Differential diagnosis of fever and rash cases negative for measles and rubella to complement surveillance activities.

In the quest to eliminate measles virus (MV) and rubella virus (Ruv), every suspected case must be properly identified and diagnosed. Since 2017, in Milan (Italy), a total of 978 measles and rubella suspected cases (fever and rash) were investigated and 310 were not laboratory confirmed (discarded cases). To improve surveillance activities, we investigated the presence in discarded cases of 8 other viral pathogens commonly associated with rash: human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and 7 (HHV-7), parvovirus B19 (B19V), enterovirus (EV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human adenovirus (HAdV), cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and SARS-CoV-2. Differential diagnosis was carried out on 289 discarded cases by multiplex real-time PCR assays. At least one pathogen was detected in 188 cases (65.1%) with HHV-7 being the most frequently detected virus. No difference in the number of detected infections overtime was observed and infections were identified in all age groups. As expected, most HHV-6, EV, HAdV, and HCMV-positive cases were found in children aged 0-4 years and HHV-7 was most frequent in the 15-39 age group. In light of the World Health Organization measles elimination goal, the introduction of laboratory methods for differential diagnosis is required for the final classification of clinically compatible cases. The used screening panel allowed us to increase the percentage of virus-positive cases to 87.5%, allowing us to clarify viral involvement and epidemiology, improve diagnosis, and strengthen surveillance activities. As all investigated pathogens were detected, this diagnostic panel was a suitable tool to complement MV and RuV surveillance activities.

Detection of human papillomavirus in fresh and dried urine through an automated system for cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries.

The majority of cervical cancer cases and associated deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where sociocultural barriers, poor access to prevention and care, and technical and practical difficulties hinder screening coverage improvement. Using urine specimens for human papillomaviruses (HPV) molecular screening through automated testing platforms can help to overcome these problems. We evaluated the high-risk (HR) HPV detection performance of the Xpert® HPV test on GeneXpert® System (Cepheid), on fresh and dried urine (Dried Urine Spot [DUS]) samples as compared to an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping assay. Forty-five concentrated urine samples collected from women with known cytological and HPV infection status, determined through in-house PCR and genotyping assays, were tested "as is" and as DUS with the Xpert® HPV test. This system detected HR-HPV in 86.4% of fresh and in 77.3% of dried urine samples collected from HPV+ women, correctly identifying HR-HPV infection in 100% of women with low- and high-grade lesions. High concordance (91.4%, k = 0.82) was found between PCR test and Xpert® HPV Test from urine. Urine-based Xpert® HPV test seems to be a suitable screening test for detection of HR-HPV infections associated with low- and high-grade lesions requiring follow-up monitoring or treatment. This methodology, relying on noninvasively collected samples and on available rapid testing platforms, could facilitate large, at-scale screening programs, particularly in LMICs and rural areas, thus reducing adverse outcomes of HPV infection and facilitating achievement of the WHO cervical cancer elimination goal.

Clinical characterization and whole genome sequence-based typing of two cases of endophthalmitis due to Listeria monocytogenes.

Endophthalmitis due to Listeria monocytogenes is a rare form of listeriosis. Here, we report two cases that occurred in patients with different medical history, a 46-years-old woman with no comorbidities and an elderly man with several comorbidities. There was no history of trauma or surgery in either patient suggesting an endogenous origin. Despite antibiotic treatment, both patients showed poor visual acuity outcomes. Subtyping clinical isolates using whole genome sequencing could allow to characterise Listeria monocytogenes strains involved in rare clinical manifestation, such as in unusual anatomical sites, even in immunocompetent patients.

HPV Type-Specific Prevalence a Decade after the Implementation of the Vaccination Program: Results from a Pilot Study.

Human papillomavirus infection is a cause of the development of invasive cervical cancer. Three types of vaccine are currently available to prevent precancerous/cancerous lesions due to persistent infection, which is supported mainly by 7 different high-risk genotypes. The aim of this pilot study was to acquire preliminary data on type-specific prevalence 10 years after the implementation of the HPV vaccination program in Italy, in order to subsequently plan appropriate observational studies in the Italian population. First-voided urine samples were collected from 393 consenting subjects, both females and males, aged 18-40 years, and HPV DNA was detected by PCR amplification of a 450 bp L1 fragment. All amplified products were genotyped by means of the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method. The female population was divided into three cohorts ("vaccine-eligible", "pre-screening" and "screening" cohorts) according to the preventive intervention scheduled by age; males were included in the same three cohorts according to their year of birth. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 19%, being higher in females than in males (22.1% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.03729). In the female population, 10 years after the start of the national immunization program, we observed a reduction in the prevalence of vaccine types and the number of circulating genotypes, especially in the "vaccine-eligible" cohort. The frequency of HPV vaccine types increased with age, particularly in males in the "pre-screening" and "screening" cohorts. Our study highlights the importance of monitoring HPV infection in both genders, to validate the effect of the HPV vaccination program.

Neuromuscular magnetic stimulation counteracts muscle decline in ALS patients: results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

The aim of the study was to verify whether neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (NMMS) improves muscle function in spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Twenty-two ALS patients were randomized in two groups to receive, daily for two weeks, NMMS in right or left arm (referred to as real-NMMS, rNMMS), and sham NMMS (sNMMS) in the opposite arm. All the patients underwent a median nerve conduction (compound muscle action potential, CMAP) study and a clinical examination that included a handgrip strength test and an evaluation of upper limb muscle strength by means of the Medical Research Council Muscle Scale (MRC). Muscle biopsy was then performed bilaterally on the flexor carpi radialis muscle to monitor morpho-functional parameters and molecular changes. Patients and physicians who performed examinations were blinded to the side of real intervention. The primary outcome was the change in the muscle strength in upper arms. The secondary outcomes were the change from baseline in the CMAP amplitudes, in the nicotinic ACh currents, in the expression levels of a selected panel of genes involved in muscle growth and atrophy, and in histomorphometric parameters of ALS muscle fibers. The Repeated Measures (RM) ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction (sphericity not assumed) showed a significant effect [F(3, 63) = 5.907, p < 0.01] of rNMMS on MRC scale at the flexor carpi radialis muscle, thus demonstrating that the rNMMS significantly improves muscle strength in flexor muscles in the forearm. Secondary outcomes showed that the improvement observed in rNMMS-treated muscles was associated to counteracting muscle atrophy, down-modulating the proteolysis, and increasing the efficacy of nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs). We did not observe any significant difference in pre- and post-stimulation CMAP amplitudes, evoked by median nerve stimulation. This suggests that the improvement in muscle strength observed in the stimulated arm is unlikely related to reinnervation. The real and sham treatments were well tolerated without evident side effects. Although promising, this is a proof of concept study, without an immediate clinical translation, that requires further clinical validation.

Short-Term Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide Therapy in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: a Pilot Study to Possible Future Implications of Treatment.

BACKGROUND: The cannabinoid system may be involved in the humoral mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. Ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide (µm-PEA) has recently been shown to reduce the desensitization of Acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents in denervated patients modifying the stability of ACh receptor (AChR) function. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible beneficial effects of µm-PEA in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on muscular fatigue and neurophysiological changes. METHOD: The duration of this open pilot study, which included an intra-individual control, was three weeks. Each patient was assigned to a 1-week treatment period with µm-PEA 600 mg twice a day. A neurophysiological examination based on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the masseteric and the axillary nerves was performed, and the quantitative MG (QMG) score was calculated in 22 MG patients every week in a three-week follow-up period. AChR antibody titer was investigated to analyze a possible immunomodulatory effect of PEA in MG patients. RESULTS: PEA had a significant effect on the QMG score (p=0.03418) and on RNS of the masseteric nerve (p=0.01763), thus indicating that PEA reduces the level of disability and decremental muscle response. Antibody titers did not change significantly after treatment. CONCLUSION: According to our observations, µm-PEA as an add-on therapy could improve muscular response to fatigue in MG. The possible modulation of AChR currents as a means of eliciting a direct effect from PEA on the conformation of ACh receptors should be investigated. The co-role of cytokines also warrants an analysis. Given the rapidity and reversibility of the response, we suppose that PEA acts directly on AChR, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic neuropathic pain in patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) associated with standard drug therapies for neuropathic pain that does not respond to pharmacological treatment alone in patients with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC). Secondary goals were to assess the effects of rTMS on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and Quality of Life (QOL). METHODS: Fifteen patients with BPS/IC were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, sham stimulation-controlled, crossover study. Patients were treated for 2 weeks with either real-rTMS (for five consecutive days in 20-min sessions) or sham-rTMS (for five consecutive days in 20-min sessions). After a 6-week washout period, the patients who had previously undergone real-rTMS underwent sham-rTMS, and vice versa. Patients were rated at each visit by means of questionnaires on pain, urinary disturbances, depression, and QOL. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed significant effects of real-rTMS, when compared with sham-rTMS, on pain (in the VAS, Functional Neuropathic Pelvic Pain, Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory, McGill questionnaire, and Central Sensitization Inventory), urinary LUTS (in the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire score, bladder emptying, and daily urinary frequency), and QOL (in the subscores of the SF-36 related to physical pain and to emotional status). No serious adverse events were reported during the study. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that rTMS applied with an H-coil over the M1 in the area corresponding to the pelvic region in patients with BPS/IC appears to improve chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and associated urinary disorders.

Dual activation of Toll-like receptors 7 and 9 impairs the efficacy of antitumor vaccines in murine models of metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Since combination of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands could boost antitumor immunity, we evaluated the efficacy of dendritic cell (DC) vaccines upon dual activation of TLR9 and TLR7 in breast cancer models. METHODS: DCs were generated from mouse bone marrow or peripheral blood from healthy human donors and stimulated with CpG1826 (mouse TLR9 agonist), CpG2006 or IMT504 (human TLR9 agonists) and R848 (TLR7 agonist). Efficacy of antitumor vaccines was evaluated in BALB/c mice bearing metastatic mammary adenocarcinomas. RESULTS: CpG-DCs improved the survival of tumor-bearing mice, reduced the development of lung metastases and generated immunological memory. However, dual activation of TLRs impaired the efficacy of DC vaccines. In vitro, we found that R848 inhibited CpG-mediated maturation of murine DCs. A positive feedback loop in TLR9 mRNA expression was observed upon CpG stimulation that was inhibited in the presence of R848. Impaired activation of NF-κB was detected when TLR9 and TLR7 were simultaneously activated. Blockade of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and indoleamine-pyrrole-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) improved the activation of CpG-DCs. When we evaluated the effect of combined activation of TLR9 and TLR7 in human DCs, we found that R848 induced robust DC activation that was inhibited by TLR9 agonists. CONCLUSIONS: These observations provide insight in the biology of TLR9 and TLR7 crosstalk and suggest caution in the selection of agonists for multiple TLR stimulation. Blockade of NOS and IDO could improve the maturation of antitumor DC vaccines. R848 could prove a useful adjuvant for DC vaccines in human patients.

Laryngeal Sensitivity in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Recent studies have shown the involvement of the sensory nervous system in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between the laryngeal sensitivity deficit and the type of ALS onset (bulbar or spinal) in a large series of 114 consecutive ALS patients. Participants were subdivided into two groups, bulbar and spinal ALS, according to the clinical onset of disease and submitted to a clinical and instrumental evaluation of swallowing, including a fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing. Dysphagia severity was scored using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and the Pooling score (P-score). In addition, three patients with laryngeal sensitivity deficit were submitted to a laryngeal biopsy to assess the status of the sensory innervation. All patients showed a normal glottal closure during phonation and volitional cough. Fifty-six subjects (49%), 14 spinal- and 42 bulbar-onset ALS, showed dysphagia at the first clinical observation (PAS score >1; P-score >5). Dysphagia resulted more frequently in bulbar-onset ALS (P < 0.01). Thirty-eight (33%) patients had a sensory deficit of the larynx. The sensory deficit of the larynx was significantly more frequent in bulbar-onset ALS (P < 0.01). The sensory deficit of the larynx among dysphagic patients was also significantly more frequent in bulbar-onset ALS (P = 0.02). Several abnormalities were found in all three subjects who underwent a laryngeal biopsy: in one patient, no intraepidermal fiber was found; in the other two, the fibers showed morphological changes. Our observations are important to consider for assessment and management of dysphagia in patients with ALS.

Differential expression of the fractalkine chemokine receptor (CX3CR1) in human monocytes during differentiation.

Circulating monocytes (Mos) may continuously repopulate macrophage (MAC) or dendritic cell (DC) populations to maintain homeostasis. MACs and DCs are specialized cells that play different and complementary immunological functions. Accordingly, they present distinct migratory properties. Specifically, whereas MACs largely remain in tissues, DCs are capable of migrating from peripheral tissues to lymphoid organs. The aim of this work was to analyze the expression of the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) during the monocytic differentiation process. Freshly isolated Mos express high levels of both CX3CR1 mRNA and protein. During the Mo differentiation process, CX3CR1 is downregulated in both DCs and MACs. However, MACs showed significantly higher CX3CR1 expression levels than did DC. We also observed an antagonistic CX3CR1 regulation by interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 during MAC activation through the classical and alternative MAC pathways, respectively. IFN-γ inhibited the loss of CX3CR1, but IL-4 induced it. Additionally, we demonstrated an association between CX3CR1 expression and apoptosis prevention by soluble fractalkine (sCX3CL1) in Mos, DCs and MACs. This is the first report demonstrating sequential and differential CX3CR1 modulation during Mo differentiation. Most importantly, we demonstrated a functional link between CX3CR1 expression and cell survival in the presence of sCX3CL1.

Estenosis papilar benigna: nuestra experiencia / Benign papillary stenosis

Introducción: La Estenosis papilar benigna tiene diferentes etiologías. Se presenta como dolor biliar agudo o recurrente, alteración del perfil colestásico e ictericia. La colangiografía endoscópica es el gold estándar en el diagnóstico: dilatación de la vía biliar extrahepática y disminución del colédoco intrapapilar en “punta de lápiz”. La esfinterotomía endoscópica tiene una tasa de éxito de 99 a 100%. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes desde enero 2004 a febrero 2012 con dilatación de la vía biliar, alteración de las pruebas de colestasis y dolor tipo biliar. Resultados: De 1128 colangiografías retrógradas endoscópicas, 96 casos (6.11%) fueron estenosis papilar benigna. 64 (66.7%) sexo femenino, 45 (46.9%) vesícula in situ y 19 (19.8%) colecistectomizados. Alteración del perfil colestásico en 78 (81.3%). Endoscópicamente: papila rasgada 54 (56.3%). El acceso a la vía biliar se logró en todos los casos, 80 (83.3%) con esfinterotomo de arco. Coledocolitiasis asociada 33 (34.4%). Las complicaciones fueron: pancreatitis y hemorragia leves (5.2%). Conclusiones: La incidencia de Estenosis papilar benigna fue de 6.11%. La papila rasgada nos hace inferir la etiología traumática por el paso de los cálculos e hipertrofia de los elementos musculares del Esfínter de Oddi. La esfinterotomía endoscópica es una técnica segura y efectiva para resolver la Estenosis Papilar benigna.

Introduction: Benign papillary stenosis has different etiologies. It present as acute or recurrent biliar pain, alteration in cholestatic profi le and jaundice. Endoscopic Cholangiography is the gold standard in the diagnoses: extra hepatic biliar tract dilatation and intrapapillary narrowing of common bile duct in “pen tip”. Endoscopic sphincterotomy has a success rate from 99 to 100%. Methods: We included patients from January 2004 to February 2012 with biliary tract dilatation, alteration in cholestasis profi le and biliary pain. Results: From 1128 Retrograde cholangiography endoscopic, 96 (6.11%) were benign papillary stenosis. 64 (66.7%) female, 45 (46.9%) in situ gall bladder and 19 (19.8%) cholecistectomized. Alteration in cholestasis profi le in 78 patients (81.3%). Endoscopic fi ndings: torn sphincter 54 (56.3%). Biliary tract access in all cases, 80 (83.3%) arch sphincterotomo. Association with choledocholithiasis 33 (34.4%). The complications were mild pancreatitis and hemorrhage (5.2%). Conclusions: Benign papillary stenosis incidence was 6.11%. Torn sphincter makes us suppose a traumatic etiology by the passage of the stones and hypertrophy of the muscle elements in sphincter of Oddi. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and effective technique to resolve the benign papillary stenosis.

Procedimiento combinado (rendezvouz): endoscópico y transkehr / Combined procedure (rendezvous): endoscopic and transkehr

Hasta los años 70 la obstrucción biliar fue tratada con derivaciones biliodigestivas. El abordaje percutáneo se ha venido utilizando con fi nes diagnósticos y terapéuticos cada vez más prometedores. Los métodos combinados que utilizan endoscopia (Rendezvous) pueden realizarse vía transparietohepática, eco endoscópica, laparoscopica o transKehr. Objetivo: Evaluar el abordaje de la vía biliar a través de la combinación de la técnica endoscópica y transkehr (Rendezvous). Métodos: Se evaluaron pacientes entre enero 2004 y febrero 2012 a quienes se les realizó colecistectomía más coledocotomía y colocación de tubo de Kehr, y con deformidad postquirúrgica, canulación difícil y dificultad del paso del contraste a duodeno vía transkehr que imposibilitan la colangiografía retrógrada endoscópica. Resultados: De 1146 colangiografías retrógrada endoscópicas, 12 (1.04%) fueron realizadas en pacientes que cumplían los criterios de inclusión. 75% del sexo femenino. La etiología más frecuente fue la colédocolitiasis (83.3%) y 16.7% estenosis de papila. En todos los pacientes el drenaje biliar fue exitoso. No hubo complicaciones ni mortalidad asociada al procedimiento. Conclusiones: El procedimiento combinado endoscópico-transKehr es efectivo, sencillo y seguro en el abordaje biliar alternativo cuando fracasa o no es posible la técnica convencional, asociado a menor trauma papilar y menos incidencia de pancreatitis.

Until the 1970s, biliary obstruction was resolved surgically. Percutaneous approach has been used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes with more and more promising results. Combined methods using endoscopy (Rendezvous) can be made via transparietohepatic, endoscopic ultrasound, laparoscopic, or transKehr. Objective: Evaluate the approach of the biliary tract through the combination of the endoscopic technique and transkehr (Rendezvous). Methods: Evaluated patients between January 2004 and February 2012 those who underwent both cholecystectomy more coledocotomy combined with Kehr tube placement, because of postoperative deformity, difficult cannulation or difficulty of the passage from the contrast to duodenum through transkehr tube, that therefore preclude cholangiography retrograde endoscopic. Results: from 1146 retrograde cholangiography endoscopic, 12 (1.04%) were performed in patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 75% were female. The most frequent etiology was choledocholithiasis (83.3%) and stenosis of duodenal papilla 16.7%. Biliary drainage was successful in all patients. There were no complications or mortality associated with the procedure. Conclusions: The combined procedure endoscopic-transKehr is effective, simple and secure alternative biliary approach when it fails or is not possible the conventional technique, associated with minor trauma papillary and less incidence of pancreatitis.

Neutrophils suppress γδ T-cell function.

γδ T cells have been shown to stimulate the recruitment and activation of neutrophils through the release of a range of cytokines and chemokines. Here, we investigated the reverse relationship, showing that human neutrophils suppress the function of human blood γδ T cells. We show that the upregulation of CD25 and CD69 expression, the production of IFN-γ, and the proliferation of γδ T cells induced by (E)-1-hydroxy-2-methylbut-2-enyl 4-diphosphate are inhibited by neutrophils. Spontaneous activation of γδ T cells in culture is also suppressed by neutrophils. We show that inhibitors of prostaglandin E2 and arginase I do not exert any effect, although, in contrast, catalase prevents the suppression of γδ T cells induced by neutrophils, suggesting the participation of neutrophil-derived ROS. We also show that the ROS-generating system xanthine/xanthine oxidase suppresses γδ T cells in a similar fashion to neutrophils, while neutrophils from chronic granulomatous disease patients only weakly inhibit γδ T cells. Our results reveal a bi-directional cross-talk between γδ T cells and neutrophils: while γδ T cells promote the recruitment and the activation of neutrophils to fight invading pathogens, neutrophils in turn suppress the activation of γδ T cells to contribute to the resolution of inflammation.

3-Mercaptopropionic acid-induced repetitive seizures increase GluN2A expression in rat hippocampus: a potential neuroprotective role of cyclopentyladenosine.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and neurological diseases like epilepsy and it is the major mediator of excitotoxicity. Functional NMDARs in the mature brain are heteromeric complexes composed of different subunits: GluN1 and GluN2. There are four different GluN2 subunits (A-D) and each of them critically determines the pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of NMDARs. GluN1 is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system while the highest GluN2A expression is in the hippocampus. Adenosine, an endogenous anticonvulsant, is a neuromodulator with a critical role in the regulation of neuronal activity, mediating its effect on specific receptors, among which adenosine A1 receptor is highly expressed in the hippocampus. In the present work hippocampal GluN2A expression after the convulsant drug 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MP) induced seizures and the effect of cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) given alone or prior to MP (CPA + MP) in an acute or repetitive experimental model was studied. CPA administered to rats for one or 4 days increases seizure threshold induced by MP. After one administration of MP, no significant difference in GluN2A expression was observed in CPA and CPA + MP by Western blot, although immunohistochemistry revealed an increase in CA2/3 area. However, repetitive MP administration during 4 days showed a significant increase of GluN2A expression, and the repetitive administration of CPA 30 min prior to MP caused a significant decrease of GluN2A expression with respect to MP treatment, returning to control levels. These results show that GluN2A subunit is involved in repetitive MP-induced seizures, while CPA administration displays a protective effect against it.

Prevalencia de abscesos hepáticos en el Hospital General del Oeste: período 2008-2010 / Prevalence of liver abscess in the General Hospital West: period 2008-2010

Introducción: Los abscesos hepáticos tienen múltiples etiologías, siendo los amebianos endémicos en los países en desarrollo, con una incidencia de 21 en 100.000 habitantes, generalmente son únicos y se ubican en el lóbulo derecho. Son más prevalentes en el sexo masculino, entre la tercera y quinta década de la vida. La mortalidad depende de la diferenciación entre el absceso piógeno, que es de alta mortalidad (hasta 40%) y que con frecuencia requiere drenaje, y el amebiano que es de nula mortalidad, el cual requerirá drenaje, dependiendo de su tamaño y de algunas localizaciones críticas. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia y características ultrasonográficas de los abscesos hepáticos en el servicio de gastroenterología del Hospital General del Oeste. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de los hallazgos ultrasonográficos en pacientes con diagnóstico de absceso hepático, que acudieron al servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital General del Oeste, entre el año 2008 y el año 2010. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 58 pacientes. De los cuales el 72.4% fueron del sexo masculino y 27.5% del sexo femenino. Con una edad promedio de 37.6 años. El principal hallazgo ultrasonográfico fue absceso hepático único en 86.7%, de tamaño mediano (43.1%), con ubicación en el lóbulo derecho (84.4%). El 100% de los pacientes recibió tratamiento médico basado en antibioticoterapia, en 87.93% sólo se indico tratamiento médico, 5.17% drenaje percutáneo y 6.89% drenaje quirúrgico. Conclusión: Los abscesos hepáticos en nuestro centro son más frecuentes en el sexo masculino, siendo el hallazgo ultrasonográfico más común la presencia de abscesos medianos, únicos y ubicados en lóbulo derecho. En cuanto al tratamiento, la totalidad de los pacientes recibió antibioticoterapia oral o endovenosa, siendo bajo el porcentaje de pacientes que ameritó el drenaje de los mismos.

Introduction: Liver abscesses have multiple etiologies, with the amoebic form as a endemic in developing countries, with an incidence of 21 in 100,000 people, they are unique and are usually located in the right lobe. They are more prevalent in males between the third and fifth decade of life. Mortality depends on the differentiation between pyogenic abscess, which is a high mortality (up to 40%) and often requires drainage, and amebic which is no mortality, which require drainage, depending on their size and some locations criticism. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and ultrasonographic features of liver abscesses in the department of gastroenterology at the Hospital General del Oeste. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of ultrasound findings in patients with liver abscess, who attended the Gastroenterology Service of the Western General Hospital, between 2008 and 2010. Results: A total of 58 patients. Of which 72.4% were male and 27.5% female. With an average age of 37.6 years. The main finding was ultrasonographic liver abscess in 86.7% single, medium-sized (43.1%), with location in the right lobe (84.4%). 100% of the patients received medical treatment based on antibiotic therapy in only 87.93% indicated medical treatment, 5.17% percutaneous drainage and 6.89% surgical drainage. Conclusión: Liver abscesses in our hospital are more frequent in males, being the most common ultrasonographic finding: abscesses medium, unique and located in the right lobe. As for treatment, all patients received oral or intravenous antibiotics, with low percentage of patients that required draining them.

Hallazgos endoscópicos en pacientes con hemorragia digestiva inferior en el Hospital General del Oeste durante los años 2003-2008 / Endoscopic findings in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the Hospital General del Oeste during the years 2003-2008

La hemorragia digestiva inferior ocupa aproximadamente el 0.5% de todas las admisiones de corta estancia en los hospitales de lo estados Unidos. La incidencia de sangrado digestivo inferior es estimada en 20 a 27 casos por cada 100 mil adultos en la población de riesgos. Es más común en hombres que en mujeres. La mortalidad global oscila al 5 % según la causa. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue determinar los hallazgos endoscópicos más frecuentes en pacientes con hemorragia digestiva inferior en el servicio de gastroenterología del hospital General del Oeste. Se realizo una revisión retrospectiva de los hallazgos endoscópicos en pacientes mayores de 18 años que acudieron al servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital General del Oeste entre diciembre del 2003 y diciembre del 2008 con el diagnostico de hemorragia digestiva inferior. Un total de 389 pacientes. De los cuales el55.7 %fueron del sexo femenino y 44.3 % del sexo masculino. Con una edad promedio de 53.2 años. El principal hallazgo endoscópico fue enfermedad diverticular con un 26. 9%, seguido de hemorroides internas y externas con un 26.4% y 12.8 % respectivamente. El 15.4 % de las endoscopias digestivas inferiores fueron normales. La hemorragia digestiva inferior en nuestro centro es más frecuente en mujeres, siendo el hallazgo endoscópico más común la enfermedad diverticular y la enfermedad hemorroidal en ambos sexo...

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding represents approximately 0.5% of all short-stay admissions in United States hospitals. The incidence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is estimated at 20-27 cases per 100.000 adults in the risk population. It is more common in men than in women. The overall mortality ranges at 5% depending on the cause. The aim of our study was to determine the endoscopic findings in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding in Hospital General del Oeste. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of endoscopic findings in patients older than 18 years-old who attended the Gastroenterology Service of Hospital General del Oeste between December 2003 and December 2008, with lower gastrointestinal bleeding diagnosis. A total of 389 patients. Of which, 55.7% were female and 44.3% male; with an average age of 53.2 years-old. Diverticulitis was the main endoscopic finding with 26.9%, followed by internal and external hemorrhoids with 26.4% and 12.8% respectively. 15.4% of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies were normal. The lower gastrointestinal bleeding in our hospital is more common in women, being diverticulitis and hemorrhoids the most common endoscopic finding, in either sex...