Efficacy of Three Low-Intensity, Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Primary care is a major access point for the initial treatment of depression, but the management of these patients is far from optimal. The lack of time in primary care is one of the major difficulties for the delivery of evidence-based psychotherapy. During the last decade, research has focused on the development of brief psychotherapy and cost-effective internet-based interventions mostly based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Very little research has focused on alternative methods of treatment for depression using CBT. Thus, there is a need for research into other therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 3 low-intensity, internet-based psychological interventions (healthy lifestyle psychoeducational program [HLP], focused program on positive affect promotion [PAPP], and brief intervention based on mindfulness [MP]) compared with a control condition (improved treatment as usual [iTAU]). METHODS: A multicenter, 4-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted between March 2015 and March 2016, with a follow-up of 12 months. In total, 221 adults with mild or moderate major depression were recruited in primary care settings from 3 Spanish regions. Patients were randomly distributed to iTAU (n=57), HLP (n=54), PAPP (n=56), and MP (n=54). All patients received iTAU from their general practitioners. The main outcome was the Spanish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) from pretreatment (time 1) to posttreatment (time 2) and up to 6 (time 3) and 12 (time 4) months'' follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the visual analog scale of the EuroQol, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). We conducted regression models to estimate outcome differences along study stages. RESULTS: A moderate decrease was detected in PHQ-9 scores from HLP (ß=-3.05; P=.01) and MP (ß=-3.00; P=.01) compared with iTAU at posttreatment. There were significant differences between all intervention groups and iTAU in physical SF-12 scores at 6 months after treatment. Regarding well-being, MP and PAPP reported better PHI results than iTAU at 6 months post treatment. PAPP intervention significantly decreased PANAS negative affect scores compared with iTAU 12 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The low-intensity, internet-based psychological interventions (HLP and MP) for the treatment of depression in primary care are more effective than iTAU at posttreatment. Moreover, all low-intensity psychological interventions are also effective in improving medium- and long-term quality of life. PAPP is effective for improving health-related quality of life, negative affect, and well-being in patients with depression. Nevertheless, it is important to examine possible reasons that could be implicated for PAPP not being effective in reducing depressive symptomatology; in addition, more research is still needed to assess the cost-effectiveness analysis of these interventions

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in clinical practice: Hepatitis C virus patients with advanced fibrosis

AIM: To evaluates the effectiveness and safety of the first generation, NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PIs) in clinical practice against chronic C virus, especially in patients with advanced fibrosis. METHODS: Prospective study and non-experimental analysis of a multicentre cohort of 38 Spanish hospitals that includes patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1, treatment-nai¨ve (TN) or treatment-experienced (TE), who underwent triple therapy with the first generation NS3/4A protease inhibitors, boceprevir (BOC) and telaprevir (TVR), in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patients were treatment in routine practice settings. Data on the study population and on adverse clinical and virologic effects were compiled during the treatment period and during follow up. RESULTS: One thousand and fifty seven patients were included, 405 (38%) were treated with BOC and 652 (62%) with TVR. Of this total, 30% (n = 319) were TN and the remaining were TE: 28% (n = 298) relapsers, 12% (n = 123) partial responders (PR), 25% (n = 260) null-responders (NR) and for 5% (n = 57) with prior response unknown. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) by intention-to-treatment (ITT) was greater in those treated with TVR (65%) than in those treated with BOC (52%) (P < 0.0001), whereas by modified intention-to-treatment (mITT) no were found significant differences. By degree of fibrosis, 56% of patients were F4 and the highest SVR rates were recorded in the non-F4 patients, both TN and TE. In the analysis by groups, the TN patients treated with TVR by ITT showed a higher SVR (P = 0.005). However, by mITT there were no significant differences between BOC and TVR. In the multivariate analysis by mITT, the significant SVR factors were relapsers, IL28B CC and non-F4; the type of treatment (BOC or TVR) was not significant. The lowest SVR values were presented by the F4-NR patients, treated with BOC (46%) or with TVR (45%). 28% of the patients interrupted the treatment, mainly by non-viral response (51%): this outcome was more frequent in the TE than in the TN patients (57% vs 40%, P = 0.01). With respect to severe haematological disorders, neutropaenia was more likely to affect the patients treated with BOC (33% vs 20%, P = 0.0001), and thrombocytopaenia and anaemia, the F4 patients (P = 0.000, P = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a real clinical practice setting with a high proportion of patients with advanced fibrosis, effectiveness of first-generation PIs was high except for NR patients, with similar SVR rates being achieved by BOC and TVR

