Hallazgos citogenéticos y edad materna en pacientes con síndrome down en un hospital de referencia pediátrico en el Perú

Introducción: El síndrome Down es un trastorno congénito originado por una trisomía total o parcial del cromosoma 21 y es considerada la causa genética más común de malformaciones congénitas y discapacidad intelectual. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las alteraciones citogenéticas de pacientes con Síndrome Down y su relación con la edad materna. Métodos: Estudio transversal, descriptivo-analítico. Se incluyó 436 pacientes con Síndrome Down admitidos en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño durante el período 2017-2019. Se analizaron las variables: alteración citogenética y edad materna. Resultados: Se encontró que el 99,3% (n=433) de pacientes presentaron algún tipo de alteración citogenética y tres pacientes presentaron cariotipo normal. La edad de los pacientes al momento de la toma de muestra estuvo comprendida entre los 0,03 y 17 años, la relación masculino/femenino fue de 1.2:1. La alteración citogenética más frecuente fue la trisomía 21 libre (94,7%), seguida por la translocación Robertsoniana (n=16) y el mosaicismo (n=6). En el caso de la edad materna se encontró una mediana de 37 años (rango: 13-47). Conclusiones: La trisomía 21 libre es la alteración citogenética más común en Síndrome Down; sin embargo, la translocación Robertsoniana y los mosaicismos fueron más frecuentes en edad materna menor de 35 años, sugiriendo que existe otros factores de riesgo diferentes a la edad materna avanzada en este grupo etario.

Introduction: Down syndrome is a congenital disorder caused by a total or partial trisomy of chromosome 21 and is considered the most common genetic cause of congenital malformations and intellectual disability. The objective of this study was to describe the cytogenetic alterations of patients with Down syndrome and their relationship with maternal age. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study. 436 patients with Down syndrome admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño during the 2017-2019 period were included. The variables analyzed were: cytogenetic diagnosis and maternal age. Results: It was found that 99,3% (n=433) of patients presented some type of cytogenetic alteration and three patients presented a normal karyotype. The age of the patients at the time of sampling was between 0,03 and 17 years, the male/female ratio was 1.2:1. The most frequent cytogenetic alteration was free trisomy 21 (94,7%), followed by Robertsonian translocation (n=16) and mosaicism (n=6). In the case of maternal age, a median of 37 years was found (range: 13-47). Conclusions: Free trisomy 21 is the most common cytogenetic condition in Down syndrome; however, the Robertsonian translocation and mosaicisms were more frequent in patients whose mothers were les than 35 years old, suggesting that there are other risk factors than advanced maternal age in this group.

Construction of miRNA-mRNA networks for the identification of lung cancer biomarkers in liquid biopsies.

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide mostly due to the low survival rate: 75% of cases are identified in advanced stages. In this study, the list of useful biomarkers to make an early diagnosis using liquid biopsies was expanded. A total of 30 samples of LC were analyzed to define potential miRNA biomarkers in liquid biopsies for LC. The biomarkers have been identified in interaction networks miRNA-mRNA. The potential biomarkers have been then validated in large cohorts. A total of 15 candidate miRNAs, that regulate the repression of 30 mRNAs, have been identified as a specific functional interaction network for squamous carcinoma, while the specific functional interaction network of adenocarcinoma consists of four candidate miRNAs that seem to handle the repression of five mRNA. Inspection of expression levels in larger cohorts validates the usefulness of the 11 candidates as biomarkers in liquid biopsies. The 11 candidate miRNAs found could be utilized to form diagnostic predictive biomarkers for LC in liquid biopsies.

Cooperation in the face of thresholds, risk, and uncertainty: Experimental evidence in fisher communities from Colombia.

Cooperation is thought to be a necessary condition to solve collective action dilemmas such as climate change or the sustainable use of common pool resources. Yet, it is poorly understood how situations pervaded by thresholds shape the behaviour of people facing collective dilemmas. Here we provide empirical evidence that resource users facing thresholds maintain on average cooperative behaviours in the sense of maximising their individual earnings while ensuring future group opportunities. A framed field experiment in the form of a dynamic game with 256 Colombian fishers helped us investigate individual behavioural responses to the existence of thresholds, risk and uncertainty. Thresholds made fishers extract less fish compared to situation without thresholds, but risk had a stronger effect on reducing individual fishing effort. Contrary to previous expectations, cooperation did not break down. If cooperation can be maintained in the face of thresholds, then communicating uncertainty is more policy-relevant than estimating precisely where tipping points lay in social-ecological systems.

Schwannoma: Differential diagnosis of a subepithelial gastric lesion. Two case report.

The pre-operative differential diagnosis of gastric subepithelial lesions is complex. We can find pathologies with a very different behavior. Some of them, like gastrointestinal (GI) stromal tumors, can present a malignant behavior, and others like schwannomas are practically benign. Schwannomas of the GI tract originate from the Schwann cells of the Auerbach plexus and their most frequent location is the stomach. The definitive diagnosis is made by immunohistochemical analysis of the surgical specimen and its resection is curative. We report two cases of gastric subepithelial lesions with a definitive diagnosis of schwannoma.

El diagnóstico diferencial preoperatorio de las lesiones subepiteliales gástricas es complejo. Podemos encontrar patologías con un comportamiento muy diferente. Algunas de ellas, como los GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumours), pueden presentar un comportamiento maligno, y otras, como los schwannomas, son prácticamente benignas. Los schwannomas del tracto gastrointestinal se originan de las células de Schwann del plexo de Auerbach y su localización más frecuente es el estómago. El diagnóstico definitivo se realiza mediante el análisis inmunohistoquímico de la pieza quirúrgica, y su resección es curativa. Reportamos dos casos de lesiones subepiteliales gástricas con diagnóstico definitivo de schwannoma.

Effects of exercise on the cognition of older women treated with lovastatin / Efectos del ejercicio físico sobre la cognición en mujeres mayores tratadas con lovastatina

Introduction: The deterioration of cognition is highly predominant in older adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a walking program on the cognition and blood concentration of lipids in women over 60 years of age who were being treated with lovastatin. Materials and methods: Participants were distributed in two groups: An exercise group (EG, n=45) with aerobic training and an inactive sedentary group (SG, n=22). The cognitive state of the subjects was assessed through the Spanish Mini-Cog Test version of the MMSE; lipoproteins were quantified using a lipid profile test, and the cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using the six-minute walking test (6MWT). Results: EG showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in cardiorespiratory fitness and in HDL-C concentrations. Furthermore, the results from the cognition tests showed a large effect size in spatial orientation and in and calculation. The decrease in LDL-C was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: A controlled and progressive walking program for older women treated with Lovastatin may induce a boost of brain activity linked to HDL-C, which could delay cognitive impairment.

Introducción. El deterioro cognitivo tiene una gran incidencia en el adulto mayor. Objetivo. El principal objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los efectos sobre la cognición y la concentración de lípidos de un programa de caminatas en mujeres mayores de 60 años tratadas con lovastatina. Materiales y métodos. Las participantes se distribuyeron en dos grupos: uno con ejercicio (EG, n=45) sometido a entrenamiento aeróbico y otro inactivo o sedentario (SG, n=22). El estado cognitivo se evaluó mediante la versión en español del Mini-Mental Test. Los niveles de lipoproteínas se midieron con una prueba de perfil lipídico y la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria se valoró con la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos (Six-Minute Walking Test, 6MWT). Resultados. El grupo con ejercicio mostró una mejora significativa (p<0,05) de la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria y de las concentraciones de colesterol HDL. Además, en la prueba de cognición se observó un efecto de gran tamaño en la orientación espacial, en la atención y en el cálculo. La reducción del colesterol LDL no fue significativa. Conclusión. Un programa de entrenamiento progresivo y supervisado para mujeres mayores tratadas con lovastatina, podría mejorar la actividad cerebral relacionada con el colesterol HDL, lo cual podría retrasar el deterioro cognitivo.

[Effects of exercise on the cognition of older women treated with lovastatin]. / Efectos del ejercicio físico sobre la cognición en mujeres mayores tratadas con lovastatina

INTRODUCTION: The deterioration of cognition is highly predominant in older adults. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a walking program on the cognition and blood concentration of lipids in women over 60 years of age who were being treated with lovastatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were distributed in two groups: An exercise group (EG, n=45) with aerobic training and an inactive sedentary group (SG, n=22). The cognitive state of the subjects was assessed through the Spanish Mini-Cog Test version of the MMSE; lipoproteins were quantified using a lipid profile test, and the cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using the six-minute walking test (6MWT). RESULTS: EG showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in cardiorespiratory fitness and in HDL-C concentrations. Furthermore, the results from the cognition tests showed a large effect size in spatial orientation and in and calculation. The decrease in LDL-C was not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A controlled and progressive walking program for older women treated with Lovastatin may induce a boost of brain activity linked to HDL-C, which could delay cognitive impairment.

Introducción. El deterioro cognitivo tiene una gran incidencia en el adulto mayor. Objetivo. El principal objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los efectos sobre la cognición y la concentración de lípidos de un programa de caminatas en mujeres mayores de 60 años tratadas con lovastatina. Materiales y métodos. Las participantes se distribuyeron en dos grupos: uno con ejercicio (EG, n=45) sometido a entrenamiento aeróbico y otro inactivo o sedentario (SG, n=22). El estado cognitivo se evaluó mediante la versión en español del Mini-Mental Test. Los niveles de lipoproteínas se midieron con una prueba de perfil lipídico y la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria se valoró con la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos (Six-Minute Walking Test, 6MWT). Resultados. El grupo con ejercicio mostró una mejora significativa (p<0,05) de la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria y de las concentraciones de colesterol HDL. Además, en la prueba de cognición se observó un efecto de gran tamaño en la orientación espacial, en la atención y en el cálculo. La reducción del colesterol LDL no fue significativa. Conclusión. Un programa de entrenamiento progresivo y supervisado para mujeres mayores tratadas con lovastatina, podría mejorar la actividad cerebral relacionada con el colesterol HDL, lo cual podría retrasar el deterioro cognitivo.

Mercado y actividad físico-deportiva: la salud y la apariencia física como valores de cambio / Mercado e atividade física esportiva: a saúde e a aparência física como valores de mudança / The market, sports, and physical activity: health and physical appearance as values of exchange

En este trabajo se analiza la influencia que ejerce el mercado en la actividad físico-deportiva, misma que en la actualidad aparece asociada con una mayor atención sobre el cuerpo. Evidencias documentales y empíricas muestran que a través de la actividad físico-deportiva, el mercado impone, entre otros aspectos, las ventajas de la apariencia legítima dirigidas a fortalecer las relaciones interpersonales y la supremacía del atractivo físico como parámetro de aceptabilidad social y como medida del valor de cambio entre los individuos.

In this paper we analyzed the influence of the market in physical activity and sport, which currently appears associated with greater attention to the human body. Document analysis and empirical evidence show that through physical activity and sport, the market asserts the advantages of an ideal/legitimate appearance for strengthening interpersonal relationships and for advancing the supremacy of physical attractiveness both as a parameter of social acceptability and a measure of value of exchange between individuals.

Este trabalho analisa a influência que exerce o mercado na atividade física esportiva, mesmo que na atualidade apareça associada como uma atenção destinada ao corpo. Evidências documentadas e empíricas mostram que através da atividade física esportiva o mercado impõe entre outros aspectos, vantagens da aparência legítima dirigida ao fortalecimento das relações interpessoais e supremacia do atrativo físico, como parâmetro de aceitação social e como medida de valor de transformação entre os indivíduos.

Características de uso de plaguicidas químicos y riesgos para la salud en agricultores de la sierra central del Perú / Characteristics of the use of chemical pesticides and health risks in farmers in the central highlands of Peru

Con el objetivo de conocer las características sobre el uso e impactos en la salud de los plaguicidas químicos deuso agrícola en las provincias de Chupaca y Concepción en los andes centrales del Perú, se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo transversal entre abril y junio del año 2005, por medio de un cuestionario aplicado a 435 agricultores. Asimismo, se exploró la ubicación de los centros de expendio y la frecuencia de ventas de productos, además, se evaluó los casos de intoxicación reportados en ambas provincias. Los agricultores no cuentan con ropa de proteccióny manipulan directamente los plaguicidas durante su preparación y aplicación; asimismo, muchas veces no toman medidas preventivas a pesar de conocer los riesgos relacionados. El comercio de los plaguicidas se ubica en los centros urbanos, cerca de restaurantes y tiendas de abarrotes, además, los plaguicidas más vendidos pertenecen alas categorías extremadamente y altamente peligrosos, tales como Tamaron® y Furadan®, esto representa un peligro para la salud de los agricultores. Los casos de intoxicación por estos productos en las provincias bajo estudio, se hanincrementado entre los años 2001 a 2004.

In order to get to know the characteristics of use and health impact of the chemical pesticides of agricultural use in the provinces of Chupaca and Concpecion in the Central Andean Region of Peru, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was done between April and June 2005, through a questionnaire performed in 435 farmers. The location of the outlet centers and the frequency of sales of the products was also explored, and the reported cases of toxicity in both provinces. The farmers donÆt have protective clothing and they manipulate directly the pesticides during their preparation and application; also many times they donÆt take preventive measures even knowing the associated risks. Pesticide commerce is located in the urban centers, nearby restaurants and grocery stores, moreover, the most sold pesticides belong to the categories of highly and extremely dangerous, such as Tamaron® and Furadan®, which represents a risk to the farmers` health. The cases of toxicity due to these products in the studied provinces have been increasing between 2001 and 2004.

[Psychosocial factors associated with domestic water consumption in a semidesert region]. / Factores psicosociales relacionados con el consumo doméstico de agua en una región semidesértica.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze psychosocial factors related with domestic water consumption in Hermosillo, Sonora, a semidesert region in northwestern Mexico. An intentionally selected sample of 198 people (79 men and 119 women) from a higher education institution was used to evaluate the theories of rational action and self-efficacy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scale with the psychosocial factors to be analyzed and Likert-type items was applied. RESULTS: The age mean was 35 years old. A positive moderate association was found between the diverse factors, particularly between intention-norm, beliefs-intention, beliefs-self-efficacy, attitude-intention, attitude-self-efficacy, and self-efficacy-intention. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that the sample characteristics do not allow results to be generalized, the study shows the usefulness of the psychosocial factors that were analyzed and suggests the possibility of including them in educational programs that promote careful water use at home.

Factores psicosociales relacionados con el consumo doméstico de agua en una región semidesértica / Psychosocial factors associated with domestic water consumption in a semidesert region

OBJETIVO: Analizar los factores psicosociales que intervienen en el consumo doméstico del agua en Hermosillo, Sonora, región del noroeste de México caracterizada por ser semidesértica. Para ello se trabajó con una muestra seleccionada de forma intencional de 198 personas (79 hombres y 119 mujeres) de una institución de educación superior, con base en las teorías de la acción razonada y la autoeficacia. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se aplicó una escala que incluyó los factores psicosociales analizados, con opciones tipo Likert. RESULTADOS: La media de edad fue de 35 años. La relación entre los factores fue positiva y moderada, en particular entre intención-norma, creencias-intención, creencias-autoeficacia, actitud-intención, actitud-autoeficacia y autoeficacia-intención. CONCLUSIÓN: Si bien las características de la muestra no permiten generalizar resultados, el estudio muestra la utilidad de los factores psicosociales analizados y sugiere la posibilidad de incorporarlos en programas educativos para el cuidado del agua en el hogar.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze psychosocial factors related with domestic water consumption in Hermosillo, Sonora, a semidesert region in northwestern Mexico. An intentionally selected sample of 198 people (79 men and 119 women) from a higher education institution was used to evaluate the theories of rational action and self-efficacy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scale with the psychosocial factors to be analyzed and Likert-type items was applied. RESULTS: The age mean was 35 years old. A positive moderate association was found between the diverse factors, particularly between intention-norm, beliefs-intention, beliefs-self-efficacy, attitude-intention, attitude-self-efficacy, and self-efficacy-intention. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that the sample characteristics do not allow results to be generalized, the study shows the usefulness of the psychosocial factors that were analyzed and suggests the possibility of including them in educational programs that promote careful water use at home.

