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The right of the parties to choose the law to govern international contracts, has been historically denied in Latin America due to the principle of territoriality of laws that has imbued national conflict provisions. Several regional and national attempts to authorize party autonomy have been disregarded on the grounds of protecting national sovereignty. Some jurisdictions have recently amended their laws to accept it. This acceptance has not meant a departure from their legal tradition, but an enhancement of the principle of contractual freedom, that has always pervaded their contract rules. RESUMEN. El derecho de las partes a elegir la ley que gobierna sus contratos internacionales ha sido históricamente denegado en Latinoamérica, debido al principio de territorialidad de la ley. Varios proyectos regionales y nacionales para autorizar la autonomía de la voluntad han sido desechados argumentando la necesidad de proteger la soberanía nacional. Recientemente, algunos países han modificado sus leyes para aceptar esta autonomía. Esta modificación no les ha apartado de su tradición jurídica, sino que ha perfeccionado el principio de libertad contractual, que históricamente ha inspirado su derecho contractual.

Background: Cytogenetic abnormalities observed in the bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are an important prognostic factor for risk stratification. Aim: To investigate karyotype characteristics and frequency of the high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities t(4;14), t(14;16) and del(17p) in Chilean patients with MM. Material and Methods: We studied 30 patients with MM by conventional cytogenetics (CC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization of plasma cells selected using cytoplasmic immunoglobulin staining (cIg-FISH). Results: Overall, the two techniques in combination allowed us to identify clonal genetic abnormalities in 47% of patients. The t(4;14) abnormality was observed in 19% of patients, del(17p) was observed in 10% of patients, and t(14;16) was not detected. Conclusions: Our results showed frequencies of high-risk abnormalities similar to those reported abroad. Cytogenetic studies should be performed routinely for all MM patients at the moment of diagnosis.

Background: Primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is uncommon, aggressive and has a different biology than multiple myeloma (MM). Aim: To report the features of patients with pPCL. Material and Methods: Review of databases of the Hematology Department and the Hematology laboratory. Results: Of 178 patients with monoclonal gammopathies, five (2.8%) patients aged 33 to 64 years (three females) had a pPCL. The mean hemoglobin was 7.3 g/dL, the mean white blood cell count was 52,500/mm3, with 58% plasma cells, and the mean platelet count was 83,600/mm3. The mean bone marrow infiltration was 89%, LDH was 2,003 IU/L, serum calcium was 13 mg/dL, and creatinine 1.5 mg/dL. Two patients had bone lesions. Three were IgG, one IgA lambda and one lambda light chain. CD20 was positive in one, CD56 was negative in all and CD117 was negative in 3 cases. By conventional cytogenetic analysis, two had a complex karyotype. By Fluorescence in situ Hybridization, one was positive for TP53 and another for t (11; 14). One patient did not receive any treatment, three patients received VTD PACE and one CTD. None underwent transplant. Three patients are alive. The mean survival was 14 months. Conclusions: These patients with pPCL were younger and had a more aggressive clinical outcome than in multiple myeloma.

Party autonomy in international contracts is not statutorily accepted in some Latin American countries where national courts vacillate as to upholding choice of law clauses. The acceptance of autonomy therein is needed to eradicate juridical uncertainty and to harmonize conflict rules within Latin America. OAS’ countries drafted The Inter American Convention on the Law Applicable to International Contracts, Mexico 1994 with this objective but it failed to achieve it. Thus, harmonising amendment of the domestic conflict rules on contracts of these countries is pending and might be fostered by a flexible non-binding international instrument that includes rules on autonomy widely accepted in comparative law and respectful of their legal tradition RESUMEN: La autonomía de la voluntad en los contratos internacionales no está regulada en la legislación de algunos países latinoamericanos, cuyos tribunales vacilan en aceptar las cláusulas de elección de ley pactadas en ellos. La aceptación de la autonomía en estas legislaciones es necesaria para eliminar la incerteza jurídica acerca de la ley aplicable a los contratos internacionales en Latinoamérica y para armonizar las normas de conflicto que los gobiernan. Los países de la OEA elaboraron la Convención Interamericana de Derecho Aplicable a los Contratos Internacionales, México, 1994 para lograr estos objetivos, pero ella ha fracasado en alcanzarlos. La reforma y armonización de las normas de conflicto sobre contratos está pendiente en estos países y podría promoverse mediante un instrumento internacional flexible y no vinculante que contenga normas reguladoras de la autonomía ampliamente aceptadas en el derecho comparado y respetuosas de su tradición jurídica

High-grade B-cell lymphomas with rearrangement of MYC, BCL-2 and/or BCL-6 were introduced by the update of the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. They usually present unique morphological and molecular characteristics, with an aggressive clinical outcome and worse prognosis. We report a 48 year-old female patient presenting with B symptoms and enlarged lymph nodes. Blood count showed pancytopenia and peripheral blood smears showed large lymphoid cells, some with nuclei and vacuoles. LDH was 3524 g/L and serum calcium was 11.5 mg/dL. Flow cytometry immunophenotyping showed pathological mature B lymphocytes. Protein electrophoresis showed a slight monoclonal peak. The biopsy disclosed a triple expressor diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, arising from germinal center. FISH was positive for MYC, BCL-2 and BCL-6 (triple hit) with a clonal evolution. Conventional cytogenetics showed a complex karyotype. Chemotherapy was started with R-CHOP (Rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone). She developed impaired consciousness; the brain CT scan showed a large brain mass. The patient died within 3 weeks.

Se presenta un análisis de la película "Parque vía" desde la perspectiva de los Estudios de la Cultura. El énfasis está puesto en una nueva forma de representar la relación entre el trabajador doméstico y la dueña de casa, marcada por un empoderamiento del trabajador sobre su empleadora que está presente en esta obra y en otras similares. Este empoderamiento cuestiona el colonialismo implícito en la relación laboral desde sus orígenes y se halla reflejado en la diferencia étnica como estrategia de representación. A pesar de que el cuestionamiento y empoderamiento desestabilizan las jerarquías de poder, no logran invertirlas definitivamente, preservándose el colonialismo en el interior de esta actividad.

T cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare and aggressive mature T cell Lymphocyte Leukemia. Twenty five percent of cases present as a small cell variant, and only 5% as a cerebriform variant. We report a 58 year-old man with rapidly progressive severe leukocytosis, skin lesions, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and pleural effusion. The lymphocytes had a cerebriform type. The diagnosis of T-PLL variant was made by morphology and immunophenotype study of peripheral blood. Karyotype was found to be complex. He was refractory to chemotherapy and died two months later.

There are previously reported data describing differences between Asian and European patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), few direct comparisons based on cancer registration characteristics or using cohorts to validate scoring systems. This is the first study from South-America, which attempts to describe demographic, clinical features, and outcome of MDS patients. We retrospectively analyzed 1,080 patients with de novo MDS from Argentina (635), Brazil (345), and Chile (100). Chilean patients were younger (P=0.001) with female preponderance (P=0.071). Brazilian series showed a higher predominance of RARS subtype regarding FAB and WHO classifications (P0.05). Chilean series depicted a lower overall survival (OS; 35 months vs. 56 months-Argentine; 55 months-Brazil, P=0.030), which was consistent with a higher predominance of the high-risk group according both to the IPSS and IPSS-R (P=0.046 and P

La autonomía de la voluntad en los contratos internacionales, entendida como el derecho de las partes para elegir la ley aplicable a un contrato, es ampliamente aceptada a nivel mundial y considerada como perteneciente al "cuerpo común de los sistemas legales". Este artículo muestra, sin embargo, que esta autonomía no está claramente aceptada en Chile a pesar de ser ampliamente utilizada en el país. En efecto, los tribunales nacionales vacilan en aceptar la validez de las cláusulas de elección de ley extranjera contenidas en los contratos que se cumplen en Chile debido al fuerte territorialismo de la ley chilena. Por ello, se concluye que es necesario modificar la legislación vigente para regular el ejercicio de la autonomía de la voluntad y eliminar la incerteza jurídica respecto de la eficacia de estas cláusulas en Chile. Esta modificación serviría además para actualizar, perfeccionar y armonizar las normas de conflicto chilenas sobre contratos con aquellas de la mayoría de los países. Party autonomy in international contracts, understood as the right of the parties to choose the governing law of a contract, is widely accepted worldwide and said to belong to the "common core of the legal systems". This paper shows, however, that autonomy is not clearly statutorily accepted in Chile, though being widely practiced in the country. In fact, national courts vacillate as to upholding choice of foreign law clauses in international contracts performed in Chile due to the strong territorialism of Chilean law. Thus, the amendment of this law in order to consolidate autonomy is needed to secure the validity of these clauses and to eradicate juridical uncertainty about their efficacy. Further, it will help to update, perfect and harmonize Chilean conflict rules with those of most countries.

La autonomía de la voluntad en los contratos internacionales, entendida como el derecho de las partes para elegir la ley aplicable a un contrato, es ampliamente aceptada a nivel mundial y considerada como perteneciente al "cuerpo común de los sistemas legales". Este artículo muestra, sin embargo, que esta autonomía no está claramente aceptada en Chile a pesar de ser ampliamente utilizada en el país. En efecto, los tribunales nacionales vacilan en aceptar la validez de las cláusulas de elección de ley extranjera contenidas en los contratos que se cumplen en Chile debido al fuerte territorialismo de la ley chilena. Por ello, se concluye que es necesario modificar la legislación vigente para regular el ejercicio de la autonomía de la voluntad y eliminar la incerteza jurídica respecto de la eficacia de estas cláusulas en Chile. Esta modificación serviría además para actualizar, perfeccionar y armonizar las normas de conflicto chilenas sobre contratos con aquellas de la mayoría de los países.