Seudoquiste pancreático y embarazo. A propósito de un caso / Pancreatic pseudocysts and pregnancy. A case report

Los seudoquistes pancreáticos son colecciones localizadas de secreciones pancreáticas, y su frecuencia durante el embarazo es muy baja, por lo cual el tratamiento de esta condición no está estandarizado. Se presenta el informe de una paciente de 27 años y un embarazo de 26 semanas con un seudoquiste pancreático tratado exitosamente de forma quirúrgica

Pancreatic pseudocysts are localized collections of pancreatic secretions. Their frequency in pregnancy is very low and consequently there is no standardized management. We report the case of a 27 year old patient with a 26 week pregnancy and a pancreatic pseudocyst that was successfully treated with surgery

Concentraciones de dimetilarginina asimétrica en pacientes con preeclampsia y gestantes normotensas sanas / Dimethylarginine concentrations in patients with preeclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant patients

Objetivo: Comparar las concentraciones de dimetilarginina asimétrica en pacientes con preeclampsia y gestantes normotensas sanas. Método: Se seleccionó a un total de 100 pacientes. Se incluyó a 50 pacientes con preeclampsia como los casos (grupo A) y a un grupo control (grupo B) seleccionado por tener una edad y un índice de masa corporal similares al grupo de estudio que consistió en 50 gestantes normotensas sanas. Las muestras de sangre se recolectaron en todas las pacientes antes del parto e inmediatamente después del diagnóstico en el grupo B para determinar las concentraciones de dimetilarginina asimétrica. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las concentraciones de dimetilarginina asimétrica entre las pacientes del grupo A (0,551 ± 0,027 pmol/L) y las pacientes del grupo B (0,487 ± 0,024 pmol/L p < 0,05). No se observó una correlación con los valores de presión arterial sistólica ni diastólica (p = ns). Se observaron correlaciones significativas entre las concentraciones de dimetilarginina asimétrica con las concentraciones de ácido úrico, proteinuria en 24 h, transaminasas y creatinina (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Las pacientes con preeclampsia presentaron concentraciones significativamente más altas de dimetilarginina asimétrica al compararlas con gestantes normotensas sanas, lo cual la convierte en un marcador de riesgo útil en pacientes con preeclampsia

Objective: To compare asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in patients with preeclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant women. Method: We selected a total of 100 patients. Fifty patients with preeclampsia were selected as cases (group A) and 50 healthy normotensive pregnant women with the same age and body mass index as those in group A were selected as controls (group B). Blood samples were collected in all patients before labor and immediately after diagnosis in group B to determine asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations between patients in group A (0.551 ± 0.027 pmol/L) and those in group B (0.487 ± 0.024 pmol/L; p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found with values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = ns). Significant correlations were found between asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations and uric acid, 24-hour proteinuria, transaminase and creatinine levels (P<.05). Conclusions: Asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia than in healthy normotensive pregnant women, making it a useful risk marker in patients with preeclampsia

Coccidioidomicosis diseminada y embarazo. Reporte de un caso / Disseminated coccidioidomycosis in pregnancy. A case report

La coccidioidomicosis es una infección fúngica causada por la inhalación del Coccidioides immitis oCoccidioides posadasii. Ha sido descrita durante el embarazo como devastadora y se estima que las embarazadas con infecciones sintomáticas tienen un aumento del 10% de riesgo de diseminación extrapulmonar y, si esta ocurre, un 90% de mortalidad. Se presenta el caso de una paciente embarazada de 39 semanas con dolor torácico y tos seca. La radiografía de tórax demostró opacificación de ambos campos pulmonares y neumomediastino. El diagnóstico definitivo se confirmó en la necropsia por la presencia de Coccidioides immitis en el tejido pulmonar y nódulos mediastinales

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by inhalation of Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. Infection by this fungus during pregnancy can be devastating and it is estimated that pregnant women with symptomatic infections have a 10% increase in the risk of extra-pulmonary dissemination, which carries a 90% risk of mortality. We describe the case of a woman at 39 weeks of pregnancy with chest pain and dry cough. Chest X-ray showed opacity of both lungs and pneumomediastinum. Definitive diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy due to the presence ofCoccidioides immitis in lung tissue and mediastinal nodules

Factor de necrosis tumoral alfa y velocimetría Doppler de las arterias uterinas en preeclámpsicas y embarazadas normotensas sanas / Tumor necrosis factor alpha and Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries in preeclamptic patients and healthy normotensive pregnant women

Objetivo: Establecer las concentraciones plasmáticas de factor de necrosis tumoral alfa (FNT-α) en preeclámpsicas y embarazadas normotensas, y relacionar los valores de los parámetros de velocimetría Doppler de las arterias uterinas con las concentraciones séricas. Material y métodos: Se seleccionó a 160 sujetos. Se incluyó a80 preeclámpsicas como los casos (grupo A) y a un grupo control de 80 embarazadas sanas (grupo B) que fueron seleccionadas por tener una edad y un índice de masa corporal similares alos del grupo de estudio. Las muestras de sangre para la determinación de FNT-α y las mediciones de los índices de pulsatilidad, índice de resistencia y relación de flujo sístole/diástole de las arterias uterinas se realizaron en todas las pacientes antes del parto e inmediatamente después del diagnóstico en el grupo de casos. Resultados: Las pacientes del grupo A presentaron concentraciones significativamente más elevadas de FNT-α que las embarazadas del grupo B (p < 0,05). Las mediciones del índice de pulsatilidad, índice de resistencia y relación de flujo sístole/diástole de las arterias uterinas mostraron valores significativamente más altos en el grupo de las preeclámpsicas (p < 0,05). Al correlacionar las concentraciones de FNT-α plasmáticas con los valores de velocimetría Doppler de las arterias uterinas se observó que esta era significativa con los 3 parámetros evaluados (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Las preeclámpsicas presentan concentraciones plasmáticas de FNT-α más altas que las embarazadas normotensas y existe correlación significativa entre las concentraciones plasmáticas y los parámetros de velocimetría Doppler de las arterias uterinas

Objective: To establish plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations in patients with preeclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant women and to determine the association between Doppler velocimetry with serum concentrations. Material and methods: We selected 160 women. Eighty preeclamptic patients were selected as cases (group A) and 80 healthy pregnant women with a similar age and body mass index to patients in group A were selected as controls (group B). Blood samples for TNF-α and measurements of the pulsatility index, resistance index and the systolic/diastolic blood flow ratio of the uterine arteries were performed in all patients before labor and immediately after diagnosis in group A. Results: Concentrations of TNF-α were significantly higher in group A than in group B (P < .05). Measurements of the pulsatility index, resistance index and the systolic/diastolic blood flow ratio of the uterine arteries were higher in group A (P < .05). When TNF-α concentrations were correlated with Doppler velocimetry values, a significant association was observed with all three of the parameters evaluated (P < .05). Conclusions: Preeclamptic patients showed higher plasma TNF-α concentrations than normotensive pregnant women. Plasma TNF-α concentrations were significantly correlated with parameters of Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries

Velocimetría Doppler del flujo sanguíneo de la arteria uterina y riesgo de muerte perinatal en preeclámpsicas / Doppler velocimetry of the uterine artery blood flow and risk of perinatal death in preeclamptic patients

