Continued propagation of the CRF19_cpx variant among HIV-positive MSM patients in Spain.

Objectives: The HIV-1 CRF19_cpx genetic form has been recently associated with greater pathogenicity. We used CoRIS, a national cohort of 31 reference hospitals in Spain, to investigate the current epidemiological situation of this variant in Spain. Patients and methods: We analysed 4734 naive HIV-1-positive patients diagnosed during the 2007-15 period with an available pol gene sequence in the CoRIS resistance database. HIV-1 CRF19_cpx was ascribed through REGA3.0 and confirmed by a phylogenetic analysis. We analysed the presence of the transmission clusters of HIV-1 CRF19_cpx by maximum likelihood [with the randomized accelerated maximum likelihood (RAxML) program] and the time to the most recent common ancestor using Bayesian inference (BEAST, v. 1.7.5). Results: Nineteen patients were infected with CRF19_cpx: all were male, they had a mean age of 42.9 years (95% CI: 36.4-52.5 years), the majority were MSM [n = 18 (95%)] and of Spanish nationality [n = 16 (84.2%)] and they had high CD4+ T cell counts (∼415 cells/mm3). Fifteen patients were grouped into four different transmission clusters: two clusters (two patients each) grouped the patients from Valencia and another cluster grouped one patient from Madrid and another from Seville. We found a larger cluster that grouped nine patients from southern Spain (Malaga and Seville), of which six presented mutation G190A. We estimated the origin of all the transmission clusters to take place between 2009 and 2010. Conclusions: We demonstrate that this variant has spread in Spain in recent years among young HIV-positive MSM and we note a recent expansion in southern Spain in patients who carry mutation G190A. We alert healthcare managers to enhance preventive measures to prevent the continuous spread of HIV-1 CRF19_cpx.

First report of a small supernumerary der(8;14) marker chromosome.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) are structurally abnormal chromosomes, generally equal in size or smaller than a chromosome 20 of the same metaphase spread. Most of them are unexpectedly detected in routine karyotype analyses, and it is usually not easy to correlate them with a specific clinical picture. A small group of sSMCs is derived from more than one chromosome, called complex sSMCs. Here, we report on a patient with a de novo complex sSMC, derived from chromosomes 8 and 14. Banding karyotype analysis, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based array, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to investigate its origin. Array and FISH analyses revealed a der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn. The propositus presents some clinical features commonly found in patients with partial duplication or triplication of 8p and 14q. This is the first report describing a patient with a congenital der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn sSMC.

Different conformation of two supernumerary 18p isochromosomes, one with a concomitant partial 18q trisomy.

The presence of a supernumerary 18p isochromosome is a rare chromosomal abnormality that results in 18p tetrasomy. This is a report on the clinical, cytogenetic and molecular findings of 2 non-related patients with a supernumerary 18p isochromosome. Both patients present some features of the 18p tetrasomy syndrome (strabismus, low-set ears, long and narrow fingers and toes), but additional characteristics were also observed. Cytogenetic analysis, FISH, MLPA and SNP array techniques showed that one of the isochromosomes is symmetric and monocentric, while the other is asymmetric and dicentric, yet resulting in a similar tetrasomy of the 18pter-18p10 region, followed by a partial 18q11.2 trisomy, an unprecedented finding in the literature.

[Isolated intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease: a case report and literature review]. / Enfermedad de Rosai-Dorfman intracraneal. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, also known as Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is an idiopathic histiocytosis that usually affects the lymph nodes. Occasionally it may affect the CNS, being exceptional intracranial involvement without lymph node lesions. In the absence of typical radiological signs, affected patients are generally operated under the suspicion of a meningioma. The histological diagnosis is obtained after the surgical procedure. It is a clinicopathological entity not well known, controversy exists about its pathogenesis, clinical course and therapeutic management. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 40-year-old male presented two generalized tonic-clonic seizures and brain MRI showed a left parieto-occipital extra-axial lesion extending into the posterior fossa, without presenting lesions at other levels. A partial resection of the lesion was performed and the histological findings were reported as Rosai-Dorfman disease. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its low frequency, the ERD should be included in the differential diagnosis of dural-based masses, compared to more common, such as meningiomas. Due to lack of specificity of additional studies its diagnosis is fundamentally histologic. More research is needed to define the best therapeutic option.

