[Study of the introduction of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in pediatrics and modification of the teaching methodology]. / Estudio sobre la introducción del Sistema de Transferencia de Créditos Europeo en Pediatría y modificaciones de la metodología docente.

INTRODUCTION: Spanish medical faculties have initiated the new curriculum reform process within the framework of the European Higher Education Area and are required to incorporate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to new syllabi before 2010. OBJECTIVES: To test the introduction of the ECTS in pediatrics and modify the teaching methodology. STUDY DESIGN: The theoretical and practical programs were adapted; academic objectives and a student evaluation system were established. Students were surveyed on starting the second term of the 2004-05 academic year before the theory examination and again on terminating the academic year: a 5-point Likert-type scale was used for responses. Priorities for generic and specific competencies selected by students were compared with those selected by the National Deans Conference (NDC). The results were analyzed using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Fifteen credits became 11 ECTS, with 297 student working hours. The theory program was reduced from 80 to 52 lessons. The students prepared 14 tutor-supervised case presentations. The teaching staff considered that learning of theory was similar to previous years (66 %) and that practical learning improved (73.3 %). The students thought the program should continue (73.2 %) but 98.8 % considered the workload excessive. The students believed that their practical training and their ability to prepare and make case presentations significantly improved during the semester. Academic performance was significantly higher than that in students of the previous year. Students agreed with NDC priorities for 9/9 general and 4/17 specific competencies. Estimation of workload by students was significantly higher than that by staff, and 73.3 % of the students believed that workload should be reduced and the examination system improved. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing the ECTS improved academic performance, practical training, and self-directed learning. The project was satisfactory for staff and students. Student workload was underestimated.

[Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in a 3-year-old girl with no associated pathology involving a tumour]. / Encefalitis antirreceptor de NMDA en una nina de 3 anos sin patologia tumoral asociada.

INTRODUCTION: Encephalitis due to NMDA receptors antibodies is a relatively common condition but it was under diagnosed until recently. It courses predictably and similarly in adults and children, although there are some differences, still less its association with tumours. CASE REPORT: A 3 years-old girl who was admitted to our hospital with symptoms compatible with acute encephalitis, so we started treatment with acyclovir. During admission she was alterning periods of poor response to stimuli with periods of agitation, and progressed to complete silence, adding sleep problems. She suffered epileptic seizures, dystonic movements and autonomic disturbances. Cranial MRI showed mild cortical atrophy and EEG generalized slowing of base tracing. Repeated samples of cerebral spinal fluid were normal from cytological and biochemical point of view. In view of the torpid evolution she began methylprednisolone therapy and later inmunoglobulins with no improvement. Upon confirmation of the positivity for NMDA receptors antibodies in cerebral spinal fluid and serum, cyclophosphamide was administered, with gradual improvement of symptoms until full recovery. After ten months of follow-up without treatment she has not presented relapses and has ruled out the presence of tumours. CONCLUSIONS. It is important to recognize encephalitis with behavioural changes and abnormal movements, because early diagnosis and the beginning of appropriate therapy could improve the prognosis.

[Absence of hypoplasia of fingernails and toenails and terminal phalanges of hands and feet (author's transl)]. / Síndrome de ausencia de falanges distales y uñas asociada con sordera.

A case study of a female patient in which most of the fingernails and toenails and terminal phalanges of hands and feed were absent, together with retarded psychomotor development, minor mental retardation and seizures due to simple cerebral cyst, with bilateral deafness is presented. This association, similar to Coffin-Siris syndrome, is not found in the literature.

[Ataxia-telangiectasis (author's transl)]. / Ataxia-telangiectasia.

A case of ataxia-telangiectasis is reported, the pattern of cellulo-humoral immunity is altered with frequent infection of the respiratory tract. Emphasis is made on the new approach to brain alterations by means of cerebral angiogammagraphy and sequential gammagraphy.