Adolescents with bicuspid aortic valve: Which criteria should we use for aortic dilatation?

Background: Criteria to define aortic dilatation in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients are different for children and adults. The objective of this study was to find the best reference tool to define dilation of the aortic root (AR) and the ascending aorta (AA) in BAV adolescents with an adult body surface area (BSA).

Methods: Patients recruited were ≥10-years-old with a BSA ≥1.

β-blockers and ACE inhibitors are not a risk factor for severe systemic sting reactions and adverse events during venom immunotherapy.

Background: There is controversy whether taking β-blockers or ACE inhibitors (ACEI) is a risk factor for more severe systemic insect sting reactions (SSR) and whether it increases the number or severity of adverse events (AE) during venom immunotherapy (VIT).

Methods: In this open, prospective, observational, multicenter trial, we recruited patients with a history of a SSR and indication for VIT. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether patients taking β-blockers or ACEI show more systemic AE during VIT compared to patients without such treatment.

Low positive rate of serum autoantibodies in colorectal cancer patients without systemic rheumatic diseases.

Background: Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing is useful for screening, diagnosis and follow-up of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on HEp-2 cells is the gold standard for ANA testing. However, ANA have also been detected in patients with different cancer types but without any autoimmune disease.

Haematuria on the Spanish Registry of Glomerulonephritis.

Recent studies suggest a pathogenic role for glomerular haematuria among renal function. However, there is no data on the prevalence of haematuria from a large renal biopsy registry. We analysed the prevalence of gross (GH) and microscopic (mH) haematuria in 19,895 patients that underwent native renal biopsies from the Spanish Registry of Glomerulonephritis.

Role of dissociation in "false drug allergy".

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of dissociation on the "false allergy" phenomenon.

Method: Fifty-five individuals (11 males and 44 females) who consecutively presented for the study of their suspected drug allergy were assessed.

Results: After the challenge test, false allergy was found in 39.

Are there gender-specific pathways from early adolescence psychological distress symptoms toward the development of substance use and abnormal eating behavior?

The aim of the present longitudinal community study was to test whether psychological distress at 13 years of age predicted reported substance use problems in boys and abnormal eating behavior in girls 2 years later. The sample consisted of 500 male and 576 female students. The use of substances was evaluated using a semi-structured interview, psychological distress with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and eating psychopathology with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), and the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE).

Gender differences regarding psychopathological, family and social characteristics in adolescents with abnormal eating behavior.

Objective: (1) To identify gender differences regarding psychopathological, family and social characteristics in adolescents with abnormal eating behavior; (2) to study risk factors for this abnormal eating in boys and girls.

Method: Adolescents participating in this community-based longitudinal study completed, at the age of 13 (t(1)) and 15 years (t(2)), a semi-structured interview and the validated Spanish versions of several self-reported questionnaires measuring eating and general psychopathology. A control group of 150 pupils and 159 adolescents with abnormal eating behavior were selected.

Attitudes towards change and treatment outcome in eating disorders.

Objective: To investigate the influence of the stage of change on treatment outcome among patients suffering from eating disorders.

Method: Sixty-seven women receiving free outpatient treatment for eating disorders initially participated in this study. Their demographic, lifetime and clinical characteristics, eating disorder symptoms and general distress were assesssed at baseline and after one year, together with the results of self-report questionnaire on Attitudes towards Change in Eating Disorders (ACTA).

New contributions to the prevalence of eating disorders in Spanish adolescents: detection of false negatives.

Background: Although the epidemiology of Eating Disorders (ED) has been highly developed in Spain, further research considering false negatives and also the prevalence of these disorders in males are needed. They were the aims of the present study.

Methods: One thousand and seventy six adolescents (500 males and 576 females) participated in a two-stage survey.

Risk factors for eating disorders in adolescents. A Spanish community-based longitudinal study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify psychopathological, social and family variables that, measured at the age of 13, might predict the development of eating disorders 2 years later, using a standardized interview and controlling the effect of initially abnormal eating behavior.

Method: At age 13 and 15, 1076 adolescents completed questionnaires for the screening of psychiatric morbidity, abnormal eating attitudes and family dysfunction. Probable cases of eating disorders [159] and 150 controls were assessed with standardized interviews (SCAN).

[Permanent neonatal diabetes associated with other anomalies].

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is defined as hyperglycemia detected in the first month of life of more than 2 weeks' duration, requiring insulin treatment. It is extremely uncommon (1/500,000 neonates) and is permanent in only 30% of cases. Several hypotheses concerning its etiology have been postulated, such as pancreatic immaturity, paternal uniparental isidisomy of chromosome 6, and the existence of a gene located in the 6 q 22-23 chromosome region subjected to imprinting and exclusively of paternal expression.

Anaphylaxis to paracetamol.

We hereby present a patient suffering several episodes of anaphylaxis (generalized urticaria, dyspnea, wheezing and intense cough) a few minutes after taking different drugs containing paracetamol. Intradermal test with pure paracetamol (100 mg/ml) was positive. It was negative in six controls.

Hypersensitivity to chironomid larvae.

Chironomid larvae (red midge larvae) are often used by aquarists as fish food. Their hemoglobins can cause IgE-mediated allergic diseases in exposed and unexposed people. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of positive skin tests to chironomids in patients suffering from rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma in Ciudad Real (Spain).