Atherogenic index of plasma and triglyceride-glucose index to predict more advanced coronary artery diseases in patients with the first diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most advanced form of the CHD spectrum. The triglyceride-glucose index (TGI) and atherogenic plasma index (AIP) are associated with future cardiovascular events. This study investigated the association of these parameters with the severity of CAD and prognosis in the first-diagnosed ACS patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study was designed retrospectively, including 558 patients. Patients were divided into four subgroups: high and low TGI and high and low AIP. SYNTAX scores, in-hospital mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and survival were compared at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: More three-vessel disease and higher SYNTAX scores have been detected in the high AIP and TGI groups. More MACEs have been observed in high AIP and TGI groups than low groups. AIP and TGI were found to be independent predictors for SYNTAX ≥23. While AIP has been found to be an independent risk factor for MACE, TGI has not been detected as an independent risk factor. In addition to AIP, age, three-vessel disease, and lower EF were the independent risk factors for MACE. Survival was lower in high TGP and AIP groups. CONCLUSIONS: AIP and TGI are costless bedside parameters that can be easily calculated. These parameters can predict the severity of CAD in first-diagnosed ACS patients. Besides, AIP is an independent risk factor for MACE. AIP and TGI parameters can guide our treatment in this patient population.

Innovaciones curriculares en la formación universitaria de trabajadores sociales / Innovations in the education of social workers: an investigation concerning the impact of changes in the curriculum that attempt to incorporate new models of teaching and learning

Investigam-se os avanços de inovações incluídas na reestruturação curricular da Faculdade de Serviço Social da Universidade de Colima, a partir da introdução de novas modalidades pedagógicas no currículo. Considera-se a importância de que, na formação de trabalhadores sociais, estes sejam vistos como atores sociais que participam da resolução de problemas da sociedade. Neste sentido, o corpo acadêmico da Faculdade analisou o processo e os resultados da implemantação de um modelo de ensino centrado no aluno no período de 2001 a 2005, para sustentar a reestruturação curricular. Resultados obtidos confirmam a pertinência dos modelos adotados e indicam algumas exigências para consolidação das inovações curriculares implementadas.

[Bacterial overgrowth secondary to intestinal diverticulosis]. / Sobrecrecimiento bacteriano secundario a diverticulosis intestinal.

Jejunal diverticulosis is an unusual finding. We present the case of 70-year-old man with bacterial overgrowth secondary to multiple diverticula of the small intestine. The diagnosis was based on clinical events, x-ray films and mainly on the optimal answer to antibiotic treatment.

[Real-time ultrasonography in neonatal diagnosis]. / La ecografía de tiempo real en el diagnóstico neonatológico.

Real time ultrasonography is a diagnostic technique very widely used in pediatrics and with specific applications in neonatology. Bedside its use in Neonatal I.C.U. it has many interesting aspects for intraabdominal and intracranial pathology. In some particular conditions this procedure can be the first diagnostic tool. Conventional X-rays can be performed after sonographic data have been analyzed.

[Fetal ventriculogram in rhesus immunization. Various aspects]. / Ventriculogramme foetal dans les immunisations rhésus. Quelques aspects

We considered it useful to attempt to diagnose fetal distress or fetal heart failure in hydropic fetuses using external electrodes with a feto-maternal electrocardiographic machine. The pathological tracings that we obtained have been compared with tracings from a normal pregnancy. The authors have not been able to find that there is a significant difference between the electric axes of normal fetuses and pathological fetuses. In fact in both groups we have found as many normal axes with right deviation as with left deviation. In any case we have found that low voltage ventriculograms with a triangular shape have been more common in hydropic fetuses than in the control group. We do not think that this method will be of any use in diagnosing chronic fetal distress of heart failure. All the same we think that we should devote our attention particularly to those patients that have low voltage ventriculograms of triangular shape. We would like to thank Dr Mario Villamichel for his advice and commentary on the manuscript as well as Dr Luis Senties, the Chef de Service of the Department of Isoimmunisation.