forming reagents effectively avoided GAGs destruction. Both Masson's trichrome (MT) stain and collagen (col) type II IHC, as well as aggrecan (agg) IHC demonstrated that not only were these proteins protected but even promoted, their abundance being higher than in the basal condition. Further, stains also demonstrated that positivity in the inter-territorial and intra-cellular for the different matrix components were rescued, suggesting that NaSH and GYY4137 might also have pro-anabolic effects. In addition, a clear protective effect against the increased MMPs levels was seen, since increased MMP3 and 13 levels were subsequently reduced with the co-stimulation with sulfide compounds. In general, GYY4137 was more effective than NaSH, and increasing the dose improved the results. This study demonstrates that H2S anti-catabolic effects, which had been previously proven in short-term (24-48 h) in vitro cellular models, are maintained over time directly in OA cartilage tissue.

Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in Galicia, Spain: trends over a 20-year period.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational study with prospective and retrospective monitoring. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and demographic characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), and to analyze its epidemiological changes. SETTING: Unidad de Lesionados Medulares, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, in Galicia (Spain). METHODS: The study included patients with TSCI who had been hospitalized between January 1995 and December 2014. Relevant data were extracted from the admissions registry and electronic health record. RESULTS: A total of 1195 patients with TSCI were admitted over the specified period of time; 76.4% male and 23.6% female. Mean patient age at injury was 50.20 years. Causes of injury were falls (54.2%), traffic accidents (37%), sports/leisure-related accidents (3.5%) and other traumatic causes (5.3%). Mean patient age increased significantly over time (from 46.40 to 56.54 years), and the number of cases of TSCI related to traffic accidents decreased (from 44.5% to 23.7%), whereas those linked to falls increased (from 46.9% to 65.6%). The most commonly affected neurological level was the cervical level (54.9%), increasing in the case of levels C1-C4 over time, and the most frequent ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) grade was A (44.3%). The crude annual incidence rate was 2.17/100 000 inhabitants, decreasing significantly over time at an annual percentage rate change of -1.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of TSCI tends to decline progressively. Mean patient age has increased over time and cervical levels C1-C4 are currently the most commonly affected ones. These epidemiological changes will eventually result in adjustments in the standard model of care for TSCI.

Effect of hydrogen sulfide sources on inflammation and catabolic markers on interleukin 1ß-stimulated human articular chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the third gasotransmitter together with NO and CO, is emerging as a regulator of inflammation. To test if it might offer therapeutic value in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) we evaluated the effects of two exogenous sources of H2S, NaSH and GYY4137, on inflammation and catabolic markers that characterize OA. METHOD: Human chondrocytes (CHs) were isolated from OA tissue. Cells were stimulated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-1ß, IL1ß, 5 ng/ml) and the ability of the two H2S sources to ameliorate its effects on the cells was tested. Nitric oxide (NO) production was quantified through the Griess reaction. Protein levels of inducible NO synthase (NOS2) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) were visualized through immunocytochemistry (ICC). Relative mRNA expression was quantified with qRT-PCR. Prostaglandin-2 (PGE-2), interleukin 6 (IL6) and MMP13 levels were measured with specific EIAs. NFκB nuclear translocation was visualized with immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Both H2S sources led to significant reductions in NO, PGE-2, IL6 and MMP13 released by the cells and at the protein level. This was achieved by downregulation of relevant genes involved in the synthesis routes of these molecules, namely NOS2, cyclooxigenase-2 (COX2), prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), IL6 and MMP13. NFκB nuclear translocation was also reduced. CONCLUSION: NaSH and GYY4137 show anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties when added to IL1ß activated osteoarthritic CHs. Supplementation with exogenous H2S sources can regulate the expression of relevant genes in OA pathogenesis and progression, counteracting IL1ß pro-inflammatory signals that lead to cartilage destruction in part by reducing NFκB activation.

Spanish adaptation of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39).

AIM: The stroke and aphasia quality of life scale-39 is an interviewer administered questionnaire that has been developed and validated in the United Kingdom to be applied to patients with chronic aphasia as a consequence of a stroke. The objective of this article was to translate the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life-39 Scale (SAQOL-39) into Spanish language, and evaluate its acceptability and reliability. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation of the SAQOL-39 into Spanish was carried out by following the translation and back-translation method. Twenty three patients with long-term aphasia due to stroke were tested. The patients were interviewed twice in a period from 2 to 12 days. The acceptability of the Spanish SAQOL-39 was evaluated by examining the floor/ceiling effects and the missing data. The reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha (internal consistence) and intraclass correlation coefficients (test-retest reliability) for the overall scale and its subdomains. RESULTS: There were no difficulties to translate the original version into Spanish. There was good acceptability demonstrated by minimal missing data and floor/ceiling effects. Test-retest reliability for the overall score, and the subscales scores was 0.949 (0.854-0.944). Internal consistency analysis by Cronbach's a was 0.950 (0.851-0.900). CONCLUSIONS: This small scale study provided preliminary evidence for the acceptability and reliability of the Spanish version of the SAQOL-39. Further testing in larger samples is needed to evaluate the validity of the scale, its sensitivity to change and to confirm its reliability.