Enfermedad cardiovascular previa y posterior a la infección por COVID-19. Supervivencia a un año / Cardiovascular disease before and after COVID-19 infection: One-year survival

Objetivos Analizar el riesgo de COVID-19 con relación a la morbilidad previa, así como el riesgo de nuevos eventos cardiovasculares (ECV) en pacientes COVID-19 y la supervivencia a un año. Metodología Estudio casos-control y estudio de cohortes prospectivo. Se incluyeron 275 pacientes aleatorizados >18 años diagnosticados de COVID-19 y se aparearon con 825 COVID-19 negativos por edad y sexo (proporción 1:3). Las variables principales fueron diagnóstico de COVID-19 y eventos post-COVID-19. Se estudiaron variables sociodemográficas, comorbilidad y ECV previo. Se realizaron sendos modelos predictivos de factores asociados al desarrollo de COVID-19 y de ECV post-COVID-19, así como un análisis de supervivencia a un año. Resultados Los varones con ECV previo duplican el riesgo de padecer COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] 2,11; intervalo de confianza [IC] 95% 1,32–3,36). En las mujeres el riesgo aumenta con la edad (OR 1,01; IC 95% 1,00–1,02), la diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR 1,90; IC 95% 1,14–3,17) y el deterioro cognitivo (OR 4,88; IC 95% 2,50–9,53). La inmunosupresión actúa como factor protector en ambos sexos. La edad (OR 1,02; IC 95% 1,00–1,04), hipertensión arterial (HTA) (OR 2,21; IC 95% 1,17–4,17), la infección COVID-19 (OR 4,81; IC 95% 2,89–7,98) y el ECV previo (OR 4,46; IC 95% 2,56–7,75) predicen el desarrollo de un nuevo ECV post-COVID-19. Los pacientes COVID-19 positivos tienen menor supervivencia (mediana de siete vs. 184 días). Conclusiones El ECV previo en varones y la DM junto al deterioro cognitivo en mujeres aumentan el riesgo de presentar COVID-19. La edad, HTA, ECV previo y la infección COVID-19 predicen la aparición de un ECV (AU)

Aim To analyze the risk of COVID-19 in relation to previous morbidity; to analyze the risk of new cardiovascular events (CVE) in COVID-19 patients and one-year survival. Methodology Case–control study and prospective cohort study. Two hundred and seventy-five randomized patients >18 years old with COVID-19 were included and matched with 825 without COVID-19 by age and sex (ratio 1:3). The main variables were diagnosis of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 events. Sociodemographic variables, comorbidity, and previous CVD were studied. Two predictive models of factors associated with the development of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 CVE were performed, as well as a one-year survival analysis. Results Men with a previous CVE double the risk of suffering from COVID-19 (OR 2.11; 95% CI: 1.32–3.36). In women, the risk increases with age (OR 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00–1.02), diabetes (DM) (OR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.14–3.17) and cognitive impairment (OR 4.88; 95% CI: 2.50–9.53). Immunosuppression acts as a protective factor in both sexes. Age (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00–1.04), arterial hypertension (OR 2.21; 95% CI: 1.17–4.17), COVID-19 infection (OR 4.81; 95% CI: 2.89–7.98) and previous CVE (OR 4.46; 95% CI: 2.56–7.75) predict the development of a new post-COVID-19 CVE. Positive COVID-19 has lower survival (median 7 days vs. 184 days). Conclusions Previous CVE in men and DM along with cognitive impairment in women increase the risk of presenting COVID-19. Age, arterial hypertension, previous CVE, and COVID-19 infection predict the appearance of new CVE (AU)

[Cardiovascular disease before and after COVID-19 infection: One-year survival]. / Enfermedad cardiovascular previa y posterior a la infección por COVID-19. Supervivencia a un año.

