[Acute retinal necrosis by varicella zoster virus in an immunocompetent patient with therapeutic follow up by PCR]. / Necrosis retiniana aguda por virus varicela zoster en un paciente inmunocompetente con seguimiento de la respuesta terapéutica mediante reacción de polimerasa en cadena.

We present the case of a 63-year-old immunocompetent man with unilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN). He consulted for blurred vision, eye pain, photophobia, and headache. Papillitis and peripheal chorioretinitis associated with vasculitis and peripheral retinal ischemia was confirmed. PCR from aqueous humor sample detected varicella zoster virus. The patient was treated with a combined therapy of oral corticosteroids, oral / intravenous acyclovir along with weekly intravitreous ganciclovir doses followed by oral valaciclovir for three months. A progressive decrease in viral load in aqueous humor was demonstrated during treatment. Follow-up showed improvement in the inflammatory condition and a slight recovery of visual acuity, however, finally he presented a retinal detachment with total loss of one-sided vision. ARN is an uncommon complication caused by some herpesviruses with a poor visual prognosis, an outcome that can be improved with early diagnosis and treatment using appropriate antivirals. Prolonged treatment reduces relapse frequency and fellow eye compromise.

Necrosis retiniana aguda por virus varicela zoster en un paciente inmunocompetente con seguimiento de la respuesta terapéutica mediante reacción de polimerasa en cadena / Acute retinal necrosis by varicella zoster virus in an immunocompetent patient with therapeutic follow up by PCR

Resumen Presentamos el caso de un varón de 63 años, inmunocompetente, con una necrosis retinal aguda (NRA) unilateral. Consultó por visión borrosa, dolor ocular, fotofobia y cefalea. Se confirmó una papilitis y coriorretinitis periférica asociada a vasculitis e isquemia retinal periférica. El estudio molecular por RPC de humor acuoso detectó la presencia de virus varicela zoster. El paciente fue tratado con terapia combinada con corticoesteroides orales, aciclovir oral/intravenoso, ganciclovir intravítreo semanal y luego valaciclovir oral por tres meses. Se demostró una disminución progresiva de la carga viral en el humor acuoso durante el tratamiento. El seguimiento mostró una mejoría del cuadro inflamatorio y una leve recuperación de la agudeza visual, sin embargo, finalmente presentó un desprendimiento de retina con pérdida casi total de la visión unilateral. La NRA es una complicación infrecuente provocada por algunos virus herpes con mal pronóstico visual, desenlace que puede ser mejorado con un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz con antivirales. El tratamiento prolongado permite evitar la recaída y el compromiso contralateral.

Abstract We present the case of a 63-year-old immunocompetent man with unilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN). He consulted for blurred vision, eye pain, photophobia, and headache. Papillitis and peripheal chorioretinitis associated with vasculitis and peripheral retinal ischemia was confirmed. PCR from aqueous humor sample detected varicella zoster virus. The patient was treated with a combined therapy of oral corticosteroids, oral / intravenous acyclovir along with weekly intravitreous ganciclovir doses followed by oral valaciclovir for three months. A progressive decrease in viral load in aqueous humor was demonstrated during treatment. Follow-up showed improvement in the inflammatory condition and a slight recovery of visual acuity, however, finally he presented a retinal detachment with total loss of one-sided vision. ARN is an uncommon complication caused by some herpesviruses with a poor visual prognosis, an outcome that can be improved with early diagnosis and treatment using appropriate antivirals. Prolonged treatment reduces relapse frequency and fellow eye compromise.

A Simple Mathematical Model for Wound Closure Evaluation.

The incidence of ulcers associated to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases every year. We introduce and explore a new mathematical algorithm to evaluate wound-healing in foot ulcers associated to T2DM. Fifteen patients (nine women and six men), mean age of 70 ± 16 years were included. The evolution of their wounds followed-up for a period of 18-45 days. According to the Wagner grading system the ulcers were grade I (5 patients), grade II (9 patients), and grade III (1 patient). Clinically, the type of the ulcers was neuroischemic (12 patients) and neuropathic (3 patients). A new parameter is introduced, the "continuous linear healing rate" Dc that was more accurate with higher values and requires less quantifications than usual formulas to make a wound-healing projection.

Prevalencia estimada de juego patológico en estudiantes de la Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, año 2013 / Estimated prevalence of pathological gambling among college students of the Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 2013

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las adicciones conductuales se caracterizan por una pérdida del control del sujeto sobre una determinada conducta, siendo el juego patológico (JP) la más estudiada de ellas. El JP se asocia con graves problemas académicos, alcoholismo, depresión y suicidio por lo que es fundamental saber su prevalencia en la población universitaria. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de potenciales ludópatas entre estudiantes regulares de pregrado de la Universidad Austral de Chile durante el año 2013. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. A fines de 2013 se invitó a participar de una encuesta de auto aplicación on-line a los estudiantes de la Universidad Austral de Chile. Esta incluyó el cuestionario sobre JP basado en los criterios DSM-IV-TR y DSM V. El punto de corte para determinar potencial adicción fue de 5/10 criterios. Se utilizó Microsoft Excel para análisis. RESULTADOS: Se recopilaron 1.613 encuestas, siendo 1.254 válidas. La muestra se conformó por hombres: 53,9% y mujeres: 46,09%, la edad media correspondió a 21,62 años. El 6,38% (n=80) puede ser catalogado como potenciales jugadores patológicos. De ellos, el 77,5% (n=62) fueron hombres y 22,5% (n=18) mujeres. Si se compara la prevalencia obtenida con DSM-IV-TR y DSM V esta aumenta en un 60% con DSM V respecto al anterior. DISCUSIÓN: La prevalencia estimada de JP en este estudio es similar a la de otros países. Hay marcado predominio de hombres. Se aprecia importante diferencia en la prevalencia dependiendo de qué criterio diagnóstico se use

INTRODUCTION: Behavioral addictions are characterized by a loss of control of the subject over a certain behavior, being pathological gambling (JP) the most studied of them. JP is associated with serious academic problems, alcoholism, depression and suicide, so it is essential to know its prevalence in the university population. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of potential gamblers among regular undergraduate students of the Austral University of Chile during 2013. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study of transverse cut. At the end of 2013, the students of the Austral University of Chile were invited to participate in an online self-application survey. This included the JP questionnaire based on the DSM-IV-TR and DSM V criteria. The cut-off point for determining potential addiction was 5/10 criteria. Microsoft Excel was used for analysis. RESULTS: 1,613 surveys were collected, 1,254 of which were valid. The sample was made up of 53.9% men and 46.09% women, the mean age was 21.62 years. 6.38% (n = 80) can be classified as potential pathological players. Of these, 77.5% (n = 62) were men and 22.5% (n = 18) were women. If the prevalence obtained with DSM-IV-TR and DSM V is compared, it increases by 60% with DSM V compared to the previous one. DISCUSSION: The estimated prevalence of JP in this study is similar to that of other countries. There is a marked predominance of men. There is a significant difference in prevalence depending on which diagnostic criterion is used.