Current status of canine dirofilariosis in an endemic area of western Spain.

Since dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis is a vector-borne disease, its distribution depends on environmental conditions as well as demographic factors and the management of pets by humans. In the province of Salamanca (west-central Spain) the disease has been known for many years, appearing in an area with extensive irrigated crops along the Tormes river. Because recent demographic changes have occurred in this area, the present study has been carried out with the aim of monitoring the distribution and prevalence of the disease in the canine population of this area. For that purpose, 191 dogs were analysed through antigen and microfilaria tests and geo-referenced in a map. The overall prevalence was 5.8%, although the disease was only present in dogs from municipalities with irrigated crops in which the prevalence was 16.7%. These results indicate that D. immitis continues to be present in the province of Salamanca, and that it is associated with the presence of irrigation, but with a clear decrease in the prevalence. Causes of the decrease in prevalence, as well as the potential zoonotic risk, are discussed.

[Traumatic submacular hemorrhage treated with rt-PA and SF6]. / Hemorragia submacular traumática tratada con rt-PA y SF6.

CASE REPORT: This patient was afflicted by a traumatic submacular hemorrhage. A posterior vitrectomy was performed and intravitreal rt-PA and SF6 were administered. Four weeks later, the visual acuity had increased from 0.1 to 0.8. No complications due to the treatment with rt-PA were reported. DISCUSSION: It is known that waiting for the spontaneous blood removal in such cases results in a poor visual acuity recovery due to a toxic effect of the blood products. Both rt-PA and the SF6 are useful for the treatment of submacular hemorrhages secondary to age-related macular degeneration, and this case report has shown they are also useful to lyse traumatic blood clots, thus contributing to a better recovery of visual acuity.

[Trend of lipid profile in general population from Caceres Health Area]. / Evolución del perfil lipídico en la población general del Área de Salud de Cáceres.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidaemias are a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of our study was to analyse lipid profile in general population, prevalence, and trend in five years. METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2014, all biochemical controls from Primary Care in 18 years-old adults were analysed. We used as reference for lipid levels those stablished for the European Society Cardiology and Hypertension. When several controls from same patient were found, the best and worst levels were used for prevalence. RESULTS: 304.523 controls were included from 97.470 patients (mean age 53.4±19.4 years, 57.2% were women). Mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c and triglycerides were 193.2±38.7mg/dL, 114.9±33.6mg/dL, 56.9±15.4mg/dL and 113.2±78.1mg/dL, respectively. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, high LDL-c, low HDL-c and hypertriglyceridemia, in the best and worst levels, were 33.9% vs. 63.4%, 31.7% vs. 59.1%, 11.2% vs 23.9% and 9.9% vs. 27.5%. Between 2010 and 2014, mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL-c decreased in 12.2% and 14%. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of dyslipidaemia is high, although a decreased in mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL-c has been achieved.

Genomic modelling of the ESR1 Y537S mutation for evaluating function and new therapeutic approaches for metastatic breast cancer.

Drugs that inhibit estrogen receptor-α (ER) activity have been highly successful in treating and reducing breast cancer progression in ER-positive disease. However, resistance to these therapies presents a major clinical problem. Recent genetic studies have shown that mutations in the ER gene are found in >20% of tumours that progress on endocrine therapies. Remarkably, the great majority of these mutations localize to just a few amino acids within or near the critical helix 12 region of the ER hormone binding domain, where they are likely to be single allele mutations. Understanding how these mutations impact on ER function is a prerequisite for identifying methods to treat breast cancer patients featuring such mutations. Towards this end, we used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to make a single allele knock-in of the most commonly mutated amino acid residue, tyrosine 537, in the estrogen-responsive MCF7 breast cancer cell line. Genomic analyses using RNA-seq and ER ChIP-seq demonstrated that the Y537S mutation promotes constitutive ER activity globally, resulting in estrogen-independent growth. MCF7-Y537S cells were resistant to the anti-estrogen tamoxifen and fulvestrant. Further, we show that the basal transcription factor TFIIH is constitutively recruited by ER-Y537S, resulting in ligand-independent phosphorylation of Serine 118 (Ser118) by the TFIIH kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)7. The CDK7 inhibitor, THZ1 prevented Ser118 phosphorylation and inhibited growth of MCF7-Y537S cells. These studies confirm the functional importance of ER mutations in endocrine resistance, demonstrate the utility of knock-in mutational models for investigating alternative therapeutic approaches and highlight CDK7 inhibition as a potential therapy for endocrine-resistant breast cancer mediated by ER mutations.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma and orbital apex syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma and orbital apex syndrome in a previously healthy adult. METHODS: A previously healthy 45-year-old man presented with exophthalmos of the left eye and a mass visible through his left nostril. A biopsy was performed and immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the diagnosis of the tumor. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: After treatment, we observed a substantial reduction in the size of the mass, but side effects of treatment developed. The visual acuity of the left eye was no light perception. Eight months later, the patient presented with bone and liver metastases, and he died 4 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcomatoid carcinoma is an aggressive tumor that can produce compressive symptoms with very poor visual and survival prognoses. A cranio-orbital computed tomography scan should be performed when patients present with symptoms of conjunctivitis and orbital apex syndrome.

[Bilateral recurrent autoimmune optical neuropathy in childhood]. / Neuropatía óptica autoinmune recidivante bilateral en la infancia.

CLINICAL CASE: A ten year-old girl, after a Yersinia gastroenteritis, developed an optic neuritis in the left eye. She was not treated and resulted ultimately in optic atrophy on the affected side. Six months later a similar episode occurred in the contralateral eye. On this occasion corticosteroid therapy was given. During this therapy the neuritis diminished; however the patient had three relapses, so it was decided to give her immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and continue this indefinitely. DISCUSSION: After considering the differential diagnoses of bilateral recurrent optical neuritis in childhood, we concluded that it was most likely to have an autoimmune basis. After considering the benefits and risks of the long-term treatment, we believe immunosuppressive therapy is most useful in controlling the disease allowing corticosteroid therapy to be reduced.

[Optical coherence tomography in central retinal artery occlusion]. / Tomografía óptica de coherencia en oclusión de arteria central de la retina.

CLINICAL CASES: Three eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) have been studied. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in each of them. Ophthalmoscopic signs of CRAO were equivocal in the three eyes. However, the presence of a hyporeflective signal in the OCT scan could be seen clearly in each of them. DISCUSSION: The presence of a hyporeflective band between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in OCT images, that persist for several months after a CRAO episode, is useful in establishing the diagnosis in these patients.

[Antidepressants in the elderly]. / Antidepresivos en la tercera edad.

Depression in the elderly is a changing, difficult and common disorder. At this age, there are more relapses and more long-life treatment is required. The pharmacology approach is a challenge because of concurrent factors that make their treatment more difficult. It is very important to have a basic antidepressant scheme, in order to help treat this disorder with efficiency and success from Primary Care. There are no drugs without side effects, and their characteristics have to be known in order to make the right selection depending on effectiveness, safety and tolerance.

[Thyroid ophthalmopathy: clinical activity determination of thyroid ophthalmopathy as a prognostic factor of immunosuppressive treatment response]. / Oftalmopatía tiroidea: determinación de parámetros de actividad clínica de la oftalmopatía tiroidea como factor pronóstico de respuesta al tratamiento inmunosupresor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of the clinical, biochemical and thyroid imaging parameters in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, in predicting their response to immunosuppressive treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study of 16 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy considered a number of variables including sex, age, thyroid hormone levels, treatment of the thyroid dysfunction, clinical activity score (CAS), severity (NOSPECS) of the ophthalmopathy, signs in standardized A-mode ultrasonography, in CAT and/or NMR, and previously used treatments and their effectiveness. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 50.81 (S.D: 11.89) years; there were 5 males (31.3%) and 11 females (68.8%). The ophthalmopathy was classified as active in 10/16 patients (62.5%) and inactive in 6/16 (37.5%); and as moderate in 9/16 (56.25%) and severe in 7/16 (43.75%) according to the severity defined in NOSPECS. Ultrasonography was diagnostic in 100% of the cases. The severity decreased significantly (p < or =0.05), however the clinical activity decrease did not reach significance (p=0.38) during immunosuppressive therapy. Better results were obtained during treatment of patients with a higher CAS (p=0.04) and in those with more severe ophthalmopathy (p=0.02). There was a tendency for the patients with higher levels of TSI to respond better to the treatment (p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The CAS is the best parameter to quantify the activity of the disease and predicting the response to treatment. The higher the CAS and the more severe the ophthalmopathy, the better the response to treatment. No association existed between thyroid function and the activity or severity of the ophthalmopathy; or the effectiveness of treatment.

[Silicone oil hypotonic maculopathy treatment]. / Aceite de silicona para el tratamiento de la maculopatía hipotónica.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of a man who developed hypotonic maculopathy after vitreoretinal surgery for anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. After an injection of intravitreal triamcinolone, the ocular pressure did not increase, therefore silicone oil was injected. After this, the visual acuity increased and the choroidal and retinal folds regressed. DISCUSSION: Hypotonic maculopathy is a frustrating problem, often resulting in poor visual acuity. There are not many effective treatments. The injection of silicone oil could be an alternative to increase the intraocular pressure and re-establish the normal anatomy of the eye, improving the visual acuity in some patients.

