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Creatinine excretion is widely used as a method to evaluate the adequacy of urine collection in different clinical settings. Many factors influence its elimination, such as protein intake, exercise, muscle mass, age, and sex, among many others. As 24-hour urine collections can be cumbersome, several equations have been developed to aid clinicians to correctly interpret results derived from them. In this review article, we report the factors that can modify creatinine excretion and we evaluate the accuracy of different published equations to estimate 24-hour urine creatinine excretion.

Background: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation in older adults using a creatinine clearance/24-hour (CrCl) or an equation based on serum creatinine, are often considered equivalent by clinicians. Aim: To compare GFR estimated (eGFR) with the available equations and measured CrCl in patients ≥ 70 years. A secondary aim was to know the differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) classification, when using the different eGFR formulas. Patients and Methods: In 144 patients aged 77 ± 5 years (58% men), CrCl was measured and GFR was estimated using MDRD, CKD-EPI, BIS-1 and FAS formulas. The eGFR and the stage of CKD were compared according to the different equations used. Results: GFR estimated by MDRD and CKD-EPI equations was 7.8 and 8.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower than 24-hour ClCr, respectively. This difference was even greater using the BIS-1 and FAS equations. Twenty-four-hour CrCl classified 47.2% of the patients in a category of renal function > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, while MDRD and CKD-EPI equations classified just over a third, and BIS-1 and FAS formulas around 20% of the patients. Conclusions: The practice of considering equivalent the GFR estimation using the creatinine-based equations with measured creatinine clearance in older adults should be reconsidered, because their results differ markedly.

The increasing integration of renewable energy sources into current power systems has posed the challenge of adequately representing the statistical properties associated with their variable power generation. In this paper, a novel procedure is proposed to select a proper synthetic time series generation model for renewable energy sources to analyze power system problems. The procedure takes advantage of the objective of the specific analysis to be performed and the statistical characteristics of the available time series. The aim is to determine the suitable model to be used for generating synthetic time series of renewable energy sources. A set of indicators is proposed to verify that the statistical properties of synthetic time series fit the statistical properties of the original data. The proposal can be integrated into systematic tools available for data analysis without compromising the representation of the statistical properties of the original time series. The procedure is tested using real data from the New Zealand power system in a midterm analysis on integrating wind power plants into the power system. The results show that the proposed procedure reduces the error obtained in analyzing power systems compared with reference models.

C1q nephropathy is a rare glomerulopathy characterized by mesangial deposition of the complement component C1q. These deposits can be isolated or associated with immunoglobulins or complement fractions, which are observed by immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical microscopy. In ultramicroscopy, dense mesangial deposits and alterations of the podocyte are observed. Clinically it presents as a nephrotic syndrome (NS) or by alterations of the urinalysis such as proteinuria and/or hematuria in children and young adults. In light microscopy, it is expressed with a morphological pattern of minimal change disease (MCD), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The NS during its evolution usually evolve in steroid resistance or steroid dependency, often requiring the association of immunosuppressants to obtain remission. We report a 14 years old male with a history of NS and its evolution under various treatments during a 12-year follow-up.

Renal functional reserve (RFR) is the capacity of the kidney to increase its glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in response to physiological or pathological stimuli. The most commonly used stimuli to assess this reserve are an oral load of proteins of animal origin, amino acid infusions, dopamine, glucagon or combinations of them. RFR is calculated as the difference between stimulated and baseline GFR. Vegetarians have lower baseline GFR than the general population and an increased RFR. Subjects with only one kidney and those suffering from chronic nephropathies usually have a reduced or absent RFR despite having normal basal GFR. Quantification of RFR may be useful to detect subclinical renal damage, physiological conditions that reduce baseline GFR, evaluation of potential donors for kidney transplantation, suspected hyperfiltration, detection of renal lability against acute injuries or pregnancy and the evaluation after an acute renal injury when renal function seems to be recovered and residual subclinical damage is suspected.

Creatine supplements may transitorily rise serum creatinine levels and mimic a kidney disease. If its use is associated with a high protein diet, the resulting increase in blood urea nitrogen will increase the confusion. Since clinical laboratories usually inform the estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine, its elevation may lead to over diagnose a chronic renal failure, with the inherent personal and public health consequences. Creatine supplements are safe and do not cause renal disease. Reports of kidney damage associated with its use are scanty. However, creatine supplements should not be used in people with chronic renal disease or using potentially nephrotoxic medications.

The evaluation of renal function in older adults is usually carried out with a creatinine clearance or an estimation of glomerular filtration rate using formulas such as Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD or CKD-EPI. The results obtained with these formulas are often regarded as equivalent. However, in adults older than 70 years, the Cockcroft-Gault formula frequently underestimates the glomerular filtration rate with respect to reference methods and the MDRD formula overestimates it. CKD-EPI has a more unpredictable behavior. This leads to erroneously classifying patients in the stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), artificially increasing the prevalence of this condition, overloading health systems and generating emotional disorders in patients mistakenly classified as carriers of CKD. Also, when kidney function is overestimated, CKD patients are prevented from receiving the treatments appropriate for their condition. In recent years, new formulas have been proposed (FAS, BIS) with a greater accuracy to estimate glomerular filtration rate in older adults. This review describes the behavior of these formulas in a significant number of older adults, from various countries, and proposes using those equations with the best performance in older adults.

