Niveles de hemoglobina en varones fumadores / Haemoglobin levels in smoking men

Debido a la importancia de la hemoglobina como indicador nutricional, así como su papel en la oxigenación de los tejidos, fue realizado este estudio con el objetivo de observar la existencia o no de alteraciones en los niveles de hemoglobina de individuos fumadores donantes de sangre, de tal manera que dichas alteraciones causadas por el cigarrillo sean consideradas, al evaluar el estado de salud de un individuo fumador, así como en el diagnóstico de las patologías asociadas. Fueron seleccionados 121 varones, aparentemente sanos, fumadores y no fumadores, entre 20 y 60 años de edad, donantes de cinco bancos de sangre de Asunción, Paraguay. Los niveles promedios de hemoglobina en fumadores fueron 150 ± 8 g/L y en los no fumadores 148 ± 9 g/L, no siendo la diferencia significativa (p>0.05); sin embargo dentro del grupo de fumadores, la diferencia fue significativamente mayor en aquellos que fumaban de 11 a 20 cigarrillos /día (152 ± 9 g/L) que en aquellos que fumaban de 1 a 10 cigarrillos /día (148 ± 7 g/L) (p<0.05). Por lo tanto, el nivel medio de hemoglobina se incrementa con el número de cigarrillos consumidos por día. El coeficiente de correlación hallado fue de 0,38 con un nivel de confianza del 95%. Debemos seguir investigando, en nuestra población, la influencia del cigarrillo sobre los parámetros hematológicos, y el efecto que producen dichas alteraciones en el estado de salud de los fumadores.

Due to the important role haemoglobin plays as nutritional marker and in tissue oxygenation, this study was carried out to determine if there are alterations in haemoglobin levels of smoking blood donors. In this way, these alterations caused by cigarettes should be considered when the health status of smoking men is evaluated, as well as in the diagnosis of associated pathologies. One hundred and twenty one male individuals were selected for this study. They were apparently healthy, smoking and non­smoking men, between 20 and 60 years old, blood donors from five blood banks in Asunción, Paraguay. The mean haemoglobin level in smokers was 150 ± 8 g/L and in non­smokers 148 ± 9 g/L. The difference was not significant (p>0.05) but the difference was statistically greater in individuals smoking 11 to 20 cigarettes /day (152 ± 9 g/L) than in those who smoked 1 to 10 cigarettes /day (148 ± 7 g/L) (p<0.05). Thus, the mean value of haemoglobin increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The correlation coefficient was 0.38 with a confidence interval of 95%. Further studies about the influence of cigarettes, the haematological parameters and the effect produced by alterations on the health status of smokers are necessary in this population.

Multiple organ involvement in perinatal asphyxia.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate the frequency and spectrum of severity of multisystem dysfunction after perinatal asphyxia and (2) to analyze the relationship between the clinical and biochemical markers of perinatal asphyxia and multiorgan involvement. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-two consecutive term newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia were studied prospectively. Systematic neurologic, renal, pulmonary, cardiac, and gastrointestinal evaluations were performed. Involvement of each organ was classified as moderate or severe. RESULTS: Involvement of one or more organs occurred in 82% of the infants; the central nervous system (CNS) was most frequently involved (72%). Severe CNS injury (7 infants) always occurred with involvement of other organs, although moderate CNS involvement was isolated in 14 infants. Renal involvement occurred in 42%, pulmonary in 26%, cardiac in 29%, and gastrointestinal in 29% of the infants; 15% neonates had renal failure and 19% had respiratory failure. The Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were the only perinatal factors related to the number of organs involved and the severity of involvement; the Apgar score at 5 minutes had the stronger independent association. No relationship or organ dysfunction was found with the umbilical cord arterial blood pH, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, umbilical cord abnormalities, presentation, or type of delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the Apgar score at 5 minutes, in infants who have other criteria for asphyxia, is the perinatal marker that may best identify infants at risk of organ dysfunction.