Selection of disease modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis based on patient's age and disease activity: Data from a nationwide registry.

Background: Knowledge of the safety and efficacy of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in older patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) is limited due to their exclusion from clinical trials. Our purpose is to evaluate the choice of DMTs in pwMS older than 50 years old in a real-world setting.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of pwMS from the Argentine MS and NMOSD Registry.

High-throughput anaerobic screening for identifying compounds acting against gut bacteria in monocultures or communities.

The human gut microbiome is a key contributor to health, and its perturbations are linked to many diseases. Small-molecule xenobiotics such as drugs, chemical pollutants and food additives can alter the microbiota composition and are now recognized as one of the main factors underlying microbiome diversity. Mapping the effects of such compounds on the gut microbiome is challenging because of the complexity of the community, anaerobic growth requirements of individual species and the large number of interactions that need to be quantitatively assessed.

Contemporary practice and perception of autologous blood salvage in hepato-pancreatico-biliary operations: an international survey.

Background: This study aimed to assess contemporary knowledge, attitudes and behaviors around transfusion of intraoperative salvaged blood (sRBCt) during hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) operations. Findings are meant to inform the design of future studies that address provider concerns to change behaviors and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: A survey was designed and assessed for relevance, readability and content, and distributed to an international audience of surgeons performing HPB operations.

Occurrence and genetic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli on bovine and pork carcasses and the environment from transport trucks.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne pathogens causing severe diseases. The ability of STEC to produce disease is associated with Shiga toxin (Stx) production. We investigated the occurrence of STEC on bovine and pork carcasses and walls of trucks where they were transported, and we characterized virulence genes and serotypes of STEC strains.

Disease activity after discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies in patients with multiple sclerosis in Argentina: data from the nationwide registry RelevarEM.

Introduction: The discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is commonly seen in real-world settings due to several factors.

Area Cover: The aim of this study is to describe the frequency of disease activity after discontinuation of DMTs in MS patients included in the Argentinean MS and NMOSD registry.

Discusion: Patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS) were included based on the following criteria: they discontinued treatment for more than 6 months, they had been treated with a DMT for ≥2 years, and they had at least 6 months of follow-up in the registry after discontinuation.

Clinical and demographic characteristics of male MS patients included in the national registry-RelevarEM. Does sex or phenotype make the difference in the association with poor prognosis?

Background: In multiple sclerosis demographics there is a well-known female prevalence and male patients have been less specifically evaluated in clinical studies, though some clinical differences have been reported between sexes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess clinical and demographic differences between male and female patients included in the national Argentine MS Registry-RelevarEM.

Material And Methods: This study was observational, retrospective, and was based on the data of 3099 MS patients included as of 04 April 2021.

Aggressive multiple sclerosis in Argentina: Data from the nationwide registry RelevarEM.

Unlabelled: The objectives of the present study were to describe the frequency of aggressive multiple sclerosis (aMS) as well as to compare clinical and radiological characteristics in aMS and non-aMS patients included in RelevarEM (NCT03375177).

Methods: The eligible study population and cohort selection included adult-onset patients (≥18 years) with definite MS. AMS were defined as those reaching confirmed EDSS ≥ 6 within 5 years from symptom onset.

Absence of latitudinal gradient in oligoclonal bands prevalence in Argentina.

Background: Like MS prevalence, oligoclonal bands (OCB) frequency seems to follow a latitudinal gradient. Argentina is extensive, latitude-wise, and previous studies have not found an MS prevalence latitudinal gradient. Our aim is to describe OCB prevalence in MS, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) patients included in the Argentinean MS and NMOSD registry (RelevarEM) and to investigate if it follows a latitudinal gradient.

High birth weight and risk of multiple sclerosis: A multicentre study in Argentina.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is now recognized as a multifactorial disease in which genetic and environmental factors intervene. Considerable efforts have been made to identify external risk factors present in childhood, adolescence and youth, though only a few perinatal risk factors have been positively associated with MS. Previously, we found an association between high birth weight and MS in male patients in a small study in Argentina.

Laparoscopic Liver Resection: A South American Experience with 2887 Cases.

Background: Laparoscopic liver resections (LLR) have been increasingly performed in recent years. Most of the available evidence, however, comes from specialized centers in Asia, Europe and USA. Data from South America are limited and based on single-center experiences.

Detection of β-Lactamase-Producing and Vancomycin-Resistant Isolates in Human Invasive Infections in the Public Hospital of Tandil, Argentina.

The study's aim was to analyze the population structure of enterococci causing human invasive infections in a medium-sized Argentinian Hospital coincidental with a 5 year-period of increased recovery of antibiotic resistant enterococci (2010-2014). Species identification (biochemical testing/MALDI-TOF-MS), antimicrobial susceptibility (disk-diffusion) and clonal relatedness (PFGE/MLST/BAPS) were determined according to standard guidelines. β-lactamase production was determined by a nitrocefin test and confirmed by PCR/sequencing.

Multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Argentina: comparing baseline data from the Argentinean MS Registry (RelevarEM).

