Primary Adrenal Lymphoma: When B Symptoms Appear Hand in Hand with Adrenal Masses.

Primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) is a very rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Herein, we report a case of NHL of both adrenal glands in a 69-year-old man. The patient was admitted because of a 1-month history of B symptoms and symptomatic hypotension. Biochemical analysis showed normocytic normochromic anaemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and D-dimers. A computed tomography scan revealed bilateral enlargement of the adrenal glands. There was no evidence of endocrine adrenal dysfunction. The mass in the right adrenal gland was biopsied and histopathology identified a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the activated B-cell subtype. A positron emission tomography 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose scan showed intensive hypermetabolic lesions involving both adrenal glands, as well as other locations, with higher uptake in the adrenal glands. Taken together, these findings suggested the diagnosis of PAL. The patient responded favourably to debulking therapy and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. LEARNING POINTS: Primary adrenal lymphoma is a rare condition presenting with unspecific symptoms; diagnosis requires histopathological confirmation.Adrenal function must be evaluated to rule out insufficiency.Positron emission tomography may reveal hitherto unsuspected extension of disease and should be performed where available.

Immersion and distancing across the therapeutic process: relationship to symptoms and emotional arousal.

This study aims to clarify the roles of immersion and distancing (that is, reflection on an experience from an egocentric point of view or as an observer, respectively) on therapeutic change analyzing i) the evolution of these two perspectives across the resolution of a clinical problem, and ii) the relationship between immersion/distancing with symptoms and emotional arousal. We extracted all the passages of speech pertaining to the most relevant clinical problem of a good outcome case of depression undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy. We assessed the distancing/immersion of these extracts using the Measure of Immersed and Distanced Speech, and emotional arousal with the Client Emotional Arousal Scale-III. The symptoms were assessed from the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Outcome Questionnaire-10.2. Immersion was associated with symptoms and negative emotions, while distancing was associated with clinical well being and positive emotions. Immersion was still dominant when depressive symptoms were below the clinical threshold. Clinical change was associated with a decrease in immersion and an increase in distancing. The dominance of immersion does not necessarily indicate a bad outcome.

Therapeutic collaboration and the assimilation of problematic experiences in emotion-focused therapy for depression: Comparison of two cases.

OBJECTIVE: The Assimilation model argues that therapists should work responsively within the client's therapeutic zone of proximal development (TZPD). This study analyzed the association between the collaborative processes assessed by the Therapeutic Collaboration Coding System (TCCS) and advances in assimilation, as assessed by the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES). METHOD: Sessions 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 of two contrasting cases, Julia and Afonso (pseudonyms), drawn from a clinical trial of 16-sessions emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for depression, were coded according to the APES and the TCCS. Julia met criteria for reliable and clinically significant improvement, whereas Afonso did not. RESULTS: As expected, Julia advanced farther along the APES than did Afonso. Both therapists worked mainly within their client's TZPD. However, Julia's therapist used a balance of supporting and challenging interventions, whereas Afonso's therapist used mainly supporting interventions. Setbacks were common in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the theoretical expectation that EFT therapists work mainly within their client's TZPD. Therapeutic exchanges involving challenging interventions may foster client change if they occur in an overall climate of safety.

Therapeutic collaboration and significant event to the client´s change: a systematic review

This study presents a systematic review of literature on research focused in significant events in psychotherapy and their relation with collaborative nature process between therapist and client. Researchers argue that attention to significant events can be effectively an important strategy to improve the understanding of how change process occurs in psychotherapy. Moreover, the therapeutic collaboration as a central dimension of alliance has been consistently associated with therapeutic change. This study aimed to understand how these two research topics have been addressed in conjunction by psychotherapy researchers. Medline and PubMed Resources Guide, Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EBSCO and OVID electronic databases was searched between the years 2000 and 2015, with keywords such as therapeutic alliance or collaboration, and significant events, helpful aspects, important moments, or episodes, and process or outcomes, with all possible combinations of derivatives. Regarding the results of this review, we found only four qualitative studies that meet the inclusion criteria. These studies had different aims and used different methodologies to collect and to analyze the significant events. The analysis of these studies suggest a need for further investigations aiming to do microanalysis the interactive and relational processes occurring within the significant events in psychotherapy (AU)

