Childbirth with epidural analgesia in a pregnant woman with hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

Familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (FHPP) is an uncommon genetic disease characterized by muscle weakness associated with hypokalaemia. Episodes are precipitated by drugs, stress, metabolic diseases, hypothermia or infection. We report the case of a 38-year-old pregnant women with FHPP who underwent epidural analgesia for labour. Pregnant women with FHPP require multidisciplinary management involving an anaesthesiologist, a gynaecologist and a paediatrician. It is important to maintain normothermia, prevent hyperventilation, monitor electrolytes, avoid glucose infusions and medications that cause hypokalaemia, and administer potassium supplements when required. Locoregional techniques should be preferred over general anaesthesia. Early epidural analgesia reduces the risk of pain that could trigger an episode of FHPP. In the case of general anaesthesia, drugs that can cause malignant hyperthermia should be avoided, and short-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers with blockade-depth monitoring should be used.

Parto con analgesia epidural en una gestante con parálisis periódica hipocaliémica / Childbirth with epidural analgesia in a pregnant woman with hypokalemic periodic paralysis

La parálisis hipocaliémica periódica familiar (PHPF) es una rara entidad genética que causa episodios de debilidad muscular con hipopotasemia precipitados por fármacos, estrés, alteraciones metabólicas, hipotermia o infecciones. En este artículo se describe el caso de una gestante de 38 años con PHPF en periodo activo de parto con evolución favorable con analgesia epidural. La PHPF en la gestante requiere un manejo multidisciplinar entre anestesia, ginecología y pediatría. Está indicado mantener la normotermia, prevenir la hiperventilación, monitorizar los iones en sangre, evitar las soluciones glucosadas y las medicaciones que produzcan descensos de la calcemia, aportando suplementos de potasio cuando se precise. Se prefieren las técnicas locorregionales a la anestesia general, siendo conveniente la analgesia epidural precoz en el parto para reducir el riesgo de crisis precipitadas por el dolor. En la anestesia general conviene evitar fármacos precipitantes de la hipertermia maligna y utilizar BNMND de acción corta con monitorización neuromuscular.(AU)

Familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (FHPP) is an uncommon genetic disease characterized by muscle weakness associated with hypokalaemia. Episodes are precipitated by drugs, stress, metabolic diseases, hypothermia or infection. We report the case of a 38-year-old pregnant women with FHPP who underwent epidural analgesia for labour. Pregnant women with FHPP require multidisciplinary management involving an anaesthesiologist, a gynaecologist and a paediatrician. It is important to maintain normothermia, prevent hyperventilation, monitor electrolytes, avoid glucose infusions and medications that cause hypokalaemia, and administer potassium supplements when required. Locoregional techniques should be preferred over general anaesthesia. Early epidural analgesia reduces the risk of pain that could trigger an episode of FHPP. In the case of general anaesthesia, drugs that can cause malignant hyperthermia should be avoided, and short-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers with blockade-depth monitoring should be used.(AU)

Childbirth with epidural analgesia in a pregnant woman with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. / Parto con analgesia epidural en una gestante con parálisis periódica hipocaliémica.

Familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (FHPP) is an uncommon genetic disease characterized by muscle weakness associated with hypokalaemia. Episodes are precipitated by drugs, stress, metabolic diseases, hypothermia or infection. We report the case of a 38-year-old pregnant women with FHPP who underwent epidural analgesia for labour. Pregnant women with FHPP require multidisciplinary management involving an anaesthesiologist, a gynaecologist and a paediatrician. It is important to maintain normothermia, prevent hyperventilation, monitor electrolytes, avoid glucose infusions and medications that cause hypokalaemia, and administer potassium supplements when required. Locoregional techniques should be preferred over general anaesthesia. Early epidural analgesia reduces the risk of pain that could trigger an episode of FHPP. In the case of general anaesthesia, drugs that can cause malignant hyperthermia should be avoided, and short-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers with blockade-depth monitoring should be used.

