Dataset on wood density of trees in ecotone forests in Northern Brazilian Amazonia.

Wood density is expressed by the ratio between dry weight and fresh volume of a sample piece. The value of this measure is an important variable for assessing wood functional properties, successional stages and biomass/carbon stock estimates in different terrestrial ecosystems. Wood density data were collected for tree species from ecotone forests of the northern Brazilian Amazonia. We sampled 680 individuals with stem diameter ≥10 cm. For each sampled individual measurements were taken for three stem variables: bark thickness (mm), bark density (g cm-3) and wood density (g cm-3). This dataset is intended to improve biomass and carbon estimates of forests in the northern ecotone region of Brazilian Amazonia, an area poorly known in terms of ecosystem dynamics.

Floristic composition in ecotone forests in northern Brazilian Amazonia: preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: Ecotone has been defined as "a multi-dimensional environmentally stochastic interaction zone between ecological systems with characteristics defined in space and time, and by the strength of the interaction" (Hufkens et al. 2009). This is a known concept to define transitional zones between two or more ecological communities, ecosystems or biotic regions. Ecotone forests, dispersed in northern Brazilian Amazonia, are natural formations which have been largely affected by anthropogenic impacts, such as deforestation and fire. Maracá Ecological Station, State of Roraima, Brazil, is a protected area with extensive representations of ecotone forests in this region of the Amazonia. Forest inventories and floristic surveys are important as they extend our knowledge (1) of forest structure and tree species composition and (2) of tree and palm species ecology in this region of the Amazonia. Both improve our ability to predict changes in plant diversity, considering the future scenarios of climate change in comparison with previous surveys performed in Maracá. NEW INFORMATION: We present a forest inventory carried out in 129 plots (10 m x 50 m; 6.45 ha in total) dispersed in a grid (5 km x 5 km) located in a forest zone ecotone in the eastern part of Maracá Ecological Station. All stems (tree + palm) with diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm were recorded, identified and measured. A total of 3040 stems were recorded (tree = 2815; palm = 225), corresponding to 42 botanic families and 140 identified species. Seven families and 20 genera contained unidentified taxa (12.2%). Sapotaceae (735 stems; 10 species), Leguminosae (409; 24) and Rubiaceae (289; 12) were the most abundant families. Peltogyne gracilipes Ducke (Leguminosae), Pradosia surinamensis (Eyma) T.D.Penn. (Sapotaceae) and Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Sapotaceae) were the species with the highest importance value index (~ 25%). The dominance (m2 ha-1) of these species corresponds to > 36% of the total value observed in the forest inventory. Our dataset provides complementary floristic and structure information on tree and palm in Maracá, improving our knowledge of this Amazonian ecotone forest.

"It Was as Though My Spirit Left, Like They Killed Me": The Disruptive Impact of an HIV-Positive Diagnosis among Women in the Dominican Republic.

An HIV diagnosis may be associated with severe emotional and psychological distress, which can contribute to delays in care or poor self-management. Few studies have explored the emotional, psychological, and psychosocial impacts of an HIV diagnosis on women in low-resource settings. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the biographical disruption framework. Three disruption phases emerged (impacts of a diagnosis, postdiagnosis turning points, and integration). Nearly all respondents described the news as deeply distressful and feelings of depression and loss of self-worth were common. Several reported struggling with the decision to disclose-worrying about stigma. Postdiagnosis turning points consisted of a focus on survival and motherhood; social support (family members, friends, HIV community) promoted integration. The findings suggest a need for psychological resources and social support interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of an HIV diagnosis.

Developing Pilot Interventions to Address Food Insecurity and Nutritional Needs of People Living With HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Interinstitutional Approach Using Formative Research.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity and malnutrition present challenges to HIV management, but little research has been done in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). OBJECTIVE: To assess levels of food insecurity and malnutrition among people living with HIV (PLHIV) across multiple countries in LAC to inform pilot projects and policy. METHODS: Through interinstitutional collaboration, we collected data on sociodemographics, household food security, anthropometry, and commonly consumed foods among adults seeking care at HIV clinics in Bolivia, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic (DR; N = 400) and used the results for pilot projects. RESULTS: Most PLHIV had moderate or severe household food insecurity (61% in Bolivia, 71% in Honduras, and 68% in DR). Overweight and obesity were also highly prevalent, particularly among women (41%-53% had body mass index ≥25). High body fat was also prevalent, ranging from 36% to 59%. Among salient foods, fruits and vegetables were lacking. Country-specific pilot projects incorporated locally tailored nutrition counseling with a monthly household food ration, linkage to income-generating projects, or urban gardens. Nutritional counseling was conducted initially by professionals and later modified for peer counselors given the lack of nutritionists. CONCLUSION: High levels of food insecurity and overweight among PLHIV in LAC have important implications, since prior interventions to address food insecurity among PLHIV have focused on underweight and wasting. Formative research and intersectoral collaboration facilitated locally appropriate nutritional materials and interventions, enhanced local capacities, and helped incorporate nutritional guidelines into policies and practice. Addressing human capital constraints in resource-poor settings and developing complementary strategies were key recommendations.

Severe food insecurity is associated with overweight and increased body fat among people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.

Food insecurity is an important risk factor for overweight and obesity among low-income populations in high income countries, but has not been well-studied among people living with HIV (PLHIV), particularly in resource-poor settings. To explore the association between food insecurity and overweight and obesity among PLHIV in the Dominican Republic, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 160 HIV-infected adults between March-December 2012 in four geographically-dispersed health centers (Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Higuey). We collected information on household food insecurity, anthropometric measurements, and socio-demographic data and ran descriptive and multivariate analyses, controlling for fixed effects of clinics and using robust standard errors. Mean age ± SD of participants was 39.9 ± 10.5 years; 68% were women, and 78% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). A total of 58% reported severe household food insecurity. After controlling for age, gender, income, having children at home, education, and ART status, severe food insecurity was associated with increased body mass index (BMI) (ß = 1.891, p = 0.023) and body fat (ß = 4.004, p = 0.007). Age and female gender were also associated with increased body fat (ß = 0.259, p < 0.001 and ß = 8.568, p < 0.001, respectively) and age and ART status were associated with increased waist circumference (ß = 0.279, p = 0.011 and ß = 5.768, p = 0.046, respectively). When overweight was examined as a dichotomous variable (BMI ≥ 25.0), severe food insecurity was associated with an increased odds of 3.060 (p = 0.013); no other covariates were independently associated with overweight. The association of severe food insecurity with increased BMI, body fat, and overweight among PLHIV has important implications for clinical care as well as food security and nutrition interventions in resource-poor settings. Integrated programs that combine nutrition education or counseling with sustainable approaches to addressing food insecurity among PLHIV are needed to improve long-term health outcomes of this vulnerable population.

Structure and tree species composition in different habitats of savanna used by indigenous people in the Northern Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: Woody plant diversity from the Amazonian savannas has been poorly quantified. In order to improve the knowledge on wood plants of these regional ecosystems, a tree inventory was carried out in four different habitats used by indigenous people living in the savanna areas of the Northern Brazilian Amazon. The habitats were divided into two types (or groups) of vegetation formations: forest (riparian forest, forest island, and buritizal = Mauritia palm formation) and non-forest (typical savanna). The inventory was carried out in two hectares established in the Darora Indigenous Community region, north of the state of Roraima. NEW INFORMATION: The typical savanna is the most densely populated area (709 stems ha-1); however, it has the lowest tree species richness (nine species, seven families) in relation to typical forest habitats: riparian forest (22 species, 13 families and 202 stems ha-1), forest islands (13 species, 10 families and 264 stems ha-1), and buritizal (19 species, 15 families and 600 stems ha-1). The tree structure (density and dominance) of the forest habitats located in the savanna areas studied in this work is smaller in relation to forest habitats derived from continuous areas of other parts of the Amazon. These environments are derived from Paleoclimatic fragmentation, and are currently affected by the impact of intensive use of natural resources as timberselective logging and some land conversion for agriculture.

Factors contributing to food insecurity among women living with HIV in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity contributes to poor health outcomes among people living with HIV. In Latin America and the Caribbean, structural factors such as poverty, stigma, and inequality disproportionately affect women and may fuel both the HIV epidemic and food insecurity. METHODS: We examined factors contributing to food insecurity among women living with HIV (WLHIV) in the Dominican Republic (DR). Data collection included in-depth, semi-structured interviews in 2013 with 30 WLHIV with indications of food insecurity who resided in urban or peri-urban areas and were recruited from local HIV clinics. In-person interviews were conducted in Spanish. Transcripts were coded using content analysis methods and an inductive approach to identify principal and emergent themes. RESULTS: Respondents identified economic instability as the primary driver of food insecurity, precipitated by enacted stigma in the labor and social domains. Women described experiences of HIV-related labor discrimination in formal and informal sectors. Women commonly reported illegal HIV testing by employers, and subsequent dismissal if HIV-positive, especially in tourism and free trade zones. Enacted stigma in the social domain manifested as gossip and rejection by family, friends, and neighbors and physical, verbal, and sexual abuse by intimate partners, distancing women from sources of economic and food support. These experiences with discrimination and abuse contributed to internalized stigma among respondents who, as a result, were fearful and hesitant to disclose their HIV status; some participants reported leaving spouses and/or families, resulting in further isolation from economic resources, food and other support. A minority of participants described social support by friends, spouses, families and support groups, which helped to ameliorate food insecurity and emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing food insecurity among WLHIV requires policy and programmatic interventions to enforce existing laws designed to protect the rights of people living with HIV, reduce HIV-related stigma, and improve gender equality.

A pre-post pilot study of peer nutritional counseling and food insecurity and nutritional outcomes among antiretroviral therapy patients in Honduras.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity and poor nutrition are key barriers to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Culturally-appropriate and sustainable interventions that provide nutrition counseling for people on ART and of diverse nutritional statuses are needed, particularly given rising rates of overweight and obesity among people living with HIV (PLHIV). METHODS: As part of scale-up of a nutritional counseling intervention, we recruited and trained 17 peer counselors from 14 government-run HIV clinics in Honduras to deliver nutritional counseling to ART patients using a highly interactive curriculum that was developed after extensive formative research on locally available foods and dietary patterns among PLHIV. All participants received the intervention; at baseline and 2 month follow-up, assessments included: 1) interviewer-administered, in-person surveys to collect data on household food insecurity (15-item scale), nutritional knowledge (13-item scale), dietary intake and diversity (number of meals and type and number of food groups consumed in past 24 hours); and 2) anthropometric measures (body mass index or BMI, mid-upper arm and waist circumferences). We used multivariable linear regression analysis to examine changes pre-post in food insecurity and the various nutritional outcomes while controlling for baseline characteristics and clinic-level clustering. RESULTS: Of 482 participants at baseline, we had complete follow-up data on 356 (74%), of which 62% were women, median age was 39, 34% reported having paid work, 52% had completed primary school, and 34% were overweight or obese. In multivariate analyses adjusting for gender, age, household size, work status, and education, we found that between baseline and follow-up, household food insecurity decreased significantly among all participants (ß=-0.47, p<.05) and among those with children under 18 (ß=-1.16, p<.01), while nutritional knowledge and dietary intake and diversity also significantly improved, (ß=0.88, p<.001; ß=0.30, p<.001; and ß=0.15, p<.001, respectively). Nutritional status (BMI, mid-arm and waist circumferences) showed no significant changes, but the brief follow-up period may not have been sufficient to detect changes. CONCLUSIONS: A peer-delivered nutritional counseling intervention for PLHIV was associated with improvements in dietary quality and reduced food insecurity among a population of diverse nutritional statuses. Future research should examine if such an intervention can improve adherence among people on ART.

Impact of food support on food security and body weight among HIV antiretroviral therapy recipients in Honduras: a pilot intervention trial.

Optimal strategies to improve food security and nutrition for people living with HIV (PLHIV) may differ in settings where overweight and obesity are prevalent and cardiovascular disease risk is a concern. However, no studies among PLHIV have investigated the impact of food support on nutritional outcomes in these settings. We therefore assessed the effect of food support on food insecurity and body weight in a population of PLHIV with high prevalence of overweight and obesity. We implemented a pilot intervention trial in four government-run HIV clinics in Honduras. The trial tested the effect of a monthly household food ration plus nutrition education (n = 203), compared to nutrition education alone (n = 197), over 12 months. Participants were clinic patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Assessments were obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcomes for this analysis were food security, using the validated Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale and body weight (kg). Thirty-one percent of participants were overweight (22%) or obese (8%) at baseline. At 6 months, the probability of severe food insecurity decreased by 48.3% (p < 0.01) in the food support group, compared to 11.6% in the education-only group (p < 0.01). Among overweight or obese participants, food support led to average weight gain of 1.13 kg (p < 0.01), while nutrition education alone was associated with average weight loss of 0.72 kg (p < 0.10). Nutrition education alone was associated with weight gain among underweight and normal weight participants. Household food support may improve food security but not necessarily nutritional status of ART recipients above and beyond nutrition education. Improving nutritional tailoring of food support and testing the impact of nutrition education should be prioritized for PLHIV in Latin America and similar settings.

Conocimiento, Actitud y Práctica del Nutricionista Panameño sobre la Atención Nutricional a Personas con VIH / Knowledge, attitude and practice in Panamanian nutritionists about HIV nutrition-care

Determinar nivel de conocimiento, actitud y práctica de Nutricionistas en atención a personas con VIH. Métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con 49 nutricionistas idóneos (90% femenino) del Ministerio de Salud y Caja de Seguro Social de Panamá. Conocimiento fue medido utilizando las Guías de Atención Nutricional del MINSA 2011; actitud y práctica fueron medidas utilizando escala Likert. Se construyeron índices para conocimiento, actitud y práctica. Se utilizó regresión simple para determinar la relación entre las variables. Resultados: La mediana (rango intercuartílico p75-p25) de edad fue 33(22,4) años; años de experiencia fue 7(15) años; 53% indicó que en su instalación existe una clínica de terapia antirretroviral (CTAR); y 78% no había recibido entrenamiento previo a la entrevista. El conocimiento se relacionó significativamente (p<0,05) con la existencia de CTAR (β e IC95%) 0,96(0,1; 1,8); con años de experiencia -0,05(-0,1; -0,01); y con índice de práctica 0,11(0,1; 0,2). El índice de práctica se relacionó con existencia de CTAR 6,8(2,9; 10,8); con nivel de conocimiento 2,5(1,3; 3,8); y con índice de actitud 0,8(0,3; 1,4). El índice de actitud se relacionó con existencia de CTAR 2,4(0,4; 4,4); con haber recibido entrenamiento previo 2,7(0,3; 5,1); y con índice de práctica 0,2(0,1; 0,3). Conclusión: La existencia de CTAR estuvo relacionada con mejor conocimiento, índice de actitud e índice de práctica. Mayor conocimiento e índice de actitud se relacionaron con un mayor índice de práctica. Entrenamiento previo estuvo relacionado con mayor índice de actitud. Se observó relación negativa entre años de experiencia y nivel de conocimiento...

To determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on HIV nutrition-care in Panamanian nutritionists. Methods: A cross-sectional study was made among 49 nutritionists who were enrolled in health centers. Knowledge was measured according to MoH HIV Nutrition-Care Guide 2011; attitude and practice were obtained using a Likert scale. Indices were constructed for knowledge, attitude and practice. Simple linear regression models were performed to determine the relation among variables. Results: Median (iqr) age was 33(22,4); for year of experiences was 7(15). 49% reported work in the Minister of Health; 53% reported no anti-retroviral therapy clinic (ARTC) at place of work; 78% no having any previous training on HIV Nutrition Care. knowledge was significantly associated (p<.05) with the existence of a ARTC β(CI95%) 0.96(0.1;1.8); years of experience -0.05(-0.1;-0.01), and practice 0.11(0.1;0.2); practice was associated with ARTC 6.8(2.9;10.8); knowledge 2.5(1.3;3.8); and attitude 0.8(0.3;1.4); and attitude was associated with ARTC 2.4(0.4;4.4); prior training 2.7(0.3;5.1); and practice 0.2(0.1;0.3). Conclusion: ARTC was associated with knowledge, attitude and practice. Better knowledge and attitude were associated with practice. Previous training was associated with attitude; and a negative association was observed between years of experience and knowledge...

Tailored nutrition education and food assistance improve adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy: evidence from Honduras.

Food insecurity and malnutrition negatively affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are associated with poor HIV clinical outcomes. We examined the effect of providing household food assistance and nutrition education on ART adherence. A 12-month prospective clinical trial compared the effect of a monthly household food basket (FB) plus nutrition education (NE) versus NE alone on ART adherence on 400 HIV patients at four clinics in Honduras. Participants had been receiving ART for an average of 3.7 years and were selected because they had suboptimal adherence. Primary outcome measures were missed clinic appointments, delayed prescription refills, and self-reported missed doses of ART. These three adherence measures improved for both groups over 12 months (p < 0.01), mostly within 6 months. On-time prescription refills improved for the FB plus NE group by 19.6 % more than the group receiving NE alone after 6 months (p < 0.01), with no further change at 12 months. Change in missed appointments and self-reported missed ART doses did not significantly differ by intervention group.

Análise dos níveis de satisfação de trabalhadores de saúde mental de um Hospital público de referência psiquiátrica em Belém (PA) / Analysis of levels of satisfaction of mental health workers of a reference Psychiatric public hospital in Belém (PA) / Análisis de los niveles de satisfacción de trabajadores de la salud mental de un hospital público de referencia psiquiátrica en Belém (PA)

A satisfação profissional entre trabalhadores de saúde é cada vez mais reconhecida como uma medida que deve ser incluída na melhoria da qualidade de programas. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a associação das variáveis sociodemográficas-ocupacionais com o grau de satisfação dos trabalhadores de um serviço de saúde mental.O método empregado foi o estudo observacional, individual, transversal e analítico com 59 profissionais de saúde mental do Serviço de Psiquiatria da Fundação Hospital de Clínicas Gaspar Vianna em Belém (PA). Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: as escalas de avaliação da Satisfação da Equipe em Serviços de Saúde Mental (SATIS-BR), escalas de avaliação do sobrecarga do trabalho (IMPACTO-BR) e questionário sociodemográfico-ocupacional. Para a análise das associações entre variáveis foram empregados os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney. Os resultados apontam que os participantes apresentaram média de idade de 38,7 mais ou menos 9,16 anos e tempo médio de serviço de 7,60 mais ou menos 7,68 anos, sendo a maioria do gênero feminino (66,1por cento); o escore médio de satisfação foi 3,29mais ou menos 0,78; não foram observadas associações significativas entre gênero, idade, horas de trabalho semanais e escolaridade com as médias de satisfação; dos profissionais estudados, os psicólogos (6,8por cento ) apresentaram maiores níveis de satisfação 3,81 mais ou menos 0,42 (p igual 0,0062). Conclui-se que a maior parte dos participantes do estudo apresentou nível intermediário de satisfação, havendo influência da renda mensal pessoal, cargo, turnos de trabalho e impacto do trabalho sobre esses níveis.

Job satisfaction among health care workers is increasingly recognized as ameasure that should be included in quality improvement programs. The objective of this paper is to analyze the association of socio-demographic and occupational variables and the level of satisfaction of the workers in a mental health facility. The method used was an observational study, detached, analytical cross-sectional, with 59 mental health professionals of the Department of Psychiatry of the Clinics Hospital Foundation Gaspar Vianna in Belém (PA). The instruments used in data collection were: Mental Health Services? Staff Satisfaction Scale (SATIS-BR), Staff Burden Scale (IMPACT-BR) and Socio-demographic and Occupational questionnaire. For the analysis of associations between variables were used Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney. The results indicate that participants had the average age of 38.7 more or less 9.16 years old and the average service time was 7.60 more or less 7.68 years, most females (66.1percent ), the average score satisfaction was 3.29 more or less 0.78, there were no significant associations between gender, age, weekly hours of work and education as the means of satisfaction; from the total of professionals analyzed, psychologists (6.8percent) had higher levels of satisfaction 3.81 more or less 0.42 (p equal 0.0062). It is concluded that the majority of the participants of this study had moderate level of satisfaction, with the influence of personal monthly income, job, shift work and impact of work on these levels.

La satisfacción laboral entre los trabajadores de la salud es cada vez másreconocida como una medida que debe incluirse en la mejora de los programas de calidad. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la asociación de las variables sociodemográficos y ocupacionales con el grado de satisfacción de los trabajadores de un servicio de salud mental. El método utilizado fue el estudio de observación, individual, transversal y analítico, con 59 profesionales de la salud mental del Departamento de Psiquiatría de la Fundación del Hospital de las Clínicas Gaspar Vianna en Belén (PA). Los instrumentos utilizados en la recolección de los datos fueron: las escalas de evaluación de la Satisfacción del equipo em los Servicios de Salud Mental (SATIS-BR), escalas de evaluación de sobrecarga de trabajo (IMPACTO-BR) y un cuestionario sociodemográfico y ocupacional. Para el análisis de lãs asociaciones entre variables se utilizaron los test de Kruskal-Wallis y Mann-Whitney. Los resultados indican que los participantes presentaron una edad media de 38,7 más o menos 9,16 años y el tiempo de servicio promedio de 7,60 más o menos 7,68 años, siendo la mayoría del género femenino (66,1por ciento), la puntuación media de satisfacción fue de 3,29 más o menos 0,78, no fueron observadas asociaciones significativas entre género, edad, horas semanales de trabajo y escolaridad, conlas medias de satisfacción; de los profesionales estudiados, los psicólogos (6,8por ciento) presentaron niveles más altos de satisfacción 3,81 más o menos 0,42 (p igual 0,0062). Se concluye que la mayoría delos participantes del estudio presentaron un nivel intermediario de satisfacción, habiendo influencia de los ingresos personales mensuales, función, turnos de trabajo y el impacto del trabajo bajo eses niveles.

Tumor de Franz: tres casos clínicos / Franz tumor: three clinical cases

El tumor sólido seudopapilar del páncreas o tumor de Franz es una neoplasia poco frecuente de bajo potencial de malignidad. Afecta con mayor frecuencia a mujeres jóvenes y su pronóstico suele ser bueno tras la resección quirúrgica. Se estima una frecuencia del 1 a 2 por ciento entre todas las neoplasias exocrinas del páncreas. Crecen lentamente sin correlación exacta entre aspecto histológico y comportamiento biológico. Se presentan los casos de 3 pacientes con tumor de Franz; de 12,14 y 11 años, que consultaron principalmente por dolor abdominal. El primer caso se presentó con una apendicitis aguda en cuya ecotomografía preoperatoria se identificó el tumor pancreático. Los casos 2 y 3 consultaron por dolor abdominal, de 2 semanas y 48 h. de evolución respectivamente, cuyo estudio permitió plantear el diagnóstico y actuar en consecuencia. Los 3 fueron resueltos mediante cirugía con conservación esplénica, que resultó curativa en todos los casos. Un paciente presentó como complicación postoperatoria un pseudoquiste pancreático que se resolvió en forma espontánea. La histología en todos los casos fue compatible con tumor sólido seudopapilar del páncreas.