[Validation of the Scale of Behavior Indicators of Pain (ESCID) in critically ill, non-communicative patients under mechanical ventilation: results of the ESCID scale]. / Validación de la Escala de Conductas Indicadoras de Dolor para valorar el dolor en pacientes críticos, no comunicativos y sometidos a ventilación mecánica: resultados del proyecto ESCID.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability and validity of the "Scale of Behavior Indicators of Pain" (Escala de Conductas Indicadoras de Dolor: ESCID) as a tool to assess pain in the critically ill, non-communicative patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: An observational study of development and validation of this scale as an instrument for pain measurement in ICU patients over 18 years of age, who are uncommunicative and under mechanical ventilation. Their pain was assessed with the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and the ESCID simultaneously, by two independent observers, when the painful maneuvers (PM), secretion aspiration and mobilization, were applied. Measurements were obtained before, during and after the PM. A descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of the population was carried out. The reliability of the ESCID was measured through the internal consistency of each item using Cronbach's alpha. Intraobserver and interobserver concordance was measured with the repeated measurements analysis of variance test. The components of the two pain scales were compared to obtain the change between the results obtained based on time, observer and procedure. The correlation between the scales was measured with the Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: A total of 480 observations were obtained in 42 patients, 62% were males; age 57.33 ± 16.35 years. The most frequent ICU admission was due to infectious disease (36%) and neurological disease (35%). Glasgow Coma Scale 8.45±1.2 and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale -2.55±1.5. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate remained stable. Cronbach's s Alpha Coefficient for ESCID ranged from 0.70-0.80. There is a good correlation between the ESCID and BPS in the three measurement points in time: Pearson's correlation: before 0.97, during 0.94 and after 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: ESCID is a reliable and valid tool to assess pain in critically ill, non-communicative patients under mechanical ventilation.

Collaborative hospital models for shared care and on-demand interconsultations. Which offer the best results for Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma? / Modelos colaborativos hospitalarios de asistencia compartida e interconsultas a demanda. ¿Cuál ofrece mejores resultados en Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospitalized surgical patients are increasing in medical complexity, thereby increasing the need for support by internal medicine departments. This support is provided through interconsultations, which present problems that have resulted in the development of shared care (SC). Our objective was to compare the healthcare results achieved by the SC and interconsultation models in Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational, prospective, multicentre study of patients hospitalized for emergency Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma recorded in the REINA-SEMI registry, treated by internal medicine departments through interconsultation or SC. We recorded the demographic characteristics, comorbidity, medical complications, hospital stay and mortality. RESULTS: The study included 697 patients, 415 with SC and 282 with interconsultations. The SC patients were older (78.9 vs. 74.3; P<.001) underwent more operations (89.9 vs. 78.7%; P<.001), had fewer medical complications (50.4 vs. 62.8%; P<.001) and had shorter hospital stays (10 vs. 18 days; P<.001), with no differences in comorbidity or mortality. The following independent factors were associated with stays longer than 15 days: heart failure (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.8-6.1; P<.001), the male sex (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.1; P=.004), electrolyte disorder (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3-4.4; P=.003), respiratory infection (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.04-3.7; P=.035), surgical delay (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.08-1.2; P<.001) and treatment using the interconsultation on demand model (OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.3-5.4; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: SC offers better healthcare results than interconsultations for patients hospitalized for emergency Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma.

Non-motor symptoms burden, mood, and gait problems are the most significant factors contributing to a poor quality of life in non-demented Parkinson's disease patients: Results from the COPPADIS Study Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to a poor health-related and global quality of life (QoL) in a cohort of non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and compare to a control group. METHODS: The data correspond to the baseline evaluation of the COPPADIS-2015 Study, an observational, 5-year follow-up, multicenter, evaluation study. Three instruments were used to assess QoL: (1) the 39-item Parkinson's disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), (2) a subjective rating of global QoL (PQ-10), and (3) the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8). Multiple linear regression methods were used to evaluate the direct impact of different variables on these QoL measures. RESULTS: QoL was worse in PD patients (n = 692; 62.6 ±â€¯8.9 years old, 60.3% males) than controls (n = 206; 61 ±â€¯8.3 years old, 49.5% males): PDQ-39, 17.1 ±â€¯13.5 vs 4.4 ±â€¯6.3 (p < 0.0001); PQ-10, 7.3 ±â€¯1.6 vs 8.1 ±â€¯1.2 (p < 0.0001); EUROHIS-QOL8, 3.8 ±â€¯0.6 vs 4.2 ±â€¯0.5 (p < 0.0001). A high correlation was observed between PDQ-39 and Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) (r = 0.72; p < 0.0001), and PDQ-39 and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (r = 0.65; p < 0.0001). For health-related QoL (PDQ-39), non-motor symptoms burden (NMSS), mood (BDI-II), and gait problems (Freezing Of Gait Questionnaire [FOGQ]) provided the highest contribution to the model (ß = 0.32, 0.28, and 0.27, respectively; p < 0.0001); whereas mood and gait problems contributed the most to global QoL (PQ-10, ß = -0.46 and -0.21, respectively; EUROHIS-QOL8, ß = -0.44 and -0.23, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: QoL is worse in PD patients than in controls. Mood, non-motor symptoms burden, and gait problems seem to be the most relevant factors affecting health-related and global perceived QoL in non-demented PD patients.

Kinetics of antibodies in sera, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infections.

OBJECTIVES: The kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue infection were studied. DESIGN: Serum, saliva, and urine samples were collected from 22 patients with clinical and confirmed dengue 3 virus infection during the outbreak in Havana City in 2001. They were tested by capture IgM (MAC-ELISA), IgA (AAC-ELISA), and IgE (EAC-ELISA) and IgG ELISA inhibition method (EIM) to detect specific dengue antibodies. RESULTS: Similar kinetics were observed in IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies in saliva and IgA and IgG in urine samples from secondary cases compared with kinetics in serum samples, although the values were lower. No IgG antibody was detected in saliva and urine samples in primary cases and IgM antibody was not detected in urine samples from either primary or secondary infection. All secondary cases were positive for IgG in saliva and urine samples at day 7. The kinetics of specific IgE antibodies in primary and secondary cases were different. CONCLUSIONS: The kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infection were studied for the first time, showing its behavior and usefulness in dengue virus diagnosis. The specific IgE could play a role as a serological marker in secondary infections.

The cobas® HCV GT is a new tool that accurately identifies Hepatitis C virus genotypes for clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the correct assignment of HCV genotype/subtypes 1a and 1b by cobas® HCV genotyping (GT) assay (Roche Molecular Diagnostics) compared with nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) sequencing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical samples from 153 patients submitted for HCV genotyping were studied. After genotyping with the cobas® HCV GT, sequencing of a 387 bp fragment in the NS5B gene and phylogenetic analysis was employed to compare genotyping results. Major discrepancies were defined as differences in the assigned genotype by cobas® HCV GT and NS5B sequencing (including genotype 1 subtypes 1a and 1b misclassification). RESULTS: Overall agreement between the cobas® HCV GT and NS5B sequencing was 98%; all the 1a, 1b, 2, 3 and 4 genotypes identified by cobas® HCV GT were concordant with NS5B sequencing. Three samples tested "indetermined" by cobas® HCV GT assay and were genotyped as 1a, 3a, and 4d by NS5B sequencing. CONCLUSSION: These results indicate that the cobas® HCV GT assay correctly identifies HCV genotypes, and points out the importance of additional methods based on DNA sequencing for resolving indeterminate results.

Antibodies from patients with dengue viral infection mediate cellular cytotoxicity.

Acute and late convalescent sera (collected at day 5 of disease onset and 1 year later) from dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) laboratory confirmed cases, were tested for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity using dengue 1 (DENV-1) or dengue 2 (DENV-2) infected cells as target. All patients experienced their first dengue virus (DENV) infection 20 years before. ADCC activity was detected in acute sera from DHF/DSS but not in sera from DF patients. However, 1 year after illness, ADCC activity was observed in all cases. This preliminary report represents one of the few studies of ADCC in dengue patients and suggests that ADCC could be implicated in dengue pathogenesis.

[Effectiveness of a program of early instillation single chemotherapy in patients with bladder cancer]. / Efectividad de un programa de instilación de quimioterapia precoz en pacientes con cáncer de vejiga.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of early intravesical chemotherapy intervention for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, before and after a training and inter-professional communication plan. METHOD: Non-experimental prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of 349 patients with endoscopic diagnosis of a non-muscle invasive bladder tumour in Northern Area Health Management of Cadiz between 2010 and 2013 and amenable to postoperative treatment with mitomycin C. RESULTS: The mean rate of patients included in the program was 53.9%. The inclusion rate rose by 79.3% at 3 years. The absolute risk reduction of recurrence for patients receiving treatment is 18.1% (95% CI; 8.81% - 27.48%, p<.001), and the number of patients needed to treat was 5.5 (95% CI; 3.6 - 11.3, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: A program of early postoperative chemotherapy that includes a plan for evaluation and dissemination of results has achieved a good level of adherence among professionals, obtaining the expected impact on the reduction of early recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Serological markers during dengue 3 primary and secondary infections.

