Simultaneous removal of fluoride and arsenic from well water by electrocoagulation.

The co-occurrence of fluoride and arsenic in groundwater presents a problem in many, mostly arid, regions of Latin America and the world. These pollutants cause significant health problems and are difficult to remove simultaneously from drinking water. In this study, the electrocoagulation process for the simultaneous removal of fluoride and arsenic was evaluated in well from the state of Durango, Mexico, in order to both solve the local problem and determine how to apply the method generally. Tests were carried out with different times, concentrations, initial pH values, and electric current densities, with iron and aluminum as electrode materials. The removal efficiencies in simultaneous presence were 85.68% for fluoride and approximately 100% for arsenic. The final concentrations for both pollutants were below the drinking water limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Mexican regulations. The optimum conditions of the electrocoagulation process found were a current density of 4.5 mA/cm2, an initial pH of 5, and a treatment time of 15 min, considering initial fluoride and arsenic concentrations of 5 mg/L and 80 µg/L, respectively.

Factors associated with allergic rhinitis in children from northern Mexico City.

BACKGROUND: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire allows users to find factors associated with allergic diseases, but thus far most of the studies on risk factors for allergic diseases have been devoted to asthma and not to rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the main factors associated with symptoms of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis in school children and adolescents in northern Mexico City. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross sectional, multicenter survey was conducted in northern Mexico City, in children aged 6-7 and 13-14 years. The survey instrument was the Phase Three B ISAAC questionnaire, which was validated and standardized in Spanish. RESULTS: There were 4106 6-7-year-olds and 6576 13-14-year-olds. The total prevalence of diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was 4.6%. The prevalence of cumulative and current symptoms of rhinitis was considered high (>29%), but the prevalence of the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was considered low (ranging from 3.4% to 5.6%). The prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis with conjunctivitis had intermediate values (ranging from 20.3% to 30.2%). Cumulative symptoms of allergic rhinitis, current symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and rhinoconjunctivitis were related to symptoms of current or cumulative asthma, symptoms of current or cumulative atopic eczema, and current use of paracetamol (odds ratio > 1, P < .05). CONCLUSION: The present results support the concept of rhinitis and asthma as common chronic respiratory diseases, and this study also found a relation between paracetamol use and rhinitis in children.

[Evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance through the maternal line in a case of primary ciliary diskinesia]. / Evidencia de transmisión autos6mica dominante a través de la linea materna en un caso de discinesia ciliar primaria.

An atypical case of primary ciliary dyskinesia is presented in which the inheritance, rather than the classical autosomal recessive, appears to be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait through the maternal line. The case involves two brothers of 29 and 30 years of age, married without children, with a history of infertility, frequent episodes of sinusitis, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Their mother and sister have chronic bronchopathy of unknown etiology. Their father is healthy without pulmonary problems or sinusitis. At physical exam, both brothers, sister and mother presented with bronchial rhonchi at lung auscultation. Blood analysis and pulmonary function, liver and renal tests were all normal. The ultraestructual study of the sperm flagellum by electron microscopy revealed that both brothers have the same anomaly. Namely, in the majority of the cross-sections, both dynein arms are missing. The nexin filament was present, as well as the radial spokes and the central pair of microtubules. In some sperm, besides the absence of dynein arms, there was also absence of the central pair of microtubules. Neither anomalies of the fibrous sheath nor of the dense fibers were found. In approximately 50% of the spermatozoa, the midpiece had a decreased number of mitochondria and extra non-aligned mitochondria. Other findings included extra peripheral microtubules in the axoneme.

[Multicenter program for the integrated care of newborns with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (ARAHIP)]. / Programa multicéntrico para la atención integral del recién nacido con agresión hipóxico-isquémica perinatal (ARAHIP).

INTRODUCTION: Newborns with perinatal indicators of a potential hypoxic-ischemic event require an integrated care in order to control the aggravating factors of brain damage, and the early identification of candidates for hypothermia treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The application of a prospective, populational program that organizes and systematizes medical care during the first 6 hours of life to all newborns over 35 weeks gestational age born with indicators of a perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult. The program includes 12 hospitals (91,217 m(2)); two level i centers, five level ii centers, and five level iii hospitals. The program establishes four protocols: a) detection of the newborn with a potential hypoxic-ischemic insult, b) surveillance of the neurological repercussions and other organ involvement, c) control and treatment of complications, d) procedures and monitoring during transport. RESULTS: From June 2011 to June 2013, 213 of 32325 newborns above 35 weeks gestational age met the criteria of a potential hypoxic-ischemic insult (7.4/1000), with 92% of them being cared for following the program specifications. Moderate-severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 33 cases (1/1,000), and 31 out of the 33 received treatment with hypothermia (94%). CONCLUSIONS: The program for the Integrated Care of Newborns with Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Insult has led to providing a comprehensive care to the newborns with a suspected perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult. Aggravators of brain damage have been controlled, and cases of moderate-severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy have been detected, allowing the start of hypothermia treatment within the first six hours of life. Populational programs are fundamental to reducing the mortality and morbidity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

[Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the urachus synchronic with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Value of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis]. / Adenocarcinoma mucinoso de uraco sincrónico con adenocarcinoma colorrectal. Valor de la inmunohistoquímica en el diagnóstico diferencial.

The coincidence of an urachal adenocarcinoma with another similar tumour in other location makes necessary to separate a true primary from a metastatic adenocarcinoma. We report the case of a 66-years-old-man with an urachal mucinous adenocarcinoma and two colonic adenocarcinoma excised in the same surgical act, showing both macro and microscopic studies together with immunohistochemical techniques, that were useful to differentiate the origin of both neoplasms. Among them, the antibody to keratin 7, a cytoplasmic epithelial protein, was positive in the urachal and negative in the colonic tumour.

[Calcified bladder oat cell associated with hypercalcemia and hypophosphoremia]. / Oat cell vesical calcificado asociado a hipercalcemia e hipofosforemia.

Description of a 69-year old male patient presenting calcified vesical tumour which, following a pathoanatomical study was shown to be an non-differentiated oat cell carcinoma associated to transitional carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Biochemically it presented hypercalcemia and hypophosphoremia and the electron microscope study demonstrated the presence of neurosecretion granules. The immunohistochemical techniques were negative for protein S-100 and cytokeratins, but positive for the membrane epithelial antigen and the neuro-specific enolase. The patient was treated by transurethral resection and polychemotherapy, presenting an initially favourable response but dying 18 months later after widespread metastasis. These data are in agreement with those obtained from the literature review carried out with regard to clinical picture, pathoanatomical studies, aggressiveness and overall poor prognosis with this type of tumours. In our view, the tumour's mixed composition supports an origin of pluripotential cell (steam cell). Presence of neuroendocrine syndromes associated to oat cell vesical tumours is an unusual fact related to the tumour's hormonal secretion.

[Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate. Report of 2 cases]. / Carcinoma de células transicionales de la próstata. A propósito de dos observaciones.

Prostate T.C.T. is a rare tumour representing about 1% of all prostate tumours. Out of 435 patients diagnosed in our prostate cancer service between 1975 and 1988, only 2 presented the features of transitional carcinoma of prostatic ductus coexisting in both cases with a glandular type tumour (0.45%). Both cases were treated in a palliative way through R.T.U. and hormonotherapy, also performing in one case telecobalto-therapy. The two cases presented had a very poor evolution, and die 6 month after diagnosis due to tumoral progression with a widespread bone metastasis, blastic in one case and mixed in the other one.

[Typical renal metanephric adenoma. Conservative surgery]. / Adenoma metanéfrico renal típico. Cirugía conservadora.

Metanephric Adenoma is uncommon renal tumor included in the complex group of the embryologics or nefroblastics renal tumors. Generally occurs in young females and usually has excellent prognosis. It's important to differentiate of malignant variants, particularly renal cell papillary carcinoma, metanephric adenosarcoma and adult Wilms tumor. The suspicion and intraoperative analysis of the tumor can to facilitate the use of conservative renal surgery in order to avoid unnecessary radical and aggressive surgery. To exist cases of metastatic metanephric adenoma, and the totally benign characteristic of the metanephric adenoma and the malignant potential isn't totally clarify.

[Pityrosporum ovale in seborrheic dermatitis in children and in other dermatoses in children]. / Pityrosporum ovale en dermatitis seborreica infantil y en otras dermatosis infantiles.

60 children aged from one month to two years were studied: 15 presenting with childhood seborrheic dermatitis, 15 with childhood atopic dermatitis, 15 with various childhood dermatoses and 15 healthy asymptomatic children. Samples of cutaneous scales from the scalp, face, sternal area and inguinal area were taken for the purpose of determining the presence of ovale by direct microscopy examination and culture. P. ovale was found in 73% of the infants presenting with seborrheic dermatitis, in 33% of those with atopic dermatitis, in 33% of those with other dermatoses and in 53% of the healthy infants. The proportion of infants in whom all four samples were found to be positive to P. ovale was as follows: 42% for seborrheic dermatitis, 20% for atopic dermatitis, 20% for other childhood dermatoses and 23% in the healthy infants. The majority of infants with both positive microscopy and culture for P. ovale were aged one to eight months. The group presenting with seborrheic dermatitis was treated with 2% ketoconazole cream or two weeks. Clinical cure was achieved in 11; mycological examination was negative in 13. P. ovale was significantly more frequent in infants with seborrheic dermatitis than in infants belonging to the other three groups. The role of P. ovale in the pathophysiology of seborrheic dermatitis is discussed.