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to describe and compare the baseline epidemiological data of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients included in RelevarEM (Clinical Trials registry number NCT03375177).

Methods: RelevarEM is a longitudinal, strictly observational MS and NMOSD registry in Argentina. Epidemiological and comorbidity data from MS and NMOSD patients were described and compared.

Consensus recommendations on the management of multiple sclerosis patients in Argentina.

Introduction: During the last 20 years, multiple sclerosis (MS) disease has seen major changes with new diagnostic criteria, a better identification of disease phenotypes, individualization of disease prognosis and the appearance of new therapeutic options in relapsing remitting as well as progressive MS. As a result, the management of MS patients has become more complex and challenging. The objective of these consensus recommendations was to review how the disease should be managed in Argentina to improve long-term outcomes in MS patients.

Detection of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infection by using extracts derived from a protoscoleces G1 cell line.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) can be diagnosed by means of several serological approaches, but their results vary among laboratories due to the molecular characteristics of the reference antigens used. Thus, this study aimed to address both the relevance of an EGPE cell line previously obtained from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces G1 and the complexity of the immune response by using two different in vitro growth stages as separate sources of parasite antigens. The serum reactivity was investigated by western blotting (WB) in 21 CE patients from an endemic area in a matched case-control design and also in seven experimentally infected sheep and five healthy control sheep.

The Argentinean multiple sclerosis registry (RelevarEM): Methodological aspects and directions.

Despite that different registries already exist in various countries in Europe and North America, no ongoing nationwide registry exists in Latin America (LATAM), a region where the disease behaves differently than in other regions. The objective of this document is to describe the methodology behind RelevarEM, the first nationwide MS registry in Argentina and LATAM. METHODS: In this article, we described the creation, implementation and data management of the nationwide MS registry in Argentina.

Review of the cardiovascular safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and the clinical relevance of the CAROLINA trial.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) is a well-recognized complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and there is a clinical need for glucose-lowering therapies that do not further increase CV risk in this population. Although sulfonylureas (SUs) may be used as second-line therapy for patients requiring additional therapy after first-line metformin to improve glycemic control, their long-term effects on CV outcomes remain uncertain, and a wide range of alternative agents exist including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.

Methods: Literature searches in PubMed (2013-2018) were conducted with terms for DPP-4 inhibitors combined with CV terms, with preference given to cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs).

Work disability in Argentinian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is prevalent and it is due to ethnic, socioeconomic and disease-related factors.

Objective: To study the prevalence and the associated factors of work disability (WD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: A sample of 419 SLE patients from an observational cross-sectional multicenter study was included. Sociodemographic features, disease characteristics, comorbidities, quality of life, unhealthy behaviors, and work-related factors were measured in a standardized interview.

Argentinean recommendations on the identification of treatment failure in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

Unlabelled: One of the biggest challenges in multiple sclerosis (MS) is the definition of treatment response/failure in order to optimize treatment decisions in affected patients. The objective of this consensus was to review how disease activity should be assessed and to propose recommendations on the identification of treatment failure in RRMS patients in Argentina.

Methods: A panel of experts in neurology from Argentina, dedicated to the diagnosis and care of MS patients, gathered both virtually and in person during 2016 and 2017 to carry out a consensus recommendation on the identification of treatment failure in RRMS patients.

Throat Carriage Rate and Antimicrobial Resistance of In Rural Children in Argentina.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GAS) in children living in a rural community and to investigate the association between episodes of acute pharyngitis and carrier status.

Methods: Throat swabs were collected from September to November 2013 among children 5-13 years of age from a rural community (Maria Ignacia-Vela, Argentina). The phenotypic characterization of isolates was performed by conventional tests.

First-Ever Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Incidence and 30-Day Case-Fatality Rates in a Population-Based Study in Argentina.

Background And Purpose: Epidemiological data about stroke are scarce in low- and middle-income Latin-American countries. We investigated annual incidence of first-ever stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 30-day case-fatality rates in a population-based setting in Tandil, Argentina.

Methods: We prospectively identified all first-ever stroke and TIA cases from overlapping sources between January 5, 2013, and April 30, 2015, in Tandil, Argentina.

Circulating miR-200c and miR-141 and outcomes in patients with breast cancer.

Background: The deregulation of microRNAs in both tumours and blood has led to the search for microRNAs to indicate the presence of cancer and predict prognosis. We hypothesize the deregulation of miR-200c/miR-141 in the whole blood can identify breast cancer (BC), and could be developed into a prognostic signature.

Methods: The expression of miR-200c and miR-141 were examined in bloods (57 stage I-IV BC patients and 20 age-matched controls) by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR.

Acute cardiotoxicity evaluation of the marine biotoxins OA, DTX-1 and YTX.

Phycotoxins are marine toxins produced by phytoplankton that can get accumulated in filter feeding shellfish. Human intoxication episodes occur due to contaminated seafood consumption. Okadaic acid (OA) and dynophysistoxins (DTXs) are phycotoxins responsible for a severe gastrointestinal syndrome called diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP).