Association between family history of malignant neoplasm with colorectal adenomatous polyp in 40s aged relative person

PurposeWe assessed the association between a family history of malignancy and risk of colorectal adenoma among individuals aged 40–49 years.MethodsThe study population consisted of subjects, aged in their 40s, who underwent colonoscopy. Their family histories of cancer were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association between a family history of cancer and the risk of colorectal polyp.ResultsIn total, 2275 participants were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that old age, male sex, current cigarette smoking, BMI > 25 kg/m², and a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) were risk factors for the development of sporadic colorectal adenomatous polyps in these patients. A multivariate analysis showed that a family history of CRC or kidney cancer was associated with adenoma development. A family history of CRC was also a risk factor for advanced and multiple adenoma.ConclusionsThis study shows that a family history of CRC is a risk factor for advanced and multiple colorectal adenoma in people in their 40s. These results support earlier screening for colorectal neoplasms in individuals with a family history of CRC.     

Visual Evoked Response in Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

The diagnostic value of the pattern-evoked response has been assessed in 73 patients referred because of suspected multiple sclerosis. Altogether 52 had delayed responses. Fifty-one patients in the group satisfied McAlpine''s criteria for diagnosing definite, probable, or possible multiple sclerosis. Of these, all but two had delayed responses in one or both eyes, while only three of the remaining 22 patients had delays. In those patients with multiple sclerosis but without any history of optic neuritis the incidence of delayed responses was only slightly less. Of 51 patients with delayed responses 23 had normal discs. Thus subclinical lesions of the visual pathways can be readily detected with this test. The high incidence of abnormal pattern responses, even in patients with no other ocular signs or symptoms, suggests that the test is of value in establishing the diagnosis.     

Doctors and patients don't agree: cross sectional study of patients' and doctors' perceptions and assessments of disability in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the judgments of clinicians on which domains of health in the short form questionnaire (SF-36) would be most important to patients with multiple sclerosis with the opinions of patients themselves; to compare assessment of physical disability in multiple sclerosis by a clinician using Kurtzke''s expanded disability status scale and a non-clinically qualified assistant using the Office of Population Census and Surveys'' (OPCS) disability scale with self assessment of disability and other domains of health related quality of life by patients using the SF-36 and the EuroQol questionnaire; and to compare the scores of patients for each domain of the SF-36 with control data matched for age and sex. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Clinical department of neurology, Edinburgh. SUBJECTS: 42 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis attending a neurology outpatient clinic for review or a neurology ward for rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on the SF-36; EuroQol; Kurtzke''s expanded disability status scale; the OPCS disability scale. RESULTS: Patients and clinicians disagreed on which domains of health status were most important (chi 2 = 21, df = 7, P = 0.003). Patients'' assessment of their physical disability using the physical functioning domain of the SF-36 was highly correlated with the clinicians'' assessment (r = -0.87, P < 0.001) and the non-clinical assessment (r = -0.90, P < 0.001). However, none of the measures of physical disability correlated with overall health related quality of life measured with EuroQol, Quality of life correlated with vitality, general health, and mental health in the SF-36, each of which patients rated as more important than clinicians and for each of which patients scored lower than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multiple sclerosis and possibly those with other chronic diseases are less concerned than their clinicians about physical disability in their illness. Clinical trials in multiple sclerosis should assess the effect of treatment on the other elements of health status that patients consider important, which are also affected by the disease process, are more closely related to overall health related quality of life, and may well be adversely affected by side effects of treatment.     

The appearance of pars planitis in multiple sclerosis

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical association of multiple sclerosis and pars planitis (or intermediate uveitis), as well as to determine the incidence of pars planitis in multiple sclerosis patients. During the period of one year authors examined 42 patients with multiple sclerosis divided into two groups. First group consisted of 23 patients with history of optic neuritis and the second group consisted of 19 patients who have never had optic neuritis. The mean age of patients in the first group was 31.7 +/- 5.1 years and in the second group 29.1 +/- 8.1 years. Pars planitis was found in 12 patients with multiple sclerosis. Age, sex and degree of neurological disability had no influence on the appearance of pars planitis. Although optic neuritis is considered to be the most common ocular manifestation of multiple sclerosis, the significant number of patients with multiple sclerosis has pars planitis.     

老年白内障患者术前焦虑障碍的影响因素分析及对术后干眼症状和视觉相关生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：探讨老年白内障患者术前焦虑障碍的影响因素,并观察术前焦虑障碍对术后干眼症状和视觉相关生活质量的影响。方法：选择2020年12月~2022年5月期间江苏省人民医院眼科收治的老年白内障患者100例作为研究对象。所有患者入院第1天采用状态-特质焦虑问卷（STAI）评估焦虑状况,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析老年白内障患者发生术前焦虑障碍的影响因素,并观察其对术后干眼症状和视觉相关生活质量的影响。结果：本研究100例老年白内障患者中,有46例患者出现术前焦虑障碍,占比46.00%,平均STAI评分为（59.27±3.16）分;有54例未出现术前焦虑障碍,占比54.00%,平均STAI评分为（35.39±5.28）分。根据是否出现术前焦虑障碍将患者分为焦虑障碍组（n=46）和无焦虑障碍组（n=54）。单因素分析显示,老年白内障患者术前焦虑障碍与年龄、性别、文化程度、家庭人均月收入、外科手术史、合并基础疾病种类、是否双眼白内障、付费方式、家庭关系有关（P<0.05）,而与婚姻状况、居住地无关（P>0.05）。年龄为60~69岁、家庭关系差、性别为女、文化程度为小学及以下、无外科手术史、双眼白内障、合并基础疾病种类为2种及以上是老年白内障患者发生术前焦虑障碍的危险因素（P<0.05）。焦虑障碍组术后干眼症状评分高于无焦虑障碍组（P<0.05）。焦虑障碍组社会角色限制、精神健康状态、社交功能、近距离工作、总体视觉情况、远距离工作、周边视野、独立性、一般健康状态、驾驶、色彩视觉、眼痛分值及总分均低于无焦虑障碍组（P<0.05）。结论：年龄、家庭关系、性别、文化程度、外科手术史、双眼白内障、合并基础疾病种类是老年白内障患者术前焦虑障碍的影响因素。老年白内障患者存在术前焦虑障碍可增加术后发生干眼症状的风险,并降低其视觉相关生活质量。     

Serum Mercury Level and Multiple Sclerosis

Exposure to heavy metals has been associated to a higher incidence of multiple sclerosis. In this work, we present a possible relationship between serum mercury levels and development of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, the third largest city in Iran. Seventy-four patients affected by multiple sclerosis were retrieved from multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic in Isfahan, Iran. By matching sex and age, 74 healthy volunteers were chosen as control group. Blood samples were collected and serum mercury content was determined. Serum mercury level in MS patients was significantly higher than controls (9.6 ± 10.17 vs. 5.7 ± 8.6, P = 0.037). Concerning all MS patients, serum mercury value was significantly higher than the mercury concentration founded in control subjects {odd ratio: 2.39 (CI, 1.96–2.94), P = 0.00}. Serum mercury level is higher in MS patients with odd ratio equal to 2.39 compared with healthy individuals. It may reveal that high mercury levels in serum might help MS development in susceptible individuals. More studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm this hypothesis.     

The risk of cancer development in systemic sclerosis: A meta-analysis

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis is a multi-system disorder of connective tissue characterized by Raynaud's phenomenon and fibrosis of various organs. The risk of development of cancer in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been extensively investigated with inconclusive results. To shed some light on the controversy, we conducted a meta-analysis of all published articles linking SSc to the risk of cancer development. Methods: Relevant electronic databases were searched for English-language studies characterizing the association of cancers in patients with SSc. Standardized incidence rate (SIR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) of each study was combined using a fixed/random effect model. Results: A total of seven papers including 7183 SSc patients were identified, of which 7 reported the SIR for lung cancer, 4 for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 4 for hematopoietic cancer and 7 for breast cancer. Compared with the general population, the combined SIR was 3.14 (95% CI: 2.02–4.89), 2.68 (95% CI: 1.58–4.56), 2.57 (95% CI: 1.79–3.68) and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.86–1.38), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed in lung cancer group (Q = 26.13, P < 0.001, I² = 77%). Potential publication bias was absent. Conclusions: This present meta-analysis demonstrated an increased risk of lung, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and hematopoietic cancers among patients with SSc, but not for breast cancer. However, some of the available data were several decades old, and future studies taking new treatment strategies into account are required.     