[Extravesical ureteral ectopy: report of 2 cases]. / Ectopia ureteral extravesical: presentación de dos casos

Two cases are presented in different sexes of an extravesical, ureteral ectopia, one of which was associated with a cryptorchid U.V.R. and micropenis and the other with complete, bilateral duplicity of the tracts. The authors comment upon the clinical peculiarities in both sexes, as well as the surgical possibilities in each case, with special emphasis on the etiopathogenic and diagnostic problems involved in this type of malformation.

[Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and p53 protein in superficial cancer of the urinary bladder]. / Expresión del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico y de la proteína p53 en el cáncer superficial de vejiga urinaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and EGF-r (epidermal growth factor receptor) and the recurrence rate and disease-free interval in superficial bladder cancer. METHODS: 144 patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were studied over a period of three years. Direct dilution anti-EGF-r monoclonal antibody (Biogenex, San Ramon, CA 94583, USA) was utilized for EGF-r determination. Anti-p53 mouse monoclonal antibody (DO7, Novocastra, Newcastle, 24 Claremont Place, UK) at a concentration of 1:100 was utilized for protein p53 determination and was considered negative if less than 10% of the tumor cells were stained and positive if 10% to 100% of the cells stained. EGF-r was determined only as either positive or negative regardless of percent of expression. RESULTS: 55 patients (38%) showed EGF-r and 14 (9.7%) showed p53 expression. The disease free survival was 54.08 months in the patients that showed EGF-r expression vs 30 months for those that did not, the difference being statistically significant (p = 0.027). However, no differences were found in this regard for p53 expression. Tumors that expressed EGF-r recurred in the same site as that of the primary tumor. By contrast, those that did not express EGF-r recurred in another or in multiple sites. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence is lower in bladder tumors that express EGF-r than those that do not, and when they recur, this generally occurs in the same site as the primary tumor. However, determination of p53 expression was not useful in determining the risk of recurrence or progression of superficial bladder tumors.

Parasitic mycelial forms of coccidioides species in Mexican patients.

Of 26 cases of coccidioidomycosis reported here, 15 showed hyphae, atypical parasitic structures of Coccidioides spp. in fresh cytologic and/or histologic specimen preparations. The finding of this morphology could have implications which should be considered, especially when the disease affects areas of nonendemicity.

[Xanthogranulomathous pyelonephritis (and cystic dysplasia) in a newborn]. / Pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa (y displasia quística) en un recién nacido.

The authors present a case of diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a new-born baby which, according to the literature reviewed, is the youngest case reported throughout the world. They stress the coexistence of two facts not mentioned in the cases reviewed: --Segmentary cystic dysplasia.--Xanthogranulomatous disorder in the suprarenal gland. It is also interesting due to the presence of chronic contralateral pyelonephritis. They comment upon the special features of the etiopathogeny, anatomopathology, clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of this rare disorder.

[Vesicoureteral reflux. Surgical treatment]. / Reflujo vesicoureteral. Tratamiento quirúrgico.

We present the casuistry of vesico-ureteral refluxes operated upon in our centre, which total 45. We comment upon and describe the guidelines which we have followed in indicating the operation, assessing and comparing the results obtained with the different techniques used: Leadbetter-Politano, 62.5% of successes; Cohen, 90.9%; Glen-Anderson, 100%, and González Martin, 90.5%. Finally, we make some comments upon infection associated with reflux.

[Vesico-ureteral reflex. Medical treatment]. / Reflujo vesicoureteral. Tratamiento médico.

We have reviewed the problem of vesico-ureteral reflux in children and comment upon the selection guidelines followed for indicating medical treatment, on the basis of the clinical picture and the radiographic and analytical findings. We assess the results obtained (58.06% of cures) as a result of which we stress the need for conservative treatment in cases of moderate refluxes.

[Endoscopic cervicotomy in post-prostatectomy sclerosis of the bladder neck]. / Cervicotomía endoscópica en la esclerosis de cuello post-prostatectomía.

We treated 23 patients with bladder neck sclerosis following treatment of prostatic adenoma by TUR (20 patients, 87%) and adenomectomy (3 patients, 14%). All patients entered a protocol for bilateral longitudinal bladder neck incision (cervicotomy) and injection of orgotein in the area of incision. Of these, 21 patients were evaluable; 18 (85%) had no recurrence, symptoms remained unchanged without ring in 2 (10%) and there was 1 (5%) recurrence. The results achieved by this simple technique combined with local antiinflammatory therapy make it the treatment of choice for this pathological condition.

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux following transurethral resection of a vesical carcinoma by Teflon injection.

We have treated 33 patients who presented with reflux in 40 ureters following transurethral resection (TUR) for bladder cancer. One or two injections of Teflon were made under the submucosal intramural ureter. Among the 32 ureters that could be correctly evaluated, we observed that vesicoureteral reflux disappeared in 18 (56.3%), and decreased the grade of reflux in 5 (15.6%). There were no modifications in the 9 remaining ureteral units (28.1%). Control urogram and/or sonogram scan were performed in all cases and demonstrating the absence of obstructive uropathy.