[Baboon syndrome]. / Síndrome del babuino.

The cases of three children diagnosed with baboon syndrome are described, being defined by the appearance of dermatological lesions, with characteristic distribution and morphology, as a result of having been in contact with mercury. Other substances have been described associated with the appearance of this syndrome; however their pathogenis is not completely known, and it has been suggested that it could be another form of contact dermatitis. Diagnosis is based on patient clinical history and physical examination and there is no specific treatment.

[Idiopathic soft palate hemiparalysis]. / Hemiparálisis velopalatina idiopática.

Idiopathic soft palate paralysis is an infrequent clinical entity, both in children and adults. We describe the clinical manifestations in two new cases, manifested by fluid dysphagia, rhinolalia, absent gag reflex, and nasal escape of fluids. The remission period is the shortest observed in published cases. Thirty-three reports have been published in the literature to data, 32 in children and adolescents and one in an adult. This paralysis suggests a viral etiology, affects mainly children, and resolves spontaneously.

[Carbon monoxide poisoning]. / Intoxicación por monóxido de carbono.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiological and clinical data from a series of children hospitalized for acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of children admitted to the Pediatrics Department of the Hospital Clinico Universitario de Zaragoza with acute CO poisoning from 1993 to 2003. All the children were clinically monitored and venous blood levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) were determined. RESULTS: There were 14 patients (seven boys and seven girls) aged 1.3 to 13.8 years (mean age: 8.2 years; SD: 3.9). The peak incidence was in the winter months (seven cases in December). All poisonings took place in poorly ventilated rooms and were produced by gas inhalation due to incomplete combustion of organic fuels (charcoal, propane and butane). Clinical symptoms were gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) and neurologic (dizziness, headache and alterations in level of consciousness). COHb levels in blood were elevated (from 4.8% to 27.6% in the first determination). Outcome was favorable in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite environmental improvements introduced in the last few years, CO poisoning is highly frequent in our environment and children are at higher risk. The best preventive measure is proper adjustment of gas appliances.

[Asperger syndrome associated with macrosomia and sexual identity disorder]. / Síndrome de Asperger asociado a macrosomía y trastorno de identidad sexual.

Asperger Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder of unknown origin, characterized by pedantic language, lack of reciprocity in social interactions, unusual interests, motor clumsiness and normal or above average intelligence quotient, among other symptoms. Since 1994 it has been defined as a specific entity. We describe the case of a boy with this syndrome, with elevated body weight and height and sexual identity disorder. These alterations have not previously been described in the scientific literature on Asperger syndrome.

[Cardiac abnormalities in children with neuromuscular diseases]. / Alteraciones cardiológicas en niños con enfermedad neuromuscular.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate cardiac abnormalities in children with different neuromuscular diseases (NMD) PATIENTS AND METHOD: In 40 patients with NMD, cardiac abnormalities were evaluated by cardiac auscultation, chest X-ray, electrocardiography (ECG), ambulatory Holter ECG and Doppler echography. RESULTS: Sinus tachycardia, high R/S complex, deep Q waves, repolarization disorders, electrical conduction abnormalities, auricular and ventricular extrasystoles, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, mitral valve prolapse and dilated cardiomyopathy were found. CONCLUSIONS: The association of cardiac abnormalities in children with NMD is frequent. Conventional ECG monitorization, Holter ECG and echocardiography allow their diagnosis and follow-up.

[Secular increase of adipose tissue in adolescents from Zaragoza from 1980 to 1995]. / Incremento secular del tejido adiposo en adolescentes zaragozanos desde 1980 hasta 1995.

BACKGROUND: To quantify the differences between anthropometric measurements obtained nowadays in male and female adolescents and those obtained 15 years ago in a sample of similar characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We have studied 658 healthy individuals, 329 males and 329 females from 10.0 to 15.0 years of age, from different socioeconomic levels. Weight, height, arm circumference and left skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) have been measured. We have calculated the body mass index (BMI), density, total body fat, percentage of body fat and the body adipose muscular index (BAMI), which is the ratio between body fat (kg) and non fat mass (kg). The values obtained have been compared with those obtained fifteen years ago, in another sample of 1,465 children with similar characteristics. The research team and the material used were the same in both studies. Mean differences were compared using the unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Weight has increased significantly (p < 0.05), except for males at 12 years and females at 13 and at 14 years. Height has increased significantly at all ages and in males and females (p < 0.05). BMI has only increased significantly at 10 and at 11 years in males, and at 10 years in females. Skinfold thicknesses have also increased significantly, except for biceps in males between ages of 12 and 14 years and biceps and subscapular in females at 14 years. Body fat mass and percentage of body fat have also increased significantly and, in consequence, the density has decreased and BAMI has increased both significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Secular increase in weight and height during fifteen years has occurred. In general, BMI has not increased but skinfold thicknesses and body fat have increased significantly, this fact demonstrates that there has been increase in the body fat compartment.

[Anthropometric and nutritional study in young adults. Evaluation of submandibular skinfold thickness]. / Estudio antropométrico y nutricional en adultos jóvenes. Valoración del pliegue cutáneo submandibular.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the main anthropometric characteristics of a young adult population, to compare some measurements obtained with different formulas, and to compare these results with a reference population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied 72 healthy female university students aged 19.0 to 20.9 years (mean age 19.63). We have measured weight, height, body mass index (BMI), cervical and arm circumferences, and biceps, triceps, and submandibular skinfolds. We have calculated total arm area, fat arm area and muscular arm area using traditional formulas and others recently published. Means were compared using Student's t test and we also calculated Pearson correlations. RESULTS: Concerning anthropometric measurements, they were similar to those of the reference population. Arm areas were different when calculated with different formulas (p < 0.000). All the anthropometric characteristics measured correlated with each other, except with height. Submandibular skinfold correlated with biceps skinfold (0.467), triceps skinfold (0.513), BMI (0.503), weight (0.476), cervical circumference (0.511) and arm circumference (0.505). Submandibular skinfold also showed a significant correlation with arm measurements, especially fat area (0.519, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fat and muscular arm areas were different depending on the different formulas used to be calculated. Submandibular skinfold is easy to obtain and is related with the other indexes of body fat. This measure could be included in nutritional surveys.

[Diagnostic role of the biopsy in angiofibroma of the cavum]. / Papel diagnóstico de la biopsia en el angiofibroma de cavum.

The AA. inform about the case of a child, 13, with an antro-choanal Polyp of angiofibromatous structure, diagnosed as Angiofibroma. Though in the greater number of instances the arteriography is enough to support the suspicion, the confirmation through histopathology is compulsory.

[Calculation of body fat by skinfold thickness]. / Cálculo de la grasa corporal mediante los plieques cutáneos.

This paper describes the method of determining the sizes of the subcutaneous fat folds found in the biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and submandibular. One is shown how to make the calculation of body fat and the areas of the section of the arm as related to the sizes of the folds and, finally, the author provides some recommendations so that one may correctly evaluate the data obtained.

[Iron in childhood]. / El hierro en la infancia.

The role and function of iron in food is reviewed. The distribution of this element in the human body is studied along with: age requirements, the dietetic sources of iron, mechanism of absorption and the problems of iron deficiencies. Methods that can be taken, in accordance with the College of Nursing, are given that may prevent situations of nutritional deficiency and anemia.

Entomofagia: ¿una alternativa a nuestra dieta tradicional? / Entomophagy: an alternative to our traditional diet?

El autor comenta el interés creciente hacia dietas exóticas, entre las cuales destaca la entomofagia. Tras describir las propiedades de los insectos, como alimento, el autor advierte del riesgo que puede suponer la ingesta de artrópodos cuando no se observan las debidas garantías sanitarias. La entomofagia puede ser, no obstante, una posibilidad ante una carestía ocasional, sequías, hambrunas y conflictos bélicos o un hipotético desastre nuclear. Las granjas experimentales de insectos, como fuente de proteínas, podrían aportar conocimientos de interés para las fuerzas armadas

The author comments on the growing interest in exotic diets, including entomophagy. After describing the properties of insects as food, the author warns of the risk that arthropod intake may entail when due sanitary guarantees are not observed. However, entomophagy may be a possibility in the face of occasional starvation, drought, starvation and war or a hypothetical nuclear disaster. Experimental insect farms, as a source of protein, could bring knowledge of interest to the armed forces

Ciguatera y consumo de pescado / Ciguatera and fish consumption

En este artículo se describen las características del organismo productor de la ciguatera, su agente tóxico y su distribución en el mundo. Se comentan los síntomas de la enfermedad y los posibles tratamientos. Se incide en el hecho de que es una enfermedad rara en nuestro medio, pero se empieza a generalizar debido a los viajes internacionales a países endémicos, el comercio internacional e incluso el cambio climático

It describes the characteristics of the organism producing the ciguatera, the toxic and its distribution in the world. Symptoms of the disease and possible treatments are discussed. It is affected by the fact that it is a rare disease in our environment but is beginning to generalize due to international travel to endemic countries, international trade and even climate change