Background: Severe gas exchange impairment can develop even in initial stages of COVID-19 pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 seems to affect the regulation of pulmonary perfusion, through a renin-angiotensin system imbalance that occurs as a result of the virus binding to ACE2. Hypoperfusion to areas of well-aerated lung parenchyma results in a ventilation-perfusion mismatch that can be characterized using subtraction computed tomography angiography (sCTA). We aimed to investigate the potential efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in the treatment of inpatients with COVID-19 that showed perfusion abnormalities in sCTA. Methods: This triple-blind, single-centre, placebo-controlled trial, was done at Hospital Naval Almirante Nef, Chile. We enrolled adult patients (>18 years of age) with clinically diagnosed, highly probable or confirmed COVID-19 infection, that were admitted for inpatient treatment, and with a sCTA carried out within 24 hours of admission that showed perfusion abnormalities in areas of well-aerated lung parenchyma. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive sildenafil (25 mg orally three times a day for seven days) or placebo. The primary endpoint was the change in the ratio between arterial oxygen partial pressure and fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2 ratio), and a co-primary endpoint was the change in alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-a gradient), both of which were calculated 1 hour after administration of the intervention on the first day, and on a daily basis during follow-up, using samples from an arterial line in all patients, and analysed using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Secondary endpoints including intensive care unit admission, the requirement of non-invasive mechanical ventilation or requirement of high-flow nasal cannula, initiation of mechanical ventilation and mortality rates were evaluated using survival analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank statistic. The trial is now done. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04489446. Findings: Between August 20, 2020 and March 31, 2021, we recruited 20 patients per group. No statistically significant differences in mean PaO2/FiO2 ratios (repeated measures ANOVA p=0·67) and A-a gradients (repeated measures ANOVA p=0·69) were found between study groups. Invasive mechanical ventilation had to be initiated in four patients, all in the placebo arm, showing a statistically significant difference with the sildenafil arm (logrank p=0·04). Patients allocated to the sildenafil arm also showed a significantly shorter median length of stay in the hospital when compared with the placebo group (9 IQR 7-12 days vs 12 IQR 9-21 days, p=0·04). Interpretation: Sildenafil treatment decreased the need for initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation and reduced the length of stay in the hospital. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the oxygenation parameter (PaO2/FiO2 ratio and A-a gradient). The improvement in clinically relevant outcomes, without significant differences in specific laboratory outcomes, warrants the conduction of larger trials using sildenafil for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with specific perfusion patterns in sCTA. Clinical Trial Registration Details: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04489446. Funding Information: There were no external sources of funding for this investigation. Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the ethics committee of Hospital Naval Almirante Nef, and by the ethics committee of Universidad Andres Bello, Chile. All patients provided written informed consent before randomisation.

Tracheoinnominate artery fistula could be a fatal complication of tracheostomy. Herein, we present the case of a 59-year-old male with sentinel bleeding around the tracheostomy with subsequent workup revealing a tracheoinnominate fistula. Subsequently, the patient was managed with an endovascular approach with a subsequent favorable outcome. We reported an alternative approach to the management of this catastrophic complication in patients who are at high risk for complications from conventional treatment approach.

A 29-year-old female presented with multiple gunshot wounds to the back and bilateral lower extremities. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with small-bowel resection of two segments with primary stapled anastomosis and partial nephrectomy. The postoperative course showed prolonged intermittent bowel obstruction secondary to the bullet, which lodged in the distal ileum. The patient eventually passed the bullet; it, however, led to a delay in recovery.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contributes decisively to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the LYNX registry we determined the rate of achievement of the target value of LDL-C, the use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and the predictive factors of not reaching the target in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: LYNX included consecutive patients with stable CHD treated at the University Hospital of Caceres, Extremadura (Spain) from September 2016 to September 2018, and those who must have an LDL-C target below 70 mg/dL according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2016 guidelines. The variables independently associated with the breach of the LDL-C objective were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 674 patients with stable CHD were included. The average LDL-C levels were 68.3 ± 24.5 mg/dL, with 56.7% showing a level below 70 mg/dL. LLT was used by 96.7% of patients, 71.7% were treated with high-powered statins and 30.1% with ezetimibe. The risk of not reaching the target value of LDL-C was higher in women, in active smokers, and in those who had multivessel CHD or had atrial fibrillation. Patients with diabetes mellitus, those who took potent statins or co-administration treatment with ezetimibe were more likely to reach the target level of LDL-C. Conclusions: The treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with chronic CHD remains suboptimal; however, an increasing number of very high-risk patients achieve the LDL-C objective, although there is still enormous potential to improve cardiovascular outcome through the use of more intensive LLT. Cardiol Res. 2020;11(5):311-318 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr1079

The article addresses the issue of the digital divide in Ecuador and illustrates how artefacts from television material heritage might be transformed into digital libraries to provide marginalized communities with access to digital information. It describes an ongoing socio-technical project which aims at providing Ecuadorian rural communities with access to digital information through the re-functioning of analogue TV sets and other complementary technologies that will become obsolete due to Ecuador’s switch from an analogue to digital broadcasting signal. On one hand, the project is discussed with reference to the contemporary debate in the fields of Media and Television Studies on the obsolescence and renewal of technology; And on the other, it is discussed on the background of earlier projects focusing on the design of digital libraries to circulate information and improve digital literacy in rural contexts. Finally, the prototype created is discussed from a technical and conceptual point of view.

