Effects of training periodization on cardiac autonomic modulation and endogenous stress markers in volleyball players.

We investigated the effects of selective loads of periodization model (SLPM) on autonomic modulation of heart rate variability (HRV) and endogenous stress markers before and after a competition period in volleyball players (N=32). The experimental protocol for the evaluation of HRV consisted of using spectral analysis of time series composed of the R-R intervals derived from electrocardiogram obtained in the supine position and during the tilt test. Stress marker levels were determined by quantifying the plasma concentration of endogenous catecholamines, cortisol and free testosterone. The results showed no changes between the levels of HRV before and after a competition period. In contrast, the quantification of the plasma concentration of endogenous stress markers revealed reductions in the levels of total catecholamines, noradrenaline and cortisol. These changes were accompanied by increases in the concentration of free testosterone and in the testosterone/cortisol ratio. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the SLPM did not change the cardiac autonomic modulation of HRV, but promoted beneficial adaptations in athletes, including positive changes in the plasma concentration of the endogenous stress markers. The absence of changes in HRV indicates that there is no direct relationship between cardiac autonomic modulation and endogenous stress markers in the present study.

[Experiences with the Eurotest in neuropsychological examinations. A screening test]. / Experiencia con el Eurotest en la exploración neuropsicológica. Un test de cribado.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing number of foreign patients being attended in our health centres makes it necessary to have tests that are compatible among different countries, especially in Europe. The objective of this study is to compare the Eurotest with other screening tests and to determine whether there are any differences between European (other than Spanish) and Spanish patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients who were referred because of complaints that were compatible with cognitive impairment and they were asked to carry out a protocol of tests that included the global deterioration scale (GDS), Folstein's MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), the Clock Test (CT) and the Eurotest. Epidemiological data were collected. The sample used in the study included 45 patients, 21 males and 24 females, with a mean age of 69.76 years; 34 were born in Spain and 11 abroad. RESULTS: Diagnoses were 17 with mild cognitive impairment, 8 with Alzheimer's disease, 6 with age-associated impairment, 5 with vascular dementia, 5 with a psychiatric disorder, 1 with mixed dementia and 1 with dementia with Lewy bodies. The distribution according to the GDS was as follows: 10 with a GDS of 2, 18 with a GDS of 3, and 17 with a GDS of 4. All the patients with a GDS 2 completed the tests correctly, those with a GDS 3 scored below the cut-off point 5 for the Eurotest, 4 for the MMSE and 3 for CT, and in the GDS 4 they were 9, 7 and 6, respectively. Results did not vary between Spaniards and foreigners, the kappa index between MMSE and the Eurotest was 0.39 and the Pearson coefficient was 0.67. CONCLUSION: The Eurotest was slightly more useful in patients with a greater degree of impairment.

[Epilepsy and pregnancy. Risks and benefits of anticonvulsant treatment]. / Epilepsia y embarazo. Riesgos y beneficios del tratamiento anticonvulsivo.

Epilepsy is the most frequent neurological disorder during pregnancy. Potential adverse actions of anticonvulsant drugs of fetal development are one of the main concerns of practitioners. In this paper we investigated the pregnancy complications and teratogenic effects of several anticonvulsant agents in 50 epileptic women and their newborns delivered at "Dr. Manuel Gea González" SSA General Hospital, among 1989 and 1992. A large number of these patients (78%) were treated with carbamazepine or phenytoin and 10% needed combined anticonvulsant therapy. Most had a normal vaginal delivery (76%) and only in 3 cases (6%) minor birth defects were observed. These anomalies included distal digital hypoplasia and ear flap abnormalities. Our results suggest that anticonvulsant drugs induce a few maternal and obstetric complications and have a moderate teratogenic risk, particularly seizures can be controlled by using a single antiepileptic drug.

Plerixafor plus granulocyte CSF can mobilize hematopoietic stem cells from multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients failing previous mobilization attempts: EU compassionate use data.

Plerixafor was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) to enhance stem cell mobilization for autologous transplant in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In this study, we present the first European compassionate use experience in mobilization failures, patients who are hardest to remobilize but were not included in registration trials. A total of 56 consecutive patients from 15 centers in Spain and the United Kingdom were included: age 60 (33-69) years; 29 men (32 with myeloma and 24 with lymphoma); 2 lines of previous chemotherapy (1-10); 73 previously failed mobilization attempts with G-CSF (28), chemotherapy plus G-CSF (43) or G-CSF plus SCF(2). Overall, 71% of patients reached ≥ 10 CD34+ cells per µL with plerixafor on day 5 after a 7.6-fold expansion from day 4. A total of 42 patients (75%) collected ≥ 2 × 106, average 3.0 ± 1.7 (0.4-10.6) CD34+ cells per kg with plerixafor plus G-CSF. There were no severe drug-related adverse events. In all, 35 patients (63%) underwent transplant, receiving an average of 3.1±1.2 (1.9-7.7) × 106 CD34+ cells per kg. All patients engrafted neutrophils (day 12; 13.4 ± 0.8; 8-30) and platelets (day 15; 18.5 ± 2.4; 8-33). In our experience, plerixafor offers an effective alternative to collect sufficient CD34+ cells for autologous SCT from patients who fail conventional mobilization methods, with good tolerance and a high success rate.

