Implementation of an Intervention Plan for Emotional Development in People with Down Syndrome.

The importance of music, as well as the different and diverse possibilities that it offers, favors the emotional development of any person. This research is based on the development and application of a set of activities, whose transversal axis is the use of music, to favor and promote the emotional development of people with Down syndrome. This application of activities was developed with a group of eight participants, between the ages of twenty and forty-five years old. Additionally, under a total duration of eight working sessions. In these sessions, listening, vocal, instrumental, and movement activities were developed. For each of the emotions worked on; joy, fear, anger, sadness, calm, and love, a story and a song from the story were selected for each one of them. The methodology used was qualitative, using program evaluation. For this purpose, on the one hand, the data obtained during the different sessions were analyzed, and on the other hand, the data collected in the two discussion groups carried out were analyzed. Finally, the data obtained were organized into six categories: image recognition, observation of emotions, experience of emotions, identification of emotions, recognition of emotions, and finally, enjoyment of emotions. It could be seen that, after the sessions, there was a significant improvement in the different categories. However, in the categories of identification of emotions and recognition of emotions, the results were more favorable compared to the rest.

[Hyperthyroidism as a diagnostic key to advanced choriocarcinoma. An unusual association]. / Hipertiroidismo como clave diagnóstica de un coriocarcinoma avanzado. Una asociación inusual.

Hyperthyroidism is a relatively frequent condition with multiple causes. The most common cause is Graves' disease; followed by hyperthyroid multinodular goiter and toxic adenoma. Association between hyperthyroidism and cancer is infrequent in daily practice. We present the case of a 42-year-old man who developed severe symptoms of hyperthyroidism within a period of two months. Physical examination revealed significant hepatomegaly. Testicular examination proved normal. Imaging studies showed the presence of multiple hepatic solid lesions consistent with metastases. After discarding the most common causes of hyperthyroidism and primary thyroid gland neoplasm, the possibility of molecular mimicry was considered through human chorionic gonadotrophin production. Critical high values of this hormone were found and choriocarcinoma histological diagnosis was confirmed through a liver biopsy. We consider that the recognition of this rare mechanism of hyperthyroidism may be a clue permitting a faster diagnosis, particularly when extragonadal tumors are present.

El hipertiroidismo es una condición relativamente frecuente con múltiples etiologías. La más común es la enfermedad de Graves, seguida del bocio multinodular y el adenoma tóxico. La asociación entre hipertiroidismo y cáncer es infrecuente en la práctica clínica. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 42 años con síntomas de hipertiroidismo de dos meses de evolución. Al examen físico se constató una marcada hepatomegalia de consistencia duro pétrea. El examen de testículos se reveló normal. Se llevó a cabo el diagnóstico de hipertiroidismo a través del dosaje hormonal. Los estudios por imágenes mostraron la presencia de múltiples lesiones sólidas compatibles con metástasis hepáticas. Luego de descartar las causas habituales de hipertiroidismo y las neoplasias primarias de la glándula tiroides, se consideró la posibilidad de mimetismo molecular a través de la producción ectópica de gonadotrofina coriónica humana. Se obtuvieron valores críticamente elevados de esta hormona y en un segundo tiempo se confirmó el diagnóstico histológico de coriocarcinoma a través de una biopsia hepática. Consideramos que el reconocimiento de este mecanismo poco frecuente de hipertiroidismo, puede ser una clave diagnóstica para arribar rápidamente al diagnóstico correcto, particularmente en los tumores extragonadales.

Hipertiroidismo como clave diagnóstica de un coriocarcinoma avanzado: Una asociación inusual / Hyperthyroidism as a diagnostic key to advanced choriocarcinoma. An unusual association

El hipertiroidismo es una condición relativamente frecuente con múltiples etiologías. La más común es la enfermedad de Graves, seguida del bocio multinodular y el adenoma tóxico. La asociación entre hipertiroidismo y cáncer es infrecuente en la práctica clínica. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 42 años con síntomas de hipertiroidismo de dos meses de evolución. Al examen físico se constató una marcada hepatomegalia de consistencia duro pétrea. El examen de testículos se reveló normal. Se llevó a cabo el diagnóstico de hipertiroidismo a través del dosaje hormonal. Los estudios por imágenes mostraron la presencia de múltiples lesiones sólidas compatibles con metástasis hepáticas. Luego de descartar las causas habituales de hipertiroidismo y las neoplasias primarias de la glándula tiroides, se consideró la posibilidad de mimetismo molecular a través de la producción ectópica de gonadotrofina coriónica humana. Se obtuvieron valores críticamente elevados de esta hormona y en un segundo tiempo se confirmó el diagnóstico histológico de coriocarcinoma a través de una biopsia hepática. Consideramos que el reconocimiento de este mecanismo poco frecuente de hipertiroidismo, puede ser una clave diagnóstica para arribar rápidamente al diagnóstico correcto, particularmente en los tumores extragonadales.

Hyperthyroidism is a relatively frequent condition with multiple causes. The most common cause is Graves' disease; followed by hyperthyroid multinodular goiter and toxic adenoma. Association between hyperthyroidism and cancer is infrequent in daily practice. We present the case of a 42-year-old man who developed severe symptoms of hyperthyroidism within a period of two months. Physical examination revealed significant hepatomegaly. Testicular examination proved normal. Imaging studies showed the presence of multiple hepatic solid lesions consistent with metastases. After discarding the most common causes of hyperthyroidism and primary thyroid gland neoplasm, the possibility of molecular mimicry was considered through human chorionic gonadotrophin production. Critical high values of this hormone were found and choriocarcinoma histological diagnosis was confirmed through a liver biopsy. We consider that the recognition of this rare mechanism of hyperthyroidism may be a clue permitting a faster diagnosis, particularly when extragonadal tumors are present.

[ACTH's ectopic secretion in a patient with precedents of Cushing's disease]. / Secreción ectópica de ACTH en un paciente con antecedentes de enfermedad de Cushing.

A 54-year-old man, with a history of Cushing's disease diagnosed 32 years earlier, presented with edema, asthenia and general malaise. Abnormal laboratory studies depicted hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. A CT scan of the chest revealed a 3×3 cm tumor in the anterior mediastinum. The pathology was consistent with a thymic carcinoid. These findings led to a diagnosis of biochemical Cushing's syndrome secondary to ectopic secretion of ACTH. Thus, this patient suffered twice of Cushing's syndrome. The first instance was the consequence of an ACTH--secreting pituitary adenoma and the second of an ectopic secretion of ACTH. To the best of our knowledge this is the first such case reported in the medical literature.

Secreción ectópica de ACTH en un paciente con antecedentes de enfermedad de Cushing / ACTH's ectopic secretion in a patient with precedents of Cushing's disease

Hombre de 54 años con antecedentes de enfermedad de Cushing 32 años antes de la consulta. Ingresó por edemas asociados a astenia y adinamia. En el laboratorio se constató hipopotasemia y alcalosis metabólica. Se realizó diagnóstico humoral de síndrome de Cushing secundario a secreción ectópica de hormona adrenocorticotropa (ACTH). En la tomografía de tórax se halló un tumor de 3 × 3 cm en el mediastino anterior. La anatomía patológica de la pieza quirúrgica fue compatible con un carcinoide tímico. Este paciente sufrió en dos oportunidades un síndrome de Cushing, la primera por enfermedad (adenoma hipofisiario) y la segunda vez por secreción ectópica de ACTH (SEA) una asociación no descripta, en nuestro conocimiento, en la literatura médica.

A 54-year-old man, with a history of Cushing’s disease diagnosed 32 years earlier, presented with edema, asthenia and general malaise. Abnormal laboratory studies depicted hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. A CT scan of the chest revealed a 3 × 3 cm tumor in the anterior mediastinum. The pathology was consistent with a thymic carcinoid. These findings led to a diagnosis of biochemical Cushing’s syndrome secondary to ectopic secretion of ACTH. Thus, this patient suffered twice of Cushing’s syndrome. The first instance was the consequence of an ACTH - secreting pituitary adenoma and the second of an ectopic secretion of ACTH. To the best of our knowledge this is the first such case reported in the medical literature.