COVID-19 pandemic: pain, quality of life and impact on public health in the confinement in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Given the uncontrolled increase of those affected by the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus, COVID-19, and the possibility of the health system collapsing in Spain, the Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14th, declared a state of alarm for the management of this health crisis. The whole population, despite their social background, were confined inside their homes during this arduous situation. There are numerous articles that endorse the idea that their home conditions, the number of people with whom they coexist with, their employment, gender, amount of physical exercise, as well as their body mass index and their diagnosis in COVID-19 are characteristics that may represent an increased risk of suffering pain and changes in their quality of life. We proposed a study to determine the impact of the confinement on pain, quality of life and public health of the Spanish population due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An observational study was carried out during April and May 2020 through an online survey. It was statistically analysed through descriptive analysis and inferential analysis by bivariate logistic regression, ordinal logistic and Pearson's chi square. RESULTS: A total of 225 questionnaires were obtained between April and May 2020. For subjects suffering pain before confinement, significant relationships were drawn between experiencing pain and work-related activities (P=0.006), as well as, physical activity or the absence of it (P=0.033). In addition, an important association between experiencing pain and gender was discovered, both for people suffering pain before and during confinement (P=0.007 and P=0.011). Furthermore, the confinement has affected the quality of life of those affected, particularly in relation with suffering pain before and during confinement (P=0.001 and P=0.000), Job type (P=0.016) and BMI (P=0.025) and affecting more Physical Role, Emotional Role and Mental Health, followed by Physical Function. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of pain in subjects undergoing confinement is persistent, with varying intensity and frequency based on age, gender, physical activity, and work status. In any of these conditions, the quality of life of the subjects in confinement has been severely affected, which to this day creates a severe public health problem.

Invasive and Non-Invasive Electrical Neuromodulation in Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic disease characterized by intense facial pain that is caused by trigeminal nerve affectation. It usually affects adults from 50 years of age, and is more frequent in women. Additionally, it presents serious psychological effects that often lead to depression, which is why it is considered highly disabling. The therapeutic approach is based on the modification of nerve activity through electrical, surgical or chemical stimulation in specific regions of the nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis of the scientific literature related to invasive and non-invasive electrical neuromodulation of trigeminal neuralgia, in order to assess their effects over pain and adverse effects. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in 4 databases, followed by a manual search of articles on invasive or non-invasive electrical neuromodulation to control the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, including the last 15 years. RESULTS: Regarding non-invasive methods, clinical trials did not present enough results in order to perform a meta-analysis. Regarding invasive methods, clinical trials meta-analysis showed no statistical differences between different treatment methods. In all cases, improvements in patients' pain were reported, although results regarding adverse effects were variable. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, the continuous radiofrequency provides better short and medium-term results, but pulsed radiofrequency shows less adverse effects after treatment, and has better results in the long-term.

Expression of Cytokines Interleukin-2, Interleukin-4, Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor ß in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Biopsies Obtained from Mexican Patients

Objective: In this study, expression of Interleukin-2, Interleukin-4, Interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta in diffuse and intestinal type gastric cancers from Mexican patients was assessed for use as markers of malignancy. Methods: A total of 30 biopsies from gastric adenocarcinomas, 60% diffuse, 20% intestinal and 20% mixed in type, were studied by immunohistochemistry. Results: Regarding expression of cytokines, 23% were positive for IL-2, 26.7% for IL-4, 16.6% for IL-10 and none for TGF-ß. There were found Significant statistically stage differences were noted.For example, for stages I-II 100% were IL-2 positive (p = 0.009), 87.5% were IL-4 positive (p = 0.005) and 100.0% IL-10 positive (p = 0.009). Young women were more likely to suffer gastric adenocarcinoma. In biopsies of male patients with gastric cancer, there was an increased expression of IL-2 and in biopsies from female patients in IL4. There was significantly greater detection of IL-4 and IL-10 expression in stages I and II than in stages III and IV. It was also found that IL-4, IL-10 had a higher positive expression in patients biopsies with low-level differentiations than patients with well differentiated gastric cancer in which cases were undetected. Conclusions: These results suggest that positive expression of IL-4 and IL-10 may be useful as a molecular marker to distinguish stage I and II diffuse gastric cancers which can be more readily controlled.

[In vitro effect of the S3Pvac vaccine against cysticercosis in human mononucleate cells]. / Efecto in vitro de la vacuna S3Pvac contra cisticercosis en celulas mononucleares humanas.

