The usefulness and positive predictive value of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution of the use of imaging tests (ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT)) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. To determine the positive predictive value of these tests and the percentage of negative and complicated appendectomies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study compared adults who underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis at our tertiary hospital during 2015 versus similar patients at our center during 2007. RESULTS: A total of 278patients were included. The rate of negative appendectomies descended to 5%. The positive predictive value of ultrasonography increased to 97.4% in 2015, and the positive predictive value of CT and combined CT and ultrasonography was 100%. The rate of complicated appendicitis increased (23% in 2015). CONCLUSIONS: The use of imaging tests increased, and the rate of "blind" laparotomies decreased. Nevertheless, the rate of complicated appendicitis increased.

Estudio retrospectivo y comparativo de la utilidad y del valor predictivo positivo de la ecografía y la tomografía computarizada en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda en adultos / The usefulness and positive predictive value of ultrasonography vs. computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults: a retrospective study

Objetivo: Analizar la evolución del uso de pruebas de imagen (ecografía y tomografía computarizada [TC]) en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda, el valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y determinar el porcentaje de apendicectomías negativas y complicadas. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo que incluye a los pacientes adultos con apendicectomía por sospecha de apendicitis aguda en 2015 en un hospital terciario. Se compara con los del 2007 publicados previamente. Resultados: La muestra incluye 278 pacientes. La tasa de apendicectomías negativas descendió a un 5%. El VPP de la ecografía aumentó a 97,4% en 2015 y el VPP de la TC y del uso combinado de la ecografía y la TC fue del 100%. El porcentaje de apendicitis complicadas se incrementó (23% en 2015). Conclusiones: Se observó un aumento en el empleo de pruebas de imagen y una disminución de laparotomías en blanco. No obstante, las apendicitis complicadas se han incrementado.(AU)

Objective: To analyze the evolution of the use of imaging tests (ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT)) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. To determine the positive predictive value of these tests and the percentage of negative and complicated appendectomies. Material and methods: This retrospective study compared adults who underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis at our tertiary hospital during 2015 versus similar patients at our center during 2007. Results: A total of 278 patients were included. The rate of negative appendectomies descended to 5%. The positive predictive value of ultrasonography increased to 97.4% in 2015, and the positive predictive value of CT and combined CT and ultrasonography was 100%. The rate of complicated appendicitis increased (23% in 2015). Conclusions: The use of imaging tests increased, and the rate of “blind” laparotomies decreased. Nevertheless, the rate of complicated appendicitis increased.(AU)

Intraoral onlay block bone grafts versus cortical tenting technique on alveolar ridge augmentations: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: To review systematically the bone gain and superficial resorption rate of the onlay block bone grafts versus the cortical tenting technique, as well as secondarily study the postoperative complications, implant survival and success rates, and peri-implant marginal bone loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following the recommended methods for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), an electronic search was performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library of the Cochrane Collaboration (CENTRAL) databases to identify all relevant articles published up to March 2021 on onlay block bone grafts and cortical tenting technique. RESULTS: Eighteen papers complied with the inclusion criteria. In onlay grafts, the vertical bone gain mean was 4.24 mm, and resorption 20.91%; and 4.29 mm in the horizontal augmentation with a resorption of 10.28%. The complication rate was 14.8%. The implant survival and success rates were 100% and 92%; and the mean peri-implant bone loss ranged from 0.6 to 1.26 mm. In cortical tenting technique, the vertical bone gain mean was 6.17 mm and the resorption of 9.99%; and 5.55 mm in the horizontal augmentation with a 6.12% of resorption. The complication rate was 24.6%. The implant survival and success rates were 96.63% and 100%; and the mean peri-implant bone loss ranged from 0.27 to 0.77mm. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations, both techniques offer a predictable way to reconstruct atrophic alveolar ridges, though the cortical tenting technique seems to achieve a greater bone gain and a lower surface resorption. Current evidence is still limited due to the inadequate follow-up, lack of information referred to methodological quality and sample attrition.

The usefulness and positive predictive value of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults: a retrospective study. / Estudio retrospectivo y comparativo de la utilidad y del valor predictivo positivo de la ecografía y la tomografía computarizada en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda en adultos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution of the use of imaging tests (ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT)) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. To determine the positive predictive value of these tests and the percentage of negative and complicated appendectomies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study compared adults who underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis at our tertiary hospital during 2015 versus similar patients at our center during 2007. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients were included. The rate of negative appendectomies descended to 5%. The positive predictive value of ultrasonography increased to 97.4% in 2015, and the positive predictive value of CT and combined CT and ultrasonography was 100%. The rate of complicated appendicitis increased (23% in 2015). CONCLUSIONS: The use of imaging tests increased, and the rate of "blind" laparotomies decreased. Nevertheless, the rate of complicated appendicitis increased.

Use of routine CT-SCANS to detect severe postoperative complications after pancreato-duodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the performance of CT-scans performed one week after pancreato-duodenectomy (PD) to detect severe postoperative complications requiring an invasive treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This monocentric retrospective study was conducted on data collected between 2005 and 2013. Patients undergoing PD underwent CT-scan with IV contrast at the end of the first postoperative week. The results of the CT-scans were analyzed to evaluate the usefulness of this procedure. The main assessment criterion was the occurrence of type-III complication (or greater) according to the Dindo-Clavien classification. RESULTS: In total, 138 patients were included. The mortality rate was 2.2%. The postoperative complication rate was 57.2%. The pancreatic fistula rate was 19.6%; 46 patients (33.3%) presented with a severe complication. A total of 138 CT-scans were analyzed: 44 (31.8%) were abnormal, 94 (68.2%) were normal. Among patients with abnormal CT-scans, 17 (39%) presented with a severe complication requiring an invasive treatment. Among the 94 patients with normal CT-scans, 14 patients (15%) presented a severe postoperative complication. Evaluation of the performance of the CT-scans at the end of the first postoperative week found a sensitivity of 55%, a specificity of 75%, a positive predictive value of 39%, and a negative predictive value of 85%. CONCLUSION: Systematic CT-scans performed at the end of the first postoperative week do not effectively detect severe complications after PD and do not help to prevent them.

Comparación de la herramienta Trigger con el conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) para la detección de eventos adversos en cirugía general / Comparison of the 'Trigger' tool with the minimum basic data set for detecting adverse events in general surgery

Introducción. La cirugía supone una de las tareas de alto riesgo para la aparición de eventos adversos. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue comparar la efectividad de la herramienta Trigger frente al registro de altas de hospitales del Sistema Nacional de Salud en la detección de eventos adversos (EA) en pacientes hospitalizados en cirugía general y sometidos a intervención quirúrgica. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo observacional y descriptivo sobre pacientes ingresados en cirugía general de un hospital de tercer nivel, sometidos a intervención quirúrgica durante el año 2012. La identificación de eventos adversos se llevó a cabo mediante una revisión de historias clínicas empleando una adaptación de la metodología Global Trigger Tool y una revisión del registro del conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) de los mismos pacientes. Una vez identificados los EA se les asignó una categoría de daño y se determinó el grado en que estos podrían haber sido evitados. Para determinar el poder discriminatorio de las herramientas se usaron el área bajo la curva (ROC). Para comparar ambas herramientas se realizó la prueba estadística Hanley y McNei. Resultados. La herramienta Trigger detectó el 89,9% de todos los EA, mientras que el registro CMBD detectó el 28,4% de ellos. La herramienta Trigger obtuvo más información sobre la naturaleza y características de los EA. La prevalencia de EA fue de 36,8%. El área bajo la curva de la herramienta Trigger fue de 0,89, el de la herramienta basada en el registro de CMBD fue de 0,66. Las diferencias mostradas fueron estadísticamente significativas (p<0,001). Conclusiones. La herramienta Trigger detecta 3 veces más eventos adversos que el registro CMBD. La prevalencia de eventos adversos en cirugía general fue más alta de la estimada en otros estudios (AU)

Introduction. Surgery is a high risk for the occurrence of adverse events (AE). The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the Trigger tool with the Hospital National Health System registration of Discharges, the minimum basic data set (MBDS), in detecting adverse events in patients admitted to General Surgery and undergoing surgery. Material and methods. Observational and descriptive retrospective study of patients admitted to general surgery of a tertiary hospital, and undergoing surgery in 2012. The identification of adverse events was made by reviewing the medical records, using an adaptation of "Global Trigger Tool" ethodology, as well as the (MBDS) registered on the same patients. Once the AE were identified, they were classified according to damage and to the extent to which these could have been avoided. The area under the curve (ROC) were used to determine the discriminatory power of the tools. The Hanley and Mcneil test was used to compare both tools. Results. AE prevalence was 36.8%. The TT detected 89.9% of all AE, while the MBDS detected 28.48%. The TT provides more information on the nature and characteristics of the AE. The area under the curve was 0.89 for the TT and 0.66 for the MBDS. These differences were statistically significant (P<.001). Conclusions. The Trigger tool detects three times more adverse events than the MBDS registry. The prevalence of adverse events in General Surgery is higher than that estimated in other studies (AU)