Intracranial current density (LORETA) differences in QEEG frequency bands between depressed and non-depressed alcoholic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess possible differences in intracranial source distribution of surface QEEG power between depressed and non-depressed alcoholic patients in order to find any symptom-related topographic features of physiopathologic relevance. METHODS: Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) for the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands of EEG spectra was estimated from 38 alcoholic patients, 20 with and 18 without clinical depression, in which QEEG showed decreased slow and increased beta activity diffusely. Statistical non-parametric mapping was used to compare depressed and non-depressed groups. Measures of intracranial current density in individual patients at areas of significant differences were correlated with BDI scores. RESULTS: Patients with clinical depression showed areas of significantly lower current density than non-depressed patients in delta band at left anterior temporal, left midtemporal (including amygdala and hippocampus), and both frontopolar cortices mostly on the right; and in theta band at bilateral parietal lobe, anterior cingulate and medial frontal cortex. No differences were found at alpha and beta band. Intracranial current density in delta band at left parahippocampal, left midfrontal cortex and right frontopolar cortex was negatively correlated with BDI score. Theta band also showed negative correlations with BDI at sites of significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusely decreased delta and theta activity in the surface QEEG of alcoholic patients has a different intracranial distribution linked to the presence or not of clinical depression that seems to reveal a dysfunctional neuronal state at several specific limbic and other cortical locations that have been related to a specific clinical disorder such as depression. SIGNIFICANCE: These results provided further evidence on the effects of depression in the context of alcohol dependence, in this case decreased slow activity as a possible marker of neuronal damage secondary to alcohol toxicity, clinically expressed as depressive symptoms when present in structures that are known to be related to clinical depression.

[Disc alterations of lumbar spine on magnetic resonance images in asymptomatic workers]. / Alteraciones discales de columna lumbar identificadas por resonancia magnética en trabajadores asintomáticos.

OBJECTIVE: to determine abnormal findings of the lumbar spine on magnetic resonance images in asymptomatic subjects. METHODS: prospective, transverse and descriptive study, in workers of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social without low back pain; they were invited to be observed with magnetic resonance images of lumbar spine. A total of 105 cases was interpreted by a radiologist, who did not know the patients' clinical conditions. 107 lumbar spine alterations studies were mixed in order to not influence in the results, and they were not included in the statistic analysis. RESULTS: 55 % of the cases had discal alterations, 38 % presented bulging disk and 17 % presented protrusion. Other alterations were Schmorl's nodule, osteocondrosis, espondilolistesis, and annular tears. CONCLUSIONS: bulging disk and discal protrusion frequency have high prevalence in magnetic resonance images in healthy individuals, so its presence in symptomatic patients is not necessarily cause of low back pain.

[Clinical utility of ultrasound in the identification of dengue hemorrhagic fever]. / Utilidad clínica del ultrasonido en la identificación de dengue hromorrágico.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of sonography in cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and to describe the correlation grade existing between the most frequent clinical and sonographic findings in DHF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study applied to 132 patients, 21 of them with typical dengue fever and 111 with DHF. They went through ultrasound, searching for thickening of the gallbladder wall, pleural effusion and ascites. Dengue fever diagnosis was confirmed by positive IgM serology in all patients. Descriptive statistics, sensitivity and specificity tests, and phi contingency coefficient were used to obtain the correlation grade between clinical and sonographic findings present in DHF. chi2 was used to determine the statistics significance. RESULTS: Fever, retroocular pain and cephalea were found in more than 90% of the cases. The positive tourniquet test and petechiae were present in 70%, and thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and elevation of seric transaminases were found in 100% of the cases. Gallbladder thickening was present in 86% of the patients, pleural effusion in 66%, ascites in 60% and acute alithiasic cholecystitis in 36%. Thickening < 3 mm had a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 48%, positive predictive value of 90% and negative predictive value of 40%. Certain correlation degree was found (r phi = 0.3, p < de 0.05) between thickening of the gallbladder wall > 5 mm and the presence of alithiasic cholecystitis, and a very slight correlation (r phi = 0.2, p < de 0.05) between thickening > 5 mm and free fluid in the abdominal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Thickening of the gallbladder wall > 3 mm is a useful sonographic finding to confirm suspicious cases of DHF. The thickening of the gallbladder > 5 mm was just very slightly related with alithiasic cholecystitis and the presence of free fluid in the abdominal cavity, without any relationship with the most frequent laboratory data.

