Hernias de la incisión de asistencia tras resección colorrectal laparoscópica. Influencia de la localización de la incisión y del uso de una malla profiláctica

Objectives

To determine the incidence of incisional hernia (IH) in the extraction incision (EI) in colorectal resection for cancer. To analyze whether the location of the incision has any relationship with the incidence of hernias and whether mesh could be useful for prevention in high-risk patients.

Minimum clinically important difference of the health-related quality of life scales in adult spinal deformity calculated by latent class analysis: is it appropriate to use the same values for surgical and nonsurgical patients?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters have been shown to be reliable and valid in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has become increasingly important to clinicians in evaluating patients with a threshold of improvement that is clinically relevant.

Vacunas contra el virus del papiloma humano

Persistent infection by human papilloma virus (HPV) is considered to be the main cause of cervical cancer and other ano-genital cancers. Of more than 30 genotypes able to infect the anogenital tract, it is estimated that, worldwide, HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and that HPV 6 and 11 cause more than 90% of genital warts. In the last few years, the morbidity and mortality and health costs associated with cervical cancer and its precursor lesions have stimulated intense research activity to achieve primary prevention of this disease through prophylactic vaccines.     

The effects of preservation on microvascular vein grafts in rats

Segments 15 mm in length were excised from the femoral veins of rats and preserved by refrigeration at 4 C in lactated Ringer's solution for periods up to 21 days. The findings show that veins can be preserved for up to seven days and successfully grafted to recipients. Although there was some success in preserving vein segments for more than seven days, a high rate of thrombosis occurred after implantation in the recipients. It is generally accepted that damaged endothelium causes thrombosis. The light and electron microscopic observations in this study, however, suggest that the condition of the endothelium may not be the only important factor in the patency of small vessels. A thickened and prominent elastic lamina may also play a role in keeping the lumen open.     

Molecular Analysis of Myophosphorylase Deficiency in Dutch Patients with McArdle's Disease

We report on 8 Dutch patients with McArdle's disease from 6 unrelated families. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of four previously described mutations: the common R49X mutation, the IVS14+1G>A mutation and the recently reported R269X and Y84X nonsense mutations; and two new molecular defects: a missense mutation R138W in the homozygous state in two siblings, and a frameshift mutation c.1797delT. This first genetic study of patients from The Netherlands with McArdle's disease confirms that the R49X mutation is also the most common in Dutch patients, and that there is genetic heterogeneity within this population. Moreover, our data support the hypothesis that the Y84X mutation is a relatively frequent mutation in McArdle's patients with a Central European background, and expand the already crowded map of mutations within the PYGM gene responsible for McArdle's disease.     

Multidimensional approach to the differences between muscular and articular temporomandibular patients: coping, distress, and pain characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes the differences in psychological variables and symptomatology between temporomandibular disorder diagnosis subgroups. STUDY DESIGN: The sample included 114 temporomandibular disorder patients that were evaluated in coping, distress, and temporomandibular characteristics. Diagnostic muscular (n = 58) and articular (n = 56) subgroups were compared in these variables through a MANCOVA. RESULTS: Muscular patients show a higher level of general distress, specifically in the anxiety and somatization subscales and a more active coping style, with a tendency of a minor use of humor and a higher number of parafunctional habits, specifically, biting nails, hangnails, and lips. CONCLUSION: We discuss the differences found in order to design the targets of the psychological intervention of temporomandibular patients.     

Aerobiological and allergenic analysis of cupressaceae pollen in Granada (Southern Spain).

Cupressaceae pollen has been cited in recent years as one of the major airborne allergens of the Mediterranean region, prompting us to conduct an exhaustive analysis on the aerobiological behaviour of this pollen in the Iberian Peninsula and the repercussion that it has had on the atopic population. The aerobiological study, performed from 1996 to 2003 in the city of Granada (S. Spain), used a volumetric Hirst collector. The results indicate that this pollen is present in the air most of the year, registering a high incidence during the winter months. This type of pollen behaved irregularly in the air, fluctuating yearly, seasonally, and within the same day. Temperature and humidity were the parameters that most directly influence the variability of this allergen, while rainfall prior to flowering increased pollen production. The predictive models used estimated a high percentage of the levels reached over the short term by this pollen in the atmosphere of Granada. The clinical study performed with atopic patients showed that some 30% of the population with pollinosis are sensitive to Cupressaceae pollen, affecting people of both genders equally. On the other hand, the most sensitive age group was 21-40 years of age, while children and the elderly registered almost negligible values. Most of the sensitive subjects resided within the city or in the metropolitan area, where environmental pollution reached high levels, while the pathology was found to be less frequent in rural zones. The most frequent symptoms were upper-respiratory ailments and an asthmatic profile.     

Variations in ferritin levels in blood during physiological pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia is the most frequent haematological pathology in pregnancy. Serum ferritin levels represent the state of iron deposits. Low levels are a sure sign of iron deficiency. At the University of Turin we studied the variations of serum ferritin levels during physiological pregnancy and the sensitivity of routine blood tests with respect to serum ferritin levels. Routine haematological blood values along with ferritin levels were measured in 115 patients throughout pregnancy. The mean serum ferritin level was 56 ng/ml in the first trimester, 27.2 ng/ml in the second and 11.8 ng/ml in the third. The incidences of anemia per trimester was 6.6%, 4.8% and 49% respectively (p less than 0.05, chi squared). Our results show that it is important to evaluate iron deposits early in pregnancy by measuring serum ferritin levels in order to determine the need for iron therapy.     

Physical and spectroscopic methods for the evaluation of the interactions of antimitotic agents with tubulin.

The physico-chemical methods for the study of the binding of ligands to tubulin are examined in-depth, emphasizing the assumptions on which they are based and their limitations. The criteria of specificity and linkage to protein self-association are presented. It is shown that, of the direct equilibrium binding techniques, Hummel-Dreyer gel permeation chromatography and rapid ultracentrifugation are applicable only when binding is not linked to protein self-association. Disc filtration is valid only when the reverse unbinding reaction is very low. Binding linked to protein self-association can be measured by batch gel permeation or by dialysis equilibrium. The indirect techniques, such as fluorescence perturbation or difference absorption spectroscopy are discussed in terms of the assumptions on which they are based. They are shown to be used best only after characterization of the binding by direct techniques. Equilibrium binding parameters can also be deduced from careful kinetic experiments. Comparison of calorimetrically measured enthalpies of binding to van't Hoff enthalpies derived from equilibrium measurements indicates that the method of choice is calorimetric, while comparison with van't Hoff analysis can reveal the existence of reaction steps not detected by equilibrium measurements. Use of other indirect approaches, such as titration of an enzymic activity, can also lead to the detection of additional steps. The criteria are set up for the proper data analysis of ligand binding linked to protein self-association and the selection of the proper mode of linkage. It is shown how the thermodynamic contributions of various moieties of a ligand can be established by a rational structural modification of the ligand and the proper analysis of the binding measurements, in which all non-specific entropic contributions are taken into account. It is demonstrated also how a similar analysis of binding data can lead to conclusions about the reaction pathway from a comparison of equilibrium thermodynamic measurements on judiciously modified ligand molecules.