¿El estudio radiográfico de senos paranasales es útil para confirmar el diagnóstico de sinusitis aguda? / Is the radiographic study of paranasal sinuses useful to confirm the diagnosis of acute sinusitis?

La sinusitis es una patología frecuente en la práctica clínica; se considera que entre un 5 y un 10 % de las infecciones de la vía aérea superior se complican con infección de los senos paranasales. Considerando que el promedio de las infecciones respiratorias anuales en los niños oscila entre los 6 y 8 episodios se estima que la incidencia de sinusitis es elevada, aunque difícil de precisar. Por cuestiones anatómicas y funcionales hay mayor incidencia de esta afección durante la infancia. Por sinusitis se entiende la inflamación de origen infeccioso de la mucosa de los senos paranasales, y su diagnóstico es clínico. METODOLOGÍA: Desde la exposición de un escenario clínico se planteó una pregunta estructurada para luego realizar una búsqueda bibliográfica con el fin de dar respuesta sobre la necesidad del uso de estudios radiográficos de los senos paranasales para el diagnóstico de la sinusitis aguda en niños. Se realizó búsqueda en PubMed utilizando los Mesh (Medical Subject Headings) "sinusitis AND radiography" y aplicando distintos filtros, tras lo cual se encontró sólo un meta-análisis y, consultado la bibliografía citada por éste, se hayo un único estudio específico para población pediátrica. ANÁLISIS DEL ARTÍCULO: El diseño del trabajo no es específico para un estudio de diagnóstico, por lo que para el análisis de la validez estadística del artículo debimos realizar un análisis secundario de los datos del mismo con el fin de definir los valores de sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo y valor predictivo negativo, con sus respectivos IC95%, a fin de aproximarnos a una conclusión más confiable. Dentro de estos resultados se obtuvo una sensibilidad del 76,04% con un intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC 95 %) de 66,61 - 83,47%, y una especificidad de 69,62% (IC 95% de 58,77-78,66%). RECOMENDACIÓN FINAL: Por lo tanto, no se recomienda realizar radiografías de senos paranasales en niños con episodios de sinusitis. El diagnóstico de sinusitis aguda en niños se hace sobre la base de criterios clínicos estrictos que describen signos, síntomas y patrones temporales de una infección de la vía respiratoria alta. (AU)

INTRODUCTION: Sinusitis is a frequent pathology in clinical practice. Between 5 and 10% of infections of the upper airway are complicated by acute sinusitis. Considering that the average annual catarrh in children ranges from 6 to 8 episodes, it is estimated that the incidence of sinusitis is high, although difficult to specify. There is a higher incidence of this condition in childhood for anatomical and functional reasons. The diagnosis of sinusitis, understood as infectious inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, is clinical. METHODOLOGY: Since the presentation of a clinical situation, a structured question was asked to perform a bibliographic search in order to answer the question about the need of radiographic studies for the diagnosis of acute sinusitis in children. A PubMed search was performed using the Mesh (Medical Subject Headings) "sinusitis AND radiography" and applying different filters, after which only a meta-analysis was found and, with reference to the bibliography cited by the latter, there was a single specific study for childhood. ANALYSIS OF THE ARTICLE: The work design is not specific to a diagnostic study. For the analysis of the statistical validity of the article, in order to approach a more reliable conclusion, we had to perform a secondary analysis of the data to define the values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, with their respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI). As a result we obtained a sensitivity of 76,04% with a 95% CI of 66,61- 83,47%, and a specificity of 69.62% with a 95% CI of 58,77-78,66%. RECOMMENDATION: Therefore, it is not necessary to perform radiography imaging in children with episodes of clinical sinusitis. Acute sinusitis in children is a diagnosis that is made on the basis of stringent clinical criteria that describe signs, symptoms, and temporal patterns of an upper respiratory tract infection. (AU)

Improved localization of cellular membrane receptors using combined fluorescence microscopy and simultaneous topography and recognition imaging.

The combination of fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy has a great potential in single-molecule-detection applications, overcoming many of the limitations coming from each individual technique. Here we present a new platform of combined fluorescence and simultaneous topography and recognition imaging (TREC) for improved localization of cellular receptors. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled human sodium-glucose cotransporter (hSGLT1) expressed Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and endothelial cells (MyEnd) from mouse myocardium stained with phalloidin-rhodamine were used as cell systems to study AFM topography and fluorescence microscopy on the same surface area. Topographical AFM images revealed membrane features such as lamellipodia, cytoskeleton fibers, F-actin filaments and small globular structures with heights ranging from 20 to 30 nm. Combined fluorescence and TREC imaging was applied to detect density, distribution and localization of YFP-labeled CD1d molecules on alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer)-loaded THP1 cells. While the expression level, distribution and localization of CD1d molecules on THP1 cells were detected with fluorescence microscopy, the nanoscale distribution of binding sites was investigated with molecular recognition imaging by using a chemically modified AFM tip. Using TREC on the inverted light microscope, the recognition sites of cell receptors were detected in recognition images with domain sizes ranging from approximately 25 to approximately 160 nm, with the smaller domains corresponding to a single CD1d molecule.

Collaborative research and action to control the geographic placement of outdoor advertising of alcohol and tobacco products in Chicago.

