Predictors of sexual activity and function in women and men with multiple sclerosis - a preliminary study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine predictors of sexual activity and function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Material And Methods: A total of 134 MS patients were included in the study. Sexual activity and function were assessed by the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ).

Usefulness of bioelectrical impedance analysis in multiple sclerosis patients-the interrelationship to the body mass index.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have many potential factors (disease duration, spasticity, immobilization, or glucocorticoid use) that can deteriorate their nutritional status and impact both the progression and prognosis of the disease. Body mass index (BMI), the most widely used nutritional status assessment tool, has important limitations because it does not provide any data on body composition.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the interrelationship between nutritional status assessment by both body mass index (BMI) and body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and the consistency of diagnosis for underweight/underfat, normal weight/healthy, overweight/overfat, and obesity/obese MS patients.

Fosfomycin-induced agranulocytosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: The intravenous form of fosfomycin, a bactericide antibiotic used to treat multiresistant bacterial infections is little prescribed. The most common reported adverse effects are hypokaliemia and hypernatremia. We describe a case of agranulocytosis, a rarely described side effect that may be fatal.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Obese Children Is Associated with Some Metabolic Syndrome Components, but Not with Metabolic Syndrome Itself.

Vitamin D deficiency in children is a common nutritional issue in many populations worldwide, associated not only with skeletal malformations but, as recent studies suggest, also with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this observational study was to assess the nutritional status of vitamin D in a group of Polish children with obesity and different grades of metabolic syndrome, with a consequent analysis of the correlation between vitamin D levels and the components of metabolic syndrome. For that purpose, the group of 78 participants (mean age: 14.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Disorder (ARFID), Food Neophobia, Other Eating-Related Behaviours and Feeding Practices among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and in Non-Clinical Sample: A Preliminary Study.

Previous research shows that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience several difficulties-including those related to eating-and this area of research needs to be explored further. This study had two main objectives: (1) comparison of the clinical (autism spectrum disorder) and non-clinical sample of children in terms of avoidant/restrictive food disorder, food neophobia, other eating-related behaviours and feeding practices; (2) assessment of selected predictors of food neophobia. The final sample included 54 children and parents from the clinical sample (ASD) and 51 from the non-clinical sample.

Suboptimal exposure to fluconazole in critically ill patients: Pharmacokinetic analysis and determinants.

Objectives: This study aims at evaluating fluconazole exposure in critically ill patients and identifying variables associated with the latter.

Patients And Methods: This was a 2-year (2018-2019) retrospective multicenter cohort study. Adult patients > 18 years-old with at least one fluconazole concentration measurement during their ICU stay were included.

Body Composition in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Its Relationship to the Disability Level, Disease Duration and Glucocorticoid Therapy.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have many potential factors (spasticity, immobilization, glucocorticoids use) for the deterioration of body composition. Aim: To assess the nutritional status (by classical anthropometry and by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)) in MS patients and to correlate it with clinical state, MS duration time and the presence of glucocorticoid therapy in anamnesis (ever used). Methods: Anthropometrical (BMI and waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-height ratio (W/HtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) and body composition (BIA) data were evaluated in 176 patients with MS.

Beta-lactam dosing during continuous renal replacement therapy: a survey of practices in french intensive care units.

Background: Little information is available on current practice in beta-lactam dosing during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Optimized dosing is essential for improving outcomes, and there is no consensus on the appropriate dose regimens. The objective of the present study was to describe current practice for beta-lactam dosing during CRRT in intensive care units (ICUs).

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antibiotic Drugs in Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy or Intermittent Hemodialysis: A Critical Review.

Purpose: Antibiotics are frequently used in patients receiving intermittent or continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT). Continuous renal replacement may alter the pharmacokinetics (PK) and the ability to achieve PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) could help evaluate drug exposure and guide antibiotic dosage adjustment.

[Pharmacokinetic modifications and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic optimization of beta-lactams in ICU].

Pharmacokinetic modifications in critically ill patients and those induced by ICU therapeutics raise a lot of issues about antibiotic dose adaptation. Beta-lactams are anti-infectious widely used in ICU. Frequent beta-lactam underdoses induce a risk of therapeutic failure potentially lethal and of emergence of bacterial resistance.

The role of the critical care pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 4 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the emergence of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China due to a new coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2. A few weeks later, hospitals had to put in place a series of drastic measures to deal with the massive influx of suspected COVID-19 (COronaroVIrus Disease) patients while securing regular patient care, in particular in the intensive care units (ICU). Since March 12th, 77 of the 685 COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital required hospitalization in the ICU.

Association between Bone Turnover Markers, Leptin, and Nutritional Status in Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS).

The link between scoliotic deformity and bone metabolism in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has not been well researched. Moreover, the data concerning the cross-talk between fat tissue content/hormonal activity and bone markers in this group of patients are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess whether there exists a significant relationship between the severity of AIS and bone turnover markers and leptin levels.

[COVID-19, management, therapeutic and vaccine approaches].

While at the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic was spreading at tremendous speed, many scientific teams set to work around the world. The management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections is based on experimental non-specific (symptomatic) or specific (curative) treatments. The vaccine will be the key to long-term immunization.

Functional Mobility and Basic Motor Skills in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Its Relation to the Anthropometrical Status and Body Composition Parameters.

: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have many potential risk factors (spasticity, immobilization, glucocorticoids use) which can deteriorate the anthropometrical status and body composition and may have a potential negative impact on functional mobility and basic motor skill improvement after physiotherapy. The aim of the study was to assess the functional mobility and basic motor skills in patients with MS and to correlate them with disability and anthropometrical status and body composition parameters. : Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG) and six-min walk test (6MWT) were performed in 36 patients with MS before and after 4 weeks of physiotherapy.

Conservative management strategies and stress level in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the stress level in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) treated conservatively using the Dobosiewicz Method (DoboMed) approach in correlation with the clinical parameters and brace therapy.

Methods: The study group (SG) comprised 63 patients (54 girls), in mean age 14.7 years.

Association of Body Composition with Curve Severity in Children and Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis (IS).

The link between scoliotic deformity and body composition assessed with bioimpedance (BIA) has not been well researched. The objective of this study was to correlate the extent of scoliotic-curve severity with the anthropometrical status of patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) based on standard anthropometric measurements and BIA. The study encompassed 279 IS patients (224 girls/55 boys), aged 14.

Evaluation of nutritional status of children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study.

Background: Body composition changes during childhood and adolescence. It is markedly different in children with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of patients with IS based on standard anthropometric indices and bioimpedance measurements (BIA).

[Parkinsonism-ALS-dementia complex: case report].

We are presenting a case of Parkinson-ALS-Dementia complex in 53 years old male. Outstanding bulbar signs with muscular atrophy of tongue, muscular atrophy of shoulder girdle together with massive fasciculations (myoclonus type descending from spinal cord) have been observed. Clear Parkinson's syndrome coexisted--bradykinesia, rigidity with cogwheel resistance, "masking" of the face, disturbances of body balance and significant vegetative signs.

[Generalized choreic involuntary movements in the course of stroke: case report].

Involuntary movements are rare ischemic stroke complication. Hemichorea, hemibalism and dystonia cases were described, especially during haemorrhage into basal ganglia and thalamus. The case of 73 years old woman is presented who was admitted to our Clinic cause of sudden choreatic involuntary movements occurrence within axial muscles and limbs.

Effects of low fat diets varying in P/S ratio on nutrient intakes, fecal excretion, blood chemistry profiles, and fatty acids of adult men.

Twenty-three apparently healthy volunteers aged 35 to 60 years consumed closely monitored self-selected (SS) diets for five weeks followed by two low fat controlled diets (25% energy) for two six-week periods followed by another five-week SS diet. The two low fat diets, fed in a crossover design to one-half of the subjects per controlled diet period, had a polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) fat ratio of either 0.3 or 1.

Moderate changes in linoleate intake do not influence the systemic production of E prostaglandins.

A pilot study was undertaken to determine if moderate changes in linoleate (18:2 omega 6) intake would modulate the prostaglandin E turnover concurrently with, or independently of, changes in the plasma prostaglandin (PG) precursor levels. Four adult male volunteers in good health were fed two controlled diets containing 35% of energy from fat, with either 10 (diet L) or 30 g (diet H) linoleate/day, 30 to 50 g saturated fatty acids/day, and the balance mainly monounsaturated fatty acids. All four subjects were consuming sufficient amounts of polyunsaturates before the study.

Variations in plasma fatty acid concentrations during a one-year self-selected dietary intake study.

A group of healthy volunteers, maintaining their usual lifestyle, was monitored as to their nutrient intake for a period of 1 yr. Diet records were kept daily and blood samples were collected at even intervals five times during the year. Plasma fatty acid levels were analyzed to determine any sex, age, or seasonal variations or if the plasma fatty acid levels could be correlated to dietary fat intake.

Effect of dietary fat on the fluidity of platelet membranes.

Dietary fat type was reflected in the phospholipid fatty acid composition of the plasma membrane of rabbit platelets and apparently controlled the fluidity of these membranes. Rabbits were maintained for 6 months on diets that varied in stearic and polyunsaturated fatty acids and thus had different potentials for thrombosis. Microviscosities at 37 C, calculated from the arisotropy of fluorescence from the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, were 3.