Effects of Lactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711 on the immune response to influenza vaccination and the assessment of common respiratory symptoms in elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to seasonal influenza. Therefore, vaccination is strongly recommended. However, the vaccine efficacy is lower in the elderly, owing to immunosenescence. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711 to enhance the immune response to the influenza vaccine in the elderly and to assess the effects on symptoms related to respiratory infections. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between November 2015 and April 2016. A total of 98 nursing home residents, more than 65 years of age were randomly assigned to receive L. coryniformis K8 CECT5711 (3 × 109 CFU/day) or a placebo for 2 weeks before influenza vaccination. The primary outcome was the percentage of seroconversion. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) and respiratory symptoms associated with respiratory infections during the 5-month follow-up period. The serum cytokine and immunoglobulin levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: The percentage of responders to vaccination was higher in the probiotic group than in the control group (p = 0.036). L. coryniformis ingestion was associated with a significantly lower incidence of respiratory symptoms commonly associated with respiratory infections (p = 0.007) and lower consumption of analgesics (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The administration of L. coryniformis K8 CECT5711 to an elderly population increased the immune response against the influenza vaccine and decreased symptoms associated with respiratory infections. Probiotic administration may be a natural and safe strategy to improve the efficacy of vaccines and to protect against common respiratory infections in susceptible populations.

Quantitative myocardial perfusion with stress dual-energy CT: iodine concentration differences between normal and ischemic or necrotic myocardium. Initial experience.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the quantification of iodine with stress dual-energy computed tomography (DECT-S) allows for the discrimination between a normal and an ischemic or necrotic myocardium using magnetic resonance (MR) as a reference. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Thirty-six cardiac MR and DECT-S images from patients with suspected coronary artery disease were evaluated. Perfusion defects were visually determined, and myocardial iodine concentration was calculated by two observers using DECT colour-coded iodine maps. Iodine concentration differences were calculated using parametric tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to estimate the optimal iodine concentration threshold for discriminating pathologic myocardium. RESULTS: In total, 576 cardiac segments were evaluated. There were differences in mean iodine concentration (p < 0.001) between normal (2.56 ± 0.66 mg/mL), ischemic (1.98 ± 0.36 mg/dL) and infarcted segments (1.35 ± 0.57 mg/mL). A myocardium iodine concentration of 2.1 mg/mL represented the optimal threshold to discriminate between normal and pathologic myocardium (sensitivity 75 %, specificity 73.6 %, area under the curve 0.806). Excellent agreement was found in measured myocardium iodine concentration (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.814). CONCLUSION: Cardiac DECT-S with iodine quantification may be useful to differentiate healthy and ischemic or necrotic myocardium. KEY POINTS: • DECT-S allows for determination of myocardial iodine concentration as a quantitative perfusion parameter. • A high interobserver correlation exists in measuring myocardial iodine concentration with DECT-S. • Myocardial iodine concentration may be useful in the assessment of patients with CAD.

Benign soft-tissue lesions of the fingers: radiopathological correlation and clinical considerations.

Soft-tissue lesions of the fingers are commonly found in daily clinical practice. A wide range of tumors and pseudotumors have been described in this location, and the majority of them are benign. Ganglion cysts are the most common entity, and the localized type of tenosynovial giant cell tumors are the most frequent solid condition. Both may be easily recognized owing to their typical clinical and radiological characteristics. However, categorization of the spectrum of soft-tissue lesions of the fingers remains limited, despite imaging development, and many patients undergo surgery before radiological or histological diagnosis. Clinical history, radiographic features, and ultrasound and magnetic resonance patterns may help in obtaining the correct diagnosis or reducing the list of differential diagnoses. Radiologists should be familiar with imaging findings so that they can determine the size, extension, and affected neighboring anatomical structures, and provide information that allows adequate presurgical counseling.

Alliaceae-Derived Supplementation Improves the Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms among Elderly Nursing Home Residents.

This study investigates the effect of daily consumption of a concentrated garlic and onion extract on COVID-19 symptoms among elderly nursing home residents. Volunteers consumed a daily capsule of the concentrated powder rich in organosulfur compounds over 36 weeks during lunch. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms between the treatment and control groups were compared, along with monitoring the safety of consumption, incidence of other diseases, and medicine usage. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in both the number and severity of COVID-19 symptoms compared to the control group, with no significant adverse effects observed. No significant reduction in symptom duration was detected. This study provides preliminary evidence that concentrated garlic and onion extract may aid in the treatment of COVID-19 among older adults. These findings suggest potential public health benefits, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the immunomodulatory properties of these natural compounds.

Beneficial Effects of Daily Consumption of Garlic and Onion Extract Concentrate on Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Elderly Resident Volunteers.

Aging is a biological process with high susceptibility to several infections. This risk increases in older patients in residential care facilities (RCF). Thus, there is a clear demand for developing preventive interventions with new therapeutic compounds that combine efficacy and safety. This could be the case of compounds derived from plants of the genus Allium spp. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a combination of a garlic and onion extract concentrate standardized in organosulfur compounds derived from propiin on the incidence of respiratory tract infections in elderly patients of RCF. Sixty-five volunteers were selected at random to receive a placebo or a single daily dose of the extract for thirty-six weeks. Different clinical visits were performed to evaluate the main respiratory diseases with an infectious origin, as well as the associated symptoms and their duration. The extract showed a clinical safety profile and significantly reduced the incidence of respiratory infections. Moreover, the treatment decreased the number and duration of the associated symptoms compared with the placebo group. For the first time, we demonstrated the protective effect of Alliaceae extract in respiratory infectious diseases in elderly healthy volunteers, which could be used prophylactically against the most common infectious respiratory diseases.

Magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular devices. SEC-GT CRMTC/SEC-Heart Rhythm Association/SERAM/SEICAT consensus document.

Magnetic resonance has become a first-line imaging modality in various clinical scenarios. The number of patients with different cardiovascular devices, including cardiac implantable electronic devices, has increased exponentially. Although there have been reports of risks associated with exposure to magnetic resonance in these patients, the clinical evidence now supports the safety of performing these studies under specific conditions and following recommendations to minimize possible risks. This document was written by the Working Group on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cardiac Computed Tomography of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-GT CRMTC), the Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC-Heart Rhythm Association), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and the Spanish Society of Cardiothoracic Imaging (SEICAT). The document reviews the clinical evidence available in this field and establishes a series of recommendations so that patients with cardiovascular devices can safely access this diagnostic tool.

[Surgical fixation of rib fractures with clips and titanium bars (STRATOS System). Preliminary experience]. / Fijación quirúrgica de las fracturas costales con grapas y barras de titanio (sistema STRATOS). Experiencia preliminar.

INTRODUCTION: Rib fractures are very common in closed chest injuries. The majority of these patients suffer significant pain with movement and cough. The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of titanium rib bars and clips in stabilising rib fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with rib fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation between 2008 and 2009. Indications for treatment were defined as; 1) Patients with unstable chest (13 patients), 2) Patients with pain or instability due to rib fractures (6 patients), and 3) Significant traumatic deformities of the chest wall (3 patients). Age, traumatic mechanism, chest and associated injuries, surgical data, complications and follow-up were prospectively analysed. The surgical technique is described. RESULTS: The majority of patients were extubated immediately after surgery. All patients with pain or instability showed a subjective improvement or disappearance of pain after the surgery. Four patients had a wound infection which had to be drained. After 3 months, 55% of the patients had returned to work or normal life. The results in each group are described. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction with internal fixation of rib fractures is a good alternative. The use of titanium rib bars and clips give good clinical results, are easy to apply and have few complications.

Evaluation of response to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy by perfusion computed tomography in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

BACKGROUND: To evaluate changes in perfusion computed tomography (PCT) parameters induced by treatment with conventional chemotherapy (CCT) alone or with CCT and radiation therapy (RT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to determine whether these changes correlate with response as defined by the response evaluation criteria in solid tumours version 1.1 (RECIST-1.1). METHODS: Fifty-three patients with a histological diagnosis of NSCLC prospectively underwent PCT of the whole tumour, before/after CCT or before/after CCT and RT. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), permeability (PMB), and mean transit time (MTT) were compared before and after treatment and with the response as defined by RECIST-1.1. The relationship between changes in the perfusion parameters and in tumour size was also evaluated. RESULTS: PCT parameters decreased after treatment, significantly for BV (p = 0.002) and MTT (p = 0.027). The 30 patients with partial response had a significant decrease of 21% for BV (p = 0.006) and 17% for MTT (p = 0.031). A non-significant decrease in all perfusion parameters was found in patients with stable disease (p > 0.137). In patients with progressive disease, MTT decreased by 10% (p = 0.465) and the other parameters did not significantly vary (p > 0.809). No significant correlation was found between changes in size and PCT parameters (p > 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of NSCLC with platinum derivatives, with or without RT, induces changes in PCT parameters. Partial response is associated with a significant decrease in BV and MTT, attributable to the effect of the treatment on tumour vascularisation.

Characteristics of computed tomography perfusion parameters in non-small-cell-lung-cancer and its relationship to histology, size, stage an treatment response.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameters in NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study, 152 patients with NSCLC. CTP parameters were correlated with histology, stage, size and response to conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy. RESULTS: Neuroendocrine tumours presented higher BV (p 0.002). Negative correlation of PMB (p 0.003) and positive of MTT (p 0.046) with T stage was found. BF showed negative correlation with size. No differences were found with the RECIST levels of response to chemotherapy/radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: CTP parameters were highly variable. Neuroendocrine tumours presented higher BV and PMB values. Perfusion parameters do not differ depending on the stage and do not predict response to treatment.

Colonic adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the gingiva.

Metastatic tumors involve the oral cavity, and the most common primary sites are the breast and lung. Most cases affect the mandible and maxilla in that order, although some of them can be located in the soft perioral tissues. We report the case of a 62-year-old male who had been diagnosed with sigmoid adenocarcinoma with nodal and liver metastasis, who presented 6 months later with a gingival polypoid tumor, at first considered as a primary neoplasm of gingiva, that was diagnosed in a biopsy as metastatic intestinal adenocarcinoma. The histological evaluation is essential to separate adenocarcinoma from the commoner in this site squamous cell carcinoma, and the immunohistochemical techniques are useful to distinguish metastatic tumor versus primary adenocarcinoma from the minor salivary glands of the area. The intraoral spread of a disseminated neoplasm is generally a sign of bad prognosis, although a longer survival can be expected if a radical surgical treatment of a solitary metastasis is carried out.