Utilización de tromboprofilaxis en el período grávido - puerperal por Ginecólogos y Residentes de Ginecología del Uruguay

Resumen: Introducción: La enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en el período grávido - puerperal es una de las primeras causas de morbi-mortalidad materna. No existe un consenso acerca de las directivas para su abordaje, por lo que el objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer cómo se desempeñan los Ginecólogos y Residentes de Ginecología del Uruguay, con respecto a distintos factores de riesgo, la indicación de tromboprofilaxis y las herramientas disponibles. Metodología: Se realizó de julio a octubre del 2020, un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal donde se incluyeron a Ginecólogos y Residentes de Ginecología del Uruguay, mediante una encuesta electrónica anónima a través de la plataforma Survey Monkey. Resultados: Se obtuvo un n de 159 encuestados. El 57,3% refirió pensar sistemáticamente en factores de riesgo para enfermedad tromboembólica venosa. Las guías más utilizadas para la clasificación del riesgo e indicación de tromboprofilaxis fueron la American College of Obstestricians and Gynecologists con un 81,0% y la Royal College of Obstestricians and Gynaecologists con un 13,0%. La herramienta terapéutica con mayor disponibilidad es la heparina de bajo peso molecular y la menos utilizada es la compresión neumática intermitente. Conclusiones: Existen inconsistencias entre la clasificación de riesgo e indicación de tromboprofilaxis en diferentes situaciones clínicas. Existe un porcentaje no despreciable de profesiones que no piensan sistemáticamente en factores de riesgo para eventos tromboembólicos durante el período grávido - puerperal.

Abstract: Introduction: One of the main causes of maternal morbity and mortality in the pregnant - puerperal period is venous thromboembolic disease. There is no consensus on the guidelines to address this illness. The main objective of this research was to know how Gynecologists and Gynecology Residents of Uruguay perform, in reference to considering potential risk factors, indication for thromboprophylaxis and the tools available. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out from July to October 2020, including Gynecologists and Gynecology Residents of Uruguay, through an anonymous online survey using the Survey Monkey platform. Results: A final n of 159 respondents was obtained. 57.3% of which referred to think systematically about risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease. The most popular guidelines for risk classification and indication of thromboprophylaxis were the American College of Obstestricians and Gynaecologists with 81.0% and the Royal College of Obstestricians and Gynaecologists with 13.0%. The most chosen therapeutic tool was low molecular weight heparin, and the least preferred one was intermittent pneumatic compression. Conclusions: There are incoherences between the risk classification and the actual indication of thromboprophylaxis in different clinical situations. There´s still a non-negligible percentage of professionals that do not systematically consider risk factors for thromboembolic events during the pregnant-puerperal period.

Resumo: Introdução: A doença tromboembólica venosa no período gestação - puerpério é uma das principais causasde morbidadee mortalidade materna. Nãohá consenso sobre as diretrizes para o seu abordagem, por issoo objetivo desta pesquisa foi saber como encarao os ginecologistas e os residentes em ginecologia do Uruguai, no que dizrespeito à fatores de risco, indicação de tromboprofilaxia e as ferramentas disponíveis. Metodologia: Estudo observacional, descritivo e transveral realizado de julho a outubro de 2020, que incluiu ginecologistas e residentes em ginecologia do Uruguai. Um levantamento eletrônico anónimo foi desenvuelto através da plataforma SurveyMonkey. Resultados: Foram estudados 159 entrevistados. 57,3% relataram pensarsobre fatores de risco para doença tromboembólica venosa. As diretrizesmais utilizadas para classificação de risco e indicação de tromboprofilaxia foram o American College of Obstestricians and Gynecologists com 81,0% e o Royal College of Obstestricians and Gynaecologists com 13,0%. A ferramenta mais selecionada é heparina de baixo peso molecular e a menos utilizada é a compressão pneumática intermitente. Conclusões: Há inconsistências entre a classificação de risco e a indicação de tromboprofilaxia em diferentes situações clínicas. Ainda há um numero consideravel de profisionais que não pensam sistematicamente em fatores de risco para eventos tromboembólicos durante o período gravidez - puerperal.

