Knowledge of the Brain Death Concept Among Older People.

BACKGROUND: The concept of brain death (BD) is not well understood in the general population; this lack of knowledge is one of the main factors that generates an attitude against organ donation. Older people are a population group that has rarely been studied in relation to organ donation and transplantation (ODT), and it is important to investigate the most important aspects of ODT, such as people's concept of BD. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the level of understanding of the concept of BD in people > 65 years of age and the factors that influence their mode of thinking. METHODS: A multicenter study was carried out with a representative sample of people > 65 years of age, stratified by sex and geographic location in the southeast of Spain (n = 420). Knowledge of BD as well as the influence of other variables were analyzed through a validated questionnaire about ODT. SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, United States) software was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis included Student t test and the χ2 test. RESULTS: The questionnaire had a completion rate of 84% (n = 351). In 36% (n = 127) of cases, people ˃ 65 years of age understood the concept of BD. In general, knowledge of this concept has not been associated with other variables including social-family interaction about ODT (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Older people do not understand the concept of BD. It is, therefore, necessary to carry out informative campaigns on ODT explaining this concept. This would improve organ donation awareness in this particular group of people.

The Influence of Mass Media on Organ Donation and Transplantation in Older People.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide population aging has resulted in changes in the approach to the organ donation and transplantation (ODT) process, forcing us to include older people on transplant waiting lists and to assess older patients as potential donors. However, this is a sector of the population that has not been studied in great detail in terms of the information they receive about ODT. OBJECTIVES: To analyze what kinds of media provide people > 65 years of age with information about ODT and which sources of information affect their attitude about this subject. METHODS: A multicentric study was undertaken using a sample of people > 65 years of age stratified by sex and geographic location in southeastern Spain (n = 420). Questions about ODT and methods of receiving information were analyzed using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, United States). Descriptive analyses were performed with a Student t test and χ2 test. RESULTS: The questionnaire completion rate was 84% (n = 351). People aged > 65 years received information about ODT, mainly positive, from the television (82%), followed by films (35%), the radio (30%), the press (26%), family (26%), and friends (17%). Receiving information through one of the following sources was associated with a more favorable attitude toward organ donation: the family (76% vs 45%; P < .001), friends (77% vs 48%; P = .01), and the press (62% vs 49%; P = .034). CONCLUSIONS: Older people mainly receive information about ODT from the mass media. However, social and family circles have the greatest influence on their attitudes toward organ donation.

Attitude of Older People Toward Living Donation.

BACKGROUND: Living donation is a potential source of organs that could help to reduce the organ transplant deficit. Given that we have a worldwide aging population, it is important to assess the opinion of older people toward this type of donation. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the attitude of people aged > 65 years toward living kidney donation (LKD) and living liver donation (LLD) and to investigate the variables affecting their attitudes. METHODS: A multicentric study was carried out using a representative sample of people > 65 years stratified by sex and geographic location in southeastern Spain (n = 420). The measurement instrument was a validated questionnaire about LKD and LLD. Statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, United States) software. Descriptive analysis was carried out using Student t test, χ2 test, and a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The questionnaire completion rate was 84% (n = 351) with 88% (n = 310) in favor of LKD, and 89% (n = 311) in favor of LLD. Favorable attitude decreased to 3% when the donation under consideration was unrelated. Attitudes toward LKD and LLD were associated with having received information from the television (P = .016 and P = .045) and from friends (P = .017 and P = .03); accepting an autopsy after death (P = .001 and P = .002); and not being worried about scars (P = .015 and P = .044). In the multivariate analysis, the following variables continued to be significant: having received information from the television (odds ratio [OR], 2) and from friends (OR, 10.3); and the acceptance of an autopsy (OR, 2). CONCLUSIONS: Older people are in favor of both LKD and LLD, assuming it is a related donation. In addition, the information the elderly population receives regarding organ donation and transplantation affects their attitudes.

[Duration of untreated psychosis as predictive and prognostic factor in the course of first episode psychosis]. / El tiempo de psicosis no tratada como factor predictivo y pronóstico en el curso de los primeros episodios psicóticos.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, many studies have focused on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in order to clarify if DUP could be one of the factors that would influence prognosis of psychotic disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a one year follow - up study with 90 medication native, first episode psychotic patients. The likely prognosis factors that could influence in the outcome of the disease were measured. Therefore, we used a protocol including the following scales: PANSS, Psychosocial Stress Global Assessment scale (DSM IIIR), Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF-EEAG), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Montgomery-Asberg scale for the depression, Young mania rating scale, abnormal involuntary movements scale, UKU scale for extrapyramidal symptoms and Premorbid Adjustment scale (Cannon-Spoor). Assessments were made every three months for 1 year. A statistical analysis of data was performed. RESULTS: As a result, it was concluded that there was no relationship between a long duration untreated psychosis and a worse outcome of the illness in our sample. The only related factors with the prognosis were premorbid adjustment and the type of disease onset. Hence, the patients with a better premorbid adjustment and an acute onset of psychosis had a better outcome. CONCLUSION: Our study represents more evidence in favor of the independence of DUP and disease outcome.

Breast malignant phyllodes tumour metastasising to soft tissues of oral cavity.

Metastases from infraclavicular neoplasms to the oral cavity are rare, and the anatomical structures most frequently affected are the maxillae. The primary sites that develop metastases to head and neck include lung, breast, liver, thyroid gland, kidney and melanomas, among others. The breast is one of the usual primary regions that can present them. In the literature, most metastases to these regions correspond to squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas; few studies report other type of neoplasms such as phyllodes tumour (PT) that present this behaviour. The importance of identifying metastatic disease to the oral cavity, be it as the first manifestation of a neoplasm from unknown origin or as a development in the course of the disease, is that it allows determination of adequate treatment, which has an effect on the patient's prognosis. The usual behaviour of PT is frequent recurrence and, when metastases are present, these are to lungs and bone. Two cases of malignant PT metastasising to tongue and lip are presented, as well as a review of the literature.

Breast malignant phyllodes tumour metastasising to soft tissues of oral cavity

Metastases from infraclavicular neoplasms to the oral cavity are rare, and the anatomical structures most frequently affected are the maxillae. The primary sites that develop metastases to head and neck include lung, breast, liver, thyroid gland, kidney and melanomas, among others. The breast is one of the usual primary regions that can present them. In the literature, most metastases to these regions correspond to squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas; few studies report other type of neoplasms such as phyllodes tumour (PT) that present this behaviour. The importance of identifying metastatic disease to the oral cavity, be it as the first manifestation of a neoplasm from unknown origin or as a development in the course of the disease, is that it allows determination of adequate treatment, which has an effect on the patient's prognosis. The usual behaviour of PT is frequent recurrence and, when metastases are present, these are to lungs and bone. Two cases of malignant PT metastasising to tongue and lip are presented, as well as a review of the literature (AU)

Diagnóstico y conducta en el hídrops fetal temprano / Diagnostic and management of early foetal hydrops

El hídrops fetal temprano es un fenómeno frecuente que forma parte de numerosos procesos patológicos. Sin embargo, la tasa de diagnósticos se encuentra por debajo de su incidencia. Los hallazgos ecográficos indirectos relacionados con fallo cardíaco de diferente origen son más frecuentes en el primer trimestre. Es estos casos, el aumento del pliegue nucal suele ser el primer signo ecográfico de hídrops temprano. En el estudio realizado sobre 30 casos en los que se determinó el cariotipo fetal por un pliegue nucal mayor de 3 mm antes de la semana 14 de gestación como indicación, el índice de cromosomopatías fue del 36,7 frente al 3,1 por ciento de cariotipos anormales obtenidos cuando la indicación fue otra. Además, se observó un 50 por ciento de anomalías asociadas entre los que presentaron algún signo temprano de hídrops y un 47 por ciento de mortalidad fetal asociada. La medición del pliegue nucal ofrece la oportunidad de realizar un cribado temprano de aneuploidías, cardiopatías u otras afecciones fetales (AU)

[Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the rhinopharynx]. / Plasmocitoma extramedular solitario de rinofaringe.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the nasopharynx is very rare. A case of asymptomatic extramedullary plasmacytoma in the nasopharynx in a 69-year-old man is presented. Radiotherapy was the treatment (60 Gy). In this patient two neoplasms of B series are associated (lymphoproliferative B Kappa syndrome and extramedullary plasmacytoma).

[Prognostic factors in breast cancer with contralateral supraclavicular or axillary lymphatic metastases]. / Factores pronósticos en cáncer de mama con metástasis a ganglios supraclaviculares o axila contralateral.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prognostic factor differences between surviving and decreased breast cancer patients in clinical stage IV with supraclavicular or contralateral axilla metastasis when first seen. METHODS: From the clinical records of 13 years (1975-88) two groups of ten patients each were obtained. Group 1 were women alive and free of disease for more than five years. Group 2 had similar characteristics but had died of the disease. In both groups clinical data were evaluated (age, menstrual status and survival); from slides the histologic factors like tumor size, nodal status, fibrosis percentage, inflammatory infiltrate, nuclear grade and necrosis were evaluated; immunohistochemistry of CD34 for angiogenesis, cathepsin D, p53 antioncogen, c-erb-B2 oncogen, epidermic growth factor, estrogen and progesterone receptors and cellular kinetics were performed; Kaplan Meier survival curves were constructed for the factors showing intergroup differences. RESULTS: The factors associated to the living patients were: low inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.001), low fibrosis (p = 0.007), lower p53 expression (p = 0.03) and positive estrogen receptor (p = 0.03); other factors were marginally associated: positive progesterone receptor (p = 0.07) and having less than 6 positive lymph nodes (p = 0.07).

Evaluation of QRS morphological classifiers in the presence of noise.

This paper analyzes the performance of four similarity measures (distances: d1, d2, and dinfinity, as well as correlation coefficient), when they are employed for morphological classification of QRS complexes by means of linear cluster formation. An important characteristic that any morphological classification method for QRS complexes should possess is the ability to perform waveform recognition despite the wide variety in which these could appear, as well as the diverse types of noise that could contaminate the signal. Evaluation of these classifiers constitutes an important problem for their selection. Evaluation was performed using electrocardiographic signals selected from the MIT-BIH database. These signals were contaminated with several noise types that are found in the environment where electrocardiograms are usually registered and processed, and the different noise waveforms were combined in an appropriate way to simulate practical situations, including some with severe noise contamination. Results are expressed in terms of probabilities of correct classification for different signal to noise ratios, allowing a comparison between the different distance measures in terms of their effectiveness.

[3 families with a congenital factor X deficiency, one of them with an associated factor XII deficiency]. / Estudio de tres familias con déficit congénito de factor X, una de ellas con déficit asociado de factor XII.

Factor X deficiency constitutes one of the most uncommon congenital bleeding disorders. Here we report three families with Factor X deficiency, one of them with an associated deficit of Factor XII. Family I presented Red variant deficiency (low functional and antigenic activity, the latter in higher levels than the former). In Family II functional activity was low but antigenic one was normal (Prower defect). Besides, an heterozygous deficiency of factor XII was diagnosed. Although genetic analysis supports the hypothesis of combined deficiency, the study was possible in only two generations of the propositus, so a multiple familial deficiency could not be discarded. Finally, Family III suffered from a "classic" or Mr. Stuart deficiency (low levels in functional and immunological assays). Besides, crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed a grossly pathological pattern.

[Treatment with interferon alfa-2a in the chronic phase of Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia]. / Tratamiento con interferón alfa-2a de la leucemia mieloide crónica Ph1 positiva en fase crónica.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cytologic and cytogenetic response attained with interferon alpha-2a (IFN, Roferon*A) in patients with Ph '-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) in the chronic phase. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 22 CML patients diagnosed in the Haematology Service at the Princesa Hospital in Madrid. The therapeutic regime consisted of two phases: A) Hydroxyurea was given until the white-cell count was reduced to 15-20 x 10(9)/L. B) Roferon*A was then given subcutaneously at a doses of 5 MU/m2 per day. The follow-up was performed weekly, and monthly once the leucocyte count had stabilized. The cytologic and cytogenetic response was assessed by bone marrow aspiration performed after 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. The toxicity was evaluated in accordance with the WHO recommendations. RESULTS: The median follow-up is 263 days (21-930). Thirteen patients (65%) had initial complete haematological response and 3 (15%) had partial response. The mean time to achieve response was 42 days (0-321). In the last evaluation, 69% of the patients were in sustained haematological remission (53% complete and 16% partial) with median follow-up of 232 days (21-930). The cytogenetic response was evaluable in 13 patients (follow up > or = 6 months): three attained complete response (23%) and three others partial response (23%). The commonest untoward effects were hypertriglyceridaemia (100%) and myelosuppression (86%). Grade-III thrombocytopenia was seen in 19% of the patients and grade-III anaemia or leucopenia in 5%. No infectious or haemorrhagic complications have appeared. Therapy was discontinued in 3 patients (14%), two due to severe flu-like syndrome and one for parkinsonism after 809 days of treatment. At the moment of evaluation two patients had died, one in lymphoid blastic crisis on day 217 and the other in the immediate post-BMT period. CONCLUSION: Treatment with interferon-alpha 2A is useful in the chronic phase of CML. An important number of responses can be attained, even in patients in the late chronic phase, and the toxicity seems acceptable.