New-onset Geriatric Epilepsy in a Latin American Country: A Multi-centric Study from Mexico.

Background: In Latin America, epilepsy in the elderly is a neglected issue that has never been studied. The epidemiological transition has significantly altered the demographics of epilepsy, and therefore, we would like to draw attention to this topic. Objective: We require local real-world evidence, as the literature often depicts a different scenario, including pharmacological management. Methods: From 2007 to 2018, we recruited all patients with new-onset geriatric epilepsy (first seizure after the age of 60) tracked from ten Mexican hospitals, adding them to patients with similar characteristics from a previously published study. The diagnosis was confirmed in all patients by a certified neurologist, and they were also studied using a conventional electroencephalogram and imaging workup. Results: A diagnosis of new-onset geriatric epilepsy (Elderly patients was established in 100 cases. No specific cause was found in 26% of patients, while 42% had a stroke and 10% had neurocysticercosis (NCC). Monotherapy was the choice in 83 patients, and phenytoin was the most used drug (50%), followed by carbamazepine (25%). Conclusion: NCC remains a frequent cause of new-onset geriatric epilepsy. This distribution is not seen in the literature, mainly representing patients from wealthy economies. In our setting, financial constraints influence the choice of the drug, and newer antiepileptic drugs should be made more affordable to this population with economic and physical frailty.

New-onset Geriatric Epilepsy in a Latin American Country: A Multi-centric Study from Mexico

ABSTRACT Background: In Latin America, epilepsy in the elderly is a neglected issue that has never been studied. The epidemiological transition has significantly altered the demographics of epilepsy, and therefore, we would like to draw attention to this topic. Objective: We require local real-world evidence, as the literature often depicts a different scenario, including pharmacological management. Methods: From 2007 to 2018, we recruited all patients with new-onset geriatric epilepsy (first seizure after the age of 60) tracked from ten Mexican hospitals, adding them to patients with similar characteristics from a previously published study. The diagnosis was confirmed in all patients by a certified neurologist, and they were also studied using a conventional electroencephalogram and imaging workup. Results: A diagnosis of new-onset geriatric epilepsy (Elderly patients was established in 100 cases. No specific cause was found in 26% of patients, while 42% had a stroke and 10% had neurocysticercosis (NCC). Monotherapy was the choice in 83 patients, and phenytoin was the most used drug (50%), followed by carbamazepine (25%). Conclusion: NCC remains a frequent cause of new-onset geriatric epilepsy. This distribution is not seen in the literature, mainly representing patients from wealthy economies. In our setting, financial constraints influence the choice of the drug, and newer antiepileptic drugs should be made more affordable to this population with economic and physical frailty.

Serum leptin is associated with metabolic syndrome in obese Mexican subjects.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and abdominal adiposity. Obese patients develop leptin resistance, and an increased waist circumference (WC) due to deposition of abdominal fat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between circulating leptin levels and MetS among sample adult Mexican workers. METHOD: A total of 204 workers aged 20-56 were evaluated. Anthropometric index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Fasting insulin and leptin were measured by inmunoenzimatic methods. Furthermore, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS according to the ATP-III criteria was 33.8% and leptin concentrations were 2.5 times higher in women than men. Subjects with MetS had higher levels of leptin (26.7 ± 13.7) compared with those without MetS (20.1 ± 13.9; P <0.001). Leptin increased significantly while BMI increased as well (normal 14.0 ± 8.9, overweight 22.7 ± 11.7 and obese 31.4 ± 14.6) in addition to other variables such as WC, HDL-C, insulin levels, and HOMA index. Each component of MetS was stratified by sex and submitted by linear regression with a 95% of accuracy. The 50% and 53% of the BMI is explained by the concentration of leptin in men and women, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study found that leptin was associated with the MetS, especially in obesity and insulin resistance, indicating a high risk for university workers to develop hypertension, DM2, and cardiovascular disease.

[Clinical characteristics of the late-onset epilepsy in Mexico to the beginning of the new millennium: 455 cases]. / Características clínicas de la epilepsia de inicio tardío en México al principio del nuevo milenio: 455 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a multifactorial disorder, and several factors can modify its prevalence in different regions. Among these, local culture, public health policies and survival rate can be cited. Alongside, the cause of epilepsy may be different according to time and geographic registries. In Mexico, neurocysticercosis remains a leading cause of seizures. Nonetheless, lifestyle changes and the increase in life expectancy have fostered the incidence of stroke. Both diseases are the main underlying disorders causing epilepsy in Mexico. Lately, their respective incidence is being reversed, and therefore their role is gradually interchanging. OBJECTIVES: To describe and assess the epidemiological and clinical features of a sample of Mexican patients with late-onset seizures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 455 patients aged over 20 years old was recruited from ten different centers nationwide. The study included patients with onset of epilepsy from year 2000 on, and clinical features of seizures were recorded for every patient, electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain computed tomography (CT) were performed. RESULTS: No gender-related differences were observed. Age distribution was as follows: the highest incidence occurred in the third decade of life and 18% of the patients were aged above 60 years old. Generalized seizures were recorded in 49% of the patients. Pharmacological management used a single drug in 83% of the patients and the most frequently used drug was diphenylhydantoine (PHT) and the second was carbamazepine (CBZ). Abnormal electroencephalographic findings were recoded in 66% of the cases. Concerning etiologies, the first cause was neurocysticerosis in 21% of the cases, followed by stroke in 17% of them. No cause could be found in 49% of the patients. These findings slightly differ from those of other centers in developed countries. CONCLUSIONS: In the last decades, the societal changes in the country have greatly influence the shift in the underlying causes of late-onset seizures. Even if neurocysticercosis stands still as the first cause, its frequency has declined by more than 50% while the increase of stroke incidence has boosted its etiological role and their difference is now statistically non-significant.

Quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor and neuropilins mRNAs during rat brain maturation by real-time PCR.

1. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been related with several brain functions such as angiogenesis, neuroprotection, and neurogenesis. 2. We studied the mRNA expression of the two most important isoforms of VEGF (VEGF120 and VEGF164) as well as one type of VEGF receptors, neuropilins (NRP), during maturation in the rat brain using real-time PCR. 3. Today, real-time PCR is the method of choice for rapid and reliable quantification of mRNA transcription. 4. VEGF120 has little changes in its expression between P5 and P30. 5. However, VEGF164 increased its expression 2-folds at P15 in comparison to P5, remaining at this level in the adult brain (P30). 6. Both types of NRP, NRP-1 and NRP-2, which only bind VEGF164, increased their expression about 2-folds only at P30, at levels similar to those observed for VEGF164.

Angioedema y urticaria asociadas con infección activa del virus de Epstein-Barr en un adulto / Angioedema and urticaria associated with active Epstein-Barr virus infection in an adult patient

Un paciente de 43 años de edad consultó por una historia de dos años con episodios recurrentes de urticaria en miembros y tronco, y edema de labios y párpados. Se le realizaron varios estudios de diagnóstico, incluyendo mediciones del C1 inhibidor y análisis de marcadores para infecciones virales, entre otras cosas. Los resultados fueron dentro de los parámetros normales salvo los títulos de IgG anti-EBV que resultaron positivos en dilucione de 1/80. Se efectuó la técnica de transcripción reversa y PCR (RT-PCR) para determinar la presencia de EBV en forma replicativa, y se determinó la presencia de ARN con secuencias del gen BLLF1. El paciente recibió un tratamiento durante 40 días con acyclovir 200 mg 4 veces al día. Al final de dicho período, los síntomas (urticaria y angioedema) desaparecieron por completo, y la técnica de RT-PCR resultó negativa para el gen BLLF1 del virus de Epstein-Barr. Sobre las bases del seguimiento clínico y los resultados de la técnica de RT-PCR, concluimos que la infección activa por el EBV puede jugar un rol en la expresión de urticaria y angioedema en pacientes susceptibles

Angioedema y urticaria asociadas con infección activa del virus de Epstein-Barr en un adulto / Angioedema and urticaria associated with active Epstein-Barr virus infection in an adult patient

Un paciente de 43 años de edad consultó por una historia de dos años con episodios recurrentes de urticaria en miembros y tronco, y edema de labios y párpados. Se le realizaron varios estudios de diagnóstico, incluyendo mediciones del C1 inhibidor y análisis de marcadores para infecciones virales, entre otras cosas. Los resultados fueron dentro de los parámetros normales salvo los títulos de IgG anti-EBV que resultaron positivos en dilucione de 1/80. Se efectuó la técnica de transcripción reversa y PCR (RT-PCR) para determinar la presencia de EBV en forma replicativa, y se determinó la presencia de ARN con secuencias del gen BLLF1. El paciente recibió un tratamiento durante 40 días con acyclovir 200 mg 4 veces al día. Al final de dicho período, los síntomas (urticaria y angioedema) desaparecieron por completo, y la técnica de RT-PCR resultó negativa para el gen BLLF1 del virus de Epstein-Barr. Sobre las bases del seguimiento clínico y los resultados de la técnica de RT-PCR, concluimos que la infección activa por el EBV puede jugar un rol en la expresión de urticaria y angioedema en pacientes susceptibles (AU)

Determinación del RNA genómico y replicativo del virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes tratados con interferón / Determination of genomic RNA and replicative hepatitis C viruses in patients treated with interferon

En este ensayo se trató de correlacionar la evolución clínica e histológica de un grupo de pacientes tratados con IFN, con la presencia del RNA genómico y replicativo del HCV en plasma y tejido hepático. Se estudiaron 11 pacientes con hepatitis crónica "C" diagnosticada por elevación de transaminasas durante los últimos 6 meses, anti-HCV positivo "(Elisa II)", y cuadro histológico compatible. En todos ellos se efectuó biopsia hepática y extracción de sangre en paralelo, inmediatamente antes y después de finalizar el tratamiento con 4.5 millones de IFN Alfa2a administrado 3 veces por semana, durante 6 meses. El tecijo hepático se almacenó a-80ºc y el plasma a-20ºc hasta su procesamiento. La extracción de RNA se realizó a partir de 100microliter de plasma y de 20mg de tejido hepático con isotiocianato de guanidinio (Chomcznski). La transcripción reversa se llevó a cabo "primers" sense o antisense para detectar la hélice replicativa (-) o genómica (+) respectivamente. El cDNA de la región 5 no codificante fue amplificado por el sistema "nested". Antes del tratamiento los 11 pacientes evidenciaron la presencia de la hélice genómica en tecijo hepático y plasma. En cambio la hélice replicativa se detectó en 5 casos en hígado, 7 pacientes se revelaron como respondedores y 4 como no respondedores. En los pacientes respondedores las hélices genómica y replicativa en hígado desaparecieron en un 43 por ciento y 57 por ciento respectivamente, y en plasma se observó un descenco del 71 por ciento para la hélice genómica y de un 100 por ciento para la hélice replicativa. En los 4 pacientes no respondedores la hélice genómica permaneció en tecijo hepático y plasma, en cambio la replicativa se mantuvo en tejido hepático y se negativizó en un 75 por ciento en plasma. El índice de Knodell, que determina el estadío histológico, disminuyó en 5 de lo 7 respondedores y permaneció igual en 3 de los 4 no respondedores...(AU)

Determinación del RNA genómico y replicativo del virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes tratados con interferón / Determination of genomic RNA and replicative hepatitis C viruses in patients treated with interferon

En este ensayo se trató de correlacionar la evolución clínica e histológica de un grupo de pacientes tratados con IFN, con la presencia del RNA genómico y replicativo del HCV en plasma y tejido hepático. Se estudiaron 11 pacientes con hepatitis crónica "C" diagnosticada por elevación de transaminasas durante los últimos 6 meses, anti-HCV positivo "(Elisa II)", y cuadro histológico compatible. En todos ellos se efectuó biopsia hepática y extracción de sangre en paralelo, inmediatamente antes y después de finalizar el tratamiento con 4.5 millones de IFN Alfa2a administrado 3 veces por semana, durante 6 meses. El tecijo hepático se almacenó a-80§c y el plasma a-20§c hasta su procesamiento. La extracción de RNA se realizó a partir de 100microliter de plasma y de 20mg de tejido hepático con isotiocianato de guanidinio (Chomcznski). La transcripción reversa se llevó a cabo "primers" sense o antisense para detectar la hélice replicativa (-) o genómica (+) respectivamente. El cDNA de la región 5' no codificante fue amplificado por el sistema "nested". Antes del tratamiento los 11 pacientes evidenciaron la presencia de la hélice genómica en tecijo hepático y plasma. En cambio la hélice replicativa se detectó en 5 casos en hígado, 7 pacientes se revelaron como respondedores y 4 como no respondedores. En los pacientes respondedores las hélices genómica y replicativa en hígado desaparecieron en un 43 por ciento y 57 por ciento respectivamente, y en plasma se observó un descenco del 71 por ciento para la hélice genómica y de un 100 por ciento para la hélice replicativa. En los 4 pacientes no respondedores la hélice genómica permaneció en tecijo hepático y plasma, en cambio la replicativa se mantuvo en tejido hepático y se negativizó en un 75 por ciento en plasma. El índice de Knodell, que determina el estadío histológico, disminuyó en 5 de lo 7 respondedores y permaneció igual en 3 de los 4 no respondedores...

Actividades enzimáticas en levaduras de Histoplasma capsulatum / Enzymatic activities from Histoplasma capsulatum yeasts

Se determinaron actividades enzimáticas en 5 cepas de Histoplasma capsulatum en fase levaduriforme (EH46, EH 50, EH51, EH52, EH53) por el micrométodo del APIZYM. De las 19 enzimas probadas se encontraron actividades de fosfatasa alcalina, esterasa lipasa C8, fosfatasa ácida y fosfoamidasa en todas las cepas estudiadas, mientras que la lipasa C14 y la leucina arilamidasa, sólo se determinaron en 4 cepas. Estas últimas enzimas no aparecieron en la cepa EH53 de alta virulencia