Objetivo Relacionar los valores de la velocimetría Doppler del flujo sanguíneo de las arterias uterinas con el riesgo de muerte perinatal en preeclámpsicas. Materiales y método Se seleccionaron 80 pacientes con diagnóstico de preeclampsia. Las preeclámpsicas fueron divididas en aquellas con muertes perinatales y aquellas sin muertes perinatales. Se evaluaron resultados del índice de pulsatilidad, índice de resistencia y relación sístole/diástole de las arterias uterinas. Resultados Las preeclámpsicas con muertes perinatales no mostraron diferencias con relación a la edad, talla y peso materno comparadas con el grupo sin muertes perinatales (p = ns). Tampoco se encontraron diferencias en la edad gestacional al momento de la realización de la ecografía Doppler y de la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica entre ambos grupos de embarazadas (p = ns). El índice de pulsatilidad (1,206 ± 0,140) y el índice de resistencia (0,684 ± 0,098) de la arteria uterina en las preeclámpsicas con muertes perinatales fue significativamente más alto que en aquellas que no presentaron muertes (1,113 ± 0,109 y 0,605 ± 0,116, respectivamente; p < 0,05). Por otro lado, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los valores promedio de la relación del flujo sanguíneo sistólico/diastólico de la arteria uterina (p = ns).Conclusión Un alto valor del índice de pulsatilidad y resistencia de la velocimetría Doppler de la arteria uterina en preeclámpsicas está relacionado con un incremento del riesgo de muerte perinatal

Objective To determine the association between Doppler velocimetry values of uterine artery blood flow with the risk of perinatal death in preeclamptic patients. Materials and method We selected 80 patients with a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Preeclamptic patients were divided into those with perinatal deaths and those without. The variables analyzed were the pulsatility index, the resistance index, and the systolic/diastolic flow ratio of the uterine arteries. Results There were no differences in maternal age, height or weight between preeclamptic patients with or without perinatal deaths (p = ns), or between gestational age at the time of Doppler ultrasound and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = ns). The pulsatility index (1.206 ± 0.140) and resistance index (0.684 ± 0.098) of the uterine arteries were significantly higher in women with perinatal deaths than in those without (1.113 ± 0.109 and 0.605 ± 0.116, respectively; P<.05). No significant differences were found in mean values of the systolic/diastolic flow ratio of the uterine arteries (p = ns).Conclusion A high value of the pulsatility index and resistance index of the uterine arteries on Doppler velocimetry in preeclamptic patients is associated with an increased risk of perinatal death

Depressive symptoms and headaches in relation to proximity of residence to an alternating-current transmission line right-of-way.

Electric power transmission lines have become objects of public controversy. Hypotheses have linked neurobehavioral effects to the electric and magnetic fields that these lines produce. The authors conducted a telephone interview survey in November 1987 to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and headache in relation to proximity of residence to an alternating-current transmission line in the United States. Proximity to the line, defined as residing on a property abutting the right-of-way or being able to see the towers from one's house or yard, was positively associated with a measure of depressive symptoms. The association was not explained by demographic variables associated with depression or by attitudes about power lines or other environmental issues. The estimated prevalence odds ratio was 2.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-5.1). The estimate did not change appreciably when the definitions of depressive symptoms or of proximity to the line were altered. Nonmigraine headaches had a weaker association with proximity to the line (odds ratio = 1.5, 95% CI 0.76-2.8), and self-reported migraine headaches exhibited no association (odds ratio = 0.99, 95% CI 0.29-3.4). Additional studies of psychological and behavioral measures should be conducted in relation to electric and magnetic fields, with a strong emphasis on improved exposure assessment.

The effects of continuous exposure to 20-kHz sawtooth magnetic fields on the litters of CD-1 mice.

Mated CD-1 mice were exposed to 20-kHz sawtooth magnetic fields similar to those associated with video display terminals (VDT). Four groups of animals were continuously exposed from day 1 to day 18 of pregnancy to field strengths of 0, 3.6, 17, or 200 microT. There were no less than 185 mated dams in each exposure group. On day 18, the dams were sacrificed and assessed for weight gain and pregnancy. The litters were evaluated for numbers of implantations, fetal deaths and resorptions, gross external, visceral and skeletal malformations, and fetal weights. There were no less than 140 pregnant females in each group, and there were no significant differences between any of the exposure groups and the sham group (0 microT) for any of the end points. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that the 20-kHz VLF magnetic fields associated with video display terminals are teratogenic in mammals.

Acute exposure of rats to air ions: effects on the regional concentration and utilization of serotonin in brain.