This article presents the results of the multidisciplinary project “Experiencia 360°” developed at the School of Computing Engineering of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC). This project was developed applying an action research methodology that used games as a tool for strengthening socio-emotional skills (soft skills) with students in their third year of a university baccalaureate program. The methodology developed and the results achieved are presented. This project constitutes a first approach to the construction of a specific strategy aiming at developing socio-emotional skills in students following the Computing Engineering program, so that the results obtained can become the input for the development of a systematic process of multidisciplinary and innovative work that promotes students’ comprehensive education for their suitable professional incorporation in work environments.

In the last two decades, electricity systems have undergone structural changes due to the incorporation of large-scale variable generation technologies (VGTs). Some of the VGT such as photovoltaics (PV) and wind power produces undesirable effects in the system. In power systems, synchronous generators are the primary sources of inertia. During power imbalance, the inertia of the generators prevents frequency stability issues. The VGTs do not naturally provide inertia, so when their participation in the production matrix is high; the system loses robustness since the inertia is decreased. This paper proposes a generator-planning model that includes the effects of lower inertia due to the increase of VGTs. The objective is to obtain a limited frequency deviation during contingencies. The proposed model adds restrictions related to the frequency variation to the capacity of the units that are in fault. The simulations show that to comply with the specified frequency deviations, the model must oversize the park in the order of 13 % in small meshed systems, while in real size systems the oversize is in the order of 1 %.

Background: We present the case of two brothers with identical mechanisms of injury presenting simultaneously, one with SARS-Cov-2 respiratory failure and the other in hemorrhagic shock. Summary: Healthcare globally and in the United States met novel challenges during the unprecedented severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) health crisis. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hospital and health care delivery systems has been widely reported. Elective surgical procedures were suspended; however, trauma and acute care services remained active and faced unique challenges during this pandemic. Trauma patients by their nature of injury require rapid assessment and treatment to include invasive emergency operations. Not only do trauma centers have to adapt to limited resources and new procedures limiting exposure, they are also met with the confounding issue of trauma patients concomitantly presenting with SARS-CoV-2 respiratory illness. Conclusion: Trauma care providers must now contend with SARS-CoV-2 on the differential for patients presenting with trauma. This is demonstrated by our case of two brothers with identical mechanisms of injury presenting simultaneously, one in shock from respiratory failure and the other hemorrhagic.

Background: Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) may benefit of radioiodine ablation (RAI) to reduce the probability of thyroid cancer recurrence. Guidelines recommend that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of >30mIU/L before RAI to optimize treatment response. However, evidence regarding this recommendation is conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare outcomes (thyroid cancer recurrence and survival at 10 years of follow up) of stimulated TSH threshold before RAI with primary analysis focus on Methods: The protocol for this study is registered and available online (CRD42020158354). Briefly, we searched several databases from their inception to April 2020. Reviewers, working independently and in duplicate selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, and evaluated each study’s risk of bias. We excluded studies that used recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone before ablation. Results: We included five retrospective cohort studies, which enrolled a total of 2,514 patients. Risk of bias was low in four studies and high in one study. Mean age was 47 years old (ranged from 40.7 to 47.9) and most of them were female (69%). The most common DTC type was papillary thyroid cancer (78%). From those articles that reported tumor characteristics, 48% had a size ≤2cm (T1b) and 47% >2cm. Moreover, 73% of the patients had no regional lymph metastasis (N0). Two studies reported radioiodine mean dose given of 30 and 100 mci. A total of 301 patients were included in the TSH threshold Conclusions: Mortality do not differ between recommended TSH goal (≥30 mIU/L) vs 30 UI/mL. These results suggest that patients may need to reach a stimulated TSH ≥30 mIU/L stimulated TSH threshold to be treated. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

HIV infection has different clinical presentations. We report a 21 years old male with longstanding isolated microscopic hematuria attributed to thin glomerular basement membrane disease, who after 15 years of follow-up presented with significant proteinuria. A kidney biopsy was performed, revealing the presence of tubulo-reticular inclusions in the glomerular endothelial cells. This finding led to suspect an HIV infection, which was verified. Antiretroviral therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II receptor blockers were prescribed. At 6 years of diagnosis the patient is asymptomatic and has normal kidney function. Microscopic hematuria and low level proteinuria persists.

Death with a functioning kidney graft is now the leading cause of graft loss after renal transplantation. Aim: To determine if renal function at the last outpatient visit before the recipient’s death was different according to the following causes of death: infections, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders or cancer. Patients and Methods: Retrospective cooperative cohort study conducted in two kidney transplant centers. All patients who received a kidney graft in the last 32 years were included. During that lapse, 431 kidney transplants were performed. Among them, 85 patients died with a functioning graft and were classified due to their cause of death. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Declining renal function was defined as a > 20% decline in eGFR during the last 6 months prior to the last outpatient visit. Results: Eighty four patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 28.2% died of cardiovascular causes, 35.3% of infectious diseases, 15.3% of cancer and 20% of digestive diseases. Patients dying from cancer had a significantly higher eGFR prior to death than those who died from cardiovascular causes, infectious and digestive diseases (p < 0.01). Declining renal function occurred in 34.8% of deaths from cardiovascular causes, 39.3% from infectious diseases, 16.7% from cancer and 40% from digestive diseases. There were no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Kidney graft recipients who die with a functioning graft have better renal function prior to their death when it is due to cancer than when it originates from infectious, cardiovascular or digestive diseases. Declining renal function is similar in the four groups of death causes

POEMS syndrome is characterized by Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal protein and Skin changes. We report a woman with the syndrome, who had peripheral polyneuropathy, osteosclerotic myeloma, monoclonal IgA elevation, hypothyroidism, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, adrenal insufficiency, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, thyroid and parotid enlargement, Castleman’s disease, papilledema, stiff and hyperpigmented skin, white nails, clubbing, ascites and chronic diarrhea. She had also a nephropathy characterized by microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, renal insufficiency and a unilateral kidney retraction. She was treated with melphalan and prednisone, achieving remission of the disease and nephropathy. She survived twelve years and died due to a myocardial infarction 20 years after POEMS diagnosis.

Patients transplanted from solid organs have an increased risk of cancer, especially lymphomas. Lymphomas correspond to 4 to 5% of malignant neoplasms in the general population and in solid organ transplant patients it reaches an incidence of 21%. The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is 10 times higher than in the non-transplanted population. We report the case of a 68-year-old man with a kidney transplant who 6 years after transplantation, developed a non-Hodgkin diffuse large cells B lymphoma with lymph node and pulmonary involvement, with markers of very poor prognosis (triple MYC expressor, BCL2 and BCL6). and its evolution with chemotherapy with DA R EPOCH.

We report a 23 year old woman presenting with a nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease, central diabetes insipidus, primary hypothyroidism, vitiligo and universal alopecia. Eleven years later, she presented secondary amenorrhea due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, with mild hyperprolactinemia and central adrenal insufficiency. A magnetic resonance imaging of the sella turcica showed a pituitary mass with suprasellar extension that was resected using a transsphenoidal approach. Pathology confirmed the presence of a lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis. She needed a second surgical resection due to mass growth and neuro-ophthalmologic impairment. One year later, systemic lupus erythematosus, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were diagnosed. Two years later, due to back pain, constipation and renal failure, retroperitoneal fibrosis was found, satisfactorily treated with glucocorticoids and colchicine. Hence, this clinical vignette shows the coexistence of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome with retroperitoneal fibrosis and lymphoplasmacytic hypophysitis. Tissue analysis showed the presence of IgG4 producing plasma cells in the pituitary and retroperitoneum, which constitute a basis for the diagnosis of IgG4 related disease.

Arterial involvement in Behcet's disease (BD) is less common than venous lesions. The most commonly affected arteries are: the aorta, lower extremity arteries, mesenteric, femoral, coronary, renal, subclavian and pulmonary arteries. The rupture of pulmonary arteries is the main cause of death of patients with EB and the presence of aneurysms is a bad prognostic factor. We report two patients with arterial involvement in BD. A 14 years old male presenting with hemoptysis lasting three days. A chest computed tomography showed an aneurismal dilatation of the right interlobar artery, bilateral intramural thrombi and alveolar hemorrhage. A right lobar pulmonary resection was performed but hemoptysis recurred. Suspecting a BD, prednisone was started and hemoptysis subsided. A 42 years old male presenting with chest pain and hemoptysis. A chest CT scan showed thrombi in pulmonary veins and anticoagulant therapy was started. Two months later he was admitted again due to a massive hemoptysis. The CT scan showed aneurisms in pulmonary arteries, mural thrombi and pulmonary infarction. With the diagnosis of BD, methylprednisolone, followed by prednisone and cyclophosphamide were used, with a good clinical response.

A novel matheuristic approach is presented and tested on a well-known optimisation problem, namely, capacitated facility location problem (CFLP). The algorithm combines local search and mathematical programming. While the local search algorithm is used to select a subset of promising facilities, mathematical programming strategies are used to solve the subproblem to optimality. Proposed local search is influenced by instance-specific information such as installation cost and the distance between customers and facilities. The algorithm is tested on large instances of the CFLP, where neither local search nor mathematical programming is able to find good quality solutions within acceptable computational times. Our approach is shown to be a very competitive alternative to solve large-scale instances for the CFLP.