Impacto de diferentes modalidades de evaluación en el promedio de notas de estudiantes de Medicina: un estudio de intervención no aleatorizado / Impact of different types of evaluation on the average grade of medicine students: a non-randomized interventional study

Introducción: en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje existen múltiples conflictos al momento de seleccionar el tipo de evaluación que debería aplicarse a estudiantes de Medicina. Nuestro objetivo es comparar diferencias en la media de notas de tres modalidades de examen (oral, escrito para desarrollar y preguntas de opción múltiple) para así determinar cómo estas podrían afectar el desempeño de los estudiantes de Medicina en el campo de la Farmacología. Material y métodos: estudio cuasi experimental con una intervención no aleatorizada en una muestra por conveniencia de estudiantes de Medicina. A fin de evaluar diferencias en la media de notas se hizo un análisis ANOVA para muestras pareadas y luego los correspondientes tests de T para muestras pareadas. Resultados: enrolamos inicialmente a 36 estudiantes; 7 fueron excluidos (4 por ausencia y 3 por abandono), y se obtuvieron 29 participantes. La media de notas del examen oral y la de preguntas de opción múltiple fueron ambas significativamente superiores a la del examen escrito para desarrollar (oral vs. escrito: diferencia 1,8 puntos; IC 95% 0,8 a 2,7; p < 0,01; opción múltiple vs. escrito: diferencia 2,1 puntos; IC 95% 1,4 a 2,9; p < 0,01). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las notas medias del examen oral y del examen de preguntas de opción múltiple (p = 0,37). Conclusión: los estudiantes de Medicina obtienen peores notas en el examen escrito para desarrollar en Farmacología, en relación con los exámenes oral y de preguntas de opción múltiple. Esto posiblemente se asocie al hecho de que aquella modalidad es menos frecuentemente empleada en la carrera de Medicina. (AU)

Introduction: in the teaching-learning process, there are many problems in the selection of the most suitable type of exam for evaluating medical students. Our target was to compare differences in the average grade of medical students upon taking three different types of exam (oral, written, and multiple-choice questions) to determine how these different types of exam may affect the performance of medical students in the area of Pharmacology. Material and methods: we conducted a quasi experimental study by applying a non-randomized intervention to a convenience sample of medical students. To evaluate differences in the average grades among three groups, an ANOVA analysis was applied followed by paired T-tests. Results: we initially enrolled 36 students; 7 were excluded (4 were absent and 3 abandoned the intervention), arriving at a total sum of 29 participants. The average grades of the oral exam and multiple-choice questions were both significantly higher than the written exam (oral vs. written: difference 1.8 points; 95%CI 0.8 to 2.7, p < 0.01; multiple-choice vs. written: difference 2.1 points, 95%CI 1.4 to 2.9, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between the average grades on the oral exam and the multiple-choice exam (p = 0.37). Conclusion: medical students have worse grades on written exams in Pharmacology, as compared to oral and multiple-choice exams. This could possibly be associated with the fact that this type of exam is less frequently applied in Medical School. (AU)

Sensitivity and Specificity of Cephalometric Measures for the Diagnosis of Sagittal Skeletal Malocclusion

Objective: To evaluate and compare sensitivity and specificity of ANB, Wits, APDI and AF-BF to diagnose sagittal skeletal malocclusions, in children between 6 to 12 years old, using ROC curves, a widely accepted method for the analysis and evaluation of diagnostic tests. Material and Methods: A descriptive-comparative study of diagnostic tests was conducted. From a population of 3,000 children, a non-probabilistic sample of 209 was selected. The clinical classification of the patients as class I, II or III, made by a group of experts based on the visual inspection of models and photographs, was chosen as the gold standard. After calibration (ICC>0.94) the variables were measured in cephalograms. Eight ROC curves were plotted (I vs II, and I vs III for each one of the variables). The area under the curve was measured and compared (Ji-square test). Cut points were established. Results: To discriminate Class I from II, ANB showed the largest area under the curve (AUC) (0.876) and the cut point (best sensitivity and specificity) was at 5.75°. To discriminate class I from III, Wits showed the largest AUC (0.874) with a cut point of -3.25 mm. There were no statistical differences between the AUC for the four variables (p=0.48 y p=0.38 for class I-II and I-III). Conclusion: ANB and Wits performed better for the diagnosis of class II and III, respectively. Cut points in children were different from those reported in adults.

Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens show circadian co-periodicity in naturally co-infected dogs.

BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are mosquito-borne zoonotic filarioids typically infecting dogs, causing a potentially fatal cardiopulmonary disease and dermatological conditions, respectively. The females are larviparous, releasing the larvae (microfilariae) into the bloodstream, which further develop in mosquito vectors. However, microfilaremia greatly fluctuates during a 24-h period. As the sampling time can greatly influence the accuracy of diagnosis, the aim of the present study was to assess the circadian periodicity of D. immitis and D. repens in naturally co-infected dogs in an endemic area of Romania and to investigate possible differences of periodicity between these two species. METHODS: Overall, four dogs harbouring natural co-infection with D. immitis and D. repens were selected and sampled every two hours for two consecutive days: two dogs in July 2014 and two in July 2015. At each sampling time, a 0.7 ml blood sample was taken. Modified Knott's test was performed on 0.5 ml, and the remaining 0.2 ml were used for DNA extraction and molecular amplification, both in single and duplex PCR reactions. Microfilariae of both species were morphologically identified and counted in each collected sample, microfilaremia was calculated, and fluctuation was charted. RESULTS: The dynamics of microfilaremia showed similar patterns for both Dirofilaria species. In all four dogs, D. immitis was present at all sampling times, with several peak values of microfilaremia, of which one was common for all dogs (1 am), while minimum counts occurred between 5 and 9 am. Similarly, for D. repens, one of the peak values was recorded in all dogs at 1 am, while minimum counts (including zero) occurred at 9 and 11 am. Single species-specific PCR reactions were positive for both D. immitis and D. repens in all collected samples, while duplex PCR failed to amplify D. repens DNA in many cases. CONCLUSIONS: Both Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens microfilariae are subperiodic, following a similar variation pattern, with peak values of microfilaremia registered during the night in Romania. Duplex PCR fails to identify the infection with D. repens in co-infected dogs when the ratio of microfilaremia is in favour of D. immitis.

Will they lead by example? Assessment of vaccination rates and attitudes to human papilloma virus in millennial medical students.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It is also well established that HPV viruses are responsible for a variety of cancers. Little is known about the prevailing knowledge and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine in our future healthcare providers, a majority of whom were among the first in the target age group to receive the vaccine; the same vaccine that they will in turn be expected to recommend to their patients. The aims of this pilot study were to examine the HPV vaccination rate among medical students and determine their knowledge about HPV and attitudes toward vaccination. METHODS: To aid in the development of an HPV educational intervention, a needs assessment survey was administered to discover medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine. All medical students at a Midwestern US medical school were invited to complete the survey. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen of 390 medical students completed the survey with 44% having been previously vaccinated. Although 82% of all respondents believed they would recommend the vaccine to family and friends, only 40% felt knowledgeable about the vaccine and 40% felt comfortable counseling patients. More positive attitudes and better knowledge scores were found in fully vaccinated students compared to non-vaccinated students. Provider recommendation was strongly associated with HPV vaccination status. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the unique perspectives of U.S. millennial medical students as the first group of future healthcare providers to have personally encountered the HPV vaccine. Overall, students' knowledge as well as their comfort level in counseling patients was lacking. This assessment has guided the development of targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and prepare students to appropriately discuss the vaccine with patients and parents and help protect young people from life threatening cancers.

Craniocervical Posture in Children with Class I, II and III Skeletal Relationships

Objective: To describe the characteristics of craniocervical posture of children aged between 6 and 11 years and its relationship to their sagittal skeletal classification. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 107 children (55 girls - 52 boys), aged between 6 and 11 years. The sample included no previous orthodontically/orthopedic treated and systemically healthy children. After proper calibration, lateral skull radiographs, taken for diagnosis purpose for maxillary orthopedic treatment, were obtained by the same operator in natural head position. A radiographic analysis was made using a NEMOTEC software: 13 variables were registered: age, gender, ANB angle (to classify sagittal skeletal relationships) and 10 variables related to craniocervical posture: cervical lordosis, hyoid triangle, craniocervical angle, intervertebral spaces: C0-C1, C1-C2 and distances NSL-Ver, NLVer, ML-Ver, OPT-Hor, CVT-Hor. To evaluate the reliability of measures, 15 randomly selected radiographs were re-measured by the same investigator two weeks after the initial analysis. Results: Intra-class correlation coefficients were in a range of 0.945-0.996. Lordosis, CCA, C1-C2, OPT-Hor y CVT-Hor, values were higher in male than in female children (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found among groups of sagittal skeletal relationships, but class III children had a tendency to higher craniocervical flexion; 66.3% of the studied group presented rectified lordotic curvature and class II subjects presented increased values of NSL-Ver, NL-Ver and MLVer. Class I children had the lowest values for OPT-Hor and CVT-Hor. Conclusion: All craniocervical postural variables were higher in boys than in girls. No differences were found in this study between cervical postural variables with different malocclusion.

Smile characteristics in children with normal occlusion / Características de la sonrisa en niños con normoclusión / Características de la sonrisa en niños con normoclusión

ABSTRACT. Introduction: in assessing children's smile, a gingival smile is usually accepted as normal, but there is no scientific evidence to support this statement. The goal of this research project was to describe the structural characteristics of posed unforced smile in children with normal occlusion in deciduous and mixed dentition. Methods: a cross-sectional study in 122 children aged 3 to 12 years with normal occlusion. Each kid was recorded a video clip and taken a photogram in unforced posed smile, which was used to quantify and describe smile variables. These variables were compared by gender and dentition type: the quantitative variables were analyzed with one-way ANOVA test and Student's t test, and the qualitative variables with Pearson's chi-squared test, using a significance level of 0.05. Results: the soft tissues evaluated in smile showed significant differences between deciduous dentition / early mixed dentition and silent mixed dentition / late dentition. These values were lower in females. There was a prevalence of high smile in deciduous dentition and early mixed dentition, and medium smile in silent mixed dentition and late mixed dentition. 89.3% of children had a matching smile arch. The smile rate was proportional among the dentition stages evaluated and between males and females. Conclusions: the high smile is predominant among child patients in early deciduous dentition and mixed dentition, and gingival exposure reduces as kids grow.

RESUMEN. Introducción: al valorar la sonrisa en niños se acepta como normal una sonrisa gingival, pero no se cuenta con evidencia científica que sustente esta afirmación. El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir las características estructurales de la sonrisa posada no forzada en niños con normoclusión, en dentición decidua y mixta. Métodos: estudio transversal realizado en 122 niños entre tres y 12 años con normoclusión. A cada uno se le realizó un video clip y se le extrajo un fotograma en sonrisa posada no forzada, sobre el cual se cuantificaron y describieron las variables de la sonrisa. Se compararon estas variables por género y tipo de dentición: las cuantitativas con la prueba ANOVA de una vía y t de Student y las cualitativas con el x2 de Pearson. Se asumió un nivel de significancia del 0,05. Resultados: los tejidos blandos evaluados en sonrisa presentaron diferencias significativas entre las denticiones decidua y mixta inicial, y las denticiones mixta silente y tardía; estas medidas fueron menores en mujeres. Hubo un predominio de sonrisa alta en dentición decidua y mixta inicial, y sonrisa media en dentición mixta silente y mixta tardía. El 89,3% de los niños presentaron arco de sonrisa coincidente. El índice de la sonrisa fue proporcional entre los estadios de dentición evaluados y entre hombres y mujeres. Conclusiones: se observó que la línea de sonrisa alta predominó en pacientes niños en dentición decidua y mixta inicial y que la exposición de encía se reduce conforme el niño crece.

