Metabolic and neurological consequences of the treatment with polyphenols: a systematic review in rodent models of noncommunicable diseases.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) lead to drastic metabolic alterations with associated energy balance and body weight changes, two related physiological processes regulated by the brain. Polyphenol-based treatments for NCDs have emerged as a promising therapy, which seems to involve the energy balance modulation. However, it remains unclear what the most effective polyphenols-based treatment is to attenuate adverse effects in the energy balance of NCDs. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the literature on the metabolic and neurological effects of polyphenols-based treatment in rodent models of NCDs. METHODS: Literature search was carried out in the following databases: CINAHL, Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. For title and abstract screening, original papers with polyphenols exposure in rodents were selected. For full-text screening, studies with models of NCDs that reported metabolic and neurological outcomes when treated with polyphenols were selected for inclusion in this review. RESULTS: 23 articles, using individual compound (11 articles) or polyphenols extracts (12 articles), were included in this review: 5 articles using tea polyphenols, 12 articles using grape-derived polyphenols, 3 articles using the polyphenol quercetin, and 3 articles using other polyphenol sources. Most results agree on the beneficial effect of polyphenols in attenuating alterations in energy balance and body weight. Such effects were associated with neuroprotective responses in different brain areas including hippocampus and hypothalamus. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this review shows that the treatment with polyphenols, especially resveratrol or quercetin, attenuates the adverse effects of NCDs on energy balance and are associated with neuroprotective effects.

Emotional intelligence of intensive care nurses in a tertiary hospital.

Emotional intelligence is defined as "the ability to perceive, assimilate, understand and regulate one's own emotions and those of others, promoting emotional and intellectual growth." The published evidence on the emotional intelligence of nursing staff in charge of a critical area patient in a tertiary hospital is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the emotional intelligence of nursing staff in the critical patient area. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive, cross-sectional, single-centre study carried out in nursing staff of the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of a tertiary hospital in Catalonia (September 2016). Variables studied: age, gender, work experience in ICU (years worked), and median score (range) of the dimensions of the Meta Mood Trait Scale (TMMS-24) with three dimensions: 1) Emotional attention (I am able to feel and express my feelings adequately); 2) Clarity of feelings (I understand my emotional states well); 3) Emotional repair (I am able to regulate emotional states correctly). A descriptive analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: All active nursing staff (n = 103) were asked to participate in the study: 92 (89%) accepted and completed the questionnaire (75 (82%) women, 17 (18%) men); 51 (55%) were aged between 21 to 30 years-old, and had more than 6 years of working experience in ICU. The median scores (range) of the different dimensions of the TMMS-24 questionnaire by gender (women/men) were respectively: 1) Emotional attention: 24 (12-37) [Adequate: 25 to 35]; 23 (18-31) [Adequate: 22 to 32]; 2) Clarity of feelings: 29 (15-40) [Adequate: 24-34]; 27 (18-34) [Adequate: 26-35]; 3) Emotional repair: 28 (13-40) [Adequate: 24-34]; 29 (18-39) [Adequate: 24-35]. CONCLUSIONS: The emotional intelligence of the nursing staff was adequate in the dimensions of clarity of feelings and emotional repair. However, it was not adequate in the dimension of emotional attention, therefore it is an area to improve.

Desabastecimiento de piperacilina-tazobactam: una oportunidad para mejorar / Shortage of piperacillin-tazobactam: an opportunity to improve

Introducción: En 2017 se iniciaron los problemas de suministro nacional de piperacilina/tazobactam, pero fue en 2018 cuando nuestro centro sufrió problemas graves de escasez. El objetivo es conocer el impacto de la evaluación de indicación de piperacilina-tazobactam en el marco del Programa de Asesoramiento de Antimicrobianos (PASA) durante el periodo de desabastecimiento de 2018.Material y métodos: Se analizaron de manera prospectiva las intervenciones efectuadas por el PASA. Se recogieron variables demográficas, clínicas, antibioterapia previa, antecedentes, recomendación realizada, aceptación, curación, mortalidad atribuible a la infección y mortalidad bruta a 30 días. Asimismo, se evaluó el impacto en consumo y coste de piperacilina-tazobactam y carbapenémicos. Se compararon los casos que evolucionaron a la curación clínica y la mortalidad, entre los pacientes cuyos facultativos aceptaron o rechazaron la recomendación de modificación.Resultados: Se realizaron 181 recomendaciones (126 pacientes), el tratamiento fue adecuado en el 53,6%, 28,2% desescalada, 8,8% suspensión, 5,5% ajuste posológico y 2,2% escalada. Aceptación global 91,6%. Los antibióticos más recomendados fueron cefalosporinas acompañadas o no de anaerobicida (60%).La curación clínica fue del 85%, la mortalidad bruta 21% y la atribuible 8,7%. No se encontraron diferencias en curación clínica (p=0,068) y mortalidad (p=0,68) entre los que aceptaron y rechazaron las recomendaciones. El consumo se redujo un 58,6%, con un ahorro estimado de 204.299 euros. El consumo de carbapenémicos aumentó un 6,1%.Conclusión: La intervención del PASA sobre la prescripción de piperacilina-tazobactam ha sido mayoritariamente aceptada, eficiente, neutra en los resultados clínicos y ha evitado el desplazamiento a carbapenémicos. (AU)

Introduction: The national supply problems of piperacillin/tazobactam began in 2017, but it was in 2018 when our center suffered severe shortage problems. The objective is to know the impact of the evaluation of the indication of piperacillin-tazobactam in the framework of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) during the shortage period of 2018.Methods: The interventions carried out by the ASP were analyzed prospectively. Were collected: demographic and clinical variables, previous antibiotherapy, background, recommendation made, acceptance, cure, mortality attributable to the infection and gross mortality at 30 days. Likewise, the impact on consumption and cost of piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems was evaluated. We compared the cases that evolved to clinical cure and mortality, among patients whose physicians accepted or rejected the recommendation for modification.Results: 181 recommendations were made (126 patients), the treatment was adequate in 53.6%, 28.2% de-escalation, 8.8% suspension, 5.5% dose adjustment and 2.2% escalation. Overall acceptance was 91.6%. The most recommended antibiotics were cephalosporins with or without anaerobicide (60%).The clinical cure was 85%, the gross mortality 21% and the attributable 8.7%. No differences were found in clinical cure (p=0.068) and mortality (p=0.68) among those who accepted and rejected the recommendations. The consumption of piperacillin-tazobactam was reduced by 58.6%, with an estimated saving of 204,299 euros. The consumption of carbapenems was increased by 6.1%.Conclusion: ASP intervention on the prescription of piperacillin-tazobactam has been mostly accepted, efficient, neutral in clinical outcomes and has prevented displacement to carbapenems. (AU)

Intracranial subarachnoid fat and hemorrhage secondary to sacral fracture with spondylopelvic dissociation. / Grasa y hemorragia en el espacio subaracnoideo intracraneal por fractura sacra con disociación espondilopélvica.

We describe a case of fat droplets and blood in the cerebral subarachnoid space secondary in a patient with a complex sacral fracture without associated cranial trauma, a few days after admission. To our knowledge, there is only one published case with similar findings and without any other underlying lesion as cause. We explain the differences in the mechanism of production between this direct fat embolism and brain fat embolism syndrome, which is an intravascular embolism with different radiological appearance. The most important features of sacral fracture with spondylopelvic dissociation are described. Finally, this entity should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of the few causes of fat in the subarachnoid space. In the context of high-energy trauma fractures of the sacrum or spine must be ruled out as a potential cause of this uncommon intracranial finding.

Bone scintigraphy and secondary osteomalacia due to nephrotoxicity in a chronic hepatitis B patient treated with tenofovir.

Tenofovir is a nucleotide analogue used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and HIV infection. The safety of tenofovir is high but it has been described that tenofovir produces tubular toxicity and Fanconi's syndrome in some HIV-infected patients. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of bone involvement in Fanconi's syndrome in a patient treated with tenofovir for chronic hepatitis B without HIV coinfection. Bone scintigraphy has proven to be very useful for the diagnosis of secondary osteomalacia. Normalization of the bone scan after the withdrawal of the drug and the decline in alkaline phosphatase and phosphate serum levels reinforce the cause-effect relationship.

