Outdoor exposure in children from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate myopia risk factors, mainly outdoor exposure and reading habits, in a country with low prevalence of myopia (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). METHODS: Consecutive children interviewed in a clinical private practice setting were autorefracted under cycloplegia with cyclopentolate 1%. Their parents consented to fill a questionnaire about schooling, tutorial classes, outdoor exposure, reading habits, and cellphone use, both on weekdays and weekends. The Spanish questionnaire was based on past English questionnaires of myopia clinical trials. The spherical equivalent of the right eye was used for the refractive distribution. The average daily hours spent for each activity were calculated. RESULTS: This study involved 115 children aged 10.48 ±â€¯3.65 years (range 5-18 years), with 56.5% being girls. Children had 8 h of schooling per day in 62.6% of cases, and only 14.8 % had tutorial classes after school. There were 38.3% myopes (<-0.50 D), 24.3% hyperopes (>+2.00 D) and the rest were emmetropes. The mean time that these children spent outdoors per day was 3.94 ±â€¯1.45 h (27.60 ±â€¯10.16 h per week). The total mean time spent reading and writing per day was 1.50 ±â€¯0.98 h, and that spent using cellphones and tablets was 2.43 ±â€¯1.66 h. CONCLUSION: In an environment with low myopia prevalence, children spend almoast 4 h per day outdoors, much more than the usual recommendation of 2 h a day for myopia prevention.

Exposición al aire libre en niños de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Outdoor exposure in children from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Objetivos Evaluar los factores de riesgo de la miopía, principalmente la exposición al aire libre y los hábitos de lectura, en una región con baja prevalencia de miopía (Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina). étodos Los niños entrevistados consecutivamente entre febrero y marzo de 2020 fueron refraccionados bajo cicloplejía con ciclopentolato al 1%. Sus padres consintieron llenar un cuestionario sobre escolaridad, clases extracurriculares, exposición al aire libre, hábitos de lectura y uso del teléfono móvil, tanto entre semana como los fines de semana. Se utilizó el equivalente esférico del ojo derecho para la distribución refractiva. Se calculó el promedio de horas diarias dedicadas a cada actividad. Resultados En este estudio participaron 115 niños de 10,48±3,65 años y el 56,5% eran niñas. Los niños tenían 8h de escolaridad al día en el 62,6% de los casos y solo el 14,8% tenía clases de extracurriculares después de la escuela. Había 38,3% miopes (<−0,50 D), el 24,3% hipermétropes (>+2,00 D) y el resto eran emétropes. El tiempo medio pasado al aire libre por día fue de 3,94±1,45h (27,60±10,16h por semana). El tiempo medio total dedicado a la lectura y a la escritura por día fue de 1,50±0,98h, y el de uso de teléfonos móviles y tabletas fue de 2,43±1,66h. Conclusión En un entorno con baja prevalencia de miopía, los niños pasan al menos 4h diarias al aire libre, mucho más que la recomendación habitual de 2h diarias para la prevención de la miopía (AU)

Objectives To evaluate myopia risk factors, mainly outdoor exposure and reading habits, in a country with low prevalence of myopia (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Methods Consecutive children interviewed in a clinical private practice setting were autorefracted under cycloplegia with cyclopentolate 1%. Their parents consented to fill a questionnaire about schooling, tutorial classes, outdoor exposure, reading habits, and cellphone use, both on weekdays and weekends. The Spanish questionnaire was based on past English questionnaires of myopia clinical trials. The spherical equivalent of the right eye was used for the refractive distribution. The average daily hours spent for each activity were calculated. Result This study involved 115 children aged 10.48±3.65 years (range 5 to 18 years), with 56.5% being girls. Children had 8h of schooling per day in 62.6% of cases, and only 14.8% had tutorial classes after school. There were 38.3% myopes (<−0.50 D), 24.3% hyperopes (>+2.00 D) and the rest were emmetropes. The mean time that these children spent outdoors per day was 3.94±1.45 hs. (27.60±10.16 hs. per week). The total mean time spent reading and writing per day was 1.50±0.98h, and that spent using cellphones and tablets was 2.43±1.66h. Conclusion In an environment with low myopia prevalence, children spend almoast 4hours per day outdoors, much more than the usual recommendation of 2hours a day for myopia prevention (AU)

The role of afforestation species as a driver of Hg accumulation in organic horizons of forest soils from a Mediterranean mountain area in SW Europe.

Forest areas are a primary sink of atmospheric mercury (Hg) within terrestrial ecosystems, whereas forest vegetation plays a key role in atmospheric Hg transfer to soil horizons. This study assessed variations in total Hg contents (HgT) and accumulation (HgRes) in the soil organic horizons of a forest area in NE Portugal, where post-wildfire afforestation led to the substitution of the native deciduous species (Quercus pyrenaica) by fast-growing coniferous species (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus nigra). The study also evaluated, for each species, the links between Hg contents and other biophilic elements of soil organic matter (C, N, S) present in organic subhorizons (OL, OF, OH). Mean HgT in the organic horizons of the different tree species follow the sequence: P. nigra (88 µg kg-1) < Q.pyrenaica (101 µg kg-1)

Litterfall Hg deposition to an oak forest soil from southwestern Europe.

Litterfall constitutes one of the main vectors for mercury (Hg) transfer to forested ecosystems, so we studied the deposition of Hg through senescent vegetation (oak leaves, twigs and miscellaneous) in a deciduous forest plot of Southwest Europe dominated by Quercus robur in 2015 and 2016. Total Hg concentrations increased in the following order: bole wood (1.4 µg kg-1) < bark (8.3 µg kg-1) < twigs (12.2 µg kg-1) < miscellaneous (36.0 µg kg-1) < oak leaves (39.3 µg kg-1) < mineral soil (42.4 µg kg-1) < Oi horizons (48.7 µg kg-1) < Oe + Oa horizons (71.6 µg kg-1). Mercury accumulation rates in oak leaves during the growing season were 0.15-0.18 µg kg-1 day-1. Mercury deposition fluxes were 26 and 21 µg m-2 yr-1 for 2015 and 2016, respectively, with oak leaves being the fraction that contributed the most. Mercury determination in litterfall sorted biomass fractions lead to a more accurate estimation of the total annual Hg deposition fluxes through litterfall. Higher Hg content was obtained for organic horizons (average of 60.2 µg kg-1) than for mineral soil (mean of 42.4 µg kg-1), but the soil Hg pool was higher in the latter. The results confirmed the necessity of taking into account the Hg pool in the deeper mineral soil layers as they accumulate substantial quantities of Hg associated to organic C and Al compounds, preventing its mobilization to other compartments of the terrestrial ecosystems.

Hess Lancaster screen test with the head tilted: a useful test in the diagnosis of bilateral fourth nerve palsies.

PURPOSE: To introduce Hess Lancaster screen test performed with the head tilted as a new ancillary test to help in the diagnosis of bilateral superior oblique (SO) nerve paresis. METHODS: Three patients with clinical diagnosis of acquired bilateral fourth nerve paresis, three with clinical diagnosis of acquired unilateral fourth nerve paresis, and three normal subjects were tested with Hess Lancaster test in the nine positions of gaze with their heads straight and with their heads tilted to each side. Test results were compared and data were analyzed. RESULTS: Hess Lancaster test of all patients with bilateral SO palsy performed with their heads straight showed unilateral SO underaction, but when the test was carried out with the head tilted to each side findings were positive for ipsilateral SO underaction and ipsilateral hypertropia for both sides. In those patients with unilateral SO palsy, Lancaster test was positive for SO underaction when the head was in straight position and when it was tilted to the side of the paretic muscle, but it was almost normal with the head tilted to the opposite side. Normal subjects did not show any abnormality regardless of the head position. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral SO palsies are sometimes difficult to diagnose for they might be masked. Hess Lancaster test carried out with the head tilted to both sides could help in the diagnosis of bilateral SO palsies.