A mathematical model for the phase of sexual reproduction in monogonont rotifers.

Recently, the optimal sex allocation in monogonont rotifers is studied, and, as a closely related question, the relative frequencies of the relevant types of mictic females. The authors focus on the evolution of the age at which young mictic females lose their fertilization susceptibility and they address the threshold age of fertilization that maximizes resting egg production. Assuming that a stationary population is achieved, with stable age distribution, they obtain their results, without knowing the stationary population. Our aim is to study this problem in the framework of the theory of nonlinear age-dependent population dynamics developed by G. F. Webb, which is more appropriate from the mathematical point of view and permits to us to obtain analytically the stationary population and consequently it is analytically shown that a threshold age of fertilization equal to the age of maturation is not an ESS, despite the fact that then the production of resting eggs is maximum, which has been obtained by simulation.

Experiencia con el Eurotest en la exploración neuropsicológica. Un test de cribado / Experiences with the eurotest in neuropsychological examinations. A screening test

Introducción. El incremento de pacientes extranjeros atendidos en nuestras consultas hace necesario disponer de tests compatibles entre múltiples países, especialmente del ámbito europeo. El objetivo del estudio es comparar el Eurotest con otros tests de cribado y comprobar si existen diferencias entre pacientes europeos (no españoles) y españoles. Pacientes y métodos. Incluimos pacientes remitidos por presentar quejas compatibles con deterioro cognitivo; se les realizó un protocolo de tests para su estudio, que incluyó la escala global de deterioro (GDS), el MMSE (Mini-Mental state examination) de Folstein, el test del reloj (TR) y el Eurotest. Recogimos datos epidemiológicos. Fueron 45 pacientes, 21 hombres y 24 mujeres, con una edad media de 69,76 años, 34 nacieron en España y 11 fuera. Resultados. Los diagnósticos fueron 17 con deterioro cognitivo leve, 8 con enfermedad de Alzheimer, 6 con deterioro asociado a la edad, 5 con demencia vascular, 5 con trastorno psiquiátrico, 1 con demencia mixta y 1 con demencia por cuerpos de Lewy. La distribución según GDS fueron: 10 con GDS de 2, 18 con GDS de 3, y 17 con GDS de 4. Todos los pacientes con GDS 2 realizaron los tests correctamente, con GDS 3 dieron por debajo del punto de corte 5 para Eurotest, 4 para MMSE y 3 para TR, y en GDS 4 fueron 9, 7 y 6, respectivamente. Los resultados no variaron entre españoles y extranjeros, el índice kappa entre MMSE y Eurotest fue de 0,39, y el coeficiente de Pearson, de 0,67. Conclusión. El Eurotest fue ligeramente más útil en pacientes más deteriorados (AU)

Introduction. The increasing number of foreign patients being attended in our health centres makes it necessary to have tests that are compatible among different countries, especially in Europe. The objective of this study is to compare the Eurotest with other screening tests and to determine whether there are any differences between European (other than Spanish) and Spanish patients. Patients and methods. We included patients who were referred because of complaints that were compatible with cognitive impairment and they were asked to carry out a protocol of tests that included the global deterioration scale (GDS), Folstein’s MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), the Clock Test (CT) and the Eurotest. Epidemiological data were collected. The sample used in the study included 45 patients, 21 males and 24 females, with a mean age of 69.76 years; 34 were born in Spain and 11 abroad. Results. Diagnoses were 17 with mild cognitive impairment, 8 with Alzheimer's disease, 6 with age-associated impairment, 5 with vascular dementia, 5 with a psychiatric disorder, 1 with mixed dementia and 1 with dementia with Lewy bodies. The distribution according to the GDS was as follows: 10 with a GDS of 2, 18 with a GDS of 3, and 17 with a GDS of 4. All the patients with a GDS 2 completed the tests correctly, those with a GDS 3 scored below the cutoff point 5 for the Eurotest, 4 for the MMSE and 3 for CT, and in the GDS 4 they were 9, 7 and 6, respectively. Results did not vary between Spaniards and foreigners, the kappa index between MMSE and the Eurotest was 0.39 and the Pearson coefficient was 0.67. Conclusion. The Eurotest was slightly more useful in patients with a greater degree of impairmen (AU)