[Restless legs syndrome in patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Sindrome de piernas inquietas en pacientes diagnosticados de trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disease. RLS has been linked to various psychiatric disorders, especially with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). AIMS: The main objective was to describe the frequency of RLS in pediatric patients diagnosed with ADHD. Secondary objectives of the study were describe other sleep disorders in ADHD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicentre prospective study was conducted in nine Spanish centers. We included children aged 6-18 years diagnosed with ADHD between January and June 2015. Data were collected by 13 researchers doctors through an interview with the parent/caregiver and with the child. To assess the degree of functioning of patients with ADHD we used the Children's Global Assessment Scale. The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was applied to screening sleep disorders in childhood. RESULTS: A sample of 73 patients was collected. Five patients (6.8%) met diagnostic criteria for RLS: four of them definitive and one probable. CONCLUSIONS: RLS is a frequent condition in adulthood but also in adolescence and childhood. ADHD patients have an increased risk of an RLS.

TITLE: Sindrome de piernas inquietas en pacientes diagnosticados de trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad.Introduccion. El sindrome de piernas inquietas (SPI) es una patologia neurologica comun. Se ha relacionado con diferentes trastornos psiquiatricos, especialmente con el trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (TDAH). Objetivos. El objetivo principal fue describir la frecuencia del SPI en pacientes pediatricos diagnosticados de TDAH. Los objetivos secundarios del estudio fueron describir otros trastornos del sueño en pacientes con TDAH. Pacientes y metodos. Se realizo un estudio descriptivo prospectivo multicentrico en nueve centros españoles de niños de 6-18 años con diagnostico de TDAH entre enero y junio de 2015. Los datos fueron recogidos por 13 medicos investigadores mediante entrevista con el padre/cuidador y con el menor. Para valorar el grado de funcionamiento de los pacientes con TDAH se utilizo la Children's Global Assessment Scale. Se aplico la Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children de Bruni para el cribado del trastorno de sueño de la infancia. Resultados. Se recogio una muestra de 73 pacientes. Cinco pacientes (6,8%) cumplen criterios diagnosticos de SPI: cuatro de ellos definitivos y uno probable. Conclusiones. El SPI es una entidad frecuente en la edad adulta, pero tambien en la adolescencia y en la infancia. Los pacientes con TDAH tienen un riesgo aumentado de presentar de manera concomitante un SPI.

The effect of five Taraxacum species on in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and antiproliferative activity.

Plants belonging to the genus Taraxacum are considered a nutritious food, being consumed raw or cooked. Additionally, these plants have long been used in folk medicine due to their choleretic, diuretic, antitumor, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. This genus, with its complex taxonomy, includes several species that are difficult to distinguish. Its traditional use must be related not only to T. officinale F.H. Wigg., the most studied species, but also to others. The aim of this work is to compare five different common South European species of Taraxacum (T. obovatum (Willd.) DC., T. marginellum H. Lindb., T. hispanicum H. Lindb., T. lambinonii Soest and T. lacistrum Sahlin), in order to find differences between antioxidant and cytotoxic activities among them. Dissimilarities between species in LC/MS patterns, in in vitro and intracellular antioxidant activity and also in the cytotoxicity assay were found. T. marginellum was the most efficient extract reducing intracellular ROS levels although in in vitro assays, T. obovatum was the best free radical scavenger. A relevant cytotoxic effect was found in T. lacistrum extract over HeLa and HepG2 cell lines.

Cytotoxic activity of hirsutanone, a diarylheptanoid isolated from Alnus glutinosa leaves.

BACKGROUND: The low efficacy of cancer therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced disease makes the development of new anticancer agents necessary. Because natural products are a significant source of anticancer drugs, it is important to explore cytotoxic activity of novel compounds from natural origin. PURPOSE: The aim of this work is to evaluate the cytotoxic capacity of hirsutanone, a diarylheptanoid isolated from Alnus glutinosa leaves. Hirsutanone cytotoxic way of action was also studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cytotoxic ability of Alnus glutinosa leaves ethyl acetate extract was studied over HeLa and PC-3 cell lines, with the MTT colorimetric assay. Hirsutanone was isolated from this extract using chromatographic methods, and its structure elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. HT-29 cell viability after hirsutanone treatment was determined using SRB assay. In order to understand hirsutanone way of action, cytotoxicity was evaluated adding the diarylheptanoid and antioxidants. DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) poison activity, was also evaluated using purified topo II and a supercoiled form of DNA that bears specific topo II recognition and binding region; topo II poisons stabilize normally transient DNA-topo II cleavage complexes, and lead an increased yield of linear form as a consequence of a lack of double-strand breaks rejoining. RESULTS: The diarylheptanoid hirsutanone was isolated from Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (Betulaceae) leaves extract that showed cytotoxic activity against PC-3 and HeLa cell lines. Hirsutanone showed cytotoxic activity against HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. Pre-treatment with the antioxidants NAC (N-acetylcysteine) and MnTMPyP (Mn(III)tetrakis-(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porthyrin) reduced this activity, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in hirsutanone-induced cancer cell death. Using human topo II and a DNA supercoiled form, hirsutanone was found to stabilize topo II-DNA cleavage complexes, acting as a topo II poison. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that, like curcumin, an induction of oxidative stress and topo II-mediated DNA damage may play a role in hirsutanone-induced cancer cell death. Since both compounds share similar structure and cytotoxic profile, and curcumin is in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, our results warrant further studies to evaluate the anticancer potential of hirsutanone.

