Antegrade endoscopic dilatation as an alternative approach to primary obstructive megaureter. / Dilatación endoscópica anterograda como abordaje alternativo del megauréter obstructivo primario.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital primary obstructive megaureter (POM) is caused by ureterovesical junction stenosis, reduced peristalsis, and the resulting dilatation. Even though ureteral re-implantation remains the current gold standard technique, retrograde dilatation is considered as an effective therapeutic alternative with good results and growing proponents - to the extent it has become the technique of choice in some healthcare facilities. The objective was to present an alternative approach for treatment purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is the case of a 5-month-old infant with POM and pyonephrosis requiring nephrostomy and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Endoscopic dilatation was carried out by means of a percutaneous drainage in an antegrade fashion and did not require cystoscopy. RESULTS: The procedure was uneventful. During follow-up, ureterohydronephrosis decreased, while ureteral dilatation persisted to a lesser extent with an adequate peristalsis and absence of secondary VUR. The patient has had no symptoms after an 11-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: POM antegrade dilatation is an effective alternative in selected patients as it makes the pathology disappear.

OBJETIVOS: El megauréter obstructivo primario congénito (MOP) se produce por la estenosis de la unión ureterovesical, disminución en la peristalsis y su consecuente dilatación. Aunque actualmente el gold standard para el tratamiento de esta entidad sigue siendo el reimplante ureteral, la dilatación retrógrada se considera una alternativa terapéutica eficaz con buenos resultados y que está ganando cada vez más adeptos, siendo en algunos centros la técnica de elección. El objetivo es presentar una alternativa de abordaje para su tratamiento. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se presenta el caso de un lactante de 5 meses con MOP afecto de pionefrosis que precisa nefrostomía y antibioterapia endovenosa. La dilatación endoscópica se realizó a través del drenaje percutáneo de manera anterógrada sin necesidad de cistoscopia. RESULTADOS: El procedimiento se llevó a cabo sin incidencias. En el seguimiento se apreció una disminución de la ureterohidronefrosis, persistiendo la dilatación del uréter en menor grado con adecuada peristalsis y la ausencia de RVU secundario. Tras 11 meses de seguimiento, permanece asintomático. CONCLUSIONES: La dilatación anterógrada del MOP es una alternativa efectiva en pacientes seleccionados que permite la resolución de la patología.

Dilatación endoscópica anterograda como abordaje alternativo del megauréter obstructivo primario / Antegrade endoscopic dilatation as an alternative approach to primary obstructive megaureter

Objetivos: El megauréter obstructivo primario congénito (MOP)se produce por la estenosis de la unión ureterovesical, disminución enla peristalsis y su consecuente dilatación. Aunque actualmente el goldstandard para el tratamiento de esta entidad sigue siendo el reimplanteureteral, la dilatación retrógrada se considera una alternativa terapéuticaeficaz con buenos resultados y que está ganando cada vez más adeptos,siendo en algunos centros la técnica de elección. El objetivo es presentaruna alternativa de abordaje para su tratamiento. Material y métodos: Se presenta el caso de un lactante de 5 mesescon MOP afecto de pionefrosis que precisa nefrostomía y antibioterapiaendovenosa. La dilatación endoscópica se realizó a través del drenajepercutáneo de manera anterógrada sin necesidad de cistoscopia. Resultados: El procedimiento se llevó a cabo sin incidencias. Enel seguimiento se apreció una disminución de la ureterohidronefrosis,persistiendo la dilatación del uréter en menor grado con adecuada peristalsis y la ausencia de RVU secundario. Tras 11 meses de seguimiento,permanece asintomático. Conclusiones: La dilatación anterógrada del MOP es una alternativa efectiva en pacientes seleccionados que permite la resoluciónde la patología.

