Photodynamic therapy in Argentina

The use of endogenous Protoporphyrin IX generated through the heme biosynthetic pathway after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has led to many applications in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), reported for the first time, in 1975, porphyrin synthesis from ALA in highly dividing plant tissues. Increased porphyrin synthesis in tumours as well as cell photosensitisation was reported soon after. Our group is also interested in studying the use of new synthetic lipophilic derivatives of ALA as well as ALA delivery in liposomes. We have elucidated the mechanism of ALA transport in mammalian and yeast cells. The interactions between ALA-PDT and nitric oxide were investigated in three murine adenocarcinoma cell lines. In the National University of Río Cuarto, Córdoba, a group is devoted to the synthesis of new porphyrin-derived photosensitisers to study their effects on photoinactivation of bacterial and mammalian cells death by PDT. At the Centre of Electron Microscopy of the Cordoba National University, a prototype of a 630 nm noncoherent light source was designed and constructed. Cost of the light source and scarce knowledge of the benefits of PDT by physicians limit the spread of the treatment throughout the country.     

SALVAGE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH UNRESECTABLE HILAR CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

We describe our methods and outcomes of multidisciplinary treatments in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Fifty‐seven patients with a known outcome were enrolled. Thirty‐four of 57 patients were treated and evaluated by salvage therapy. For salvage therapy, we used internal and external radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, YAG laser therapy and microwave coagulation therapy. The median survival time was 548 days for the group receiving salvage therapy and 198 days for the group not receiving this treatment. In conclusion, although no randomization of the patients was performed in this retrospective study, our present data provide convincing evidence that salvage therapy is a useful therapeutic approach for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas.     

重型颅脑损伤的手术治疗

目的探讨重型颅脑损伤梯度减压的手术方法对预防术中脑膨出、降低死亡率及致残率的效果。方法对100例重型颅脑损伤患者采用分次减压手术方式及去骨瓣后，硬膜与颞肌筋膜瓣减张缝闭硬膜切口方法。结果40例脑肿胀患者术中脑嘭出6例占15．0％，死亡19例占47．5％；60例脑内血肿病人未发生脑膨出，死亡12例占20％。结论脑外伤后脑血管调节麻痹及血肿压迫继发脑水肿易造成脑膨出.术中分次减压降低了骨窗部位脑组织的顺应性，从而降低了局部的压力梯度，避免脑血管急性扩张，能有效防止脑膨出，降低死亡率及致残率。     

针刺配合穴位注射治疗中风后遗症78例临床观察

用穴位注射复方丹参注射液配合针刺的方法治疗恢复期及后遗症期中风病78例,总有效率达96%,并与单纯用针刺治疗73例疗效比较,发现穴位注射复方丹参注射液配合针刺的疗效优于单纯针刺治疗,经统计学处理,有显著性差异P<0·01。     

Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Can We Afford the Cost of Cardioverter-Defibrillators? Data from the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study

Background: Large randomized trials show that in appropriately selected patients with left ventricular dysfunction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can improve overall survival at 2–5 years. Since direct implementation of the criteria used in the MADIT II and SCD-HeFT will lead to a marked rise in ICD implants, there is a growing fear that increased use of ICDs may cause a dramatic burden to health care systems. The ICD has traditionally been seen as an expensive form of treatment, which is difficult to accept at the first look. This is mainly due to the nonlinear character of the ICD investment, characterized by high initial expenditure, followed by a deferred pay-off in terms of clinical benefits. Cost-effectiveness analysis may help provide a different perspective on the problem of ICD cost, as may estimation of the daily cost of ICD treatment, assuming a time horizon of 5–7 years—a particularly interesting subject for further registry studies.
Methods and Results: Based on real expenditure data from 2002 to 2005, as recorded in the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study of patients implanted on MADIT II indications, we estimated the daily costs associated with the device and leads. Over a 5–7 year time horizon, the average daily cost was estimated to be €4.60–€6.70. Translation of these figures into U.S. market conditions suggests a daily cost of around $7.90–$11.40.
Conclusions: These findings appear useful to help evaluate the affordability of ICD in comparison with other therapeutic options in a context of limited available economic resources.     