Salivary glucose as a metabolic control marker in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A study was made of the correlation between the serum and salivary glucose levels in healthy subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes, in order to establish the validity of salivary glucose determination in monitoring glycemia. Ninety-seven subjects were included in the study: 47 diabetic patients and 46 controls, aged between 40- and 80-years-of-age. Venous blood and saliva samples were collected in both groups under fasting conditions and after administering a test meal (15% proteins, 55% carbohydrates and 30% lipids). The glucose levels were measured using the glucose oxidase technique. The salivary glucose levels were seen to be greater in the diabetic group vs the controls both under fasting conditions (baseline) and after the meal (postprandial) (p=0.023 and p=0.008, respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the serum and salivary glucose levels at baseline and under resting conditions, particularly in the diabetic group (r=0.389, p=0.002). The coefficient of determination of the simple linear regression model was R2=0.042, showing salivary glucose to be related to the blood glucose levels. In conclusion, salivary glucose concentration is correlated to serum glucose, particularly in type 2 diabetics.

[Comparison of the "Trigger" tool with the minimum basic data set for detecting adverse events in general surgery]. / Comparación de la herramienta Trigger con el conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) para la detección de eventos adversos en cirugía general.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is a high risk for the occurrence of adverse events (AE). The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the Trigger tool with the Hospital National Health System registration of Discharges, the minimum basic data set (MBDS), in detecting adverse events in patients admitted to General Surgery and undergoing surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational and descriptive retrospective study of patients admitted to general surgery of a tertiary hospital, and undergoing surgery in 2012. The identification of adverse events was made by reviewing the medical records, using an adaptation of "Global Trigger Tool" methodology, as well as the (MBDS) registered on the same patients. Once the AE were identified, they were classified according to damage and to the extent to which these could have been avoided. The area under the curve (ROC) were used to determine the discriminatory power of the tools. The Hanley and Mcneil test was used to compare both tools. RESULTS: AE prevalence was 36.8%. The TT detected 89.9% of all AE, while the MBDS detected 28.48%. The TT provides more information on the nature and characteristics of the AE. The area under the curve was 0.89 for the TT and 0.66 for the MBDS. These differences were statistically significant (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Trigger tool detects three times more adverse events than the MBDS registry. The prevalence of adverse events in General Surgery is higher than that estimated in other studies.

Performance of ZnO synthesized by sol-gel as photocatalyst in the photooxidation reaction of NO.

ZnO samples were prepared by sol-gel method applying a factorial design in order to improve the photocatalytic properties of the semiconductor oxide in the NO photooxidation reaction. The concentrations of zinc acetate and ammonium hydroxide were selected as critical variables in the synthesis of ZnO. Nine samples of ZnO were obtained as product of the factorial design and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO samples was associated with the physical properties developed by each sample according to its respective conditions of synthesis. Some photocatalytic reaction parameters, such as mass of photocatalyst, irradiance, and relative humidity, were modified in order to evaluate its effect in the photocatalytic conversion of NO. As a relevant point, the relative humidity played an important role in the increase of the selectivity of the NO photooxidation reaction to innocuous nitrate ions when ZnO was used as photocatalyst.

Reservorios venosos subcutáneos tipo port-a-cath. Ventajas del acceso quirúrgico mediante venotomía cefálica / Port-A-Cath implantable venous access system. Advantages ofsurgical access by cephalic venotomy

Introducción: La colocación de dispositivos implantables permanentes ha aumentado exponencialmente debido al aumento de indicaciones. El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar las ventajas de la utilización de la disección de vena cefálica para la colocación de sistemas venosos centrales. Métodos: Estudio longitudinal, descriptivo y retrospectivo, en el cual analizamos 265 pacientes consecutivos, recogidos entre enero de 2010 y octubre de 2013, a los que se les colocó un reservorio venoso subcutáneo mediante venotomía de la vena cefálica en el surco deltopectoral como acceso primario. Se detallan complicaciones intraoperatorias y postoperatorias tempranas y tardías. Resultados: En 253 pacientes se canaliza la vena cefálica, representando una tasa de éxito del 95,5 %. No se asocian complicaciones intraoperatorias como neumotórax o hemotórax. La tasa de complicaciones tempranas es el del 4 %, y tardías del 11,5 %, con un seguimiento mínimo de ocho meses. Se asociaron a retirada del sistema en 14 pacientes. Conclusión: El acceso por vena cefálica en régimen de cirugía mayor ambulatoria es seguro, con una alta tasa de éxito en nuestro estudio, y con una tasa de complicaciones tempranas y tardías bajas igual al acceso mediante punción sin riesgo de neumo-hemotórax (AU)