Community activists in Chicago believed their neighborhoods were being targeted by alcohol and tobacco outdoor advertisers, despite the Outdoor Advertising Association of America's voluntary code of principles, which claims to restrict the placement of ads for age-restricted products and prevent billboard saturation of urban neighborhoods. A research and action plan resulted from a 10-year collaborative partnership among Loyola University Chicago, the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ALAMC), and community activists from a predominately African American church, St. Sabina Parish. In 1997 Loyola University and ALAMC researchers conducted a cross-sectional prevalence survey of alcohol and tobacco outdoor advertising. Computer mapping was used to locate all 4,247 licensed billboards in Chicago that were within 500- and 1,000-foot radiuses of schools, parks, and playlots. A 50% sample of billboards was visually surveyed and coded for advertising content. The percentage of alcohol and tobacco billboards within the 500- and 1,000-foot zones ranged from 0% to 54%. African American and Hispanic neighborhoods were disproportionately targeted for outdoor advertising of alcohol and tobacco. Data were used to convince the Chicago City Council to pass one of the nation's toughest anti-alcohol and tobacco billboard ordinances, based on zoning rather than advertising content. The ordinance was challenged in court by advertisers. Recent Supreme Court rulings made enactment of local billboard ordinances problematic. Nevertheless, the research, which resulted in specific legislative action, demonstrated the importance of linkages among academic, practice, and grassroots community groups in working together to diminish one of the social causes of health disparities.

The hippocampus: normal anatomy and pathology.

The hippocampus is a complex and fascinating region of the brain that has enormous clinical significance. Specifically, small imaging abnormalities may cause major symptoms. We believe that the detection of these lesions will be improved if imaging clinicians have an organized reference that facilitates identification of the cellular zones that comprise the hippocampus.

Identification of obstructive sleep apnea in patients who snore.

As the field of sleep medicine has evolved, the clinical implications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in snoring patients have become well accepted. Recent advances in surgical therapy for snoring allow otolaryngologists to offer simple outpatient treatment to patients with this problem. However, because the incidence of OSA in snorers seeking medical attention is unknown, the appropriate pretreatment evaluation of these patients is a subject of continued debate. Ninety-four snoring patients were recruited for a study to determine the incidence of OSA in this highly selected population. Subjects answered an extensive sleep questionnaire to determine factors that might suggest a diagnosis of OSA. Level III ambulatory sleep studies were performed on each participant. The incidence of OSA in this group was 72% (42% severe and 30% mild to moderate). Twenty of the subjects with OSA also underwent formal level I sleep studies, and the diagnosis of OSA was confirmed in each instance. Although there was a relationship between body mass index and OSA and certain questions correlated with OSA, the sensitivity and specificity of these data alone or in combination were too low to recommend their use in lieu of a formal sleep study. Given the remarkably high incidence of OSA in this group, which may reflect that seen by otolaryngologists who treat snoring, a sleep study should be performed to diagnose OSA and institute therapy for this condition. Level III ambulatory monitoring devices may be the most cost-effective alternative for evaluating this high-risk population.

MR imaging of the eyelids: normal and pathologic findings.

MR imaging is commonly used to evaluate orbital and facial soft-tissue disease. Although the eyelids are visible on these images, the radiographic appearance and the detailed anatomy of these structures has received little attention in the literature [1-4]. Anatomic correlation with MR images may be extremely helpful in the accurate interpretation and staging of eyelid malignancies and infections.

Sensitivity and specificity of fluid-blood levels for coagulopathy in acute intracerebral hematomas.

PURPOSE: To characterize the imaging features of intracerebral hemorrhages in coagulopathies that alter prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time. METHODS: A fluid-blood level was defined as a horizontal interface between hypodense bloody serum layered above hyperdense settled blood. The prevalence of fluid-blood levels in acute intracerebral hemorrhages was determined on third-generation CT scans in 32 patients with elevation in prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time. This was compared with the frequency of fluid-blood levels in 185 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in which there was no laboratory evidence of coagulopathy. RESULTS: The probability of finding a fluid-blood level in an intracerebral hemorrhage of a patient with abnormal prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time was 59% (sensitivity). The probability that there will be no fluid-blood level in a patient with a normal prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time was 98% (specificity). CONCLUSION: Fluid-blood levels in acute intracerebral hemorrhage are moderately sensitive to the presence of coagulopathy (ie, abnormal prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time) and highly specific for this condition. Thus, an intracerebral hemorrhage with a fluid-blood level should prompt a thorough search for coagulopathy because early treatment of this condition may improve the 40% mortality in these patients. Caution should be used to distinguish the horizontal interface of a fluid-blood level from a clot with a flat top. A decubitus CT is useful in these rare instances.

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in the neonate--diagnostic criteria revisited.

The authors analysed 45 ultrasonography (US) studies of 43 infants with surgically confirmed hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) to ascertain whether the current US criteria for pyloric stenosis are applicable to all infants, including those 30 days of age and younger. Most articles in the radiologic literature cite a muscle thickness of 4 mm or greater and a pyloric canal length of 17 mm or greater as diagnostic of HPS. However, the results of this study suggest that in infants 30 days of age or younger the muscle thickness considered diagnostic for HPS be 3 mm or greater.