[Bilateral amputation in diabetic patient with blindness, the use of inadequate prosthesis. Case report]. / Amputación bilateral en paciente diabética con ceguera, el uso de prótesis inadecuadas. Reporte de caso.

The most frequent diabetes-related complications are diabetic foot and glaucoma, which lead to amputation and loss of vision, respectively. Current scientific and technologic developments have permitted the design and implementation of prosthetic systems that are optimal for these patients, as the latter adapt themselves to them and can resume activities of daily living. The lack of economic resources compromises the quality of the prostheses patients can afford, as they resort to «artisanal¼ or «rustic¼ systems that hamper their adaptation process. We present herein the case of a 47 year-old female patient, housewife, with bilateral paresthesias and phantom limb sensation associated with amputation neuromas resulting from type II diabetes mellitus that had affected the patient for eight years. This patient of a low socioeconomic stratum underwent a post-amputation assessment and was diagnosed as being heavily dependent when performing activities of daily living and required assisted wheelchair for ambulation. This is a frequent variant resulting from bilateral loss of lower limbs together with complete loss of vision. We describe the rehabilitation therapy during the pre- and post-prosthetic stages, together with the results of the assessments to show the effectiveness of the treatment process, without forgetting the participation of the caregiver as a fundamental co-therapeutic element in this process.

Las complicaciones más frecuentes asociadas con la diabetes incluyen al pie diabético y al glaucoma, que suelen llevar a la amputación y a la pérdida de la visión, respectivamente. El desarrollo científico y tecnológico actual ha permitido el diseño e implementación de sistemas protésicos óptimos para estos pacientes, asegurando una reincorporación a las actividades de la vida diaria, así como una correcta adaptación al uso de las mismas. La falta de recursos económicos compromete la adquisición de las prótesis ideales, recurriendo al uso de sistemas «artesanales¼ o «rústicos¼ que afectan la adaptación. Se presenta el caso de un paciente femenino de 47 años de edad, ama de casa, quien presenta parestesias bilaterales y sensación de miembro fantasma asociado a neuromas de amputación por diabetes mellitus tipo II de ocho años de evolución. La paciente, con bajos recursos económicos, es evaluada postamputación con diagnóstico de dependencia grave en la ejecución de las actividades de la vida diaria, con desplazamiento en silla de ruedas asistido; esta presentación es una variante frecuente como consecuencia de la pérdida bilateral de miembros inferiores, concomitante a la ausencia total de la visión. Se presenta el tratamiento de rehabilitación en etapa preprotésica y protésica, acompañados por los resultados de las evaluaciones para mostrar la efectividad del proceso terapéutico, sin olvidar la participación del cuidador como ente coterapéutico fundamental en el proceso.

Chorionic gonadotropin hormone receptors on Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci in culture.

Hormones play a significant role in murine Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, and they may also participate in the susceptibility to Taenia solium cysticercosis. In the present study, in vitro effects are reported for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the larval stages of T. crassiceps (WFU strain) and T. solium. Our results reveal the presence of receptors for hCG in different developmental phases of both cultured parasites. On day 30, both taeniid species had the highest percentage of receptors in the neck, strobila, and suckers, but these receptors decreased by day 60, delimiting the segments and the exterior of the developing proglottids in T. solium. At the same time, there was a large number of hCG receptors in the area of the presumptive cirrus organ and in calcareous corpuscles within the parenchyma. This is the first report detecting receptors for hCG on different larval stages of T. crassiceps and T. solium. A direct effect of hCG could be recognized by the cysticerci as a factor contributing to the growth and development of T. crassiceps and T. solium cysticerci, respectively.

Different effects of chorionic gonadotropin on Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium cysticerci cultured in vitro.

Hormones play a significant role in murine Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, and they may also participate in the susceptibility to Taenia solium cysticercosis. In the present study, in vitro effects are reported for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the larval stages of T. crassiceps (WFU strain) and T. solium. hCG effectively promotes parasite reproduction, i.e., it increases the number of buds on T. crassiceps cysticerci and the percentage of evagination and parasite length in T. solium. This is the first report in which a direct effect of hCG is reported for a parasite. hCG or mouse luteinizing hormone could be recognized by the cysticerci as mitogenic factors and contribute to the female and pregnancy bias toward susceptibility to T. crassiceps and T. solium cysticercosis, respectively.

Cancer antigen 125 associated with multiple benign and malignant pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Cancer antigen (CA) 125 tumor-associated antigen is a high molecular glycoprotein used for follow-up of epithelial ovarian cancer. The test is often requested as a differential diagnosis in patients with pleural or peritoneal fluid. This study analyzes the prevalence of CA-125 increases in a population of patients attending a general hospital and discusses the possible clinical implications of increased levels. METHODS: On 4 different days, 380 CA-125 assays were performed in randomly selected patients attending our hospital. Serum CA-125 was measured with a commercial enzyme immunoassay, and clinical records were reviewed for assessment of clinical parameters. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients (16%) had increased CA-125. The pathologies of these patients were heart failure in 9 (14.7%), lung disease 11 (18%), hepatic cirrhosis in 7 (11.4%), malignant tumors in 9 (14.7%), intra-abdominal nonhepatic disease in 6 (10%), previous surgery in 17 (27.8%), and miscellaneous in 2 (3%). Effusions were seen in 34 patients (55.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the variety of benign and malignant pathologies coursing with increased CA-125. Cardiovascular and chronic liver disease were the most frequent diagnoses in patients with increased CA-125; this supports the opinion that CA-125 lacks utility as a marker for malignancy. CA-125 could have a role in the follow-up of cardiovascular, hepatic, and tumoral diseases with serosal involvement.

[New concepts about atopic dermatitis]. / Nuevos conceptos en dermatitis atópica.

The atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin illness, with remissions and exacerbations, itch, and association with allergic rhinitis and asthma. There is a complex interrelationship of genetic, environmental, pharmacological and psychological factors that contribute to the development and severity of the illness: Different manifestations of immunological disorders are an increment in the number of IgE antibodies toward common antigens, an increment in the liberation of proinflammatory mediators by basophils and mast cells, peripheral and local eosinophilia, biphasic activity Th1/Th2 with the liberation of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), GM-CSF and the IFN-gamma caused by the cells Th1. an increment in the liberation of major basic protein, eosinophil cationic protein besides the expression of chemotactic factors by the monocytes (RANTES, eotaxin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, etc.). In 1980, Hanifin and Rajka made public the diagnostic criteria for the atopic dermatitis and it has been universally accepted as an standard for the diagnosis. Leung reported that a knowledge about the immunopathological bases of the atopic dermatitis has important clinical implications for the diagnosis and possible treatment there are multiple choices for a treatment because of the complexity of the illness. Among these are thalidomide and transfer factor as an immunomodulator treatment with acceptable safety and clinical efficacy.

[Comparative treatment between thalidomide and transfer factor in severe atopic dermatitis]. / Tratamiento comparativo entre talidomida y factor de transferencia en dermatitis atópica severa.

AIMS: The atopic dermatitis is an chronic inflammatory illness of the skin. It exists an interrelation complex of factors gene, environmental, and psychological that contribute to the development and severity of the illness. The immunol aberrations significant is the answer increased of IgE specific antibodies toward antigens common, the liberation is increased of immunol mediators by the basophils and mast cells, eosinophils peripheral and local, besides enlarges the biphasic activity Th1/Th2 with liberation of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), GM-C5F, and decrease of IFN-gamma by the cells Th1. Leung to report a knowledge upon the bases immunopathologies of it atopic dermatitis has immunopathologies clinical important for the diagnosis and processing. Alternatives multiples of processing by the same complexity of the illness exist. OBJECTIVE: To compare the security and the clinical efficacy of the thalidomide and the factor of transfer in the atopic dermatitis severe. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Were studied patient with diagnosis of atopic dermatitis severe in agreement with the criterions of Hanifin and Rajka that they entered to the service of Allergy and Immunology Clinical of the Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos (public hospital). They were included 19 patient (women 12 and men 7, with age average 30 +/- 4 years). They were distributed in two groups. The first group of 5 patient administration thalidomide 200 mg/d during six months. The second group am administered the factor of transfer a total of 15 units by road oral during six months. Studies of laboratory for appraisal were requested immunology and metabolic pretreatment and pretreatment. RESULTS: In the group A dealt with thalidomide 5 patient and the group B dealt with FT, both presented a statistically significant decrease, as for the extension of the wounds (p < 0.01), and 1 am observed greater reduction in the intensity of the symptoms, the SCORAD total (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively) with statistical difference among them. None presented alterations immunologies and metabolic secondary to the use of the two drugs and not there was the need to suspend the processing. During the period of study, the patient were maintained controlled to the allergic rhinitis and the asthma. DISCUSSION: In the atopic dermatitis by its secondary clinical complexity to the multifactors etiologic, the alternatives of processing utilized in the present study are an option the security and efficacy, I am observed better clinical.

[Transference factor in moderate and severe atopic dermatitis]. / Factor de transferencia en dermatitis atópica moderada y severa.

We did a prospective, comparative, experimental study with 30 patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis from the allergy section from September 1994 to March, 1995. The test laboratory examination was performed in all patients: complete blood cell count, immunoglobulins A, G, M and E determination, lymphocyte subpopulations CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4-CD8 proportion, CD25, rosette formation for B and T lymphocytes, coproparasitoscopic examination, throat and nose cultures, nasal cytology, skin tests of cellular immunity to PPD, thrichophytin, candidine, varidasa; skin prick test to poliens, fungi, inhalants and foods. All patients underwent to a sign and symptom grading score system as follows: the parameters were erythema, pruritus, eczema, papule valorated on a scale from 0 a 4+( O = no symptoms, + = mild, ++ = moderate, + ++= severe, ++ ++ = very severe). Initially all patients received one placebo unit every 15 days orally 3 times, then one after 30 days. Laboratory examination was performed and then treatment with transfer factor was initiated, initially 1 unit every 15 days three times and the fourth 30 days after. 15 days after the last dose a new immunological valoration was done. Results demonstrate a CD4 cell decrement, blood eosinophil and lgE dissemination although they're not statistically significative. There was a statistically significative improvement in the 4 clinical parameters: erythema, eczema, pruritus and populous with the use of Transfer Factor.

[Frequency of urticaria and angioedema induced by food additives]. / Estudio de la frecuencia de urticaria y angioedema inducidos por aditivos de alimentos.

Certain food additives are known to induce urticaria and angioneurotic edema in susceptible patients. Thirty-three patients with chronic urticaria and angioneurotic edema whose case history suggested a possible link between exacerbations of the symptoms and ingestion of food additives or with acute exacerbations of the disease without any known triggering event were challenged orally in a double-blind study with increasing doses of the following additives: sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulfite and tartrazine and lactose as placebo. Ten of the 33 patients (30.3%) were intolerant to at least one compound. Among 132 oral provocation tests 11 (8.3%) were positive (appearance of acute urticaria/angioneurotic edema): 5 (15.1%) to sodium benzoate, 4 (12.1%) to tartrazine an 2 (6%) to sodium metabisulfite. There was no reaction to placebo and no serious reaction was observed. Under the conditions used, oral provocation tests proved to be feasible, safe and useful in the routine investigation of chronic urticaria and angioneurotic edema.