Prediction and Detection of Secondary Hemorrhages after Thrombolytic Therapy in Ischemic Stroke

Abstract It is well established that thrombolytic therapy increases the risk of secondary intracerebral hemorrhage in ischemic stroke patients. However, the term “intracerebral hemorrhage” (ICH) covers a wide spectrum from tiny spots of blood to massive space-occupying hematoma. We will review the etiology and clinical consequences of secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients and discuss the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict this phenomenon. MRI is a highly sensitive tool for detection of hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke. The definitions of a so-called symptomatic hemorrhage after ischemic infarction differ considerably and will also be described. Attributing a causal relationship of a clinical deterioration to a secondary hemorrhage is not easy and should be only addressed when it exceeds at least 30% of the infarct volume. In other patients, secondary hemorrhage might be regarded as side effect of reperfusion within the region with the most severe perfusion deficit. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a frequent finding in patients with leukoaraiosis and appear to be a general marker of various types of bleeding- prone small vessel disease and a predictor of recurrent vascular events. Current data do not support the hypothesis that the detection of CMBs is a useful diagnostic criterion for the exclusion of patients with CMBs from thrombolytic therapy. However, an increased risk for the rare patients with numerous CMBs can not be ruled out.      

Renal Allograft Biopsies with Borderline Changes: Predictive Factors of Clinical Outcome

The clinical outcome and appropriate management for patients showing 'borderline changes' on allograft biopsy after renal transplantation is still controversial. In an attempt to identify predictive factors of clinical outcome of patients with such lesions, we reviewed the clinical course of 91 patients with borderline changes. Multivariate analysis revealed significant and independent effects of histological stage (i + t < or = or > 2) and time to borderline changes (< or = or > 3 months after transplant) on serum creatinine levels at 1 year from borderline changes episodes (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.02) and only a significant effect of time to borderline changes on serum creatinine levels at 2 years (p = 0.005). Renal function at 1 year and 2 years as 5- and 8-year graft survival were not significantly different in the group of patients treated with antirejection therapy (T group, n = 49) compared with the untreated group (UT group, n = 42). This study strongly suggests that borderline changes with histological score (i + t) > 2 and late episodes of borderline changes should be considered to be of poor prognosis.     

Subjective leisure experiences of older Australians

Background:  Previous studies into leisure have employed methodologies that may understate the significance of experiential components. This exploratory study investigated the leisure experiences of retired Australians over 65 years of age.
Methods:  Five semistructured interviews were used to explore the leisure experience of older people from metropolitan Adelaide. Data were coded and analysed thematically.
Results:  Relaxation and engrossment emerged as commonly expressed experiences, yet were found to emerge as a result of engagement in occupations predefined as leisure. Experiences of freedom from both necessary duties and a sense of obligation were discussed as potential determinants of leisure consciousness.
Practice implications:  This study highlights a need for therapists to actively access clients' subjective leisure experiences to enable engagement in personally meaningful leisure occupations.     

28例颈内动脉系统急性脑梗塞动脉溶栓治疗

目的分析颈内动脉系统急性脑梗塞动脉溶栓治疗的有效性和安全性。方法对28例颈内动脉急性脑梗塞的患者进行了动脉溶栓治疗．通过造影显示血管再通情况。术后即刻和24h后分别行头颅CT扫描以了解有无颅内出血（ICH）。术后第90天采用Barthel指数（BI）对患者生活状态进行评估。结果28例患者经动脉溶栓治疗，堵塞血管再通18例，部分再通6例，未通4例；症状性颅内出血8例，死亡5例。术后第90天，生活状态优者14例，良者8例，差或者死亡6例。再通患者生活状态明显优于部分再通及未通患者。结论动脉溶栓具有较高的症状性颅内出血率及死亡率。再通患者生活状态较好。