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Relevancia del síndrome piramidal en la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica

Resumen: Introducción: Los signos piramidales (hiperreflexia, espasticidad, signo de Babinski) son fundamentales para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Sin embargo, no siempre están presentes al comienzo, pueden variar con el tiempo y es controvertido su papel en la evolución. El objetivo del estudio es describir qué signos piramidales están presentes inicialmente y cómo evolucionan en una cohorte de pacientes con ELA, así como su papel pronóstico. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de pacientes recogidos de manera prospectiva, diagnosticados de ELA en nuestro centro, desde 1990 hasta 2015. Resultados: Del total de 130 pacientes con ELA, 34 (26,1%) no presentaron inicialmente ningún signo piramidal, mientras que 15 (11,5%) presentaban un síndrome piramidal completo. De aquellos pacientes sin piramidalismo inicial, la mediana de aparición de los primeros signos fue de 4,5 meses. El signo de Babinski estaba presente en 64 (49,2%), la hiperreflexia en 90 (69,2%) y en 22 (16,9%) pacientes existía espasticidad. Los signos piramidales tendían a mantenerse inalterados en el tiempo, aunque existe un porcentaje de pacientes en el que aparecen tardíamente o desaparecen con el tiempo.No se encontró asociación entre supervivencia y la presencia o modificación de signos piramidales, aunque la disminución de la espasticidad se asociaba a mayor deterioro clínico (escala ALSFR) (p < 0,001). Conclusión: Una cuarta parte de pacientes con ELA no presentaron inicialmente ningún signo piramidal y, en algunos casos, estos desaparecen con el tiempo. Esto resalta la necesidad de la inclusión de herramientas para la valoración de la vía piramidal. Abstract: Introduction: Pyramidal signs (hyperreflexia, spasticity, Babinski sign) are essential for the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, these signs are not always present at onset and may vary over time, besides which their role in disease evolution is controversial. Our goal was to describe which pyramidal signs were present and how they evolved in a cohort of patients with ALS, as well as their role in prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patients diagnosed with ALS in our centre from 1990 to 2015. Results: Of a total of 130 patients with ALS, 34 (26.1%) patients showed no pyramidal signs at the first visit while 15 (11.5%) had a complete pyramidal syndrome. Of those patients without initial pyramidal signs, mean time of appearance of the first signs was 4.5 months. Babinski sign was positive in 64 (49.2%) patients, hyperreflexia in 90 (69.2%) and 22 (16.9%) patients had spasticity. Pyramidal signs tended to remain unchanged over time, although they seem to appear at later stages or even disappear with time in some patients.We found no association between survival and the presence of changes to pyramidal signs, although decreased spasticity was associated with greater clinical deterioration (ALSFR scale) (P<.001). Conclusion: A quarter of patients with ALS initially showed no pyramidal signs and in some cases they even disappear over time. These data support the need for tools that assess the pyramidal tract. Palabras clave: Signos piramidales, Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica, Babinski, Hiperreflexia, Espasticidad, Hipertonía, Keywords: Pyramidal signs, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Babinski sign, Hyperreflexia, Spasticity, Hypertoni

Relevance of the pyramidal syndrome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction: Pyramidal signs (hyperreflexia, spasticity, Babinski sign) are essential for the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, these signs are not always present at onset and may vary over time, besides which their role in disease evolution is controversial. Our goal was to describe which pyramidal signs were present and how they evolved in a cohort of patients with ALS, as well as their role in prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patients diagnosed with ALS in our centre from 1990 to 2015. Results: Of a total of 130 patients with ALS, 34 (26.1%) patients showed no pyramidal signs at the first visit while 15 (11.5%) had a complete pyramidal syndrome. Of those patients without initial pyramidal signs, mean time of appearance of the first signs was 4.5 months. Babinski sign was positive in 64 (49.2%) patients, hyperreflexia in 90 (69.2%) and 22 (16.9%) patients had spasticity. Pyramidal signs tended to remain unchanged over time, although they seem to appear at later stages or even disappear with time in some patients.We found no association between survival and the presence of changes to pyramidal signs, although decreased spasticity was associated with greater clinical deterioration (ALSFR scale) (P < .001). Conclusion: A quarter of patients with ALS initially showed no pyramidal signs and in some cases they even disappear over time. These data support the need for tools that assess the pyramidal tract. Resumen: Introducción: Los signos piramidales (hiperreflexia, espasticidad, signo de Babinski) son fundamentales para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Sin embargo, no siempre están presentes al comienzo, pueden variar con el tiempo y es controvertido su papel en la evolución. El objetivo del estudio es describir qué signos piramidales están presentes inicialmente y cómo evolucionan en una cohorte de pacientes con ELA, así como su papel pronóstico. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de pacientes recogidos de manera prospectiva, diagnosticados de ELA en nuestro centro, desde 1990 hasta 2015. Resultados: Del total de 130 pacientes con ELA, 34 (26,1%) no presentaron inicialmente ningún signo piramidal, mientras que 15 (11,5%) presentaban un síndrome piramidal completo. De aquellos pacientes sin piramidalismo inicial, la mediana de aparición de los primeros signos fue de 4,5 meses. El signo de Babinski estaba presente en 64 (49,2%), la hiperreflexia en 90 (69,2%) y en 22 (16,9%) pacientes existía espasticidad. Los signos piramidales tendían a mantenerse inalterados en el tiempo, aunque existe un porcentaje de pacientes en el que aparecen tardíamente o desaparecen con el tiempo.No se encontró asociación entre supervivencia y la presencia o modificación de signos piramidales, aunque la disminución de la espasticidad se asociaba a mayor deterioro clínico (escala ALSFR) (p < 0,001). Conclusión: Una cuarta parte de pacientes con ELA no presentaron inicialmente ningún signo piramidal y, en algunos casos, estos desaparecen con el tiempo. Esto resalta la necesidad de la inclusión de herramientas para la valoración de la vía piramidal. Keywords: Pyramidal signs, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Babinski sign, Hyperreflexia, Spasticity, Hypertonia, Palabras clave: Signos piramidales, Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica, Babinski, Hiperreflexia, Espasticidad, Hipertoní

Associations Between the Modified Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population

Background: Helping consumers to improve the nutritional quality of their diet is a key public health action to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The modified version of the Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index (FSAm-NPS DI) underpinning the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label has been used in public health strategies to address the deleterious consequences of poor diets. This study aimed to assess the association between the FSAm-NPS DI and some CVD risk factors including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, plasma glucose levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up using a 143-item validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices based on FSAm-NPS applied at an individual level were computed to characterize the diet quality of 5,921 participants aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from the PREDIMED-plus cohort. Associations between the FSAm-NPS DI and CVD risk factors were assessed using linear regression models. Results: Compared to participants with a higher nutritional quality of diet (measured by a lower FSAm-NPS DI at baseline or a decrease in FSAm-NPS DI after 1 year), those participants with a lower nutritional quality of diet (higher FSAm-NPS DI or an increase in score) showed a significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference (β coefficient [95% confidence interval]; P for trend) (1.67 [0.43, 2.90]; <0.001; 6.27 [2.46, 10.09]; <0.001; 0.56 [0.08, 1.05]; 0.001; 0.51 [0.41, 0.60]; <0.001; 1.19 [0.89, 1.50]; <0.001, respectively). No significant associations in relation to changes in HDL and LDL-cholesterol nor with systolic blood pressure were shown. Conclusion: This prospective cohort study suggests that the consumption of food items with a higher FSAm-NPS DI is associated with increased levels of several major risk factors for CVD including adiposity, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure. However, results must be cautiously interpreted because no significant prospective associations were identified for critical CVD risk factors, such as HDL and LDL-cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure

White blood cell counts as risk markers of developing metabolic syndrome and its components in the PREDIMED study.

10.1371/journal.pone.005835

Extravirgin olive oil consumption reduces risk of atrial fibrillation: The PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial

10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.00692