[POEMS syndrome. A case report]

A 48 years old male is reported. He presented with lower limb progressive and severe polyneuropathy, hypertrichosis, endocrinological alterations (hypothyroidism and hypogonadism) and organomegaly (hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathies). This syndrome was associated with an osteosclerotic myeloma. The patient died two months after admission.

[A neurobiological model of mind]

An essential difference is established between the dorsal, and ventral regions of the cerebral cortex: While dorsal cortex--linked to archicortex or hippocampal allocortex--elaborates acts, and objects used in, or by, acts, ventral cortex--linked to paleocortex or olfactory allocortex, builds up preventive values favoring the inhibition of acts whenever the use of objects may become dangerous. Such a distinction between the dorsal and ventral regions of the cerebral cortex is founded mainly on disinhibition syndromes appearing in patients with ventral lesions--besides, the said distinction can explain some disinhibition demonstrations included in the schizophrenic clinical pictures.

[Epidemiologic and nutritional characteristics of the elderly]

A sample of 1365 elders of both sexes from rural and urban populations was studied. Thirty four percent of the subjects were older that 80 years. 21.6% lived alone, 25% were illiterate and 50% did not finish elementary school. Mental impairment was found in 5.6% and body mass index was normal in 41.4% of subjects. Eighty seven percent did not smoke and 80% were teetotalers. Medical services were requested at least every one year by 15.4% and twice a year by 11.9% of subjects. These numbers will help to design preventive and interventional policies directed to this segment of the population.

[Intestinal tuberculosis: analysis of clinical cases and autopsy]

Intestinal tuberculosis is rare compared to other forms of the disease. A review of the last 10 years in a General University hospital identified 21 cases diagnosed at autopsy and 8 during life. Most patients were males, older than 30 years of age, alcoholics and originating in southern Chile. Evidence of concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis was frequent. Disease was located most commonly at the ileum and cecum, and surgery was needed in a high proportion of cases. Hepatic cirrhosis and lymphopenia were common findings in autopsy patients.