Functional improvements associated with cranioplasty after stroke and traumatic brain injury: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Decompressive craniectomy is part of the acute management of several neurosurgical illnesses, and is commonly followed by cranioplasty. Data are still scarce on the functional and cognitive outcomes following cranioplasty. We aim to evaluate these outcomes in patients who underwent cranioplasty following traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. METHODS: In this prospective cohort, we assessed 1-month and 6-month neuropsychological and functional outcomes in TBI and stroke patients who underwent cranioplasty at a Brazilian tertiary center. The primary outcome was the change in the Digits Test at 1 and 6 months after cranioplasty. Repeated measures general linear models were employed to assess the patients' evolution and interactions with baseline characteristics. Effect size was estimated by the partial η2. RESULTS: A total of 20 TBI and 14 stroke patients were included (mean age 42 ± 14 years; 52.9% male; average schooling 9.5 ± 3.8 years; 91.2% right-handed). We found significant improvements in the Digits Tests up to 6 months after cranioplasty (p = 0.004, partial η2 = 0.183), as well as in attention, episodic memory, verbal fluency, working memory, inhibitory control, visuoconstructive and visuospatial abilities (partial η2 0.106-0.305). We found no interaction between the cranioplasty effect and age, sex or schooling. Patients submitted to cranioplasty earlier (<1 year) after injury had better outcomes. CONCLUSION: Cognitive and functional outcomes improved after cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy for stroke or TBI. This effect was consistent regardless of age, sex, or education level and persisted after 6 months. Some degree of spontaneous improvement might have contributed to the results.

Consensus statement from the international consensus meeting on post-traumatic cranioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of high-quality evidence which has hindered the development of evidence-based guidelines, there is a need to provide general guidance on cranioplasty (CP) following traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as identify areas of ongoing uncertainty via a consensus-based approach. METHODS: The international consensus meeting on post-traumatic CP was held during the International Conference on Recent Advances in Neurotraumatology (ICRAN), in Naples, Italy, in June 2018. This meeting was endorsed by the Neurotrauma Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, and several other neurotrauma organizations. Discussions and voting were organized around 5 pre-specified themes: (1) indications and technique, (2) materials, (3) timing, (4) hydrocephalus, and (5) paediatric CP. RESULTS: The participants discussed published evidence on each topic and proposed consensus statements, which were subject to ratification using anonymous real-time voting. Statements required an agreement threshold of more than 70% for inclusion in the final recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: This document is the first set of practical consensus-based clinical recommendations on post-traumatic CP, focusing on timing, materials, complications, and surgical procedures. Future research directions are also presented.

Comprehensive analysis of meningioma in the first two decades of life: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between meningioma histological subtype and tumor site in under-20 year-olds. METHODS: A review of the literature on meningioma during the first 2 decades of life was carried out through a Medline search up to February 2019. To evaluate the adult population, a cross-sectional study was conducted on patients operated on between 2000 and 2014 in a single institution. Exclusion criteria comprised: series reports and papers that lacked detailed description of clinical findings, neuroimaging confirmation of tumor location, and/or at least 5 years' follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred and seven manuscripts were included, for 365 under-20 year-old patients: 200 male, and 164 female. Histopathology found 197 cases (53.9%) of WHO grade I meningioma, with predominance of meningothelial (41.1%) and transitional (30.9%) subtypes; 123 (33.7%) grade II, and 45 (12.3%) grade III. For 65 (18.25%) of the 356 cases, recurrence was documented, with only 24 deaths (6.7%). CONCLUSION: Meningioma in this population presented 2 differences compared to the adult population: male predominance, and high incidence of atypical meningioma. Surgery was the primary treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy is controversial in the literature.

Neuro-oncological features of spinal meningiomas: Systematic review.

PURPOSE: Review the published data on spinal meningioma (SM) to create a more comprehensive picture of its natural history. METHODS: A review of the published SM literature was carried out through a Medline search up to December 2018. The search using the keyword "spinal meningiomas" returned 248 papers and the parameters analyzed in our present study were examined in those publications. Papers without a detailed description of clinical findings, neuroimaging confirmation of the spinal tumor, minimum follow-up of 5 years, or a clear description of the clinical findings were excluded. RESULTS: In the 24 manuscripts reviewed, 1811 (1450 females/361 males) patients with SM were analyzed. The thoracic spine (1181-64.6%) and cervical spine (394-22.7%) were the more prevalent levels. The psammomatous (27.8%) and meningothelial variants (25.2%) were the most prevalent histopathological subtypes. Gross total resection (Simpson I and II) was achieved in 94.5% of cases and subtotal resection (Simpson III or more) in 5.5%. The tumor recurrence rate was 4.4%, and the mortality rate related to surgery or disease progression was 3%. CONCLUSION: WHO grade I predominance was observed among spinal meningiomas, analogous to intracranial meningiomas. SMs predominated in the thoracic spine. Surgery with gross total resection was achieved in the vast majority of cases, resulting in low recurrence and mortality rates.

¿Es posible disminuir la incidencia de encefalopatía hipóxico isquémica? / Is it possible to reduce the incidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?

Objetivo: Determinar si una política local, establecida en la Maternidad del Hospital Padre Hurtado (HPH), para bajar la incidencia de Encefalopatía Hipóxico Isquémica es efectiva, sin incrementar en forma relevante la tasa de cesáreas. Diseño: Estudio de cohorte. Escenario: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de la Mujer y el Recién Nacido del Hospital Padre Hurtado. Población: Neonatos mayores de 33 semanas de edad gestacional, nacidos en el Hospital Padre Hurtado durante los años 1999 y 2015. Método: Se revisaron los resultados de una política de intervención para prevención de asfixia neonatal establecida en la Maternidad del Hospital Padre Hurtado durante un periodo de 14 años. Resultados: Al analizar los datos de un total de 102.612 nacidos vivos, se constató una disminución en la incidencia de EHI en sus 3 grados de una tasa de 4.75/1.000 nacidos vivos previo a la intervención (grupo control) a una tasa de 1.46 por 1.000 nacidos vivos post intervenciones, con alta significancia estadística (p=0,008), llegando en los últimos 6 años a tasa promedio de 0.87/1.000 nacidos vivos. La tasa de EHI moderada y severa bajó de 1.15 por mil nacidos vivos a 0.62, también con alta significancia estadística (p=0.02). La tasa de cesáreas oscilo entre 26-29 % en estos años. Conclusión: La introducción de intervenciones protocolizadas y sistematizadas por medio de la implementación de guías de manejo del trabajo de parto, la capacitación del equipo de profesionales y la auditoría continua de los casos de EHI en el Servicio de Maternidad del Hospital Padre Hurtado se asoció a una disminución significativa de EHI, manteniendo la tasa de cesáreas bajo 30%.

Objectives: Determine whether a local policy to reduce the incidence of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), established at the Maternity Unit of Hospital Padre Hurtado (HPH), is effective without significantly increasing the cesarean rate. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Maternity unit of Hospital Padre Hurtado. Population: Newborns older than 33 weeks born at Hospital Padre Hurtado between 1999 and 2015. Methods: The results of a training policy to prevent HIE and perinatal asphyxia established at the Maternity unit of Hospital Padre Hurtado were reviewed during a period of 14 years. Results: From a total of 102.612 newborns analyzed, results showed a decrease in all grades of HIE incidence, from a rate of 4.75 / 1,000 live births prior to intervention (control group) to a rate of 1.46 per 1,000 live births after interventions, with high statistically significance (p=0.008), it reached an average rate of 0.87/1000 for the last 6 years. The moderate and severe HIE rate decreased from 1.15/1000 to 0.62/1000, also with high statistically significance (p=0.02). During the same period of time, the cesarean rate varied between 26-29%. Conclusion: The introduction of protocolized and systematized interventions trough the implantation of Management guides, obstetrics emergency trainings to the professional team and continues audit of the HIE cases at the Maternity unit Hospital Padre Hurtado was associated to a significant decrease of HIE, maintaining the rate of cesareans below 30%.

