Prevalence of myocardial bridges in the Mexican population: A morphometric and histological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial bridge (MB) is described as an abnormal band of myocardium covering a variable portion of any coronary artery. METHODS: The current study explores the presence of MB throughout the coronary arterial system and provides a morphometric description through instrumented dissection of a sample of 100 human hearts. The study shows a higher prevalence of MB in the Mexican population than in previous reports. RESULTS: In the total sample (n=100), MB was identified in 96% of it. A total of 421 MBs were observed, with a mean of 4.38mm (±0.28) per dissected heart. The most frequently affected vessel is the anterior interventricular artery where a total of 52 MBs were found, of the total sample studied. DISCUSSION: The high prevalence of MB among Mexican patients could be the result of a genetic association for this population or the neoformation of MB after birth due to lifestyle-associated factors. Further studies are required to better understand the high prevalence of MB among Mexican subjects.

Ascariasis as cause of intestinal occlusion and concurrent appendicitis.

Intestinal occlusion by ascariasis is a commonly seen socio-economic status low, is associated with poor sanitary hygiene. It is rare to see a case with both intestinal occlusion and appendicitis at the same time, as described in this report.

Sifiloide posterosivo de Sevestre-Jacquet y granuloma glúteo infantil: presentaciones inusuales y graves de una dermatitis irritativa del área del pañal. A propósito de tres casos / Posterosive syfiloid of Sevestre-Jacquet and granuloma gluteal infantile: unusual and serious presentations of an irritative dermatitis of the diaper area. A propos of three cases

Presentamos tres casos de dermatitis irritativa de la zona del pañal de aparición poco común, el eritema pápulo-erosivo de Sevestre-Jacquet y el granuloma glúteo infantil, que junto con la erupción pápulo-nodular pseudo-verrucosa perianal, son raras variedades morfológicas de esta frecuente entidad. Se consideran presentaciones patológicas de la dermatitis irritativa del área del pañal, con un amplio espectro de manifestaciones clínicas.

We present three cases of dermatitis of the diaper area of rare occurrence, papulo-erosive erythema of Sevestre-Jacquet and granuloma gluteale infantum, which together with the perianal pseudo-verrucous papules and nodules, are very rare morphological varieties of clinical manifestation of this common entity. These pathological presentations are considered as part of a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of irritative dermatitis in the diaper area.

Sifiloide posterosivo de Sevestre-Jacquet y granuloma glúteo infantil: presentaciones inusuales y graves de una dermatitis irritativa del área del pañal. A propósito de tres casos / Posterosive syfiloid of Sevestre-Jacquet and granuloma gluteal infantile: unusual and serious presentations of an irritative dermatitis of the diaper area. A propos of three cases

Presentamos tres casos de dermatitis irritativa de la zona del pañal de aparición poco común, el eritema pápulo-erosivo de Sevestre-Jacquet y el granuloma glúteo infantil, que junto con la erupción pápulo-nodular pseudo-verrucosa perianal, son raras variedades morfológicas de esta frecuente entidad. Se consideran presentaciones patológicas de la dermatitis irritativa del área del pañal, con un amplio espectro de manifestaciones clínicas.(AU)

We present three cases of dermatitis of the diaper area of rare occurrence, papulo-erosive erythema of Sevestre-Jacquet and granuloma gluteale infantum, which together with the perianal pseudo-verrucous papules and nodules, are very rare morphological varieties of clinical manifestation of this common entity. These pathological presentations are considered as part of a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of irritative dermatitis in the diaper area.(AU)

Eritema infeccioso: un exantema infantil a considerar en la práctica diaria / Fifth disease or infectious erythema: a childhood rash to consider in the daily medical practice

Se presenta el caso de un escolar con febrícula y leve ataque del estado general, quien desarrolla una erupción maculosa en mejillas, pocos días después un exantema en "encaje" o reticulado en tronco posterior y parte proximal de extremidades inferiores, compatible con la quinta enfermedad y confirmado por la morfología lesional característica y la inmuno-serología (IgM).

We present a five years old child with a mild fever and malaise, a maculoedematous eruption on cheeks and a "lace" exanthema located on posterior aspect of the trunk and lower limbs, developed after a few days. A fifth disease was diagnosticated based on characteristic morphological presentation and immunoserological studies.

