Despite the availability of newer therapeutic interventions to improve clinical outcome in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the incidence of infections as a cause of morbidity and mortality has not changed over the past 30 years. SLE itself increases the risk of infection, due to genetic (complement deficiencies) and acquired factors such as functional asplenia (humoral immunodepression) and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. These medications increase the risk of opportunistic infections that are associated with an altered cellular immune response. The main etiologic infectious agents in SLE patients are common bacterial pathogens, especially capsulated ones. The most common sites are lung, skin, bladder, brain and systemic infections. The main risk factor for infection is the history of a previous one. The clinical approach to SLE patients with suspected infectious diseases must consider the possibility of a flare up of the underlying disease, posing an additional problem to the clinician.

The Lagenina, Miliolina and Robertinina Foraminiferans gathered during the collecting activities of the German PUCK Expedition on bord of the R/V Sonne (Cruise SO 156: Valparaiso _ Chiloé) are described. The 29 samples were obtained with a multicore between 125 m and 3485 m depth. The analized samples yielded 27 > 150 µm foraminiferans shells/cm³, in which were found 56 species, 21 genus and 11 families. In addition two news species for the studied area and the science: Fissurina susanae n. sp. collected between 42ºS and 44ºS, Oolina margaritae n. sp., found of isolated form to the 38ºS and soon from 42ºS to 44ºS, is fully described.

Se describe la foraminiferofauna bentónica calcárea: Lagenina, Miliolina y Robertinina, durante la expedición científica alemana PUCK a bordo del R/V SONNE (Cruise SO _ 156: Valparaíso _ Chiloé, 2001). Las 29 muestras fueron extraídas con multicore entre 125 y 3.485 m de profundidad. En total se obtuvieron 27 individuos/cm³ (> 150 mm), los que se distribuyeron en 56 especies, 21géneros y 11 familias. Se describieron 2 especies nuevas para el área y la ciencia, Fissurina susanae n. sp. recolectada entre los 42ºS y los 44ºS, Oolina margaritae n. sp. encontrada de forma aislada a los 38ºS y luego desde los 42ºS a los 44ºS.

Background: Eating disorders may have serious organic consequences derived from under nutrition, specific nutrient deficiencies and electrolytic disturbances and reach a mortality as high as 12%. Aim: To describe the features and outcome after six months of treatment of patients attending the Eating Disorders Unit at the Catholic University Hospital in Chile. Material and methods: Review of medical records of patients with eating disorders that received a multidisciplinary treatment by a team of nutritionists, psychiatrists and psychologists and were seen at least twice in a period of six months. Results: The records of 81 patients (mean age 16.3±3 years, only one male) were included in the review. Forty nine patients had Anorexia Nervosa of the restricting type, five of the purging type, 22 had Bulimia Nervosa of the purging type and two of the non purging type and three patients had an eating disorder not otherwise specified. Eighty percent consulted within the first year of symptom appearance. Sixty five percent came from families with both parents living together, 57% had a rigid and agglutinated family structure and 65% had occult crises. Depression or dysthymia was found in 45% of patients and drug therapy was required at the beginning of treatment in 25%. Obsessive traits (40.4%) were significantly related to restrictive eaters. A past history of obesity or overweight was common. After six months of treatment, body mass index increasing significantly in restrictive eaters with obsessive traits and occult family crises was noticed. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary therapeutic intervention improved body mass index and family symptoms in patients with restrictive eating disorders (Rev Méd Chile 2006; 134: 973-80).

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatojejunal anastomosis dehiscence is the most feared complication of proximal pancreatoduodenectomies and it is the cause of other complications, including death. OBJECTIVE: We present our cumulative experience gathered with 198 proximal pancreatoduodenectomies reconstructed by using the simplified pancreatojejunal anastomosis technique. OPERATION TECHNIQUE: It consists of performing a tobacco-pouch suture around the free edge of the jejunum in order to introduce 4 cm of the pancreatic stump guided by two transfixing sutures between the pancreas and the intestine, closing the jejunum over the pancreas tightening the tobacco-pouch suture and making four separate stitches to ìanchorî the anastomosis. The pancreatic and bile anastomoses are decompressed by jejunostomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective study in 198 consecutive patients who had proximal pancreatoduodenectomies at the Institute for Neoplastic Diseases during the 1995 - 2005 period. RESULTS: Overall post-operative morbidity was 38.4% (76 out of 198 patients). Thirteen patients (6.6%) showed pancreatojejunal anastomosis dehiscence. Post-operative mortality after 30 days and hospital mortality were 2% and 3.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our modified pancreatojejunal anastomosis technique is simple, applicable to all types of pancreata and, most importantly, safe. It greatly reduces incidences of pancreatojejunal anastomosis dehiscence as well as post-operative morbidity and mortality.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La dehiscencia de la anastomosis pancreatoyeyunal es la complicación más temida de la pancreatoduodenectomía proximal (PDP) y puede ocacionar la muerte del paciente. Objetivo Presentamos nuestra experiencia acumulada en 198 PDPs reconstruídos utilizando la técnica simplificada de la anastomosis pancreatoyeyunal. TÉCNICA OPERATORIA: Consiste en realizar una sutura en bolsa de tabaco alrededor del borde libre del yeyuno para introducir 4 cm de muñón pancreático guiado por dos suturas transfixiantes entre el páncreas y el intestino, cerrar el yeyuno sobre el páncreas ajustando la sutura en bolsa de tabaco y colocar 4 puntos separados para "anclar" la anastomosis. Se descomprime las anastomosis pancreática y biliar mediante yeyunostomía. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio prospectivo de 198 pacientes consecutivos que tuvieron PDP en el Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplásicas en el periodo 1995-2005. RESULTADOS: La morbilidad post operatoria global fue 38.4% (76 de 198 pacientes). Trece pacientes (6.6%) presentaron dehiscencia de anastomosis pancreatoyeyunal. La mortalidad post operatoria a 30 días y la mortalidad hospitalaria fue 2 % y 3.5 %, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestra técnica modificada de anastomosis pancreatoyeyunal es simple, aplicable a todo tipo de páncreas y sobretodo segura, logrando reducir de manera importante la incidencia de dehiscencia de la anastomosis pancreatoyeyunal, la morbilidad y la mortalidad post operatorias.

Background: Polymorphisms of Fc receptors for IgG (FcgR) have been proposed as a genetic factor that influences susceptibility for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Human FcgRIIa has 2 codominantly expressed alleles, H131 and R131, which differ at amino acid position 131 in the second extracelular domain (histidine or arginine respectively) and differ substantially in their ability to bind human IgG2. The H131 allele binds IgG2 efficiently, whereas R131 binds it poorly. Because IgG2 is a poor activator of the classical complement pathway, the H131 is essential for the disposal of IgG2 immune complexes. Aim: To determine the distribution of FcgRIIA genes in a cohort of Chilean SLE patients, with or without a history of lupus nephritis. Patients and methods: We studied 52 Chilean SLE patients fulfilling the 1982 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, 20 of whom had a history of nephritis, and 44 ethnically matched disease-free controls. FcgRIIa allotypes were genotyped by PCR. Results: No significant association was observed between the low affinity FcgRII receptor (FcgRIIa-R131) and the presence of SLE or lupus nephritis. However, genotype frequencies in SLE patients but not in controls, departed from the proportions predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting this locus might be related to the disease. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in Chilean patients with SLE, as well as in many other populations, the R131 allotype is not a major factor predisposing to the development of SLE or lupus nephritis (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 11-18)

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a scleroderma-like disease of unknown etiology characterized by cutaneous swelling and induration that affects predominantly the extremities, elevated immune globulins, and peripheral eosinophilia. We report three patients with clinical, laboratory and pathologic characteristics of EF. The main symptoms were cutaneous and included "peau d' orange", groove signs and induration of the affected extremities. Two patients had skin changes after exercising and one had a hypothyroidism. None had extra-cutaneous manifestations. All patients had peripheral eosinophilia. Pathologic findings were thickening and inflammation of the fascia and normal epidermis. Only one patient was treated with prednisone 30 mg daily and showed only moderate improvement. There is no follow up information about the other two cases. EF is a rare disorder classified at times as scleroderma variants. However, its clinical picture, capillary microscopy findings, pathology and prognosis differentiate it from systemic sclerosis. (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 209-14)

