Prevalence and Comorbidity of Insomnia and Effect on Functioning in Elderly Populations

A good night's sleep is often more elusive as we age, because the prevalence of insomnia in older people is high. Insufficient sleep can have important effects on daytime function by increasing the need to nap, reducing cognitive ability including attention and memory, slowing response time, adversely affecting relationships with friends and family, and contributing to a general sense of being unwell. However, rather than aging per se, circadian rhythm shifts, primary sleep disorders, comorbid medical/psychiatric illnesses, and medication use cause sleep difficulties in older people, which psychosocial factors may also affect. Clinicians should ask elderly patients about satisfaction with sleep. Any sleep complaints warrant careful evaluation of contributing factors and appropriate treatment.     

Effective cryoablation of a lateral accessory pathway within the distal coronary sinus

Limited information is available on the efficacy of cryoablation in the coronary venous system in humans. A patient with a lateral accessory pathway was referred to our center after several unsuccessful endocardial and epicardial (within the coronary sinus) attempts using standard radiofrequency energy. Ablation was subsequently performed successfully by applying cryoenergy distally into the coronary sinus, using a temperature of -50 degrees C and a freezing application time of 45 s. There were no complications. Angiography of the left coronary circumflex artery and coronary venous system was performed at 12 months follow-up using cardiac multislice computed tomography, and no coronary stenosis or anatomic anomaly was found. Neither pre-excitation or any arrhythmia recurred during follow-up. This experience suggests that ablating in the distal coronary sinus can be safely performed using cryoenergy.     

The association between sleep spindles and IQ in healthy school-age children

Recent studies have suggested that sleep is associated with IQ measures in children, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. An association between sleep spindles and IQ has been found in adults, but only two previous studies have explored this topic in children. The goal of this study was to examine whether sleep spindle frequency, amplitude, duration and/or density were associated with performance on the perceptual reasoning, verbal comprehension, working memory, and processing speed subscales of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV). We recruited 29 typically developing children 7–11 years of age. We used portable polysomnography to document sleep architecture in the natural home environment and evaluated IQ. We found that lower sleep spindle frequency was associated with better performance on the perceptual reasoning and working memory WISC-IV scales, but that sleep spindle amplitude, duration and density were not associated with performance on the IQ test.     

CpG-ODN-induced sustained expression of BTLA mediating selective inhibition of human B cells

BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator) is a prominent co-receptor that is structurally and functionally related to CTLA-4 and PD-1. In T cells, BTLA inhibits TCR-mediated activation. In B cells, roles and functions of BTLA are still poorly understood and have never been studied in the context of B cells activated by CpG via TLR9. In this study, we evaluated the expression of BTLA depending on activation and differentiation of human B cell subsets in peripheral blood and lymph nodes. Stimulation with CpG upregulated BTLA, but not its ligand: herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), on B cells in vitro and sustained its expression in vivo in melanoma patients after vaccination. Upon ligation with HVEM, BTLA inhibited CpG-mediated B cell functions (proliferation, cytokine production, and upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules), which was reversed by blocking BTLA/HVEM interactions. Interestingly, chemokine secretion (IL-8 and MIP1β) was not affected by BTLA/HVEM ligation, suggesting that BTLA-mediated inhibition is selective for some but not all B cell functions. We conclude that BTLA is an important immune checkpoint for B cells, as similarly known for T cells.     

Pentoxifylline: A Drug with Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Effects to Be Considered in the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019

In December 2019, a new coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged from China, causing pneumonia outbreaks first in the Wuhan region and has now spread worldwide. There are no specific drugs for the disease caused by this virus, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Considering that new synthesized drugs cannot be applied immediately to patients, conventional drug in new use is a feasible solution. Chloroquine, remdesivir, favipiravir, lopinavir, ribavirin, and ritonavir have shown efficacy to inhibit coronavirus in vitro. Pentoxifylline, a drug with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and bronchodilatory effects, has previously been shown to inhibit several viral infections. Immunological studies have shown that most patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit substantially elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pentoxifylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which in turn activates protein kinase, leading to a reduction in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cell migration. Here, we propose pentoxifylline, a drug with low cost and toxicity, as a possible treatment for COVID-19 based on its interesting properties.     

Anatomic correlates of reduced hip extension during walking in individuals with mild‐moderate radiographic hip osteoarthritis

To identify radiographic and MR features of hip osteoarthritis (OA) related to reduced hip extension during walking. Sixty six subjects, were stratified into those with (n = 36, KL = 2, 3) and without (n = 30, KL = 0, 1) radiographic hip OA. Cartilage and labrum lesions were graded semi‐quantitatively on hip MRI. Alpha angle and lateral center edge (LCE) angle were measured. Sagittal kinematics and kinetics were calculated during walking at speed of 1.35 m/s using 3‐D motion capture. All subjects completed Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), timed up and go, and 6 min walk tests. Variables were compared between the two groups using one‐way ANOVA (adjusting for age). Correlations of radiographic and MR parameters with peak hip extension were calculated. The OA group was older, had greater pain, and limitation of function. They also had lower peak hip extension and higher peak hip flexion; and worse acetabular and femoral cartilage lesions. Peak hip extension and flexion correlated with KL grade, cartilage lesions in the inferior and posterior femur. Reduced hip extension and greater hip flexion during walking are present in high functioning (HOOS > 85%) individuals with mild‐moderate hip OA, and are associated with cartilage lesions. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:527–534, 2015.