[Predictive model and discriminant analysis of the development of dementia in patients with delirium in the emergency department]. / Modelo predictivo y análisis discriminante del desarrollo de demencia en pacientes con delirium en urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of our study is to know the sociodemographic, clinical, analytical, and functional variables that predict the probability of developing dementia in patients with delirium who attend the emergency room. METHOD: All patients with delirium (n=45) from the emergency room who were admitted to the Geriatrics service of the General University Hospital of Ciudad Real (HGUCR) in 2016-2018 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Subsequently, we ran a bivariate and multivariate analysis of the variables that predicted a diagnosis of dementia at six months and a discriminant analysis. RESULTS: 15.6% of patients presented dementia at six months of follow-up, 22.2% had developed cognitive impairment. We conducted a multivariate model (R2 Nagelkerke 0.459) for the probability of developing dementia, with elevated heart rate being the most crucial variable (OR=11.5). The model could excluded dementia with 100% accuracy. Finally, we achieved a discriminant function capable of correctly classifying 95.6% of the cases. It included the following variables of influence: pH, Lawton Brody index, calcium, urea, and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: A few clinical and analytical variables that are easily detectable in the emergency room, especially tachycardia, could help us better identify those patients with delirium at higher risk of developing dementia, as well as formulate hypotheses about the variables involved in the development of dementia in patients with delirium.

Síndrome compartimental agudo en la baja de combate: una revisión narrativa / Acute compartment syndrome in combat casualties: a narrative review

Introducción: El síndrome compartimental agudo (SCA) es una complicación frecuente y potencialmente devastadora en las heridas de guerra que afectan a las extremidades, debido principalmente a las lesiones vasculares, óseas y de tejidos blandos frecuentemente asociadas, y a la dificultad para reevaluar a la baja durante su evacuación. El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar la evidencia científica disponible y actualizada sobre el manejo diagnóstico-terapéutico del SCA en la baja de combate.Material y métodos:Para la elaboración de este trabajo se ha realizado una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva en las bases de datos: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Scielo y Latindex. Para la selección de artículos, se han establecido como criterios de inclusión que fueran realizados en entornos militares o sobre poblaciones de bajas de combate, escritos en castellano o inglés, y publicados durante los últimos quince años.Resultados y conclusiones:En el entorno operativo, el diagnóstico del SCA será fundamentalmente clínico y el tratamiento consistirá en una fasciotomía precoz y completa de todos los compartimentos del miembro afectado, ya que la fasciotomía tardía o incompleta se ha asociado con peores resultados y a un aumento de la morbimortalidad. La formación continuada en cirugía de guerra ha disminuido las tasas de fasciotomías de revisión. (AU)

Introduction: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a frequent and potentially devastating complication of extremity war wounds, mainly due to the frequently associated vascular, bone and soft tissue injuries, and the limit close monitoring during casualty evacuation. The objective of this review is to analyze the available and updated scientific evidence on the diagnostic-therapeutic management of ACS in combat casualty.Material and Methods:For the preparation of this work, an exhaustive bibliographic search was carried out in the databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Scielo and Latindex. For the selection of articles, inclusion criteria have been established: carried out in military environments or on combat casualties populations, written in Spanish or English, and published during the last fifteen years.Results and Conclusions:In the combat zone, the diagnosis is even more heavily weighted toward clinical evaluation and the treatment will consist of a prompt and complete fasciotomy of all compartments of the affected limb, inasmuch as delayed or incomplete fasciotomy has been associated with worse outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. Pre-deployment training of surgeons has decreased the rate of revision fasciotomies. (AU)

[Cadmium polyneuropathy: a rare, but not less important, cause of peripheral neuropathy]. / Polineuropatía por cadmio: una causa infrecuente, pero no menos importante, de neuropatía periférica.

