Características clínico-epidemiológicas del carcinoma de células de Merkel en una serie de 38 pacientes / Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in a Series of 38 Patients

Introducción: El carcinoma de células de Merkel (CCM) es un tumor cutáneo muy agresivo y de mal pronóstico, aunque la incidencia es muy baja. Existen pocas series que analicen la experiencia en un mismo centro. Metodología: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo de todos los pacientes diagnosticados en un hospital de tercer nivel entre 2002 y 2017. Se recogieron las características epidemiológicas, clínicas, histológicas, el tratamiento y la supervivencia, y se dividió la muestra en 2 períodos para el análisis (2002-2009 y 2010-2017). Se realizó un análisis de supervivencia mediante el modelo de Kaplan-Meier y un análisis multivariante mediante el modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. Resultados: Se incluyó a 38 pacientes, 24 hombres y 14 mujeres, con una edad media 77,76 años. El período medio de seguimiento fue de 30,11 meses. Se observó un aumento del 116% (12 vs. 26) entre los años 2002-2009 y 2010-2017, así como una edad media más avanzada (70,92 vs. 80,92; p < 0,05) y un incremento de lesiones en tronco y miembros inferiores (34,62% vs. 0%). Once pacientes fallecieron debido al CCM. La supervivencia global a los 12 meses en la serie fue del 78,2% y a los 24 meses del 69,3%. Los factores asociados a mortalidad fueron la edad mayor de 70 años y la afectación ganglionar, mientras que la localización en miembros superiores y la realización de ampliación de márgenes aumentó la supervivencia. Al realizar el análisis multivariante, solo la afectación de ganglios permaneció como factor pronóstico. Conclusiones: Se ha observado un aumento de la frecuencia en los últimos años y un cambio en la forma de presentación a edades más avanzadas y en otras localizaciones diferentes a las clásicas

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare yet aggressive cutaneous tumor with a poor prognosis. Few studies have analyzed series of patients from the same hospital. Methodology: We performed a retrospective, descriptive, observational study of all patients diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma at a tertiary care hospital between 2002 and 2017. We recorded epidemiological, clinical, and histologic data and information on treatments and survival. For analysis, the sample was divided into 2 groups from different periods: 2002-2009 and 2010-2017. We performed survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Thirty-eight patients (24 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 77.76 years were included. Mean follow-up time was 30.11 months. On comparing 2010-2017 with 2002-2009, we observed a 116% increase in the number of Merkel cell carcinoma cases (26 vs. 12), an older mean age at diagnosis (80.92 vs. 70.92 years, P<.05), and an increase in lesions located on the trunk and lower limbs (0% vs. 34.62%). Eleven patients died of Merkel cell carcinoma. Overall survival was 78.2% at 12 months and 69.3% at 24 months. In the univariate analysis, age over 70 years and lymph node involvement were associated with mortality, while tumor location on the upper extremities and wide surgical excision were associated with improved survival. Only lymph node involvement retained its prognostic significance in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: In this series, we observed that Merkel cell carcinoma has become more common in recent years and is now diagnosed at an older age and found in new anatomic locations

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in a Series of 38 Patients. / Características clínico-epidemiológicas del carcinoma de células de Merkel en una serie de 38 pacientes.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare yet aggressive cutaneous tumor with a poor prognosis. Few studies have analyzed series of patients from the same hospital. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective, descriptive, observational study of all patients diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma at a tertiary care hospital between 2002 and 2017. We recorded epidemiological, clinical, and histologic data and information on treatments and survival. For analysis, the sample was divided into 2 groups from different periods: 2002-2009 and 2010-2017. We performed survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (24 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 77.76 years were included. Mean follow-up time was 30.11 months. On comparing 2010-2017 with 2002-2009, we observed a 116% increase in the number of Merkel cell carcinoma cases (26 vs. 12), an older mean age at diagnosis (80.92 vs. 70.92 years, P<.05), and an increase in lesions located on the trunk and lower limbs (0% vs. 34.62%). Eleven patients died of Merkel cell carcinoma. Overall survival was 78.2% at 12 months and 69.3% at 24 months. In the univariate analysis, age over 70 years and lymph node involvement were associated with mortality, while tumor location on the upper extremities and wide surgical excision were associated with improved survival. Only lymph node involvement retained its prognostic significance in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, we observed that Merkel cell carcinoma has become more common in recent years and is now diagnosed at an older age and found in new anatomic locations.

