Impact of acute psychosocial stress on attentional control in humans. A study of evoked potentials and pupillary response.

Psychosocial stress has increased considerably in our modern lifestyle, affecting global mental health. Deficits in attentional control are cardinal features of stress disorders and pathological anxiety. Studies suggest that changes in the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system could underlie the effects of stress on top-down attentional control. However, the impact of psychosocial stress on attentional processes and its underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of psychosocial stress on attentional processing and brain signatures. Evoked potentials and pupillary activity related to the oddball auditory paradigm were recorded before and after applying the Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST). Electrocardiogram (ECG), salivary cortisol, and subjective anxiety/stress levels were measured at different experimental periods. The control group experienced the same physical and cognitive effort but without the psychosocial stress component. The results showed that stressed subjects exhibited decreased P3a and P3b amplitude, pupil phasic response, and correct responses. On the other hand, they displayed an increase in Mismatch Negativity (MMN). N1 amplitude after MIST only decreased in the control group. We found that differences in P3b amplitude between the first and second oddball were significantly correlated with pupillary dilation and salivary cortisol levels. Our results suggest that under social-evaluative threat, basal activity of the coeruleus-norepinephrine system increases, enhancing alertness and decreasing voluntary attentional resources for the cognitive task. These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological basis of attentional changes in pathologies associated with chronic psychosocial stress.

Conocimientos y opiniones de estudiantes de medicina de quinto año acerca de las medicinas alternativas y complementarias / Knowledge and opinions of fifth-year medical students about alternative and complementary medicines

Objetivos: Identificar conocimientos y opiniones de estudiantes Medicina acerca de las Medicinas Alternativas y Complementarias (MAC). Material y Métodos: Se aplicó una encuesta autoadministrada a 106 estudiantes de quinto año de Medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile en 2005. Esta encuesta incluyó estimadores de nivel de conocimientos, percepción de utilidad e interés por adquirir conocimientos sobre cuatro terapias: medicina mapuche, homeopatía, acupuntura y reiki. También incluyó una medición del nivel de acuerdo con doce afirmaciones generales sobre MAC. Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue de 90,5%. El porcentaje de personas que desconocían o sólo reconocían el nombre de las distintas terapias fue variable: 11,3% para homeopatía, 19,8% para acupuntura, 54,1% para reiki y 55,2% para medicina mapuche. La mejor percepción sobre utilidad fue para la acupuntura (78,7% la considera útil o muy útil), siendo semejante para hombres y mujeres. Las otras terapias tuvieron fueron evaluadas como útiles principalmente por mujeres, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Se identificó un amplio interés por adquirir conocimientos generales sobre el tema. Las mujeres mostraron mayor acuerdo con las afirmaciones generales favorables hacia las MAC y mayor desacuerdo hacia las afirmaciones críticas. Discusión: Los estudiantes de Medicina presentan conocimientos limitados sobre las MAC, pero un elevado interés en el tema. Las mujeres tienen una actitud más favorable hacia las MAC que los hombres. (AU)

Frecuencia de los genes de fusión TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL en pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoblástica aguda / Frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background: t(12;21) (p12;q22) and t(9;22) (q34;q11) translocations have prognostic significance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The fusion genes TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL, generated by these translocations, can be easily detected using molecular biology technique. Aim: To study the frequency of TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with ALL. Material and methods: Fifity six children with ALL (age range 1 month- 14 years) were studied, thirty eight from our Temuco Hospital and 18 from the Metropolitan Region. TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes were detected in bone marrow samples using a reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: TEL/AML 1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts were detected in 13 (23 percent) and 2 (4 percent) children, respectively. No differences in survival were observed between children with positive or negative transcripts for TEL/AML1 fusion gene. However, those positive for BCR/ABL fusion gene, had a significantly lower survival. Conclusions: The frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts in these children with ALL is similar to that described by other authors.

