Sentinel node disection in the treatment of early stages of vulvar cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the results of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in the initial stages of vulvar cancer and the recurrences that may appear. STUDY DESIGN: 76 patients with vulvar carcinoma, Stage I and II. Between 2000 and 2010, identification of the SLN was performed with a perilesional injection of Tc99m and vital dye. Ninety sentinel lymph nodes were found. They were removed separately, and lymphadenectomy was performed depending on the involved areas. Vulvar tumour was also removed. RESULTS: 76 patients were included in the study; 20 (22.22%) out of 90 SLNs presented metastases and 70 (77.77%) did not. There were no false negatives, and the sensitivity and negative predictive value reached 100%. Thirty-six months after treatment, one patient presented recurrence with a negative SLN, and two with positive SLNs. CONCLUSION: Biopsy of the SLN is a reasonable alternative to lymphadenectomy in patients with vulvar cancer Stage I and II.

Aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia among adults in an H1N1 pandemic year: the role of respiratory viruses.

This study aimed to determine the aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by adding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to conventional methods and to describe the clinical and laboratory features between patients with bacterial pneumonia (BP) and viral pneumonia (VP). Adults with CAP admitted from November 2009 to October 2010 were included. Demographics, comorbidities, severity and clinical features were recorded. Conventional microbiological methods included blood and sputum cultures, acute and convalescent serologic samples, and antigen urinary detection. New methods included multiplex PCR for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis and 15 respiratory viruses. A total of 169 patients were included. Using conventional methods, we identified a pathogen in 51 % of cases. With PCR, up to 70 % of cases had an aetiological diagnosis. Forty-five patients had BP (34 %), 22 had VP (17 %) and 25 (19 %) had co-infection (BP and VP). Pneumococci and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were the most frequently identified pathogens. Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) median values were significantly higher in BP than in VP patients. Shaking chills, higher CURB score and shock were significantly more frequent in BP. A viral infection was identified in more than one-third of patients with CAP. Clinical and laboratory features could help to differentiate between VP and BP and to guide empirical therapy.

Recent improvement in long-term survival after a COPD hospitalisation.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based international guidelines on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their corresponding recommendations, were established to improve individual COPD prognosis, and ultimately to improve survival. The aim of this study was to determine whether the long-term mortality after discharge from a COPD hospitalisation has improved recently, and the effect of co-morbidity treatment in improving COPD prognosis. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study design of two cohorts 7 years apart, patients discharged from the same university hospital after a COPD exacerbation were followed-up, and their outcomes compared. Demographic and clinical variables, as well as lung function, were collected with the same protocol by the same investigators. Comprehensive assessments of co-morbidities and treatments were undertaken. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were estimated, and outcomes were compared by means of Cox regression methods. RESULTS: Overall, 135 participants in the 1996-7 cohort and 181 participants in the 2003-4 cohort were studied. Both cohorts were comparable in their baseline demographic and clinical variables, and median follow-up was 439 days. The 3-year mortality was lower in the 2003-4 cohort (38.7%) than in the 1996-7 cohort (47.4%) (p=0.017), and the RR of death after adjustment for gender, age, body mass index, co-morbidities, lung function and mMRC (modified Medical Research Council scale) dyspnoea was 0.66 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.97). Long-term survival improved in the second cohort for patients with COPD with heart failure or cancer (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A recent trend towards better prognosis of patients with COPD after hospital discharge is described and is likely to be associated with better management and treatment of COPD and co-morbidities.

[Post-hospital mortality in patients re-admitted due to COPD. Utility of BODE index]. / Mortalidad posthospitalaria en pacientes reingresadores por EPOC. Utilidad del índice BODE.

