Variations in the size of focal nodular hyperplasia on magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in the size of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) during long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 44 FNHs in 30 patients studied with MRI with at least two MRI studies at least 12 months apart. We measured the largest diameter of the lesion (inmm) in contrast-enhanced axial images and calculated the percentage of variation as the difference between the maximum diameter in the follow-up and the maximum diameter in the initial study. We defined significant variation in size as variation greater than 20%. We also analyzed predisposing hormonal factors. RESULTS: The mean interval between the two imaging studies was 35±2 months (range: 12-94). Most lesions (80%) remained stable during follow-up. Only 9 of the 44 lesions (20%) showed a significant variation in diameter: 7 (16%) decreased in size and 2 (4%) increased, with variations that reached the double of the initial size. The change in size was not related to pregnancy, menopause, or the use of birth control pills or corticoids. CONCLUSION: Changes in the size of FNHs during follow-up are relatively common and should not lead to a change in the diagnosis. These variations in size seem to be independent of hormonal factors that are considered to predispose.

[Renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the duodenum and Vater ampulla: report of two cases]. / Metástasis de cáncer renal a duodeno y ámpula de Vater; informe de dos casos.

These two cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the duodenum, adds to the limited experience reported in the literature. Both patients initially presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding years after they had a nephrectomy. After an extensive diagnostic work-up, they were both submitted to a classic pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure). Only the final histopathological report revealed the diagnosis. Basic recommendations on diagnosis and treatment are discussed in this article and a review of the literature is given.

Intervención nutricional en ancianos hospitalizados / No disponible

No disponible

Angioedema hereditario de presentación exclusiva abdominal: ¿actitud terapéutica a seguir? / Hereditary angioedema with exclusive abdominal presentation. What is the therapeutic approach?

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Xantogranuloma juvenil múltiple: un diagnóstico que se debe considerar en atención primaria / Multiple juvenile xanthogranuloma: A diagnosis to be considered in primary care

No disponible

Foramina parietalia permagna,un raro defecto congénito / Foramina parietalia permagna, an uncommon congenital defect

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[Acute Gastroenteritis in hospitalized children. 14-Year evolution]. / Gastroenteritis aguda en pacientes hospitalizados. Estudio evolutivo de 14 años.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the etiology and evolution of patients with acute gastroenteritis hospitalized in our pediatric department and to study the clinical and laboratory differences between acute viral and bacterial gastroenteritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the children with a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis, aged between 0 and 14 years, who were consecutively admitted between 1987 and 2000. Differences were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 2,613 patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis were hospitalized (10.4 % of hospital admissions). The most common pathogens isolated were rotaviruses (46.5 %), followed by Salmonella (32.6 %) and Campylobacter (19.3 %). Hospital admissions due to Salmonella (p < 0.0001), other bacteria (Escherichia coli and Shigella) (p < 0.002) and adenoviruses (p < 0.01) significantly decreased. Rotaviruses were the most frequently detected pathogens in winter and in children aged less than 1 year (p < 0.0001). The incidence of Salmonella spp was greater in summer and in children older than 2 years (p < 0.0001). The incidence of hyperthermia (rectal temperature higher than 38.5 degreeC) (p < 0.0001), dehydration (p < 0.0005) and fecal blood (p < 0.0001) was higher in bacterial diarrheas. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.001) and leukocyte counts were higher in bacterial gastroenteritis (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rotaviruses were the most frequently isolated enteropathogens. The features that best distinguished between bacterial and viral diarrhea were hyperthermia and fecal blood. Hospital admissions due to Salmonella Shigella E. coli, and adenoviruses significantly decreased.

