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ABSTRACT Background The values of arterial blood gases (ABG) change with altitude above sea level; empirical verification is essential because ventilatory acclimatization varies with ethnicity and a population's adaptation. Objective The aim of the study was to describe ABG in a healthy population residing at 2,240 meters above sea level, to identify the mean level of alveolar ventilation (PaCO2), and to know whether a progressive increase in PaCO2 occurs with age and the impact of increasing body mass index (BMI). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a referral center for respiratory diseases in Mexico City. Associations among variables with correlation coefficient and regression models of PaO2, SaO2, and P(A-a)O2 as dependent variables as a function of age, BMI, minute ventilation, or breathing frequency were explored. Results Two hundred and seventeen healthy subjects were evaluated with a mean age of 40 ± 15 years, mean of the PaO2 was 71 ± 6 mmHg, SaO2 94% ± 1.6%, PaCO2 30.2 ± 3.4 mmHg, HCO3 20 ± 2 mmol/L, BE-2.9 ± 1.9 mmol/L, and the value of pH was 7.43 ± 0.02. In a linear regression, the main results were PaO2 = 77.5-0.16*age (p < 0.0001) and with aging P(A-a)O2 tended to increase 0.12 mmHg/year. PaCO2 in women increased with age by 0.075 mmHg/year (p = 0.0012, PaCO2 =26.3 + 0.075*age). SaO2 and PaO2 decreased significantly in women with higher BMI 0.14% and 0.52 mmHg per kg/m2, (p = 0.004 and 0.002 respectively). Conclusion Mean PaCO2 was 30.7 mmHg, implying a mean alveolar ventilation of around 30% above that at sea level.
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BACKGROUND: In 1980, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) was described. It is related to the genesis of gallstones and is considered as a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In order to determine the frequency, anatomoclinical characteristics and biochemical and histological alterations in NAFLD, patients underwent cholecystectomy (GD). For this reason, we considered carrying out this study. METHODS: This was a prospective and observational study. The study population was comprised of patients with gallstone disease who were treated at the [quot ]Hospital Español[quot ] in Veracruz, Mexico from January 1, 2005 to November 30, 2006 and underwent cholecystectomy and liver biopsy. Analyzed variables were anthropometric characteristics and risk factors, and in each patient biochemical tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) and histological liver study were performed. RESULTS: In 95 patients, according to liver biopsy diagnoses, we found a frequency of 54.74% of NAFLD associated with gallstones. Females were more affected (71.15%) and the average age was 55.6 +/- 17.87 years. Risk factors were obesity (67.3%), diabetes mellitus (17.3%), and dyslipidemia (76.92%). Patients with NAFLD had elevated levels of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides and HDLcholesterol, and aminotransferases. Abdominal US did not show sufficient specificity and sensitivity to detect NAFLD. Histological findings showed stage I steatosis in 51.93%, stage II in 28.84% and stage III in 19.23%. Cirrhosis was found in 3.15%. DISCUSSION: Results of our study confirm the high frequency of NAFLD in association with gallstone disease. We consider this the first work to analyze and describe the primary clinical, biochemical and morphological characteristics.