RESUMEN. Introducción: al valorar la sonrisa en niños se acepta como normal una sonrisa gingival, pero no se cuenta con evidencia científica que sustente esta afirmación. El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir las características estructurales de la sonrisa posada no forzada en niños con normoclusión, en dentición decidua y mixta. Métodos: estudio transversal realizado en 122 niños entre tres y 12 años con normoclusión. A cada uno se le realizó un video clip y se le extrajo un fotograma en sonrisa posada no forzada, sobre el cual se cuantificaron y describieron las variables de la sonrisa. Se compararon estas variables por género y tipo de dentición: las cuantitativas con la prueba ANOVA de una vía y t de Student y las cualitativas con el x2 de Pearson. Se asumió un nivel de significancia del 0,05. Resultados: los tejidos blandos evaluados en sonrisa presentaron diferencias significativas entre las denticiones decidua y mixta inicial, y las denticiones mixta silente y tardía; estas medidas fueron menores en mujeres. Hubo un predominio de sonrisa alta en dentición decidua y mixta inicial, y sonrisa media en dentición mixta silente y mixta tardía. El 89,3% de los niños presentaron arco de sonrisa coincidente. El índice de la sonrisa fue proporcional entre los estadios de dentición evaluados y entre hombres y mujeres. Conclusiones: se observó que la línea de sonrisa alta predominó en pacientes niños en dentición decidua y mixta inicial y que la exposición de encía se reduce conforme el niño crece.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: are we overtreating? Experience at a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Use of routine sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) is controversial. This retrospective study was undertaken to determine the frequency of SLNB in CPM at a community hospital and its utility as a guide to patient decision making. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, 170 patients underwent CPM at a suburban, tertiary care facility. The CPM was either immediate or delayed, or was for ipsilateral recurrent breast cancer. Thirty-seven (21.8%) of 170 patients had SLNB performed with CPM. The mastectomy specimens underwent standard pathologic evaluation by using intraoperative touch preparation cytology and postoperative hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No patients who underwent SLNB had positive nodes on touch preparation or final hematoxylin and eosin staining (0/37 [0%]). Fourteen (8.2%) of 37 patients had additional nodes identified in the specimens. These were either axillary tail or intramammary nodes. The median number of SLNs removed was 2 (range, 1-5), none of these were positive. There were 3 incidental cancers diagnosed on final pathology. Two invasive cancers (T1a and grade I) and 1 ductal carcinoma in situ were identified. SLNB was only performed on the patient with DCIS. Neither SLNB nor subsequent axillary lymph node dissection was performed in the invasive cancers. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB was performed in 37 (21.8%) of patients who underwent CPM in a community hospital. Only 3 (1.76%) of 170 patients who underwent CPM had findings on final pathology that would have justified axillary staging. This correlates with other published data regarding SLNB in CPM. Because SLNB is associated with significant morbidity, guidelines for SLNB in prophylactic mastectomy need to be established so to avoid overtreatment.

Comparison of lymphedema in patients with axillary lymph node dissections to those with sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by immediate and delayed ALND.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to show that delayed axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has higher rates of lymphedema compared with immediate ALND, using data from NSABP-B32 at Beaumont Hospital. METHOD: NSABP B-32 at Beaumont had 207 patients with follow-up data on 199 patients, randomizing clinically negative axilla to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)+ALND (GrA N=98), and SLNB+cytology±ALND (GrB N=101). All patients had preoperative volumetric arm measurements and only node negatives had routine postoperative measurements assessing lymphedema for 36 months. We contacted node-positive patients for postoperative measurements for this study. Twenty-four and 15 cytology-positive patients had SLNB+ALND in GrA and GrB, respectively (SubGrA1 N=24; SubGrB1 N=15). Fourteen hematoxylin and eosin-positive patients had delayed ALND (SubGrB2a N=14). RESULTS: Lymphedema rate for node-positive SLNB+ALND was 10.3% [SubGrA1 (3/24)+SubGrB1 (1/15)=4/39] and node-negative SLNB+ALND was 6.8% (SubGrA2=5/74). Lymphedema was 14.3% for delayed ALND in SubGrB2a (2 of 14) and 0% for 72 SLNBs in SubGrB2b. Our study comparing immediate and delayed ALND lymphedema was not statistically significant (10.3% vs. 14.3%, P=0.65). Comparing node-negative ALND (SubGrA2= 5/74=6.8%) to node-positive ALND (A1+B1+B2a=6/53=11.3%) was not statistically significant (P=0.52). Comparing lymphedema for node-negative ALND (SubGrA2) to SLNB (SubGrB2b) only approached significance (6.8% vs. 0%, P=0.058). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of lymphedema was higher in delayed ALND but not statistically significant. Comparison, however, is difficult, given the limited sample size. We urge the other centers of NSABP-B32 to validate this, by contacting the node-positive patients for measurements. The lymphedema rate for SLNB alone was 0% and approached statistical significance when compared with node-negative ALND.

The safe transition from open to thoracoscopic lobectomy: a 5-year experience.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that established thoracic surgeons without formal minimally invasive training can learn thoracoscopic lobectomy without compromising patient safety or outcome. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected on patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy at a single health system between August 1, 2003, and April 1, 2008. Age, sex, pulmonary function tests, preoperative and postoperative stages, pathologic diagnosis, anatomic resection, extent of lymph node sampling, surgical technique and duration, complications, blood loss, transfusion requirement, chest tube duration, length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission, and mortality rate were examined. The percentage of patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy and their outcomes were then compared among three chronologic cohorts. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-four patients underwent pulmonary lobectomy (239 open; 99 thoracoscopic; 26 thoracoscopic converted to open). Baseline characteristics, staging, pathologic diagnosis, and anatomic resections were similar in the early, middle, and late cohorts. The percentage of thoracoscopic lobectomies increased from 16% to 49%, whereas open lobectomy decreased from 81% to 42% (p < 0.0001). The complication rate remained constant with the exception of air leaks lasting more than 7 days (9% versus 10% versus 2%; p = 0.02). Hospital length of stay (6 versus 5 versus 4 days; p < 0.0001) and chest tube duration (4 versus 3 versus 3 days; p < 0.0001) decreased and operative duration increased as more thoracoscopic lobectomies were performed. Blood loss, transfusion requirement, 30-day readmission, and 1-year survival were not significantly different among chronologic cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Established thoracic surgeons can safely incorporate thoracoscopic lobectomy with no increase in morbidity or mortality.

Comparación de los efectos de tres enjuagues en el manejo de la mucositis oral secundaria al tratamiento de leucemia linfoblástica aguda en niños / Comparison of the effects of three mouth rinses in the management of oral mucositis secondary to the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Introducción: el presente estudio se hizo con el propósito de comparar los efectos de tres enjuagues en el tratamiento de la mucositis oral secundaria al tratamiento de la leucemia linfoblástica aguda en niños en edades entre 3 y 15 años, que estaban hospitalizados en el Pabellón de Hematooncología Infantil del Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl de Medellín. Métodos: se usaron tres enjuagues: triconjugado conformado por: lidocaína en gel al 2%, hidróxido de aluminio e hidróxido de magnesio con simeticona en suspensión (MylantaMR) e hidrocloruro de difenhidramina en jarabe (BenadrylMR); sucralfato constituido por sucralfato de sacarosa de aluminio en suspensión (Dip SucralfatoMR) y lidocaína en gel al 2%, y un tercer enjuague denominado control conformado por lidocaína en gel al 2%; a los tres enjuagues se les adicionó nistatina genérica (100.000 UI) en suspensión para prevenir la sobreinfección fúngica. La asignación de enjuagues fue al azar haciendo a cada paciente tres enjuagues diarios con el asignado; se hizo un registro diario de la severidad de la mucositis y la duración del episodio con el fin de establecer diferencias entre ellos. El tipo de estudio fue cuasi experimental de tipo comparativo y ciego, con una muestra de catorce casos (seis con triconjugado, cuatro con Sucralfato y cuatro de grupo control) recolectados en un periodo de 32 meses, entre abril de 2005 y noviembre de 2007. Resultados y conclusiones: no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la duración ni en la severidad de la mucositis que presentaron los grupos de pacientes con la utilización de los enjuagues estudiados.

Introduction: the present study was conducted to compare the effects of three mouth rinses in the treatment of oralmucositis induced by chemotherapy in children between 3 and 15 years of age, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and who were hospitalized at the Pediatric Hemato oncology Pavilion of the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital in the city of Medellin. Methods: three mouth rinses were compared: Triconjugate diphenhydramine, milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and lidocaine in gel; Sucralfate comprising sucralfate suspended and lidocaine in gel; and a third rinse, called Control consisting of lidocaine in gel; nistatin was added to the mouth rinses to avoid fungal infection. Each group had 3 daily rinses with the assigned mouth rinse and a daily log was made with information related to the severity of mucositis and duration of the episode. The type of study was a quasi-experimental comparative blind design, the sample had 14 cases (triconjugate with 6 cases, 4 in the sucralfate group and 4 in the control group) and collection of the sample was made over a period of 32 months between April 2005 and November 2007. Results and conclusion: no statistically significant differences were found in the severity nor on the length of mucositis among the rinses used by the patients.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring IQ.

BACKGROUND: Maternal smoking in pregnancy lowers birthweight. It is unclear, however, whether smoking during pregnancy lowers offspring IQ, and, if it does, whether it is through the smoking effect on fetal growth. METHOD: Representative samples of low birthweight (<2500 g) and normal birthweight children born in 1983-85 from inner-city and suburban communities in southeast Michigan, USA were assessed at ages 6, 11, and 17, using Wechsler intelligence tests. Smoking during pregnancy was ascertained from mothers at the first assessment; and smoking at any time was ascertained at the first and second assessment. Generalized estimating equation models were used, with children's IQ at all three assessments as outcomes (n = 798). RESULTS: Without adjustment, offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy scored 6.8 IQ points lower than offspring of mothers who never smoked, on average. Low birthweight children scored 5.4 IQ points lower than normal birthweight children, on average. The statistical association of maternal smoking with offspring IQ was confounded by maternal characteristics, chiefly, maternal cognitive ability as measured by IQ and education; adjustment for these factors eliminated the association. By contrast, adjustment for maternal IQ and education as well as smoking during pregnancy had a negligible effect on the low birthweight-related IQ deficit. Low birthweight did not mediate the association of smoking and lowered IQ in offspring. CONCLUSION: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a proxy for a matrix of vulnerabilities for adverse child cognitive development and has no direct causal effect on child's IQ. The relationship of low birthweight and IQ is independent of maternal smoking and maternal cognitive abilities.

Análisis cefalométrico lateral integrado, según edad y sexo, de pacientes entre los 6 y los 14 años de edad / Integrated lateral cephalometric analysis, according to age and sex, of 6- to 14-year-old patients

En la mayoría de los análisis cefalométricos disponibles se aplican medidas estándar para todos los pacientes, desconociendo la gran variabilidad que existe en muchas de las medidas utilizadas, de acuerdo con la edad y sexo del paciente. Es importante aclarar que muchos de los estudios de los cuales han derivado esas medidas se han realizado en pacientes adultos. En las tablas que se incluyen en este artículo se encuentran, tanto medidas lienales de varias partes del esqueleto craneofacial de niños y niñas entre 6 y 14 años de edad, como medidas angulares que permiten establecer la relación de unas partes de dicho esqueleto con otras. El objetivo de su elaboración es facilitar a los clínicos el análisis cefálico lateral de sus pacientes en forma completa y ordenada, lo cual lleva a establecer un diangóstico acertado y a poder realizar el tratamiento más adecuado para ese paciente.

Períodos de tratamiento en el paciente niño / Treatment periods in the child patient

En la literatura, y específicamente en nuestra Facultad, tenemos una guía secuencial, lógica y completa para tratar al paciente adulto, pero carecemos de unos lineamientos generales y secuencias cuando nuestro paciente es un niño. Con esta revisión bibliográfica pretendemos llenar ese vacío existente. Se hace gran énfasis en la parte de la prevención, pues es una herramienta que se encuentra disponible para todos los educadores, los padres y sus hijos. Con una buena prevención es menor la necesidad de intervenir en etapas avanzadas y se evita un costo biológico muy importante que se debe pagar cuando se deja sin control el proceso de enfermedad