[Virulence factors of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus of human and bovine origin]. / Factores de virulencia de Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo (SCN) de origen humano y bovino.

Virulence factors such as hydrophobicity of cell surface, capsule formation and slime production were investigated in 393 CNS strains, 190 isolated from bovine mastitis and 203 from human infections; in addition a selected number of CNS species were experimentally infused into the teat cistern of lactating rabbits for pathogenicity tests. Most human (95%) and bovine (82.6%) strains showed cell hydrophobicity properties, however only 11.3% and 7.9% were capsulated strains, respectively. Slime production was detected in 10.5% of bovine strains but only in 0.9% of human strains. Using the lactating rabbit model it was shown that S. chromogenes, S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus and S. haemolyticus were the most pathogenic species.

[Importance of the deficit of crystallization inhibitors in the etiopathogenesis of urolithiasis]. / Importancia del deficit de inhibidores de la cristalización en la etiopatogenia de la urolitiasis.

BACKGROUND: five percent of consultations at the Emergency Room of Catholic University Hospital are due to nephrolithiasis. The causes of this high frequency remain unknown. AIM: to know the main metabolic and anatomic factors involved in the genesis of neprholithiasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: forty one patients (31 male) were studied presenting with a renal colic were studied as soon as the acute episode subsided and without diet modifications. Fasting blood calcium and creatinine and 24 h urine calcium, uric acid, citrate, magnesium and pH were measured and an intravenous pyelogram was performed. Twenty one subjects without a history of nephrolithiasis were used as controls. RESULTS: Patients with nephrolithiasis did not differ from controls in urinary calcium (159 +/- 67 and 172 +/- 67 mg/24 h respectively), uricosuria (417 +/- 171 and 431 +/- 121 mg/24 h respectively) or urinary magnesium (55 +/- 19 and 62 +/- 21 mg/24 h respectively, whereas urinary citrate was lower (219 +/- 172 vs 319 +/- 179 mg/24 h in controls p < 0.05). All patients had normal renal functions, urinary acidification and intravenous pyelogram. Seven percent of patients with nephrolithiasis had hypercalciuria, 2.4% had hyperuricosuria. 68.3% had a low urinary citrate and 44.4% had low urinary magnesium. CONCLUSIONS: in this sample, there is a strong association of nephrolithiasis with low levels of crystallization inhibitors in special with urinary citrate, a crystallization inhibitor.

Herida a bala abdominal: manejo quirúrgico / Gun abdominal wound: surgical treatment

Se analiza una serie de 152 pacientes operados por lesiones abdominales causadas por arma de fuego. La totalidad de los casos presentaron lesiones múltiples. El intestino delgado y el colon fueron los órganos más frecuentemente afectados. En el manejo de la lesión de colon se aconseja realizar una colostomía, ya que se asocia a menor morbilidad. Las complicaciones sépticas fueron las más frecuentes, tanto de herida operatorio como colecciones intraabdominales. Todos los pacientes fallecidos tenían tres o más órganos comprometidos. La causa de muerte fue una complicación séptica en todos los casos. La baja mortalidad de esta serie es el reflejo de un enfoque quirúrgico agresivo y precoz