Utilización inadecuada deun Servicio de UrgenciaHospitalario / No disponible

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de utilización inadecuadade un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) y elperfil del paciente.Sujetos y métodos:—Diseño: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo.—Ámbito: hospital de tercer nivel.—Sujetos: mayores de 14 años, salvo urgencias ginecoobstétricas,que acudieron a urgencias hospitalarias deenero a marzo de 2005, no precisando ni interconsultas nipruebas complementarias (PC), salvo las accesibles enAtención Primaria como glucemia capilar, análisis con tirareactiva en orina, electrocardiograma, pulsioximetría y tinciónocular con fluoresceína.—Mediciones: se calculó el tamaño muestral para unapoblación finita de 21.560 (prevalencia: 30%, precisión: 5%,pérdidas: 20%), siendo necesarios 396 informes. Selecciónaleatoria de los informes de alta. Variables: datos demográficos,día y hora, síntomas y tiempo de evolución, diagnóstico,PC y medicación.Resultados: De los 1.742 informes de alta revisados, el24,1% (IC95%: 20,04-28,16%) de las consultas fueron inadecuadas.El 70% eran menores de 45 años y un 40% menoresde 30. El día en el que se registra mayor proporción de consultasinadecuadas fue el viernes (30,61%). Un 40,7% acudióen horario de mañana, 36,8% por la tarde y el 22,5% denoche. El 81,8% vivía a menos de 10 km. Y el 86% acudió apetición propia o de un familiar.Los motivos más frecuentes fueron: traumatológicos(15,24%), digestivos (13,33%), generales (9,76%), cardiorrespiratorios(8,33%) y musculares (7,14%). En el 49 % la evoluciónera inferior a 24 horas. El 46,6% requirió medicación (41% analgésicos-antiinflamatorios, 14% benzodiacepinas,11% procinéticos, 9% fármacos inhalados, 7% corticoidessistémicos).Conclusiones: Una de cada cuatro visitas al SUH es inadecuada.Son sujetos jóvenes, que viven cerca, mayoritariamenteacuden en horario de mañana, por decisión propia ymotivos diversos (AU)

Objective: to determine the frequency of inadequate useat a hospital emergency service (HES) and the patients’ characteristics.Subjects and Method:—Design: retrospective descriptive study.—Setting: third-level hospital.—Subjects: older tan 14 years, gyneco-obstrectic emergenciesexcluded, that visited our HES from January toMarch 2005. They didn’t need consultation to other specialistsnor complementary test (CT), except those who can beused in in primary care, such as capillary glycaemia, urinarytest, electrocardiogram, oxymetry and fluorescein staining.—Measurements: the sample size was calculated consideringa limited population of 21,560 (prevalence: 30%, precision:5%, lost: 20%), being needed 396 reports. Randomselectionof all reports. Variables: demographics, date and hour,symptoms and evolution, diagnosis, CT and medication.Results: of the 1,742 reports revised, 24.1% (CI95%:20.04-28.16%) of the visits were inadequate. 70% wereyounger than 45 years old and 40% younger than 30. Themost frequent assistance day was Friday (30.61%). 40,7%came in the morning, 36.8% in the afternoon and 22.5 atnight. 83.5% lived nearer than 10 km. 86% came by theirown decision or by a family decision.They most frequent reasons were traumatic (15.24%),digestive (13.33%), generals (9.76%), cardio-respiratory(8.33%) and muscular (7.14%). In 49% the evolution wasinferior to 24 hours. A 46.6% needed medication (41%analgesic-antiinflammatory, 14% benzodiazepines, 11%procinetics, 9% inhaled drugs, 7% systemic corticosteroids). Conclussions: One of every four visits to our HES is inadequate.The patients are young, live near, come during themorning, by themselves and for different reasons (AU)

Tumor-specific killer cells in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Models for immune-mediated tumor regression in mice have defined an essential role for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs); however, naturally occurring tumor immunity in humans is poorly understood. Patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) provide an opportunity to explore the mechanisms underlying tumor immunity to breast and ovarian cancer. Although tumor immunity and autoimmune neuronal degeneration in PCD correlates with a specific antibody response to the tumor and brain antigen cdr2, this humoral response has not been shown to be pathogenic. Here we present evidence for a specific cellular immune response in PCD patients. We have detected expanded populations of MHC class I-restricted cdr2-specific CTLs in the blood of 3/3 HLA-A2.1+ PCD patients, providing the first description, to our knowledge, of tumor-specific CTLs using primary human cells in a simple recall assay. Cross-presentation of apoptotic cells by dendritic cells also led to a potent CTL response. These results indicate a model whereby immature dendritic cells that engulf apoptotic tumor cells can mature and migrate to draining lymph organs where they could induce a CTL response to tissue-restricted antigens. In PCD, peripheral activation of cdr2-specific CTLs is likely to contribute to the subsequent development of the autoimmune neuronal degeneration.

Immature dendritic cells phagocytose apoptotic cells via alphavbeta5 and CD36, and cross-present antigens to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Dendritic cells, but not macrophages, efficiently phagocytose apoptotic cells and cross-present viral, tumor, and self-antigens to CD8(+) T cells. This in vitro pathway corresponds to the in vivo phenomena of cross-priming and cross-tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is restricted to the immature stage of dendritic cell (DC) development, and that this process is accompanied by the expression of a unique profile of receptors, in particular the alphavbeta5 integrin and CD36. Upon maturation, these receptors and, in turn, the phagocytic capacity of DCs, are downmodulated. Macrophages engulf apoptotic cells more efficiently than DCs, and although they express many receptors that mediate this uptake, they lack the alphavbeta5 integrin. Furthermore, in contrast to DCs, macrophages fail to cross-present antigenic material contained within the engulfed apoptotic cells. Thus, DCs use unique pathways for the phagocytosis, processing, and presentation of antigen derived from apoptotic cells on class I major histocompatibility complex. We suggest that the alphavbeta5 integrin plays a critical role in the trafficking of exogenous antigen by immature DCs in this cross-priming pathway.