Experience in the treatment of liver tumor with 90Y-resin microspheres radioembolization

Introducción: La radioembolización transarterial (TARE) es una terapia alternativa para el tratamiento de tumores hepáticos no resecables. Método: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo en 27 pacientes sometidos a TARE con microesferas de resina cargadas con Ytrio-90. Se estudiaron las características basales, demográficas y clínicas, y se analizó la supervivencia global a 18 meses mediante el método de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: La edad osciló entre 52-85 años, y el 81% de los pacientes fueron hombres. El 78% presentaron tumores hepáticos primarios, destacando el carcinoma hepatocelular estadio BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) B (CHC BCLC B) (44%). El origen del tumor hepático secundario más frecuente fue adenocarcinoma colorrectal. El ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) fue 0 para el 78% de los pacientes y los antecedentes alcoholismo (41%) y hepatitis C (56%). La media de actividad administrada fue 1,8 GBq. El 34% recibieron más de un tratamiento previo: resección quirúrgica (11%), embolización o quimioembolización transarterial (48%), ablación por radiofrecuencia (22%), inhibidores multiquinasas (15%). El 33% recibieron tratamiento posterior con inhibidores multiquinasas. La supervivencia global a 18 meses fue del 58,9%. En pacientes con CHC BCLC B, la mediana de supervivencia fue de 15,6 meses. Conclusión: Los resultados de supervivencia concuerdan con los de otros estudios, aunque existen diferencias en algunas de las variables. Es necesario disponer de mayor número de pacientes y tiempo de seguimiento para analizar su influencia en la supervivencia.Introduction: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is an alternative therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver tumors. Method: Retrospective and descriptive study in 27 patients undergoing TARE with Ytrio-90-loaded resin microspheres. Baseline, demographic and clinical characteristics were studied, and overall survival at 18 months was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Age ranged between 52-85 years, and 81% of patients were men. 78% presented primary liver tumors, highlighting hepatocellular carcinoma BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) stage B (HCC BCLC B) (44%). The origin of the most frequent secondary liver tumor was colorectal adenocarcinoma. The ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) was 0 for 78% of the patients and the antecedents were alcoholism (41%) and hepatitis C (56%). The average administered activity was 1.8 GBq. 34% received more than one previous treatment: surgical resection (11%), transarterial embolization or chemoembolization (48%), radiofrequency ablation (22%) or multi-kinase inhibitors (15%). 33% received subsequent treatment with multi-kinase inhibitors. The overall survival at 18 months was 58.9%. In patients with HCC BCLC B, the median survival was 15.6 months. Conclusion: The survival results are in line with those of other studies, although there are differences in some of the variables. It is necessary to have more patients and follow-up time to analyze its influence on survival

Leucocyte labelling with 99mTc-exametazime and polycythemia vera: a casual finding

La clasificación oficial de la Organización Mundial de la Salud de los tumores de tejidos hematopoyéticos y linfoides de 2016 introduce el concepto de policitemia vera (PV) enmascarada y revela que esta entidad ha sido infradiagnosticada en el pasado. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 49 años, fumador, intervenido de fractura de tobillo hace más de 15 años, remitido para valorar un posible proceso infeccioso asociado. Al no producirse separación previa de los hematíes por sedimentación durante el procedimiento de marcaje de leucocitos con 99mTc-exametazima se revisaron las causas de disminución de la velocidad de sedimentación globular. Entre ellas destacan la poliglobulia y el hábito tabáquico, ambas presentes en el paciente. Se recomendó realización de estudio hematológico que concluyó con el diagnóstico de PV. Las indicaciones del especialista en Radiofarmacia permitieron diagnosticar un caso no identificado hasta entonces, pese a que el paciente presentaba síntomas desde hacía años.The official World Health Organization classification of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumors introduces in 2016 the concept of masked polycythemia vera (PV) and reveals that this entity has been underdiagnosed in the past. We present the case of a 49-year-old man, smoker, operated on for ankle fracture more than 15 years ago, referred to evaluate a possible associated infectious process. As there was no previous separation of the red blood cells by sedimentation during the leukocyte labelling procedure with 99mTc-exametazima, the causes of decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate were reviewed. These include polyglobulia and smoking, both present in the patient. A haematological study was advised, which concluded with the diagnosis of PV. The indications of the specialist in Radiopharmacy allowed diagnosing a case not identified until then, although the patient had had symptoms for years

Use of heat-denatured 99mTc-labeled red blood cells in the scintigraphic diagnosis of an infrequent case of intrathoracic splenosis

La esplenosis intratorácica es poco frecuente y se asocia con historia previa de ruptura del bazo y del diafragma causado por un traumatismo. Suele ser asintomática, presentándose como un hallazgo accidental en las imágenes radiográficas o de tomografía computarizada. El diagnóstico definitivo puede realizarse mediante estudios gammagráficos asociados con estudios funcionales de captación de partículas o células. Por su sensibilidad y especificidad, la gammagrafía con hematíes marcados con 99mTc y desnaturalizados por calor es la técnica de referencia que permite confirmar el diagnóstico de esplenosis y diferenciarla de otros procesos que requieren resección quirúrgica Se describe el caso de un varón de 52 años atendido por dolor de tipo pleurítico en hemitórax izquierdo. Las imágenes mostraron derrame pleural izquierdo e infarto pulmonar sin signos de tromboembolismo. Se evidenciaron múltiples focos sugestivos de esplenosis, que fue confirmada mediante gammagrafía esplénica con hematíes marcados con 99mTc y desnaturalizados por calor.Intrathoracic splenosis is extremely rare and is associated with previous history of rupture of the spleen and diaphragm caused by trauma. It is usually asymptomatic, presenting as an accidental finding in the X-ray images or computed tomography. The definitive diagnosis can be made by scintigraphic studies associated with functional studies of particle or cell uptake. Due to its sensitivity and specificity, gammagraphy with heat-denatured 99mTc-labeled red blood cells is the reference technique for confirming the diagnosis of splenosis and differentiating it from other processes that require surgical resection. We describe the case of a 52-year-old man treated for pleuritic pain in the left hemithorax. The images showed left pleural effusion and pulmonary infarction without signs of thromboembolism. There were multiple foci suggestive of splenosis, which was confirmed by splenic scintigraphy with heat-denatured 99mTc-labeled red blood cells

Allergenicity of casein containing chalk in milk allergic schoolchildren

Background: Nondietary exposure to milk proteins may be a risk for children who do not outgrow milk allergy by school age. Objective: To study the allergenicity of casein containing chalk. Methods: A 6-year-old, milk allergic child developed asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis while in school. The suspected cause was dust-free chalk containing casein. To study the relationship of dust-free chalk containing casein with asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis, 13 additional milk allergic patients were studied: 3 school-aged children, 8 preschool-aged infants, and 2 children with outgrown milk allergy. Skin tests and/or specific IgE with chalk and casein were performed. A chalk use test was performed in older children. Milk allergens contained in chalk were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblot, and IgE inhibition experiments. Results: All school-aged, milk allergic children were exposed to chalk and reported symptoms attributed to chalk exposure. The skin test result to chalk was positive in 5 of 12 cases, and the specific IgE test result was positive in all 12 study participants in which it was performed. Casein strongly inhibited the binding of IgE to chalk. Chalk sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed proteins with molecular weight similar to caseins. Immunoblot demonstrated strong binding of IgE to chalk in a blurred pattern and a band at 30 kDa, inhibited by casein. The chalk challenge test result was positive in 2 school-age children who had a positive skin test result to chalk. Their symptoms improved after avoidance of chalk in the school. In 2 other cases in which the challenge test result was negative, chalk was reintroduced without problems. Conclusion: Inhalation of chalk dust containing casein can induce asthma symptoms in milk allergic patients. Hidden and nondietary sources of exposure should always be considered in food allergic patients

Increased ocular levels of IGF-1 in transgenic mice lead to diabetes-like eye disease

IGF-1 has been associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, although its role is not fully understood. Here we show that normoglycemic/normoinsulinemic transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-1 in the retina developed most alterations seen in human diabetic eye disease. A paracrine effect of IGF-1 in the retina initiated vascular alterations that progressed from nonproliferative to proliferative retinopathy and retinal detachment. Eyes from 2-month-old transgenic mice showed loss of pericytes and thickening of basement membrane of retinal capillaries. In mice 6 months and older, venule dilatation, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, and neovascularization of the retina and vitreous cavity were observed. Neovascularization was consistent with increased IGF-1 induction of VEGF expression in retinal glial cells. In addition, IGF-1 accumulated in aqueous humor, which may have caused rubeosis iridis and subsequently adhesions between the cornea and iris that hampered aqueous humor drainage and led to neovascular glaucoma. Furthermore, all transgenic mice developed cataracts. These findings suggest a role of IGF-1 in the development of ocular complications in long-term diabetes. Thus, these transgenic mice may be used to study the mechanisms that lead to diabetes eye disease and constitute an appropriate model in which to assay new therapies

Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

<div><p>Background</p><p>We hypothesized that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can predispose individuals to lower airway infections and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) due to upper airway microaspiration. This study evaluated the association between OSA and CAP.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We performed a case-control study that included 82 patients with CAP and 41 patients with other infections (control group). The controls were matched according to age, sex and body mass index (BMI). A respiratory polygraph (RP) was performed upon admission for patients in both groups. The severity of pneumonia was assessed according to the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI). The associations between CAP and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), OSA, OSA severity and other sleep-related variables were evaluated using logistic regression models. The associations between OSA, OSA severity with CAP severity were evaluated with linear regression models and non-parametric tests.</p><p>Findings</p><p>No significant differences were found between CAP and control patients regarding anthropometric variables, toxic habits and risk factors for CAP. Patients with OSA, defined as individuals with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥10, showed an increased risk of CAP (OR = 2·86, 95%CI 1·29–6·44, p = 0·01). Patients with severe OSA (AHI≥30) also had a higher risk of CAP (OR = 3·18, 95%CI 1·11–11·56, p = 0·047). In addition, OSA severity, defined according to the AHI quartile, was also significantly associated with CAP (p = 0·007). Furthermore, OSA was significantly associated with CAP severity (p = 0·0002), and OSA severity was also associated with CAP severity (p = 0·0006).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>OSA and OSA severity are associated with CAP when compared to patients admitted to the hospital for non-respiratory infections. In addition, OSA and OSA severity are associated with CAP severity. These results support the potential role of OSA in the pathogenesis of CAP and could have clinical implications. This link between OSA and infection risk should be explored to investigate the relationships among gastroesophageal reflux, silent aspiration, laryngeal sensory dysfunction and CAP.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01071421" target="_blank">NCT01071421</a></p></div

Diagnoses in the control group.

<p>Diagnoses in the control group.</p

Concordance analysis for the sleep respiratory measurements obtained during hospitalization and at home for CAP patients.

<p>Concordance analysis for the sleep respiratory measurements obtained during hospitalization and at home for CAP patients.</p

Baseline clinical characteristics, invasive diagnostic techniques and bacterial etiology in the CAP group.

<p>Baseline clinical characteristics, invasive diagnostic techniques and bacterial etiology in the CAP group.</p