Macroalgae as Soil Conditioners or Growth Promoters of Pisum sativum (L)

Mexico has long littorals that receive great amounts of marine algae that are wasted despite being potentially useful as growth promoters without the inconveniences of agrochemicals. Some macroalgae have been used with excellent results as soil conditioners and fertilisers in agriculture. In this study nine macroalgae from the coasts of Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico) and one from Guerrero (Mexican Pacific), Mexico, were tested. They were added to the soil in the form of fragments and of silage in liquid around Pisum sativum plants. A two-way random design with four replicas was followed. Two controls, hormones and water, were also used. Growth was recorded every third day. Results showed that four algae promoted growth (p<0.05) Ulva fasciata (ensiling treatment) and Ulva lactuca (ensiling treatment) and Gracilaria caudata (fragment treatment) and Palisada perforata (fragment treatment), compared with the hormones and water controls. The activity of Ulva fasciata and Palisada perforata is recorded for the first time. Since the control plants treated with hormones grew much less than those treated with the four algae, we conclude that the release of all algae compounds was responsible for the growth, and not the hormone mimetics.

De la escrófula a la linfoadenitis micobacteriana / From scrophula to mycobacterial lymphadenitis

Resumen En el siglo XIX se pensaba que la tuberculosis y la tumefacción ganglionar cervical llamada escrófula afectaban a individuos predispuestos por una "constitución diatésica" heredada. En 1882 Robert Koch demostró que lesiones tuberculosas y escrofulosas humanas eran causadas por el bacilo Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A principios del siglo XX se estableció que Mycobacterium bovis, bacilo de la tuberculosis del ganado, podía también causar linfoadenitis cervical en humanos, especialmente en niños, por la ingestión de leche de vacas enfermas. La condición disminuyó después que se controló la infección en el ganado y se introdujo la pasteurización de la leche. En 1956 se describió la linfoadenitis cervicofacial granulomatosa necrosante y supurada causada por micobacterias no tuberculosas. Afecta principalmente a niños bajo los cinco años, especialmente en países sin endemia de tuberculosis. Las linfoadenitis cervicales tuberculosas predominan en adultos jóvenes en países con tuberculosis endémica y en individuos infectados por VIH.

In the 19th century it was widely believed that both tuberculosis and cervical lymph node swelling, known as scrophula, affected individuals predisposed to an inherited "diathetic constitution". In 1882 Robert Koch proved that human tuberculosis and scrophulous lesions were caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the early twentieth century it was stated that Mycobacterium bovis, the bacillus of cattle tuberculosis, could also cause cervical lymphoadenitis in humans, especially in children, by the intake of milk from sick cows. The incidence of this condition decreased after the infection was controlled in cattle and pasteurization of the milk was introduced. A type of granulomatous necrotizing and suppurative cervico-facial lymphadenitis associated to non-tuberculous mycobacteria was described in 1956. It mainly affects children younger than 5 years old, particularly those born in countries with non-endemic tuberculosis. Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis is prevalent in young adults from tuberculosis-endemic countries and in HIV-infected subjects. Infectious etiology displaced the importance of a personal disposition in the development of scrophula. Nevertheless, mutations that confer susceptibility to mycobacterial infection are currently investigated.

Conversion to Mycophenolate Mofetil Monotherapy in Liver Recipients: Calcineurin Inhibitor Levels are Key

Abstract: The use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) after liver transplantation is associated with post-transplant nephrotoxicity. Conversion to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) monotherapy improves renal function, but is related to graft rejection in some recipients. Our aim was to identify variables associated with rejection after conversion to MMF monotherapy. Conversion was attempted in 40 liver transplant recipients. Clinical variables were determined and peripheral mononuclear blood cells were immunophenotyped during a 12-month follow- up. Conversion was classified as successful (SC) if rejection did not occur during the follow-up. MMF conversion was successful with 28 patients (70%) and was associated with higher glomerular filtration rates at the end of study. It also correlated with increased time elapsed since transplantation, low baseline CNI levels (Tacrolimus ≤ 6.5 ng/mL or Cyclosporine ≤ 635 ng/mL) and lower frequency of tacrolimus use. The only clinical variable independently related to SC in multivariate analysis was low baseline CNI levels (p = 0.02, OR: 6.93, 95%, CI: 1.3-29.7). Mean baseline fluorescent intensity of FOXP3+ T cells was significantly higher among recipients with SC. In conclusion, this study suggests that baseline CNI levels can be used to identify recipients with higher probability of SC to MMF monotherapy. Clinicaltrials.gov identification: NCT01321112.

