Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profile of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Catalonia, Spain, 2016-2019.

Antimicrobial resistance data for Neisseria gonorrhoeae is globally sparse and resistant strains are emerging in Catalonia. We aim to describe epidemiological and antimicrobial resistance in all patients infected with N. gonorrhoeae during the period from 2016 to 2019, using available antimicrobial susceptibility data.

Dystonia phenomenology and treatment response in migraine.

Objective: To describe the phenomenology of cervical dystonia (CD) in patients with migraine and the effect of its treatment on migraine frequency.

Background: Preliminary studies demonstrate that treatment of CD with botulinum toxin in those with migraine can improve both conditions. However, the phenomenology of CD in the setting of migraine has not been formally described.

The Impact of Mobile Technology-Delivered Interventions on Youth Well-being: Systematic Review and 3-Level Meta-analysis.

Background: Rates of mental health problems among youth are high and rising, whereas treatment seeking in this population remains low. Technology-delivered interventions (TDIs) appear to be promising avenues for broadening the reach of evidence-based interventions for youth well-being. However, to date, meta-analytic reviews on youth samples have primarily been limited to computer and internet interventions, whereas meta-analytic evidence on mobile TDIs (mTDIs), largely comprising mobile apps for smartphones and tablets, have primarily focused on adult samples.

Finding Silver Linings: A Mixed Methods Analysis of COVID-19's Challenges and Opportunities for College Students' Functioning and Outlook.

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students' lives. A mixed methods approach, analyzing open- and closed-ended questions about challenges and opportunities, reveals numerous ways in which the pandemic has impacted students in general and differentially by gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and family income. Cisgender male and heterosexual students generally reported less of a mental health impact from the pandemic.

Structured headache services as the solution to the ill-health burden of headache: 1. Rationale and description.

In countries where headache services exist at all, their focus is usually on specialist (tertiary) care. This is clinically and economically inappropriate: most headache disorders can effectively and more efficiently (and at lower cost) be treated in educationally supported primary care. At the same time, compartmentalizing divisions between primary, secondary and tertiary care in many health-care systems create multiple inefficiencies, confronting patients attempting to navigate these levels (the "patient journey") with perplexing obstacles.

The development of a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee in a neurology department and residency program.

Background: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been described in different academic and graduate medical education settings, but not specifically in neurology.

Objective: To describe the development of a DEI committee within a neurology department and training program.

Methods: The need to prioritize DEI as a critical focus within our neurology department led to the appointment of an initial task force who identified strategic priorities and stakeholders to establish a committee.

Factors Associated With, and Mitigation Strategies for, Health Care Disparities Faced by Patients With Headache Disorders.

Objective: To review contemporary issues of health care disparities in headache medicine with regard to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and geography and propose solutions for addressing these disparities.

Methods: An Internet and PubMed search was performed and literature was reviewed for key concepts underpinning disparities in headache medicine. Content was refined to areas most salient to our goal of informing the provision of equitable care in headache treatment through discussions with a group of 16 experts from a range of headache subspecialties.

Indirect effects of paediatric conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in older adults.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the indirect effect of paediatric 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) vaccination on people ≥65 years of age with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Catalonia and to determine factors predictive of mortality.

Methods: During 2014-2016, 1285 IPD cases were reported to the Public Health Agency of Catalonia. The indirect effect of paediatric PCV13 vaccination was calculated by comparing the incidence rate (IR) in 2016 (PCV13 year) with that in 2009 (pre-PCV13).

The changing epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease after PCV13 vaccination in a country with intermediate vaccination coverage.

Background: We studied the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and serotype distribution in a region with intermediate levels of vaccination (around 64% in children aged <2 years).

Methods: Surveillance data on IPD cases reported by microbiologists participating in the Microbiological Reporting System of Catalonia during 2006-2014 were analysed. We compared estimated incidence rate (IR) ratios for serotypes included in PCV7, PCV10non7, PCV13non10 and non-PCV13 between the PCV7 (2006-2009) and PCV13 periods (2010-2014).

Migraine Care Challenges and Strategies in US Uninsured and Underinsured Adults: A Narrative Review, Part 2.

Objective: To review the challenges and potential solutions in treatment options for quality migraine care in adult patients who are under or uninsured.

Background: The Affordable Care Act has improved access to health care for many; however, those who are underserved continue to face treatment disparities and have inadequate access to appropriate migraine management.

Methods: This manuscript is the second of a 2-part narrative review which was performed after a series of discussions within the Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine Special Interest Section meetings of the American Headache Society.