BACKGROUND: The BODE index can accurately predict mortality in ambulatory patients with COPD, although its utility in hospitalized patients is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated all patients hospitalized during one year for acute exacerbation of COPD with one or more admissions in the previous year. On discharge, previous functional dependence, comorbidity, depression and quality of life, among other variables, were evaluated. Body mass index, 6-minute walking test, dyspnea scale and spirometry with a post-bronchodilator test were performed on the last day of hospitalization and the BODE index was calculated using these data. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included, with a mean age of 71.6 +/- 8.9 years. Of these patients, 42 (63.6%) died before the end of the study (median follow-up 1,490 days). A higher mortality was observed among the oldest patients (p < 0.004), those with more comorbidities (p < 0.05), worse score on the BODE index (p < 0.006; OR 1.3; CI 95%: 1.07-1.54) and the dyspnea scale (p < 0.008). Functional dependence (p < 0.02), and pCO2 > 45 mmHg at discharge (p < 0.001) were also significant predictors of mortality. In the multivariate analysis, only hypercapnia (p < 0.004; OR 3.48; CI 95% 1.49-8.14) and the BODE index (p < 0.0005; OR 1.47; CI 95%: 1.18-1.82) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The BODE index measured at hospital discharge is an accurate and reliable predictor of mortality in patients who require several admissions for acute exacerbations of COPD.

Mortalidad posthospitalaria en pacientes reingresadores por EPOC. Utilidad del índice BODE / Post-hospital mortality in patients re-admitted due to COPD. Utility of BODE index

Introducción: El índice BODE es un buen predictor de mortalidad en pacientes ambulatorios con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), aunque no se ha demostrado su utilidad en los pacientes hospitalizados. Material y métodos: Estudiamos prospectivamente los pacientes hospitalizados por exacerbación de la EPOC con uno o más ingresos en el año previo. Al alta se valoró la dependencia funcional previa, la comorbilidad, la depresión y la calidad de vida, entre otras variables. Se realizó una prueba de marcha de 6 minutos, una espirometría con prueba broncodilatadora, se valoró la escala de disnea, el índice de masa corporal y se calculó el índice BODE. Resultados: Se incluyeron 66 pacientes con una edad media de 71,6 ± 8,9 años. Fallecieron 42 pacientes (63,6%) antes del final del estudio (mediana de seguimiento de 1.490 días). La mortalidad fue más elevada en los pacientes más ancianos (p < 0,004), con más comorbilidad (p < 0,05) y con peores puntuaciones en la escala de disnea (p < 0,008) y en el índice BODE (p < 0,006; odds ratio [OR] 1,3; intervalo de confianza [IC] 95%: 1,07-1,54). La dependencia funcional (p < 0,02) y la pCO2 ≥ 45 mmHg al alta (p < 0,001) fueron también predictores de mortalidad. En el análisis multivariante sólo la hipercapnia y el índice BODE fueron variables predictoras independientes de mortalidad. Conclusiones: El índice BODE calculado al alta hospitalaria es una variable útil como predictor de mortalidad posterior en pacientes reingresadores por EPOC. Su capacidad pronóstica es superior al FEV (AU)

Background: The BODE index can accurately predict mortality in ambulatory patients with COPD, although its utility in hospitalized patients is unknown. Material and methods: We prospectively evaluated all patients hospitalized during one year for acute exacerbation of COPD with one or more admissions in the previous year. On discharge, previous functional dependence, comorbidity, depression and quality of life, among other variables, were evaluated. Body mass index, 6-minute walking test, dyspnea scale and spirometry with a post-bronchodilator test were performed on the last day of hospitalization and the BODE index was calculated using these data. Results: A total of 66 patients were included, with a mean age of 71.6 ± 8.9 years. Of these patients, 42 (63.6%) died before the end of the study (median follow-up 1,490 days). A higher mortality was observed among the oldest patients (p < 0.004), those with more comorbidities (p < 0.05), worse score on the BODE index (p < 0.006; OR 1.3; CI 95%: 1.07-1.54) and the dyspnea scale (p < 0.008). Functional dependence (p < 0.02), and pCO2 > 45 mmHg at discharge (p < 0.001) were also significant predictors of mortality. In the multivariate analysis, only hypercapnia (p < 0.004; OR 3.48; CI 95% 1.49-8.14) and the BODE index (p < 0.0005; OR 1.47; CI 95%: 1.18-1.82) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: The BODE index measured at hospital discharge is an accurate and reliable predictor of mortality in patients who require several admissions for acute exacerbations of COPD (AU)

Metástasis pancreática solitaria en paciente con neoplasia de pulmón / Solitary metastasis to the pancreas in a patient with lung cancer

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Comparación entre el análisis automático y manual de la polisomnografía convencional en el diagnóstico del síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño / Comparison Between Automatic and Manual Analysis in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

OBJETIVO: Comparar el análisis automático y manual de las variables neurológicas y respiratorias obtenidas por el polisomnógrafo de 16 canales Somnostar alfa 4100. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Se incluyó en el estudio a 28 pacientes con sospecha de síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño a los cuales se les practicó una polisomnografía convencional. Se decidió de forma aleatoria el orden de las lecturas automática y manual de los episodios respiratorios, fases de sueño y arousals. Se realizó un análisis de concordancia (coeficiente de correlación intraclase), así como una representación gráfica de las diferencias utilizando el método de Bland y Altman. RESULTADOS: Se observó una mala concordancia entre los dos tipos de análisis respecto a las fases de sueño, sobre todo REM y las fases de sueño profundo. Respecto a los parámetros respiratorios la concordancia fue buena para las apneas. Sin embargo, el análisis automático infraestimó las hipopneas. Si se considera el análisis manual como patrón de referencia para un punto de corte de índice de apneas-hipopneas mayor de 10, el análisis automático obtuvo una sensibilidad del 55 por ciento, una especificidad y un valor predictivo positivo del 100 por ciento, un valor predictivo negativo del 47 por ciento y una eficacia diagnóstica global del 67,8 por ciento. CONCLUSIONES: El análisis automático del sistema Somnostar 4100 proporciona una lectura inadecuada de las fases de sueño así como de los episodios respiratorios, fundamentalmente de las hipopneas (AU)

[Comparison between automatic and manual analysis in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]. / Comparación entre el análisis automático y manual de la polisomnografía convencional en el diagnóstico del síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño.

OBJECTIVE: To compare automatic and manual analysis of neurological and respiratory variables obtained with the SomnoStar alpha 4100, a 16-channel polysomnographic system. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-eight patients suspected of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome were enrolled and given conventional polysomnographic tests. The order of automatic and manual reading of respiratory episodes, sleep stages, and arousals was randomized. We assessed agreement with the intraclass correlation coefficient and plotted standardized differences against standardized means, using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: Poor agreement was observed between the 2 types of analysis of sleep stages, especially for REM and deep sleep stages. Agreement was good for apneic episodes among the respiratory variables; however, automatic analysis underestimated hypopneas. If manual analysis is considered the gold standard at the apnea-hypopnea index cut point greater than 10, automatic analysis obtained a sensitivity of 55%, a specificity and positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 47%, and an overall diagnostic yield of 67.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The automatic analysis of the SomnoStar 4100 system provides an unsatisfactory reading of sleep stages and respiratory episodes, especially hypopneas.

Effects of antibiotics on protected specimen brush sampling in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The effects of antibiotic treatment on the results of protected specimen brushing (PSB) in ventilator-associated pneumonia were prospectively assessed by performing this procedure before antibiotic treatment, and 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after initiation of antibiotic treatment, in 35 ventilated patients who developed pneumonia during mechanical ventilation. The number of micro-organisms isolated, their concentration (colony-forming units (cfu) mL(-1)), and the number of cases with a positive PSB (> or =10(3) cfu x mL(-1)) were evaluated. Within 12 h of the initiation of effective antibiotic treatment a rapid, significant decrease in the numbers of organisms isolated, their individual concentrations and the percentage of positive PSB results were observed. Certain bacterial species (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzee) appeared to be more vulnerable to antibiotics than others (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanni). This data confirms that prior antibiotic treatment, even after only a few hours of activity, significantly decreases the sensitivity of protected brush specimen; this effect appears to be particularly marked among the species involved in early ventilator associated pneumonia.

Human tooth enamel as a record of the comparative lead exposure of prehistoric and modern people.