La escrófula en el siglo XIX / Scrofula in the 19th century

In the 19th century scrofula or scrofulous adenitis was a frequent condition estimated by the finding of swollen cervical lymph nodes or scars, occurring in both sexes at all epochs of life, mainly in children. It was thought that it principally affected people with an inherited phlegmatic constitution that involved a scrofulous disposition or "diathesis". The disease would be triggered by environmental agents, bad habits or excesses in style of life. Besides injuring cervical lymph nodes, in some cases scrofula could compromise other groups of lymph nodes, bones, joints, lungs or other viscera. In some of its clinical presentations the disease could be healed while others were often lethal disorders. The finding of multiorgan compromise, caseation and "tuberculization" of the lesions originated discussion whether scrofula and tuberculosis were one or two different diseases and if they affected subjects with a common diathesis or people with a distinct scrofulous or tuberculous diathesis. Along the 19th century, before the discovery of Koch's bacillus, the notion of contagion as a cause of scrofula and tuberculosis was not predominant in Europe.

En el siglo XIX la escrófula era frecuente, estimada por la percepción de nódulos o cicatrices en el cuello. Paulatinamente se le empezó a denominar adenitis escrofulosa. Podía presentarse en personas de ambos sexos en todas las épocas de la vida; pero era más frecuente en la infancia. Se pensaba que afectaba principalmente a sujetos con una constitución flemática heredada que implicaba una susceptibilidad o diátesis escrofulosa. La enfermedad sería desencadenada por agentes ambientales, hábitos, o excesos en el estilo de vida. Aparte de los ganglios linfáticos cervicales, podía afectar otros grupos ganglionares, huesos, articulaciones, pulmones y otras visceras, atribuyéndosele diversas formas de presentación que variaban entre las potencialmente curables a las frecuentemente mortales. La afectación multiorgánica, la caseificación y la "tuberculización" de las lesiones originaron la discusión sobre si la escrófula y la tuberculosis eran una sola enfermedad o dos diferentes, y si se desencadenaban sobre una diátesis común o cada una sobre una diátesis específica escrofulosa o tuberculosa. En la mayor parte del siglo XIX, antes del descubrimiento del bacilo de Koch, la noción de contagio como causa de la escrófula y de la tuberculosis pulmonar no parecía predominar en países europeos.

Enseñanza de la medicina en Chile colonial durante el siglo XVIII: El catedrático Domingo Nevin y su alumno Pedro Manuel Chaparro / Medical education in the Chilean colonial period during 18th century: Professor Domingo Nevin and his disciple Pedro Manuel Chaparro

This article outlines the beginning of the medical studies at the Universidad de San Felipe de Santiago de Chile on the second half of the 18th century. Dr Domingo Nevin was the first professor of Prima Medicina and Proto-medico. Dr. Pedro Manuel Chaparro was the first Chilean student who complete his studies and got his degree at the same university. Both of them had remarkable achievements during the colonial Chilean Medicine.

Se reseña el comienzo de los estudios médicos en la Universidad de San Felipe, en Santiago de Chile en la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII. El Dr. Domingo Nevin fue el primer catedrático de Prima Medicina y Protomédico. Su discípulo Dr. Pedro Manuel Chaparro fue el primer alumno chileno que completó sus estudios y se graduó en la misma Universidad. Ambos personajes tuvieron destacada trayectoria en la medicina chilena colonial.

