Nasal leishmaniasis in an HIV-positive patient

Leishmania is currently one of the most clinically important protozoa in otorhinolaryngology. Mediterranean countries, including Spain, have endemic HIV and L. infantum. Dogs are the most important Leishmania reservoir. Leishmaniasis is transmitted basically by the bite of infected female Phlebotomus sandflies. Its clinical development depends mainly on the host's cellular immunity (TCD4+ lymphocyte count). About 400 cases of HIV-visceral leishmaniasis have been reported in Spain. However, exclusively cutaneous presentation of HIV-leishmaniasis coinfection has been observed in only 2-3% of cases. We report the case of a female HIV+ patient who developed cutaneous leishmaniasis of the nasal vestibule by L. infantum. The patient was treated satisfactorily with a combination of parenteral Pentostam (sodium stilbogluconate) and periodic intralesional injections of Pentostam. The patient was included in a secondary prophylaxis protocol for visceral leishmaniasis with a monthly dose of Glucantime (meglumine antimoniate) for life.     

Brote de gastroenteritis causado por norovirus en un hotel de Menorca,España

ObjectivesTo establish the agent responsible for a gastroenteritis outbreak in a hotel in Menorca (Spain) in September 2016.MethodsThe study included epidemiological and laboratory analysis. Environmental and stool samples were examined for bacterial and viral pathogens.ResultsOne hundred and fifty-one cases were detected, 123 among the tourists staying in the hotel and 28 affecting the staff. The presence of genotype II norovirus was discovered in the microbiological studies of patient's faeces, as well as in the surface samples of rooms and common areas. The control plan implemented allowed for control of the outbreak.ConclusionsThis study on a genotype II norovirus outbreak reveals the importance of a rapid response for controlling these types of outbreaks.     

Are semantic and episodic autobiographical memories influenced by the life period remembered? Comparison of young and older adults

Autobiographical memory consists of a person’s personal history and contributes to building a feeling of identity and continuity. Aging affects episodic autobiographical memory negatively, whereas semantic autobiographical memory is preserved or even enhanced in older adults. The study aim was to analyze whether these hypotheses continue to find support, or if there are differences when these memories are analyzed according to the components of life cycle retrieval. The sample was composed of 151 participants: 78 young and 73 older adults. Subjects were evaluated with the Autobiographical Memory Interview. A mixed ANOVA was performed for semantic memory with two groups and three life periods (childhood, youth–adulthood, and recent life). The main group effect was not significant, but the effects of the life period and the life period × group interaction were significant. When analyzing episodic memory, the main effects of the life period and group were significant, but their interaction was not. Young people have better episodic memory than older adults, and they show a similar episodic memory pattern during the three life periods evaluated. The semantic memory of the older adults is preserved, and the reminiscence bump and recent life scores are similar in both groups.     

Antioxidant enzymes, occupational stress and burnout in workers of a prehospitalary emergency service.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in many diseases and aging. Scavenging enzymes represent one of several natural defence mechanisms against ROS-induced damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are enzymes that are involved in antioxidant defence. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. OBJECTIVES: To determine the activity of two antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase, and their variation according to demographic and occupational variables in workers of a prehospitalary emergency service, and to analyse the relationship between antioxidant enzyme activities and burnout 111 healthy workers of a prehospitalary emergency service were surveyed. METHODS: SOD activity was analysed by the Minami and Yoshikawa method. Catalase activity was measured by the method of Aebi. To measure burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used. RESULTS: No significant variations with respect to sex were detected in SOD and catalase activities and levels of burnout. Significant differences in SOD activity between the control group and workers of a prehospitalary emergency service (P<0.001) were found. SOD activity was higher in workers on night and evening shifts (P<0.001). These workers also obtained higher scores in burnout subscales, but without statistical significance.     

Blast cells with nuclear extrusions in the form of micronuclei are associated with MYC amplification in acute myeloid leukemia

We report three cases of acute myeloid leukemia without maturation [AML-M1 subtype according to the French-American-British classification (FAB)] with the presence of MYC oncogene amplification in form of double minutes (dmin) or homogeneously staining region (hsr). Blasts cells showed a particular morphology with extrusion of chromatin material. We observed by FISH the phenomenon of MYC aggregation in interphase cells and the formation of micronuclei excluded from the nucleus. The appearance of chromatin extrusion in cytological analysis should draw attention of the presence of dmin aggregation and possible MYC amplification.