Evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de institución financiera de la ciudad de Guatemala / Evaluation of the cardiovascular risk in workers of financial institution of the city of Guatemala

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son una epidemia a nivel mundial y en países en vías de desarrollo, laincidencia y prevalencia han ido en aumento. Objetivo: El objetivo general fue determinar la prevalencia defactores de riesgo para el desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular en un grupo de personas económicamente activas. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal que incluyó a todos los trabajadores de la institución que voluntariamente dieron una muestra de sangre y de orina, y se sometieron a una evaluación clínica durante los meses de junio de 2011 a julio del 2012. Resultados: incluimos 532 participantes, edad promedio 38años(19-65años), 69% de sexo masculino, 23% hipertensión arterial, 7% pre-hipertensión, 8% de tabaquismo, obesidad 16%, 36% sobrepeso, 35% hipercolesterolemia, 31% hipertrigliceridemia, 59% HDL<40mg/dl, 62% LDL >100mg/dl, glicemia preprandial alterada 4%, 14% hiperuricemia, 1% muy alto riesgocardiovascular, 17% alto riesgo. Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo cardiovascular tienen una alta prevalencia en la población de estudio, a pesar de tratarse de una población joven.

Cardiovascular diseases are epidemic globally and in developing countries, the incidence and prevalence have increased. Objective: The objective was to determine the prevalence of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in a group of economically active people. Methods: A cross sectional study that included all employees of the institution who voluntarily gave a blood sample and urine, and underwent a clinical evaluation during the months of June 2011 to July 2012. Results: We included 532 participants, meanage 38years (19-65años), 69%male, 23% hypertension, pre hypertension 7%, 8% smoking, obesity16%,36% overweight, 35% hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia 31%, 59%HDL <40mg/dL, 62%LDL> 100mg/dl, altered fasting glucose4%, 14% hyperuricemia, 1% very high cardiovascular risk, 17% higher risk. Conclusions: Cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in the study population, despite being a young population.

[Nutritional/physiologic assessment of carbohydrates]. / Szénhidrátok táplálkozás-élettani megítélése.

Out of the energy-rich nutrients the reduction in the dietary intake of fats entails an increase in carbohydrate intake. The various carbohydrates owing to differences in their chemical and physical properties influence differentially satiety, and plasma levels of glucose and lipids. The present survey gives a short account on the carbohydrates occurring in the nutrients, deals with their effects on metabolism, and discusses the relationship between carbohydrate intake and obesity on the basis of recent research findings. At present, it appears that there is no convincing evidence available, which would suggest that the action by simple sugars and by complex carbohydrates is different on glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile, and on the development of obesity.

Pharmacoeconomic assessment of propofol 2% used for prolonged sedation.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that the use of propofol 2% is comparable to propofol 1% in effectiveness and in the wake-up time used for prolonged sedation. DESIGN: Open-label, case cohort study with a cohort of historical controls, phase IV clinical trial. SETTING: Medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a community hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-one consecutive patients (medical, surgical, and trauma) admitted to our ICU requiring mechanical ventilation for >24 hrs. METHODS: All patients received propofol 2% (1-6 mg.kg-1.hr-1, starting with the lowest dose) and morphine chloride (0.5 mg.kg-1.24 hrs-1). A 4-5 level of sedation (Ramsay scale) was recommended. When weaning was indicated clinically, sedation and analgesia were interrupted abruptly, mechanical ventilation was discontinued, and the patient was connected to a T-bridge. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Inability to attain the desired level of sedation with the highest dose rate of proposal, and hypertriglyceridemia >500 mg/dL, were considered therapeutic failure. The time between discontinuation of mechanical ventilation and extubation was measured. Those variables, as well as different items related to ICU cost, were compared between the study group and two historical groups sedated with propofol 1% and midazolam. RESULTS: The duration of sedation was 122.4 +/- 89.2 (sd) hrs for the propofol 2% group. The frequency of hypertriglyceridemia was 3.9% and 20.4% for the propofol 2% and the propofol 1% groups, respectively (p =.016). Therapeutic failure rates were 19.6% and 33.4% for the propofol 2% and propofol 1% groups, respectively (p =.127). The lower frequency of hypertriglyceridemia was associated with a higher number of patients reaching weaning. Weaning time was similar in the two propofol groups, 32.3 hrs ($1,744) for the propofol 2% group vs. 97.9 hrs ($5,287) for the midazolam group. Cost of sedation was $2.68 per hour for the midazolam group and $7.69 per hour for the propofol group. There was a favorable cost-benefit ratio for the propofol group, attributable to the shorter weaning time, although benefit was less than expected because higher doses of propofol 2% than propofol 1% were required during the first 48 hrs (p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The new propofol 2% preparation is an effective sedative agent and is safe because of the low frequency of associated hypertriglyceridemia. The shorter weaning time associated with the use of propofol 2% as compared with midazolam compensates for its elevated cost. The economic benefit of propofol 2% is less than expected because higher doses of propofol 2% than propofol 1% are required over the first 48 hrs.

