Rol de las imágenes en la evaluación de la invaginación intestinal del adulto: un estudio retrospectivo de 10 años / Role of imaging in the evaluation of intussusception in adults: a 10-year retrospective study

Introducción: La invaginación intestinal es la introducción de un segmento de asas intestinales en otro segmento adyacente. A diferencia de la población pediátrica, cuya etiología es principalmente idiopática, en el adulto se asocia con mayor frecuencia a patologías graves. El uso cada vez mayor de estudios imagenológicos en la evaluación abdominal ha llevado a mayor detección de invaginaciones intestinales sin enfermedad subyacente, en las que no es posible determinar una causa de base. El objetivo de este estudio fue revisar la presentación clínica, estudio y tratamiento en pacientes con diagnóstico imagenológico de invaginación intestinal en ecografía o tomografía computarizada de abdomen. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo a partir de los informes radiológicos de ecografías y tomografías computarizadas de abdomen obtenidas en un periodo de 10 años en una institución hospitalaria. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 40 casos. En el 10% de ellos, la invaginación intestinal fue un hallazgo incidental en un estudio por otra causa. En el 68% de los casos no se identificó una causa subyacente, demostrándose resolución espontánea en el 75% de los casos con estudio posterior. El síntoma más frecuente fue el dolor abdominal, presente en el 60% de los pacientes. La ubicación más habitual fue entero-enteral en el 90% de los casos. Solo en el 8% de los casos la invaginación intestinal se atribuyó a una causa maligna. Hubo resolución quirúrgica en 7 pacientes. Conclusión: El aumento en el uso de imágenes para el estudio abdominal ha demostrado que existe un porcentaje importante de invaginaciones intestinales que son idiopáticas y que presentarán resolución espontánea.(AU)

Introduction: Intussusception is the insertion of a bowel loop segment into an adjacent segment. Unlike in children, where the condition is mainly idiopathic, intussusception in adults is more often associated with severe disease. The growing use of imaging studies to evaluate the abdomen has resulted in a higher rate of detection of cases of intussusception without underlying disease in which it is not possible to determine the cause. This study aimed to review the clinical presentation, evaluation, and treatment of patients in whom abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography diagnosed intussusception. Method: We retrospectively reviewed radiology reports of abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography studies done at our hospital in a 10-year period. Results: In the 40 cases found, intussusception was an incidental finding in 10%. No underlying cause was identified in 68%, and posterior imaging studies showed spontaneous resolution in 75%. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, being present in 60%. Intussusception affected only the small bowel in 90% of cases (entero-enteric intussusception). Intussusception was attributed to malignancy in only 8% of cases. In 7 patients, intussusception was resolved surgically. Conclusion: The increased use of abdominal imaging has shown that a significant proportion of cases of intussusception are idiopathic and resolve spontaneously.(AU)

Role of imaging in the evaluation of intussusception in adults: A 10-year retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Intussusception is the insertion of a bowel loop segment into an adjacent segment. Unlike in children, where the condition is mainly idiopathic, intussusception in adults is more often associated with severe disease. The growing use of imaging studies to evaluate the abdomen has resulted in a higher rate of detection of cases of intussusception without underlying disease in which it is not possible to determine the cause. This study aimed to review the clinical presentation, evaluation, and treatment of patients in whom abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography diagnosed intussusception. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed radiology reports of abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography studies done at our hospital in a 10-year period. RESULTS: In the 40 cases found, intussusception was an incidental finding in 10%. No underlying cause was identified in 68%, and posterior imaging studies showed spontaneous resolution in 75%. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, being present in 60%. Intussusception affected only the small bowel in 90% of cases (entero-enteric intussusception). Intussusception was attributed to malignancy in only 8% of cases. In 7 patients, intussusception was resolved surgically. CONCLUSION: The increased use of abdominal imaging has shown that a significant proportion of cases of intussusception are idiopathic and resolve spontaneously.

Role of imaging in the evaluation of intussusception in adults: a 10-year retrospective study. / Rol de las imágenes en la evaluación de la invaginación intestinal del adulto: un estudio retrospectivo de 10 años.

INTRODUCTION: Intussusception is the insertion of a bowel loop segment into an adjacent segment. Unlike in children, where the condition is mainly idiopathic, intussusception in adults is more often associated with severe disease. The growing use of imaging studies to evaluate the abdomen has resulted in a higher rate of detection of cases of intussusception without underlying disease in which it is not possible to determine the cause. This study aimed to review the clinical presentation, evaluation, and treatment of patients in whom abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography diagnosed intussusception. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed radiology reports of abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography studies done at our hospital in a 10-year period. RESULTS: In the 40 cases found, intussusception was an incidental finding in 10%. No underlying cause was identified in 68%, and posterior imaging studies showed spontaneous resolution in 75%. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, being present in 60%. Intussusception affected only the small bowel in 90% of cases (entero-enteric intussusception). Intussusception was attributed to malignancy in only 8% of cases. In 7 patients, intussusception was resolved surgically. CONCLUSION: The increased use of abdominal imaging has shown that a significant proportion of cases of intussusception are idiopathic and resolve spontaneously.

Social anxiety disorder among patients with multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study in Ecuador. / Trastorno de ansiedad social en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple: estudio poblacional de casos y controles en Ecuador.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have found that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience relatively high rates of anxiety and depression; however, there are few reports about social anxiety in individuals with MS. AIM: To analyze the prevalence of social anxiety disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities in MS patients compared to matched controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 50 patients with MS that were seen during regularly scheduled visits and 50 sex- and age-matched participants from the general population within a six-month interval. All included participants completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with 21 items (DASS-21). We defined clinically significant social anxiety symptoms as SPIN scores = 19. RESULTS: The MS patients' mean age was 41.9 years (54% female). The self-reported psychosocial assessments showed that MS participants were more likely to present positive social anxiety symptoms (OR = 7.37; 95% CI = 1.99-27.30; p < 0.001), depression (OR = 3.76; 95% CI = 1.41-10.10; p = 0.006), stress (OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.09-6.52; p = 0.029), and general anxiety (OR = 4.70; 95% CI = 1.93-11.40; p < 0.001) than the general population. There were moderate correlations between social anxiety and depression (p = 0,006), general anxiety (p = 0,001), and stress (p < 0,001) in MS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MS had a higher risk of presenting social anxiety symptoms than a matched control group in a Hispanic population.

TITLE: Trastorno de ansiedad social en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple: estudio poblacional de casos y controles en Ecuador.Introducción. Varios estudios han encontrado que individuos con esclerosis múltiple (EM) presentan tasas altas de ansiedad y depresión; sin embargo, hay pocos informes sobre ansiedad social en individuos con EM. Objetivo. Analizar la prevalencia del trastorno de ansiedad social y otras comorbilidades psiquiátricas en pacientes con EM en comparación con los controles pareados. Sujetos y métodos. Durante un intervalo de seis meses, incluimos a 50 pacientes con EM que fueron observados durante visitas programadas regularmente y a 50 participantes de la población general pareados por sexo y edad. Todos los participantes completaron el inventario de fobia social (SPIN) y la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés de 21 ítems. Definimos síntomas de ansiedad social clínicamente significativos los que tenían un resultado en el SPIN mayor o igual a 19. Resultados. La edad media de los pacientes con EM era de 41,9 años (el 54%, mujeres). Las evaluaciones psicológicas notificadas demostraron que los participantes con EM tenían más probabilidad de presentar síntomas positivos de ansiedad social (OR = 7,37; IC 95% = 1,99-27,30; p < 0,001), depresión (OR = 3,76; IC 95% = 1,41-10,10; p = 0,006), estrés (OR = 2,67; IC 95% = 1,09-6,52; p = 0,029) y ansiedad general (OR = 4,70; IC 95% = 1,93-11,40; p < 0,001) que la población general. Se observaron correlaciones moderadas entre ansiedad social y depresión (p = 0,006), ansiedad general (p = 0,001) y estrés (p < 0,001) en los pacientes con EM. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con EM tienen un riesgo más elevado de presentar síntomas de ansiedad social que la población hispana en general.

Selective AKR1C3 inhibitors do not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic activities of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate.

BACKGROUND: We and others have identified the aldo-keto reductase AKR1C3 as a potential drug target in prostate cancer, breast cancer and leukaemia. As a consequence, significant effort is being invested in the development of AKR1C3-selective inhibitors. METHODS: We report the screening of an in-house drug library to identify known drugs that selectively inhibit AKR1C3 over the closely related isoforms AKR1C1, 1C2 and 1C4. This screen initially identified tetracycline as a potential AKR1C3-selective inhibitor. However, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance studies identified that the active agent was a novel breakdown product (4-methyl(de-dimethylamine)-tetracycline (4-MDDT)). RESULTS: We demonstrate that, although 4-MDDT enters AML cells and inhibits their AKR1C3 activity, it does not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic actions of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Screens of the NCI diversity set and an independently curated small-molecule library identified several additional AKR1C3-selective inhibitors, none of which had the expected anti-leukaemic activity. However, a pan AKR1C, also identified in the NCI diversity set faithfully recapitulated the actions of MPA. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we have identified a novel tetracycline-derived product that provides an excellent lead structure with proven drug-like qualities for the development of AKR1C3 inhibitors. However, our findings suggest that, at least in leukaemia, selective inhibition of AKR1C3 is insufficient to elicit an anticancer effect and that multiple AKR1C inhibition may be required.

Assessment of an extracorporeal liver assist device in anhepatic dogs.

We have used an anhepatic dog model to demonstrate the efficacy of a bioartificial liver assist device. Six dogs underwent total hepatectomy. Three received only medical care (controls) while the remainder were connected to an extracorporeal liver assist device (ELAD). The control dogs failed to regain consciousness after anesthesia although all lived 4-5 h postoperatively. Plasma ammonia concentration increased by an average of 250 mumol/L between the end of surgery and the demise of the animals. The treated dogs lived 3-12.5 h, and 2 of them required repeated doses of thiamylal sodium to maintain sedation. Plasma ammonia concentration was unchanged after connection to the ELAD except in the longest survivor, whose ammonia began to rise after 8 h on the ELAD. The short survival in the other 2 treated dogs was the result of uncontrolled intraabdominal bleeding. This device is capable of replacing the metabolic function of the liver, and might provide hepatic support in patients awaiting transplantation or in fulminant hepatic failure.

Reversal of fulminant hepatic failure using an extracorporeal liver assist device.

Liver transplantation is currently the only effective therapy for patients with fulminant hepatic failure. The availability of an artificial liver could bridge these patients through the relatively brief crisis period and allow their own livers to regenerate, providing a more favorable outcome and sparing the trauma and expense of transplant. We have developed a device consisting of a highly differentiated human liver cell line cultured in a hollow fiber cartridge. This device is capable of supporting dogs with acetaminophen-induced fulminant hepatic failure for a period long enough for their own livers to resume function. Even though liver function tests such as albumin and prothrombin time became extremely abnormal during the course of the experiment, the dogs did not become encephalopathic. Two of the three treated animals recovered sufficient liver function after 42 to 48 hr of treatment that they could be disconnected from the device, and they survived the experiment. Histological results and serum ALT levels suggest that the device affected the course of the disease in two animals, allowing recovery of hepatocytes that would otherwise have lysed. In the third animal, regenerative nodules demonstrated that, even in the presence of severe liver injury, the device was capable of supporting total liver function.

An improved model of acetaminophen-induced fulminant hepatic failure in dogs.

We have established an improved model of fulminant hepatic failure in dogs. Buthionine sulfoximine is used to inactivate glutathione synthesis, and small increments of acetaminophen are given intravenously to maintain the plasma level at approximately 200 micrograms/ml for 20 hr. This regimen produces severe liver injury along with many of the features seen in humans with acetaminophen poisoning. The first sign of impending liver failure is hypoglycemia. This occurs about 15 hr into the experiment and requires treatment with a continuous infusion of glucose. Between 15 and 20 hr, serum ALT activity begins to rise, indicating the onset of liver necrosis. Over the following 15 to 20 hr ALT activity continues to rise and is accompanied by an increase in bilirubin, a prolongation of the prothrombin time and the development of fetor hepaticus. Thirty to 48 hr after the initial acetaminophen dose, the animals begin to exhibit symptoms of encephalopathy and progress from lethargy to the inability to maintain posture and then coma, seizures and death. Liver biopsy specimens obtained at several stages throughout the study showed progressive necrosis, ultimately resulting in the complete destruction of zones 2 and 3.

Relative Contributions of the Egg Layer and Egg Cordon to Pheromonal Attraction and the Induction of Mating and Egg-laying Behavior in Aplysia.

Many species of the opisthobranch mollusk Aplysia form breeding aggregations during the reproductive season. The aggregations contain both mating and egg-laying animals, and are associated with egg cordons. Although pheromones play a significant role in developing and maintaining the aggregations, little is known about the active factors. Behavioral studies have shown that egg-laying animals are more attractive than nonlaying animals, have shorter latencies to mating, and induce conspecifics to lay eggs. As a first step toward isolating and chemically characterizing the active factors, we examined the relative importance of the egg layer and egg cordon as sources of pheromonal activity in Aplysia brasiliana. T-maze experiments showed that both animal-derived and cordon-derived factors are attractive, and that the animal-derived factors are specifically associated with egg layers. Extracts of the atrial gland--an exocrine organ secreting into the oviduct--increased the attractiveness of nonlaying animals when placed in the surrounding seawater, suggesting that the "cordon-derived" aggregation pheromones may be products of the atrial gland. Mating studies showed that both animal-derived and cordon-derived factors induce mating, and that the animal-derived factors are associated with both egg layers and nonlayers. In contrast, neither animal-derived nor cordon-derived factors induced egg laying. Comparable results were obtained with either one or two animals in the chamber, suggesting that the accessibility of a potential mate did not influence the results. The lack of effect may result from the low-probability nature of egg-laying activity.