Background\ud \ud Most studies regarding autonomic dysfunction in ischemic stroke are limited to heart rate and blood pressure changes during the acute phase. However, there are few data on quantitative assessment of autonomic symptoms. We sought to assess autonomic symptoms in hypertensive ischemic stroke patients.\ud \ud Methods\ud \ud In 100 hypertensive patients (45 with symptomatic ischemic stroke (6 months after stroke onset) and 55 without stroke), we assessed autonomic symptoms using the Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT).\ud \ud Results\ud \ud The age (mean ± standard deviation) for the stroke group was 66 ± 12 and 63 ± 15 for the without stroke group (P = 0.8). Orthostatic hypotension occurred in 3.6% of the stroke group and 4.4% in the group without stroke. The total SCOPA-AUT score was higher in the stroke group compared with the group without stroke (P = 0.001). Domain scores for gastrointestinal (P = 0.001), urinary (P = 0.005) and cardiovascular (P = 0.001) were higher in the stroke group. No differences were found when comparing the total SCOPA-AUT scores for stroke subtypes (P = 0.168) and for lateralization (P = 0.6). SCOPA AUT scores were correlated with depression scores (P = 0.001) but not with stroke severity (P = 0.2).\ud \ud Conclusion\ud \ud Autonomic symptoms, especially, gastrointestinal, urinary and cardiovascular function, were significantly increased in hypertensive patients with minor ischemic stroke. Symptoms were associated with depression but not with the characteristic of the stroke.

Background: After receiving a kidney allograft, patients tend to gain weight acquiring the risk associated with overweight and obesity. Aim: To compare the evolution during 10 years after transplantation of patients who gained more than 15% of their initial weight during the first year after receiving the graft with those who did not experience this increase. Material and Methods: Cohort study of 182 patients transplanted in a single hospital between 1981 and 2003. Demographic data, weight gain during the first year, drugs used, complications and evolution of patients and grafts were recorded. Results: Seventy two patients gained more than 15% of their weight during the first year. These were discharged after receiving the graft with a lower serum creatinine than their counterparts (1.46 ± 0.71 and 1.97 ± 1.74 mg/dl respectively, p = 0.02). Ten years mortality with a functioning kidney was higher among weight gainers (25 and 12.7 % respectively, p = 0.03). No other differences were observed between groups. Conclusions: Patients who gained more than 15% of their initial weight during the first year after receiving a kidney graft have a higher 10 years mortality with a functioning kidney.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos La monitorizacion del nervio facial es fundamental en la preservacion del nervio facial en la cirugia del schwannoma del nervio vestibular. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la utilidad de la monitorizacion facial bajo bloqueo neuromuscular parcial. Metodos Analisis retrospectivo de 69 pacientes operados en un hospital de nivel terciario. Resultados En el 100% de los casos se pudo realizar monitorizacion electromiografica. Se obtuvo respuesta electromiografica tras la escision tumoral en el 75% de los casos. En 17 casos no hubo respuesta electromiografica. En 15 hubo lesion de continuidad del nervio facial y en 2 hubo lesion pero se logro mantener la continuidad anatomica del nervio. La presencia de paralisis facial preoperatoria (29 vs. 7%; p = 0,0349), el mayor tamano tumoral (88 vs. 38%; p = 0,0276) y una audicion no funcional (88 vs. 51%; p = 0,0276) son factores significativamente mas prevalentes en el grupo en que no se pudo obtener una respuesta electromiografica. Conclusiones La monitorizacion del nervio facial bajo bloqueo neuromuscular moderado es factible y segura en pacientes sin lesion facial preoperatoria. Los pacientes que obtienen respuesta electromiografica tras la extirpacion del tumor tienen mejor funcion facial en el postoperatorio y al ano de seguimiento.

Introduction and objectives Facial nerve monitoring is fundamental in the preservation of the facial nerve in vestibular schwannoma surgery. Our objective was to analyse the usefulness of facial nerve monitoring under partial neuromuscular blockade. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 69 patients operated in a tertiary hospital. Results We monitored 100% of the cases. In 75% of the cases, we could measure an electromyographic response after tumour resection. In 17 cases, there was an absence of electromyographic response. Fifteen of them had an anatomic lesion with loss of continuity of the facial nerve and, in 2 cases, there was a lesion with preservation of the nerve. Preoperative facial palsy (29% 7%; P=.0349), large tumour size (88 vs 38%; P=.0276), and a non-functional audition (88 vs 51%; P=.0276) were significantly related with an absence of electromyographic response. Conclusions Facial nerve monitoring under neuromuscular blockade is possible and safe in patients without previous facial palsy. If the patient had an electromyographic response after tumour excision, they developed better facial function in the postoperative period and after a year of follow up.

Illness presentation in the elderly may be entirely non-specific, with fatigue, loss of function or the presence of geriatric syndromes. We report a 90 years old male consulting in the emergency room for delirium that persisted throughout hospitalization without finding a cause. During the course of hospitalization mild fever appeared and a left knee swelling became apparent. A synovial fluid aspiration showed a leukocyte count of 360 per field with 60% polymorphonuclear cells. The culture was negative. With a presumptive diagnosis of pseudogout, cochicine and celecoxib were started with remission of the confusional state. The patient was discharged 13 days after admission in good conditions.

