The consensus of the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología on the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a frequent normal phenomenon in children of any age. It is more common in infants, in whom the majority of episodes are short-lived and cause no other symptoms or complications, differentiating it from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The diagnosis and management of GER and GERD continue to be a challenge for the physician. Therefore, the aim of the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología was to adapt international documents to facilitate their adoption by primary care physicians, with the goal of standardizing quality of care and reducing the number of diagnostic tests performed and inappropriate medication use. The ADAPTE methodology was followed, and the recommendations were approved utilizing the Delphi strategy. The executive committee carried out the review of the guidelines, position papers, and international reviews that met the a priori quality criteria and possible applicability in a local context. The recommendations were taken from those sources and adapted, after which they were approved by the working group. The consensus consists of 25 statements and their supporting information on the diagnosis and treatment of GER and GERD in infants. The adapted document is the first systematic effort to provide an adequate consensus for use in Mexico, proposing a practical approach to and management of GER and GERD for healthcare providers.

Synthesis and release behavior of layered double hydroxides-carbamazepine composites.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) was incorporated into layered double hydroxides (LDH) to be used as a controlled drug system in solid tumors. CBZ has a formal charge of zero, so its incorporation in the anionic clay implies a challenge. Aiming to overcome this problem, CBZ was loaded into LDH with sodium cholate (SC), a surfactant with negative charge and, for comparison, without SC by the reconstruction method. Surprisingly, it was found that both resultant nanocomposites had similar CBZ encapsulation efficiency, around 75%, and the LDH-CBZ system without SC showed a better performance in relation to the release kinetics of CBZ in simulated body fluid (pH 7.4) and acetate buffer simulating the cellular cytoplasm (pH 4.8) than the system with SC. The CBZ dimensions were measured with Chem3D and, according to the basal spacing obtained from X-ray patterns, it can be arranged in the LDH-CBZ system as a monolayer with the long axis parallel to the LDH layers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid state NMR measurements confirmed the presence of the drug, and thermogravimetric analyses showed an enhanced thermal stability for CBZ. These results have interesting implications since they increase the spectrum of LDH application as a controlled drug system to a large number of nonionic drugs, without the addition of other components.

Efficacy of 1-day vs. 2-day intestinal preparation using peg 3350 + Bisacodyl: A randomized clinical trial. / Eficacia de la preparación intestinal con un día de PEG 3350 + bisacodilo en comparación con dos días: ensayo clínico aleatorizado.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare the efficacy of 1-day intestinal preparation for colonoscopy using PEG 3350 (polyethylene glycol) (4 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl vs. 2-day intestinal preparation using PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out with endoscopists who assessed colon cleansing. Patients aged 2-18 years old undergoing scheduled colonoscopy were included. They were randomized into 2 groups: 1-day preparation using PEG 3350 (4 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl, and 2-day preparation using PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl. Endoscopic evaluation (Boston Scale) allowed the efficacy of both preparations to be assessed. Statistical analysis: T of Student for quantitative variables, and Chi square for qualitative variables. RESULTS: 72 patients with a mean age of 94 ± 49 months were included. No significant difference was found between groups regarding preparation difficulty and safety. Efficacy, assessed using the Boston Scale score and the proportion of excellent and good grades achieved, was higher in the 1-day group. Left colon score and total score were higher than in the 2-day group (left colon: 2.20 vs. 1.89, p=0.03; total score: 7.28 vs. 6.76, p=0.01) (left colon: 94.4% vs. 83.4%, p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy in the quality of intestinal preparation for colonoscopy was higher in the 1-day group using PEG 3350 + oral bisacodyl than in the 2-day group.

OBEJTIVO: Comparar la eficacia de la preparación intestinal para colonoscopia con 1 día de preparación con PEG 3350 (polietilenglicol) (4 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo en comparación con 2 días de preparación con PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo en pacientes pediátricos. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se realizó un ensayo clínico, aleatorizado y cegado para los médicos endoscopistas que evaluaron la limpieza del colon. Se incluyeron pacientes de 2 a 18 años, que ameritaban colonoscopia en forma programada. Se aleatorizaron a los pacientes en dos grupos: 1 día de preparación con PEG 3350 (4 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo y 2 días de preparación con PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo. Por medio de valoración endoscópica (escala de Boston) se determinó la eficacia de las dos preparaciones a evaluar. Análisis estadístico: T de student para cuantitativas y Chi2 para cualitativas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 72 pacientes con edad promedio de 94 ± 49 meses. No hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos con respecto a la dificultad y seguridad de la preparación. La eficacia, evaluada por el puntaje de la escala de Boston y la proporción de calificación excelente o buena, fue mejor en el grupo de un 1 día, el colon izquierdo y el puntaje total fue mejor en comparación al grupo de 2 días (colon izquierdo 2,20 vs. 1,89 p= 0,03 y total 7,28 vs. 6,76 p= 0,01) (colon izquierdo 94,4 vs. 83,4% p= 0,034). CONCLUSIONES: La eficacia de la calidad en la preparación intestinal para colonoscopia fue mejor entre el grupo de 1 día con PEG 3350 + bisacodilo vía oral en comparación a la preparación de 2 días.

Eficacia de la preparación intestinal con un día de PEG 3350 + bisacodilo en comparación con dos días: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Efficacy of 1-day vs. 2-day intestinal preparation using peg 3350 + bisacodyl: A randomized clinical trial

Objetivo: Comparar la eficacia de la preparación intestinal para colonoscopia con 1 día de preparación con PEG 3350 (polietilenglicol) (4 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo en comparación con 2 días de preparación con PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo en pacientes pediátricos. Material y métodos: Se realizó un ensayo clínico, aleatorizado y cegado para los médicos endoscopistas que evaluaron la limpieza del colon. Se incluyeron pacientes de 2 a 18 años, que ameritaban colonoscopia en forma programada. Se aleatorizaron a los pacientes en dos grupos: 1 día de preparación con PEG 3350 (4 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo y 2 días de preparación con PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/día) + bisacodilo. Por medio de valoración endoscópica (escala de Boston) se determinó la eficacia de las dos preparaciones a evaluar. Análisis estadístico: T de student para cuantitativas y Chi2 para cualitativas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 72 pacientes con edad promedio de 94 ± 49 meses. No hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos con respecto a la dificultad y seguridad de la preparación. La eficacia, evaluada por el puntaje de la escala de Boston y la proporción de calificación excelente o buena, fue mejor en el grupo de un 1 día, el colon izquierdo y el puntaje total fue mejor en comparación al grupo de 2 días (colon izquierdo 2,20 vs. 1,89 p = 0,03 y total 7,28 vs. 6,76 p = 0,01) (colon izquierdo 94,4 vs. 83,4% p = 0,034). Conclusiones: La eficacia de la calidad en la preparación intestinal para colonoscopia fue mejor entre el grupo de 1 día con PEG 3350 + bisacodilo vía oral en comparación a la preparación de 2 días

Objective: The objective was to compare the efficacy of 1-day intestinal preparation for colonoscopy using PEG 3350 (polyethylene glycol) (4 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl vs. 2-day intestinal preparation using PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl in pediatric patients. Materials and methods: A blind, randomized clinical trial was car-ried out with endoscopists who assessed colon cleansing. Patients aged 2-18 years old undergoing scheduled colonoscopy were included. They were randomized into 2 groups: 1-day preparation using PEG 3350 (4 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl, and 2-day preparation using PEG 3350 (2 g/kg/day) + bisacodyl. Endoscopic evaluation (Boston Scale) allowed the efficacy of both preparations to be assessed. Statistical analysis: T of Student for quantitative variables, and Chi square for qualitative variables. Results: 72 patients with a mean age of 94 ± 49 months were included. No significant difference was found between groups regarding preparation difficulty and safety. Efficacy, assessed using the Boston Scale score and the proportion of excellent and good grades achieved, was higher in the 1-day group. Left colon score and total score were higher than in the 2-day group (left colon: 2.20 vs. 1.89, p = 0.03; total score: 7.28 vs. 6.76, p = 0.01) (left colon: 94.4% vs. 83.4%, p = 0.034). Conclusions: Efficacy in the quality of intestinal preparation for colonoscopy was higher in the 1-day group using PEG 3350 + oral bisacodyl than in the 2-day group

A novel antigen-carrier system: the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Acr protein carried by raw starch microparticles.

Microparticles have been used as promising carriers for in vivo vaccine delivery. However, the processes for immobilizing peptides or proteins on microparticles usually require the use of undesirable compounds and complex protocols. In this work, we propose a new immobilization and delivery system with raw starch microparticles and a starch binding domain (SBD) tag fusion protein. The heat shock protein alpha crystallin from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used as model. The immunogenicity of the system was investigated in BALB/c mice inoculated with purified Acr-SBDtag protein (pAcr-SBDtag) and starch immobilized Acr-SBDtag protein (µAcr-SBDtag) by oral and intranasal routes. We demonstrated mucosal immunization with the µAcr-SBDtag protein induced systemic antibodies that were predominantly immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a). An analysis of the cytokines from spleen cells and lung homogenates revealed that loaded microparticles induced the secretion of interferon-γ (INF-γ), suggesting an adjuvant effect from the immobilization. The immune responses induced by immobilized protein were primarily affected by the route of administration. These results demonstrate that the system exhibits the necessary characteristics to improve antigen release and presentation to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the mucosae. Because no extra adjuvants were used, we posit that the system may be suitable for delivery and presentation to the field of subunit vaccine development.