Introduction: The use of totally implantable access ports has increased exponentially due to the increase of indications. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the advantages of using surgical venous cutdowns of the cefalic vein to place central venous systems. Patients and methods: Longitudinal, descriptive and retrospective study, which analyzed 265 consecutive patients, collected between January 2010 and October 2013. In these patients a subcutaneous venous reservoir was placed by opening the cephalic vein in the deltopectoral groove as primary access. Intraoperative and postoperative early and late complications were documented in detail. Results: The primary success rate was 95.5 % for the venous cutdowns. No intraoperative complications such as pneumothorax or haemothorax were associated. The early complication rate is 4 %; late complications rate is 11.5 %, with a minimum follow-up of eight months. In 14 cases the complications were associated with the removal of the system. Conclusion: The surgical venous cutdown in ambulatory surgery is safe, with a high success rate in our study, and a rate of early and late complications like puncture of the subclavian vein approach, without risk of pneumo-haemothorax (AU)

Photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine by hydrothermally synthesized Bi2MoO 6 in presence of EDTA.

Bi2MoO6 oxide was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction in the presence of EDTA under different experimental conditions (time of reaction and EDTA concentration) in order to obtain materials with specific textural properties. It was determined that the addition of EDTA influences the final physical properties of Bi2MoO6. The photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6 samples was evaluated in the degradation reaction of indigo carmine (IC) in aqueous solution under solar radiation type. The best results as photocatalyst were obtained with the sample hydrothermally synthesized at 150 ºC for 4h in presence of a 0.031 M EDTA solution. This sample was able to whiten a solution of IC in a 94% after 120 min of lamp irradiation with t 1/2 = 31 min. In general, the samples prepared with lower concentrations of EDTA were the best photocatalysts. A gradual decrease in the activity was observed in the samples prepared with the same EDTA concentration as was increased in the reaction time. Beyond differences in morphology and textural properties of the samples prepared, the presence of EDTA by-products on the samples and the decomposition degree of it were important factors in determining the activity of the photocatalysts. Analysis of total organic carbon (TOC) of samples irradiated for 100 h confirmed that Bi2MoO6 oxide is able to mineralize the complex organic molecule of IC to CO2 and H2O in 55 %.

Protocolo de extracción y procesamiento de células madre adultas del tejido adiposo abdominal: coordenadas del cirujano plástico en la investigación traslacional / Protocol of extraction and processing of adult stem cells from abdominal adipose tissue: coordenates of the plastic surgeon in translational researching

La terapia basada en células madre adultas constituye la forma de tratamiento más innovadora para la regeneración de los tejidos patológicos, ausentes o deficitarios; también de relleno estético apropiado para variedad de indicaciones cosméticas y reconstructivas, y una de las líneas prioritarias de investigación traslacional en todo el mundo, evitando los problemas de rechazo inmune de los homotrasplantes, las complicaciones inherentes a la implantación de otros materiales aloplásticos, las secuelas estéticas o funcionales de las zonas donantes de los autotrasplantes de mayor morbilidad, y los problemas éticos del uso de células madre embrionarias. El cirujano plástico tiene un papel protagonista tanto en la extracción del injerto de células madre del abdomen mediante una liposucción manual tumescente, como en la aplicación clínica rápida sobre distintos defectos, deformidades o pérdidas de sustancia. Presentamos el protocolo de extracción y procesamiento de células madre derivadas del tejido adiposo (ADSC) aprobado por el Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica, que resulta ser factible, seguro y reproducible, pudiendo servir de guía de actuación para el diseño de nuevos estudios clínicos controlados sobre la eficacia del autotrasplante de células madre aplicados a muchas otras patologías en el universo de la Cirugía Plástica en el que esté comprometida la cicatrización (AU)

Adult stem cells-based therapy represents the most innovative treatment to regenerate the pathologic tissues (absent or lacking), to "replace like with like" as an aesthetic filler for a variety of cosmetic and reconstructive indications, and is one of the trending translational research lines all over the world; avoiding the host immune response and implant rejection problems of the human allotransplants, the inherent complications due to the implantation of alloplastic materials, the functional and aesthetic secuelae of donor sites in high morbidity autotrasplants, and the bioethical problems with the use of embrionary stem cells. Plastic surgeon has a relevant role such in the extraction of the cellular graft from the abdomen by means of a tumescent manual liposuction, as in the quick clinical application to different defects, deformities and losses of substance. The protocol of extraction and processing of adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) approved by the Clinical Researching Ethical Committee is presented as a feasible, safe and reproducible guide for the design of new controlled clinical studies about the efficacy of the stem cell autotrasplants for the treatment of many pathologies inside the universe of plastic surgery in which scarring process is compromised (AU)

