Selective hypersensitivity to boiled razor shell.

Many types of seafood require cooking before ingestion and it has been demonstrated that this cooking process may affect the antigenicity and allergenicity of the food. We describe a case of anaphylaxis caused by selective sensitization to razor shell, a mollusc. In vivo and in vitro studies confirmed sensitization to boiled razor shell. Analysis of the nature of the allergen yielded results that were consistent with the findings of other authors and suggested that allergens involved in seafood allergy are commonly high molecular weight proteins that, in most cases, are heat stable.     

Expression of activation molecules in neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes from patients with unstable angina treated with stent implantation.

Coronary angioplasty is known to mediate an inflammatory response. Recently, we have characterized the transient systemic inflammatory response after coronary stent implantation in patients with unstable angina by measuring different soluble protein markers. In the present study we have characterized the expression of various cellular activation markers in neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes from the same group of patients. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and 24 h, 48 h and 7 days after successful coronary stenting in 58 patients. Cell surface markers (CD11b/CD18 and CD38) were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the activation of neutrophils, monocytes and T lymphocytes. We found that coronary angioplasty with stent implantation produces an increase in the cell surface expression of CD11b/CD18 in neutrophils and CD38 in monocytes, following a similar time-course with a peak after 24 h, returning to basal levels after 48 h and a second peak after 7 days. However, T lymphocytes were not found to be activated. These results suggest that coronary stent implantation induces a different pattern inducing soluble and cellular inflammation markers, and therefore, they should be taken into account in patients undergoing stent implantation to study clinical correlations.     

Contribution of hypoxia-measuring molecular imaging techniques to radiotherapy planning and treatment

Hypoxia is related to poor prognosis because it is associated to chemo-and radioresistance. During recent years the evolution of imaging methods like PET/CT and MRI has meant the appearance of new perspectives with direct implications in radiation therapy. We discuss previous experiences in staging, planning and in the follow-up process with these techniques for measuring tumour hypoxia.     

Use of Indwelling Pleural Catheter in the Outpatient Management of Recurrent Malignant Pleural Effusion

IntroductionTo analyse the effectiveness and safety of the indwelling pleural catheter in the management of recurrent malignant pleural effusion.Patients and methodsA prospective multicentre study was performed in 63 consecutive outpatients from four Spanish hospitals. A total of 43 men and 20 women were included, with a median age of 67 years. In seven of the cases treatment with pleurodesis had failed; in five other cases their lung was trapped; in another five cases after repeat therapeutic thoracocentesis, and the rest of them as a preference choice to pleurodesis. All patients had an indwelling pleural catheter inserted (PleurX^®, Denver Biomedical).ResultsMost of patients (94.5%) reported an improvement in their respiratory symptoms (cough and dyspnoea) and their ability to function independently. Average length of the catheterisation was 45 days (6-222). Average amount of drained pleural effusion was 75 ml, with a frequency of drainage of between 3 and 4 times per week and once fortnightly. Spontaneous pleurodesis was achieved following 34.9% of procedures. No complications occurred during the insertion of the catheter. The post-catheterisation complications were empyema (3 cases), chest pain (2 cases), and tumour metastasis (3 cases).ConclusionsThe use of an indwelling pleural catheter is an effective palliative treatment in the outpatient management for patients suffering malignant pleural effusion. It is also a simple treatment that can be easily applied, does not require hospitalisation and can be easily managed by the patient at home, with a low rate of complications.     

Adipose tissue and liver lipid metabolism in obese children: role of the body mass index and the presence of acanthosis nigricans.

AIMS: The aims of our study were to determine if insulin resistance is associated with increased plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate and triglycerides in obese children. We also studied whether the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) led to further alterations in the above parameters. METHODS: A total of 101 children were studied on their first visit to the paediatric endocrine clinic. Seventy-four were obese, 30 of them with AN. The remaining 27 were non-obese healthy children (control group). NEFAs, glycerol, triglycerides, 3-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and glucose were determined in blood samples obtained after overnight fasting. The insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated following the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Data from the three groups were compared using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: No differences in age, sex ratio and pubertal stage were observed among the three groups. The group of children with the highest body mass index (BMI) showed higher plasma levels of insulin and leptin, higher IRI and lower plasma levels of adiponectin. As insulin and IRI increased, NEFA and 3-hydroxybutyrate decreased and triglycerides increased. When obese children were categorized by BMI, the presence of AN further exacerbated these differences. CONCLUSIONS: In obese children, insulin resistance is associated with plasma lipid alterations suggestive of both decreased adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic beta-oxidation and increased hepatic synthesis of triglycerides. Such a metabolic condition may facilitate fat storage and hinder weight loss.