Introduction: Allostatic load (AL) index proposes indicators for the functioning of the main potentially stress-affected systems. Sex differences in stress response and stress-related diseases susceptibility have been described for the general population. In this observational study we describe the effects of sex and age on AL variables, in a cohort of patients with general anxiety disorders and neuroticism treated with alprazolam during 12 weeks, before and after treatment. Methods: Patients with general (DSM IV) anxiety disorders with >6 in Hamilton scale, AL (>1 Crimmins and Seeman AL modified criteria) and neuroticism >18 (NEO-FFI inventory), were included. All patients completed psychiatric assessment, AL index determination before (−1 week) and after 12 weeks of treatment with alprazolam (0.25 -1 mg/t.i.d). Allostatic load parameters comprised cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory variables. Univariate analysis (two-way ANOVA), Student's t-test (related variables) and Pearson correlations were determined. Results: Fifty-four patients, 35 females (48.6 ± 11.7 years) and 19 males (44.2 ± 12.8 years) with general anxiety disorder were included; 28 patients with <50 years (60.7% females), and 26 with ≥50 years (69.2% females). Younger patients (<50 years) (two-way ANOVA, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with lower AL index after treatment. However, women showed higher anxiety levels in both, before (two-way ANOVA, p = 0.059) and after treatment (two-way ANOVA, p = 0.005), with a significantly better profile than men in many individual AL variables, particularly cardiovascular (systolic blood pressure), obesity (body mass index), and lipids (higher HDL levels). After treatment a higher reduc-How to cite this paper: Soria, C.A., Remedi, C., D'Alessio, L. and Roldán, E.J.A. (2018) Sex and Age-Related Differences in Neuroticism and Allostatic Load Index in Urban Patients with General Anxiety Disorder Treated with Alprazolam. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 8, 212-232. 213Open Journal of Psychiatry tion of fibrinogen levels was found in men (two-way ANOVA, p = 0.02). Conclusions: In this preliminary analysis we described sex and age differences in psychiatry aspects and AL indexes in patients with general anxiety disorders in the short-term treatment with alprazolam. These considerations remark the need of pondering sex and age differences during the use of drugs for protracted periods.

IntroductionThe allostatic load model explains the additive effects of multiple biological processes that accelerate pathophysiology related to stress, particularly in the central nervous system. Stress-related mental conditions such as anxiety disorders and neuroticism (a well-known stress vulnerability factor), have been linked to disturbances of hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal with cognitive implications. Nevertheless, there are controversial results in the literature and there is a need to determine the impact of the psychopharmacological treatment on allostatic load parameters and in cognitive functions. Gador study of Estres Modulation by Alprazolam, aims to determine the impact of medication on neurobiochemical variables related to chronic stress, metabolic syndrome, neurocognition and quality of life in patients with anxiety, allostatic load and neuroticism.Methods/analysisIn this observational prospective phase IV study, highly sympthomatic patients with anxiety disorders (six or more points in the Hamilton-A scale), neuroticism (more than 18 points in the Neo five personality factor inventory (NEO-FFI) scale), an allostatic load (three positive clinical or biochemical items at Crimmins and Seeman criteria) will be included. Clinical variables of anxiety, neuroticism, allostatic load, neurobiochemical studies, neurocognition and quality of life will be determined prior and periodically (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks) after treatment (on demand of alprazolam from 0.75 mg/day to 3.0 mg/day). A sample of n=55/182 patients will be considered enough to detect variables higher than 25% (pretreatment vs post-treatment or significant correlations) with a 1-ß power of 0–80. t Test and/or non-parametric test, and Pearson's test for correlation analysis will be determined.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol was approved by an Independent Ethics Committee of FEFyM (Foundation for Pharmacological Studies and Drugs, Buenos Aires) and by regulatory authorities of Argentina (ANMAT, Dossier # 61 409–8 of 20 April 2009), following the law of Habeas Data and psychotherapeutic drug control.Trial registration numberGEMA 20811.

Globodera pallida genera pérdidas de hasta el 30 % en el rendimiento   cultivo de papa en el Ecuador.  El control químico de la plaga supone riesgos de toxicidad al suelo y para el agricultor. En este estudio se determinó el potencial nematicida y nematostático in vitro del micelio en agar agua y del filtrado del caldo de cultivo de Pleurotus ostreatus en medio Sabouraud sobre larvas J2 de G. pallida. En el efecto del micelio se observó un mayor porcentaje de nemátodos inmóviles (34 %) a las 24 horas de exposición, y el efecto nematicida más efectivo a las 72 horas, con una mortalidad del 80,3 %. No existió relación entre el porcentaje de J2 inmóviles, el tiempo de exposición y la concentración del filtrado en la actividad nematostática; sin embargo, el tratamiento con 100 % de concentrado y 8 h de exposición, dio como resultado un mayor porcentaje de nemátodos inmóviles (65,2 %). El efecto nematicida del filtrado a una concentración del 100 % y 24 horas de exposición, fue la más efectiva, con una tasa de mortalidad de larvas del 41,6 %. El micelio y el filtrado de P. ostreatus presentaron actividad nematostática y nematicida in vitro frente a larvas de G. pallida.

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The customary recommendation is that oral anticoagulation be withdrawn a few months after cryoablation for atrial fibrillation, independently of left atrial mechanical contraction in patients in sinus rhythm. Recently, a 5-fold increase in stroke has been described in sinus-rhythm patients who lack atrial mechanical contraction. One aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in preventing postoperative stroke in such patients. This prospective study divided 154 sinus-rhythm patients into 2 groups, depending on the presence (108 patients) or absence (46 patients) of left atrial mechanical contraction at 6 months after surgery, and monitored them annually for 5 years. Those without left atrial contraction were maintained on acenocumarol. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of ischemic stroke. The median follow-up period was 29 ± 16 months; 4 patients (2.5%), all belonging to the group with preserved atrial contraction, had ischemic stroke; the group of patients without left atrial contraction had no episodes of stroke during follow-up. Logistic binary regression analyses showed no evidence of factors independently predictive of stroke. Among anticoagulated patients in sinus rhythm without left atrial contraction, we found the incidence of stroke to be zero. In a small, nonrandomized group such as this, we cannot discount the element of chance, yet we suggest that maintaining anticoagulation might lower the incidence of stroke in this population.