Aplicación de técnicas estereológicas para la cuantificación del tejido adiposo / Quantification of the adipose tissue by stereology

El conocimiento de la estructura y función del tejido adiposo es fundamental no sólo por el papel que desempeña en el metabolismo lipídico y en enfermedades endocrinas como la diabetes, sino también por su importante misión como elemento estructural de soporte mecánico y de modelado del contorno orgánico (facial, por ejemplo); de ahí su relevancia en el campo de la Cirugía Plástica, Reparadora y Estética. La cuantificación es un método que se practica desde los albores de la Histología. En el presente estudio nos referiremos exclusivamente a las metodologías estereológicas, herramientas libres de sesgo que aprovechan propiedades geométricas intrínsecas de las estructuras a cuantificar. En esencia, la estereología consiste en un conjunto de métodos morfométricos que obtienen datos cuantitativos tridimensionales a partir de elementos bidimensionales, utilizando propiedades geométricas intrínsecas a la estructura que se está estudiando. Describimos las metodologías estereológicas que conducen a la estimación no sesgada de la fracción de volumen de tejido adiposo en relación con el espacio de referencia, número relativo de adipocitos, y longitud relativa del lecho microvascular que irriga el tejido adiposo (AU)

The knowledge of the structure and function of the adipose tissue is not only relevant in relation with its role played in the lipidic metabolism or in endocrine disorders as diabetes. The fat tissue plays also an important role as mechanical support and in the modelling of organic contours (facial, for example); therefore its interest in the field of the Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. The quantitative methodology has been employed from the very beginning of the histological science. The present study deals with the stereology as a set of unbiased tools that employ intrinsic geometrical features of the objects to quantify. In short, the stereology consists in a pool of morphometric methods that obtain tridimensional information from bidimensional elements (the tissue sections) using the geometrical characteristics of the structures of interest. We describe some stereological procedures leading to the unbiased estimate of: volume fraction of the adipose tissue, the relative number of adipocytes, and the relative length of microvessels of the adipose tissue (AU)

¿Cuál es la supervivencia de los injertos de grasa en la cara? ¿Cómo cuantificarla?: Medicina basada en la evidencia / Which is the survival of fat grafts on the face? How to quantify it?: Evidence based medicine

Muchos de los artículos publicados acerca del éxito de los injertos autólogos de grasa (IAG) en humanos son muy subjetivos o, en el mejor de los casos, semicuantitativos Hasta hoy, se necesitan estudios adicionales, tanto clínicos como básicos, antes de que podamos llegar a precisar el valor de esta técnica. Diseñamos un estudio prospectivo y randomizado con el objetivo de cuantificar la supervivencia de los autoinjertos de grasa en cara, en una serie seleccionada de 71 pacientes con defectos subcutáneos de partes blandas faciales que cumplieron criterios de inclusión, en dos grupos, según fueran casos de Cirugía Reconstructiva o de Cirugía Estética. El procedimiento quirúrgico estándar empleado fue la técnica de lipoestructura facial; se tomó biopsia del tejido adiposo injertado a los 14 meses de seguimiento. Empleamos el método estereológico para medir los parámetros volumétricos cuantitativos de la grasa en el momento de la inyección y en el momento de la biopsia. Por medio de simples ecuaciones matemáticas, pudimos extraer las tasas de prendimiento tanto volumétrica como numérica. También se practicaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos y cuantitativos de todos los datos. Los injertos de grasa autólogos en la cara sobreviven en dos tercios del volumen inyectado a los 14 meses de seguimiento. La única prueba confirmatoria de supervivencia de los autoinjertos de grasa es la evidencia y demostración histológica de tejido adiposo viable en las zonas receptoras y su cuantificación mediante un método de evaluación volumétrico, preciso y objetivo, como el que permite la Estereología (AU)