INTRODUCTION: Cadmium is an important heavy metal in neurobiology, with potential neurotoxic effects, often in the form of polyneuropathy (PNP). CASE REPORT: We present an exceptional case of PNP due to cadmium of toxic-occupational origin, specifically a 47-year-old man, aeronautical mechanic, with a 5-year clinical picture, consisting of a tingling sensation having a 'glove and stocking' distribution of symptoms and bimanual manipulative clumsiness. The neurological examination revealed bilateral achilles hyporeflexia and protopathic-thermal-algesic exteroceptive hypoesthesia in hands and feet. The following complementary rests were requested: toxic-metabolic-infectious-vitamin profile, full craniospinal MRI, electroneurographic-electromyographic study (ENG-EMG) of the upper and lower limbs, PET-CT body and 24-hour video-electroencephalogram. The results were consistent with an axonal, distal, symmetric sensory-motor PNP, of moderate intensity, chronic evolution, with active denervation, of toxic-occupational origin due to cadmium. The patient continued on sick leave to cease exposure to cadmium, initiating intensive multimodal neurorehabilitation program, with serial analytical determinations of toxins and new ENG-EMG studies every 6 months. With normalization of the altered values ??and complete clinical restitution at one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of including the toxicological determination of cadmium in case of suspicion of a PNP of toxic-occupational origin, once ruled out other etiologies, in order to early interrupt occupational exposure, as it is a potentially reversible cause of peripheral neuropathy. Currently there is no specific pharmacological treatment against cadmium tested in humans. Randomized clinical trials carried out in these patients are warranted to develop an anti-cadmium drug in refractory cases despite the end of exposure.

TITLE: Polineuropatía por cadmio: una causa infrecuente, pero no menos importante, de neuropatía periférica.Introducción. El cadmio es un metal pesado importante en neurobiología, con potenciales efectos neurotóxicos, frecuentemente en forma de polineuropatía. Caso clínico. Presentamos un caso excepcional de polineuropatía por cadmio de origen tóxico-ocupacional, en concreto, un varón de 47 años, mecánico aeronáutico, con un cuadro de cinco años de evolución, consistente en sensación de hormigueo 'en guante y calcetín' y torpeza manipulativa bimanual. En la exploración destacaba una hiporreflexia aquílea bilateral, y una hipoestesia exteroceptiva protopático-térmico-algésica en las manos y los pies. Se solicitó analítica general completa con perfil tóxico-metabólico-infeccioso-vitamínico, resonancia magnética craneomedular completa, estudio electroneurográfico-electromiográfico de los miembros superiores e inferiores, tomografía por emisión de positrones-tomografía axial computarizada body y videoelectroencefalograma de 24 horas. Los resultados fueron compatibles con una polineuropatía sensitivomotora axonal, distal, simétrica, de intensidad moderada, de evolución crónica y desnervación activa, de origen tóxico-ocupacional por cadmio. El paciente prosiguió la baja laboral para cesar la exposición al cadmio, iniciando neurorrehabilitación intensiva multimodal, y determinaciones analíticas seriadas de tóxicos y nuevos estudios electroneurográficos-electromiográficos cada seis meses, con normalización de los valores alterados y restitución clínica ad integrum al año. Conclusiones. Este caso enfatiza la importancia de incluir la determinación toxicológica del cadmio ante la sospecha de una polineuropatía de origen tóxico-ocupacional, descartadas otras etiologías, para interrumpir precozmente dicha exposición laboral, al ser una causa potencialmente reversible de neuropatía periférica. Actualmente no existe un tratamiento farmacológico específico frente al cadmio demostrado en seres humanos. Urgen ensayos clínicos aleatorizados en estos pacientes, para desarrollar un fármaco frente al cadmio en casos refractarios pese a finalizar la exposición.

Polineuropatía por cadmio: una causa infrecuente, pero no menos importante, de neuropatía periférica / Cadmium polyneuropathy: a rare, but not less important, cause of peripheral neuropathy

Introducción: El cadmio es un metal pesado importante en neurobiología, con potenciales efectos neurotóxicos, frecuentemente en forma de polineuropatía. Caso clínico: Presentamos un caso excepcional de polineuropatía por cadmio de origen tóxico-ocupacional, en concreto, un varón de 47 años, mecánico aeronáutico, con un cuadro de cinco años de evolución, consistente en sensación de hormigueo ‘en guante y calcetín’ y torpeza manipulativa bimanual. En la exploración destacaba una hiporreflexia aquílea bilateral, y una hipoestesia exteroceptiva protopático-térmico-algésica en las manos y los pies. Se solicitó analítica general completa con perfil tóxico-metabólico-infeccioso-vitamínico, resonancia magnética craneomedular completa, estudio electroneurográfico-electromiográfico de los miembros superiores e inferiores, tomografía por emisión de positrones-tomografía axial computarizada body y videoelectroencefalograma de 24 horas. Los resultados fueron compatibles con una polineuropatía sensitivomotora axonal, distal, simétrica, de intensidad moderada, de evolución crónica y desnervación activa, de origen tóxico-ocupacional por cadmio. El paciente prosiguió la baja laboral para cesar la exposición al cadmio, iniciando neurorrehabilitación intensiva multimodal, y determinaciones analíticas seriadas de tóxicos y nuevos estudios electroneurográficos-electromiográficos cada seis meses, con normalización de los valores alterados y restitución clínica ad integrum al año. Conclusiones: Este caso enfatiza la importancia de incluir la determinación toxicológica del cadmio ante la sospecha de una polineuropatía de origen tóxico-ocupacional, descartadas otras etiologías, para interrumpir precozmente dicha exposición laboral, al ser una causa potencialmente reversible de neuropatía periférica. Actualmente no existe un tratamiento farmacológico específico frente al cadmio demostrado en seres humanos.(AU)

