Uveítis. Un reto para el internista / Uveítis. A challange for internist

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Factores pronósticos de la neumonía comunitaria. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico en Servicios de Medicina Interna / Prognostic factors in community acquired pneumonia. Prospective multicenter study in internal medical departments

Objetivo: Los objetivos de este estudio multicéntrico fueron evaluar las características clínicas y microbiológicas de pacientes que ingresaron en servicios de Medicina Interna y analizar los factores que influyeron en la mortalidad a los 30 días. Método: Se recogieron antecedentes personales de cada paciente, síntomas y signos, patrón radiológico y parámetros analíticos incluyendo albúmina y proteína C reactiva (PCR). También se registró el número de horas que transcurrieron hasta que se instauró la primera dosis de antibiótico y el seguimiento en días. Los pacientes fueron estratificados en cinco clases de riesgo según el Pneumonia Severity Index. Resultados: Se incluyeron 389 pacientes la mayoría distribuidos en las clase III a V de Fine. La mortalidad global fue del 12,1% (48 pacientes) elevándose al 40% en los pacientes de la clase V. Ni la edad, ni el sexo, ni el número de horas transcurrido hasta la primera dosis de tratamiento antibiótico influyeron en la mortalidad a los 30 días. Tampoco los niveles de PCR en plasma ni el conocer o no el diagnóstico microbiológico. Los pacientes orientados (OR 0,138, IC95% 0,055-0,324)y con mayores niveles de albúmina (OR 0,207, IC95% 0,103-0,417) tuvieron mejor supervivencia .La presencia de carcinoma activo (OR 3,2, IC95% 1,181-8,947) predijo tambien de forma independiente la mortalidad. Conclusiones: Concluimos que además de los parámetros universalmente aceptados de Fine, debería utilizarse la albúmina para seleccionar a aquellos pacientes en los que el pronóstico podría ser peor

Aims: the aims of the present study were to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients suffering from communityacquired pneumonia attended in the Internal Medical Departments of several Spanish institutions and to analyze those prognostic factors predicting thirty-day mortality in such patients. Material and methods: Past medical history, symptoms and signs, radiological pattern and blood parameters including albumin and C Reactive Protein, were recorded for each patient. Time from admission to starting antibiotics (in hours) and follow-up (in days) were also recorded. Patients were stratified by the Pneumonia Severity Index in five risk classes. Results: 389 patients were included in the study, most of them in Fine categories III to V. Mortality rate for all patients was 12.1% (48 patients), increasing up to 40% in Fine Class V. Neither age, sex nor time from admission to the start of antibiotic treatment predicted survival rates. Plasmatic levels of PCR or microbiologic diagnosis were not related to clinical outcome. In the Cox regression analysis, oriented patients (OR 0.138, IC95% 0.055-0.324), and those with normal albuminemia (OR 0.207, IC95% 0.103-0.417) showed better survival rates. On the contrary, those with active carcinoma (OR 3.2, IC95% 1.181-8.947) significantly showed a reduced life expectancy. Conclusion: Besides the fully accepted Fine scale criteria, albumin measurements should be included in routine evaluation in order to improve patient’s prognostic classification

[Prognostic factors in community acquired pneumonia. Prospective multicenter study in internal medical departments]. / Factores pronósticos de la neumonía comunitaria. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico en Servicios de Medicina Interna.

AIMS: the aims of the present study were to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients suffering from community-acquired pneumonia attended in the Internal Medical Departments of several Spanish institutions and to analyze those prognostic factors predicting thirty-day mortality in such patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Past medical history, symptoms and signs, radiological pattern and blood parameters including albumin and C Reactive Protein, were recorded for each patient. Time from admission to starting antibiotics (in hours) and follow-up (in days) were also recorded. Patients were stratified by the Pneumonia Severity Index in five risk classes. RESULTS: 389 patients were included in the study, most of them in Fine categories III to V. Mortality rate for all patients was 12.1% (48 patients), increasing up to 40% in Fine Class V. Neither age, sex nor time from admission to the start of antibiotic treatment predicted survival rates. Plasmatic levels of PCR or microbiologic diagnosis were not related to clinical outcome. In the Cox regression analysis, oriented patients (OR 0.138, IC95% 0.055-0.324), and those with normal albuminemia (OR 0.207, IC95% 0.103-0.417) showed better survival rates. On the contrary, those with active carcinoma (OR 3.2, IC95% 1.181-8.947) significantly showed a reduced life expectancy. CONCLUSION: Besides the fully accepted Fine scale criteria, albumin measurements should be included in routine evaluation in order to improve patient s prognostic classification.

[Beta blocker induced depression. A case report]. / Depresión inducida por betabloqueantes. A prospósito de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Although association between beta blockers and depression has been reported since decades ago, the subject is still controversial. Most evidence supporting an association has been based on case reports or case series. Epidemiologic studies and randomized clinical trials have not generally supported this association. If this association exists, possible causes of disparity of findings may include methodological difficulties, and/or weak association. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a 67 year old woman, without personal history of psychiatric illness or stress factors, who develops a depressive episode after initiating treatment with atenolol. The symptoms remitted rapidly when atenolol was discontinued, and an antidepressant was prescribed during a short period. CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests the existence of an association between a beta blocker, atenolol, and depression.