We report a 74-year-old man with diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension, who recently underwent coronary bypass surgery due to severe triple vessel disease receiving cardiological and combined antidiabetic therapy, including metformin 4 g/day. He was admitted with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of consciousness. At admission, he was disoriented and agitated with signs of poor perfusion. His blood pressure was 80/70 mmHg, pulse rate 40 beats/min, respiratory rate 20-breaths/min, and axillary temperature 35°C. Biochemical profile revealed an extreme hyperkalemia of 15.4 mEq/L (double checked), elevated creatinine, uremia and brain natriuretic peptide; hypoglycemia (blood glucose 68 mg/dl) and normal C Reactive Protein. Arterial blood gases revealed severe lactic acidemia. The electrocardiogram showed sinus bradycardia, simple AV block, widened QRS with prominent T wave and prolonged QT. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with the suspicion of lactic acidosis associated with metformin, receiving fluid management, intravenous hypertonic glucose plus insulin and sodium bicarbonate, mechanical ventilation, vasopressor therapy, a temporary pacemaker lead, in addition to continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Two days later, the patient experienced a significant clinical improvement with normalization of the acid-base status, plasma lactate and potassium levels. On day 9, diuresis was recovered, creatinine and uremia returned to normal levels and the patient was discharged from the ICU.

Background: There is a gap between the number of patients requiring a renal allograft and the number of potential deceased donors (DD). One alternative is using allografts from non-related living donors (NRLD). Aim: To compare survival and complication of renal allograft recipients from DD and NRLD. Material and methods: Observational study of a cohort of renal allograft recipients. Of 253 transplants performed in a Chilean region between 1981 and 2003, 20 patients received and allograft from a NRLD. Graft and patient survival of these patients were compared with those of 93 patients receiving an allograft from a related living donor and 140 receiving it from a DD. Patients were followed for 10 years or until death or dialysis requirement. Results: No significant differences between groups in graft and patient survival, deaths with a functioning graft or return to dialysis were observed. Receptors of DD had more hospital admissions during the first years after receiving the graft, usually due to infections. Also a delayed graft function was more common among them. Glomerular filtration rate ten years after the graft was similar among the three groups. Conclusions: No differences in graft or patient survival was observed between patients receiving a renal allograft from NRLD, RLD or DD.

McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome is caused by chronic water and electrolyte hypersecretion from an intestinal tumor, usually a villous adenoma, located in the rectum or sigmoid. Patients often have dehydration, hypovolemic shock and kidney failure associated with hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia and metabolic acidosis. We report a 62-year-old male, suffering chronic diarrhea for eight years who was admitted after a syncope. He had severe hypokalemia, hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis, hypovolemia and acute renal failure. After his metabolic disorders were corrected, a colonoscopy showed a large rectosigmoid tumor with the characteristics of a villous adenoma. During the follow up after the complete tumor resection, the patient has remained asymptomatic.

Bilateral renal vein thrombosis is an unusual etiology of acute renal failure and usually is associated with nephrotic syndrome. We report a 77-year-old man, consulting in the emergency room for anuria that appeared 24 hours after a syncope. The patient was carrier of an inferior vena cava filter prophylactically installed 17 months earlier and was not receiving anticoagulation. Serum creatinine on admission was 5.45 mg/dl and blood urea nitrogen was 54 mg/dl. Computed tomography and Doppler ultrasonography showed an extensive thrombosis of inferior vena cava and both renal veins. Heparin therapy was started with a rapid recovery of renal function and diuresis.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is uncommon. Eight percent of cases are associated with malignancies. The pathogenesis of cancer related RPF (MRPF) is unknown. It may be originated from a desmoplastic reaction of the retroperitoneum to the presence of malignant cells, to the action of cytokines secreted by the tumor or a reactive inflammation. MRPF may also be a consequence of antineoplastic therapy (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy). We report eight cases of MRPF associated with breast, cervix, thyroid, kidney and retroperitoneal cancer. In four patients, retroperitoneal tissue biopsy was performed, showing the typical findings of idiopathic RPF. In 6 patients MRPF appeared one to 15 years after cancer diagnosis and in two, it appeared simultaneously. The clinical presentation, course and therapeutic response are described. Six patients were treated with steroids alone and five with steroids associated with colchicine.

Resumen Introduccion/objetivos La transferencia de colgajo libre muscular microneurovascular es actualmente el procedimiento de eleccion para la paralisis facial de larga evolucion. Presentamos una serie de casos de pacientes tratados con colgajo libre de musculo gracilis con inervacion motora por el nervio maseterino. Se analiza la tecnica quirurgica y cuantificamos el movimiento otorgado por el musculo, asi como la mejoria en la calidad de vida y los resultados esteticos obtenidos. Materiales y metodos Se analizan 10 pacientes con paralisis facial unilateral, quienes fueron intervenidos con colgajo muscular libre gracilis, durante los anos 2010 y 2012 en 2 centros hospitalarios de tercer nivel. Resultados No encontramos fallo de la microsutura con supervivencia de todos los colgajos realizados. El movimiento muscular se cuantifico mediante vectores en reposo y contraccion, con un promedio de 1,7 cm, se inicio aproximadamente hacia el cuarto mes despues de la intervencion. Se demuestra tambien una mejoria significativa de la simetria en reposo, asi como de la competencia oral y ocular. Conclusiones Como se presenta actualmente en la literatura los colgajos libres microvascularizados son la tecnica de eleccion para la reanimacion facial. En nuestra experiencia consideramos que el colgajo con musculo gracilis inervado por el nervio maseterino es una tecnica fiable y segura, que ofrece adecuados resultados tanto funcionales como esteticos.

Resumen Introduccion La cirugia oncologica conlleva a importantes defectos y secuelas, asi como alteraciones funcionales y cosmeticas notables. En este aspecto, la cirugia reconstructiva tiene un papel esencial, permitiendo mayor radicalidad en la exeresis y disminucion de las morbilidades funcionales y cosmeticas asociadas. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar y evaluar la experiencia y resultados de la Unidad de Microcirugia Reconstructiva del Servicio de Otorrinolaringologia de nuestro centro. Metodos Estudio retrospectivo de procedimientos realizado entre los anos 2006-2012. Resultados Un total de 36 casos fueron revisados. El tumor primario se localizo en la mayoria de los casos en orofaringe (58%). En 5 casos se realizo el procedimiento para reconstruccion y cierre de fistulas (4 faringostomas y una fistula traqueoesofagica).El fracaso por necrosis total fue del 16% (6/39). No se produjo mortalidad asociada. Las complicaciones postoperatorias mas frecuentes fueron: dehiscencia de sutura en 5 pacientes y faringostoma (fistula) en 5 casos. La radioterapia previa influyo de forma significativa en el aumento de la incidencia global de las complicaciones (p Conclusiones Actualmente, la cirugia reconstructiva juega un papel fundamental en la cirugia oncologica de cabeza y cuello. El colgajo radial es un metodo seguro y fiable para la reconstruccion de la mayoria de defectos en la esfera otorrinolaringologica. Asumir este tipo de intervencion ofrece una mayor autonomia y seguridad en la cirugia oncologica.

We report a 28-year-old male with a hereditary nephritis (Alport Syndrome) on hemodialysis for 5 years, who received a kidney graft from a deceased donor. Cyclosporine (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids were prescribed. In the postoperative period the patient had thrombophlebitis and diarrhea. A CT sean showed splenomegaly, ascites, bilateral pleural effusion and bowel edema. Laboratory showed hypoalbuminemia, increased C reactive protein (CRP) and panhypogammaglobulinemia. At day 32 after transplantation, an acute rejection (Banff II b) was diagnosed and treated with methylprednisolone, replacing CsA by tacrolimus. The acute rejection was controlled but six days later, high fever, pancytopenia and hyperferritinemia appeared. A bone marrow smear showed numerous histiocytes and hemophagocytosis. Hemophagocytic syndrome was diagnosed. MMF and tacrolimus were withdrawn and CsA was reinstituted. Fever fell quickly, CPR normalized at 24 hours and white blood cell count at 72 hours. Days later, the concentrations of albumin, immunoglobulins and hematological parameters normalized. The patient was discharged on day 57 after admission in good condition.

Celiac disease may be associated with other autoimmune diseases and exceptionally with glomerulopathies and nephrotic syndrome. Associations have been reported with IgA nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulopathy and minimal change disease. We report a 63-year-old woman who simultaneously presented with massive nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria 46 g/day) and cachexia due to a malabsorption syndrome secondary to celiac disease. The course of her diseases was complicated with cardiomyopathy due to severe malnutrition, septic shock, acute kidney injury that required dialysis for seven weeks and severe hypertension. A renal biopsy showed a membranoproliferative pattern of injury secondary to a thrombotic microangiopathy and diffuse podocyte damage. Four years later, the patient was in good general health, the glomerular filtration rate was 30 ml/min/1.73m² and there was non-nephrotic proteinuria.

Background: The inability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL) is prevalent in elderly people and it is associated with hypertension and stroke. Aim: To evaluate ADLs using the T-ADLQ in hypertensive patients with minor stroke. Subjects and Methods: T-ADLQ, Cognitive tests (Minimental and Addenbrooke), and Hamilton depression test were applied to 100 hypertensive ambulatory patients (55 without symptomatic stroke and 45 with ischemic stroke, Rankin ≤ 2). Results: In stroke patients the ability to perform ADL was significantly reduced compared with hypertensive patients without stroke. Cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms were associated with a lower ADL performance. Conclusions: The T-ADLQ is useful to evaluate ADL in hypertensive ambulatory patients with ischemic stroke.

Bell Beaker pottery spread across western and central Europe beginning around 2750 BCE before disappearing between 2200–1800 BCE. The mechanism of its expansion is a topic of long-standing debate, with support for both cultural diffusion and human migration. We present new genome-wide ancient DNA data from 170 Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age Europeans, including 100 Beaker-associated individuals. In contrast to the Corded Ware Complex, which has previously been identified as arriving in central Europe following migration from the east, we observe limited genetic affinity between Iberian and central European Beaker Complex-associated individuals, and thus exclude migration as a significant mechanism of spread between these two regions. However, human migration did have an important role in the further dissemination of the Beaker Complex, which we document most clearly in Britain using data from 80 newly reported individuals dating to 3900–1200 BCE. British Neolithic farmers were genetically similar to contemporary populations in continental Europe and in particular to Neolithic Iberians, suggesting that a portion of the farmer ancestry in Britain came from the Mediterranean rather than the Danubian route of farming expansion. Beginning with the Beaker period, and continuing through the Bronze Age, all British individuals harboured high proportions of Steppe ancestry and were genetically closely related to Beaker-associated individuals from the Lower Rhine area. We use these observations to show that the spread of the Beaker Complex to Britain was mediated by migration from the continent that replaced >90% of Britain’s Neolithic gene pool within a few hundred years, continuing the process that brought Steppe ancestry into central and northern Europe 400 years earlier.

72 544x376 Normal 0 21 false false false Normal 0 21 false false false ES X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN MALIGNANT AND NON MALIGNANT PROSTATIC TISSUE. ASSOCIATION WITH TUMOR RECURRENCE AT ONE YEAR AFTER PROSTATECTOMY. Background : Prostate cancer (PC) is the second cause of death by cancer in men in Chile. Its behavior is so variable that it is necessary to search reliable prognostic markers. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is one of the most powerful pro-angiogenic factors. There is no agreement on its validity as a diagnostic or prognostic factor. Aim : To search for VEFG in prostatic tissue. Material and Methods : This study was performed in prostatectomy tissue coming from 41 patients with PC and 39 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Specimens were studied using immunohistochemical staining for VEGF. The percentage of stained glandular cells per patient was calculated and associated with pathological diagnosis in cancer patients. Results: PC biopsies had a mean of 82% of VEGF (+) stained cells, while BPH had only 1.6% (p Conclusions : These results would rule out VEGF as a prognostic factor in this series of patients. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Hyponatremia is common in patients with severe neurological diseases and is often secondary to a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). However, in some patients, hyponatremia is due to cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS). SIADH and CSWS treatments are opposite and misdiagnosis can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. We report a 52 years old female with a rhom-boencephalitis caused by Listeria Monocytogenes (LM), ventriculitis and abscesses in cerebellum and brainstem. It was associated with hyponatremia, hypotension, increased natriuresis, hypouricemia, and low creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Large amounts of sodium were needed and the condition persisted after hospital discharge. Hyponatremia is common in central nervous system involvement by LM, however we are not aware of CSWS reports of this condition.

Background: Coronary anomalies are rare heart diseases that can cause sudden cardiac death, especially in young individuals. Coronary computed tomography angiography delivers a three-dimensional view of excellent quality with information of the origin, course and anatomic relationships of the anomalous vessel, allowing differentiation between benign and malignant variants, entities that require different management and treatment. Aim: To show that coronary computed tomography angiography is the non-invasive technique of choice for the evaluation of a coronary anomaly due to its high diagnostic accuracy. Material and methods: Between 2008 and 2014, 368 coronary computed tomography angiographies were carried out. Six (1.6 %) patients had a coronary anomaly. Results: The age of these six patients ranged from 38 to 82 years (five were women). The coronary computed tomography angiography was requested due to cardiac symptoms (angina and dyspnea) in two patients, after a selective coronary arteriography to obtain additional information of the coronary anomaly in three patients, and after a cardiorespiratory arrest in one patient. Three patients had an anomaly of the right coronary artery, two patients had an anomaly of the left coronary artery and one patient had absent left main coronary artery. In five patients the coronary anomaly was malignant. Conclusions: Coronary computed tomography angiography is a robust diagnostic method to evaluate patients with suspected coronary anomalies.

ANCA mediated vasculitis mainly occur between the fourth and fifth decade of life; therefore, it is very uncommon to see pregnant patients with the disease. Vasculitis may affect significantly the course of pregnancy; in turn pregnancy can change the course of vasculitis. We report a 20 years old woman with ANCA-mediated renal vasculitis lasting 10 years who consulted with a pregnancy of 15 weeks. She was in remission and had amenorrhea attributed to ovarian toxicity due to cyclophosphamide. Pregnancy had an uneventful course with spontaneous delivery at the 37th week, giving birth to a healthy newborn. Proteinuria increased during the course of pregnancy with a mild deterioration of kidney function. During the year after delivery, she had nephrotic proteinuria and a worsening of renal function.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytic disorder. We report a 76-years-old man who suffered a cardiac tamponade secondary to ECD. A pericardial window was made and during the operation the surgeons observed that the myocardium was diffusely infiltrated. Twenty-eight months before, ECD was clinically diagnosed and prednisone and methotrexate were prescribed. Due to disease progression which culminated in the cardiac tamponade, methotrexate was changed to sirolimus aiming to obtain plasma levels between 5-8 ng/ml. This treatment stabilized his cardiac function allowing a survival of 52 months after its initiation, with fewer side effects.

Background: Renal lymphangiectasia is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of cystic masses in renal parenchyma, renal sinus or perinephric space. This condition, congenital or acquired, is probably caused by an alteration of renal lymphatic drainage to retroperitoneal lymph ducts. We report a 48-year-old woman, who consulted in the emergency room due to left flank pain and microscopic hematuria. Blood pressure and renal function were normal. A CT scan showed a multilocular cystic mass in the left renal sinus without alterations in the renal parenchyma. Renal lymphangiomatosis was diagnosed. The pain subsided with analgesics and did not recur. Annual clinical and ultrasound follow-up was suggested.