[Ulysses in the medical literature]. / Ulises en la literatura médica.

INTRODUCTION: Cultural manifestations are frequently used as a source of descriptors in the field of the health sciences. The story of Odysseus (Ulysses) is one of the oldest and most influential works of world literature and has given rise to many subsequent creations, with strong roots in popular culture. AIMS: To consider the use of the story of Odysseus in the medical literature, to describe the terms in which it is used, and to discuss its relevance. DEVELOPMENT: From a review performed in PubMed, 112 medical publications with references to the myth of Odysseus were found, out of a total of 343 results. Five different conditions named directly after Ulysses were found (three Ulysses syndromes, the Ulysses contract and the Ulysses conflict), together with two others that have been given the names of other characters who are part of the same cycle (Elpenor syndrome and Penelope syndrome), which we analyse in a critical manner referring to the original material from which they have been taken. CONCLUSIONS: The story of Odysseus constitutes one of the most frequent sources of inspiration in medicine, both for the creation of descriptors and for the use of similes, metaphors or other rhetorical figures, particularly in the area of neuroscience.

TITLE: Ulises en la literatura médica.Introducción. Es frecuente el empleo de manifestaciones culturales como origen de descriptores en el campo de las ciencias de la salud. La historia de Odiseo (Ulises) es una de las obras más antiguas e influyentes de la literatura universal y ha dado lugar a múltiples creaciones posteriores, con un fuerte arraigo en la cultura popular. Objetivo. Ponderar el uso del relato de Odiseo en la literatura médica, describir los términos en los que se emplea y discutir la pertinencia de estos. Desarrollo. Tras una revisión en PubMed, se hallaron 112 publicaciones de carácter médico con referencias al mito de Odiseo, de un total de 343 resultados. Se recogen hasta cinco entidades diferentes directamente nombradas a partir de Ulises (tres síndromes de Ulises, el contrato de Ulises y el conflicto de Ulises), y dos más sobre otros personajes que forman parte de su ciclo (síndrome de Elpenor y síndrome de Penélope), las cuales analizamos de forma crítica respecto al material original del que se parte. Conclusiones. La historia de Odiseo constituye una de las fuentes de inspiración más frecuentes en la medicina, tanto para la elaboración de descriptores como para el empleo de símiles, metáforas u otras figuras retóricas, particularmente en el área de las neurociencias.

[Bilateral vitreous haemorrhage associated with pontomesencephalic haemorrhage: an extreme case of Terson syndrome]. / Hemorragia vitrea bilateral asociada a hemorragia pontomesencefalica: un caso extremo de sindrome de Terson.

TITLE: Hemorragia vitrea bilateral asociada a hemorragia pontomesencefalica: un caso extremo de sindrome de Terson.

Association between periodontal disease and dementia: A literature review. / Asociación entre enfermedad periodontal y demencia. Revisión de la bibliografía.

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease and dementia are very prevalent, especially in elderly populations. Multiple studies have shown a link between these diseases; however, the conditions are highly heterogeneous and so is the diagnostic methodology, which may hinder interpretation and comparison of the results. The aim of this article is to provide a critical review of the literature linking these 2 processes. DEVELOPMENT: We retrieved 22 studies, most of which were retrospective, and analysed various methodological variables including study population, diagnosis of periodontitis, definition of dementia, adjusted variables, and results. The different aetiopathogenic mechanisms that may affect the progression and interaction of these 2 conditions were also analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Although available evidence indicates a positive association between periodontitis and dementia, both the strength of that association and the presence of a causal relationship have yet to be determined.

[Tropical spastic paraparesis in a non tropical region]. / Paraparesia espastica tropical en una region no tropical.

INTRODUCTION: Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a prevalent disease in certain tropical regions endemic for HTLV-1, being a rare entity in areas such as Europe and North America. CASE REPORTS: We report two new cases of HAM/TSP in Caucasians, native from Galicia, Spain. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, clinical neurophysiologic studies and brain and spinal cord MRI scans were performed. Both patients presented a progressive chronic myelopathy, evolving to spastic paraparesis; one of them presenting with uveitis, prior to the onset of neurological symptoms. CSF analysis revealed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis and increased protein concentration with positive anti-HTLV-1 antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for HTLV-1. Oligoclonal bands were not detected. In one of the patients, MRI scans did not reveal abnormalities whilst in the other there was an elongated high intensity lesion at the thoracic spinal cord level, which resolved after treatment. No evidence of peripheral neuropathy was found. Corticosteroids and interferon alpha therapy was started, with moderate functional improvement. A history of unprotected sexual relationships while travelling to HTLV-1 endemic areas was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-1-associated uveitis may predict HAM/TSP. HAM/TSP is probably an underdiagnosed disease due to the high prevalence of asymptomatic carriers, insidious clinical presentation and low suspicion index in non-endemic regions for HTLV-1. In non-tropical countries, HAM/TSP should not only be suspected in migrants from endemic areas for HTLV-1, but also in patients from communities with a tradition of migration to tropical countries.

TITLE: Paraparesia espastica tropical en una region no tropical.Introduccion. El virus linfotropo humano de celulas T tipo 1 (HTLV-1) es el agente causal de la paraparesia espastica tropical. Su prevalencia, elevada en determinadas areas tropicales, es baja en Europa y Norteamerica. Casos clinicos. Se describen dos casos de paraparesia espastica tropical en varones naturales y residentes en Galicia. Se realizaron estudios analiticos en la sangre y el liquido cefalorraquideo (LCR), examenes neurofisiologicos y resonancia magnetica craneal y medular. En ambos pacientes, la presentacion clinica fue la de una mielopatia cronica, con cuadro torpido y progresivo que evoluciono a paraparesia espastica. Un paciente desarrollo uveitis antes de la clinica neurologica. En los dos casos, el estudio del LCR demostro leve pleocitosis linfoide, ligera hiperproteinorraquia, bandas oligoclonales negativas y anticuerpos anti-HTLV-1 positivos. La reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa para HTLV-1 resulto positiva en ambos casos. La resonancia magnetica raquidea resulto normal en un paciente y mostro en el otro hiperseñal medular dorsal, que desaparecio tras el tratamiento. No se demostraron datos de polineuropatia periferica. Recibieron corticoides e interferon alfa, con leve mejoria y estabilizacion del cuadro clinico. La anamnesis dirigida revelo antecedentes de contactos sexuales de riesgo en regiones endemicas de HTLV-1. Conclusiones. La uveitis asociada a HTLV-1 podria ser predictora de paraparesia espastica tropical. Esta es probablemente una entidad infradiagnosticada (alto porcentaje de portadores asintomaticos, clinica insidiosa y bajo indice de sospecha en areas no endemicas). Debe considerarse su diagnostico en zonas no tropicales que reciben inmigrantes de areas endemicas y tambien en regiones con una tradicional emigracion a regiones tropicales.

[Flax-leaved daphne (Daphne gnidium L.): an ancient European timbo]. / El torvisco (Daphne gnidium L.): un timbó ancestral europeo.

TITLE: El torvisco (Daphne gnidium L.): un timbo ancestral europeo.