Depresión inducida por betabloqueantes. A propósito de un caso / Beta blocker induced depression. A case report

Introducción. Aunque desde hace décadas se ha señalado la asociación entre betabloqueantes y depresión, este tema permanece en controversia. La asociación ha sido señalada fundamentalmente en estudios de casos únicos o series de casos, mientras que los estudios epidemiológicos y ensayos clínicos aleatorizados han ofrecido escaso sustento a esta hipótesis. De existir tal asociación, las posibles causas de la disparidad de hallazgos serían las dificultades metodológicas, y/o que se trate de una asociación débil.Caso clínico. Se presenta un caso clínico de una paciente de 67 años, sin antecedentes psiquiátricos ni factores estresantes, que desarrolla un episodio depresivo tras iniciar tratamiento con atenolol, el cual remite rápidamente tras la supresión del mismo y de iniciar tratamiento antidepresivo durante un corto período de tiempo.Conclusiones. Este caso sugiere la existencia de asociación entre un betabloqueante, el atenolol, y la depresión

Introduction. Although association between beta blockers and depression has been reported since decades ago, the subject is still controversial. Most evidence supporting an association has been based on case reports or case series. Epidemiologic studies and randomized clinical trials have not generally supported this association. If this association exists, possible causes of disparity of findings may include methodological difficulties, and/or weak association.Clinical case. We present a case of a 67 year old woman, without personal history of psychiatric illness or stress factors, who develops a depressive episode after initiating treatment with atenolol. The symptoms remitted rapidly when atenolol was discontinued, and an antidepressant was prescribed during a short period.Conclusions. This case report suggests the existence of an association between a beta blocker, atenolol, and depression

Utilidad del cortisol plasmático nocturno en el diagnóstico del síndrome de cushing / Utility of nocturnal plasma cortisol in the diagnosis of cushing's syndrome

La determinación del cortisol plasmático nocturno se ha propuesto como una alternativa en el diagnóstico del síndrome de Cushing, principalmente para diferenciar entre pacientes con síndrome de Cushing y sujetos con estados de seudosíndrome de Cushing. Se analizaron retrospectivamente las medidas de cortisol plasmático a medianoche en 28 pacientes con sospecha clínica de síndrome de Cushing y elevación de la excreción de cortisol libre urinario (20 pacientes con síndrome de Cushing y 8 con seudosíndrome de Cushing). No se realizaron estudios endocrinológicos el día del ingreso. En los 2 días posteriores se tomaron muestras para cortisol sérico a las 8.00 y a las 24.00 h. Los resultados se compararon con otras pruebas diagnósticas realizadas simultáneamente (cortisol libre urinario y test de supresión con 1 mg de dexametasona). El cortisol plasmático a las 24.00 h fue el único parámetro que distinguió a todos los pacientes con síndrome de Cushing de aquellos con seudosíndrome de Cushing. Su valor más bajo entre los pacientes con síndrome de Cushing fue de 11,9 µg/dl, sin que se apreciaran diferencias entre los resultados obtenidos el segundo y el tercer día de ingreso. En el grupo de pacientes con seudosíndrome de Cushing, 3 casos presentaron un cortisol nocturno no suprimido durante el segundo día de hospitalización (6,1-10,2 µg/dl), mientras que todas las determinaciones obtenidas 24 horas más tarde proporcionaron valores menores de 5 µg/dl. Estos datos indican que el estudio del cortisol a medianoche puede requerir de un ingreso de al menos 48 h cuando se evalúa a pacientes con seudosíndrome de Cushing (AU)

[Streptococcal infection in a primary school population. Study during the academic year]. / Infección estreptocócica en una población escolar primaria. Estudio durante un curso escolar.

One hundred and seventy four children from the "República de Checoslovaquia" National School of the Centro Habana-Norte municipality were investigated during the 1976-1977 academic course months. The method of mail interview of parents was used. Every month the history of oropharyngeal infection and antibiotic administration was obtained, and bacteriology of pharyngeal exudates was performed. Antistreptolysin or AELO titers were determined at three-month intervals. Cardiovascular physical examinations were made and electrocardiograms obtained during the last month. 19,22% of exudates were positive for hemolytic streptococci. 46,56% of streptococcal strains isolated corresponded to the group A. Hemolytic streptococci isolation ranged between 10,4% in October, 1976 and 36,1% in April, 1977. The monthly distribution of the different serological groups of isolated hemolytic streptococci disclosed statistically significant differences. 78,26% of the 667 AELO reactions corresponded to titers of 200 or more Todd units. Average titers in the four stages of the serological study are between 382,42 and 463,92 Todd units. Significative differences between the results of bacteriology and serology and the physical state of oropharynx or the history of clinical manifestations were not evidenced. Manifestations of carditis or rheumatic fever were not found.