Ventana aortopulmonar: Reporte de caso / Aortopulmonary window: Case report

RESUMEN La ventana aortopulmonar constituye una infrecuente anomalía cardíaca congénita. En la literatura mundial se han publicado alrededor de 300 casos. Se ha asociado a defectos cardíacos complejos, lo cual dificulta su diagnóstico. Se presenta el caso de un lactante menor con sintomatologia de falla cardíaca congestiva; durante estancia en unidad de cuidados intensivos cursa con múltiples comorbilidades; posterior a lo cual es llevado a cirugía cardíaca correctiva con peso inferior a 2000 gramos, con evolución satisfactoria. Se resalta la importancia de la corrección temprana, con el fin de evitar la progresión a enfermedad vascular pulmonar irreversible.

ABSTRACT Aortopulmonary window is a rare congenital heart defect. About 300 cases have been published in the world literature. It has been associated with complex heart defects, which makes it difficult to diagnose. We present a case of a minor infant with symptomatology of congestive heart failure; during stay in intensive care unit presents multiple co-morbidities. Subsequent to that, it is taken to corrective cardiac surgery with weight inferior to 2000 grams, with satisfactory evolution. The importance of early correction is emphasized in order to avoid progression to irreversible pulmonary vascular disease.

La pregunta de investigación en la práctica clínica: guía para formularla / The Research Question in Clinical Practice: A Guideline for Its Formulation

resumen La elaboración sistemática de la pregunta de investigación permite al investigador enfocar el problema, orientar los métodos y postular posibles soluciones. En la práctica, todavía se observan dificultades en la formulación del problema de investigación. La diversidad de los escenarios clínicos, de donde resulta buena parte de las preguntas de investigación, hace que su formulación no se ajuste siempre a la estrategia PICO. El objetivo de este artículo es aportar una guía que facilite la formulación de las preguntas de investigación que surgen en la práctica clínica a médicos, especialistas y personal en entrenamiento.

abstract The systematic formulation of the research question allows the researcher to focus the study, guide the method decisions, and to put forward possible solutions. In practice, there are difficulties in the formulation of research problems. Diversity of clinical scenarios can lead to a mismatch between the structure of the research question and the classical PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format. The aim of this article is to provide guidelines that help in the proper formulation of clinical practice research questions for general practitioners, specialists, and healthcare personnel in training.

The Research Question in Clinical Practice: A Guideline for Its Formulation. / La pregunta de investigación en la práctica clínica: guía para formularla.

The systematic formulation of the research question allows the researcher to focus the study, guide the method decisions, and to put forward possible solutions. In practice, there are difficulties in the formulation of research problems. Diversity of clinical scenarios can lead to a mismatch between the structure of the research question and the classical PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format. The aim of this article is to provide guidelines that help in the proper formulation of clinical practice research questions for general practitioners, specialists, and healthcare personnel in training.

Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and health-related quality of life in adults aged 18 to 30 years in a Colombian University: an electronic survey.

BACKGROUND: We estimated the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its impact on patient-reported health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in a university-based population aged between 18 and 30 years in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: The study had a cross-sectional design. Students, faculty, and staff aged 18-30 years of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia were randomly selected and invited to complete an electronic survey containing the Rome III IBS diagnostic questionnaire and an IBS-specific HR-QOL instrument (IBS-QOL). RESULTS: A total of 1082 individuals participated in this study. The prevalence of IBS was 24.0% (95% CI 21.3-26.6%). IBS-constipation was the most common subtype (41.9%; 95% CI 35.5-48.4%). The overall IBS-QOL score indicated HR-QOL impairment (72.1/100). IBS-unsubtyped patients had the highest overall HR-QOL (constipation: 70.6; diarrhea: 67.2; mixed: 67.0; unsubtyped: 77.8; P=0.003). IBS non-consulters had higher IBS-QOL "Food Avoidance" scores than IBS consulters (60.3 vs. 45.5; P=0.002). CONCLUSION: IBS is a prevalent disorder in a university-based population aged 18-30 years and has a significant impact on HR-QOL. IBS-unsubtyped subjects had the highest HR-QOL compared to other subtypes. Food avoidance appears to be a key factor in seeking consultation.

Desenlaces de implante de anillos corneales intraestromales de 355° de arco (KeraRing) / Outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment (Keraring 355°)

Objetivo: Establecer si el implante de anillos 355° de arco (KeraRing) con técnica láser femtosegundo mejora la agudeza visual y regulariza la curvatura corneal de los pacientes con diagnóstico de queratocono central. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo serie de casos. Se recolectaron datos de las historias clínicas comprendidas entre enero del 2013 y enero del 2014 de pacientes con defecto refractivo asociado a queratocono central, que fueron llevados a implante de anillos intracorneales 355° de arco mediante técnica laser femtosegundo. Resultados: El estudio incluyo 36 ojos de 32 pacientes con diagnóstico de queratocono central y edad media de 30,33 años (D.E.±10,32). La agudeza visual sin corrección, el equivalente esférico y los valores keratométricos mejoraron con respecto al valor preoperatorio y fueron estadísticamente significativos. Los valores de error refractivo esférico y cilindro mostraron una reducción media posoperatoria al año de 5,3 y 1,2 dioptrías respectivamente, pero no fueron significativas. El valor Q también mostro una mejoría de la prolaticidad pero no fue estadísticamente significativo. Conclusiones: El implante de anillos 355ª de arco (KeraRing) usando laser femtosegundo es una buena alternativa de manejo para pacientes con queratocono. Es un nuevo tipo de segmento y es importante seguir las recomendaciones de la casa productora y las mencionadas en este artículo.

Objectives: To stablish whether the implantation of an intrastromal ring segment of 355° arc (KeraRing) through a femtosecond assisted tunnel, improves visual acuity and corneal curvature patients with central keratoconus. Methods: This is a case series study of patients undergoing the procedure between January 2013 and January 2014. Results: This study included 36 eyes of 32 patients diagnosed with central keratoconus and a median age of 30,33 years. Uncorrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent and keratometry values improved and were statistically signifi cant. The Q value showed an improvement in prolaticity and the postoperative spherical refractive error and cylinder values showed a reduction of 5.3D and 1.2D respectively after 1 year without being statistically signifi cant. Conclusion: The implantation of an intrastromal corneal ring segment of 355o arc is a good alternative in the management of keratoconus patients. It is a new type of segment and the recommendations given by the manufacturers and those described in this article should be considered.

Characteristics of randomized trials published in Latin America and the Caribbean according to funding source.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have assessed the nature and quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). METHODS AND FINDINGS: The aims of this systematic review are to evaluate the characteristics (including the risk of bias assessment) of RCT conducted in LAC according to funding source. A review of RCTs published in 2010 in which the author's affiliation was from LAC was performed in PubMed and LILACS. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. The primary outcomes were risk of bias assessment and funding source. A total of 1,695 references were found in PubMed and LILACS databases, of which 526 were RCTs (N = 73.513 participants). English was the dominant publication language (93%) and most of the RCTs were published in non-LAC journals (84.2%). Only five of the 19 identified countries accounted for nearly 95% of all RCTs conducted in the region (Brazil 70.9%, Mexico 10.1%, Argentina 5.9%, Colombia 3.8%, and Chile 3.4%). Few RCTs covered priority areas related with Millennium Development Goals like maternal health (6.7%) or high priority infectious diseases (3.8%). Regarding children, 3.6% and 0.4% RCT evaluated nutrition and diarrhea interventions respectively but none pneumonia. As a comparison, aesthetic and sport related interventions account for 4.6% of all trials. A random sample of RCTs (n = 358) was assessed for funding source: exclusively public (33.8%); private (e.g. pharmaceutical company) (15.3%); other (e.g. mixed, NGO) (15.1%); no funding (35.8%). Overall assessments for risk of bias showed no statistically significant differences between RCTs and type of funding source. Statistically significant differences favoring private and others type of funding was found when assessing trial registration and conflict of interest reporting. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study could be used to provide more direction for future research to facilitate innovation, improve health outcomes or address priority health problems.

Trial registration in Latin America and the Caribbean's: study of randomized trials published in 2010.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of trial registration in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2010 (PUBMED/LILACS) from Latin America and the Caribbean's (LAC) and to compare methodological characteristics between registered and nonregistered RCTs. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A search for detecting RCTs in which at least the first/contact author had a LAC's affiliation was made. We determined if RCTs were registered in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP). Data were independently extracted by two authors. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed in all registered RCTs (n=89) and in a sample of nonregistered RCTs (n=237). RESULTS: The search identified 1,695 references; 526 RCTs from 19 countries were included. 16.9% (89/526) of RCTs were registered in the ICTRP; however, only 21 (4.0%) were prospectively registered. A significant difference was found in the overall assessment of the RoB between registered and nonregistered RCTs. Overall, registered RCTs were multinational, had larger sample size and longer follow-up, and reported more frequently information on funding, conflict of interests, and ethic issues. No significant differences were found when analyzing prospectively registered RCTs. CONCLUSION: This study shows that trial registration rates are still low in LAC and the quality of reporting needs to be improved.

Terapia farmacológica para el abandono del tabaquismo / Pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation

El tabaquismo es una enfermedad crónica causada por la dependencia física y psicológica a la nicotina y es la principal causa de mortalidad prevenible. La disponibilidad de productos derivados del tabaco y su aceptación social produce un elevado consumo en la población general. El problema del tabaquismo resulta paradójico: presenta alta prevalencia, altas tasas de mortalidad y altos costos para el sistema de salud; sin embargo, a pesar de disponer de múltiples opciones de tratamiento costo-efectivos, el equipo de salud está escasamente capacitado y motivado para la intervención, y no se cuenta con centros especializados ni con cobertura para los tratamientos de suspensión o abandono. El tratamiento farmacológico para el cese del tabaquismo siempre debe ser parte de una estrategia organizada, interdisciplinaria y multifactorial, cuya prescripción debe hacerse en el momento evolutivo adecuado de cada paciente, según el estado de dependencia en que se encuentre. En el presente artículo se presenta una revisión de la terapia farmacológica para abandonar la adicción al tabaco.

Smoking is a chronic disease due to physical and psychological nicotine dependence and remains as the leading cause of preventable mortality. Availability of tobacco products and social approval has a great impact on consumption in the general population. Smoking is a paradoxical problem. Although multiple cost-effective therapies are available, health practitioners are barely trained or motivated to treat these patients. Appropriate specialized centers and health coverage for its management are also lacking. Pharmacological therapy must be a part of an organized, interdisciplinary and multifactorial strategy, prescribed in an adequate stage of change. This article is a review of the pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation.