General care in the management of severe traumatic brain injury: Latin American consensus. / Cuidados generales en el manejo del traumatismo craneoencefálico grave: consenso latinoamericano.

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) remains prevalent in the young adult population. Indeed, far from descending, the incidence of sTBI remains high. One of the key bases of treatment is to avoid, detect and correct secondary injuries of systemic origin, which aggravate the primary lesion. Much of this can be achieved by maintaining an adequate physiological microenvironment allowing recovery of the damaged brain tissue. General care measures are nonspecific actions designed to meet that objective. The available guidelines on the management of sTBI have not included the topics contemplated in this consensus. In this regard, a group of members of the Latin American Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC), involved in the different aspects of the acute management of sTBI (neurosurgeons, intensivists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses and physiotherapists) were gathered. An exhaustive literature search was made of selected topics in the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials and Web of Science databases. To establish recommendations or suggestions with their respective strength or weakness, the GRADE methodology (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) was applied. Additionally, certain recommendations (included in complementary material) were not assessed by GRADE, because they constitute a set of therapeutic actions of effective compliance, in which it was not possible to apply the said methodology. Thirty-two recommendations were established, 16 strong and 16 weak, with their respective levels of evidence. This consensus attempts to standardize and establish basic general care measures in this particular patient population.

Validation of ANAM for cognitive screening in a mixed clinical sample.

The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) is a library of computer based tests designed to measure cognitive function at a single time-point or longitudinally for detection of cognitive change. This study sought to validate ANAM as a cognitive screening tool for presence of confirmed neuropsychological diagnosis in an outpatient setting. Retrospective data analysis was conducted for 139 patients referred for outpatient neuropsychological assessment. Clinical diagnosis was made independent of ANAM test results and resulted in a diagnostic mix of both neurologic and psychologic etiologies. ANAM scores predictive of presence of confirmed diagnosis were identified using multiple logistic regression and the predictive ability of the resulting model was quantified using receiver operator characteristic analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for the ANAM when combined with anger and depressive symptom scores were 71% and 91%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 97.5 and negative predictive value of 40.4. This combined approach provided the greatest accuracy for individual tests as well as the composite score of the ANAM in identifying those who received a subsequent clinical diagnosis. Although data should be replicated in larger samples, these results suggest that ANAM may have predictive value and may be a useful screening tool for identifying those who would likely benefit from neuropsychological services.

Caracterización clínica, serológica y patrón radiológico de una cohorte unicéntrica de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar difusa / Clinical, serological and radiological pattern characterization of a monocentric cohort of patients with diffuse lung disease

Diffuse Lung Disease (DLD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, however in Chile we are lacking of epidemiological data on this condition. Our aim is communicate the first report of a prospective registry of DLD patients treated at bronchopulmonary unit of DIPRECA hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study in patients referred to our bronchopulmonary unit under suspicion of DLD. Diagnosis was confirmed by chest computed tomography and informed consent was approved by patients. Data regarding clinical, serological, pulmonary function tests and echocardiography were collected from 2014 up to date. Results: 30 patients were analysed, their median of age was 76.5 years-old (Interquartile Range 68-80), 56.7% were women, median duration of disease: 4 years (IQR 1-10.6) and 43% has smoking history Most frequent signs and symptoms were crackles (97%), dyspnoea (90%) and cough (57%). Comorbidities: 3% had asthma, 3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 6.7% connective tissue diseases. Radiological findings: 20% had DLD with usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (UIP), 23% DLD possible UIP, 30% DLD inconsistent with UIP, 14% chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and 13% nonspecific interstitial pneumonia. Serology: 18% had positive rheumatoid factor of which only one case had rheumatoid arthritis, 67% had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), 17% ANCA positive of which only one case of clinical vasculitis. Spirometry was mainly normal (52%) or restrictive (45%). Echocardiography showed pulmonary hypertension mainly mild in 52% of patients. No significant association was found between titles of ANA ≥ 1/320 and gender, smoking or radiological pattern. Conclusions: Our demographic and radiological findings are similar to those reported in literature; however, the highlights in our cohort are the increased frequency of female gender and positive ANA without history or clinical manifestation of connective tissue diseases.

La enfermedad pulmonar difusa (EPD) es causa importante de morbimortalidad; a pesar de esto no tenemos datos epidemiológicos en Chile. Nuestro objetivo es comunicar el primer reporte del registro prospectivo de pacientes con EPD atendidos en la unidad de broncopulmonar del hospital DIPRECA. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal en pacientes derivados alpoliclínico broncopulmonar del hospital DIPRECA por sospecha de EPD. En caso de confirmación diagnóstica por tomografía computada de tórax y consentimiento informado aprobado por los pacientes, se compilaron datos clínicos, serológicos, pruebas de función pulmonar y ecocardiografía, desde 2014 hasta la fecha. Resultados: Se analizaron 30 pacientes la mediana de su edad fue 76,5 años (rango intercuartílico 68-80), 56,7% eran mujeres, duración mediana de la enfermedad: 4 años (RIC 1-10,6)y 43% con antecedentes de tabaquismo. Los síntomas y signos más frecuente fueron crujidos (97%), disnea (90%) y tos (57%). Comorbilidades: 3% tenía asma, 3% enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y 6,7% enfermedades del tejido conectivo. Hallazgos radiológicos: 20% tenía EPD con patrón de neumonía intersticial usual (UIP), 23% EPD posible UIP, 30% EPD inconsistente con UIP, 14% neumonitis por hipersensibilidad crónica y 13% neumonía intersticial no específica. Serología: 18% tenía factor reumatoide positivo de ellos sólo uno de los casos tenía artritis reumatoide, el 67% tenía anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA) positivos, 17% ANCA positivo de ellos sólo un caso tenía historia de vasculitis clínica. La espirometría fue mayoritariamente normal (52%) o restrictiva (45%). Ecocardiografía detectó hipertensión pulmonar mayoritariamente leve en 52% de los pacientes. No se encontró asociación significativa entre los títulos de ANA ≥ 1/320 en relación a género, tabaquismo o patrón radiológico. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos demográficos y radiológicos son similares a los de la literatura; sin embargo, destaca en nuestra cohorte la mayor frecuencia de género femenino y ANA positivos sin historia o manifestación clínica de enfermedades del tejido conectivo.

Usefulness of two new methods for diagnosing metapneumovirus infections in children.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is associated with acute respiratory tract infections, mainly in paediatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two new commercial techniques available for the detection of hMPV in clinical samples from children: an enzyme immunoassay, hMPV EIA (Biotrin International Ltd), and a molecular assay, real-time RT-PCR (Pro hMPV Real Time Assay Kit; Prodesse). A total of 184 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from 173 children aged less than 5 years who were hospitalized with acute wheezing were analysed. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 27% of the samples, followed by influenza A virus (6%), parainfluenza virus (PIV)3 (2.2%), adenovirus (2%), PIV1 (1.1%), PIV2 (1.1%), and influenza B virus (0.5%). The presence of hMPV was tested in all samples, using the real-time RT-PCR and EIA. Real-time RT-PCR detected 13 hMPV-positive samples (8%), and EIA detected 17 (9.3%). When the EIA results were compared with those of real-time RT-PCR for the detection of hMPV, a good correlation was found (94%). A relatively low co-infection rate (15%) was observed in our patients. RT-PCR and EIA provide robust methods for the diagnosis of hMPV infection in children.

Utility of the rapid antigen detection BinaxNOW Influenza A&B test for detection of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Nasopharyngeal aspirates, collected during outbreaks, of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Barcelona, were used to compare the accuracy of a rapid antigen-based test (Binax) with the real-time RT-PCR assay developed by the CDC. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of the rapid test are higher in patients less than 18 years old and during the acute stage of the epidemic than in adult patients.

[Tuberculous meningitis in adults: review of 53 cases]. / Meningitis tuberculosa en adultos: análisis de 53 casos.

Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The clinical spectrum is broad and may be non-specific making early diagnosis difficult. This increases the incidence of mortality. We describe the clinical characteristics of patients with TBM in Dr. Lucio Córdova's Infectious Disease Hospital in Santiago, Chile, between 1995 and 2002. We review 53 adult cases of TBM, with a median age of 39 years. At admission 66% of the patients had some mental status deterioration, and the classic triad of symptoms of meningeal irritation was present only in 30%. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed increased protein level, low glucose level and lymphocytic pleocytosis in most. Thirty percent of the patients were coinfected with HIV. The mortality in the later group was greater than in the TBM population as a whole (31 vs 17%). TBM is still a present diagnostic problem, in spite of the new diagnostic methods. A high index of suspicion is required in order to make an early diagnosis.

Meningitis tuberculosa en adultos: análisis de 53 casos / Tuberculous meningitis in adults: review of 53 cases

La meningitis tuberculosa (MTBC) es la forma más grave de tuberculosis extrapulmonar. El amplio espectro del cuadro clínico y su poca especificidad dificultan su diagnóstico precoz, relacionándose directamente con mayor letalidad. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las características clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de MTBC en el Hospital de Enfermedades Infecciosas Dr. Lucio Córdova, de Santiago, Chile, entre 1995 y 2002. Se estudiaron 53 casos de MTBC en adultos, con una edad mediana de 39 años. Al ingreso 66 por ciento de los pacientes presentaba algún grado de compromiso de conciencia, pero sólo 30 por ciento la tríada sintomática clásica. El LCR mostró aumento de proteínas, glucosa baja y linfocitosis, en la mayoría de los casos. Treinta por ciento de los pacientes presentó co-infección con VIH; la letalidad en este grupo de pacientes fue mayor, 31 vs 17 por ciento del total de la muestra. La MTBC continúa siendo una enfermedad vigente. El diagnóstico de certeza precoz de esta patología no es posible con los métodos actuales, por lo que la sospecha clínica es importante.

Calidad del te consumido en Chile. / Quality of tea consumed in Chile

Se detecto la necesidad de evaluar la calidad sensorial del te con el fin de complementar la informacion que se obtiene de los analisis fisico-quimicos realizados de acuerdo a la norma oficial en diferentes tipos de te. Se trabajo con 12 muestras diferentes adaptandose un diseno de block incompleto equilibrado tipo II. La preparacion de las muestras se realizo segun la norma ISO/DIS 3103.2. El panel de degustadores se formo por seleccion y entrenamiento en este mismo producto, eligiendose aquellos jueces que demostraron habilidad y consistencia en sus juicios con una significacion del 5% (p = 0,05). La evaluacion sensorial se planteo con un test de valoracion de calidad, de tipo descriptivo, en amplitud 3, para los parametros de sabor, color y aroma. Se discute la falta de concordancia producida entre los grados asignados por la Norma Chilena 1244 cR 81 "Te negro requisitos" y los grados en que se clasifican las mismas muestras al considerar la evaluacion sensorial. Se propone una revision de la Norma vigente