Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: first documented experience in a Mexican urban setting.

OBJECTIVE: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Mexico, but many survival and prognostic factors are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a Mexican city. METHODS: This was a prospective, cohort study that evaluated the records of the major ambulance services in the city of Queretaro, Mexico. Means, standard deviation, and percentages for the categorical variables were obtained. Logistic regression was performed to determine the effects between interventions, times, and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). RESULTS: For an 11-month period, 148 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases were recorded. The mean age of the victims was 54 +/- 22.6 years and 90 (65.3%) were males. Forty-nine cases were related to cardiac disease, 46 to other disease, 27 to trauma, 18 to terminal illnesses, and three to drowning. Twelve (8.6%) patients had a pulse upon hospital arrival, but none survived to discharge. No victims were defibrillated prior to ambulance arrival. The collapse-assessment interval was 22.5 +/- 19:1 minutes, the mean value for the ambulance response times was 13:6 +/-10:4 minutes. Basic emergency medical technicians applied chest compressions to 40 victims (27.2%), controlled the airway in 32 (21.8%), and defibrillated seven (4.8%). Chest compressions and airway control showed an OR of 8 and 12 respectively for ROSC. CONCLUSIONS: The poor survival rate in this study emphasizes the need to improve efforts in provider training and public education. Authorities must promote actions to enhance prehospital emergency services capabilities, shorten response times, and provide community education to increase the chances of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in Mexico.

[Neuropsychological performance in neurofibromatosis type 1]. / Rendimiento neuropsicológico en la neurofibromatosis tipo 1.

INTRODUCTION: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder with various clinical manifestations that affect the peripheral and central nervous system, as well as the skin, bones and endocrine and vascular system. There is still insufficient knowledge of neuropsychological effects of NF1 on children, and there is some controversy about the cognitive deficits that defines the cognitive profile of patients affected by this disorder. AIMS: In this study an analysis is made of the neuropsychological performance of a group of patients affected by NF1, compared with a control group of healthy children. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A comparison was made between the neuropsychological performance of a group of 23 boys and girls with a mean age of 8.7 years (+/-1.39) and diagnosed with NF1, and a control group consisting of 21 healthy children, with mean age of 8.9 years (+/- 1.41) and with similar socio-demographic characteristics. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) was applied to evaluate the subjects of both groups. RESULTS: The group of patients affected with NF1 showed a lower performance in every primary index of WISC IV: Verbal Comprehension Index, Fluid Reasoning Index, Working Memory Index, Processing Speed Index, and full Scale IQ. Only in two subscales were no statistically significant differences observed: similarities and coding. CONCLUSION: The results show subtle and generalised neuropsychological alterations in the sample of children affected with NF1, which affect most of cognitive domains that have been evaluated. Proper specific and early neuropsychological treatment should be provided in order to prevent the high risk for these children of presenting learning difficulties and school failure.

Association between stages of change regarding weight reduction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: There is very low-quality evidence that the transtheoretical stages of change model combined with physical activity or diet, or both, can result in significant improvements in dietary and physical activity habits. Objective: To evaluate the association between stages of change on weight reduction, after a nutritional intervention, in patients with cardiovascular risk. Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, patients >18 years old with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and at least two cardiovascular risk factors were distributed to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received, according to stage of change, a multidisciplinary intervention formed by a nutritionist, a psychologist, a chef and a physiotherapist to improve healthy eating, while the control group was given a nutritional prescription. Stage of change from the transtheoretical model, anthropometric variables, physical activity, and 24-hour recall of food intake were measured at baseline and 12 months postintervention. The main outcomes were change in weight, waist and hip circumferences. Results: We included 188 subjects (intervention group= 93, control group= 95), where 75% were female, 68.6% had obesity, and mean age 50.3±13. After 12-months, subjects in the intervention group that were ready to change showed a greater decrease in weight and energy intake, with differences between ready to change vs not ready to change subjects and an interaction between intervention group and ready to change. Conclusions: An intervention with a multidisciplinary team can be as effective as the current standard of care in promoting weight loss when taking into account baseline stage of change.

