Seasonal adjustment of the Spanish sales daily data.

We present a procedure to perform seasonal adjustment over daily sales data. The model adjusts daily information from the Immediate Supply of Information System for Value Added Tax declaration forms compiled by the Spanish Tax Agency. The procedure performs signal extraction and forecasting at the daily frequency, by means of an unobserved components model. The daily information allows a permanently updated monitoring of the short-term economic conditions of the Spanish economy.

Spontaneous circumferential esophageal dissection in a young man with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Spontaneous esophageal dissection is a rare condition that may happen in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Conservative management is an important therapeutic option to be considered. We describe an unusual case of a young man with eosinophilic esophagitis who presented complaining of acute retrosternal pain, fever and vomiting. After a thorough evaluation including CT-scan and esophagogram, circumferential esophageal dissection and mediastinal abscess without visible perforation was observed. Abscess resolution and oral nutrition reintroduction was achieved with non-surgical management. Corticoid therapy was initiated for esophagitis treatment.

Middle lobectomy after pneumonectomy.

A 59-year-old man underwent a successful middle lobectomy to treat metastasis from a pulmonary adenocarcinoma resected previously by left pneumonectomy.

Primary synovial sarcoma of the lung.

A 45 -year-old woman presented chest pain and a well-defined oval shaped mass on a chest radiograph. A malignant pulmonary tumor was suspected and a right pneumonectomy was performed. The tumor measured about 13 x 12 cm, was pale-yellow in color and soft in texture. Histologically, it had round to oval and spindle-shaped cells with minimal cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei, inconspicuous mitoses and only slight fibrous stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, CD 99, BCL-2 protein and EMA. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using RNA extracted from fresh-frozen tissue, demonstrated SYT/SSX-2 fusion transcripts, confirming the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.

Minimally invasive surgical implantation of left ventricular epicardial leads for ventricular resynchronization using video-assisted thoracoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac resynchronization via left ventricular or biventricular pacing is an option for selected patients with ventricular systolic dysfunction and widened QRS complex. Stimulation through a coronary vein is the technique of choice for left ventricular pacing, but this approach results in a failure rate of approximately 8%. We describe our initial experience with minimally invasive surgical implantation of left ventricular epicardial leads using video-assisted thoracoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 14 patients with congestive heart failure, NYHA functional class 3.2 (0.6) and mean ejection fraction 22.9 (6.8)% were included in this study. Left bundle branch block, QRS complex >140 ms and abnormal septal motion were observed in all cases. Epicardial leads were implanted on the left ventricular free wall under general anesthesia using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. RESULTS: Lead implantation was successful in 13 patients. Conversion to a small thoracotomy was necessary in one patient. All patients were extubated in the operating room. None of the patients died during their hospital stay. Follow-up showed reversal of ventricular asynchrony and significant improvement in ejection fraction and functional class. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgery for ventricular resynchronization using video-assisted thoracoscopy in selected patients is a safe procedure that makes it possible to choose the best site for lead implantation and provides adequate short- and medium-term stimulation.