Lemierre's Syndrome Caused by Streptococcus anginosus Presenting as Postseptal Cellulitis in a Pediatric Patient.

Lemierre's syndrome is an infrequent disease characterized by septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein followed by pulmonary embolism generally occurring after upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections. We present the case of a 15-year-old female patient with postseptal cellulitis and cervical abscess who developed pulmonary embolism and pleural effusion secondary to internal jugular vein thrombosis. Cultures were positive for Streptococcus anginosus, antibiotic treatment was established with satisfactory clinical outcome. High clinical suspicion is required for a diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is a multidisciplinary approach based on two essential pillars: antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage. This is an important case because of the unusual presentation, the isolation of an infrequent pathogen, and the primary infection site (postseptal cellulitis), which are rare characteristics of this condition in the pediatric population.

Valores espirométricos en niños y adolescentes chilenos sanos / Spirometric values in healthy Chilean children and adolescents

Background: Spirometric flow and volume measurement are essential to evaluate patients with pulmonary disease. In Chile, several reference equations are used. Aim: To measure flow and expiratory volumes in healthy children and adolescents and compare their results with theoretical values according to Knudson, Quanjer, Gutierrez and NANHES III. Subjects and Methods: Spirometries were performed according to international standards in 1589 healthy children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years (861 females) who lived in Santiago, Chile. Results: The obtained values for forced vital capacity, expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow, were significantly higher than those calculated according to the above mentioned standards (p < 0.0001) with differences up to 18.7%. We constructed reference formulas for ages ranging from 6 to 18 years, separated by gender, using age, weight and height as independent variables. The latter had the greater influence on formula construction. Conclusions: The use of these new local formulas with allow the correct interpretation of spirometric results obtained in Chilean children and adolescents.

Spirometry interpretation feasibility among pre-school children according to the European Respiratory Society and American Thoracic Society Guidelines / Factibilidad de la interpretación de espirometrías en preescolares según criterios ATS/ERS.

INTRODUCTION: Spirometry is the most used test to evaluate pulmonary function. Guidelines that defined acceptability and repeatability criteria for its implementation and interpretation among preschoolers were published in 2007. Our objective was to quantify the actual compliance with these criteria among pre-school patients. METHODS: A review was performed on the baseline spirometry measured in patients aged 2 to 5 years in the Pediatric Respiratory Laboratory of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, who were admitted due to recurrent or persistent coughing or wheezing. Only those results obtained in patients who took the test for the first time were considered. They were analyzed by international standards. RESULTS: A total of 93 spirometry results (mean age 57.4 ± 8.6 months, 48 males) were obtained, of which 44 (47%) met all acceptable criteria, 87 (93%) obtained expiratory time of ≥ 0.5seconds, and 67 (72%) of the patients had an end-expiratory flow of ≤10% from peak flow. The variation in the measurement of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was very low (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9). CONCLUSION: It was possible to meet the acceptability and repeatability criteria for spirometry among pre-school children in our Center, which was similar to previous reports. As in older children, this test is fully recommended for pre-school children who require lung function studies.

[Spirometric values in healthy Chilean children and adolescents]. / Valores espirométricos en niños y adolescentes chilenos sanos.

BACKGROUND: Spirometric flow and volume measurement are essential to evaluate patients with pulmonary disease. In Chile, several reference equations are used. AIM: To measure flow and expiratory volumes in healthy children and adolescents and compare their results with theoretical values according to Knudson, Quanjer, Gutierrez and NANHES III. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Spirometries were performed according to international standards in 1589 healthy children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years (861 females) who lived in Santiago, Chile. RESULTS: The obtained values for forced vital capacity, expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow, were significantly higher than those calculated according to the above mentioned standards (p < 0.0001) with differences up to 18.7%. We constructed reference formulas for ages ranging from 6 to 18 years, separated by gender, using age, weight and height as independent variables. The latter had the greater influence on formula construction. CONCLUSIONS: The use of these new local formulas with allow the correct interpretation of spirometric results obtained in Chilean children and adolescents.

