Revista médica de Chile
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2000
[Increased activity of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis].
Proteolytic modifications of neuronal surfaces and the surrounding extracellular matrix are very important in neuronal development and regeneration. Increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors, due to secretion by macrophages and lymphocytes, occur in inflammatory processes that disrupt the blood brain barrier. However, neurons and microglia can also secrete these enzymes. ⋯ Patients with HTLV-1 associated tropical spastic paraparesis have elevated activity of MMP-9 and levels of TIMPs in the CSF, when compared to healthy controls.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2000
[Primary epiploic appendicitis: clinical and radiological diagnosis].
Torsion of appendices epiplocae leads to an ischemic infarct of surrounding adipose tissue, causing a syndrome, called "primary epiploic appendagitis" characterized by acute abdominal pain that can simulate a surgical clinical picture. ⋯ Primary epiploic appendagitis is a relatively frequent cause of spontaneously resolving abdominal pain. It is diagnosed by ultrasound or CT scanning.
-
Revista médica de Chile · May 2000
Case Reports[Nocardia asteroides infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus].
Nocardia asteroides infection are unusually observed in systemic Lupus erithematous (SLE) patients. They are generally associated to steroidal and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a 24 years old female with SLE diagnosed in 1994 who developed a severe preeclampsia in her first pregnancy requiring emergency caesarean section. ⋯ Five months later, she developed Meningitis caused by Nocardia asteroides and hydrocephalus. She was treated with ceftriaxone, vancomycin, cotrimoxazole and ventricular shunting procedure. Two months later, a retroperitoneal abscess was diagnosed and surgically drained but the patient died, due to a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septicemia.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Apr 2000
[Detection and characterization by ultrasonography of soft tissue foreign bodies].
Soft tissue foreign bodies are a frequent cause of consultation in emergency rooms. It is difficult to verify their existence since conventional radiology only detects radio opaque objects. Ultrasound can be a useful diagnostic procedure. ⋯ Ultrasound is a sensitive and accurate method for the detection of soft tissue foreign bodies.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Mar 2000
Case Reports[Vegetal foreign body in the airway: an unusual cause of hemoptysis in childhood. Clinical case].
Hemoptysis is an infrequent symptom in childhood and potentially life threatening. The most common causes in this age group are bronchiectasis secondary to cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular and pulmonary congenital anomalies and a miscellaneous group of causes including retained intrabronchial aspirated foreign bodies. ⋯ Based on clinical history, aspiration of a vegetal foreign body was postulated as the etiology and it was confirmed in the pathological examination after surgical exploration, with pulmonary lobe resection. The importance of a good history taking in pediatric hemoptysis is emphasized.