Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Incidence at a Spanish epilepsy unit. / Muerte súbita en epilepsia: casuística de una unidad médica de epilepsia española.

INTRODUCTION: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death in patients with epilepsy. Most studies concerning this issue have been conducted in central and northern European countries and the United States. We conducted an epidemiologic study of SUDEP at our hospital's epilepsy unit. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all epileptic patients aged ≥14 years, regardless of epilepsy severity, who were treated at the outpatient epilepsy unit of our hospital between 2000 and 2013. The study included 2,309 patients. Deceased patients were identified using civil records. The cause of death was obtained from death certificates, autopsy reports, hospital reports, general practitioner records, and witnesses of the event. We calculated the incidence and proportional mortality of SUDEP based on our data. RESULTS: We identified 7 cases of definite SUDEP (2 patients with SUDEP plus), one case of probable SUDEP, and one case of possible SUDEP. Considering only cases of definite SUDEP, incidence was estimated at 0.44 cases per 1,000 patient-years and proportional mortality at 4.6%. Mean age of patients with definite SUDEP was 38.14 years; 4 were men and 3 were women. Most deaths occurred while patients were in bed and were therefore unwitnessed. Epilepsy in these patients was either remote symptomatic or cryptogenic. All patients but 2 had generalised seizures. None of the patients was in remission. CONCLUSIONS: SUDEP incidence and proportional mortality rates in our study are similar to those reported by population studies. This may be due to the fact that we did not select patients by severity. Risk factors for SUDEP in our sample are therefore consistent with those reported in the literature.

A novel MYH7 founder mutation causing Laing distal myopathy in Southern Spain.

MYH7 gene mutations are associated with wide clinical and genetic heterogeneity. We report a novel founder mutation in MYH7 in Southern Spain (Andalucía). We studied two index patients and 24 family members from two apparently independent families by physical examination, serum creatine-kinase, muscle MRI, sequencing studies and genetic linkage analysis. Sixteen individuals were heterozygous for a (p.R1560P) variant in the MYH7 gene. Haplotype was consistent with a common ancestor for the two families. The patients displayed the classic Laing distal myopathy phenotype, with hanging first toe as the initial presentation, even in mildly affected patients who declared themselves asymptomatic, although neck flexor weakness was revealed as an early sign in some cases. MRI showed that the sartorius was the first muscle involved, even in two out of three asymptomatic carriers. Our findings support the novel variant p.R1560P in MYH7 as a founder mutation in Andalucía. The early involvement of the sartorius muscle in MRI may be useful as an indicator of affection status.

[Risk factors associated with the development of enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's disease]. / Factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de enterocolitis en la enfermedad de Hirschsprung.

OBJECTIVES: Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is a live-threatening complication that remains badly understood. Our objective is to identify the risk factors related to the development of HAEC in the cohort of patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) treated in our center. METHODS: We reviewed the patients treated for HD between 2000 and 2016. Ninety four patients were included, and the clinical details related to the disease were evaluated. Our primary outcome measure was the development of HAEC. Relative risks are presented with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Twenty seven patients out of the ninety four (28.7%) suffered HAEC. None of them died from this complication. The extended aganglionosis, the need of a preoperative stoma, a transabdominal surgery and the diagnosis before the age of 7.2 months were related to a higher risk of suffering HAEC. CONCLUSIONS: HAEC remains a common complication in patients suffering from HD, especially those with complex forms. The identification of the risk factors could result in a better control of the HAEC, which lead to a faster diagnosis and treatment, reducing the morbi-mortality related to HAEC.

OBJETIVO: La enterocolitis (EC) asociada a la enfermedad de Hirschsprung (EdH) es una entidad de etiopatogenia desconocida y potencialmente mortal. Nuestro objetivo es identificar los factores implicados en el desarrollo de EC en una cohorte de pacientes con EdH tratados en el nuestro centro. METODOS: Se revisaron los pacientes tratados por EdH en el periodo 2000-2016. Se incluyeron 94 pacientes, recogiendo de las historias clínicas variables demográficas y todas las relacionadas con la enfermedad. Se realizó un estudio de riesgo uni y multivariado usando como variable dependiente la existencia de un cuadro de enterocolitis. Los resultados se presentan con riesgo relativo (RR) con su intervalo de confianza al 95%. RESULTADOS: De los 94 pacientes estudiados, 27 (28,7%) sufrieron algún episodio de EC. Ninguno falleció por esta causa. La afectación intestinal extensa, la necesidad de una ostomía de descarga en el proceso diagnóstico, la cirugía abierta y el diagnóstico anterior a los 7,2 meses de vida se asociaron en el análisis univariante a un mayor riesgo de desarrollar EC. En el multivariante, tan solo el diagnostico precoz y la cirugía abierta quedaron como variables asociadas al riesgo de EC. CONCLUSIONES: La EC sigue siendo una complicación habitual en la EdH, especialmente en las formas más largas y complejas. La identificación de los factores que la favorecen permitiría un mayor control, una mejor prevención secundaria ante el comienzo de los síntomas y un tratamiento más precoz, lo que lograría disminuir su morbilidad.

[Venous aneurysms associated with lymphatic malformations]. / Aneurismas venosos asociados a malformaciones linfáticas.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and describe the association between the development of venous aneurysms of the mayor vessels in patients with lymphatic malformations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with both VA and LM from 1993 to 2014 and a descriptive analysis of clinical course was performed. RESULTS: We found 6 patients, 50% females, who had LM and VA confirmed with imaging techniques. All were diagnosed between 20 weeks- 12 years of age. LM were found within the thoracic cavity (n= 4), intrathoracical-cervical area (n= 1) and lower extremities (n= 1). In most cases the dilated veins were near the LM and thus, the mediastinal vessels were most commonly affected (superior vena cava-innominated (n= 1), venous jugulosubclavian confluence (n= 2), superior vena cava (n= 2) and popliteal vein (n= 1)). A total of 4 patients required surgical treatment of the LM with complete excision in 2 of the cases. Patients with a prenatal diagnosis of lymphatic malformation were most likely to present venous aneurysms at birth (n= 2), however the remaining patients (without prenatal diagnosis) developed them later on (average 6 years). Unlike lower extremity aneurysms, none of these aneurysms grew or required antiplatelet therapy; local thrombosis developed in one which resulted in pulmonary thromboembolism and one developed mitral valve insufficiency (regurgitation?) which required valve replacement. CONCLUSION: VA is extremely rare, and there is not therapeutic algorithm, therefore treatment should be individualized.

OBJETTIVOS: Analizar y describir la asociación entre el desarrollo de aneurismas venosos (AV) de grandes troncos en pacientes con malformaciones linfáticas (ML). MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de los pacientes de nuestro centro entre 1993-2014, y análisis descriptivo de la asociación AV y ML. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 6 pacientes, 50% mujeres, con una ML confirmada mediante prueba de imagen y una dilatación aneurismática de un tronco venoso. Los pacientes tenían edades entre 20 semanas-12 años y las ML se encontraban intratorácicas (n= 4), intratorácicas-cervical (n= 1) y en miembro inferior (n= 1); y las venas dilatadas en sus proximidades, siendo afectadas con mayor frecuencia los grandes vasos mediastínicos (vena cava superior- innominada (n= 1), confluencia venosa subclavioyugular (n= 2), vena cava superior (n= 2) y la vena poplítea (n= 1)). Se intervinieron n= 4, no pudiéndose extirpar completamente en 2 casos. Los niños que presentaron un diagnóstico prenatal de la malformación linfática presentaban una dilatación aneurismática de una gran vena en el control neonatal de la malformación (n= 2). En cambio, los pacientes con diagnóstico tardío de ML no presentaban dilatación vascular hasta pasados varios años (media 6 años). Ningún AV ha iniciado tratamiento antiagregante, y no han aumentado bruscamente su tamaño, uno desarrolló un trombo y posteriormente un tromboembolismo pulmonar, y otro debutó una insuficiencia mitral necesitando un recambio valvular mitral. CONCLUSION: El AV es una entidad poco común, y no existe algoritmo terapéutico, siendo una máxima el tratamiento individualizado de cada paciente.