Fractura de clavícula en recién nacidos: factores de riesgo y morbilidad asociada / Clavicle fracture in newborns: risk factors and associated morbidities

Introducción: La fractura de clavícula es el traumatismo obstétrico óseo más frecuente en el recién nacido; se asocia a partos con distocia de hombros y a múltiples factores biomédicos relacionados. Objetivo: Analizar los factores de riesgo y morbilidad asociada con la fractura de clavícula en el recién nacido de parto normal. Pacientes y método: Estudio retrospectivo, tipo caso control, realizado en el Hospital Herminda Martín de Chillán (Chile), entre los meses de enero a junio de 2004. El grupo de estudio estuvo constituido por el total de recién nacidos con fractura de clavícula (44 casos), el grupo control se constituyó en razón de 1:2, que correspondió a los 2 partos vaginales siguientes al caso estudio (88 casos). Resultados: La incidencia fue del 4,1 por ciento; resultaron estadísticamente significativos con la presencia de fractura de clavícula el período de dilatación y expulsivo en primíparas, el peso y talla del recién nacido y la presencia de complicaciones durante el parto, como distocia de hombros (el 9,1 frente al 2,3 por ciento), el descontrol materno (el 6,8 frente al 1,1 por ciento) y laterocidencia de mano, que sólo se presentó en el grupo estudio (6,8 por ciento). Conclusiones: La fractura de clavícula en el recién nacido se asocia principalmente a factores del trabajo de parto y expulsivo

Introduction: Clavicle fractures are caused by injury during the birth process. It is associated to childbirth with difficulty in the exit of shoulders and to multiple related biomedical factors. Objective: To evaluate risk factors and associated morbidities the clavicle facture in newborn of normal childbirth. Patients and method: Retropective study, type case control in the Hospital Herminda Martín, Chillán (Chile), January to June of 2004. The group study was constituted by 44 cases of newborn with clavicle fracture, the group control constituted itself in regard to 1:2, both corresponded to following vaginal childbirths to the case study (88 cases). Results: The incidence was of 4.1 percents, were statistically significant with the time of dilatation and expulsive in primiparas, weight and size of the newborns and presence of complications in the attention of the childbirth, shoulder dystocia (9.1 percents versus 2.3 percents), maternal uncontrol (6.8 percents versus 1.1 percents) and hand-dystocia (6.8 percents). Conclusions: Clavicle fracture in newborn is associated to factors of the normal labor and delivery

[Frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Frecuencia de los genes de fusión TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL en pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoblástica aguda.

BACKGROUND: t(12;21) (p12;q22) and t(9;22) (q34;q11) translocations have prognostic significance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The fusion genes TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL, generated by these translocations, can be easily detected using molecular biology technique. AIM: To study the frequency of TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with ALL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-six children with ALL (age range 1 month- 14 years) were studied, thirty-eight from our Temuco Hospital and 18 from the Metropolitan Region. TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes were detected in bone marrow samples using a reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: TEL/AML 1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts were detected in 13 (23%) and 2 (4%) children, respectively. No differences in survival were observed between children with positive or negative transcripts for TEL/AML1 fusion gene. However, those positive for BCR/ABL fusion gene, had a significantly lower survival. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts in these children with ALL is similar to that described by other authors.

Subdiagnóstico de delirium en adultos mayores hospitalizados / Delirium in Chilean elderly inpatients: an overlooked problem

Background: Delirium is a common underdiagnosed and undertreated problem in elderly inpatients, associated to higher morbidity, mortality and health cost. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of delirium at hospital admission in medically ill elderly patients and the attending physician's diagnosis and treatment of delirium. Patients and methods: In a prospective and descriptive study, consecutive patients aged 65 years or more, admitted to an internal medicine ward were evaluated by independent physicians, during the first 48 h of admission, to asses the presence of delirium. Diagnosis of delirium was based on the Confusion Assessment Method. Medical and nurse records were reviewed. Family was interviewed when necessary. Results: One hundred eight patients (52% women, age range 65-94 years) with an APACHE II score of 11.6±5, were evaluated. Fifty seven patients (53%) had delirium (32% hyperactive, 72% hypoactive and 5% mixed). Delirium prevalence was significantly higher in older patients (66% among those aged 75 years or older versus 30% in younger, p <0.05) and among patients with more severe conditions (88% among those with an APACHE score over 16 versus 47% below that value, p <0.05). Medical records of patients with delirium showed that this diagnosis was present only in 32% and cognitive deficit was described in 73%. Ten percent of patients with delirium received sedative medication and 38% were physically restricted. There were no environmental interventions to prevent or control delirium. Conclusions: Delirium in elderly inpatients at this unit is an extraordinarily prevalent problem, seriously under diagnosed (68%) and under treated. This study should alerts our medical community to improve the diagnosis and management of delirium in elderly inpatients.

201Tl myocardial SPECT detects significant coronary artery disease between 50% and 75% angiogram stenosis.