Characteristics of patients found not to have multiple sclerosis.

Of 400 consecutive patients referred to Dalhousie University''s multiple sclerosis research unit 52 (13%) were found not to have multiple sclerosis. Forty-one (79%) of the patients were female and 11 (21%) were male. About half of the patients had raised the suspicion of multiple sclerosis, and about half had either a medical background or a close association with a patient with the disease. Although in many cases a diagnosis was made at the initial visit, in difficult cases the most effective diagnostic technique was repeated assessment of the patient over a long period. It is important to keep an open mind when assessing patients suspected of having multiple sclerosis and to apply the recognized criteria for diagnosis of the disease.     

Detection of Olfactory Dysfunction Using Olfactory Event Related Potentials in Young Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background

Several studies reported olfactory dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. The estimate of the incidence of olfactory deficits in multiple sclerosis is uncertain; this may arise from different testing methods that may be influenced by patients'' response bias and clinical, demographic and cognitive features.

Aims

To evaluate objectively the olfactory function using Olfactory Event Related Potentials.

Materials and Methods

We tested the olfactory function of 30 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (mean age of 36.03±6.96 years) and of 30 age, sex and smoking–habit matched healthy controls by using olfactory potentials. A selective and controlled stimulation of the olfactory system to elicit the olfactory event related potentials was achieved by a computer-controlled olfactometer linked directly with electroencephalograph. Relationships between olfactory potential results and patients'' clinical characteristics, such as gender, disability status score, disease-modifying therapy, and disease duration, were evaluated.

Results

Seven of 30 patients did not show olfactory event related potentials. Sixteen of remaining 23 patients had a mean value of amplitude significantly lower than control group (p<0.01). The presence/absence of olfactory event related potentials was associated with dichotomous expanded disability status scale (p = 0.0433), as well as inversely correlated with the disease duration (r = −0.3641, p = 0.0479).

Conclusion

Unbiased olfactory dysfunction of different severity found in multiple sclerosis patients suggests an organic impairment which could be related to neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative processes of olfactory networks, supporting the recent findings on neurophysiopathology of disease.     

A case of Kearns–Sayre syndrome with two novel deletions (9.768 and 7.253 kb) of the mtDNA associated with the common deletion in blood leukocytes,buccal mucosa and hair follicles

Kearns–Sayre syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by the emergence before the age of 20 years of progressive external ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy, with other heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Generally, mitochondrial DNA deletions were associated with KSS but the size and position of these deletions differ among patients. This study reported a Tunisian patient with typical features of KSS. Long-range PCR amplification of the mtDNA in different tissues from this patient showed multiple mitochondrial deletions: two novel 9.768 and 7.253 kb deletions spanning respectively nucleotides 6124–15,893 and 8572–15,826 associated with the common 4.977 kb deletion.     

Identity of myelin basic protein from multiple sclerosis and human control brains: discovery of a genetic variant.

Abstract— Myelin basic protein was isolated from the brains of 7 multiple sclerosis and 5 control patients. When acid extracts of the delipidated brains were chromatographed on carboxymethylcellulose at alkaline pH the elution profiles were the same for the two groups of patients. Component I, the most basic species of the protein, from 2 multiple sclerosis and one control brains was fragmented by limited pepsin digestion. Tryptic peptide maps were prepared from the three major products, fragment 1–38, 39–89 plus 45–89 and 90–170. The amino acid compositions of corresponding peptides were identical except for a 50:50 substitution of serine for glycine in tryptic peptide 44–49 from one (N.L.) of the 2 patients with multiple sclerosis. Peptide 44–49. isolated from intact component 1 from the other 6 multiple sclerosis and 5 control brains, did not show this substitution. In both multiple sclerosis and control basic proteins phosphorus was present only in fragment 90–170 of component 3 in the amount of 0.22 mol of phosphorus/mol of protein. These data suggest that there is no difference in either the amino acid sequence or in the modification of basic protein from control and multiple sclerosis patients. The amino acid substitution in patient N.L. represents the first example of a mutation in basic protein.     