Eritema infeccioso: un exantema infantil a considerar en la práctica diaria / Fifth disease or infectious erythema: a childhood rash to consider in the daily medical practice

Se presenta el caso de un escolar con febrícula y leve ataque del estado general, quien desarrolla una erupción maculosa en mejillas, pocos días después un exantema en "encaje" o reticulado en tronco posterior y parte proximal de extremidades inferiores, compatible con la quinta enfermedad y confirmado por la morfología lesional característica y la inmuno-serología (IgM).(AU)

We present a five years old child with a mild fever and malaise, a maculoedematous eruption on cheeks and a "lace" exanthema located on posterior aspect of the trunk and lower limbs, developed after a few days. A fifth disease was diagnosticated based on characteristic morphological presentation and immunoserological studies.(AU)

Position of the Spanish Menopause Society regarding the management of perimenopause.

Perimenopause is an imprecise period in woman over 40 years of age, which comprises the time between the moment that the first changes in the menstrual cycle appear and the year following the definitive cessation of the menses. Besides irregular bleeding, many women also complain of hot flashes and other characteristic symptoms of postmenopause. Moreover, most of them are concerned about the future impact that these events may have on their health, such as needing health exams or continuing to use contraceptive methods. A panel of experts from the Spanish Menopause Society has met to establish diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for this period based on the best available evidence.

Efectos beneficiosos no anticonceptivos de la píldora anticonceptiva / No disponible

El primer objetivo del uso de un anticonceptivo oral combinado (AOC) es el de evitar un embarazo. En ocasiones el AOC se asocia a efectos secundarios, pero cada día se conocen mejor los efectos beneficiosos no anticonceptivos del mismo. Existe evidencia de una buena calidad que asocia el uso de AOC con la mejoría de la dismenorrea, la disminución del sangrado menstrual y la mejoría del síndrome premenstrual. También se sabe que el uso de AOC protege frente a la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica (EIP) y el embarazo ectópico, reduce la pérdida mineral ósea y es eficaz en el tratamiento del acné leve y moderado. Además, la AOC disminuye la incidencia de cáncer de ovario y cáncer de endometrio. Conocer estos efectos beneficiosos resulta de interés tanto para los profesionales sanitarios como para las mujeres (AU)

The first objective of using a combined oral contraceptive(COC) is that of avoiding pregnancy. COC is sometimes associated to side effects, but its non-contraceptive beneficial effects are becoming known day by day. There is evidence of the good quality associated to the use of COC with the improvement of dysmenorrhea, decrease of menstrual bleeding and improvement of premenstrual syndrome. It is also known that the use of COC protects against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and ectopic pregnancy, reduces bone mineral loss and is effective in the treatment of mild and moderate acne. Furthermore, COC decreases the incidence of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Knowing these beneficial effects is of interest, both for the health care professionals and for women (AU)

Consejo anticonceptivo en la adolescencia. Características de la atención a los adolescentes. Aspectos legales / No disponible

Los adolescentes gozan en general de buena salud; uno de sus riesgos son las relaciones sexuales, que pueden llevar a embarazos no deseados y no adecuados, sin olvidar las infecciones de transmisión sexual. Es necesario potenciar y mejorar la educación sexual principalmente en el medio escolar y los servicios de atención, facilitando su accesibilidad y confidencialidad. La legislación actual reconoce los derechos del adolescente en materia de sexualidad y, por tanto, en anticoncepción. Es necesario que el profesional conozca los distintos métodos anticonceptivos y las garantías jurídicas en cuanto a su prescripción, para no perjudicar la salud del adolescente en una etapa clave de su vida. Existe una variada oferta de métodos anticonceptivos para los adolescentes, con la especial consideración del preservativo, con o sin otros métodos, y la anticoncepción poscoital como segunda oportunidad

Adolescents usually enjoy good health; one of their risks is sexual relationships which can lead to unwanted and/or inappropriate pregnancies, not to mention sexually transmitted diseases. It is necessary to promote and improve sexual education in the school and care giving services, facilitating their accessibility and confidentiality. The current legislation recognises the rights of the adolescent in terms of sexuality and therefore in terms of contraception. It is necessary for the professional to know the different methods of contraception and the legal guarantees in terms of its prescription, so as not to jeopardise the health of the adolescents in a key stage of their life. There is a wide range of contraceptive methods on offer for adolescents, with special consideration for the condom, with or without other methods, and the postcoital pill –or ‘PCP'– as a backup

Factor tisular en células mononucleares y resistencia a la proteína C en pacientes con preeclampsia / Tissue factor in mononuclear cells and resistance to protein C among patients with pre-eclampsia

Hay evidencia de la presencia de alteraciones en la coagulación que pueden agravar el estado de preeclampsia. Por una parte se ha involucrado a las células mononucleares y por tanto a la generación de factor tisular y por otra a la resistencia a la proteína C como mecanismos en la etiopatogenia de problemas trombóticos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar estos factores en una muestra de 20 mujeres embarazadas con preeclampsia y 20 mujeres embarazadas sanas. Estadísticamente no se encontraron diferencias con relacion a uno y otro grupo, con la salvedad de 2 mujeres del grupo con preeclampsia que mostraron resistencia a la proteína C. (AU)

Mola hidatiforme completa en paciente de 51 años / Complete hydatidiform mole in a 51 year-old patient

Presentamos un caso de Mola Hidatiforme Completa que nos parece interesante por tres motivos fundamentales: forma de presentación clínica, dad de la paciente y ciertas particularidades en las pruebas diagnósticas que comentaremos en la exposición del caso (AU)

Effect of plant lectins on Ustilago maydis in vitro.

Ustilago maydis is an edible parasitic basidiomycete, which specifically infects corn (Zea mays) and teocintle (Z. diploperennis). To characterise the interaction between the basidiomycete and its host organism, we tested the effect of plant lectins with well-known sugar specificity on the growth and germination of U. maydis spores. Lectins specific for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, such as those from Dolichos biflorus and Phaseolus lunatus, and the wheatgerm agglutinin specific for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine inhibited spore germination, but were ineffective in modifying U. maydis cell growth. The galactose-specific lectin from the corn coleoptyle inhibited both germination and cell growth, while the lectin concanavalin A (mannose/glucose specific) activated spore germination and growth. Our results suggest that specific saccharide-containing receptors participate in regulating the growth and maturation of U. maydis spores.

Effects of concanavalin A on protein-C activity.

Concanavalin A interacts specifically with the oligosaccharides from protein-C and modifies its anticoagulant activity. The lectin activates the protein-C activity in a dose dependent manner as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo assays. Concanavalin A at low concentration (0.1 to 2 microg/mL) induces an increase on the catalytic activity of protein-C; at higher concentrations (5 to 20 microg/mL), the catalytic activity returns to the baseline. The effect of concanavalin A was prevented by incubating the protein-C with alpha-methyl-mannoside or by treating the purified protein-C with alpha-mannosidase; furthermore, cleavage of mannosidic residues diminishes its catalytic activity. Our results indicate that the oligomannosidic portion of protein-C participates in the regulation of the catalytic activity of this protein.

[Hospital infections in intensive care units]. / Infecciones nosocomiales en U.C.I. Un estudio.

A study done on acquired infections by patients in an intensive care unit. Data is compared with other studies and concrete factors such as the incidence of naso tracheal intubations infections are looked at to determine the principal risk factors involved.

[The existing differences between adolescent girls served on a first visit in a family planning center in 2 time periods]. / Diferencias existentes entre las adolescentes atendidas en primera visita en un centro de planificación familiar en dos períodos de tiempo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in sexual, reproductive and contraceptive behaviour of adolescent girls attended for the first time at a family planning centre (FPC) over two time-periods. DESIGN: A descriptive, retrospective study with analytic components. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All the adolescent girls attended on their first visit to the Massamagrell (Valencia) FPC during the 10 years from April 1, 1986 to March 31, 1996 (n = 728). INTERVENTIONS: Dividing the two five-year periods, there were educational activities in schools and institutional campaigns to stop unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the second period more adolescent girls made their first visit to the FPC, with a similar mean age, less pregnancies, deliveries and abortions, and a later start to sexual activity. There was less time between the start of sexual relations and their first visit to the FPC; they used habitually and from the start of their sexual relations more effective contraception. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent girls attending a FPC for the first time showed a change in their sexual, reproductive and contraceptive behaviour, in that they were at less risk of pregnancy, STD and AIDS.

Purification of protein C a natural anticoagulant, from human plasma by affinity chromatography with Convanavalin A.

We have developed a rapid, efficient, and inexpensive method to purify protein C from plasma using Concanavalin A conjugated to Sepharose. With this method we have obtained protein C purified to homogeneity, as measured in polyacrylamide gels. We discuss each of the steps of our method and give the results of the purification.