Longitudinal assessment of everolimus in de novo renal transplant recipients over the first post-transplant year: pharmacokinetics, exposure-response relationships, and influence on cyclosporine.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to characterize the steady-state pharmacokinetics of everolimus and cyclosporine (INN, ciclosporin) when coadministered in de novo kidney allograft recipients during the first year after transplantation. METHOD: This study was a multicenter randomized double-blind study of 101 patients who were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive everolimus tablets at doses of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg twice daily with cyclosporine and prednisone. Blood sampling for the pharmacokinetics of everolimus and cyclosporine was performed on day 1, on weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, and on months 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Everolimus dose-proportionality and stability over time were assessed in the context of linear regression and ANOVA models. Everolimus exposure-response relationships between area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) and changes in platelets, leukocytes, and lipids were explored with the median-effect model. Potential differences in cyclosporine dosing and pharmacokinetics at different levels of everolimus exposure were assessed in the context of ANOVA. RESULTS: Everolimus steady state was reached on or before day 7, with a median 3-fold accumulation of drug exposure compared with that after the first postoperative dose. Both steady-state maximum concentration and AUC were dose proportional over the full dose range when assessed on day 1, as well as for the full duration of the study at steady state. There was evidence for longitudinal stability in AUC of everolimus during the course of the study. The interindividual pharmacokinetic variability for AUC was 85.4% and intraindividual, interoccasion variability was 40.8%. Age (range, 17-69 years), weight (range, 49-106 kg), and sex (65 men and 36 women) were not significant contributors to variability. There was an increasing incidence of transient thrombocytopenia (< or =100 x 10(9)/L) with increasing everolimus AUC (P = .03). Cyclosporine doses, trough concentrations, and AUC exhibited similar temporal patterns during the course of the study regardless of the co-administered everolimus dose level (P = .13, .82, and .76, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Everolimus exhibited dose-proportional, stable exposure during the first post-transplant year. For a 4-fold range of everolimus doses there were no differential effects on cyclosporine dosing or pharmacokinetics.

