A Systematic Review of Electrocardiographic Changes in Populations Temporarily Ascending to High Altitudes.

High altitudes can cause hypobaric hypoxia, altering human physiology and the corresponding electrocardiogram (ECG). As part of the Altitude Nondifferentiated ECG Study (ANDES), this paper reviews ECG changes in subjects ascending to high altitudes. This review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, OVID Medline, and Web of Science were searched. 19 studies were ultimately included. Notable ECG changes at high altitudes include T wave inversion in the precordial leads and rightward QRS axis deviation in leads I, II and aVF. Less common findings were increases in P wave amplitude, QRS amplitude, and QTc interval. These ECG deviations typically self-resolved within 2-6 weeks following return to sea level. Consideration must be taken when interpreting ECG changes in individuals during ascent to, at, or upon return from high altitudes. Further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate temporal and altitude-dependent ECG patterns and establish reference standards for clinicians.

[Epidemiological characteristics of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Peru: Results of the PEruvian Registry of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (PERSTEMI)]. / Características epidemiológicas del infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST en Perú: resultados del PEruvian Registry of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (PERSTEMI).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiological characteristics, treatment, reperfusion strategies and in-hospital adverse events of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in Peru. METHODS: Observational, prospective multicentre study in patients over 18 years admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 396 patients were enrolled in the registry during February 2016 to February 2017. The mean age was 64.9±12 years, and 21% were women. In the first 12h of onset 38% of patients were fibrinolysed, 29% underwent primary PCI, and 33% did not receive any reperfusion. Pharmaco-invasive strategy was used in 12.9% of cases. The fibrinolysis was successful in 65% of patients, and primary PCI success was 82%. The hospital stay was 6 days (IQR 5-10). In-hospital mortality was 10.1%, with the first cause of death being due to cardiogenic shock. The rate of in-hospital re-infarction was 2.2%, and the rate of acute heart failure was 25%. Age>75 years, large infarct size, left ventricular ejection fraction<40%, and absence of negative T waves on post-reperfusion electrocardiogram were independently related to higher in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In Peru, ST elevation myocardial infarction most frequently affects men between 60-70 years. The most frequent initial reperfusion treatment is fibrinolysis, followed by primary angioplasty, and pharmaco-invasive strategy. The main reason for the lack of administration of reperfusion treatment was the delay from symptoms onset to first medical contact. The most common cause of in-hospital death was cardiogenic shock.

Características epidemiológicas del infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST en Perú: resultados del PEruvian Registry of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (PERSTEMI) / Epidemiological characteristics of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Peru: Results of the PEruvian Registry of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (PERSTEMI)

Resumen Objetivo: Determinar las características epidemiológicas, el tratamiento, las estrategias de reperfusión y los eventos adversos intrahospitalarios de pacientes con infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST en Perú. Métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, multicéntrico a nivel nacional, en pacientes mayores de 18 años hospitalizados con diagnóstico de infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Resultados: Desde febrero de 2016 a febrero de 2017, 396 pacientes fueron enrolados; la edad promedio fue de 64.9 ± 12 años y el 21% eran mujeres. En las primeras 12 h de evolución un 38% fueron fibrinolisados, en un 29% se realizó PCI primaria y un 33% no recibieron reperfusión. En el 12.9% se usó estrategia farmacoinvasiva. La tasa de éxito de la fibrinólisis fue de un 65% y la de la PCI primaria fue de un 82%. La estancia hospitalaria fue de 6 días (RIQ 5-10). La mortalidad intrahospitalaria llegó a un 10.1%, siendo la principal causa de muerte el choque cardiogénico. La tasa de reinfarto intrahospitalario fue de 2.2% y de falla cardiaca postinfarto, de 25%. La edad > 75 años, grandes tamaños de infarto, la fracción de eyección de ventrículo izquierdo < 40% y la ausencia de ondas T negativas en el electrocardiograma posreperfusión fueron variables relacionadas de manera independiente con una mayor mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Conclusiones: El infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST en Perú afecta con más frecuencia a varones de entre 60 y 70 años. El tratamiento de reperfusión inicial más frecuente es la fibrinólisis, seguida por la angioplastia primaria y la estrategia farmacoinvasiva. El motivo principal de la falta de administración de tratamiento de reperfusión fue la demora desde el inicio de los síntomas hasta el primer contacto médico. La causa más frecuente de muerte intrahospitalaria es el choque cardiogénico.

