[Evidence of inflammatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis].

Classically, osteoarthritis (OA) is not considered an inflammatory arthropathy, because of the presence of a small number of neutrophils in the synovial fluid and the absence of systemic manifestations of inflammation. Besides, the characteristics of articular cartilage (avascular, alymphatic and aneural) do disable to fulfill with the classical signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, heat, pain). However, thanks to development of molecular and cellular biology, there are multiple studies which shown that different proinflammatory mediators, such as the cytokines IL-1β and TNFα, could be important in the development of this disease.

[Genetics in osteoarthritis].

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative articular pathology with complex pathogeny because diverse factors interact causing a process of deterioration of the cartilage. In spite of the multifactorial nature of this pathology, from years 50 one knows that certain forms of osteoarthritis are related to a strong genetic component. The genetic bases of this disease do not follow the typical patterns of mendelian inheritance and probably they are related to alterations in multiple genes.

Cloning, nucleotide sequencing, and analysis of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump of Enterobacter cloacae and determination of its involvement in antibiotic resistance in a clinical isolate.

Enterobacter cloacae is an emerging clinical pathogen that may be responsible for nosocomial infections. Management of these infections is often difficult, owing to the high frequency of strains that are resistant to disinfectants and antimicrobial agents in the clinical setting. Multidrug efflux pumps, especially those belonging to the resistance-nodulation-division family, play a major role as a mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in gram-negative pathogens.

Mutation in the alpha-cardiac actin gene associated with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular non-compaction, and septal defects.

Aims: The E101K mutation in the alpha-cardiac actin gene (ACTC) has been associated with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). As prominent trabeculations were described in some carriers, we screened for the E101K mutation in our index patients with HCM, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), or left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC).

Methods And Results: Clinical, echocardiographic, and genetic screening by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the ACTC E101K mutation in 247 families with HCM, DCM, or LVNC.

[Pulmonary haemorrhage and primary antiphospholipid syndrome: case report and review].

The antiphospholipid syndrome is defined by the association of vein and/or arterial thrombotic events and a high level of antiphospholipid antibodies. Pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension are the most usual complications and recently some new cases of alveolar haemorrhage have been described. We present the case of an alveolar haemorrhage in a patient with a primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

[Bilateral pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma in upper limbs].

Acroangiodermatitis or pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma is an angioproliferative, self-limited entity that includes a group of diseases, congenital or acquired, with cutaneous lesions similar to Kaposi sarcoma (KS). This term can lead to confusion because it comprises several entities that are completely different, nonetheless, it has an important clinical value as it guides the diagnosis and management of these patients. We report the case of a 67-year-old patient with lesions of acroangiodermatitis in both forearms secondary to arteriovenous shunts from hemodialysis.

[Etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke in young adults aged 18 to 45 years: a study of a series of 93 patients].

Objective: This work studied the etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke in young adults in La Coruña and compared this with previous reports.

Patients And Methods: From January 2002 to December 2004, a total of 2716 patients with ischemic cerebral infarcts, transient ischemic accidents or venous infarcts were admitted in our hospital. Only 93 patients were between 18 to 45 years old.

[Perforation risk in esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection with ligation: an experimental study with two ligator models].

Objective: endoscopic mucosal resection with ligation (EMRL) is considered an efficient, safe method for the treatment of some esophageal, gastric and colorectal tumors. We conducted this study using a porcine model in order to compare the safety of esophageal EMRL with two multiband ligation systems, since many centers only use these ligator models in EMRL (commercialized for varix ligation).

Methods: eight pigs were used, which were submitted to 23 esophageal resections without previous injection.

Molecular characterization of the gene encoding a new AmpC beta-lactamase in Acinetobacter baylyi.

Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of a beta-lactamase ampC gene in the chromosome of the non-pathogenic bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1.

Methods: beta-Lactam MICs were determined by Etest. The ampC gene was amplified by PCR, with specific oligonucleotides, then cloned into pBGS18 and pAT-RA plasmids and transformed into Escherichia coli TG1 and parental A.

[Fatal Sweet syndrome associated to chronic idiopathic systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

Sweet syndrome is one of the cutaneous processes more frequently associated to systemic diseases. Its association to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome has rarely been described. We report a case of chronic and relapsing Sweet syndrome associated to a chronic and idiopathic systemic inflammatory response syndrome that lasted seven years and proved fatal to the patient.

[Haloperidol or droperidol with dexamethasone for antiemetic prophylaxis in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Objectives: To compare haloperidol to droperidol, both with dexamethasone, for antiemetic prophylaxis in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Material And Methods: Prospective, randomized double-blind trial enrolling 75 ASA 1-2 patients who received anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. After induction, 8 mg of intravenous dexamethasone was administered.

[Heart failure in 2006].

This article are summarizes the most relevant articles in the field of heart failure including epidemiology, diagnostic and therapeutic issues. Therapy includes drugs, cardiac resinchronization therapy, automatic implantable defibrillator, heart transplantation and cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is feasible and short term data indicates it is safe.

Clinical and molecular characterization of Wilson disease in Spanish patients.

Wilson disease (WD) results when specific mutations occur at the ATP7B gene. The presence of mutations in the ATP7B gene was studied in the coding region and the intron-exon boundaries in 15 WD Spanish patients, and their first-degree relatives when possible. A total of 20 nucleotide sequence changes were detected, 18 missense and two splicing mutations.

[Current role of PSA and other markers in the diagnosis of prostate cancer].

Objectives: To evaluate the current role of PSA as a diagnostic method for prostate cancer, as well as to analyze possible new markers.

Methods: We perform a bibliographic review for PSA, and its molecular forms, as a marker to define the presence of prostate cancer. We review the factors related to PSA modifications, predictive models, or the current controversies about the usefulness of its cutpoint to define the risk of prostate cancer or the marker itself.

[Characteristics and prognosis of heart failure with a normal ejection fraction].

Some 40%-50% of patients with heart failure present with a normal ejection fraction. Today, it is thought that this clinical syndrome is caused by diastolic dysfunction. However, the concept is still controversial because echocardiographic assessment is difficult and misdiagnosis is frequent.

[Beta-myosin heavy-chain gene mutations in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Introduction And Objectives: To determine the frequency of mutations in the beta-myosin heavy-chain gene (MYH7) in a cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and their families, and to investigate correlations between genotype and phenotype.

Methods: Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing of fragments with abnormal MYH7 gene mobility were carried out in 128 consecutive index patients with HCM. The phenotypes of patients with and without mutations were compared and the phenotypes of identified families were recorded.

[Pancreatic panniculitis. Report of a case and review of literature].

Pancreatic panniculitis is an uncommon complication of pancreatic disease, which is characterized by liquefactive necrosis of the subcutaneous fat and may constitute the first evidence of a pancreatic illness. Herein, we report a case where cutaneous lesions of pancreatic disease were recognized prior to detection of an acute episode of a known chronic pancreatitis.

Evidence of modified nuclear protein matrix in human spermatozoa with fragmented deoxyribonucleic acid.

Human spermatozoa were processed for determination of DNA fragmentation with use of an in situ diffusion assay, so that those cells containing DNA fragmentation produce extensive peripheral dissemination of DNA fragments after lysis in an agarose microgel. Quantification of specific protein staining confirmed that sperm cells without DNA fragmentation had almost complete removal of nuclear matrix proteins, whereas spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation tended to retain residual nucleoskeletal protein in a collapsed and condensed state. This result suggests that a modified nuclear protein matrix associates with fragmented sperm DNA.

Increased aneuploidy rate in sperm with fragmented DNA as determined by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and FISH analysis.

Previous studies suggest that sperm DNA fragmentation may be associated with aneuploidy. However, currently available tests have not made it possible to simultaneously perform DNA fragmentation and chromosomal analyses on the same sperm cell. The recently introduced sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test allows users to determine this relationship.

[Endoscopic thyroidectomy: preliminary report].

The Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy, described by P. Miccoli in 1998, is a safe and feasible procedure, for the surgical treatment of thyroid nodules of less than 3.5 centimeters.

Magnetic resonance imaging of delayed enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: relationship with left ventricular perfusion and contractile function.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between myocardial delayed enhancement, first-pass perfusion, and contractile function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients, using MR.

Methods: Fifty-three patients diagnosed with HCM were prospectively examined using a 1.5-T MR unit.