There is a considerable body of evidence to support the contention that the atmospheric Pb burden is now considerably greater than it was in the remote past. However, as there are a diversity of potential environmental pathways leading to Pb ingestion, it is not clear how atmospheric Pb levels relate to human exposure. It is necessary to establish a baseline for human exposure to Pb from natural sources in the pre-metallurgical past, with which contemporary exposure can be compared. This paper addresses this issue by comparing the Pb content of human dental enamel--an established proxy for Pb exposure--from modern and archaeological, pre-metallurgical individuals using thermal and plasma ionisation mass spectrometry. It is shown that mean Neolithic enamel Pb contents are approximately 0.31 +/- 0.04 ppm. These values are only one order of magnitude lower than previously reported data for the same tissues for modern juveniles, despite an established 400-fold increase in the atmospheric Pb burden. The results suggest that 'natural' exposure to Pb in food and water may have been higher than previously thought, and that the link between atmospheric Pb and human exposure warrants further investigation.

The distribution of lead within ancient and modern human teeth: implications for long-term and historical exposure monitoring.

The preservation of lead within human tissue makes it possible to monitor long-term exposure to the element and to model changing sources of lead pollution throughout the lifetime of an individual. Dental tissues have recently been shown to be particularly useful for this purpose. Enamel, for instance, forms at known stages of life and is chemically stable in vivo whereas dentine is remodelled in a predictable fashion. The relative stability of enamel is reflected in its excellent post-mortem preservation. This raises the possibility of using historical or archaeological material to reconstruct long-term trends and establish baseline data relating to exposure among pre-industrial or even prehistoric populations. The use of archaeological material is currently problematic, however, because of the site-specific nature of diagenesis and incomplete understanding of its chemistry, particularly in respect of lead uptake into dental tissue from the burial environment. A detailed study of lead distribution within both ancient and modern human teeth is presented. Conclusions are drawn on the pattern of lead distribution resulting from tissue formation and the manner of its alteration in the burial environment. In particular, attention is drawn to a consistent enrichment of lead within the outer 30 microns of the enamel of both ancient and modern teeth which appears to be unrelated to diagenesis. The implications for current approaches to long-term monitoring and for the reconstruction of historical and archaeological exposure patterns are discussed.

Current usefulness of procaine penicillin in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to determine whether procaine penicillin could be used in the treatment of suspected pneumococcal pneumonia of mild to moderate severity in an area with a high prevalence of penicillin resistance. Forty-nine patients were treated with 1.2 x 10(6) U of i.m. procaine penicillin every 12 h. By intent-to-treat analysis, 40 of 49 patients were cured and no patient died. Streptococcus pneumoniae could be demonstrated in 17 patients; 5 of 17 isolates were resistant to penicillin (MICs 0.25-4 microg/ml). Fifteen of 17 patients were cured with procaine penicillin, one presented allergy, and one was a therapeutic failure. Mean penicillin serum levels were 2.39 +/- 1.16 microg/ml (peak) and 0.61 +/- 0.38 microg/ml (trough). The results suggest that procaine penicillin may still be useful in the empirical therapy of suspected pneumococcal pneumonia.

Protected bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of protected bronchoalveolar lavage (PBAL) in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and to determine the effect of antibiotic therapy on its microbiological and cytological results. We prospectively studied 102 episodes of suspected VAP in 93 patients. Subsequent follow-up confirmed VAP in 35 of the 102 (34%) cases. In 55 of the 102 (55%) VAP was ruled out, and the diagnosis remained undetermined in 12 of the 102 (12%) episodes. In the VAP group, 30 of the 35 (86%) PBAL (> or = 10(4) colony-forming units (cfu)-mL-1) cultures were positive. In the non-VAP group, 5 of the 55 (9%) PBAL cultures were positive. A Giemsa stain of PBAL samples was performed in 32 of the 35 cases of VAP. Intracellular organisms (ICO) were found in 24 of the 32 (75%) cases. Seven of the other eight cases without evidence of ICO were already on antibiotics. In the non-VAP group, ICO were present in only 1 out of 55 (2%) cases. The mean ICO was significantly higher in the group who had not received antibiotics when compared with those patients previously treated for less than 48 h (p < or = 0.01) and those treated for more than 48 h (p = 0.009). The sensitivity of protected bronchoalveolar lavage quantitative cultures was 87% and the specificity 91%. The sensitivity of cytological analysis for intracellular organisms was 75% and the specificity 98%. According to our results, if the patient is already on antibiotics, the direct examination of protected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is less reliable, although still helpful.

