RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar nossa experiência inicial no tra tamento da ceratite por Acanthamoeba com reticulação acelerada de colágeno corneano. Métodos: Revisão retrospectiva de prontuários de pacientes diagnosticados com ceratite por Acanthamoeba, com deformação progressiva da córnea, tratados com reticulação acelerada de colágeno. Resultados: Seis olhos (5 pacientes) foram incluídos. Todos os pacientes receberam terapia adjuvante com moxifloxacina e clorexidina. Em 4 casos, a úlcera cicatrizou com uma média de epitelização de 108,8 dias (amplitude de 59-217 dias). Em dois pacientes, a úlcera apresentou um comportamento neurotrófico. A deformação não foi progressiva em nenhum dos pacientes e nenhum dos olhos exigiu ceratoplastia penetrante de emergência. Conclusão: Este estudo sugeriu um efeito benéfico da reticulação acelerada de colágeno em casos de ceratite por Acanthamoeba infecciosa com deformação corneal. A reticulação de colágeno parece ser uma alternativa coadjuvante possível para casos de ceratite por Acanthamoeba.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To report our initial experience in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis with accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis with progressive corneal melting who were treated with accelerated collagen cross-linking. Results: A total of 6 eyes (5 patients) were reviewed. All the patients received adjuvant therapy with moxifloxacin and chlorhexidine. In 4 cases, the ulcer healed with a mean interval to epithelialization of 108.8 days (range 59-217). In 2 eyes, there was a persistent neurotrophic ulcer. The melting was not progressive in any case, nor did any eye required emergency penetrating keratoplasy. Conclusion: This study suggests a beneficial effect of accelerated collagen cross-linking in cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis with corneal melting. Thus, collagen cross-linking may be considered as adjuvant treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis.

ABSTRACT Background: Knowing the difficulties in the application of palliative care would allow us to propose improvement strategies. The objective was to determine the metric properties of the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS) translated and adapted to Spanish. Methods: An instrumental validation study was designed in a regional hospital and primary care centers of a health district. 148 health professionals participated. Sociodemographic and professional variables were collected by a questionnaire about palliative care training and experience, as well as items from the PCDS. The statistical analysis was done with the SPSS 19.0 program. Results: It was verified the comprehension of the translation and back translation of the questionnaire, in a pilot study with 30 professionals. Subsequently, in the survey of 118 professionals, an endorsement frequency of not more than 51% was found for content validity. As for the construct validity, the calculation of the sample adequacy, using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index obtained a value of 0.76. The principal component factor analysis reached a total variance of 73.88% with all items. The correlation of factors ranged from 0.2 to 0.3; so the Varimax rotation was established. The correlation between the items of each factor was higher than 0.6. For the reliability analysis, the internal consistency obtained a Cronbach alpha value of 0.87. In the test-retest reliability analysis, Spearman’s Rho correlation for the scale was 0.81. Conclusions: It was obtained an instrument translated and culturally adapted to Spanish, with adequate validity and reliability to measure difficulties in palliative care.

RESUMEN Fundamentos: Conocer las dificultades en la aplicación de cuidados paliativos, permitiría proponer estrategias de mejora. El objetivo del estudio fue validar la traducción de la "Escala de Dificultades en Cuidados Paliativos (PCDS)", traducida y adaptada al español. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de validación instrumental, en un hospital comarcal y centros de atención primaria de un distrito sanitario. Participaron 148 profesionales sanitarios. Mediante una encuesta, recogimos variables sociodemográficas y profesionales sobre la formación y experiencia en cuidados paliativos, así como los ítems del cuestionario PCDS. El análisis estadístico se hizo con el programa SPSS 19.0. Resultados: Comprobamos la comprensión de la traducción y retrotraducción del cuestionario en un estudio piloto con 30 profesionales. Posteriormente, encuestamos a 118 profesionales, encontrando una frecuencia de endose no superior al 51% para la validez de contenido. En cuanto a la validez de constructo, el cálculo de la adecuación muestral, mediante el índice de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin obtuvo un valor de 0,76. En el análisis factorial por componentes principales encontramos una varianza total explicada del 73,88% con todos los ítems. La correlación de factores osciló entre 0,2 y 0,3, así que se estableció la rotación Varimax. La correlación entre los ítems de cada factor fue superior a 0,6. Para el análisis de fiabilidad, la consistencia interna obtuvo un valor alfa de Cronbach de 0,87. En el análisis de fiabilidad test-retest, la correlación Rho de Spearman para la escala fue de 0,81. Conclusiones: Disponemos de un instrumento traducido y adaptado culturalmente al español, con validez y fiabilidad adecuadas para la medición de dificultades en cuidados paliativos.