[Negative pressure system in the treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas in the pediatric population]. / Sistema de presión negativa en el tratamiento de fístulas enterocutáneas en la población pediátrica.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The management of children with enterocutaneous fistulas (EF) along with large abdominal wall defects secondary to multiple surgical interventions can be difficult and sometimes lead to intestinal failure (IF). The aim of this study is to present the results of negative pressure systems and their properties (edema reduction angiogenesis promotion and granulation tissue formation) in children with enterocutaneous fistulas (EF) and their prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of children with refractory, high output EF treated with NPS between 2008-2014. Outcome variables were duration and effectiveness of treatment as well as complications associated with NPS. RESULTS: Eight patients met inclusion criteria and were treated with NPS during a median of 25 days (range 5-50). The aetiologies were volvulus (2), necrotizing enterocolitis (2), gastroschisis (2), Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus (1) and duodenopancreatic anastomosis fistula following hepatopancreatic transplantation (1). Most patients (n=7) had large abdominal wall defects that closed during treatment, though two patients required further laparotomies due to evisceration. Two patients developed a second EF that was also successfully treated with NPS. No complications were identified arising from the use of NPS. After a 5-yr follow up 3 patients had a multivisceral transplantation and survive, and 4 died due to encephalopathy (1), hemolytic anemia (1), catheter-related sepsis (1) and one while waiting for a multivisceral graft for transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of a limited series of patients we recommend NPS as a useful tool in the management of EF and/ or abdominal wall defects.

OBJETIVOS: Las fístulas enterocutáneas (FE) de evolución tórpida y los defectos de pared abdominal (DPA) en niños multioperados son difíciles de manejar y pueden ser causa de fallo intestinal. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar si el sistema de presión negativa (SPN) que disminuye el edema, favorece la vascularización y la aparición del tejido de granulación, mejora la cicatrización y el pronóstico de las FE. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de niños multioperados con fístulas enterocutáneas recalcitrantes y de alto débito con o sin defectos de pared abdominal, entre 2008-2014 tratados con SPN. Las variables analizadas fueron el cierre de la fístula y/o defecto abdominal, el tiempo transcurrido y las complicaciones del tratamiento. RESULTADOS: Ocho pacientes cumplieron criterios de inclusión y fueron tratados con SPN con una mediana de 25 días (5-50). La etiología fue vólvulo intestinal (2), enterocolitis necrosante (2), gastrosquisis (2), Blue Rubber Bled Nevus (1) y fístula de anastomosis duodenopancreática en un trasplante hepatopancreático (1). Siete pacientes asociaron defectos de pared abdominal. Dos pacientes se reintervinieron posteriormente por evisceración y ninguno desarrolló nuevas fístulas. Dos pacientes presentaron nueva FE en otra localización y también fue tratada con SPN, resolviéndose. No se identificaron complicaciones derivadas del empleo de la presión negativa. Tras un seguimiento de 5 años, 3 niños recibieron posteriormente un trasplante multivisceral y 4 fallecieron [candidato a trasplante (1), encefalopatía (1), anemia hemolítica (1), sepsis de catéter (1)]. CONCLUSION: A pesar de nuestra serie limitada de pacientes proponemos este sistema como una herramienta útil en el manejo de FE y/o DPA.

Usefulness of Chromogenic CromoCen® AGN agar medium for the identification of the genus Aeromonas: Assessment of faecal samples.

Selective screening media for the detection and identification of Aeromonas strains are needed to guide primary isolation procedures in the clinical laboratory. This study compared the selective CromoCen® AGN chromogenic agar medium for the detection and identification of Aeromonas strains that were isolated from various samples against the conventional selective agar media that are commonly used for the isolation of this organism in food, environmental and clinical samples. The Miles and Misra and ecometric methods were used to evaluate the microbiological performance of CromoCen® AGN chromogenic agar medium, which was shown to be satisfactory. A total of 14 reference Aeromonas strains, 44 wild strains and 106 clinical stool specimens were examined using both non-chromogenic selective agars that are commonly used for Aeromonas isolation and CromoCen® AGN agar. The latter exhibited 94.73% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the various samples. On CromoCen® AGN agar medium, Aeromonas formed colonies with light green, greenish and salmon pigments with or without a surrounding wide transparent zone (halo) of 2-3mm in diameter around the entire border. This medium is recommended for the isolation and potential identification of the Aeromonas genus.

Retention of arsenate using genetically modified coryneform bacteria and determination of arsenic in solid samples by ICP-MS.

A novel method for the retention of arsenate [As(V)] combining time-controlled solid-phase extraction with living bacterial biomass is presented. As(V) retention was carried out by exposing the extractant, consisting of a living double-mutant of Corynebacterium glutamicum strain ArsC1-C2, to the sample for a retention time of 1-7min, before the arsenic distribution equilibrium between the sample solution and the extractant was established. The amount of As(V) retained in the biomass was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after the sample had been treated with nitric acid. A theoretical model of the retention process was developed to describe the experimental retention-time profiles obtained with the bacterial cells. This relationship provided a feasible quantification of the retention process before steady-state was reached, providing that the agitation conditions and the retention time had been controlled. An analytical procedure for the retention/quantification of As(V) was then developed; the detection limit was 0.1 ng As(V)mL(-1) and the relative standard deviation 2.4-3.0%. The maximum effective retention capacity for As(V) was about 12.5mgAs(g biomass)(-1). The developed procedure was applied to the determination of total arsenic in coal fly ash, using a sample that had undergone oxidative pre-treatment.

Réplica. Ausencias y ‘pseudoausencias’ frontales / Frontal absences and ‘pseudo-absences’. Reply

No disponible

Ausencias frontales: presentación de un caso / Frontal absences: a case report

No disponible

Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica y anticuerpos anti-CV2. ¿Asociación paraneoplásica? / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and anti-CV2 antibodies. Paraneoplastic association?

Introducción. La esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) es una forma de enfermedad de motoneurona que afecta primariamente a las motoneuronas superior e inferior. Es de etiología desconocida, curso progresivo y a menudo fatal. Muy ocasionalmente se ha descrito su aparición como síndrome paraneoplásico (SPN). Determinados patrones clínicos de enfermedad de motoneurona sugieren esta asociación. Los anti-CV2 son un tipo de anticuerpo onconeuronal, asociado invariablemente a tumor, y descritos en distintos SPN como encefalomielitis paraneoplásica, degeneración cerebelosa y neuropatía periférica.Caso clínico. Varón de 29 años con criterios de ELA probable. Por su debut atípico (edad del paciente) se solicitó anticuerpos onconeuronales, detectándose anti-CV2+. Tras 3 años de seguimiento y búsqueda tumoral exhaustiva, con progresión de la enfermedad, no hay evidencia en la actualidad de cáncer asociado.Discusión. El estudio de la enfermedad de motoneurona/ ELA como síndrome paraneoplásico, por su rareza, ha sido motivo de revisiones al objeto de verificar dicha relación. Ante una ELA debemos descartar asociación a tumor cuando se trate de una presentación precoz (< 30 años) o tardía (>70 años), cuando asocie otros síntomas/signos neurológicos (síntomas sensitivos, ataxia, etc.), ante la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Hu u otros y/o ante la presencia de paraproteinemia y/o pleocitosis-hiperproteinorraquia en LCR. Presentamos un caso de ELA probable con anti-CV2+, sin evidencia de cáncer subyacente. Tras una búsqueda bibliográfica extensa no hemos encontrado descrita esta asociación. Tampoco tenemos conocimiento de la existencia de anticuerpos anti-CV2 fuera del contexto tumoral, por lo que pensamos que nuestro paciente, probablemente, presente una neoplasia oculta

Introduction. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a form of motor neuron disease that primarily affects upper and lower motor neurons. Its etiology is unknown, it has a progressive course and is often fatal. Very rarely, its appearance as paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) has been described. Certain clinical patterns of motor neuron disease suggest this association. The anti-CV2 are a type of onconeuronal antibody, invariably associated to tumor and described in different PNSs as paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis, cerebellar degeneration and peripheral neuropathy.Clinical case. 29 years old male with criteria of probably ALS. Due to his atypical onset (patient's age), onconeuronal antibodies were requested, detecting anti- CV2+. After three years of follow-up and exhaustive search for tumors, with progression of the disease, there is currently no evidence of associated cancer.Discussion. The study of the motor neuron/ALS disease as paraneoplastic syndrome, due to its rareness, has led to reviews in order to verify this relationship. When ALS exists, we should rule out association to tumor when the presentation is early (< 30 years) or late (> 70 years), when it is associated to other neurological symptoms/signs (sensory symptoms, ataxia, etc.), when anti-Hu antibodies or others are present and/or when there is paraproteinemia and/or pleocytosis-high protein levels in cerebral spinal fluid. We present a case of probable ALS with anti-CV2+, with no evidence of underlying cancer. After an extensive bibliographic search, we have found no description of this association. We also have no knowledge of the existence of anti-CV2 antibodies outside of the tumor context, so that we believe that our patient probably has an occult neoplasm

Retention of inorganic arsenic by coryneform mutant strains.

