El proteinograma en la práctica clínica

La electroforesis de las proteínas del suero o proteinograma es un método semicuantitativo de análisis de las proteínas, frecuentemente solicitado a muchos laboratorios clínicos.Para una adecuada utilización del mismo, es conveniente conocer la información que aporta el proteinograma y su asociación con diferentes enfermedades. (AU)

[Alveolar hemorrhage in mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C virus infection]. / Hemorragia alveolar en el seno de una crioglobulinemia mixta asociada a infección por el virus de la hepatitis C.

Alveolar hemorrhage in mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C virus infection. A 61 year-old woman with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia associated to hepatitis C virus infection has suffered alveolar hemorrhage with multiple pulmonary infiltrates, purpura, glomerulonephritis and polyneuropathy. The respiratory and kidney findings resolved with prednisone, but glomerulonephritis reappeared when interferon-alpha treatment was started and prednisone was reduced. This is the third case of alveolar hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia reported in the literature. The lung involvement in mixed cryoglobulinemia is reviewed. The clinic manifestations (asthma, pleural effusion, hemoptysis or pulmonary fibrosis) are uncommon, but the lung involvement is very frequent if roentgenographic signs and necropsy findings are assessed.

[An unusual case of tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient]. / Presentación inusual de tuberculosis en un paciente immunocompetente.

Gastric tuberculosis is a rare entity that often coincides with pulmonary involvement at the time of diagnosis. Many cases reported in developed countries are in immunodepressed patients, particularly those with HIV infection. We report the case of a 43-year-old man who presented with weight loss of 14 kg, persistent vomiting and bilateral pulmonary nodes measuring 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter. An ulcerous, hypertrophic gastric lesion was observed by oral digestive endoscopy, such that the clinical, radiologic and endoscopic profile initially suggested gastric neoplasia with bilateral pulmonary metastasis. Examination of the gastric biopsy and of the bronchial aspirate revealed the presence of acid-alcohol resistant bacilli; a culture in Löwenstein-Jenssen medium was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient responded satisfactorily to short-term specific treatment with three drugs.

Effects of nucleus accumbens lesions in rats on spatial preference in an open field.

Selective lesions placed in three different regions of the nucleus accumbens were performed to assess their effects on spatial preference in the rat. Histological verification allowed to establish three groups of lesioned animals: medial, intermediate and lateral. Sham operations involved all procedures except the passing of a current. All animals were tested once prior to operation and twice postoperatively. Sherman's directionality score (DS) was adopted. Positive values indicate right side preference and negative ones leftward bias. Statistical analysis revealed that rats used in this study showed a nonsignificant spontaneous right side preference in the open field (DS = +0.08). Medial and intermediate lesions increased the right side bias (DS = +0.37), whereas lateral lesioned animals reversed their preoperative rightward bias and showed a significant left side preference (DS = -0.48). These results suggest a participation of the nucleus accumbens in spatial preference and are considered to be due to the well known uneven distribution of the afferent and efferent fiber systems within the nucleus.