Reproductive pattern in agrarian and immigrant receptor populations: a survey of El Ejido (SE Spain).

This paper deals with the fertility pattern of the El Ejido population, an agricultural Spanish community characterised by the rapid development of its modern agrarian economy. Consequently, the arrival of immigrants has sharply increased throughout the second half of the twentieth century, with important demographic consequences as well as reproductive changes. The analyses of the age-specific fertility rate (fx) and the total fertility rate (TFR) were used in order to describe the reproductive pattern of this population in 2000.

Clinico-pathological analysis of the cutaneous lesions of a patient with type I pseudohypoaldosteronism.

The autosomal recessive form of type I pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA-I) is an unusual disorder characterized by aldosterone resistance at the target organs, which leads to an excessive loss of sodium chloride through urine, sweat and saliva, among other secretions. Such a high concentration of salt in the sweat during the depletive crises directly causes inflammation and damage in the eccrine structures, with cutaneous lesions similar to those appearing in miliaria rubra. We report an autosomal recessive PHA-I in a 4-year-old girl, with cutaneous lesions mimicking miliaria rubra, that improved after treatment with astringent solutions and avoidance of profuse sweating.

[Carcinoid tumor and bone metastases: diagnosis by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy].

Objective: The aim of this study has been to retrospectively assess the usefulness of 111In-DTPAOC scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases (BM) in patients diagnosed of carcinoid tumour (CaT).

Materials And Methods: Between June 1995 and April 2003 78 111In-DTPAOC studies were consecutively performed in 58 patients, 31 females and 27 males, 28 to 73 years old, with a histological diagnosis of CaT. Moreover, whole body bone scans (BS) using 99mTc-MDP were performed in 13 of these patients.

Laparoscopic surgery in situs inversus: a literature review and a report of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis in situs inversus.

Background: Situs inversus (SI) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital defect in which the position of abdominal and/or thoracic organs is a "mirror image" of the normal one, in the sagittal plain. In 25% of these cases, SI is part of the Kartagener syndrome, together with bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitis.

Methods: We present a case of a patient with Kartagener syndrome and complete SI that was laparoscopically operated on for diverticulitis.

Postoperative radiochemotherapy in rectal cancer comparison of two combination schemes: alternating versus concomitant.

Aims And Background: To compare the results on disease control and toxicity of two different schedules of adjuvant combined treatment in advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: From January 1995 to September 1998, 127 patients with stage B2-C rectal cancer were treated with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy with two different schemes: three cycles of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin followed by pelvic radiotherapy and three weeks after radiation therapy was completed, another three cycles of chemotherapy were administered (alternating arm), or two cycles of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin followed by concurrent radiochemotherapy and three weeks after ending another two cycles of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin were administered (concomitant arm).

Results: Grade 3 acute toxicity was more frequent in the concomitant schedule group (33% vs 13%, P = 0.

Laparoscopic treatment for intussusception of the small intestine in the adult.

The term intussusception refers to a spontaneous invagination of a portion of the intestine into another bowel loop. Its incidence is higher in children, but in adults it causes 1% to 5% of intestinal obstructions. The diagnosis of intussusception in the adult is difficult due to the variability of the symptoms.

RAPD method useful for distinguishing Leishmania species: design of specific primers for L. braziliensis.

The technique of Random Amplification Polymorphic DNA allows fragments of the genome to be amplified by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) without previous knowledge of their sequences. The protozoa of the genus Leishmania present great genetic variability, making it difficult to characterize the different species. A method is developed with a single 10-mers long primer, which allows the species L.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles as a tool for the identification of Acanthamoeba divionensis.

In the present study, we demonstrated the Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) diagnostic validity. In our study, we have analyzed RAPD profiles searching for characteristic and useful bands for Acanthamoeba diagnosis at the species level. We found a distinctive 370-bp band in A.

[Drug consumption and health equity in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina].

Objective: To assess the level of equity in drug consumption patterns in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina, given the transformation of the Argentine pharmaceutical market since the deregulation of the country's economy in 1991.

Methodology: For this study, data from secondary statistical sources were processed and analyzed. The secondary sources used were two household surveys that contained a module on the utilization of health services and the associated expenditures.

[Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. When would a SPECT study be performed?].

Unlabelled: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy has become an essential tool in the treatment planning of patients with carcinoid tumor (CaT) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET). However, the contribution of SPECT images in the diagnosis and staging of these tumors has not been well established.

Objective: 1) To find out if SPECT improves the sensitivity of planar imaging and adds any value to tumor diagnosis, and 2) To determine under which circumstances SPECT images must be obtained.