AIM: To analyze the risk of COVID-19 in relation to previous morbidity; to analyze the risk of new cardiovascular events (CVE) in COVID-19 patients and one-year survival. METHODOLOGY: Case-control study and prospective cohort study. Two hundred and seventy-five randomized patients >18 years old with COVID-19 were included and matched with 825 without COVID-19 by age and sex (ratio 1:3). The main variables were diagnosis of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 events. Sociodemographic variables, comorbidity, and previous CVD were studied. Two predictive models of factors associated with the development of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 CVE were performed, as well as a one-year survival analysis. RESULTS: Men with a previous CVE double the risk of suffering from COVID-19 (OR 2.11; 95% CI: 1.32-3.36). In women, the risk increases with age (OR 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00-1.02), diabetes (DM) (OR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.14-3.17) and cognitive impairment (OR 4.88; 95% CI: 2.50-9.53). Immunosuppression acts as a protective factor in both sexes. Age (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.04), arterial hypertension (OR 2.21; 95% CI: 1.17-4.17), COVID-19 infection (OR 4.81; 95% CI: 2.89-7.98) and previous CVE (OR 4.46; 95% CI: 2.56-7.75) predict the development of a new post-COVID-19 CVE. Positive COVID-19 has lower survival (median 7 days vs. 184 days). CONCLUSIONS: Previous CVE in men and DM along with cognitive impairment in women increase the risk of presenting COVID-19. Age, arterial hypertension, previous CVE, and COVID-19 infection predict the appearance of new CVE.

Objective and subjective sleep measures are associated with HbA1c and insulin sensitivity in the general population: Findings from the ORISCAV-LUX-2 study.

AIM: To analyze the association of objective and subjective sleep measures with HbA1c and insulin sensitivity in the general population. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, data from 1028 participants in the ORISCAV-LUX-2 study from the general population in Luxembourg were analyzed. Objective sleep measures were assessed using accelerometers whereas subjective measures were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Sleep measures were defined as predictors, while HbA1c and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) scores were considered outcomes. Linear and spline regression models were fitted by progressively adjusting for demographic and lifestyle variables in the total sample population as well as by stratified analyses using gender, obesity status, depressive symptoms and diabetes status. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, total and deep sleep durations were associated with lower HbA1c (mmol/mol) levels, whereas sleep coefficients of variation (%) and poor sleep efficiency, as measured by PSQI scores (units), were associated with higher HbA1c levels. In stratified models, such associations were observed mainly in men, and in subjects who had depressive symptoms, were overweight and no diabetes. In addition, total sleep, deep sleep, coefficients of variation and poor sleep efficiency as measured by PSQI revealed non-linear associations. Similarly, greater insulin sensitivity was associated with longer total sleep time and with PSQI-6 (use of sleep medication). CONCLUSION: Associations were more frequently observed between sleep characteristics and glycaemic control with the use of objective sleep measures. Also, such associations varied within subgroups of the population. Our results highlight the relevance of measuring sleep patterns as key factors in the prevention of diabetes.

Clinical osteoarthritis of the hip and knee and fall risk: The role of low physical functioning and pain medication.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have found an increased fall risk in persons with osteoarthritis (OA). However, most prospective studies did not use a clinical definition of OA. In addition, it is not clear which factors explain this risk. Our objectives were: (1) to confirm the prospective association between clinical OA of the hip and knee and falls; (2) to examine the modifying effect of sex; and (3) to examine whether low physical performance, low physical activity and use of pain medication are mediating these relationships. METHODS: Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used involving pre-harmonized data from five European population-based cohort studies (ages 65-85, n = 2535). Clinical OA was defined according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Falls were assessed using self-report. RESULTS: Over the follow-up period, 27.7% of the participants fell once or more (defined as faller), and 9.8% fell twice or more (recurrent faller). After adjustment for confounding, clinical knee OA was associated with the risk of becoming a recurrent faller (relative risk=1.55; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-2.18), but not with the risk of becoming a faller. No associations between clinical hip OA and (recurrent) falls were observed after adjustment for confounding. Use of opioids and analgesics mediated the associations between clinical OA and (recurrent) falls, while physical performance and physical activity did not. CONCLUSION: Individuals with clinical knee OA were at increased risk for recurrent falls. This relationship was mediated by pain medication, particularly opioids. The fall risk needs to be considered when discussing the risk benefit ratio of prescribing these medications.

Effectiveness of an intervention in multicomponent exercise in primary care to improve frailty parameters in patients over 70 years of age (MEFAP-project), a randomised clinical trial: rationale and study design.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may reverse frailty in the elderly, but we encounter barriers to the implementation of exercise programs in this population. Our main aim is to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent physical activity program, versus regular medical practice, on reverting pre-frailty status among the elderly, 12 months post-intervention. METHODS: Randomized parallel group multicenter clinical trial located in primary care setting, among non-dependent and pre-frail patients > 70 years old, including 190 patients (95 intervention, 95 control group). INTERVENTION: Multicomponent physical activity program (MEFAP, for its acronym in Spanish) with twelve 1.5 h-weekly sessions comprised of: 1. Informative session; 2. Exercises for improving aerobic resistance, muscle strength, propioception-balance and flexibility; and 3. Handing out of at-home exercise chart (twice/week). Main variable: pre-frailty according to the Fried phenotype. Secondary variables: sociodemographic, clinical and functional variables; exercise program adherence, patient satisfaction with the program and quality of life. We will perform an intention-to-treat analysis by comparing the retrogression from pre-frailty (1 or 2 Fried criteria) to robust status (0 Fried criteria) by the end of the intervention, 6 months and 12 months post-intervention. The accumulated incidence in each group will be calculated, as well as the relative risk (RR) and the number needed to treat (NNT) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee Hospital la Paz. DISCUSSION: Within the context of regular clinical practice, our results will provide evidence regarding the effects of exercise interventions on frailty among pre-frail older adults, a key population given their significant potential for functional, physical, and mental health improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03568084 . Registered 26 June 2018. Date of enrollment of the first participant to the trial: July 2nd 2018.

Metabolically healthy and unhealthy weight statuses, health issues and related costs: Findings from the 2013-2015 European Health Examination Survey in Luxembourg.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between metabolically healthy and unhealthy weight statuses and a wide range of related health issues, and healthcare and loss-of-productivity costs. METHODS: A total of 693 men and 729 women, aged 25-64 years, took part in the European Health Examination Survey conducted in Luxembourg between 2013 and 2015. Metabolically unhealthy normal-weight profiles were defined as having two or more cardiometabolic abnormalities (high blood pressure, high fasting glucose or triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and/or previously diagnosed hypertension or diabetes) in people with normal weight. Metabolically healthy overweight/obesity was defined as having fewer than two of the above-mentioned abnormalities in people with overweight or obesity. For the present report, the participants' anthropometric, clinical, biological, sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the participants with normal weight, 20% had a metabolically unhealthy profile, whereas 60% with overweight and 30% with obesity had a metabolically healthy profile. Comparisons between metabolically healthy and unhealthy normal weight, overweight and/or obesity status revealed that participants presented with a metabolically unhealthy profile independently of weight status (P<0.0001). People with a metabolically healthy profile were more likely to perceive their health as good (66%; P<0.0001), and to report no physical pain (64%; P=0.03), no limitations in daily activities (66%; P=0.0008), no difficulties getting in or out of a bed or chair (63%; P=0.02) or dressing and undressing (63%; P=0.003), going shopping (63%; P=0.053) or doing occasional heavy housework (64%; P=0.007); they also displayed fewer gastrointestinal (63%; P=0.02), arthrosis (64%; P=0.001) and sleep apnoea issues (63%; P=0.002) compared with those with a metabolically unhealthy profile. Healthcare- and loss-of-productivity-related costs were higher with a metabolically unhealthy profile, with differences of up to € 3000 (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: The present work has highlighted that, independently of weight status, people may develop a metabolically unhealthy profile associated with several health issues as well as higher healthcare and loss-of-productivity costs.

The effect of pH on the dynamics of natural membranes.

Pure phospholipids and membrane fragments from bacterial cells living under various conditions were studied against the influence of the surrounding acidity on the internal dynamics. For that we compared mean square displacements extracted from elastic incoherent neutron scattering data, measured both at low and at neutral pH, of the phospholipids 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and of samples from neutralophilic and acidophilic micro-organisms (some being hyperthermophilic and others mesophilic). The lipids showed a slight shift in the phase transition temperature of about 4 degrees under pH variation and became slightly more mobile at lower pH. The membrane fragments not used to extreme acidic conditions were significantly more sensitive to variations in the pH values, whereas the acidophilic and -tolerant samples were much less influenced by this parameter. They presented the higher softness at low pH, which was closer to their native condition. Such findings might be a hint for adaptation mechanisms to different acidity conditions.

[Huntington's Disease in Balearic Islands Population-Based Registry of Rare Diseases: Prevalence and Mortality during the Period 2010-2013. Spain]. / Prevalencia y mortalidad de la Enfermedad de Huntington a partir del registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares durante el período 2010-2013.

