Exophytic Lumbar Vertebral Body Mass in an Adult with Back Pain.

Chordomas are rare primary bone malignancies derived from notochord remnants. The tumors often are slow-growing and often present with indolent, nonspecific symptoms. Nevertheless, chordomas are locally aggressive and highly prone to local recurrence, necessitating precise planning before biopsy and/or surgical resection. Familiarity with the imaging features of chordomas is, therefore, essential. This case highlights the typical imaging and pathologic features of a spinal chordoma as well as the surgical approach and the patient's subsequent outcome.

[Epidemiological features of exercise-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children aged 13-14 years old in Barcelona (Spain)]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos de la hiperreactividad bronquial inducida por el ejercicio en niños de 13-14 años en Barcelona.

BACKGROUND: Conclusive data on the risk factors that modify bronchial hyperresponsiveness after airway exposure to modulating triggers (histamine, methacholine and exercise) are lacking. In recent years some risk factors such as air pollution or infection have been questioned and even considered protective. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to exercise among schoolchildren and its association with different risk factors. METHODS: Three thousand thirty-three schoolchildren aged 13-14 years were studied. Participants answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. A total of 2,842 children underwent exercise challenge testing for bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This study was part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). RESULTS: A fall in peak expiratory flow rate of (15 % after exercise was found in 324 children (11.4 %), of whom 29 (9 %) also presented symptoms of asthma. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to exercise was significantly associated with lower age, female sex, high socioeconomic level and attending a private school. No association was found between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and obesity, tobacco or viral infections. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are not completely consistent with those of other studies, suggesting that local environmental factors may influence the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Further studies are required to clarify these conflicting data.

[Acute promyelocytic leukemia in the west of Venezuela]. / Leucemia promielocítica aguda en el occidente de Venezuela.

Twenty-nine cases of acute promyelocytic leukaemia of children and adults are reported. This figure represents 13.61% of all the acute leukaemias and 27.88% of the acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias found in Zulia State between 1982 and 1987. Those findings mean a higher frequency than reported in other childhood as well as adult series. So, Zulia State appears as an important geographic area for the occurrence of this type of leukaemia.