CHARACTERISATION OF TLDS-200 AND OSLDS AT LOW X-RAY ENERGIES AND DETERMINATION OF EYE LENS DOSE, THYROID DOSE AND MEAN GLANDULAR DOSE DURING STANDARD MAMMOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS.

The objective of this study was to characterise thermoluminescent (TLDs) and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) at low X-ray energies and estimate the eye lens (DL), thyroid (DT) and mean glandular (DG) doses received during Full-Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT). The dosimeters were characterised in mammography energies. DL, DT and DG were estimated in FFDM and DBT mode taping dosimeters on the skin of the thyroid gland and on the left eye lens of an Alderson phantom. Dosimeters were also placed on the top of a NORMI PAS phantom simulating a compressed breast. The accuracy, precision and lower limit of detection (LLD) for TLDs and OSLDs were 5 and 8%, 6 and 3%, and 38 and 11 µSv, respectively. The linearity of the kerma response had an R2 > 0.99 and energy dependence was lower than 40%. DT ranged from 0.40 to 2.87 µGy for FFDM and 1.27 to 5.99 µGy for DBT. DG was between 0.50 and 1.27 mGy for FFDM and 1.07 and 1.60 mGy for DBT. DL was below the LLD. Dosimeters showed good performance. DG values were lower than those found in the literature, whereas DT value agreed with references. Differences between DG and DT determined with OSLDs and TLDs were lower than 10% and 200%.

Parámetros mamográficos: compresión, dosis y disconfort / Mammography parameters: compression, dose, and discomfort

Objetivo: Confirmar la importancia de la compresión en mamografía, y relacionarla con el disconfort manifestado por las pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Se emplearon 2 muestras de 402 y 268 mamografías, obtenidas en dos centros de diagnóstico que poseen el mismo equipo mamográfico pero diferentes técnicas de compresión. Las edades variaron entre los 21 y los 50 años. Resultados: Se observó una sensible disminución en la dosis recibida a mayor compresión. Sin embargo, no se obtuvo una diferencia significativa en lo que respecta a los reclamos de las pacientes en relación con el disconfort experimentado. Discusión y Conclusión: La compresión en mamografía, siguiendo los estándares internacionales de una fuerza entre 80-120 N, es efectiva en cuanto a la reducción de dosis, sin por eso ser insoportable para la paciente. Este disconfort tampoco está relacionado con la glandularidad de la mama.

Objective: To confirm the importance of compression in mammography and relate it to the discomfort expressed by the patients. Materials and methods: Two samples of 402 and 268 mammographies were obtained from two diagnostic centres that use the same mammographic equipment, but different compression techniques. The patient age range was from 21 to 50 years old. Results: A significant decrease in the dose received was observed at higher compression. However, there was no significant difference as regards patients complaining about the discomfort experienced. Discussion and Conclusion: Compression in mammography, following the international standards of a pressure between 80-120 N, is effective in reducing the dose without being unbearable for the patient. This discomfort is also unrelated to the glandularity of the breast.

Post pupariation cold storage of three species of flies: increasing chilling tolerance by acclimation and recurrent recovery periods.

Three species of flies were examined for chilling tolerance from the end of the pupariation to the onset of adult eclosion for the purpose of determining applicability for cold storage. For the housefly, Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae), survival to eclosion was affected by developmental stage/age, length of storage, and storage temperature. Houseflies that were closest to having experienced pupariation or the onset of eclosion were the least cold tolerant. For flies stored at 7 or 10 degrees C, age groups placed directly into storage at 36-72 and 36-48 h postpupariation, respectively, had significantly higher poststorage eclosion than younger or older age groups. Death was observed after only 2 or 3 days with the chilling intolerant groups while mid-aged groups survived 10-12 days under cold storage conditions. Damage could be reduced by giving the mid-aged groups chilled at 7 or 10 degrees C recurrent 2- or 3-h recovery periods every 4 days at 28 degrees C. Examination of O2 consumption throughout the housefly pupal and pharate adult stages showed that the most chilling tolerant groups also had the lowest metabolic activity. Combining a prestorage 17-h slow cooling acclimation interval with the recurrent recovery periods increased eclosion of adults 20% for the 12- to 24-h group after 21 days storage at 7 degrees C. Two blowfly species, Lucilia cuprina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera, Calliphoridae), survived 10 degrees C storage best when given a weekly 4-h recovery period. Survival at 90 days poststorage was nearly 50% for L. cuprina and 80% for L. sericata. Increasing survival under subambient temperatures for all three species appears to relate to whether there is a stage of development which allows cold-induced lowering of metabolism that results in a dormant status best characterized as hibernal quiescence. This study indicates that periodic warming during cold storage increases survival by allowing a chilling intolerant stage to develop to a more tolerant stage and/or by eliminating accumulated toxic metabolites.

