Abdomen agudo por leiomioma complicado en gestante de 16 semanas / A 16-week pregnancy complicated by acute abdomen due to leiomyoma

Presentamos un caso de embarazo del segundo trimestre (16 semanas) complicado con cuadro de abdomen agudo por leiomioma gigante pediculado con torsión del pedículo y necrosis tumoral. Se practicó miomectomía de urgencias evolucionando favorablemente el postoperatorio. La gestación continúa con normalidad a las 28 semanas (AU)

We describe a second-trimester pregnancy (16 weeks) complicated by acute abdomen due to giant pedunculated leiomyoma with torsion of the pedicle and necrosis. Emergency myomectomy was performed with favorable postoperative course. The pregnancy continues with no abnormalities at 28 weeks (AU)

Analgesia epidural y resultados obstétricos / Epidural analgesia and obstetric outcomes

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y comparativo acerca de los efectos de la analgesia epidural frente a no analgesia epidural en el parto, en una muestra de 1.928 partos acontecidos en un período de 3 años y se atendió a una serie de parámetros que se pueden ver influenciados de manera positiva o negativa, como son factores relacionados con las distintas fases del parto, distocias, instrumentación, índice de cesáreas, repercusiones neonatales e impacto sobre el suelo pélvico. Tras el tratamiento estadístico, se observaron diferencias significativas en la prolongación del parto, el mayor número de instrumentación, el aumento en la tasa de cesáreas y el incremento del índice de episiotomías en multíparas en los partos conducidos bajo analgesia epidural. Por el contrario, no se dieron diferencias significativas en las distocias en occipito posterior, fiebre intraparto, partos con cesárea anterior o episiotomías en primíparas. Hubo significación estadística a favor de los partos sin analgesia epidural en el número de infecciones neonatales, así como desgarros perineales de primer grado en multíparas e integridad perineal en multíparas. A tenor de estos resultados obtenidos en nuestro hospital, nos planteamos incorporar al documento de consentimiento informado sobre analgesia epidural todos los posibles efectos adversos derivados de ésta (AU)

We performed a descriptive retrospective study comparing the effects of the application versus non application of epidural analgesia during delivery in1928 women over a 3-year period. Several parameters that could be positively or negatively influenced by epidural analgesia administration, such as factors related to the different stages of delivery, dystocia, instrumentation, rate of cesarean sections, neonatal repercussion and impact on the pelvic floor, were evaluated. Statistical analysis revealed that epidural analgesia was associated with prolongation of delivery and increases in the number of instruments involved and the rates of cesarean section and episiotomy in multiparas. These differences were statistically significant. In contrast, no significant differences were found in the occurrence of dystocia in the occipito posterior position, intrapartum fever, deliveries with prior cesarian section or episiotomy in primiparas. Statistically significant differences were found in favor of deliveries without epidural analgesia in the number of neonatal infections, as well as in first degree lacerations and perineal integrity in multiparous women In view of the results obtained in our hospital, we are considering adding all the possible adverse effects associated with epidural analgesia to our informed consent document (AU)

Anticoagulantes: farmacología, mecanismos de acción y usos clínicos / Anticoagulants: pharmacology, mechanisms of action and clinical uses

El tratamiento anticoagulantes es una indicación frecuente en clínica, tanto en el área médica como en la quirúrgica. La presente es una revisión de la literatura internacional sobre los agentes anticoagulantes que con mayor frecuencia se utilizan en nuestro medio. Se enfatiza en los aspectos prácticos de esta terapia aclarando las indicaciones, las ventajas, las principales precauciones y el manejo de los efectos adversos de la heparina no fraccionada, las heparinas de bajo peso molecular y los anticoagulantes cumarínicos.

Fighting colorectal cancer: molecular epidemiology differences among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews and Palestinians.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate and compare differences in the molecular genetics among high-risk (Ashkenazi Jews), intermediate-risk (Sephardic Jews) and low-risk (Palestinians) groups for colorectal cancer who live in the same geographical region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 1995-1996 records from the Tel Aviv Medical Center and Muqased hospital (East Jerusalem) randomly identified patients with colorectal cancer. There were 25 patients from each ethnic group. Epidemiological data were obtained from interviews with the patients and from their hospital charts. The levels of cyclin D1, beta-catenine, p27, p53, Ki-67 and Her-2/neu proteins were determined by immunohistochemistry. The main outcome measures were the association between gene expression and colorectal incidence in the different ethnic groups. RESULTS: Ashkenazi Jews have the highest rate of colorectal cancer, and are diagnosed at an early stage compared with Palestinians (72% and 33% of the cases are in Dukes' A and B, respectively), and, hence, this may explain the better 5-year survival rate among this group. Sephardic Jews are diagnosed at a more advanced stage, the tumors are poorly differentiated and they lack p27. Palestinians have significantly higher cyclin D1 levels. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the expression of beta-catenine and cyclin D1, as well as p53 and p27 (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of cyclin D1, p53, Ki-67, beta-catenine and Her-2/neu, and decreased expression of p27 may be important events in the three ethnic groups with colorectal cancer. The lower mortality rate among Ashkenazi Jews may be partially explained by their better molecular biology profile.