Terapia de luz pulsada intensa regulada: un tratamiento complementario prometedor para la enfermedad de ojo seco

ObjectiveTo propose the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy as a helpful supplementary treatment in patients with dry eye disease.Material and methodsRetrospective cross sectional design. Medical records of patients in whom dry eye disease symptoms were not satisfactorily controlled with medical therapy alone and who underwent additional IPL with at least three sessions completed. Data were analyzed before therapy and 3 weeks after its completion to asses improvement. Determination of symptoms, through a visual analog scale; tear film stability, through tear Break Up Time (tBUT); measurement of tear secretion, through Schirmer Test; and ocular surface staining with Van Bijsterveld score were evaluated. SPSS software and nonparametric analysis of repeated measures were used. The study was approved by the ethics committee.Results50 eyes from 25 subjects were reviewed. There were 9 males (36%) and 16 females (64%), with a median age of 59 years (IQR 52-64). The median of the symptoms scale was 8 (IQR 8-9) and 3 (IQR 2-4) before and after the therapy respectively (P < .05). The median of BUT was 4 (IQR 3-5) and 10 (IQR 8-11), Schirmer test was 13 (IQR 12-15) and 15 (IQR 13-20), and Van Bijsterveld score was 3 (RIC 3-4) and 2 (IQR 2-3) before and after the therapy respectively (P < .05, for all measurements).ConclusionIPL treatment has excellent results regarding both: dry eye disease symptoms improvement and in office objective tests such as tBUT, Schirmer test and Van Bijsterveld score; IPL could be considered as an effective adjunct for dry eye disease.     

Skin problems after a tsunami

BACKGROUND: On December 26, 2004, the biggest earthquake for 40 years, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, triggered a tsunami that pounded the coastal areas of South Asia and East Africa. The effects of the tsunami on skin conditions have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of the tsunami on skin conditions by evaluating the skin problems of patients presenting at hospitals after the tsunami. METHODS: Between 5 and 25 January 2005, two dermatologists evaluated patients who complained of skin problems at an outpatient clinic and emergency room of a general hospital in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia. RESULTS: The total number of patients that presented during the study period was 235 (131 males and 104 females), and they had a total of 265 skin problems. In terms of age distribution, most subjects were in their fourth decade (23.0%), followed by the third (22.6%) and fifth decade (16.6%). The most prevalent skin problems were infections-infestations (32.5%), followed by eczemas (29.8%) and traumatic skin disorders (29.4%). In males, traumatic skin disorders were most common. The great majority of infection-infestation cases involved superficial fungal infections. Contact dermatitis accounted for three-quarters of eczema cases, and mainly involved the arms (40.0%) and legs (27.1%). The majority of traumatic skin disorders were lacerations, punctures and penetrations, and the feet (44.7%) and hands (18.8%) were most frequently affected. CONCLUSIONS: Unhygienic conditions, exposure to a hazardous environment and contact with various objects during and after the tsunami probably increased the prevalence of infections-infestations, traumatic skin disorders and contact dermatitis. To prevent these problems and associated secondary bacterial infections, health-related education and early medical management are required.     

Hemodynamic analysis of descending versus ascending aortomyoplasty, and comparison with intra-aortic balloon pump