The natural resistance mechanisms of corynebacteria to respond to the environments containing high levels of arsenic were successfully adopted to develop inexpensive and selective extractants for submicrogram amounts of arsenic. Kinetic and equilibrium characteristics were evaluated, and a preliminary exploration of the capability of these strains to be used for arsenic speciation was also made in this work. Three kinetics models were used to fit the experimental data. It was found that the pseudo-first-order kinetics model was not quite adequate to describe the retention process, while the intraparticle diffusion and the pseudo-second-order kinetics models provide the best fits. The equilibrium isotherm showed that the retention of arsenic was consistent with the Langmuir equation and that the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models provided poorer fits to the experimental data. The maximum effective retention capacity for arsenic was about 15.4 ng As/mg biomass. The amount of arsenic retained was directly measured in the biomass by forward planning a slurry electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric procedure.

[Impact of medical counselling on giving up smoking during pregnancy]. / Impacto del consejo médico para dejar de fumar durante la gestación.

OBJECTIVE: Women s tobacco consumption has increased in Spain in recent years, especially among women of reproductive age. This study aims to evaluate the impact of medical counselling integrated into pre-natal care on tobacco consumption during pregnancy and the period after delivery. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental intervention study.Setting. Hospital del Mar, Barcelona. PATIENTS: 219 patients who attended the Hospital del Mar for delivery during 1996 (control group) and 169 patients seen during their pregnancies at the same hospital in 1997 (intervention group). INTERVENTIONS: The control group patients had received normal care. The pregnant women in the intervention group received systematic structured counselling on giving up smoking, backed up by a special brochure composed for this purpose. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The intervention and control groups showed no statistically significant differences either in their social or demographic variables or in their tobacco consumption. In both groups the evolution of their smoking during pregnancy was determined during their pre-natal visits and six months after delivery through a telephone interview. 44 of the women in the control group (20.1%) gave up smoking before their first pre-natal visit, and 11 (5%) gave up during pregnancy. In the intervention group 26 (17.7%) had given up spontaneously and 16 (10.9%) gave up during pregnancy. Of those who gave up completely during pregnancy, 36.4% of women in the control group and 64.3% in the intervention group remained abstinent at six months (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Counselling at pre-natal check-ups to give up smoking lightly increases the number of women who give up and reduces significantly the number of post-delivery backsliders.

Impacto del consejo médico para dejar de fumar durante la gestación / Impact of medical counselling on giving up smoking during pregnancy

Objetivo. El consumo de tabaco entre las mujeres ha aumentado en España en los últimos años, especialmente entre los grupos en edad reproductiva. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar el impacto del consejo médico integrado en la atención prenatal sobre el consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo y en el posparto. Diseño. Estudio de intervención cuasiexperimental. Emplazamiento. Hospital del Mar de Barcelona. Pacientes. El grupo control estaba constituido por 219 pacientes que acudieron para atención al parto al hospital del Mar en 1996, el grupo de intervención, por 169 pacientes atendidas durante el embarazo en el mismo hospital en 1997.Intervenciones. Las pacientes del grupo control habían recibido atención habitual. Las gestantes del grupo de intervención recibieron de forma sistemática un consejo estructurado para dejar de fumar, reforzado por un folleto elaborado con esta finalidad. Mediciones y resultados. Los grupos de intervención y control no presentaban diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables sociodemográficas ni en el consumo de tabaco. En ambos grupos se determinó la evolución del hábito tabáquico durante el embarazo a lo largo de las visitas prenatales, y a los 6 meses posparto, a través de una entrevista telefónica. De las gestantes del grupo control, 44 (20,1 per cent) habían dejado de fumar antes de la primera visita prenatal y 11(5 per cent) lo hicieron durante el embarazo. En el grupo de intervención 26 (17,7 per cent) habían dejado de fumar espontáneamente y 16 (10,9 per cent) dejaron de fumar durante el embarazo. De las que dejaron de fumar completamente durante el embarazo, se mantenían abstinentes a los 6 meses el 36,4 per cent de las mujeres del grupo de control y el 64,3 per cent en el grupo de intervención (p = 0,002). Conclusiones. El consejo para dejar de fumar en la visita prenatal produce un aumento discreto en la proporción de abandonos, y una disminución significativa de las recaídas en el posparto. (AU)