The association between sociodemographic,hormonal, tubo-ovarian factors and bacterial count in Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections with infertility

Aim: To determine if there is an association between the Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections with socio-demographic and clinical factors, and also with infertility. Methods: We conducted a study on 100 infertile married women and 100 control group, and collected data on the socio-demographic, hormonal and tubo-ovarian factors. The results of the endocervical swabs were analyzed for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia infection, the bacterial counts were also determined. Results: The percentage positivity to infection was significantly more among the infertile group compared to the control group, and also significantly more among the age group <30 years old. The positivity for infection with Chlamydia and/or Mycoplasma was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion. Further sub-analysis of the infertile group showed that positivity to Chlamydia and/or Mycoplasma infection was significantly correlated to hormonal factors, ovarian factors, irregular menstruation, and previous abortion. Regression analysis showed that hormonal, ovarian factors, and irregular menstruation were the most significant factors in the positivity to Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection. Bacterial count was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion. Conclusion: Infection to Chlamydia and Mycoplasma is associated to younger age (?30 years old), and occurs in the infertile women. There is an interplay between infection in younger women, irregular menstruation, hormonal, and tubo-ovarian factors with infertility. Bacterial count was significantly correlated with age, history of irregular menstruation, and history of previous abortion.     

Fabry Disease – Underestimated in the Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis?

Objective

Fabry disease is a rare X-linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder affecting multiple organ systems. It includes central nervous system involvement via micro- and macroangiopathic cerebral changes. Due to its clinical symptoms and frequent MRI lesions, Fabry disease is commonly misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis. We present an overview of cases from Fabry centres in Germany initially misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis and report the clinical, MR-tomographical, and laboratory findings.

Methods

Eleven Fabry patients (one male, ten females) initially diagnosed with multiple sclerosis were identified from 187 patient records (5.9%) and analyzed for presenting symptoms, results of the initial diagnostic workup, and the clinical course of the disease.

Results

Four patients were identified as having a “possible” history of MS, and 7 patients as “definite” cases of multiple sclerosis (revised McDonald criteria). On average, Fabry disease was diagnosed 8.2 years (±9.8 years) after the MS diagnosis, and 12.8 years after onset of first symptoms (±10.3 years). All patients revealed white matter lesions on MRI. The lesion pattern and results of cerebrospinal fluid examination were inconsistent and non-specific. White matter lesion volumes ranged from 8.9 mL to 34.8 mL (mean 17.8 mL±11.4 mL). There was no association between extra-neurological manifestations or enzyme activity and lesion load.

Conclusion

There are several anamnestic and clinical hints indicating when Fabry disease should be considered a relevant differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, e.g. female patients with asymmetric, confluent white matter lesions on MRI, normal spinal MR imaging, ectatic vertebrobasilar arteries, proteinuria, or lack of intrathecally derived immunoglobulin synthesis.     

Relation between nicotine intake and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE--To study the association between Alzheimer''s disease and nicotine intake through smoking. DESIGN--Population based case-control study. SETTING--City of Rotterdam and four northern provinces of The Netherlands. SUBJECTS--198 patients with early onset Alzheimer''s disease, 198 controls matched for age and sex, and families of 17 patients in whom Alzheimer''s disease was apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Age of onset of dementia, relative risk of Alzheimer''s disease. RESULTS--89 of 193 patients with Alzheimer''s disease had a history of smoking compared with 102 of 195 controls. Among the patients and controls with a family history of dementia, smoking was significantly less common in those with dementia (40/95 with dementia v 55/96 controls; relative risk 0.35; 95% confidence interval 0.16 to 0.78). The risk of Alzheimer''s disease decreased with increasing daily number of cigarettes smoked before onset of disease (relative risk 0.3 in those smoking greater than 21/day v 1 in non-smokers). In six families in which the disease was apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder, the mean age of onset was 4.17 years later in smoking patients than in non-smoking patients from the same family (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest an inverse association between smoking and Alzheimer''s disease, although smoking cannot be advocated for other health reasons. We speculate that nicotine may have a role in the aetiology of both Alzheimer''s disease and Parkinson''s disease.     

