Leiomyosarcoma of the Right Gonadal Vein: Review of the Approach and Prognostic in a Rare Case

Background. Venous leiomyosarcoma is a mesenchymal tumour that represents 5-7% of soft tissue sarcomas. It originates in the smooth muscle cells of the vessel wall and is frequently located in the inferior vena cava. Primary leiomyosarcomas of the gonadal vein are rare, with only 10 cases reported in the literature. Case report. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with a right retroperitoneal mass by computed tomography (CT). The differential diagnosis was between a neurogenic tumour and a mesodermic tumour. The tumour was dissected from the vena cava and right ureter by laparoscopy without performing resection en bloc. Histologic examination of the surgical specimen showed a high-grade leiomyosarcoma of the right gonadal vein. The postoperative course was uneventful. Three cycles of chemotherapy with epirubicin-ifosfamide were performed. Discussion and conclusions. Venous leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive tumour, and prognosis is poor due to haematogenous spread. No chemotherapy or radiotherapy has yet proven effective in improving survival, and complete surgical excision is currently considered to offer the best chance of cure. Despite the more conservative treatment approach used in the present case, the patient is alive three years after surgery and has a good quality of life. Although it was not used in this patient, the standard procedure for optimal survival is resection en bloc

Mitochondrial genetic effect on atrial fibrillation: A case-control study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in the general population and following cardiac surgery. The influence of mitochondrial genomics on AF pathogenesis is not fully understood. We analyzed mitochondrial variables from 78 human atrial samples collected from cardiac surgeries in the following groups: 1) permanent preoperative AF; 2) preoperative sinus rhythm (SR) with postoperative AF; and 3) pre-/postoperative SR. Haplogroup H appeared offer protection against, and haplogroup U predispose to permanent AF. mtDNA content was higher in group 2 than in 3. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the influence of mitochondria on AF pathogenesis.The study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain for the sample preparation at the Cardiovascular Research Centre and CIBERCV, Spain (SAF2014-58286-C2-1-R)

Hip Hop i pedagogia

Xerrada sobre el Hip-Hop com a eina pedagògic

Fourteen years of hydro-biogeochemical monitoring in a Mediterranean catchment

8 páginas, 8 figuras[EN]Fluvial systems in Mediterranean areas are subject to strong precipitation seasonality, characterized by a low flow period, and, in severe conditions, the complete disruption of surface flow continuum. The Fuirosos is a Mediterranean intermittent stream that has been monitored since 1998. It is located near Barcelona (Spain) in a catchment almost untouched by anthropic activity. Thus it has become a target for many studies on biogeochemistry and fluvial ecology. Some of these studies especially emphasize the role of the dry-wet cycling and its influence on other aspects of fluvial processes. This text provides a wide overview of the research conducted in Fuirosos catchment and highlights the relevance of the alternation of hydrological periods in Mediterranean systems. [DE]Die Abflusssysteme mediterraner Einzugsgebiete sind in starkem Maße von der Saisonalität der Niederschläge beeinflusst und zeigen daher Perioden mit Niederwasserführung bzw. gänzlich fehlendem Oberflächenabfluss. Der Fuirosos- Fluss zeigt intermittierende Verhältnisse, die seit 1998 beobachtet werden. Er liegt nahe Barcelona (Spanien) und ist nahezu anthropogen unbeeinflusst. Daher wird er oft als Testgebiet für biogeochemische und flussökologische Untersuchungen herangezogen. Diese konzentrieren sich oft auf den Einfluss von Trocken-Feuchte-Zyklen auf andere fluviatile Prozesse. Der Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über die Forschungsaktivitäten am Fuirosos-Fluss und unterstreicht die Wichtigkeit der Unterscheidung zwischen Feucht- und Trockenperioden in mediterranen Einzugsgebieten.This contribution has been partially founded by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (project CGL2011-30151- C02).Peer reviewe

Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma by the Spanish group for research in sarcomas (GEIS)

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) constitute an uncommon and heterogeneous group of tumours, which require a complex and specialized multidisciplinary management. The diagnostic approach should include imaging studies and core needle biopsy performed prior to undertaking surgery. Wide excision is the mainstay of treatment for localized sarcoma, and associated preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy should be administered in high-risk patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a modest improvement in survival in a meta-analysis and constitutes a standard option in selected patients with high-risk STS. In metastatic patients, surgery must be evaluated in selected cases. In the rest of patients, chemotherapy and, in some subtypes, targeted therapy often used in a sequential strategy constitutes the treatment of election. Despite important advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, the advances achieved in therapeutic results may be deemed still insufficient. Moreover, due to the rarity and complexity of the disease, the results in clinical practice are not always optimal. For this reason, the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcoma (GEIS) has developed a multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines document, with the aim of facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of these patients in Spain. In the document, each practical recommendation is accompanied by level of evidence and grade of recommendation on the basis of the available data