Objectives: Congenital primary obstructive megaureter (POM) iscaused by ureterovesical junction stenosis, reduced peristalsis, and theresulting dilatation. Even though ureteral re-implantation remains thecurrent gold standard technique, retrograde dilatation is considered asan effective therapeutic alternative with good results and growing proponents – to the extent it has become the technique of choice in somehealthcare facilities. The objective was to present an alternative approachfor treatment purposes Materials and methods. This is the case of a 5-month-old infantwith POM and pyonephrosis requiring nephrostomy and intravenousantibiotic therapy. Endoscopic dilatation was carried out by means ofa percutaneous drainage in an antegrade fashion and did not requirecystoscopy. Results: The procedure was uneventful. During follow-up, uretero-hydronephrosis decreased, while ureteral dilatation persisted to a lesserextent with an adequate peristalsis and absence of secondary VUR. Thepatient has had no symptoms after an 11-month follow-up. Conclusions: POM antegrade dilatation is an effective alternativein selected patients as it makes the pathology disappear.(AU)

Pneumococcal serotypes in children, clinical presentation and antimicrobial susceptibility in the PCV13 era.

The aim was to analyse invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) serotypes in children aged ⩽17 years according to clinical presentation and antimicrobial susceptibility. We conducted a prospective study (January 2012-June 2016). IPD cases were diagnosed by culture and/or real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic, microbiological and clinical data were analysed. Associations were assessed using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of the 253 cases, 34.4% were aged <2 years, 38.7% 2-4 years and 26.9% 5-17 years. Over 64% were 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) serotypes. 48% of the cases were diagnosed only by real-time PCR. Serotypes 3 and 1 were associated with complicated pneumonia (P < 0.05) and non-PCV13 serotypes with meningitis (OR 7.32, 95% CI 2.33-22.99) and occult bacteraemia (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.56-8.76). Serotype 19A was more frequent in children aged <2 years and serotypes 3 and 1 in children aged 2-4 years and 5-17 years, respectively. 36.1% of cases were not susceptible to penicillin and 16.4% were also non-susceptible to cefotaxime. Serotypes 14, 24F and 23B were associated with non-susceptibility to penicillin (P < 0.05) and serotypes 11, 14 and 19A to cefotaxime (P < 0.05). Serotype 19A showed resistance to penicillin (P = 0.002). In conclusion, PCV13 serotypes were most frequent in children aged ⩽17 years, mainly serotypes 3, 1 and 19A. Non-PCV13 serotypes were associated with meningitis and occult bacteraemia and PCV13 serotypes with pneumonia. Non-susceptibility to antibiotics of non-PCV13 serotypes should be monitored.

Serotype 3 is a common serotype causing invasive pneumococcal disease in children less than 5 years old, as identified by real-time PCR.

Serotype 3 is one of the most often detected pneumococcal serotypes in adults and it is associated with serious disease. In contrast, the isolation of serotype 3 by bacterial culture is unusual in children with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The purpose of this study was to learn the serotype distribution of IPD, including culture-negative episodes, by using molecular methods in normal sterile samples. We studied all children<5 years of age with IPD admitted to two paediatric hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, from 2007 to 2009. A sequential real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach was added to routine methods for the detection and serotyping of pneumococcal infection. Among 257 episodes (219 pneumonia, 27 meningitis, six bacteraemia and five others), 33.5% were identified by culture and the rest, 66.5%, were detected exclusively by real-time PCR. The most common serotypes detected by culture were serotypes 1 (26.7%) and 19A (25.6%), and by real-time PCR, serotypes 1 (19.8%) and 3 (18.1%). Theoretical coverage rates by the PCV7, PCV10 and PCV13 vaccines were 10.5, 52.3 and 87.2%, respectively, for those episodes identified by culture, compared to 5.3, 31.6 and 60.2% for those identified only by real-time PCR. Multiplex real-time PCR has been shown to be useful for surveillance studies of IPD. Serotype 3 is underdiagnosed by culture and is important in paediatric IPD.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 causing invasive disease among children in Barcelona over a 20-year period (1989-2008).

Fifty-six isolates of serotype 1 were identified during a 20-year prospective study (1989-2008), including all children with culture-proven invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) admitted to a children's hospital in Barcelona. Forty-eight of them (85.7%) were in children aged >2 years. Complicated pneumonia (n = 28) and non-complicated pneumonia (n = 20) were the main clinical presentations. The frequency of serotype 1 IPD increased from 1999-2003 to 2004-2008: 1.2 to 4.4 episodes/100 000 children (p <0.001). The ST306 clone were identified in 70.4% of isolates. As IPD caused by serotype 1 is mainly detected in older children, a vaccination programme for children >2 years should be considered.

Identification of pneumococcal serotypes from culture-negative clinical specimens by novel real-time PCR.

Pneumococcal parapneumonic empyema is an increasingly common complication in children. Conventional microbiological cultures indicate bacterial causes in as few as 8% of cases; therefore, there is a vital need for new molecular methods of detection and diagnosis. The development and clinical evaluation of real-time PCR-based assays to detect the pneumococcal capsular wzg gene of all serotypes tested are reported here, and 24 of them have been identified in clinical specimens. Using real-time PCR assays with highly specific TaqMan MGB probes that target DNA sequences within the capsular polysaccharide gene cluster, it was possible to differentiate serotypes 1, 3, 5, 4, 6A, 6B, 7F/A, 8, 9V/A/N/L, 14, 15B/C, 18C/B, 19A, 19F/B/C, 23F and 23A. These assays showed high sensitivity (five to ten pneumococcal DNA equivalents) and they were validated with 175 clinical isolates of known serotypes. The clinical value of this approach was demonstrated by analysis of 88 culture-negative pleural fluids from children diagnosed with parapneumonic empyema in three Spanish hospitals. Pneumococcal DNA was detected in 87.5% of pleural fluids, and serotypes 1, 7F and 3 were responsible for 34.3%, 16.4% and 11.9%, respectively, of cases of parapneumonic empyema in children. Such molecular methods are critical for the diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease and continued epidemiological surveillance in order to monitor serotype vaccine effectiveness.

Comparison of conization and limited excision of the transformation zone (LETZ) in the treatment of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) of the uterine cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment of squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix using conization with limited excision of the transformation zone (LETZ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 285 women who received surgical treatment for cervical SIL between 2003 and 2006 was carried out. Prior to treatment, all the women underwent cervicovaginal cytology, colposcopy, and HPV testing. The women whose histology showed the presence of high-grade SIL were then divided into two groups for purposes of comparison: those treated by conization, and those treated by LETZ. RESULTS: In group 1 (treatment by conization), 92 women met the selection criteria, and in group 2 (treatment by LETZ) 33 women met the selection criteria. Histology results showed high-grade SIL involvement of the-cone biopsy surgical margins for 22 cases (23.9%) in group 1, and high-grade SIL involvement of the LETZ surgical margins for six cases (18.1%) in group 2. In 13 of the women in group 2, the indication for LETZ was persistent low-grade SIL. DISCUSSION: The percentage of surgical margins involved was similar in the two groups in our study, and comparable to that reported in the literature (16.2 to 26.6%). Our study, like other published studies, thus supports the possibility in certain cases of treating high-grade cervical SIL conservatively with LETZ or minicones. In the 13 women with a diagnosis of persistent low-grade SIL, 11 of whom (84.6%) were infected with a high-risk HPV genotype, LETZ made a diagnosis of occult high-grade SIL. CONCLUSION: LETZ may be an alternative to conization in young women, and it is advisable in cases of persistent low-grade SIL with high-risk HPV infection.

Prognostic factors for the development of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for the appearance of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 485 women with abnormal cytologies were followed over three years (2003-2006). They underwent cytolology and colposcopy, and testing for human papillomavirus virus (HPV) infection. If the colposcopy was atypical, a biopsy was performed. RESULTS: A total of 256 women were treated: 161 by cone biopsy, 103 by LLETZ, 12 by repeat conization, and 44 by total hysterectomy. In eight cases VAIN was diagnosed following hysterectomy. The average age at which VAIN appeared was 49.8 years (age range 39-61). Hysterectomy was indicated in two cases of cervical cancer, four cases of persistent high-grade cervical SIL, and two cases of recurrent high-grade cervical SIL. The mean time for the appearance of VAIN following hysterectomy was 3.8 years (range 1-9 years). Of these eight women, seven had HPV infections at high risk for carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up cytology is necessary for women treated for high-grade SIL, even after hysterectomy, because of the increased risk of a primary vaginal VAIN lesion, especially in women with high-risk HPV infection.

