Circle of Willis: anatomical variations of configuration. A magnetic resonance angiography study.

BACKGROUND: The main scope of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of the anatomical variants of the circle of Willis (CoW) in the Romanian population through magnetic resonance angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance angiography images were obtained for 126 individuals and the configurations of the anterior and posterior CoW were identified, and classified. The prevalence of each variant and the number of complete anterior or posterior parts of the circle were determined. RESULTS: A classical configuration of the CoW was found in 39 (30.9%) cases. The most common posterior variation was the unilateral absence of a posterior communicating artery (n = 28) while in the anterior circle it was the unilateral absence of the precommunicating segment of an anterior cerebral artery (n = 17). A complete entire CoW was found in 63 cases, while the anterior and posterior parts yielded complete configurations in 108 and 73 cases, respectively. Eight cases did not present complete configurations. A foetal posterior communicating artery was identified unilaterally in 14 cases and bilaterally in 6 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral variations were the most common changes found in CoW configuration. The correct assessment of the CoW configuration may prove useful in the planning and follow-up of brain surgery and interventional procedures, as well as in estimating the prognosis of patients suffering from stroke or other related cerebral vascular events.

Carotid paragangliomas: case report and imaging review.

BACKGROUND: Presentation of case reviews depicting the imaging characteristics of carotid paragangliomas, associated with a thorough analysis of the anatomical morphological features and the current therapeutic strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present the cases of 3 patients diagnosed with carotid paragangliomas in our clinic, illustrating diagnostic imaging elements by computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but also the postoperative aspect of the carotid system, with respective anatomical, clinical and surgical considerations. RESULTS: The imaging aspect of the carotid paragangliomas is characterised by a mass of soft tissue with intense contrast enhancement and with "salt and pepper" MRI appearance on conventional spin-echo sequences. The postoperative evolution of the patients included in the article was favourable, without any perioperative complications or signs of local tumour recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid paragangliomas are rare, often asymptomatic tumours, but with potential for increased malignancy, which raises the need for good knowledge of the cervical region pathology as well as the features of neuroendocrine tumours. CT and MRI examinations are essential for diagnosis, staging and, implicitly, for establishing the therapeutic strategy.

Development of a conceptual model to illustrate the impact of multiple myeloma and its treatment on health-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: Little qualitative research exploring the impact of multiple myeloma (MM) and its treatment on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients has been published. This study aimed to explore the burden of MM symptoms and treatment and the impact of these on HRQL. A model was developed to illustrate key concepts and their interrelationships. METHODS: Patients with MM were recruited to this cross-sectional, qualitative study through a patient panel and at two clinical sites in the USA. An interview discussion guide was developed using a review of published literature and interviews with experienced MM clinicians. In-depth, semistructured telephone interviews with MM patients were conducted to explore their experiences of the disease and its treatment. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Twenty MM patients at various stages of treatment participated in open-ended, semistructured interviews. Patients reported both current and previous MM symptoms; most had experienced fatigue and pain. Other commonly reported symptoms were fractures, anemia, neuropathy, aches, and infections. MM treatment was found to have a negative impact on patients' HRQL; treatment-related adverse events included fatigue, neuropathy, insomnia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. MM treatment placed a substantial psychological and physical burden on patients, disrupting social activities, decreasing independence, and impacting on relationships. A model was developed to illustrate the relationship between these concepts. CONCLUSION: The conceptual model developed in this study illustrates the many aspects of MM and its treatment and how they can have a negative impact on patients' HRQL.

Efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Data from two randomized pivotal, phase 3 trials evaluating the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) were pooled to characterize the subset of patients who achieved long-term benefit of therapy (progression-free survival ⩾ 3 years). Patients with long-term benefit of therapy (n = 45) had a median duration of treatment of 48.1 months and a response rate of 100%. Humoral improvement (uninvolved immunoglobulin A) was more common in patients with long-term benefit of therapy (79% vs 55%; P = 0.002). Significant predictors of long-term benefit of therapy in multivariate analysis were age < 65 years (P = 0.03), ß2-microglobulin <2.5 mg/l (P = 0.002) and fewer prior therapies (P = 0.002). The exposure-adjusted incidence rate (EAIR) of grade 3-4 neutropenia was lower in patients with long-term benefit of therapy (13.9 vs 38.2 per 100 patient-years). The EAIR for invasive second primary malignancy was the same in patients with long-term benefit of therapy and other patients (1.7 per 100 patient-years). These findings indicate that patients with RRMM can experience long-term benefit with lenalidomide and dexamethasone treatment with manageable side effects.

Optimizing the indication for breast-conservative surgery (BCS) in patients with locally-advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The main benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a reduction in tumor size, which allows breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in patients who otherwise would have required a mastectomy. Breast magnetic resonance (MRI) has been proposed to evaluate tumor extent after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, to determine which patients have become eligible for BCS. AIM: The aim of our study was to determine how the association of breast MRI to routine clinical and radiologic assessment of the tumor at initial presentation, and after chemotherapy, affects the overall surgical decision process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 54 women with stage IIB-IIIB breast cancer were prospectively enrolled in a study investigating the effects of MRI on the surgical decision. RESULTS: Surgical plan was changed from BCS to radical mastectomy in 6 cases (13.04%). As a result of using MRI in evaluating disease extent, 21.73% of valuable data were added by MRI (pectoralis major muscle and skin invasion, multifocal multicentric disease). Due to MRI examination 28 (60.86%) of the patients with operable breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were eligible for BCS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that MRI is the most accurate in determination of tumor size and extent, and in establishing eligibility for BCS.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for consolidation of VGPR or CR for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative approach in patients with multiple myeloma, but its use for consolidation of first remission has not yet been fully explored. Twenty-two myeloma patients with very good partial response (VGPR) or CR received allogeneic peripheral blood grafts as consolidation from HLA-matched donors between 2007 and 2012. Conditioning regimens were fludarabine (30 mg/m(2) i.v. if with bortezomib and 40 mg/m(2) i.v. when without bortezomib, × 4 days) plus melphalan (70 mg/m(2) intravenously × 2 days) with (n=13) or without (n=9) bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2)). The cumulative incidence of grades II - IV acute GVHD at day 100 was 45% (95% CI: 24-65%) and moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD at 2 years was 46% (95% CI: 19-69%). With a median follow-up of 18 (range, 2-61) months, the 2-year PFS estimate is 74.8% (95% CI: 45-90%), which compares favorably with the 52% (95% CI: 35-66%) after autologous HCT for similar patients (a median follow-up of 30 (range, 9-55) months). We are conducting a phase 2 study to assess the efficacy of allogeneic HCT as post-remission therapy.

Gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha(-308), IL-10(-1082), IL-6(-174), and IL-1Ra(VNTR) related to susceptibility and severity of rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an inflammatory disease of the heart tissues caused by interactive immune, genetic, and environmental factors. The objective of this study is to test for the association of polymorphisms related to cytokine genes with susceptibility and severity of RHD among affected children from the Nile Delta region of Egypt. The study included 50 children with chronic RHD (29 males and 21 females), with a mean age of 12.2 years, in addition to 98 healthy unrelated controls. Cases were further classified on the basis of echocardiographic findings into those with only mitral valve disease (MVD) or multivalvular lesions (MVLs) and also as mild, moderate, or severe valve lesions. For all cases and controls, DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of cytokine genes tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha(-308 )G/A, interleukin (IL)-10(-1082 )G/A, and IL-6(-174 )G/C as well as a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in intron 2 of the IL-1Ra gene. All cases showed a significantly higher frequency of homozygous genotypes of TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7, p < 0.001], IL-10(-1082) A/A (OR = 3.1, p < 0.05), IL-10(-1082) G/G (OR = 5.2, p < 0.05), and IL-1Ra A1/A1 (OR = 2.2, p < 0.05). Cases with MVD showed higher frequencies of genotypes TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A, G/G; IL-10(-1082) G/G; and IL-1Ra(VNTR) A1/A1 (p < 0.05). Cases with MVL showed a significantly higher frequency of homozygous A/A genotype of both TNF-alpha(-308 )(OR = 10.6, p < 0.05) and IL-10(-1082) (OR = 5.2, p < 0.05). The same was observed for cases with severe valve lesions. On the other hand, all studied groups showed significantly lower frequency of heterozygous genotypes of TNF-alpha(-308 )G/A, IL-10(-1082) G/A, and IL-1Ra(VNTR) A1/A2. No significant difference was found regarding the frequency of IL-6(-174 )G/C polymorphisms in total cases or subgroups compared to controls (p > 0.05). Predisposition to RHD is influenced by genetic factors including cytokine gene polymorphisms, with possible susceptibility to severe disease with multivalvular affection among cases with composite polymorphism (TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A and IL-10(-1082) A/A) and (TNF-alpha(-308 )A/A and IL-10(-1082) G/G).

Prognostic cytogenetic markers in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) showing resistance to immediate induction chemotherapy in relation to conventional and advanced cytogenetic analysis. METHODS: This work was conducted on 63 ALL children (40 males and 23 females) with age range 4.5 months-16 years (mean = 7.76 years). They included 37 cases attained true remission and 26 complicated by failure of remission, early relapse or death. They were subjected to history, clinical examination and investigations including CBC, BM examination, karyotyping, FISH for translocations and flowcytometry for immunophenotyping and minimal residual disease diagnosis. RESULTS: Cases aged 50.000/mm3 also showed better but non-significant remission rates. Most of the present cases were L2 with better remission compared to other immunophenotypes. Forty informative karyotypes were subdivided into 15 hypodiploid, 10 pseudodiploid, 8 normal diploid and 7 hyperdiploid cases; the best remission rates were noticed among the most frequent ploidy patterns. Chromosomes 9, 11 and 22 were the most frequently involved by structural aberrations followed by chromosomes 5, 12 and 17. Resistance was noted with aberrations not encountered among remission group; deletions involving chromosomes 2p, 3q, 10p and 12q; translocations involving chromosome 5; trisomies of chromosomes 16 and 21; monosomies of 5 and X and inversions of 5 and 11. CONCLUSION: Some cytogenetic and molecular characterizations of childhood ALL could add prognostic criteria for proper therapy allocation.

Prognostic cytogenetic markers in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: cases from Mansoura Egypt.

The objective of the work was to evaluate children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) showing resistance to immediate induction chemotherapy in relation to conventional and advanced cytogenetic analysis. The study was conducted on 63 ALL children (40 males and 23 females) with age range 4.5 months-16 years (mean = 7.76 years). They included 37 cases who attained a true remission and 26 complicated by failure of remission, early relapse or death. They were subjected to history, clinical examination and investigations including CBC, BM examination, karyotyping, FISH for translocations and flowcytometry for immunophenotyping and minimal residual disease diagnosis. Cases aged < 5 years; male sex with organomegaly had better remission although statistically insignificant. Initially low HB < 8 gm/dl, high WBCs and platelet counts >50.000/mm(3) also showed better but non-significant remission rates. Most of our cases were L(2) with better remission compared to other immunophenotypes. About 40 informative karyotypes were subdivided into 15 hypodiploid, 10 pseudodiploid, 8 normal diploid and 7 hyperdiploid cases; the best remission rates were noticed among the most frequent ploidy patterns. Chromosomes 9, 11 and 22 were the most frequently involved by structural aberrations followed by chromosomes 5, 12 and 17. Resistance was noted with aberrations not encountered among remission group; deletions involving chromosomes 2p, 3q, 10p and 12q; translocations involving chromosome 5; trisomies of chromosomes 16 and 21; monosomies of 5 and X and inversions of 5 and 11. Our conclusions were that cytogenetic and molecular characterizations of childhood ALL could add prognostic criteria for proper therapy allocation.

Prognostic factors associated with long-term survival in previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors (PF) for long-term survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a metastatic RCC database at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation consisting of 358 previously untreated patients who were enrolled in institutional review board-approved clinical trials of immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy at our institution from 1987 to 2002. In order to identify patient characteristics associated with long-term survival, we compared 226 'short-term' survivors [defined as overall survival (OS) <2 years] with 31 'long-term' survivors (OS >or=5 years). RESULTS: Using logistic regression models, four adverse PF were identified as independent predictors of long-term survival: hemoglobin less than the lower limit of normal, greater than two metastatic sites, involved kidney (left), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS). Using the number of poor prognostic features present, three distinct risk groups could be identified. Patients with 0 or 1 adverse prognostic feature present had an observed likelihood of long-term survival of 32% (21/66) compared with 9% (8/91) for patients with two adverse features present and only 1% (1/93) for patients with more than two adverse features. CONCLUSIONS: Independent predictors of long-term survival in previously untreated metastatic RCC include baseline hemoglobin level, number of involved sites, involved kidney, and ECOG PS. Incorporation of these factors into a simple prognostic scoring system enables three distinct groups of patients to be identified.

