Factores de riesgo, asociados a intento de suicidio, comparando factores de alta y baja letalidad / Comparing high- and low-lethality factors regarding attempted suicide-associated risk factors

Objetivo El propósito del estudio fue Identificar los factores de riesgo más frecuentes asociados a intento de suicidio para determinar si existen diferencias entre los factores de riesgo presentes en pacientes con tentativa de baja letalidad y los de alta letalidad. Método Se entrevistaron 106 pacientes de ambos sexos, con diagnóstico de intento de suicidio, hospitalizados en una unidad psiquiátrica, divididos en dos grupos: uno pacientes con tentativa suicida de baja letalidad y otro con tentativa de alta letalidad. Resultados Del total de 106 pacientes, 58,5 por ciento pertenecían al grupo de baja letalidad y 41,5 por ciento al grupo de alta letalidad. Los porcentajes más elevados se presentaron, en la mayoría de los casos en el grupo de tentativa de alta letalidad pero sólo en dos factores se encontró diferencia estadística significativa: "œvivir solo" e "œintoxicación etílica previa". Del total de ambos grupos, el 77,4 por ciento eran menores de 39 años, 69 por ciento eran femeninos y 31 por ciento masculinos, los factores de riesgo asociados a intento de suicidio que presentaron los porcentajes más elevados en ambos grupos fueron: antecedente familiar de alcoholismo, tentativa suicida personal previa, ansiedad generalizada y distimia. Discusión La mayoría de los factores de riesgo encontrados con mayor porcentaje, concuerdan con los reportados en la literatura médica. Conclusiones: En este estudio, el hecho de vivir sólo, e intoxicación alcohólica previa, mostraron diferencia estadística significativa, en el resto de los factores estudiados no hubo diferencia significativa.

Objective This study was aimed at identifying the most common risk factors associated with suicide attempts to determine differences between risk factors present in patients regarding their low-lethality and high-fatality suicide attempts. Method 106 patients from both sexes who had been hospitalised in a psychiatric unit following their attempts at suicide were interviewed; they were divided into two groups: low-lethality and high-lethality suicide attempt patients. Results 58.5 percent of the 106 patients were placed in the low-lethality group and 41.5 percent in the high-lethality group. The highest rates occurred in the high-lethality group but only two factors had significant statistical difference: "œliving alone" and "œprior alcohol poisoning". 77.4 percent of the sample were aged under 39, 7 percent were female and 31 percent male. Having a family background of alcoholism, previously attempted suicide, generalised anxiety and dysthymia had the highest percentages as risk factors associated with attempted suicide in both groups. The risk factors having the highest percentages were consistent with those reported in the literature. Conclusions The fact of living alone and having previously suffered alcohol poisoning had statistically significant differences in this study. No significant differences were found in the rest of the factors studied here.

Sensitization of cervix cancer cells to Adriamycin by Pentoxifylline induces an increase in apoptosis and decrease senescence.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic drugs like Adriamycin (ADR) induces apoptosis or senescence in cancer cells but these cells often develop resistance and generate responses of short duration or complete failure. The methylxantine drug Pentoxifylline (PTX) used routinely in the clinics setting for circulatory diseases has been recently described to have antitumor properties. We evaluated whether pretreatment with PTX modifies apoptosis and senescence induced by ADR in cervix cancer cells. METHODS: HeLa (HPV 18+), SiHa (HPV 16+) cervix cancer cells and non-tumorigenic immortalized HaCaT cells (control) were treated with PTX, ADR or PTX + ADR. The cellular toxicity of PTX and survival fraction were determinated by WST-1 and clonogenic assay respectively. Apoptosis, caspase activation and ADR efflux rate were measured by flow cytometry, senescence by microscopy. IkappaBalpha and DNA fragmentation were determinated by ELISA. Proapoptotic, antiapoptotic and senescence genes, as well as HPV-E6/E7 mRNA expression, were detected by time real RT-PCR. p53 protein levels were assayed by Western blot. RESULTS: PTX is toxic (WST-1), affects survival (clonogenic assay) and induces apoptosis in cervix cancer cells. Additionally, the combination of this drug with ADR diminished the survival fraction and significantly increased apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cervix cancer cells. Treatments were less effective in HaCaT cells. We found caspase participation in the induction of apoptosis by PTX, ADR or its combination. Surprisingly, in spite of the antitumor activity displayed by PTX, our results indicate that methylxantine, per se does not induce senescence; however it inhibits senescence induced by ADR and at the same time increases apoptosis. PTX elevates IkappaBalpha levels. Such sensitization is achieved through the up-regulation of proapoptotic factors such as caspase and bcl family gene expression. PTX and PTX + ADR also decrease E6 and E7 expression in SiHa cells, but not in HeLa cells. p53 was detected only in SiHa cells treated with ADR. CONCLUSION: PTX is a good inducer of apoptosis but does not induce senescence. Furthermore, PTX reduced the ADR-induced senescence and increased apoptosis in cervix cancer cells.

[Comparing high- and low-lethality factors regarding attempted suicide-associated risk factors]. / Factores de riesgo, asociados a intento de suicidio, comparando factores de alta y baja letalidad.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at identifying the most common risk factors associated with suicide attempts to determine differences between risk factors present in patients regarding their low-lethality and high-fatality suicide attempts. METHOD: 106 patients from both sexes who had been hospitalised in a psychiatric unit following their attempts at suicide were interviewed; they were divided into two groups: low-lethality and high-lethality suicide attempt patients. RESULTS: 58.5 % of the 106 patients were placed in the low-lethality group and 41.5 % in the high-lethality group. The highest rates occurred in the high-lethality group but only two factors had significant statistical difference: "living alone" and "prior alcohol poisoning". 77.4 % of the sample were aged under 39, 7 % were female and 31 % male. Having a family background of alcoholism, previously attempted suicide, generalised anxiety and dysthymia had the highest percentages as risk factors associated with attempted suicide in both groups. The risk factors having the highest percentages were consistent with those reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The fact of living alone and having previously suffered alcohol poisoning had statistically significant differences in this study. No significant differences were found in the rest of the factors studied here.