Clinical correlates of quantitative EEG alterations in alcoholic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical correlations of abnormal QEEG features in alcoholic patients. METHODS: Quantitative EEG (frequency analysis, absolute and relative powers of the four classical bands) was assessed in 191 male alcoholic patients admitted in our facility for detoxification process. All underwent psychiatric, medical and neurological examination prior to the EEG recording, in search for specific clinical or paraclinical findings. The presence or absence of relevant clinical features was codified as nominal dichotomic variables to be related to specific QEEG features. RESULTS: Only 7 patients had normal QEEG. The most frequent alteration (81 cases) was decreased power in slow (delta and theta) bands with a concurrent increase in beta band, followed by decreased power only in slow bands (33), increase only in beta band (29), decrease in both slow and alpha bands without beta alterations (28), decrease only in alpha band (6) and others. Alterations in slow and beta bands were uncorrelated. However, a significant correlation was found between decreased power in slow bands and cortical atrophy as revealed by MRI (especially in patients with early onset of alcoholism), time elapsed from the beginning of alcoholic habits (but only in younger or early onset subjects) and in a lesser degree arterial hypertension, but neither with age nor any other clinical or psychiatric feature. On the other hand, increased power in beta band correlated mainly with the use of benzodiazepines, sensoperceptual alterations (hallucinations, illusions), clinical seizures and family history of alcoholism. The effects of those variables were strongly interrelated. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased power in slow bands in alcoholic patients may be an indicator of brain atrophy or chronic brain damage, while increase in beta band is related to medication use, family history of alcoholism, hallucinations and seizures, suggesting a state of cortical hyperexcitability. SIGNIFICANCE: This study show the relation of specific QEEG alterations to certain clinical features found in alcoholics, in a further attempt to elucidate the semiological value of those alterations in individual patients.

[Exactness of transcutaneous sonography in the diagnosis of gastric wall lesions]. / Exactitud de la sonografía transcutánea en el diagnóstico de lesiones de pared gástrica.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine sensitivity, especificity and predictive values of transcutaneous sonography for detecting gastric wall lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed from March 1999 to April 2000 on 150 patients referred for transcutaneous sonography by the Endoscopic Service Unit. Sonographic examinations were performed using RT 4000 General Electric equipment with 5 Mhz transducer and replenishment of stomach with fluid. All scanning was done by the same sonographer, who was unaware of endoscopic, tomographic, or upper gastrointestinal series features. Results from sonography were compared with gastrointestinal tract endoscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were determined using contingency statistical procedure. Sonographic examination accuracy was calculated evaluating sensitivity and specificity confidence intervals (CI). Kappa index was calculated. Diagnostic accuracy differences observed between tumoral and non-tumoral lesions by sonography were evaluated by chi 2 probe. RESULTS: Sensitivity of 85% (95% CI, from 75.2 to 94.8%) and specificity of 90% (95% CI, from 86 to 93.9%) were obtained. Positive predictability was 78% and negative predictability was 94%. Diagnostic accuracy was 87%. Kappa index was 0.717. There were 35 no false-positive results (19 tumoral lesions and 16 non-tumoral lesions), seven false-negative results (one tumoral lesion and six non-tumoral lesions) and 10 false-positive results (two tumoral lesions and eight non-tumoral lesions). Only one of 20 tumoral lesions were diagnosed by ultrasound whereas from 22 non-tumoral lesions were not diagnosed 6 (chi 2 = 3.74, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous sonography is a rapid, low cost and non-invasive method that may be useful to establish clinic diagnosis and in the first steps of gastric wall lesions evaluation, it is valuable in assessment of diagnostic orientation for the referring clinic.