Development, equivalence study, and normative data of version B of the Spanish-language Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test.

INTRODUCTION: The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is widely used for the assessment of verbal episodic memory, mainly in patients with Alzheimer disease. A Spanish-language version of the FCSRT and normative data were developed within the NEURONORMA project. Availability of alternative, equivalent versions is useful for following patients up in clinical settings. This study aimed to develop an alternative version of the original FCSRT (version B) and to study its equivalence to the original Spanish-language test (version A), and its performance in a sample of healthy individuals, in order to develop reference data. METHODS: We evaluated 232 healthy participants of the NEURONORMA-Plus project, aged between 18 and 90. Thirty-three participants were assessed with both test versions using a counterbalanced design. RESULTS: High intra-class correlation coefficients (between 0.8 and 0.9) were observed in the equivalence study. While no significant differences in performance were observed in total recall scores, free recall scores were significantly lower for version B. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that the newly developed FCSRT version B is equivalent to version A in the main variables tested. Further studies are necessary to ensure interchangeability between versions. We provide normative data for the new version.

Desarrollo, estudio de equivalencia y datos normativos de la versión española B del Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test / Development, equivalence study, and normative data of version B of the Spanish-language Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test

Introducción: El test Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) es una prueba de uso extendido para evaluar la memoria episódica verbal, principalmente en el ámbito de la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Existe una versión española de la prueba con datos normativos proveniente del proyecto NEURONORMA.ES. Disponer de versiones alternativas equivalentes de las pruebas resulta útil para el seguimiento de los pacientes en la práctica clínica. El objetivo del presente estudio es ofrecer una versión alternativa a la original, denominada «B», estudiar su equivalencia con la versión original española (A) y el rendimiento en la misma de una muestra de sujetos para proporcionar datos de referencia.MétodosSe evaluaron 232 sujetos sanos de entre 18 y 90 años en el contexto del proyecto NEURONORMA-Plus. A 33 de ellos se les administraron ambas versiones con un diseño contrabalanceado.ResultadosEn el estudio de equivalencia se observaron coeficientes de correlación intraclase elevados (entre 0,8 y 0,9) y diferencias no significativas en las variables de recuerdo total. Sin embargo, sí se hallaron diferencias significativas en los ensayos de evocación libre, en los que el rendimiento en la nueva versión fue menor.ConclusionesLos resultados iniciales sugieren que la versión B del FCSRT aquí presentada resulta equivalente a la versión A en las variables principales de la prueba. Se requieren de futuros estudios para asegurar la total intercambiabilidad entre versiones. Se aportan datos normativos de la versión presentada. (AU)

Introduction: The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is widely used for the assessment of verbal episodic memory, mainly in patients with Alzheimer disease. A Spanish version of the FCSRT and normative data were developed within the NEURONORMA project. Availability of alternative, equivalent versions is useful for following patients up in clinical settings. This study aimed to develop an alternative version of the original FCSRT (version B) and to study its equivalence to the original Spanish test (version A), and its performance in a sample of healthy individuals, in order to develop reference data.MethodsWe evaluated 232 healthy participants of the NEURONORMA-Plus project, aged between 18 and 90. Thirty-three participants were assessed with both versions using a counterbalanced design.ResultsHigh intra-class correlation coefficients (between 0.8 and 0.9) were observed in the equivalence study. While no significant differences in performance were observed in total recall scores, free recall scores were significantly lower for version B.ConclusionsThese preliminary results suggest that the newly developed FCSRT version B is equivalent to version A in the main variables tested. Further studies are necessary to ensure interchangeability between versions. We provide normative data for the new version. (AU)

La observación en contexto de los niveles de acción en balonmano / The Observation in Context of Level Actions in Team Handball

