Assessment of nasopharyngeal airway volume in pediatric patients with adenoid hypertrophy by cone-beam computerized tomography / Volumen de la vía aérea nasofaríngea en pacientes pediátricos con hipertrofia adenoidea: evaluación por tomografía computarizada de haz cónico

Objective: Adenoid hypertrophy is a disease whose most serious effect is the obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway, leading to severe dentoskeletal deformities. The aim of this study was to determine the volume of the nasopharynx in patients with different grades of adenoid hypertrophy. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted. One hundred and twenty-five cone beam computed tomographies of 8 to 12-year-old pediatric patients, obtained from the 2014-2017 database of the School of Dentistry of Universidad de San Martin de Porres, were selected. Romexis 3.6.0 software (PlanMeca®, Finland) was used. In order to make a diagnosis and determine the grade of hypertrophy (Grade 1= healthy, Grade 2= mild, Grade 3= moderate and Grade 4= severe) quantitative and qualitative methods were used; grades 2, 3 and 4 were considered pathological. The same software was used to determine the volume of the nasopharynx. Results: Grade 1 hypertrophy was 44%, mild 36,8%, moderate 13,6% and severe 5,6%, accounting for a pathological adenoid hypertrophy prevalence of 56%. The mean volume of the nasopharynx was 4.985, 3.375, 2.154 and 0.944cm3 for grades 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of pathological adenoid hypertrophy (56%). The volume of the nasopharynx decreases according to the severity of the adenoid hypertrophy.

Objetivo: La hipertrofia adenoidea es una patología cuya repercusión más severa es la obstrucción de la vía aérea nasofaríngea, con graves consecuencias de malformaciones dento-esqueléticas. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar el volumen de la vía aérea nasofaríngea en pacientes con diferentes grados de hipertrofia adenoidea. Material y método: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, se seleccionaron 125 tomografías computarizadas de haz cónico de pacientes pediátricos de 8 a 12 años de edad obtenidas en la base de datos del 2014 al 2017 de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Se utilizó el software Romexis 3.6.0 (PlanMeca®, Finlandia); para realizar el diagnóstico y determinar el grado de hipertrofia (Grado 1= sano, Grado 2=leve, Grado 3=moderado y Grado 4= severo) se utilizaron dos métodos, uno de evaluación cualitativa y otra cuantitativa; los grados 2, 3 y 4 fueron considerados como patológicos; para determinar el volumen de la vía aérea nasofaríngea se utilizaron las herramientas del mismo software. Resultados: La hipertrofia grado 1 estuvo constituida por el 44%, leve en el 36.8%, moderado en el 13.6% y severo en el 5.6%; constituyendo finalmente una prevalencia de hipertrofia adenoidea patológica del 56%. Las medias de los volúmenes de la vía aérea nasofaríngea fueron de 4.985, 3.375, 2.154 y 0.944 cm3 para los grados 1, 2, 3 y 4 respectivamente. Conclusión: Existe una alta prevalencia de hipertrofia adenoidea patológica (56%), el volumen de la vía aérea nasofaríngea tiende a disminuir conforme a la severidad de la hipertrofia adenoidea.

A comparative study of digital lateral radiography and virtual cone-beam computed assisted cephalogram in cephalometric measurements

Objectives: to assess discrepancies in cephalometric measurements from digital lateral radiography and virtual cone-beam computed assisted tomography cephalogram. materials and methods: forty digital lateral radiographs and forty virtual cephalograms obtained by cone-beam computed assisted tomography were analyzed, corresponding to forty patients from the Instituto de Diagnóstico Maxilofacial in Lima, Peru. the principal investigator, who had been previously calibrated, made two measurements within a timespan of fifteen days using the analysis of Steiner and the NemoCeph software, and the difference between the obtained measurements was evaluated to determine if it was significant. results: for digital lateral radiographs the difference varied between 0.00º - 0.45º and 0.01mm - 0.16mm, with statistical significance for distance between Pg and NB for lateral virtual cephalograms between 0.03º - 0.73º and 0.01mm - 0.43mm, with statistical significance for SE distance. the comparison between the two types of image in the first measurement showed a difference of 0.08º - 1.15º and 0.00mm - 1.43mm with statistical significance for four angular measurements and one linear. the comparison between the two types of image in the second measurement showed a difference of 0.13º - 1º and 0.02mm - 1.32mm with a statistically significant difference for three angular and two linear measurements. conclusions: the difference between the two types of image is minimal; both evaluated methods can be used effectively.

Achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals in 18 countries outside Western Europe: The International ChoLesterol management Practice Study (ICLPS).

Background Little is known about the achievement of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in patients at cardiovascular risk receiving stable lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in countries outside Western Europe. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 452 centres (August 2015-August 2016) in 18 countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Patients ( n = 9049) treated for ≥3 months with any LLT and in whom an LDL-C measurement on stable LLT was available within the previous 12 months were included. Results The mean±SD age was 60.2 ± 11.7 years, 55.0% of patients were men and the mean ± SD LDL-C value on LLT was 2.6 ± 1.3 mmol/L (101.0 ± 49.2 mg/dL). At enrolment, 97.9% of patients were receiving a statin (25.3% on high intensity treatment). Only 32.1% of the very high risk patients versus 51.9% of the high risk and 55.7% of the moderate risk patients achieved their LDL-C goals. On multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with not achieving LDL-C goals were no (versus lower dose) statin therapy, a higher (versus lower) dose of statin, statin intolerance, overweight and obesity, female sex, neurocognitive disorders, level of cardiovascular risk, LDL-C value unknown at diagnosis, high blood pressure and current smoking. Diabetes was associated with a lower risk of not achieving LDL-C goals. Conclusions These observational data suggest that the achievement of LDL-C goals is suboptimal in selected countries outside Western Europe. Efforts are needed to improve the management of patients using combination therapy and/or more intensive LLTs.

Benznidazole and Posaconazole in Eliminating Parasites in Asymptomatic T. Cruzi Carriers: The STOP-CHAGAS Trial.

BACKGROUND: Benznidazole is recommended for treatment of Chagas infection. Effects of combination therapy with benznidazole and posaconazole have not been tested in Trypanosoma cruzi carriers. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether posaconazole alone or combined with benznidazole were superior to benznidazole monotherapy in eliminating T. cruzi parasites measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic Chagas carriers. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in 120 subjects from Latin America and Spain who were randomized to 4 groups: posaconazole 400 mg twice a day (b.i.d.); benznidazole 200 mg + placebo b.i.d.; benznidazole 200 mg b.i.d. + posaconazole 400 mg b.i.d.; or placebo 10 mg b.i.d. T. cruzi deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by RT-PCR at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 360 days. The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of subjects with persistent negative RT-PCR by day 180; the secondary outcome was negative RT-PCR at 360 days. RESULTS: Only 13.3% of those receiving posaconazole and 10% receiving placebo achieved the primary outcome, compared with 80% receiving benznidazole + posaconazole and 86.7% receiving benznidazole monotherapy (p < 0.0001 vs. posaconazole/placebo). Posaconazole monotherapy or posaconazole combined with benznidazole achieved high RT-PCR conversion rates during treatment (30 days; 93.3% and 88.9% and 60 days; 90%, and 92.3%) that were similar to benznidazole (89.7% and 89.3%); all were superior to placebo or posaconazole (10% and 16.7%, p < 0.0001). This was not observed at 360 days; benznidazole + posaconazole and benznidazole monotherapy (both 96%) versus placebo (17%) and posaconazole (16%, p < 0.0001). Serious adverse events were rare (6 patients) and were observed in the benznidazole-treated patients. Permanent discontinuation was reported in 19 patients (31.7%) receiving either benznidazole monotherapy or combined with posaconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Posaconazole demonstrated trypanostatic activity during treatment, but it is ineffective long-term in asymptomatic T. cruzi carriers. Benznidazole monotherapy is superior to posaconazole, with high RT-PCR conversion rates sustained at 1 year. Side effects lead to therapy discontinuation in 32%. No advantages were observed with combined therapy versus benznidazole monotherapy. (A Study of the Use of Oral Posaconazole [POS] in the Treatment of Asymptomatic Chronic Chagas Disease [P05267] [STOP CHAGAS]: NCT01377480).

Prevention of electrocardiographic and histopathologic alterations in the murine model of Chagas' disease by preinoculation of an attenuated Trypanosoma cruzi strain

Os efeitos da infecçäo do Trypanosoma cruzi nos traçados eletrocardiográficos de camundongos forma estudados em quatro grupos de animais: 1. normal; 2. infectado com cepa patogênica de T. cruzi (TS, COB); 3. imunizados com três inoculaçöes intra-peritoneais de 10**6 epimastigotas de T. cruzi atenuadas (TCC) e 4. imunizados e infectados, que receberam seqüencialmente os tratamentos dos grupos 3 e 2. A infecçäo e proteçäo foram confirmadas por xenodiagnóstico e histopatologia. Alteraçöes isoladas tais como extrassistolia, bloqueio dse primeiro grau átrio-ventricular, aritmia e elevaçäo do ST foram observados tanto em camundongos normais como infectados. Entretanto, os traçados tomados de maneira repetida em camundongo durante um período de 293 dias revelaram conjunto de alteraçöes que foram vistas mais freqüentemente em animais infectados (14/22) que nos normais (4/27) (p=0.00048). Estas alteraçöes consistiram de taquicardia supra-ventricular, bradicardia sinusal e bloqueios de primeiro grau AV, persistentes, freqüentemente associadas a alteraçöes do "pacemaker". A inoculaçäo da cepa atenuada de T. cruzi (grupo 3) näo aumentou estas alteraçöes (2/27) mas preveniu de maneira significante o seu desenvolvimento após o desafio com a cepa patogênica (1/19 versus 14/22 camundongos, p = 0.000095). Portanto, a pré-imunizaçäo reduziu näo somente a parasitemia mas a conseqüência patogênica da infeccäo pelo T. cruzi. Esta evidência é relevante nos estudos de imunoprevençäo em doença de Chagas

Lineas prioritarias de acción de la OPS

Señala la orientación y prioridades programáticas para la OPS en el cuadrienio 1987-1990 según la resolución XXI de la XXII Conferencia Sanitaria Panamericana. Trata de la descentralización, iniciativas subregionales, cooperación técnica entre países, movilización de recursos, acción regional y acción del país