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Introduction: Stroke patients have a high risk of presenting complications, the appearance of which can condition the prognosis of the stroke. We studied the frequency and impact of the onset of several different complications on the early and mid-term prognosis of these patients., Patients and Methods: We conducted an observation-based study of the patients admitted to a stroke unit. The complications that occurred while hospitalised were recorded, a distinction being drawn between neurological and medical complications. The study examined their influence, according to the subtype of stroke, on intra-hospital mortality and that at 90 days, as well as on the functional situation at 90 days, by analysing the clinical factors that are predictive for the appearance of complications., Results: The sample consisted of 847 patients. Altogether, 29.5% of the patients presented complications, which were more frequent in haemorrhagic stroke (50.5% versus 26.6%; p < 0.0001). The most usual complications were of a neurological nature (21%). For both subtypes, the presence of complications was associated with a higher rate of mortality both in hospital (2.1% versus 12.6%; p < 0.0001) and at 90 days (5.7% versus 29.6%; p < 0.0001), and a lower probability of independence at 90 days (72.9% versus 30.4%; p < 0.0001). The severity of the stroke on admission revealed itself as the most powerful predictor of the onset of any type of complication., Conclusions: The appearance of complications during the acute phase of the stroke has an adverse influence on mortality and on the functional prognosis. The identification of predictive factors could reduce the impact upon the progress of acute stroke patients.

Objective: Patients with acute stroke are more likely to survive and achieve independence if they are treated in a stroke unit. Available information in our setting is scarce. We analyse the outcomes of our patients on the basis of cumulative experience in a stroke unit., Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a stroke unit. We differentiate between two groups according to the year of admission: group A (July 2007-December 2009) and group B (January 2010-December 2011), analysing early outcome based on the score on the National Institute of Health stroke scale and mortality at discharge, and medium-term outcome in terms of mortality and functional status according to the modified Rankin scale at three months., Results: A total 1070 patients were included. There were no differences between groups with respect to favourable outcome (68.3% vs 63.9), hospital mortality (5.1% vs 6.6%), or 90-day mortality (12.8% vs 13.1%). The percentage of patients who were independent at 90 days was greater in group B (56.3% vs 65.5%, P=.03). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for stroke subtype and fibrinolytic therapy, the association between patient independence and admission period remained present., Conclusions: The probability of functional independence in our patients increased alongside accumulated experience in our stroke unit with no differences in mortality., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Type 1 neurofibromatosis is the most common neurocutaneous syndrome. Most published case series study the paediatric population., Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study of cases of type 1 neurofibromatosis from neurology departments that were recorded in a database. We analysed the different clinical variables providing the diagnosis as well as demographic and neuroradiological variables., Results: We found a total of 31 patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis. The mean age was 28.9 years and 58.4% were women. Subjects with unidentified bright objects (UBOs) were younger than those without them (22.45±8.22 years vs. 32.5±10.64; P=.011). In contrast, subjects with neurofibromas were older than those without them (30.56±10.68 years vs. 18.25±4.34; P=.032). No sex differences were found in the presentation of clinical or radiological variables. Seven patients (22.6%) had tumours; 3 were optic pathway gliomas (1 bilateral), 3 were plexiform neurofibromas, and 1 was a pilocytic astrocytoma in the brainstem., Conclusions: Patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis presented both peripheral neurofibromas and tumorous lesions of the central nervous system. Subjects with neurofibromas were older than those who did not present them, while subjects with UBOs were younger than those without such lesions., (Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

In the present study we assessed the prevalence of sensitizations to Blomia in our environment. Perennial climatological conditions in the Canarian Islands facilitates the habitat to mites. The Blomia is found in tropical and subtropical homes of Europe, USA and Asia like the Dermatophagoides. We have designed a transversal and prospective study on 100 patients who consulted our Unit for the first time. A Prick-test for the common allergens, including Blomia Kulagini, and in vitro determination of total and specific IgE to Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus and Farinae, was performed in those patients showing the same or higher levels than class 3 CAP System RAST-Fesa against Blomia Tropicalis. Results achieved in our environment and our patients are the following: 1. Prevalence of sensitizations to BK in patients who consult for the first time is 50%. 2. The specific IgE immunologic response to BK is 56% (45 patients). 3. Scarce correlation in the papule areas and specific IgE levels between BT and DTP (p = 0.22020); BT and DFA (p = 0.09063). Table VI. Fig. I and II. 4. These results and previous studies of allergenization suggest poor crossed reactivity between Blomia and Dermatophagoides. 5. We think that Blomia is a new etilogic agent of the allergic respiratory disorders in our environment and therefore it should be included in the standard set of allergens from a diagnostic and therapeutical point of view. We keep studying its identification and count in dust samples from our homes, as well as the crossed reactivity, by RAST inhibition, with other acari.

To assess the immunoclinical effectiveness of a biological response immunomodulator, we used AM3 (glycophosphopeptide ), a glucomannan polysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of a strain of Candida utilis, in 20 children with asthmatic bronchitis. They received 2 envelopes (1 g) daily for 4 months. The results were compared with a control group of 20 untreated children with the same pathology. The following clinical and immunological parameters were assessed in all of them: cough, dyspnea, expectoration, frequency and intensity of the bronchospasm, time of administration of the symptomatic medication, and the delayed cutaneous cells response by means of the intradermal reaction of 5 antigens (Trichophyton, Candida albicans, tuberculin, E. coli and bacterial antigens). In the treated group, the immunoferon (AM3) reduced the symptoms, the intensity and frequency of the bronchospasm, and the symptomatic medication (table I, II and III). In basal conditions, the 40 children presented a state of 75% anergy; after 4 months of treatment, the treated group experienced a 45% decrease in their anergic situation, variation which was statistically significant when compared with the control group. In our 20 treated patients, AM3 behaved like and immunostimulant, improving the clinical situation and progress in patients with infectious respiratory disorders. We consider that the immunoferon constitutes a coadjuvant therapy to bacterial immunotherapy.