[Iodine deficiency disorder persistance after introduction of iodized salt in a previously endemic goiter area]. / Persistencia de un trastorno por déficit de yodo tras la introducción de sal yodada en un área con antecedentes de bocio endémico.

OBJECTIVE: Correction of iodine deficiency diminishes the incidence of toxic nodular goitre. The aim of this study was to assess the etiology of thyrotoxicosis in two areas with different goitre prevalence in Galicia, fifteen years after the institutional campaign of salt iodination. Results of the present survey are compared with those from a study performed ten years ago. METHODS: Two hundred and two thyrotoxic patients attended in La Coruña (coastal zone) and Lugo (inland zone) from January 2000 to May 2002 were included. Clinical and exploratory data were recorded. Thyroid hormones, thyroid-directed antibodies and thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) were measured. A thyroid 99m technetium or 123 iodine scintigram was performed. RESULTS: In the whole group 58.6% of the cases were diagnosed of nodular goitre, 30.3% of Graves disease, 7.1% of iodine induced thyrotoxicosis and 3.5% of subacute thyroiditis. In coastal zone these percentages were 52.2, 37.0, 5.4 and 4.3%, respectively. In the inland area, 64.2% nodular goitre, 24.5% Graves disease, 8.5% iodine induced thyrotoxicosis and 2.8% subacute thyroiditis. The most frequent diagnosis in both the whole group and in each area was toxic multinodular goitre. CONCLUSIONS: In some areas of Spain, toxic nodular goitre continues to be the most frequent cause of thyrotoxicosis. It is necessary to insist on implementation and monitoring of iodine supplementation programs.

Comparison between crab hepatopancreas and rat liver uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase.

We characterized Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UroD) (E.C. 4.1.1.37) in hepatopancreas of the crab Chasmagnathus granulatus as a first step to establish this enzyme as a possible biomarker for environmental contamination. We performed a comparative study of crab UroD with the enzyme UroD present in Wistar rat liver, which is known as a useful indicator of intoxication by polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The final products were the same in crab and rat UroD: the remaining substrate (8-carboxyl-porphyrinogen), the final product Coproporphyrinogen (4-COOH) and intermediate compounds with 7-, 6- and 5-COOH. The elimination of the second carboxyl group seems to be the rate-limiting step in this multiple decarboxylation, because large amounts of 7-COOH porphyrinogen are accumulated. The V(max)/K(m) ratio was 100-fold higher for rat liver UroD than for crab hepatopancreas UroD, suggesting a higher efficiency of the rat enzyme. Optimum pH for enzyme activity was 7.2 and 6.8 for crab and rat, respectively. Although both systems showed the same optimum temperature (47 degrees C), the activation energy was clearly different, 51.5 kJ/mol for C. granulatus and 5.4 kJ/mol for Rattus norvegicus (Wistar strain). Superdex 75 gel chromatography yielded a single symmetrical peak with an apparent molecular mass of 48+/-3 kDa for crab hepatopancreas UroD, suggesting the existence of only one enzymatic species in C. granulatus.