BACKGROUND: The detection of the IgM antibody for the dengue virus in serum by ELISA has become one of the most important and useful methods for diagnosis of dengue using a single acute-phase serum sample. Currently, this system is an invaluable tool for the surveillance of dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The usefulness of other serological markers such as IgA and IgE have been less studied. OBJECTIVE: To study the IgM, IgA and IgE specific antibody response in dengue 3 infected patients with different clinical picture and type of infection. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and twenty-seven serum samples collected on days 5-7 at the onset of fever from clinically and serologically confirmed dengue cases were studied. Forty-two were classified as primary dengue fever cases, 48 as secondary dengue fever cases and 37 as secondary dengue hemorrhagic fever cases. All samples were tested by capture ELISA in order to detect dengue IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In this study, significant differences were observed in the IgM, IgA and IgE response between the study groups. High IgA and IgE OD ratios in secondary dengue cases were found. The usefulness of serotype specific IgM antibody detection is also analyzed and discussed. A priority for future dengue research in terms of protection, recovery of infection and immunopathogenesis is to elucidate the role of these immunoglobulins. The cross reactivity response to IgM between dengue virus serotypes in primary and secondary cases should also be more studied.

Limb deficiency with or without Möbius sequence in seven Brazilian children associated with misoprostol use in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Misoprostol, a synthetic analog of prostaglandin, has been widely used in Brazil as an abortifacient. Abortion is illegal in Brazil. An uncertain number of these abortion attempts are unsuccessful and the pregnancy continues. We report on 7 patients whose mothers attempted to abort using this drug in the first trimester of gestation without success. The 7 patients presented with limb defects and in 4 of them a diagnosis of Möbius sequence was made.

Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay on clastogenicity of wastewater and in situ monitoring.

The Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay was used to determine the clastogenicity of wastewater samples collected from the Arena canal which contains effluent from the industrial district Benito Juarez of the city of Queretaro, Mexico. Fifteen wastewater samples which were collected, in most cases, at bi-weekly intervals beginning in September 1986 through February 1988, after a 3-fold dilution were used to treat Tradescantia plant cuttings. The clastogenicity expressed in terms of micronucleus frequencies of treated groups (30 h of treatment without recovery time) was significantly (0.01) higher than that of the tapwater control groups. The Trad-MCN bioassay was also used for in situ monitoring of air pollutants for the clastogenicity at 3 sites near the industrial and residential areas (Flores Magon, Conalep and Bellas Artes) of the city of Queretaro. Fourteen monitoring trips were made to each of the 3 sites at monthly intervals beginning in May 1988 through June 1990. Seasonal variation of micronucleus frequencies was exhibited with the peak clastogenicities shown in May and June 1988, June 1989 and April 1990 at the three sites. Micronucleus frequencies of all the exposed groups at the Conalep site, a predominantly industrial area, were markedly higher than that of the laboratory control groups throughout the 2-year period.

Mechanism of enterovirus involvement in epidemic neuropathy: hypothesis regarding pathophysiology.

During the epidemic of optic and peripheral neuropathy which occurred in Cuba in 1992-1993, viruses antigenically related to the Coxsackie viruses were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of patients. Concurrently with the virologic studies, epidemiologic, toxicologic, nutritional, immunologic, and histopathologic investigations were also carried out. Although it was demonstrated that the illness was associated with toxic and nutritional risk factors, it has not been possible to identify a specific etiology for the symptoms observed. Taking into consideration the results obtained in all of the various investigations, we have formulated an integral, multifactorial hypothesis which attempts to explain a pathophysiologic mechanism by which the viruses isolated could participate in the pathogenesis of the illness. We propose that the viral agents produce a persistent infection, and the possibility that they may act as mediator of an autoimmune pathogenic process.

Surfactant solubilization of hydrophobic compounds in soil and water : I. Dodecylsulphate monomer and micellar partition coefficients for 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [41].

Reductions in the apparent soil-water partition coefficients (Kd (*)) for 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) caused by the surfactant sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) in the aqueous phase were studied. Above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant, Kd (*) was reduced by 2-3 orders of magnitude, but even far below CMC at environmentally relevant surfactant concentrations significant reductions in Kd (*) were observed. The plot of the soil-water partition coefficient (Kd) divided by Kd (*) versus the concentration of SDS allowed for the calculation of monomer (Kmn (oc)) and micellar (Kmc (oc)) surfactant-water partition coefficients normalized to organic carbon for each PCB congener. Kmn (oc) values were comparable with published values for the partition of PCBs between natural dissolved organic matter and lake water. Kmc (oc) values were up to 30 times higher than Kmn (oc) values and comparable with published octanol-water distribution coefficients. The findings of the present study underline the potential of surfactants at concentrations below their CMC to mobilize otherwise strongly bound hydrophobic compounds in soil-water systems.