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas (SPT) of Franz tumor is rare (1-2 percent of exocrine pancreatic tumors). This typically benign tumor is found mainly in young women usually asymptomatic. They may present with a gradually enlarging abdominal mass or complain of vague abdominal pain or discomfort. It can be an ultrasonographic finding in most cases. We present 3 patients operated of Franz tumors, one in 2004 and two in 2007. Case 1: 12 y/o female, operated for acute appendicitis, whose which preoperatory ultrasonography (US) showed an image of solid-cystic tumor of the pancreatic tail. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis. She was operated a month later, with resection of a 9 cm tumor of the pancreatic tail, without splenectomy. She presented a pancreatic pseudocyst after surgery, that disappeared spontaneously. Case 2: 15 y/o boy, that presented with 2 weeks of abdominal pain and vomiting. Physical examination was normal. US and CT showed a cystic tumor of the pancreatic tail. After serial CT, MRI and US, tumoral size reduction and a bigger solid component was confirmed. He was operated 11 months after the diagnosis, with resection of a 6 cm tumor, without splenectomy. Post operative progress was without complications. Case 3: 11 y/o female, admitted with suspected acute appendicitis. US revealed an image of solid-cystic tumor of the pancreatic body and tail. CT and MRI confirmed the diagnosis of a 6.5 cm solid-cystic mass of the pancreas. She was operated 3 weeks later, with resection of a 7 by 6 cm tumor, without splenectomy. Post operative progress was without complications. In the three cases the diagnosis of SPT was confirmed by histopathology an malignancy was discarded. Close inspection of the surgical specimens in the three cases did not reveal capsular, vascular or nerve sheath invasion.

Artrodesis de tobillo asistida por videoartroscopia: nuestra experiencia / Ankle arthrodesis with video-assisted arthroscopy

Describimos el material y la tecnica usados para realizar la artrodesis de tobillo asistida por video artroscopia. Entre octubre de 1991 y agosto de 1994 hemos efectuado 4 artrodesis de tobillo por esta via, guiados por intensificador de imagenes en 3 de los casos, 3 de los pacientes fueron seguidos durante un tiempo promedio de un año y medio, el cuarto lleva solamente 6 meses de postoperatorio. Tres de los 4 pacientes, no presentan dolor ni movilidad articular, con imagenes radiologicas de fusion osea, el cuarto presenta dolor y leve movilidad articular. Debido a los resultados obtenidos, creemos que es una tecnica a tener en cuenta para determinadas patologias articulares del tobillo

Artrodesis de tobillo asistida por videoartroscopia: nuestra experiencia / Ankle arthrodesis with video-assisted arthroscopy

Describimos el material y la tecnica usados para realizar la artrodesis de tobillo asistida por video artroscopia. Entre octubre de 1991 y agosto de 1994 hemos efectuado 4 artrodesis de tobillo por esta via, guiados por intensificador de imagenes en 3 de los casos, 3 de los pacientes fueron seguidos durante un tiempo promedio de un año y medio, el cuarto lleva solamente 6 meses de postoperatorio. Tres de los 4 pacientes, no presentan dolor ni movilidad articular, con imagenes radiologicas de fusion osea, el cuarto presenta dolor y leve movilidad articular. Debido a los resultados obtenidos, creemos que es una tecnica a tener en cuenta para determinadas patologias articulares del tobillo