Elective, Non-urgent Procedures and Aesthetic Surgery in the Wake of SARS-COVID-19: Considerations Regarding Safety, Feasibility and Impact on Clinical Management.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide spread of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to a near total stop of non-urgent, elective surgeries across all specialties in most affected countries. In the field of aesthetic surgery, the self-imposed moratorium for all aesthetic surgery procedures recommended by most international scientific societies has been adopted by many surgeons worldwide and resulted in a huge socioeconomic impact for most private practices and clinics. An important question still unanswered in most countries is when and how should elective/aesthetic procedures be scheduled again and what kind of organizational changes are necessary to protect patients and healthcare workers when clinics and practices reopen. Defining manageable, evidence-based protocols for testing, surgical/procedural risk mitigation and clinical flow management/contamination management will be paramount for the safety of non-urgent surgical procedures. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE/PubMed research for all available publications on COVID-19 and surgery and COVID-19 and anesthesia. Articles and referenced literature describing possible procedural impact factors leading to exacerbation of the clinical evolution of COVID-19-positive patients were identified to perform risk stratification for elective surgery. Based on these impact factors, considerations for patient selection, choice of procedural complexity, duration of procedure, type of anesthesia, etc., are discussed in this article and translated into algorithms for surgical/anesthesia risk management and clinical management. Current recommendations and published protocols on contamination control, avoidance of cross-contamination and procedural patient flow are reviewed. A COVID-19 testing guideline protocol for patients planning to undergo elective aesthetic surgery is presented and recommendations are made regarding adaptation of current patient information/informed consent forms and patient health questionnaires. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 crisis has led to unprecedented challenges in the acute management of the crisis, and the wave only recently seems to flatten out in some countries. The adaptation of surgical and procedural steps for a risk-minimizing management of potential COVID-19-positive patients seeking to undergo elective aesthetic procedures in the wake of that wave will present the next big challenge for the aesthetic surgery community. We propose a clinical algorithm to enhance patient safety in elective surgery in the context of COVID-19 and to minimize cross-contamination between healthcare workers and patients. New evidence-based guidelines regarding surgical risk stratification, testing, and clinical flow management/contamination management are proposed. We believe that only the continuous development and broad implementation of guidelines like the ones proposed in this paper will allow an early reintegration of all aesthetic procedures into the scope of surgical care currently performed and to prepare the elective surgical specialties better for a possible second wave of the pandemic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Aerosolized Lipid Amphotericin B for Complementary Therapy and/or Secondary Prophylaxis in Patients with Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Experience with aerosolized lipid amphotericin B (aeLAB) as therapy or secondary prophylaxis in patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is anecdotal. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy of systemic antifungal therapy with and without aeLAB in patients with proven or probable IPA. Complete or partial response at 3 months was the primary end-point. Clinical response and mortality at 12 months, occurrence of adverse drug reactions and respiratory fungal colonization were secondary end-point. RESULTS: Eleven patients (39%) received aeLAB in addition to systemic antifungal therapy (group A), and 22 (61%) received systemic antifungal therapy only (group B). The use of aeLAB was not standardized. Amphotericin B lipid complex was used in all patients but one, who received liposomal amphotericin B. Five patients received aeLAB as antifungal complementary therapy and 6 received it as secondary prophylaxis. Except for the requirement of inhaled corticosteroids and home oxygen therapy, more frequent in group A, both groups were similar in baseline conditions. A better (nonsignificant) clinical outcome was observed at 3 months in patients receiving aeLAB. Only uncontrolled baseline condition was associated with one-year mortality in univariate analysis (p = 0.002). A multivariate Cox regression analysis suggests that aeLAB, corrected for uncontrolled underlying disease, reduces mortality at 12 months (HR 0.258; 95% CI 0.072-0.922; p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Although no significant difference was observed in the main variable (3-month clinical response) and in spite of methodological limitations of the study, the possible survival benefit of aeLAB, adjusted for the control of the underlying disease, could justify the performance of well-controlled studies with a greater number of patients.

Utilization of secondary-treated wastewater for the production of freshwater microalgae.

In this work, we studied the potential use of secondary-treated wastewater as nutrient source in the production of freshwater microalgae strains. Experiments were performed indoors in a semicontinuous mode, at 0.3 day(-1), simulating outdoor conditions. We demonstrated that all the tested strains can be produced by using only secondary-treated wastewater as the nutrient source. The utilization of secondary-treated wastewater imposes nutrient-limiting conditions, with maximal biomass productivity dropping to 0.5 g l(-1) day(-1) and modifies the biochemical composition of the biomass by increasing the amount of lipids and carbohydrates while reducing the biomass protein content. We measured fatty acid content and productivity of up to 25 %d.wt. and 110 mg l(-1) day(-1), respectively. We demonstrated that all the tested strains were capable of completely removing the nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the secondary-treated wastewater, and while the use of this effluent reduced the cells' photosynthetic efficiency, the nitrogen and phosphorus coefficient yield increased. Muriellopsis sp. and S. subpicatus were selected as the most promising strains for outdoor production using secondary-treated wastewater as the culture medium; this was not only because of their high productivity but also their photosynthetic efficiency, of up to 2.5 %, along with nutrient coefficient yields of up to 96 gbiomass gN (-1) and 166 gbiomass gP (-1). Coupling microalgae production processes to tertiary treatment in wastewater treatment plants make it possible to recover nutrients contained in the water and to produce valuable biomass, especially where nutrient removal is required prior to wastewater discharge.

Nanocomposite YCrO3/Al2O3: characterization of the core-shell, magnetic properties, and enhancement of dielectric properties.

Multifuncionality in polycrystalline multiferroic ceramics can be improved using an advanced synthesis process. In this work, core-shell design is being proposed to enhance the transport properties of biferroic YCrO3. The atomic layer deposition (ALD) thin-film growth technique was used for the YCrO3/Al2O3 (Y@Al) nanocomposite fabrication. A continuous, amorphous, and uniform Al2O3 shell, a few nanometers thick, was obtained and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The transport properties of biferroic YCrO3 coated with 50, 500, and 1000 ALD cycles of insulating Al2O3 were investigated using magnetization and AC conductivity measurements. It is observed that the values of the magnetic coercive field and the magnetization are affected by the amorphous and partially crystallized Al2O3 shell. Additionally, the Y@Al nanocomposite experiments show a notorious decreasing in the loss tangent and the electrical conductivity. Accordingly, hysteresis loops in the polarization versus electric energy data confirm the decrease of the leakage current as a consequence of the Al2O3 shell acting as a barrier layer. The results shown here confirm that the core-shell architecture is a promising alternative for improvement of the magnetic and ferroelectric properties in bulk multiferroics.

Predictive postoperative model for biochemical recurrence in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy as monotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the post-prostatectomy prognostic factors of biochemical recurrence (BCR) and develop a predictive model for BCR based on predictive pathological variables after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed patients with clinically localised prostate cancer treated with RP as monotherapy with a minimum follow up period of 12 months. We considered BCR to be the persistence or elevation of PSA levels after RP of> 0,4 ng/ml, and rising in the following determination. We performed uni-and multivariate analysis, using the logistic regression test to determine the variables associated with BCR. We developed a mathematical model to estimate BCR, based on the variables identified, with a logistic function equation and then designed an Excel spreadsheet to apply it. Calibration and discrimination were performed by way of a Hosmer-Lemeshow test and an ROC curve. RESULTS: 693 patients were included. Average age was 63.5 years and average follow up was 88.5 months. BCR was observed in 218 patients. The average time to BCR was 35.5 months, and 90% of the cases occurred in the first 7 years. In the multivariate analysis, the PSA, Gleason Score (GS) = 7(4+3), pathological stage pT3b and affectation of the surgical margin (SM) were identified as independent prognostic pathological variables related to BCR (p〈0,001). The above four variables were included into the equation of the model. Specificity and sensitivity were 90.6% and 50.2%. Its predictive capacity was 80.5% (CI 95% 76,80 -84.3). CONCLUSIONS: PSA, GS = 7(4+3), pathological stage pT3b and PSM were found to be the independent prognostic pathological variables related to BCR-free survival. The predictive model developed permits BCR risk estimation with a reliability of 80.5%

Urethral bleeding after open radical prostatectomy treated with selective arterial embolization. A rare complication.

OBJECTIVE: Gross hematuria in the immediate postoperative radical prostatectomy is a rare complication. According to different series reviewed, significant bleeding after this surgery appears between 0.5-1.5% of the cases. METHODS: 58 year old male with localized prostate cancer who underwent open radical prostatectomy with preservation of the neurovascular bundles and a left accessory pudendal branch. In the 4th postoperative day patient presented severe hematuria and urethral bleeding requiring continuous bladder irrigation and blood transfusion. Given the persistence of bleeding despite conservative measures CT-angiography was performed demonstrating active bleeding at a bulbar artery from the left internal pudendal artery without associated pelvic hematoma RESULTS: Given the findings selective embolization was performed with absorbable material stopping the bleeding. Three months later the patient maintains urinary continence and erectile function with tadalafil. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral bleeding after radical prostatectomy is a rare complication the cause of which is distal to the urinary sphincter unrelated to the pelvic vessels. The performance of CT angiography and subsequent embolization is the treatment of choice, avoiding open surgical revision, with less morbidity.

Predicting factors for recurrence in low-grade Ta primary bladder tumours.

OBJECTIVES: Ta bladder tumors constitute 53% of primary bladder neoplasms, 70% of them being low-grade (G1). These tumors present a 15- 38% chance of recurrence during the first year. The aim of this paper is to identify the predicting factors of the first recurrence in a series of TaG1 primary bladder tumors. METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed patients who were diagnosed with TaG1 primary bladder tumor by transurethral resection between 2004 and 2012. We established their tumor grade and pathological stage according to the WHO's classification guides for 1973 and 2004 as well as 2009's TNM. Those patients who were diagnosed before 2009 did not receive any adjuvant treatment. Those who were diagnosed later on received 40 mg of endovesical Mitomycin C during their immediate post operative period as their only treatment. We define recurrence as the presence of tumor after the first cystoscopy and relapse-free survival (RFS) as the period of time (in months) until the first recurrence appeared. Follow up constitutes the period of time (in months) until the last check-up or first recurrence. We also analyzed different variables: age, gender, smoking habits, muscular representation in the sample, size of the tumor (> or < 1 cm), multiple or single tumors and adjuvant treatment. The survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method, using the long-rank test to evaluate the differences between groups. RESULTS: 68 patients were included in the study (73.5% men, 75% smokers). The average age was 61.9 years (the median being 58.5). Average follow up was 33.2 months (median 28.4). 35.3% of patients experienced recurrence. Average RFS was 19.2 ± 12.7 months (median 13.5). The majority of tumors were of a single nature (77.9%), with a size of less than 1 cm (55.9%) and with muscle representation (52.9%). 57.4% of patients did not receive adjuvant treatment. Only the absence of adjuvant treatment was associated with recurrence in uni and multivariate analysis (p<0,001), with a relative risk of 17,5 IC95% (7,6-30,2). CONCLUSION: The absence of adjuvant therapy with Mitomycin C is the only factor that, in a statistically significant way, increases the risk of recurrence, regardless of demographic factors and the characteristics of the tumor.

Use of secondary-treated wastewater for the production of Muriellopsis sp.

In this paper, the use of secondary-treated wastewater as the culture medium for the production of Muriellopsis sp. microalgal biomass is analyzed. Using this wastewater, a maximum biomass productivity of 0.5 g l(-1) day(-1) was measured, it being only 38 % lower than that achieved using the standard culture medium. Due to the low nitrogen content of secondary-treated wastewater, cultures produced in a medium containing a high percentage of it become nitrate-limited, thus the quantum yield reduces by up to 0.38 g E(-1)--this compares to 0.67 g E(-1) when using a standard culture medium. On the other hand, nitrate limitation enhances the accumulation of lipids and carbohydrates, with values measured at 33 and 66 % dry weight, respectively. It was also demonstrated that secondary-treated wastewater does not have any toxic effect on the growth of Muriellopsis sp. in spite of nitrogen being in the form of ammonium rather than in nitrate. Moreover, the secondary-treated wastewater was depurated when used to produce Muriellopsis sp., with the outlet biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand being lower than at the inlet; the nitrate and phosphate concentrations were zero. Therefore, Muriellopsis sp. production using secondary-treated wastewater allows a reduction in the process cost by decreasing freshwater and fertilizer use, as well as by depurating the water, thus greatly enhancing process sustainability.

Post-radical prostatectomy predictive factors for biochemical recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: To identify post-prostatectomy prognostic factors for biochemical recurrence (BR). METHODS: We retrospectively analyze a series of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who were treated with radical prostatectomy (RP)as monotherapy between 1996 and 2007, pN0-pNx, with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. BR is considered to be persistence or elevation in PSA after RP greater than 0.4 ng/ml on the subsequent determination. Analyzed variables were Gleason Score, pathological stage, surgical margin involvement, capsular involvement, and perineural involvement. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis using the chi squared test and proportional Cox risk model in order to determine the variables associated with BR. RESULTS: We included 693 patients. Mean age was 63.5 years with a mean follow-up of 88.5 months. Mean PSA was 9.2 ng-ml. BR was observed in 218 patients, 43 due to biochemical persistence. More common pathological findings were Gleason score 7 (47.1%), and pathological stage pT2c (60.1%). Mean time to BR was 35.5 months with 91.2% occurring in the first 8 years. On multivariate analysis, Gleason score ≥ 7(4+3), pathological stage pT3b and positive surgical margin were independent predictors of BR. CONCLUSIONS: Gleason Score ≥ 7(4+3), positive surgical margins and pathological stage pT3 are independent prognostic factors associated with BR-free survival.

Traumatic rupture of horseshoe kidney.

We present the case of a 25-year-old male who came to the emergency room for pain and abdominal distension following trauma to the mesogastrium. A CT scan was performed, revealing a voluminous retroperitoneal hematoma with laceration of both inferior renal poles with regard to rupture of the isthmus of a horseshoe kidney. The patient presented anemization and increased pain, requiring selective embolization by means of arteriography of a branch of the right renal artery and placement of a double J stent due to urinary extravasation in the lower left kidney pole. Following 1 year of monitoring, the patient has maintained normal renal function. Renal affection in blunt abdominal trauma is frequent, occurring in 7% of previously pathological kidneys. The traumatic rupture of horseshoe kidney is facilitated by its particular anatomical characteristics, constituting an infrequent entity, knowledge of which is necessary to achieve conservative management that renders it possible to preserve renal function.

Impossible bladder catheter removal. What can we do?

OBJECTIVE: The inability to remove a bladder catheter due to impossible balloon removal is a situation with controversial management; there are no action guidelines and it is limited to individual experience in most cases. In this article, we review the techniques described for removing a urethral catheter and we share our experience with one case. METHODS: A 70-year-old male with permanent bladder catheter was referred to the emergency department due to an inability to deflate the self-retaining balloon during routine change in his health centre. RESULTS: After unsuccessfully trying to puncture the balloon through the inflation channel previously cut above the valve, we punctured it via the suprapubic route under ultrasound guidance with a biopsy needle. Using this technique, we managed to rupture the balloon without free fragments, enabling the catheter to be changed without incident. CONCLUSIONS: There are various techniques for approaching this situation, the knowledge of which enables the urologist to resolve the problem by adapting to patient's characteristics and available resources. Suprapubic puncture of the self-retaining balloon is an easily reproducible technique with minimal complications and a lower rate of free fragments.

A new rapid desensitization protocol for chemotherapy agents.

BACKGROUND: Desensitization has been used for some decades to treat patients with the allergenic drug when an alternative drug with similar efficacy and safety is not available. We present the results from a series of oncology patients desensitized at our hospital during the last 2 years. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a new desensitization protocol in patients allergic to chemotherapy drugs. METHODS: We performed an observational retrospective study of 11 women (6 breast cancer and 5 ovarian cancer) who underwent our desensitization protocol. Four patients had immediate reactions to carboplatin, 3 to docetaxel, 3 to paclitaxel, and 1 to both docetaxel and paclitaxel. Premedication was administered in all cases. A 5-step protocol based on 5 different dilutions of the drugs was used. RESULTS: We performed 39 desensitization procedures: 14 to carboplatin, 3 to oxaliplatin, 16 to docetaxel, and 6 to paclitaxel. Eight patients tolerated the full dose in 36 procedures. One patient suffered an anaphylactic reaction to carboplatin that reverted with treatment. One patient had dyspnea after a paclitaxel cycle. One patient experienced dyspnea due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism related to her disease. CONCLUSION: Desensitization is a useful procedure in patients who are allergic to their chemotherapy agents.

Bilateral primary renal lymphoma: case report and bibliographic review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of primary renal lymphoma through a new case report. METHODS: We report the case of a 73-year-old man who presented at A&E with constitutional symptoms and weight loss of 9 kilograms over 3 months RESULTS: Laboratory analysis showed impaired renal function, anemia and hypercalcemia. Imaging tests showed a large solid mass in the right perirenal area with infiltration of the parenchyma and Gerota's fascia surrounding the hilum of the kidney, as well as a solid mass in the inferior pole of the left kidney. Pathology showed the presence of lymphoid-like monomorphic cells. After establishing the diagnosis of bilateral primary renal lymphoma it was decided to start treatment with CHOP-Rituximab-type combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Primary renal lymphoma is a rare entity and the diagnostic technique of choice is CT. Definitive diagnosis is confirmed on histology. In view of its aggressive nature and poor prognosis, it is important to make an early diagnosis in order to start treatment promptly. The treatment of choice is systemic chemotherapy using a CHOP regimen.

Predictive factors for recurrence in clinically localized squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Analisys of our case series.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive factors for relapse in clinically localized squamous cell carcinoma of the penis undergoing surgical treatment. METHODS: Forty-nine patients were diagnosed with cancer of the penis in our Service between 1999 and 2009. In the present study we excluded 18 subjects: 9 due to the presence of palpable adenopathies, 6 due to histological characteristics other than squamous cell carcinoma, two lost to follow-up, and one due to death at the time of diagnosis. Diagnosis was based on physical examination and biopsy findings. The primary lesion was treated by circumcision, partial surgery or total penectomy. Disease relapse was defined by lymph node or metastatic involvement after three months from surgery. Univariate and multivariate analysis were carried out using the chi-squared test and logistic regression to identify the factors involved in tumor relapse. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included in the study. Mean follow-up was 36 months (median 29). The histopathological study yielded the following profile: 55% pT1 cases, 32% pT2 cases and 13% pT3 tumors. Regarding histological grade, the distribution was G1: 29%, G2: 32%, G3: 39%. Recurrence and mortality rates were 38.7% and 35.5%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, location of the lesion (p=0.004), type of surgery (p=0.008), tumor stage (p=0.003) and cellular grade (p<0.001)were significantly correlated to disease relapse. In the multivariate analysis, only cellular grade proved statistically significant (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: In our series, only histological grade could be regarded as an independent predictor of tumor relapse.

Bladder augmentation using the gastrointestinal tract. Indication, follow up and complications.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of bladder augmentation using the gastrointestinal tract is to create a low-pressure and high-capacity reservoir, permitting suitable continence and voiding, preserving the upper urinary tract. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indications, complications and results of our series of augmentation enterocystoplasties. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing augmentation enterocystoplasty in our department between 1997 and 2010, both included. The indications were: Interstitial cystitis, neurogenic bladder and inflammatory bladder retraction. In all cases a cystography, urethrocystoscopy, urodynamic study and studies of each condition. Bladder release is performed by means of medial laparotomy and an extraperitoneal approach with bivalve opening to the urethral orifices. The bladder augmentation is performed with a 15-20 cm segment of detubularized ileum obtained at 20 cm from the ileocecal valve; in cases of kidney failure, a 7-cm gastric body wedge is added. The bladder catheter was removed following cystogram after 15 days. Monitoring was performed by means of ultrasound with postvoid residual, blood analyses, urine culture and voiding diary. We performed a descriptive study of the demographic characteristics, postoperative complications according to the Clavien classification and in the long term. RESULTS: We included 24 patients, 19 women and 5 men with a mean age of 48.5 years and a median of 47 (21-77). Mean follow up was 7.5 years with a median of 8 (1-11). The indications were: 7 interstitial cystitis, 8 bladder retraction and 7 neurogenic bladder. There were no intraoperative complications. The postoperative complications were 3 Clavien I, 2 type II, 2 IIIA and 1 IIIB. In the long term, 3 patients presented urinary incontinence, 2 mild metabolic acidosis, 5 required self-catheterization, 6 bladder stones, 2 febrile urinary tract infections and 1 stricture of the anastomotic mouth. In three cases, an ileogastrocystoplasty was performed without hydroelectrolytic impairment or impairment of kidney function. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, augmentation enterocystoplasty constitutes an efficacious therapeutic option in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction with scant morbidity and few complications.

Phylogenetic analysis of a virulent Borrelia species isolated from patients with relapsing fever.

Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was used to clarify the taxonomic status of a virulent Borrelia organism previously isolated from patients with relapsing fever and from ticks in Spain that is designated the Spanish relapsing fever (SRF) Borrelia. This species has been used extensively in experimental infection models because of its continued virulence. Seven genes were amplified to analyze the phylogenetic relationships among several Spanish isolates of SRF Borrelia and other relapsing fever Borrelia species. The genes targeted in this study included rrs and flaB, which have commonly been used in phylogenetic studies; the rrf-rrl intergenic spacer (IGS), which is highly discriminatory; and four additional genes, p66, groEL, glpQ, and recC, which are located on the chromosome and which have therefore evolved in a clonal way. The species included in this study were Borrelia duttonii, B. recurrentis, B. crocidurae, and B. hispanica as Old World Borrelia species and B. turicatae and B. hermsii as New World Borrelia species. The results obtained by MLSA of the SRF Borrelia on the basis of 1% of the genomic sequence data analyzed confirmed that the SRF Borrelia isolates are B. hispanica. However, the prototype isolates of B. hispanica used in this study have an uncertain history and display unique phenotypic characteristics that are not shared with the SRF Borrelia. Therefore, we propose to use strain SP1, isolated from a relapsing fever patient in 1994 in southern Spain, as the type strain for B. hispanica.

Variability of Bartonella genotypes among small mammals in Spain.

In order to study which Bartonella genotypes are circulating among small mammals in Spain, we analyzed the spleens of 395 animals from three different areas-247 animals from the Basque Country (northern Spain), 121 animals from Catalonia (northeastern Spain), and 27 animals from Madrid (central Spain)-by a triplex PCR combined with a reverse line blot previously described by our group. The prevalence of Bartonella was 26.8% (106/395), and in 4.8% (19/395) of the animals more than one Bartonella genotype was detected. The study of gltA and the intergenic transcribed spacer in the positive samples demonstrated a large diversity, allowing the assignation of them into 22 genotypes. The most prevalent genotypes were 2 and 3, which are closely related to Bartonella taylorii. In addition, nine genotypes were associated with specific mammal species. Genotypes close to the zoonotic Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella elizabethae, and Bartonella rochalimae were also detected. Ten genotypes showed a percentage of similarity with known Bartonella species lower than 96%, suggesting the presence of potential new species. Further studies of the impact of these pathogens on human health and especially in cases of febrile illness in Spain are strongly recommended. Furthermore, our method has been updated with 21 new probes in a final panel of 36, which represents a robust molecular tool for clinical and environmental Bartonella studies.

Estimating the impact of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic on mortality in the elderly in Navarre, Spain.

We analysed mortality among people aged 65 years or older in Navarre, Spain in 2009 and compared it with the mean for the same period of time in the previous three years. In the pandemic weeks 24 to 52 2009 we observed 4.9% more deaths than expected (p=0.0268). Excess mortality occurred during the circulation of seasonal influenza (8.0%, p=0.0367) and the first wave of pandemic influenza (9.9%, p=0.0079). In the second wave of pandemic influenza there was a non-significant excess of deaths (5.2%, p=0.1166). Surveillance of laboratory-confirmed severe influenza cases detected only one death in this age group.

Stuttering priapism: case report and bibliographic review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the presentation, physiopathology, diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives of stuttering priapism with the contribution of a new clinical case. METHODS: A 25 year old man, studied in another center for recurrent episodes of priapism for about 18 months. These episodes occur daily, significantly interfering with patient's quality of life. RESULTS: Initially he was treated with Bicalutamide 50mg/24h with no improvement. Blood test, penile Doppler ultrasound and selective arteriography of pudendal arteries showed no abnormalities. Tadalafil 5mg/24h was given for two months without response. Subsequently were treated with Diazepam 10 mg/24h and Terbutaline 5 mg/24h allowing control of the disease, remaining asymptomatic at present. CONCLUSIONS: Stuttering priapism is a rare form of presentation of this disease, caused by an alteration in the regulatory mechanisms of erection mediated by 5PDE and cGMP. Several drugs have been proposed in treatment with variable effectiveness, though there is no series long enough to recommend either as first choice. The use of inhibitors 5PDE so long, has been used successfully by some groups. Knowledge of these alternatives is important for the treatment of this complex and unusual pathology.