Toxocariasis affecting brain stem and skull base.

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is a helminthic infection caused by a nematode that mainly affects populations in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Humans are potential paratenic hosts, and clinical disease occurs as a result of parasite migration through intestinal tissue. We present a clinical case of otorhinolaryngological affectation by Toxocara canis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old male from Ecuador, resident in Spain for 5 years, evaluated in the emergency department for presenting headache, otorrhea and left ear pain. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reported a large mass of the nasopharynx with infiltration of the skull base, intracranial extension and a lesion in the left pons without being able to exclude metastases. Two Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) biopsies were negative for malignancy. Despite not meeting the diagnostic criteria established by the existing literature, the clinical and radiological presentation, the presence of risk factors, a positive serology for Toxocara canis (IgGELISA) and the absence of alternative diagnosis were considered sufficient criteria to establish toxocariasis with inflammatory lesions in the nasopharynx and pons as the most probable diagnosis. Treatment with albendazole (400 mg / 12 h) and corticosteroids (1 mg / kg for 5 days) was started and continued for one month. Post treatment negative serology, and MRI and CT post treatment controls were performed after one year, both showing a decrease in lesion of the clivus as well as the pons. CONCLUSIONS: With the appropriate personal history, toxocariasis should be included in the differential diagnosis of infiltrating lesions of the skull base with a negative study of tumor histology. Albendazole treatment has been shown to control and cure the disease.

Comparison of photocatalytic and transport properties of TiO2 and ZnO nanostructures for solar-driven water splitting.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been widely used as photo-catalysts due to their low-cost, high surface area, robustness, abundance and non-toxicity. In this work, four TiO2 and ZnO-based nanostructures, i.e. TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs), ZnO nanowires (ZnO NWs) and ZnO@TiO2 core-shell structures, specifically prepared with a fixed thickness of about 1.5 µm, are compared for the solar-driven water splitting reaction, under AM1.5G simulated sunlight. Complete characterization of these photo-electrodes in their structural and photo-electrochemical properties was carried out. Both TiO2 NPs and NTs showed photo-current saturation reaching 0.02 and 0.12 mA cm(-2), respectively, for potential values of about 0.3 and 0.6 V vs. RHE. In contrast, the ZnO NWs and the ZnO@TiO2 core-shell samples evidence a linear increase of the photocurrent with the applied potential, reaching 0.45 and 0.63 mA cm(-2) at 1.7 V vs. RHE, respectively. However, under concentrated light conditions, the TiO2 NTs demonstrate a higher increase of the performance with respect to the ZnO@TiO2 core-shells. Such material-dependent behaviours are discussed in relation with the different charge transport mechanisms and interfacial reaction kinetics, which were investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The role of key parameters such as electronic properties, specific surface area and photo-catalytic activity in the performance of these materials is discussed. Moreover, proper optimization strategies are analysed in view of increasing the efficiency of the best performing TiO2 and ZnO-based nanostructures, toward their practical application in a solar water splitting device.

Comparison of self-reported and accelerometer-assessed measurements of physical activity according to socio-demographic characteristics in Korean adults.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown relatively low correlations between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA). However, this association differs by socio-demographic factors, and this relationship has not been fully investigated in the general population. Thus, we investigated the correlation between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed PA and whether it differed by demographic and socioeconomic factors among the Korean general population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 623 participants (203 men and 420 women) aged 30 to 64 years, who completed a PA questionnaire and wore a wrist-worn accelerometer on the non-dominant wrist for 7 days. We examined the agreement for metabolic equivalent task minutes per week (MET-min/wk) between the 2 measures and calculated Spearman correlation coefficients according to demographic and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: The kappa coefficient between tertiles of self-reported and accelerometer-assessed total MET-min/wk was 0.16 in the total population, suggesting overall poor agreement. The correlation coefficient between the 2 measurements was 0.26 (p<0.001) in the total population, and the correlation tended to decrease with increasing age (p for trend <0.001) and depression scores (p for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a low correlation between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed PA among healthy Korean adults, and the correlation decreased with age and depression score. When studying PA using accelerometers and/or questionnaires, age and depression need to be considered, as should differences between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed PA.

Pyrolytic carbon-coated stainless steel felt as a high-performance anode for bioelectrochemical systems.

Scale up of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) requires highly conductive, biocompatible and stable electrodes. Here we present pyrolytic carbon-coated stainless steel felt (C-SS felt) as a high-performance and scalable anode. The electrode is created by generating a carbon layer on stainless steel felt (SS felt) via a multi-step deposition process involving α-d-glucose impregnation, caramelization, and pyrolysis. Physicochemical characterizations of the surface elucidate that a thin (20±5µm) and homogenous layer of polycrystalline graphitic carbon was obtained on SS felt surface after modification. The carbon coating significantly increases the biocompatibility, enabling robust electroactive biofilm formation. The C-SS felt electrodes reach current densities (jmax) of 3.65±0.14mA/cm(2) within 7days of operation, which is 11 times higher than plain SS felt electrodes (0.30±0.04mA/cm(2)). The excellent biocompatibility, high specific surface area, high conductivity, good mechanical strength, and low cost make C-SS felt a promising electrode for BESs.

