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Retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) treated surgically.

Revisión retrospectiva de pacientes con diagnóstico de síndrome del túnel del tarso (STT) tratados quirúrgicamente.

CD30+primary cutaneous lymphomas comprise a large group of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders that present in the skin without extracutaneous involvement at the time of diagnosis. The annual incidence of these lymphomas is low, at 7–10 cases per 100 million population. Two types, derived from T cells (70%–85%) or B cells (15%–30%), have been identified. Hematologists and oncologists have increasingly recognized the idiosyncrasy of primary cutaneous lymphomas, as reflected in the updated classification of the World Health Organization. However, there remain nuances or small differences to consider when managing these conditions, obliging dermatologists to continue to strive to fully reconcile the various clinical pictures in future reviews of the classification of lymphoid neoplasms. A diagnosis of a primary cutaneous lymphoma is based on clinical, histopathologic, immunophenotypic, and genotypic criteria, particularly evidence of T- or B-cell lymphoid monoclonality in lesions. Also relevant are complementary tests to rule out extracutaneous involvement.

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides, Sézary syndrome, and lymphoproliferative CD30+disorders are few, accounting for less than 5% of all cutaneous lymphomas. A cytotoxic phenotype is characteristic of these tumors, and their clinical behavior is usually aggressive. Patients often present with extracutaneous symptoms or develop them shortly after diagnosis. Management is usually multidisciplinary, and intensive systemic therapy and bone marrow transplantation should be considered. Cutaneous B-cell lymphomas account for approximately 30% of primary cutaneous lymphomas. They make up a heterogeneous group of tumors that have different clinical and pathological features. Clinical course also varies. Presenting as papules, nodules, or tumors of variable reddish–violaceous coloring, the lesions may be solitary or multiple and occasionally form clusters. There may also be generalized lesions, present at multiple sites on the trunk, head, or extremities. Three well-defined groups of primary cutaneous lymphoma have been reported: follicle center lymphoma; marginal zone lymphoma, which follows an indolent course; and a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type, which follows an aggressive course.

Aegilips chilensisBréthes, 1918 is redescribed and illustrated. Aegilips chilensisis considered an endemic species of the Andean region, characterized for having anteroposterior cephalic processes, resembling spines, formed from the postgenal carina. This and other diagnostic characters are diagnosed and illustrated, and morphological affinities of AegilipsHaliday, 1835 with other Anacharitinae genera are discussed. Redescription and photographs of Aegilips chilensisare given.

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This consensus statement on the management of primary cutaneous melanoma that we present here was based on selection, discussion, review, and comparison of recent literature (including national and international guidelines). The protocols for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up used in the hospital centers throughout Catalonia and the Balearic Isles belonging to the Network of Catalan and Balearic Melanoma Centers were also considered. The main objective of this statement was to present the overall management of melanoma patients typically used in our region at the present time. As such, the statement was not designed to be an obligatory protocol for health professionals caring for this group of patients, and neither can it nor should it be used for this purpose. Professionals reading the statement should not therefore consider it binding on their practice, and in no case can this text be used to guarantee or seek responsibility for a given medical opinion. The group of dermatologists who have signed this statement was created 3 years ago with the aim of making our authorities aware of the importance of this complex tumor, which, in comparison with other types of cancer, we believe does not receive sufficient attention in Spain. In addition, the regular meetings of the group have produced interesting proposals for collaboration in various epidemiological, clinical, and basic applied research projects on the subject of malignant melanoma in our society.

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks tumor necrosis factor a and is the most effective biologic agent approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. It is administered by intravenous infusion, usually in day hospitals on an outpatient basis. The main problem with the administration of infliximab is the possibility of infusion reactions, which may be immediate or delayed; these reactions are related to the immunogenicity of this monoclonal antibody, leading to the production of anti-infliximab antibodies. Infusion reactions to infliximab are not usually anaphylactic (ie, they are not mediated by immunoglobulin E), and re-exposure of the patient using specific protocols to prevent and treat these reactions is therefore possible. The extensive experience in the use of infliximab for the treatment of rheumatic conditions and chronic inflammatory bowel disease has made it possible to develop infusion reaction management protocols; these can be applied to dermatologic patients, who constitute a growing proportion of patients treated with intravenous biologic agents. The aim of this review is to draw up a consensus protocol for the treatment of infusion reactions in dermatologic patients treated with infliximab.

The European Biomedicine and Health (BIOMED-2) Concerted Action Project BMH4-CT98-3936 has defined standardized protocols for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of different loci of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) genes with a view to achieving greater sensitivity and specificity in the assessment of clonality of lymphoid neoplasms. To assess T-cell clonality, analysis of TCRß gene and TCRd rearrangements (useful in cases of T?d+ cell neoplasms) is proposed alongside that of TCR?. For analysis of B-cell clonality, along with the framework (FR) III segment of the IgH gene, other segments are studied (FRI, FRII) in addition to Ig? and Ig? genes or incomplete DJ rearrangements of the IgH gene and the ? deleting element. The results of the amplification are read using automatic reading systems (GeneScan) or using a heteroduplex system.