OBJECTIVE: Huntington's disease is a hereditary disease with low prevalence. The low frequency of Huntington's disease leads to its inclusion as one of the pathologies in the Registry of Rare Diseases. The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases began in 2010. Previously, there had been no prevalence or mortality data for Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and mortality of Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands between 2010 and 2013. METHODS: The data sources were the Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases, from which the diagnosed cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Mortality Register, from which the deceased cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Health Service, from which the number of Health Cards was obtained; and the National Institute for Statistics, from which population data were obtained. Prevalence and mortality rates were calculated. RESULTS: The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases registered 27 cases of Huntington's disease between 2010-2013. 63% of these were women. The period prevalence rate was 2.6 per 100,000 and the period mortality rate was 1.1 per 100,000. Menorca was the island with the highest rates, the prevalence rate was 5,9 per 100,000 and the mortality rate was 2,1 per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and mortality of Huntington's disease in the Balearic Islands are low compared to similar areas.

OBJETIVO: La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es una enfermedad hereditaria de baja prevalencia, por lo que se incluye en los registros de enfermedades raras. El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares se inició en el año 2010. Previamente no existían datos de prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y la mortalidad de la enfermedad de Huntington en las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013. METODOS: Se utilizaron como fuentes de información el registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos diagnosticados, el Registro de mortalidad de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos fallecidos, el registro del Servicio de Salud de las Islas Baleares del que se obtuvieron el número de tarjetas sanitarias y del Instituto Nacional de Estadística se obtuvieron los datos de población. Se calcularon las tasas de prevalencia y de mortalidad. RESULTADOS: El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013 registró 27 casos de EH. El 63% fueron mujeres. La tasa de prevalencia fue de 2,6 por 105 y la tasa de mortalidad de 1,1 por 105. La isla de Menorca fue la más afectada con una prevalencia de 5,9 por 105 y una mortalidad de 2,1 por 105. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares son bajas en comparación con zonas del entorno.

A combination of scGOS/lcFOS with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V protects suckling rats from rotavirus gastroenteritis.

PURPOSE: Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children, and although more standardized studies are needed, there is evidence that probiotics can help to fight against RV and other infectious and intestinal pathologies. On the other hand, the effects of prebiotics have not been properly addressed in the context of an RV infection. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a protective role for a specific scGOS/lcFOS 9:1 prebiotic mixture (PRE) separately, the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (PRO) separately and the combination of the prebiotic mixture and the probiotic (synbiotic, SYN) in a suckling rat RV infection model. METHODS: The animals received the intervention from the 3rd to the 21st day of life by oral gavage. On day 7, RV was orally administered. Clinical parameters and immune response were evaluated. RESULTS: The intervention with the PRO reduced the incidence, severity and duration of the diarrhoea (p < 0.05). The PRE and SYN products improved clinical parameters as well, but a change in stool consistency induced by the PRE intervention hindered the observation of this effect. Both the PRE and the SYN, but not the PRO, significantly reduced viral shedding. All interventions modulated the specific antibody response in serum and intestinal washes at day 14 and 21 of life. CONCLUSIONS: A daily supplement of a scGOS/lcFOS 9:1 prebiotic mixture, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V or a combination of both is highly effective in modulating RV-induced diarrhoea in this preclinical model.

Prevalencia y mortalidad de la enfermedad de Huntington a partir del Registro Poblacional de Enfermedades Raras de las Isla Baleares durante el período 2010-2013 / Huntinton's disease in Balearic Islands Population-based Registry or Rare Diseases: prevalence and mortality during the perior 2010-2013. Spain

Fundamentos: La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es una enfermedad hereditaria de baja prevalencia, por lo que se incluye en los registros de enfermedades raras. El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares se inició en el año 2010. Previamente no existían datos de prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y la mortalidad de la enfermedad de Huntington en las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013. Métodos: Se utilizaron como fuentes de información el registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos diagnosticados, el Registro de mortalidad de las Islas Baleares, del que se obtuvieron los casos fallecidos, el registro del Servicio de Salud de las Islas Baleares del que se obtuvieron el número de tarjetas sanitarias y del Instituto Nacional de Estadística se obtuvieron los datos de población. Se calcularon las tasas de prevalencia y de mortalidad. Resultados: El registro poblacional de enfermedades raras de las Islas Baleares durante el periodo 2010-2013 registró 27 casos de EH. El 63% fueron mujeres. La tasa de prevalencia fue de 2,6 por 105 y la tasa de mortalidad de 1,1 por 105. La isla de Menorca fue la más afectada con una prevalencia de 5,9 por 105 y una mortalidad de 2,1 por 105. Conclusiones: La prevalencia y mortalidad de la EH en las Islas Baleares son bajas en comparación con zonas del entorno (AU)