¿Influye el medio de preservación del injerto en los resultados y costos del trasplante hepático de donante fallecido?: Comparación de dos soluciones de preservación / Outcomes using two preservation solutions (UW/HTK) in liver transplantation from brain death donors

Background: Preservation solutions are critical for organ transplantation. In liver transplant (LT), the solution developed by the University Of Wisconsin (UW) is the gold-standard to perfuse deceased brain death donor (DBD) grafts. Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK), formerly a cardioplegic infusion, has been also used in solid organ transplantation. Aim: To compare the outcomes of LT in our center using either HTK or UW solution. Patients and Methods: Retrospective study including 93 LT DBD liver grafts in 89 patients transplanted between March 1994 and July 2010. Forty-eight grafts were preserved with UW and 45 with HTK. Donor and recipient demographics, total infused volume, cold ischemia time, post-reperfusion biopsy, liver function tests, incidence of biliary complications, acute rejection and 12-month graft and patient survival were assessed. Preservation solution costs per liver graft were also recorded. Results: Donor and recipient demographics were similar. When comparing UW and HTK, no differences were observed in cold ischemia time (9.6 ± 3 and 8.7 ± 2 h respectively, p = 0.23), biliary complications, the incidence of acute rejection, primary or delayed graft dysfunction. Histology on post-reperfusion biopsies revealed no differences between groups. The infused volume was significantly higher with HTK than with UW (9 (5-16) and 6 (3-11) l, p < 0.001). The cost per procurement was remarkably lower using HTK. Conclusions: Perfusion of DBD liver grafts with HTK is clinically equivalent to UW, with a significant cost reduction.

Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de las metástasis hepáticas por cáncer colorrectal / Outcome of surgical treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer

Background: Surgical resection is the only treatment associated with long-term cure in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer, achieving a 30% to 40% five years survival. Aim: To evaluate the results of liver resection for metastatic colorectalcancer in our centre. Patients and methods: Retrospective study. Epidemiological, perioperative and follow up data of patients undergoing liver resection for metastatic colorectalcancer between January 1990 and July 2007 were assessed. We compared the results between two periods; period 1 (1990-1997) and period 2 (1998-2007). Results: Sixty six patients aged61±12 years (46 males) underwent 75 resections. An anatomical excision was performed in 54 (72%) cases, a right hepatectomy in 18, an extended right hepatectomy in 11, a left hepatectomy in 1, and a segmentectomy in 24. In 24 (32%) patients the liver resection wassimultaneous with the colorectal cancer resection. Operative time was 221±86 min. Hospital stay was 11±5 days. Postoperative morbidity was 35% and surgical mortality was 0%. Resectionmargin was free of tumor in 53 (80%) patients. Five years overall and hepatic disease-free survival was 38% and 23%, respectively. In period 2, more anatomical resections than in period1 were performed (77% and 55%, respectively, p =0.04), without an increase in complications (35% and 34%, respectively; p =ns), but with a better five years survival (45% and 21%, respectively, p =0.04). Conclusions: Five years survival for excision of liver metastatic colorectal cancer in our center is similar to that reported abroad. During the second period there has been a trend toward more extensive resections which was associated with a better survival, without an increase in complications or mortality.

Sobrevida alejada de pacientes operados por cáncer gástrico incipiente / Long term survival of patients operated for early gastric cancer

Background: Early gastric cancer involves mucosa and submucosa, independent of lymph node involvement. Radical gastrectomy is the standard treatment. Aim: To assess long term survival of patients operated for an early gastric cancer. Material and methods: Retrospective Rev iew of medical and pathology records of patients subjected to a gastrectomy for an early gastric cancer, between 1975 and 2002. All were treated using a standardized protocol and staged according to 2002 TNM classification of the American Joint Committee of Cáncer (AJCC). Demographic and pathologic features, operation performed and long term survival were recorded. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The series is comprised by 64 males and 41 females aged 61 + 1 years. Tumor was located in the upper third of the stomach on 33 subjects and a total gastrectomy was performed in 53. Pathology showed an intestinal type adenocarcinoma in 82 and a diffuse type in 23. In patients with involvement of mucosa and submucosa, 24 ± 14 and 22 ± 14 lymph nodes were excised, respectively. Lymph node involvement was present in 8 percent and 22 percent of patients with involvement of mucosa and submucosa, respectively. Five years survival was 94 percent and 78 percent in patients without and with lymph node involvement, respectively. Survival among patients in stage IA and IB was 94 percent and 76 percent, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the lymph node involvement was an independent mortality risk factor. Conclusions: Total gastrectomy in patients with early gastric cancer is associated with a good survival. Lymph node involvement is a mortality risk factor.