Exposure to electrically charged gas molecules (air ions) has been reported to influence physiological and behavioral functions in animals and humans although there is controversy as to whether these findings are valid. A popular hypothesis concerning the reported effects of air ions is that alterations in serotonin (5HT) metabolism, particularly in the brain, are involved. We measured the concentration and turnover of 5HT in rats exposed to 5.0 X 10(5) ions/cm3 for up to 66 hours. Contrary to previous reports of other investigators, we were unable to demonstrate any effect of exposure to air ions or associated DC electric fields on the concentration or turnover of 5HT in rats under carefully controlled and characterized exposure conditions.

Behavioral monitoring of rats during exposure to air ions and DC electric fields.

Air ions and direct current (DC) electric fields have been reported to exert subtle behavioral and biological effects on rodents and humans. These effects often appear inconsistent, yet there have been few attempts to resolve these inconsistencies by experimental replication. Rats exposed to negatively or positively charged air ions over a wide range of concentrations and exposure periods have been reported to show alterations in their level of locomotor activity. In this study, locomotor activity of Sprague-Dawley rats was quantified during exposure to either unipolar air ions and DC fields of the same polarity or DC fields alone. Both polarities were studied. Air ion concentrations were 5.0 X 10(3), DC fields were 3 kV/m, and exposures lasted 2, 18, or 66 h. In one experiment rats were exposed to DC fields of 12 kV/m. No exposure condition exerted any effect on locomotor activity or rearing behavior. In addition, no behavioral perturbations were observed after the onset of any of the exposure conditions, suggesting that the rats may have failed to detect the altered environment.

Ion exposure chambers for small animals.

Ion exposure chambers that have been designed and tested for use in biological and behavioral research with small animals are described in this report. The chambers exhibit an acceptable degree of uniformity in ion concentration, current density, and electric field within the exposure area. Gaseous by-products of corona discharge (O3 and NO2) have been measured and found to be less than .01 ppm and less than .1 ppm, respectively. Filtered air is fed to the individual exposure chambers, and temperature and humidity are well controlled. Noise due to corona and the air delivery system has been measured.

Regional turnover of norepinephrine and dopamine in rat brain following acute exposure to air ions.

Exposure to air ions has been reported to influence serotonin (5HT), although critical reviews of these studies and previous measurements in our laboratory of the concentration, release, and utilization of brain 5HT indicate that neither the data nor the interpretations of the data are particularly convincing. Measurements of other possibly relevant neurotransmitter systems--norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA)--were made in brain regions selected because of their importance in the modulation of brain functions relating to motivation, arousal, endocrine function, and motor activity, all responses that have been reported to be influenced by air ion exposure. Results indicate that exposure of male Holtzman rats to high concentrations (5.0 X 10(5)/cm3) of positive or negative air ions or to DC electric fields (3.0 kV/m) for periods up to 66 h failed to affect the concentration of NE or DA significantly in any of the brain regions.

Biological effects of small air ions: a review of findings and methods.

A wide variety of effects of exposure to small air ions have been reported, but these are difficult to evaluate because of limitations in experimental design and control. These limitations are discussed, and trends in the literature are reviewed. It is concluded that small air ions are likely to have biological effects, that these effects may be related to polarity, and that where effects occur they are likely to be small in magnitude and difficult to detect reliably.

Effects of atmospheric electricity on some substrates of disordered social behavior.

Epidemiological data indicate that increased small positive air ionization due to changing weather conditions is associated with increases in industrial and automobile accidents, suicide, and crime as well as depression, irritability, and interference with central nervous system (CNS) function. Laboratory research is less consistent, with several studies reporting no effects on mood or performance indicative of CNS disturbance. We have designed an experiment that begins to resolve these contradictory data by examining individual differences in response to small positive air ions. Analysis of these data indicates that whereas mood changes were present for most subjects when exposed to positive ions, assessment of individual differences in susceptibility was essential for detecting effects on performance and physiological activation. For most subjects, mood changes induced by ion exposure were characterized by increased tension and irritability. For susceptible (ion-sensitive) subjects, skin conductance measures showed depressed activation and reaction time increased during exposure to ions. For non-sensitive subjects, skin conductance measures revealed increased activation, with no effects of ions on reaction time.