[Serum lipid levels in a group of cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence]. / Descripción de los hallazgos en el perfil lipídico y proteico de pacientes dependientes a cocaína, en abstinencia reciente.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cocaine users develop multiple potentially lethal ischemic vascular complications associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. AIM: To assess biochemical and lipid profiles among cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A blood sample to measure blood count, biochemical and lipid profiles was obtained from 78 patients aged 19 to 53 years (78% males) who complied with DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependency. Laboratory results were compared with a group of normal subjects. RESULTS: All cases had positive urinary cocaine, with a mean consumption lapse of 7.6 years. The frequency of smoking was higher in cases. Dependent males had higher body mass index than controls. Compared to controls, dependent females had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels and lower HDL cholesterol. Therefore the relation total/HDL cholesterol was higher (p = 0.0365). Dependent males had higher TG levels than their normal counterparts. Dependent subjects consuming cocaine base-paste had higher TG levels. Total proteins, albumin, urea and blood urea nitrogen were lower in dependent subjects. Among males, serum creatinine was lower and blood urea was positively correlated with the daily amount of cocaine use (p = 0.03). After a month of strict abstinence, lipid profile was repeated in 27 patients and remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic cocaine use was associated with higher TG in both genders and lower HDL cholesterol in women when compared with a group of healthy counterparts.

Changes in regional cerebral blood flow are associated with endothelial dysfunction markers in cocaine-dependent patients under recent abstinence.

OBJECTIVES: Cocaine is a known risk factor for several vascular ischemic events. The underlying mechanisms leading to the complications are not fully understood, although thrombus formation and accelerated atherosclerosis are prominent findings. Evidence of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a key phenomenon in the pathogenesis of atherogenesis, has been demonstrated in cocaine-dependent individuals. Abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is a common finding among chronic cocaine users. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether brain perfusion changes were associated with ED markers in cocaine-dependent individuals. METHODS: Circulating endothelial cells (CECs), soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule, and the chemokine regulated on activation normal T cells expressed and secreted were measured in 27 DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition) cocaine-dependents patients. Regional cerebral blood flow was assessed using single-photon emission computed tomography at baseline (after recent cocaine consumption) and after 4 weeks of strict abstinence under standard benzodiazepine or antipsychotic therapy. We used statistical parametric mapping analysis to evaluate the covariates. RESULTS: Endothelial cell damage/activation markers were significantly higher in cocaine-dependent individuals after recent consumption and were reduced after 1-month abstinence (P < 0.05). Global rCBF exhibited no significant difference between baseline and after abstinence. When regional perfusion was analyzed in association with ED covariates, significant differences were observed in bilateral cortical areas, including the limbic lobes. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated an association between systemic ED markers and rCBF in cocaine-dependent patients. These findings suggest that vascular injury may play a role in the pathogenesis of abnormal rCBF.

Descripción de los hallazgos en el perfil lipídico y proteico de pacientes dependientes a cocaína, en abstinencia reciente / Serum lipid levels in a group of cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence

Background: Chronic cocaine users develop multiple potentially lethal ischemic vascular complications associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. Aim: To assess biochemical and lipid profiles among cocaine dependent subjects in recent abstinence. Material and Methods: A blood sample to measure blood count, biochemical and lipid profiles was obtained from 78 patients aged 19 to 53 years (78% males) who complied with DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependency. Laboratory results were compared with a group of normal subjects. Results: All cases had positive urinary cocaine, with a mean consumption lapse of 7.6 years. The frequency of smoking was higher in cases. Dependent males had higher body mass index than controls. Compared to controls, dependent females had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels and lower HDL cholesterol. Therefore the relation total/HDL cholesterol was higher (p = 0.0365). Dependent males had higher TG levels than their normal counterparts. Dependent subjects consuming cocaine base-paste had higher TG levels. Total proteins, albumin, urea and blood urea nitrogen were lower in dependent subjects. Among males, serum creatinine was lower and blood urea was positively correlated with the daily amount of cocaine use (p = 0.03). After a month of strict abstinence, lipid profile was repeated in 27 patients and remained unchanged. Conclusions: Chronic cocaine use was associated with higher TG in both genders and lower HDL cholesterol in women when compared with a group of healthy counterparts.

Efecto de la variación estacional en el estado de ánimo de adolescentes, estudio prospectivo, Santiago / Relationship between the seasonal variation and the mood of adolescents: prospective study

Introducción: El Trastorno Afectivo Estacional (TAE) es caracterizado por síntomas depresivos que se manifiestan recurrentemente durante el invierno y ceden espontáneamente en primavera-verano. Existen pocos estudios sobre TAE en niños y adolescentes. Objetivo: Estudiar la relación entre la variación estacional” y el estado de ánimo en adolescentes. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte prospectivo a 220 estudiantes de 1° Medio a 4° Medio de dos colegios de la Región Metropolitana de diferente nivel socioeconómico, elegidos al azar. A los estudiantes se les aplicó en invierno y en primavera 2008, Cuestionario de Depresión Infantil (CDI) y Cuestionario de Evaluación de Perfil Estacional versión para niños y adolescentes (SPAQ-CA). Resultados: La prevalencia de “Sospecha de Depresión”(SD) fue mayor en invierno(20 por ciento) que en primavera(13 por ciento) (p<0,01). La “Autopercepción de tener Problemas con la Variación Estacional” (APPVE) no varió significativamente entre los periodos encuestados. La APPVE fue 2,8 veces más frecuente en mujeres que en hombres(p<0,01). Se encontró una correlación positiva entre SD y APPVE, solo en invierno. Conclusión: En una misma población de adolescentes hay variación en el autoreporte de SD según la estación del año, siendo significativamente mayor en invierno. La variación estacional influye en el ánimo de los adolescentes encuestados, especialmente en mujeres, siguiendo el patrón descrito en la literatura.

Background: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by depressive symptoms that appear repeatedly in the winter and subside spontaneously in Spring-summer. There are few studies of SAD in children and adolescents. Objective: To study the relationship between the seasonal variation (SV) and the mood of adolescents. Methodology: A prospective cohort study of 220 high school students from two randomly chosen schools of different socioeconomic status in the metropolitan area of Santiago was conducted. Students were surveyed in winter and spring 2008 with the Childhood Depression Inventory (CDI) and Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SPAQ-CA). Results: The prevalence of suspected depression (SD) was higher in winter (20 percent) than in spring (13 percent) (p <0.01). The perception of problems with seasonal variation (PPSV) did not differ significantly between surveys. The PPSV was 2.8 times higher in women than in men (p <0.01). We found a positive correlation between SD and PPSV only in winter. Conclusion: There is SV in adolescent self-reported SD, being higher in woman, following the pattern described in the literature.