Background: Huntington’s disease is a hereditary disease with low prevalence. The low frequency of Huntington’s disease leads to its inclusion as one of the pathologies in the Registry of Rare Diseases. The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases began in 2010. Previously, there had been no prevalence or mortality data for Huntington’s disease in the Balearic Islands. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and mortality of Huntington’s disease in the Balearic Islands between 2010 and 2013. Methods: The data sources were the Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases, from which the diagnosed cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Mortality Register, from which the deceased cases were obtained; the Balearic Islands Health Service, from which the number of Health Cards was obtained; and the National Institute for Statistics, from which population data were obtained. Prevalence and mortality rates were calculated. Results: The Balearic Islands Population-based Registry of Rare Diseases registered 27 cases of Huntington’s disease between 2010-2013. 63% of these were women. The period prevalence rate was 2.6 per 105 and the period mortality rate was 1.1 per 105. Menorca was the island with the highest rates, the prevalence rate was 5,9 per 105 and the mortality rate was 2,1 per 105. Conclusions: Prevalence and mortality of Huntington’s disease in the Balearic Islands are low compared to similar areas (AU)

Transition from Reconstruction toward Thin Film on the (110) Surface of Strontium Titanate.

The surfaces of metal oxides often are reconstructed with a geometry and composition that is considerably different from a simple termination of the bulk. Such structures can also be viewed as ultrathin films, epitaxed on a substrate. Here, the reconstructions of the SrTiO3 (110) surface are studied combining scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), transmission electron diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and analyzed with density functional theory calculations. Whereas SrTiO3 (110) invariably terminates with an overlayer of titania, with increasing density its structure switches from n × 1 to 2 × n. At the same time the coordination of the Ti atoms changes from a network of corner-sharing tetrahedra to a double layer of edge-shared octahedra with bridging units of octahedrally coordinated strontium. This transition from the n × 1 to 2 × n reconstructions is a transition from a pseudomorphically stabilized tetrahedral network toward an octahedral titania thin film with stress-relief from octahedral strontia units at the surface.

Impact of clinical osteoarthritis of the hip, knee and hand on self-rated health in six European countries: the European Project on OSteoArthritis.

PURPOSE: Osteoarthritis (OA) has been shown to be associated with decreased physical function, which may impact upon a person's self-rated health (SRH). Only a few studies have examined the association between OA and SRH in the general population, but to date none have used a clinical definition of OA. The objectives are: (1) To examine the cross-sectional association between clinical OA and fair-to-poor SRH in the general population; (2) To examine whether this association differs between countries; (3) To examine whether physical function is a mediator in the association between clinical OA and SRH. METHODS: Baseline data of the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used, which includes pre-harmonized data from six European cohort studies (n = 2709). Clinical OA was defined according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. SRH was assessed using one question: How is your health in general? Physical function was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index and Australian/Canadian OA Hand Index. RESULTS: The prevalence of fair-to-poor SRH ranged from 19.8 % in the United Kingdom to 63.5 % in Italy. Although country differences in the strength of the associations were observed, clinical OA of the hip, knee and hand were significantly associated with fair-to-poor SRH in five out of six European countries. In most countries and at most sites, the association between clinical OA and fair-to-poor SRH was partly or fully mediated by physical function. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical OA at different sites was related to fair-to-poor SRH in the general population. Most associations were (partly) mediated by physical functioning, indicating that deteriorating physical function in patients with OA should be a point of attention in patient care.

Estimated prevalence of dementia based on analysis of drug databases in the Region of Madrid (Spain).

INTRODUCTION: The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. METHODS: Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%). RESULTS: Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older was respectively. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%). CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources.

Availability and use of neighborhood resources by older people with osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis.

This study examines the availability and use of neighborhood resources in relation to clinical lower limb osteoarthritis (LLOA) in older participants from six European countries. Of the 2757 participants (65-85 years), 22.7% had LLOA. Participants with LLOA made more use of places to sit (OR=2.50; CI: 1.36-4.60 in the UK), and less use of parks and walking areas (OR=0.30; CI: 0.12-0.75 in Sweden), compared to participants without LLOA, particularly in countries with high availability of resources. The results suggest that specific features of the environment impact the use of neighborhood resources by older adults with LLOA.