Recombinant human erythropoietin is associated with increased overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is effective for the treatment of anemia associated with multiple myeloma. Data from animal studies and case reports suggest that rhEPO has antineoplastic properties. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-two patients enrolled on different chemotherapy clinical trials at the Cleveland Clinic Myeloma Program between 1997 and 2003 were the subjects of this study. Information on erythropoietin use as well as baseline prognostic variables were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: The population consisted of 257 patients with multiple myeloma treated at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1997 to 2003 and followed for at least 1 month. Thirty-five patients were excluded from this analysis because information on erythropoietin use was not available. One hundred and twenty-seven patients received rhEPO for at least 1 month and the rest did not received rhEPO. On average, patients who received rhEPO were older, had a higher Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) stage, higher serum creatinine, lower serum hemoglobin, higher beta2-microglobulin, lower platelet counts, and a longer time from diagnosis to enrollment at the myeloma program (p < 0.001 for all). After adjusting for age, months from diagnosis to enrollment, serum creatinine, hemoglobin, platelet count, and beta2-microglobulin, the use of rhEPO was associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.38-0.94) in patients with SWOG stages II, III and IV but not in patients with SWOG stage I. CONCLUSION: rhEPO was associated with improved overall survival in this population of anemic multiple myeloma patients with SWOG stages of II, III and IV. A prospective randomized trial is warranted to corroborate this finding.

Lenalidomide and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: safety and efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Lenalidomide is active and well tolerated in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. We conducted a phase I/II trial of the combination of lenalidomide and chemotherapy to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination. METHODS: The 62 patients enrolled received liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) i.v. and vincristine 2 mg i.v. on day 1, dexamethasone 40 mg p.o. on days 1-4 (DVd), and lenalidomide on days 1-21 in 28-day cycles. Primary end points were maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of lenalidomide with DVd chemotherapy and overall response rate (ORR) by Southwest Oncology Group criteria of the combination. FINDINGS: The median age was 62 years, 70% of patients were males and 65% had refractory multiple myeloma. The MTD of lenalidomide with DVd chemotherapy was 10 mg and the dose-limiting toxicity was non-neutropenic sepsis. After 7.5 months of median follow-up, the ORR of the combination was 75%, with 29% of patients achieving a complete or near complete remission. The median progression-free survival was 12 months, while the median overall survival has not yet been reached. INTERPRETATION: The combination of lenalidomide and DVd chemotherapy was well tolerated and resulted in high response rates in this mostly refractory patient population. Evaluation of this combination in newly diagnosed patients is warranted.

Prognostic cytogenetic markers in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: cases from Mansoura, Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) showing resistance to immediate induction chemotherapy in relation to conventional and advanced cytogenetic analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This work was conducted on 63 ALL children (40 males and 23 females) with age range 4.5 months-16 years (mean = 7.76 years). They included 37 cases who attained true remission and 26 complicated by failure of remission, early relapse or death. They were subjected to history, clinical examination and investigations including CBC, BM examination, karyotyping, FISH for translocations and flow cytometry for immunophenotyping and minimal residual disease diagnosis. RESULTS: Cases aged < 5 years; male sex with organomegaly had better remission although statistically insignificant. Initially low Hb < 8 gm/dl, high WBCs and platelet counts > 50,000/mm(3) also showed better but non-significant remission rates. Most of our cases were L(2) with better remission compared to other immunophenotypes. Forty informative karyotypes were subdivided into 15 hypodiploid, 10 pseudodiploid, 8 normal diploid and 7 hyperdiploid cases; the best remission rates were noticed among the most frequent ploidy patterns. Chromosomes 9, 11 and 22 were the most frequently involved by structural aberrations followed by chromosomes 5, 12 and 17. Resistance was noted with aberrations not encountered among remission group; deletions involving chromosomes 2p, 3q, 10p and 12q; translocations involving chromosome 5; trisomies of chromosomes 16 and 21; monosomies of 5 and X and inversions of 5 and 11. CONCLUSIONS: Cytogenetic and molecular characterizations of childhood ALL may add prognostic criteria for optimal therapy allocation.

[Specifics of the blood supply of the sinoatrial node]. / Particularitati ale vascularizatiei nodulului sino-atrial.

The present study aims to identify the heart nodal system blood supply sources and especially those of the sinoatrial node. It included 50 unpreserved and preserved human hearts from subjects of both sexes (40 males and 10 females) aged 12 to 68, of Romanian (42) and non-Romanian origin (8). The used denominations are those recommended by DiDio & Wakefield, based on splitting of the atrial walls into four quadrants (right and left, both anterior and posterior) which are further divided into three parts (medial, middle and lateral). We used special dissection techniques and plastic mass injections followed by corrosion. Our results confirm the opinion shared by most authors, in favour of the predominance of the origin of sinoatrial node artery from the right coronary artery. The sinoatrial node was supplied by a unique source represented by the right coronary artery in 37 cases (74%) and by the circumflex artery in 8 cases (16%), and by a double source represented by two branches of the right coronary artery in 2 cases (4%) and of both coronary arteries in 3 cases (6%). The direct arterial branches to the sinoatrial node were represented mainly by the right anteromedial atrial artery with origin from the right coronary artery level with the medial third of the right anterior quadrant of the atrial wall. From the left coronary system, the left anteromedial artery is the one responsible with the sinoatrial node supply; the source is the circumflex artery and its origin is the medial third of the left anterior quadrant. Contrary to DiDio et al., we found in addition to the mainly unilateral blood supply, the bilateral one. We didn't find any case with a sinoatrial node artery originating from the trunk of the left coronary artery, or with an extracardiac origin. We may state there are no significant differences of the origin and distribution of the sinoatrial node artery related to sex or country of origin. Thus, we cannot fully confirm the theories about the influence of the general variation factors on the arterial origin. The atherosclerotic or thrombotic obstruction of the sinoatrial node artery may induce severe heart rhythm disturbances or even sudden death.

Estudio de la evolución del síndrome de temor a caerse entre pacientes mayores con mareos, caídas y síncopes / Study of the fear of falling in elderly patients with dizziness, syncope and falls

Objetivos: estudiar la evolución al año del síndrome de temor a caerse (STAC) en población de mayores con mareos, caídas y síncopes. Analizar las variables recogidas al ingreso que se relacionan con el STAC en ese momento y al año. Métodos: estudio prospectivo de cohortes. 66 pacientes mayores estudiados en consulta específica de mareos, caídas y síncopes, clasificados en un grupo con STAC (n = 31) y sin STAC (n = 35) en 1 año, desde abril 2000 a diciembre de 2001. Criterio de exclusión: no realizar todas las pruebas y pérdidas durante el seguimiento. El protocolo incluye historia clínica, exploración física, mesa basculante y exploraciones complementarias rutinarias y/o específicas según el caso. El STAC se determinó mediante la pregunta: ¿tiene miedo a caerse? Resultados: de los pacientes con STAC al comienzo, éste desapareció en 14 (45,2%), mientras que de los que no lo tenían, apareció en 5 (14,3%), (p = 0,06). Las variables asociadas con STAC al ingreso tras análisis multivariante fueron tomar benzodiacepinas, mareos de repetición, cifras séricas de urea más elevadas y el descenso de la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) ortostática. Las asociadas con STAC al año fueron: tomar inhibidores de la enzima de conversión de la angiotensina (IECA), maniobra de Hallpike positiva y caída de presión arterial diastólica (PAD) con headup- tilt-test. El modelo incluye también tomar benzodiacepinas y reproducción de síntomas con el movimiento del cuello. Conclusiones: el STAC disminuyó a casi la mitad después de 1 año, pero aparece en pacientes que no lo tenían; no se asocia con las caídas al ingreso ni al final del estudio. Al año de seguimiento, se asocia con la ingesta de determinados fármacos así como con variaciones en la mesa basculante (AU)

Aims: to study fear of falling (FOF) syndrome at 1 year in a population of elderly individuals referred to a specific outpatient clinic for dizziness, falls and syncope. To analyse which variables gathered at the beginning of the study were related with FOF at that time and 1 year later. Methods: a prospective cohort study was performed from April 2000 to December 2001. Sixty six elderly individuals referred to a specific outpatient clinic for dizziness, falls and syncope were classified in a group with FOF (n = 31) or a group without FOF (n= 35). Patients without all the tests and those lost to follow-up were excluded. The protocol included medical history, physical examination, tilt test and routine or specific complementary tests, when deemed necessary. FOF was determined through the direct question: Are you afraid of falling? Results: FOF disappeared in 14 patients (45.2%) who had this syndrome at the beginning of the study and developed in five patients (14.3%) who did not (p = 0.06). After multivariate analyses, the variables associated with FOF at the beginning of the study were: taking benzodiazepines, recurrent dizziness, higher blood urea levels and a drop in systolic blood pressure with upright position. The variables significantly associated with fear of falling 1 year later were: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, positive Hallpike’s manoeuvre and a drop in diastolic blood pressure with the head-up-tilt test. The model also included taking benzodiazepines and symptom reproduction with movement of the neck. Conclusions: at 1 year, FOF syndrome decreased in nearly half the patients who had this syndrome at the beginning of the study but developed in other patients without this syndrome at that time. No association was found with falls at the beginning or end of the study. At 1 year of follow-up, FOF was associated with intake of certain medications and data from the tilt test (AU)

[Epidemiologic aspects of sudden death in the Constanta District]. / Particularitati epidemiologice ale mortii subite in judetul Constanta.

This study is aimed to clarify some aspects of the cardiac sudden death (CSD) in the context of the general pathology. 5842 cases were taken into study, representing the total number of autopsies performed in the Forensic Department of Constanta District between 1997-2002 (subjects of both sexes aged 6 months to 82 years). Sudden death represents 80% of the non-violent death cases. We found 1563 cases of sudden death, out of which 891 were CSD (57%). The yearly distribution of the CSD cases was: 1997 - 205 cases (58.23%), 1998 - 164 (56%), 1999 - 161 (60%), 2000 - 121 (67.6%), 2001 - 98 (52.4%), 2002 - 142 (50.17%). Coronary atherosclerosis was the cause of 78% of the CSD. They are followed by far by other causes: respiratory (24.3%), meningo-cerebral (5.05%), digestive (2.3%), endocrine (1.85%), infectious (1.6%), the syndrome of the child sudden death (1.28%), renal (0.64%), neurological (0.57%), allergic (0.9%), hematological (0.32%), the syndrome of the sportsmen sudden death (0.32%). These figures are age-dependent: between 45-65 years of age the cardiovascular/respiratory causes ratio is of 5/1 ; it decreases to lesser ages to become inversed (1/2). The ratio to the meningo-cerebral causes is of 25/1 and largely decreases so that over 70 years of age it becomes usually 2/1 and sometimes 1/1.

[Diagnosis of textilomas]. / Diagnosticul radioimagistic al textiloamelor.

Despite all the precautions during surgery, it may be assert that obliviousness of a compress or of a mesh remains still possible. In order to define this accident a non-medical term, textiloma, is used, only in hospital environment. Radiology and medical imaging represent the main tool for the diagnosis of textilomas. Plain film of the abdomen and/or ecography may be sufficient for revealing the textiloma. Just in a few cases a computed tomography may be required. In order to demonstrate all these, using two cases, we'll emphasize the main radio-semiological aspect of textilomas, and thus intending to establish an examination algorithm.

Disfunción motora esofagica y radioisotopos: su modificación con un bloqueante calcico / Esophageal motility dysfunction and radioisotopes: its modification with a calcium channel blocker

Se describe el tránsito edofágico radioisotópico (TER) de un bolo líquido a través de cinco áreas de interés fijadas en faringe, tres niveles esofágicos y fundus gástrico, antes y después de la administración de 30 mg de nifedipina sublingual en dos grupos: uno de 8 individuos normales y otro de 13 pacientes afectados de trastorno motores esfágicos conocidos. El total de la muestra fue estudiada previamente por electromanometría (EMM). El tiempo de tránsito total (TTT) normal promedio fue de 11,85 ñ 1,13 segundos. La actividad residual normal (AR) fue de 9,53 ñ 4,64%. El tiempo de inicio de llenado gástrico (LLG) promedio fue de 3,99 ñ 0,65 segundos. El trazado normal configurá un patrón secuencial. La nifedipina mostró evidente efecto sobre la motilidad del cuerpo esofágico en el grupo de normales, lo que se tradujo en el TER por una AR significativamente aumentada (p<0,01), no variando el TTT en forma significativa. El método detectó el 100% de los acalásicos, configurando un patrón adinámico, con TTT que excedió los 40 segundos en todos los casos y LLG retrasado. La nifedipina no produjo modificaciones significativas con respecto a los registros basales. El único caso de acakasia vigorosa estudiado demostró un patrón adinámico con actividad en picos y, sorpresivamente, LLG normal. La nifedipina mejoró drásticamente estas alteraciones. Hubo dos pacientes portadores de "nutcraker". En uno de ellos se obtuvo un trazado de aspecto normal pero fue definido como patológico cuando se analizaron los valores de tiempo al pico (TP) y AR. La sensibilidad global del método en cuestión fue de 100%. La nifedipina parece ser de utilidad para mejorar el tránsito esofágico en pacientes portadores de trastornos motores con actividad en picos. Consideradndo lo no invasivo y la alta sensibilidad del TER, proponemos el empleo de este método como paso previo a la EMM dentro de la metodología de estudio de los trastornos motores esofágicos