Esta investigación plantea como objetivo principal diseñar un instrumento de registro que permita describir y relacionar tres niveles de acción del balonmano (juego de equipo, juego grupal y juego individual), vinculándolos al contexto de competición y atendiendo a su eficacia. Siguiendo las directrices de la metodología observacional se opta por un sistema combinado de formatos de campo y sistema de categorías, utilizando un diseño de investigación de carácter ideográfico, puntual y multidimensional. Se utiliza como instrumento de registro el software Dartfish TeamPro V.4.5 para analizar siete partidos de categoría absoluta, y siete partidos de categoría infantil, generándose datos de tipo concurrente y de evento. Se aplican técnicas estadísticas descriptivas e inferenciales bivariadas para el análisis relacional de los datos. Destacamos los resultados que constatan la asociación entre sistemas de juego y procedimientos colectivos tanto ofensivos como defensivos, y la dificultad en establecer relaciones significativas entre el ataque y la defensa

The main aim of this research was to design a recording tool that allows describing and relating three levels of action in team handball (team play, group play and individual play), linking them to the competition context and taking their effectiveness into account. Following the guidelines of observational methodology, we selected a combined system of field formats and system of categories, using an ideographic, specific and multidimensional research design. Dartfish TeamPro V.4.5 software, was used as a recording instrument to analyse seven matches in the top category, and seven matches in the children's category, generating concurrent and event data. Bivariate descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for the relational analysis of the data. The results confirmed the association between game systems and collective procedures, both offensive and defensive, as well as the difficulty to establish significant relationships between attack and defense

Practical Guidelines for Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a first-line problem for anesthesiologists and allergists. Therefore, hospitals should have a consensus protocol for the diagnosis and management of these reactions. However, this kind of protocol is not present in many hospitals, leading to problems with treatment, reporting of incidents, and subsequent etiological diagnosis. In this document, we present a systematic review of the available scientific evidence and provide general guidelines for the management of acute episodes and for referral of patients with perioperative hypersensitivity reactions to allergy units. Members of the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) have created this document in collaboration with members of the Spanish Anesthesia Society (SEDAR). A practical algorithm is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis, and recommendations are provided for the management of hypersensitive patients.

Revisión del manejo de la vía aérea díficil en cirugía torácica / Review of difficult airway management in thoracic surgery

El manejo de la vía aérea difícil (VAD) en cirugía torácica es muy específico y más complejo que en otras especialidades debido a la exigencia de separación o aislamiento pulmonar y a una mayor presencia de anormalidades asociadas a la vía aérea superior e inferior. Basándonos en el análisis de las evidencias clínicas de 818 artículos indexados en PubMed, presentamos una revisión actualizada y un algoritmo específico del manejo de la VAD en cirugía torácica. Recomendamos para la VAD prevista la intubación traqueal con fibroncoscopio en ventilación espontánea y el uso de bloqueador bronquial. Para la VAD imprevista, el uso inicial de videolaringoscopios y un adecuado nivel de relajación neuromuscular (rocuronio/sugammadex). Solo se recomienda el uso de tubos de doble luz si hay indicación absoluta de aislamiento pulmonar. Finalmente, la extubación en este contexto debe ejecutarse con la máxima atención y realizarse según las normas de la Difficult Arway Society (AU)

The management of difficult airway (DA) in thoracic surgery is more difficult due to the need for lung separation or isolation and frequent presence of associated upper and lower airway problems. We performed an article review analysing 818 papers published with clinical evidence indexed in Pubmed that allowed us to develop an algorithm. The best airway management in predicted DA is tracheal intubation and independent bronchial blockers guided by fibroscopy maintaining spontaneous ventilation. For unpredicted DA, the use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended initially, and adequate neuromuscular relaxation (rocuronium/sugammadex), among other maneuvers. In both cases, double lumen tubes should be reserved for when lung separation is absolutely indicated. Finally, extubation should be a time of maximum care and be performed according to the safety measures of the Difficult Arway Society (AU)

Review of difficult airway management in thoracic surgery. / Revisión del manejo de la vía aérea díficil en cirugía torácica.

The management of difficult airway (DA) in thoracic surgery is more difficult due to the need for lung separation or isolation and frequent presence of associated upper and lower airway problems. We performed an article review analysing 818 papers published with clinical evidence indexed in Pubmed that allowed us to develop an algorithm. The best airway management in predicted DA is tracheal intubation and independent bronchial blockers guided by fibroscopy maintaining spontaneous ventilation. For unpredicted DA, the use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended initially, and adequate neuromuscular relaxation (rocuronium/sugammadex), among other maneuvers. In both cases, double lumen tubes should be reserved for when lung separation is absolutely indicated. Finally, extubation should be a time of maximum care and be performed according to the safety measures of the Difficult Arway Society.

Practical guidelines for perioperative hypersensitivity reactions

Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a first-line problem for anesthesiologists and allergists. Therefore, hospitals should have a consensus protocol for the diagnosis and management of these reactions. However, this kind of protocol is not present in many hospitals, leading to problems with treatment, reporting of incidents, and subsequent etiological diagnosis. In this document, we present a systematic review of the available scientific evidence and provide general guidelines for the management of acute episodes and for referral of patients with perioperative hypersensitivity reactions to allergy units. Members of the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) have created this document in collaboration with members of the Spanish Anesthesia Society (SEDAR). A practical algorithm is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis, and recommendations are provided for the management of hypersensitive patients

Las reacciones de hipersensibilidad perioperatorias constituyen un problema de primera línea para los anestesiólogos y alergólogos, por lo que es recomendable que los hospitales tengan un protocolo de consenso para el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de estas reacciones. Sin embargo, este tipo de protocolos no está presente en muchos hospitales, lo que conlleva problemas en el tratamiento, la comunicación de incidentes y el posterior diagnóstico etiológico. Este documento ha sido creado por miembros del Comité de Alergia a Medicamentos de la Sociedad Española de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica (SEAIC) en colaboración con miembros de la Sociedad Española de Anestesia (SEDAR). Se ha realizado una revisión sistemática de la evidencia científica disponible y se proporcionan pautas generales para el manejo de episodios agudos y para la derivación de pacientes con reacciones de hipersensibilidad perioperatoria a los Servicios de Alergología. Se propone un algoritmo práctico para el diagnóstico etiológico y se brindan recomendaciones para el manejo de pacientes con reacciones alérgicas perioperatorias

Búsqueda de biomarcadores para la identificación de pacientes quirúrgicos de alto riesgo cardiovascular y mortalidad perioperatoria elevada / Search for biomarkers to identify surgical patients at high cardiovascular and perioperative mortality risk

No disponible

A CNS-permeable Hsp90 inhibitor rescues synaptic dysfunction and memory loss in APP-overexpressing Alzheimer's mouse model via an HSF1-mediated mechanism.

Induction of neuroprotective heat-shock proteins via pharmacological Hsp90 inhibitors is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Two major hurdles for therapeutic use of Hsp90 inhibitors are systemic toxicity and limited central nervous system permeability. We demonstrate here that chronic treatment with a proprietary Hsp90 inhibitor compound (OS47720) not only elicits a heat-shock-like response but also offers synaptic protection in symptomatic Tg2576 mice, a model of Alzheimer's disease, without noticeable systemic toxicity. Despite a short half-life of OS47720 in mouse brain, a single intraperitoneal injection induces rapid and long-lasting (>3 days) nuclear activation of the heat-shock factor, HSF1. Mechanistic study indicates that the remedial effects of OS47720 depend upon HSF1 activation and the subsequent HSF1-mediated transcriptional events on synaptic genes. Taken together, this work reveals a novel role of HSF1 in synaptic function and memory, which likely occurs through modulation of the synaptic transcriptome.

Evolución de la saturación regional cerebral de oxígeno en el perioperatorio de cirugía torácica y su relación con la saturación venosa central / Evolution of regional oxygen saturation in the peri-operative of thoracic surgery and its relationship with central venous saturation

Objetivo. Estudiar la relación existente entre los valores de SvcO2 y de SrcO2 en la resección pulmonar con ventilación unipulmonar (VUP) y los cambios de dichas variables y de la presión arterial media (PAM) y la saturación arterial de oxígeno (SpO2) durante el periodo perioperatorio. Material y métodos. Estudio prospectivo observacional en 25 pacientes en quienes se realizó una resección pulmonar con VUP. Los valores de PAM, SpO2, SvcO2 y SrcO2 se registraron en 6 momentos diferentes: 1)basal; 2)en ventilación bipulmonar antes de la VUP (VBP1); 3)durante la VUP; 4)en ventilación bipulmonar después de la VUP (VBP2); 5)en los primeros 30min del postoperatorio, y 6)a las 6h de postoperatorio. Resultados. La SrcO2 mostró un aumento significativo desde su valor basal al iniciar la ventilación (65,72±9,05% vs 70,44±7,24%; p<0,01). No hubo cambios significativos en sus valores en los diferentes momentos intraoperatorios. En el postoperatorio, al igual que en el caso de la SvcO2, se observó una disminución significativa (p<0,001) de su valor en comparación con el valor previo. Conclusiones. La SrcO2 experimenta un aumento significativo tras la inducción de la anestesia e inicio de la ventilación mecánica respecto al valor basal y un descenso significativo al final de la cirugía, tras la extubación en el postoperatorio inmediato. Al tratarse de una monitorización tisular, no invasiva y continua, advierte al clínico de cambios en la relación DO2/VO2 en momentos de mayor riesgo como la VUP, la extubación y el periodo postoperatorio inmediato (AU)

Objective. To study the relationship between the values of SvcO2 and SrcO2 in lung resection with one lung ventilation (OLV) and changes in these variables and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the perioperative period. Material and methods. Prospective, observational study of 25 patients in whom pulmonary resection was performed with OLV. The values of MAP, SpO2, SvO2, and SrcO2 were recorded at 6 different times: 1)baseline; 2)double-lung ventilation before the OLV (VBP1); 3)during OLV; 4)after double-lung ventilation (VBP2); 5)30minutes after surgery, and 6)6hours after surgery. Results. The SrcO2 showed a significant increase from baseline to starting ventilation (65.72±9.05% vs 70.44±7.24%; P<.01). There were no significant changes in their values at the different intraoperative times. Post-operatively, as in the case of the SvcO2, a significant decrease (P<.001) of its value compared with the previous value was observed. Conclusions. SrcO2 showed a significant increase after induction of anaesthesia and initiation of mechanical ventilation compared to baseline, and a significant decrease at the end of surgery after extubation in the immediate postoperative period. Being a tissue monitoring, non-invasive technique and with continuous values it can alert the clinician of changes in the ratio of oxygen consumption (VO2) to oxygen delivery (DO2) at times of greatest risk, such as OLV, extubation, and the early postoperative period (AU)

Evolution of regional oxygen saturation in the peri-operative of thoracic surgery and its relationship with central venous saturation. / Evolución de la saturación regional cerebral de oxígeno en el perioperatorio de cirugía torácica y su relación con la saturación venosa central.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the values of SvcO2 and SrcO2 in lung resection with one lung ventilation (OLV) and changes in these variables and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the perioperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational study of 25 patients in whom pulmonary resection was performed with OLV. The values of MAP, SpO2, SvO2, and SrcO2 were recorded at 6 different times: 1)baseline; 2)double-lung ventilation before the OLV (VBP1); 3)during OLV; 4)after double-lung ventilation (VBP2); 5)30minutes after surgery, and 6)6hours after surgery. RESULTS: The SrcO2 showed a significant increase from baseline to starting ventilation (65.72±9.05% vs 70.44±7.24%; P<.01). There were no significant changes in their values at the different intraoperative times. Post-operatively, as in the case of the SvcO2, a significant decrease (P<.001) of its value compared with the previous value was observed. CONCLUSIONS: SrcO2 showed a significant increase after induction of anaesthesia and initiation of mechanical ventilation compared to baseline, and a significant decrease at the end of surgery after extubation in the immediate postoperative period. Being a tissue monitoring, non-invasive technique and with continuous values it can alert the clinician of changes in the ratio of oxygen consumption (VO2) to oxygen delivery (DO2) at times of greatest risk, such as OLV, extubation, and the early postoperative period.

Papel de las exploraciones complementarias y de la monitorización domiciliaria en los pacientes de riesgo de episodio aparentemente letal, apneas y síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante / The role of complementary examinations and home monitoring in patients at risk from apparent life threatening event, apneas and sudden infant death syndrome

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los monitores de apneas detectan anomalías en la frecuencia cardíaca y respiratoria, sin utilidad demostrada para el diagnóstico de alteraciones respiratorias relacionadas con el sueño en los niños como se pensaba en su origen. OBJETIVO: Describir el tipo de pacientes que se monitorizan, durante cuánto tiempo y la evolución de los mismos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los pacientes con monitorización cardiorrespiratoria domiciliaria controlados, desde octubre del 2008 hasta septiembre del 2012, en consultas externas de un hospital materno-infantil de tercer nivel. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de estudio fueron incluidos 88 pacientes, el 58% de ellos de sexo masculino, con una mediana de edad de 15,5 días y durante un periodo de 4,7 meses. El motivo de monitorización fue en un 20,5% por antecedente de muerte súbita, sin encontrar patología subyacente; un 25% por apnea de la prematuridad; un 20,5% por episodio aparentemente letal, y un 14.8% por atragantamiento. Otras causas suponen el 19,3% (apnea/hipopnea, desaturaciones y respiración periódica). De estos 3 últimos grupos, en el 50% se registraron eventos patológicos: reflujo patológico (9), apneas de la prematuridad (2), causa neurológica (3) y apneas de causa desconocida (10). CONCLUSIONES: La sospecha de apnea del lactante es un motivo de consulta que crea gran preocupación tanto a la familia como al pediatra. La monitorización domiciliaria es útil en la detección de alteraciones en la frecuencia cardíaca y respiratoria pero es necesario limitar sus indicaciones y realizar un buen seguimiento de estos pacientes, evitando el abuso de otras pruebas complementarias o tratamientos

INTRODUCTION: Home apnea monitors detect abnormalities in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but their use in the diagnosis of respiratory -related sleep disturbances in children has not been demonstrated, as was originally thought. OBJECTIVE: To describe the type of patients being monitored, for how long and their outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients with controlled home cardiorespiratory monitoring from October 2008 to September 2012 in the Outpatient department of a Maternity tertiary hospital. RESULTS: During the study period 88 patients were included, 58% of them were male, with a median age of 15.5 days, and followed up for a period of 4.7 months. The reason for monitoring was due to a history of sudden death without finding underlying pathology in 20.5%, 25% due to apnea of prematurity, 20.5% due to apparent life-threatening event, and 14.8% due to choking. Other causes accounted for 19.3% (apnea/hypopnea, desaturation and periodic breathing). Of these last three groups, pathological events were observed in 50% of them: reflux disease (9), apnea of prematurity (2), neurological causes (3), and apnea of unknown cause (10). CONCLUSIONS: Suspected infant apnea is a cause for consultation that creates a great deal of concern to the family and the pediatrician. Home monitoring is useful in detecting changes in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but is necessary to limit its indications and ensure proper monitoring of these patients, avoiding the abuse of other tests or treatments

[The role of complementary examinations and home monitoring in patient at risk from apparent life threatening event, apneas and sudden infant death syndrome]. / Papel de las exploraciones complementarias y de la monitorización domiciliaria en los pacientes de riesgo de episodio aparentemente letal, apneas y síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante.

INTRODUCTION: Home apnea monitors detect abnormalities in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but their use in the diagnosis of respiratory -related sleep disturbances in children has not been demonstrated, as was originally thought. OBJECTIVE: To describe the type of patients being monitored, for how long and their outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients with controlled home cardiorespiratory monitoring from October 2008 to September 2012 in the Outpatient department of a Maternity tertiary hospital. RESULTS: During the study period 88 patients were included, 58% of them were male, with a median age of 15.5 days, and followed up for a period of 4.7 months. The reason for monitoring was in a 20.5% due to a history of sudden death without finding underlying pathology in 20.5%, 25% due to apnea of prematurity, 20.5% due to apparent life-threatening event, and 14.8% due to choking. Other causes accounted for 19.3% (apnea/hypopnea, desaturation and periodic breathing). Of these last three groups, pathological events were observed in 50% of them: reflux disease (9), apnea of prematurity (2), neurological causes (3), and apnea of unknown cause (10). CONCLUSIONS: Suspected infant apnea is a cause for consultation that creates a great deal of concern to the family and the pediatrician. Home monitoring is useful in detecting changes in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but is necessary to limit its indications and ensure proper monitoring of these patients, avoiding the abuse of other tests or treatments.