Increasing-dose gemcitabine plus low-dose cisplatin in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Unlabelled: Gemcitabine, a pyrimidine analog active in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is widely used with cisplatin. The potential activity of the combination has not been fully assessed: gemcitabine is not used at its maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and cisplatin shows a clearly dose-related toxicity. This trial was designed to assess the MTD and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of low-dose cisplatin and increasing gemcitabine dose.

Analysis of NLS and rRNA binding motifs in the L25 ribosomal protein from Leishmania (viannia) braziliensis: investigation of its diagnostic capabilities.

A cDNA clone codifying ribosomal protein L25 was isolated from a Leishmania braziliensis cDNA gene library. The alignment of the amino acid sequence deduced from this gene with other proteins revealed that this protein is related to the L23/25 rihosomal protein family. This is so because this protein shows, in its C-terminal end, the rRNA binding domains characteristic of these proteins and at the N-terminal end the NLS sequence necessary for its entry into the nucleus.

Cloning and molecular characterization of the cDNA encoding histone H1 from Leishmania braziliensis.

The isolation and molecular characterization of the histone H1-encoding gene from Leishmania braziliensis was carried out. The gene is present in the genome as a single copy and transcribed as a polyadenylated transcript of 830 nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequence has in its central region the DNA binding K-[K/R]-A-A-[A/P] motif, which is repeated in tandem 9 times.

Brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Aims And Background: Brain metastases are an unusual finding in patients with colorectal carcinoma. We wished to determine the clinical presentation, the time interval between the diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and the appearance of brain metastases, and the overall survival.

Patient Characteristics: The median age of our patients was 61 years.

Phase I trial of weekly irinotecan combined with UFT as second-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of weekly Irinotecan (CPT-11) plus UFT, and to assess the antitumour activity of this combination as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma, 31 patients with measurable advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated. Cohorts of 3 patients received increasing dose levels of the combination. Levels 1 to 4 included a fixed dose of oral (p.

Phase I trial of weekly gemcitabine at 3-h infusion in refractory, heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors.

Gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine) is a nucleoside analog with antitumor activity against a variety of malignancies. The critical enzyme cytidine kinase is saturated at plasma concentrations achieved after a 30-min infusion at conventional doses. Prolonged infusion time may yield higher intracellular dFdCTP concentrations.

Gender specific associations of the Trp64Arg mutation in the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene with obesity-related phenotypes in a Mediterranean population: interaction with a common lipoprotein lipase gene variation.

Objective: To investigate the association between the Trp64Arg beta3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) mutation and obesity-related phenotypes in a Mediterranean Spanish population considering the effect of other genetic and environmental factors. DESIGN AND SUBJECT: Cross-sectional study in 1063 (476 men and 587 women) randomly selected from this population (aged: 18-68 years).

Measurements: Anthropometric (weight, height and waist-to-hip ratio), blood pressure, biochemical (lipids, fasting glucose, and uric acid), life-style variables, and the Trp64Arg, HindIII-Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apolipoprotein E polymorphism.

Gallbladder rupture during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: does it have an effect on postoperative morbidity?

Gallbladder rupture during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common event that may lead to increased postoperative morbidity. To evaluate this event, we reviewed 300 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Duration of surgery and hospitalization, postoperative symptoms, wound infection, and late complications were analyzed by comparing two groups of patients, one without gallbladder rupture (A) and one with rupture (B).

Liver transplantation as treatment for arterioportal fistulae.

The authors present the case of a 14-year-old boy with secondary portal hypertension caused by arterio-portal fistulae. Ascites, edema, severe abdominal pain, and steatorrhea developed in the patient. In an attempt to decrease arterioportal flow the authors carried out vascular embolization that was partially successful.

Phase II trial of oral tegafur and folinic acid with mitoxantrone as first-line regimen in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Tegafur acts as a deport form of 5-fluorouracil when administered orally for long periods of time since it is an active drug in metastatic breast cancer, with response rates of 29-44%. Biochemical modulation with folinic acid and the addition of mitoxantrone could increase the efficacy of tegafur in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: A prospective phase II trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer was carried out.

A kinetic study of anaerobic digestion of olive mill wastewater at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures.

The kinetics of the anaerobic digestion of olive mill wastewater (OMW) was studied in the mesophilic and thermophilic ranges of temperature. Two completely mixed continuous flow bioreactors operating at 35 degrees C and 55 degrees C and with an average biomass concentration of 5.45 g VSS litre(-1) were used.