Efectividad del Método de Fijación, Elongación y Desrotación sobre la escoliosis idiopática adolescente.

Pregunta clínica: ¿Es más efectivo el Método de Fijación, Elongación y Desrotación (FED) que la órtesis Chênau en pacientes con escoliosis idiopática adolescente en la disminución de los grados de la curva? Objetivo: Valorar la efectividad del método FED comparada con la órtesis en pacientes con escoliosis idiopática adolescente. Se realiza un estudio experimental de tipo ensayo clínico aleatorio controlado y de ciego único. Se llevará a cabo durante el año 2015, la muestra está formada por adolescentes de entre 11 y 17 años diagnosticados de escoliosis idiopática adolescente que se dividen en dos grupos de manera aleatoria. El grupo control recibe como intervención la aplicación de una órtesis, el corset de Chênau. El grupo experimental recibe como intervención el método FED. La intervención se lleva a cabo durante un año y se realizan tres valoraciones, una al inicio, otra a los seis meses y otra al finalizar, a los 12 meses.

Telerehabilitació en pacients amb accidents cerebrovascular: revisió bibliogràfica.

L’ ictus és una alteració brusca de la circulació de la sang al cervell, sent la segona causa de mort al món i la primera en discapacitat. Objectius. Examinar si la telerehabilitació i la realitat virtual poden millorar l'estat físic i psíquic dels pacients amb accident cerebrovascular i avaluar l’impacte en les activitats de la vida diària. Conclusió. Els resultats indiquen que la fisioteràpia convencional i un programa combinat de telerehabilitació o realitat virtual amb fisioteràpia, milloren les capacitats físiques dels pacients, no obstant, el tractament combinat obté millores significativament superiors al tractament convencional. La tecnologia en l’àmbit de la rehabilitació pot ser una alternativa segura per promoure la recuperació motora després d'un accident cerebrovascular.

Efecto de las diferentes duraciones de tratamiento en la terapia de movimiento inducido por restricción: Revisión bibliográfica.

Pregunta de revisión: ¿Son más eficientes las diferentes duraciones del tratamiento y de frecuencia de la terapia de movimiento inducido por restricción (TIMR) en los resultados de la actividad y de participación en los pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular crónico? Objetivo: Examinar el efecto de diferentes duraciones de tratamiento de la TIMR y la terapia de movimiento inducido por restricción modificada (TIMRm) sobre la actividad y la participación de los pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular crónico. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en MEDLINE, CINAHL, OTSeeker, Scopus, Cochrane plus, La Biblioteca Cohrane y por búsqueda manual. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: ensayos controlados aleatorios (ECA) o cuasi-ECA con participantes de más de 18 años, accidente cerebrovascular crónico y TIMR o TIMRm en comparación con otras intervenciones. Resultados: La búsqueda final resultó en 10 ECA publicados entre 2003 y 2013. La calidad de los estudios varió en la puntuación (6-9) según la escala de PEDro. La práctica de la TIMR de 50-60 horas durante 2 semanas produjo una mejor movilidad, con evidencia moderada-alta, en comparación al tratamiento control. La TIMR durante 30 horas en tres semanas, 90 horas durante tres semanas y 15-30 horas durante 10 semanas mejora la movilidad de la extremidad superior afectada. Conclusión: La TIMR durante 30 horas en tres semanas demostró ser eficaz y eficiente en la movilidad de la mano afectada, pero se necesitan más estudios para conocer los protocolos de tratamiento óptimas para la TIMR.

El Tai-Txi com a eina de prevenció de caigudes en la tercera edat: una proposta d'intervenció.

Hipòtesi: El treball de l’equilibri estàtic que ens permet la pràctica regular del Tai-txi, pot ser un mètode eficaç per a reduir les caigudes en gent d’edat avançada. Objectius: Determinar si la pràctica del Tai-txi ofereix avantatges en quant a la prevenció de caigudes en la població d’edat avançada en comparació amb un tractament de fisioteràpia convencional. Metodologia: Es durà a terme un estudi aleatori controlat (RCT) amb 45 voluntaris provinents de Lleida i rodalies, i de diferents geriàtrics i hospitals de Lleida i que hagin sofert almenys un episodi de caiguda en el darrer any, que tinguin 65 anys o més i que no necessitin ajuda per caminar. Com a criteris d’exclusió es consideraran aquells subjectes que presentessin malalties degeneratives, problemes vestibulars, problemes cardiovasculars o alteracions neurològiques. Aquests participants estaran distribuïts de manera aleatòria en dos grups; l’experimental que realitzarà les sessions de Tai-txi, i el control que seguirà un programa de fisioteràpia convencional. La intervenció durarà un semestre, amb una freqüència de 3 sessions/setmana d’una hora de durada. Les sessions d’ambdós grups seguiran el mateix esquema: escalfament, cos de la sessió (formes de Tai-txi o exercicis) i tornada a la calma. Els participants de l’estudi passaran revisió mensualment i se’ls revaluarà amb diferents testos i escales: Test de Tinetti tant en l’apartat d’equilibri dinàmic com estàtic, recompte del número de caigudes anotades en una llibreta, The Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) per a obtenir informació sobre la por a caure, el qüestionari SERVQUAL per a la satisfacció, i lectura dels folis d’auto-registre. Després s’avaluaran els resultats i es presentaran les conclusions extretes i les línies de futur.

Estudio sobre la eficacia de la educación y los ejercicios terapéuticos en el tratamiento del síndrome subacromial.

OBJETIVO: Valorar la eficacia de la educación y los ejercicios terapéuticos en el síndrome subacromial. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se realizará un estudio en sujetos diagnosticados de síndrome subacromial entre 35 y 70 años de edad, derivados al servicio de rehabilitación del Hospital Santa Maria de Lleida. Ensayo controlado aleatorio, con muestreo consecutivo de duración de 6 meses. El programa de intervención con un periodo de duración de 3 semanas, estará compuesto por un grupo control que permanecerá en lista de espera y dos grupos experimentales; el grupo de educación (B), que se les aplicará ejercicios educativos y de prevención durante 4 sesiones de 30 minutos. Y el grupo de ejercicios terapéuticos (C); que realizará ejercicios de movilizaciones y estabilización del hombro, fortalecimiento del manguito de los rotadores y estiramientos, 15 sesiones de 60 minutos .El objetivo de la educación y los ejercicios es disminuir el dolor, restaurar la funcionalidad del hombro y mejorar la calidad de vida. Los criterios de valoración se efectuarán al iniciar y al finalizar el tratamiento mediante; un cuestionario que incluirá variables sociodemográficas y de la patología del síndrome subacromial, el cuestionario DASH, la escala de Constant –Murley y la EVA.

Eficàcia de la imitació, teràpia que activa les neurones mirall, en la rehabilitació de persones que han patit un ACV.

L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és avaluar l’eficàcia de la teràpia d’imitació, basada en l’activació de les neurones mirall, per augmentar la funcionalitat de l’extremitat superior parètica i millorar la qualitat de vida dels pacients que presenten un accident cerebrovascular a través d’un assaig clínic controlat aleatoritzat. Es crea un grup experimental ( teràpia imitació més teràpia fisioteràpia convencional) i un grup control ( teràpia fisioteràpia convencional) que duran a terme un tractament de 13 setmanes. Per a comprovar els resultats es realitzaran sis avaluacions ( primer dia, sis setmanes, tretze setmanes, sis mesos i al cap d’un any) a través de les següents escales: Medical Research Council (MRC) per la força, Action Research Arm test (ARAT) per la motricitat de la mà, l’índex de Barthel per al grau d’independència de les activitats bàsiques de la vida diària, l’índex de Lawton i Brody pel grau d’independència de les activitats instrumentals de la vida diària i el SF-36 per la qualitat de vida.

Wine, beer, alcohol and polyphenols on cardiovascular disease and cancer

Abstract: Since ancient times, people have attributed a variety of health benefits to moderate consumption of fermented beverages such as wine and beer, often without any scientific basis. There is evidence that excessive or binge alcohol consumption is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as with work related and traffic accidents. On the contrary, at the moment, several epidemiological studies have suggested that moderate consumption of alcohol reduces overall mortality, mainly from coronary diseases. However, there are discrepancies regarding the specific effects of different types of beverages (wine, beer and spirits) on the cardiovascular system and cancer, and also whether the possible protective effects of alcoholic beverages are due to their alcoholic content (ethanol) or to their non-alcoholic components (mainly polyphenols). Epidemiological and clinical studies have pointed out that regular and moderate wine consumption (one to two glasses a day) is associated with decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, including colon, basal cell, ovarian, and prostate carcinoma. Moderate beer consumption has also been associated with these effects, but to a lesser degree, probably because of beer"s lower phenolic content. These health benefits have mainly been attributed to an increase in antioxidant capacity, changes in lipid profiles, and the anti-inflammatory effects produced by these alcoholic beverages. This review summarizes the main protective effects on the cardiovascular system and cancer resulting from moderate wine and beer intake due mainly to their common components, alcohol and polyphenols.