Medición in vitro del flujo con Doppler en diferentes condiciones mecánicas y su comparación con el real / Measuring in vitro Doppler flow at different mechanical conditions and compared with the real

Objective: to compare Doppler measurements with real flow in a in-vitro model, with variable diameters and insonation angle. Methods: The silicone tubes were 3-8 mm width, and set with variable inclinations from 40° to 70°. Two pumps with constant flow were used for all combinations of diameters and angles. A Sonoace 8000 from Medison was used. Real flow was compared to measured flow. Results: The measured flows varied importantly in different conditions. In a 3 mm tube, estimated flow increased from 212 ml/min to 403 ml/min when the angle was increased from 40° to 70°, when real flow was 140 ml. As well, in 8 mm tubes, estimated flow increased from 651 ml/min to 1.080 ml/min when the angle was increased from 40° to 70°, when real flow was 360 ml/min. Measured flows were 1.6 times greater than real flow. Conclusion: Measured flows were greater than real, with greater increase in larger tubes and greater angles. This confirms that velocity measurements need lowest angles possible. Measured flows are only representations of real flow, but can be considered useful as they were reproducible.

Objetivos: Recientes aplicaciones del Doppler pulsado se han orientado hacia la medición del flujo (ml/s) de la vena umbilical fetal, sin embargo sus mediciones han tenido cuestionamientos desde el punto de vista de la validez, por el efecto del ángulo y el flujo laminar. El objetivo de este estudio es probar la validez de las mediciones ecográficas en un modelo in vitro. Métodos: Se construyó un sistema dentro de un reservorio de agua, en que se instalaron tubos de silicona variando el lumen (3-8 mm), inclinación del tubo (40°-70°) y dos velocidades de infusión de agua. Se instaló la sonda convexa del transductor transabdominal a 5 cm sobre el tubo, de modo que todo el trayecto del tubo sea visualizado en la pantalla del ecógrafo SONOACE 8000 de Medison. Se corrigió el ángulo con la función del ecógrafo. El flujo se estimó por ecografía al multiplicar la velocidad medida por Doppler pulsado por el área interna del tubo. Se comparó el flujo medido real, obtenido por el volumen de agua obtenida en un minuto de funcionamiento de la bomba, y el medido por ecografía Doppler. El flujo medido por Doppler se obtuvo 2 veces, para comparar la variación intrínseca del método y verificar su confiabilidad. Resultados: Los flujos obtenidos variaron según las condiciones mecánicas importantemente. En tubos de 3 mm de diámetro, con ángulos crecientes de 40° a 70°, los fl ujos estimados aumentaron de 212 ml/min a 403 ml/min cuando el flujo real era de 140 ml/min. A su vez, en tubos de 8 mm, con ángulos crecientes de 40° a 70°, los flujos estimados aumentaron de 651 ml/min a 1.080 ml/min, cuando el flujo real era de 360 ml/min. Se demostró una correlación lineal entre el flujo estimado y el real de: Qestimado=(Qreal x 1,63)+181, r= 0,84. La aplicación del test de Bland y Altman demostró que las mediciones son repetibles y consistentes. Conclusión: Los flujos medidos en ecografía fueron 1,6 veces más que los obtenidos en flujo real en las condiciones mecánicas...

Diagnóstico incidental de tumor vesical por ecografía ginecológica transvaginal / Incidental findings of bladder tumor by transvaginal ultrasonography

Se presenta el caso clínico de una mujer de 60 años que acude al Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Hospital Padre Hurtado, bajo la sospecha de un mioma cervical pequeño. Se realiza una ecografía transva-ginal la cual evidencia incidentalmente un tumor vesical sólido, vascularizado, intravesical y dependiente de la mucosa. La paciente no refería espontáneamente hematuria. El estudio urológico definitivo es de un carcinoma papilar de células transicionales. El tratamiento endoscópico logró la resección completa del tumor. El hallazgo ecográfico permitió realizar el diagnóstico en una forma poco habitual para esta enfermedad, aprovechando una instancia definida para otros fines. Se rescata la importancia de observar detenidamente todas las estructuras pélvicas al alcance visual del equipo de ecografía.

We present a clinical case of a 60 year-old patient, who concurs to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Padre Hurtado Hospital under the suspect of a uterine-cervical myoma. A transvaginal ultrasonography was performed which incidentally revealed a bladder tumor which was solid, vascularized, clearly inside of the bladder and attached to the bladder mucosa. The definitive urological study was compatible with a transitional cells papillary carcinoma. The woman did not refer hematuria spontaneously. The finding allowed an unusual diagnosis in an ultrasound aimed for different purposes, which underlines the potential use of this method in other pelvic organs.

[Intracranial pressure monitoring in children with fulminant hepatic failure]. / Monitorizacion de la presion intracraneal en ninos con insuficiencia hepatica fulminante.

INTRODUCTION: We describe a series of 10 children with intracranial hypertension complicating fulminant hepatic failure submitted to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for intensive care and transplantation management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Information from pediatrics patients acute liver failure admitted to our hospital was collected in a standard protocol form. We analyzed data from 10 patients, medium age 5.2 years old. In this period we studied aspects as ICP transducer used, number of days with ICP monitoring and complications of ICP monitoring. RESULTS: Hepatitis A was diagnosed in five patients and hepatitis B in two cases. The initial ICP were 2 to 24 mmHg in transducer. Seven patients died, four due to intracranial hypertension, included the patient operated for subdural hematoma, and three with transplantation failure. Only a case of hematoma was verified. CONCLUSIONS: The application of ICP monitoring allows intensive care for aggressive ICP management. It can be used in children without adaptations.

Alta prevalencia de IgG anti citomegalovirus en 583 embarazos: Hospital Padre Hurtado / High prevalence of IgG anti cytomegalovirus in 583 pregnancies: Hospital Padre Hurtado

ANTECEDENTES: Citomegalovirus (CMV) es la infección congénita más frecuente, demostrado en el 1% de recién nacidos en países desarrollados. Es la primera causa de sordera y alteraciones del desarrollo neuro-lógico infantil. Recientes estudios han demostrado que la seropositividad no evita una reinfección materna ni la enfermedad congénita, por lo que la caracterización de la seroprevalencia permite saber si la infección congénita proviene mayoritariamente de primoinfección o de reinfección. OBJETIVOS: Conocer la seroprevalencia al parto en 583 mujeres beneficiarías del Hospital Padre Hurtado durante mayo y junio del 2006. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, observacional, en que se estudio la presencia de IgG anti CMV en sangre materna al parto. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo una seroprevalencia de 95%, sin casos de infección sintomática al nacer. CONCLUSIÓN: La seroprevalencia es elevada, lo que sugiere que la reinfección sería la forma principal de infección congénita. Un estudio en recién nacidos con cultivos virales o PCR permitiría conocer la tasa de infección congénita real, y no un estudio basado en seroconversión pues omitiría todos los casos que reinfección, que serían mayoritarios.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus is the most frequent congenital infection, affecting 1% of the population in developed countries, and the leading cause of deafness and brain development abnormalities in children. Recent studies have demonstrated that seropositivity do not avoid reinfection and congenital disease. OBJECTIVE: To study the seroprevalence in 583 pregnant women at delivery at Padre Hurtado Hospital, during 2006. METHODS: Prospective, observational study, in which maternal blood at delivery was studied for the presence of anti CMV IgG. RESULTS: There was 95% seroprevalence, without any case of symptomatic infection. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence supports that most of the cases of congenital disease would occur in seropositive women, supporting that reinfection is the main way of neonatal compromise. This supports that a study with direct detection in liveborns would be suitable to reveal the impact of cytomegalovirus in our population and not that of seroconversión.

[Idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma in patients with sudden paraplegia: a case report]. / Hematoma epidural espinal idiopático en pacientes con paraplejía súbita: a propósito de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) represents 0.3-0.9% of spinal epidural space-occupying lesions, and most surgeons advocate aggressive and early surgical intervention. In this paper we describe a patient with SEH with sudden paraplegia. CASE REPORT: This 30-year-old man had experienced one prior episode of sudden dorsal pain two days before the current admission and while he waited medical attendance, his legs suddenly became weak, and immediately afterwards, he became completely paraplegic in minutes. The patient had complete paraplegia, analgesia below the T4 level and urinary retention. He had no anticoagulant agent and no coagulopathic disease. He was submitted to computerized tomography that demonstrated a dorsally located epidural hematoma extending from the T3 to the T6 level with spinal cord compression. A laminectomy from T3 to T7 was performed four hours after the onset of the symptom. In postoperative time the patient presented the partial sensorial recovery and motor force grade II. The patient was directed to a neurorehabilitation program and in the last medical evaluation he presented recovery for motor grade III-IV, without pain. CONCLUSION: The SHE is rare, with severe neurological consequences for patients and early surgical treatment persist as essential for motor recovery.

Longitud del canal cervical uterino como factor de riesgo de parto prematuro en pacientes sintom¨¢ticas / Cervical length as a risk factor of preterm delivery

Objetivo: Determinar si el acortamiento del cuello uterino en pacientes sintom¨¢ticas es predictor de parto prematuro en o antes de las 35 semanas y dentro de 7 d¨ªas. M¨¦todo: Se estudiaron 852 pacientes que consultaron por din¨¢mica uterina, a las que se midi¨® el cuello uterino al ingreso. Las pacientes fueron manejadas de acuerdo a las Gu¨ªas Cl¨ªnicas del Hospital. Se excluyeron las pacientes en trabajo de parto, con membranas rotas o con cerclaje. Resultados: La edad gestacional promedio al ingreso fue 31,5 semanas (rango: 24,0-34,9). Se present¨® parto prematuro a las 35 semanas o antes en 61 casos (7,2%), y dentro de los 7 d¨ªas del ingreso en 14 pacientes (1,6%). Fueron predictores independientes significativos (OR; IC95%) para un parto ¡Ü35 semanas las siguientes variables: antecedente de prematurez (2,03; 1,06-3,89), metrorragia (6,87; 2,83-16,65) y canal cervical <25 mm (3,31; 1,92-5,7). El an¨¢lisis con curvas ROC demostr¨® que el valor de corte que mejor predice un parto ¡Ü35 semanas y dentro de 7 d¨ªas de ingresada, es un cuello uterino <19,5 mm (p<0,05). Conclusiones: El acortamiento del canal cervical en pacientes sintom¨¢ticas, particularmente con un canal <20 mm, se asocia con un riesgo significativo de parto prematuro ¡Ü35 semanas y dentro de 7 d¨ªas de ingresada. La medici¨®n de canal cervical ayuda a distinguir a las pacientes en riesgo, con el fin de concentrar esfuerzos en ese grupo de embarazadas.

Objective: To determine if the shortening of cervical length (CL) in women with threatened preterm labor could predict delivery at or before 35 weeks´ gestation and within 7 days of presentation. Method: Sonographic measurement of CL was done in 852 women with singleton pregnancies presenting with painful uterine contractions. Women in labor, with ruptured membranes or those with cervical cerclage were excluded. Results: Median gestational age at presentation was 31.5 (range: 24.0-34.9) weeks and median cervical length was 31.5 (range: 3-61) mm. Delivery within 7 days occurred in 14 (1.6%) and delivery at or before 35 weeks, in 61 (7.2%) cases. Significant (OR; 95%CI) independent predictors of delivery at or before 35 weeks were vaginal bleeding (6.87; 2.83-16.65), cervical length (3.31; CI 1.92-5.70) and a history of preterm birth (2.03; 1.06-3.89). ROC curve analysis showed that a cervical length shorter than 19.5 mm (p<0.05) was the best cutoff value for predicting a delivery at or before 35 weeks´ gestation and within 7 days of presentation. Conclusions: Shortening of cervical length in threatened preterm labor, especially when shorter than 19.5 mm, is associated with a significant risk of preterm labor ¡Ü35 weeks¡¯ gestation and within 7 days of admission. Sonographic measurement of cervical length helps to recognize patients at risk for preterm birth, in order to focus interventions in that group of patients.