UNLABELLED: Coronary angiography is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this work was to compare 201Thallium SPECT with different coronary angiographic cutoff values. METHODS: Data pertaining to 145 patients were tabulated. All patients underwent stress ECG, 201Thallium SPECT and coronary angiography. To assess the cutoff impact, two criteria for coronary angiography diagnosis were used: a) > or = 50% and b) > or = 75% stenosis, and applied to data from patients and vessels. RESULTS: On a patient basis, 201Thallium SPECT sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 87%, 57% and 81% with > or = 50% cutoff and 93%, 51% and 79% with > or = 75% cutoff, respectively (NS). When performing individual vessel analysis, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 59%, 78% and 68% for > or = 50% cutoff and 70%, 75% and 74% for > or = 75% cutoff, respectively (p < 0.029 for sensitivity). As expected, the severer the stenosis the higher the detection rate. There were 19 patients who had stenosis between 50% and 74%. Of these, 21% had abnormal stress ECG and 58% abnormal Thallium-201 SPECT. CONCLUSION: 201Thallium SPECT results support the use of > or = 50% stenosis cutoff criteria for CAD diagnosis and evaluation. Combined with coronary angiography, myocardial SPECT offers an excellent management strategy to patients.

201Tl myocardial SPECT detects significant coronary artery disease between 50 % and 75 % angiogram stenosis

La angiografía coronaria es el estándar de oro para diagnosticar enfermedad coronaria. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar los resultados del SPECT con Talio 201 con los diversos valores de estenosis coronaria a la angiografía. Métodos: Se tabularon resultados de 145 pacientes. A todos ellos se les realizó una prueba de esfuerzo, SPECT de perfusión miocárdica con Talio 201 y angiografía coronaria. Para hacer la valoración se utilizaron 2 criterios angiográficos para estenosis coronaria: a) >= 50 % b) >= 75 %, los que se aplicaron a los pacientes y vasos coronarios estudiados por individual. Resultados: En una evaluación individual por paciente la sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E) y exactitud (Ex) fue de 87 %, 57 % y 81 % con criterio de estenosis de >= 50 % y de 93 %, 51 % y 79 % usando criterio de >= 75 %, respectivamente (NS). Al analizar los vasos individualmente la S, E y Ex fue de 59 %, 78 % y 68 % para criterio >= 50 % y 70 %, 75 % y 74 % para criterio >= 75 % (p < 0,029 para S). Como era esperado a mayor severidad de estenosis, mayor incidencia de detección. Hubo 19 pacientes que presentaron estenosis entre 50 y 74 %. De ellos 21 % presentó prueba de esfuerzo anormal y 58 % SPECT de perfusión miocárdica anormal. Conclusión: Los resultados con el estudio de perfusión miocárdica con Talio 201 avalan el uso del valor de 50 % o más de estenosis en el diagnóstico y evaluación de enfermedad coronaria. En conjunto con la angiografía coronaria el SPECT miocárdico ofrece una excelente estrategia para el manejo de los pacientes

Coronary angiography is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this work was to compare 201Thallium SPECT with different coronary angiographic cutoff values. Methods: Data pertaining to 145 patients were tabulated. All patients underwent stress ECG, 201Thallium SPECT and coronary angiography. To assess the cutoff impact, two criteria for coronary angiography diagnosis were used: a) >= 50 % and b) >= 75 % stenosis, and applied to data from patients and vessels. Results: On a patient basis, 201Thallium SPECT sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 87 %, 57 % and 81 % with >= 50 % cutoff and 93 %, 51 % and 79 % with >= 75 % cutoff, respectively (NS). When performing individual vessel analysis, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 59 %, 78 % and 68 % for >= 50 % cutoff and 70 %, 75 % and 74 % for >= 75 % cutoff, respectively (p = 50 % stenosis cutoff criteria for CAD diagnosis and evaluation. Combined with coronary angiography, myocardial SPECT offers an excellent management strategy to patients

[Bone mineral density in leukemic children after completing one month of chemotherapy]. / Densitometría ósea en niños leucémicos al completar el primer mes de quimioterapia.

BACKGROUND: An important loss of bone mineral density, associated to pain and fractures, has been reported in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). AIM: To measure bone mineral density among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that completed the remission induction phase with chemotherapy, that lasts 30 days. PATIENTS AND METHODS: children with ALL, admitted to the oncology unit of a general hospital were considered eligible for the study. body composition and bone mineral density were measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). each child with ALL was paired with a healthy control. RESULTS: Fourteen children age 1 to 11 years, completed the study, Spine and femoral bone mineral densities were significantly lower than in their matched controls. No differences in total body bone mineral density or content were observed. Children with ALL had a lower fat free mass and a higher fat mass than their matched controls. There was a significant correlation between fat free mass and bone mineral content. CONCLUSIONS: After one month of chemotherapy, children with ALL had a lower bone mineral density in the spine and femur and a lower fat free mass.

Densitometría ósea en niños leucémicos al completar el primer mes de quimioterapia / Bone mineral density in leukemic children after completing one month of chemotherapy

Background: An important loss of bone mineral density, associated to pain and fractures, has been reported in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aim: To measure bone mineral density among children with acute lymphoblastic leykemia (ALL) that completed the remission induction phase with chemotherapy, that lasts 30 days. Patients and methods: children with ALL, admitted to the oncology unit of a general hospital were considered eligible for the study. body composition and bone mineral density were measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). each child with ALL was paired with a healthly control. Results: Fourteen children age 1 to 11 years, completed the study, Spine and femoral bone mineral desities were significantly lower than in their matched controls. No differences in total body bone mineral density or content were observed. Children with ALL had a lower fat free mass and a higher fat mass than their matched controls. There was a significant correlation between fat free mass and bone mineral content. Conclusions: After one month of chemotherapy, children with ALL had a lower bone mineral density in the spine and femur and a lower fat free mass.

Recomendaciones de tratamiento en la menopausia / Treatment of menopause: recommendations

El objetivo de este documento es entregar una guía práctica de tratamiento del climaterio, debido a la confusión producida por el estudio WHI en 2002. La TH debe ser solo utilizada cuando exista una indicación clara para su uso. La paciente sintomática es la principal beneficiada del tratamiento. No existe un tratamiento alternativo a los estrógenos o estrógeno/progestina tan eficaz en el alivio de la sintomatología y en reducción de fracturas. La indicación de un tratamiento prolongado debe ser revisada anualmente.

Prevalencia de lesiones musculo-esqueléticas y factores de riesgo en trabajadores de plantas procesadoras de crustáceos en Chile / Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors in a crustacean proccessing plant workers in Chile

Una actividad económica de exportación importante para Chile es el procesamiento de crustáceos, que tiene la presencia de tareas repetitivas y de carga de materiales y cuyas empresas mantienen caracteristicas similares de tecnología y procesos de trabajo. En esta actividad no existe informacion epidemiologica ni programas ergonómicos establecidos en estos procesos.Este estudio se desarrollo en una empresa de procesamiento de crustáceos en la XII Región de Chile. Se senalaron las tareas criticas desde el punto de vista musculo-esqueletico, a las cuales se les determinó el riesgo de las lesiones de extremidad superior mediante la aplicacion de herramientas ergonómicas como Strain Index, RULA y OCRA. Por otro lado, se reunio la evidencia clinica de riesgo por movimientos repetitivos con un examen fisico y musculo-esqueletico. La percepcion subjetiva de los trabajadores se resgistro con la aplicacion de una encuesta basada en el cuestionario musculo-esqueletico nordico.Este estudio senala el precedente de la existencia de desórdenes musculo-esqueléticos en estas actividades, situación no descrita en la literatura, a partir de lo cual se pueden disenar criticas de formacion continua y vigilancia permanente, en la implementación de un Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiologica que establezca criterios comunes de evaluacion de estas actividades.

Detección de secuencias del gen BCR-ABL mediante RT-PCR en pacientes con leucemia en la IX Región Chile / Detection of BCR-ABL gene sequences using polymerase chain reaction reverse transcriptase in patients with leukemia from the IX Región of Chile

Background: The BCR-ABL fusion gene is the molecular expression of the Philadelphia chromosome. This cytogenetic aberration is the most frequent alteration found in leukemias, which is produced by the translocation t(9;22). Two different fusion proteins are produced depending on the break point (210 kD and 190 kD). The detection of this gene has both diagnostic and prognostic importance, associated with poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aim: To detect BCR-ABL gene sequences in patients with leukemia from the IX Region of Chile. Material and methods: We studied 58 patients: 5 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 35 ALL, 15 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 3 biphenotypic leukemia. The gene sequences were detected using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: BRC-ABL gene sequences were positive in all patients with CML, 2 of 35 ALL (one child and one adult). The remaining patients were negative. We found p210 and p190 co-expression in 2 CML and 1 ALL. Conclusions: Our results are in agreement with other reports. The detection of these and other genetic alterations will allow us to have invaluable diagnostic and prognostic information from our patients with leukemia

Parámetros clínicos y radiológicos de pacientes con tromboembolismo pulmonar diagnosticado a través de cintigrafías de ventilación / perfusión de alta probabilidad / Clinical and radiological parameters of patients with lung thromboembolism, diagnosed by high probability ventilation / perfusion scintigraphies

Introducción: el tromboembolismo pulmonar (TEP) es una patología compleja y de difícil enfrentamiento para el clínico, por lo que el uso de métodos de diagnóstico por imágenes se han incluido desde hace décadas en los algoritmos diagnósticos. Objetivos: establecer los parámetros clínicos y radiológicos presentes en pacientes con tromboembolismo pulmonar diagnosticado a través de cintigrafías de ventilación perfusión de alta probabilidad. Materiales y métodos: se estudió 91 pacientes a quienes se les realizó estudios cintigráficos V/Q por sospecha de TEP. Sólo se consideraron aquellas cintigrafías informadas como de alta o baja probabilidad para TEP. El promedio de edad fue de 63,1 años (rango: 20 - 89 años), 43 hombres y 48 mujeres. Resultados: existió significancia estadística para cuatro parámetros: hemoptisis (p=0,01, razón de chance=8,925), taquicardia (p=0,02, razón de chance=3,5), dolor toráxico (p=0,01, razón de chance =1,87) y la condición del postoperatorio reciente (p=0,02, razón de chance=2,762). Destacó la ausencia de hallazgos positivos en la radiografía de tórax, ya que en la gran mayoría de los casos se obtuvo una imagen normal (70,7 por ciento con valor p<0,0001). Discusión: los parámetros clínicos y radiológicos encontrados en los pacientes a los cuales se les realiza diagnóstico de TEP a través de cintigrafía V/Q fueron: dolor toráxico, hemoptisis, antecedente de postoperatorio reciente y radiografía de tórax normal. Esto es importante, ya que ayudaria a elegir al grupo de pacientes en que la cintigrafía V/Q alcanzará su mayor rendimiento

X-ray absorptiometry of bone in obese and eutrophic children from Valparaiso, Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurement in obese and eutrophic children. METHODS: In a cross sectional, case control study 16 obese children (8 male, 8 female) aged 5 to 13 years were recruited from the outpatient nutrition clinic of Carlos van Buren Hospital, Valparaiso, Chile, during 1997. Sixteen healthy eutrophic children matched for sex, chronological age, height, and pubertal stage were enrolled as controls. The mean dietary calcium intake was 580 +/- 100 mg/day. All obese patients had more than 2 standard deviation (SD) of height/weight ratio. Lumbar spine (L2-L4) BMD, femoral neck BMD, total body BMD, and total body BMC were measured by posteroanterior dual photon DEXA. The results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Comparison of the data was determined by Wilcoxon and Student t test. RESULTS: Mean BMC was 1684.1 +/- 492.38 g in obese children and 1418.2 +/- 483.48 g in controls (p < 0.001, Student t test; p = 0.001, Wilcoxon test). Mean total BMD was 817.5 +/- 99.37 g/cm2 in obese children and 771.62 +/- 105.62 g/cm2 in controls. (p = 0.041 by Wilcoxon). Mean hip BMD was 784.4 +/- 117.05 g/cm2 in obese children and 801.67 +/- 150.34 g/cm2 in controls. Mean spine BMD was 724.87 +/- 171.75 g/cm2 in obese children and 686 +/- 137.08 g/cm2 in controls (not significant). CONCLUSION: Obese children have more total body BMC than eutrophic children. There was no significant difference in regional hip BMD and lumbar spine BMD among obese and normal children. Obese children may have larger bones.

Cáncer salival: estudio de los factores de pronóstico / Salivary glands cancer: study of the prognostic factors

El cáncer de las glándulas salivales se caracteriza por su baja incidencia y gran polimorfismo histológico. El objetivo de la investigación fue la evaluación de los factores de pronóstico en la sobrevida de los pacientes tratados. Se observaron 115 pacientes en el período comprendido entre enero 1963 y diciembre 1995 con el diagnóstico confirmado por biopsia y clasificados según los criterios morfológicos de la OMS. Fueron excluidos 35 pacientes. Las variables de pronósticos estudiadas fueron edad, sexo, tipo histológicos, estado clínico, agresividad y forma de tratamiento. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron comparaciones de curvas de sobrevida usando los métodos de Kaplan-Meier, log rank test y análisis de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. Hubo 35 hombres y 45 mujeres; edad promedio 49,9 ñ 18 años. La probabilidad de sobrevida fue de 50 por ciento hacia el final del período de observación. En el análisis unifactorial la edad, histología, agresividad y el estadio clínico aparecieron como variables estadísticamente significativas. El análisis de riesgos proporcionales seleccionó como factores de pronóstioc determinantes: el estadio (p = 0.005) y la edad mayor de 50 años (p = 0,005)

Estudio clínico epidemiológico de los pacientes ingresados a UCI según grupo etáreo / Clinical epidemiological study of patients admitted at ICU according to age

The charts of all patients admitted to an intensive care unit of a University Hospital, during 1 year, were reviewed. The diagnosis that caused the admission was considered the main disease. Severity at the moment of admission was assesses using the Apache asore. A total of 777 patients were admitted during the study period. Twenty had to be excluded due to lack of reliable data. Four hundred thirty two (57 percent) were over 65 years old. Cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of admission in young and old patients. Mortality was 14,8 percent of patients over 65 years old and 18.7 percent in younger patients. Main causes of death were cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, sepsis and cerebrovascular disease. No differences in causes of death were observed between young and old patients. Patients older than 65 years old admitted to intensive care units are very similar to the younger counterparts in their prognosis and causes of admission

Is the addition of ECG gating to technetium-99m sestamibi SPET of value in the assessment of myocardial viability? An evaluation based on two-dimensional echocardiography following revascularization.

The main goal of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of ECG gating to technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) perfusion imaging assists the prediction of recovery of regional wall motion abnormalities after revascularization. Thirty-six patients with coronary artery disease were included in the study. All had wall motion abnormalities, and 31 (86%) had a clinical history of myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in 18 patients and angioplasty in the remainder. All underwent ECG-gated and non-gated SPET at rest and after intravenous dipyridamole. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at a mean of 27 days before revascularization and at a mean of 69 days following revascularization to assess segmental wall motion changes. Perfusion prior to revascularization was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively on gated and non-gated SPET, and the results compared with those of echocardiography. Bullseye parameters were obtained from a normal database, generated from data in 40 normal volunteers, using dipyridamole ECG-gated and non-gated sestamibi SPET. There was good concordance between gated and non-gated qualitative analysis (79% with kappa=0.65) for normal, viable or necrotic segments. Gated SPET predicted functional recovery in 27 of 35 (77%) segments showing echocardiographic improvement while non-gated SPET did so in 30 of 39 (77%) such segments. Gated SPET predicted no functional recovery in 20 of 45 (44%) segments that did not show improved wall motion after revascularization, while with non-gated SPET the figure was 18 of 51 (35%). The positive predictive values of gated and non-gated SPET with regard to the recovery of wall motion following revascularization were 52% and 48%, while the negative predictive values were 71% and 67%, respectively. 99mTc-sestamibi had a low predictive value for recovery of function if visual assessment was used in the analysis of SPET data. Quantitative bullseye sestamibi parameters (defect extension and severity, reversibility and percentage change in extension), from gated or non-gated studies, appear best to distinguish which segments will display improved motility on the echocardiogram after revascularization. The addition of ECG gating does not significantly increase the predictive value of SPET imaging with regard to recovery of function.

Pacientes con síndrome de distress respiratorio agudo del adulto: efectos del óxido nítrico inhalado sobre intercambio gaseoso y la hemodinamia / Patients with acute adult respiratory distress syndrome: effects of inhalated nitric oxide on gas exchange and hemodynamics

Adult respiratory distress syndrome is highly prevalent in intensive care units and has a high mortality. Lately, nitric oxide has been used as adjuvant therapy. To study the effects of nitric oxide inhalation in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome, 12 patients were subjected to nitric oxide inhalation at a concentration of 10 parts per million, during 30 minutes. At the end of the nitric oxide inhalation period, there was an improvement of PaO2/FIOa ratio from 89ñ32 to 111ñ43 mm Hg and 16 percent reduction of lung shunting (Qs/Qt). Nitric oxide inhalation at a concentration of 10 parts per million improved arterial oxygenation and reduced pulmonary shunting in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome