Características de los adultos con síndrome de Down ingresados en los servicios de medicina interna españoles en el periodo 2005-2014 / Characteristics of adults with Down syndrome hospitalised in Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Los problemas clínicos de los adultos con síndrome de Down parecen diferir de los de la población general. Para entender mejor estas diferencias describimos las características demográficas y clínicas de los adultos con síndrome de Down que ingresaron en los servicios de Medicina Interna españoles en el periodo de 2005-2014. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional retrospectivo sobre datos recogidos en el conjunto mínimo básico de datos de los episodios de ingreso de adultos con síndrome de Down en los servicios de Medicina Interna del Sistema Nacional de Salud desde 2005 hasta 2014. Se analizaron variables epidemiológicas, clínicas y sociales. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 7.548 episodios de ingreso de 3.786 pacientes. El 56,6% eran varones con una edad media (± DE) de 47±13 años. Fallecieron 715 pacientes (18,9%). La mortalidad ajustada a la edad fue 26,6% y su estancia media fue de 9,6±12 días. En 3.684 episodios (48,8%) el ingreso fue por enfermedad respiratoria y en 760 (10%), de origen cardiológico. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron el hipotiroidismo (27,1%; 2.043 episodios), la epilepsia (24,1%; 1.819 episodios) y la demencia (15,4%; 1.162 episodios). CONCLUSIONES: Los ingresos de adultos con síndrome de Down en los servicios de Medicina Interna han aumentado en la última década. Si bien los motivos de ingreso, estancia media y coste por episodio de esta población son similares a los de la población general atendida en Medicina Interna, la mortalidad intrahospitalaria ajustada por edad fue significativamente mayor

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical problems of adults with Down syndrome seem to differ from those of the general population. To better understand these differences, we list the demographic and clinical characteristics of adults with Down syndrome admitted to Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study using data collected from the minimum basic data set on hospitalisation episodes of adults with Down syndrome in the internal medicine departments of Spain's National Health System from 2005 to 2014. We analysed the patients' epidemiological, clinical and societal data. RESULTS: A total of 7548 hospitalisation episodes from 3786 patients were recorded. Some 56.6% of the patients were male with a mean age (±SD) of 47±13 years, and 715 of the patients died (18.9%). The age-adjusted mortality was 26.6%, and the mean stay was 9.6±12 days. The hospitalisation was for respiratory disease in 3684 episodes (48.8%) and for cardiac origin in 760 (10%). The most common comorbidities were hypothyroidism (27.1%, 2043 episodes), epilepsy (24.1%, 1819 episodes) and dementia (15.4%, 1162 episodes). CONCLUSIONS: The hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome in internal medicine departments has increased in the past decade. Although the reasons for hospitalisation, mean stay and cost per episode for this population are similar to those of the general population treated by internal medicine departments, the age-adjusted hospital mortality was significantly greater

Perfil hemodinámico de los adultos españoles con síndrome de Down / Haemodynamic profile of Spanish adults with Down syndrome

OBJETIVOS: Si bien se desconocen los motivos, la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial y de eventos cardiovasculares ateroscleróticos en la población adulta con síndrome de Down (SD) es anecdótica. Para entender mejor este hallazgo evaluamos las características hemodinámicas de una cohorte de adultos con SD. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal en adultos con SD incluidos de modo consecutivo de las consultas externas del servicio de medicina interna entre junio y noviembre 2018. Se recogieron variables demográficas, clínicas y analíticas. Se utilizó un dispositivo de bioimpedancia torácica (HOTMAN® System) para las medidas hemodinámicas. Se realizó una monitorización ambulatoria de presión arterial en un subgrupo de sujetos. RESULTADOS: Veintiséis sujetos de edad media 45±11 años participaron en el estudio (50% varones). La presión arterial (PA) media en la muestra fue de 109/69±11/9mmHg, con una frecuencia cardiaca media de 60±12lpm. Ningún sujeto era hipertenso. El perfil hemodinámico predominante consistió en normodinamismo (65%), normotensión (96%), hipocronotropismo (46%), normoinotropismo (50%) e hipervolemia (54%), con valores normales de resistencias vasculares periféricas (58%). Se realizó una monitorización ambulatoria de la presión sarterial a 12 sujetos (46%). Los valores medios en 24horas de PA sistólica fueron 105±11mmHg, PA diastólica 67±11mmHg, PA media 80±11mmHg y frecuencia cardiaca media 61±6lpm. CONCLUSIONES: El perfil hemodinámico más frecuentemente observado en adultos con SD consistió en hipocronotropismo e hipervolemia, con valores normales de resistencias vasculares periféricas y valores medios óptimos de PA. No identificamos ningún sujeto hipertenso en nuestra muestra

OBJECTIVES: Although the reasons are unknown, the prevalence of arterial hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in the adult population with Down syndrome (SD) is anecdotal. To better understand this finding, we evaluated the haemodynamic characteristics of a cohort of adults with SD. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults with SD recruited consecutively from the outpatient clinics of an internal medicine department between June and November 2018. We collected demographic, clinical and laboratory variables and employed a thoracic bioimpedance device (HOTMAN® System) for the haemodynamic measures. Outpatient blood pressure monitoring (OBPM) was conducted on a subgroup of participants. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants (mean age, 45±11years) participated in the study (50% men). The sample's mean blood pressure (BP) was 109/69±11/9mmHg, with a mean heart rate of 60±12bpm. None of the participants had hypertension. The predominant haemodynamic profile consisted of normal dynamism (65%), normal BP (96%), hypochronotropism (46%), normal inotropism (50%) and hypervolaemia (54%), with normal peripheral vascular resistance values (58%). Twelve participants underwent OBPM (46%). The mean 24-h systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP and mean heart rate were 105±11mmHg, 67±11mmHg, 80±11mmHg and 61±6bpm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most common haemodynamic profile observed in adults with SD consisted of hypochronotropism and hypervolaemia, with normal values for peripheral vascular resistance and optimal mean BP values. There were no participants with hypertension in our sample

Characteristics of adults with Down syndrome hospitalised in Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014. / Características de los adultos con síndrome de Down ingresados en los servicios de medicina interna españoles en el periodo 2005-2014.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical problems of adults with Down syndrome seem to differ from those of the general population. To better understand these differences, we list the demographic and clinical characteristics of adults with Down syndrome admitted to Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational retrospective study using data collected from the minimum basic data set on hospitalisation episodes of adults with Down syndrome in the internal medicine departments of Spain's National Health System from 2005 to 2014. We analysed the patients' epidemiological, clinical and societal data. RESULTS: A total of 7548 hospitalisation episodes from 3786 patients were recorded. Some 56.6% of the patients were male with a mean age (±SD) of 47±13 years, and 715 of the patients died (18.9%). The age-adjusted mortality was 26.6%, and the mean stay was 9.6±12 days. The hospitalisation was for respiratory disease in 3684 episodes (48.8%) and for cardiac origin in 760 (10%). The most common comorbidities were hypothyroidism (27.1%, 2043 episodes), epilepsy (24.1%, 1819 episodes) and dementia (15.4%, 1162 episodes). CONCLUSIONS: The hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome in internal medicine departments has increased in the past decade. Although the reasons for hospitalisation, mean stay and cost per episode for this population are similar to those of the general population treated by internal medicine departments, the age-adjusted hospital mortality was significantly greater.

Haemodynamic profile of Spanish adults with Down syndrome. / Perfil hemodinámico de los adultos españoles con síndrome de Down.

OBJECTIVES: Although the reasons are unknown, the prevalence of arterial hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in the adult population with Down syndrome (SD) is anecdotal. To better understand this finding, we evaluated the haemodynamic characteristics of a cohort of adults with SD. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adults with SD recruited consecutively from the outpatient clinics of an internal medicine department between June and November 2018. We collected demographic, clinical and laboratory variables and employed a thoracic bioimpedance device (HOTMAN® System) for the haemodynamic measures. Outpatient blood pressure monitoring (OBPM) was conducted on a subgroup of participants. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants (mean age, 45±11years) participated in the study (50% men). The sample's mean blood pressure (BP) was 109/69±11/9mmHg, with a mean heart rate of 60±12bpm. None of the participants had hypertension. The predominant haemodynamic profile consisted of normal dynamism (65%), normal BP (96%), hypochronotropism (46%), normal inotropism (50%) and hypervolaemia (54%), with normal peripheral vascular resistance values (58%). Twelve participants underwent OBPM (46%). The mean 24-h systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP and mean heart rate were 105±11mmHg, 67±11mmHg, 80±11mmHg and 61±6bpm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most common haemodynamic profile observed in adults with SD consisted of hypochronotropism and hypervolaemia, with normal values for peripheral vascular resistance and optimal mean BP values. There were no participants with hypertension in our sample.

Recomendaciones para la atención a los adultos con síndrome de Down. Revisión de la literatura / Reccomendations for the care of adults with Down's syndrome. Literature review

La población con síndrome de Down (SD) ha experimentado un aumento en su esperanza de vida en las últimas décadas. Esto conlleva un incremento en el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades propias de la trisomía 21 asociadas al envejecimiento. Es necesario un alto nivel de sospecha por parte del profesional, ya que las dificultades en la comunicación, su posible escasa expresividad clínica y su alto umbral del dolor dificultan muchas veces su diagnóstico. Resulta por ello fundamental que los profesionales de la salud conozcan las recomendaciones específicas para atender adecuadamente a la población adulta con SD. El objetivo del presente artículo es describir las comorbilidades más frecuentes en los adultos con SD, así como divulgar las recomendaciones de salud para esta población, comparando las principales guías publicadas y evaluando su adecuación a las características de la población adulta actual con SD

Over the years, the life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has increased significantly. This fact involves a higher risk for developing numerous medical conditions associated with the aging of adults with DS. A high level of awareness is required by the professional, due to the lack of clinical expressiveness and their higher pain threshold, often makes the diagnosis difficult. Health care professionals must be aware of the specific recommendations for the appropriate care of the adult population with DS. The aim of this article is to describe the most frequent comorbidities in adults with DS adults, to summarise the specific preventive recommendations after comparing the main guidelines published, and to evaluate them according to their specific needs

[Reccomendations for the care of adults with Down's syndrome. Literature review]. / Recomendaciones para la atención a los adultos con síndrome de Down. Revisión de la literatura.

Over the years, the life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has increased significantly. This fact involves a higher risk for developing numerous medical conditions associated with the aging of adults with DS. A high level of awareness is required by the professional, due to the lack of clinical expressiveness and their higher pain threshold, often makes the diagnosis difficult. Health care professionals must be aware of the specific recommendations for the appropriate care of the adult population with DS. The aim of this article is to describe the most frequent comorbidities in adults with DS adults, to summarise the specific preventive recommendations after comparing the main guidelines published, and to evaluate them according to their specific needs.

Exploring the pathway structure of metabolism: decomposition into subnetworks and application to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

MOTIVATION: Reconstructing and analyzing the metabolic map of microorganisms is an important challenge in bioinformatics. Pathway analysis of large metabolic networks meets with the problem of combinatorial explosion of pathways. Therefore, appropriate algorithms for an automated decomposition of these networks into smaller subsystems are needed. RESULTS: A decomposition algorithm for metabolic networks based on the local connectivity of metabolites is presented. Interrelations of this algorithm with alternative methods proposed in the literature and the theory of small world networks are discussed. The applicability of our method is illustrated by an analysis of the metabolism of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is an organism of considerable medical interest. The decomposition gives rise to 19 subnetworks. Three of these are here discussed in biochemical terms: arginine degradation, the tetrahydrofolate system, and nucleotide metabolism. The interrelations of pathway analysis of biochemical networks with Petri net theory are outlined.

IRAG working group 2. CAM-based assays. Interagency Regulatory Alternatives Group.

CAM-based assays, in which test material is applied to the chorion allantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated chicken eggs, were assessed as alternatives to the Draize eye irritation test. Two general types of CAM-based assays are currently in use, the HET-CAM test and the CAMVA assay. Evaluations were made of five data sets produced with three different modifications of the HET-CAM test and two data sets obtained with the same CAMVA protocol. Data sets consisted of 9-133 test chemicals, usually from the sponsor's product line, and also from a validation trial. Each data set and assay protocol were analysed for quality of data, purpose and proposed use of the assay, range of responses covered, range of test materials amenable, current use in safety and risk assessment both in-house and for regulatory purposes. Since the MMAS Draize score was not available for all in vivo data sets, the sigma MMMIS, which correlates well with the MMAS, was used instead. In vitro/in vivo correlations calculated with Pearson's linear coefficient ranged from r = 0.6 to r = 0.9 for six of seven data sets. Corneal opacity and inflammation of the iris showed the best correlation to in vitro data. Prediction rates were significantly improved when partial linear regression was used, and the predictivity of three different HET-CAM protocols was almost the same. HET-CAM assays showed the best prediction with surfactants and surfactant-based formulations, whereas the CAMVA assay provided the best performance with alcohols.

Modern biostatistical methods for assessing in vitro/in vivo correlation of severely eye irritating chemicals in a validation study of in vitro alternatives to the Draize eye test.

The HET-CAM test and 3T3 cell neutral red uptake (NRU) cytotoxicity assay were evaluated in a national German validation project to replace the Draize eye test for classifying severely eye irritating chemicals, which have to be labelled 'R-41' according to EU regulations. As testing of 200 chemicals in the two in vitro assays did not sufficiently allow severely eye irritating chemicals to be identified and since the scoring system of the HET-CAM assay has been derived empirically, it was investigated whether modern biostatistical methods, for example discriminant analysis, would improve the selection of predictive endpoints of the HET-CAM assay. Comparison of HET-CAM data with adverse reactions observed in different tissues of the rabbit's eye proved that complex regression models are better describing in vitro /in vivo correlations than simple linear models. Discriminant analysis revealed that among the nine endpoints routinely determined in the HET-CAM test, coagulation was the only acceptable endpoint to classify severely irritating chemicals 'R-41' according to EU regulations. To identify R-41 chemicals the reaction time of appearance of coagulation of a 10% solution was the best discriminating factor and coagulation of the undiluted chemical for the less water-soluble ones. The results suggest that only R-41 chemicals are inducing coagulation of the CAM within 50 sec, and can therefore be classified without further testing in vivo. Stepwise discriminant analysis allowed an in vitro testing strategy to be developed to identify R-41 chemicals by combining coagulation data of the HET-CAM assay with cytotoxicity data. Validity of the model for future data sets was assessed by cross-validation. The results obtained with 200 chemicals under blind conditions suggest that this approach will provide an acceptable sensitivity, predictivity and percentage of false positive data for severely eye irritating chemicals.

Systemic anaphylaxis due to hepatic hydatid disease.

Hydatidosis can be a cause of anaphylaxis; it has been clearly established that the accidental rupture of a cyst during surgery can provoke severe anaphylactic reactions. Spontaneous anaphylaxis secondary to hydatid disease is much less frequent. We report three patients who presented with spontaneous anaphylaxis without apparent cause. Serological and ultrasonographic studies showed hepatic hydatid disease. Two years after surgical resection of cysts, no new episodes of anaphylaxis have occurred. Hydatidosis is a cause of apparently spontaneous anaphylaxis and this is likely due to an IgE-mediated mechanism.

EEC/COLIPA project on in vitro phototoxicity testing: First results obtained with a Balb/c 3T3 cell phototoxicity assay.

In a joint validation project eight laboratories from the European Cosmetic Industry Association (COLIPA) as well as FRAME (England) and ZEBET (Germany) are trying to develop validated in vitro methods to be incorporated into new international guidelines for acute phototoxicity testing. The first stage of the study involved selection of the most promising in vitro phototoxicity tests for further validation. 20 chemicals with known phototoxic properties (12 phototoxins, four UV-absorbing non-phototoxins and four non-UV absorbing non-phototoxins) were tested under identical conditions of UV exposure conditions (sun simulator, UVA 5 J/cm(2)) in a standardized cytotoxicity assay with Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts (endpoint: neutral red uptake, NRU). 19 of the 20 chemicals were correctly classified by the 3T3 NRU phototoxicity test, and therefore, this simple assay for phototoxicity seems very promising and should be validated further.

Anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in end-stage renal disease.

Anticardiolipin antibodies are autoantibodies clinically associated with hypercoagulability. Systemic thrombosis and thrombosis of the vascular access for haemodialysis coexist with immunoregulation abnormalities in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence of thrombotic episodes and the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in 73 patients with ESRD--51 on haemodialysis and 22 on conservative treatment. Four (18%) patients on conservative treatment had IgG-anticardiolipin, three of them also having lupus anticoagulant. Sixteen (31%) patients on haemodialysis showed IgG-anticardiolipin and 11 (22%) lupus anticoagulant; overall, 19 (37%) patients on haemodialysis had IgG-anticardiolipin and/or lupus anticoagulant. This greater incidence in haemodialysis was associated with a more frequent use of cuprophane membranes (68% versus 34%, P less than 0.05). Six patients with ESRD--one on conservative treatment--met criteria for the diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome, clinically characterised by thrombosis of the vascular access. IgG-anticardiolipin and/or lupus anticoagulant are frequently found in ESRD and their incidence increases with haemodialysis, probably due to some kind of membrane bioincompatibility. IgG-anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant can be associated with thrombotic episodes, being constituents of an ESRD-related antiphospholipid syndrome.

[Evaluation of ceftazidime monotherapy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremias. Prospective study]. / Valoración de la monoterapia con ceftacidima en bacteriemias por Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Estudio prospectivo.

Twenty-six episodes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia treated with intravenous ceftazidime, 4-6 g/day were evaluated. Treatment was begun within the first 24 hours after the isolation of the microorganism and was maintained for 10-12 days. In two patients with neutropenia amikacin was added during the initial 48-72 hours until the susceptibility to ceftazidime was known. All isolates were sensitive to ceftazidime. The most common underlying diseases were neoplasia (12), diabetes with stroke (4), neurosurgical and vascular procedures (4), rheumatoid arthritis (2), burns (2), cor pulmonale (1), and hypertension (1). The origins of bacteremia were urinary (12), pulmonary (9), and unknown (5). The infection was hospital-acquired in 77% and community-acquired in 23%. A critical clinical status and the presence of complications were significantly (p less than 0.01) associated with an increased mortality rate. Clinical outcome was good in 18/26 (70%), with a 30% mortality rate. The microbiological evolution showed 14 eradications, 6 persistences, 3 relapses and 3 colonizations. Resistance did not develop during therapy. Ceftazidime may be a good alternative therapy for these severe infections, although wider comparative studies are required for a better evaluation.

The rate of loss of CR1 from ageing erythrocytes in vivo in normal subjects and SLE patients: no correlation with structural or numerical polymorphisms.

The stability of CR1 (complement receptor type 1) on ageing erythrocytes in vivo was examined in a group of normal subjects who had been genotyped using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (detected using a cDNA probe for CR1) that correlates with the numerical expression of CR1 on normal erythrocytes (H = allele correlating with high expression, L = low). Erythrocytes were separated into 5 fractions of increasing age on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Mean CR1 numbers on erythrocytes fell from 636 molecules per cell in the first fraction to 384 in the fifth in the HH group and from 478 to 315 in the LL group. There was no difference in the rate of decline of CR1 numbers between the groups. A group of nine SLE patients was also studied in the same way; their genotypes were HH (four) and HL (five). Mean CR1 numbers amongst all of these patients fell from 477 to 232, a faster rate of decline than in a genotypically matched group of normal subjects. There was no difference in the prevalence of the different structural allotypes amongst 30 SLE patients compared with 21 normal subjects. These data provide further evidence that there are enhanced extracellular mechanisms for the removal of CR1 from erythrocytes of SLE patients and do not support the hypothesis that inherited variation in CR1 expression on erythrocytes increases disease susceptibility to SLE.

Inherited deficiency of erythrocyte complement receptor type 1 does not cause susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus.

There is a deficiency of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) on the erythrocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This receptor is involved in the processing of immune complexes. Whether the deficiency is inherited or acquired has been the subject of controversy. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), identified using a complementary DNA probe for CR1, has been correlated with the numeric expression of CR1 on normal erythrocytes. The gene frequency for the 2 alleles defined by this RFLP was compared in 44 patients with SLE (from 42 families), 43 of their consanguineous relatives, and 50 nonrelated normal subjects. The gene frequency for the alleles correlating with high and low expression of CR1 was 0.73 and 0.27, respectively, in the normal subjects. The gene frequency was not significantly different in the SLE patients. However, the SLE patients expressed fewer CR1 molecules per erythrocyte within each genotype, compared with normal subjects and compared with their consanguineous relatives. The low allele for numeric expression of CR1 on erythrocytes is not a disease susceptibility gene for SLE.

Presence of shared idiotypes in serum and immune complexes in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Patients with IgA nephropathy often present a large array of antibodies against diet antigens and this disease can be experimentally induced by alimentary antigens. In this report, we have described the isolation from a patient with IgA nephropathy of antibovine serum albumin (BSA)-antibody idiotypes that are specifically recognized by auto-and heteroantiidiotypic antibodies. The fact that antigen (BSA) but not monomeric or aggregated human IgG inhibited the binding of antiidiotypic antibodies to the idiotypes, suggested that the idiotypic determinants are in or near the antigen binding site and that it is not a rheumatoid factor. By means of the heteroantiidiotypic antibodies raised in rabbits we observed the presence of increased levels of shared idiotypes in serum and/or immune complexes (IC) of 48 out of 70 (68.5%) genetically unrelated patients with IgA nephropathy. The close correlation (P less than 0.005) between the presence of IgA-IC, measured by Raji cell assay, and the existence of high levels of serum idiotypes, suggest that a portion of circulating IC could consist of idiotype-antiidiotype. A strong concordance between the presence and levels of idiotypes and the clinical activity, as defined by the existence of haematuria, was also noted. The discrepancies and absence of correlation observed in our study among the levels of anti-BSA antibodies of different classes and serum levels of idiotypes, circulating IC and haematuria could suggest that the antibodies reacting with the heterologous antiidiotypic antibodies could be directed to other more pathogenic antigens than dietary antigens. All together, our results suggest that IgA nephropathy might belong to the group of diseases that occur in susceptible individuals with a limited potential in the immunological response repertoire.

Metastatic pure choriocarcinoma of the testis in an elderly man.

The case described of pure choriocarcinoma of the testis is rare because of the histological type and patient age at presentation. A 63-year-old man had a 160 gm. tumor, with a necrotic, hemorrhagic appearance and sparse bright areas that consisted exclusively of syncytial and cytotrophoblastic cells. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed strong staining for human chorionic gonadotropin in the syncytiotrophoblastic cells. The specimen was moderately positive for keratin and negative for alpha-fetoprotein.