Objective: Descending and ascending aortomyoplasty are two surgical procedures intended to induce hemodynamic benefits similar to those of the intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP). To date, there have been no studies comparing the two surgical techniques. The objective of this study was to compare coronary blood flow augmentation and afterload reduction as produced by descending and ascending aortomyoplasty counterpulsation Methods: Twenty-two mongrel dogs (18–35 kg) underwent IABP application (n=7), descending (n=8), or ascending (n=7) aortomyoplasty. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery blood flow was measured using a Transonic Doppler flow probe. Left ventricular pressure as well as aortic pressures proximal and distal to either the aortomyoplasty site or the IABP position were monitored continuously. Results: Descending aortomyoplasty induced higher elevation in the LAD blood flow during assisted beats (27% from 10.8±4 to 13.8±6 ml/min, P<0.001) than that induced by either ascending aortomyoplasty (19% from 11.7±5 to 14±5 ml/min, P<0.001) or IABP counterpulsation (18% from 8.6±3 to 10.2±4 ml/min, P<0.001). Conversely, while ascending aortomyoplasty reduced the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by 16% (from 60±18 to 50±22 mmHg, P<0.001), similar to the 16% after load reduction achieved by the IABP counterpulsation, descending aortomyoplasty failed to induce afterload reduction. Conclusions: Descending aortomyoplasty produces higher coronary blood flow augmentation than either ascending aortomyoplasty or IABP. However, afterload reduction comparable to that achieved by IABP was observed only with ascending aortomyoplasty and not with descending aortomyoplasty.     

Experimental arthritis induced by a clinical Mycoplasma fermentans isolate

Background  

Mycoplasma fermentans has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, it was detected in the joints and blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but it is not clear yet how the bacteria enter the body and reach the joints. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of M. fermentans to induce experimental arthritis in rabbits following inoculation of the bacteria in the trachea and knee joints.     

Relationship of MAO-A promoter (u-VNTR) and COMT (V158M) gene polymorphisms to CSF monoamine metabolites levels in a psychiatric sample of caucasians: A preliminary report.

Monoamine oxidase A gene promoter (MAOA-uVNTR) and catechol-O-methyltransferase V158M (COMT-V158M) gene functional polymorphisms are reported to be associated with impulsive-aggression, but a biological intermediate effect remains to be determined. This study assessed the association of these polymorphisms with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites as endophenotypes. Ninety-eight Caucasian psychiatric subjects were assessed for Axis I and II diagnosis. Subjects were genotyped for the functional polymorphisms, MAOA-uVNTR and COMT-V158M. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture. Relationships of the two polymorphism to monoamine metabolites: HVA, 5-HIAA, and MHPG were examined. The higher-expressing MAOA-uVNTR genotype was associated with higher CSF-HVA levels in males only (n = 46) (195.80 pmol/ml, SD = 61.64 vs. 161.13, SD = 50.23, respectively; P = 0.042). No association was found with diagnosis. COMT-V158M had no association with CSF monoamine metabolites. The association of MAOA-uVNTR with dopaminergic activity in males is a preliminary finding that needs to be replicated in a larger sample of Caucasian males and relationships sought with clinical phenotypes. This article contains supplementary material, which may be viewed at the American Journal of Medical Genetics website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0148-7299:1/suppmat/index.html.     

Hepatic encephalopathy secondary to porto-systemic shunt satisfactorily treated with interventionist radiology

Hepatic encephalopathy is a reversible state of altered cognition that may occur in patients with acute or chronic liver disease or porto-systemic shunt, and in which known neurological or psychiatric signs may develop. Nitrogenated substances from intestinal digestion reach the brain without being cleared by their passage through the liver due to the presence of porto-systemic shunt. We report two cases of patients with porto-systemic shunt diagnosed with recurrent chronic hepatic encephalopathy refractory to conventional medical treatment. They were satisfactorily treated with shunt embolization using interventionist radiology techniques.     

Reconstruction of a transmetatarsal amputation stump using a salvaged peroneal artery fasciocutaneous flap from the opposite leg: A case report

During lower extremity amputation, the objective is to provide a functional residual limb that permits maximum patient mobility and independence. Preservation of length of the fore part of the foot using salvageable tissue from the amputated part in young patients prevents equines deformity and revision of amputation to a higher level. This can be achieved using tissue available from the amputated part. The spare part concept in reconstructive surgery should be integrated into the trauma algorithm to avoid additional donor site morbidity. Reported here is a young adult patient with crush injuries to both feet, which resulted in amputations. A fasciocutaneous flap raised from one extremity was used to facilitate transmetatarsal amputation stump length preservation of the other extremity.