[Urodynamic evaluation of experimental bladder augmentation with seromuscular colocystoplasty]. / Evaluación urodinámica de ampliación vesical experimental mediante colocistoplastia.

INTRODUCTION: The use of de-epithelialized intestinal segment can avoid the complications associated of use to bowel segments for bladder augmentation. OBJECTIVE: We designed an experimental model New Zealand rabbit with previously reduced bladder capacity, and afterward we performed augmentation cystoplasty with urodynamics comparative effectiveness demucosalized and conventional colocystoplasty techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits fifty percent reduction cystoplasty was carried out. A month later the animals had bladder augmentation. They were randomly divided in two groups: 18 rabbits (group 1) underwent conventional colocystoplasty. In 18 rabbits (group 2) autoaugmentation procedure and demucosalized colocystoplasty was performed. All animals were sacrificed at 8 weeks of bladder augmentation. Urodynamics studies were practiced at beginning of each operation in all of them. RESULTS: Nine rabbits died and twenty-seven were evaluated: 14 rabbits group-1 and thirteen of group-2. The average increase in bladder capacity was 63% in group-1 under conventional colocystoplasty and 17% in group-2 demucosalized colocystoplasty. Average compliance improved to 141% in group-1 and 38% in group-2. CONCLUSIONS: In this study with "small bladder" New Zealand rabbit, the seromuscular colocystoplasty has poor urodynamics result in improving capacity and compliance bladder but conventional colocystoplasty has result effective.

[Clinical and analytical parameters that might indicate a second biopsy in patient with high PSA and previously negative biopsy]. / Parámetros clínicos y analíticos que indicarían la realización de una segunda biopsia en pacientes con PSAelevado y biopsia previa negativa.

OBJECTIVES: To determine what clinical, analytic and ultrasound parameters, are more effective to predict the result of a second biopsy in patient with high PSA and a first prostate biopsy negative. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was carried out a longitudinal study in a series of 435 cases with negative prostate biopsy. In 59 of these cases it was practiced a second biopsy due to a permanent or sudden high PSA levels with or without a suspicious digital rectal examination. Of the 31 cases with a negative second biopsy, in 4 cases it was carried out a third biopsy. The biopsy was made in all the occasions by transrectal ultrasound guided sextant biopsy. It were also valued the ultrasound characteristic of the prostate, the prostate volume and the proportion of free PSA. RESULTS: It was demonstrated statistically significant differences among the patients with a second biopsy negative and positive regarding: the age, proportion of free PSA, abnormal digital rectal examination and presence of hipoechogenic areas in the prostate. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only significant parameters were the proportion of free PSA and the existence of an abnormal digital rectal examination. Based on the data of multivariate analysis, we settled down for the patients with normal digital rectal examination a cut-off point of 0.23 of proportion of free PSA as indication for the realization of a second biopsy, and of 0.59 for the patients with abnormal digital rectal examination. This protocol applied to our series would avoid the realization of a second biopsy in 8 patients, and a third biopsy in 1 patient, diagnosing all the cases of prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The digital rectal examination associated with the proportion of free PSA constitutes a reliable parameter to indicate the realization of a second prostate biopsy in patient with high PSA and previous negative biopsy.

Relationship between bacterial flora in sputum and functional impairment in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. Study Group of Bacterial Infection in COPD.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible relationship between functional respiratory impairment measured by FEV1 and isolation of diverse pathogens in the sputum of patients with exacerbations of COPD. DESIGN: Multicenter, cross-sectional, epidemiologic study. SETTING: Pneumology units in six secondary or tertiary hospitals in Spain. PATIENTS: Ninety-one patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were included. INTERVENTIONS: A quantitative sputum culture was performed, and bacterial growth was considered significant only when the germ was isolated at concentrations > 10(6) cfu (> 10(5) for Streptococcus pneumoniae) in samples with < 10 epithelial cells and > 25 leukocytes per low magnification field (x 100). RESULTS: Germs isolated were the following: Haemophilus influenzae (20 cases; 22%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14 cases; 15%), S. pneumoniae (9 cases; 10%), Moraxella catarrhalis (8 cases; 9%), other gram-negative bacteria (7 cases; 7%), and non-potentially pathogenic microorganisms (non-PPMs; 33 cases; 36%). P. aeruginosa and H. influenzae were isolated more frequently among the patients with FEV1 < 50% than among those with FEV1 > 50% (p < 0.05). All patients with P. aeruginosa in sputum had FEV1 < 1,700 mL. FEV1 < 50% was associated with a very high risk of P. aeruginosa or H. influenzae isolation: the odds ratios (ORs) are 6.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 123.6) and 6.85 (95% CI, 1.6 to 52.6), respectively. Furthermore, active tobacco smoking was associated with a high risk of H. influenzae isolation (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 1.9 to 43.0). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with the greatest degree of functional impairment, as measured by their FEV1, presented a higher probability of having an isolation of P. aeruginosa or H. influenzae in significant concentrations in sputum during an exacerbation. The diagnostic yield of sputum in patients with an FEV1 > 50% was low, with a predominance of non-PPMs. Low FEV1 and active tobacco smoking are data that should be considered when establishing an empiric antibiotic treatment for exacerbated COPD.

The prognostic significance of intratumoral natural killer cells in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells have a spontaneous cytotoxic capacity-against tumor cells. These cells represent a small proportion of human colon carcinoma-infiltrating lymphocytes. Their prognostic significance in these tumors has yet to be determined. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven patients who each had a colectomy for large bowel adenocarcinoma were studied. No patient received adjuvant therapy. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for NK cells using the monoclonal antibody CD57. The number of NK cells was counted using a MICRON image analyzer. The total area studied for each tumor was 1 cm2. In this area, 50 intratumoral fields of 0.173 mm2 were selected. The degree of NK infiltration was classified as little (< 50 NK cells), moderate (50-150 NK cells), and extensive (> 150 NK cells). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to obtain survival figures. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: At 5 years, patients with little and moderate NK infiltration showed significantly shorter survival rates (overall and disease free survival) than those with extensive infiltration (P < 0.01). Three significant factors affecting survival were selected in a stepwise fashion in increasing order as follows: TNM stage, NK infiltration, and lymphocytic infiltration. Patients with TNM Stage III disease and extensive NK infiltration showed significantly longer survival rates than those with little or moderate infiltration (P < 0.001). In these patients, multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model identified two significant variables: number of involved lymph nodes and NK cells infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with colorectal carcinoma, an extensive intratumoral infiltration of NK cells is associated with a favorable tumor outcome. Intratumoral infiltration of NK cells can be used as a variable with prognostic value, especially in patients with TNM Stage III disease.

Neurocytoma of spinal cord.

We report a case of spinal cord neurocytoma in a 67-year-old man who had experienced a progressive numbness of the left foot during the previous 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-defined intramedullary tumor located at the T10-T11 level. The pathological examination revealed histological characteristics described in neurocytomas. The tumor cells showed a uniform small nucleus and clear or slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with frequent perinuclear halos, resembling the picture of oligodendroglioma. Some tumor cells exhibited mature ganglion cell appearance. Electron microscopy showed cells with microtubules and dense-core vesicles in their cytoplasm and cytoplasmic process. Immunohistochemically, the majority of tumor cells expressed synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase. We conclude that this tumor is an exceptional case of neurocytoma located in the spinal cord, and consider that the term neurocytoma can be applied to tumors with neuronal differentiation intermediate between neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma, even if arising in CNS outside of the intracranial ventricular system.

Immunohistochemical study of intracranial cysts.