Effect of cocoa powder in the prevention of cardiovascular disease: biological, consumption and inflammatory biomarkers. A metabolomic approach

Numerous health benefits have been attributed to cocoa and its derived products in the last decade including antioxidant, anti-platelet and positive effects on lipid metabolism and vascular function. Inflammation plays a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, cocoa feeding trials focused on inflammation are still rare and the results yielded are controversial. Health effects derived from cocoa consumption have been partly attributed to its polyphenol content, in particular of flavanols. Bioavailability is a key issue for cocoa polyphenols in order to be able to exert their biological activities. In the case of flavanols, bioavailability is strongly influenced by several factors, such as their degree of polymerization and the food matrix in which the polyphenols are delivered. Furthermore, gut has become an active site for the metabolism of procyanidins (oligomeric and polymeric flavanols). Estimation of polyphenol consumption or exposure is also a very challenging task in Food and Nutrition Science in order to correlate the intake of phytochemicals with in vivo health effects. In the area of nutrition, modern analytical techniques based on mass spectrometry are leading to considerable advances in targeted metabolite analysis and particularly in Metabolomics or global metabolite analysis. In this chapter we have summarized the most relevant results of our recent research on the bioavailability of cocoa polyphenols in humans and the effect of the matrix in which cocoa polyphenols are delivered considering both targeted analysis and a metabolomic approach. Furthermore, we have also summarized the effect of long-term consumption of cocoa powder in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis.

Evaluation of a revision of the BSPcast decision support system for control of brown spot of pear

Control of brown spot of pear requires fungicide treatments of pear trees during the growing season. Scheduling fungicide sprays with the Brown spot of pear forecasting system (BSPcast) provides significantfungicide savings but does not increase the efficacy of disease control. Modifications in BSPcast wereintroduced in order to increase system performance. The changes consisted of: (1) the use of a daily infectionrisk (Rm≥0.2) instead of the 3-day cumulative risk (CR≥0.4) to guide the fungicide scheduling, and (2) theinclusion of the effect of relative humidity during interrupted wetness periods. Trials were performed during2 years in an experimental pear orchard in Spain. The modifications introduced did not result in increaseddisease control efficacy, compared with the original BSPcast system. In one year, no reduction in the numberof fungicide applications was obtained using the modified BSPcast system in comparison to the original system, but in the second year the number of treatments was reduced from 15 to 13. The original BSPcast model overestimated the daily infection risk in 6.5% of days with wetness periods with low relative humidity during the wetness interruption, and in these cases the modified version was more adequate

Probiotic Sonicates Selectively Induce Mucosal Immune Cells Apoptosis Through Ceramide Generation Via Neutral Sphingolyelinase.

Background: Probiotics appear to be beneficial in inflammatory bowel disease, but their mechanism of action is incompletely understood. We investigated whether probiotic-derived sphingomyelinase mediates this beneficial effect. Methodology/Principal Findings: Neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase) activity was measured in sonicates of the probiotic L.brevis (LB)and S. thermophilus (ST) and the non-probiotic E. coli EC) and E. faecalis (EF). Lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) were obtained from patients with Crohn"s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy volunteers, analysing LPMC and PBMC apoptosis susceptibility, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and JNK activation. In some experiments, sonicates were preincubated with GSH or GW4869, a specific NSMase inhibitor. NSMase activity of LB and ST was 10-fold that of EC and EF sonicates. LB and ST sonicates induced significantly more apoptosis of CD and UC than control LPMC, whereas EC and EF sonicates failed to induce apoptosis. Pre-stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 induced a significant and time-dependent increase in LB-induced apoptosis of LPMC and PBMC. Exposure to LB sonicates resulted in JNK activation and ROS production by LPMC. NSMase activity of LB sonicates was completely abrogated by GW4869, causing a dose-dependent reduction of LB -induced poptosis. LB and ST selectively induced immune cell apoptosis, an effect dependent on the degree of cell activation and mediated by bacterial NSMase. Conclusions: These results suggest that induction of immune cell apoptosis is a mechanism of action of some probiotics and that NSMase-mediated ceramide generation contributes to the therapeutic effects of probiotics.

High-throughput sequence analysis of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) transcriptome using 454-pyrosequencing for the discovery of antiviral immune genes

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) is an important aquacultural resource both in Europe and Asia. However, there is little information on gene sequences available in public databases. Currently, one of the main problems affecting the culture of this flatfish is mortality due to several pathogens, especially viral diseases which are not treatable. In order to identify new genes involved in immune defense, we conducted 454-pyrosequencing of the turbot transcriptome after different immune stimulations.

Generic utilities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients stratified according to different staging systems.

Background To determine generic utilities for Spanish chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients stratified by different classifications: GOLD 2007, GOLD 2013, GesEPOC 2012 and BODEx index. Methods Multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study. Patients were aged ≥40 years, with spirometrically confirmed COPD. Utility values were derived from EQ-5D-3 L. Means, standard deviations (SD), medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) were computed based on the different classifications. Differences in median utilities between groups were assessed by non-parametric tests. Results 346 patients were included, of which 85.5% were male with a mean age of 67.9 (SD = 9.7) years and a mean duration of COPD of 7.6 (SD = 5.8) years; 80.3% were ex-smokers and the mean smoking history was 54.2 (SD = 33.2) pack-years. Median utilities (IQR) by GOLD 2007 were 0.87 (0.22) for moderate; 0.80 (0.26) for severe and 0.67 (0.42) for very-severe patients (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Median utilities by GOLD 2013 were group A: 1.0 (0.09); group B: 0.87 (0.13); group C: 1.0 (0.16); group D: 0.74 (0.29); comparisons were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except A vs C. Median utilities by GesEPOC phenotypes were 0.84 (0.33) for non exacerbator; 0.80 (0.26) for COPD-asthma overlap; 0.71 (0.62) for exacerbator with emphysema; 0.72 (0.57) for exacerbator with chronic bronchitis (p < 0.001). Comparisons between patients with or without exacerbations and between patients with COPD-asthma overlap and exacerbator with chronic bronchitis were statistically-significant (p < 0.001). Median utilities by BODEx index were: group 02: 0.89 (0.20); group 34: 0.80 (0.27); group 56: 0.67 (0.29); group 79: 0.41 (0.31). All comparisons were significant (p < 0.001) except between groups 34 and 56. Conclusion Irrespective of the classification used utilities were associated to disease severity. Some clinical phenotypes were associated with worse utilities, probably related to a higher frequency of exacerbations. GOLD 2007 guidelines and BODEx index better discriminated patients with a worse health status than GOLD 2013 guidelines, while GOLD 2013 guidelines were better able to identify a smaller group of patients with the best health.

A short screener is valid for assessing mediterranean diet adherence among older spanish men and women

Ensuring the accuracy of dietary assessment instruments is paramount for interpreting diet-disease relationships. The present study assessed the relative and construct validity of the 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) used in the Prevencio´n con Dieta Mediterra´nea (PREDIMED) study, a primary prevention nutrition-intervention trial. A validated FFQ and the MEDAS were administered to 7146 participants of the PREDIMED study. The MEDASderived PREDIMED score correlated significantly with the corresponding FFQ PREDIMED score (r = 0.52; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.51) and in the anticipated directions with the dietary intakes reported on the FFQ. Using Bland Altman"s analysis, the average MEDAS Mediterranean diet score estimate was 105% of the FFQ PREDIMED score estimate. Limits of agreement ranged between 57 and 153%. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that a higher PREDIMED score related directly (P , 0.001) to HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and inversely (P , 0.038) to BMI, waist circumference, TG, the TG:HDL-C ratio, fasting glucose, and the cholesterol:HDL-C ratio. The 10-y estimated coronary artery disease risk decreased as the PREDIMED score increased (P , 0.001). The MEDAS is a valid instrument for rapid estimation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and may be useful in clinical practice.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

The mediterranean diet pattern and its main components are associated with lower plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor receptor 60 in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease

Adherence to aMediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. However, themolecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. The aim of this studywas to compare the effects of 2MD with those of a lowfat- diet (LFD) on circulating inflammatory biomarkers related to atherogenesis. A total of 516 participants included in the PreventionwithMediterraneanDiet Studywere randomized into 3 intervention groups [MD supplementedwith virgin olive oil (MD-VOO); MD supplemented with mixed nuts (MD-Nuts); and LFD]. At baseline and after 1 y, participants completed FFQ and adherence to MD questionnaires, and plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers including intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), IL-6, and 2 TNF receptors (TNFR60 and TNFR80) were measured by ELISA. At 1 y, the MD groups had lower plasma concentrations of IL-6, TNFR60, and TNFR80 (P , 0.05), whereas ICAM-1, TNFR60, and TNFR80 concentrations increased in the LFD group (P , 0.002). Due to between-group differences, participants in the 2 MD groups had lower plasma concentrations of ICAM-1, IL-6, TNFR60, and TNFR80 compared to those in the LFD group (P # 0.028). When participants were categorized in tertiles of 1-y changes in the consumption of selected foods, those in the highest tertile of virgin olive oil (VOO) and vegetable consumption had a lower plasma TNFR60 concentration compared with those in tertile 1 (P,0.02).Moreover, the only changes in consumption thatwere associated with 1-y changes in the geometricmean TNFR60 concentrations were those of VOO and vegetables (P = 0.01). This study suggests that a MD reduces TNFR concentrations in patients at high cardiovascular risk.