Union after multiple anterior cervical fusion 21 cases followed for 1-6 years

With a mean follow-up of 3 (1-6) years, we report on 21 patients who underwent multiple level cervical fusion, using autologous iliac crest grafts. Dissectomies were performed in 14 patients and corpectomies in another 7. Instrumentation was used in all patients with corpectomies and in 2 patients who underwent 2-level and 3-level dissectomies. Non-union occurred in 1 patient at 1 level. Graft displacement requiring reoperation was observed in 2 patients with massive corpectomies, in 1 of them as a consequence of trauma. In both patients complete bony fusion was obtained after reoperation and no other complications were observed. We conclude that the success rate with multiple-level fusion is comparable to that of single-level fusion when adequate fixation is achieve

Eosinophilic Granuloma of the Spine With and Without Vertebra Plana: Long-term Follow-up of Six Cases (Cast Reports)

Vertebral eosinophilic granuloma is a rare condition frequently associated with vertebra plana. In this paper we present six patients with eosinophilic granuloma of the spine; three were without vertebra plana, which represents a diagnostic problem. The mean follow-up was 9 years, (range 2 to 23) and the mean age was 10.8 years at diagnosis. All complained of pain with no neurological deficit. The lesions were located on the vertebral bodies of C4, T9, T10, L1, L2, and L5, respectively. Histologic confirmation of diagnosis was obtained in all patients, two by puncture and four by open biopsy. The patients with vertebra plana (T10, L1, and L5, respectively) were treated conservatively. Long-term follow-up demonstrated total healing of the vertebral body in two and partial rebuilding 8 years after diagnosis in one. Patients without vertebra plana (C4, T9, and L2, respectively) underwent curettage and bone grafting. In the patient with T9 location, a T8-10 anterior arthrodesis with autogenous rib graft was performed. The outcome was satisfactory in all

Histiocitosis X

Presentamos una revisión bibliográfica y de nuestra experiencia clínica en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la Histiocitosis X, término que engloba el granuloma eosinófilo, el síndrome de Hand-Schüller-Christian y el síndrome de Letterer-Siwe. Tuvimos un total de 28 casos, con un promedio de edad de 11.8 años y una distribución por sexo de 18 (64%) hombres y 10 (36%) mujeres. De los casos estudiados, 17 lesiones fueron solitarias y 8 pacientes tuvieron lesiones óseas múltiples. Tres pacientes padecieron formas diseminadas de la enfermedad. De éstos, dos eran síndrome de Hand-Schüller-Christian y uno de Letterer-Siwe. La localización más frecuente fue el fémur en los pacientes con localización ósea solitaria y el cráneo en los de localización ósea múltiple. El número total de lesiones fue de 47. El tratamiento aplicado dependió del tipo de localización, la forma clínica y el número de lesiones. Los pacientes con localización ósea solitaria (17) fueron tratados con legrado e injerto en 6 casos, resección segmentaria en 3, legrado en otros 3, radioterapia en 1 y 4 pacientes no recibieron tratamiento. Los pacientes con lesiones óseas múltiples (8) fueron tratados con cirugía en 4 ocasiones, radioterapia en 2, cirugía y radioterapia en 1 y, finalmente, un paciente no recibió tratamiento. Las formas diseminadas fueron tratadas con cirugía de la lesión principal dependiendo de las manifestaciones clínicas, así como quimioterapia y radioterapia. El pronóstico de casi todos los casos estudiados fue bueno, observándose regresión de la enfermedad incluso sin tratamiento específico. El caso de enfermedad diseminada aguda tipo Letterer-Siwe falleció por las complicaciones generales propias de la enfermedad

Search for Supersymmetry with Gauge-Mediated Breaking in Diphoton Events with Missing Transverse Energy at CDF II

accepted to Phys. Rev. LettWe present the results of a search for supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking and \NONE\to\gamma\Gravitino in the $\gamma\gamma$+missing transverse energy final state. In 2.6$\pm$0.2 \invfb of $p{\bar p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$$=$1.96 TeV recorded by the CDF II detector we observe no candidate events, consistent with a standard model background expectation of 1.4$\pm$0.4 events. We set limits on the cross section at the 95% C.L. and place the world's best limit of 149\gevc on the \none mass at $\tau_{\tilde{\chi}_1^0}$$We present the results of a search for supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking and χ˜10→γG˜ in the γγ+missing transverse energy final state. In 2.6±0.2  fb-1 of pp̅ collisions at √s=1.96  TeV recorded by the CDF II detector we observe no candidate events, consistent with a standard model background expectation of 1.4±0.4 events. We set limits on the cross section at the 95% C.L. and place the world’s best limit of 149  GeV/c2 on the χ˜10 mass at τχ˜10≪1  ns. We also exclude regions in the χ˜10 mass-lifetime plane for τχ˜10≲2  ns.Peer reviewe

Measurements of branching fraction ratios and CP asymmetries in B+/- ->D_CP K+/- decays in hadron collisions

We reconstruct B+/- -> D K+/- decays in a data sample collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider corresponding to 1 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We select decay modes where the D meson decays to either K- pi+ (flavor eigenstate) or K- K+, pi- pi+ (CP-even eigenstates), and measure the direct CP asymmetry A_CP+ = 0.39 +/- 0.17(stat) +/- 0.04(syst), and the double ratio of CP-even to flavor eigenstate branching fractions R_CP+ = 1.30 +/- 0.24(stat) +/- 0.12(syst). These measurements will improve the determination of the CKM angle gamma. They are performed here for the first time using data from hadron collisions.We reconstruct B±→DK± decays in a data sample collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider corresponding to 1  fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We select decay modes where the D meson decays to either K-π+ (flavor eigenstate) or K-K+, π-π+ (CP-even eigenstates), and measure the direct CP asymmetry ACP+=0.39±0.17(stat)±0.04(syst), and the double ratio of CP-even to flavor eigenstate branching fractions RCP+=1.30±0.24(stat)±0.12(syst). These measurements will improve the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle γ. They are performed here for the first time using data from hadron collisions.Peer reviewe

Inclusive Search for Standard Model Higgs Boson Production in the WW Decay Channel using the CDF II Detector

We present a search for standard model (SM) Higgs boson production using ppbar collision data at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV, collected with the CDF II detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.8 fb-1. We search for Higgs bosons produced in all processes with a significant production rate and decaying to two W bosons. We find no evidence for SM Higgs boson production and place upper limits at the 95% confidence level on the SM production cross section (sigma(H)) for values of the Higgs boson mass (m_H) in the range from 110 to 200 GeV. These limits are the most stringent for m_H > 130 GeV and are 1.29 above the predicted value of sigma(H) for mH = 165 GeV.We present a search for standard model (SM) Higgs boson production using pp̅ collision data at √s=1.96  TeV, collected with the CDF II detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.8  fb-1. We search for Higgs bosons produced in all processes with a significant production rate and decaying to two W bosons. We find no evidence for SM Higgs boson production and place upper limits at the 95% confidence level on the SM production cross section (σH) for values of the Higgs boson mass (mH) in the range from 110 to 200 GeV. These limits are the most stringent for mH>130  GeV and are 1.29 above the predicted value of σH for mH=165  GeV.Peer reviewe

Measurement of the Lambda_b Lifetime in Lambda_b -> Lambda_c+ pi- Decays in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

Submitted to Phys. Rev. LettWe report a measurement of the lifetime of the Lambda_b baryon in decays to the Lambda_C+ pi- final state in a sample corresponding to 1.1 fb^-1 collected in p-pbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. Using a sample of about 3000 fully reconstructed Lambda_b events we measure tau(Lambda_b) = 1.401 +- 0.046 (stat) +- 0.035 (syst) ps (corresponding to c.tau(Lambda_b) = 420.1 +- 13.7 (stat) +- 10.6 (syst) um, where c is the speed of light). The ratio of this result and the world average B^0 lifetime yields tau(Lambda_b)/tau(B^0) = 0.918 +- 0.038 (stat and syst), in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions.We report a measurement of the lifetime of the Λb0 baryon in decays to the Λc+π- final state in a sample corresponding to 1.1  fb-1 collected in pp̅ collisions at √s=1.96  TeV by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. Using a sample of about 3000 fully reconstructed Λb0 events we measure τ(Λb0)=1.401±0.046(stat)±0.035(syst)  ps (corresponding to cτ(Λb0)=420.1±13.7(stat)±10.6(syst)  μm, where c is the speed of light). The ratio of this result and the world average B0 lifetime yields τ(Λb0)/τ(B0)=0.918±0.038 (stat) and (syst), in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions.Peer reviewe

Measurement of the Top Quark Mass and ppbar -> ttbar Cross Section in the All-Hadronic Mode with the CDFII Detector

Submitted to Phys. Rev. DWe present a measurement of the top quark mass and of the top-antitop pair production cross section using p-pbar data collected with the CDFII detector at the Tevatron Collider at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 fb-1. We select events with six or more jets satisfying a number of kinematical requirements imposed by means of a neural network algorithm. At least one of these jets must originate from a b quark, as identified by the reconstruction of a secondary vertex inside the jet. The mass measurement is based on a likelihood fit incorporating reconstructed mass distributions representative of signal and background, where the absolute jet energy scale (JES) is measured simultaneously with the top quark mass. The measurement yields a value of 174.8 +- 2.4(stat+JES) ^{+1.2}_{-1.0}(syst) GeV/c^2, where the uncertainty from the absolute jet energy scale is evaluated together with the statistical uncertainty. The procedure measures also the amount of signal from which we derive a cross section, sigma_{ttbar} = 7.2 +- 0.5(stat) +- 1.0 (syst) +- 0.4 (lum) pb, for the measured values of top quark mass and JES.We present a measurement of the top quark mass and of the top-antitop (tt̅ ) pair production cross section using pp̅ data collected with the CDF II detector at the Tevatron Collider at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9  fb-1. We select events with six or more jets satisfying a number of kinematical requirements imposed by means of a neural-network algorithm. At least one of these jets must originate from a b quark, as identified by the reconstruction of a secondary vertex inside the jet. The mass measurement is based on a likelihood fit incorporating reconstructed mass distributions representative of signal and background, where the absolute jet energy scale (JES) is measured simultaneously with the top quark mass. The measurement yields a value of 174.8±2.4(stat+JES)-1.0+1.2(syst)  GeV/c2, where the uncertainty from the absolute jet energy scale is evaluated together with the statistical uncertainty. The procedure also measures the amount of signal from which we derive a cross section, σtt̅ =7.2±0.5(stat)±1.0(syst)±0.4(lum)  pb, for the measured values of top quark mass and JES.Peer reviewe

Histiocitosis X

We make a clinical and bibliographical review in diagnosis and treatment of Histiocytosis X, who includes three components: Eosinophylic granuloma, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease and Letterer-Siwe syndrome. We had 28 cases, with an average age of 11.8 years. Eighteen (64%) were males and 10 (36%) females. Seventeen were solitary lesions and 8 had multiple skeletal lesions. Three patients had generalized disease: 2 with Hand-Schüller-Christian disease and 1 with Letterer-Siwe syndrome. The femur lesion was frequently observed among the solitary lesions and the cranium involvement in the multiple skeletal lesions. The total number of lesions was 47. The treatment depended on the location, the clinical manifestations and the number of lesions. The patients with solitary lesions (17) were treated with curettage and bone grafting in 6 cases, segmental resection in 3 cases, only curettage in 3, radiotherapy in one and 4 patients didn't receive treatment. The patients with multiple lesions (8), were treated surgically (4 cases), only radiation therapy (2 patients), with surgery and radiotherapy (1) and one patient had no treatment. The generalized disease was treated with surgery of the main lesion depending in the clinical manifestations and chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The prognosis was good in almost all the patients and we observed regression of the disease even without specific treatment. The case of acute generalized disease died due to systemic complication

Histiocitosis X

Presentamos una revisión bibliográfica y de nuestra experiencia clínica en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la Histiocitosis X, término que engloba el granuloma eosinófilo, el síndrome de Hand-Schüller-Christian y el síndrome de Letterer-Siwe. Tuvimos un total de 28 casos, con un promedio de edad de 11.8 años y una distribución por sexo de 18 (64%) hombres y 10 (36%) mujeres. De los casos estudiados, 17 lesiones fueron solitarias y 8 pacientes tuvieron lesiones óseas múltiples. Tres pacientes padecieron formas diseminadas de la enfermedad. De éstos, dos eran síndrome de Hand-Schüller-Christian y uno de Letterer-Siwe. La localización más frecuente fue el fémur en los pacientes con localización ósea solitaria y el cráneo en los de localización ósea múltiple. El número total de lesiones fue de 47. El tratamiento aplicado dependió del tipo de localización, la forma clínica y el número de lesiones. Los pacientes con localización ósea solitaria (17) fueron tratados con legrado e injerto en 6 casos, resección segmentaria en 3, legrado en otros 3, radioterapia en 1 y 4 pacientes no recibieron tratamiento. Los pacientes con lesiones óseas múltiples (8) fueron tratados con cirugía en 4 ocasiones, radioterapia en 2, cirugía y radioterapia en 1 y, finalmente, un paciente no recibió tratamiento. Las formas diseminadas fueron tratadas con cirugía de la lesión principal dependiendo de las manifestaciones clínicas, así como quimioterapia y radioterapia. El pronóstico de casi todos los casos estudiados fue bueno, observándose regresión de la enfermedad incluso sin tratamiento específico. El caso de enfermedad diseminada aguda tipo Letterer-Siwe falleció por las complicaciones generales propias de la enfermedad