Blocking of an intronic splicing silencer completely rescues IKBKAP exon 20 splicing in familial dysautonomia patient cells.

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a severe genetic disorder causing sensory and autonomic dysfunction. It is predominantly caused by a c.2204+6T>C mutation in the IKBKAP gene.

Migraine Care Challenges and Strategies in US Uninsured and Underinsured Adults: A Narrative Review, Part 1.

Objective: To review the scope of the problem facing individuals with migraine who are under- or uninsured. In this first of a 2-part narrative review, we will explore migraine epidemiology and the challenges that face this vulnerable population.

Background: Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has improved access to health care for many individuals who were previously uninsured, but there are many, particularly those of certain demographics, who are at high risk for worse outcomes.

Migraine in Women.

Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting women disproportionally at a rate of 3:1. Prior to puberty, boys and girls are equally affected, but the female preponderance emerges after puberty. Migraine pathophysiology is not fully understood, and although the hormonal effect of estrogen is significant, other factors are at play.

Serological survey of hepatitis B immunity in healthcare workers in Catalonia (Spain).

Healthcare workers (HCW) are exposed to preventable infectious diseases, notably hepatitis B (HB). The aim of this study was to determine the immunity of HCW against hepatitis B. We made a seroprevalence study using a self-administered survey and obtained blood samples.

RNA-sequencing of a mouse-model of spinal muscular atrophy reveals tissue-wide changes in splicing of U12-dependent introns.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by insufficient levels of the Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. SMN is expressed ubiquitously and functions in RNA processing pathways that include trafficking of mRNA and assembly of snRNP complexes. Importantly, SMA severity is correlated with decreased snRNP assembly activity.

Invasive pneumococcal disease rates linked to meteorological factors and respiratory virus circulation (Catalonia, 2006-2012).

Background: To study the impact of meteorological data and respiratory viral infections on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) rates.

Methods: We analysed all notifications of IPD and respiratory viral infections to the Microbiological Reporting System of Catalonia (2006-2012). Correlations between rates of IPD and viral infections (influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] and adenovirus), and meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, hours of sunshine, wind speed and number of days with rainfall) were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and negative binomial regression models.

Epidemiology of Acute Gastroenteritis Outbreaks Caused by Human Calicivirus (Norovirus and Sapovirus) in Catalonia: A Two Year Prospective Study, 2010-2011.

Background: The epidemiology of cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) of viral etiology is a relevant public health issue. Due to underreporting, the study of outbreaks is an accepted approach to investigate their epidemiology. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of AGE outbreaks due to norovirus (NoV) and sapovirus (SV) in Catalonia.

Economic costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis due to norovirus in Catalonia (Spain), 2010-2011.

Background: To determine the direct and indirect costs of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis (AVG) due to norovirus in closed institutions (hospitals, social health centers or nursing homes) and the community in Catalonia in 2010-11.

Methods: Information on outbreaks were gathered from the reports made by epidemiological surveillance units. Direct costs (medical visits, hospital stays, drug treatment, sample processing, transport, diagnostic tests, monitoring and control of the outbreaks investigated) and indirect costs (lost productivity due to work absenteeism, caregivers time and working hours lost due to medical visits) were calculated.

Characteristics of pertussis outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain, 1997 to 2010.

In Catalonia, pertussis outbreaks must be reported to the Department of Health. This study analyzed pertussis outbreaks between 1997 and 2010 in general and according to the characteristics of the index cases. The outbreak rate, hospitalization rate and incidence of associated cases and their 95%CI were calculated.

Changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis A outbreaks 13 years after the introduction of a mass vaccination program.

A hepatitis A+B vaccine vaccination program of 12-year-olds was introduced in Catalonia in 1998. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of hepatitis A outbreaks in Catalonia and estimate the preventable fraction of cases associated with outbreaks as a measure of the impact of the vaccination program. Hepatitis A outbreaks reported to the Health Department between 1991 and 2012 were analyzed.

Varicella-zoster virus immunity among health care workers in Catalonia.

Objective: To determine varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunity among healthcare workers (HCWs). Cross-sectional study.

Participants: HCWs attending voluntary periodic health examinations between June 2008 and December 2010.

Absence of an intron splicing silencer in porcine Smn1 intron 7 confers immunity to the exon skipping mutation in human SMN2.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is caused by homozygous loss of SMN1. All patients retain at least one copy of SMN2 which produces an identical protein but at lower levels due to a silent mutation in exon 7 which results in predominant exclusion of the exon. Therapies targeting the splicing of SMN2 exon 7 have been in development for several years, and their efficacy has been measured using either in vitro cellular assays or in vivo small animal models such as mice.