Impact of valganciclovir prophylaxis on the development of severe late-cytomegalovirus disease in high-risk solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: With the introduction of prolonged prophylaxis with valganciclovir in cytomegalovirus (CMV) donor/recipient serodiscordance (D+/R-) patients, concerns about a high incidence of late and invasive CMV disease associated with mortality have emerged. We compared the characteristics of CMV disease in D+/R- patients receiving prolonged valganciclovir prophylaxis with R+ patients. METHODS: We prospectively followed all solid organ transplant recipients from January 2004 to December 2005. CMV prophylaxis with valganciclovir or ganciclovir was administered as follows: donor- recipient serodiscordance (D+/R-), 12 weeks; induction with antithymocyte globulin or acute rejection episodes requiring steroid pulses, 15 to 30 days; and CMV R+ double kidney-pancreas, 15 days. Transplant characteristics and the development of CMV disease variables were collected for all patients. We defined 2 groups according to the risk of CMV disease: CMV donor/recipient mismatch (D+/R-) and recipient CMV-positive (R+) groups. RESULTS: During the study period we performed 481 solid organ transplantations: 237 kidney, 34 kidney-pancreas, 157 liver, 38 heart, 13 liver-kidney, and 2 heart-kidney. Overall, 36 patients developed CMV disease (7.5%). CMV donor-recipient mismatch (D+/R-) was associated with a greater risk of CMV disease compared with CMV-positive recipients (16% vs 7%; P = .036). Prophylaxis against CMV was longer in the D+/R- group (mean days 73 vs 15; P < .001). CMV disease appeared later in the D+/R- than in R+ group (mean days 123 vs 59; P < .001). We observed a trend toward a lower incidence of tissue-invasive CMV disease among the D+/R- group compared with the R+ group without significance (14% vs 41%; P = .382). Three patients died in the first 30 days after the onset of CMV disease, all of them in the R+ group. CONCLUSIONS: In our setting, high-risk patients (D+/R-) receiving prolonged prophylaxis with valganciclovir developed later CMV disease, but this was neither more tissue-invasive nor more life-threatening than in the R+ group.

TH1/TH2 cytokine release pattern during in vivo cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is associated with an increased net immunosuppressive state in solid organ transplant recipients, leading to more bacterial and fungal infections. The release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines could be one of the responsible factors. METHODS: We prospectively included all patients undergoing solid organ transplantation between April and November 2004. During follow-up, plasma samples were collected in the immediate postsurgical period, at the first and second months, at the time of maximum antigenemia during CMV disease, and at 6 months posttransplantation. We determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10. Log-transformed data were compared by a nonparametric Wilcoxon test for related variables. RESULTS: During the study period, we monitored 146 recipients of solid organ transplantation: 77 kidneys, 8 kidney-pancreas, 46 liver, 11 heart, 2 liver-kidney, and 2 heart-kidney. No differences were observed between the TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels in the immediate postsurgical period or during CMV disease. TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels during CMV disease were higher than levels during the first month (mean TNF-alpha first month = 12.71 pg/mL vs CMV disease = 22.71 pg/mL, P = .028; mean IL-10 first month = 3.47 pg/mL vs CMV disease = 19.2 pg/mL, P = .018). Th1/Th2 ratio (measured as TNF-alpha/IL-10) was 1.75 in the immediate postsurgical period, 7.5 during the first month, 1.86 at the time of CMV disease, and 4.61 at the sixth month. The difference in Th1/Th2 ratio during CMV disease and in the first month was statistically significant (P = .043). CONCLUSION: During CMV disease, we observed an increase in TNF-alpha and IL-10 release, which was similar to that during the postsurgical period. An imbalance toward an anti-inflammatory pattern was noted in these two periods. This could reflect a cooperative factor increasing the net state of immunosuppression during CMV disease.