Tratamiento anestésico en el síndrome de Kearns-Sayre. Descripción de un caso / Anesthetic management of Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Case report

El síndrome de Kearns-Sayre constituye una miopatía mitocondrial que cursa con oftalmoplejia, retinopatía pigmentaria y alteraciones de la conducción cardiaca. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 50 años de edad con síndrome de Kearns-Sayre intervenido de una fractura de fémur con anestesia subaracnoidea.(AU)

Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a mitochondrial myopathy characterized by ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy and cardiac conduction abnormalities. This article describes the clinical management of a 50-year-old patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome who underwent subarachnoid anesthesia for a traumatic femoral fracture surgery.(AU)

Anesthetic management of Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Case report. / Tratamiento anestésico en el síndrome de Kearns-Sayre. Descripción de un caso.

Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a mitochondrial myopathy characterized by ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy and cardiac conduction abnormalities. This article describes the clinical management of a 50-year-old patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome who underwent subarachnoid anesthesia for a traumatic femoral fracture surgery.

A peptide derived from phage-display limits psoriasis-like lesions in mice.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a pro-inflammatory disease with unknown etiology, that is characterized by skin inflammation and keratinocytes hyperproliferation. Specific inhibition of inflammation has shown positive effects avoiding the progression of the psoriatic lesions in different animal models of the disease, turning this strategy as a remarkable therapeutic alternative. OBJECTIVE: To screen the effectiveness of a novel IFN-α/ß signalling inhibitor in the development reduction of skin lesions in IMQ and TPA mice models of psoriasis. METHODS: We used a Phage-peptide library for the screening of a peptide with inhibitory effects on the development of psoriasis-like lesions in mice. To evaluate the in vivo effect of the phage-peptides (Phpep3D) and the derived peptide (Pep3D), we administered Phpep3D or Pep3D intradermally in mice with imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced psoriasis. We scored the lesions, and we determined the number of neutrophils and the production of some pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lesions. RESULTS: In this work, we describe how the Ph3pepD and Pep3D reduced skin thickness, redness, and acanthosis despite the presence of the psoriasis inducers, IMQ or TPA. We also found that Pep3D reduced the number of GR1+ infiltrated cells and decreased the production of IL-17A and TNFα in the psoriatic skin of mice. In-silico, docking analysis showed that Pep3D may interact with the interferon-alpha receptor, but further analyses should be performed to uncover the mechanism of action of this peptide. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Pep3D could be used as a new treatment for psoriasis.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment of Legionella pneumophila in a drinking water supply system in Israel.

Legionella pneumophila cause human infections via inhalation of contaminated water aerosols, resulting in severe pneumonia. Legionella spp. prevalence was monitored in a drinking-water distribution system (DWDS) in Northern Israel. Five points (toilet faucets and showers) were sampled seasonally along a three years period. Toilet faucets and shower use, both generating aerosols, are known transmission routes for this pathogen and thus, present a potential health risk. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was applied in order to assess the health risks posed by Legionella for these two exposure scenarios, while considering Legionella seasonality. The obtained results were compared with estimated tolerable risk levels of infection and of disease set by the USEPA and WHO. Both limits were expressed as Disability-Adjusted Life Years index (DALY) being 1 × 10-4 and 1 × 10-6, respectively. The QMRA revealed that the annual risk levels for both faucets and showers use exceeded the acceptable risk of infection with an average of 5.52 × 10-4 and 2.37 × 10-3 DALY'S per person per year, respectively. Annual risk levels were stable with no significant differences between the three years. Risk levels varied significantly between seasons by up to three orders of magnitude. Risk levels were highest during summer, autumn, and lowest during winter. The highest seasonal infection risk values were found in summer for both faucets and showers, which corresponded to 8.09 × 10-4 and 2.75 × 10-3 DALY'S per person per year, respectively. In conclusion, during summer and autumn there is a significant increase of the infection risk associated with exposure to Legionella-contaminated aerosols, in the studied water system. Public health assessment and prevention measures should focus on these seasons.

