Logistics and safety of edaravone treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: experience in Argentina.

Since 2015, edaravone is the second drug available for the treatment of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study we analyzed the characteristics and experience of ALS patients treated with this new medication in our country. Sixteen ALS patients were treated with edaravone infusions in three ALS clinics. Most of them were male, had a spinal onset of the disease and a definite diagnosis of ALS. Mean age at first infusion was 53.5 years. Since the diagnosis of ALS, delay in starting treatment with edaravone was five times greater than that of riluzole. Edaravone therapy was usually initiated at a health care facility and was followed by domiciliary cycles. Adverse effects and the need of a special catheter for infusion were rare. Access to edaravone through health insurance was possible in only 43.8% of patients. Altogether, treatment access was limited but feasible and edaravone was well tolerated.

Principales conclusiones del Consenso Argentino de Hipertensión Arterial / Principal conclusions of the Argentine Consensus on Arterial Hypertension

El presente artículo resume los conceptos principales del Consenso Argentino de Hipertensión Arterial, realizado por primera vez en forma conjunta por las 3 principales sociedades científicas relacionadas al diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial en Argentina (Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial, Sociedad Argentina de Cardiología y Federación Argentina de Cardiología). Entre sus puntos principales se enfatiza la necesidad de mejorar el diagnóstico y control de la hipertensión arterial, la utilización de técnicas de medición ambulatoria de la presión arterial, la importancia de la estratificación de riesgo del paciente hipertenso y el uso precoz de combinaciones farmacológicas en el tratamiento como medio de alcanzar rápidamente el control. Finalmente se enumeran las principales recomendaciones del manejo de la hipertensión en poblaciones especiales como embarazadas, adultos mayores, diabéticos, hipertensos resistentes y pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica

A summary is presented in this article of the principal concepts of the Argentine Consensus on Arterial Hypertension, which has been carried out for the first time jointly by the three main scientific societies associated with the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension in Argentina (Argentine Society of Arterial Hypertension, Argentine Society of Cardiology and Argentine Federation of Cardiology). Among its main points, is emphasised the need to improve the diagnosis and control of high blood pressure, the use of ambulatory blood pressure measurement techniques, the importance of the risk stratification of the hypertensive patient, and the early use of pharmacological combinations in the treatment as a means to quickly achieve control. Finally, it lists the main recommendations for the management of hypertension in special populations, such as pregnant women, elderly people, diabetics, resistant patients, as well as patients with chronic kidney disease

[Principal conclusions of the Argentine Consensus on Arterial Hypertension]. / Principales conclusiones del Consenso Argentino de Hipertensión Arterial.

A summary is presented in this article of the principal concepts of the Argentine Consensus on Arterial Hypertension, which has been carried out for the first time jointly by the three main scientific societies associated with the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension in Argentina (Argentine Society of Arterial Hypertension, Argentine Society of Cardiology and Argentine Federation of Cardiology). Among its main points, is emphasised the need to improve the diagnosis and control of high blood pressure, the use of ambulatory blood pressure measurement techniques, the importance of the risk stratification of the hypertensive patient, and the early use of pharmacological combinations in the treatment as a means to quickly achieve control. Finally, it lists the main recommendations for the management of hypertension in special populations, such as pregnant women, elderly people, diabetics, resistant patients, as well as patients with chronic kidney disease.

Cronoterapia en hipertensión arterial / Chronotherapy in arterial hypertension

En la actualidad conocemos el perfil tensional en la mayoría de los sujetos normo- e hipertensos, y el impacto que sus modificaciones inducen sobre el riesgo cardio- y cerebrovascular. La monitorización ambulatoria de presión arterial (MAPA) ha contribuido en gran medida al conocimiento de estos parámetros. Se intenta corregir con cambios en el horario de la administración de fármacos (cronoterapia) alguno de los componentes del perfil tensional que presentan mejor correlación con el riesgo, entre ellos, el descenso nocturno y el ascenso brusco matinal de la presión. Las investigaciones en ese sentido son todavía escasas, y es necesario programar trabajos multicéntricos que puedan contestar acerca del verdadero impacto preventivo de dichas modificaciones

The blood pressure profile in most normo- and hypertensive subjects are currently known, as well as the impact their changes induced on the cardio- and cerebrovascular risk. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has contributed greatly to the knowledge of this parameter. It to correct the schedule of drug administration (chronotherapy) with changes in any component of the BP profile that have better correlation with risk. These include the nocturnal decrease and the morning BP surge. Investigations in this direction are still scarce, and multicenter studies need to be conducted that can answer the true preventive impact of such modifications

[Chronotherapy in arterial hypertension]. / Cronoterapia en hipertensión arterial.

The blood pressure profile in most normo- and hypertensive subjects are currently known, as well as the impact their changes induced on the cardio- and cerebrovascular risk. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has contributed greatly to the knowledge of this parameter. It to correct the schedule of drug administration (chronotherapy) with changes in any component of the BP profile that have better correlation with risk. These include the nocturnal decrease and the morning BP surge. Investigations in this direction are still scarce, and multicenter studies need to be conducted that can answer the true preventive impact of such modifications.

Double innervation of the brachialis muscle: anatomic-physiological study.

INTRODUCTION: Double innervation of the brachialis muscle has been previously reported in anatomical studies. This study aims to investigate the frequency and clinical significance of double innervation of brachialis by anatomical and electromyographic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: (1) The existence, origin and pattern of distribution of a branch from the radial nerve to brachialis were dissected on 20 cadaveric arms. (2) Nerve conduction studies (NCS) of 100 patients were performed. The radial nerve was stimulated, registering muscle potentials (MP) in the brachialis muscle. Subsequently, another MP was obtained by Erb's stimulation, corresponding to the whole brachialis innervation. The relative percentage of innervation from the radial nerve was calculated. (3) Two patients with lesions of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus and preserved elbow flexion were submitted to NCS. RESULTS: Double innervation was found in 65 % of the anatomical preparations, following different patterns of distribution. In the NCS, 90% of the patients showed MP in the brachialis muscle after stimulating the radial nerve. The mean percentage of relative innervation was 11 %. Two patients with lesions of the lateral cord showed an important contribution from the radial nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the relative percentage of innervation from the radial nerve could be due to the different sizes and shapes of this branch. The functional significance of this branch can become crucial if the main innervation to the brachialis muscle fails. When planning surgical antero-external approach to the humerus, it should be kept in mind and preserved.

Decompositions of the polyhedral product functor with applications to moment-angle complexes and related spaces.

This article gives a natural decomposition of the suspension of a generalized moment-angle complex or partial product space which arises as the polyhedral product functor described below. The introduction and application of the smash product moment-angle complex provides a precise identification of the stable homotopy type of the values of the polyhedral product functor. One direct consequence is an analysis of the associated cohomology. For the special case of the complements of certain subspace arrangements, the geometrical decomposition implies the homological decomposition in earlier work of others as described below. Because the splitting is geometric, an analogous homological decomposition for a generalized moment-angle complex applies for any homology theory. Implied, therefore, is a decomposition for the Stanley-Reisner ring of a finite simplicial complex, and natural generalizations.

Mother-infant interaction at 12 months in prenatally cocaine-exposed children.

This study examined mother-infant interactions of 12-month-old African-American prenatally cocaine-exposed infants and their mothers. Videotaped observations were made during a free-play dyadic interaction, a brief separation, and a reunion period. Videotapes were coded for maternal and child behaviors during each phase of the procedure. Although there were few differences in interactive behaviors between prenatally cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children and their mothers, children who were prenatally exposed to cocaine ignored their mother's departure (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0, p < .05) during separation significantly more often than nonexposed subjects. In addition, mothers who abused cocaine engaged in significantly more verbal behavior (F(2,104) = 7.00, p < .001) with their children than mothers of nonexposed children. These findings indicate that women who used cocaine during pregnancy may not differ from nonusers in their interactions with their 12-month-old infants.

Developmental implications of head growth following intracranial hemorrhage.

This study examined the association between head size at birth, discharge, and 1 year and developmental outcome at 1 year in preterm infants, with and without intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) or associated periventricular echodensities (PVE). The data indicated that most sick preterm infants with small heads at discharge achieved appropriate head sizes at 1 year. Analyses of the 1-year mental and motor performances of 125 subjects revealed that for subjects who did not develop ICH, appropriate head sizes at birth and discharge were associated with good developmental outcome, whereas infants with small heads (< two standard deviations below the mean for age) before hospital discharge were more likely to show poorer developmental outcome at 1 year. For subjects with ICH, birth and discharge head circumference were not predictive of 1-year developmental status; however, normal head size at 1 year was associated with better outcome. This was true for children with transient PVE as well. However, persistent periventricular echodensities were associated with both mental and motor deficits at 1 year, regardless of head growth.

Arousal modulation in cocaine-exposed infants.

The ability to modulate arousal is a critical skill with wide-ranging implications for development. In this study, the authors examined arousal regulation as a function of levels of prenatal cocaine exposure in 107 infants at 4 months of age using a "still-face" procedure. Facial expressions were coded. A greater percentage of heavily cocaine-exposed infants, compared with those who were unexposed to cocaine, showed less enjoyment during en face play with their mothers and continued to show negative expressions during the resumption of play following a period when the interaction was interrupted. This finding was independent of other substance exposure, neonatal medical condition, environmental risk, maternal contingent responsivity, and concurrent maternal sensitivity and vocalizations.

Cognitive functioning in 8- to 18-month-old drug-exposed infants.

This study examined the cognitive functioning in 236 infants at 8 and 18 months of age. Thirty-seven infants were heavily exposed to cocaine in-utero, 30 were lightly exposed, and 169 were not exposed to cocaine. Cognitive functioning was evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd ed.; N. Bayley, 1993) at both ages. Infant information processing was also assessed with an infant-controlled habituation procedure. Results indicated that (a) infants of cocaine-abusing women had higher neonatal medical and environmental risk scores; (b) at 8 months, exposure groups did not differ in Psychomotor Development Index, Mental Development Index (MDI) scores, or recovery to a novel stimulus; and (c) infants heavily exposed to cocaine or high environmental risk had a decrease in MDI scores from 8 to 18 months. These results were obtained when neonatal medical and environmental risk, as well as polydrug exposure, were controlled.

Effect of prenatal alcohol and cigarette exposure on two- and six-month-old infants' adrenocortical reactivity to stress.

Examined the effect of prenatal alcohol and cigarette exposure on infant adrenocortical reactivity to stress at 2 and 6 months of age. Cortisol response (pre- to poststressor increase) at 2 months was lower for the exposed than nonexposed infants, whereas cortisol response at 6 months did not differ between the exposed and nonexposed infants. The 2-month group difference in cortisol response reflected a higher prestressor cortisol level in the exposed infants.

Treatment of patients with essential hypertension: amlodipine 5 mg/benazepril 20 mg compared with amlodipine 5 mg, benazepril 20 mg, and placebo.

This multicenter, double-masked, randomized, parallel-group study compared the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of amlodipine 5 mg/benazepril 20 mg, amlodipine 5 mg, benazepril 20 mg, and placebo in patients with essential hypertension. After a placebo run-in period, 308 patients (all white) were randomized to treatment groups and took medication once daily for 8 weeks. Blood pressure was measured after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in the 23- to 26-hour period after dosing. Patients wore a noninvasive blood pressure monitor for 24 hours before randomization and before the final visit. Investigators recorded adverse experiences at randomization and at study weeks 4 and 8, and obtained specimens for laboratory testing at randomization and at study week 8. Three hundred seven patients were evaluated for efficacy, and 308 for tolerability and safety. At end point (the last postrandomization measurement for each patient), the reduction in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure with the amlodipine 5 mg/benazepril 20 mg treatment was statistically significantly greater than with any comparative therapy. The results of 24-hour monitoring showed that the amlodipine/benazepril treatment, unlike monotherapy, maintained the hourly mean diastolic blood pressure at < or = 90 mm Hg. A responder rate of 87.0% was observed with amlodipine 5 mg/benazepril 20 mg versus 67.5%, 53.3%, and 15.8% with amlodipine, benazepril, and placebo, respectively. This difference between the amlodipine/benazepril treatment group and each comparative single-agent treatment group was statistically significant. Drug-related adverse events occurred in 15.6% of patients in the amlodipine/benazepril group and in 24.7%, 6.5%, and 11.7% of patients in the amlodipine, benazepril, and placebo groups, respectively. Edema occurred less often in the amlodipine/benazepril group than in the amlodipine group. Overall, once-daily therapy with amlodipine 5 mg/benazepril 20 mg provided an antihypertensive effect that was statistically and clinically superior to amlodipine 5 mg alone, benazepril 20 mg alone, and placebo, was well tolerated, and was associated with less edema than the amlodipine treatment.

Characteristics of pregnant substance abusers in two cities in the northeast.

This study examined the drug use patterns of pregnant women in two inner city sites, selected to overrepresent cocaine users. Women who used cocaine were much more likely to have used some combination of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana in addition to cocaine during pregnancy. There was little difference in the patterns of drug use in the two study sites, Trenton, New Jersey, and northwestern Philadelphia. A number of demographic and lifestyle variables of cocaine users, soft drug users (cigarettes, alcohol, and/or marijuana), and abstainers were compared. The cocaine-using group was significantly older and had more children, had less stable and more isolated living situations, was less likely to be employed and more likely to be receiving public assistance during pregnancy, and was more likely to have a higher drug- and alcohol-using social environment and family history than soft drug users or abstainers. Of significance was that many of the high-risk lifestyle factors exhibited by cocaine users were also seen, albeit to a lesser extent, among the soft drug users. These findings have implications for the timing of intervention strategies that would be most effective.

El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial en la evaluación de la terapéutica antihipertensiva / Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and antihypertensive therapy evaluation

La más aceptada de la indicaciones del monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial es la evaluación del efecto de terapéuticas antihipertensivas y ello se debe a que permite obtener datos tensionales particulares, como los promedios, la carga, medidas de variabilidad y el ritmo circadiano. Estos datos presentan una buena correlación con los datos tisulares hipertensivos y deberían ser corregidos con los tratamientos para cumplir el principal objetivo terapéutico, que es la reducción del riesgo cardiovascular. Ventajas adicionales son la reducción del efecto placebo, la mayor reproducibilidad y la posibilidad de diagnosticar hipertensos de guardapolvo blanco, que no deberán ser tratados con drogas. Aún no hay acuerdo definitivo respecto del valor pronóstico del método; por ende los valores de normalidad deberían tomarse según patrones estadísticos. Se describen diversos métodos de análisis de los valores obtenidos por monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial y su utilidad para evaluar las terapéuticas: promedios, carga, perfil circadiano (con el comportamiento de la tensión arterial durante la siesta y la noche), variabilidad, efecto pico, efecto valle y relación valle-pico. Finalmente se discute el valor de los métodos de alisado de Fourier. El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial constituye un método útil en el manejo terapéutico de pacientes hipertensos. Sus potenciales definitivas están en desarrollo para considerarlas en la toma de "decisiones clínicas", profundizando el conocimiento de las implicancias pronósticas de la hipertensión arterial (AU)

Cambios hemodinámicos en la función sistólica, diastólica y la circulación periférica inducidas por amlodipina en pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial asociada con disfunción ventricular izquierda / Hemodynamic changes in systolic and diastolic function and in the peripheral circulation induced by amlodipine in patients with essencial hypertension with left ventricular dysfunction

La hipertensión arterial afecta la función y la estructura cardiovascular, con hipertrofia y disfunción ventricular frecuentes, en especial en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica asociada. Evaluamos 20 pacientes entre 40 y 70 años de edad, con diagnóstico de hipertensión esencial (presión arterial diastólica entre 95 y 115 mmHg) asociada a disfunción ventricular (fracción de eyección ó 45 por ciento). Se estudiaron por angiografía radioisotópica la función sistólica, la función diastólica y la circulación periférica en las siguientes etapas: A) al final del período lavado-placebo (pretratamiento); B) en fase aguda, a las 6 horas de amlodipina (10 mg) por vía oral; C) en fase crónica, al final de 8 semanas de igual tratamiento con monodosis. El tratamiento en fase aguda y crónica mostró una disminución significativa de la presión arterial sistólica, diastólica y de la resistencia periférica total (en un 15 por ciento, 14 por ciento y 20 por ciento respectivamente). El pico de llenado del ventrículo izquierdo basal fue 1,9 ñ 0,4 (VFD/S), mejorando un 21 por ciento en el tratamiento crónico en reposo y 17 por ciento durante el ejercicio ergométrico, lo que evidenció una mejoría de la función diastólica del ventrículo izquierdo (p<0,01). El volumen de fin de sístole o residual, aumentado como expresión de la falla de bomba, disminuyó en 15 y 19 por ciento en reposo y esfuerzo. En el pretratamiento los parámetros hemodinámicos muestran disfunción ventricular sistólica y diastólica del ventrículo izquierdo con compromiso del ventrículo derecho, tanto en reposo como en esfuerzo, con disminución de la reserva cardíaca. El efecto vasodilatador de la amlodipina, con disminución de la poscarga, produjo efectos hemodinámicos favorables, tanto en el control de la hipertensión arterial como en la mejoría de la disfunción biventricular asociada (AU)

El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial en la evaluación de la terapéutica antihipertensiva / Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and antihypertensive therapy evaluation

La más aceptada de la indicaciones del monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial es la evaluación del efecto de terapéuticas antihipertensivas y ello se debe a que permite obtener datos tensionales particulares, como los promedios, la carga, medidas de variabilidad y el ritmo circadiano. Estos datos presentan una buena correlación con los datos tisulares hipertensivos y deberían ser corregidos con los tratamientos para cumplir el principal objetivo terapéutico, que es la reducción del riesgo cardiovascular. Ventajas adicionales son la reducción del efecto placebo, la mayor reproducibilidad y la posibilidad de diagnosticar hipertensos de guardapolvo blanco, que no deberán ser tratados con drogas. Aún no hay acuerdo definitivo respecto del valor pronóstico del método; por ende los valores de normalidad deberían tomarse según patrones estadísticos. Se describen diversos métodos de análisis de los valores obtenidos por monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial y su utilidad para evaluar las terapéuticas: promedios, carga, perfil circadiano (con el comportamiento de la tensión arterial durante la siesta y la noche), variabilidad, efecto pico, efecto valle y relación valle-pico. Finalmente se discute el valor de los métodos de alisado de Fourier. El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial constituye un método útil en el manejo terapéutico de pacientes hipertensos. Sus potenciales definitivas están en desarrollo para considerarlas en la toma de "decisiones clínicas", profundizando el conocimiento de las implicancias pronósticas de la hipertensión arterial