Native ancestry is associated with optic neuritis and age of onset in hispanics with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Objective: Hispanics with multiple sclerosis (MS) present younger and more often with optic neuritis (ON) as compared to Whites in the western United States. Regional differences related to Hispanic genetic admixture could be responsible. We investigated the association between global genetic ancestry and ON and age at onset of MS in Hispanics.

Infants with congenital nephrotic syndrome have comparable outcomes to infants with other renal diseases.

Background: Children with congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) commonly develop end stage renal failure in infancy and require dialysis, but little is known about the complications and outcomes of dialysis in these children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case note review across members of the European Society for Pediatric Nephrology Dialysis Working Group to evaluate dialysis management, complications of dialysis, and outcomes in children with CNS.

Results: Eighty children (50% male) with CNS were identified form 17 centers over a 6-year period.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein for the early diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage: Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

Background And Aims: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has shown promise in several studies for its ability to diagnose intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of blood GFAP level to differentiate (ICH) from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and stroke mimics, both overall, and in the first three hours after symptom onset.

Methods: We searched multiple databases, without language restriction, from inception until December 2017.

Circulating cell-free DNA is a predictor of short-term neurological outcome in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been described as a prognostic marker for several diseases. Its prognostic value for short-term outcome in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis remains unexplored. cfDNA was measured on admission in 54 tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-treated patients and 15 healthy controls using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.

Ligand-dependent Hedgehog pathway activation in Rhabdomyosarcoma: the oncogenic role of the ligands.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children. The Hedgehog (HH) pathway is known to develop an oncogenic role in RMS. However, the molecular mechanism that drives activation of the pathway in RMS is not well understood.

Life-threatening and life-saving inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks.

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead dislodgement into the right atrium is a dangerous situation, particularly in patients in atrial fibrillation because atrial fibrillation can be sensed as ventricular fibrillation and true ventricular fibrillation induced with an inappropriate shock. In the presence of shocks, ICD interrogation should be performed as soon as possible.

Predictors of acute inefficacy and the radiofrequency energy time required for cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter ablation.

Purpose: Although cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (CTI-AFL) ablation is a highly efficacious treatment, a bidirectional CTI block cannot be achieved in some patients. In this study, we sought to determine the predictors of acute inefficacy of CTI-AFL ablation and the predictors of the radiofrequency (RF) energy time required to achieve a complete bidirectional CTI block.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent stand-alone CTI-AFL ablation in our institution, except patients with congenital heart disease, were included in this retrospective study.

The impact of post-stroke complications on in-hospital mortality depends on stroke severity.

Introduction: Controversies remain on whether post-stroke complications represent an independent predictor of poor outcome or just a reflection of stroke severity. We aimed to identify which post-stroke complications have the highest impact on in-hospital mortality by using machine learning techniques. Secondary aim was identification of patient's subgroups in which complications have the highest impact.

Randomised clinical trial: the analgesic properties of dietary supplementation with palmitoylethanolamide and polydatin in irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Intestinal immune activation is involved in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pathophysiology. While most dietary approaches in IBS involve food avoidance, there are fewer indications on food supplementation. Palmithoylethanolamide, structurally related to the endocannabinoid anandamide, and polydatin are dietary compounds which act synergistically to reduce mast cell activation.

Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in mono- and HIV-coinfected patients with recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplant.

Unlabelled:  Background and aims. Pegylated interferon (Peg-INF) and ribavirin (RBV) based therapy is suboptimal and poorly tolerated. We evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a 24-week course of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir without ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in both HCV-monoinfected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV coinfected patients.

Ultrasound functional evaluation of fetuses with myelomeningocele: study of the interpretation of results.

Objective: To assess the reliability of the interpretation of a new technique for the ultrasound evaluation of the level of neurological lesion in fetuses with myelomeningocele.

Methods: Observational study including myelomeningocele fetuses, referred to our center for the sonographic assessment of the fetal lower-limb movements, made and recorded by an expert in Maternal-fetal medicine and a specialist in Rehabilitation. Two observers, with different levels of expertise and blinded to each other's results, interpreted each recorded scan two different times.

