Rectal metastasis from lobular breast carcinoma 15 years after primary diagnosis

Lobular breast carcinoma represents 2-20% of infiltrative carcinomas of the breast. The incidence of extrahepatic gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastases observed in necropsy studies varies from 6% to 18% and the most commonly affected organ is the stomach, followed by colon and rectum [1-4]. Reported herein is the case of a 67-year-old woman who was primarily diagnosed and surgically treated for a lobular carcinoma of the breast 15 years ago and is now referred with back pain and right hydronephrosis caused by a metastasis in rectum. Frequently, the absence of specific symptoms of digestive metastases of breast cancer leads to a misdiagnosis of this pathology [5-7]. The treatment will be based on a detailed clinical history and histopathological findings. Metastases from breast cancer in GI tract tumours must be excluded in a patient with previous history of breast carcinoma, as in the case reported herein (AU)

Propiedades de lubricación del líquido sinovial en la artroplastia total de cadera / Lubrication properties of synovial fluid in total hip replacement

Objetivo. Determinar las características y propiedades de lubricación del líquido sinovial como lubricante en las prótesis de cadera. Material y método. Se han estudiado 165 muestras de líquido sinovial, de 81 pacientes, clasificadas en líquido sinovial normal, artrósico, meniscal, inflamatorio y procedente de artroplastias articulares fallidas. Tras determinar su viscosidad se han dividido las muestras en alta viscosidad (líquido sinovial normal y artrósico) y baja viscosidad (líquido sinovial meniscal, inflamatorio y de artroplastias fallidas). Se han realizado las pruebas de desgaste en un dispositivo para estudios tribológicos utilizando como pares de fricción cabezas de cromo-cobalto y cerámica de aluminia contra cotilos de polietileno de alto peso molecular y como lubricante los diferentes líquidos sinoviales. Se determinó la pérdida de masa, la variación del diámetro y los cambios de rugosidad de la superficie de los componentes. Resultados. El líquido sinovial de alta viscosidad consiguió un mayor pulido de la superficie de los cotilos de polietileno en los dos pares de fricción estudiados. Los líquidos sinoviales de baja viscosidad produjeron mayor desgaste del cotilo que el líquido sinovial de alta viscosidad. Conclusiones. El aumento de la viscosidad del líquido sinovial mejora las propiedades tribológicas en los pares artificiales utilizados en la fabricación de artroplastias articulares. El líquido articular presente en artroplastias fallidas no parece ser el idóneo, pues el hecho de tener una viscosidad muy baja influye negativamente en sus características tribológicas (AU)

Estudio multicéntrico de la eficacia del tratamiento intraarticular con ácido hialurónico (Adant) en artrosis de rodilla / Multicenter clinical trial on the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (Adant®) in osteoarthritis of the knee

Fundamento: El objetivo de este ensayo fue evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad del tratamiento con ácido hialurónico en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla, siguiendo un diseño prospectivo, multicéntrico y no controlado con un seguimiento de 6 meses. Material y métodos: Los 10 centros participantes incluyeron un total de 112 pacientes evaluables con diagnóstico de artrosis de rodilla tanto clínico (criterios ARA) como radiológico: leve (grados 1-2 de Kellgren and Lawrence [KL]); moderado (grado 3 de KL), y grave (grado 4 de KL). La eficacia del tratamiento con cinco inyecciones intraarticulares de ácido hialurónico (Adant, Tedec-Meiji Farma, S.A.) se evaluó comparando la puntuación basal, de los signos y síntomas clínicos (dolor, movilidad y función basado en la escala propuesta por The Knee Society) con los obtenidos en las visitas postratamiento. La seguridad se valoró mediante registro sistemático de acontecimientos adversos durante todo el estudio. Resultados: Todos los parámetros de eficacia estudiados (dolor, movilidad, deambulación y subida/bajada de escaleras) pusieron de manifiesto una mejoría significativa (p = 0,0001) en todas las visitas de seguimiento con respecto a los valores basales. El 64 por ciento de los pacientes presentó una respuesta muy buena (incremento > 20 por ciento respecto a la puntuación basal) durante al menos 6 meses tras la última administración de ácido hialurónico. El porcentaje de acontecimientos adversos por inyección, con independencia de su relación con el tratamiento, fue del 3,6 por ciento y el de acontecimientos adversos posible/probablemente relacionados fue del 1,3 por ciento: vértigo (n = 2), dolor de rodilla (n = 2), edema (n = 1), prurito (n = 1) e hipersensibilidad (n = 1). Únicamente este último supuso abandono del tratamiento. Conclusión: La administración de ácido hialurónico intraarticular parece que es una alternativa segura y bien tolerada para el tratamiento de la artrosis de rodilla tanto leve como grave, con una duración de los efectos de, al menos, 6 meses (AU)

Transient dissociation of bone metabolism induced by high performance exercise: a study in elite marathon runners.

Bone metabolism parameters were studied in 18 elite marathon runners (11 men and 7 women) who participated in the Marathon World Cup held at San Sebastian, Spain in 1993. Measurements were made before the race, immediately after the race, and 24 hours after the race. The most interesting finding was increased alkaline phosphatase (P < 0. 0001) and decreased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (P = 0.0035), which suggests that exercise produced uncoupling of the bone cell metabolism. Serum calcium corrected for proteins did not increase with exercise and at the end of the race there was a negative correlation between cortisol, which was significantly higher (P < 0. 0001), and corrected serum calcium (r = 0.53, P = 0.026) that was not present at baseline. Running time showed a significant negative correlation with baseline serum cortisol (r = -0.67, P = 0.0015) and a significant positive correlation with body mass index (r = 0.53, P = 0.0207). The increase in alkaline phosphatase persisted 24 hours after the race, which suggests that exercise produced an intense and sustained effect on osteogenic capacity.

Adaptation of the lumbar spine to different positions in bicycle racing.

STUDY DESIGN: A radiologic and electromyographic study was done of the adaptation of the lumbar spine to high-performance cycling. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in the lumbar spine produced by different cycling positions on different types of bicycles used during competition. METHODS: Three professional cyclists were observed to evaluate changes in the lumbar spine. Radiographs were obtained of the different positions adopted by the cyclists during competition, and changes in the angles of the lumbar spine were measured. An electromyographic study was done of the abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic paravertebral muscles. RESULTS: The cyclists' positions involved a change from discal lordosis to kyphosis. To obtain a more aerodynamic position, the cyclists flexed the hip and made the pelvis horizontal without changing disc angles. The contraction of paravertebral lumbar muscles was proportional to pedalling intensity and decreased in more aerodynamic positions. The tone of the paravertebral thoracic muscles depended on the extent of cervical hyperextension. Abdominal muscles remained relaxed in all bicycle positions and with all pedalling intensities. CONCLUSIONS: The changes observed could modify the normal biomechanics of the lumbar spine, but the overall mechanical load on the spine is reduced by shifting weight onto the upper limbs. The imbalance that occurs between the activity of flexor and extensor muscles could cause lumbar pain in persons without proper physical preparation.

Biochemical markers of nutrition in elite-marathon runners.

Although diet surveys have been made in marathon runners, as far as we know their nutritional state has not been evaluated by measurement of the so-called biological markers of nutrition, such as transferrin, retinol-binding protein, and prealbumin. We measured the levels of these substances in 18 marathon runners (11 men and 7 women; mean age 26.9 +/- 4.0 years) and in 22 controls (13 men and 9 women; mean age 26.2 +/- 3.6 years). As some of these markers are zinc-dependent, serum zinc levels also were measured. Likewise, serum calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels were measured to ascertain the athletes' mineral status. Calcium corrected for proteins, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc did not differ between the marathon runners and controls; likewise, there were no differences in serum ferritin and glucose levels. As regards the biological markers of nutrition, prealbumin levels were higher in athletes than in controls (31.7 +/- 4.7 vs 28.9 +/- 4.8 mg/dl, p < 0.025). There were no differences in the levels of retinol-binding protein and transferrin between runners and controls.

Biochemical markers of nutrition in type-I and type-II osteoporosis.

We studied nutritional deficits, using as markers the levels of transferrin, retinol-binding protein, and prealbumin, in 20 women with osteoporotic hip fractures (type II), 40 women with vertebral fractures (type I), and two groups of age-matched control subjects. The concentrations of all three nutritional markers were lower in the two groups of patients than in their matched controls, and in type-I as compared with type-II osteoporosis. In the osteoporotic patients, simple linear regression showed a significant correlation between the variables which we studied (r2 ranged from 0.5 to 0.7; p < 0.001), the best correlation being between prealbumin and retinol-binding protein in type-II osteoporosis. Our results suggest that there is a more marked nutritional deficit in type-II than in type-I osteoporosis.