Prolonged sedation of critically ill patients with midazolam or propofol: impact on weaning and costs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of sedation, the time required for weaning, and the costs of prolonged sedation of critically ill mechanically ventilated patients with midazolam and propofol. DESIGN: Open-label, randomized, prospective, phase IV clinical trial. SETTING: Medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a community hospital. PATIENTS: All ICU admissions (medical, surgical and trauma) requiring mechanical ventilation for > 24 hrs. A total of 108 patients were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive midazolam or propofol. The dose range allowed for each drug was 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg/hr for midazolam and 1 to 6 mg/kg/hr for propofol. The lowest dose that achieved an adequate patient-ventilator synchrony was infused. All patients received 0.5 mg/kg/24 hrs of morphine chloride. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The level of sedation was quantified by the Ramsay scale every 2 hrs until weaning from mechanical ventilation was started. If sedation could not be achieved by infusing the highest dose of midazolam or propofol, the case was recorded as a therapeutic failure. In the propofol group, serum triglycerides were determined every 72 hrs. Concentrations of > 500 mg/dL were also recorded as a therapeutic failure. When the patient was ready for weaning according to defined criteria, sedation was interrupted abruptly and the time from interruption of sedation to the first T-bridge trial and to extubation was measured. Cost analysis was performed based on the cost of intensive care in our unit ($54/hr). In the midazolam group (n = 54), 15 (27.8%) patients died; 11 (20.4%) patients had therapeutic failure; and 28 (51.8%) patients were subjected to a T-bridge trial. In the propofol group (n = 54), these proportions were 11 (20.4%), 18 (33.4% [including seven due to inadequate sedation, and 11 due to hypertriglyceridemia]), and 25 (46.2%), respectively. None of these values was significantly different between the two groups. Duration of sedation was 141.7 +/- 89.4 (SD) hrs and 139.7 +/- 84.7 hrs (p = NS), and cost (US dollars) attributed to sedation was $378 +/- 342 and $1,047 +/- 794 (p = .0001) for the midazolam and propofol groups, respectively. In the midazolam group, time from discontinuation of the drug infusion to extubation was 97.9 +/- 54.6 hrs (48.9 +/- 47.2 hrs to the first disconnection, and 49.0 +/- 23.7 hrs to extubation). In the propofol group, time from discontinuation of the drug infusion to extubation was 34.8 +/- 29.4 hrs (4.0 +/- 3.9 hrs to the first disconnection, and 30.8 +/- 29.2 hrs to extubation). The difference between the two groups in the weaning time was 63.1 +/- 12.5 (SEM) hrs (p < .0001). Cost per patient in the midazolam group (including ICU therapy and sedation with midazolam) was $10,828 +/- 5,734. Cost per patient in the propofol group was $9,466 +/- 5,820, $1,362 less than in the midazolam group. CONCLUSIONS: In our population of critically ill patients sedated with midazolam or propofol over prolonged periods, midazolam and propofol were equally effective as sedative agents. However, despite remarkable differences in the cost of sedation with these two agents, the economic profile is more favorable for propofol than for midazolam due to a shorter weaning time associated with propofol administration.

Clinical assessment of hyperlipidemic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study addresses three questions: 1) What are the clinical presentations of pancreatitis secondary to hyperlipidemia? 2) What is the role of alcohol, diabetes, or known causes of hypertriglyceridemia? and 3) Does the course of pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia differ from that of other etiologies? METHODS: We reviewed patients between 1982 and 1994 with a diagnosis of pancreatitis (577.0) and hypertriglyceridemia (272.0). Four hospitals participated. Seventy patients had a clinical presentation consistent with pancreatitis, that is elevated amylase and lipase or evidence of pancreatitis by ultrasound or CT imaging and serum triglyceride levels greater than 500 mg/dl or lactescent serum. Clinical data were derived from hospital admissions. RESULTS: Hypertriglyceridemia was the etiology in 1.3-3.8% of patients discharged with a diagnosis of pancreatitis. A history of diabetes mellitus was present in 72%, hypertriglyceridemia in 77%, alcohol use 23%, and gallstones in 7%. Lipemic serum was described on admission in 45%. Mean triglyceride levels were 4587 +/- 3616 ml/dl. Amylase was elevated two times normal in 54%, and lipase was elevated two times normal in 67%. CT scans were abnormal in 82%, with peripancreatic fluid in 34%, pseudocyst 37%, and necrosis in 15%. Abscess occurred in 13%, death in 6%. CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis secondary to hyperlipidemia is characterized by three presentations. All patients present with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting of hours to days duration. The most common presentation is a poorly controlled diabetic with a history of hypertriglyceridemia. The second presentation is the alcoholic found to have hypertriglyceridemia or lactescent serum on admission. The third, about 15-20% of patients, is the nondiabetic, nonalcoholic, nonobese patient with drug- or diet-induced hypertriglyceridemia.