RESUMEN Introducción: existe poca evidencia sobre el efecto de la etapa de cambio del modelo transteórico en conjunto con actividad física, dieta, o ambas, en los hábitos dietéticos y de actividad física. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de una intervención nutricional y la etapa de cambio inicial sobre la reducción de peso después de una intervención nutricional en pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular. Métodos: Ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado. Pacientes >18 años con índice de masa corporal ≥25 kg/m2 y al menos 2 factores de riesgo cardiovascular fueron asignados a: grupo intervención o grupo control. El grupo de intervención recibió de acuerdo a la etapa de cambio una intervención multidisciplinaria formada por: nutricionista, psicólogo, chef y fisioterapeuta, mientras que el grupo control solo recibió prescripción nutricional habitual. Se evaluaron al inicio del estudio y 12 meses después de la intervención: etapa de cambio del modelo transteórico, variables antropométricas, actividad física y recordatorio de 24 horas. Resultados: se incluyeron 188 sujetos (grupo intervención 93, grupo control 95), 75% eran mujeres, 68,6% tenían obesidad, con promedio de 50.3±13. Después de 12 meses, los sujetos en el grupo de intervención que estaban listos para el cambio, mostraron una mayor disminución en el peso y en el consumo calórico, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la interacción grupo y etapa de cambio. Conclusiones: Una intervención con un equipo multidisciplinario puede ser tan eficaz como el tratamiento habitual para promover la pérdida de peso cuando se tiene en cuenta la etapa de cambio basal.

Detection of myocardial viability could be improved by rest GIK (glucose-insulin-potassium solution)-Tc 99m sestamibi compared with TL-201 reinjection, in post myocardial infarction patients.

UNLABELLED: GIK solutions improve detection of myocardium viability after acute infarction because they could change the metabolic conditions, improving myocardial perfusion defects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy four patients (52 men, 22 women, mean age 53.3.08 +/- 12.14 years) with previous myocardial infarction (evolution time, 4.2 +/- 3.1 months) underwent pharmacological stress (dipyridamole), rest redistribution and reinjection Tl-201 image as well rest/stress Tc-99m Sestamibi, after the intravenous administration of GIK (200 g glucose +/- 30 UI regular insuline +/- 40 mEq potassiumchloride/500 mL in continuous infusion during 3 hours), Group A (N = 22) or oral administration of 70 g of glucose+/- 40 mEq of potassium chloride taking in advantage the endogenous insulin secretion, to non-diabetic patients (group B = GB, N = 26) and group C (GC, diabetic patients N = 26). All of the 74 patients received 10 mg of sublingual Isorbide previous to 25 mCi of Tc99m Sestamibi administration in a different 2 days protocol. A total of 1,480 myocardial segments were assessed and numbered, and the severity of perfusion defects in the segments involved, were compared between Thallium 201 rest reinjection and GIK-MIBI as the main objective of the study. Involved territories number: 4.02 +/- 2.50 vs. 6.88 +/- 2.12, p = 0.005 for AD; 5.2 +/- 1.44 vs. 6.35 +/- 1.11, p = 0.05 for RC and 1.58 +/- 1.01 vs. 2.05 +/- 1.05, p = 0.05 Cx. For GIK-MIBI vs. Tl-201 reinjection respectively, and defect severity: 8.2 +/- 6.04 vs. 13.22 +/- 5.38, p = 0.01 for LAD; 11.72 +/- 5.08 vs. 15.13 +/- 4.42, p = 0.005 for RC and 2.66 +/- 2.09 vs. 4.69 +/- 3.58, p = 0.003 Cx . For GIK-MIBI vs. Tl-201 reinjection respectively, were found. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that GIK-MIBI protocol is a safe and easy procedure which improves the detection of perfusion reversible defects compared with Tl-201 reinjection, obtaining better information regarding myocardial viability, with lower acquisition time and less cost.

