Estudio PET-TC con 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA combinado con el análisis genético para la optimización de la clasificación y tratamiento de un niño con hiperinsulinismo congénito grave

Abstract BACKGROUND: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycaemia in infancy. The differential diagnosis between focal and diffuse forms of CHI is of great importance when planning surgery. The aim of this article is to show the first case of focal CHI diagnosed in Spain using PET-CT imaging combined with genetic analysis. METHODS: A 13 month child with CHI and normal conventional radiological investigations treated with diazoxide, diet control and feeding by gastrostomy is presented. Genetic analysis of ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes and PET-TAC using 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA were performed. RESULTS: A pathological mutation (G111R) in the paternal allele of ABCC8 was detected. PET-CT scanning using 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA showed a focus of high uptake in the body of the pancreas compatible with adenoma that was hystopathologically confirmed. After surgical resection the patient is asymptomatic without needing either pharmacological treatment or dietetic control. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of genetic analysis and 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA PET-TAC shows a great potential for the identification, location and guideline for surgery in CHI

Bone Mineral Density and Bone Metabolism In Children Treated for Bone Sarcomas

In adolescent bone sarcoma patients, bone mass acquisition is potentially compromised at a time in which it should be at a maximum. To evaluate the problem we measured bone mineral density (BMD) and serum markers of bone formation and resorption in a series of pediatric patients with bone tumors. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, at clinical remission, for lumbar spine and the neck of the femur in 38 osteosarcoma and 25 Ewing's sarcoma patients. Mean age was 20.65 and 19.13 y respectively. Serum markers of bone metabolism were: OC, PICP, ICTP, 25-OH vit D and 1,25-(OH)(2) vit D, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and intact PTH. Serum was sampled throughout anti-tumoral treatments and follow-up. We analyzed 85 samples from 59 osteosarcoma patients and 54 samples from 36 Ewing's sarcoma patients. Patients had decreased lumbar and femoral BMD. The decrease was more pronounced in pubertal patients compared with those who had completed pubertal development at the time of disease diagnosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that sex, age, weight and BMI were significant in lumbar BMD depletion. Weight and BMI were significant in femoral BMD depletion. Serum markers of bone formation (PICP and OC) and resorption (ICTP) were, throughout, lower than reference values. Significant alterations in other markers were also observed. Up to a third of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma patients in clinical remission had some degree of BMD deficit. The corresponding increased risk of pathologic bone fractures constitutes a reduction in future quality o

Estudio petrográfico de algunos artefactos arqueológicos de dudosa interpretación.

Sin resume

Analysis of Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor, Estrogen Receptor, and Collagen Iα1 Genes and Their Relationship With Height in Children With Bone Cancer

The authors' objectives were to compare height at diagnosis of children with bone tumors with that of Spanish reference children; to analyze the frequency of the genotypes for the polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor (ER), and collagen Ialpha1 (COLIalpha1) genes in patients and in healthy controls; and to test the relationship between the genetic markers and height. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Height and weight at diagnosis were measured in 58 osteosarcoma and 36 Ewing sarcoma patients and compared with standards published for Spanish reference children according to sex and age. For the molecular analysis, genetic polymorphisms of the VDR (Fok I, Apa I, and TaqI), ER (Pvu II and XbaI), and COLIalpha1 (Msc I) genes were characterized in 72 osteosarcoma and 53 Ewing sarcomas and in a group of 143 healthy matched children. RESULTS: Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma patients were significantly taller than Spanish reference children. Osteosarcoma patients showed a significantly higher frequency of the Ff genotype for the Fok I polymorphism (VDR gene) than the control group. The odds ratio for this genotype was 1.78, with an increased relative risk of 78% for heterozygous Ff carriers. Among Ewing sarcoma patients, this same genotype was significantly associated with lower height than homozygotes (FF or ff). CONCLUSIONS: Children with bone cancer are significantly taller than the reference population, which may be influenced by the genotype for the Fok I polymorphism of the VDR gene

Il6 gene promoter polymorphism (-174G/C) influences the association between fat mass and cardiovascular risk factors

During the last decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly among young people. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL6 gene (-174G/C), has been previously reported to be involved in obesity and metabolic syndrome development. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine whether the IL6 -174G/C polymorphism influence the association of body fat with low-grade inflammatory markers and blood lipids and lipoproteins in Spanish adolescents. 504 Spanish adolescents participating in the AVENA study were genotyped for the -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were taken and blood samples were collected for plasma molecules determinations. No differences between genotypes were observed in anthropometric values, body composition measurements and plasma markers concentration. Physical activity level differ between genotypes with subjects carrying the C allele of the polymorphism being significantly (p<0.05) more active than GG subjects. The association between body fat mass and plasma glucose was influenced by the -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene. Subjects carrying the C allele of the mutation seem to have higher values of lipoprotein (a) and C-reactive protein as their percentage of body fat mass increase. Our results suggest that this promoter polymorphism influences the association between adiposity and some plasma markers

Valoración económico-ambiental de recursos naturales seleccionados en la cuenca del río Guanabo, La Habana, Cuba

En el estudio se identifican las principales funciones ambientales asociadas a recursos naturales degradados en sectores seleccionados de la cuenca del río Guanabo, ubicada en La Habana, Cuba. Parte de estas funciones se valoran económicamente y se ofrecen criterios para un mejor aprovechamiento de dichos recursos, teniendo en cuenta su valor económico total.In this research, the main environmental functions associated to degraded natural resources in selected sites of the Guanabo river basin, located in Havana, were identified. Some of these functions were valued in economic terms and guidance criteria were offered to improve management and use of the studied resources based on their estimated total economic value