ABSTRACT Background: Knowing the difficulties in the application of palliative care would allow us to propose improvement strategies. The objective was to determine the metric properties of the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS) translated and adapted to Spanish. Methods: An instrumental validation study was designed in a regional hospital and primary care centers of a health district. 148 health professionals participated. Sociodemographic and professional variables were collected by a questionnaire about palliative care training and experience, as well as items from the PCDS. The statistical analysis was done with the SPSS 19.0 program. Results: It was verified the comprehension of the translation and back translation of the questionnaire, in a pilot study with 30 professionals. Subsequently, in the survey of 118 professionals, an endorsement frequency of not more than 51% was found for content validity. As for the construct validity, the calculation of the sample adequacy, using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index obtained a value of 0.76. The principal component factor analysis reached a total variance of 73.88% with all items. The correlation of factors ranged from 0.2 to 0.3; so the Varimax rotation was established. The correlation between the items of each factor was higher than 0.6. For the reliability analysis, the internal consistency obtained a Cronbach alpha value of 0.87. In the test-retest reliability analysis, Spearman’s Rho correlation for the scale was 0.81. Conclusions: It was obtained an instrument translated and culturally adapted to Spanish, with adequate validity and reliability to measure difficulties in palliative care.

RESUMEN Fundamentos: Conocer las dificultades en la aplicación de cuidados paliativos, permitiría proponer estrategias de mejora. El objetivo del estudio fue validar la traducción de la "Escala de Dificultades en Cuidados Paliativos (PCDS)", traducida y adaptada al español. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de validación instrumental, en un hospital comarcal y centros de atención primaria de un distrito sanitario. Participaron 148 profesionales sanitarios. Mediante una encuesta, recogimos variables sociodemográficas y profesionales sobre la formación y experiencia en cuidados paliativos, así como los ítems del cuestionario PCDS. El análisis estadístico se hizo con el programa SPSS 19.0. Resultados: Comprobamos la comprensión de la traducción y retrotraducción del cuestionario en un estudio piloto con 30 profesionales. Posteriormente, encuestamos a 118 profesionales, encontrando una frecuencia de endose no superior al 51% para la validez de contenido. En cuanto a la validez de constructo, el cálculo de la adecuación muestral, mediante el índice de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin obtuvo un valor de 0,76. En el análisis factorial por componentes principales encontramos una varianza total explicada del 73,88% con todos los ítems. La correlación de factores osciló entre 0,2 y 0,3, así que se estableció la rotación Varimax. La correlación entre los ítems de cada factor fue superior a 0,6. Para el análisis de fiabilidad, la consistencia interna obtuvo un valor alfa de Cronbach de 0,87. En el análisis de fiabilidad test-retest, la correlación Rho de Spearman para la escala fue de 0,81. Conclusiones: Disponemos de un instrumento traducido y adaptado culturalmente al español, con validez y fiabilidad adecuadas para la medición de dificultades en cuidados paliativos.

BACKGROUND: Tear desiccation on a glass surface followed by transmitted-light microscopy has served as diagnostic test for dry eye. Four distinctive morphological domains (zones I, II, III and transition band) have been recently recognized in tear microdesiccates. Physicochemical dissimilarities among those domains hamper comprehensive microscopic examination of tear microdesiccates. Optimal observation conditions of entire tear microdesiccates are now investigated. One-μ! aliquots of tear collected from individual healthy eyes were dried at ambient conditions on microscope slides. Tear microdesiccates were examined by combining low-magnification objective lenses with transmitted-light microscopy (brightfield, phase contrasts Ph1,2,3 and darkfield. RESULTS: Fern-like structures (zones II and III) were visible with all illumination methods excepting brightfield. Zone I was the microdesiccate domain displaying the most noticeable illumination-dependent variations, namely transparent band delimited by an outer rim (Ph1, Ph2), homogeneous compactly built structure (brightfield) or invisible domain (darkfield, Ph3). Intermediate positions of the condenser (BF/Ph1, Ph1/Ph2) showed a structured roughly cylindrical zone I. The transition band also varied from invisibility (brightfield) to a well-defined domain comprising interwoven filamentous elements (phase contrasts, darkfield. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging of entire tear microdesiccates by transmitted-light microscopy depends upon illumination. A more comprehensive description of tear microdesiccates can be achieved by combining illumination methods.