Induction of hemeoxygenase-1 expression after inhibition of hemeoxygenase activity promotes inflammation and worsens ischemic brain damage in mice.

Hemeoxygenase (HO) is an enzymatic system that degrades heme. HO-1 is an inducible isoform whereas HO-2 is constitutive. Stroke strongly induces HO-1 expression but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Cytokines that are up-regulated after ischemia, like interleukin (IL)-10, can induce HO-1 gene expression, which is positively regulated by the transcriptional activator nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and negatively regulated by the transcriptional repressor breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) associated C-terminal helicase 1 (Bach-1). While Nrf2 is activated after ischemia and drugs promoting Nrf2 activation increase HO-1 and are beneficial, the involvement of Bach-1 is unknown. Here we investigated mechanisms involved in HO-1 induction and evaluated the effects of HO activity inhibition in mouse permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). HO-1 was induced after ischemia in IL-10-deficient mice suggesting that post-ischemic HO-1 induction was IL-10-independent. Attenuation of Bach-1 gene repression after ischemia was associated to enhanced HO-1 induction. Administration of the HO activity inhibitor zinc proto-porphyrin IX (ZnPP) i.p. 24h before pMCAO exacerbated ischemia-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1ß, nitro-oxidative stress, and the presence of neutrophils at 8h, and increased infarct volume at day 4. However, ZnPP did not worsen ischemic damage when given 30min before pMCAO. ZnPP induced HO-1 expression in the cerebral vasculature at 24h, when it was still detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in plasma. While ZnPP was not found in brain tissue extracts of controls, it could be detected after ischemia, supporting that a small fraction of the injected drug can reach the tissue following blood-brain barrier breakdown. The deleterious effect of inhibiting HO activity in ischemia became apparent in the presence of ZnPP-induced HO-1, which is known to exert effects independent of its enzymatic activity. In conclusion, HO-1 induction after ischemia was associated to down-regulation of transcriptional repressor Bach-1, and induction of HO-1 when HO enzymatic activity was inhibited was related to worst outcome after brain ischemia.

Clinical features of influenza disease in admitted children during the first postpandemic season and risk factors for hospitalization: a multicentre Spanish experience.

The main objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics of children with influenza infection during the postpandemic outbreak, and to compare sociodemographic and clinical data between patients who required hospitalization and those managed on an outpatient basis with a matched case-control study design. This is a multicentre paediatric study in Spain that included patients aged 6 month to 18 years in whom influenza infection was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction between December 2010 and March 2011. Among the 143 admitted patients, the main reason for admission was respiratory failure (123/143). In 55 there was some previously known disease. The median age was lower in patients without comorbidity (1.8 years: interquartile range 1.0-3.0 versus 5.3 years: interquartile range 1.3-10.7); p <0.01). The lag time from onset of symptoms to starting antiviral treatment was correlated with the length of hospital stay (Rho Spearman = + 0.32; p 0.01). Twenty patients required admission to the paediatric intensive care units, all due to respiratory failure. Children with chest X-ray opacities in more than one quadrant more frequently required admission to intensive care. Having a neurological disease conferred the highest risk of requiring hospitalization (OR 17.18) in a multivariate analysis. This study concludes that influenza in the paediatric population requiring hospitalization during the postpandemic season affected mainly children with neurological or pulmonary comorbidities and children of parents with a lower educational level. Most of the influenza infections caused respiratory symptoms, although neurological manifestations were also observed. Early initiation of oseltamivir was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay.

Infrapopliteal arterial occlusive disease in elderly men: a population based study.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to determine prevalence, cardiovascular risk factors and association with coronary heart disease (CHD) of isolated infrapopliteal arterial disease in old-adult men. DESIGN: cross-sectional; participants: population-based sample of 699 men aged 55 to 74 years, measurements: cardiovascular history and risk factors, electrocardiogram, segmental pressures and velocity waveforms in lower limbs. RESULTS: Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) was observed in 13.4% subjects, of whom 39.4% (37 patients) had isolated infrapopliteal PAOD. Of these, 11 (29.7%) patients were symptomatic. Isolated infrapopliteal PAOD was significantly associated with increased age, smoking, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia. Subjects with extended PAOD differed from those with isolated infrapopliteal PAOD in increased tobacco exposure, higher levels of LDL and lower levels of HDL cholesterol. Association between PAOD and CHD was almost always significant (odds ratio from 1.8 to 3.4) irrespective of PAOD topographic pattern and symptom characteristics of CHD subjects. CONCLUSION: Isolated infrapopliteal PAOD is a frequent asymptomatic disorder in old-adult men, clearly associated with both symptomatic and asymptomatic CHD. In contrast to an expected risk factor profile biased by clinical practice, these subjects only differed from those with PAOD significantly extended to proximal arteries in their smoking exposition and a more atherogenic lipid profile.

[Spanish Society of Anaesthesia (SEDAR) guidelines for pre-anaesthesia checking procedures]. / Directrices de procedimientos de comprobación y validación («chequeo¼) previos a la anestesia de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología.

We present this document as a guide to preparing a specific institutional pre-anaesthesia checklist, as recommended in the Helsinki declaration on patient safety in anaesthesiology. Also, the recently recommended WHO "safe surgery check-list" includes a check-list for anaesthesia. A working group was established in accordance with the charter of the Spanish Society of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation (Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación [SEDAR]). The new patient safety culture introduced into medicine, and the recommendations of European anaesthesia societies has led us to design and update protocols in order to improve results in this important part of our speciality. We have prepared these recommendations or guidelines using, as examples, updates of pre-anaesthesia check-lists by other American (ASA), British, or Canadian societies of anaesthesia. With that aim, we enlisted the help of anaesthesia ventilator experts and the participation and advice of experienced anaesthesiologists from all parts of Spain. After various corrections and modifications, the document was available at www.sedar.es, so that any anaesthesiologist could propose any correction, or give their opinion. Finally, these guidelines have been approved by the SEDAR Board of Directors, before it was sent for publication in this journal. The aims of this document are to provide: a guideline applicable to all anaesthesia machines, a descriptive pre-anaesthesia check-list that include everything necessary for the anaesthesia procedure, and a resumed check-list to be available in all the anaesthesia machines or other equivalent, but prepared for each institution, which should include anaesthetic equipment and drugs. So, in order to ensure the aims and requirements of the European Board of Anaesthesiology, the European Society of Anaesthesiology, and the WHO are met, each institution should have a protocol for checking equipment and drugs. These guidelines are applicable to any anaesthesia equipment, enabling every institution to develop their own checking protocols, adapted to their anaesthesia machines and their procedures. With the consent of the SEDAR, this group will collaborate with anaesthesia machines providers in order to develop specific checklists for each of their models that will be available at www.sedar.es.

Methods to evaluate the inhibition of TTR fibrillogenesis induced by small ligands.

Transthyretin is an amyloidogenic protein associated with several amyloidosis, namely familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy, and central nervous system selective amyloidosis, familial rare diseases caused by single point mutants, and senile systemic amyloidosis associated with wild-type TTR. The current model for amyloid fibril formation involves initial dissociation of the native TTR tetramer into non-native monomers which associate into soluble oligomers and protofibrils that evolve to mature amyloid deposits. A number of efforts are addressed to identify small molecules targeting the formation, clearance, or assembly of toxic aggregates as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat amyloidosis. This review classifies and summarizes the different strategies and assays that have been developed in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo as tools to screen libraries of compounds or to test compounds from rational design in the search of drug candidates for the treatment of TTR-associated amyloidosis. Depending on the property they measure, the assays are classified as: a) in vitro assays that monitor protein aggregation and/or fibril formation, b) in vitro assays that monitor binding to native protein, c) ex vivo TTR plasma selectivity assays, d) in vitro assays for tetrameric TTR stabilization, e) cellular assays, and f) animal models to evaluate amyloidosis inhibitors.