María Georgina Zapata Menchaca
Área Académica de Medicina
Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Mexican Journal of Medical Research emitted by Área Académica de Medicina of Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud (ICSa) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, committed to the development of high educational standards beside the promotion and diffusion of research material that promotes critical analysis further improving medical practices in our country, is honored to present its fifth number that included a case related to benign bone tumors, which specifically describes the characteristics of peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG). The PGCG is a reactive rare exophytic lesion of the oral cavity also called giant cell epulis, giant cell reparative granuloma or giant cell hyperplasia. The PGCG with unknown etiology has associated risk factors: dental extraction, trauma, bacterial plaque, chronic infection and inflammation. The appearance of PGCG is a polypoid nodular lesion. It can be sessile or pedunculated with the size usually being less than 2 cm with a color range from red to bluish-purple also soft rubbery consistency. There is a gender difference with 60% of the disease occurring in females. Localization of the PGCG is more often in the mandible premolar and molar region rather than the maxilla, but it may be found in either anterior or posterior areas. The diagnosis is through histology analysis, with a large number of multinucleated giant cells observed microscopically. Additionally, near the borders of the lesion, deposits of hemosiderin and hemorrhage are often found. In 50% of cases, ulcerations are present. Treatment consists of surgical excision and removal of irritating factors, it is a priority to identify the presence of a tumor, if it is benign or malignant because immediate action regarding the diagnosis should be prioritized and referral to experience places for treatment.
The Convention on Rights of the Child of 1989 claims that every child has the right to the highest attainable standard of health and the right to a safe environment. The fourth element of the millennium development goals is to reduce by two-thirds the mortality in children’s less than five years and order to comply efforts are made in the two leading causes of death in children under 18 years: infectious diseases and lesions secondary to trauma. In our country injuries are now a major cause of death and disability prevention is so important for child survival and health improvement. In the number present, Córdova-Rivera et al. gives us data on burn injuries in the Pediatric Hospital of State of Hidalgo, Mexico. Burn injuries be defined: lesion caused by physical, chemical or biological agents whose common characteristic lesions include protein denaturation, destruction of cellular elements and altered cellular metabolism causing loss of continuity of the skin. Considering the pain and trauma caused to the family as a result of a severely injured or disabled child also impose a greater emotional charge due to medical costs and the special attention is for that reason that we need to emphasis our job to create a strategy based on a situational analysis to assess the magnitude of the problem and actions to prevent them. In the United States, burns are the third leading cause of death among children 0 to 14 years of age. In addition, each year greater than 125,000 children suffer serious burn injuries, with a disturbing percentage of those through abuse. Yet the number of specialized burn centers in the U.S. is not near enough to be in proximity or even accessible to the majority of these patients. The situation is even worse in most other regions of the world, as Mexico. Therefore, it is critical that we reach as many as possible. Burns can be classified according to their mechanism or cause, their degree or depth, the percentage of burned body surface area, region or affected body part and its extension. Current epidemiology of Mexican burns children’s is presented in the manuscript of Córdova-Rivera et al. In addition, instruct us in the approach, prognosis and complications, and a series of interventions recommended besides clarify areas where further research is needed. We must not forget that diagnosis and initial treatment in the primary care of burn patients less than 18 years be essential to reduce the possible complications of burns, which result in higher or lower probability to die or live with physical and psychological consequences that affect the productive environment and quality of life of the person.
We hope that the manuscripts in the present issue of the journal are of interest to readers and also we open the channels of communication with the benefit of constant improvement.
1. Morey-Mas M, Hamdam-Ahmad H, Caubet-Biayna J, Forteza-Rey I, Iriarte-Ortabe J. Granuloma central de células gigantes en paciente de edad avanzada. A propósito de un caso. Rev Esp Cirug Oral y Maxilofac. 2001;23:302-5.
2. Mansuy M, Ochsenius G, Rojas R. Granuloma de celulas gigantes:análisis de 84 casos. Rev Fac Odont Univ Chile. 2002; 20: 59-67.
3. Peden M, et al. Informe mundial sobre prevención de las lesiones en los niños. Organización Mundial de la salud 2012 y Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia.