Vasco de Quiroga, Todorov y el «Otro»

El escritor búlgaro Tzvetan Todorov publicó en 1982, La conquista de América, la cuestión del otro, lo que despertó gran interés y muchos comentarios. Se sostiene que América le dio al mundo el concepto del «otro» y que quien supo descubrirlo a profundidad fue Vasco de Quiroga. Todorov, al analizar la actuación de Quiroga, afirma que en relación al otro fue un conquistador que obligó a los naturales a asimilar un ideal o proyecto no personal sino de otros, en especial de Tomás Moro. Al hacer uso de la misma metodología de Todorov, se intenta probar que Tata Vasco de Quiroga no sólo fue el descubridor del otro, sino que se hizo otro y contribuyó notablemente para lograr un mestizaje originario muy característico de la identidad mexicana. Abstract The Bulgarian writer Tzvetan Todorov published in 1982 The Conquest of America, the Question of the Other, which aroused great interest and many comments. We maintain that America gave the world the concept of the "other" and that Vasco de Quiroga was the one who knew how to discover it in depth. Todorov, in analyzing Quiroga's actions, affirms that in relation to the other, he was a conqueror who forced the natives to assimilate an ideal or project not of himself but of others, especially Thomas More. Making use of the same methodology of Todorov, we try to prove that Tata Vasco de Quiroga was not only the discoverer of the other, but that he became another and contributed notably to achieve an original mestizaje very characteristic of the Mexican identity. Keywords: Todorov, Vasco de Quiroga, conquest, discovery, the other, utopia, Thomas More

Los apóstoles, trasmisores de la revelación. (Historia del texto y estudio crítico del número 7 de la Constitución Dogmática «Dei Verbum» del Concilio Vaticano II)

La Constitución Dogmática sobre la Divina Revelación del Concilio Vaticano II constituye una sólida base para elaborar un tratado dogmático sobre la Revelación, la Tradición y la Escritura; basta una atenta lectura de su contenido para advertir que el Concilio —aspirando a profundizar en la doctrina católica, y lejos de anatematizar o entablar polémicas— ha legado a la Iglesia un documento de riquísimos términos, un germen que estimula a un mayor desarrollo para extraer toda la potencialidad contenida en las declaraciones conciliares. Este propósito va siendo objeto, desde 1965, de un gran número de publicaciones teológicas, que ha conseguido buenos frutos: desde simples comentarios al texto promulgado en el Concilio —editados sobre todo en los primeros años—, hasta otros que, desde puntos de vista diversos, como el bíblico o el ecuménico, han ahondado en las aportaciones del Concilio. Algunos de esos escritos han sido elaborados por quienes, en las Comisiones redactoras. fueron protagonistas de aquellos trabajos, lo que ilustra el ambiente de aquellos años y ofrecen datos de interés para la investigación. Tales obras se han estimado clásicas y contribuyen, en términos generales, a la interpretación recta del documento conciliar

Robotic-Assisted Bladder Neck Procedures for Incontinence in Pediatric Patients

Purpose: To review the current status of bladder neck procedures for incontinence in pediatric patients, focusing on the increasing role of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgical techniques.Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on open and robotic-assisted bladder neck procedures was conducted, with a focus on articles published in the last 20 years. This data was subsequently compared with published results from robotic-assisted bladder neck reconstruction series completed at our institution.Results: The principal bladder neck procedures for incontinence in pediatric patients include: Artificial Urinary Sphincter, Bladder Neck Sling, Bladder Neck Closure and Bladder Neck Reconstruction. Continence rates range from 60 to 100% with a lack of expert consensus on the preferred procedure (or combination of procedures). Robotic-assisted approaches are associated with longer operative times, especially early in the surgical experience, but demonstrate equivalent continence rates with potential benefits including: low intraoperative blood loss, improved cosmesis, and decreased intra-abdominal adhesion formation.Conclusions: Robotic-assisted procedures of the bladder neck are safe, feasible, follow the same steps and principles as those of open surgery and produce equivalent continence rates. Robotic-assisted techniques can be adapted to a variety of bladder neck procedures and safely expanded to selected patients with previous open abdominal surgery

Dystrophic Calcification and Stone Formation on the Entire Bladder Neck After Potassium-titanyl Phosphate Laser Vaporization for the Prostate: A Case Report

Dystrophic calcification can be defined as a calcification that occurs in degenerated or necrotic tissue. It is associated with multiple clinical conditions, such as collagen vascular diseases. It involves the deposition of calcium in soft tissues despite no generalized disturbance in the calcium or phosphorus metabolism, and this is often seen at sites of previous inflammation or damage. Potassium-titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser vaporization of the prostate is safe and relatively bloodless procedure that results in a shorter catheterization, immediate symptomatic improvement, and less severe postoperative irritative symptoms. However, longer follow-up studies or reports about complications are lacking. Here in we report a case of dystrophic calcification and stone formation on the entire bladder neck after performing KTP laser vaporization of benign prostate hyperplasia. That was treated by lithotripsy and transurethral resection

