Describing post-polio syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Patients presenting sequelae of poliomyelitis may present new symptoms, known as post-polio syndrome (PPS). OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical and functional profile and epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting PPS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 400 patients with poliomyelitis attended at the Institut Guttmann outpatient clinic, of whom 310 were diagnosed with PPS. We describe patients' epidemiological, clinical, and electromyographic variables and analyse the relationships between age of poliomyelitis onset and severity of the disease, and between sex, age of PPS onset, and the frequency of symptoms. RESULTS: PPS was more frequent in women (57.7%). The mean age at symptom onset was 52.4 years, and was earlier in women. Age at primary infection > 2 years was not related to greater poliomyelitis severity. The frequency of symptoms was: pain in 85% of patients, loss of strength in 40%, fatigue in 65.5%, tiredness in 57.8%, cold intolerance in 20.2%, dysphagia in 11.7%, cognitive complaints in 9%, and depressive symptoms in 31.5%. Fatigue, tiredness, depression, and cognitive complaints were significantly more frequent in women. Fifty-nine percent of patients presented electromyographic findings suggestive of PPS. CONCLUSIONS: While the symptoms observed in our sample are similar to those reported in the literature, the frequencies observed are not. We believe that patients' clinical profile may be very diverse, giving more weight to such objective parameters as worsening of symptoms or appearance of weakness; analysis of biomarkers may bring us closer to an accurate diagnosis.

Describiendo el síndrome pospolio / Describing post-polio syndrome

Introducción: Las personas con secuelas de poliomielitis pueden presentar nuevos síntomas que constituirían el síndrome pospolio (SPP). Objetivo Identificar el perfil clínico y funcional, y las características epidemiológicas de personas que padecen SPP. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 400 pacientes afectados de poliomielitis visitados en consulta externa del Institut Guttmann, de los cuales a 310 se les diagnosticó SPP. Se describieron variables epidemiológicas, clínicas y electromiográficas. Se analizó la relación entre edad de adquisición de la polio y gravedad de la misma, así como entre el sexo y la edad de aparición del SPP y la frecuencia de síntomas. Resultados: Se observó mayor frecuencia de SPP en mujeres (57,7%). La edad media de inicio de la clínica fue 52,4 años, más precoz en mujeres. Edad de primoinfección mayor de 2 años no se relacionó con mayor gravedad de la polio. La frecuencia de síntomas fue: dolor 85%, pérdida de fuerza 40%, fatiga 65,5%, cansancio 57,8%, intolerancia al frío 20,2%, disfagia 11,7%, quejas cognitivas 9%, síntomas depresivos 31,5%. La fatiga, el cansancio, la depresión y las quejas cognitivas fueron significativamente más frecuentes en mujeres. El 59% de los pacientes presentaban hallazgos electromiográficos sugestivos de SPP. Conclusiones: El tipo de sintomatología que presentaba nuestra muestra es similar a la publicada, no así en la frecuencia de la misma. Creemos que el perfil clínico de los pacientes podría ser muy diverso, y dar mayor peso a parámetros objetivos como el empeoramiento o la aparición de debilidad y el estudio de biomarcadores podría acercarnos más a un diagnóstico preciso. (AU)

Introduction: Patients presenting sequelae of poliomyelitis may present new symptoms, known as post-polio syndrome (PPS). Objective: To identify the clinical and functional profile and epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting PPS. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective study of 400 patients with poliomyelitis attended at the Institut Guttmann outpatient clinic, of whom 310 were diagnosed with PPS. We describe patients’ epidemiological, clinical, and electromyographic variables and analyse the relationships between age of poliomyelitis onset and severity of the disease, and between sex, age of PPS onset, and the frequency of symptoms. Results: PPS was more frequent in women (57.7%). The mean age at symptom onset was 52.4 years, and was earlier in women. Age at primary infection > 2 years was not related to greater poliomyelitis severity. The frequency of symptoms was: pain in 85% of patients, loss of strength in 40%, fatigue in 65.5%, tiredness in 57.8%, cold intolerance in 20.2%, dysphagia in 11.7%, cognitive complaints in 9%, and depressive symptoms in 31.5%. Fatigue, tiredness, depression, and cognitive complaints were significantly more frequent in women. Fifty-nine percent of patients presented electromyographic findings suggestive of PPS. Conclusions: While the symptoms observed in our sample are similar to those reported in the literature, the frequencies observed are not. We believe that patients’ clinical profile may be very diverse, giving more weight to such objective parameters as worsening of symptoms or appearance of weakness; analysis of biomarkers may bring us closer to an accurate diagnosis. (AU)

Describing post-polio syndrome. / Describiendo el síndrome pospolio.

INTRODUCTION: Patients presenting sequelae of poliomyelitis may present new symptoms, known as post-polio syndrome (PPS). OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical and functional profile and epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting PPS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 400 patients with poliomyelitis attended at the Institut Guttmann outpatient clinic, of whom 310 were diagnosed with PPS. We describe patients' epidemiological, clinical, and electromyographic variables and analyse the relationships between age of poliomyelitis onset and severity of the disease, and between sex, age of PPS onset, and the frequency of symptoms. RESULTS: PPS was more frequent in women (57.7%). The mean age at symptom onset was 52.4 years, and was earlier in women. Age at primary infection >2 years was not related to greater poliomyelitis severity. The frequency of symptoms was: pain in 85% of patients, loss of strength in 40%, fatigue in 65.5%, tiredness in 57.8%, cold intolerance in 20.2%, dysphagia in 11.7%, cognitive complaints in 9%, and depressive symptoms in 31.5%. Fatigue, tiredness, depression, and cognitive complaints were significantly more frequent in women. Fifty-nine percent of patients presented electromyographic findings suggestive of PPS. CONCLUSIONS: While the symptoms observed in our sample are similar to those reported in the literature, the frequencies observed are not. We believe that patients' clinical profile may be very diverse, giving more weight to such objective parameters as worsening of symptoms or appearance of weakness; analysis of biomarkers may bring us closer to an accurate diagnosis.

Molecular basis of quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli from wild birds.

Nine quinolone resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] was > 32 microg/mL for nalidixic acid, > 1 microg/mL for ciprofloxacin) isolates of Escherichia coli have been found in wild birds with septicemia. All of the isolates were aerobactin positive. The mechanisms of resistance were characterised by sequencing the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes. Sequence analysis of the gyrA gene in all isolates identified only 1 nucleotide substitution at codon Serine-83 for Leucine-83. Sequence analysis of the gyrB, parC, and parE QRDR genes revealed no mutations in any of the isolates. This study was conducted to determine the importance of these genes in the susceptibility of E. coli strains isolated from wild birds to quinolones.

[Comparative microbiological study of fresh and heat-treated yoghurt in an in vivo animal model]. / Estudio microbiológico comparativo de yogur fresco y termizado en un modelo animal in vivo.

In an acute assay, rats fasted for 24 h were sounded with 2 ml of fresh yogurt, sterilised yogurt or distilled water, and sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 24 h. They were compared with non-sounded rats. The survival of the lactic bacteria of the yogurt administered in the animals' stomach and intestines was determined, and the bacteria isolated were to the Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus profiles belonging to the strains isolated originally from the yogurt. Counts of the total number of microorganisms that were grown in lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media were also made. Analyses of the different types of resulting colonies in the lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media was performed. No L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterized in this acute assay. The statistical analysis of the results did not show significant differences in the log UFC. g-1, of the intestinal microbiota microorganisms of the three groups of animals in any of the times. In a chronic assay, three groups of animals, after 30 days of nourishment ad libitum with either a semisynthetic diet with 10% of fresh yogurt, or with 10% of sterilised yogurt or controls, housed in individual metabolism cells, were sacrificed. The results did not show meaningful differences in the long UFC. g-1 of the intestinal microbiota microorganisms from the three groups of animals in any of the times. In turn, in the study of the different types of colonies resulting in the lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media, no L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterised in this chronic assay. The results did not show meaningful differences in the log CFU. g-1 of the intestinal flora microorganisms from the three groups of animals in any of the times. In turn, no L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterised in this chronic assay.