[Interpretation of the pivot test using accelerometers in the orthopedic practice]. / Interpretación de la maniobra de pivote mediante el uso de acelerómetros en pacientes que acuden a consulta ortopédica.

The anterior (A) and posterior (P) cruciate ligaments (CL) of the knee, located inside the joint, connect the femur and the tibia and thus provide stability in the anteroposterior axis of one bone over the other. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) may be injured as a result of rotation when practicing a sport involving turning with the foot on the ground. ACL injuries are diagnosed with maneuvers like the Lachman, drawer and pivot. Accelerometers were used to plot the pivot maneuver in patients seeing the orthopedist surgeon using the KT1000 test as gold standard. This case-control descriptive study was approved by the Hospital's Ethics Committee. Results: 92 patients accepted to participate through an informed consent; nine cases were KT1000 positive, and nine age- and gender-matched controls were selected among KT1000 negative patients. KT1000 alterations were greater among females (78%) and in 67% of cases the right leg was affected. Mean KT1000 results were 5.44 mm in cases and 0.66 mm in controls. Accelerometers allowed plotting the pivot maneuver and the resulting charts for cases and controls were similar. Remarkable differences were seen only in one male patient with a 15 mm KT1000, who underwent repair of the left ACL; the maneuver was performed under sedation. We concluded that conscious patients oppose the maneuver, unlike anesthetized patients, and that the use of accelerometers helps document the pivot maneuver which, in turn, helps detect differences between a normal ACL and an injured one.

Removal of groundwater arsenic using a household filter with iron spikes and stainless steel.

Arsenic (As) in groundwater for domestic use poses a worldwide threat to public health, most notably in rural areas. The aims of this study were: first, determine groundwater composition in a mining area in central Mexico (Huautla); second, assess As exposure through human groundwater consumption and; third, develop and test a household filter to obtain drinking water for these rural communities. From the 17th century through the 1990s, mines in the area produced Ag-galena and sphalerite from volcanic rock. Groundwater flooded the mines when they were abandoned due to low silver prices. Local households now use the water to meet domestic needs. Water from the mines was found to have high As content (0.04-0.26 mg L(-1)) and Fe, Mn, Pb and Cd were also above Mexican drinking water standards and WHO guidelines. All the population in the Huautla community was exposed to the metalloid through water used in food preparation. The best As removal was obtained with a filter using oxidized commercial fiber (HCl 2N as oxidant). Concentrations in the effluent were below Mexican drinking water standards (0.025 mg As L(-1) water) during the 105-day (2520 h) filter operation, with a maximum As removal efficiency of 95.4%. The household filter was simple, low-cost and may be very attractive for As removal in rural areas in developing countries.

Meningioma con localización extracraneal: informe de un caso / Extracranial meningioma

Se presenta un caso de meningioma que destruyo la totalidad del piso de la fosa craneal media derecha, localizándose en la fosa pterigomaxilar y con extension a la region parotidea, tratado en el Hospital Universitario de Barranquilla. Se evaluo a una mujer campesina de 40 años, a quien se le encontro al inicio un tumor en la region parotidea derecha con extension de la masa de consistencia quistica a la rinofaringe. Se le realizaron estudios radiográficos para establecer la extension del tumor y posteriormente fue tratada mediante cirugia como unico metodo terapeutico. En la actualidad, al completar dos años y medio de evolución, se encuentra asintomática y sin recidiva tumoral