Interaction of photosystem I from Phaeodactylum tricornutum with plastocyanins as compared with its native cytochrome c6: Reunion with a lost donor.

In the Phaeodactylum tricornutum alga, as in most diatoms, cytochrome c6 is the only electron donor to photosystem I, and thus they lack plastocyanin as an alternative electron carrier. We have investigated, by using laser-flash absorption spectroscopy, the electron transfer to Phaeodactylum photosystem I from plastocyanins from cyanobacteria, green algae and plants, as compared with its own cytochrome c6. Diatom photosystem I is able to effectively react with eukaryotic acidic plastocyanins, although with less efficiency than with Phaeodactylum cytochrome c6. This efficiency, however, increases in some green alga plastocyanin mutants mimicking the electrostatics of the interaction site on the diatom cytochrome. In addition, the structure of the transient electron transfer complex between cytochrome c6 and photosystem I from Phaeodactylum has been analyzed by computational docking and compared to that of green lineage and mixed systems. Taking together, the results explain why the Phaeodactylum system shows a lower efficiency than the green systems, both in the formation of the properly arranged [cytochrome c6-photosystem I] complex and in the electron transfer itself.

If the results of an article are noteworthy, read the entire article; do not rely on the abstract alone. / Si le llaman la atención los resultados de un artículo, léalo completo, no se fíe solo del resumen.

Clinicians typically update their knowledge by reading articles on the Internet. Easy access to the articles' abstracts and a lack of time to access other information sources creates a risk that therapeutic or diagnostic decisions will be made after reading just the abstracts. Occasionally, however, the abstracts of articles from clinical trials that have not obtained statistically significant differences in the primary study endpoint have reported other positive results, for example, of a secondary endpoint or a subgroup analysis. The article, however, correctly reports all results, including those of the primary endpoint. In the abstract, the safety information of the experimental treatment is usually deficient. The whole article should be read if a clinical decision is to be made.

Transition from Order to Configurational Disorder for Surface Reconstructions on SrTiO_{3}(111).

There is growing interest in ternary oxide surfaces due to their role in areas ranging from substrates for low power electronics to heterogeneous catalysis. Descriptions of these surfaces to date focus on low-temperature explanations where enthalpy dominates, and less on the implications of configurational entropy at high temperatures. We report here the structure of three members of the n×n (2≤n≤4) reconstructions of the strontium titanate (111) surface using a combination of transmission electron diffraction, density functional theory modeling, and scanning tunneling microscopy. The surfaces contain a mixture of the tetrahedral TiO_{4} units found on the (110) surface sitting on top of octahedral TiO_{5}[] (where [] is a vacant octahedral site), and TiO_{6} units in the second layer that are similar to those found on the (001) surface. We find clear evidence of a transition from the ordered enthalpy-dominated 3×3 and 4×4 structures to a configurational entropy-dominated 2×2 structure that is formed at higher temperatures. This changes many aspects of how oxide surfaces should be considered, with significant implications for oxide growth.

Walking speed and high blood pressure mortality risk in a Spanish elderly population.

This study analyzed the relationship between blood pressure and all-cause mortality according to objectively measured walking speed in a Mediterranean population-based sample of older persons. We used data from the longitudinal 'Peñagrande' Cohort Study, initiated in 2008 in a sex- and age-stratified random sample of 1250 people aged ⩾65 years living in Madrid (Spain). A total of 814 individuals participated in the first study wave. The average of two standardized blood pressure readings was used. Walking speed was measured over a 3-m walk and classified as faster (⩾0.8 m s(-1)) or slower. A total of 314 individuals were slower walkers, 475 were faster walkers and 25 did not complete the walk test. Cox proportional hazards models stratified by walking speed were used to assess the association between blood pressure and all-cause death. Non-linear relationship between BP and mortality was explored by a restricted cubic spline analysis. There were 171 deaths from study entry through 31 March 2013. Systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg were associated with higher mortality than blood pressure values above 140 and 90 mm Hg, respectively, but this association reached statistical significance only for systolic blood pressure and only in the slower walkers. In conclusion, systolic blood pressure levels <140 mm Hg were found associated with higher risk of total mortality among slower walkers in an old Spaniard population cohort.