La flexicorticotomia como procedimiento para la mesialización de un molar inferior en pacientes adultos: reporte de un caso / Flexicorticotomy as a procedure for mesial movement of molars in adults

La mesialización de segundos molares al espacio residual del primer molar extraído, parece una tarea muy inteligente, pero muchas veces, nada sencilla de realizar, especialmente cuando la extracción del primer molar es de larga data y las corticales óseas se encuentran fusionadas, dejando muy poco hueso esponjoso para remodelar, enlenteciendo, y muchas veces, impidiendo el movimiento ortodóncico. El propósito de este artículo consiste en definir y mostrar un caso donde se llevó a cabo la técnica de flexicorticotomía alveolar para lograr la mesialización de un segundo molar inferior, al espacio edéntulo del primero en una paciente femenina de 42 años. Discusión: se realizó el cierre ortodóncico del espacio edéntulo al mesializar el segundo molar permanente, se disminuyó el período de tratamiento, y se logró estabilidad oclusal del paciente

The mesial movement of the second molar to the first molar residual space removed, seems a task very smart, but often, not simple to do, especially when the first molar extraction is longstanding and cortical bone are fused, leaving little cancellous bone to remodel, slowing, and often preventing orthodontic movement. The purpose of this article is to define and show a case where conducted technique of flexicorticotomy for mesial movement of a lower second molar, to the first edentulous space of a female patient of 42 years. Discussion: orthodontic closure was achieved edentulous space to mesialize the second permanent molar, decreased the period of treatment, and the occlusal stability of the patient

Function of cryopreserved pig aortas.

OBJECTIVES: This paper analyzes the influence of storage in the gas phase or liquid phase on grafts, together with the thawing method (15 degrees C/min or 100 degrees C/min) on the postthawing activity of pig cryopreserved arterial grafts (aortas). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Obtainment of arterial grafts (aortas) was from pigs with an ischemic time not greater than 2 h. Each aorta was divided into five fragments and assigned randomly to one control group of fresh aorta and four groups of cryopreserved aortas: group 1: gas phase/slow thawing; group 2: gas phase/rapid thawing; group 3: liquid phase/slow thawing; and group 4: liquid phase/rapid thawing. After the incubation in antibiotic solution, the cryopreservation in RPMI medium +10% DMSO was carried out and the level of cooling used was a reduction of 1 degrees C/min. The contraction and relaxation responses of the fresh and frozen/thawed arteries were carried out in organ baths. RESULTS: After thawing, the sensitivity to various agonists and maximal responses to the endothelium-dependent and independent relaxant agents were decreased. The maximal responses to the tested vasoconstrictors (KCl and noradrenaline) were, respectively, 13% and 24% of the responses obtained in unfrozen aortas. The endothelium-independent relaxant responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were reduced and important reductions of the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine were produced. CONCLUSIONS: The cryopreservation of pig aortas under the conditions used in this study led to a decrease in the contractility of the pig aortas, as well as a decrease in the endothelium-independent relaxant responses. On the other hand, no apparent preservation of the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses was observed.

[Osteitis in secondary syphilis]. / Osteítis en sífilis secundaria.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to report two patients with osteitis in secondary syphilis. The increase in the number of cases of syphilis, linked to the changes in sexual behavior and to the increase of immigrants from areas of high prevalence of STD, as well as its relationship with HIV infection, makes important to clinicians become aware of unusual presentation of secondary syphilis. PATIENTS: We report two patients diagnosed of secondary syphilis, one of them with HIV infection. Both showed dermatological lesions in palms and soles, malaise and fever. Bone scintigraphy showed significant uptake in parietal and frontal bones in both patients. Clinical response was quickly achieved after penicillin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with secondary syphilis and osteoarticular symptoms luetic osteitis must be included in differential diagnosis. Bone scintigraphy should be the first diagnostic tool because it possibilities to perform a total body scan which allows localizing asymptomatic lesions. Moreover bone scan shows a high sensitivity.

Osteítis en sífilis secundaria / Osteitis in secondary syphilis

Introducción: El objetivo del presente trabajo es presentar dos casos de osteítis en sífilis secundaria. El aumento de la incidencia de sífilis, debido a los cambios en los comportamientos sexuales y al aumento de los inmigrantes procedentes de áreas con elevada prevalencia de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS), y su relación con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), hace que sea importante familiarizarse con formas menos frecuentes de presentación de esta infección sistémica. Pacientes: Se presentan dos pacientes diagnosticados de sífilis secundaria, uno de ellos con infección por el VIH y el otro no. En el momento del diagnóstico ambos tenían lesiones cutáneas que afectaban palmas y plantas, síntomas generales y fiebre. La gammagrafía ósea demostró en ambos casos lesiones osteoblásticas múltiples en los huesos parietales y frontal. Los dos enfermos respondieron con mejoría clínica al tratamiento con penicilina. Conclusiones: En los pacientes con sífilis secundaria y sintomatología osteoarticular se debe hacer el diagnóstico diferencial de afectación ósea sifilítica. Recomendamos como técnica de elección la gammagrafía ósea debido a su gran sensibilidad y a la posibilidad de realizar rastreos corporales que permiten el diagnóstico de lesiones sintomáticas. (AU)

Sulfoxide-controlled S(N)2' displacements between cyanocuprates and epoxy vinyl sulfoxides.

Two short and convergent routes have been devised for the preparation of enantiomerically pure acyclic epoxy vinyl sulfoxides. These substrates undergo highly regio- and stereoselective S(N)2' displacements with lithium cyanocuprates to give alpha'-alkylated, gamma-oxygenated Z alpha,beta-unsaturated sulfoxides in moderate to good yields and with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. The absolute configuration of the newly formed carbon-carbon bond is primarily controlled by the chiral sulfur atom, which in a nonreinforcing situation can override the intrinsic anti tendency of the vinyl oxirane moiety and forces the cuprate to undergo syn addition. The hydroxy vinyl sulfoxide functionality of the resulting adducts should allow for subsequent asymmetric transformations thus enhancing the synthetic usefulness of this methodology.

Risk of venous thromboembolism associated with the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene.

The circulating levels of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) are linked with a 287-base pair insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism at intron 16 of the ACE gene. Thus, the homozygous deletion (D/D genotype) could cause chronic vasoconstriction, arterial hypertension and, possibly, coronary artery disease. Also, the increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 level and impaired fibrinolysis were related with the D/D genotype. The D allele has been recently associated with venous thrombosis among African-American men as well as among patients that underwent elective total hip replacement. We assess the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) linked with each genotype of the I/D ACE gene polymorphism in a Caucasian population by means of a case-control study. We genotyped the ACE gene in a series of 148 patients aged 45.0 +/- 16.0 years (range, 11-80 years), objectively diagnosed in our centre of deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and in 240 thrombosis-free subjects (25-75 years) from the same geographic area. The observed difference in D allele frequencies between patients (0.56) and controls (0.62) was nonsignificant overall; however, statistical significance (P = 0.05) was found by considering the recessive hypothesis (D/D versus I/ D + I/I) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI95) = 0.42-0.99]. The OR was 0.88 (CI95 = 0.51-1.53; P = 0.65) for the dominant hypothesis (D/D + I/D versus I/I genotypes). The relative risk for the D allele was close to 1 for the dominant hypothesis, both considering gender and recurrent tendency; however, it was protective in men regarding the recessive hypothesis (OR = 0.53, CI95 = 0.29-0.97, P = 0.04). The I/D ACE allele distribution was similar among the 46 thrombophilic patients (antithrombin, protein C or protein S deficiencies, factor V R506Q, factor II G20210A or lupus anticoagulant). In conclusion, among (Spanish) Caucasians, this study does not support the hypothesis that the deletion allele (D) of the ACE gene could be a significant risk factor for VTE, being protective in men.

[Lowering high levels of fasting total homocysteine with folic acid and vitamins B in patients with venous thromboembolism: relationship between response and the C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHRF) genotype]. / Reducción de concentraciones elevadas de homocisteína con ácido fólico y vitaminas B en pacientes con tromboembolia venosa: relación entre respuesta y genotipo C677T de la metilén tetrahidrofólico reductasa (MTHFR).