Many reports concerning the success of fat auto-grafts in humans are widely subjective or semi-quantitative in best of cases. Even today, additional studies, clinical or basic, are ne-cessary before the value of this technique can be calculated. With the aim of quantifying the survival of fat auto-grafts on the face, a prospective randomized study was designed, selecting 71 patients suffering facial soft tissue subcutaneous defects fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Two groups were described according to reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Facial lipostructure technique was used as the standard surgical procedure and a biopsy of the grafted adipose tissue was taken at 14 months follow-up. The stereological method was used to measure the quantitative volumetric parameters of the fat at the injection time and at the biopsy time. By means of simple mathematical equations, the volumetric and numerical take rate could be obtained. Descriptive and quantitative statistical analyses of all data were performed. Fat auto-grafts on the face survive two thirds of the injected volume at 14 months follow-up. The unique confirmation proof of survival of fat auto-grafts is the histological evidence and demonstration of viable adipose tissue in recipient sites and its quantification by a volumetric, accurate and objective valuation method, as it is provided by Stereology (AU)

Nifedipine versus fenoterol in the management of preterm labor: a randomized, multicenter clinical study.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of nifedipine and fenoterol in the management of threatened preterm labor (TPL). METHODS: A randomized and multicenter study assessing the tocolytic effect of nifedipine versus fenoterol in patients admitted to the participating maternity units with a diagnosis of TPL and a cost-savings study for economic assessment. For a power of 80% and an α error equal to 0.05, 132 consecutive patients were recruited during the study period; 66 patients were assigned to each group. A χ(2) analysis and a mean differences test were performed according to variable types and survival curves per intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Demographics were similar in both groups. The latency period was similar in both groups (26.7 vs. 25.6; p = 0.3). There were no differences in the results obtained. Nifedipine failed more frequently to obtain tocolysis when used as a first-line agent (80 vs. 90%, p = 0.0001). The group treated with fenoterol showed more drug adverse events (57.8 vs. 19.0%, p = 0.0001). The economic assessment did not evidence a significant difference in terms of cost savings between groups treated with either drug. CONCLUSION: The present study failed to demonstrate either clinical or economic superiority of any of the two drugs used in TPL management. The highest failure percentage of nifedipine when used as a first-line agent should encourage further research.

Impacto de los métodos de diagnóstico por imagen en la apendicectomía de urgencia / Impact of imaging tests on the negative appendectomy rate

Introducción. Las apendicectomías negativas y gangrenadas son indicadores de calidad en cirugía general. Los objetivos de este estudio son analizar las apendicectomías de urgencia en relación con el uso de pruebas de imagen y revisar la bibliografía para analizar la calidad del proceso diagnóstico en la apendicitis aguda. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes a los que se les realizó apendicectomía de urgencia por sospecha de apendicitis aguda en el Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid durante el año 2007. Los datos se obtuvieron de los informes de anatomía patológica y de las pruebas de imagen realizadas. Se analizaron la histología, las pruebas de imagen empleadas y su utilidad diagnóstica. Se compararon con los niveles de calidad publicados en la literatura médica internacional. Resultados. Se incluyeron en el estudio 394 pacientes. La tasa de apendicectomías negativas fue del 9,6%. Se le realizó ecografía (ECO) abdominal al 54,6% de los pacientes y tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) abdominal al 10,2% de los pacientes (TAC+ECO: 4,2%). El valor predictivo positivo de la ECO fue del 92,2% y el de la TAC fue del 97,5%. Conclusión. Las apendicectomías negativas (9,6%) muestran valores inferiores a los publicados históricamente, pero son más elevados que los publicados recientemente en EE. UU. El uso de técnicas de imagen en nuestro medio es inferior al publicado en EE. UU., aunque similar al de otros países europeos(AU)

Introduction. Negative appendectomies and perforated appendectomies have traditionally been quality indicators in surgery. The aim of this study is to analyze the emergency appendectomies in our hospital regarding the use of imaging tests and a review of the literature to analyze the quality of diagnosis in acute appendicitis. Material and methods. Retrospective study including all patients operated on for suspected acute appendicitis at a single institution for one year (2007). Data gathered from histology and imaging tests reports. Analysis of the histology results, imaging test used and its diagnostic accuracy. Comparison with quality levels published in the international literature. Results. A total of 394 patients were included in the study, the overall rate of negative appendectomy was 9.6%. Abdominal ultrasound (AU) was performed on 54.6% of patients and abdominal CT-scan on 10.2% of them, and 4.2% of the patients had both tests. AU positive predictive value was 82%. CT-scan positive predictive value was 97%. Conclusion. The negative appendectomy rate (9.6%) in our centre shows values lower than the published ones in historical series but superior to the one published recently in the USA. The use of imaging tests in our hospital is lower than the one published in the USA, although similar to data reported in other European countries(AU)

[Impact of imaging tests on the negative appendectomy rate]. / Impacto de los métodos de diagnóstico por imagen en la apendicectomía de urgencia.

INTRODUCTION: Negative appendectomies and perforated appendectomies have traditionally been quality indicators in surgery. The aim of this study is to analyze the emergency appendectomies in our hospital regarding the use of imaging tests and a review of the literature to analyze the quality of diagnosis in acute appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study including all patients operated on for suspected acute appendicitis at a single institution for one year (2007). Data gathered from histology and imaging tests reports. Analysis of the histology results, imaging test used and its diagnostic accuracy. Comparison with quality levels published in the international literature. RESULTS: A total of 394 patients were included in the study, the overall rate of negative appendectomy was 9.6%. Abdominal ultrasound (AU) was performed on 54.6% of patients and abdominal CT-scan on 10.2% of them, and 4.2% of the patients had both tests. AU positive predictive value was 82%. CT-scan positive predictive value was 97%. CONCLUSION: The negative appendectomy rate (9.6%) in our centre shows values lower than the published ones in historical series but superior to the one published recently in the USA. The use of imaging tests in our hospital is lower than the one published in the USA, although similar to data reported in other European countries.

Ti, Ni and TiNi nanoparticles physically synthesized by Ar+ beam milling.

When the size of a particle decreases around 100 nm or less, there is a change in properties from those shown in the bulk material. In this work approximately 3 nm nanoparticles of Ni, Ti and TiNi bimetallic are produced using physical vapor deposition (PVD). Nanoparticles are characterized by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), High Angle Annular Dark Field (HAADF), Electron Diffraction (ED). The results show that all nanoparticles maintain the same crystal structure of bulk material but a change in their lattice parameter is produced.

Remifentanilo en neurocirugía. Influencia en la extubación precoz e implicaciones en la estancia postoperatoria inmediata / Remifentanyl in neurosurgery. Impact on early extubation and implications for the early postoperative period

Objetivos: Determinar si el uso de un nuevo opioide como remifentanilo modifica la actuación habitual en el manejo de los pacientes neuroquirúrgicos programados en nuestro centro. Valorar el momento de la extubación y la duración de la estancia en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes neuroquirúrgicos no complicados sometidos a cirugía tumoral supratentorial programada mediante craneotomía. La muestra consistió en todos los casos consecutivos entre noviembre de 2003 y febrero de 2004. Los datos se obtuvieron de las historias clínicas de preanestesia, anestesia y de cuidados intensivos. Se recogió edad, sexo, riesgo ASA,técnica anestésica, duración quirúrgica, opioide intraoperatorio empleado, momento y lugar de la extubación, así como la duración de la estancia en UCI. Para estudiar la influenciadel opioide intraoperatorio empleado sobre los resultados de momento de la extubación y estancia postoperatoria se dividen los casos en dos grupos: remifentanilo y fentanilo. El análisis descriptivo de variables cuantitativas se presenta mediante media, desviación estándar y cuartiles y gráficamente con diagramas de cajas; cara las variables cualitativas mediante tablas de contingencia. Las comparaciones intergrupo se realizaron con test Chi cuadrado en el caso de variables cualitativas y con t de Student o Mann-Whitney en las cuantitativas. Resultados: Se realizaron 32 craneotomías para resección de tumoressupratentoriales programadas no complicadas, obteniéndose los datos de 31 casos. Tras el análisis estadístico no se objetivan diferencias respecto al sexo, edad ni clasificaciónASA entre los pacientes que recibieron remifentanilo (18) y aquellos a los que se les administró fentanilo (13) intraoperatorio. Cuando se utilizó remifentanilo, en el 67%de los casos, se optó por realizar anestesia total intravenosa (TIVA) para el mantenimiento anestésico, mientras que el sevoflurano fue utilizado en el 77% de los pacientes confentanilo. La duración quirúrgico-anestésica fue superior en el grupo de fentanilo, con una diferencia media aproximada de una hora. La extubación se realizó en quirófanoen el 67% de los casos en el grupo remifentanilo y en UCI en el 100% de los casos en el grupo fentanilo; sin embargo, esto no se reflejó en un alta más precoz de la Unidadde Cuidados Intensivos. Conclusión: Los datos señalan una facilitación de la extubación con remifentanilo. Las nuevas opciones farmacológicas permiten variaciones en la práctica clínica de las que se pueden beneficiar nuestros pacientes. Sin embargo, estos cambiosno se traducen en una menor estancia en UCI, ya que esta no está sólo condicionada por razones clínicas sino también organizativas

