Mercury in soils and plants in an abandoned cinnabar mining area (SW Spain).

An abandoned cinnabar mining area located in the South-West of Spain has been studied with the aim of assessing its mercury pollution level and enhancing the knowledge about the Hg soil/plant relationship. To do so, soils and plants were sampled near an inactive smelter and around two mining sites present in this area. Critical total Hg concentrations were found in the close environs of pollutant sources. These also show high levels of elemental Hg (up to 8 mg kg(-1)), but quite low exchangeable Hg contents (0.008-0.038 mg kg(-1)). Most plant specimens display in their aboveground tissues Hg concentrations comprised in the range 0.1-10 mg kg(-1), with a great proportion (50%) showing critical levels. Greater Hg contents were found in plant specimens growing in soils with higher elemental Hg concentrations. The plant species displaying the greatest Hg levels are either perennial species of small-medium size and/or showing medium-highly corrugated leaves, or annual plants of small size. Marrubium vulgare L., Bromus madritensis L. and Trifolium angustifolium L. are the plant species with the highest Hg contents (37.6, 12.7 and 9.0 mg kg(-1), respectively). Leaf specific surface seems an important feature in the atmospheric Hg uptake by plants.

Linfangioma cervical: manejo terapéutico con OK-432 (Picibanil) / Cervical lymphangioma: therapeutic management with OK-432 (Picibanil)

Introducción: El linfangioma es una malformación del sistemalinfático. El abordaje clásico ha sido la cirugía. El OK-432 (Picibanil) tieneacción esclerosante y se está utilizando cómo primer escalón terapéutico.El objetivo es aportar un nuevo caso de linfangioma tratado con OK-432y hacer una revisión de la literatura.Material y método: Aportamos un varón de 16 años con un linfangiomacervical macroquístico de 10 x 6 cm tratado con una dosis de OK-432.Resultados: A las 16 semanas del tratamiento, el tamaño del linfangiomaera de 6 x 2 cm, siendo clínicamente inapreciable.Discusión: El tratamiento con OK-432 tiene una alta tasa de curación,con una baja tasa de recidiva y una fibrosis circunscrita a la lesión. Enrelación con la cirugía, se evitan cicatrices y posibles lesiones de estructurasvitales(AU)

Introduction: Lymphangioma is a malformation of thelymphatic system. The classic approach is surgery. OK-432 (Picibanil)has sclerosing action and is being used as the first therapeutic step.The objective was to report a new case of lymphangioma treatedwith OK-432 and to review the literature.Material and method: We report the case of a 16-year-old manwith a 10x6-cm macrocystic cervical lymphangioma treated witha dose of OK-432.Results: At 16 weeks of treatment, the size of the lymphangiomawas 6x2 cm and it was clinically unappreciable.Discussion: OK-432 treatment has a high cure rate, low recurrencerate, and fibrosis circumscribed to the lesion. Compared to surgery,scars and possible harm to vital structures are avoided(AU)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a condition that affects women during the reproductive years in the late pregnancy period and/or early postpartum period. Although it is associated with several risk factors and various hypotheses exist of its etiology the cause of this disorder is still unknown. Standard therapy for PPCM is the same as for heart failure. Studies examining new therapeutic approaches are adding to the armamentarium available to physicians treating patients with PPCM. Despite all the current knowledge the mortality rates associated with PPCM remain relatively high. This article is a review of the current knowledge of etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of PPCM and attempts to present areas of need of further research.

Potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) for monitoring of antimony in samples of vegetation from a mining area.

A potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) method has been developed and checked for the fast and reliable determination of antimony in vegetation samples of Cistus ladanifer from a mining area in Badajoz, Southwest Spain. The method, modified from previous PSA methods for Sb in environmental samples, is based on dry ashing of the homogenized leaves, dissolution in hydrochloric acid, and PSA analysis on a mercury film plated on to a glassy carbon disk electrode. The influence of experimental variables such as the deposition potential, the deposition time, the signal stability and the calibration parameters, has been investigated. The method has been compared with an independent technique (instrumental neutron activation analysis) by analysis of standards and reference materials and comparison of the results. As a result of automation of the PSA equipment, the proposed method enables unattended analysis of 20 digested samples in a total time of 2 h, thus providing a useful tool for Sb monitoring of a large number of samples.

Tumores metastásicos en cavidad oral / Metastatic tumors in the oral cavity

Los tumores metastásicos en cavidad oral son lesiones raras que presentan en torno al 1 por ciento de todas las neoplasias malignas de boca y maxilares. La gran mayoría de las lesiones se localizan en mandíbula (80-90 por ciento), mientras que un 10-20 por ciento se localizan en maxilar superior. Las lesiones metastásicas en tejidos blandos intraorales son muy raras, con preferencia por la localización gingival a este nivel. Los tumores primarios que más frecuentemente metastatizan en boca son los de pulmón, mama y riñón. El diagnóstico es difícil, tanto para determinar la naturaleza metastásica de la lesión como para identificar el tumor primitivo, especialmente en aquellos casos en que la metástasis oral es la primera manifestación de la enfermedad neoplásica. La metástasis oral suele ser evidencia de una enfermedad diseminada indicando un pronóstico fatal en unos pocos meses. El tratamiento es paliativo, necesario para mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente (AU)

Aplasia bilateral de la arteria tibial anterior / Bilateral aplasia of the anterior tibialis artery

La aplasia bilateral de la arteria tibial es una variante rara del patrón normal de vascularización del miembro inferior (0,4 por ciento de los casos), que contraindica el uso del colgajo libre de peroné para reconstrucción microquirúrgica de defectos oromandibulares. Es una condición con una exploración vascular normal previa a la cirugía. Por tanto, si no se realiza una angiografía preoperatoria de forma rutinaria, la anatomía vascular anormal no se descubrirá hasta el momento de la cirugía.Los hallazgos angiográficos pueden alterar la planificación prequirúrgica hasta en un 25 por ciento de los casos. Se discute la necesidad de realizar preoperatoriamente angiografías bilaterales de ambas piernas (u otros métodos alternativos de imagen vascular) en todos los pacientes propuestos para reconstrucción con colgajo libre de perone. (AU)

Epulis congénito del recién nacido. Comunicación de un caso, actualización y revisión bibliográfica

El épulis congénito del recién nacido es un tumor benigno raro que se presenta como un tumor gingival pediculado en el reborde alveolar del maxilar superior, con claro predominio en el sexo femenino. Se caracteriza histiológicamente por el aspecto granular de sus células. Presentamos un nuevo caso y realizamos una revisión de la literatura y actualización en diversos aspectos clínicos, patológicos, evolutivos y del tratamiento, con énfasis en su controvertida histogénesis, cuyas apuntan a un origen células mesnquimales inmaduras (AU)

Simplified method of odontograms for individual identification.

A computerized method of codifying dental lesions and treatment is presented to enable faster identification of victims of catastrophes. Each tooth is assigned a bidigital value. The first digit refers to the root and designates whether it is found to be perfect, damaged and/or treated, or absent. The second digit refers to the crown and is assigned according to the number of surfaces showing lesions or treatment. For the identification of corpses, missing individuals whose record reveals values less than or equal to those of the subject in every tooth (or of each quadrant in cases of doubt) are selected for consideration from the data base. Individuals who have even one tooth with a value greater than that of the subject are eliminated.

[Microscopic innervation of the skin and annexes of the labium oris]. / Inervación microscópica de la piel y anexos del labium oris.

It is studied the skin and annexes innervation of cat and Wistar rat lips with argentic impregnation and acetylcholinesterase technique. It is made evident the existence of a subepithelial plexus from where some nervous fibers leave ending in the epithelial deep stratums and nervous fibers that finish in dermis thickness forming complex ramifications and different type I and II of SETO morphotypes of nervous receptors. They aren't found typical Merckel, Meissner o Paccini mechano-receivers. The nervous terminations in the transition skin-mucous zone are like the ones found in the rest of skin epidermis. Some intraepithelial fibers have been described at level of sudoriferous and sebaceus glands and sensitive corpuscles in connexion with pilous follicles.

[Evaluation of endodontic treatment with modified Walkhoff technique in teeth with necrotic pulp and/or periapical lesions]. / Evaluación del tratamiento endodóntico con la técnica de Walkhoff modificada, en dientes con pulpa necrótica y/o lesiones periapicales.

A treatment has been carried out in a total of 112 dental cases with necrotic pulp and/or periapical lesions using yodoformic paste. The technique employed was that of a conventional endodontic therapy of the root and ductal filling, using yodoformic paste and gutta-percha. The clinical and radiological follow up checks, three, six and twelve months after treatment, show improvement in the periapical lesions, with bone regrowth and complete disappearance of the radio-lucity within a variable time span, depending on the gravity of the damage, but never greater than twelve months. The immediate post-operative well being and absence of complications in the majority of cases also be highlighted.

[Configuration of tripodal occlusal support of triturated surface fillings. Importance and procedure]. / Configuración de apoyos oclusales en tripode sobre obturaciones de superficies triturantes: importancia y procedimiento.

The importance to proportionate stability to restoring teeth is analyzed and it is described and original and simple process to obtain tripod like supports to the occlusal restorations that affect areas of intercuspal contact, what proportionate certain clinical advantages.

[A method for studying the Bennet angle using computerized axial tomography]. / Un metodo para el estudio del angulo de Bennet mediante tomografia axial computerizada.

We present a method for the measure of the real BENNET angle by C.T. We think this radiology technique is very profitable for the research of the T.M.J. functional Anatomy.

[Prosthetic loading considered in the biomechanical design of removable partial dentures]. / Cargas protésicas a considerar en el diseño biomecánico de la prótesis parcial removible.

The prosthetic loads in removable partial dentures are analyzed. Different clinics and laboratory methods to make retain and support are discussed. From its study is infered a therapeutic prognostic.

[Morphostructure of myoneural synapses of the lingual musculature]. / Morfoestructura de las sinapsis mioneurales en la musculatura lingual.

The human and the rabbit tongue with different histologycal techniques are studied. Most muscle fibers of the tongue shown one or various motor end-plates derivated from a single axon. It is not frequent a polisynaptic innervation. The muscular polo of the synapse have few nyofibrils, nucleus and sarcoplasma without differentiation. Does not exit differences between the motor end-plates of the tongue from the man and the rabbit.

[Lingual neurons: localization, morphology and possible functional significance]. / Neuronas linguales: localización, morfología y posible significación funcional.

Neurons either isolated or clustered in small ganglio are found in the thickness of the connective tissue of the lamina typical of the lingual mucous membrane and the perimysium; they lack processes, are scare in number and of a primitive aspect. Its possible nature and functional significance are discussed.