Gastroenteritis aguda en pacientes hospitalizados. Estudio evolutivo de 14 años / Gastroenteritis in hospitalized children. 14-year evaluation

Objetivos: Analizar la etiología y evolución de los pacientes que ingresaron con gastroenteritis aguda y estudiar las diferencias clinicoanalíticas entre los procesos de gastroenteritis aguda ocasionados por virus y bacterias. Pacientes y métodos: Se estudiaron los pacientes con gastroenteritis agudas ingresados consecutivamente en el servicio entre los años 1987 y 2000 en pacientes entre 0 y 14 años. Se consideraron valores significativos p 38,5 °C) (p < 0,0001), deshidratación (p < 0,0005) y sangre en heces (p < 0,0001) tuvieron mayor incidencia en las diarreas bacterianas. La velocidad de sedimentación globular (p < 0,001) y la cifra de leucocitos (p < 0,01) fueron también más altas en las gastroenteritis bacterianas. Conclusiones: El enteropatógeno más frecuente fue rotavirus. Los datos que mejor diferenciaron las diarreas bacterianas de las virales fueron hipertermia y sangre en heces. Se observó un descenso significativo de ingresos por Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli y adenovirus (AU)

Infecciones bacterianas con cultivos centrales positivos en niños de edad inferior a 1 año. Estudio epidemiológico evolutivo de 14 años / Bacterial infections with positive central cultures in children under 1 year of age. 14 year evolutive epidemiological study

Objetivos: Analizar los cultivos centrales positivos en niños con infección en pacientes ingresados con edad inferior a 1 año. Pacientes y métodos: Los criterios de selección de los pacientes fueron edad inferior a 1 año, y cultivos centrales bacterianos positivos. El período de observación fue de 14 años. Se excluyeron los pacientes de la Unidad de Neonatología y niños de especialidades quirúrgicas que ingresaron en el Servicio. Resultados: De los 3.664 niños ingresados con edad inferior a 1 año, 455 (12,4 por ciento) tenían algún cultivo bacteriano central positivo. Por orden de frecuencia los cultivos centrales positivos fueron: urocultivos (207), coprocultivos (193), hemocultivos (30) y cultivo de LCR (25). Predominaron los gérmenes Gram (-): 96,1 por ciento en urocultivos, 100 por ciento en coprocultivos, 76,6 por ciento en hemocultivos y 88 por ciento en cultivos de LCR. Los gérmenes más frecuentes fueron: E. coli en urocultivos y hemocultivos, Salmonella en coprocultivos y Neiseria meningitidis en cultivos de LCR. Existió un descenso en los últimos años de cultivos para N. meningitidis y H. influenzae; también se observó descenso en los coprocultivos (R2=0,559, p<0,05) relacionado con el descenso de Salmonella. La edad media de los pacientes con hemocultivos positivos (3,26 +/- 3,1 meses) fue estadísticamente inferior al comparar con otros grupos (p<0,0001). El tratamiento inicial, previo al antibiograma, fue: cefalosporina de 3ª generación o tobramicina y ampicilina. Fallecieron 3 pacientes que representan el 0,65 por ciento, en los últimos 10 años del estudio no se observó ningún fallecimiento. Conclusión: Los niños con edas inferior a 1 año con cultivos centrales positivos superaron el 10 por ciento de los niños ingresados de esa misma edad. Esta cifra y la posible gravedad de las infecciones justifican una encuesta bacteriológica amplia y un diagnóstico precoz para lograr una morbi-mortalidad baja (AU)

Torsión testicular en el recién nacido / Testicular twisting in newborn

Se exponen dos casos de torsión testicular intraútero llamando la atención sobre la escasa sintomatología clínica y la importancia de una cuidadosa exploración del recién nacido en la sala de partos. La torsión testicular perinatal es una patología infrecuente. La viabilidad del testículo es baja, sin embargo existen casos que tras un diagnóstico precoz la orquiectomía no ha sido necesaria después de la detorsión. La exploración quirúrgica debe ser lo más rápido posible, ya que si existe alguna posibilidad de viabilidad, ésta disminuye a las pocas horas de haberse producido la torsión. La exploración quirúrgica es necesaria en el diagnóstico diferencial y siempre estará dirigida a reducir las posibles complicaciones perioperatorias por las características propias del neonato, prefiriéndose en algunos casos una intervención programada pero precoz. No se ha observado complicaciones operatorias relacionadas con la intervención quirúrgica (AU)

Screening of antimicrobial activities in red, green and brown macroalgae from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain).

Extracts from 44 species of seaweed from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) were screened for the production of antibacterial and antifungal compounds against a panel of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria, yeasts and fungi. A total of 28 species displayed antibacterial activity, of which six also showed antifungal activity. Asparagopsis taxiformis and Cymopolia barbata were the species with the strongest activities against the broadest spectrum of target microorganisms. All the species with antibacterial activity were active against gram-positive bacteria, whereas only two species, A. taxiformis and Osmundea hybrida, were active against mycobacteria. The production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activities by the macroalgae was also studied under different conditions, although no common trend for bioactivity was observed.

[Disabled as a result of cerebrovascular accident. Diagnoses, functional ability, and features]. / Incapacitados con A.C.V. Diagnósticos, capacidad funcional y características.

OBJECTIVE: To learn the characteristics that our patients disabled by a vascular cerebral accident have, based on their sociological-demographic variables, functional disabilities and most frequent nursing diagnoses. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: A descriptive transversal study. STUDY GROUP: patients suffering from a vascular cerebral accident who are partaking in a program for the disabled in two Basic Health Zones in Marbella. RESULTS: There were 86 patients suffering from a vascular cerebral accident which means they compose 23% of the disabled patients in this program. Regarding these patients, we obtained their demographic traits, information about their living conditions, and their functional capacity for everyday life activities as well as their corresponding nursing diagnoses. COMMENTS: To determine those problems and areas of need which to a higher frequency affect our patients suffering from a vascular cerebral accident will allow us to better detect and plan our action strategies by means of developing standardized treatment plans which guarantee continuity and quality in our treatment. This study was presented orally and received First Prize at the XI Congress and XIV National Conference Days in Vascular Nursing.

The discovery of enfumafungin, a novel antifungal compound produced by an endophytic Hormonema species biological activity and taxonomy of the producing organisms.

In a screening of natural products with antifungal activity derived from endophytic fungi, we detected a potent activity in a culture belonging to the form-genus Hormonema, isolated from leaves of Juniperus communis. The compound is a new triterpene glycoside, showing an antifungal activity highly potent in vitro against Candida and Aspergillus and with moderate efficacy in an in vivo mouse model of disseminated candidiasis. The agent is especially interesting since its antifungal spectrum and its effect on morphology of Aspergillus fumigatus is comparable to that of the glucan synthase inhibitor pneumocandin B,,, the natural precursor of the clinical candidate MK-0991 (caspofungin acetate). An additional search for other Hormonema isolates producing improved titers or derivatives resulted in the isolation of two more strains recovered from the same plant host showing identical activity. The producing isolates were compared with other non-producing Hormonema strains by DNA fingerprinting and sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacers. Comparison of rDNA sequences with other fungal species suggests that the producing fungus could be an undetermined Kabatina species. Kabatina is a coelomycetous genus whose members are known to produce Hormonema-like states in culture.

Valor de los marcadores serológicos en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca. Propuesta de un protocolo / Value of serological markers in the diagnosis of celiac disease. A proposed guidelinebackground

OBJETIVO: La alta frecuencia de casos atípicos de enfermedad celíaca y de formas con pobre sintomatología ha potenciado la búsqueda de marcadores analíticos que apoyen la indicación de la biopsia intestinal. Las pruebas más extendidas son la determinación de anticuerpos antigliadina de clase IgG e IgA (AAGIgG y AAGIgA) y antiendomisio (AEmIgA). MÉTODOS: Se presenta la experiencia de 10 años, estudiando AAG en 1.075 sueros de pacientes con enfermedad celíaca y AEmIgA en 534. Los marcadores séricos se compararon a la biopsia intestinal en 152 casos en los que se realizaron simultáneamente. RESULTADOS: En los casos con atrofia intestinal grave fue la alta sensibilidad de los AAGIgG (91 por ciento) y de los AEmIgA (94 por ciento), quienes además mostraron el valor predictivo positivo (88 por ciento) y negativo (97 por ciento) más altos. Un título positivo de AEmIgA coincidió con una biopsia alterada al 100 por ciento de los casos. Los AEmIgA fueron también el marcador más eficaz para el control de la dieta sin gluten. Sin embargo, en los casos con atrofia parcial de la mucosa intestinal ningún marcador fue lo bastante indicativo. CONCLUSIÓN: Los AEmIgA son el mejor marcador serológico de enfermedad celíaca. A la luz de los resultados y según la prevalencia estimada de esta enfermedad, se proponen protocolos de utilización de los marcadores serológicos para el diagnóstico de los síndromes malabsortivos, para estudios de poblaciones de bajo y alto riesgo de enfermedad celíaca y para el seguimiento de los pacientes diagnosticados (AU)

[Value of serological markers in the diagnosis of celiac disease. A proposed protocol]. / Valor de los marcadores serológicos en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad celíaca. Propuesta de un protocolo.

AIM: In recent years, the high frequency of atypical cases of celiac disease (CD) and of forms of this disease with minor symptoms has prompted the search for analytical markers that may support indications for intestinal biopsy. The commonest tests are those for serum class IgG and IgA antigliadin antibodies (IgG-AGA, IgA-AGA) and IgA antiendomysial antibodies (IgA-EmA). METHODS: We report our 10 year experience of studying AGA in 1,075 serum samples from patients with CD and IgA-EmA in 534 samples. The serological markers were compared with 152 intestinal biopsies performed simultaneously with the other tests. RESULTS: In patients with severe intestinal atrophy the sensitivity of IgA-AGA (91%) and IgA-EmA (94%) was high. IgA-EmA and the latter showed the highest positive (88%) and negative (97%) predictive values. In all patients, IgA-EmA positivity coincided with alterations in the biopsy. Determination of IgA-EmA was also the most efficient marker for monitoring the gluten free diet phase. However, in patients in whom minimal histological changes were found in the intestinal mucosa, none of the markers was sufficiently accurate. RESULTS: IgA- EmA antibodies are the most accurate serological marker of CD. In view of these results and the estimated prevalence of the disease, protocols for the use of serological markers are proposed for the differential diagnosis of malabsorption symptoms, for use in patients at low and high risk of CD and for the followup of those with a diagnosis of CD.

Screening of basidiomycetes for antimicrobial activities.

As a part of a screening programme developed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of basidiomycetes, 317 isolates representing 204 species collected in Spain were screened against a range of human clinical pathogens and laboratory controls. Extracts from 45% of the isolates, representing 109 species, showed antimicrobial activity. Antibacterial activity was more pronounced than antifungal activity. The proportion of extracts from basidiomycetes showing antimicrobial activity was similar to or above that obtained for representative orders of Ascomycetes, such as Pezizales and Xylariales, but lower than that produced by members of the orders Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Leotiales and Sordariales. Suprageneric taxa (orders and families) did not show pronounced differences in their antimicrobial activities though such differences were observed at the genus level, suggesting that the ability to produce these bioactive compounds is not homogenously distributed amongst the basidiomycetes. Isolates from some species showed large differences in their ability to produce metabolites with antimicrobial activity, possibly reflecting genetic differences at the infraspecific level.

[Treatment with omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin over 6 days in patients with Helicobacter pylori-infected duodenal ulcer]. / Tratamiento con omeprazol, claritromicina y amoxicilina durante 6 días en pacientes con úlcera duodenal infectados por Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori with omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin during 6 days in patients with duodenal ulcer. To compare the reliability of the analysis of the eradication with urea-13C breath test performed one month and 3 months after therapy. To evaluate the one-year reinfection rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study including 99 patients with duodenal ulcer (65 with acute disease and 34 in maintenance treatment) infected by Helicobacter pylori (urease rapid test and urea-13C breath test positive). Patients were treated with omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1 g, b.i.d., during 6 days. The infection status was investigated 1 and 3 months after treatment by urea-13C breath test. The one-year reinfection rate was investigated using the same test. RESULTS: Per protocol eradication rates were 76% (95%-CI: 66-84) one month and 73% (95%-CI: 63-81) 3 months after treatment. In the intention to treat analysis, eradication rates were 74% (95%-CI: 64-82) and 70% (95%-CI: 60-79), respectively. Side effects were mild and uncommon. The rate of false negative urea-13C breath test results one month after therapy with respect to 3 months was 4.2% (95%-CI: 0.8-11.7). One-year reinfection rate determined in 56 patient was absent. CONCLUSIONS: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori with triple therapy for 6 days in patients with duodenal ulcer is not satisfactory. To investigate Helicobacter pylori infection with urea-13C breath test one month after treatment overestimates the results of the eradication. One-year reinfection rate is clinically irrelevant.