Spontaneous pneumothorax and tuberculosis: long-term follow-up.

Though spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is a well-known complication of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), there are very few reports addressing this topic. For this reason, we retrospectively analysed the experience of SP in patients diagnosed with TB in our hospital between 1989 and 2010. Out of 872 patients treated for SP during this period, 47 (5.4%) had TB antecedents, 21 with active TB (0.95% of the 2,089 TB cases diagnosed during this period) and 26 with residual inactive TB. 46 cases were treated with pleural drainage (PD): 40 (85%) with only one PD, two with two, and four with three. The mean ± SD length of PD treatment was 12.9 ± 11.3 days. In 11 (23%) cases, a relapse of SP occurred, with no statistical relationship between the different studied variables. In 13 (28%) cases, it became necessary to carry out a resection (atypical segmentectomy in all cases) for persistent air leaks with PD. Survival statistics were unfavourable only in elderly patients and those infected with HIV. We conclude that the treatment of SP secondary to TB with PD is usually a sound response, with a good general prognosis and a low percentage of cases that require another PD and surgical treatment.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pannus have similar qualitative metabolic characteristics and pro-inflammatory cytokine response.

OBJECTIVE: Pannus in osteoarthritis (OA) has only recently been characterized. Little is known, however, regarding the behavior of OA pannus in vitro compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pannus. The purpose of our study was to compare OA with RA pannus. METHODS: Pannus and synovial tissue co-cultures from 5 patients with OA and 5 patients with RA obtained during arthroplasty were studied. Pannus was defined as the microscopic invasive granulation tissue covering the articular surface. Tissues were cultured for 7 days and stained with Alcian Blue technique. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were also determined in supernatants by ELISA. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), type II collagen, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and Ki-67 expression were also detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: All patients had vascular or fibrous pannus. Synovial proliferation, inflammatory infiltrates and a decrease of extracellular matrix proteins were observed in all tissue samples. Chondrocyte proliferation was lower in OA than RA cartilage. OA synovial tissue expressed lower levels of proteoglycans than RA synoyium. Type II collagen levels were lower in OA than in RA cartilage. Significantly higher levels of IL-1beta were found in the supernatants of RA pannus compared to OA pannus (p<0.05). High but similar levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and TIMP-1 were detected in OA and RA pannus supernatants. IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-gamma were undetectable. CONCLUSION: RA and OA pannus had similar pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine profile expression. OA cartilage, synovial tissue and pannus had lower production of proteoglycans, type II collagen and IL-1beta. It remains to be elucidated why OA pannus invades the cartilage surface but does not cause the marginal erosions typically seen in RA.

[Use of the rapid antigen technique in the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngotonsillitis]. / Utilidad de una técnica antigénica rápida en el diagnóstico de faringoamigdalitis por Streptococcus pyogenes.

INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus pyogenes is the most frequent bacterial cause of acute tonsillopharyngitis. The validity of the rapid antigen test was analysed for its diagnosis in a Paediatric Primary Care setting. The clinical profile with better diagnostic yield was also identified. The unnecessary use of antibiotics was quantified when the rapid antigen test or only the clinical diagnosis was used. The sensitivity of the assay to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin was also determined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted on children between 2 to 14 years with acute tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis seen in five Primary Care Centres, from January 2008 to May 2010. After a clinical diagnosis, two swabs were taken for pharyngotonsillar smears: the first was used for a rapid antigen test, and the second one for a culture and a study of antibiotic sensitivity, with its analysis being blind to the rapid test result. A total sample of 546 consecutive was envisaged and with consecutive sampling. RESULTS: A total 192 patients were included. The prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes was 38.7% (95% CI: 31.4-45.7). Odynophagia and scarlatiniform rash were most likely with positive cultures, the Streptococcus pyogenes was sensitive to penicillin in 100%, to erythromycin in 97.3% and to clindamycin in 86.3%. The specificity of the rapid antigen test was 91.5% and with a Negative Predictive Value of 91.5%. About half (49.2%) of those who would have receive antibiotics for clinical suspicion would have been treated unnecessarily, with this decreasing to at least in 29.5% when using the rapid antigen test. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid antigen test can lead to a better use of antibiotics. Its use in Paediatric Primary Health Care could be useful when, as when the result is negative, there would be no need to confirm by a culture, in those Health Centres with difficult access to laboratory.

Enfermedad de Lyme: a propósito de dos casos / Lyme disease: report of two cases

La borreliosis de Lyme es una enfermedad multiorgánica con afectación principalmente dermatológica, reumática, neurológica y cardiaca. La detección y el tratamiento en los primeros estadios son básicos para evitar su progresión. El pediatra, por tanto, debe conocer las manifestaciones clínicas de la enfermedad, así como establecer un correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento. Se exponen dos casos que incluyen las formas más frecuentes de presentación (AU)

Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem disease mainly dermatological, rheumatical, neurological and cardiological. The detection and treatment in the early stages are essential to prevent its progression. The pediatrician, therefore, must be aware of the clinical presentations of the disease as well as to establish a correct diagnosis and treatment. Two cases are presented involving the most common forms of presentation (AU)

The effect of a high fat diet on the incidence of colonic cancer after cholecystectomy in mice.

An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effects of both a high fat diet and a cholecystectomy on the incidence of carcinogen-induced colon cancer in mice. Sixty pink-eyed jax (P/J) mice were divided equally into two groups. One group was fed a standard rodent diet and the other group received a diet supplemented with 20% corn oil. From each diet group, 50% of the mice had a cholecystectomy and the other 50% had a sham operation. Two weeks after surgery, each mouse received weekly subcutaneous injections of a carcinogen (dimethylhydrazine, 20 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. After the treatment period, the mice were killed and their large bowels were examined. Evaluation of the results demonstrated that the mice that had a cholecystectomy and a high fat diet had the highest incidence (P less than 0.05) of colonic adenocarcinomas.

Estimated risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infections in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of the risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infections are essential for monitoring the safety of the blood supply. The aim of the present study was to estimate the residual risk of blood-borne viral infections in Spain. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Incidence rates of seroconversion for HIV, HBV, and HCV were calculated among 673,018 persons who donated blood more than once (repeat donors), from 1997 through 1999 at 22 blood donation centers (for a total of 2,464,964 allogeneic blood donations and 1,052,752 person-years). RESULTS: Incidence rates per 100,000 person-years and their 95-percent CIs were as follows: for HBV, 8.36 (5.24-12.62); for HIV, 3.23 (2.24-4.52); and for HCV, 3.70 (2.63-5.07). After adjusting incidence rates for the estimated duration of the infectious window period for each virus, the residual risk per unit transfused was estimated at 1 in 513,000 for HIV, 1 in 74,000 for HBV, and 1 in 149,000 for HCV. The introduction of new screening test based on NAT would have reduced these risks by 27 to 50 percent for HIV, by 42 percent for HBV, and by 62 to 65 percent for HCV. CONCLUSION: The residual risks of transmission of HIV, HBV, and HCV in Spain are similar to those reported in other countries and should be further reduced in the future.

Utilidad de una técnica antigénica rápida en el diagnóstico de faringoamigdalitis por Streptococcus pyogenes / Use of the rapid antigen technique in the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngotonsillitis

Introducción: El Streptococcus pyogenes es la causa bacteriana más importante de faringoamigdalitis aguda. Se analizó la validez de una prueba antigénica rápida para su diagnóstico, en consultas de atención primaria; asimismo se identificó el perfil clínico con mejor rendimiento diagnóstico, se cuantificó el uso innecesario de antibióticos cuando se utilizaba la prueba o solamente diagnóstico clínico y se determinó la sensibilidad microbiana a penicilina, eritromicina y clindamicina. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal a niños/as entre 2-14 años con amigdalitis y/o faringitis aguda atendidos en 5 consultas, desde enero de 2008 hasta mayo de 2010. Tras el diagnóstico clínico se realizó frotis faringoamigdalar con 2 hisopos: con el primero se realizó una prueba antigénica rápida y con el segundo cultivo y sensibilidad antibiótica, siendo su análisis ciego al resultado de la prueba. Se ha previsto una muestra de 546 personas y muestreo consecutivo. Resultados: Se incluyó a 192 pacientes. La prevalencia de Streptococcus pyogenes fue del 38,7%(IC del 95%: 31,4-45,7). La odinofagia y el exantema escarlatiniforme fueron más probables con cultivo positivo. En el 100% hubo sensibilidad a la penicilina, en el 97,3% a eritromicina y en el 86,3% a clindamicina. La especificidad de la prueba fue del 91,5% y el valor predictivo negativo del 91,5%. El 49,2% de quienes recibirían antibióticos por sospecha clínica serían tratados innecesariamente, disminuyendo al menos un 29,5% con la prueba. Conclusiones: La prueba permitió un uso más adecuado de antibióticos. Parece recomendable su uso en pediatría de atención primaria, sin necesidad de confirmación con cultivo cuando resulte negativa, en los centros con difícil acceso al laboratorio(AU)

Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes is the most frequent bacterial cause of acute tonsillopharyngitis. The validity of the rapid antigen test was analysed for its diagnosis in a Paediatric Primary Care setting. The clinical profile with better diagnostic yield was also identified. The unnecessary use of antibiotics was quantified when the rapid antigen test or only the clinical diagnosis was used. The sensitivity of the assay to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin was also determined. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on children between 2 to 14 years with acute tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis seen in five Primary Care Centres, from January 2008to May 2010. After a clinical diagnosis, two swabs were taken for pharyngotonsillar smears: the first was used for a rapid antigen test, and the second one for a culture and a study of antibiotic sensitivity, with its analysis being blind to the rapid test result. A total sample of546 consecutive was envisaged and with consecutive sampling. Results: A total 192 patients were included. The prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes was38.7% (95% CI: 31.4-45.7). Odynophagia and scarlatiniform rash were most likely with positive cultures, the Streptococcus pyogenes was sensitive to penicillin in 100%, to erythromycin in97.3% and to clindamycin in 86.3%. The specificity of the rapid antigen test was 91.5% and with a Negative Predictive Value of 91.5%. About half (49.2%) of those who would have receive antibiotics for clinical suspicion would have been treated unnecessarily, with this decreasing to at least in 29.5% when using the rapid antigen test. Conclusions: The rapid antigen test can lead to a better use of antibiotics. Its use in Paediatric Primary Health Care could be useful when, as when the result is negative, there would be no need to confirm by a culture, in those Health Centres with difficult access to laboratory(AU)