Tratamiento endoscópico de la celulitis orbital en la infancia: abordaje transetmoidal / Endoscopic treatment of orbital cellulitis in pediatric patients: Transethmoidal approach

La celulitis periorbitaria es un proceso séptico de los tejidos blandos orbitarios y representa la causa más frecuente de exoftalmos unilateral en la infancia. Aproximadamente el 90% de los casos de celulitis periorbitaria en edad pediátrica se asocian a etmoiditis aguda. En el periodo 1.° de enero de 2001–31 de diciembre de 2010 se han tratado 36 pacientes menores de 18 años con celulitis periorbitaria en los estadios II, III, IV de Chandler. Seis pacientes consiguieron la resolución de la inflamación con el tratamiento farmacológico. En 30 casos que no demostraron una mejoría en un período de 48 a 72 h, se efectuó un drenaje quirúrgico endoscópico del moco-pus con abordaje por vía transetmoidal. En los niños es muy importante no olvidar el tratamiento quirúrgico de la adenoiditis crónica que, con toda probabilidad, se presentará simultáneamente. La cirugía endoscópica permite una rápida resolución de la enfermedad sin ninguna complicación. Además, el malestar postoperatorio es mínimo, permitiendo un rápido regreso a las actividades cotidianas (AU)

Orbital cellulitis is a septic process of the soft tissues behind the orbital septum and is the most frequent cause of the monolateral exophthalmos in pediatrics. Approximately 90% of the orbital cellulitis in pediatrics are associated to acute ethmoiditis. From the 01.01.2001 to 31.12.2010 we treated 36 patients, less than 18 years-old affected by Chandler stage II, III or IV orbital cellulitis. The inflammation was resolved medically in 6 patients. In the 30 cases that showed no improvement in 48-72 h, an endoscopic drainage of the pus was performed by the transethmoidal route. In children, an adenoidectomy should be included, in order to eliminate eventual infections of this lymphatic organ. Endoscopic treatment has resulted in rapid resolution of disease without any complications. In addition, postoperative discomfort is minimal, with a rapid return to daily activities (AU)

[Endoscopic treatment of orbital cellulitis in pediatric patients: transethmoidal approach]. / Tratamiento endoscópico de la celulitis orbital en la infancia: abordaje transetmoidal.

Orbital cellulitis is a septic process of the soft tissues behind the orbital septum and is the most frequent cause of the monolateral exophthalmos in pediatrics. Approximately 90% of the orbital cellulitis in pediatrics are associated to acute ethmoiditis. From the 01.01.2001 to 31.12.2010 we treated 36 patients, less than 18 years-old affected by Chandler stage II, III, or IV orbital cellulitis. The inflammation was resolved medically in 6 patients. In the 30 cases that showed no improvement in 48-72 h, an endoscopic drainage of the pus was performed by the transethmoidal route. In children, an adenoidectomy should be included, in order to eliminate eventual infections of this lymphatic organ. Endoscopic treatment has resulted in rapid resolution of disease without any complications. In addition, postoperative discomfort is minimal, with a rapid return to daily activities.

On the Measurement of Phase Transition Temperatures in Physical Molecular Organogels.

Methods of measurement of the phase transition temperatures in physical molecular gels are analyzed. The "falling ball" technique, NMR, and rheology are compared. Temperature versus concentration phase diagrams can be easily obtained, and the reliability and workability of the methods are discussed. It appears that rheology is the more accurate and convenient technique while the falling ball method provides acceptable DeltaH, DeltaS values, but the melting temperature values are significantly altered. With NMR, kinetic information associated with the molecular aggregation process can also be extracted. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

[A rare case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis]. / Su di un raro caso di mucormicosi rinocerebrale.

The authors describe a rare case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis. This is an acute, suppurative mycosis with poor prognosis. It has a particular affinity for rhinocerebral tissue and less frequently affects pulmonary tissue. Mucormycosis affects immunosuppressed patients and more than 75% of the cases involve patients suffering from acidosis, especially diabetic ketoacidosis. One characteristic feature is that the blood vessels are flooded causing thromboses, infarction and emboli. The disease is spread through the blood vessels or by expansion. The first clinical symptoms can be confused with an early stage of acute sinusitis with mucosanguineous rhinorrhea, facial tumescence and pain. In 50% of the cases there is rhinocerebral and orbital involvement. If the disease remains untreated it can prove fatal in 10 to 14 days. Effective treatment relies on an early diagnosis and prompt administration of intravenous amphotericin B as well as avulsion of the necrotic areas. To date only 200 cases of this severe pathology have been described. The present work is an attempt to throw further light on this disorder.

[Cervicofacial neuroendocrine Merkel cell carcinoma: radiotherapy]. / Carcinoma neuroendocrino di Merkel del distretto cervico-facciale: radioterapia.

The Authors report a case of Merkel cell carcinoma of the cervicofacial district, particular due to its clinical and evolutive characteristics. The Merkel cell carcinoma was first identified by Toker in 1972 and is also known as a primary neuroendocrine the or trabecular carcinoma of the skin. The Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive skin cancer most frequently localized in the cervicofacial district. Although in earlier reports on the clinical history of these tumors primary emphasis was placed on their local aggressive behaviour, it has recently become evident that these neoplasms have a marked propensity for early dissemination. Distant metastases are often responsible for disease-related mortality. Merkel cell carcinoma have classically been managed with surgery alone or surgery followed by radiation therapy. Treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma with radiation therapy alone has usually been reserved for advanced unresectable tumors.

Hydration of NaDNA by neutron quasi-elastic scattering.

Preliminary results of neutron quasi-elastic scattering experiments are reported for hydrated paracrystals of sodium deoxyribonucleic acid (NaDNA). The samples were investigated at two water contents: 3.5 +/- 1.0 and 9.5 +/- 1.5 mol H2O per mole nucleotide. The results of the scattering experiments were almost independent of whether the NaDNA fibers were oriented parallel or perpendicular to the momentum transfer. The data indicate that at the lower hydration the water molecules do not diffuse appreciably on the time scale of the neutron measurements (approximately 3 X 10(-10) s). At the higher hydration the water molecules diffuse isotropically in a sphere of 9 A in diameter with a diffusion coefficient of (5 +/- 2) X 10(-6) cm2 s-1.