High-performance visible light photodetectors based on inorganic CZT and InCZT single crystals.

Herein, the optoelectrical investigation of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) and indium (In) doped CZT (InCZT) single crystals-based photodetectors have been demonstrated. The grown crystals were configured into photodetector devices and recorded the current-voltage (I-V) and current-time (I-t) characteristics under different illumination intensities. It has been observed that the photocurrent generation mechanism in both photodetector devices is dominantly driven by a photogating effect. The CZT photodetector exhibits stable and reversible device performances to 632 nm light, including a promotable responsivity of 0.38 AW-1, a high photoswitch ratio of 152, specific detectivity of 6.30 × 1011 Jones, and fast switching time (rise time of 210 ms and decay time of 150 ms). When doped with In, the responsivity of device increases to 0.50 AW-1, photoswitch ratio decrease to 10, specific detectivity decrease to 1.80 × 1011 Jones, rise time decrease to 140 ms and decay time increase to 200 ms. Moreover, these devices show a very high external quantum efficiency of 200% for CZT and 250% for InCZT. These results demonstrate that the CZT based crystals have great potential for visible light photodetector applications.

Edema escrotal idiopático / Idiopathic scrotal edema

El edema escrotal agudo idiopático es una patología autolimitada que afecta fundamentalmente a niños prepúberes, caracterizado por la presencia de edema y eritema, de aparición súbita en uno o ambos hemiescrotos, con aspecto normal de ambos testes y epidídimos. Su etiología es desconocida y, sin antecedentes traumáticos, el diagnóstico es esencialmente clínico, en la mayoría de las veces por exclusión, aunque la realización de una eco-Doppler escrotal es esencial para el diagnóstico, ya que permite determinar el engrosamiento de la piel y las cubiertas subcutáneas escrotales y la ausencia de alteraciones testiculares. Es muy importante la identificación correcta de esta entidad dentro del diagnóstico diferencial del escroto agudo para evitar intervenciones quirúrgicas innecesarias. Presentamos 3 casos y 1 imagen para ayudar a reconocer esta patología, así como una revisión de la escasa literatura publicada hasta la fecha sobre este tema (AU)

Acute idiopathic scrotal edema is a self-limited disease that primarily affects prepubertal children, characterized by erythema and edema, sudden onset of one or both scrotal bags with both normal epididymis and testis. Of unknown etiology and with no related previous trauma, the diagnosis is clinical, in most cases by exclusion, although the realization of scrotal Doppler ultrasound should be essential to diagnose, in order to prove the thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissues and normal testis. It is very important to correctly identify this entity in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum, to avoid unnecessary surgery. We present three cases and a picture to help recognize this disease, and a review of the limited literature published to date (AU)

Teratoma inmaduro de ovario y miocardiopatía dilatada / Immature ovarian tumour and dilated myocardiopathy

Lactante de 2 meses asintomática remitida para estudio de una masa abdominal de consistencia dura en flanco izquierdo. En la ecografía se observa tumoración yuxtarrenal izquierda solido-quística. La alfa-fetoproteina cercana a 2.000ng/ml. La metayodobenzilguanidina (123-I-MIBG) no demostró captación tumoral. A las 48h, presenta cuadro de shock hipovolemico. En la radiografía de tórax presenta cardiomegalia con índice cardiotorácico de 0,7 y congestión pulmonar. La ecocardiografía muestra dilatación de ventrículo izquierdo con fracción de eyección del 35–40%. Se descartaron anemia, hipertensión, hipervolemia e hipersecreción de catecolaminas. Los estudios virológicos y de despistaje metabólico fueron normales. Se resecó un tumor retroperitoneal muy vascularizado sin incidencias y se confirmó el diagnóstico de teratoma inmaduro grado 2 de Norris. A los 3 meses la evolución fue satisfactoria. Los teratomas son tumores raros en la infancia que tienen en general un comportamiento benigno. Está descrita la miocardiopatía dilatada (MCD) secundaria a tumores de células cromafines (feocromocitoma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma), así como a infiltrados leucémicos y secundariamente al tratamiento con antraciclinas, pero no existe ningún caso publicado en la literatura que relacione el teratoma con la miocardiopatía dilatada. Diversas citocinas como INF-α, IL-1, IL-6 podrían ser secretadas por el tumor, promoviendo a nivel cardiaco la actividad de los fibroblastos, induciendo la apoptosis celular y la fibrosis miocárdica. Así, la resección de la masa tumoral responsable de la producción de las mismas, permitiría la regresión de la disfunción miocárdica, como en el caso expuesto (AU)

