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Biomedical subjects

J Teruel

Publications and source records attributed to J Teruel.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Embolism in acute middle cerebral artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis in a series of nonselected patients and the coexistence of microembolic signals with stenosis. METHODS: MCA stenosis was sought by transcranial Doppler (TCD) in 387 patients admitted consecutively with acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms and again at 6 months. TCD monitoring for microembolic signals was performed on all patients with MCA stenosis. RESULTS: MCA stenoses were found in 29 patients (7%), although in only 20 patients (5%) was the stenosis symptomatic. Microembolic signals were detected in five of 14 symptomatic stenoses (36%) monitored at the acute phase, but none were found in the chronic phase or in asymptomatic stenosis. Despite one third of symptomatic patients having had a further source of emboli, microembolic signals were detected only distally to the MCA stenosis. In the symptomatic group, 25% of stenoses had completely disappeared 6 months after stroke. Microembolic signal detection at the acute phase was associated with the subsequent disappearance of the stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of symptomatic MCA stenosis in acute ischemic stroke was 5% in the population studied. Many stenoses are transient, and microembolic signals are often detectable at the poststenotic segment in the acute phase. The origin of at least 25% of symptomatic acute MCA stenoses may be embolic rather than atherosclerotic.

Adult↗

Cerebral embolism in a patient with polycythemia rubra vera.

Polycythemia rubra vera (PRV) is a rare haematological disorder that has a high risk of stroke, although the pathophysiological origin of the cerebral ischaemia in this disease is not well known. We report a case of a stroke patient with PRV in whom bilateral embolic signals were detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD). Cerebral computed tomography showed a cortical middle cerebral artery infarction, echocardiography was normal, duplex-scan showed moderate left carotid stenosis and digital angiography disclosed right siphon stenosis. TCD examinations in the acute phase repeatedly showed a great number of bilateral microembolic signals (MESs). Four months later magnetic resonance angiography showed no flow signal in the right siphon and a severe stenosis of the proximal right MCA. The detection of bilateral MESs in the absence of cardiac sources of embolism observed in this patient suggests that ischaemic cerebral events in PRV may have an embolic origin favoured by a prothrombotic state.

Aged↗

Lipid composition of platelets in patients with uremia.

AIMS: The lipid composition of platelets and the function of these cells in patients with uremia were studied. METHODS: Fourteen patients and 14 normal volunteers were studied. Platelet lipids including phospholipids and cholesterol, as well as the platelet aggregation response to agonists, were studied. RESULTS: The amount of platelet phospholipids was decreased in patients compared to controls (338.0 +/- 79 vs. 511.6 +/- 125 nmol/10(9) cells; p < 0.001), while the percentage of the five main specimens of these compounds was normal. The content of platelet cholesterol in patients (97.8 +/- 17.0 microg/10(9) cells) was similar to that in controls (91.7 +/- 26.0 microg/10(9) cells). Consequently, the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio in uremic platelets was increased (0.75 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.1; p < 0.01). Although this feature is associated with hyperreactive platelets, the aggregation tests were defective for adenosin diphosphate (p < 0.01), arachidonic acid (p < 0.01), epinephrine (p < 0.01) and collagen (p < 0.001). This behavior is probably due to the multifactorial platelet defect described in uremia.

Adult↗

[Reversible hypophyseal disfunction and hyperplasia in two cases of primary hypothyroidism].

BACKGROUND: Some patients with primary hypothyroidism (HP) develop massive thyrotrope cell hyperplasia determining pituitary hyperplasia with suprasellar enlargement and pituitary dysfunction. Although TRH secretion undoubtedly has some influence, the intervention of other possible factors determining this hyperplasia and dysfunction has been little assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with primary hypothyroidism with a serum TSH > 1,000 mU/I were studied. By means of CT and MR a pituitary hyperplasia was ascertained in the two patients. The pituitary functional reserve was investigated by the serum response of TSH and prolactin to the administration of TRH (400 micrograms, i.v.), bromocriptine (BRC, 5 mg, oral route), somatostatine (ST, 50 micrograms/kg/min, i.v. perfusion), and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 100 micrograms, i.v.). RESULTS: The TRH induced increment of TSH was 145% and 193%, respectively, compared with basal values. After the administration of BRC, TSH decreased to 57% and 84% of basal values, and PRL to 46% and 43%, respectively. TSH and PRL concentrations did not change after the administration of ST or GnRH. In both cases, hyperplasia and pituitary dysfunction returned to normality after substitutive therapy with levothyroxine. CONCLUSIONS: Basal hyperprolactinemia and TSH and PRL responses to BRC administration suggest that central dopaminergic activity is decreased or abolished in patients with HP and pituitary hyperplasia. The massive thryrotrope cell hyperplasia and hypothyroidism itself determine pituitary dysfunction, which reverts after therapy with levothyroxine, a fact which is scarcely documented in literature.

Adolescent↗

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease presenting as a pseudotumor of the temporomandibular joint.

We report a case of a 66-year-old white woman with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease. The patient related a 2-month history of swelling with tenderness over the left pre-auricular region. A CT scan suggested a synovial chondromatosis. Surgical removal was done and histologic study showed CPPD crystals. This disease rarely involves the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and is not usually considered in the differential diagnosis. To our knowledge, only 14 cases have been reported in the literature.

Aged↗

Deteriorating ischemic stroke: risk factors and prognosis.

To determine a risk profile of deterioration in cerebral infarction of less than 8 hours' duration, we studied prospectively a series of clinical and radiologic data in 98 patients. We evaluated the Canadian Neurological Scale Score and Barthel index during a follow-up period of 3 months. There was deterioration in the 1st 48 hours in 40.8% of the patients. High systolic blood pressure, elevated blood sugar concentration at admission, and carotid territory involvement were independently related with deterioration in the logistic regression analysis. Death occurred in 35% of the patients with deteriorating infarcts and in 8.6% of those with stable infarcts. At the end of the study, functional capacity was lower in those with deteriorating infarcts, but the 2 groups improved in parallel from the 4th day onward.

Blood Glucose↗

Mesangial deposits of IgM in patients with the nephrotic syndrome.

Kidney biopsies from fourteen patients with the nephrotic syndrome were studied by light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Morphologically, all cases showed moderate diffuse mesangial cell proliferation. In all cases, immunofluorescent microscopy demonstrated diffuse and generalized deposits of IgM as the sole or predominant immunoglobulin. Electron microscopic examination showed electron dense deposits localized in the mesangium in seven cases. One nephrotic patient experienced spontaneous remission and eight others were steroid responsive. Only one of the five steroid resistant patients treated with chlorambucil showed clinical remission. Five steroid responsive patients relapsed. At present, four patients are healthy, having not relapsed for the past two years. Although deposits of IgM may be related to the renal pathology in cases of the nephrotic syndrome, immunofluorescence findings do not seem to be sufficiently consistent or characteristic to justify a possible subclassification of the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Brucella endocarditis on double valvular prosthesis.

The case is reported of a 48-year-old man suffering from Brucella endocarditis on a double prosthesis. The successful medical and surgical treatment is described. So far as the authors know, this is the first report of Brucella endocarditis from a heart valve prosthesis.

Brucellosis↗

Ectopic thyroid tissue presenting as a submandibular mass.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, only three cases with ectopic submandibular thyroid have been reported. No patient with simultaneous presence of ectopic submandibular thyroid and normal thyroid gland has been reported. Literature on this topic is reviewed. METHODS: A 34-year-old woman with a longstanding asymptomatic right submandibular mass was evaluated by ecography, computer tomography scan, and fine-needle aspiration. Literature review was performed using EBSCO-Medline Results. The mass was hard, nontender, and not movable with swallowing. A fine-needle aspiration revealed hyperplastic thyroid tissue. A second ecographic-guided fine-needle aspiration confirmed cytologically ectopic thyroid tissue. A computer tomography scan showed a calcified mass with cystic areas beneath and medial to the submandibular gland. Rests of thyroid tissue lateral to the trajectory of thyroglossal duct were seen. Thyroid gland was atrophic. No metastatic lymph nodes were noted. Total serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine were normal. Basal and TRH-stimulated serum thyrotropin was suppressed. A 99Tc scintigraphy disclosed a nodular uptake of tracer in the submandibular area, and no uptake by normal thyroid. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the first case, to our knowledge, with lateral multiple aberrant thyroid tissue and hypoplastic thyroid gland.

Adult↗

[False negative diffusion in acute ischemic stroke].

INTRODUCTION: The new techniques of magnetic resonance imaging have produced a important advance in the early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. The diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) has a high sensitivity and specificity in the acute ischemia. CASE REPORT: 70 years old woman with previous history of hypertension and dyslipemia. The patient presented sudden vertigo with cervical neck pain and gaze problems. The physical exploration revealed right miosis, nistagmus, IX and X cranial nerve affection and ataxia. The clinical diagnosis was Wallenberg s syndrome and a medulla lateral infarction. However DWI was normal (10 hours). The neurological deficit was persistent and a repeated study disclosed a lateral infarction of the medulla. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of DWI is reduced during the first 24 hours. There are false negative diagnosis mainly in small infarctions of posterior territory.

Aged↗

[Infiltration of the optic nerve by lymphoma. Diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging].

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lymphoma with meningeal involvement is frequent and diagnosis is based on the clinical features, the study of the cerebrospinal fluid and evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lymphoma with involvement of the orbitary region is more frequent in the optic nerve (ON) than of the eye itself. CLINICAL CASE: We report the case of a patient with diffuse non Hodgkin gastric lymphoma of the large B cell type, which coursed with amaurosis, exophthalmus and signs of tumorous meningeal involvement. The ophthalmologic study revealed a thrombosis in the central retinal vein. The MRI exploration only showed an infiltration of the ON with no pathological meningeal enhancement. ON involvement consisted in a peripheral enhancement of the sheath with obliteration of the subarachnoid space. This pattern accounts for the existence of an ischemic neuropathy by direct compression over the central retinal vein and artery. There are different anatomopathologic or ophthalmologic studies of neuropathy of the ON by lymphoma in the literature, but there is only one case of diagnosis by MRI. CONCLUSIONS: ON involvement can be the only radiological sign in cases of neoplastic tumours with meningeal involvement. The radiological pattern consists in a peripheral infiltration of the sheath of the ON.

Humans↗