Encefalopatía subaguda en una paciente con policondritis recidivante: caso clínico / Subacute encephalopathy associated with relapsing polychondritis: report of one case

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare multisystemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the inflammation and destruction of cartilages, with preference for auricular, nasal and laryngotracheal cartilages. RP may also affect proteoglycan-rich structures, such as, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and heart. The central nervous system (CNS) is involved in less than 3% of patients. We report a 32-year-old female with RP associated with a progressive subacute encephalopathy characterized by behavioral disturbances, auditory and visual hallucinations. The EEG showed generalized slow activity and a mononuclear pleocytosis with increased protein was found in the cerebrospinal fluid. The brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple supra and infratentorial nodular inflammatory lesions. After initiating treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, a significant improvement in chondritis and neurological status was observed.

The fight against prejudice in older adults: perspective taking effectiveness / Combatiendo el prejuicio en personas mayores: efectividad de la toma de perspectiva

Inhibition of prejudice appears to be more problematic for older adults, hence the need to develop programs to reduce intergroup bias at later stages in life. Perspective taking was analyzed in this study, as one of various cognitive strategies that have been shown to reduce such bias. Data on a sample of 63 Spanish participants with a mean age of 64.1 years was gathered after an intervention based on mental imagery, aimed at reducing explicit prejudice. A wide array of variables was measured (personality traits, values, empathy, and attribution) which may moderate effectiveness in perspective taking. Despite no main effect was found, effects due to interaction of perspective taking found in OLS regression analysis revealed that perspective taking based intervention was effective for some older adults, particularly those who had low scores on agreeableness, empathy, and universalism, and high scores on conformity. The conclusions suggest that perspective taking might be successfully applied to some profiles of older people albeit it is not as strong and transferable strategy as it used to be thought.

La inhibición del prejuicio resulta más problemática en personas mayores, de lo que se deriva la necesidad de desarrollar programas que reduzcan el sesgo intergrupal en los estadios avanzados de la vida. En el presente estudio se analizó la toma de perspectiva como una de las estrategias capaces de reducir este tipo de sesgo. Se recogieron datos en una muestra de 63 participantes españoles con una edad media de 64.1 años, en la que se implementó una intervención basada en imaginería mental, dirigida a la reducción del prejuicio. Asimismo, se midieron diversas variables que podían modular la efectividad de la toma de perspectiva (personalidad, valores, empatía y atribución). Aunque no se encontró ningún efecto principal, los debidos a la interacción de la toma de perspectiva y los moduladores, hallados en el análisis de regresión por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios, revelaron que la intervención basada en la inducción de toma de perspectiva fue efectiva en determinadas personas mayores, particularmente en aquellas que puntuaron bajo en amabilidad, empatía y universalismo, y alto en conformismo. En las conclusiones se sugiere que la toma de perspectiva podría ser aplicada con éxito en determinados perfiles de adultos mayores, aunque no se trata de una estrategia tan potente y transferible como se pensaba.

Déficit de vitamina B-12 en adultos mayores: ¿Un problema de salud pública en Chile? / Prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in older adults

Background: There is a correlation between aging and the decrease of plasma levels of vitamin B-12. Aim: To determine the prevalence of vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency and its hematological impact among older adults (AM). Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study, in 1028 subjects aged 65 to 87years, living in community and evaluated between 2005 and 2008. Percentile distribution of vitamin B-12, folate, hemoglobin, packed red cell volume and mean cell volume by gender and age were analyzed. Deficiency was defined as vitamin B-12 levels < 148 pmol/L, marginal deficiency as vitamin B-12 levels < 221 pmol/L, anemia was defined as a hemoglobin < 13 and 12 g/dL among men and women, respectively. Results: The prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency was 12 percent and the figure for marginal deficiency was 25.4 percent. Males were more affected than females (p < 0.001). The frequency of anemia was 8.6 percento, and was higher among women (p = 0.004). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of full blown and marginal deficit of vitamin B-12 among the elderly. This deficiency should be considered for correction through public nutrition policies.

Citocinas TH2 (IL 4e IL10) en el niño desnutrido: Universidad del Zulia: Maracaibo-Venezuela / TH2 cytokines (IL 4e IL 10) in the malnourished child: Universidad del Zulia: Maracaibo-Venezuela

Determinar las concentraciones séricas de citocinas Th2 (IL4 e IL10), en niños desnutridos y eutróficos sin infección, en edades comprendidas entre 6 meses y 6 años. Se seleccionaron 89 niños; 64 niños con algún grado de desnutrición (leve, moderada y grave) y 25 niños eutróficos. Las citocinas se midieron en sangre periférica utilizando el método de ELISA doble sandwich. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizo el test de ANOVA con post test de Tukey. Se presentan como media + DE. La IL4 mostró en el grupo de desnutridos, niveles más elevados: leves (0.46 ± 0.04 pg/ml), moderados (0.48 ± 0.10 pg/ml) y graves (0.55 ± 0.006 pg/ml), presentando cada grupo diferencias significativas p < 0.001 en relación con el grupo control (0.37 ± 0.004 pg/ml). También hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos de desnutridos leves y moderados con los graves p < 0.001. La IL10 mostró diferencias significativas entre los desnutridos moderados (9.91 ± 3.17 pg/ml) y graves (10.88 ± 5.13 pg/ml) con el grupo control (6.53 ± 2.59 pg/ml) p < 0.01. Los valores elevados de IL4 e IL10 en el niño desnutrido son consecuencia de un daño en la capacidad de activación de las células inmunitarias en los mismos, sumándose el grado de infestación parasitaria con helmintos que presentan, que condiciona la elevación de IL4.

To determine the cytokine serum measurements Th2 (IL4 and IL10), in malnourished children and eutrophic without infection, in ages understood between 6 months and 6 years. 89 children were selected; 64 children with some grade of malnourishment (mild, moderate and severe) and 25 eutrophic children. The cytokines was measured in outlying blood using ELISA'S double sandwich method. For the statistical analysis we use the test of ANOVA with post test of Tukey. They are presented like Mean + SD. The IL4 showed in the group of malnourished, higher levels: mild (0.46 ± 0.04 pg/ml), moderate (0.48 ± 0.10 pg/ml) and severe (0.55 ± 0.006 pg/ml), presenting each group significant differences (p < 0.001) in relation with the control group (0.37 ± 0.004 pg/ml). There were also significant differences among the groups of mild malnourished and moderate with the severe ones p < 0.001. The IL10 showed significant differences among the moderate malnourished (9.91 ± 3.17 pg/ml) and the severe (10.88 ± 5.13 pg/ml) with the control group (6.53 ± 2.59 pg/ml) (p < 0.01). The high values of IL4 and IL10 in the malnourished children are consequence of damage in the capacity of activation of the immune cells in the same ones, being added the grade of parasitic infection with worms that present that conditions the rise of IL4.