Modification of cervical length after cervical pessary insertion: correlation weeks of gestation.

Objectives: To observe the modifications in cervical length (CL) in patients with and without cervical pessary (Arabin® ASQ 65/25/32) and correlate these modifications with gestational age at delivery.

Study Design: Prospective study of asymptomatic singleton pregnancies (PECEP-Trial) between weeks 20 + 0 and 23 + 6 with maternal short cervix (<25 mm) randomised into two groups: expectant management and cervical pessary.

Results: This study included 380 pregnant women: 190 with pessary and 190 without pessary.

Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents Living with HIV.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. It is well known that the prevalence of metabolic disorders have increased in pediatric HIV-infected children. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and characteristics of MetS in HIV-infected children and adolescents in Spain.

The quantitative lung index and the prediction of survival in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Introduction: The lung-to-head ratio (LHR) is routinely used to select the best candidates for prenatal surgery and to follow-up the fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since this index is gestation-dependent, the quantitative lung index (QLI) was proposed as an alternative parameter that stays constant throughout pregnancy. Our objective was to study the performance of QLI to predict survival in fetuses with CDH.

Beneficial Effects of an Integrated Psychostimulation Program in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The existing pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) can only slow the progression of symptoms or delay admission to long-term care facilities. The beneficial effects of non-drug treatments are poorly studied.

Objective: To describe the effects of an Integrated Psychostimulation Program (IPP) in patients with mild-moderate AD treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; and to identify factors related to greater benefit of the IPP.

Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Visceral Pain: Implications in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Visceral pain is a term describing pain originating from the internal organs of the body and is a common feature of many disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress is implicated in the development and exacerbation of many visceral pain disorders. Recent evidence suggests that stress and the gut microbiota can interact through complementary or opposing factors to influence visceral nociceptive behaviours.

Protein-Based Classifier to Predict Conversion from Clinically Isolated Syndrome to Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. In most patients, the disease initiates with an episode of neurological disturbance referred to as clinically isolated syndrome, but not all patients with this syndrome develop multiple sclerosis over time, and currently, there is no clinical test that can conclusively establish whether a patient with a clinically isolated syndrome will eventually develop clinically defined multiple sclerosis. Here, we took advantage of the capabilities of targeted mass spectrometry to establish a diagnostic molecular classifier with high sensitivity and specificity able to differentiate between clinically isolated syndrome patients with a high and a low risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

Prevalence of ADHD in nonpsychotic adult psychiatric care (ADPSYC): A multinational cross-sectional study in Europe.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of ADHD in adult psychiatric outpatients in several European countries.

Method: ADHD diagnosis was made using the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults, version 2.

[Current role of protatic specific antigen (PSA) and its by-products in the diagnosis of prostate cancer].

Incorporation of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) to clinical practice was a revolution in the diagnosis and modified the epidemiology of prostate cancer (PCa). Although it lacks of many characteristics of an ideal tumor marker, it is the marker most used for diagnosis and follow up of any kind of cancer. It represents the best clinical tool we have available today for screening and staging of PCa.

Impact of transplant eligibility and availability of a human leukocyte antigen-identical matched related donor on outcome of older patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) in elderly patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unclear. We conducted a prospective study including 110 homogeneously treated patients with ALL aged 50-70 years. Their outcomes were analyzed by intention-to-treat on a donor-versus-no donor basis.

A registry-based study of non-Aspergillus mould infections in recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Highly infectious diseases (HIDs) are defined as being transmissible from person to person, causing life-threatening illnesses and presenting a serious public health hazard. In most European Union member states specialized isolation facilities are responsible for the management of such cases. Ground ambulances are often affiliated with those facilities because rapid relocation of patients is most desirable.

Altered FoF1 ATP synthase and susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition pore during ischaemia and reperfusion in aging cardiomyocytes.

Aging is a major determinant of the incidence and severity of ischaemic heart disease. Preclinical information suggests the existence of intrinsic cellular alterations that contribute to ischaemic susceptibility in senescent myocardium, by mechanisms not well established. We investigated the role of altered mitochondrial function in the adverse effect of aging.