Implementación y evaluación de un protocolo de analgesia multimodal en el reemplazo total primario de rodilla que incluye bloqueo de canal de aductores guiado por ultrasonografía más infiltración de anestésico local periarticular / Implementation and evaluation of a multimodal analgesia protocol for total knee arthroplasty including ultrasound-guided adductor canal block and periarticular local anesthetic infiltration

Introducción: La anestesia regional guiada por ultrasonografía es una técnica segura y efectiva para el manejo del dolor postoperatorio. Este estudio evalúa la implementación de un protocolo analgésico para el reemplazo total primario de rodilla (RTPR). Métodos: Estudio observacional ambispectivo de cohortes no aleatorizado, realizado en un grupo de pacientes llevados a RTPR que recibieron infiltración de anestésico local periarticular más bloqueo del canal de aductores (IAL+BCA) como parte de un nuevo protocolo analgésico, frente a un grupo previo que recibió catéter perineural femoral más bloqueo del nervio ciático (CPF+BNC). La valoración de la intensidad del dolor se realizó utilizando la escala verbal numérica (EVN). El desenlace principal fue el dolor postoperatorio inmediato a las 24 y 48 horas. Se evaluó el cumplimiento de metas de rehabilitación física a las 48 horas como desenlace secundario. Resultados: Se analizaron 112 pacientes (67 en IAL + BCA y 45 en CPF + BNC). Ambas poblaciones fueron comparables en variables demográficas. La mediana del dolor en reposo en el primer y segundo día postoperatorios fue EVN 2/10 para ambos grupos. El promedio del dolor en movimiento en el segundo día postoperatorio fue EVN 5/10 para los pacientes con IAL + BCA y 4/10 para los pacientes con CPF + BNC, p = 0,073. El porcentaje de pacientes que cumplieron el 80 % o más de las metas de rehabilitación fue similar en ambos grupos (p = 0,201). Conclusiones: Ambas técnicas son equivalentes en el manejo analgésico postoperatorio del RTPR durante las primeras 48 horas. A pesar de que es conocido que la técnica de IAL + BCA genera menos compromiso motor del cuádriceps, esto no se reflejó en un mejor desempeño durante la rehabilitación física, posiblemente por un insuficiente control analgésico a las 48 horas.(AU)

Background: Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is a safe and effective technique in postoperative pain management. This study evaluates the implementation an analgesic protocol for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) including different nerve blocks. Methods: An observational ambispective non randomized cohort study was performed between a group of patients undergoing TKA who received local infiltration analgesia plus adductor canal block (LIA+ACB) as part of a new analgesic protocol against a previous group who received perineural femoral catheter plus sciatic nerve block (PFC+SNB). The measurement of pain intensity was made using the numerical rating scale (NRS). The main outcome was the immediate postoperative pain, at 24 and 48 hours. The fulfillment of physical rehabilitation goals was evaluated as a secondary outcome. Results: 112 patients were analyzed (67 in LIA+ACB and 45 in PFC+SNB). Both groups were comparable in demographic characteristics. The median pain at rest on the first and second postoperative days was NRS 2/10 for both groups. The average pain on movement on the second postoperative day was NRS 5/10 for patients with LIA+ACB and 4/10 for patients with PFC+SNB, p=0,073. The percentage of patients who fulfilled ≥80% of the rehabilitation goals was similar in both groups (p=0,201). Conclusions: In the TKA postoperative analgesic management, both techniques are equivalent during the first 48 hours. Although it is known that the LIA+ACB technique generates less motor impairment of the quadriceps muscle, this was not reflected on better performance during physical rehabilitation, possibly due to insufficient analgesic control at 48 hours.(AU)

Dynamics of virus-specific T cell immunity in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Immunosuppression following solid organ transplantation (SOT) has a deleterious effect on cellular immunity leading to frequent and prolonged viral infections. To better understand the relationship between posttransplant immunosuppression and circulating virus-specific T cells, we prospectively monitored the frequency and function of T cells directed to a range of latent (CMV, EBV, HHV6, BK) and lytic (AdV) viruses in 16 children undergoing liver transplantation for up to 1 year posttransplant. Following transplant, there was an immediate decline in circulating virus-specific T cells, which recovered posttransplant, coincident with the introduction and subsequent routine tapering of immunosuppression. Furthermore, 12 of 14 infections/reactivations that occurred posttransplant were successfully controlled with immunosuppression reduction (and/or antiviral use) and in all cases we detected a temporal increase in the circulating frequency of virus-specific T cells directed against the infecting virus, which was absent in 2 cases where infections remained uncontrolled by the end of follow-up. Our study illustrates the dynamic changes in virus-specific T cells that occur in children following liver transplantation, driven both by active viral replication and modulation of immunosuppression.

Claudin-6 enhances cell invasiveness through claudin-1 in AGS human adenocarcinoma gastric cancer cells.

Claudins participate in tissue barrier function. The loss of this barrier is associated to metalloproteases-related extracellular matrix and basal membranes degradation. Claudin-1 is a pro-MMP-2 activator and claudin-6 transfected AGS (AGS-Cld6) cells are highly invasive. Our aim was to determine if claudin-6 was direct or indirectly associated with MMP-2 activation and cell invasiveness. Cytofluorometry, cell fractioning, immunoprecipitation, gelatin-zymography, cell migration and invasiveness assays were performed, claudin-2, -6, -7 and -9 transfected AGS cells, anti-MMP-2, -9 and -14, anti-claudins specific antibodies and claudin-1 small interfering RNA were used. The results showed a significant (p<0.001) overexpression of claudin-1 in AGS-Cld6 cell membranes. A strong MMP-2 activity was identified in culture supernatants of AGS-Cld6. Claudin-1 co-localized with MMP-2 and MMP-14; interestingly a significant increase in cell membrane and cytosol MMP-14 expression was detected in AGS-Cld6 cells (p<0.05). Silencing of claudin-1 in AGS-Cld6 cells showed a 60% MMP-2 activity decrease in culture supernatants and a significant decrease (p<0.05) in cell migration and invasiveness. Our results suggest that claudin-6 induces MMP-2 activation through claudin-1 membrane expression, which in turn promotes cell migration and invasiveness.

Combining T-cell immunotherapy and anti-androgen therapy for prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer remains a significant health problem for men in the Western world. Although treatment modalities are available, these do not confer long-term benefit and are accompanied by substantial side effects. Adoptive immunotherapy represents an attractive alternative to conventional treatments as a means to control tumor growth. METHODS: To selectively target the tumor-expressed form of Muc1 we constructed a retroviral vector encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against the aberrantly-expressed extracellular portion of Muc1 called the 'variable number of tandem repeats'. RESULTS: We now demonstrate that T cells can be genetically engineered to express a CAR targeting the tumor-associated antigen Muc1. CAR-Muc1 T cells were able to selectively kill Muc1-expressing human prostate cancer cells. However, we noted that heterogeneous expression of the Muc1 antigen on tumor cells facilitated immune escape and the outgrowth of target-antigen loss variants of the tumor. Given the importance of androgen ablation therapy in the management of metastatic prostate cancer, we therefore also tested the value of combining conventional (anti-androgen) and experimental (CAR-Muc1 T cells) approaches. We show that CAR-Muc1 T cells were not adversely impacted by anti-androgen therapy and subsequently demonstrate the feasibility of combining the approaches to produce additive anti-tumor effects in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Adoptive transfer of CAR-Muc1 T cells alone or in combination with other luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs or antagonists should be tested in human clinical trials.

Pancreatitis hereditaria / Hereditary pancreatitis

Reportamos el caso de un adolescente con un segundo episodio de pancreatitis y antecedentes familiares de pancreatitis crónica.Se revisan las probables causas de la pancreatitis hereditaria, suevolución y los posibles tratamientos médicos

Manifestaciones extragastroesofágicas como repercusión de la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERGE) / Maniffestations extra gastro esophageal

Objetivo:describir la experiencia de pacientes que consultaron por síntomas atípicos o extraesofágicos entrejunio de 1997 y agosto de 1999.Discusión: es dificil establecer la correlación causa-efecto entre RGE patológico y síntomas atípicos en niños, sin embargo, el tratamiento médico con la eliminación de síntomas respiratorios, otorrinolaringológicos, ALTE, falla de crecimiento, etc, sugiere la existencia de una relación causal

Enfermedad ulcerosa y erosiva gastroduodenal en la fundación Cardio nfantil / Disease ulcer

Objetivo: mostrar la incidencia de enfermedad ulcerosa o erosiva gastroduodenal en pacientes que requirieron esofagogastroduodenoscopia en la Fundación Cardio Infantil, indicaciones, asociación con Helicobacter pylori y erradicación. Discusión: la úlcera péptica gastroduodenal primaria es casi siempre asociada con infección por Helicobacter pylori. La ulcera péptica secundaria se asoció al uso de medicamentos o estrés. Actualmente el método diagnóstico es la esofagogastroduodenoscopia

Hemorragia digestiva y hallazgos endoscópicos / Digestive Hemorrhage

Objetivo: describir pacientes 0-18 años con hemorragia de vías digestivas quienes requirieron endoscopia en la Fundación Cardio Infantil entre junio de 1995 y agosto de 1999. Discusión: la hemoraagia de vías digestivas no es infrecuente en hospitales de referencia y la endoscopia después de una buena historia clínica constituye una herramienta diagnóstica y terapéutica en algunos casos

Diarrea persistente: un reto para el pediatra / Diarrhea persistent

La diarrea persistente es un síndrome que causa desnutrición, morbilidad y mortalidad.Objetivo: mostrar la experiencia de diarrea persistente en la Fundación Cardio Infantil y la Asociación Médica de los Andes (AMA) respecto a las característica clínicas, tratamiento previo, diagnóstico y tratamiento definitivo. }discusión: la diarrea persistente no está exenta de morbilidad que amenaza la vida. Se revisan los mecanismos fisiopatológicos y el tratamiento

Esteatohepatitis no alcohólica y obesidad / Fatty liver no alcoholic and obesity

Presentamos el primer caso pediatrico diagnosticado en nuestro medio de un paciente de 13 años de edad con esteatohepatitis no alcohólica (NASH) fibrosis hepática incipiente, ausencia de ingesta de medicamentos, obesidad y presencia de "transaminitis" en hiperlipidemia, a quien accidentalmente se le detecta hepatomegalia

Sucrose permeability in children with gastric damage and Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Increased permeability to sucrose has been recently shown to be a good marker of gastric mucosal damage in adults. METHODS: This test was evaluated in 40 children consulting for recurrent abdominal pain and the results were correlated with endoscopic and histologic findings and with the presence of H. pylori. RESULTS: The gastric mucosa was considered endoscopically normal in 31 children; 3 had duodenitis and 6 had mild gastritis. Abnormal endoscopic findings were associated with increased urinary sucrose excretion (MANOVA F = 7.30; p = 0.002). In the 6 children with mild gastritis, mean sucrose excretion was twice that of controls (0.060 +/- 0.024 vs. 0.029 +/- 0.018, respectively; p = 0.019) and significantly higher than the group with duodenitis (0.037 +/- 0.013; p = 0.038). The specificity and sensitivity of sucrose permeability test for detection of gastric damage were 90.3% and 83.3%, respectively. H. pylori was detected in 62.5% of children including all patients with mild gastritis, in 2 out of 3 with duodenitis and 17 out of 31 endoscopically normal controls. No differences in sucrose excretion were observed in relation with the presence of H. pylori or histological findings in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary sucrose excretion is a good marker of mucosal gastric damage in children and may be used as a screening test in large groups of populations.