[Current controversies in pathophysiology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy]. / Controversias en la fisiopatología de la mielopatía cervical espondilótica.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most severe consequence of degenerative disease of cervical spine. In this article we perform a bibliographic review, addressing current controversies in its pathophysiology. Present work lines of most groups dedicated to the study of this condition are focused on improving surgical techniques designed for the treatment of this disease. Pathophysiological studies are scarce, and most of our pathophysiological knowledge of cervical spondylotic myelopathy is based in works done in 60s and 70s. Literature of the last decade lacks neurochemichal studies parallel to those existing for acute spinal injury. In the same way, only three prospective clinical trials comparing conservative and surgical treatment have been done, and none of them has demonstrated clear superiority of surgery. Given the high prevalence of this disease, the need for deep knowledge of its pathophysiologic, neurochemichal and molecular basis, and the optimization of surgical treatment is justified. This probably implies the need for prospective randomized trials to determine which patients are going to benefit from surgery.

[Relation between the carcinogenic activity of conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbons and the form of their localized molecular orbitals]. / Relación entre la actividad cancerígena de los hidrocarburos policíclicos conjugados y la forma de sus orbitales moleculares localizados.

The carcinogenic activity of some compounds is linked to the electronic structure of their molecules. The authors calculate the localized molecular orbitals (LMO) by means of a topologic method they have developed, based in the electronic distribution of a single molecular region, that coincides or is next to the K region, instead of having to consider the two classical regions (K and L).

[Aortapulmonary shunt. Apropos of 4 cases]. / Ventana aortopulmonar. A propósito de cuatro casos

Four cases of aorto-pulmonary window are presented, diagnosed in the Section of Pediatric Cardiology during the last six years. The results obtained from clinic; ECG; X-ray; hemodinamic and angiographic studies are described. All of them were clinically diagnosed as left to right shunt through a persistent ductus arteriosus in two cases and of VSD the other two. The final diagnosis was made through cardiac cateterization in one case and at surgery in three. Two of the cases showed additional alterations, in one case it was a PDA, and the other a valvular aortic stenosis. All of them were operated, three successfully and one died immediately after operation. We consider that the study of this relatively rare cardiopaty deserves special attention, because of the similarity to other forms of left to right shunts. We insist on its difficult clinical dianose and the need of making a early diagnosis to do corrective surgery.