Event-related auditory evoked potentials and multiple sclerosis

Long latency event-related auditory evoked potentials, particularly the P300 wave, constitute an objective electrophysiological index of cognitive function. For this reason, these potentials have been studied in a series of 101 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), classified according to McAlpine's criteria into definite, probable and possible cases. The patients were also classified as depressed or non-depressed according to the DSM-III and Research Diagnostic Criteria. They were also subjected to a battery of psychometric tests.In the patient population the N200 and P300 latencies were increased, as were the P200 latencies, when compared with a control population. This electrophysiological pattern had previously been observed in other conditions characterised by subcortical lesions. Partial correlations (at constant disease duration) between the disability score and the cognitive deficit were found to be significant. Patients with an increased P300 latency had a greater disability and the P300 latency was significantly correlated with the duration of the illness.The N200 and P300 latencies were increased in depressed MS subjects, but this increase did not reach the level of significance. Depression was more frequent in the more severely handicapped patients. This suggests that the origin of the depression seen in multiple sclerosis is only partly organic, and that it is one of the factors contributing to the subcortical cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis.Progressive forms of the disease exhibited the most profound cognitive deficit, and the most marked increase in P300 latency.     

Cerebrospinal fluid S-100 protein levels in neurological pathologies

The aim of this paper was to evaluate S-100 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with different neurological disorders, and in subjects with no proven neurological pathology, in order to study possible differences in their protein concentrations. The total number of patient-samples examined was 119 (58 males and 61 females; mean age 35 yrs, 1-79 yrs). Based on the final diagnoses, nine patient groups were studied: a control group, meningitis, acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL), dementia, hydrocephalia, polyneuropathy-motor neuron disease, acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. S-100 protein concentrations were measured by the Sangtec 100 two-site immunoradiometric assay. The highest S-100 levels in CSF were found in the dementia group, ACI group, bacterial-fungal and lymphocytic meningitis groups (Kruskal-Wallis test). The S-100 concentrations in these groups were significantly higher compared with the control group (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05, p<0.01) and the multiple sclerosis group (p<0.05, p<0.01). No other significant differences were found between groups. Our results suggest that the high protein levels in CSF found in these pathologies may reflect the presence of brain damage. However, the levels need to be considered individually, as they depend on several factors, such as age, severity of brain damage or interval between the onset of brain damage and the taking of the sample.     

The Association between Intelligence Scores and Family History of Psychiatric Disorder in Schizophrenia Patients,Their Siblings and Healthy Controls

Background

The degree of intellectual impairment in schizophrenia patients and their relatives has been suggested to be associated with the degree of familial loading for schizophrenia. Since other psychiatric disorders are also more present in relatives of schizophrenia patients, the definition of family history should be broadened. The association between family history for psychiatric disorder and intelligence scores was investigated in patients with non-affective psychosis, their unaffected siblings and controls.

Methods

A sample of 712 schizophrenia proband families (696 patients and 766 siblings) and 427 healthy control families (517 subjects) participated in this study. Family history of psychiatric disorder was determined while excluding the data of the participating schizophrenia patient. A dichotomous division was made between families with no first- or second degree relative with psychiatric disorder and families with one or more affected relatives. Total intelligence scores were estimated by admission of the short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III.

Results

A significant interaction was found between family history of psychiatric disorder and clinical status (F(2,1086.87)= 4.17; p=.016). Patients with a positive family history of psychiatric disorder obtained higher intelligence scores compared to patients with no family history (mean IQ scores are 95.52 and 92.72) with an opposite effect in controls (mean IQ scores are 108.71 and 111.19). No significant difference was found between siblings of schizophrenia patients with or without a positive family history (mean IQ scores are 102.98 and 103.24).

Conclusion

In patients with schizophrenia, a negative family history of psychiatric disorder was associated with relatively low IQ suggesting that the etiology in these patients may involve environmental or genetic factors which are unique to the patient and are not observed in other relatives. Possible factors include severe environmental stressors containing premature birth or brain injury and genetic factors (e.g de novo Copy Number Variants).     