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Evolución de los reactantes de fase aguda tras la reconstrucción no complicada del ligamento cruzado anterior por vía artroscópica / Inflammatory blood marker patterns following uncomplicated arthroscopically-assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los niveles de los principales reactantes de fase aguda (proteína C reactiva y eritrosedimentación) en el posoperatorio de una reconstrucción artroscópica del ligamento cruzado anterior sin complicaciones y analizar si diferentes variables del tratamiento realizado podrían alterar esos valores. Materiales y Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo de todas las reconstrucciones del ligamento cruzado anterior realizadas en nuestro Hospital, entre diciembre de 2012 y diciembre de 2013. Los niveles en sangre de proteína C reactiva, eritrosedimentación y leucocitos fueron determinados un día antes de la intervención, y a las 24 horas y a los 15 y 30 días de la cirugía. Se recogieron diferentes variables de la intervención: tiempo de isquemia, tiempo de cirugía, tipo de injerto y diferentes gestos asociados a la reconstrucción (sutura meniscal, microfracturas, etc.). Resultados: De los tres reactantes analizados, la proteína C reactiva es la que presenta un ascenso más elevado en el posoperatorio, es la única que vuelve a valores basales a los 30 días de la intervención (p >0,05). En cuanto a las variables analizadas, sólo el tiempo de isquemia se relacionaba con valores más elevados de proteína C reactiva. Conclusiones: La monitorización de la proteína C reactiva es una prueba práctica y sensible para detectar complicaciones después de la cirugía de ligamento cruzado anterior. Ante valores elevados a partir de los 15 días y si existe sospecha de infección debe realizarse una punción articular. Nivel de evidencia: IV

Background: The purpose of this report was to determine the levels of inflammatory blood markers over the time after a successful arthroscopic anterior ligament reconstruction and to analyze if any variable of surgical treatment alter this blood marker. Methods: A prospective review was conducted including all anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions performed in our institution between December 2012 and December 2013. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell count were determined before surgery and at days 1, 15 and 30 postoperatively. Different variables of surgical treatment were collected: ischemic and surgical time, type of graft, associated injuries or type of treatment (meniscal suture, microfractures, etc.). Results: C-reactive protein rose abruptly with surgery and decreased progressively over the time. This was the only marker that returned to preoperative levels by day 30 (P >0.05). Ischemic time was associated with high levels of C-reactive protein. None of the associated treatments had significant effect on C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or white blood cell count. Conclusions: Blood levels of C-reactive protein can help to take a therapeutic decision when an infection is suspected. If elevated C-reactive protein levels persist after 15 days postsurgery, the presence of infection through arthrocentesis must be ruled out. Level of evidence: IV.

Identification of clinical predictors of flare in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a 24-month prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: SLE has a relapsing-remitting course with disease activity flares over time. This study aims to identify clinical predictors of SLE flares. METHODS: This prospective cohort study over 24 months included all SLE patients on follow-up at one academic lupus clinic. Flare was defined as an increase in SLEDAI-2K score ≥4 points. Baseline clinical and demographic parameters were compared using survival analysis for time-to-flare outcome with univariate log-rank tests. Variables with significant differences were further evaluated as predictors with multivariate Cox regression models adjusting for potential confounding or contributing factors and hazard ratio (HR) calculation. RESULTS: A total of 202 SLE patients were included. Over the follow-up period, 1083 visits were documented and 16.8% of patients presented with flares. In multivariate analysis, the following parameters emerged as flare predictors: SLE diagnosis up to 25 years of age (HR = 2.14, P = 0.03), lupus nephritis previous to baseline visit (HR = 4.78, P < 0.0001) and immunosuppressor treatment for severe SLE (HR = 3.22, P < 0.001). Baseline disease activity, disease duration and treatment with prednisone or HCQ were not predictive factors. CONCLUSION: Patients with an SLE diagnosis before age 25 years, lupus nephritis or immunosuppressor treatment for severe SLE present greater HRs for flares, suggesting the need for tighter clinical monitoring. Current immunosuppressive strategies seem to be inefficient in providing flare prevention.