The starch-binding domain as a tool for recombinant protein purification.

Recombinant protein purification with affinity tags is a widely employed technique. One of the most common tags used for protein purification is the histidine tag (Histag). In this work, we use a tandem starch-binding domain (SBDtag) as a tag for protein purification. Four proteins from different sources were fused to the SBDtag, and the resulting fusion proteins were purified by affinity chromatography using the Histag or the SBDtag. The results showed that the SBDtag is superior to the Histag for protein purification. The efficient adsorption of the fusion proteins to raw corn starch was also demonstrated, and two fusions were selected to test purification directly using raw starch from rice, corn, potato, and barley. The two fusion proteins were successfully recovered from crude bacterial extract using raw starch, thus demonstrating that the SBDtag can be used as an efficient affinity tag for recombinant protein purification on an inexpensive matrix.

Glomus carotideo: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Carotid Glomus: a case report and literature review

Presentamos un paciente con glomus carotídeo y diagnóstico intraoperatorio sin compromiso hemodinámico en el período anestésico. El caso corresponde a una mujer de 63 años, que ingresa por el departamento de cabeza y cuello por recurrencia de patología tumoral en la región cervical izquierda, sin datos mayores como síntomas cardiacos o neurológicos. Realizándose resección de tumoración, tiroidectomía complementaria y disección cervical, con estudio anatomo-patológico que corrobora glomus carotídeo.

We present a patient with Carotid Body Paraganglioma and operative diagnosis lacking hemodynamic compromise during the anesthetic time. This is a 63 year old female, admitted to the Head and Neck Unit due to tumoral recurrence in the left cervical area, there are no major cardiac or neurological symptoms. The patient undergone tumor resection, complementary thyroidectomy and cervical disection, leading to pathological diagnosis that confirmed Carotid Body Paraganglioma.

La coccidioidomicosis en Argentina, 1892-2009 / Coccidioidomycosis in Argentina, 1892-2009

Los casos clínicos de coccidioidomicosis en Argentina son pocos y han tenido lugar fundamentalmente en la extensa región árida precordillerana. Este trabajo tiene como objetivos realizar una revisión retrospectiva del total de casos de coccidioidomicosis documentados en Argentina desde el año 1892 hasta 2009 y describir una serie de casos ocurridos en los últimos 4 años. En 117 años se documentaron 128 casos. Desde la primera descripción de la enfermedad en 1892 hasta 1939 se registraron 6 casos; desde 1940 hasta 1999, 59 casos (6-14 casos cada 10 años); y los 63 casos restantes (49% del total histórico) se produjeron en el último decenio. La mediana de edad de los 34 pacientes registrados en el período 2006-2009 fue de 31 años (rango: 7-89), la relación hombre:mujer fue 1,3:1; 12 de estos individuos eran inmunocomprometidos. Veintiséis casos se confirmaron por examen microscópico, por cultivo o por ambos procedimientos; los casos restantes se confirmaron por serología. Todos los aislamientos recuperados fueron identificados como Coccidioides posadasii. Treinta pacientes residían en una amplia área geográfica con epicentro en el valle de Catamarca. Entre 2006 y 2009, la tasa de incidencia en la provincia de Catamarca se incrementó desde valores históricos inferiores a 0,5 casos cada 100 000 habitantes hasta 2,0 casos cada 100 000 habitantes. Este aumento sugiere una emergencia de la coccidioidomicosis en el área.

Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis are rare in Argentina and are generally found in the large arid precordilleran area of the country. This study aims to perform a retrospective review of all coccidioidomycosis cases documented in the country from 1892 to 2009, and to describe those occurring in the last 4 years. One hundred and twenty eight cases were documented in the 117 year-period. Since the original description of the disease in 1892 until 1939, only 6 cases were registered; between 1940 and 1999, 59 (6-14/10 yrs) and the remaining 63 (49% of total cases) occurred in the last decade. The median age of 34 patients registered in 2006-2009 was 31 years (range: 7-89), male/female ratio was 1.3:1 and 12 patients were immunocompromised. Twenty-six cases were confirmed by direct microscopy and/or culture whereas the remaining ones by serology. All isolates were identified as Coccidioides posadasii. Thirty patients lived in a vast geographic region with epicenter in Catamarca Valley. Between 2006 and 2009, annual disease incidence rates in Catamarca Province increased from historical values below 0.5/100,000 to 2/100,000 inhabitants. Such increase suggests an emergency of coccidioidomycosis in that region.

