[Treatment of the dysfunction of the pelvic floor]. / Tratamiento de la disfunción del suelo pélvico.

The perineum is formed by muscle-aponeurotic elements that are integrated under the control of the nervous system. Their alterations are responsible for urogynecological, coloproctologic and sexual pathologies. In order to obtain a successful treatment, it is obliged not to forget the role that plays the perineum in those pathologies. The treatment of the dysfunction of the pelvic floor groups conservative techniques and procedures like changes in life habits, behavioural therapy, biofeedback, electroestimulation (neuromodulation and peripheral electrical stimulation) and training with muscular exercises of the pelvic floor (perineal rehabilitation). The objective of all of them is to improve or to obtain the urinary continence, the strengthening of its musculature to be able to balance pelvic static, to improve the local vascularization and the anorrectal function besides securing a satisfactory sexuality.

[Cystic ureteritis in a kidney transplantation candidate]. / Ureteritis quística en paciente candidata a trasplante renal.

Cystic ureteritis is a very uncommon pathology, whose pathogenesis is not well established. It is usually asociated with chronic infectious factors. It presents unspecific symptoms but characteristic radiologic findings. There is not an especific treatment for this disease. Kidney transplant is the final pathway for patients with chronic renal failure. We report a case of cystic ureteritis diagnosed during pre-transplant study.

[Carcinosarcoma of the bladder: report of our cases and review of the literature]. / Carcinosarcoma vesical: análisis de nuestra serie y revisión de la literatura.

Carcinosarcomas of the bladder are rare. As a result, the natural history of them and the best methods of treatment remain uncertain. These tumors tend to be rapidly growing, invasive and recur locally. We reviewed our experience with four patients presenting between 1995 and 2002. Epidemiology findings, clinical aspects, histological features, diagnostic methods, treatment and survival are discussed in relation to literature.

Report of three cases of circulating heparin-like anticoagulants.

Clinically significant endogenous circulating heparin-like anticoagulant activity has been associated with hematological malignancies, liver damage, and other pathological conditions. The source of high plasma concentrations of endogenous heparin-like anticoagulants is poorly understood. We report three cases of circulating heparin-like anticoagulants in three patients with hematological malignancies: CLL, multiple myeloma, and T-prolymphocytic leukemia. The severity of bleeding in our patients ranged from severe epistaxis and deep-site hematoma to bleeding of biopsy site and occasional ecchymosis.

The effect of neighboring 1- and 2-adamantyl group substitution on the conformations and stereodynamics of N-methylpiperidine. Dynamic NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics calculations.

When a 1-adamantyl or a 2-adamantyl substituent is introduced at the 2-position in N-methylpiperidine, four different chair conformations are possible. Experimental observation using dynamic NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics calculations agree that the chair conformation with an equatorial adamantyl group and an axial methyl group is by far the most stable, but in both cases a minor population of a second conformation is demonstrated and characterized. Interaction between adamantyl and methyl groups is much more conformation-determining than any preference for equatorial over axial location which predominates in simpler 2-substituted N-methylpiperidines.

[Prevalence of Factor V Leiden and the G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene in a random group of patients with thrombotic episodes]. / Prevalencia del factor V Leiden y de la mutación G20210A del gen de la protrombina en un grupo no seleccionado de pacientes con episodios trombóticos.

UNLABELLED: Factor V Leiden and G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene have been described as risk factors in thrombophilic pathologies. Our objective has been to know the prevalence of these two mutations in a group of patients with thrombophilic pathology and to compare it with its prevalence in a control group of Spanish population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 64 patients were divided in two groups. First, 39 patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT): 24 with an unique episode of DVT; 11 with more than one episode; 3 with DVT and pulmonary thromboembolism, and one with DVT and more than one episode of cerebral thrombosis. Second, 25 patients with other pathologies, such as pulmonary thromboembolism (9 patients), acute cerebrovascular accident (10 patients) and 6 who came to our Department because there were some carrier in their families. The 20210A allele was analyzed in 37 of the 64 patients. Some of the 64 patients had haematological determinations of the activated protein C resistance (APC resistance). As well, 103 unrelated subjects with unknown thrombotic pathologies were analyzed. RESULTS: We have found a prevalence of factor V Leiden in the group of patients of 14.1% (9 carriers in 64 patients, all of them in the first group of 39 patients with DVT) versus 1% in the control group (1 carrier in 103 controls). On the other hand, the difference between the prevalence of the 20210A allele was not statistically significant between the group of patients and the control group (2.7% vs 2.9%). In 75% of the patients no haematological results of APC resistance were obtained, generally because they were with anticoagulant treatment, and in 11.1% of the carriers the result of the determination was considered as ambiguous or false negative. CONCLUSION: Factor V Leiden is well established as risk factor in the thrombophilic pathology, but more studies are needed to know the meaning of the G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene.

[Biofeedback as a therapeutic alternative in uncoordinated miction]. / El biofeedback como alternativa terapéutica en la micción no coordinada.