Gobierno del parto en el Hospital Padre Hurtado: un modelo para contener la tasa de cesárea y prevenir la encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica / Management of labor in the Padre Hurtado Hospital: an model for the reduction of the cesarean sections and to prevent the hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

La tasa de cesáreas en Chile se ubicó entre las más altas del mundo en el año 2000: 39 por ciento a 83 por ciento en la práctica privada y 20 por ciento a 28 por ciento en los hospitales públicos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es comunicar el impacto que ha tenido en la tasa de cesáreas y el resultado neonatal la aplicación de Guías Clínicas para el manejo del trabajo de parto y monitoreo fetal. Entre el 1 de enero de 1999 y el 31 de diciembre de 2004, la tasa global de cesáreas del período fue de 23,2 por ciento y la tasa de fórceps osciló entre 7,5 y 9,7 por ciento. La incidencia de encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica (EHI) para el período de estudio fue de 3,5/1.000 nacidos vivos, con una progresiva tendencia a la disminución. Las tasas de cesárea y de EHI son comparables a las reportadas en la literatura internacional. Luego de revisar la literatura, ésta es la primera comunicación nacional sobre el impacto de Guías Clínicas en la atención del parto.

Anatomical description of the facet joint innervation and its implication in the treatment of recurrent back pain.

AIM: Many techniques are used in the back pain treatment, standing out the facet denervation as a therapeutic option for pain that originates in the facet joints. It's known that the facet joint is an abundant area of nocireceptor innervation, although the distribution and the location of the involved branches have not being well demonstrated. A good comprehension about the affected innervation is very important to get an effective treatment. Purpose of study was to describe innervation of the lumbar facet joints, potentially used in the diagnosis and treatment of painful pictures of the lumbar region by facet syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: anatomical study of nerve roots distribution of the facet joint 3 human corpses. The determination of the neurotomy s point was carried out by direct visualization and the radiological study in human parts. METHODS: Three anatomical pieces of the human lumbar spine were dissected. In those 3 pieces, the facet joint innervation distribution was studied thoroughly using surgical microscope and microsurgical technique. In one of the pieces the needles positioning was first made to test through the radiological study the possible application of the precise denervation in low back pain treatment. RESULTS: The L1 to L4 segments, each dorsal branch of root emits a medial branch that emerges from intertransversal ligament. This branch crosses the superior margin of the medial termination of transverse process, passing through the root of the superior articulate process. Each branch innerves the anterior region of the inferior facet and the inferior portion of articulation which one spins around. The L5 dorsal branch was larger than the superior branches. It emerges dorsally and in the inferior region on top of the sacrum wing. This nerve is in the bone fissure of the junction between the wing and the posterior region of the sacrum articular process. Near the inferior portion of the articular process, the nerve ramifies itself in lateral and medial branch. The medial branch comes back around the inferior portion of the lumbar-sacrum articulation that it innervates. CONCLUSIONS: We didn't note great variations in the anatomy from L1 do L4. The L5 segment has a different distribution of the branches that should be considered when we do a percutaneous denervation procedure. The approach of the needle must touch the transverse process and feels the resistance of the articular joint . The determination of the neurotomy s point tends to become more precise denervation procedure.

Epidemics of Soybean Rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in Brazil and Paraguay from 2001 to 2003.

In 5 March 2001, a severe rust outbreak was recorded at Pitapó, Paraguay, and the causal organism was determined to be Phakopsora pachyrhizi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. In May, rust surveys showed spread throughout most of Paraguay and into western and northern Parana, Brazil. In the 2001-02 season, rust was widespread in Paraguay, but losses were reduced due to severe drought; however, in Brazil it spread to more than 60% of the soybean acreage, causing field losses estimated at 0.1 million metric tons (MMT). In 2003, the disease was observed in more than 90% of the fields in Brazil, and the projected losses in Mato Grosso and Bahia alone are 2.2 MMT (US$487.3 million). Approximately 80% of the soybean acreage in Brazil was sprayed twice with fungicides at the cost of US$544 million. Differences in efficacy have been observed among the commercial strobilurin and triazol fungicides.

Rotura prematura de membranas al termino: manejo expectante por 24 horas e inducción con oxitocina / Premature rupture of membranes at term: expectant management for 24 hours and induction with oxytocin

La conducta más difundida en pacientes con rotura prematura de membranas (RPM) al término es la inducción inmediata por el riesgo de infecciones maternas y neonatales. Para reducir estas complicaciones y mantener una adecuada tasa de parto vaginal se comunican diversos métodos de inducción del parto y profilaxis antibiótica. Este estudio retrospectivo muestra los resultados de una conducta expectante por 24 horas en 115 pacientes consecutivas con embarazos de término entre enero y abril de 2001 con el diagnóstico de RPM; sin signos clínicos de infección, sufrimiento fetal o trabajo de parto al momento de consultar. Una vez cumplidas las 24 horas, las pacientes que no iniciaron trabajo de parto fueron inducidas con oxitocina. Los resultados muestran una tasa de parto vaginal de 84% y un 9,5% de infección ovular clínica en trabajo de parto. La incidencia de infección neonatal fue de 6,9%, sin mortalidad ni secuelas a mediano plazo.

Prelabor rupture of membranes at term is a condition that most obstetricians manage with inmediate labor induction in order to reduce maternal and neonatal infection. Different methods for labor induction and prophylaxis antibiotic treatments are proposed in the medical literature to prevent neonatal sepsis and to lower the cesarean section rate. This retrospective observational study reports the results of a policy of expectant management of 24 hours in 115 consecutive cases between January and April, 2001, in the presence of prelabour rupture of membranes at term. Patients were excluded if clinical chorioamnionitis, fetal distress or labor were present at admission. Patients who did not begin spontaneous labor after 24 hours received intravenous oxytocin for labor induction. The incidence of cesarean section was 16%, with 9.5% of patients with corioamnionitis during labor. There was a 6.9% of neonatal infection without mortality or long term sequelae were present.

Manejo diferencial de la rotura prematura de membranas en embarazos de término: estudio clínico prospectivo controlado / Differencial management of the premature rupture of membranes in pregnancy: controlled prospective clinic study

Demostrar que el manejo diferencial de las pacientes con rotura prematura de las membranas (RPM) de término, basado en la evaluación ecográfica del volumen de líquido amniótico, logra disminuir el índice de cesáreas sin incrementar la morbilidad infecciosa. Se estudió a 94 pacientes con RPM de término. En presencia de oligoamnios se realizó inducción al ingreso; las pacientes sin oligoamnios fueron manejadas expectantemente hasta por 72 horas. Se registró la tasa de cesáreas y la morbilidad infecciosa. Las tasas de estas 94 pacientes (grupo de estudio) se compararon con las de un grupo control retrospectivo manejado según criterio de inducción a las 12 horas de RPM. La tasa de cesáreas fue menor en el grupo de estudio que en el grupo control (10,6 vs 24 por ciento, respectivamente, p= 0,008). La tasa conjunta de infecciones maternas y neonatales fue menor en el grupo de estudio que en el grupo control 5,6 vs 9,0 por ciento), pero esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. El manejo diferencial de acuerdo a la presencia de oligoamnios, permite minimizar la frecuencia de cesáreas sin incrementar la morbilidad infecciosa en pacientes con RPM de término

Effects of F-encoded components and F-pilin domains on the synthesis and membrane insertion of TraA'-'PhoA fusion proteins.

F-pilin, the 70-amino-acid F-pilus subunit, accumulates in the cell envelope of F+ strains in a process that requires interactions between its precursor (the traA gene product) and other host and F-encoded proteins. Here, we have used a set of phi(traA-phoA) genes to explore the effects of different TraA domains on the synthesis and membrane insertion of TraA-PhoA fusion proteins, particularly in relation to other F-encoded gene products. The 51-amino-acid TraA leader peptide fused directly to alkaline phosphatase was synthesized at comparable rates and incorporated rapidly and efficiently into the inner membrane in F' and F- cells. A second fusion gene encoded the TraA leader peptide and the first 51 amino acids of F-pilin itself fused to PhoA (TraA'-'PhoA-102 polypeptide). Alkaline phosphatase activities and patterns of pulse-labelled polypeptides indicated that TraA'-'PhoA-102 was synthesized at comparable rates in F' and F- cells, but in neither was the TraA'-'PhoA-102 polypeptide efficiently processed as a membrane protein. A third gene encoded the entire 121-amino-acid TraA polypeptide fused to PhoA (TraA-'PhoA-121 polypeptide). About 70% of the pulse-labelled TraA-'PhoA-121 polypeptide was rapidly processed in F' cells, where it accumulated in the cell envelope as active alkaline phosphatase, whereas in F- cells, < 5% of the pulse-labelled polypeptide was processed. Additionally, the apparent rate of TraA-'PhoA-121 polypeptide synthesis was threefold higher in F' cells. The traQ gene alone could not substitute for F in restoring TraA-'PhoA-121 (or wild-type F-pilin) accumulation.