[Coccidioidomycosis in Argentina, 1892-2009]. / La coccidioidomicosis en Argentina, 1892-2009.

Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis are rare in Argentina and are generally found in the large arid precordilleran area of the country. This study aims to perform a retrospective review of all coccidioidomycosis cases documented in the country from 1892 to 2009, and to describe those occurring in the last 4 years. One hundred and twenty eight cases were documented in the 117 year-period. Since the original description of the disease in 1892 until 1939, only 6 cases were registered; between 1940 and 1999, 59 (6-14/10 yrs) and the remaining 63 (49% of total cases) occurred in the last decade. The median age of 34 patients registered in 2006-2009 was 31 years (range: 7-89), male/female ratio was 1.3:1 and 12 patients were immunocompromised. Twenty-six cases were confirmed by direct microscopy and/or culture whereas the remaining ones by serology. All isolates were identified as Coccidioides posadasii. Thirty patients lived in a vast geographic region with epicenter in Catamarca Valley. Between 2006 and 2009, annual disease incidence rates in Catamarca Province increased from historical values below 0.5/100,000 to 2/100,000 inhabitants. Such increase suggests an emergency of coccidioidomycosis in that region.

[Confused dream-like state and hypophyseal apoplexy: neurovascular hypothesis]. / Estado confuso-onírico y apoplejía hipofisaria: hipótesis neurovasculares.

INTRODUCTION: Pituitary apoplexy has been defined classically as a nosologic syndrome of predominant headache, visual deficits and decreased level of consciousness, but there are not any psychopathological associations described in the scientific literature directly related to it. The disorder of sensorium or arousal is a variable sign, with a rank of features from moderated lethargy to coma and stupor, revealing a torpid evolution. CLINICAL CASE: We present a case with behavioral changes, mental dissociation and temporal illusions. In turn, infections or endocrinologic morbidity are rejected; it is estimated a nosological difference of confused-oneiric psychosis in a neurovascular context. CONCLUSIONS: In the neuroanatomical context, an acceptable hypothesis for this emotional semiology would be the effect of diaschisis on hypothalamic and hypophyseal fibers in connection with limbic system/hippocampus. There could be, in addition, a demonstration of the relationship between this hypophyseal-hypothalamic system and the rhinencephalic or vegetative brain, the seat of behavioral activity.

Differences in contrast enhancement between intra- and extra-axial lesions after two hours of iodine injection.

In order to try to improve discrimination between the brain lesions that produce damage to the brain-blood barrier and those which are irrigated by extracerebral vessels, the behavior of contrast enhancement up to two hours after iodine injection was studied in two groups of patients. Eight patients had extra-axial lesions (7 meningiomas, one acoustic neuroma) and eleven had intra-axial lesions (6 of astrocytic type, 3 metastases, 2 inflammatory). In the first group, mean values of the lesioned areas in HU decreased progressively with time. However, in many cases in the second group the values at the end of the study were equal to or higher than those observed immediately after contrast medium injection. Highly significant differences were observed between the two groups. The contrast medium in the intra-axial lesions conform to the behavior of all other fluids in a damaged barrier, remaining for a very long time in the interstitial space. In the extra-axial lesions, the contrast moved freely and the return from the interstitial to the intravascular space was also unobstructed, since values decayed immediately after injection. For these reasons, the observation of scans after two hours of contrast injection might be useful for differential diagnosis in those cases where doubt exists.

[Hyperlipoproteinemia in children. Correlation between changes in the parents and newborn infant]. / Hiperlipoproteinemia en los niños. Correlación entre las alteraciones de los padres y del recién nacido

The families of 13 children who had presented hyperlipoproteinemia at birth were studied. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and electrophoresis of LP were performed. The parameters studied were divided in three groups: a) Inespecific indicators (alpha-LP, betas/alphas relation). b) Indicators of the beta-LP group (total and LDL cholesterol and beta-LP). c) Indicators of the prebeta-LP group (TG, prebeta-LP and prebeta-1). In all cases at least one of the parents had hyperlipoproteinemia. All the parents, but one, showed alterations in the same group of indicators as their children. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, coronary insufficiency, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident where observed in the families of the hiperlipidemic parents, but not on those of the normolipemic parents.