Riesgo de accidente cerebrovascular en pacientes con aterosclerosis carotídea asintomática: ¿se debe tratar médicamente o quirúrgicamente?

Los desórdenes cerebrovasculares siguen siendo la primera causa de morbilidad y mortalidad neurológica en el mundo, representando una de las entidades patológicas que genera mayor carga de enfermedad a nivel global. La aterosclerosis, o estenosis carotídea, es un potencial factor de riesgo para el ictus isquémico. La identificación y seguimiento estricto de esta condición son esenciales en la prevención secundaria de complicaciones a través de la atención primaria y el manejo especializado del riesgo cardiometabólico. No obstante, dependiendo de este riesgo y/o la presencia de sintomatología, es necesario realizar un manejo definitivo. Actualmente, existe controversia sobre si es mejor tratar la estenosis carotídea asintomática, ya sea médica o quirúrgicamente. Teniendo en cuenta la relevancia de esta entidad, el objetivo de esta revisión consiste en analizar la evidencia reciente sobre el riesgo de ictus isquémico en la aterosclerosis carotídea asintomática en adultos, y el potencial beneficio del manejo quirúrgico vs. farmacológico de esta condición. Para esto, se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science y MEDLINE, hasta el año 2023. Se evidenció que el riesgo de ictus asociado a estenosis carotídea asintomática es significativo (>10 %, aproximadamente), incluso en aquellos con terapia antiplaquetaria e hipolipemiante activa. En aquellos con manejo médico, la supervivencia a cinco años es alrededor del 80 %. Sin embargo, la progresión de la estenosis sucede en promedio en más del 60 % de los casos, y es significativa. Por el contrario, el stent carotídeo y la endarterectomía son intervenciones resolutivas. Pero existe un riesgo mayor comparado con la terapia médica, el cual se atribuye al periodo periy posoperatorio, así como a 30 días de aparición o recurrencia del ictus, infarto agudo de miocardio o muerte por cualquier causa; aunque el uso de la endarterectomía ha demostrado beneficios superiores a largo plazo en cuanto a estos mismos desenlaces. Entonces, la evidencia es heterogénea en cuanto a la superioridad del tratamiento quirúrgico comparado con la terapia farmacológica en el manejo de la aterosclerosis o estenosis carotídea asintomática. Sin embargo, parece ser que el manejo quirúrgico, específicamente la endarterectomía, podría impactar significativamente sobre la aparición o recurrencia del ictus ipsilateral y muerte a largo plazo, pero con resultados controversiales periy postoperatorios.

Cerebrovascular disorders remain the leading cause of neurological morbidity and mortality in the world, representing one of the pathological entities responsible for the greatest burden of disease worldwide. Carotid atherosclerosis or stenosis is a potential risk factor for ischemic stroke. The identification and strict follow-up of this condition are essential in the secondary prevention of complications through primary care and the specialized treatment of cardiometabolic risk. However, depending on this risk and/or presence of symptoms, definitive treatment is necessary. Currently, there is controversy as to whether asymptomatic carotid stenosis is better to be treated medically or surgically. Considering the significance of such entity, this review aims to analyze recent evidence on the risk of ischemic stroke in the case of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis among adults, as well as the potential benefit of the surgical vs. pharmacological treatment for this condition. For this purpose, a literature search for publications up to 2023 was carried out in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and MEDLINE databases. It was shown that there is a significant risk of stroke associated with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (> 10 % approximately), even in patients with active antiplatelet and lipid-lowering therapy. Out of all those who receive medical treatment, around 80 % had a five-year survival rate. However, stenosis progression occurs on average in more than 60 % of the cases and is significant. On the other hand, carotid stenting and endarterectomy are curative interventions. Nevertheless, these procedures involve a higher risk compared to the medical therapy during the periand postoperative period, as well as 30 days afterwards, due to the occurrence or recurrence of stroke, acute myocardial infarction or death from any cause. Despite this, the use of endarterectomy has shown superior long-term benefits concerning these same outcomes. Thus, evidence regarding the superiority of surgical treatment compared to pharmacological treatment for asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis or stenosis is heterogeneous. However, it seems that surgical treatment, specifically endarterectomy, could have a significant impact on the occurrence or recurrence of ipsilateral stroke and death in the long term but with controversial periand postoperative outcomes.

A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health Admissions: Measuring the Fallout of the Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In this research article, we review the infrequently considered long-term impact of the pandemic on inpatient mental health, by reviewing the clinical parameters of all psychiatric admissions to Mount Carmel Hospital, our region's main psychiatric healthcare facility, from 2019-2021. METHODS: 4292 patients were admitted during the research period of this retrospective longitudinal analysis. Taking 2019 as the pre-COVID reference year, we compared mean monthly admissions from 2020 and 2021, looking at patient demographics, status under the Mental Health Act, diagnosis, and self-injurious behaviour. RESULTS: While the pandemic was reflected in a moderate increase in mean monthly presentations with suicidal ideation and suicidal self-injury, presentations in 2020 otherwise remained largely stable. This contrasted with a surge in presentations in 2021 with mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, personality disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Furthermore, presentations involving self-injurious behaviour continued to grow. Involuntary admissions also increased significantly in 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This paper highlights the pernicious long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health presentations, demonstrated by an increase in hospital admissions and more serious presentations. These findings should be considered in the guidance for responses to any future pandemic, giving attention to the evidence of the impact of restrictive measures on mental health.

Bacteriophage therapy for challenging bacterial infections: achievements, limitations and prospects for future clinical use by veterinary dermatologists.

BACKGROUND: Bacteriophages were discovered just over 100 years ago and have been used to treat bacterial infections in animals since the 1920s. The antimicrobial resistance crisis has led to a new surge of interest in the use of bacteriophage therapy as an alternative or supplement to antimicrobial therapy in humans and other animals. OBJECTIVES: To describe the nature of bacteriophages and provide a critical review and update on the clinical use of bacteriophages in the treatment of challenging bacterial infections, with an emphasis on companion animal veterinary applications. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The scientific literature on the subject was critically evaluated. Findings from the most pertinent papers have been presented in summary form and critiqued. RESULTS: Over the last 20 years there has been a considerable increase in the volume and quality of publications dealing with bacteriophage therapy. Some recent papers build on excellent work published in the 1980s and describe promising veterinary applications. Challenges related particularly to the registration and approval of phage remedies will need to be overcome before phage therapy can become a mainstream tool for use in veterinary settings. Considerably more research, particularly controlled clinical trials, needs to be done. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Bacteriophage therapy is one of the most promising approaches to tackling the looming antimicrobial resistance crisis, yet substantial regulatory challenges will need to be overcome before it enters widespread use. Phage therapy also may, in the future, improve the management of challenging bacterial infections that are not necessarily multidrug-resistant.