Genome-wide linkage and association study implicates the 10q26 region as a major genetic contributor to primary nonsyndromic vesicoureteric reflux

Abstract Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is the commonest urological anomaly in children. Despite treatment improvements, associated renal lesions – congenital dysplasia, acquired scarring or both – are a common cause of childhood hypertension and renal failure. Primary VUR is familial, with transmission rate and sibling risk both approaching 50%, and appears highly genetically heterogeneous. It is often associated with other developmental anomalies of the urinary tract, emphasising its etiology as a disorder of urogenital tract development. We conducted a genome-wide linkage and association study in three European populations to search for loci predisposing to VUR. Family-based association analysis of 1098 parent-affected-child trios and case/control association analysis of 1147 cases and 3789 controls did not reveal any compelling associations, but parametric linkage analysis of 460 families (1062 affected individuals) under a dominant model identified a single region, on 10q26, that showed strong linkage (HLOD = 4.90; ZLRLOD = 4.39) to VUR. The ~9Mb region contains 69 genes, including some good biological candidates. Resequencing this region in selected individuals did not clearly implicate any gene but FOXI2, FANK1 and GLRX3 remain candidates for further investigation. This, the largest genetic study of VUR to date, highlights the 10q26 region as a major genetic contributor to VUR in European populations

The Exstrophy-epispadias complex

Exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) represents a spectrum of genitourinary malformations ranging in severity from epispadias (E) to classical bladder exstrophy (CEB) and exstrophy of the cloaca (EC). Depending on severity, EEC may involve the urinary system, musculoskeletal system, pelvis, pelvic floor, abdominal wall, genitalia, and sometimes the spine and anus. Prevalence at birth for the whole spectrum is reported at 1/10,000, ranging from 1/30,000 for CEB to 1/200,000 for EC, with an overall greater proportion of affected males. EEC is characterized by a visible defect of the lower abdominal wall, either with an evaginated bladder plate (CEB), or with an open urethral plate in males or a cleft in females (E). In CE, two exstrophied hemibladders, as well as omphalocele, an imperforate anus and spinal defects, can be seen after birth. EEC results from mechanical disruption or enlargement of the cloacal membrane; the timing of the rupture determines the severity of the malformation. The underlying cause remains unknown: both genetic and environmental factors are likely to play a role in the etiology of EEC. Diagnosis at birth is made on the basis of the clinical presentation but EEC may be detected prenatally by ultrasound from repeated non-visualization of a normally filled fetal bladder. Counseling should be provided to parents but, due to a favorable outcome, termination of the pregnancy is no longer recommended. Management is primarily surgical, with the main aims of obtaining secure abdominal wall closure, achieving urinary continence with preservation of renal function, and, finally, adequate cosmetic and functional genital reconstruction. Several methods for bladder reconstruction with creation of an outlet resistance during the newborn period are favored worldwide. Removal of the bladder template with complete urinary diversion to a rectal reservoir can be an alternative. After reconstructive surgery of the bladder, continence rates of about 80% are expected during childhood. Additional surgery might be needed to optimize bladder storage and emptying function. In cases of final reconstruction failure, urinary diversion should be undertaken. In puberty, genital and reproductive function are important issues. Psychosocial and psychosexual outcome depend on long-term multidisciplinary care to facilitate an adequate quality of life

A survey and panel discussion of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric urological productivity, guideline adherence and provider stress

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented need to re-organise and re-align priorities for all surgical specialties. Despite the current declining numbers globally, the direct effects of the pandemic on institutional practices and on personal stress and coping mechanisms remains unknown. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of the pandemic on daily scheduling and work balances, its effects on stress, and to determine compliance with guidelines and to assess whether quarantining has led to other areas of increased productivity. Methods A trans-Atlantic convenience sample of paediatric urologists was created in which panellists (Zoom) discussed the direct effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individual units, as well as creating a questionnaire using a mini-Delphi method to provide current semi-quantitative data regarding practice, and adherence levels to recently published risk stratification guidelines. They also filled out a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire to assess contemporary pandemic stress levels. Results There was an 86% response rate from paediatric urologists. The majority of respondents reported near complete disruption to planned operations (70%), and trainee education (70%). They were also worried about the effects of altered home-lives on productivity (<= 90%), as well as a lack of personal protective equipment (57%). The baseline stress rate was measured at a very high level (PSS) during the pandemic. Adherence to recent operative guidelines for urgent cases was 100%. Conclusion This study represents a panel discussion of a number of practical implications for paediatric urologists, and is one of the few papers to assess more pragmatic effects and combines opinions from both sides of the Atlantic. The impact of the pandemic has been very significant for paediatric urologists and includes a decrease in the number of patients seen and operated on, decreased salary, increased self-reported stress levels, substantially increased telemedicine usage, increased free time for various activities, and good compliance with guidelines and hospital management decisions