In investigating the pivotal role of glutamine synthetase in woody plant development, we have strived to develop an understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanisms whereby enhanced expression of glutamine synthetase (GS) in poplar contributes to vegetative growth through enhanced nitrogen use efficiency. Considerable effort has also centered on characterization of enhanced resistance of transgenic GS overexpressor lines to abiotic stresses and proposed mechanisms. This summary of our work also focuses on future applications in forest tree improvement.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of generating sequence- based markers in Pinus species, from data available in electronic databases. Nucleotide sequences from 23 partially or fully characterized cDNAs or genomic sequences of pines were used to design PCR primers for amplifying targeted fragments of genomic DNA from Maritime and Scots pine. Various template DNA and MgCl2 concentrations, annealing temperatures, and buffer compositions were used to optimize the PCR amplifications. The polymorphism of 16 sequences was then investigated in a tree-generation inbred pedigree of Maritime pine and in a two-generation pedigree of Scots pine, using single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism (SSCP) on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. The level of polymorphism was shown to be independent of (1) fragment size, (2) the presence or absence of introns in the amplified product and (3) temperature during electrophoresis. Mendelian segregation was tested for 5 SSCP markers in each species. Chromosomal locations of five genes were identified by linkage analysis with previously mapped markers in a genetic map of Maritime pine. The use of SSCP is recommended for constructing a transcriptional map for comparative mapping studies among pines and to provide useful ‘candidate genes’ for characterizing quantitative trait loci.

To determine the prevalence of the different categories of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli,enterotoxigenic E. coli(ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli(EIEC), verotoxin-producing E. coli(VTEC), enteroaggregative E. coli(EAggEC), diffusely adherent E. coli(DAEC), and enteropathogenic E. coli(EPEC), associated with travelers' diarrhea.

To determine the impact of a-tomatine at the third trophic level, the following model was developed:Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson, the secondary consumer, acting onHeliothis zea (Boddie), the primary consumer, fed an artificial diet modified with a-tomatine. In vitro, the allelochemical inhibited colony formation and growth of the fungus. The in vivo test revealed that larval growth and developmental time were affected by a-tomatine andN. rileyi. Detrimental effects on pupal development were observed in larvae fed diet containing a-tomatine and also treated withN. rileyi (LC90). The fungus was detected in the hemolymph and tissue of larvae treated with two lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) ofN. rileyi, including those fed a-tomatine. At the LC50, a-tomatine protected larvae againstN. rileyi and increased survivorship; at the LC90, it inhibited the development ofN. rileyi, thereby reducing production of conidia. Thus, the allelochemical a-tomatine retains its antifungal qualities beyond the second trophic level, inhibiting the development ofN. rileyi inH. zea.

Background: Diffuse plane xanthoma (DPX) usually has been described in association with a reticuloendothelial disease. However, the incidence of an underlying disease and its relation to clinical and histopathologic features have not been previously described. Objective: We describe the clinicopathologic features of a series of patients with DPX. Methods: Eight patients with DPX were diagnosed and studied between 1987 and 1996. Results: Three of the 8 patients had a reticuloendothelial disease (benign monoclonal gammopathy in 2 and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in 1). These 3 patients had larger cutaneous lesions and involvement of trunk and extremities. Histologic examination showed only foamy macrophages in 2 of the 8 patients. The remainder exhibited macrophages, foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and Touton cells. Conclusion: The incidence of underlying disease associated with DPX seems to be lower than expected. However, patients with DPX should be observed for the potential occurrence of an associated condition. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;39:439-42.)

From May 1 to December 26, 1981, a previously undescribed illness caused 277 deaths and the hospitalization of 12,656 persons in Spain. The disease was characterized by pneumonitis, eosinophilia, and marked loss of muscle mass and function. A succession of case-control studies was done in the town of Las Navas del Marqués (province of Avila) located 47 miles northeast of Madrid and with a population of 4009 people. The studies confirmed the association between illness and consumption of an illegally sold cooking oil. Other risk factors identified in the linear logistic regression analysis included involvement in various kitchen activities, increased average time spent inside the house, and the purchase of cooking oil from a specific street vendor. Although the oil was found to be a mixture of vegetable and animal fats contaminated with aniline and anilide-oil complexes, the specific etiologic mechanism of the disease has not been determined.

Two Escherichia coli O-rough:K1:H7 strains producing verotoxin 1 that were isolated from stool samples of two travelers with diarrhea who consulted our clinic after trips to the Indian Subcontinent and Central America were characterized. Both strains were sorbitol negative, the same phenotype presented by E. coli O157:H7, but in contrast they were beta-glucuronidase positive. Low-frequency restriction analysis of chromosomal DNA and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and repetitive extragenic palindrome-PCR showed that both strains were epidemiologically related. The illness was self-limited in both cases but involved long-duration, watery diarrhea (10 to 50 days) accompanied by abdominal cramps and flatulence. This serotype should be taken into account as a possible cause of traveler's diarrhea.

Concordant gallium-67 and thallium-201 uptake has been described in malignant lesions. More recently,201Tl accumulation has been described in some benign conditions. The authors report three HIV-positive patients who underwent67Ga and201Tl scintigraphy. These studies revealed concordant67Ga and201Tl uptake and tumour was erroneously diagnosed. All three patients were finally diagnosed as having tuberculosis.

The analgesic activity of single dosesof meclofenamate (100 mg) was compared to aspirin (500 mg) and to placebo on 99 outpatients with moderate to severe pain following periodontal surgery under double‐blind conditions. Pain intensity differences scores (PID) at the first, second, and third hour after the ingestion of the first capsule of each medication were used to determine the analgesic efficacy of the studied drugs. Kruskal Wallis test followed by the Mann‐Whitney rank sum test were used in the statistical analysis of results. Meclofenamate was statistically superior to placebo and superior to aspirin in the second hour of evaluation, while aspirin was not superior to placebo during the 3‐hour period of pain evaluation. It is concluded that meclofenamate is a non‐steroidal antiinflammatory drug with interesting analgesic properties which can be used as directed as an alternative to aspirin or acetaminophen for the control of postoperative pain following periodontal surgery. J Periodontol 1992;63:166–168.

Hydrelliaeucoila egeria (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae), a new genus and species obtained from pupae of Hydrellia sp. (Diptera: Ephydridae) mining in Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae), is described. Diagnostic photographs and data about the biology of this parasitoid are included.