Consenso argentino en gestión efectiva de clínicas de anticoagulación para uso de antagonistas de la vitamina K / Argentine consensus in effective management of anticoagulation clinics for the use of vitamin K antagonists

Resumen El tratamiento de un paciente anticoagulado con antagonistas de la vitamina K (AVK) sigue siendo un desafío, especialmente en regiones donde, por el costo, los dicumarínicos son todavía la alternativa más buscada a la hora de elegir un anticoagulante oral. Las clínicas de anticoagulación han demostrado ser la forma más eficiente y segura de evitar complicaciones trombóticas y hemorrágicas y de mantener al paciente en rango óptimo de tratamiento. Sin embargo, requieren de una adecuada infraestructura y personal capacitado para que funcionen eficientemente. En este consenso argentino se propone una serie de parámetros para la gestión efectiva de una clínica de anticoagulación. El objetivo es lograr una elevada calidad desde el punto de vista clínico-asistencial a través de un laboratorio de hemostasia de excelencia. Los criterios desarrollados en el documento fueron consensuados por un amplio grupo de expertos especialistas en hematología y en bioquímica de todo el país. Estos criterios deben adaptarse a la irregular disponibilidad de recursos de cada centro, pero siempre se los debe tener en cuenta a la hora de indicar el tratamiento anticoagulante con estas drogas. Tener en consideración estas premisas nos permitirá optimizar la atención del enfermo anticoagulado con AVK y de esta forma minimizar las intercurrencias trombóticas y hemorrágicas a las que está expuesto, para así honrar nuestra promesa de no dañar al paciente.

Abstract Treating an anticoagulated patient with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) remains a challenge, especially in areas where dicoumarins are still the first drug of choice due to the cost of other oral anticoagulants. Anticoagulation clinics have proven to be the most efficient and safe way to avoid thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications and to keep patients in optimal treatment range. However, they require adequate infrastructure and trained personnel to work properly. In this Argentine consensus we propose a series of guidelines for the effective management of the anticoagulation clinics. The goal is to achieve the excellence in both the clinical healthcare and the hemostasis laboratory for the anticoagulated patient. The criteria developed in the document were agreed upon by a large group of expert specialists in hematology and biochemistry from all over the country. The criteria presented here must always be considered when indicating VKA although they had to be adapted to the unequal reality of each center. Taking these premises into consideration will allow us to optimize the management of the anticoagulated patient with VKA and thus minimize thrombotic and hemorrhagic intercurrences, in order to honor our promise not to harm the patient.

Totally Implantable Venous-Access Device Infection Causing Hematogenous Prosthetic Joint Infection: A Retrospective Case Series.

Introduction: Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) can be acquired hematogenously from a distant site or device. Notably, 30%-40% of patients with PJIs have Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. No case reports or series of PJIs acquired from totally implantable venous-access device (TIVAD) infection or colonization have been published. This study was undertaken to describe epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and radiological characteristics of such PJIs, their treatments and outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients, identified in a prospective French Bone-and-Joint Infections Referral Center cohort treated between 2004 and 2017, with PJI secondary to TIVAD infection, with the same microbiologically documented microorganism isolated from both. Results: We describe six consecutive hematogenous PJIs (4 women, 2 men; median age: 66.5 years) acquired from TIVAD primary infections. The main infection risk factors were malignancy (n=5) and prior septic arthritis (n=2). Four participants' TIVADs were implanted for chemotherapy, preceding the prosthesis for one patient. The median TIVAD-implantation-to-symptom-onset interval was 12 months. Microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=4), Staphylococcus capitis (n=1) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=1). All TIVADs were removed. Five participants received curative treatment, with a median of 12 weeks of antibiotics. After median follow-up of 42 months, none have relapsed. Conclusions: When PJI occurs in a patient with a TIVAD, the latter must be tested as a potential source of the prosthesis infection. Conversely, PJIs must sought in all patients with bacteremia.

Efficacy of Water Resistance Therapy in Subjects Diagnosed With Behavioral Dysphonia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy of water resistance therapy (WRT) in a long-term period of voice treatment in subjects diagnosed with voice disorders. METHODS: Twenty participants, with behavioral dysphonia, were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) voice treatment with WRT, and (2) voice treatment with tube phonation with the distal end in air (TPA). Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent aerodynamic, electroglottographic, acoustic, and auditory-perceptual assessments. The Voice Handicap Index and self-assessment of resonant voice quality were also performed. The treatment included eight voice therapy sessions. For the WRT group, the exercises consisted of a sequence of five phonatory tasks performed with a drinking straw submerged 5 cm into water. For the TPA, the exercises consisted of the same phonatory tasks, and all of them were performed into the same straw but the distal end was in air. RESULTS: Wilcoxon test showed significant improvements for both groups for Voice Handicap Index (decrease), subglottic pressure (decrease), phonation threshold pressure (decrease), and self-perception of resonant voice quality (increase). Improvement in auditory-perceptual assessment was found only for the TPA group. No significant differences were found for any acoustic or electroglottographic variables. No significant differences were found between WRT and TPA groups for any variable. CONCLUSIONS: WRT and TPA may improve voice function and self-perceived voice quality in individuals with behavioral dysphonia. No differences between these therapy protocols should be expected.

In vitro study of the effect of Er: YAG laser irradiation on the apical sealing of different root canal sealers%Estudo "in vitro" do efeito da irradiação do laser Er: YAG no selamento apical de diferentes tipos de cimentos obturadores

OBJETIVOS: Avaliou-se a infiltração marginal apical em caninos superiores, obturados com quatro tipos diferentes de cimento, os quais foram imersos em tinta nanquim e mantidos a uma temperatura de 37º C por 96 horas, descalcificados em solução de ácido clorídrico a 5 por cento, desidratados em série crescente de álcoois e diafanizados em salicilato de metila. MÉTODOS: Para isto, 64 dentes de estoque foram instrumentados pela técnica "crown-down", irrigados com solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 0,5 por cento e divididos em dois grupos experimentais. Os dentes do Grupo I foram subdivididos em quatro sub-grupos de oito elementos e obturados cada um deles com os cimentos Endofill«, N-Rickert«, Sealapex« e Sealer 26«. Os dentes do Grupo II receberam aplicação adicional de laser Er:YAG, tendo seus canais radiculares obturados como aqueles do grupo I. RESULTADOS: A infiltração marginal apical apresentou valores estatisticamente maiores e significantes (p < 0,01), nos dentes obturados com o cimento Endofill«, em relação à infiltração ocorrida nos dentes obturados com os cimentos N-Rickert«, Sealapex« e Sealer 26«. Não houve diferença estatística significante (p > 0,05), quanto à infiltração marginal apical, nos dentes do Grupo I, preparados somente com a solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 0,5 por cento, e naqueles do Grupo II, que foram irradiados com laser Er: YAG. CONCLUSÕES: A irradiação de laser Er:YAG aplicada nas paredes do canal radicular não foi capaz de prevenir a infiltração marginal apical

In vitro study of the effect of Er: YAG laser irradiation on the apical sealing of different root canal sealers

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Er:YAG laser irradiation used to clean dentinal walls on the apical sealing of root canals filled with different types of sealers. Background Data: Laser application to the dentinal walls removed debris, rendering the root canals free of smear layers and leaving the dentinal canaliculi open. METHODS: Sixty-four maxillary canines obtained from laboratory files were instrumented with K-files (Dentsply, Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) using the crown-down technique, and irrigated with a 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution. The specimens were divided into two groups of 32 teeth each. In group I, the teeth were instrumented and irrigated with sodium hypochlorite solution, and divided into four subgroups to be sealed with the different materials (Endofill, N-Rickert, Sealapex and Sealer 26). In group II, the root canals were subjected to Er:YAG laser irradiation (200 mJ, 7 Hz and 60 J total energy), followed by root canal sealing as in group I. RESULTS: The data showed lower levels of apical microleakage in the teeth filled with N-Rickert, Sealapex and Sealer 26 cements than in those sealed with Endofill (p < 0.01). No significant difference in microleakage was observed between teeth irrigated only with 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite and those submitted to Er:YAG laser application (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Er:YAG laser irradiation applied to the root canal walls was not able to prevent apical microleakage.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliou-se a infiltração marginal apical em caninos superiores, obturados com quatro tipos diferentes de cimento, os quais foram imersos em tinta nanquim e mantidos a uma temperatura de 37° C por 96 horas, descalcificados em solução de ácido clorídrico a 5 por cento, desidratados em série crescente de álcoois e diafanizados em salicilato de metila. MÉTODOS: Para isto, 64 dentes de estoque foram instrumentados pela técnica "crown-down", irrigados com solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 0,5 por cento e divididos em dois grupos experimentais. Os dentes do Grupo I foram subdivididos em quatro sub-grupos de oito elementos e obturados cada um deles com os cimentos Endofill®, N-Rickert®, Sealapex® e Sealer 26®. Os dentes do Grupo II receberam aplicação adicional de laser Er:YAG, tendo seus canais radiculares obturados como aqueles do grupo I. RESULTADOS: A infiltração marginal apical apresentou valores estatisticamente maiores e significantes (p < 0,01), nos dentes obturados com o cimento Endofill®, em relação à infiltração ocorrida nos dentes obturados com os cimentos N-Rickert®, Sealapex® e Sealer 26®. Não houve diferença estatística significante (p > 0,05), quanto à infiltração marginal apical, nos dentes do Grupo I, preparados somente com a solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 0,5 por cento, e naqueles do Grupo II, que foram irradiados com laser Er: YAG. CONCLUSÕES: A irradiação de laser Er:YAG aplicada nas paredes do canal radicular não foi capaz de prevenir a infiltração marginal apical.

Indicadores pronósticos en la angina inestable: papel de la troponina T cuantitativa / Prognostic markers in unstable angina: role of the quantitative T-troponine determination

Con el objetivo de identificar marcadores pronósticos en la angina inestable fueron incluídos en este estudio 335 pacientes, a quienes se les realizaron determinaciones de CPK, CK-MB y troponina T entre 6 y 24 horas. A 30 días el 21,9 por ciento tuvo una angina refractaria y el 11,4 por ciento sufrió infarto o murió. Una troponina T mayor o igual 0,1 ng/ml fue considerada positiva, detectándose en el 23,7 por ciento. La angina recurrente y una troponina T > 0,1 ng/ml se asociaron, en el análisis multivariado, con la evolución a infarto o muerte; mientras que ambos predictores, el angor de reposo y el alto riesgo inicial, son marcadores independientes de la evolución a infarto, óbito o angina refractaria