[Description of the resting electrocardiogram in a series of patients with myasthenia gravis]. / Descripción del electrocardiograma en reposo de una serie de pacientes con miastenia gravis.

UNLABELLED: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease characterized by the presence of acetylcholine receptor-directed autoantibodies. Functional cardiac disorders are the most common since there is no neuro-muscular plate in the heart. Autonomic nervous system is involved in MG, but the cardiac manifestations of such an involvement remain unclear. Previous EKG studies in patients with MG show heterogeneous results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive and observational study was performed to know the main electrocardiographic characteristics and some autonomic nervous function in a series of patients with MG. RESULTS: One-hundred seventeen patients with EKG were analyzed. Twenty-eight were 47.9 +/- 20 years-old males, and 89 were women of 35.2 +/- 7.7 years (p = 0.001). 49 (41.9%) EKG had no changes, while 68 (58.1%) did. The main QT dispersion was 35.5 +/- 18.4 ms among those with some anomaly (p = 0.27). In 54 (78.3%) patients with an abnormal EKG there was T wave alternans, which was also present in 35 (71.4%) (p = 0.32) patients with normal EKG. CONCLUSIONS: MG is frequently associated to unspecific EKG changes. Dynamic electrocardiography allows a precise evaluation of the kind of cardiac involvement derived from MG, specifically the one related to the autonomic function, that is apparently affected in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic arms.

[Impact of optimal medical therapy on the arrhythmias and heart rate variability detected with 24 hour Holter in a series of patients from a heart failure clinic]. / Impacto de la terapia médica en las arritmias y variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca detectadas por Holter de 24 horas en una serie de pacientes de una clínica de insuficiencia cardiaca.

UNLABELLED: Pharmacological treatment of heart failure (HF) patients usually induces improvements in their functional class (FC). Heart rate variability and Holter-detected arrhythmias are sudden cardiac death predictors and should be evaluated in the presence of optimal medical treatment. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational and linear study to evaluate ventricular arrhythmia presence and heart rate variability through 24-hr Holter. A first recording was made upon admission to the HF clinic and the second was obtained when a stable FC was reached or optimal medication doses where attained. RESULTS: We have controls among 47 patients 11.6 +/- 8.1 months after the enrollment Holter. We have 26 (55.3%) men, with an average age of 60.2 +/- 13.9 years. The main ejection fraction (EF) went from 31.9 to 37.4% during follow-up (p = 0.01). At enrollment, 44.7% of our patients were in a FC I, 27.7% in FC II and 27.7% in FC III. At the end of follow-up, 67.4% were in FC I, 27.9% in FC II and 4.7% in FC III. Time-domain variability did not show significant changes and remained in normal average values. Premature atrial contractions diminished (324.1 +/- 811.1 vs. 316 +/- 809.2) but the ventricular ones went from 1,493.6 +/- 3,530.9 in 24 hours, to 1,582.4 +/- 4,394.5 (p = ns) during control, among those with an EF < 40% and SDNN < 100 ms, we found an increase from 7,026.6 +/- 12,168.8 to 9,336 +/- 16,137.8 PVC's in 24-hours (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Optimal medical therapy for heart failure can positively change certain aspects of these patients, but it does not improve the arrhythmic sudden death risk profile.

Radiofrequency ablation of a hepatic neoplasm in a patient with an abdominal pacemaker.

We present the case of a 52 year-old male with a history of C-hepatitis and two liver neoplastic lesions treated by radiofrequency (RF) ablation. The patient wears an abdominally-implanted unipolar VVI pacemaker that did not show any signs of interference during RF pulses. We describe the procedure performed and discuss the present knowledge regarding the possibilities of RF interference with the normal pacemaker functioning in several settings related to abdominal RF treatments.