Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico y Manifestaciones en el Sistema Nervioso Central: Un desafío diagnóstico permanente: casos Clínicos / Systemic lupus erythematosus and manifestations in the Central Nervous System: a permanent diagnostic challenge. Clinical cases

La presencia de manifestaciones neuropsiquiátricas en pacientes reumatológicos trae consigo un gran desafío diagnóstico que exige una mirada amplia, desde las bases de la medicina interna, a fin de poder orientar un estudio adecuado y el tratamiento oportuno. Junto con ello, el permanente diálogo e intercambio de miradas clínicas con otras especialidades permite tener un enfoque multidisciplinario que enriquece el abordaje de estas presentaciones complejas.

The presence of neuropsychiatric manifestations in rheumatological patients brings with it a great diagnostic challenge that requires a broad view, from the foundations of internal medicine, in order to guide the appropriate study and timely treatment of these patients. Along with this, the permanent dialogue and exchange of clinical views with other specialties allows for a multidisciplinary approach that enriches the approach to these complex presentations.

Anti TNF como inductor de lupus cutáneo: caso clínico / Anti TNF as inducer of cutaneous lupus: clinical case

El mayor acceso a las terapias biológicas para el tratamiento de múltiples enfer-medades autoinmune trae consigo el mayor riesgo de padecer eventos adversos relacionados al uso de estos2,4. Presentamos un caso clínico de una paciente con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide en tratamiento con ANTI TNF

The greater access to biological therapies for the treatment of multiple autoim-mune diseases brings with it the greatest risk of suffering adverse events related to the use of these (2,4). We present a clinical case of a patient diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in treatment with ANTI TNF

Detection and analysis of apoptosis in peripheral blood cells from breast cancer patients

Apoptosis is a well-known specific process of cell death that normally occurs in physiological situations such as tissue or organ development and involution. During tumor growth there is a balance between proliferation and cell death which involves apoptotic mechanisms. In the present study genomic DNAs from 120 breast tumor biopsies were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and none of them presented the fragmentation pattern characteristic of the apoptosis process. However, 33 per cent of the 105 breast cancer patients clearly showed the apoptotic pattern when DNA from blood cells was analyzed. None of the DNAs from healthy volunteer blood cells showed any trace of apoptosis. Since the breast cancer patients were not receiving chemo- or hormone therapy, the possible relationship between blood cortisol levels and the apoptotic pattern found in patient blood cells was investigated. Using a chemoluminescence immunodetection assay, similar cortisol levels were observed in breast cancer patient sera presenting or not apoptotic blood cells and in healthy volunteer sera. Analysis of the clinical data obtained from 60 of these patients showed that patients bearing tumors of smaller size (under 20 mm) were more susceptible to the apoptotic effect in blood cells. According to the Elston grade, it was observed that 7 of 12 patients with grade III tumors (58 per cent) presented apoptotic peripheral blood cells, in contrast to 10 of 48 patients with grade I and grade II tumors. These observations may reflect the immunosuppression characteristic of some breast cancer patients, which may contribute to tumor growth. Therefore, further studies are necessary to elucidate the factor(s) involved in such massive blood cell death.

Effect of calcium addition and acidificación on the quality characteristics of canned okra (Hibiscus esculentus L) / Efecto de la adición de calcio y acidificación sobre la calidad de la ocra o quimbobó (Hibiscus esculentus L) procesados por calor

A study was conducted on calcium chloride treatment of canned okra acidified by adding either acetic, lactic, malic or tartaric acids or by lactic fermentation. The quality of the processed okra was determined by physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses after a two month storage period at room temperature. The results indicated the possibility of processing high quality okra by small canneries, with low cost equipment and low energy requirements. The acidification procedures ensure minimal risk of botulism

Anestesia balanceada com nalbufina/enflurano para cirurgia de revascularizaçäo do miocardio / Balanced anesthesia with nalbuphine and enflurane for myocardial revascularization

A nalbufina é um narcótico agonista/antagonista com potência analgésica similar à da morfina. Em doses equi-analgésicas, assemelha-se à nalorfina no que diz respeito à elevada relaçäo antagonista/atividade analgésica. Neste trabalho, foi estudada uma técnica da anestesia balanceada com nalbufina e enflurano em 16 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularizaçäo do miocárdio. A idade média dos pacientes foi 57,1 + ou - 16,3 anos e o peso médio foi 66,2 + ou - 14,5 kg. A medicaçäo pré-anestésica constou de diazepam 10 mg IM uma hora antes da induçäo. Esta foi obtida com nalbufina 0,25 mg.kg-1 e diazepam 0,4 mg.kg-1 por via venosa, seguindo-se pancurônio e intubaçäo orotraqueal. A anestesia foi mantida com nalbufina em doses intermitentes e enflurano administrado através de vaporizador calibrado, em oxigênio puro. Ventilaçäo controlada mecânica, sistema sem reinalaçäo, mistura gasosa ar/oxigênio com FiO2 = 50%. Monitorizaçäo de PAM, PVC, produto FC x PAS, ECG e gases sangüíneos. A dose total média de nalbufina foi 62,1 + ou - 15,5 mg e o consumo horário médio de 0,34 + ou - 0.13 mg.kg-1. h-1. A concentraçäo inspirada de enflurano oscilou entre 1,0 e 2,0, exceto por ocasiäo da intubaçäo traqueal e de incisäo torácica, quando foi necessário elevá-la para 2,5-3,0% a fim de manter PAM e produto FC x PAS próximoa aos valores de controle. Os resultados indicaram que a combinaçäo de nalbufina e enflurano é segura e eficaz em técnica de anestesia balanceada para pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularizaçäo do miocárdio. Os pacientes foram extubados em média 6,8 + ou - após o término da cirurgia, completamente acordados e com necessidades mínimas de analgésicos para controle da dor pós-operatória. Näo se observou depressäo respiratória após a extubaçäo