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We present two different cases of involvement of the nervous system due to prostate cancer. We know that atypical metastases can also affect supraclavicular lymphatics, adrenal gland and testicles. In these cases we present a typical places in the nervous system. We musttake into account that sometimes the shape the presentation of symptoms can be confused with other pathologies. In some cases, this type of patient has never had a urological check-up and in our sagacity as doctors we come to find the origin of the problem: the prostate.

Presentamos dos casos diferentes de afectación del sistema nervioso por cáncer de próstata. Sabemos que las metástasis atípicas también pueden afectar linfáticos supraclaviculares, glándula suprarenal y testículos. En estos dos casos presentamos lugares atípicos que afectan el sistema nervioso. Debemos tener en cuenta que a veces la forma de presentación de los síntomas pueden confundirse con otras patologías. En algunas oportunidades este tipo de pacientes jamás han hecho un chequeo urológico y en nuestra sagacidad como médicos llegamos a encontrar el origen del problema: la próstata.

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The malignancy of cancer cells and their response to drug treatments have been traditionally studied using solely their elastic properties. However, the study of the combined viscous and elastic properties provides a richer description of the mechanics of the cell, and achieves a more precise assessment of the effect exerted by anti-cancer treatments. We used an atomic force microscope to obtain the morphological, elastic and viscous properties of HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. Changes in these parameters were observed during exposure of the cells to doxorubicin at different times. The elastic properties were analyzed using the Hertz and Sneddon models. Furthermore, we analyzed the data to study the viscoelasticity of the cells comparing the models known as the standard linear solid, fractional Zener, generalized Maxwell, and power law. A discussion about the optimal model based in the accuracy and physical assumptions for this particular system is included. From the morphological data and viscoelasticity of HT-29 cells exposed to doxorubicin, we found that some parameters were affected differently at shorter or longer exposure times. For instance, the relaxation time suggests a measure of the cell to self-heal and it was observed to increase at shorter exposure times and then to reduce for longer exposure times to the drug. The fractional Zener model better described the mechanical properties of the cell due to the reduced number of parameters and the quality of the fit to experimental data.

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PURPOSE: Implanted rectal spacers (IRS) have been developed to increase the distance between the prostate and the rectum, thus optimizing dose escalation. Cost is a disadvantage and there are still uncertainties as to their durability. We have developed an autologous fat transfer (AFT) technique to use as an IRS. We aim to present the feasibility and durability at 6 months of AFT placed immediately after the implant of the seeds in low-dose-rate brachytherapy (BT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-five patients underwent AFT (12 were treated with primary BT, 7 with a combined primary treatment of external beam radiotherapy + BT, 16 with salvage BT). The isodose used for primary BT was 14400 cGy, 11,000 cGy after 4600 cGy of external beam radiotherapy in the combined group, and 14400 cGy for the salvage group. Patients underwent a CT scan at 1, 3, and 6 months to measure the distance between the rectum and the prostate. RESULTS: An average of 32.7 cc (20-40) of fat was transferred successfully in 100% of cases. The mean distance to the rectum at the level of the base, middle, and apex at 1 and 6 months were 11.2, 9.7, and 7.6 mm; 8.3, 8.1, and 5.9 mm, respectively. No rectal toxicity or major complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The use of fat as an IRS seems to be a valid alternative to reduce rectal toxicity after BT, achieving equivalent distances to synthetic IRS. It is feasible, safe, and the loss of distance at 6 months is small. Cost is lower than other alternatives.