Introduction: Cadmium is an important heavy metal in neurobiology, with potential neurotoxic effects, often in the form of polyneuropathy (PNP). Case report: We present an exceptional case of PNP due to cadmium of toxic-occupational origin, specifically a 47-year-old man, aeronautical mechanic, with a 5-year clinical picture, consisting of a tingling sensation having a ‘glove and stocking’ distribution of symptoms and bimanual manipulative clumsiness. The neurological examination revealed bilateral achilles hyporeflexia and protopathic-thermal-algesic exteroceptive hypoesthesia in hands and feet. The following complementary rests were requested: toxic-metabolic-infectious-vitamin profile, full craniospinal MRI, electroneurographic-electromyographic study (ENG-EMG) of the upper and lower limbs, PET-CT body and 24-hour video-electroencephalogram. The results were consistent with an axonal, distal, symmetric sensory-motor PNP, of moderate intensity, chronic evolution, with active denervation, of toxic-occupational origin due to cadmium. The patient continued on sick leave to cease exposure to cadmium, initiating intensive multimodal neurorehabilitation program, with serial analytical determinations of toxins and new ENG-EMG studies every 6 months. With normalization of the altered values ​​and complete clinical restitution at one-year follow-up. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of including the toxicological determination of cadmium in case of suspicion of a PNP of toxic-occupational origin, once ruled out other etiologies, in order to early interrupt occupational exposure, as it is a potentially reversible cause of peripheral neuropathy. Currently there is no specific pharmacological treatment against cadmium tested in humans. Randomized clinical trials carried out in these patients are warranted to develop an anti-cadmium drug in refractory cases despite the end of exposure.(AU)

Abordaje fisioterapéutico en el tratamiento del cólico del lactante. Una revisión sistemática / Physiotherapeutic approach in the treatment of the infant colic. A systematic review

Objetivo: El objetivo de esta revisión será evaluar la efectividad de los diferentes tratamientos fisioterapéuticos de los que disponemos actualmente para reducir los casos o mejorar la sintomatología del bebé que padece cólico del lactante. Material y métodos: La búsqueda se realizó en las bases de datos Pubmed, PEDro y Scopus con las palabras clave infantcolic, physiotherapy y musculoskeletal manipulations. Se seleccionaron publicaciones de los últimos 20 años en inglés o en español. En ellas se evaluaban bebés con cólicos infantiles que se sometieron a diferentes tratamientos fisioterapéuticos. Las principales variables estudiadas fueron el patrón de llanto y la duración del sueño, y se usó como principal instrumento de medida el diario de llanto de 24horas. Para evaluar la calidad metodológica de los estudios se empleó la escala PEDro. Resultados: Tras la búsqueda bibliográfica se seleccionaron 13 ensayos clínicos controlados y aleatorizados. Estos estudios fueron clasificados según el tipo de tratamiento aplicado (masoterapia, manipulación espinal, manipulación craneal, reflexología y acupuntura) y estudiados, obteniéndose favorables resultados sobre todo con la aplicación de masoterapia. Conclusiones: Se han encontrado resultados favorables para el manejo de la sintomatología del cólico del lactante, reduciéndose las horas de llanto y aumentado las horas de sueño a través de los tratamientos fisioterapéuticos estudiados: masoterapia, manipulación espinal, manipulación craneal, reflexología y acupuntura.

Objective: To assess critically the effectiveness of the different physiotherapeutic treatments that we currently have to reduce cases or improve the symptomatology of the infant colic. Material and methods: A randomized clinical trial search was conducted in Pubmed, PEDro and Scopus databases using “infant colic”, “physiotherapy” and “musculoskeletal manipulations” as keywords. Publications of the last 20 years and of English or Spanish language were selected. In these studies, babies with infant colic were treated with different physiotherapeutic treatments. The variables studies were mainly the crying pattern, the duration of sleep and de 24-hour crying diary, which was used as the main measuring instrument. “PEDro” scale was used in order to evaluate the quality of the studies. Results: Thirteen clinical randomized trials were selected. The studies were classified according to the treatment applied (masotherapy, spinal manipulation, cranial manipulation, reflexology and acupuncture) and the effects reported, obtaining positive results specially those where masotherapy was used. Conclusions: Most of the studies showed favorable results of the treatments for infant colic. Masotherapy, spinal manipulation, cranial manipulation, reflexology and acupuncture improve infant colic symptoms, reducing crying hours and increasing sleep hours.

Tratamiento fisioterapéutico para la dismenorrea primaria: una revisión sistemática / Physiotherapy treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea: A systematic review

Objetivo: Conocer y describir la eficacia del tratamiento de la dismenorrea primaria desde el campo de la fisioterapia. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática con búsqueda en las bases de datos Medline (Pubmed), Scopus y PEDro de artículos sobre el tratamiento de fisioterapia en la dismenorrea primaria. Se incluyeron ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, en inglés o en español, con una antigüedad menor de 5años y con una puntuación de 4 o más en la escala PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). Resultados: Un total de 178 artículos resultaron de la búsqueda realizada, de los cuales 13 reunían los criterios de inclusión. Los ensayos utilizaron la acupresión, el ejercicio físico incluyéndose el yoga, la terapia manual y la electroterapia como tratamiento fisioterapéutico de la dismenorrea primaria. Las medidas de resultado estudiadas fueron la intensidad y la duración del dolor, el distrés menstrual, la calidad de vida, los síntomas menstruales y la toma de medicamentos. Conclusión: Algunas modalidades de fisioterapia como acupresión, ejercicio físico, terapia manual y electroterapia mejoran el dolor y algunos de los síntomas de la dismenorrea primaria.(AU)

Objective: To know and describe the efficacy of the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea from the field of physiotherapy. Material and methods: A systematic review was carried out with a search in the Medline (Pubmed), Scopus and PEDro databases for articles on physiotherapy treatment in primary dysmenorrhoea. Randomized clinical trials were included, in English or Spanish, less than 5years old and with a score of 4 or more on the PEDro scale (Physiotherapy Evidence Database). Results: A total of 178 articles resulted from the search, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria. The trials used acupressure, physical exercise including yoga, manual therapy, and electrotherapy as a physiotherapeutic treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. The measures of results studied were intensity and duration of pain, menstrual distress, quality of life, menstrual symptoms and medication taking. Conclusion: Some physical therapy modalities such as acupressure, exercise, manual therapy, and electrotherapy improve pain and some of the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.(AU)

Cerebrospinal and blood levels of amino acids as potential biomarkers for Parkinson's disease: review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to establish the possible value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum/plasma levels of amino acids as markers of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: This is a review of four databases (PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE and Web of Science - Core Collection) from 1966 to 14 March 2020, with identification of references of interest for the topic. The meta-analysis of eligible studies was done using R software package meta, following the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. RESULTS: Compared with age- and sex-matched controls, PD patients showed decreased CSF levels of glutamate and taurine and increased CSF levels of tyrosine; decreased serum/plasma levels of aspartate, serine, tryptophan and lysine, and increased serum/plasma proline and homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations of this study due to the important variability of results between different series, our findings suggest the value of CSF or serum/plasma levels of several amino acids in the discrimination of PD patients from healthy subjects, related to the levels of some amino acids.

Periprosthetic infection in elderly patients treated with hemiarthroplasty of the hip following intracapsular fracture. Should we use antibiotic-loaded bone cement? / Infección periprótesica en pacientes ancianos tratados mediante hemiartroplastia de cadera tras fractura intracapsular. ¿Debemos usar cementación con antibiótico?