Asymptomatic 2 month-old infant referred for evaluation of a hard abdominal mass on the left side. The ultrasound examination showed a solid-cystic tumour above the left kidney. The alpha-fetoprotein level was 2000ng/ml. The meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123-I-MIBG) showed no tumour uptake. At 48h, she showed signs of hypovolemic shock. The chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly with a cardiothoracic ratio of 0.7 and pulmonary congestion. The echocardiogram showed a dilated left ventricle with ejection fraction 35¨C40%. Anaemia, hypertension, hypervolemia and hyper-secretion of catecholamines were ruled out. The virology and metabolic screens were normal. The highly vascularised retroperitoneal tumour was resected without incident and confirmed the diagnosis of an immature Norris grade 2 teratoma grade. At 3 months the outcome was satisfactory. Teratomas are rare tumours in childhood that generally have a benign course. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) secondary to, chromaffin cell tumours (phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma), leukaemia infiltrates, and treatment with anthracyclines have been described, but there is no case reported in the literature regarding a teratoma with dilated cardiomyopathy. Various cytokines, such as INF-α, IL-1, IL-6 may be secreted by tumour, promoting fibroblast activity in the heart and inducing apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. Thus, in the case presented resection of the tumour mass responsible for this production, enables the heart to return to normal (AU)

[Immature ovarian tumour and dilated myocardiopathy]. / Teratoma inmaduro de ovario y miocardiopatía dilatada.

Asymptomatic 2 month-old infant referred for evaluation of a hard abdominal mass on the left side. The ultrasound examination showed a solid-cystic tumour above the left kidney. The alpha-fetoprotein level was 2000ng/ml. The meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123-I-MIBG) showed no tumour uptake. At 48h, she showed signs of hypovolemic shock. The chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly with a cardiothoracic ratio of 0.7 and pulmonary congestion. The echocardiogram showed a dilated left ventricle with ejection fraction 35-40%. Anaemia, hypertension, hypervolemia and hyper-secretion of catecholamines were ruled out. The virology and metabolic screens were normal. The highly vascularised retroperitoneal tumour was resected without incident and confirmed the diagnosis of an immature Norris grade 2 teratoma grade. At 3 months the outcome was satisfactory. Teratomas are rare tumours in childhood that generally have a benign course. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) secondary to, chromaffin cell tumours (phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma), leukaemia infiltrates, and treatment with anthracyclines have been described, but there is no case reported in the literature regarding a teratoma with dilated cardiomyopathy. Various cytokines, such as INF-α, IL-1, IL-6 may be secreted by tumour, promoting fibroblast activity in the heart and inducing apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. Thus, in the case presented resection of the tumour mass responsible for this production, enables the heart to return to normal.

Tratamiento de la úlcera crónica isquiática en el paciente pediátrico refractaria a medidas Convencionales / Treatment of chronic ischial ulcer in the pediatric patient refractory to conventional treatments

Antecedentes. La úlcera por presión es una patología emergente, dada la mayor supervivencia de los pacientes pediátricos en riesgo de padecerla (mielomeningocele, afectos de parálisis cerebral infantil, parapléjicos, prematuros con secuelas neurológicas, etc.), así como los largos tiempos de estancia de los pacientes críticos ingresados en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Objetivos. Proporcionar un tratamiento definitivo de la úlcera por presión refractaria a procedimientos de desbridamiento. Métodos. Se utilizó la técnica de colgajo muscular de bíceps crural asociado a colgajo fasciocutáneo en dos pacientes; la primera, de 16años, con tetraparesia secundaria a parálisis cerebral infantil y la segunda, de 18 años, con secuelas de mielomeningocele lumbosacro. Ambas presentaban úlceras isquiáticas refractarias al tratamiento habitual, de2 y 3 años de evolución, respectivamente. Resultados. El resultado fue óptimo en ambos casos, con curacióndefinitiva de la úlcera y no reaparición de la misma durante uno y dos (..) (AU)

