ABSTRACT
This abstract presents a clinical case of a male patient who exhibited clinical symptoms and tomographic findings of an abdominal mass in the descending colon. The diagnostic process and treatment are described, accompanied by a literature review. The review establishes the definition of the condition and its surgical indications. It is important to note that true giant diverticulum of the colon is a rare entity, with fewer than 200 reported cases in the literature.
Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente masculino, con clínica y hallazgos tomográficos de masa abdominal en el colon descendente. Se describe el proceso diagnóstico y el tratamiento. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura, en la que se establece su definición e indicaciones quirúrgicas, teniendo en cuenta que el divertículo gigante verdadero del colon es una entidad rara, con menos de 200 casos reportados en la literatura.
ABSTRACT
The placenta can be affected by environmental factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke. This exposure in the fetal context is considered a risk factor for the development of short-term postnatal diseases, such as asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory disease characterized by predominant acquisition of CD4 T lymphocytes (TLs) of the Th2 type. Transcription factors such as GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and STAT6 actively participate in the differentiation of virgin TLs towards the Th2 profile, while transcription factors such as STAT1, T-Box transcription factor 21 (T-BET), RUNX1 and RUNX3 participate in their differentiation towards the Th1 profile. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of exposure to cigarette smoke on the gene expression of STAT1, T-BET, GATA3, IL-4, RUNX1 and RUNX3 during the gestation period, and to determine whether the expression levels of these genes are associated with changes in global methylation. STAT1, GATA3, RUNX1 and RUNX3 protein and mRNA expression levels in the placental tissue of women smokers and non-smoking women were determined via immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR (qPCR) respectively. Additionally, T-BET and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR. On the other hand, global methylation was determined via ELISA. In the present study, significant increases were observed in RUNX1 transcription factor expression in placentas from women smokers when compared with placentas of non-smoking women. Similarly, significant increases in the expression of GATA3, IL-4 and RUNX3 mRNA were observed. The changes in gene expression were not associated with changes in the global methylation levels. Finally, a higher frequency of low-birth-weight infants were identified in cases of exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy when compared with infants not exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy. Thus, the data of the present study contributed to the understanding of the genetic and clinical impacts of exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy and its importance in maternal and fetal health.
ABSTRACT
Resumen: Las acrometástasis se definen como metástasis óseas localizadas distales al codo y la rodilla. Su prevalencia es muy baja, aproximadamente el 0,1% de todas las metástasis óseas y se presentan en pacientes con enfermedad avanzada y son indicador de mal pronóstico. Hasta en el 10% de los casos se presentan como el primer signo de neoplasia oculta. Su forma de presentación clínica y radiológica es inespecífica, lo que genera retraso en su diagnóstico y tratamiento. La resonancia magnética es la imagen de elección para el diagnóstico. El tratamiento en la mayoría de los casos es paliativo. Presentamos cuatro pacientes con acrometástasis y una revisión de la literatura.
Abtract: Acrometastasis are defined as localized bone metastases distal to the elbow and knee. Its prevalence is very low, approximately 0.1% of all bone metastases and they present in patients with advanced disease and are considered indicators of poor prognosis. In up to 10% of cases are the first sign of undiagnosed neoplasia. Its clinical and radiological presentation is non-specific which generates delays in its diagnosis and treatment. Magnetic resonance is the image of choice for diagnosis. The treatment in most cases is palliative. We present four patients with acrometastasis and a review of the literature.