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La Cryptosporidium ocasiona diarrea aguda, acuosa, no sanguinolenta y que puede acompañarse de anorexia , náusea s o vómitos y dolor abdominal.El objetivo fue determinar la presencia de Cryptosporidium como causa de diarreas en los pacientes pediátricos de 1 mes a 2 años, ingresados en el Hospital Provincial Pediátrico Pepe Portilla de Pinar del Río durante el periodo de enero-diciembre de 2010. Se realizó una investigación aplicada y descriptiva, de corte transversal. Se empleó el método porcentual para cuantificar los resultados. Se realizó el examen de heces coloreadas por la técnica de Ziehl-Neelsen modificada a 845 niños que conformaron el universo; la muestra la constituyeron 19 niños con heces positivos a Cryptosporidium.Resultados: La Cryptosporidium estuvo presente en el 2.3 por ciento (19) de los pacientes con diarrea aguda. Se reportaron más casos en los meses de julio y agosto, fueron más afectados el sexo masculino y los niños de 1-12 meses; la diarrea liquida fue la manifestación clínica que predominó. Unos 15 pacientes (79 por ciento) se alimentaban con lactancia artificial. No hervir el agua, la presencia de vectores y el hacinamiento, fueron los hábitos higiénicos deficientes encontrados en los hogares, más frecuentes en la zona urbana; el nivel de escolaridad de la persona a cargo del niño fue adecuado. El Cryptosporidium forma parte de la etiología de las diarreas de los niños hospitalizados, las medidas preventivas aun son deficientes(AU)

Cryptosporidiosis provokes acute, aqueous, non-bloody diarrheas that can be accompanied by anorexia, nausea or vomits with abdominal pain. The objective was to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium as a cause of diarrheas in pediatric patients from 1 to 2 months old hospitalized at Pepe Portilla Pediatric Hospital, Pinar del Rio during January-December 2010. Material and An applied, descriptive and cross-sectional research was carried out. Percentage method was used to quantify the results. Stained feces using modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique was applied to 845 infants that comprised the target group; the sample included 19 children with feces positive to Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium was present in 19 of the patients suffering from acute diarrhea (2.3 per cent). The majority of the cases were reported on the months of July and August, male sex was the most affected as well as infants from 1-2 months old; aqueous diarrhea was the prevailing clinical manifestation. Fifteen (15) patients (79 per cent) received bottle feeding. Not boiling the water, the presence of vectors and overcrowding conditions were the most deficient standards of hygiene found in these homes, most frequent in urban zones. The person taking care of infants showed an adequate educational level. Cryptosporidium is part of the etiology of diarrheas in hospitalized infants, preventive measures are still insufficient(AU)

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Introducción: la Cryptosporidium ocasiona diarrea aguda, acuosa, no sanguinolenta y que puede acompañarse de anorexia , náusea s o vómitos y dolor abdominal. Objetivo: determinar la presencia de Cryptosporidium como causa de diarreas en los pacientes pediátricos de 1 mes a 2 años, ingresados en el Hospital Provincial Pediátrico "Pepe Portilla" de Pinar del Río durante el periodo de enero-diciembre de 2010. Material y Métodos: se realizó una investigación aplicada y descriptiva, de corte transversal. Se empleó el método porcentual para cuantificar los resultados. Se realizó el examen de heces coloreadas por la técnica de Ziehl-Neelsen modificada a 845 niños que conformaron el universo; la muestra la constituyeron 19 niños con heces positivos a Cryptosporidium. Resultados: el Cryptosporidium estuvo presente en el 2.3% (19) de los pacientes con diarrea aguda. Se reportaron más casos en los meses de julio y agosto, fueron más afectados el sexo masculino y los niños de 1-12 meses; la diarrea liquida fue la manifestación clínica que predominó. Unos 15 pacientes (79%) se alimentaban con lactancia artificial. No hervir el agua, la presencia de vectores y el hacinamiento, fueron los hábitos higiénicos deficientes encontrados en los hogares, más frecuentes en la zona urbana; el nivel de escolaridad de la persona a cargo del niño fue adecuado. Conclusiones. el Cryptosporidium forma parte de la etiología de las diarreas de los niños hospitalizados, las medidas preventivas aun son deficientes.

Introduction: cryptosporidiosis provokes acute, aqueous, non-bloody diarrheas that can be accompanied by anorexia, nausea or vomits with abdominal pain. Objective: to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium as a cause of diarrheas in pediatric patients from 1 to 2 months old hospitalized at "Pepe Portilla" Pediatric Hospital, Pinar del Rio during January-December 2010. Material and Methods: an applied, descriptive and cross-sectional research was carried out. Percentage method was used to quantify the results. Stained feces using modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique was applied to 845 infants that comprised the target group; the sample included 19 children with feces positive to Cryptosporidium. Results: cryptosporidium was present in 19 of the patients suffering from acute diarrhea (2.3%). The majority of the cases were reported on the months of July and August, male sex was the most affected as well as infants from 1-2 months old; aqueous diarrhea was the prevailing clinical manifestation. Fifteen (15) patients received bottle feeding. Not boiling the water, the presence of vectors and overcrowding conditions were the most deficient standards of hygiene found in these homes, most frequent in urban zones. The person taking care of infants showed an adequate educational level. Conclusions: cryptosporidium is part of the etiology of diarrheas in hospitalized infants, preventive measures are still insufficient.

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PURPOSE: To evaluate our experience in the combined treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder lithiasis with GreenLight(™) and holmium laser, respectively, on an outpatient basis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 2006 to May 2009, 20 patients with prostatic hyperplasia and bladder lithiasis were treated. First, the lithiasis was treated, and then the GreenLight laser vaporization of the prostate was performed, both at the same surgical time and under general anesthesia. Discharge of patients was scheduled 3 to 4 hours after completion of the procedure. RESULTS: The procedure was simultaneously completed in 19 of 20 patients. The mean stone size was 2.3 (1-4) cm, and the mean prostate volume was 56.5 (30-108) cc. The mean operating time was 115 (50-190) minutes. There was a significant percentage change in maximum flow, postmicturition residual volume, and International Prostate Symptom Score, which were 129.5%, 88.4%, and 68.3%, respectively. All patients were stone free after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The combined transurethral treatment of BPH associated with bladder lithiasis by means of GreenLight laser vaporization and holmium laser lithotripsy on an outpatient basis can be performed safely and yields excellent results.

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La incidencia de fiebre en el postoperatorio varía ampliamente. En la cirugía limpia y la limpia-contaminada, la fiebre no infecciosa es más frecuente que la infecciosa. Fueron estudiados prospectivamente 303 pacientes operados en forma programada de cirugía ortopédica y urológica. Se investigó la incidencia de fiebre postoperatoria, su etiología, la relación entre el momento de su aparición y su origen y la utilidad del pedido empírico de estudios para determinar infección postoperatoria. El 14% (42/303) de los pacientes tuvieron fiebre postoperatoria. En el 81% (34/42) su etiología fue no infecciosa y en el 19% (8/42) infecciosa. Su origen fue siempre no infeccioso dentro de las primeras 48 horas del postoperatorio (p<0.001). A 19 pacientes con fiebre después de las 48 horas y examen clínico normal, se les realizó radiografía de tórax, hemocultivos (2) y cultivo de orina. Las radiografías de tórax fueron normales en todos los casos, fueron positivos 4 urocultivos (21%, IC 95%: 6-45) y un hemocultivo (5%, IC 95%: 0.1-26). Siete pacientes tuvieron infecciones postoperatorias sin fiebre. La causa de fiebre postoperatoria más frecuente fue no infecciosa, causada por respuesta normal inflamatoria al trauma quirúrgico. La realización de estudios de rutina en pacientes con examen clínico normal y fiebre posterior a las 48 horas, de acuerdo a lo observado en este estudio, no permite sacar conclusiones definitivas. El diagnóstico de las infecciones postoperatorias se basó en el seguimiento clínico- quirúrgico y en la interpretación de los síntomas y signos del paciente.

Post-operative fever incidence varies widely. In clean and clean-contaminated surgery the non-infectious fever is more frequent than the infectious fever. We performed a prospective study including 303 patients who underwent orthopedic and urologic elective surgery. The aims of our study were to investigate the incidence of post-operative fever, its etiology, the relationship between time of onset and the etiology, and the usefulness of extensive fever work-up to determine post-operative infection. The incidence of post-operative fever was 14% (42/303) of which 81% (34/42) was noninfectious and 19% (8/42) was infectious. The etiology of the fever in the first 48 hours after surgery was always non-infectious (p<0.001). An extensive fever work-up was performed in patients who presented fever only after the initial 48 hours of surgery with normal physical examination (n=19) consisting of chest x-ray, blood (2) and urine cultures. The chest x-ray was normal in all the patients, the urine cultures were positive in four cases (21%, IC 95%: 6-45) and the blood cultures in only one case (5%, IC 95%: 0.1-26). Seven patients had post-operative infections without fever as a clinical sign. The most frequently observed etiology of post-operative fever was non-infectious, related to the normal inflammatory host response to surgery. Based on the present results, the extensive fever work-up performed to investigate post-operative infection does not seem to be a useful tool. The diagnosis of post-operative infection was based on clinical follow up and the correct interpretation of the patient's symptoms and signs.

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Se realizó un estudio del uso de antibióticos aminoglucósidos en 70 pacientes con diagnóstico de infección respiratoria baja. Se demostró la poca efectividad de estos antimicrobianos en nuestra investigación. Se efectuó un análisis de los costos de tiempo hospitalario y antibióticos empleados en 50 casos que adquirieron la infección en la comunidad y se comparó con un grupo de 50 pacientes con el mismo diagnóstico tratados con cefazolina. Se obtuvieron resultados significativos en cuanto a la eficacia, disminución de la estadía y costo hospitalarios así como el consumo de antibióticos. En nuestro trabajo se determinó que con el uso de la cefazolina se logró un ahorro considerable de $ 11 055,98(AU)

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Se realizó un estudio del uso de antibióticos aminoglucósidos en 70 pacientes con diagnóstico de infección respiratoria baja. Se demostró la poca efectividad de estos antimicrobianos en nuestra investigación. Se efectuó un análisis de los costos de tiempo hospitalario y antibióticos empleados en 50 casos que adquirieron la infección en la comunidad y se comparó con un grupo de 50 pacientes con el mismo diagnóstico tratados con cefazolina. Se obtuvieron resultados significativos en cuanto a la eficacia, disminución de la estadía y costo hospitalarios así como el consumo de antibióticos. En nuestro trabajo se determinó que con el uso de la cefazolina se logró un ahorro considerable de $ 11 055,98.

A study on the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics was conducted among 70 patients with diagnosis of low respiratory infection. The low effectiveness of these antimicrobial drugs was proved in this research. It was made an analysis of the hospital stay costs and of the antibiotics used in 50 cases that got infected in the community. It was also made a comparison with a group of 50 patients with the same diagnosis treated with cefazolin. Significant results were obtained concerning efficacy, and the reduction of hospital stay and cost, and of antibiotics consumption. A considerable saving of $ 11 055.98 was attained with the use of cefazolin.

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Se presentan 19 pacientes con testiculos tumorales estudiados con ecografía (transductor de 5 MHz) y su correspondiente confirmación quirúrgica. La ecografía demostró una alta certeza diagnóstica: 96,8% para determinar la localización de una lesión escrotal (intratesticular, extratesticular o mixta). Frente a las lesiones neoplásicas, el método demostró alta sensibilidad: 100%, baja especificidad: 64%, y 85% de certeza diagnóstica. Se analizan en detalle los signos ultrasonográficos asociados a patología tumoral, así como el origen de los 5 falsos-positivos que disminuyen la especificidad ecográfica (AU)

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Se presentan 19 pacientes con testiculos tumorales estudiados con ecografía (transductor de 5 MHz) y su correspondiente confirmación quirúrgica. La ecografía demostró una alta certeza diagnóstica: 96,8% para determinar la localización de una lesión escrotal (intratesticular, extratesticular o mixta). Frente a las lesiones neoplásicas, el método demostró alta sensibilidad: 100%, baja especificidad: 64%, y 85% de certeza diagnóstica. Se analizan en detalle los signos ultrasonográficos asociados a patología tumoral, así como el origen de los 5 falsos-positivos que disminuyen la especificidad ecográfica

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