[Design and performance of a laboratory of olfactory test. Application of a new evaluation system]. / Diseñio y realización de un laboratorio de olfatometría. Aplicación de un nuevo sistema de valoración.

BACKGROUND: To study and evaluate the factors that may influence on human olfactory sensibility to pyridine, we designed a specific laboratory with a new olfactory test to perform accurate measurements. METHODS: We have chosen pyridine as the test substance in our laboratory, for its frequent use of it in other studies. The special conditions of our laboratory are designed to allow individuals to access to this substance, controlling the different factors and parameters. With this purpose, we have validated the test and we have settled the reference threshold values with the score of thirty voluntary healthy patients between 20 and 40 years of age. RESULTS: We have used four different concentrations of pyridine to study the different factors of olfactory sensibility. 95% of cases detected the highest pyridine concentration and the remaining concentrations allowed us to know the olfactory sensibility of the studied population and the inferior thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: We have designed, performed and endorsed a laboratory for the study of olfaction. We have determined the sensibility of the studied population to different concentrations of pyridine that can be considered as a reference for further studies.

[Experimental microsurgery of the facial nerve: end-to-end suture versus approximated ends wrapped with masseter muscle aponeurosis]. / Microcirugía experimental del nervio facial: sutura término-terminal versus envoltura de los extremos aproximados con manguito de aponeurosis de músculo masetero.

As an alternative to end-to-end facial nerve microsurgery, we propose anastomosis of the sectioned nerve ends and wrapping with ipsilateral masseter fascia. This intervention was performed on the right facial nerve of 20 Wistar rats and compared with classical end-to-end anatomosis performed on the left nerve of the same rats. At the end of the experiment, histological studies were made of each nerve removed "en bloc" with the ipsilateral lip orbicular muscle. Five micra-thick sections were stained using conventional and immunohistochemical methods. We analyzed truncal integrity, fibroblast proliferation, demyelination, lymphocyte proliferation, granulomatous reaction, and muscle degeneration in both types of anastomosis. The differences between the two types of anastomosis were statistically non-significant, and both interventions produced similar functional results. Small differences between the techniques might condition the use of one or the other in selected cases.

Prevention and early detection of tuberculosis.

1,570 subjects with known TB contacts (active TB, old TB and primary infection) and individuals with no known contacts but belonging to 'defined TB risk groups' were screened at the Department of Tuberculosis Prevention at the La Fe Hospital in Valencia. The total infection rate was 40.13% and active TBC was diagnosed in 2.23% of the population screened. Infection and disease rates were significant in all the groups examined, showing the need for correct screening not only for active TB contacts but also for child primary infection contacts, old TB cases not previously screened and subjects with no known contacts but belonging to a 'TB risk group'.

Unusual association of secondary tonsillar and cerebral tuberculosis.

The patient was a 50-year-old alcoholic man with a left palatine tonsillar ulcer. Histopathological and bacteriological studies established the diagnosis of tonsillar tuberculosis with asymptomatic advanced pulmonary tuberculosis and multiple cerebral supra- and infratentorial tuberculomas previously unnoticed.

[Cold retropharyngeal abscess associated with cervical vertebral tuberculosis]. / Absceso frío retrofaríngeo asociado a tuberculosis vertebral cervical.

A 38-year-old man, parenteral drug user affected by vertebral tuberculosis with involvement of the first, second and third cervical vertebrae associated with a cold retropharyngeal abscess is presented. Treatment and main clinical and histopathologic features of this very unusual location of tuberculosis are discussed.