INTRODUCTION: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection caused by the establishment of Taenia solium cysticerci in the central nervous system. The larval stage of the parasite also affects the pig, which is the essential intermediate host for transmission. For this reason, many researchers have focused on identifying protective antigens to prevent swine cysticercosis and interrupt the transmission. These include S3Pvac vaccine antigens. Vaccine is constituted by three protective synthetic peptides: KETc1, KETc12 and GK1. AIM. To evaluate the effect of the vaccine peptides KETc1, KETc12 and GK1 in mononuclear cells of patients with neuro-cysticercosis and healthy individuals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Comparative, prospective, transverse study. We studied the proliferation and cytokine profile induced by the three peptides in mononuclear cells from three patients with active NCC, 16 patients by calcified NCC and 16 healthy subjects. RESULTS: KETc1 induces low levels of proliferation in cells from patients with active and controlled NCC, both in lymphocytes and in monocytes. KETc12 and GK-1 induce positive proliferation levels of monocytes in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: KETc1 peptide could be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of patients with active NCC, as induced a Th2 response also GK1 peptide as stimulator of monocyte/macrophage in immunizations with other proteins.

TITLE: Efecto in vitro de la vacuna S3Pvac contra cisticercosis en celulas mononucleares humanas.Introduccion. La neurocisticercosis (NCC) es una infeccion parasitaria generada por el establecimiento de cisticercos de Taenia solium en el sistema nervioso central. La fase larvaria del parasito tambien afecta al cerdo, que es el huesped intermediario indispensable para la transmision. Por tal motivo, muchos investigadores se han enfocado en identificar antigenos protectores para prevenir la cisticercosis porcina e interrumpir la transmision. Entre ellos figuran los antigenos de la vacuna S3Pvac, constituida por tres peptidos protectores: KETc1, KETc12 y GK1. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de los peptidos vacunales KETc1, KETc12 y GK1 en celulas mononucleares de pacientes con NCC e individuos sanos. Sujetos y metodos. Estudio comparativo, prospectivo y transversal. Se analizo la proliferacion y el perfil de citocinas inducidos por los tres peptidos en celulas mononucleares de tres pacientes con NCC activa, 16 pacientes con NCC calcificada y 16 sujetos sanos. Resultados. KETc1 induce bajos niveles de proliferacion en las celulas de los pacientes con NCC activa y controlada, tanto en linfocitos como en monocitos. KETc12 y GK-1 inducen niveles positivos de proliferacion de monocitos en sujetos sanos. Conclusiones. El peptido KETc1 podria usarse como coadyuvante en el tratamiento de los pacientes con NCC activa, ya que indujo una respuesta Th2; y el peptido GK1, como estimulador del monocito/macrofago en inmunizaciones con otras proteinas.

Efecto in vitro de la vacuna S3Pvac contra cisticercosis en células mononucleares humanas / In vitro effect of the S3Pvac vaccine against cysticercosis in human mononucleate cells

Introducción. La neurocisticercosis (NCC) es una infección parasitaria generada por el establecimiento de cisticercos de Taenia solium en el sistema nervioso central. La fase larvaria del parásito también afecta al cerdo, que es el huéspedintermediario indispensable para la transmisión. Por tal motivo, muchos investigadores se han enfocado en identificar antígenos protectores para prevenir la cisticercosis porcina e interrumpir la transmisión. Entre ellos figuran los antígenos de la vacuna S3Pvac, constituida por tres péptidos protectores: KETc1, KETc12 y GK1. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de los péptidos vacunales KETc1, KETc12 y GK1 en células mononucleares de pacientes con NCC e individuos sanos. Sujetos y métodos. Estudio comparativo, prospectivo y transversal. Se analizó la proliferación y el perfil de citocinas inducidos por los tres péptidos en células mononucleares de tres pacientes con NCC activa, 16 pacientes con NCC calcificada y 16 sujetos sanos. Resultados. KETc1 induce bajos niveles de proliferaci en las células de los pacientes con NCC activa y controlada, tanto en linfocitos como en monocitos. KETc12 y GK-1 inducen niveles positivos de proliferación de monocitos en sujetos sanos. Conclusiones. El péptido KETc1 podría usarse como coadyuvante en el tratamiento de los pacientes con NCC activa, ya que indujo una respuesta Th2; y el péptido GK1, como estimulador del monocito/macrófago en inmunizaciones con otras proteínas (AU)