Prevalencia de violencia sexual en estudiantes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia, 2010 / Prevalence of sexual violence among students of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia, 2010

Objetivo: identificar la prevalencia durante la vida universitaria de violencia sexual (VS) en estudiantes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP) en el segundo semestre de 2010, y describir las características de la misma. Materiales y métodos: estudio de corte transversal. Población: 10.441 estudiantes de pregrado matriculados para segundo periodo académico del 2010. Criterios de exclusión: estudiantes jornada nocturna. Muestra aleatoria estratificada, conservando porcentaje de estudiantes por programa y género, para un total de 128 estudiantes. Se evaluaron cuatro tipos de variables: demográficas (género, edad, programa), violencia (periodo, tipo y lugar), agresión (tipo de agresor, fuerza) y acciones implementadas por las víctimas (informe, respuesta). Los resultados se presentan como proporciones con su respectivo intervalo de confianza del 95%. Resultados: se realizaron 128 encuestas que involucraron 26 de los 33 que hay en la Universidad. Un total de 17 estudiantes (13%; IC 95%: 8-20%) reportó la existencia de uno o más eventos de violencia sexual durante su vida universitaria. El tipo de violencia sexual más frecuente fue el acoso sexual (28 episodios), el cual fue leve o verbal en el 70%. Hubo dos casos de violación. De las víctimas el 37% reportaron el hecho. Una persona recibió tratamiento. Conclusión: la violencia sexual es un problema al cual el ámbito universitario no es ajeno, y no solo afecta a las mujeres sino también a los hombres. Esta se presenta en sus diferentes formas (desde acoso leve hasta violación) y vulnera los derechos sexuales de los estudiantes que en la mayoría de los casos viven su dolor en silencio.

Objective: Identifying the prevalence of sexual violence (SV) during university life among students of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, during the second semester of 2010, and to describe its characteristics. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Population: 10,441 undergraduate students enrolled for the second academic period of 2010. Exclusion criteria: night students. Stratified random sample, keeping the percentage of students by program and gender, for a total of 128 students. Four types of variables were analyzed: demographics (gender, age, program); violence (period, type and place); assault (type of assailant, force); and actions taken by the victims (reporting, response). The results are presented as proportions with their respective 95% Confidence Intervals. Results: 128 surveys were conducted involving 26 of the 33 programs offered at the University. A total of 17 students (13%; 95% CI: 8-20%) reported the occurrence of one or more violent sexual events during their university life. The most frequent type of sexual violence was harassment (28 episodes), considered mild or verbal in 70% of cases. There were 2 cases of rape. Of the victims, 37% reported the event, and one person received treatment. Conclusion: Sexual violence is a problem found also in the university world. It does not only affect females but also males, it is found in its different forms (ranging from mild harassment to rape), and constitutes a violation of the students’ sexual rights. In most cases, the victims have to deal with their pain in silence.

Genetic testing for oculocutaneous albinism type 1 and 2 and Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 1 and 3 mutations in Puerto Rico.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) (MIM #203300) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), bleeding tendency, and lysosomal dysfunction. HPS is very common in Puerto Rico (PR), particularly in the northwest part of the island, with a frequency of approximately 1:1,800. Two HPS genes and mutations have been identified in PR, a 16-base pair (bp) duplication in HPS1 and a 3,904-bp deletion in HPS3. In Puerto Ricans with more typical OCA, the most common mutation of the tyrosinase (TYR) (human tyrosinase (OCA1) gene) gene was G47D. We describe screening 229 Puerto Rican OCA patients for these mutations, and for mutations in the OCA2 gene. We found the HPS1 mutation in 42.8% of cases, the HPS3 deletion in 17%, the TYR G47D mutation in 3.0%, and a 2.4-kb deletion of the OCA2 gene in 1.3%. Among Puerto Rican newborns, the frequency of the HPS1 mutation is highest in northwest PR (1:21; 4.8%) and lower in central PR (1:64; 1.6%). The HPS3 gene deletion is most frequent in central PR (1:32; 3.1%). Our findings provide insights into the genetics of albinism and HPS in PR, and provide the basis for genetic screening for these disorders in this minority population.