A descriptive trial of essential tremor in Buenos Aires city is proposed. It may be considered as the first one like this in Latin America. During a 15 years period, sixteen families with essential tremor diagnosis have been examined, making a total of 39 patients (20 males and 19 females). The disease was basically studied from its semiological, clinico-evolutive and therapeutical view point, following a protocol. Our results indicate - a. The clinico-evolutive characteristics: its frequency (according to race, sex, social status, age of beginning and physiopathological type), morbility and mortality, evolution, prognosis, triggering factors, longevity and multiparity. b. The different treatment given to our patients with discussion of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic basis and evaluation of the best responses. In this matter, it is concluded that both primidone (750 mg/daily) and/or propranolol (160-240 mg/daily) are undeniably the drugs of first choice for the treatment of this disease. A comparison of the clinico-therapeutic features of this tremor in Buenos Aires and other cities is done. The study of this syndrome in Buenos Aires does not give different results from those obtained in Europe and USA.

Consideramos esta publicación como la primera sobre Temblor Esencial en América Latina. Todos nuestros pacientes eran inmigrantes o hijos de inmigrantes de los orígenes más comunes en nuestro país (España, Italia, Francia y Polonia). No se incluyeron pacientes indoamericanos. El reducido número de indoamericanos puros en Buenos Aires y sus alrededores debe tenerse en cuenta. El temblor hereditario esencial es entidad monosintomática, conocida durante más de cien años. Sus elementos más importantes se describen progresivamente aquí y también, las dificultades terapéuticas que presenta. Durante un período de quince años, los autores pudieron seleccionar un total de 16 familias, con 39 casos de temblor esencial, estudiados básicamente desde el punto de vista clínico. Esto nos permitió confirmar el carácter del temblor, de tipo rítmico (4 a 10 c/seg), preponderante en manos, especialmente en los dedos pulgar e índice, extensión del temblor a la boca, cabeza y eventualmente, a todo el cuerpo. La característica dominante y autosómica de la herencia también se demostró en nuestros pacientes. La edad de comienzo de esta entidad oscila entre los 20 y los 40 años, con una exacerbación en la quinta década de la vida. No hubo predominancia de ninguno de los sexos, ni de longevidad ni multiparidad. Esta enfermedad no produce la muerte y la incapacidad que acarrea no es muy importante. No parece existir una asociación entre esta entidad y otras enfermedades, excepto aquellas patologías desencadenantes como la tensión emocional y eventualmente, el alcoholismo como tratamiento aparente propuesto por el propio paciente para aliviar su sintomatologia. La ubicación nosológica de esta enfermedad debe estar junto con los trastornos extrapiramidales, a pesar de los 5 casos existentes en la bibliografía mundial sobre anatomía patológica, los que no presentaron alteraciones tales que justificaran el temblor en el sistema nervioso central. El diagnóstico diferencial más importante debe hacerse en relación a la enfermedad de Parkinson o parkinsonismos. Este es un hecho simple ya que el temblor esencial no presenta los otros signos presentes en Parkinson excepto el temblor; además, esta enfermedad es hereditaria. El temblor esencial en manos responde mejor al manejo farmacológico que el temblor de cabeza, piernas o tronco. Los pacientes con temblor esencial tipo II responden mejor a la terapia con propranolol (40-80 mg t.i.d.) que los dtl tipo I, pero ambos tipos de pacientes tienen respuesta similar a la primidona (250 mg t.i.d.). Concluimos que estas drogas son indudablemente la elección alternativa para el actual tratamiento de esta patología. El estudio de esta enfermedad en la ciudad de Buenos Aires no da resultados diferentes de los obtenidos en Europa y en los Estados Unidos.