Presentation and prognosis of gastric cancer in patients aged 80 years and older.

The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the presentation and prognosis of patients aged >/= 80 who were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma. We have used a retrospective cohort study of 2334 patients diagnosed between 1975 and 1993 in northwestern Spain, 263 (11.3%)of whom were >/= 80 years of age. No differences were observed with respect to patients of a younger age at diagnosis regarding the site of the tumor, extension of the disease, or Laurén's histologic type. However, fewer resections with curative intent were performed in the older group (49.1% vs. 30.1%; p < 0.0001). Among those operated on with curative or palliative intent, at the end of the first month the survival probability was 0.9 and the 0.95% confidence interval (CI 95%) was 0.93-0.97 for patients < 80 years of age and 0.93 (CI 95% 0.89-0.98) for the older group ( p = 0.19). At the end of 5 years of follow-up these probabilities were 0.29 (CI 95% 0.27-0.31) and 0.18 (CI 95% 0.14-0.23), respectively ( p < 0.0001). If we consider only those patients undergoing curative resection, the survival probability for the two groups ( p = 0.4) was not statistically different. In conclusion, although the two groups showed similar characteristics at presentation, patients >/= 80 years of age underwent surgery with curative intent less frequently and their general prognosis was worse. Our data support the idea that curative surgery should not be ruled out exclusively for reasons of age.

Autoimmune keratolysis in a patient with leukocytoclastic vasculitis: unusual erythema elevatum diutinum with granulomatous pattern.

PURPOSE: Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCCV) is an immune complex-mediated, small vessel disease that is clinically characterized by the presence of palpable purpuric lesions, most often in association with rheumatic diseases. Ocular manifestations of LCCV are rare. METHODS: We describe a patient with an unusual granulomatous pattern of erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) associated with autoimmune keratolysis. RESULTS: We studied a 64-year-old man with decreased visual acuity and nodular lesions in both hands. Ocular examination revealed bilateral superior corneal melting with perforation in the left eye and conjunctival thickening in both eyes, in association with a severe inflammatory reaction. Histopathologic examination of the conjunctiva revealed granulomatous vasculitis with neutrophilic infiltrate, giant cells, and fibroblastic proliferation. A punch biopsy taken from his skin showed similar characteristics that suggested EED; however, there were no giant cells. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, autoimmune keratolysis secondary to cutaneous LCCV (EED) has not been described previously, and there has been no description of granulomatous reaction (in the conjunctiva) in EED.

Giant cell arteritis in Lugo, Spain, is associated with low longterm mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the longterm survival of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a well defined area in Northwestern Spain. METHODS: A followup study of consecutive biopsy proven patients with GCA diagnosed in Lugo, Spain January 1, 1982-March 31, 1996 was performed. Patients were followed from time of diagnosis until either their death or October 1, 1996. Time and cause of death were reviewed. Statistical methods included standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and Kaplan-Meier product-limit survival analysis. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify clinical features and laboratory findings associated with survival. RESULTS: By October 1, 1996, full information about 109 biopsy proven patients with GCA (59 men/50 women) was available. The mean age +/- SD at the time of diagnosis was 73.9 +/- 7.3 years for women and 74.1 +/- 5.8 for men (p = NS). After a median followup of 54 months, 22 patients (20.2%) had died. Three died within the first month after diagnosis due to either vascular complications related to GCA or therapy complications. Apart from a history of severe underlying diseases (comorbid condition unrelated to GCA), neither sex nor any clinical features of GCA were significantly associated with an increase in mortality. As in the general population of the same age in Lugo, the majority of deaths were due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. SMR was 0.80 (95% CI 0.47-1.13). One, 2, 5, and 10 year survival rates were 95, 91, 81, and 62%, respectively. Hazard function was 1.8% at Day 30 after diagnosis and remained low until the end of the first year of treatment. Thereafter, mortality increased slightly. As this function was constant, we applied an exponential model. The estimated risk of death with this model was 5.3% per year. CONCLUSION: Longterm mortality of GCA in our area is low. However, it may be possible to further lower the mortality rate through early diagnosis and careful followup.

Uso do pericárdio de eqüino conservado em glicerina como enxerto penetrante da córnea de cäes. Estudo experimental / Use of horse pericardium preserved in glycerin as corneal graft in dogs. Experimental study

Com o objetivo de estudar o emprego do pericárdio de eqüino, conservado em glicerina, na reparaçäo experimental de defeitos penetrantes da córnea de cäes utilizaram-se 15 animais; mestiços, machos e fêmeas, pesando entre 8 e 10 kg. Uma lesäo penetrante da córnea de 5 x 4 mm foi provocada e fragmento de pericárdio, de igual dimensäo, foi suturado em pontos simples separados com Prolene 7-0. Os animais foram sacrificados nos tempos 2, 7, 15, 30 e 70 dias de pós-operatório. Os resultados obtidos, quando analisados, tanto do ponto de vista clínico quanto histológico, mostraram que o pericárdio de eqüino conservado apresentou-se como meio satisfatório de reparaçäo penetrante de lesöes da córnea de cäes

[Rhabdomyosarcoma: unusual aspects]. / Rabdomiossarcoma: aspectos inusitados.

The authors report a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with several interesting aspects which make it difficult to diagnose.