BACKGROUND: High levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) are involved in arterial or venous occlusive diseases. It essentially depends on the nutritional status of folic acid (FA) and vitamins B12 or B6, but also on the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzymatic activity. We aim to evaluate the response of the hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) to a standard schedule of vitamin supplementation, according with the MTHFR genotype. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 227 patients, diagnosed with venous thromboembolism (VTE) were analysed for tHcy (in fasting conditions), and for the MTHFR-C677T gene polymorphism. When the tHcy exceeded the cut-off point (men = 16, women = 15 mumol/l), the patients were supplemented with a dose equivalent to 1 mg FA, 0.2 mg B12 and 100 mg of B6, daily by 6 weeks. Afterwards they were reanalysed and the reduction was stratified by MTHFR genotype, looking for any difference in the response. RESULTS: The mean fasting tHcy was 12.3 mumol/l (SD = 8). The 51 hyperhomocysteinemic patients (22%) were older (65.1 y) than the normal ones (55.0 y) (p = 0.0001). The treatment was carried out properly in 46 patients (90%). The pre-treatment mean Hcy was 23.2 (SD = 10.5) mumol/l, and it was reduced to 13.0 (SD = 5.9) (p = 0.0001) (mean reduction = 42.1%). By genotype, the C/C reduced from 21.0 to 13.2 mumol/l (37%) (n = 18), the C/T from 25.0 to 12.6 mumol/l (46%) (n = 24), and the abnormal homozygotes T/T from 22.7 to 14.5 mumol/l (39%) (n = 4), although no statistical significant differences were found. In 80% of cases (37/46), tHcy values normalised. A negative correlation (r = -0.471) (p = 0.005) was observed between age and response. CONCLUSIONS: The FA/B6/B12 based therapy reduces in a simple, quick and effective way (> 40% in 6 weeks) the pathologic tHcy levels on a VTE population and this is not influenced by the MTHFR genotype. As HHcy seems related with recurrences of venous thrombosis, we could speculate if it would be useful to analyse routinely the tHcy, attempting reduction in selected cases.

[20210A mutation of the prothrombin and venous thromboembolism gene]. / Mutacion 20210A del gen de la protrombina y tromboembolismo venoso.

PURPOSE: Various genetic disorders interact with environmental factors to cause thrombotic diseases. Recently, a G to A transition at nucleotide 20210 in the prothrombin gene, has been described in association with venous thromboembolism, in Dutch population. Currently, several reports want to know the frequence of this mutation in other ethnic groups and populations. The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence rates of prothrombin mutation in both, thrombotic and healthy Spanish populations, and to estimate the associated relative risks. We described the clinical features in our series of thrombotic carriers and moreover, we compared a routine clotting test versus DNA analysis in the diagnosis of this anomaly. POPULATION, MATERIAL AND METHODS: The design was a non-matched case-control study. The involved populations were: 187 patients of venous thromboembolic diseases and 200 healthy controls. Patients and controls were genotyped and both, carriers and non-carrier patients, were analyzed by a routine prothrombin clotting assay, to determine the sensibility and specificity and optimal cut off level of the test. RESULTS: The 20210 A allele was identified in 17 patients (9.1%) and in 7 controls (3.5%), with a 2.76-fold increased risk (OR 2.76, 95% CI = 1.12-6.81), in carriers. One patient and none of the controls were homozygous. The clinical characteristics (first manifestation age or thrombotic recurrence) are similar in both, carriers and non-carriers, patient groups. The prothrombin level by a routine coagulometric method was 1.31 +/- 0.14 U/ml (95% CI = 1.24-1.38) for the 20210 A carriers, whereas for the non carrier-patients was significantly lower, 1.06 (95% CI = 1.03-1.08) (p < 0.00001). With a cut off level of 1.25 U/ml, 12/16 (75%) carriers and 14/132 (10.6%) non-carriers were positive. Therefore, the sensibility was 75% and the specificity 89.4%. With a cut off level of 1.40 U/ml the diagnostic efficiency was even worse. CONCLUSIONS: 3.5% of healthy subjects and 9.1% of thromboembolic patients carried this prothrombin mutation with a relative risk of 2.76 (95% CI = 1.12-6.81). The relevant clinical features are similar to the rest of the series. The mean prothrombin level was higher (1.31 U/ml) than in the normal patients (1.06 U/ml), but the clotting test seems inappropriate for a diagnostic purpose.