Objectives:To determine whether the use of a new opioid such as remifentanyl modifies the standard care provided to patients undergoing elective neurosurgery in our hospital. To assess the time of extubation and the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Material and method: Retrospective study of a cohort of neurosurgical patients free from complications undergoing elective supratentorial tumor surgery through craniotomy. All consecutivepatients between November 2003 and February 2004 were included in the study. Data were obtained from preanesthesia, anesthesia and intensive care medical records. Age, sex, ASA risk, anesthetic technique, length of the surgical procedure, intraoperative opiate use, time and place of extubation, as well as length of stay in the ICU, were recorded. In order to study the impact of intraoperative opiate use on the time of extubation and the postoperative stay, patients were divided in two groups: remifentanyl and fentanyl. The descriptive analysis of quantitative end points is shown with mean values, standard deviations and quartiles, and is graphically shown using box charts; for qualitativeendpoints, contingency tables were used. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the chi-square test for qualitative endpoints and the Student´s t or Mann Whitney test for quantitative endpoints. Results: Thirty two elective craniotomies were performed for resection of supratentorial tumors in patients free from complications, and data were obtained from 31 patients. The statistical analysis did not show differences regarding sex, age or ASA classification between patients receiving remifentanyl (18) and patients receiving fentanyl (13) intraoperatively. When remifentanyl was used in 67% of patients,total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) was provided for anesthetic maintenance, while sevoflurane was used in 77% of patients with fentanyl. Length of surgical-anestheticprocedure was greater in the fentanyl group, with a mean difference of almost one hour. Extubation was performed in the operating room in 67% of patients in theremifentanyl group and in the ICU in 100% of patients in the fentanyl group; however, this did not result in an earlier discharge from the Intensive Care Unit. Conclusion:Data suggest that remifentanyl facilitates the extubation. New pharmacological options allow variations of the clinical practice that can benefit our patients. However, thesechanges do not lead to a shorter stay in the ICU, since that does not only depends on clinical factors, but also on organizational factorsObjectives: To determine whether the use of a new opioid such as remifentanyl modifies the standard care provided to patients undergoing elective neurosurgery in our hospital. To assess the time of extubation and the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Material and method: Retrospective study of a cohort of neurosurgical patients free from complications undergoing elective supratentorial tumor surgery through craniotomy. All consecutive patients between November 2003 and February 2004 were included in the study. Data were obtained from preanesthesia, anesthesia and intensive care medical records. Age, sex, ASA risk, anesthetic technique, length of the surgical procedure, intraoperative opiate use, time and place of extubation, as well as length of stay in the ICU, were recorded. In order to study the impact of intraoperative opiate use on the time of extubation and the postoperative stay, patients were divided in two groups: remifentanyl and fentanyl. The descriptive analysis of quantitative endpoints is shown with mean values, standard deviations and quartiles, and is graphically shown using box charts; for qualitative endpoints, contingency tables were used. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the chi-square test for qualitative endpoints and the Student´s t or Mann Whitney test for quantitative endpoints. Results: Thirty two elective craniotomies were performed for resection of supratentorial tumors in patients free from complications, and data were obtained from 31 patients. The statistical analysis did not show differences regarding sex, age or ASA classification between patients receiving remifentanyl (18) and patients receiving fentanyl (13) intraoperatively. When remifentanyl was used in 67% of patients, total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) was provided for anesthetic maintenance, while sevoflurane was used in 77% of patients with fentanyl. Length of surgical-anesthetic procedure was greater in the fentanyl group, with a mean difference of almost one hour. Extubation was performed in the operating room in 67% of patients in the remifentanyl group and in the ICU in 100% of patients in the fentanyl group; however, this did not result in an earlier discharge from the Intensive Care Unit. Conclusion: Data suggest that remifentanyl facilitates the extubation. New pharmacological options allow variations of the clinical practice that can benefit our patients. However, these changes do not lead to a shorter stay in the ICU, since that does not only depends on clinical factors, but also on organizational factors

An unusual expression of hyperplastic gastropathy (Menetrier type) in twins.

Menetrier's disease is an uncommon condition of unknown aetiology. We describe two cases of male identical twins with haematemesis aged 29 and 35 years that exhibited a similar and particular form of this hyperplastic gastropathy. Their stomachs showed confluent polypoid mucosal projections affecting mainly the gastric fundus and the antrum. To the best of our knowledge, only four previous cases have been reported in a familial setting, and this is the first documented example of an occurrence in twins. These two cases suggest the possibility of a genetic predisposition for this condition.