[Continuous paravertebral block as an analgesic method in thoracotomy].

Introduction: Open thoracotomy is one of the surgical procedures that is still very painful in the postoperative period, which, in this type of surgery can have on respiratory function and subsequent recovery of the patient.

Patients And Method: The aim of the study is to assess continuous paravertebral thoracic block as an analgesic technique in thoracotomy. A total of 139 patients undergoing pulmonary resection surgery by posterolateral thoracotomy received postoperative analgesia using a 1.

Selective T cell receptor decrease in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: To investigate the phenotype and T cell receptor (TCR) use in peripheral blood T cells in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Circulating T lymphocyte phenotype and TCR repertoire were studied by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies in 23 healthy controls and 37 patients with PMR/GCA.

Results: Patients with active PMR/GCA showed an inverse relation between naive and memory CD4+ T cells and unchanged expression of activation surface markers compared with controls.

[Screening of celiac disease in first-degree relatives].

Background And Objective: Our aim was to analyze the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in first-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with this disorder in Cantabria (Northern Spain).

Subjects And Method: A questionnaire was administered and a complete biologic study was performed in 184 relatives. When serum CD-related antibodies were detected, relatives were asked to undergo a jejunal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Reactive arthritis after BCG immunotherapy: T cell analysis in peripheral blood and synovial fluid.

Objective: To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of reactive arthritis after instillation of Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG). Although the clinical features of reactive arthritis after BCG therapy are well described, only a few reports have studied the possible pathogenic mechanisms.

Methods: We analysed by flow cytometry the phenotype and T-cell receptor (TCR) expression of peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) T cells in a patient who developed reactive arthritis (ReA) following intravesical BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer.