La enfermedad de Huntington en la Comunitat Valenciana / Huntington disease in the Valencian Region

Introducción: La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es un trastorno raro neurodegenerativo caracterizado por movimientos coreicos involuntarios, trastornos conductuales y psiquiátricos, y demencia. Objetivo: Describir la distribución geográfica, etaria y por sexo de la EH en la Comunitat Valenciana (CV), y determinar su prevalencia y mortalidad. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal en el período 2010-2018. Se identificaron, a través del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades Raras de la CV, los casos confirmados de EH. Se describieron las características sociodemográficas, y se obtuvieron la prevalencia y la tasa de mortalidad.Resultados: Se identificaron 225 casos, un 50,2% mujeres. El 52% residía en la provincia de Alicante. Un 68,9% se verificó por su diagnóstico clínico. La mediana de edad en el momento del diagnóstico fue 54,1 años, 54,7 en los hombres y 53 en las mujeres. La prevalencia en 2018 fue de 1,97/100.000 habitantes –intervalo de confianza al 95% (IC 95%): 0,39-2,37–. El 49,8% falleció, un 51,8% hombres. La mediana de edad en el momento del fallecimiento fue de 62,7 años, y fue inferior en los hombres que en las mujeres. La tasa de mortalidad en 2018 fue de 0,32/100.000 habitantes (IC 95%: 0,32-2,28) y no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, ni en conjunto ni por sexos, durante el período de estudio. Conclusiones: La prevalencia obtenida estaba dentro del rango estimado por Orphanet (1-9/100.000). Se observó una diferencia por sexos en la edad de diagnóstico. Los hombres son el grupo de mayor mortalidad y de edad de fallecimiento más temprana. Es una enfermedad con alta mortalidad, con una media de 6,5 años entre el diagnóstico y el fallecimiento.(AU)

Introduction: Huntington disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by unwanted choreatic movements, behavioral and psychiatric disturbances and dementia. Objective: Describe the geographical, age and sex distribution of HD in the Valencia Region (VR) and determine its prevalence and mortality. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study for the period 2010-2018. Confirmed cases of HD were identified through the Rare Disease Information System of the VR. Sociodemographic characteristics were described, and the prevalence and mortality rate were obtained. Results: 225 cases were identified, 50.2% women. 52.0% lived in the province of Alicante. 68.9% were verified by their clinical diagnosis. The median age at diagnosis was 54.1 years, 54.7 years in men and 53.0 years in women. The prevalence in 2018 was 1.97/100,000 inhabitants (95%; CI: 0.39-2.37), showing a no significant increasing trend, overall and by sex. 49.8% died, 51.8% men. The median age at death was 62.7 years, being lower in men than in women. The mortality rate in 2018 was 0.32/100,000 inhabitants (95%; CI: 0.32-2.28), with no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: The prevalence obtained was within the range estimated by Orphanet (1-9/100,000). A difference between sexes was observed in the diagnosis age. Men are the group with the highest mortality and the earliest age of death. It is a disease with high mortality with an average of 6.5 years between diagnosis and death.(AU)

[Huntington disease in the Valencian Region]. / La enfermedad de Huntington en la Comunitat Valenciana.

INTRODUCTION: Huntington disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by unwanted choreatic movements, behavioral and psychiatric disturbances and dementia. OBJECTIVE: Describe the geographical, age and sex distribution of HD in the Valencia Region (VR) and determine its prevalence and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study for the period 2010-2018. Confirmed cases of HD were identified through the Rare Disease Information System of the VR. Sociodemographic characteristics were described, and the prevalence and mortality rate were obtained. RESULTS: 225 cases were identified, 50.2% women. 52.0% lived in the province of Alicante. 68.9% were verified by their clinical diagnosis. The median age at diagnosis was 54.1 years, 54.7 years in men and 53.0 years in women. The prevalence in 2018 was 1.97/100,000 inhabitants (95%; CI: 0.39-2.37), showing a no significant increasing trend, overall and by sex. 49.8% died, 51.8% men. The median age at death was 62.7 years, being lower in men than in women. The mortality rate in 2018 was 0.32/100,000 inhabitants (95%; CI: 0.32-2.28), with no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence obtained was within the range estimated by Orphanet (1-9/100,000). A difference between sexes was observed in the diagnosis age. Men are the group with the highest mortality and the earliest age of death. It is a disease with high mortality with an average of 6.5 years between diagnosis and death.

TITLE: La enfermedad de Huntington en la Comunitat Valenciana.Introducción. La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es un trastorno raro neurodegenerativo caracterizado por movimientos coreicos involuntarios, trastornos conductuales y psiquiátricos, y demencia. Objetivo. Describir la distribución geográfica, etaria y por sexo de la EH en la Comunitat Valenciana (CV), y determinar su prevalencia y mortalidad. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal en el período 2010-2018. Se identificaron, a través del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades Raras de la CV, los casos confirmados de EH. Se describieron las características sociodemográficas, y se obtuvieron la prevalencia y la tasa de mortalidad. Resultados. Se identificaron 225 casos, un 50,2% mujeres. El 52% residía en la provincia de Alicante. Un 68,9% se verificó por su diagnóstico clínico. La mediana de edad en el momento del diagnóstico fue 54,1 años, 54,7 en los hombres y 53 en las mujeres. La prevalencia en 2018 fue de 1,97/100.000 habitantes ­intervalo de confianza al 95% (IC 95%): 0,39-2,37­. El 49,8% falleció, un 51,8% hombres. La mediana de edad en el momento del fallecimiento fue de 62,7 años, y fue inferior en los hombres que en las mujeres. La tasa de mortalidad en 2018 fue de 0,32/100.000 habitantes (IC 95%: 0,32-2,28) y no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, ni en conjunto ni por sexos, durante el período de estudio. Conclusiones. La prevalencia obtenida estaba dentro del rango estimado por Orphanet (1-9/100.000). Se observó una diferencia por sexos en la edad de diagnóstico. Los hombres son el grupo de mayor mortalidad y de edad de fallecimiento más temprana. Es una enfermedad con alta mortalidad, con una media de 6,5 años entre el diagnóstico y el fallecimiento.

The benthic toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata in the NW Mediterranean Sea: Relationship between sea surface temperature and bloom phenology.

Blooms of the toxic benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata can induce ecological and human health issues in certain temperate areas. In order to prevent these negative effects, long-term monitoring studies of O. cf. ovata blooms have been conducted in several impacted areas to have a comprehensive understanding of bloom dynamics and efficient tools for risk management. O. cf. ovata blooms were monitored every summer (from mid-June to the end of August) on five identified sites in Larvotto beach (Monaco, NW Mediterranean Sea), between 2007 and 2019. This time-series represents one of the largest time-series in the world describing blooms of this species. Bloom phenological features (timing, duration, maximum cell abundance and growth rate), were found to be highly variable throughout the studied period, and were analyzed as a function of different hydroclimatic parameters, including sea surface temperature (SST). The highest net growth rates were related to temperatures ranging between 21°C and 25°C, and did not coincide with maximal temperature records (27.5°C). Such results suggest that, although global warming possibly influences the expansion of O. cf. ovata from tropical to temperate waters, the definite impact of temperature on bloom dynamics might be more complex than a simple facilitation factor for algal growth, at least in NW Mediterranean waters. Furthermore, monthly SST anomalies calculated over this 13-year survey showed a strong positive correlation between spring SST positive anomalies and the bloom starting date, indicating that blooms occurred earlier in the season when spring SSTs were warmer than usual. Overall results provide tools to modelers and managers who are facing crucial challenges to predict the distribution and phenology of O. cf. ovata blooms in European coastal waters, moreover in a context of global warming.

Comparison of intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole versus piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of complicated intraabdominal infections.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) ciprofloxacin plus IV metronidazole (CIP+MET) with that of IV piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZO) in adults with complicated intraabdominal infections, and to compare the efficacy of sequential IV-to-oral CIP+MET therapy with that of the IV CIP-only regimen. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Treatment of intraabdominal infections remains a challenge, mainly because of their polymicrobial etiology and attendant death and complications. Antimicrobial regimens using sequential IV-to-oral therapy may reduce the length of hospital stay. METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial involving 459 patients, clinically improved IV-treated patients were switched to oral therapy after 48 hours. Overall clinical response was the primary efficacy measurement. RESULTS: A total of 282 patients (151 CIP+MET, 131 PIP/TAZO) were valid for efficacy. Of these patients, 64% CIP+MET and 57% PIP/TAZO patients were considered candidates for oral therapy. Patients had a mean APACHE II score of 9.6. The most common diagnoses were appendicitis (33%), other intraabdominal infection (29%), and abscess (25%). Overall clinical resolution rates were statistically superior for CIP+MET (74%) compared with PIP/TAZO (63%). Corresponding rates in the subgroup suitable for oral therapy were 85% for CIP+MET and 70% for PIP/TAZO. Postsurgical wound infection rates were significantly lower in CIP+MET (11%) versus PIP/TAZO patients (19%). Mean length of stay was 14 days for CIP+MET and 17 days for PIP/TAZO patients. CONCLUSION: CIP+MET, initially administered IV and followed by CIP+MET oral therapy, was clinically more effective than IV PIP/TAZO for the treatment of patients with complicated intraabdominal infections.

The effect of combinations of ampligen and zidovudine or dideoxyinosine against human immunodeficiency viruses in vitro.

The combinations of ampligen and zidovudine at ratios of 100:1, 25:1, 10:1, and 1:50 acted synergistically to reduce cytopathology caused by HIV in MT-2 cell cultures. Combination indices were less than 1 at all of these ratios representing different combinations of concentrations and at 3 effective doses (ED30, ED50, ED70). Combination of drugs which show synergism at a wide range of ratios of combinations suggest that they may be useful clinically, and that the antiviral efficacy of ZDV may be increased in combination with ampligen. Synergism was also found between ampligen and zidovudine by reduction of HIV-produced plaques in a HeLa cell line expressing CD-4 receptors. However the combination of ampligen and dideoxyinosine against HIV in MT-2 cells was only additive and not synergistic.