Endoglin (CD105) and VEGF as potential angiogenic and dissemination markers for colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important current problem concerning public health due to its high incidence and mortality. Advances in molecular and cellular knowledge and the detection of new disease biomarkers are very important to improve prognosis, prediction, and early diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to analyze the gene and protein expression levels of two angiogenic markers, VEGF and soluble Endoglin, during different tumor stages as well as at different stages of cancer treatment, to predict the diagnosis and evolution of colon and rectal cancer.

The Efflux Pump MexXY/OprM Contributes to the Tolerance and Acquired Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Colistin.

The intrinsic resistance of to polymyxins in part relies on the addition of 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose (Ara4N) molecules to the lipid A of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), through induction of operon () expression. As demonstrated previously, at least three two-component regulatory systems (PmrAB, ParRS, and CprRS) are able to upregulate this operon when bacteria are exposed to colistin. In the present study, gene deletion experiments with the bioluminescent strain PAO1:: showed that ParRS is a key element in the tolerance of to this last-resort antibiotic (i.

Assessment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis and flushing by sphenopalatine blockade - a randomized trial.

Background: Craniofacial hyperhidrosis (CFH) and flushing express nervous system autonomic dysfunction. Available reference treatments lack good compliance. The study objective was to investigate variations of CFH/flushing after two methods of sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blockade.

Structural similarity index family for image quality assessment in radiological images.

The structural similarity index (SSIM) family is a set of metrics that has demonstrated good agreement with human observers in tasks using reference images. These metrics analyze the viewing distance, edge information between the reference and the test images, changed and preserved edges, textures, and structural similarity of the images. Eight metrics based on that family are proposed.

Usefulness of office examination with narrow band imaging for the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and follow-up of premalignant lesions.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of narrow band imaging (NBI) examination in the office for the diagnosis and follow-up of upper airway premalignant and malignant lesions.

Methods: Four hundred eighty lesions were evaluated with white light endoscopy (WLE) and NBI before a biopsy/excision. Additionally, 151 premalignant lesions were followed up without proven biopsy.

[Currarino syndrome].

The Currarino syndrome is a form of caudal regression syndrome characterized by the classic triad of presacral mass, sacral bone defect and anorectal malformation in which an autosomal dominant inheritance has been described. In case of clinical suspicion it is necessary to search for the classic alterations and to detect other possible associated malformations in order to avoid complications. The management is multidisciplinary and depends on the type of alterations that the patient has.

Characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Study Objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia is a frequent event in the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to provide information on clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia in these patients, in a comparative study with the non-COPD population.

Design: Prospective study of cases.

Contribution of a pleural antigen assay (Binax NOW) to the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Study Objectives: To determine whether the detection of pneumococcal antigen in pleural fluid augments conventional microbiological methods used for the etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia.

Methods: In this retrospective study, a rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) [NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae assay; Binax; Scarborough, ME] was performed on pleural fluid samples from 34 patients with pneumonia due to S pneumoniae, 89 patients with effusions of nonpneumococcal origin, and 17 patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology. Data on blood cultures, pleural fluid cultures, and urinary antigen tests were recorded.

Glutaredoxins Grx3 and Grx4 regulate nuclear localisation of Aft1 and the oxidative stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Grx3 and Grx4, two monothiol glutaredoxins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, regulate Aft1 nuclear localisation. We provide evidence of a negative regulation of Aft1 activity by Grx3 and Grx4. The Grx domain of both proteins played an important role in Aft1 translocation to the cytoplasm.

Skin to calcaneus distance in the neonate.

Background: Current recommendations for obtaining blood from neonates advise avoidance of the midline area of the heel and are based on postmortem studies.

Objective: Because of the potential pain and tissue damage from repeated heel pricking in the same area, to investigate using ultrasonography whether the distance from skin to calcaneus is less at the midline than at the borders.

Methods: One hundred consecutive healthy preterm and 105 consecutive healthy term neonates were studied 48-72 hours after delivery.

Evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction method for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in pleural fluid samples.

Study Objective: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP); however, an etiologic diagnosis by traditional techniques can be accomplished in only a small percentage of patients with CAP. Pleural fluid is present in approximately 40% of patients with CAP; therefore, we hypothesized that detection of S pneumoniae DNA in pleural fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may help to increase the rate of diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Design: A prospective study of cases.

[Risk factors associated to tuberculosis patients with positive sputum microscopy].

Objective: The main factor responsible for producing new cases of tuberculosis by exogen transmission is the existence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum of tuberculosis patients. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated to positive smear tuberculosis cases in Lleida (Spain).

Methods: We studied new cases of tuberculosis over the period 1992-1998.

Nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia: correlation between cause and severity or comorbidity.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia frequently constitutes a nonsevere infection manageable at home. However, for these low-risk episodes, the epidemiological features have not been carefully analyzed.

Objectives: To determine the cause of nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia and to investigate if a correlation exists between cause and severity or comorbidity.

Congenital epulis: prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound.

We present a case of congenital epulis, diagnosed prenatally with US. Congenital epulis is a benign gingival tumour whose differential diagnosis includes other oral-facial masses such as haemangioma, granular cell myoblastoma and cystic hygroma. This tumour can cause obstruction of the airway or feeding problems in the newborn child.

[Hepatitis C virus genotypes. Study of 302 patients coinfected by the human immunodeficiency virus].

Background: To study the distribution of different HCV genotypes in HIV-infected patients.

Patients And Method: This study was carried out in 302 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who were followed-up at the HIV/AIDS Unit of the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital of Lleida (Spain). HCV genotypes were determined by Inno-Lipa HCV II technique (Innogenetics, Belgium).

Community-acquired pneumonia: development of a bedside predictive model and scoring system to identify the aetiology.

Although initial presentation has been commonly used to select empirical therapy in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), few studies have provided a quantitative estimation of its value. The objective of this study was to analyse whether a combination of basic clinical and laboratory information performed at bedside can accurately predict the aetiology of pneumonia. A prospective study was developed among patients admitted to the Emergency Department University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain, with CAP.

Diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in whole blood: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community acquired pneumonia; however, only a small proportion of cases can be detected by conventional methods. The ability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test performed on whole blood samples to identify patients with pneumococcal pneumonia was investigated.

Methods: One hundred and fourteen consecutive adult patients with community acquired pneumonia were evaluated by a wide battery of diagnostic tests in order to determine the aetiology.

Is Streptococcus pneumoniae the leading cause of pneumonia of unknown etiology? A microbiologic study of lung aspirates in consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Purpose: Although a wide variety of recognized pathogens can cause community-acquired pneumonia, in many patients the etiology remains unknown after routine diagnostic workup. The aim of this study was to identify the causal agent in these patients by obtaining lung aspirates with transthoracic needle aspiration.

Subjects And Methods: During a 15-month period, all consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were eligible for transthoracic needle aspiration were enrolled in the study.

Congenital chondromyxoid fibroma of the ethmoid: case report.

This report describes a congenital case of chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) arising from the ethmoid bone. We believe it to be the second case of congenital CMF that has been documented, and the third case of CMF arising in the ethmoid. We describe the radiographic features of this rare entity and indicate the necessity for careful correlation between radiographic and histological findings to distinguish CMF from chondrosarcoma.

Rapid detection of pneumococcal antigen in lung aspirates: comparison with culture and PCR technique.

Detection of pneumococcal antigen has been used to increase the rate of diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia. The present study was designed to determine the value of rapid detection of pneumococcal antigen in samples obtained by transthoracic needle aspiration (TNA) from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a comparative analysis with culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pneumococcal antigen was detected by latex agglutination.