We present the immunohistochemical study of 11 cases of intracranial cysts: two extraventricular ependymal cysts, three colloid cysts of the third ventricle, four extraventricular choroidal cysts and two Rathke's cleft cysts. Antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cytokeratins (AE1, CK5D, AE3), S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), neurofilaments protein (NF) and prealbumin, were used. The epithelium of choroidal cysts, showed strong immunoreactivity for Prealbumin and cytokeratins, similar to the normal choroid plexus epithelium. The ependymal cysts showed epithelial immunoreactivity for GFAP and S-100, both glial markers expressed by the normal ependymal epithelium. On the contrary, the epithelial wall of colloid cysts and Rathke's cleft cyst, expressed epithelial markers (cytokeratins and EMA) but no neuroepithelial markers, with a immuno-phenotype similar to that of other cysts of endodermal nature. This finding supports the neuroepithelial origin for choroid and ependymal cysts, and an endodermal nature for colloid and Rathke's cleft cysts. We conclude that these immunohistochemical markers are useful in the differential diagnosis of intracranial cysts.

Identification of mast cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Comparison between different fixation and staining methods.

The present study was carried out to compare the effectiveness of different fixation and staining methods in the identification of mast cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with interstitial lung diseases. Cell preparations were fixed with formaldehyde or methanol. Mast cells were identified by metachromatic staining with May Grünwald Giemsa, Toluidine blue or Gallamine blue Giemsa. After formaldehyde fixation only a few mast cells were identified, regardless of the stain method used. In contrast, a significantly higher number of mast cells were observed after methanol fixation. Using this fixative, Toluidine blue stain showed a higher number of mast cells than May Grünwald Giemsa. However, there was no difference between Toluidine and Gallamine blue Giemsa in the number of cells observed. The easy identification of mast cells after staining with toluidine, combined with its easy application, suggest that Toluidine blue stain after methanol fixation is the most useful method for determining the presence of mast cells in lavage fluid.

[Round atelectasis: infrequent cause of solitary pulmonary nodule]. / Atelectasia redonda: causa infrecuente de nódulo pulmonar solitario.

Two cases of round atelectasis are reported. One had an asbestiform origin, with lingular localization and pathological confirmation. The other was located in the posterobasal segment of the left lower lobe, and it was presumably caused by pleural tuberculosis. In both patients the characteristic radiological findings were present, with an outstanding "comet's tail" sing. The outcome of both patients was satisfactory. Emphasis is made on the usefulness of noninvasive diagnostic investigations, such as conventional pulmonary and computed tomography (CT) of the torax, which, in conjunction with an adequate anamnesis, permit the correct diagnosis and may prevent surgical exploration.

Effect of negative pressure ventilation on arterial blood gas pressures and inspiratory muscle strength during an exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease.

The effects of intermittent negative pressure ventilation have been studied in 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during an exacerbation of their disease. Measurements of arterial blood gas tensions and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) were performed before and after six hours of negative pressure ventilation or standard treatment (control day) given in random order on two consecutive days. After negative pressure ventilation the mean (SD) value of MIP increased from 68.1 (21.5) to 74.8 (20) cm H2O;* arterial oxygen tension (PaCO2) fell from 60.6 (12.2) to 50.9 (8.9) mm Hg* but PaO2 changed little (from 48.4 (7.4) to 47.6 (8.2) mm Hg). There were no significant changes on the control day in arterial blood gas tensions (PaO2 47.8 (8.1) and 48.9 (9.4) and Paco2 59.8 (10.9) and 57.5 (8.06) mm Hg) or in MIP (69.4 (22.4) and 70.9 (22.9) cm H2O). Six patients tolerated negative pressure ventilation poorly and these patients showed less improvement after negative pressure ventilation. Our results suggest that intermittent negative pressure ventilation can increase alveolar ventilation in patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease, particularly in those who tolerate the procedure well. Most subjects showed a fall in PaCO2 and an increase in MIP. The fact that PaO2 was unchanged despite the fall in PaCO2 suggests that gas exchange may deteriorate with negative pressure ventilation in these patients.

Adult type of leukodystrophy. Krabbe's disease?

A 24-year-old man developed progressive dementia in seven years. The patient suffered a severe bronchopneumonia and eventually died few days later. Brain coronal sections showed a soft gray-brownish discoloration of white matter of centrum ovale but the subcortical arcuate fibers and the interne capsule were preserved. Microscopically, the white matter showed marked loss of myelin and oligodendrocytes, abundant hypertrophic astrocytes and numerous "globoid cells". The latter showed strong positivity in immunostains for a mouse monoclonal antigalactocerebroside antibody. The presence of these cells in the brain white matter might be the morphological basis to classify the present case as one of Krabbe's Leukodystrophy.

Synchronous caverno-spongious thrombosis and Fournier's gangrene.

Fournier's or genito-perineal gangrene of the male genitalia typically spares the testis, urethra and deep penile components. It usually is polymicrobial and synergistic. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature with severe, deep, full penile thrombosis that caused a severe urethral stenosis and required later surgery. Only Proteus mb. could be isolated and gave rise to a disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome that has probably accentuated the thrombotic penile phenomenon. The process was secondary to urethral lithiasis.

[Anterior rhinomanometry]. / Rinomanometría anterior.

Assessment of the anterior rhinomanometry on 9 normal persons with the aim to know the variations between several individuals and in each one. The examination, performed on 3 consecutive days, showed a great interindividual variability and an acceptable individual variability. Accordingly the AA. recommend to realize the test in all but on the same subject, in series because of the wide interpersonal variability verified, specially when the number of cases is short.

[Hemangioma of the vertebrae: contribution of magnetic resonance to its study]. / Hemangiomas vertebrales: aportación de la resonancia magnética a su estudio.

Vertebral hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor predominantly involving the dorsolumbar spine. Although most of these tumors are asymptomatic, they may result in radiculopathy and/or compressive myelopathy. Plain X-ray films and computed tomography (CT) generally permit the diagnosis by showing characteristic images with hypertrophic bone trabeculation in the vertebral body. We report three patients with vertebral hemangioma in which CT was diagnostic. Magnetic resonance (MR) with low intensity field was inferior to CT for the suggestion of the diagnosis of hemangioma, but had a better definition for subarachnoid space obliteration and spinal cord compression.

[Chondrocostal and chondrosternal tuberculosis in 2 heroin addicts infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Tuberculosis condrocostal y condroesternal en dos heroinómanos infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

We report two cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis in heroin addict patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Both patients presented an inflammatory tumor in the anterior chest wall, with subacute onset; one patient had chondrosternal involvement and the other had chondrocostal involvement with a retrosternal pus collection. Diagnosis was established by needle aspiration of the tumor that gave raise to caseum. Ziehl-Neelsen stain was positive and Löwenstein-Jensen culture yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both cases. The course was good after surgical debridement and tuberculous treatment for 6 months. We review the features of osteoarticular tuberculosis in drug addicts and patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus that in our environment mainly affects this population group. As in our geographical area, an increased incidence of both infections does exist and owing to the high prevalence of extrapulmonary and disseminated tuberculosis in those patients, it is expected that in a future time, the number of cases of tuberculosis will increase. Therefore, physicians must entertain a high degree of suspicion with the purpose of establishing an early diagnosis of these atypic presenting forms.

[High-degree malignancy non-Hodgkin's lymphoma simulating a disseminated carcinoma. Presentation of 2 cases]. / Linfoma no hodgkiniano de alto grado de malignidad que simula un carcinoma diseminado. Presentación de dos casos.

Highly malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas (HM-NHL) may sometimes develop clinical features simulating an epithelial carcinoma with metastatic dissemination. Conventional histopathological study may be insufficient to differentiate between both conditions. Two patients with HM-NHL are reported with a rapid general deterioration; one of them had osteolysis and hypercalcemia. In both cases a diffuse bone marrow infiltration by large sized cells with blastic appearance was found. The initial suspected diagnosis was occult epithelial neoplasia with metastatic dissemination. The morphological study with optic microscopy and the ultrastructural analysis did not establish the origin of these cells. The definitive diagnosis was obtained by immunohistochemical techniques. In both cases, the cells were positive for the CD 45 (common leukocyte antigen) monoclonal antibody (MoAb), and for several MoAbs of lymphoid B differentiation. In one of them, the B lymphoid lineage was confirmed by monoclonal reordering of the gene that synthetises the immunoglobulin heavy chain.