A test for comparing conditional ROC curves with multidimensional covariates.

The comparison of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves is frequently used in the literature to compare the discriminatory capability of different classification procedures based on diagnostic variables. The performance of these variables can be sometimes influenced by the presence of other covariates, and thus they should be taken into account when making the comparison. A new non-parametric test is proposed here for testing the equality of two or more dependent ROC curves conditioned to the value of a multidimensional covariate. Projections are used for transforming the problem into a one-dimensional approach easier to handle. Simulations are carried out to study the practical performance of the new methodology. The procedure is then used to analyse a real data set of patients with Pleural Effusion to compare the diagnostic capability of different markers.

[Influenza and cardiorespiratory events: a clinical-epidemiological review with a multidisciplinary point of view]. / Gripe y eventos cardiorrespiratorios: una revisión clínico-epidemiológica multidisciplinar.

There is accumulating evidence showing that influenza infection and cardiorespiratory diseases are closely associated. Influenza has been described as a triggering factor capable of both exacerbate underlying chronic diseases as well as inducing the appearance of new respiratory and cardiovascular events. Consequently, influenza infection and its associated comorbidity have a significant impact on the health system. In this document, we extensively reviewed the current literature to describe the most relevant data on the relationship between influenza infection and cardiorespiratory diseases. Likewise, we analyzed the possible pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the connection between influenza infection and cardiac and respiratory events. Finally, reviewed data has been put into perspective to highlight the importance of influenza vaccination as an effective measure in the prevention of cardiorespiratory diseases, especially in the population with underlying chronic diseases.

Prospective registry of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis in octogenarians: a need for intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To study the factors associated with choice of therapy and prognosis in octogenarians with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, observational, multicenter registry. Centralized follow-up included survival status and, if possible, mode of death and Katz index. SETTING: Transnational registry in Spain. SUBJECTS: We included 928 patients aged ≥80 years with severe symptomatic AS. INTERVENTIONS: Aortic-valve replacement (AVR), transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) or conservative therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause death. RESULTS: Mean age was 84.2 ± 3.5 years, and only 49.0% were independent (Katz index A). The most frequent planned management was conservative therapy in 423 (46%) patients, followed by TAVI in 261 (28%) and AVR in 244 (26%). The main reason against recommending AVR in 684 patients was high surgical risk [322 (47.1%)], other medical motives [193 (28.2%)], patient refusal [134 (19.6%)] and family refusal in the case of incompetent patients [35 (5.1%)]. The mean time from treatment decision to AVR was 4.8 ± 4.6 months and to TAVI 2.1 ± 3.2 months, P < 0.001. During follow-up (11.2-38.9 months), 357 patients (38.5%) died. Survival rates at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were 81.8%, 72.6%, 64.1% and 57.3%, respectively. Planned intervention, adjusted for multiple propensity score, was associated with lower mortality when compared with planned conservative treatment: TAVI Hazard ratio (HR) 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.93; P = 0.016) and AVR HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.39-0.8; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Octogenarians with symptomatic severe AS are frequently managed conservatively. Planned conservative management is associated with a poor prognosis.

ECG as a part of the preparticipation screening programme: an old and still present international dilemma.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term Italian experience has provided evidence that preparticipation screening in competitive athletes with 12-lead ECG, history and physical examination is effective in identifying potentially lethal cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not being routinely practised in other countries. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of a preparticipation screening programme in a sample of players belonging to different disciplines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September 2006 to June 2008, 1220 young athletes from different sports disciplines underwent a cardiovascular examination that included personal and family history, physical examination and a resting 12-lead ECG. Those with abnormal findings were referred for additional tests. RESULTS: 1220 Athletes were screened: 96% males; mean age 23 (4) years. 90 (7.4%) players were referred for additional tests because of abnormal findings on baseline examination: 11 (0.9%) personal or family history, 4 (0.08%) physical examination and 75 (6.14%) 12-lead ECG. Echocardiographic assessment fulfilled left ventricular hypertrophy criteria in 8 of the 90 players. Of those, one case was considered an athlete's heart and one case was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (septal thickness 23 mm). Further tests were needed in the remaining six, included in the "grey area", with one additional case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (apical variant) suggested by cardiac MRI. CONCLUSION: Given the ability of 12-lead ECG to detect individuals with structural heart disease, we suggest its inclusion as a part of preparticipation screening programmes.

Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii from trunk hollows of living trees in Buenos Aires City, Argentina.

The aim of this work was to describe the distribution of the members of the Cryptococcus species complex (Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii) in hollows of trees from seven parks in Buenos Aires City, to determine the serotypes and genotypes of these environmental isolates and to compare them with the ones reported in the 2001 survey. Four hundred and eighty nine samples were collected by swabbing all trees which had hollows or fissures in the seven parks studied. Each tree was sampled once during the study period and one or more isolates were recovered from each swab. Eight isolates of C. neoformans and 18 isolates of C. gattii were recovered from 15 out of 489 tree samples. C. neoformans was isolated from Tipuana tipu, Eucalyptus spp., and Phoenix sp. All isolates were serotype A and belonged to genotype VNI. C. gattii was isolated from Tipuana tipu, Cedrus deodara, Eucalyptus spp., Acacia visca, Cupresus sempervirens and Ulmus campestrus. All isolates were serotype B and genotype VGI, like both C. gattii strains isolated in 2001. On two occasions, both species were isolated from the same tree sample. These results reinforce and extend our previous findings especially about the presence of C. gattii serotype B, genotype VGI, in Argentina.

Multiplication factors in ethylene-filled proportional counters.

Gas multiplication factors were measured in a proportional counter filled with high-purity ethylene in the pressure range 10-40 Torr. The multiplication factors were measured as a function of the reduced electric field S(a). The results show that, within the range of the high values of reduced electric field applied in this work (2648 < or = S(a) < or = 6455 V cm(-1) Torr(-1)), the reduced first Townsend coefficient alpha/P for ethylene may still be considered a function of S(a) alone. Good agreement was found with a model proposed by Akande.

[Fulminant course of amniotic fluid embolism]. / Embolismo de líquido amniótico con evolución fulminante.

Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complication that can present during pregnancy or labor and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The incidence is low but the mortality rates for both mother and fetus are high. A 34-year-old woman in the 41st week of gestation was admitted for induction of labor. While still in the labor room, she complained of pruritus around the mouth and tongue. Tonic-clonic convulsions, hypotension, and loss of consciousness followed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were started and an immediate cesarean section under general anesthesia was performed to deliver a live infant boy. The Apgar score at 5 minutes was 8. The mother was transferred for recovery to the intensive care unit (ICU), where rapid cardiocirculatory and pulmonary decline continued. After 2 episodes of electromechanical dissociation, exitus occurred 2 hours after ICU admission. The autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism. Keratin squames were found in the capillaries of both lungs and polymorphonuclear cells and proteinaceous material were observed in alveoli. Mechanical obstruction is not the only cause of amniotic fluid embolism. Circulating substances that affect myocardial contractility and coagulation are also implicated and the cause may even be an allergic reaction. The usual signs are acute respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and occasionally convulsions and coagulopathy. Cardiac arrest occurs in 80% of the cases. Treatment is symptomatic to provide life-sustaining measures in response to the clinical picture as it develops.

Embolismo de líquido amniótico con evolución fulminante / Fulminant course of amniotic fluid embolism

El embolismo de líquido amniótico (ELA) es una complicaciónobstétrica con una elevada morbimortalidadque puede presentarse tanto durante el embarazo comoen el parto. Su incidencia es escasa, mientras que tantola mortalidad materna como la fetal permanecen aúnmuy elevadas.Gestante de 34 años y 41 semanas que ingresa parainducción de parto. En la Sala de Dilatación nota pruritoen área peribucal y lengua y seguidamente convulsionestónico-clónicas, hipotensión y pérdida de consciencia.Se realizan maniobras de reanimación cardiopulmonare inmediatamente, bajo anestesia general, sepráctica una cesárea obteniéndose un recién nacido vivocon Apgar de 8 a los 5 minutos. En el postoperatorio setraslada a la paciente a UCI, donde prosigue el deteriorocardiocirculatorio y respiratorio, de manera rápidamenteprogresiva y, tras dos episodios de disociaciónelectromecánica, es éxitus a las 2 horas. La necropsiaconfirmó posteriormente el cuadro como ELA, encontrándoseláminas de queratina en la luz capilar deambos pulmones, con polimorfonucleares y materialproteináceo en la luz alveolar.Se sabe que el ELA no es consecuencia únicamente deuna obstrucción mecánica sino que influyen también unaserie de sustancias humorales liberadas que afectan a lacontractilidad miocárdica, a la coagulación, llegandoincluso a una reacción de hipersensibilidad. La clínicahabitual consiste en una insuficiencia respiratoria aguda,colapso cardiovascular y en ocasiones convulsiones y coagulopatíaque en el 80% de los casos desemboca en unaparada cardiaca. El tratamiento es sintomático y desoporte vital en función de la clínica predominante encada momento

Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complicationthat can present during pregnancy or labor and is associatedwith high rates of morbidity and mortality. Theincidence is low but the mortality rates for both motherand fetus are high.A 34-year-old woman in the 41st week of gestationwas admitted for induction of labor. While still in thelabor room, she complained of pruritus around themouth and tongue. Tonic-clonic convulsions, hypotension,and loss of consciousness followed. Cardiopulmonaryresuscitation maneuvers were started and animmediate cesarean section under general anesthesiawas performed to deliver a live infant boy. The Apgarscore at 5 minutes was 8. The mother was transferredfor recovery to the intensive care unit (ICU), whererapid cardiocirculatory and pulmonary decline continued.After 2 episodes of electromechanical dissociation,exitus occurred 2 hours after ICU admission. Theautopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism.Keratin squames were found in the capillaries ofboth lungs and polymorphonuclear cells and proteinaceousmaterial were observed in alveoli.Mechanical obstruction is not the only cause ofamniotic fluid embolism. Circulating substances thataffect myocardial contractility and coagulation are alsoimplicated and the cause may even be an allergic reaction.The usual signs are acute respiratory failure, cardiovascularcollapse, and occasionally convulsions andcoagulopathy. Cardiac arrest occurs in 80% of the cases.Treatment is symptomatic to provide life-sustainingmeasures in response to the clinical picture as it develops

Ultrastructure of the gingiva in cardiac patients treated with or without calcium channel blockers.

OBJECTIVES: In the last few years, several studies have suggested that periodontal diseases are related to the development of atherosclerosis and its complications. Our objective was to study the ultrastructural morphology of the gingiva from cardiac patients, some of whom were treated and some not with calcium channel blockers compared to a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients were studied and grouped in the following way: (a) healthy group (HG) (n=12) healthy patients with at least two pockets between 3 and 5 mm; (b) cardiac group (CG) (n=12) patients with cardiac disease untreated with calcium channel blockers; (c) diltiazem group (DG) (n=13) cardiac patients treated with diltiazem; (d) nifedipine group (NG) (n=18) cardiac patients treated with nifedipine. RESULTS: Ultrastructural studies in the CG showed inflammatory cells, collagen fibers disruption and a more extended morphologically compromised fibroblast mitochondria. Morphometric studies in CG showed mitochondria that were impaired in number but increased in volume, suggesting metabolic cell suffering. In DG and NG, morphometric data were similar to HG. The presence of myofibroblasts and collagen neosynthesis was detected in DG and NG. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed differences in the ultrastructure of the gingival fibroblasts between the studied groups; the DG and NG showed features that could be interpreted as an attempt to restore the cellular metabolic function.

Trasplante renal en pediatría, una década de experiencia multicéntrica: a decade of experience / Pediatric renal transplant

El trasplante renal en pediatria representa la modalidad óptimade manejo de la insuficiencia renal crónica, ya que permite recuperar en diversos grados las severas complicaciones propias de la uremia, especialmente el retraso del crecimiento. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados del trasplante renal pediátrico en 3 centros hospitalarios del país,en un período de 10 años(1989-1999). Pacientes y Método: Evaluación retrospectiva de los trasplantes renales enbase a un protocolo común, efectuados en los hospitales Exequiel González ,Cortés, Luis Calvo Mackenna y San Juan de Dios, entre julio de 1989 y juliode 1999. Se analizaron 3 grupos de variables: un primer grupo de tipo descriptivo para variables demográficas; un segundo grupo para analizar el crecimiento desde el período de recién nacido hasta el último año de seguimiento, y un tercer grupo que analizó aspectos con relación al trasplante, en especial la inmunosupresión, las complicaciones y la función del injerto por períodos anuales. Las variables continuas fueron expresadas como promedio±desviación estándar, el crecimiento como puntaje Z, la función renal se graficó como el inverso de creatinina en plasma,y al igual que la evaluación del rechazo agudo enrelación al tipode donante vivo o cadáver, se analizó con la prueba de chi2 de Pearson. El análisis de la función renal en relación a los tiempos de isquemia tibia y fría se evaluó por el test t de Student, y la sobrevida a 1,3 y 5 años para el injerto y pacientes se estudió por la curva de Kaplan Meier. Seconsideró significativo un p <5S%. Resultados: Se realizaron 98 trasplantes en 92 pacientes, edad 10,9 + 3,2 años, rango 2 a 17; las 3 patologías más importantes causantes de la insuficiencia renal que llevó al trasplante fueron la nefropatía del reflujo, las displasias o bipoplasias renales,y la glomerulonefritis crónica. El crecimiento mostró una caída de un Z-0,6 al nacer a-2,14 al inicio de la diálisis(p <0,005), y a-2,57 al momento del trasplante (p < 0,05). A los 3 años postrasplante el Z fue de -2,38 , y a los 5 años-2,93. La sobrevida actuarial de los pacientes a1, 3 y 5 años fue de 97,8/95,2 y 92,6 respectivamente para los trasplantes donante vivo, y de 92,6/92,6 y 92,6 en los mismos plazos para los trasplantes donante cadáver. La sobrevida del injerto fue de 89,78 y 71%al 1,3 y 5 años para donante vivo, y de 84,76 y 70% respectivamente para donante cadáver. Entre lascausas de pérdida del injerto destacan el abandono del tratamiento en 8 casos,la trombosis de los vasos renales en 6, el rechazo crónico en 4 y el rechazo agudo en 3 trasplantes. Las causas de fallecimiento en los 4 pacientes de la serie fueron una septicemia en 2 casos, una bronconeumonía por CMV en 1, y la ruptura de arteria renal en 1 caso. Conclusiones: Este reporte confirma que el trasplante renal pediátrico puede ser realizado en nuestro medio con aceptable morbilidad, baja mortalidad y con una sobrevida del injerto semejante a reportes internacionales.

Paedriatric renal transplantis the treatment of choice in chronic renal failure(CRF), in that it permits the recuperation to differing degrees the severe consequences of uraemia, especially in terms of growth retardation. Objective: To evaluate the results of renal transplantation in 3 hospital centers during a 10 year period(1989-99). Patients and Methods: A retrospective study using a standard protocol carried out in the hospitals Exequiel Gonzá1ez Cortés,Luis Calvo Mackenna and San Juan de Dios between july 1989 and july 1999. 3 types of variables were analyzed; 1)demograpbic description, 2)growth between birth and the last year of follow-up, and 3) transplant related factors, especially innnunosuppression, transplantcomplications and graft function during annual periods.Continuous variables were expressed as mean + SD, growth as Z score, renal function as l/plasma creatinine, and togelher with the analysis of acute rejection in relation to live or cadaveric donor, were analyzed using Pearsons Chi-squared. Renal function with regards to warm or cold ischaemia was evaluated using Students t-test ,while Kaplan-Meier curves were used in the analysis of survival at 1,3, and 5 years both for patients and grafts. In all the tests a pvalue< 0,05 was considered significant. Results: 98 transplants were carried out on92patients, aged 10.9 + 3.2 years, range 2-17,the 3 most important causes of CRF were reflux nephropathy, renal dis-or hypoplasia and chronic glomerulonephritis. Growth showed a fall from a Z of-0.6 at birth, to-2.14 at the beginning of dialysis (p <0.05) to-2.57 at the moment of transplant (p < 0,05). At 3 and 5 yrs post transplant the Z values were-2.38 and-2.93 respectively. Actuarial patient survival rates at 1,3 and 5 yrs were 97.8, 95.2 and 92.6 for live donors and 92.6,92.6,and 92.6 for cadaveric donors respectively. Graft survival for livedonors was 89,78 and 71% and cadaveric donors 84, 76 and 70% during the same time intervals. Reasons for graft failure were abandoning treatment 8 cases, renal vessel thrombosis 6, chronic rejection 4 and acute rejection 3 cases,4 patients died, 2 from septicaemia, 1 from bronchopneumonia and 1dueto renal artery rupture. Conclusions: This report confirms that paedriatric renal transplant can be performed in Chile with an acceptable morbidity, a low mortality and with graft survivals similar to intemational centers.

Anestesia/analgesia epidural cervical en mastectomía de paciente con antecedentes familiares de hipertermia maligna / Epidural cervical anesthesia/analgesia for mastectomy in a pa tient with family history of malignant hypertermia

Introducción: La hipertermia maligna es un síndrome frecuentemente he redado, caracterizado por un estado hipermetabólico agudo tras la exposición a determinados fármacos, como relajantes musculares despolarizantes y anestésicos volátiles. Entre los signos y síntomas de una crisis se incluyen, el aumento del anhídrido carbónico espirado, taquicardia, taquipnea, rigidez de la musculatura esquelética, aumento rápido y gradual de la temperatura con alto riesgo de fallecimiento. Este cuadro es consecuencia de una alteración de la homeostasis del calcio en la fibra muscular esquelética. Material y métodos. Resultados: Paciente de 47 años propuesta para intervención quirúrgica por tumoración mamaria izquierda en cuadrantes supero-externos. Entre sus antecedentes resalta el fallecimiento de dos familiares por hipertermia maligna en el transcurso de anestesias generales. Se propone anestesia epidural cervical por el sistema de la gota pendiente, usando ropivacaína 0,5 por ciento y colocando un catéter para analgesia en el intra y postoperatorio de la intervención quirúrgica de glandulectomía segmentaria. Valoramos el dolor por la escala analógico visual, nivel de sedación y parámetros hemodinámicos. Con posterioridad la paciente es sometida a una mastectomía bilateral junto a vaciamiento axilar izquierdo completo, procediéndose a una nueva anestesia epidural cervical con idéntica técnica y valoraciones. Conclusiones: La paciente presentó una adecuada anestesia para el procedimiento quirúrgico realizado junto a una excelente analgesia en el intraoperatorio como en el postoperatorio inmediato y a las 24 horas. Los antecedentes familiares de la paciente con el peligro potencial de hipertermia maligna hace aconsejable el uso de una técnica regional versus anestesia general (AU)

Trasplante renal en pediatría: una década de experiencia multicéntrica / Pediatric renal transplant: a decade of experience

El transplante renal en pediatría representa la modalidad óptima de manejo de la insuficiencia renal crónica, ya que permite recuperar en diversos grados las severas complicaciones propias de la uremia, especialmente el retraso del crecimiento. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados del transplante renal pediátrico en 3 centros hospitalarios del país, en un período de 10 años (1989-1999). Pacientes y Métodos: Evaluación retrospectiva de los transplantes renales en base a un protocolo común, efectuados en los hospitales Exequiel González Cortes, Luis Calvo Mackenna y San Juan de Dios, entre julio de 1989 y julio 1999. Se analizaron 3 grupos de variables: un primer grupo de tipo descriptivo para variables demográficas; un segundo grupo para analizar el crecimiento desde el período de recién nacido hasta el último año de seguimiento, y un tercer grupo que analizó aspectos con relación al transplante, en especial la inmunosupresión, las complicaciones y la función del injerto por períodos anuales. Las variables continuas fueron expresadas como promedio ñ desviación estándar, el crecimiento como puntaje Z, la función renal se graficó como el inverso de creatinina en plasma, y al igual que la evaluación del rechazo agudo en relación al tipo de donante vivo o cadáver, se analizó con la prueba de chi² de Pearson. El análisis de la función renal en relación a los tiempos de isquemia tibia y fría se evaluó por el test t de Student, y la sobrevida a 1,3 y 5 años para el injerto y pacientes se estudio por la curva de Kaplan Meier. Se consideró significativo un p < 5 por ciento. Resultados: se analizaron 98 transplantes en 92 pacientes, edad 10,9 ñ 3,2 años, rango 2 a 17; las 3 patologías más importantes causantes de la insuficiencia renal que llevo al transplante fueron la nefropatía del reflujo, las displasias o hipoplasias renales, y la glomerulonefritis crónica. El crecimiento mostró una caída de un Z -0,6 al nacer a -2,14 al inicio de la diálisis (p <0,05), y a -2,57 al momento del transplante (p < 0,05). A los 3 años postrasplante el Z fue de -2,38, y a los 5 años -2,93. La sobrevida actuarial de los pacientes a 1 , 3 y 5 años fue de 97,8 / 95,2 y 92,6 respectivamente para los transplantes donante vivo, y de 92,6 / 92,6 y 92,6 en los mismos plazos para los transplantes donate cadáver. La sobrevida del injerto fue de 89, 78 y 71 por ciento a 1 , 3 y 5 años para donate vivo, y de 84, 76 y 70 por ciento respectivamente para donante cadáver

Decrease in calcitonin and parathyroid hormone mRNA levels and hormone secretion under long-term hypervitaminosis D3 in rats.

In calcium homeostasis, vitamin D3 is a potent serum calcium-raising agent which in vivo regulates both calcitonin (CT) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene expression. Serum calcium is the major secretagogue for CT, a hormone product whose biosynthesis is the main biological activity of thyroid C-cells. Taking advantage of this regulatory mechanism, long-term vitamin D3-induced hypercalcemia has been extensively used as a model to produce hyperactivation, hyperplasia and even proliferative lesions of C-cells, supposedly to reduce the sustained high calcium serum concentrations. We have recently demonstrated that CT serum levels did not rise after long-term hypervitaminosis D3. Moreover, C-cells did not have a proliferative response, rather a decrease in CT-producing C-cell number was observed. In order to confirm the inhibitory effect of vitamin D3 on C-cells, Wistar rats were administered vitamin D3 chronically (25,000 IU/d) with or without calcium chloride (CaCl2). Under these long-term vitamin D3-hypercalcemic conditions, calcium, active metabolites of vitamin D3, CT and PTH serum concentrations were determined by RIA; CT and PTH mRNA levels were analysed by Northern blot and in situ hybridization; and, finally, the ultrastructure of calciotrophic hormone-producing cells was analysed by electron microscopy. Our results show, that, in rats, long term administration of vitamin D3 results in a decrease in hormone biosynthetic activities of both PTH and CT-producing cells, albeit at different magnitudes. Based upon these results, we conclude that hypervitaminosis D3-based methods do not stimulate C-cell activity and can not be used to induce proliferative lesions of calcitonin-producing cells.

Lidocaína y cuadro doloroso transitorio de miembros inferiores / Lidocaine and transitory lower limbs painful picture

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Administración epidural accidental del cloruro potásico / Accidental epidural administration of potassium chloride

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In vitro adherence of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium to urinary catheters.

The in vitro adherence of ten strains of Enterococcus faecalis and ten strains of Enterococcus faecium to siliconized latex urinary catheters and to silicone elastomer was evaluated. Bacterial suspensions (2.5x10(5) cfu/ml) in tryptic soy broth containing 0.5 cm segments from each type of catheter were incubated at 37 degrees C. At specified intervals, the segments were washed to remove nonadherent bacteria and sonicated for 1 min, and colony-forming units were quantified. Bacterial adherence occurred rapidly, reaching maximal peaks after 24 h of incubation. Enterococcus faecium adherence to both biomaterials was significantly lower than that of Enterococcus faecalis. No differences were observed between the two elastomers. Bacterial adherence was not related to bacterial surface hydrophobicity, hemolysin or gelatinase production.

Coagulacion intravascular diseminada, hemotorax masivo y shock en el postoperatorio inmediato de un legrado uterino / Disseminated intravascular coagulation, massive hemothorax and shock in the immediate postoperative period following uterine dilatation and curettage

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Chronic hypervitaminosis D3 determines a decrease in C-cell numbers and calcitonin levels in rats.

Many papers have reported that chronic hypercalcemia induced either by large doses of vitamin D or by the administration of calcium or parathormone, produces hypertrophy and hyperplasia of C cells. However, more recent studies suggest that the effect of elevated calcium or 1.25(OH)2D3 concentration on the production of calcitonin may be more complex than previously suspected. To assess the validity of such a response an experimental model, where hypercalcemia was induced with vitamin D3 overdose, was designed. Male Wistar rats were administered vitamin D3 chronically (50,000 IU per 100 ml of drinking water with or without CaCl2). Serum calcium and calcitonin levels were determined. C cells were stained by immunohistochemistry using calcitonin and neuronal specific enolase (NSE) antibodies and their percentage was calculated by a morphometric analysis. We also investigated the ultrastructural characteristic of the C cells under experimental conditions. C cells did not have a proliferative response rather a decrease in their number was observed after 1 month of treatment with 25,000 IU of vitamin D3 (1.55 vs 2.43% in control animals) and 3 months with vitamin plus CaCl2 (2.27% vs 3.62% in control animals). In addition, no significant changes in serum calcitonin levels were observed during the experimental period. We conclude that rat C cells do not respond with hypertrophic and hyperplastic changes in a hypercalcemic state due to an intoxication with vitamin D3.