Evaluación longitudinal de la exploración del pie en una cohorte de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Longitudinal evaluation of the foot examination in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introducción: El pie diabético es un problema de salud frecuente y representauna causa importante de morbimortalidad. Objetivos: Analizar la evolución dela exploración de pies de pacientes diabéticos y determinar factores asociadosal desarrollo de pie patológico. Material y método: Estudio observacionalprospectivo en el que se incluyeron pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 seguidos enun centro de salud entre 2003 y 2008. Se recogieron datos sociodemográfi cos,clínicos y analíticos. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos de evaluacionessucesivas, y un análisis multivariante mediante regresión logística binariapara relacionar las variables con el desarrollo de pie patológico. Resultados: Seincluyeron 161 pacientes con una edad media de 66 años. Un 87% presentabahipertensión arterial, un 88% dislipemia, un 20% tenía antecedentes de enfermedadcardiovascular y un 11% de enfermedad vascular periférica. Un 9% presentabaretinopatía, un 21% neuropatía sintomática y un 0,6% antecedente deúlcera o amputación. En las evaluaciones anuales se objetivó una disminuciónde pulsos palpables (77,4% normales en la primera evaluación y 62,8% en lacuarta evaluación; p <0,0001), manteniéndose estable la sensibilidad al monofilamento (81,2-85,9%). El porcentaje de sujetos con pie de riesgo aumentó del30 al 42% (p <0,001), el de pie normal se mantuvo estable (de 39,5 a 42,3%)y el de pie patológico pasó del 30,6% en la primera evaluación al 23,1% en laúltima (p <0,01). Los niveles medios de HbA1c se mantuvieron alrededor de7,4% a lo largo de los 4 años. El análisis multivariante relaciona signifi cativamentecon pie diabético: edad avanzada, niveles elevados de HbA1c en la primeraevaluación, presencia de nefropatía al inicio del seguimiento, alteración basal enla exploración de pulsos, y menor número de puntos sensibles al monofi lamento(AU)

Conclusiones: Al fi nal del estudio se objetiva una disminución del porcentajede pies normales, fundamentalmente por la ausencia/disminución de los pulsos.El perfil de mayor riesgo para el desarrollo de pie diabético lo constituiría la personade mayor edad, con nefropatía, niveles elevados de HbA1c y alteracionesen la exploración (sensibilidad y/o pulsos distales)(AU)

Introduction: Diabetic foot is a frequent health problem and it represents animportant cause of morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To analyze the evolutionof foot examination in diabetic people and to determinate risk factors associatedwith diabetic foot. Material and methods: We performed an observationalprospective study. Patients with type 2 diabetes between the years2003-2008 and from a primary health care center were included. Measurements:sociodemographic, clinical data and test results. Descriptive analysisand logistic regression to relate the variables with development of diabetic footwere used. Results: 161 patients were included, with a mean age of 66years old. 87% of them had hypertension, 88% dyslipidemia, 20% had historyof cardiovascular disease and 11% of peripheral arterial disease. 9% hadretinopathy, 21% symptomatic neuropathy and 0.6% a history of ulcer or amputation.Successive annual assessments showed reduction of pedal pulsepalpation (77.4% normal at 1st evaluation and 62.8% at 4th evaluation, p<0.0001). Sensation in the feet kept stable (81.2-85.9%). Proportion of patientswith foot-at-risk increased from 30 to 42% (p <0.001), % of those withnormal foot did not change (from 39.5 to 42.3%) and % of those with pathologicdiabetic foot changed from 30.6% at first evaluation to 23.1% in the lastone (p <0.01). Mean HbA1c levels remained about 7.4% through the fouryears of follow-up. Multivariate analysis shows find a significant relationship ofdiabetic foot to advanced age, higher HbA1c levels at the beginning, presenceof nephropathy at first evaluation, basal alteration of pedal pulses, and a lownumber of sensitive points in the monofilament evaluation(AU)

Conclusions: Atstudy end, we observe a diminution of the proportion of healthy feet, basicallybecause of absence/deterioration of artery pulses. The patient with higher riskwould be an old patient, with nephropathy, high levels of HbA1c and alterationsin clinical evaluation (sensitivity and/or distant pulses)(AU)

[The effects of methylphenidate on cognitive-attentional processes. The use of continuous performance tests]. / Efectos del metilfenidato en los procesos cognitivo-atencionales.Uso de los test de ejecución continuada.

INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Numerous trials have demonstrated the efficacy of stimulants on age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity of patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Different externalizing (aggressive, conduct, oppositional) and internalizing (emotional) associated features can also get improved with stimulants. Effect of stimulant medication can be observed in different objective laboratory-neuropsychological test too, especially in Continuous Performance Tests (CPT). CPT have a good specificity and sensibility in diagnosis of ADHD although they are not diagnostic themselves. Errors of omissions and commissions are more frequent in ADHD patients than in controls. Responses to these tests improve under methylphenidate. General recommendations in ADHD treatment include systematic monitoring of medication effects from clinical point of view. CONCLUSIONS: CPT offer different advantages in this monitoring: good validity, objective measures and easy administration. Psychological measures, particularly CPT, can support clinical diagnosis and pharmacological monitoring in patients with ADHD.

Efectos del metilfenidato en los procesos cognitivo-atencionales. Uso de los test de ejecución continuada / The effects of methyphidate on cognitive-attentional processes. The use of continuous performances tests

Introducción y desarrollo. Numerosos ensayos han demostrado la eficacia de los psicoestimulantes en pacientes con trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH) sobre los excesivos niveles de inatención, impulsividad e hiperactividad para su edad. Los síntomas asociados externalizados (agresividad, problemas de conducta, oposicionismo) o internalizados (emocionales) también pueden mejorar bajo el tratamiento estimulante. El efecto de esta medicación puede observarse igualmente en diferentes medidas objetivas neuropsicológicas, especialmente en los test de ejecución continuada (CPT). Los CPT muestran una buena sensibilidad y especificidad en el diagnóstico del TDAH, aunque no son diagnósticos en sí mismos. Los errores por omisión o comisión son claramente más frecuentes en pacientes con TDAH respecto a controles. Las respuestas a estos test también mejoran bajo el efecto del metilfenidato. Las recomendaciones generales sobre el tratamiento del TDAH incluyen la monitorización sistemática de los efectos de la medicación desde el punto de vista clínico. Conclusiones. Los CPT ofrecen algunas ventajas importantes en este control: buena validez, medidas objetivas y fácil administración. La evaluación neuropsicológica, especialmente los CPT, puede apoyar el diagnóstico clínico y la monitorización farmacológica del TDAH (AU)

Introduction and development. Numerous trials have demonstrated the efficacy of stimulants on age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity of patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Different externalizing (aggressive, conduct, oppositional) and internalizing (emotional) associated features can also get improved with stimulants. Effect of stimulant medication can be observed in different objective laboratory-neuropsychological test too, especially in Continuous Performance Tests (CPT). CPT have a good specificity and sensibility in diagnosis of ADHD although they are not diagnostic themselves. Errors of omissions and commissions are more frequent in ADHD patients than in controls. Responses to these tests improve under methylphenidate. General recommendations in ADHD treatment include systematic monitoring of medication effects from clinical point of view. Conclusions. CPT offer different advantages in this monitoring: good validity, objective measures and easy administration. Psychological measures, particularly CPT, can support clinical diagnosis and pharmacological monitoring in patients with ADHD (AU)

Biological activity of extracts from Catalpa bignonioides Walt. (Bignoniaceae).

Catalpa bignonioides Walt. (Bignoniaceae) is a species that belongs to a tropical family but has been introduced in many countries as ornamental. Although this plant is consumed by indigenous cultures of South America for medical uses, experimental studies of the biological properties of Catalpa bignonioides are lacking. The aim of this work was to study the biological activity of crude extracts from either pods, seeds or leaves of Catalpa bignonioides which were collected in Spain. Ethyl ether, butanolic and aqueous fractions of the pod extract were also prepared and studied. We have examined the antimicrobial activity against five bacteria and one yeast, the cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells and the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in rodents. A preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extracts and fractions was also conducted. Results showed no antimicrobial or antitumoral effects, but prominent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of the extracts. These last activities may be a result of the presence of either of saponins, sterols or phenols, mainly found in the leaves and pods of the plants.

Effect of heavy metals on soil denitrification and CO2 production after short term incubation.

The toxicity of three heavy metals, Cd, Zn and Cu, has been tested in a Mediterranean soil. The soil was incubated (108h) with mixed solutions of those metals before evaluating denitrification and CO2 production, both by gas chromatography. These activities were used as biological indicators of heavy metal toxicity, and compared to non-treated control soil samples. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences in CO2 production between treated and non-treated control soils. The lowest levels of respiration were observed in soils treated with the largest amounts of Zn and Cd. Denitrification increased significantly in soils treated with solutions containing 100 micrograms/ml of Cu and 1000 micrograms/ml of Cd or Zn.