Understanding the Role of Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP). HNCUP is a rare type of cancer with an unknown primary site, which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. The review includes articles published between 2013 and 2023 that investigated the prevalence of HPV in HNCUP, its association with clinical outcomes, and its potential implications for diagnosis and treatment. The search was conducted in 11 electronic databases, and the gray literature: Cochrane, Cumed, IBECS, JAMA Network, LILACS, MEDLINE Ovid, MEDLINE-EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Taylor & Francis Online; a total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found that HPV is present in a significant proportion of HNCUP cases, ranging from 15.5% to 100%. HNCUP incidence is increasing, and the presence of HPV was associated with improved clinical outcomes in some studies, such as overall survival and disease-free survival; but was found to have no association with outcomes in others. This may have implications for diagnostic and treatment strategies. The findings of this review suggest that further research is needed to better understand the role of HPV in HNCUP and to develop targeted therapies for this disease.

Tuberous Sclerosis Associated With Aortic Stenosis and Endocarditis: A Case Report.

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a multisystem neurocutaneous disorder with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. It is characterized by hamartomas that damage the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and central nervous system, among other organs. Rhabdomyomas, benign tumors of aberrant myocytes, are common in affected patients at birth. Depending on their size and location, these lesions might create valvopathies, which can cause heart failure or malignant arrhythmias, or they can cause obstruction of the outlet or inlet tract. Before making the diagnosis, a long time-even years-often passes. Early diagnosis can help prevent permanent irreversible complications. Differential diagnoses may include neurofibromatosis type 1, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau disease, among others. Diagnostic aids, such as MRI, CT scans, and genetic testing, can be useful in confirming a diagnosis of TS. Histological findings may include the presence of hamartomas, which are benign tumors composed of abnormal cells. Treatment for TS is mainly supportive and may involve medications to manage symptoms, and surgery to remove tumors. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with TS who was admitted with macroscopic hematuria and fever, with further workup revealing tumor-like cardiac lesions associated with infective endocarditis.

Simpatectomía torácica para hiperhidrosis focal: una revisión de alcance / Thoracic sympathectomy for focal hyperhidrosis: a Scoping Review

La hiperhidrosis focal primaria (HH) es un trastorno que consiste en sudoración que excede lo requerido para la termorregulación y afecta a 3 de cada 100 personas en la población general. Es considerada una enfermedad con alto impacto en la calidad de vida. La fisiopatología involucra el eje hipotálamo- sistema nervioso autónomo. A lo largo de la historia se han descrito múltiples terapias médicas y quirúrgicas con resultados variables. En la literatura se evidencia un vacío en el conocimiento acerca de la simpatectomía torácica (ST) y su utilidad en el contexto de HH. En miras a mejorar la calidad de vida de estos pacientes, realizamos una revisión cuidadosa de la literatura disponible actualmente, encontrando que la ST es un procedimiento seguro y efectivo, con altas tasas de éxito y satisfacción en estos pacientes.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis (HH) is a disorder consisting of sweating in excess of that required for thermoregulation and affects 3 out of 100 people in the general population. It is considered a disease with a high impact on quality of life. Pathophysiology involves the hypothalamic-autonomic nervous system axis. Throughout history, multiple medical and surgical therapies have been described with variable results. The literature shows a gap in knowledge about thoracic sympathectomy and its usefulness in the context of HH. To improve the quality of life of these patients, we carried out a careful review of the currently available literature, finding that ST is a safe and effective procedure, with high rates of success and satisfaction in these patients.

Cardiac Myxomas As Chameleons: A Scoping Review of Their Paraneoplastic Presentations.

This scoping review aims to explore the relationship between cardiac myxomas (CMs) and paraneoplastic syndromes (PS). CMs are the most common tumors in the heart, with the majority located in the left atrium, and are often associated with a triad of obstructive, embolic, and constitutional symptoms. However, they can also present with unrelated symptoms that are part of a PS. This study performed a thorough literature search of 11 databases and included 12 papers in the final review. All of the patients were diagnosed with atrial myxoma, which initially presented as a PS. Surgery was the curative measure in all cases and resulted in remission in every case, with patients reporting resolution of symptoms at follow-up. The majority of patients in the study were female, with comorbid rheumatologic conditions often present. This study highlights the heterogeneity of presentations of CMs and their associated PS.

Síndrome del dedo azul: de la piel a lo multisistémico / Blue digit syndrome: from skin to a multisystemic etiology

El signo del dedo azul (SDA) es una condición poco frecuente causada principalmente por la oclusión de la vasculatura periférica. Clínicamente puede manifestarse como una coloración azulada o eritrocianótica en uno o varios dedos en ausencia de traumatismo y condiciones propias de congelación. Las etiologías son múltiples e incluyen obstrucción del flujo arterial, disminución del flujo venoso y alteración en la viscosidad sanguínea. La importancia de reconocer el signo como motivo de consulta radica en encaminar un diagnóstico temprano e instaurar un tratamiento que evite la evolución natural de la enfermedad hacia la necrosis, amputación o muerte del paciente. Proponemos un algoritmo diagnóstico para reconocer los elementos de la historia clínica que guíen la etiología y los paraclínicos disponibles desde el Servicio de Urgencias.

Blue finger sign (BFS) is a rare condition caused mainly by occlusion of peripheral vasculature. Clinically it may manifest as a bluish, or erythrocyanotic discoloration of one or more fingers in the absence of trauma and freezing conditions. The etiologies are multiple and include arterial flow obstruction, decreased venous flow, and altered blood viscosity. The importance of recognizing the sign as a reason for consultation lies in the early diagnosis and the establishment of a treatment that finally avoids the natural evolution of the disease towards necrosis and finally amputation or death of the patient. We propose a diagnostic algorithm based on recognizing elements of the clinical history that guide the etiology and paraclinical available from the Emergency Department.

A Case of Two Brothers With Dysphagia Due to Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease that is still not fully understood. Its pathogenesis, while increasingly clarified, still remains highly complex, which means that no curative treatment has been defined for this clinical entity. It is clear that it is a disease of multifactorial etiology, in which both genetics and environmental factors, especially those related to childhood, have considerable weight, and there is an important allergenic factor as well. We present the case of two brothers with EoE. Two male patients aged 20 and 22 years, white, with a personal history of atopy, allergic rhinitis, and dermatitis, consulted the gastroenterologist for dysphagia. Endoscopy and esophageal biopsy showed elements compatible with EoE in both of them. Treatment was conducted with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy in one of the brothers, and PPI with oral steroid in the other, both of which led to good results in terms of symptoms. In the first case, histologic evidence of the disease persisted despite the symptomatic resolution; the second did not pursue a follow-up. The biggest questions pertaining to the treatment of this condition are as follows: Is suppression of gastric acidity enough? Should we use steroids? How about a combination of both? Should we adopt new therapies? New studies involving randomized trials should be conducted to address these questions in order to treat each patient individually with an effective and practical approach that is also supported by the literature.

Cardiomiopatía hipertrófica en fase de burnout / Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in burnout phase

Resumen La cardiomiopatía hipertrófica es una entidad de origen genético que se caracteriza por hipertrofia ventricular izquierda en ausencia de otras enfermedades como etiología. Los pacientes suelen ser asintomáticos; sin embargo, el espectro de presentación es amplio pudiéndose encontrar falla cardiaca, obstrucción del tracto de salida, arritmias, muerte súbita y la etapa final o ''burnout''. La valoración morfológica inicial se realiza con ecocardiograma transtorácico, aunque la resonancia magnética cardiaca es el estudio de elección para confirmar el diagnóstico. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 43 años con antecedente de cardiomiopatía hipertrófica quien había sido intervenida previamente e ingresó al servicio de urgencias de forma descompensada, documentándose progresión a fase "burnout" y su manejo subsecuente. Si bien este fenotipo no es común tiene importantes implicaciones pronósticas y en la calidad de vida. Por lo anterior, un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno pueden impactar favorablemente.

Abstract Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic entity characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of other diseases as etiology. Patients are usually asymptomatic; however, the spectrum of presentation is wide and may include heart failure, outflow tract obstruction, arrhythmias, sudden death and the final stage also known as ''burnout phase''. The initial morphological assessment is performed with transthoracic echocardiography; however, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman with a history of previously operated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who was admitted to the emergency department decompensated, documenting progression to the "burnout" phase and her management. Although this phenotype is not common, it has prognostic and quality of life implications. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment can have an impact on these variables.