Under-reporting of harm in clinical trials.

Appropriate safety evaluations of anticancer drugs are crucial to assess their benefit-risk ratio. Substantial evidence shows that clinicians under-report harm in clinical trials, and at least three factors contribute to this problem: assessment of harm by clinicians might not represent the experience of patients; harm might be detected within trials, but is not reported appropriately by investigators or reporting is influenced by sponsors; and short-term follow-up might not detect long-term and potentially serious toxicities. Additionally, because of the selection of patients with good functional status in clinical trials, study results might not apply to patients treated in everyday clinical practice.

Secure patient positioning using Badillo/Trendelenburg restraint strap during robotic surgery.

Steep Trendelenburg position is routine during robotic urologic and gynecologic surgery in order to optimize exposure of the pelvis. This position requires that the patient be properly secured as to avoid any movement during the procedure. We analyzed the safety and tolerability of a reusable strap with disposable cushions used during robotic assisted radical prostatectomy.

Antihypertensive activity of Salvia elegans Vahl. (Lamiaceae): ACE inhibition and angiotensin II antagonism.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Salvia elegans Vahl. (Lamiaceae), recognized with the popular name of "mirto" is widely used in Mexico for healing purposes, and also them as antihypertensive treatment.

Aim Of The Study: The high prevalence of this illness and the side effects of antihypertensive drugs conducted us to the evaluation of the Salvia elegans extract on angiotensin II action.

Helminth communities of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from Central and Western Mediterranean Sea: the importance of host's ontogeny.

We investigated the factors providing structure to the helminth communities of 182 loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, collected in 6 localities from Central and Western Mediterranean. Fifteen helminth taxa (10 digeneans, 4 nematodes and 1 acanthocephalan) were identified, of which 12 were specialist to marine turtles; very low numbers of immature individuals of 3 species typical from fish or cetaceans were also found. These observations confirm the hypothesis that phylogenetic factors restrict community composition to helminth species specific to marine turtles.

Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, from Japan and the western Mediterranean: amended description and geographical comparison.

The ectoparasitic harpacticoid copepod, Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) (syn. Balaenophilus umigamecolus Ogawa, Matsuzaki and Misaki, 1997), has been reported on 3 species of marine turtles from the Pacific and the Mediterranean and from the West Indian manatee off Cuba in the Caribbean. The 3 available descriptions of this species were made using light microscopy.

A case of incidental adrenocortical oncocytoma.

Background: A 39-year-old female presented with an incidentally discovered left adrenal mass. She denied any history of hypertension, headaches, palpitations, muscle weakness, bruising easily, or fatigue. Physical examination was unremarkable.

Vascular control of the renal pedicle using the hem-o-lok polymer ligating clip in 50 consecutive hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomies.

Background And Purpose: A crucial step in laparoscopic nephrectomy is control and ligation of the renal pedicle. Commonly, an endovascular gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA) stapling device, titanium staples, or both is employed for vascular control. Herein, we report on the use of the Hem-o-Lok polymer ligating clip (Weck Closure Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC) for the routine control of the renal pedicle (both venous and arterial) during hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomies.

Gastrointestinal helminths of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the western Mediterranean: constraints on community structure.

Richness and composition of gastrointestinal helminth communities of 54 loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, from the western Mediterranean were interpreted from patterns of helminth exchange at 2 host taxonomic scales: exchange between marine turtles and other marine hosts and exchange within turtles. We predicted exchange of the former to be unimportant ecologically and evolutionarily because of the host phylogenetic distance. The absence of records of successful exchange at this host taxonomic scale confirmed that host physiological barriers seem to prevent contemporary parasite transfer between marine turtles and other sympatric hosts.

Embolization to control iatrogenic ureteral hemorrhage: a case report.

Gross hematuria following percutaneous or endourological intervention is well known and widely documented. We report an unusual case of angiographically documented hemorrhage from a ureteral branch that was injured by cystoscopic removal of a Double-J stent, and subsequent successful transcatheter embolization. This case demonstrates the important role of angiographic diagnosis and therapy in the management of iatrogenic hemorrhage.

Uretero-fallopian tube fistula secondary to laparoscopic fulguration of pelvic endometriosis.

Ureteral injuries during laparoscopic surgery have been documented. We present a case of the diagnosis and management of a uretero-fallopian tube fistula after laparoscopic laser fulguration of pelvic endometriosis.

[Aging of the dental pulp].

During life, the modifications of the dental pulp are important mostly in the root portion. This area, more than the coronal part of the tooth is submitted to involution and histologic dedifferentiation. Fibrosis and calcification occur leading to severe difficulty in performing endodontic treatment.

Environmental lead in Mexico.

From the data presented here, it can be concluded that environmental exposure to lead is a particularly severe problem in Mexico. As has been shown, there are very important sources of exposure to this metal: (a) for rural populations who manufacture and/or utilize lead-glazed pottery, (b) for urban populations who are exposed to high air lead concentrations due to the continued use of lead fuel additives, (c) for workers of several industries, mainly those of batteries and pigments, (d) for consumers who routinely eat canned foods such as hot peppers and fruit products, and (e) for the general population living in the vicinity of smelters, refineries and other industries that emit lead. Therefore, in Mexico only those native populations living in very primitive communities, far away from all civilized life, could be expected to be free from this exposure.

Experience with the MAGPI hypospadias repair.

Over a 9-month period, 25 consecutive patients with subcoronal hypospadias underwent hypospadias repair using the MAGPI technique. Only those patients with subcoronal lesions, and without chordee were included in this series. The mean age at the time of repair was 3 years with a range of 1.

Condylomata acuminata: diagnosis and follow-up by retrograde urethrography.

Intraurethral Condylomata acuminata can present as a serious problem. Prior to endoscopy, retrograde urethrography can help in diagnosing and determining the extent of the disease.