Background. Pressure ulcers are an emerging disease, due to survival increase of pediatric patients at risk (myelomeningocele, infantilecerebral paralysis, paraplegic, prematures with neurological sequelae,etc.), including as well, long time staging patients at intensive care units. Objectives: Provide for long-term treatment to pressure ulcer refractory to debridement procedures. Methods: We used the biceps femoris muscular flap technique associated with fasciocutaneous flap in two patients, 16 year-olded, with tetraparesis secondary to cerebral palsy and, another 18 year-olded, with myelomeningocele sequelae. Both had sciatic ulcers refractory to treatment, 2 and 3 years evolutioned, respectively. Results: The outcome was excellent in both cases, with definitive healing of the ulcer and no recurrence during one and two month (..) (AU)

[Treatment of chronic ischial ulcer in the pediatric patient refractory to conventional treatments]. / Tratamiento de la úlcera crónica isquiática en el paciente pediátrico refractaria a medidas convencionales.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are an emerging disease, due to survival increase of pediatric patients at risk (myelomeningocele, infantile cerebral paralysis, paraplegic, prematures with neurological sequelae, etc.), including as well, long time staging patients at intensive care units. OBJECTIVES: Provide for long-term treatment to pressure ulcer refractory to debridement procedures. METHODS: We used the biceps femoris muscular flap technique associated with fasciocutaneous flap in two patients, 16 year-olded, with tetraparesis secondary to cerebral palsy and, another 18 year-olded, with myelomeningocele sequelae. Both had sciatic ulcers refractory to treatment, 2 and 3 years evolutioned, respectively. RESULTS: The outcome was excellent in both cases, with definitive healing of the ulcer and no recurrence during one and two month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This technique, used in adults, can be applied to pediatric patients if no possibility of wandering. Muscle acts as a cuff between bone and skin and provides coating to the zone suffering pressure as an hypervascularized and no-functioning for active movement structure, but feasible in terms of trophism.

[Drug treatment with fibrinolytics (corrected) of secondary empyema secondary to complicated parapneumonic effusion]. / Tratamiento farmacológico con fibrinolíticos [corrected] del empiema secundario a derrame paraneumónico complicado.

In recent years we have observed in our country an increase in complications associated with bacterial pneumonia, such as pleural effusion and empyema. The initial treatment is an association of antibiotics, covering the potential germ involved, and the placement of a pleural drainage tube, in order to accelerate the resolution process. Formation of septa within the pleural cavity requires additional therapy (antifibrinolytic treatment, videothorascopy), but no one of these two alternatives is been demonstrated better than the other. We present a review that covers last 15 years (1990-2006), related to management of empyema. The management strategy with initial instillation of antifibrinolytic intrapleural makes our series the longest in our country using such treatment (30 of 50 patients reviewed (60) were treated with this technique). Initial success was 96% with this modality, without rescuing surgery. There is also a descriptive analysis of several clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters. In comparative analysis, length of stay in intensive care unit decreases in those patients treated with antifibrinolytics. This result is a prove of the efficacy of this treatment, and quite encourageing.

[Biloma as a complication after closed abdominal trauma. Review of the literature after bile leaks]. / Biloma como complicación tras traumatismo abdominal cerrado. Revisión de la literatura relativa a fugas biliares.

Bile leaks are a rare complication secondary to closed liver trauma. The diagnosis is usually late, which increases the morbidity and hospital stay. We report a case of biloma secondary to severe liver injury, including a description of the diagnosis and management. We also describe the different types of bile leaks, the techniques of early diagnosis and various treatment modalities existing for this type of injury.

Tratamiento farmacológico con antifibrinolíticos del empiema secundario a derrame paraneumónicocomplicado / Drug treatment with antifibrinolytics of secondary empyema secondary to complicated parapneumonic effusion

En los últimos años se ha observado en nuestro país un incremento en las complicaciones asociadas a neumonía bacteriana, tales como derrame y empiema. El tratamiento inicial de este tipo de complicación es la asociación de antibióticos que cubran el posible germen implicado así como la colocación de un tubo de drenaje pleural para acelerarla resolución del proceso. La formación de septos dentro de la cavidad pleural requiere terapia adicional (tratamiento antifibrinolítico, videotoracoscopia), sin haberse demostrado cual de estas dos alternativas es mejor. Presentamos una revisión que abarca más de 15 años (1990-2006), del manejo del empiema en nuestro centro. La estrategia de manejo con instilación inicial de antifibrinolíticos intrapleurales, hace de nuestra serie la más larga de las revisadas en nuestro país en que se utiliza dicho tratamiento (30 pacientes de los 50 revisados (60%) fueron tratados con dicha técnica). El éxito inicial fue de 96% con esta modalidad, sin requerir cirugía de rescate. Se hace además un análisis descriptivo de varios parámetros clínicos, analíticos y radiológicos, destacando la estancia media hospitalaria y en unidad de cuidados intensivos. En el análisis comparativo se aprecia una disminución de la estancia en unidad de cuidados intensivos en aquellos pacientes a los que se administró antifibrinolíticos. Este resultado prueba la eficacia del tratamiento en ese aspecto, lo cual es bastante alentador (AU)