Congenital brachymetatarsia: three cases.

We report on three cases with congenital brachymetatarsia, one with bilateral affectation, together with the results of a lengthening of the short metatarsal bones by progressive axial distraction using an external minifixator. The method proved to be easy to implement, permitting immediate functionality of the ankle and early load bearing. The immediate results (cosmetic) and later findings (functional) were excellent in all three cases.

Clinical and ultrastructural analysis of failures in chemonucleolysis.

A series of 12 patients with failed chemonucleolysis were analyzed to determine the various causes of such failures. The ultrastructural findings observed in laminectomy specimens did not account for the failure in the enzyme treatment. The findings suggested deficient cellular nutrition secondary to enzymatic histolysis of the nucleus pulposus.

Post-chemonucleolysis computed tomographic findings.

The CT findings observed 6 months and 2 years after chemonucleolysis in 50 and 34 patients are reported. Emphasis is placed on the persistence of the hernia image in nearly 70% of the cases, together with an increase in degenerative intradiscal signs and degeneration of the facet joints; however, this did not lead to poor results 2 years after chemonucleolysis.

Migration of Kirschner wires into the mediastinum after stabilization of sterno-clavicular lesions. A report of two cases.

The authors describe two cases of intrathoracic migration of Kirschner wires used for fixation of unstable Allman grade III sternoclavicular dislocation. The wires continue their migration after 10 years despite the risk and the need to treat such complications.

[Comparative study between conservative orthopedic therapy and intramedullary osteosynthesis of diaphyseal tibial fractures]. / Vergleichende Studie zwischen konservativer orthopädischer Therapie und der intramedullären Osteosynthese diaphysärer Tibiafrakturen.

The authors present the results obtained in a series of 275 tibial shaft fractures, 216 of which were treated by a functional orthopaedic procedure and 59 with different kinds of nailing techniques. The results are evaluated according to the criteria established by Johner and Wruhs. "Good" results were obtained with both kinds of treatment; "excellent" results were slightly more frequent with nailing techniques, owing to better alignment and a lesser degree of shortening in the fractures, although the residual deformities after the functional orthopaedic treatment were tolerable.

[Reconstructive surgery using a massive prosthesis in loosening of a hip prosthesis]. / Chirurgie de reconstruction par prothèse massive dans le descellement d'endoprothèses de la hanche.

Thirteen cases with loosening of THR treated by a massive prosthesis are reviewed. In previous years, with more conservative surgery, the loss of bone stock was most important. The results after a long follow-up were satisfactory. This was a desperate procedure during a period without a bone-bank. Despite the major problems with failure of this procedure, the author still recommends it in elderly patients who need early mobilization or when the use of a bank-bone is not possible.

An experimental study of the redistribution of patellofemoral pressures by the anterior displacement of the anterior tuberosity of the tibia.

Using a series of miniature piezoelectric transducers constructed by the authors, a study was made of the effect of anterior displacement of the tuberosity of the tibia on the distribution of pressures in the patellofemoral joint. Proportionally, the most efficient displacements are those set at 1 cm; after this, and as advancement of the tuberosity is increased, the overall pressure continues to decrease progressively (although more slowly) because there are zones that, according to their situation, receive increased instead of decreased pressures. Consequently, values even higher than those of the original situation are reached. This is the case of the proximal part of the patella, particularly on its lateral facet. This situation can affect the results in cases where the lesion is preferentially located on the proximal part. In these cases it may be enough to advance 1 cm with which overall decompressions close to 50% of the pressure that initially affected the patellofemoral joint are obtained. In very evolved cases or when the lesions are located centrally or distally, it may be worthwhile to advance maximally in spite of the possible complications, seeking the greatest decompression effect that intense advancements can achieve.

Sternoclavicular dislocation. Treatment and complications.

Based on Allman's classification, the authors conducted a critical study on the results of treatment of 17 sternoclavicular dislocations, 14 anterior and 3 posterior. They propose conservative treatment for subluxations and operative treatment for total dislocations, particularly when posterior. Tomography was required for precise diagnosis. The advantages of open reduction are stressed and the complication of intra-thoracic migration of crossed Kirschner wires used to stabilise reduction and capsular suturing is described.