Cáncer de mama y 153 Samario EDTMP / Breast cancer and Samarium 153 EDTMP

Objetivo: evaluar la toxicidad y eficacia terapéutica del Sm153 EDTMP en pacientes con cáncer de mama avanzado y dolor producido por metástasis óseas con reacción osteoblástica y su repercusión centellográfica y de laboratorio. Materiales y métodos: 54 pacientes (edad promedio: 62) con metástasis óseas y dolor con Samario en dosis de 0,5; 1 y 1,5 mCi/kg; 5 pacientes fueron retratadas. Se realizó control clínico y laboratorio al inicio, semanalmente durante el primer mes y luego mensualmente. Se correlacionaron centellografías óseas pre y post tratamiento. De las 54 pacientes, 21 (primer grupo) recibieron 0,5 mCi/kg; 29 (segundo grupo) 1 mCi/kg y 4 pacientes (tercer grupo) 1,5 mCi/kg. Resultados: la respuesta positiva al tratamiento se valoró mediante la atenuación o desaparición del dolor y la disminución del uso de analgésicos. El primer grupo tuvo una respuesta positiva del 76 por ciento, el segundo de 83 por ciento y el tercero de 75 por ciento. La duración de la respuesta varió entre 3 y 9 meses. La toxicidad más frecuente fue trombocitopenia y luego leucopenia, ambas fueron reversibles y presentaban relación directa a la dosis administrada. La correlación centellográfica muestra una disminución de la intensidad de fijación en las pacientes retratadas. Conclusiones: el uso de radiofármacos con afinidad ósea como el Sm resulta ser una alternativa, dada su eficacia y accesibilidad de costos. En nuestro grupo de pacientes tratadas con una dosis de 1 mCi/kg se alcanzó una respuesta del 83 por ciento sin mayor aaumento de la toxicidad, la cual fue reversible (AU)

Cáncer de mama y 153 Samario EDTMP / Breast cancer and Samarium 153 EDTMP

Objetivo: evaluar la toxicidad y eficacia terapéutica del Sm153 EDTMP en pacientes con cáncer de mama avanzado y dolor producido por metástasis óseas con reacción osteoblástica y su repercusión centellográfica y de laboratorio. Materiales y métodos: 54 pacientes (edad promedio: 62) con metástasis óseas y dolor con Samario en dosis de 0,5; 1 y 1,5 mCi/kg; 5 pacientes fueron retratadas. Se realizó control clínico y laboratorio al inicio, semanalmente durante el primer mes y luego mensualmente. Se correlacionaron centellografías óseas pre y post tratamiento. De las 54 pacientes, 21 (primer grupo) recibieron 0,5 mCi/kg; 29 (segundo grupo) 1 mCi/kg y 4 pacientes (tercer grupo) 1,5 mCi/kg. Resultados: la respuesta positiva al tratamiento se valoró mediante la atenuación o desaparición del dolor y la disminución del uso de analgésicos. El primer grupo tuvo una respuesta positiva del 76 por ciento, el segundo de 83 por ciento y el tercero de 75 por ciento. La duración de la respuesta varió entre 3 y 9 meses. La toxicidad más frecuente fue trombocitopenia y luego leucopenia, ambas fueron reversibles y presentaban relación directa a la dosis administrada. La correlación centellográfica muestra una disminución de la intensidad de fijación en las pacientes retratadas. Conclusiones: el uso de radiofármacos con afinidad ósea como el Sm resulta ser una alternativa, dada su eficacia y accesibilidad de costos. En nuestro grupo de pacientes tratadas con una dosis de 1 mCi/kg se alcanzó una respuesta del 83 por ciento sin mayor aaumento de la toxicidad, la cual fue reversible

[Testicular granulocytic sarcoma as a form of relapse in a patient with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia]. / Sarcoma granulocítico testicular como forma de recaída en un paciente con leucemia aguda megacarioblástica.

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare extramedullary tumor composed of myeloblasts and other granulocytic precursors. GS is mostly associated with myeloproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia. These tumors arise in the absence of leukaemia, at its initial diagnosis or at the time of recurrence. The most common sites of involvement are bone, skin, soft tissue and lymph node. Reports of GS in testis are very rare. We report an unusual case of GS in a patient with megakaryoblastic leukaemia arising in the left testis after four months in complete remission attained with low doses of Ara-C and granulomonocytic stimulating factor.

Rat urinary chemiluminescence: effect of ethanol and/or hexachlorobenzene uptake.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) administration to rats induces porphyria cutanea tarda, characterized by high levels of urinary porphyrins (> 40 micrograms/day) and accumulation of highly carboxylated porphyrins in liver (> 15 micrograms/g of tissue). Ethanol administration, under the conditions employed, was not porphyrinogenic and was able to diminish some of the responses elicited by HCB. Furthermore, ethanol and/or HCB administration leads to organ disturbances that involve oxidative stress. We have measured the changes in urinary chemiluminescence (CL) levels, as part of a systematic evaluation of the metabolic alterations in rats chronically treated with ethanol and/or HCB. The results, that constitute the first set of urinary CL data obtained from an animal model system, indicate that the measurement of the spontaneous urinary CL can constitute a fast, simple and sensitive method to evaluate disturbances associated with oxidative stress.

[Amebic liver abscess and amebic colitis in a couple]. / Absceso amebiano hepático y colitis amebiana en una pareja.

Amebiasis is a disease commonly extended all around the world, its prevalence depending on the population under study. In Spain, most cases published are of exotic acquisition. We present the case of a married couple from Venezuela presenting two different forms of invasive amebiasis: acute colitis and hepatic abscess. In our environment, once the diagnosis of amebiasis is established, a close follow-up of the patients must be made, including the evaluation of the closest contacts. Regarding the treatment, we think that the asymptomatic forms must be treated with a luminal amebicidal and the symptomatic forms, with hystic amebicidal followed by luminal amebicidal.

Comparative efficacy of gestrinone and danazol in infertile women with endometriosis.

The relationship between endometriosis and infertility is observed frequently. Patients with both conditions require a conservative approach to their management. Since hormonal therapy is one of those approaches, we sought to compare the efficacy of Danazol and Gestrinone in 80 infertile patients (48 and 32, respectively). Therapy lasted 6 months in both treatment groups, and all patients studied had laboratory tests performed and were clinically evaluated and classified through laparoscopy before and after therapy. The improvement of symptoms and favorable follow-up were similar with both treatments. The reestablishment of menstrual patterns and fertility were also nearly alike in both groups. However, Gestrinone was associated with fewer secondary effects and is easier to administer than Danazol. We conclude that Gestrinone is a useful medication in the management of the infertile patient with endometriosis.

Diseño y evaluación de un modelo para la radioinmunolocalización e inmunoterapia del cáncer / Design and evolution of a model for the radioimmunotargetting and immunotherapy of cancer

El anticuerpo mionoclonal B2C114 producido contra el antígeno carcinoembrionario reconoce un carbohidrato del antígeno A de grupo sanguineo humano. La expresión de este determinante antigénico se investigó en estirpes celulares del adenocarcinoma mamario espontáneo M3 y su derivada experimental MM3 de mayor capacidad metastatizante. La reactividad específica in vitro de B2C114 marcado con I a la 125 permitió determinar el número de epitopes antigénicos por celula M3 y la constante de asociación. La biodistribución del anticuerpo monoclonal mostró que I a la 125-B2C114 discriminó, con alta sensibilidad, entre el tumor M3, la variante MM3 y tejidos normales, confirmado por la obtención de imágenes positivas de M3 en cámara gamma. Estos estudios han permitido la obtención de un modelo que facilita el desarrollo de diferentes tecnologías aplicadas al diagnóstico y a la terapéutica del cáncer

Diseño y evaluación de un modelo para la radioinmunolocalización e inmunoterapia del cáncer / Design and evolution of a model for the radioimmunotargetting and immunotherapy of cancer

El anticuerpo mionoclonal B2C114 producido contra el antígeno carcinoembrionario reconoce un carbohidrato del antígeno A de grupo sanguineo humano. La expresión de este determinante antigénico se investigó en estirpes celulares del adenocarcinoma mamario espontáneo M3 y su derivada experimental MM3 de mayor capacidad metastatizante. La reactividad específica in vitro de B2C114 marcado con I a la 125 permitió determinar el número de epitopes antigénicos por celula M3 y la constante de asociación. La biodistribución del anticuerpo monoclonal mostró que I a la 125-B2C114 discriminó, con alta sensibilidad, entre el tumor M3, la variante MM3 y tejidos normales, confirmado por la obtención de imágenes positivas de M3 en cámara gamma. Estos estudios han permitido la obtención de un modelo que facilita el desarrollo de diferentes tecnologías aplicadas al diagnóstico y a la terapéutica del cáncer (AU)