[Errors in bibliographic references in the Revista Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación: retrospective study of 1994]. / Errores en las referencias bibliográficas de la Revista Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación: estudio retrospectivo del año 1994.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of bibliographic references in REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ANESTESIOLOGIA Y REANIMACION (REDAR) and compare it with other Spanish and international journals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred references were selected at random from those published in REDAR during 1994. A citation was considered correct if there were no differences between it and the original article in any of 6 standard citation times, and if it complied with REDAR citation style. A citation was considered incorrect if there were in fact differences or if REDAR style was not followed. Errors that interfered with direct access to the original were considered serious. Also considered serious were the omission of the first author. RESULTS: Some type of error was detected in 53.9% of the references. Twelve contained a serious error, which on 5 occasions impeded finding the original article and on 6 occasions made direct access difficult. The first author was missing in 1 citation. Errors were found, in order of decreasing frequency, in authors, article titles, journal title, volume, pages and year. A single error was found in 28 citations, 2 were found in 12, 3 were found in 2 and more than 3 were found in 1. CONCLUSIONS: REDAR's rate of error in references is comparable to the rates of other Spanish journal, but it is nearly double that of international journals in anesthesiology with higher impact factors (Anesthesiology, Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia). An effort must be made by authors and editors to remedy the situation.

[Resistance caused by hyperproduction of chromosomal beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa]. / Resistencia por hiperproducción de betalactamasa cromosómica en Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

From 120 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains selected for their slight susceptibility to ceftazidime (MIC greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml) we studied the characteristics of beta-lactamases and their susceptibility to aminoglycoside and to beta-lactam antibiotics. The quantitative spectrum, chromosomic beta-lactamase hyperproduction and the isoelectric point of beta-lactamases were also studied as well as the MIC in solid medium, inoculum 5 x 10(4) cfu. About 14.7% of strains moderately susceptible to ceftazidime and 88.4% of those resistant, were hyperproducers of chromosomic beta-lactamases. All the strains were resistant to ureidopenicillins, cefotaxime and moxalactam, 55.8% to monobactams and 35% were also resistant to cefsulodine; all of them were susceptible to imipenem. In bacteria isolated from twelve patients a loss of susceptibility could be observed against ceftazidime and other beta-lactams. There was also an increase in chromosomic beta-lactamase production during the treatment with antibiotics.

[Detection of hyperproduction of chromosomal beta-lactamase in strains of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa]. / Detección de la hiperproducción de betalactamasa cromosómica en cepas de Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae y Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In order to show up the hyperproduction of chromosomic beta-lactamases in strains of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa we have tested a variant of a technique proposed by Medeiros et al. It is a qualitative technique and, the modification introduced allows errors of interpretation to be avoided, when the strain is a producer of plasmidic beta-lactamase. It is based on evaluating the amount of beta-lactamase in a culture, measured in time taken for the hydrolysis of nitrocefin, with or without the addition of clavulanic acid. We present the results obtained in 526 selected strains: 271 E. coli, 116 E. cloacae and 139 P. aeruginosa. One hundred and twenty for strains hydrolyzed the nitrocefin in the absence of clavulanic acid within 60 seconds. Only 52 (41.94%) of these strains did it when clavulanic acid was present; all of them have been qualified as hyperproducers according to susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics and the study and identification of the beta-lactamases by analytic isoelectrofocusing. The hydrolysis was evident before the 15 seconds in the 80% of hyperproducer strains. No false positive results were observed.

[Type TEM beta-lactamase activity in a Neisseria meningitidis strain]. / Actividad betalactamasa de tipo TEM en una cepa de Neisseria meningitidis.

We studied the beta-lactamase activity characteristics of a penicillin G resistant N. meningitidis strain (MIC = 8 micrograms/ml) isolated from a septicemic process, in an eleven month old girl, attended in the Sabadell Hospital (Barcelona). The beta-lactamase substrate profile was broad-spectrum (it hydrolyses penicillin G and cephaloridine) and the nitrocefin hydrolysis was inhibited by clavulanic acid. The analytical isoelectric focusing of the enzyme showed that the isoelectric point of the main band and, the secondary bands, were compatible with those of the type TEM-1 standard enzyme. We also obtained a positive DNA-DNA hybridization with the TEM-1 beta-lactamase (pBR322 plasmid).