Desiccation of human tears on glass surfaces results in fern-like crystalloids. This phenomenon has been associated with tear normality (Tear Ferning Test, TFT) and is used as a diagnostic aid to evaluate patients with Dry-Eye disease. However, TFT is focused on the assessment of only a minor fraction of desiccated tear samples and considers only the relative abundance and density of fern-like crystalloids. The aim of this study was to characterize morphologically entire desiccated micro volumes of tears from healthy donors. Tear samples were collected from 23 healthy young adult volunteers. Tear aliquots (1-3 μL) were allowed to dry on glass surfaces under ambient conditions of temperature (15-25°C) and relative humidity (40-45%). Dry samples were analyzed by dark-field microscopy. Morphometric data were acquired with Image J software. Tear volume was positively correlated with both area and time of desiccation. Morphological features of multiple microdesiccates produced from a single subject displayed striking similarities whereas tear microdesiccates from different healthy subjects displayed consistent differences but shared a common general design. This design may be mostly represented by the occurrence of four distinctive zones, named as zones I, II, III and Transition band. The main features of these zones are described.

Objectives: To update a syndrome that has increased the number of pathologies included such as obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type II diabetes mellitus, and the recent addition of erectile dysfunction and androgen deficiency Methods: Global review of bibliography taking the last articles as a reference and mainly those from Prof. M. Serrano Rios and his group in Madrid. Results: Metabolic syndrome seems to be consolidated as a universally accepted term, despite its complex semantic and gnoseologic itinerary. The inclusion of erectile dysfunction and androgen deficiency gives more pathogenic solidity and makes the professional field of endocrinology closer to two mainly urological processes. The urologist has a new perspective of processes that are of his own, that he has to take care of in a comprehensive manner, with physical examination, blood tests and therapy. Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome may be more frequently than suspected recognized in the urologist office. Urologists are compelled, in this typically medical process, to exercise with more dedication and fullness the medical compromise of our medical-surgical specialty.

Objetivo: Puesta al día de un síndrome que en los pasados años ha ido incrementando las patologías coincidentes en el mismo, tales como obesidad, hipertensión, hipercolesterolemia, diabetes tipo II, con la reciente adición de la disfunción erectil y la androgenodeficiencia Método: Revisión global de la literatura tomando como referencia las últimas aportaciones y muy especialmente las debidas al profesor M. Serrano Ríos, de Madrid, y su grupo Resultados: El síndrome metabólico parece actualmente consolidado como terminó universalmente aceptado, a pesar de su complejo itinerario semántico y nosologico. La inclusión de la disfunción erectil y la androgenodeficiencia le da más solidez patogénica y aproxima más al terreno profesional de la endocrinología a dos procesos prioritariamente urológicos. El urólogo recibe a su vez una nueva perspectiva de procesos que son inexcusablemente propios y a los que ha de atender con mayor amplitud exploratoria, analítica y terapéutica Conclusiones: El síndrome metabólico puede ser reconocido en la consulta urológica con más frecuencia de lo sospechado. El urólogo queda obligado, en este proceso típicamente médico, a ejercer con más dedicación y amplitud el compromiso médico de su especialidad médico quirúrgica.