In recent years we have observed in our country an increase in complications associated with bacterial pneumonia, such as pleural effusion and empyema. The initial treatment is an association of antibiotics, covering the potential germ involved, and the placement of a pleural drainagetube, in order to accelerate the resolution process. Formation of septawith in the pleural cavity requires additional therapy (antifibrinolytictreatment, videothorascopy), but no one of these two alternatives is been demonstrated better than the other. We present a review that covers last15 years (1990-2006), related to management of empyema. The management strategy with initial instillation of antifibrinolytic intrapleural makes our series the longest in our country using such treatment(30 of 50 patients reviewed (60) were treated with this technique).Initial success was 96% with this modality, without rescuing surgery. There is also a descriptive analysis of several clinical, laboratory andradiological parameters. In comparative analysis, length of stay in intensive care unit decreases in those patients treated with antifibrinolytics. This result is a prove of the efficacy of this treatment, and quite encourageing (AU)

Biloma como complicación tras traumatismo abdominal cerrado. Revisión de la literatura relativa a fugas biliares / Biloma as a complication after closed abdominal trauma. Review of the literature after bile leaks

Las fugas biliares son una complicación rara secundaria al traumatismo hepático cerrado. El diagnóstico de esta entidad es, por lo general, tardío, lo que incrementa la morbilidad y la estancia hospitalaria. Apropósito de un caso diagnosticado en nuestro centro de biloma secundario a traumatismo hepático severo, hacemos una descripción del mismo incluido diagnóstico y medidas de tratamiento. Se describen a continuación los distintos tipos de fugas biliares, las técnicas de diagnóstico precoz y las diversas modalidades de tratamiento existentes para este tipo de lesiones (AU)

Bile leaks are a rare complication secondary to closed liver trauma. The diagnosis is usually late, which increases the morbidity and hospital stay. We report a case of biloma secondary to severe liver injury, including a description of the diagnosis and management. We also describe the different types of bile leaks, the techniques of early diagnosis and various treatment modalities existing for this type of injury (AU)

[Regional cerebral blood flow changes in Parkinson's disease: correlation with disease duration]. / Cambios de la perfusión cerebral en la enfermedad de Parkinson: relación con la duración de los síntomas.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) have been reported in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Nonetheless, their typical pattern still remains controversial regarding some features, such as basal ganglia involvement and the main cortical regions affected. Functional neuroimaging makes it possible to identify the brain dysfunctions of the neural circuits underlying the disease. Voxel-based analysis methods make it possible to increase the reliability of the results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the rCBF changes in patients with PD and their relation with disease duration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty PD adult patients without dementia underwent evaluation with (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT. SPM5 was used for statistical comparison with 25 normal controls of similar ages. The disease course duration in years was added as a covariate. Additionally, patients with a 6-year evolution or less and those with more than 6 years were compared separately with normal controls. RESULTS: Significant hypoperfusion was detected in bilateral premotor and posterior parietal cortex and increase of perfusion was present in the cerebellum. These changes correlated with the years of evolution of the illness. Patients with longer evolution also presented thalamic, subthalamic and basal ganglia hypoperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: We describe rCBF changes in PD in neural circuits related with control of movements. These changes are more manifest in patients with a longer duration of the disease.

Cambios de la perfusión cerebral en la enfermedad de Parkinson: relación con la duración de los síntomas / Regional cerebral blood flow changes in Parkinson's disease: correlation with disease duration

Introducción: En la enfermedad de Parkinson idiopática (EP) se han observado alteraciones del flujo sanguíneo cerebral regional (FSCr) cuyo patrón característico aún presenta aspectos controvertidos, como la existencia de alteraciones gangliobasales y las áreas corticales más afectadas. La neuroimagen funcional permite observar las disfunciones de circuitos neuronales existentes en estos pacientes. Los métodos de análisis estadístico basado en vóxeles permiten incrementar la validez de los resultados. Objetivo: Investigar los cambios de la perfusión cerebral existentes en pacientes con EP y su relación con la duración de los síntomas. Materiales y métodos: Treinta pacientes adultos con EP sin demencia fueron estudiados mediante SPECT cerebral con 99mTc-ECD. Se utilizó SPM5 para su comparación estadística con un grupo control de 25 sujetos sanos de edades similares. Se introdujo, como covariable en dicha comparación, el tiempo de evolución en años y se analizaron por separado los pacientes con 6 años o menos de evolución y aquellos con más de 6 años. Resultados: Se detectó hipoperfusión significativa en la corteza premotora y parietal posterior bilateral y aumento del flujo en el cerebelo. Estas alteraciones se correlacionaron con los años de evolución de la enfermedad. Los pacientes con evolución más prolongada presentaron además hipoperfusión talámica, subtalámica y gangliobasal. Conclusiones: Describimos alteraciones del FSCr en la EP que se relacionan con los circuitos implicados en el control del movimiento. Las mismas son más evidentes en los pacientes con evolución más prolongada de la enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) have been reported in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Nonetheless, their typical pattern still remains controversial regarding some features, such as basal ganglia involvement and the main cortical regions affected. Functional neuroimaging makes it possible to identify the brain dysfunctions of the neural circuits underlying the disease. Voxel-based analysis methods make it possible to increase the reliability of the results. Objective: To assess the rCBF changes in patients with PD and their relation with disease duration. Materials and methods: Thirty PD adult patients without dementia underwent evaluation with 99mTc-ECD SPECT. SPM5 was used for statistical comparison with 25 normal controls of similar ages. The disease course duration in years was added as a covariate. Additionally, patients with a 6-year evolution or less and those with more than 6 years were compared separately with normal controls. Results: Significant hypoperfusion was detected in bilateral premotor and posterior parietal cortex and increase of perfusion was present in the cerebellum. These changes correlated with the years of evolution of the illness. Patients with longer evolution also presented thalamic, subthalamic and basal ganglia hypoperfusion. Conclusions: We describe rCBF changes in PD in neural circuits related with control of movements. These changes are more manifest in patients with a longer duration of the disease(AU)

Neurophysiological investigations in patients with head tremor.

We studied 30 patients whose primary complaint was head tremor in an attempt to characterize neurophysiological aspects of their abnormal movement. Based on family medical history and physical examination, 23 patients had definite or probable essential tremor (essential head tremor, EHT). The remaining seven had mild dystonic signs accompanying their head tremor (head tremor plus dystonic signs, HT + DS). We recorded head movement and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the sternomastoid and splenius capitis muscles, determined the spontaneous blinking rate, and measured the excitability recovery curve of the blink reflex and of the masseteric inhibitory reflex. All patients had tremor bursts at a frequency ranging between 3 and 9 Hz in at least one of the muscles examined. The predominant pattern seen when patients were sitting relaxed and facing forward was that of synchronized EMG bursts in both splenius capitis muscles. Maintenance of extreme head postures demonstrated two types of additional abnormalities: type 1 (enhancement of tremor), which was observed in 11 patients (47.8%) with EHT and in two (28.5%) with HT + DS; and type 2 (activation of neck muscles not required for maintenance of the posture), which was observed in two patients (8.7%) with EHT and in five (71.5%) with HT + DS (chi 2 = 26.4; p < 0.001). Mean blinking rate per minute was 24.9 +/- 14.6 in patients with EHT and 42.3 +/- 10.5 in patients with HT + DS (paired t test, p = 0.001). The blink reflex and masseteric inhibitory reflex excitability recovery curves showed an abnormal interneuronal excitability enhancement in seven (30.4%) of the 23 patients with EHT and in two (28.5%) of the seven with HT + DS (chi 2 = 3.1; p > 0.05). Abnormal patterns of EMG activity of the neck muscles correlated well with the presence of mild dystonic signs. However, the analysis of brainstem interneuronal excitability did not enable recognition of those patients with head tremor who could potentially develop cervical dystonia. The enhancement of brainstem interneuronal excitability found in approximately 30% of patients with head tremor could be related to plastic changes triggered by increased activity of the cranial muscles.