Neuropatía crural tras histerectomía abdominal: informe de un caso / Crural neuropathy after abdominal hysterectomy: A case report

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 46 años de edad sin antecedentes de interés quien, tras una intervención de histerectomía abdominal con anestesia raquídea, presentó en el postoperatorio hipoestesia en la cara anterior del muslo, paresia cuadricipital y abolición del reflejo rotuliano, sin otras manifestaciones asociadas. Inicialmente dicho cuadro clínico fue achacado a la técnica anestésica. Sin embargo, las exploraciones complementarias posteriores llevadas a cabo con tomografía computarizada, resonancia magnética y electromiografía descartaron que la técnica anestésica fuera la responsable del cuadro clínico que presentaba la paciente, que fue diagnosticada de neuropatía femoral secundaria a la técnica quirúrgica realizada. Como resultado, la evolución del cuadro clínico fue satisfactoria. Dicha clínica cedió al cabo de 6 meses de tratamiento rehabilitador y de la administración oral de complejo vitamínico B. Como conclusión, cabe decir que: la cirugía en la parte baja del abdomen también puede producir lesiones en el nervio femoral, complicación que a veces se asume como consecuencia de las técnicas de anestesia raquídea

We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with no prior history of interest, who presented anteromedial thigh hypoesthesia, quadriceps paresis and no patellar reflex, with no other associated symptoms, after undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy. The symptoms were initially attributed to the anaesthesia. However, subsequent supplementary examinations, including a computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging and an electromyogram ruled out anaesthesia as the cause of the patient's symptoms, who was diagnosed with femoral neuropathy secondary to the surgery performed. The patient's clinical progression was satisfactory, with abatement of symptoms after 6months of rehabilitation treatment and the oral administration of vitamin B complex. As a conclusion, lower abdominal surgery can also damage the femoral nerve, which is sometimes assumed to be caused by spinal anaesthesia

Effect of thermal treatment on free-living amoeba inactivation.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of temperature on two amoeba strains of the genera Acanthamoeba and two amoeba strains of the genera Hartmannella separately treated depending on their life stage, trophozoite or cyst, when cells are directly exposed under controlled conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: For thermal treatments, three temperatures were selected 50, 60 and 70°C, and a microcosm was designed using dialysis bags. The inactivation of each strain was determined using a method based on the most probable number quantification on agar plates. The results showed that for all amoeba strains, thermal treatment was more effective against trophozoites compared with cyst stages. The inactivation patterns showed statistical differences between the two genera analysed at temperatures above 50°C. The effectiveness of the thermal treatments at 60 and 70°C was higher for both life stages of Hartmannella vermiformis strains compared with Acanthamoeba strains, being the most resistant Acanthamoeba cysts. CONCLUSIONS: Free-living amoebae have been isolated in a wide range of environments worldwide due to their capacity to survive under harsh conditions. This capacity is mainly based on the formation of resistant forms, such as double-walled cysts, which confers a high level of resistance as shown here for thermal treatments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Free-living amoebae survival can promote a rapid recolonization of drinking water systems and is a likely source of emerging opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella. Because of that a better understanding of the factors that affect micro-organism inactivation in water systems would allow more efficient application of disinfection treatments.

Multilocus sequence typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated from environmental waters in the Mediterranean area.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are important animal-related waterborne pathogens that are distributed worldwide. To further understand Campylobacter populations in water from the Mediterranean area, the genetic diversity of environmental strains was analyzed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLST was also used to determine the potential geographical differences between these bacterial strains and other campylobacters isolated worldwide. The typing study was conducted using 58 strains isolated from the Llobregat river and other water sources, such as urban sewage, animal wastewater and clinical samples. Thirty-nine different sequence types were obtained; eight of these sequences were described for the first time in this study, suggesting the presence of local strains. The identified C. jejuni strains were the most diverse population, whereas the identified C. coli strains showed a high clonal structure, which clustered most of the sequence types into a few clonal complexes. The strains were not exclusively related to specific water sources. However, comparing the identified strains with an international database showed that most of the Mediterranean strains that were exclusively isolated from environmental waters have previously been isolated from similar sources, particularly those obtained from river water. Additional studies, including those in different geographical areas using a wide range of Campylobacter sources, are required to improve the global knowledge concerning Campylobacter dissemination in the environment.

Expression of CRAMP via PGN-TLR-2 and of alpha-defensin-3 via CpG-ODN-TLR-9 in corneal fibroblasts.