INTRODUCTION: Prosthetic infections are a potentially devastating complication, especially in elderly patients. Antibiotic-loaded bone cement has been used both as a treatment and prophylaxis in prosthetic infection, and its use is not well documented in the prophylaxis of infection in patients who have suffered a hip fracture. MATERIAL: A retrospective descriptive was performed. The data were obtained from all the patients who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty due to a subcapital fracture between 2011 and 2017 (N=241). An epidemiological study of the patients studied was carried out. We analysed the incidence of periprosthetic infection in the groups treated with cement without antibiotic and antibiotic-loaded bone cement, as well as the protective effect of the antibiotic-loaded bone cement. At the same time, a pilot cost analysis study was carried out. RESULTS: In the group that received antibiotic-loaded bone cement (n=94) there were 8 infections (8%), while in the group with cement without antibiotic (n=147) there were 28 infections (19%). The odds ratio (OR) was calculated, showing a 55.3% reduction in the risk of developing late infection in the group that received cement with antibiotic (95% CI: 6.2-78.7%, P=.0025). The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement led to significant cost savings per patient. CONCLUSIONS: The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement is a protective factor in the development of late infection after hip hemiarthroplasty surgery in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Short Review: Investigating ARSACS: models for understanding cerebellar degeneration.

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is an early-onset neurodegenerative disease that includes progressive cerebellar dysfunction. ARSACS is caused by an autosomal recessive loss-of-function mutation in the SACS gene, which encodes for SACSIN. Although animal models are still necessary to investigate the role of SACSIN in the pathology of this disease, more reliable human cellular models need to be generated to better understand the cerebellar pathophysiology of ARSACS. The discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) has permitted the derivation of patient-specific cells. These cells have an unlimited self-renewing capacity and the ability to differentiate into different neural cell types, allowing studies of disease mechanism, drug discovery and cell replacement therapies. In this study, we discuss how the hiPSC-derived cerebellar organoid culture offers novel strategies for targeting the pathogenic mutations related to ARSACS. We also highlight the advantages and challenges of this 3D cellular model, as well as the questions that still remain unanswered.

[Drug-related mortality among inpatients admitted in Internal Medicine]. / Mortalidad hospitalaria asociada a medicamentos en un Servicio de Medicina Interna.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the mortality associated with prescriptions, the drugs most frequently involved and the associated risk factors in patients admitted to Internal Medicine. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study. The clinical records of adult patients who died consecutively in the department of Internal Medicine in a Spanish tertiary hospital over twenty-two months were reviewed. The main variable was the prevalence of hospital death suspected of being related to the medications administered during admission. RESULTS: Out of the 455 deaths analyzed, 22.2% were related to the medications received; in 55 cases (12.1%) the drugs were suspected of being the cause of death and in 46 cases (10.1%) of contributing to it. The most frequent diagnoses in cases of death associated with drugs were cardiac arrhythmia (23.7%), severe hemorrhage (19.8%) and aspiration pneumonia (12.8%). The drugs with the highest prevalence in deaths related to pharmacological treatment were an-tithrombotic drugs (23.7%), digoxin (21.7%), antipsychotics (17.8%) and benzodiazepines (14.8%). The only independent risk factor for mortality associated with treatment was the number of medications administered (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.14-1.37). No significant association was found with age, sex, number of pathologies or duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of deaths of patients admitted to Internal Medicine were considered related to the medications received. Antithrombotic drugs, digoxin and psychotropic drugs were the agents most frequently implicated. This mortality is independently and significantly associated with the number of medications administered.

[Hereditary primary microcephaly type 5. Not everything is Zika virus]. / Microcefalia primaria hereditaria de tipo 5. No todo es virus del Zika.

TITLE: Microcefalia primaria hereditaria de tipo 5. No todo es virus del Zika.

[Intraarticular lesions associated with tibial fixation during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction]. / Lesiones intraarticulares asociadas a la fijación tibial en la reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a demanding procedure; complications may arise at any of its stages. This is the report of three cases in which the tibial fixation devices (IntraFix and Bio-IntraFix) led to intraarticular lesions. The complications were detected in one of the cases while the patient was still in the operating room and in the remaining two during the follow-up. All the patients had a stable knee, but all of them sustained chondral lesions resulting from the inadequate placement of the implants used for tibial fixation. Several suggestions to avoid the complications stemming from these devices are provided.

La reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior es un procedimiento exigente; las complicaciones pueden presentarse en cualquiera de sus etapas. Presentamos tres casos en los cuales los dispositivos para la fijación tibial (IntraFix y Bio-IntraFix) condicionaron lesiones intraarticulares. Las complicaciones fueron detectadas, en uno de los casos, mientras el paciente se encontraba aún en la sala de operaciones, y en los otros dos, durante el seguimiento. Todos los pacientes contaban con una rodilla estable, pero tuvieron lesiones condrales causadas por la inadecuada colocación de los implantes para la fijación tibial. Se exponen algunas sugerencias para evitar complicaciones con estos dispositivos.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting computer controlled test bench.

In this paper a new computer controlled (C.C.) laboratory test bench is presented. The patented test bench is made up of a C.C. road traffic simulator, C.C. electronic hardware involved in automating measurements, and test bench control software interface programmed in LabVIEW™. Our research is focused on characterizing electronic energy harvesting piezoelectric-based elements in road traffic environments to extract (or "harvest") maximum power. In mechanical to electrical energy conversion, mechanical impacts or vibrational behavior are commonly used, and several major problems need to be solved to perform optimal harvesting systems including, but no limited to, primary energy source modeling, energy conversion, and energy storage. It is described a novel C.C. test bench that obtains, in an accurate and automatized process, a generalized linear equivalent electrical model of piezoelectric elements and piezoelectric based energy store harvesting circuits in order to scale energy generation with multiple devices integrated in different topologies.

Exposure to bisphenol A and behavior in school-age children.

INTRODUCTION: Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been shown to affect human brain neurodevelopment and behavior. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether environmental exposure to BPA in children was associated with their childhood behavior. METHODS: Urinary BPA concentrations and behavioral characteristics were assessed in 300 children belonging to the INMA "Environment and Childhood" Granada birth cohort in their follow-up at 9-11 years of age. BPA concentrations were quantified in urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), and child behavior reported by parents using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) under supervision of a psychologist. The association between BPA concentrations and CBCL standardized scores was analyzed using linear regression models, adjusted for important covariates. RESULTS: Median (P25, P75) BPA concentration was 4.76 (2.77, 9.03)µg/L. Mean (±SD) CBCL externalizing and internalizing scores were 56.35 (±8.06) and 51.36 (±9.22), respectively. In multivariate regression analyses, adjusted for maternal and child characteristics, higher BPA concentrations were associated with worse behavioral scores on all scales. Children with BPA concentrations in the 4th quartile had more somatic complaints (ß=2.35; 95% CI: 0.25, 4.46) and social (ß=1.71; 95% CI: 0.19, 3.22) and thought problems (ß=2.58; 95% CI: 0.66, 4.51) in comparison to those in the 1st quartile. Children with values in the 3rd quartile of BPA concentrations also showed greater social problems (ß=1.94; 95% CI: 0.43, 3.45). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to BPA in childhood may affect children's behavior. Although further investigations are required, preventive measures should be undertaken to reduce inadvertent exposure to BPA.

Evaluation of Nutritional Biochemical Parameters in Haemodialysis Patients over a Ten-year Period.

AIM: Protein-energy malnutrition as well as systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders are common in patients with chronic kidney failure, who require renal replacement therapy (haemodialysis). Such malnutrition is a factor that significantly contributes to their morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the nutritional status of haemodialysis patients by assessing biochemical and anthropometric parameters in order to determine whether these patients suffered disorders reflecting nutritional deterioration directly related to time on haemodialysis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This research comprised 90 patients of both genders with chronic kidney failure, who regularly received haemodialysis at our unit over a period of ten years. The patients' blood was tested quarterly for plasma albumin, total cholesterol and total proteins, and tested monthly for transferrin. The patients' weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were monitored. Body mass index was calculated using the formula: weight (kg)/height (m2 ) and classified in one of the following categories defined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Database on Body Mass Index: (i) underweight [BMI < 18.50], (ii) normal [BMI 18.50 - 24.99], (iii) overweight [BMI 25 - 29.99], (iv) obese [BMI > 30]. RESULTS: In the ten-year period of the study, the patients experienced a substantial decline in their biochemical parameters. Nevertheless, their BMI did not show any significant changes despite the patients' state of malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of malnutrition in haemodialysis patients was evident. Nevertheless, the BMI of the subjects did not correspond to the biochemical parameters measured. Consequently, the results showed that the nutritional deterioration of these patients was mainly reflected in their biochemical parameters rather than in their anthropometric measurements.