Dermatitis granulomatosa postherpética en un paciente tratado con nivolumab / Postherpetic Granulomatous Dermatitis in a Man Treated With Nivolumab

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[Study of the nutritional status of elders in Cantabria]. / Estudio del estado nutricional de los ancianos de Cantabria.

INTRODUCTION: Population ageing is a main concern under the biosanitary point of view. AIM: To assess the nutritional status of people 65 year-old and older in Cantabria (Spain) METHOD: A total of 1605 persons were studied by means of the MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment); a) by primary care (59.9% in the unit, and 4.7% at home) and, b) in nursing homes (35.4%). RESULTS: Nutritional score (NS) was 23.4 ± 4.1 for women and 24.4 ± 4 in males (p < 0.001). We emphasize the fact that 22.3% of people studied in the nursing homes were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, compared with 14.2% of those studied at the unit, and only 3.3% of the home visited elders. The correlation between the value of the NS and the subjective estimation of nutrition status showed a high value (0.65). We emphasize the negative correlation (-0.53) between BNI value and the incidence of skin lesions. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the importance of identifying malnutrition or its risk in elders in order to prevent the negative consequences of this deficiency.

Estudio del estado nutricional de los ancianos de Cantabria / Study of the nutritional status of elders in Cantabria

Introducción: El envejecimiento de la población representa uno de los retos más importantes desde el punto de vista biosanitario Objetivo: Valorar el estado nutricional de las personas de 65 y más años de Cantabria. Métodos: Un total de 1605 personas fueron evaluadas por medio del MNA; a) en atención primaria (59,9% en la consulta y 4,7% en domicilios) y, b) en residencias de ancianos (35,4%).Resultados: La puntuación nutricional (PN) obtenida de la suma de los ítems del MNA fue 23,4 ± 4,1 para las mujeres y 24,4 ± 4 en los varones (p < 0,001). Destaca el hecho de que el 22,3% de las personas estudiadas en residencias está malnutrida o en riesgo de malnutrición, frente al 14,2% de las que acuden a consulta, y sólo el3,3% de las estudiadas en su domicilio. La correlación entre los valores de la PN y la apreciación subjetiva del estado de nutrición mostró un valor elevado (0,65). Destacamos la correlación negativa (-0,53) entre los valores del IMC y la incidencia de lesiones cutáneas. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados indican la importancia de la identificación de la desnutrición o su riesgo, en personas mayores, por las consecuencias negativas que presenta este estado carencial (AU)

Introduction: Population ageing is a main concern under the biosanitary point of view. Aim: To assess the nutritional status of people 65 year old and older in Cantabria (Spain) Method: A total of 1605 persons were studied by means of the MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment); a) by primary care (59.9% in the unit, and 4.7% at home) and, b) in nursing homes (35.4%).Results: Nutritional score (NS) was 23.4 ± 4.1 for women and 24.4 ± 4 in males (p < 0.001). We emphasize the fact that 22.3% of people studied in the nursing homes were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, compared with 14.2% of those studied at the unit, and only 3.3% of the home visited elders. The correlation between the value of the NS and the subjective estimation of nutrition status showed a high value (0.65).We emphasize the negative correlation (-0.53) between BNI value and the incidence of skin lesions. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of identifying malnutrition or its risk in elders in order to prevent the negative consequences of this deficiency (AU)

Retrograde amnesia induced by lidocaine injection into the striatum: protective effect of the negative reinforcer.

A variety of manipulations which interfere with the activity of the striatum, including cholinergic blockade and spreading depression, produce amnesia. However, it has been demonstrated that with overtraining, striatal spreading depression and injections of anticholinergic drugs do not produce memory deficits in positively-rewarded tasks. In the present experiment 2% lidocaine was injected into the striatum shortly after training of passive avoidance, using three levels of footshock (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mA). Highly significant retention deficits were produced when the lower intensities were studied; in contrast, the animals trained with 0.4 mA showed near-perfect performance. The data show that the enhanced learning experience, which may be equivalent to overtraining, also protects against memory deficits in negatively-rewarded behaviors, and suggest that it induces a transfer of mnemonic functions from the striatum to other neural structures.