Impact of acid mine drainages on surficial waters of an abandoned mining site.

Weathering of sulphide minerals produces a great variety of efflorescences of soluble sulphate salts. These minerals play an important role for environmental pollution, since they can be either a sink or a source for acidity and trace elements. This paper aims to characterise surface waters affected by mining activities in the Sierra Minera of Cartagena-La Union (SE, Spain). Water samples were analysed for trace metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, As and Fe), major ions (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) and anions (F(-), Cl(-), NO3 (-), CO3 (2-), SO4 (2-)) concentrations and were submitted to an "evaporation-precipitation" experiment that consisted in identifying the salts resulting from the evaporation of the water aliquots sampled onsite. Mineralogy of the salts was studied using X-ray diffraction and compared with the results of calculations using VISUAL MINTEQ. The study area is heavily polluted as a result of historical mining and processing activities that has produced large amount of wastes characterised by a high trace elements content, acidic pH and containing minerals resulting from the supergene alteration of the raw materials. The mineralogical study of the efflorescences obtained from waters shows that magnesium, zinc, iron and aluminium sulphates predominate in the acid mine drainage precipitates. Minerals of the hexahydrite group have been quantified together with minerals of the rozenite group, alunogen and other phases such as coquimbite and copiapite. Calcium sulphates correspond exclusively to gypsum. In a semiarid climate, such as that of the study area, these minerals contribute to understand the response of the system to episodic rainfall events. MINTEQ model could be used for the analysis of waters affected by mining activities but simulation of evaporation gives more realistic results considering that MINTEQ does not consider soluble hydrated salts.

Metástasis endotraqueales de carcinoma colorrectal / No disponible

La existencia de metástasis endotraqueales (ME) de carcinomas de origen no pulmonar es rara. Las manifestaciones clínicas más comunes son hemoptisis, tos y disnea, aunque no es raro encontrarlas como hallazgo casual en el curso de una broncoscopia. Las neoplasias que con mayor frecuencia se asocian a estas lesiones metastásicas son las derivadas de mama, colon y riñón. Su hallazgo supone un estado avanzado de la enfermedad, aunque la supervivencia está en función del tipo de tumor primario, la existencia de lesiones concomitantes y las características del paciente. Por lo tanto el tratamiento debe individualizarse. En el caso de las ME de carcinoma colorrectal (CCR) recomendamos la realización de una broncoscopia preopcratoria pues es posible encontrar lesiones en el árbol traqueobronquial que influyan en el pronóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad (AU)

Existence of endotracheal metastases (EM) of non-pulmonary origin cancer is rare. The most common clinical manifestations are hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea, although it is not rare to find it as a casual finding during a bronchoscope examination. The neoplasms that are most frequently associated to these lesions are those derived from the breast, colon and kidney. When they are found, it means that there is an advanced stage of the disease, although survival is based on the type of primary tumor, existence of common commitment lesions and the characteristics of the patient. Thus, the treatment should be individualized. In the case of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) EM, we recommend performing a pre-operative bronchoscopy since lesions that influence the prognoses and treatment of the disease may be found in the trachea and bronchial tree (AU)

Metástasis en colon de un carcinoma lobulillar de mama / No disponible

No disponible

Diagnóstico citológico de las recidivas tumorales de ameloblastoma: Presentación de dos casos clínicos / Ameloblastoma. Diagnosis by means of FNAB. Report of two cases

Introducción: Los ameloblastomas son los tumores odontogénicos más frecuentes del maxilar. A pesar de su aspecto citohistológico de benignidad, se comportan como tumores invasivos, recidivantes y con posibilidad de metastatizar. La P.A.A.F. es una prueba rápida e incruenta que proporciona un diagnóstico prequirúrgico evitando, en ocasiones, tomas biópsicas destinadas al diagnóstico. Presentamos las características citológicas de dos casos de recidiva yugal de ameloblastoma de rama mandibular diagnosticados por PAAF, así como su correlación citohistológica. Casos clínicos: Dos pacientes, una mujer de 36 años y un varón de 62 años, que acuden por tumoración mandibular de escasos meses de evolución. En ambos casos, la primera aproximación diagnóstica fue junto a los estudios radiológicos el estudio histológico de la masa tumoral. Tras la extirpación terapeútica,ambos casos recidivaron. El diagnóstico de las recidivas fueestablecido citológicamente mediante PAAF.Las extensiones citológicas mostraron un fondo granular con aislados macrófagos y células multinucleadas gigantes y una abundante celularidad epitelial de aspecto basaloide dispuesta en grupos cohesivos configurando imágenes de empalizada periférica, así como pequeños grupos de células de metaplasia escamosa. Discusión: La PAAF se considera como un método diagnóstico rápido, incruento y fiable en el diagnóstico del ameloblastoma. La citología de estos tumores revela los componentes de la lesión que, en general, son suficientes para llegar al diagnóstico de ameloblastoma, especialmente en casos de recidiva

Introduction: Ameloblastomas are the most frequent odontogenic tumors of the maxilla. In spite of their benign cytohistological appearance, they behave as invasive recurring tumors, with the possibility of metastasis. FNAB is a rapid, blood less test that provides a pre-surgical diagnosis, thus, on occasions avoiding the need for diagnostic biopsies. We present the cytological characteristics of two cases of jugal recurrences of mandibular ameloblastomas diagnosed by FNAB, as well as their cytohistological correlation. Clinical cases: Two patients, a 36-year-old woman, and a 62-year-old male who both attended with mandibular swelling of a few months evolution. In both cases the first diagnostic approximation was the histological study of the tumoral mass,together with the radiological studies. Following therapeuticextirpation both cases recurred. The diagnosis of the recurrences was established cytologically by means of FNAB. The cytologic smears revealed a granular background with isolated macrophages and giant multinucleate cells and an abundant epithelial cellularity of basaloid appearance arranged in cohesive groups forming images of peripheral palidasing, as well as small groups of squamous metaplastic cells. Discussion: FNAB is considered to be a rapid, blood less and reliable method for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma. The cytology of these tumors reveals components of the lesion that, in general, are sufficient for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma, especially incases of recurrence

Ameloblastoma. Diagnosis by means of FNAB. Report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: Ameloblastomas are the most frequent odontogenic tumors of the maxilla. In spite of their benign cytohistological appearance, they behave as invasive recurring tumors, with the possibility of metastasis. FNAB is a rapid, bloodless test that provides a pre-surgical diagnosis, thus, on occasions avoiding the need for diagnostic biopsies. We present the cytological characteristics of two cases of jugal recurrences of mandibular ameloblastomas diagnosed by FNAB, as well as their cytohistological correlation. CLINICAL CASES: Two patients, a 36-year-old woman, and a 62-year-old male who both attended with mandibular swelling of a few months evolution. In both cases the first diagnostic approximation was the histological study of the tumoral mass, together with the radiological studies. Following therapeutic extirpation both cases recurred. The diagnosis of the recurrences was established cytologically by means of FNAB. The cytologic smears revealed a granular background with isolated macrophages and giant multinucleate cells and an abundant epithelial cellularity of basaloid appearance arranged in cohesive groups forming images of peripheral palidasing, as well as small groups of squamous metaplastic cells. DISCUSSION: FNAB is considered to be a rapid, bloodless and reliable method for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma. The cytology of these tumors reveals components of the lesion that, in general, are sufficient for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma, especially in cases of recurrence.

[Localized fibrous tumors of the pleura: clinical and surgical evaluation]. / Tumores fibrosos de localización pleural: valoración clinicoquirúrgica.

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are uncommon and mainly arise in the pleura itself. Such tumors are generally asymptomatic and slow-growing. We report a series of 10 cases (8 men and 2 women with a mean age of 58.6 years) treated over a period of 54 months. The tumors were classified histologically as benign or malignant according to the criteria used by England. The treatment of choice was complete resection of the tumor. Six posterolateral thoracotomies and 4 video-assisted resections were performed. Histology showed a mixture of fibroblast-like cells and collagenous stroma. Sarcomatous degeneration was observed in the excised tumor of 1 patient. The patients were followed for a mean of 23.9 months. We conclude that although fibrous tumors of the pleura are considered benign histologically, complete resection and follow up for all patients are recommended.

[Hepatic steatosis associated with heterozygotic familial hypobetalipoproteinemia]. / Esteatosis hepática asociada a hipobetalipoproteinemia familiar heterocigótica. Presentación de un caso.

Fatty liver disease is now recognized as a major health burden, due to the greater number of cases that are being diagnosed. This trend could partly be explained by the increased use of liver ultrasonography in asymptomatic patients for various reasons, mainly persistent transaminase elevation. The most commonly reported risk factors associated with fatty liver disease are chronic alcohol intake, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and some drugs. When these factors have been ruled out in a patient with a fatty liver, less frequent causes such as certain inherited metabolic disorders should be considered. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is characterized by an alteration of apolipoprotein B (apo B) synthesis, leading to the secretion of truncated forms of the protein, which in turn leads to a marked reduction in excretion of very low-density lipoproteins from the liver and consequently to lipid deposits, especially triglycerides, in the hepatocytes. We report the case of a 23-year-old man who met the diagnostic criteria for heterozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia. He presented with mild transaminase elevation and fatty liver. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apo B were below normal limits, while levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were normal. Lipid profile determination and liver ultrasonography of first and second-degree relatives were also performed. Molecular studies of the index case revealed an unaffected apo B gene.

[The diagnostic value of liver aspiration puncture with echographic control]. / Valor diagnóstico de la punción aspiración hepática con control ecográfico.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate liver fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis and clinical evolution. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of liver FNA validity, evaluating sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the method in correlation with the clinical evolution and biopsy results. RESULTS: Malignancy was diagnosed in 46 cases (20 hepatocarcinomas and 26 liver metastases), and benign lesions in 24 patients. Ten additional cases were excluded on the grounds of insufficient material or the impossibility of establishing clinico-histological correlation. There were 6 false-negatives and one false-positive. The overall accuracy of the method was 90% with a sensitivity of 88.2% and specificity of 94%. The positive and negative predictive values of the method were 97.8 and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Liver FNA is efficient in cases of suspected liver tumoration. The technique proved particularly useful in the present series in diagnosing liver metastases, often allowing the establishing of tumor origin.

[Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor. Its diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration puncture]. / Seudotumor inflamatorio pulmonar. Diagnóstico mediante PAAF.

Cytological characteristics are reported in the case of a 20-years-old male with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor (PIP) diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and later confirmed histologically. The patient presented a large tumor on the lower lobe of the right lung with hemoptysis, hemothorax and secondary acute anemia. The clinical-pathological profile of PIP are reviewed, along with diagnostic problems arising from the morpho-structural characteristics of the disease.