Effect of parenteral glutamine in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Background and objective: malnutrition during cancer treatment is common in patients; therefore, nutritional intervention has an important role in cancer prognosis. Total parenteral nutrition is indicated for patients subjected to a major surgery with gastrointestinal complications. Nutritional support could be improved with glutamine (Gln). Therefore, in this work, the effect of parenteral glutamine in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing surgery was studied. Material and methods: patients were classifi ed into two groups: non-supplemented and supplemented (Gln; 0.4 g/kg/day). Both groups received parenteral nutrition. One and seven days after surgery the nutritional status was evaluated. Hematic cytometry, protein metabolism and biochemical data were analyzed. A questionnaire was also applied to assess gastrointestinal function. Results: after the intervention, the nutritional status in both groups improved. However, the nutritional condition improved signifi cantly better (p = 0.008) in the supplemented group. According to the gastrointestinal function evaluation, the supplemented group changed from severe to mild dysfunction (p = 0.0001). The non-supplemented group progressed from moderate to severe dysfunction, but no changes in blood cell markers were observed. The supplemented group improved its concentration of lymphocytes (p = 0.014). The plasma albumin concentration did not change in groups, but prealbumin improved signifi cantly (p = 0.012) in the group that was supplemented with Gln. Conclusions: intravenous nutritional support supplemented with glutamine can improve gastrointestinal function, improving the absorption of nutrients, which leads to a better state of nutrition. It also has positive effects on plasma concentration of lymphocytes, monocytes and prealbumin.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción y objetivo: los pacientes con cáncer desarrollan desnutrición durante el tratamiento antineoplásico, es por ello que el soporte nutricio tiene un rol importante. La nutrición parenteral es el soporte indicado para pacientes que fueron sometidos a cirugía con complicaciones gastrointestinales; este soporte puede ser suplementado con glutamina. Evaluamos el efecto de la glutamina parenteral en pacientes con cáncer gastrointestinal sometidos a cirugía. Material y métodos: se aleatorizaron los pacientes en dos grupos. Ambos grupos recibieron nutrición parenteral, en un grupo no suplementada y en otro grupo suplementada con glutamina (0,4 g/kg/día). Las medidas se tomaron el día uno y el día siete posteriores a la cirugía; en ambas mediciones se evaluó el estado nutricional, se tomó una muestra sanguínea para analizar parámetros bioquímicos y se aplicó un cuestionario de función gastrointestinal. Resultados: después de la intervención, el estado nutricional mejoró en ambos grupos, sin embargo, en el grupo suplementado mejoró significativamente (p = 0,008). De acuerdo a la función gastrointestinal, el grupo suplementado progresó de disfunción severa a leve (p = 0,0001), mientras que el grupo no suplementado progresó de disfunción moderada a severa. En cuanto a los parámetros bioquímicos, no hubo cambios en el grupo no suplementado. En ambos grupos no hubo cambios en las concentraciones plasmáticas de albúmina. En el grupo suplementado mejoraron de manera signifi cativa las concentraciones de linfocitos (p = 0,014) y prealbúmina (p = 0,012). Conclusión: el apoyo nutricio endovenoso suplementado con glutamina puede mejorar la función gastrointestinal, mejorando la absorción de nutrimentos, lo que conlleva a un mejor estado de nutrición. Asimismo, tiene efectos positivos en las concentraciones plasmáticas de linfocitos y monocitos y prealbúmina.

Oral allergy syndrome amongst young Mexicans: prevalence and associated factors.

Summary: Background. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is the most common food allergy manifestation amongst adults. However, population studies aimed at estimating its prevalence and associated factors are scarce in Mexi-co. Objectives. To establish the prevalence of OAS in a sample of university students and to describe their clinical characteristics and its associated factors. Methods. From a sample group made up of 25,269 university students, the data corresponding to 1,200 students aged 18 to 25 was analyzed with a cross-sectional approach. A structured questionnaire was used to identify OAS, its symptoms and related foods, and the personal history of atopic diseases. The associations between variables were calculated through logistical regression analysis. Results. The prevalence of OAS was 3.4%, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 2.5 to 4.6. The main oral symptoms reported were lip pruritus, edema and the sensation of pharyngeal oppression. Among the extra-oral complaints were: reddish coloration of the skin, body pruritus, abdominal pain, and abdominal bloating. The foods that were most frequently associated with OAS were fruits (68.5%), vegetables (22.0%) and seafood (19.3%). Through multivariate analyses, allergy to pollen and latex were found to be associated with OAS, OR 3.29; 95%: CI 1.53 to 7.10 and OR 5.53; 95% CI: 1.08 to 28.2, respectively. Conclusions. Notably, the prevalence of OAS varies according to the geographic area. Personal histories of allergy to pollen or latex were the main factors linked to OAS.

Dolor en la articulación sacroilíaca: estudio prospectivo, aleatorizado, experimental y comparativo de la radiofrecuencia térmica con el bloqueo de la articulación sacroilíaca / Sacroiliac joint pain: Prospective, randomised, experimental and comparative study of thermal radiofrequency with sacroiliac joint block

Objetivo. Comparar el bloqueo con la radiofrecuencia térmica bipolar para el dolor de la articulación sacroilíaca. Método. Estudio prospectivo, aleatorizado y experimental en 60 pacientes, seleccionados en 9 meses en 2 centros, con dolor intenso (escala visual analógica [EVA] > 6) de > 3 meses de duración. Fueron divididos en 3 grupos (n = 20). Grupo A: pacientes a los que se les realizaron 2 bloqueos intraarticulares, con control ecográfico en 7 días. Grupo B: radiofrecuencia bipolar «palisade» utilizando 6 agujas perpendiculares a la zona dorsal del sacro, a una distancia de 1 cm, para producir lesiones contiguas entre los forámenes S1-S2-S3 y la línea articular. Grupo C: radiofrecuencia bipolar «palisade» modificada (distancia entre agujas > 1 cm). Los pacientes fueron evaluados al mes, a los 3 y a los 12 meses del tratamiento. Se valoraron los datos demográficos (en la visita basal), la eficacia analgésica y los efectos secundarios (en el resto). Resultados. Al mes, la reducción del dolor en los 3 grupos fue > 50% (p ≤ 0,001). A los 3 y 12 meses el grupo A no refirió disminución significativa del dolor. El grupo B, a los 3 meses, alivio cercano al 50% (p = 0,03), y < 25% (23,8) a los 12 meses (p = 0,01). En el grupo C, alivio próximo al 50% a los 3 y 12 meses (p < 0,001) respecto al basal. Todos los pacientes finalizaron el estudio. Conclusiones. La radiofrecuencia bipolar «palisade», especialmente aumentando la distancia entre las agujas, ha sido eficaz, a más largo plazo, que el bloqueo con anestésicos y corticoides en el alivio del dolor de la articulación sacroilíaca (AU)

Objective. To compare the analgesic effects between the blockade and bipolar thermal radiofrequency in the treatment of sacroiliac joint pain. Method. Prospective, randomised and experimental study conducted on 60 patients selected in the two hospitals over a period of nine months, who had intense sacroiliac joint pain (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] > 6) that lasted more than 3 months. Patients were randomised into three groups (n = 20): Group A (two intra-articular sacroiliac injections of local anaesthetic/corticosteroid guided by ultrasound in 7 days). Group B: conventional bipolar radiofrequency «palisade». Target points were the lateral branch nerves of S1, S2, and S3, distance needles 1 cm. Group C: modified bipolar radiofrequency «palisade» (needle distance > 1 cm). Patients were evaluated at one month, three months, and one year. Demographic data, VAS reduction, and side effects of the techniques were assessed. Results. One month after the treatment, pain reduction was > 50% in the three groups P < .001. Three and 12 months after the technique, the patients of the group A did not have a significant reduction in pain. At 3 months, almost 50% patients of the group B referred to improvement of the pain (P = .03), and < 25% at 12 months, and those results were statistically significant (P = .01) compared to the baseline. Group C showed an improvement of 50% at 3 and 12 months (P < .001). All patients completed the study. Conclusions. Bipolar radiofrequency «palisade», especially when the distance between the needles was increased, was more effective and lasted longer, compared to join block and steroids, in relieving pain sacroiliac joint (AU)