Risk factors for the development of Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia in hospitalized adults.

Potential risk factors for developing Haemophilus influenzae nosocomial pneumonia have not been sufficiently studied. We wanted to investigate the incidence and risk factors for the development of Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia in the hospital by means of a multivariate analysis. A total of 468 cases of nosocomial pneumonia were observed during the study period, 317 (68%) of which were aetiologically diagnosed by means of highly reliable methods, and H. influenzae was isolated in 57 of them. Fifty of the 57 episodes of H. influenzae pneumonia occurred in mechanically-ventilated patients. Underlying diseases were: medical in 12 cases, surgical in 15 cases, and traumatological in 22. Variables associated with Haemophilus influenzae nosocomial pneumonia in intubated patients after the univariate analysis were: "period between admission and pneumonia 2-7 days" and "no previous antibiotics". A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the variables "no previous antibiotics" and "coma on admission" were risk factors for H. influenzae pneumonia. In nonintubated patients, no risk factors were found for H. influenzae pneumonia compared with other nosocomial pneumonia. We conclude that H. influenzae was involved in 57 out of 317 (18%) of nosocomial pneumonia registered in our institution, and the majority of patients (50 out of 57) were mechanically-ventilated. In this particular subgroup, coma of the patient on admission to hospital and absence of antibiotic treatment prior to developing pneumonia constitute two definite risk factors for developing H. influenzae nosocomial pneumonia.

Efficacy, safety, and therapeutic relevance of transthoracic aspiration with ultrathin needle in nonventilated nosocomial pneumonia.

In order to determine the potential indications of transthoracic needle aspiration (TNA) using the ultrathin 25G needle for the diagnosis of nonopportunistic lung infections, we prospectively analyzed the diagnostic efficacy, safety, and therapeutic implications of its results in 97 patients with nonventilated nosocomial pneumonias (NVNP). The sensitivity of TNA was 60.9%. Specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 100%. Negative predictive value (NPV) was 34.1%. The complications in the studied cases were nil in 89 cases (91.8%), transient hemoptoic expectoration (< 10 ml) in five (5.2%), and self-limited partial pneumothorax in three (3.1%). No complications needing treatment were observed. On the basis of a positive TNA result, the initial antibiotic treatment was modified in 29 of 97 (29.9%) cases. In twelve of these, the empirical antibiotic regimen was demonstrated to be ineffective. We conclude that, using the 25G needle, TNA has a good diagnostic efficacy and is a safe procedure for the etiologic investigation of NVNP. A positive TNA result has significant therapeutic relevance, even in cases where broad-spectrum antibiotics are empirically prescribed.

Pulmonary thromboembolism associated with superior vena cava thrombosis following permanent transvenous endocardial cardiac pacing.

The case of a 70 year old man with superior vena cava syndrome associated with transvenous pacemaker electrode and a 2 yr history of right ventricular failure is reported. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a major thrombus in the right pulmonary artery, and pulmonary thromboembolism was confirmed.

Branhamella catarrhalis respiratory infections.

Branhamella catarrhalis is an aerobic Gram-negative diplococcus. It has been traditionally regarded as an oropharyngeal commensal and until recently was only identified as a pathogen in cases of bronchopulmonary infections. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of the respiratory infections caused by B. catarrhalis and to know the antibiotic susceptibility of this microorganism. We retrospectively studied 32 lower respiratory tract infections, caused by B. catarrhalis (20 cases of bronchial infection and 12 cases of pneumonia), diagnosed between 1988-1989 in our hospital. All patients had an underlying disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart disease being the most frequent. The aetiological diagnostic procedures were: sputum culture in 28 cases (15 in pure culture and 13 mixed), protected specimen brush (PSB) in three cases and transthoracic needle aspiration (TNA) in one case. Twenty B. catarrhalis isolates were penicillin and ampicillin-resistant, 11 in the pneumonia group and 9 in the bronchial infection group. All isolates were sensitive to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid and second generation cephalosporin. In our group four patients died. We conclude that B. catarrhalis is a not infrequent cause of respiratory infection, particularly in COPD patients, and that the high incidence of antibiotic resistance to penicillin and ampicillin should be taken into account before considering an empirical antibiotic treatment.