Introduction. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection caused by the establishment of Taenia solium cysticerci in the central nervous system. The larval stage of the parasite also affects the pig, which is the essential intermediate host for transmission. For this reason, many researchers have focused on identifying protective antigens to prevent swine cysticercosis and interrupt the transmission. These include S3Pvac vaccine antigens. Vaccine is constituted by three protective synthetic peptides: KETc1, KETc12 and GK1. Aim. To evaluate the effect of the vaccine peptides KETc1, KETc12 and GK1 in mononuclear cells of patients with neurocysticercosis and healthy individuals. Subjects and methods. Comparative, prospective, transverse study. We studied the proliferation and cytokine profile induced by the three peptides in mononuclear cells from three patients with active NCC, 16 patients by calcified NCC and 16 healthy subjects. Results. KETc1 induces low levels of proliferation in cells from patients with active and controlled NCC, both in lymphocytes and in monocytes. KETc12 and GK-1 induce positive proliferation levels of monocytes in healthy subjects. Conclusions. KETc1 peptide could be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of patients with active NCC, as induced a Th2 response also GK1 peptide as stimulator of monocyte/macrophage in immunizations with other proteins (AU)

Parámetros de vibración corporal total óptimos para el desarrollo de las capacidades neuromusculares / Optimal whole body vibration parameters for the development of neuromuscular capacities

Las cualidades neuromusculares como fuerza máxima, potencia y fuerza-resistencia son indispensables de desarrollar en cualquier programa de entrenamiento ya sea deportivo o con objetivos de salud; durante las últimas dos décadas se han empleado como medios para su desarrollo dispositivos mecatrónicos generadores de vibraciones sinusoidales que incrementan la aceleración gravitacional. Los resultados de estas intervenciones son muy alentadores, sin embargo, existe una marcada heterogeneidad en las cargas empleadas en los trabajos publicados; para solventar este problema es posible convertir matemáticamente los parámetros de vibración a unidades de aceleración, facilitando así la comparación de resultados y la prescripción. Los propósitos de este trabajo fueron: proponer parámetros de vibración corporal total adecuados para el entrenamiento de las cualidades neuromusculares basados en la mencionada conversión y generar bases para futuras líneas de investigación relacionadas con la vibración corporal total (VCT). Se realizó una revisión sistemática en los trabajos que han publicado parámetros suficientes para el cálculo de la aceleración gravitacional (g) impuesta a los sujetos de estudio, una vez realizado dicho cálculo se realizó un análisis de varianza ANOVA tomando las g como punto de referencia, comparándolas con el porcentaje de mejoría de la cualidad analizada. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos analizados, pero es apreciable una tendencia a un mayor efecto con base en la aceleración aplicada, encontrando mejorías superiores con g intermedias. La VCT es un medio de entrenamiento que bajo parámetros de prescripción adecuados, mejora las cualidades neuromusculares o sus determinantes fisiológicos de manera aguda y crónica, lo que permite diversificar sus aplicaciones, sin embargo aún es necesario realizar más investigaciones, particularmente en relación a sus efectos crónicos en programas con una progresión adecuada, enfocando los trabajos no solo en el desempeño neuromuscular, sino sobre los efectos orgánicos, celulares y moleculares (AU)

Strength, power and muscular endurance training are essential in any exercise program whether competitive or recreational; during the last two decades, mechathronic devices that generate sinusoidal vibrations (which in turn increase gravitational acceleration) have been widely used as mean of development of neuromuscular capacities. The results of these interventions are very encouraging, nevertheless, a marked heterogeneity exist in the training loads employed in the published papers; to settle this matter, it is possible to mathematically convert vibration parameters into acceleration units, facilitating the comparison of results and exercise prescription. The aims of this paper were: to suggest adequate vibration parameters for neuromuscular capacities training based on the aforementioned conversion and to generate bases for future research in whole body vibration field. A systematic review was performed on published papers with sufficient data to calculate gravitational acceleration(g) applied to experimental subjects; onceg's were calculated, an ANOVA analysis was carry out considering g's as point of reference and comparing them with the percentage of improvement of the analyzed capacity. No significative differences were found between groups, nonetheless, an appreciable tendency was found to a greater effect with intermediate g's. VCT is a training mean that under appropriate prescription parameters enhances acute and chronically neuromuscular capacities or its physiological determinants, which allows to diversify its applications, nevertheless, more research is needed, particularly in regard with chronic effects in correctly prescribed and progressed programs, focusing not only in neuromuscular performance, but in its cellular, organic and systemic effects (AU)