Adenocarcinoma gástrico treinta y dos años post linfoma gástrico / Gastric adenocarcinoma appearing 32 years after the resection of a gastric lymphoma: report of one case

The association of gastric lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma in the same patient is uncommon. We report a 76 year-old male with a previous history of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding who required a subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction in 1974. Pathology demonstrated a gastric ¡ympho-histiocytic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient received complementary radiotherapy and was followed with annual endoscopies for 23 years. In 2006, he presented with fatigue. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an ulcerated and proliferative lesión at the gastric stump. Biopsy demonstrated a gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric stump resection with lymph node dissection was perfomed. Pathology of the excised specimen showed a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma of the gastrojejunal anastomoses which infiltrated up to the subserosa. Additionally lymphatic permeations were observed and 10 of the 16 excised lymph nodes were invaded by the tumor.

Sarcoma estromal de esófago / Stromal sarcoma of the esophagus

El sarcoma estromal de esófago es una patología poco frecuente. El objetivo de este trabajo es la comunicación de un caso tratado en nuestro Servicio de Cirugía. Se trata de un paciente de 52 años, sexo masculino con antecedentes de úlcera péptica y tabaquismo. Consultó por historia de seis meses de disfagia, baja de peso de seis kilogramos y hematemesis. Al examen físico no había hallazgos de importancia. Se realizó un estudio endoscópico alto, que mostró una lesión ulcerada de tercio distal de esófago. La radiografía de tórax mostró una imagen retrocardíaca de aproximadamente 8 cm de diámetro, que se correlacionó con un TAC tóraco-abdominal que mostró una lesión esofágica tumoral de ocho centímetros de diámetro. Se operó con abordaje por tóraco-freno-laparotomía. El hallazgo fue de un gran tumor de esófago distal, y de una metástasis única en el segmento seis del hígado. Se realizó una esofagectomía con ascenso gástrico y anastomosis esofagogástrica cervical, colecistectomía y resección de la lesión hepática. La histología mostró un tumor gastrointestinal estromal. Los sarcomas estromales del tubo digestivo son poco frecuentes, sus características histológicas y ultraestructurales sólo se han aclarado recientemente. La cirugía sigue ocupando un rol central en su tratamiento

Granulomatosis broncocéntrica: caso anátomo-clínico / Broncocentric granulomatosis: anatomoclinical case

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 62 años de edad con tos y expectoración mucopurulenta no controlada de 4 años de evolución. Se hospitalizó porque 15 días antes del ingreso se agregó fiebre, puntada de costado y tope inspiratorio. El examen físico demostró crepitaciones basales de predominio izquierdo. La radiografía de tórax mostró engrosamiento de la trama intersticial. Evolucionó agravándose al shock refractario a pesar de la terapia antibiótica. En la necropsia se encontró bronconeumonía lobulillar confluente en organización y extensa lesión inflamatoria granulomatosa y necrotizante de bronquios subsegmentarios y bronquíolos. Las tinciones para hongos, bacterias y bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes fueron negativas. En el resto de los órganos se encontraron alteraciones compatibles con shock. Los hallazgos son diagnósticos de una granulomatosis broncocéntrica. Corresponde a una respuesta de hipersensibilidad de causa desconocida, aunque en algunos casos se han encontrado fragmentos de hifas de Aspergillus spp. El presente caso pertenece al subgrupo de mujeres no asmáticas, de edad media, sin eosinofilia y sin hifas de Aspergillus. Tales casos pueden beneficiarse con tratamiento corticoesteroidal previo diagnóstico con biopsia quirúrgica

Cistectomía total en carcinoma in situ vesical / Total cystectomy in carcinoma in situ of the bladder

Presenta un paciente con Ca in situ diagnosticado por síntomas irritativos vesicales post-RTU con citología urinaria positiva. Se decide la cistectomía total después de tratamiento ineficaz con Adriamicina endovesical y demostrar TIS difuso por biopsia vesical múltiple. El examen histológico completo de la vejiga confirma mucosa con TIS extenso y dos microfocos de infiltración