Plenitud ótica como primer síntoma en patología del espacio parafaríngeo / Otic fullness as a first symptom in parapharyngeal space pathology

RESUMEN Los tumores del espacio parafaríngeo (EP) son poco frecuentes, representando el 0,5%-1% de las neoplasias de cabeza y cuello. La distribución de los tumores del EP constituye: 40% tumores de glándulas salivales, seguidos de tumores neurogénicos y adenopatías. Presentamos un caso de una paciente de 52 años que acude por presentar sensación de taponamiento ótico izquierdo y molestias faríngeas de 3 meses de evolución. Tras una exploración otorrinolaringológica completa se sospecha patología del espacio parafaríngeo, que se confirma con las pruebas de imagen. Se realiza exéresis quirúrgica mediante abordaje transcervical-transparotídeo, con buena evolución posoperatoria y sin recidiva tras 1 año de seguimiento. El estudio anatomopatológico informa adenoma pleomorfo de parótida. En este trabajo se ha realizado una revisión de la etiopatogenia, diagnóstico y tratamiento de estas lesiones. Consideramos crucial realizar una exploración física otorrinolaringológica completa ante la presencia de un paciente con sintomatología inespecífica ya que el EP constituye un área anatómica difícil de explorar y que a menudo pasa desapercibida, por lo que la patología del EP representa un reto diagnóstico y terapéutico.

ABSTRACT Parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors are infrequent and account for 0.5%-1% of head and neck neoplasms. Therefore, they represent a diagnostic challenge. The distribution of PPS tumors is as follows: 40% salivary tumors, followed by neurogenic tumors and adenopathies. We report a case of a 50 year old woman that presented with a 3-month history of otic fullness and pharyngeal disturbances. The otolaryngological examination showed PPS pathology that was confirmed by radiological images. Surgical excision by transcervical-transparotid approach was performed followed by uncomplicated healing with no recurrence in one year. The histological examination reported a pleomorphic parotid adenoma. The authors provide a discussion of the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this type of lesions. This clinical manuscript may shed light on the importance of a complete otolaryngological examination in a patient with unspecific symptoms considering that the PPS is a complex anatomic region and its pathology can easily go unnoticed.

Non-additive gene regulation in a citrus allotetraploid somatic hybrid between C. reticulata Blanco and C. limon (L.) Burm.

Polyploid plants often produce new phenotypes, exceeding the range of variability existing in the diploid gene pool. Several hundred citrus allotetraploid hybrids have been created by somatic hybridization. These genotypes are interesting models to study the immediate effects of allopolyploidization on the regulation of gene expression. Here, we report genome-wide gene expression analysis in fruit pulp of a Citrus interspecific somatic allotetraploid between C. reticulata cv 'Willowleaf mandarin'+C. limon cv 'Eureka lemon', using a Citrus 20K cDNA microarray. Around 4% transcriptome divergence was observed between the two parental species, and 212 and 160 genes were more highly expressed in C. reticulata and C. limon, respectively. Differential expression of certain genes was confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. A global downregulation of the allotetraploid hybrid transcriptome was observed, as compared with a theoretical mid parent, for the genes displaying interspecific expression divergence between C. reticulata and C. limon. The genes underexpressed in mandarin, as compared with lemon, were also systematically repressed in the allotetraploid. When genes were overexpressed in C. reticulata compared with C. limon, the distribution of allotetraploid gene expression was far more balanced. Cluster analysis on the basis of gene expression clearly indicated the hybrid was much closer to C. reticulata than to C. limon. These results suggest there is a global dominance of the mandarin transcriptome, in consistence with our previous studies on aromatic compounds and proteomics. Interspecific differentiation of gene expression and non-additive gene regulation involved various biological pathways and different cellular components.

New molecular methods for identification of broad bean wilt virus 1.

Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1) causes damages in economically important plant crops such as pepper, bean, spinach, etc. Fast, cheap and reliable diagnostic tools are crucial to limit or control the disease. In this work, tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA), dot-blot (DB) and tissue-print (TP)-hybridization were developed for BBWV-1 diagnosis and evaluated for sensitivity, specificity and reliability in plants of several host species grown in the greenhouse or in the field, in comparison with ELISA and RT-PCR. RT-PCR followed by DB-hybridization provided the most sensitive and efficient diagnostic, but the virus was also detected in most samples by ELISA. Detection by TBIA or by TP-hybridization avoided sample processing, but they were less consistent and greatly depended on host species and tissue. DB-hybridization with probes corresponding to different genomic regions allowed universal detection of BBWV-1 and discrimination between genetically distant isolates.

