Symbol Digit Modalities Test: Normative data for Spanish-speaking pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) in Spanish-speaking pediatric populations. METHOD: The sample consisted of 4,373 healthy children from nine countries in Latin America (Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico) and Spain. Each participant was administered the SDMT as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. SDMT scores were normed using multiple linear regressions and standard deviations of residual values. Age, age2, sex, and mean level of parental education (MLPE) were included as predictors in the analyses. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models showed main effects for age in all countries, such that score increased linearly as a function of age. In addition, age2 had a significant effect in all countries, except in Honduras and Puerto Rico. Models indicated that children whose parent(s) had a MLPE >12 years of education obtained higher score compared to children whose parent(s) had a MLPE ≤12 years for Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain. Sex affected SDMT score for Paraguay and Spain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest Spanish-speaking pediatric normative study in the world, and it will allow neuropsychologists from these countries to have a more accurate interpretation of the SDMT with pediatric populations.

[Peritoneal tuberculosis: evaluation of the response to treatment by analysing the CA 125 levels]. / Tuberculosis peritoneal: valoración de la respuesta al tratamiento mediante los niveles de CA 125.

A case of a 32 years old woman with fever and exudative ascites is described. Tuberculous peritonitis was confirmed by abdominal laparoscopy, peritoneal biopsy and Lowënstein culture. A serum CA 125 level was 861 U/ml before therapy. The CA 125 level decreased a 30% after three weeks of antituberculous treatment. This tumor marker may be used to follow disease activity in tuberculous ascites.

[Primary esophageal melanoma]. / Melanoma esofágico primario.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is an extremely rare non-epithelial neoplasm with a fatal prognosis. At present, approximately 184 cases have been published in the world literature. Of all published cases, 10 (5.4%) occurred in Spain. A 76 year-old man with malignant melanoma of the esophagus presented with dysphagia and weight loss, and treated by subtotal esophageal resection is reported. There was no history of previous cutaneous melanoma and ophthalmologic examination had been normal. At esophagoscopy a polypoid and pigmented mass (diameter 5 cm) almost completely occluding the lumen in the lower third of the esophagus was found. Multiple tumor biopsies were obtained. Histological diagnoses were made by examining endoscopic biopsy specimens and confirmed with resected specimens. The purpose of this communication is to present a case of primary esophageal malignant melanoma proved preoperatively by histological and immunohistochemical studies (positive reaction to the HMB-45 and S-100 antigen), followed by a review of the literature of these exceptional tumors.