Relevance of subclinical right ventricular dysfunction measured by feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) is associated with cardiovascular events. To analyze the feasibility of assessing RV myocardial deformation by feature tracking (FT)-cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and its usefulness as a prognostic marker. METHODS: Retrospective study of NICM patients undergoing CMR. Longitudinal FT-RV free wall (LFT-RVFW) and fractional area change (FAC) were obtained. Correlation with standard RV parameters was studied. An association with combined event (heart failure (HF), ICD implantation or cardiovascular death) was assessed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: 98 patients (64 ± 13 years) were included. Left ventricular (LV) systolic function (LVEF 29.5 ± 9.6%, 47% with LVEF ≥ 30%) and RV (RVEF 52.2 ± 14.6%, 72% with RVEF ≥ 45%). Follow-up of 38 ± 17 months, 26.5% presented at least one admission for HF. An excellent correlation of LFT-RVFW (r = 0.82) and FAC (r = 0.83) with RVEF was evident. No association of RV-FT parameters with prognosis entire study population was found. However, in patients with LVEF ≥ 30%, admissions for HF were associated with lower LFT-RVFW (-21.6 ± 6.6% vs -31.3 ± 10%; p = 0.006) and FAC (36.6 ± 9.6% vs 50.5 ± 13.4%; p < 0.001) values. Similar differences were observed when only patients with RVEF ≥ 45% were considered. An LFT-RVFW cut-off point of -19.5% and FAC of 36.5% showed good prognostic performance. Decreased LFT-RVFW or FAC represented an independent predictor of combined event in patients with LVEF ≥ 30%. CONCLUSIONS: In NICM patients without severe LV dysfunction, decreased values of LFT-RVFW and/or FAC were associated with HF admissions, independently of RVEF.

[Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods by the female population in a health-care district]. / Conocimiento y uso de métodos anticonceptivos por la población femenina de una zona de salud.

BACKGROUND: The use of contraceptives is related to factors including those of a demographic, social, economic, educational and ideological nature. The purpose of our study is that of ascertaining with what contraceptive methods the women of child-bearing age assigned to a given health care center are familiar, in addition to prevalence of the use thereof. METHODS: Based on the health care card listing, 389 of the 5800 women of child-bearing age (15-45 years old) assigned to the health care center in question were selected by means of a systematic sampling. After sending them a letter notifying them of the reason for this study, they were contacted by telephone to fill out the survey, which included questions regarding their knowledge and use of contraceptive methods, their sociocultural characteristics and sexual activity. Appointments at the health center were made with those women who did not have telephones. RESULTS: 178 women were contacted, 166 of whom took part in the survey (42.7% response rate). 86 of these women (51.8%; CI: 44.2-59.4%) were using some means of contraception. Nevertheless, among women at risk of unwanted pregnancies, the prevalence of use was 70.5% (CI: 62.4-78.6%), being worthy of special mention the fact that solely 45.4% of the women within the 40-45 age group were using contraceptives, revealing a frequency significantly lower than the other age groups. The methods known to the greatest degree were the condom (90.4%), oral contraceptives (89.2%) and the IUD (78.3%), the knowledge of other means being scant. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of use of contraceptive methods among women at risk of unwanted pregnancy is acceptable, although strikingly low among the women in the 40-45 age group. The methods known most were the condom, oral contraceptives and the intrauterine device.

Optimización en la estrategia diagnóstica y terapéutica en el quiste de colédoco / Optimization in diagnostic and therapeutic strategy of choledochal cyst

Objectives: The choledochal cyst has an incidence of 1 in 100.000-150.000. The purpose of this study was to analyze the variables introduced for the optimization in the diagnosis and treatment of choledochal cyst. Material and Methods: Retrospective study of patients treated in our center by hepatic-jejunostomy and Roux-Y, from September 1988 to November 2012. We analyzed 40 variables including age, symptoms, type of cysts, diagnostic tests, changes in surgical technique, complications and outcomes. Results: Eighteen patients (66.6 percent female) were grouped according to the age of presentation: Prenatal (< 1 month), Early (124), Delayed (> 24 months). The most common symptoms were jaundice and abdominal pain (for early-onset and late-onset respectively). The 83.3 percent presented choledochal cysts type I, the ultrasound was sufficient for diagnosis in 94.4 percent. Since 2004 we modified the surgical technique, performing laparoscopic dissection of the bile duct and cyst, adding a mini-laparotomy (3-5 cm) for hepatic-jejunostomy with 40 cm intestinal loop using polypropylene suture. One complication was observed since 2004, one case of partial dehiscence of the anastomosis resolved with conservative treatment and a cholangitis in 1 patient with hepatic and renal polycystic. In 2012, 83.3 percent are asymptomatic. Conclusions: The diagnostic have been simplified, in more than 90 percent of cases was done by ultrasound; advances in minimally invasive surgery and creation of descending loop of 40 cm, have helped to improve the prognosis of choledochal cyst.

Objetivos: El quiste de colédoco presenta una incidencia de 1 en 100.000-150.000. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar las variables introducidas para la optimización en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del quiste de colédoco. Material y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes intervenidos en nuestro centro de quiste de colédoco mediante hepático-yeyunostomía en Y de Roux, desde septiembre de 1988 a noviembre de 2012. Se analizan 40 variables incluyendo edad, sintomatología, tipo de quiste, pruebas diagnósticas, cambios en la técnica quirúrgica, complicaciones y evolución. Resultados: 18 pacientes (66,6 por ciento mujeres) fueron agrupados de acuerdo a la edad de presentación: Prenatal (< 1 mes); Precoz (1-24 meses); Tardía (> 24 meses). Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron ictericia y dolor abdominal (para los de inicio precoz y tardío respectivamente). El 83,3 por ciento presentaban quistes de colédoco tipo I; siendo suficiente la ecografía para el diagnóstico en el 94,4 por ciento. A partir de 2004 modificamos la técnica quirúrgica, realizando por vía laparoscópica la disección de la vía biliar y mediante laparotomía mínima (3-5 cm) hepático-yeyunostomía con asa descendente de 40 cm, empleando sutura de polipropileno, observando desde el 2004, sólo 1 dehiscencia parcial de la anastomosis, resuelta con tratamiento conservador y 1 colangitis en paciente con poliquistosis hepática y renal. En el año 2012 el 83,3 por ciento están asintomáticos. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico se ha simplificado, en más de 90 por ciento de los casos se realiza sólo con ecografía; los avances en cirugía mínimamente invasiva y la creación de asa descendente de 40 cm, han logrado optimizar el pronóstico del quiste de colédoco.

Quiste de duplicación duodenal, diagnóstico prenatal y exéresis postnatal / Duodenal duplication cyst, prenatal diagnosis and postnatal excision

Introduction: duodenal duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies, usually originate in the 2nd -3rd portion of the duodenum. The prenatal echography diagnosis shows a cyst in the right hypochondrium, and we should perform a differential diagnosis with other pathologies. Prenatal diagnosis will allow a correct and precocious postnatal management. Elective excision is the treatment of election preventing the development of complications. Clinical case: We present a rare case of duplication of the first portion of the duodenum that required precocious excision because obstruction to gastric emptying.

Introducción: Los quistes de duplicidad duodenal son anomalías congênitas raras, que generalmente se originan en la 2ª-3ª porción duodenal. Ante el hallazgo en la ecografía prenatal de un quiste en hipocondrio derecho se debe realizar un diagnóstico diferencial con otras patologías. El diagnóstico prenatal, permitirá un correcto y precoz manejo postnatal. La exéresis electiva es el tratamiento de elección evitando la aparición de complicaciones posteriores. Caso clínico: Presentamos un caso excepcional de duplicidad de la primera porción duodenal, que precisó de exêresis precoz por causar obstrucción al vaciamiento gástrico.

[Major depression in consumers of benzodiazepines]. / Depresión mayor en consumidores de benzodiacepinas.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of benzodiazepines consumers who present a mayor depressive disorder and to observe the clinical evolution after restoring an antidepressive treatment. DESIGN: An observational design with a transversal character to determine the prevalence of the depression and a pre and after intervention to observe the answer to the treatment. SETTING: Primary Care. PATIENTS: Patients of the Centro de Salud Zona IV of Albacete who consume benzodiazepines (size of the sample: 91 subjects, selected by means of a consecutive pattern in three medical offices of general practice). INTERVENTION: To install an antidepressive treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We explored the presence of nuclear symptoms of depression by means of a interview. The other analyzed variables were: the cognitive state, the characteristics of the consume of benzodiazepines, the problems of health, the intake of other medicines, the frequentation, the installation of the antidepressive treatment and the sociodemographic characteristics. The patients diagnosed of mayor depression were interviewed again after one month and after three months. 37 patients presented criterion of mayor depression (40.7%) (CI 95%: 30.5-51.5). In these an antidepressive treatment was restored, corresponding to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the 91.9% of the occasions. The proportion of depressive patients was higher in women (p = 0.04) and under the diagnosed people we observed a lower period of benzodiazepines consume (p = 0.02), although with a much higher daily consume (p = 0.01). Among the 37 patients who initiated the treatment, only 7 presented adverse reaction. 28 patients were appraised after one month, presenting 6 of them 5 or more nuclear symptoms of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of mayor depressive frames can justify the systematic investigation of such disorder in benzodiazepines consumers, specially in women and in patients with a high intake. The identification of the nuclear symptoms can be considered as a useful technique to orientate a mayor depression and to evaluate also the results of an antidepressive treatment.