[O-arm navigation in spinal surgery for complex cases]. / Navegación O-arm en cirugía vertebral para casos complejos.

The intraoperative computer-assisted navigation technique has evolved and changed the way we approach certain complex cases in the vertebral pathologies. The main advantages of this technique are that it increases the accuracy of the procedure, reduces its morbidity and invasiveness, diminishes the radiation dose and improves surgical protocols. In addition to the transpedicular fixation, the navigation system is useful in a high variety of pathologies such as spinal decompression or tumor resection. In the present study, we show several cases where navigation is used intraoperatively in different pathologies and their clinical outcomes.

La técnica asistida por navegación intraoperatoria ha evolucionado y cambiado la forma de abordar ciertos casos complejos en la patología vertebral. Las principales ventajas de esta técnica consisten en aumentar la precisión de la intervención, reducir su morbilidad y carácter invasivo, disminuir la dosis de exposición radiológica y mejorar los protocolos quirúrgicos. Además de la fijación transpedicular, el sistema de navegación es útil en una alta variedad de padecimientos, como la descompresión medular o la resección tumoral. En el presente estudio mostramos varios casos donde se ha usado la navegación intraoperatoria en diferentes patologías y sus resultados clínicos.

Navegación O-arm en cirugía vertebral para casos complejos / O-ARM navigation in spinal surgery for complex cases

Resumen: La técnica asistida por navegación intraoperatoria ha evolucionado y cambiado la forma de abordar ciertos casos complejos en la patología vertebral. Las principales ventajas de esta técnica consisten en aumentar la precisión de la intervención, reducir su morbilidad y carácter invasivo, disminuir la dosis de exposición radiológica y mejorar los protocolos quirúrgicos. Además de la fijación transpedicular, el sistema de navegación es útil en una alta variedad de padecimientos, como la descompresión medular o la resección tumoral. En el presente estudio mostramos varios casos donde se ha usado la navegación intraoperatoria en diferentes patologías y sus resultados clínicos.

Abstract: The intraoperative computer-assisted navigation technique has evolved and changed the way we approach certain complex cases in the vertebral pathologies. The main advantages of this technique are that it increases the accuracy of the procedure, reduces its morbidity and invasiveness, diminishes the radiation dose and improves surgical protocols. In addition to the transpedicular fixation, the navigation system is useful in a high variety of pathologies such as spinal decompression or tumor resection. In the present study, we show several cases where navigation is used intraoperatively in different pathologies and their clinical outcomes.

Analysis of FOXP3 gene in children with allergy and autoimmune diseases

BACKGROUND: Allergy and autoimmunity are important immunological entities underlying chronic diseases in children. In some cases both entities develop simultaneously in the same patient. FOXP3 gene codes for a transcription factor involved in regulation of the immune system. Considering that regulatory T cells are involved in controlling immunological disease development, and the relevant role of FOXP3 in this kind of T cells, the objective of this study was to analyse the FOXP3gene in the most prevalent autoimmune diseases and/or allergies in childhood in a European population. METHODS: A total of 255 Caucasian individuals, 95 controls and 160 patients diagnosed with allergic, autoimmune or both diseases were included in this study. The molecular analysis of FOXP3 was performed by DNA sequencing following the recommendations for quality of the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all participants and was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. After the visualisation of the amplified fragments by agarose gel-electrophoresis, they were sequenced. RESULTS: Thirteen different polymorphisms in FOXP3 gene were found, seven of which had not been previously described. The mutated allele of SNP 7340C>T was observed more frequently in the group of male children suffering from both allergic and autoimmune diseases simultaneously (p = 0.004, OR = 16.2 [1.34-195.15]). CONCLUSIONS: In this study we identified for first time genetic variants of FOXP3 that are significantly more frequent in children who share allergic and autoimmune diseases. These variants mainly affect regulatory sequences that could alter the expression levels of FOXP3 modifying its function including its role in Treg cells

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Analysis of FOXP3 gene in children with allergy and autoimmune diseases.

BACKGROUND: Allergy and autoimmunity are important immunological entities underlying chronic diseases in children. In some cases both entities develop simultaneously in the same patient. FOXP3 gene codes for a transcription factor involved in regulation of the immune system. Considering that regulatory T cells are involved in controlling immunological disease development, and the relevant role of FOXP3 in this kind of T cells, the objective of this study was to analyse the FOXP3 gene in the most prevalent autoimmune diseases and/or allergies in childhood in a European population. METHODS: A total of 255 Caucasian individuals, 95 controls and 160 patients diagnosed with allergic, autoimmune or both diseases were included in this study. The molecular analysis of FOXP3 was performed by DNA sequencing following the recommendations for quality of the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all participants and was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. After the visualisation of the amplified fragments by agarose gel-electrophoresis, they were sequenced. RESULTS: Thirteen different polymorphisms in FOXP3 gene were found, seven of which had not been previously described. The mutated allele of SNP 7340C>T was observed more frequently in the group of male children suffering from both allergic and autoimmune diseases simultaneously (p=0.004, OR=16.2 [1.34-195.15]). CONCLUSIONS: In this study we identified for first time genetic variants of FOXP3 that are significantly more frequent in children who share allergic and autoimmune diseases. These variants mainly affect regulatory sequences that could alter the expression levels of FOXP3 modifying its function including its role in Treg cells.

Genetic association study in nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nasal polyposis (NP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the upper airways with a variable clinical course and unknown pathogenesis that often coexists with other conditions. Considering the possibility of genetic predisposition, we decided to analyze whether polymorphisms in LTC4S, CYSLTR1, PTGDR, and NOS2A were associated with NP. METHODS: The study population comprised 486 Caucasian individuals. Polyposis and aspirin intolerance were diagnosed following the recommendations of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps. Genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing. RESULTS: The -444A > C LTC4S polymorphism was significantly associated with NP and atopy (P = .033) and with NP and atopic asthma, (P =.012). In addition, a significant association was found when the (CCTTT) repetition of the NOS2A gene was present more than 14 times in patients with NP and asthma (P = .034), in patients with polyposis and intolerance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P = .009), and in patients with the aspirin triad (P = .005). The PTGDR diplotype CCCT/CCCC (-613CC, -549CC, -441CC and -197TC) was more frequent in patients with NP (P = .043), NP with asthma (P = .013), and the aspirin triad (P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: NP was associated with specific polymorphisms only when it occurred with related phenotypes. Our results suggest that this genetic background plays a more relevant role in the development of the associated clinical features of nasal polyposis than in simple polyposis.

PTGDR gene in asthma: a functional, genetic, and epigenetic study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma affects more than 300 million individuals in the world. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of the genetic component. The aim of this study is to develop a holistic approach, including genetic, epigenetic, and expression analysis to study the Prostaglandin D2 receptor gene (PTGDR) in asthmatic patients. METHODS: In this study, 637 Caucasian individuals were included. Genetic variants were characterized by sequencing, and haplotype and diplotype combinations were established. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed with different promoter variants. An epigenetic analysis of PTGDR was for the first time developed by MassArray assays, and gene expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The -197T > C (Fisher's P = 0.028) and -613C > T (Fisher's P < 0.001) polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with allergic asthma and allergy to pollen and mites, respectively. In addition, several haplotype and diplotype combinations were associated with different allergy and asthma phenotypes. The presence of the -613C > T SNP determined variations in the EMSAs. Moreover, consistent differences in the methylation and expression patterns were observed between asthmatic patients and controls determining a 2.34-fold increase of PTGDR gene expression in asthmatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic combinations described have functional implications in the PTGDR promoter activity by changing the transcription factors affinity that will help characterize different risk groups. The differences observed in the transcription factors affinity and in the methylation pattern bring insight into different transcription regulation in these patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in which the implication of genetic and epigenetic factors of PTGDR has been characterized pointing to putative therapeutic targets.

[Long-term analysis of minimally invasive surgery in knee arthroplasty]. / Análisis a largo plazo de la cirugía mínimamente invasiva en la artroplastía de rodilla.

BACKGROUND: Knee arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for gonarthrosis. The development of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) requires assessing results based on the classical approaches and this is the purpose of our study. METHODS: Randomized, prospective study comparing two groups; one underwent MIS (45 patients) and the second one a classical approach (51 patients); both groups were comparable. The following variables were assessed in the immediate postoperative period and at 4 and 8 years: blood loss, pain according to the VAS, flexion and extension and quality of life measured with the SF-36. RESULTS: In the immediate postoperative period we observed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in favor of the MIS approach in pain, hospital stay and blood loss. However, this was not observed at 4 and 8 years concerning pain, quality of life and range of motion. We observed an improvement in the functional scale and quality of life compared with the preoperative status, without any differences when both groups were compared. CONCLUSIONS: The MIS technique results in a better immediate postoperative period, but no differences were seen in the choice of the approach 4 and 8 years after surgery.

[Dysphagia: Forestier and Rotes Querol disease]. / Disfagia: enfermedad de Forestier y Rotes Querol.

Inside of the study of Dysphagia, until 38% of the greater patients of 50 years, they present/display cervical Osteophytes like cause of Dysphagia; frequently I diagnose passes for the methods of radiology and endoscopy unnoticed. The disease of Forestier and Rotes better well known Querol or like skeletal hiperostosis diffuse idiophatic it is characterized by the formation of spinal and cervical Osteophytes, ossification of ligaments and muscles for vetebrates of the cervical column. Frequently it produces affectation to medullar that it can pronounce like Dysphagia and crosstalk. We presented/displayed the case of a patient of 78 years with chronic pneumopathy, that presents/displays Dysphagia and progressive crosstalk with pondered loss, in where radiology of the cervical column they show cervical osteofitos with espondilolistesis, rectification of the cervical lordosis and diminution of the intersomatic spaces that they compress the trachea and column of air and an extrinsic compression below the cricopharyngeal is documented by endoscopy.