Optimization of 1D ZnO@TiO2 core-shell nanostructures for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting under solar light illumination.

A fast and low-cost sol-gel synthesis used to deposit a shell of TiO2 anatase onto an array of vertically aligned ZnO nanowires (NWs) is reported in this paper. The influence of the annealing atmosphere (air or N2) and of the NWs preannealing process, before TiO2 deposition, on both the physicochemical characteristics and photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the resulting heterostructure, was studied. The efficient application of the ZnO@TiO2 core-shells for the PEC water-splitting reaction, under simulated solar light illumination (AM 1.5G) solar light illumination in basic media, is here reported for the first time. This application has had a dual function: to enhance the photoactivity of pristine ZnO NWs and to increase the photodegradation stability, because of the protective role of the TiO2 shell. It was found that an air treatment induces a better charge separation and a lower carrier recombination, which in turn are responsible for an improvement in the PEC performance with respect to N2-treated core-shell materials. Finally, a photocurrent of 0.40 mA/cm(2) at 1.23 V versus RHE (2.2 times with respect to the pristine ZnO NWs) was obtained. This achievement can be regarded as a valuable result, considering similar nanostructured electrodes reported in the literature for this application.

Uretroplastia con incisión y tubularización del plato uretral / Urethroplasty with tubular incised urethral plate

En base a los trabajos presentados por el Dr. W. Snodgrass en 1994 sobre la incisión dorsal del plato uretral (TIPU) y sus ventajas en la uretroplastia, se presenta la experiencia en 34 pacientes con hipospadias dístales sin intervenciones previas. Se evaluaron los resultados obtenidos en la aplicación de la técnica TIPU para la corrección quirúrgica de con hipospadias distal sin cuerda y sin intervenciones previas durante Octubre del 2001 a Diciembre del 2003. Edad promedio 4 años, tipo de hipospadias Subcuronal 44 por ciento, Coronal 30 por ciento, glandular 26 por ciento, el porcentaje de complicaciones fue de un 6 por ciento con un 94 por ciento de éxito. El tipo de complicación presentada fué dos fístulas uretrocutanea. El resultado cosmético y funcional fue satisfactorio en el 100 por ciento de los pacientes. En conclusión la técnica de TIP permite darle una configuración más estética al meato uretral ya que logra que dicho meato quede central con la subsiguiente tubularización armoniosa y organizada del chorro urinario

Ictericia obstructiva: ¿hepatocarcinoma? reporte de un caso / Obstructive jaundice: hepatocarcinoma? report of a case

Los tumores primarios de hígado son extremadamente raros en pediatría, el 60 por ciento son malignos. El Hepatocarcinoma ocupa el segundo lugar en freceuencia, su orígen se relaciona en su mayoría con enfermedades hepáticas crónicas de etiología viral; como la hepatitis B, solo un 20 por ciento tienen un origen no cirrótico no viral. Es más frecuente en adolescentes masculinos. Debido a su elevada agresividad el Hepato-carcinoma presenta un pronóstico sombrío a pesar de los recientes avances, tanto en el diagnóstico como en el tratamiento del mismo. Se presenta un adolescente masculino de 13 años de edad, con clínica de ictericia obstructiva y colangitis ascendente, la cual se atribuyó en un principio a malformación congénita de las vías biliares extrahepáticas, resultando posteriormente hepatocarcinoma, el cual se desarrollo en un período aproximado de 7 meses, con una sobrevida de apenas un año a partir del inicio de su enfermedad

Tumor carcinoide apendicular: reporte de un caso / Appendiceal carcinoid tumor: report of a case

Los tumores carcinoides son derivados de las células enterocromoafin de los cuerpos de Lieberkuhm, localizadas en el tracto gastrointestinal. El 50 por ciento se presentan con síntomas sugestivos de apendicitis. Reporte del caso de una adolescente femenina de 12 años quien consulta el 01-06-2000, presentando cuadro clínico compatible con apendicitis aguda de 24 horas de evolución. Se decidió resolución quirúrgica. Los hallazgos operatorios fueron apéndice pélvica, fleg-monosa. Se realizó Apendicectomía típica. Permaneció 3 días hospitalizada recibiendo antibioticoterapia, evolución satisfactoria. La biopsia reportó Carcinoide de variedad insular, en parte media de apéndice, de 0,8 cm. Estudios inmunohistoquímicos encontraron Enolasa Neuronal Específica positiva en células tumorales. RMN abdominopélvica sin alteraciones y Marcadores Tumorales negativos. Los pacientes con Tumor Carcinoide de apéndice tienen mejor pronóstico con respecto a aquellos con carcinoides de intestino delgado. Los reportes de la literatura revisada apoyan el hallazgo de diagnóstico accidental, su bajo grado de metástasis y su buen pronóstico con Apendicectomía cuando la lesión es < de 1 cm., con lesión mayor de 2 cm. está indicado la hemicolectomía. La supervivencia reportada en 5 años es de 90 a 100 por ciento en lesiones menores de 2 cm. Basado en los reportes previos, se decide seguimiento clínico del caso reportado