Toxic shock syndrome associated with pharyngitis and submandibular space abscess.

Toxic shock syndrome continues to be encountered more frequently with the head and neck areas as sources of the toxin. In head and neck surgery practice it is most commonly noted following nasal packing. An unusual case associated with staphylococcal pharyngitis and spontaneous submandibular space abscess is reported and the literature concerning the subject is reviewed. Treatment is eradication of the infective focus, aggressive support of vital functions, and parenteral antistaphylococcal antibiotics.

[The radiotherapy control of cervical adenopathies in undifferentiated epithelial tumors of the head and neck. The prognostic factors]. / Control con radioterapia de adenopatías cervicales en tumores epiteliales indiferenciados de cabeza y cuello. Factores pronósticos.

A total of 90 patients with undifferentiated carcinomas tumors the head and neck with clinical neck nodes who received intended radical irradiation, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis of 9 variables which defined cervical lymph node disease in oder to determine the prognostic factors for the control of the above mentioned adenopathy. The factors were as follows: lymph node response post-irradiation (p = 0.0000), condition of the primary (controlled-non controlled) (p = 0.0208).

Toxic shock syndrome following submandibular gland excision.

Acute toxic shock syndrome (TSS), initially described in association with the use of super absorbent tampons in menstruating women, has complicated a variety of surgical procedures. Recent attention in head and neck surgery has focused on absorbent packing materials, such as those used in postoperative nasal care. It is important to maintain a high index of suspicion in all postoperative patients to fever, hypotension, and erythroderma. We report TSS following submandibular gland excision.

[Radiotherapy as the definitive treatment of patients with carcinoma of the bladder]. / Radioterapia como tratamiento definitivo en pacientes con carcinoma de vejiga.

Sixty-one patients, who refused surgery or whose overall medical status advised against radical cystectomy, were submitted to radical radiotherapy at the Oncology Radiotherapy Service of the General Hospital of Asturias. Irradiation was performed in a cobalt therapy unit. Radiation dose ranged from 50-70 Gy, with a daily dose of 190-200 cGy. Local control was achieved in 71% for stage A, 68% for B1. 17% for B2, and 0% for stage C. Disease-free survival was 63% for stage A, 48% for B1, 14% for B2, 0% for C, and 17% for D1. Overall disease-free survival was 20%, and the morbidity and mortality rates were 11.4% and 3.2%, respectively. In view of the poor results achieved in our setting, we have considered using combined external and interstitial radiation for tumors localized in the muscle layer, and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage C tumors (or those infiltrating perivesical fat).

[Brachytherapy results in prostatic cancer]. / Resultados de la braquiterapia en el cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the 15-year results of external irradiation combined with radioactive gold grain implantation (Au198) in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate and to discuss the therapeutic perspectives. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 23 patients with localized prostate carcinoma (17 stage B; 6 stage C) that had been diagnosed and treated at our department from February 1981 to October 1986. The mean patient follow-up was 90.96 months. Au198 implantation (mean dose 3347.6 cGy) was performed through the abdominal approach prior to external irradiation (mean dose 39 Gy) with Co-60 (19 patients) or the 18-MV photon linear accelerator (4 patients). The mean fractionated dose was 180.43 cGy/day. RESULTS: Overall the 15-year locoregional control rate was 61% and disease-free survival was 38%. The overall survival rate was 25%, regardless of the cause of death. The tumor control rate was 61% for stage B and 83% for stage C lesions at 15 years. The disease-free survival rate was 40% for stage B and 50% for stage C tumors. The local control and disease-free survival rates were worse for patients in whom the diagnosis had been made by TUR (p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The locoregional tumor control and disease-free survival rates for this group of 23 patients who received combined therapy with external irradiation and radioactive gold grain implantation (Au198) were slightly lower than those obtained in another group of 104 patients treated at our Service of Radiotherapeutic Oncology with radical external radiation therapy and can be ascribed mainly to poor patient selection and inadequate radiation dose.

Control of neck nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by radiotherapy: prognostic factors.

313 patients with cervical metastases from a squamous carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis in order to determine the prognostic factors for cure. These were: lymph node response to irradiation (P = 0.0000), size of node (P = 0.0000), radiotherapy dose (P = 0.0037), condition of the primary (controlled vs non-controlled) (P = 0.0015), recurrent cervical metastases post-surgery (P = 0.0286).

[Treatment results with external radiotherapy in prostate cancer]. / Resultados del tratamiento con radioterapia externa en el cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVE: External irradiation is an accepted curative treatment modality for patients with localized prostatic tumor. The 15-year results in patients treated by radical irradiation alone are presented. The determinant prognostic factors for local tumor control and disease free survival are analyzed. METHODS: 135 patients with a histologically confirmed localized carcinoma of the prostate were treated at our department from May 1972 to January 1998. Fifty patients received Co-60 therapy; the linear accelerator and high energy photons were utilized in the remaining 80 patients. By tumor stage, 53 patients were B1, 49 B2 and 33 C. The mean follow-up was 61 months (range 1-180). Most patients were exposed to localized fields of irradiation; dose ranged from 50-74 Gy, fractionated at a dose of 180-200 cGy/day. RESULTS: Overall local tumor control was 77% at 5 years and 73% at 15 years, with a disease free survival of 63% and 45% at 5 and 15 years, respectively. Local tumor control at 13 years was 71% for stage B1, 82% for B2 and 70% for C. The disease free survival at 13 years for stages B1, B2 and C were 46%, 49% and 36%, respectively. The BD and MD tumors had a 15-year disease free survival of 48% vs 32% for the PD tumors (p = 0.005). Patients with PSA < or = 20 ng/ml before treatment showed a disease free survival of 87% vs 48% for those with PSA > 20 ng/ml ((p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis showed dose to be a determinant prognostic factor for local tumor control (0.0432); dose and histological grade were determinants for disease free survival (p = 0.029 and 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study found dose to be a determinant prognostic factor for local tumor control and both dose and histological grade were determinants for disease free survival. Radiotherapy is a therapeutic option for these patients. The results can be enhanced if the dose delivered to the prostate can be increased while maintaining the complication rate within the same ranges.

Neuropatía óptica autoinmune recidivante bilateral en la infancia / Bilateral recurrent autoimmune optical neuropathy in childhood

Caso clínico: Niña de 10 años, que tras gastroenteritis por Yersinia debuta con neuritis óptica en ojo izquierdo. No recibe tratamiento y evoluciona a atrofia óptica. A los 6 meses presentó un episodio en el ojo contralateral, instaurándose tratamiento corticoideo. Durante su disminución progresiva sufre tres recaídas. Se decide instaurar tratamiento con inmunosupresores, manteniéndose estable desde entonces sin efectos secundarios. Discusión: Tras descartar las múltiples causas de neuritis óptica bilateral recidivante en una niña, se concluye que la etiología era autoinmune. Valorando los beneficios y riesgos del tratamiento con inmunosupresores creemos que permiten el control de la enfermedad y el ahorro corticoideo (AU)

Clinical case: A ten year-old girl, after a Yersinia gastroenteritis, developed an optic neuritis in the left eye. She was not treated and resulted ultimately in optic atrophy on the affected side. Six months later a similar episode occurred in the contralateral eye. On this occasion corticosteroid therapy was given. During this therapy the neuritis diminished; however the patient had three relapses, so it was decided to give her immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and continue this indefinitely. Discussion: After considering the differential diagnoses of bilateral recurrent optical neuritis in childhood, we concluded that it was most likely to have an autoimmune basis. After considering the benefits and risks of the long-term treatment, we believe immunosuppressive therapy is most useful in controlling the disease allowing corticosteroid therapy to be reduced (AU)

Tomografía óptica de coherencia en oclusión de arteria central de la retina / Optical coherence tomography in central retinal artery occlusion

Casos clínicos: Presentamos tres ojos afectados de obstrucción de arteria central de la retina (OACR). En todos ellos realizamos exploración con tomografía óptica de coherencia (OCT). Dependiendo del tiempo de evolución del cuadro clínico, los signos oftalmoscópicos de OACR eran más o menos evidentes. Sin embargo, la presencia de una banda hiporreflectante en las imágenes de OCT pudo objetivarse en todos los casos. Discusión: La presencia en las imágenes de OCT de una banda hiporreflectante por debajo de la retina neurosensorial en los casos de OACR, que persiste incluso meses después del inicio del cuadro clínico, resulta útil en el diagnóstico de esta patología retiniana

Clinical cases: Three eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) have been studied. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in each of them. Ophthalmoscopic signs of CRAO were equivocal in the three eyes. However, the presence of a hyporeflective signal in the OCT scan could be seen clearly in each of them. Discussion: The presence of a hyporeflective band between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in OCT images, that persist for several months after a CRAO episode, is useful in establishing the diagnosis in these patients