西安市雁塔区育龄女性宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况调查及影响因素分析

摘要 目的：调查西安市雁塔区育龄女性宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况,并分析其影响因素。方法：选取2019年3月~2020年7月期间于我院进行健康体检的育龄期女性1500例作为研究对象,采用我院自制的调查问卷对研究对象个人信息、宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况进行调查。分析西安市雁塔区育龄女性宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况的影响因素。结果：共发放调查问卷1500份,收回合格问卷1491份,合格率为99.40%（1491/1500）。西安市雁塔区育龄女性宫颈癌防治知识总体知晓率为34.14%（509/1491）。将知晓5项及其以上宫颈癌防治知识的受试者509例纳为知晓组,知晓5项以下的982例作为知晓不足组。单因素分析结果显示：两组在文化程度、年龄、宫颈癌家族病史、家庭月收入、居住地、职业、既往生殖病史、接受过宫颈癌知识宣教、5年内体检史方面对比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析发现：家庭月收入<5000元、文化程度为初中及以下、接受过宫颈癌知识宣教、既往生殖病史、5年内体检史均是西安市雁塔区育龄女性宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况的影响因素（P＜0.05）。结论：西安市雁塔区育龄女性具有较低的宫颈癌防治知识总体知晓率,且既往生殖病史、家庭人均月收入、文化程度等均为其宫颈癌防治知识知晓情况影响因素,当地相关部门可结合相关影响因素开展针对性的健康教育,以提高当地育龄女性对宫颈癌防治知识的认知。     

Reduced creatine kinase as a central and peripheral biomarker in Huntington's disease

A major goal of current clinical research in Huntington's disease (HD) has been to identify preclinical and manifest disease biomarkers, as these may improve both diagnosis and the power for therapeutic trials. Although the underlying biochemical alterations and the mechanisms of neuronal degeneration remain unknown, energy metabolism defects in HD have been chronicled for many years. We report that the brain isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-BB), an enzyme important in buffering energy stores, was significantly reduced in presymptomatic and manifest disease in brain and blood buffy coat specimens in HD mice and HD patients. Brain CK-BB levels were significantly reduced in R6/2 mice by ～ 18% to ～ 68% from 21 to 91 days of age, while blood CK-BB levels were decreased by ～ 14% to ～ 44% during the same disease duration. Similar findings in CK-BB levels were observed in the 140 CAG mice from 4 to 12 months of age, but not at the earliest time point, 2 months of age. Consistent with the HD mice, there was a grade-dependent loss of brain CK-BB that worsened with disease severity in HD patients from ～ 28% to ～ 63%, as compared to non-diseased control patients. In addition, CK-BB blood buffy coat levels were significantly reduced in both premanifest and symptomatic HD patients by ～ 23% and ～ 39%, respectively. The correlation of CK-BB as a disease biomarker in both CNS and peripheral tissues from HD mice and HD patients may provide a powerful means to assess disease progression and to predict the potential magnitude of therapeutic benefit in this disorder.     

Factores de riesgo asociados a fallecimiento por la variante ómicron de COVID-19: análisis retrospectivo con personas mayores de Canarias

Background and aimsSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the elderly population has had the highest rates of complications and mortality. This study aimed to determine the influence of different risk factors on deaths due to the Omicron variant in the Canary Islands.Materials and methodsA retrospective observational study of 16,998 cases of COVID-19 over 40 years of age was conducted in the Canary Islands between August 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. We extracted sociodemographic data (age and sex) and clinical data (death, vaccination history, hospital admission, previous diseases, and treatments).ResultsAmong the deaths, there was a higher proportion of males aged over 70 years, with diabetes, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and systemic diseases, and nursing home residents. Significant differences were observed in the number of doses of the vaccine. The multiple regression model showed that male sex (OR [95% CI] = 1.92 [1.42–2.58]), age (70–79 years, 9.11 [4.27–19.43]; 80–89 years, 21.72 [10.40–45.36]; 90–99 years, 66.24 [31.03–141.38]; 100 years or older, 69.22 [12.97–369.33]), being unvaccinated (6.96, [4.01–12.08]), or having the last dose administered at least 12 months before the diagnosis (2.38, [1.48–3.81]) were significantly associated with mortality.ConclusionsMultiple factors may increase the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 in the elderly population. In our study, we found that only three predictors can effectively explain the variability: older age, male sex, and not being vaccinated or last vaccination date prior to one year.