The Hinman Syndrome is known as an involuntary unsconscions contraction of the periurethral sphincter during micturition once neurologic disease and anatpmical obstruction are rejected. We report a case of a 23 years old man who was diagnosed of suffering from this syndrome. After the proper studies and left nephroureterectomy for ureterohydronephrosis secondary to long term massive vesicoureteral reflux, we proceeded to treat him with biofeedback and autocatheterisms. Six months after, the patient was asymptomatic with normal micturitions without residue.

[Urodynamics in kidney transplantation]. / La urodinámica en el transplante renal.

OBJECTIVES: The importance of establishing a protocol for the urological evaluation of patients awaiting renal transplantation is due to the fact that 30% of these adult patients and up to 70% of these children develop renal failure due to a urological condition. The present study analyzes the importance of urodynamic evaluation in these patients. METHODS: 650 patients awaiting renal transplantation were evaluated by patient history, physical examination, US, Cystouretyhrography, and flowmetry. Thereafter 201 patients with the following conditions were selected for urodynamic assessment: vesicoureteral reflux, changes in bladder morphology (diverticulum, trabeculation), inadequate infundibulization of the bladder neck, diabetes, neurogenic bladder, obstructive pathology and bladders with a small volume capacity. The urodynamic study consisted of instantaneous voiding, cystomanometry and urethral pressure profile. RESULTS: Of these 201 patients, 45 had vesical hyperreflexia, 45 bladder disuse, 95 had a normal bladder, 12 had a hypoactive bladder and 2 had detrusor instability. CONCLUSION: The urodynamic study, apart from flowmetry, is basically indicated in patients awaiting renal transplantation who have a neurogenic bladder and/or suspected as having lower urinary tract obstruction.

[Polycythemia vera as a multiphasic clonal panmyelopathy: diagnostic profile, chronic pathological progression and effect of therapy on the survival of 74 cases]. / La policitemia vera como panmielopatía clonal multifásica: perfil diagnóstico, evolución patocrónica y efecto de la terapéutica sobre la supervivencia de 74 casos.

PURPOSE: 1. To recognise the clinico-biological profile of a group of patients diagnosed of polycythaemia vera (PV) in our centre in the last 30 years. 2. To identify the evolutive patterns of haematological transformation. 3. To evaluate the effect of therapy on the survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 74 patients (median age 62 years, male/female = 0.94, followed-up for 6-357 months, median 64 months) were reviewed. Clinico-biological data at diagnosis, therapy, complications and evolution of the haematological picture were evaluated in each case. The actuarial survival in the series was compared to that of the normal population. RESULTS: The clinico-analytical data and diagnostic features were identical to other series reported. Mild increases of bone marrow reticulin was present in two thirds of the cases, overt myelofibrosis being found in only 10% of the patients. Abnormal karyotype was seen in 9% of the patients (11q-, -Y). Phlebotomy was the only treatment in eight cases, without increased incidence of thrombotic phenomena. The remainders received myelosuppressive therapy (32P, busulphan, pipobroman, hydroxyurea, etc.), thrombotic complications appearing in 8 cases and haemorrhagic complications in 4 others. One of these latter patients developed oesophageal carcinoma. The haematological picture evolved into toxic aplastic anaemia in 2 cases; myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MF/MM) in 8; myelodysplastic sindromes (MDS) in 5, three of them RAEB; and acute myelogenous leukaemia in 3 cases, two of them as the final stage of previous MF/MM and MDS/ RAEB. The actuarial survival was 71% at ten years and 46% at fifteen years, and the median survival as a whole was 13.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: 1: The treatment, mostly myelosuppressive, given to these patients attained a survival similar to that of the general population. 2: Of the cases with known evolution, 15.6% developed MF/MM, its incidence being higher in patients treated only with phlebotomy (37%). 3: The incidence of malignant evolution, i.e., to RAEB/AML, amongst those patients followed-up was 10.6%.

[Unstable detrusor: usefulness of biofeedback]. / Detrusor inestable: utilidad del biofeedback.

Presentation of results of treatment using Biofeedback in two conditions which quite frequently associate vesical instability and incontinence: 65 cases of enuresis and 39 of urinary stress incontinence in females. The method was effective and achieved disappearance of detrusor instability in 78.2% of enuretic cases and 58.9% of urinary stress female incontinence. Outcome for incontinence was less favourable since disappearance was only achieved in 70.5% of enuretics and 20.5% cases of female incontinence. A brief description of the method and instrumentation used is done, which can be easily conveyed to any electromiographic device with real time output. The paper substantiates the authors' views relative to the likely pathogeny of the instability in both processes and the mechanism of action of Biofeedback techniques.

[Bladder carcinosarcoma. A clinical case]. / Carcinosarcoma vesical. Caso clínico.

Presentation of a new case of vesical carcinosarcoma in a 49 year-old male patient. The tumour's pathoanatomical study showed an epithelial pattern of transitional and squamous cells and a sarcomatous pattern composed of rabdomiosarcoma, osteochondrosarcoma and pleomorphous indifferentiated sarcoma with giant multinuclear cells. Histogenesis, signs and symptoms, and treatment, as well as the need of performing an immunohistochemical study for its diagnosis are discussed.

Mechanisms of aluminum-induced microcytosis: lessons from accidental aluminum intoxication.

Twenty-three hemodialysis patients exposed to an accidental aluminum overload, showed increased erythropoietin requirements and decreased erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV). At the peak of the intoxication, MCV and plasma aluminum levels changed from unrelated (r = 0.02) to strongly related (r = 0.425) variables. The molar proportion of plasma aluminum to plasma iron increased dramatically (from 1:13.8 to 1:2.4). This significant increment in the aluminum/iron ratio made higher the relative offer of aluminum with respect to iron to the erythroid precursor cells. Accordingly, in a subset of 13 randomly selected aluminum-intoxicated patients we found increased intraerythrocytic aluminum, which paralleled the increase in plasma aluminum. Furthermore, in the aluminum-intoxicated group, intraerythrocytic ferritin, a marker of iron content, and the ratio between erythrocyte and plasma ferritin were lower (P < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively), than in the control group. These findings support the hypothesis that in some cases of aluminum-related microcytosis, a ferropenic mycrocitosis, as expression of erythroid ferropenia, may exist in spite of the presence of normal body iron stores.

[Giant müllerian cyst. An infrequent cause of palpable hypogastric mass]. / Quiste mülleriano gigante. Una causa infrecuente de masa hipogástrica palpable.

Due to its remarkable rarity, large volume and good post-operative evolution, the authors present one case of a cyst from Müller's duct debris, 18 x 16 cm in size, in a 22-year old male who presented with tangible mass in the hypogastrium and occasional nycturia. The size conditions the clinical symptomatology, although the are times such as this, when they can acquire a considerable volume and grow with practically no symptoms. Clinical history and diagnostic methodology are explained, pointing out the most relevant clinical criteria for proper differentiation from other entities, the complexity of differential diagnosis and the therapeutical procedure used.

Effects of nitric oxide on red blood cells: changes in erythrocyte resistance to hypotonic hemolysis and potassium efflux by experimental maneuvers that decrease nitric oxide.

To determine the role of nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms on erythrocyte properties, we exposed red cells to L-arginine competitive analogues, 8Br-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8Br-cGMP) and neutrophil-eliminating filters. These treatments significantly decreased hypotonic hemolysis, increased potassium efflux and caused a spiculate change in erythrocyte morphology. These effects were related to a decrease of NO caused by the three types of treatments.

[Post-therapeutic evolution and prognostic factors of intestinal lymphomas, Retrospective analysis of 42 cases]. / Evolución posterapéutica y factores pronósticos de los linfomas intestinales. Análisis retrospectivo de 42 casos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in retrospect the response to therapy and long-term evolution of a series of primitive intestinal lymphomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The series was comprised of 42 patients diagnosed in our hospital during 1960-1962. The mean age was 34.5 years (range, 3-73), the M/F ratio was 21/21, and the histopathology distributes as follows: high grade (HG), 24 cases, low grade (LG), 12 cases, and mixed (LG/HG), 6 cases. B/T immunophenotype: 40/2. Staging: IE1,29 cases, IIE2-IV, 11 cases. The treatment applied in the series was classified in various types: ample surgical resection (aSR), 21 cases; partial surgical resection (pSR), 9 cases; abdominal radiation therapy (RT), 7 cases; monochemotherapy (MCT), 7 cases, and polychemotherapy (PCT), 28 cases. The correlation of clinicobiological variables with immediate response to treatment was evaluated by means of the chi square test, and the acturial post-therapeutic survival curves in accordance to the life tables, differences being calculated by the log rank test. RESULTS: Small intestine was the commonest site of involvement, 31 cases; ileocecal region, 7 cases; colon, 2 cases, and colon plus small intestine, 2 cases. Regardless of therapy type, complete remission (CR) was attained in 20 patients (47.5%), partial remission in 5; 11 cases were unresponsive (26.5%) and early death occurred in 6 instances (14.2%). The acturial post-therapeutic survival offered an 8-year expectancy of 47%. The correlation between immediate complete response and 16 clinico-biologic variables showed favourable significance for tumoral proliferation index (i.e., Pc10-positive cells < 15%) and for therapeutic regimens including PCT+aSR. On the other hand, the necessity of emergency surgery for diagnosis was a poor-risk factor. The correlation between a post-therapeutic survival and 19 other variables showed the following as favorable data: female sex, tumour proliferative index (i.e., Pc10-positive cells < 15%), the use of PCT+aSR, and attaining CR. Poor-risk factors were the need of emergency surgery, multicentric lymphomatous involvement and serum LDH rates 350 UI/L. Although immediate response (CR) and long-term results (survival) were better in the patients with favourable histology (LG+LG/HG) and in those with loco-regional disease (stages IE-IE1), the differences had no statistical significance, possibly due to the low number of cases. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Even though these findings should be carefully evaluated, dut to lack of homogeneity of the series and the fact of being a retrospective study, the rate of CR in this series (47.5%) is similar to that of current studies. 2) Female sex, type of therapy, multifocal involvement, the need of emergency surgery and high LDH levels have significant value in univariate analyses.