Estudio multicéntrico de la metodología diagnóstica no intervencionista en patología mamaria: su evaluación crítica y estandarización / Multicentric study of the non interventional diagnostic methodology of breast pathology: evaluation and standard parameters

Un análisis crítico de todos los procesos que surgen en un estudio estándar básico mamario en mujeres asignológicas a la hora de emitir un diagnóstico, son considerados en este trabajo. El estándar del estudio básico mamario es la mamografía bilateral con sus prolongaciones axilares y el examen clínico de las mamas. La muestra poblacional representó 3.419 estudios mamarios consecutivos en 30 días de atención (99,7 por ciento mujeres y 0,3 por ciento hombres). Del análisis de la muestra poblacional femenina (3.410 mujeres) mostró un 68 por ciento (n=2.322) de asignológicas. Las imágenes problemas se presentaron en 1. la mama densa (n.791/34 por ciento), 2. la mama con prótesis (n.41/2 por ciento) y 3. en las anormalidades mamográficas focales: densidades y microcalcificaciones (n=796/34 por ciento). En estas tres circunstancias el mamografista tuvo que complementar la tarea realizando imágenes mamográficas y ecográficas extras cerrando así la cadena de la información. Estos procesos exigieron al médico mayor dedicación. Se documentó una duplicación promedio del gasto en materiales y tiempo. De la demanda de estudios mamarios estándar en mujeres iniciadas se observa que: 1. el mayor número correspondió a mujeres asignológicas (68 por ciento); 2. en este grupo sólo terminaron la indicación básica inicial el 30 por ciento; 3. el 70 por ciento restante, ofrece una tarea complementaria anexa y necesaria para expedirse como estudio integral y con una orientación diagnóstica confiable

[Incidence of fetal macrosomia: maternal and fetal morbidity]. / Incidencia de macrosomía fetal. Morbilidad materna y fetal.

The macrosomia is an obstetric eventuality associated to high maternal-fetal morbidity-mortality. This assay was planned in order to know the incidence of macrosomia in our institution, the relation between vaginal and abdominal deliveries and the fetal-maternal morbidity we reviewed 3590 records and we found 5.6% incidence of macrosomia in the global obstetric population. There was 58% of vaginal deliveries, 68% of the newborn were male. The main complications were in the C. sections, 2 laceration of the hysterectomy, and 2 peroperative atonias. In the vaginal deliveries, the lacerations of III and IV grade were 9 of each grade. The main fetal complications were 5 slight to severe asphyxia and 4 shoulder dystocias. This assay concludes that the macrosomia in our service is similar to the already published ones, a 42% were C. section and the maternal-fetal morbidity was low.

[Epithelial cyst in the central nervous system--characteristic expression of cytokeratin].

Twenty one cases of epithelial cysts in the central nervous system including six colloid cysts of the third ventricle, eight Rathke's cleft cysts in the sella, two enterogenous cysts in the posterior fossa, two epithelial cysts in the spinal canal and three neuroectodermal cysts in the cerebrum were examined immunohistochemically for expression of intermediate filamentous proteins-simple type, stratified type and skin type cytokeratins and GFAP. Colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Rathke's cleft cysts in the sella and epithelial cysts in the spinal canal expressed complexed type cytokeratins while enterogenous cysts and neuroectodermal cysts showed only simple type cytokeratins. In addition, several Rathke's cleft cysts demonstrated skin type differentiation and expressed GFAP in occasional lining cells. The characteristic composition and distribution of cytokeratins in various kinds of epithelial cysts in the central nervous system are demonstrated and discussed with regards to their origins.