AIMS: To search for the induction of the expression of antimicrobial peptides in corneal fibroblasts treated with bacterial components. METHODS: RT-PCR was performed to search for mRNAs expression of antimicrobial peptides and toll-like receptors (TLRs) in murine primary cultures of corneal fibroblast (PCCF) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus, and cytosine-phosphorous-guanine oligonucleotide (CpG-ODN). Cellular activation was blocked with anti-TRL antibodies. RESULTS: LPS did not induce expression of antimicrobial peptide in corneal fibroblasts. Cathelin related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) and alpha-defensin 3 were overexpressed in a time and dose dependent manner in corneal fibroblasts treated with peptidoglycan and with CpG-ODN, respectively. CRAMP expression was blocked when PCCF were treated with anti-TLR-2 antibodies. alpha-Defensin 3 was not expressed in NIH murine corneal fibroblasts (which do not express the TLR-9 molecule) treated with CpG-ODN. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that corneal fibroblasts, which are the second cellular barrier of the cornea, can play an important part in the innate immunity of the eye via TLR stimulation.

[Differential pressure as an independent factor of cardiovascular risk]. / La presión diferencial como factor independiente de riesgo cardiovascular.

OBJECTIVES: To confirm that high differential pressure (DP) supposes greater risk of ischaemic cardiopathy and to assess whether it is also an independent risk factor of suffering a cerebrovascular accident. DESIGN: An analytical, observational, retrospective and longitudinal study with historic cohorts. SETTING: Urban population of about 18 000 inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS: 300 patients aged between 15 and 75 with hypertension of > or =2 years evolution, who have had their blood pressure taken by nurses 4 or more times (excluding casualty) and have not suffered a cardiovascular event (CVE), whether coronary accident, cerebrovascular accident or peripheral vasculopathy. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The history relating to cardiovascular risk was recorded: lipaemia, obesity, tobacco dependency, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). These factors were considered present if their diagnosis preceded the CVE diagnosis. They were placed in 2 groups, depending on the degree of differential pressure: "high" if >60 mm Hg and "not high" if (3/4)60 mm Hg. They were analysed for intention to treat over 10 years, with the appearance or not of a CVE as a response variable. RESULTS: 300 participants (73.3% women), 150 exposed to risk and 150 not exposed. The initial analysis showed significant differences between the 2 groups for age (P<.0001), diabetes (P<.0001), and LVH (P<.001). After logistic regression, the OR of suffering LVH was 2.38 (95% CI, 1.19-4.74) in the group with high DP; the OR of ischaemic cardiopathy, 2.84 (95% CI, 1.16-6.96); and of cerebrovascular accident, 2.70 (95% CI, 1.09-6.68). There were no significant differences for peripheral arteriopathy. CONCLUSIONS: DP was confirmed as an independent factor of cardiovascular risk and, despite the limitations of the study, it was pointed to as a possible independent factor of cerebrovascular risk.

TLRs and NODs mRNA expression pattern in healthy mouse eye.

AIMS: To look for TLR and NOD mRNA expression in the healthy eye and in other immune privileged and non-immune privileged mouse organs. METHODS: Semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed to look for TLR1-9 and NOD1 and NOD2 mRNA expressions in the whole eye, in the anterior (AP) and posterior (PP) portions of the eye, in corneal fibroblasts (CF) and in ovary, brain, testis, heart, lung, and spleen. RESULTS: All the TLR mRNAs were expressed in the whole eye of Balb/c mice. NIH and C57BL/6 did not express TLR9 and TLR8, respectively. NIH expressed higher levels of TLR1, 2, 3, and 6 than the other strains. C57BL/6 expressed the lowest levels of all TLRs. TLR9, 5, and 4 were the less expressed in all strains. All TLRs were expressed in Balb/c PP and TLR1 was not expressed in AP. In NIH and Balb/c CF the majority of TLRs were overexpressed with LPS. In testis, expression of most TLRs was absent. Non-immune privileged organs expressed most of the TLRs. All the organs expressed NOD1 and NOD2. In PP NOD2 was not expressed. CONCLUSION: TLRs and NODs are expressed in the eye, and could have an important role in the innate immunity.

La presión diferencial como factor independiente de riesgo cardiovascular / Differential pressure as an independent factor of cardiovascular risk

Objetivo. Confirmar que la presión diferencial alta supone más riesgo de cardiopatía isquémica y valorar si también es factor de riesgo independiente de padecer un accidente cerebrovascular. Diseño. Estudio longitudinal, analítico y observacional, retrospectivo de cohortes históricas. Emplazamiento. Población urbana de aproximadamente 18.000 habitantes. Participantes. Se incluyó en el estudio a 300 pacientes de 15 a 75 años de edad con hipertensión de 2 años de evolución o más, en los que constaban 4 o más determinaciones de presión arterial por enfermería (excluyendo urgencias) y que no habían padecido un episodio cardiovascular (ECV): coronariopatía, accidente cerebrovascular o vasculopatía periférica. Mediciones principales. Se registraron los antecedentes asociados a riesgo cardiovascular: dislipemia, obesidad, tabaquismo, diabetes mellitus e hipertrofia ventricular izquierda, y se consideraron presentes si su diagnóstico precedía al del ECV. Se realizó una clasificación en 2 grupos en función del grado de presión diferencial: alta si superaba los 60 mmHg (pacientes expuestos) y no alta si era >= 60 mmHg o inferior (pacientes no expuestos). Se realizó un análisis por intención de tratar durante 10 años señalando la aparición o no de ECV como variable de respuesta. Resultados. De los 300 participantes (un 73,3% mujeres), 150 se consideraron expuestos y 150 no expuestos. El análisis inicial mostró diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos respecto a la edad (p < 0,0001), presencia de diabetes (p < 0,0001) y de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (p < 0,001). Tras la regresión logística, la odds ratio para padecer un ECV fue 2,38 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,19-4,74) en el grupo de presión diferencial elevada. Para la cardiopatía isquémica la odds ratio fue de 2,84 (IC del 95%, 1,16-6,96) y para el accidente cerebrovascular, de 2,70 (IC del 95%, 1,09-6,68). Para arteriopatía periférica no hubo diferencias significativas. Conclusiones. Se confirma la presión diferencial como factor independiente de riesgo cardiovascular y se apunta, a pesar de las limitaciones del estudio, la posibilidad de que también sea un factor independiente de riesgo cerebrovascular

Objectives. To confirm that high differential pressure (DP) supposes greater risk of ischaemic cardiopathy and to assess whether it is also an independent risk factor of suffering a cerebrovascular accident. Design. An analytical, observational, retrospective and longitudinal study with historic cohorts. Setting. Urban population of about 18 000 inhabitants. Participants. 300 patients aged between 15 and 75 with hypertension of >=2 years evolution, who have had their blood pressure taken by nurses 4 or more times (excluding casualty) and have not suffered a cardiovascular event (CVE), whether coronary accident, cerebrovascular accident or peripheral vasculopathy. Main measurements. The history relating to cardiovascular risk was recorded: lipaemia, obesity, tobacco dependency, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). These factors were considered present if their diagnosis preceded the CVE diagnosis. They were placed in 2 groups, depending on the degree of differential pressure: "high" if >60 mm Hg and "not high" if ¾60 mm Hg. They were analysed for intention to treat over 10 years, with the appearance or not of a CVE as a response variable. Results. 300 participants (73.3% women), 150 exposed to risk and 150 not exposed. The initial analysis showed significant differences between the 2 groups for age (P<.0001), diabetes (P<.0001), and LVH (P<.001). After logistic regression, the OR of suffering LVH was 2.38 (95% CI, 1.19-4.74) in the group with high DP; the OR of ischaemic cardiopathy, 2.84 (95% CI, 1.16-6.96); and of cerebrovascular accident, 2.70 (95% CI, 1.09-6.68). There were no significant differences for peripheral arteriopathy. Conclusions. DP was confirmed as an independent factor of cardiovascular risk and, despite the limitations of the study, it was pointed to as a possible independent factor of cerebrovascular risk

[The production of a protein base for nutrient media from a dairy industry byproduct]. / Poluchenie belkovoi osnovy dlia pitatel'nykh sred iz subprodukta molochnoi promyshlennosti.

The technology of obtaining protein hydrolysate, a by-product of butter making, has been developed. This hydrolysate has been successfully tested as protein base for the preparation of culture media used in the quality control of foodstuffs and the diagnosis of infectious diseases.