Question mark ear deformity: a combined method for correction.

Question mark ear deformity or Cosman ear is a very uncommon congenital alteration. The deformity includes a cleft between the posterior helix and the lobule, an increase in anterior projection, an abnormal superior third that modifies the superior crura and the scaphoid fossa, partial or complete absence of the antihelix, transposition of the lobule and antihelix (severe cases), and postauricular tags. The authors present a case of moderate question mark ear deformity treated using Mustarde sutures and two cartilage grafts to correct the support and the contour defect.

One case of big-toe re-plantation: a 13-year follow-up and a literature review.

In this case of a 3-year-old patient who had a left big-toe amputation through the proximal phalange, re-plantation was performed successfully. Big-toe amputations are not frequent entities, but it should always be re-planted to avoid unsatisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes. There are just a few reports in literature and their follow-up is very brief compared with our report.

[Relation between some techniques of hypospadias repair and complications: Universitary San Vicente de Paul Hospital 1986-2005].

Objective: The incidence of hypospadias has been increasing in the last decades. Successful hypospadias repair depends on patient factors and surgical technique, a factor closely related to the surgeon's experience. The aim of this descriptive, retrospective study was to determine the preferred technique and its association with postoperative complications.

Kidney graft survival in patients with hepatitis C: a single center experience.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in renal transplant candidates; however, its effect on the transplant outcome is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of HCV infection in the outcome of kidney transplantation in a single transplant center. The study population 144 HCV- randomized selected patients and 64 HCV+ patients transplanted from 1973 to 2000, followed for up to 60 months post-transplantation.

Detection of amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi in a kidney graft with acute dysfunction.

We described a case of allograft kidney dysfunction associated with renal parenchymal infection with amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. The patient was diagnosed as being chronically infected prior to transplantation. The infection was probably acquired by blood transfusion.

Intra-abdominal infection in patients with abdominal trauma.

Hypothesis: Identifying patients with risk factors associated with the development of intra-abdominal infections makes possible early interventions to minimize morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the incidence of intra-abdominal infection (organ/space surgical site infection) in patients undergoing operation because of abdominal trauma, to identify the risk factors associated with the development of this complication, and to estimate the respective magnitudes of the risk factors.

Design: We performed a prospective cohort study in patients older than 12 years who were treated surgically for penetrating or blunt abdominal trauma, with or without other associated lesions.

Hematologic reconstitution following high-dose and supralethal chemoradiotherapy using stored, noncryopreserved autologous hematopoietic stem cells.

Although cryopreservation is the standard for autotransplantation, it has logistic and financial disadvantages in undeveloped countries such as Colombia. In 47 patients, peripheral blood was refrigerated at 4 degrees C up to 144 h before autotransplantation. For mobilization, 27 men and 20 women of median age 37 years affected with hematologic malignancies received G-CSF.

[American integumentary leishmaniasis associated with AIDS in Argentina].

Migration of HIV infected individuals from cities to small towns and rural areas spreads AIDS among non urban population, superimposing HIV with other endemic or epidemic infections as parasitoses. This situation is a big challenge to public health because in most cases the association between these infections worsens both prognoses. We present here the first case in Argentina of AIDS associated to a mucocutaneous form of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Routine chest roentgenogram after central venous catheter insertion is not always necessary.

Background: To evaluate the usefulness of routine radiologic control after the insertion of a central venous catheter as a tool that might modify treatment of patients.

Methods: A prospective study was made of 149 patients submitted to central venous catheter insertion.

Results: In 55% of the patients the roentgenogram showed an adequate placement of the catheter tip and in 3.

[Prevalence of myasthenia gravis in Antioquia, Colombia].

Introduction: Myasthenia gravis (MG), considered the commonest of all the illnesses that affect neuromuscular transmission, is a disorder in which the autoimmune system attacks the post synaptic acetylcholine receptor proteins in the end plate terminal; it is characterised by weakness and skeletal muscle fatigue, with no anomalies in reflexes, sensitivity or coordination. Epidemiological indicators, such as incidence and prevalence, are not known in Colombia. AIMS.

Clinical and cerebral blood flow changes in catatonic patients treated with ECT.

Objective: To determine changes in clinical manifestations and cerebral blood flow (CBF) before and after administration of ECT to patients with catatonia due to schizophrenia or mood disorders.

Methods: A sample of nine patients who met DSM-IV criteria for catatonia was studied. Patients received between 5 and 15 sessions (thrice per week) of ECT.

[Neurosyphilis and the prozone effect].

Introduction: Neurosyphilis (NS) is an entity which still frequently presents to our Neurology Department. The prozone phenomenon occurs in approximately 2% of all cases of late primary syphilis or secondary syphilis; we have found no cases described of prozone and neurosyphilis occurring together.

Clinical Case: We present the unusual case of a 44 year old patient with NS and dementia PGP (progressive general paralysis).

[Strongyloides stercoralis. Report of a case and review of the literature].

A fatal case of strongyloidiasis in a boy aged 8 months, referred to our hospital, with severe malnutrition, dehydration, brownish fluid through the naso-gastric tube and relapsing chronic diarrhea with bloody mucus. Through all symptoms and observation of rabditoid larvae, eggs and even adult females, parasitologic diagnosis was achieved. In spite of medical intensive care the patient died after 18 days of hospitalization.

Asthma and nifedipine. Comparison of nifedipine, ketotifen and placebo in the prophylaxis of childhood extrinsic asthma.

These results were obtained on a double blinded study which compared the Nifedipine effects, a dihydropyrine calcium blocker of extensive cardiovascular function, the Ketotifen and a placebo orally administered, during 4 months, every 12 hours, on children with allergic asthma, older than 5 years old, who had a minimum of 2 years of evolution in their sickness. These people consulted the Allergic Service of the University Hospital of San Vicente de Paul in Medellín, Colombia, between July of 1984 and December 1986. Nifedipine diminished its intensity, frequency and the time the crisis lasted; it was seen at the end of the treatment.

Calculation of the volume of the normal and the hypertrophic breast.

Using the same system as has been previously described for the Natural Pattern, we have produced a mold with Scotch tape, Ref. 202, that precisely reproduces the size and shape of normal and hypertrophic breasts. Using this mold technique, we studied the specific weight of mammary tissues, and found an average volume of 360 to 390 cc in normal women.

Normal size and shape of the breast and elaboration of a natural pattern.

An historical resume of the female breast is furnished, and the influence that different ages and cultures had on its shape is discussed. The normal size and shape of the breast is analyzed after a study of 35 normal cases. Finally the technique for obtaining a natural pattern with 3M Scotch tape, Ref.