Abstract Objective: To determine the epidemiological characteristics, treatment, reperfusion strategies and in-hospital adverse events of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in Peru. Methods: Observational, prospective multicentre study in patients over 18 years admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction. Results: A total of 396 patients were enrolled in the registry during February 2016 to February 2017. The mean age was 64.9 ± 12 years, and 21% were women. In the first 12 h of onset 38% of patients were fibrinolysed, 29% underwent primary PCI, and 33% did not receive any reperfusion. Pharmaco-invasive strategy was used in 12.9% of cases. The fibrinolysis was successful in 65% of patients, and primary PCI success was 82%. The hospital stay was 6 days (IQR 5-10). In-hospital mortality was 10.1%, with the first cause of death being due to cardiogenic shock. The rate of in-hospital re-infarction was 2.2%, and the rate of acute heart failure was 25%. Age > 75 years, large infarct size, left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, and absence of negative T waves on post-reperfusion electrocardiogram were independently related to higher in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: In Peru, ST elevation myocardial infarction most frequently affects men between 60-70 years. The most frequent initial reperfusion treatment is fibrinolysis, followed by primary angioplasty, and pharmaco-invasive strategy. The main reason for the lack of administration of reperfusion treatment was the delay from symptoms onset to first medical contact. The most common cause of in-hospital death was cardiogenic shock.

Tori embedded in S³ with dense asymptotic lines

In this paper are given examples of tori T² embedded in S³ with all their asymptotic lines dense.

Neste artigo são dados exemplos de toros T² mergulhados em S³ com todas as suas linhas assintóticas densas.

Lines of principal curvature on canal surfaces in R3.

In this paper are determined the principal curvatures and principal curvature lines on canal surfaces which are the envelopes of families of spheres with variable radius and centers moving along a closed regular curve in R3. By means of a connection of the differential equations for these curvature lines and real Riccati equations, it is established that canal surfaces have at most two isolated periodic principal lines. Examples of canal surfaces with two simple and one double periodic principal lines are given.

Increased severity of Escherichia coli peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients independent of changes in in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

OBJECTIVE: Despite improvements in peritoneal dialysis (PD) technique, peritonitis continues to be one of the most frequent complications of PD. Nonresolving peritonitis remains a risk for severe anatomical peritoneal changes that may limit the viability of the membrane for dialysis purposes. We have observed remarkably poor outcome of peritonitis caused by Escherichia coli in the past 6 years. With its very low response rate to broad-spectrum antibiotics, the increased severity of E. coli peritonitis deteriorates peritoneal function and affects patient outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Two large PD units in two university hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The total number of patients reviewed was 456. The records of 49 E. coli peritonitis episodes were studied.The observation period started in 1980 and ended in March 2001. Sixteen males and 19 females were included. Severity was defined in terms of days of peritoneal inflammation, lack of response to a potentially useful antibiotic, requirement for catheter removal, and/or laparotomy. Study cases (study group) were those episodes appearing after 1996 (when the first severe cases appeared) and historic controls were episodes occurring before 1996. RESULTS: In the study group, 18 peritonitis episodes developed in 15 patients. In the control group, 31 peritonitis episodes developed in 20 patients. There were no significant differences in clinical presentation; however, the outcome was significantly poorer for the later period. A severe outcome occurred in 50% of study versus 10% of control patients. In fact, 68% of the episodes registered before 1996 were cured in 3 days or less. Concurring with this trend, the numbers of surgical interventions and catheter removals were also higher in the study group. Strikingly, E. coli did not show changes in in vitro susceptibility testing to antibiotics, although the in vivo response was much worse. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a change in the virulence of E. coli peritonitis episodes over the past 5 years leading to a high percentage of treatment failure, which does not depend on antibiotic sensitivity and seems to be dependent on changes in host response mechanisms.

Sífilis gástrica: relato de um caso / Gastric syphilis: report of a case

Os autores descrevem o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 30 anos, que apresentou epigastralgia constante, plenitude pós-prandial, anorexia e emagrecimento. No decorrer de sua evoluçäo houve piora de sua quadro clínico e aparecimento de vômitos alimentares pós-prandiais. O estudo radiológico mostrando processo infiltrativo de antro, associado à endoscopia digestiva com biopsia excluindo a possibilidade diagnóstica de noeplasia malígna, foram pontos importantes na orientaçäo para um quadro de sífilis gástrica. Complementou-se o diagnóstico, estudo laboratorial qualitativo e quantitativo para Lues. O tratamento foi efetuado com penicilina benzatínica