Histerectomía vaginal asistida por laparoscopía en el hospital Dr. Sótero del Río / Vaginal histerectomy assisted by laparoscopy at Dr. Sótero del Río hospital

Se analizan 23 casos de histerectomía vaginal asistida por laparoscopía, realizadas en el hospital Dr. Sótero del Río entre junio de 1994. Los promedios de edad, paridad, antecedentes de cirugías previas y patología asociada no difieren de la población general de pacientes del servicio. Los resultados obtenidos en nuestra serie revelan que el procedimiento presenta ventajas comparativas respecto de la histerectomía abdominal clásica al acortar la estadía intrahospitalaria, mejorar el manejo del dolor postoperatorio y la mecánica ventilatoria y contribuye a un mas rápido retorno a la actividad laboral. Las complicaciones observadas son las habituales, sin embargo, es imprescindible un entrenamiento previo adecuado en cirugía laparoscópica y cirugía vaginal, de modo que estas complicaciones sean limitadas a un mínimo

Characterization of F-pilin as an inner membrane component of Escherichia coli K12.

Antipeptide antibodies were used to detect, purify, and characterize nonfilament F-pilin in the cell envelope of an F'tra+ strain of Escherichia coli. Affinity-purified goat antibodies raised against a peptide corresponding to the amino-terminal 14 amino acids of F-pilin detected F-pilin in immuno-overlay ("Western") blots of electrophoretically separated inner and outer membrane proteins. As expected, the molecule was absent from inner membrane preparations of F- or F'traA[Am] strains. Immunoreactive material was purified from inner membrane fractions and shown to be F-pilin by amino acid analysis. The anti-peptide antibodies also detected membrane forms of F-pilin produced by cells containing plasmid pTG801 (Grossman, T. & Silverman, P. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 650-656). Most cell envelope pilin was in the inner membrane fraction, but a significant quantity fractionated with the outer membrane as well. The hydropathy profile of F-pilin suggested that the molecule is an integral membrane protein with two membrane-spanning domains. In confirmation, F-pilin and pTG801 pilins in inner membrane preparations were solubilized by a single extraction with the nonionic detergents Nonidet P-40 (2%) or Triton X-100 (2%), but not by 2 M KCl or 0.1 M NaOH. Moreover, analysis of traA'-'phoA constructs indicated that both the amino and carboxyl termini of F-pilin face the periplasm. The periplasmic location of the amino terminus was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy of spheroplasts from F' and pTG801 strains, using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an amino-terminal epitope. These data suggest a specific structure for membrane F-pilin. We discuss that structure in relation to the probable structure of filament F-pilin.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity response in mice to Pneumocystis carinii.

Resistance to Pneumocystis carinii infection appears to be mediated by T lymphocytes but the mechanism and subsets of T cells involved are poorly understood. We used the BALB/c mouse model to study the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to rat P. carinii. Mice were sensitized to P. carinii for seven days and then challenged with P. carinii antigens in the right rear footpads and normal rat lung antigens in the left rear footpads. A typical DTH response was observed in the right footpads as evidenced by significant swelling and substantial mononuclear cell infiltration at 24-h post-challenge. The DTH response could be transferred to naive syngeneic mice by adoptively transferring spleen cells from P. carinii-sensitized mice. In addition, by using anti-thy-1, anti-mouse Ig, anti-L3T4 and anti-Lyt-2.2 monoclonal antibodies in in vitro cytolysis experiments, we were able to demonstrate that the DTH response was dependent upon T lymphocytes. The response appeared to require cooperation between both L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ subsets of T lymphocytes.