Objectives: Renal haemangiomas of renal papillary or medullar origin are a difficult diagnosis entity, being one of the most frequent processes of chronic episodes of hematuria, secondary to benign disease, mainly in young patients (1). The objective of this paper is to show the difficulty of this diagnosis and the need to suspect it in cases with clinical history similar to the ones described in these cases. Methods: We report 4 cases of spontaneous hematuria of renal origin, with clinical presentation as renal colic, from the historical case series of the Fundacion Jimenez Díaz - Capio, the last two from the years 2005-6. We present the diagnostic and therapeutic methodology employed, including angio-CT and flexible ureterorenoscopy (URS) as well as various treatment options. Results: Hematuria was identified as "essential" when any relation with tumor or lithiasic pathologies was ruled out, and of renal origin when the source was clearly pointed. We interpreted it was related to angiomas or microangiomas of papillary or medullar origin. In one case, the vascular malformation was interpreted as an arterial venous fistula (AVF) at that level. Hematuria stopped spontaneously in two cases after exploratory URS. The eldest historical case required surgical expiration of the caliceal structures. Conclusion: Years ago, following the professional development of Urology as speciality, conventional surgery was carried out in all these cases, of very difficult diagnosis, with a very small number of cases undergoing a conservative approach based on the examination of renal cavities trying to observe and find the bleeding point. Most cases underwent complete or partial nephrectomy. Currently, the possibility of exploration of all renal cavities with the flexible ureterorenoscope enables a better diagnosis of the lesions and a more conservative treatment. The ultimate diagnosis of renal papillary angioma is the pathologic diagnosis, without pathognomonic data in the imaging tests. This pathology is thought of at the end of the diagnostic workup, and when the papillary area is identified as the source of bleeding. The historical case series, with the pathologic findings from nephrectomy specimens, permits us to point out this entity as papillary angioma, in patients with similar clinical presentation.

Objetivo: Los hemangiomas renales de origen papilar o medular renal, es una entidad de difícil diagnóstico, siendo una de las causas más frecuentes de episodios crónicos de hematuria, por patología benigna, fundamentalmente en pacientes jóvenes (1). El objetivo de esta presentación es mostrar la dificultad de este diagnóstico y la necesidad de sospecharlo en cuadros con historia similar a la que expresan estos casos. Métodos: Se presentan 4 casos de hematuria espontánea de origen renal, con expresión clínica de dolor cólico, de la serie histórica del Servicio de Urología de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz-Capio, los dos últimos del año 2005-6. Se presenta la metodología diagnóstica y terapéutica realizada, incluidos los estudios de angioTAC y la URS (ureterorenoscopia flexible), asi como diversas opciones de tratamiento. Resultado: La hematuria se identificó como "esencial" al descartar la relación responsable con patología tumoral o litiásica, y de origen renal al señalar claramente su origen. Se interpretó relacionada con angiomas o microangiomas de origen papilar o medular. En un caso la malformación vascular fue interpretada como FAV (fístula arteriovenosa) a ese nivel. Tras la URS exploradora, la hematuria cedió espontáneamente en dos casos. El caso histórico más antiguo requirió la exploración quirúrgica de las estructuras calicilares. Conclusión: Hace años y siguiendo el desarrollo profesional de la Especialidad de Urología, todos estos casos, de gran dificultad diagnóstica, eran sometidos a cirugía convencional, en muy pocas ocasiones con actitud conservadora, basada ésta en la exploración de las cavidades renales, intentando observar y encontrar el lugar del sangrado activo. La mayoría de los casos eran sometidos finalmente a Nefrectomía total o parcial. La posibilidad actual, de poder explorar las cavidades renales en su totalidad con el ureterorenoscopio flexible, permite un mejor diagnóstico de las lesiones y un tratamiento más conservador. El diagnóstico último de angioma renal papilar es anatomo-patológico, sin existir datos patogneumónicos de diagnóstico por la imagen Se piensa en esta patología, al final del proceso diagnóstico, y al identificar la zona papilar como origen del sangrado. La serie histórica de casos clinicos, con los hallazgos anatomo-patológicos de las nefrectomías realizadas, permite señalar la entidad, como angioma papilar, en pacientes con clínica similar.

A performance study was conducted in two working groups of a selected Cuban institution aimed at making a diagnosis of the main limitations presented to initiate gradual changes and to implement improvement processes. The technical and general competences that respond to the strategic objectives of the departments "A" and "B" are identified. The maps by departments are prepared and the existing gaps are delimited. Finally, a proposal for the improvement of performance is made.

Se realiza un estudio de desempeño en dos grupos de trabajo de una institución cubana seleccionada con vistas a realizar un diagnóstico de las principales limitaciones que presentan con la finalidad de iniciar cambios paulatinos y emprender procesos de mejora. Se identifican las competencias generales y técnicas que responden a los objetivos estratégicos de los departamentos “A” y “B”. Se confeccionan los mapas por departamentos y se delimitan las brechas existentes. Finalmente, se realiza una propuesta para la mejora de desempeño.