Detection and identification of species of the genus Fabavirus by RT-PCR with a single pair of primers.

The genus Fabavirus includes three species: Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1), BBWV-2 and Lamium mild mosaic virus (LMMV), but a new candidate species, Gentian mosaic virus (GeMV), has been proposed. Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequences of fabaviruses was used to design a pair of conserved primers for specific detection of members of this genus. These primers encompassed the 5'-terminal non-translatable region (NTR) , whose size for BBWV-1, BBWV-2 and GeMV was different. RT-PCR, with this pair of primers, is a rapid and sensitive procedure for diagnosis of fabavirus infections, that also allows identification of distinct species involved in single or mixed infections, based on the size of the amplification products. Moreover, it might allow future discovery of potential new species of this genus.

The complete sequence of a Spanish isolate of Broad bean wilt virus 1 (BBWV-1) reveals a high variability and conserved motifs in the genus Fabavirus.

The genome of a Spanish isolate of Broad bean wilt virus-1 (BBWV-1) was completely sequenced and compared with available sequences of other isolates of the genus Fabavirus (BBWV-1 and BBWV-2). This consisted of two RNAs of 5814 and 3431 nucleotides, respectively, and their organization was similar to that of other members of the family Comoviridae. Its mean nucleotide identity with a BBWV-1 American isolate was 81.5%, and between 59.8 and 63.5% with seven BBWV-2 isolates. Our analysis showed sequence stretches in the 5' non-coding regions which are conserved in both genomic RNAs and in BBWV-1 and BBWV-2 isolates.

Actitud del personal sanitario del área de partos ante la mujer inmigrante / Attitudes of health professionals of the labour area towards the immigrant woman

Objetivo: Conocer las actitudes de los profesionales del área de partos en la atención a la mujer inmigrante. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Población de 237 profesionales sanitarios de dos hospitales de Madrid. Instrumento de medida: cuestionario autocumplimentado con 21 preguntas sobre afecto, creencias y conductas, y mediante el cual también se registraron variables que contemplaban aspectos sociodemográficos y laborables. Resultados: en el componente de afecto, el porcentaje de respuestas favorables se encuentra entre un 38,8 por ciento y un 65,7 por ciento; en el de creencias, entre un 13,3 y un 90,2 por ciento; y en el de conductas, entre un 42,6 y un 85,6 por ciento. El 84,7 por ciento de los menores de 35 años son partidarios de acoger un inmigrante en su familia. Las mujeres participantes en el estudio, en un 85 por ciento, realizaron un esfuerzo para entenderse con las inmigrantes. Conclusiones: Aunque hay una tendencia a responder de manera favorable, no se debe ignorar el porcentaje de respuestas desfavorables y el alto índice de indefinición en algunas de las respuestas; sin embargo, queda manifiesta la gran disponibilidad de los profesionales para mejorar la atención de estas mujeres, prevaleciendo la profesionalidad. Los más jóvenes tienen una actitud más positiva hacia la inmigración que el grupo de los mayores. Las mujeres se esfuerzan más en comunicarse (AU)

Inapparent genital herpes simplex infection in women attending a venereal disease clinic.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic genital infection with herpes simplex virus in women attending a venereal disease clinic in Puerto Rico. Genital samples were obtained from 123 consecutively enrolled patients. Vero cells were used for viral isolation; isolates demonstrating cytopathic effect were stored at -70 C and were typed by use of monoclonal antibodies. Herpes simplex virus was isolated from six patients, three of whom were free of any possible complaint that might be associated with a genital herpes virus infection. One patient was diagnosed as having herpetic cervicitis, and the remaining two were clinically diagnosed as well as laboratory confirmed cases of genital herpes. Virus isolated from all six women was identified as herpes simplex virus type 2. Thus the prevalence of laboratory confirmed genital herpes infection in women attending this clinic was 4.9% (6/123). Inapparent virus infection was detected in 2.5% (3/120) of the patients.