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Los ocres de antimonio son óxi-hidróxidos formados por meteorización de estibnita (Sb2S3). Normalmente aparecen como fases minerales simples cristalizadas en el sistema cúbico con estructura de tipo pirocloro y conteniendo algo de calcio y moléculas de agua en su red cristalina. Sus rangos composicionales pueden ser expresados por la fórmula: Sb5+ 2-x (Sb3+, Ca)y (O, OH, H2O)6-7, donde (y) está cerca de 1 y (x) va de 0 a 1. También es muy frecuente que los ocres de antimonio incluyan sustituciones de As, Fe, Ta, Ti, Cu y otros. Esta variabilidad química dentro de la misma estructura ha generado confusiones históricas de nombres de minerales equivalentes con patrones de difracción de rayos X muy similares siendo importante complementar con técnicas analíticas adicionales. El mineral-tipo cervantita de Cervantes (Lugo, España) (Ca, Sb3+)2(Sb5+)2O6(OH) fue desacreditado en 1954 y re-aprobado en 1962 como α-cervantita Sb3+Sb5+O4 difractando muestras de óxidos de antimonio sintéticos y naturales de otras localidades, como por ejemplo de Brasina (Serbia). En este trabajo estudiamos ambos minerales-tipo de Cervantes (Lugo, Spain) y de Zajaca-Stolice (Brasina, Serbia) desde los puntos de vista estructural, químico-elemental, termal, vibracional y de especiación química, asumiendo que los patrones de difracción de rayos X, los de la estructura tipo pirocloro son muy similares entre ellos. El espécimen tipo de Cervantes (Lugo) puede ser considerado como hydroxycalcioromeita (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+)2O6(OH) mientras que el de Brasina Ca2(Sb5+)4O12(OH)2 es muy similar pero sin Sb3+. Ambas muestras contienen calcio y componentes hidratados, es decir, ambos están lejos de ser la α-Cervantita (Sb3+Sb5+O4) oficial anhidra y ortorrómbica. La espectroscopia micro-Raman es esencial para determinar fases minerales y vibraciones de enlaces Sb-O, mientras que espectroscopia FTIR y los ATD-TG fueron útiles para determinar grupos hidroxilos y aguas moleculares y la espectroscopia XPS para definir las especiaciones químicas del antimonio.

Computed tomography is currently the reference examination in the investigation of mediastinal tumours. We report a case of pericardial tumour revealed by transoesophageal echocardiography. This investigation immediately defined the limits of this mass and its relations with cardiac cavities and large vessels and suggested the main features of its tissue structure. However, the aetiological diagnosis is still based on CT-guided needle biopsy or investigation by mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy. Our case consisted of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Transoesophageal echocardiography is a non-irradiating technique, which can be performed at the patient's bed and which allows a precise assessment of the pericardial regions, especially the right pericardial regions.

Between 1977 and 1990, 64 premenopausal women, under 50 years of age (42 +/- 5.6 years), were admitted for typical acute myocardial infarction with pathological Q waves. Twenty one patients had attempted myocardial revascularisation either by intravenous thrombolysis or primary angioplasty (n = 3). All patients underwent coronary angiography with selective left ventriculography during their hospital admission. This group of 64 women was characterised by the association of coronary risk factors (2.8 per patient): smoking (89%), hyperlipidaemia (67%), diabetes (45%) and oral contraception (35%). Coronary angiography showed single vessel occlusion in 86% of patients receiving oral contraception, multiple vessel disease in 36.5% and single or double vessel disease in 31.7% of the other patients. There were 3 deaths during the hospital period (4.6%), 12 cases of left ventricular failure, 2 ventricular aneurysms, 2 operated ischaemic mitral regurgitations and 9 recurrences of pain treated by angioplasty. During follow-up (36.5 +/- 4 months), 22 patients were readmitted to hospital and there were 3 further deaths, 12 cases of persistent cardiac failure, 10 cases of latent ventricular dysfunction and 9 ischaemic reoccurrences treated by angioplasty or surgery. The results in this group of patients suffering from myocardial infarction at an unusually early age for women showed that although the mortality was similar to that observed in men of the same age (9%) there was a very high morbidity and a high risk of cardiac failure. The prognosis of myocardial infarction in women, though better than 10 years ago, should improve with immediate revascularisation, the correction of cardiovascular risk factors and the rapid application of all techniques of modern cardiology.