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Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: Una tarea frecuente en el estudio de los carcinomas colorrectales (CCR) es identificar tumores que presenten sistemas defectuosos de reparación de errores de emparejamiento en el DNA (dMMR, por sus siglas en inglés), los cuales están asociados con la inestabilidad de microsatélites. Dado que se dispone de poca información sobre estos tumores en pacientes mexicanos, nuestro objetivo fue proporcionar una descripción de su frecuencia, características clínico-patológicas y resultados, lo cual es necesario para futuros ensayos. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una serie consecutiva de pacientes de CCR, que fueron tratados y se les dio seguimiento en un hospital de tercer nivel. Se consideraron las variables clínico-patológicas y el riesgo de cáncer hereditario o familiar. Se evaluaron las laminillas originales y la expresión de las proteínas hMLH1, hPMS2, hMSH2 y hMSH6 mediante inmunohistoquímica. Los tumores con ausencia de al menos una proteína se consideraron dMMR. Las diferencias fueron contrastadas con pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: Ciento cuarenta y cuatro pacientes fueron incluidos, edad mediana de 65 años, 134 (93%) pacientes esporádicos, 8 (5.6%) con historia familiar de CCR y 2 (1.4%) cumplían criterios diagnósticos para cáncer de colon hereditario no polipósico, según criterios de Bethesda y Ámsterdam. Los tumores dMMR se encontraron en 39 pacientes repartidos en los 3 grupos. Fueron localmente avanzados (p

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and one of the most malignant neoplasms with high incidence and mortality in humans worldwide. The complex nature of the disease and its high resistance to systemic therapies result in poor prognosis for patients with advanced HCC. Case Report: In March 2017, the patient was admitted to the Department of Oncological Surgery, where a non-anatomical tumor resection was performed. Three years later, the patient developed a single change in segment 8 of the liver that was a relapse of the neoplastic process. Based on the Bracelon Criteria, the patient was qualified for the 1st stage of chemoembolization using the Seldinger method. In the presented patient as a result of the applied treatment, the neoplastic process was stabilized. Conclusion: The chemoembolization treatment that was applied to the presented patient turned out to be the correct treatment option. After only the first stage of chemoembolization, the patient regressed the neoplastic lesion.

To determine concentrations of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its potential value for prognostic assessment.

Resumen: Introducción: Existe suficiente evidencia sobre la utilidad de la cirugía como alternativa terapéutica para pacientes con epilepsia farmacorresistente, sin embargo este tratamiento es subutilizado especialmente en países en desarrollo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la efectividad y seguridad de la cirugía de epilepsia en un hospital terciario de Ecuador. Métodos: Se describe el resultado de la cirugía de epilepsia en 27 niños y adolescentes en el Hospital Baca Ortiz, de Quito, Ecuador, teniendo en cuenta las siguientes variables antes y después de la cirugía: reducción de la frecuencia de crisis, Engel posquirúrgico, mejoría en la calidad de vida y presencia de complicaciones graves por la cirugía. Resultados: Se realizaron 21 callosotomías y seis cirugías resectivas. La frecuencia de crisis media se redujo de 465 mensual antes de la cirugía a 37,2 mensual después de la misma (p

Resumen: Introducción y objetivo: La epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 representa un riesgo especial para los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD) por sus comorbilidades, y el cursar con una inflamación más severa con menos síntomas y peor evolución. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer las características clínicas y bioquímicas de los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD) que presentaron cuadro sospechoso de COVID-19 (por sus siglas en inglés de Corona Virus Disease – 2019), sus factores de riesgo y desenlace. Material y métodos: Estudio de reporte de casos, retrospectivo, observacional, en los pacientes en HD sospechosos de COVID-19. Registrándose comorbilidades, clínica, laboratorio, prueba de transcripción reversa cuantitativa de la reacción en cadena de polimerasa (RT-qPCR) para SARS-COV-2 y desenlace. Se realizó estadística descriptiva y análisis de regresión lineal y logístico. Resultados: De 1.514 personas que recibían tratamiento de HD, 248 pacientes presentaron sintomatología sospechosa de COVID-19 (106 positivos, 83 negativos y 59 sospechosos por PCR), mediana de edad de 51 años (RI 36-63 años), 54,8% masculinos, hipertensión (87,5%), hemoglobina de 8,9 g (RI 7,5-10,6 g); la sintomatología de tos, fiebre y disnea (65,7, 64,5 y 53,2% respectivamente). El porcentaje de letalidad en el grupo de los pacientes con RT-qPCR positiva fue de 29,24%. Conclusiones: La tasa de mortalidad y letalidad es alta en este tipo de población. El grupo etario, el sexo y las comorbilidades cardiometabólicas se comportan similar al resto de la población no renal. El estado bioquímico preexistente no marca una diferencia en el desenlace. La sintomatología predominante es respiratoria. Abstract: Introduction and objective: The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic represents a special risk for patients on hemodialysis (HD) due to their comorbidities and the fact that they often have a more severe case of inflammation with fewer symptoms and a worse evolution and outcome. The aim of this study was to detect the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients on hemodialysis (HD) who presented a suspicious involvement of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease – 2019), their risk factors and specific outcomes. Material and methods: This is a retrospective, observational case report study in HD patients suspected of having COVID-19. Records pointed to comorbidities, clinical and laboratory tests, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests for SARS-COV-2 and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Of the total number of HD patients (1514), 248 HD patients were suspected to have COVID-19 (106 were positive, 83 were negative and 59 suspected using PCR testing); the median age was 51 years (IR 36-63 years), 54.8% were males, had hypertension (87.5%), with a hemoglobin count of 8.9 g (IR 7.5-10.6 g) and symptoms such as cough, fever and dyspnea (65.7, 64.5 and 53.2%, respectively). The fatality rate in the group of patients with positive RT-qPCR was 29.24%. Conclusions: The mortality and fatality rate is often high in this population. The age group, sex, and cardio-metabolic comorbidities behave similarly to the rest of the non-renal population. Pre-existing biochemical status does not make a difference in the outcome. The predominant symptomatology was pulmonary in nature.

Introduction: Competency-based medical education (CBME) is being adopted worldwide. The aim of this paper is to discuss the evolution of CBME and address some perceived challenges in CBME curriculum development and implementation in postgraduate (residency) medical education. Methods: This is an opinion paper based on lived experiences and personal beliefs. The authors have professional training in medical education and are actively involved in CBME research, curriculum development and implementation around the world. Results: The issue of local and system-wide context seems to be of particular importance to individuals, programs, institutions, governing bodies and other stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of CBME programs. CBME has evolved differently at different places, and there are concerns regarding the fidelity of implementation. Stakeholders have been dealing with challenging questions in their CBME journeys, which reflect the varied, complex and dynamic nature of health and education systems. Recently, scholars have established core components of any CBME program. Discussion and conclusions: CBME design should benefit from ground-up strategies that consider the local context. It is essential to approach implementation with a quality improvement lens and pay special attention to the fidelity and integrity of the core CBME components.

En el presente trabajo se revisa la literatura para conocer cuál es el grado de relación que existe entre los niveles de Alianza Terapéutica (AT) y el éxito en el tratamiento psicoterapéutico del episodio depresivo mayor. Se utilizaron bases de datos electrónicas (PsycInfo, Pubmed y PsycArticle) y se obtuvieron 13 trabajos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión prefijados. En todos los trabajos los resultados avalan la existencia de una relación positiva entre los niveles de AT y el resultado psicoterapéutico de la depresión, ya sea medido este mediante instrumentos psicométricos o tomando otras variables como el riesgo de recaída o el abandono de la terapia. Se examina si el tipo de corriente psicoterapéutica modula de alguna manera esta relación, encontrándose resultados contradictorios. Se concluye destacando la importancia de establecer una buena AT para lograr unos buenos resultados psicoterapéuticos en el tratamiento de la depresión.

El ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado (ECA) es un experimento planificado, controlado y prospectivo, en el que una o más intervenciones son asignadas a participantes humanos, con el fin de evaluar los efectos sobre los resultados relacionados con la salud, como la eficacia y seguridad de tratamientos, procedimientos o ayudas diagnósticas para diferentes enfermedades. En los ECA se pueden medir diferentes desenlaces, ya sean clínicos, relacionados con el paciente o económicos. Un desenlace es un evento clínico, médico, quirúrgico o de cualquier índole, que busca medir la efectividad y seguridad del tratamiento o intervención que se desea evaluar en un ensayo clínico. La elección de uno o más dependerá de la naturaleza del estudio y de la pregunta que se desea responder. Así mismo, el uso de una amplia gama de ellos tiende a ser más informativo que la medida de uno solo, por lo que es importante reconocer cada uno de estos, para definir su correcta implementación en el ámbito de la investigación. Este estudio tiene como objetivo principal describir los diferentes tipos de desenlaces, los cuales se clasifican en nueve categorías: 1. Eficacia y seguridad; 2. Primario, coprimario, secundario y terciario; 3. Simple y compuesto; 4. Positivo y negativo; 5. Clínicamente significativo y subrogado; 6. Objetivo y subjetivo; 7. Medidas únicas, repetidas y conteos (sucesos); 8. Dicotómico y continuo; y 9. Tiempo fijo y tiempo calendario.

Introduction and Objectives: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a vascular complication after kidney transplantation which estimated incidence is 13%. It could cause refractory arterial hypertension, kidney dysfunction and premature death in transplant recipients., Methods: We carried out a retrospective study including every patient who underwent renal transplantation between 2014 and 2020. They were evaluated with a systematic post-transplant renal Doppler ultrasound. To identify independent risk factors for transplant renal artery stenosis we performed a multivariate analysis., Results: Seven hundred twenty-four kidney transplants were included, 12% ​​were living donors and 88% were deceased donors. The mean age was 54.8 in recipients and 53 in donors. Transplant renal artery stenosis was diagnosed in 70 (10%) recipients, the majority in the first 6 months after surgery. 51% of patients with transplant renal artery stenosis were managed conservatively. The multivariate analysis showed diabetes mellitus, graft rejection, arterial resuture and donor body mass index as independent risk factors for transplant renal artery stenosis. Survival of the grafts with transplant renal artery stenosis was 98% at 6 months and 95% at two years., Conclusions: The systematic performance of Doppler ultrasound in the immediate post-transplant period diagnosed 10% of transplant renal artery stenosis in our cohort. Despite the above risk factors, an adequate monitoring and treatment could avoid the increased risk of graft loss in patients with transplant renal artery stenosis., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

The postoperative period of cardiac surgery (CS) is associated with the development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). However, the evaluation of MACE after CS by means of biomarkers is poorly developed. We aimed to evaluate postoperative biomarkers that could be associated with MACE.

The United Nations (UN) Rio+20 summit obligated nations to develop set of universal development goals as indicated in the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). These goals were designated to enhance and further improve strategies cope with failures of the expired millennium development goals (MDGs) (Under-Secretary-General, 2013). Researches and other official reports at present indicate that SDGs are the extension or the continuation of the expired MDGs. The MDGs were mostly relief projects toward improving human life through aid based approach. The MDGs projects did not thus so far remarkably improve the target sectors but alleviated hunger and reduced extreme poverty in some countries while countries like Somaliland, hunger and poverty are on the increase. This doesn’t mean that MDGs were totally failed projects, but to indicate that the set targets were not improved as supposed to be due to lack of context based national strategic framework. Additional monitoring and evaluation of MDGs was haphazard since there had not been specific indicators adopted to report the progress. The SDGs signed up by the Somaliland government this year (2017) would inherit challenges hindered MDGs to produce the anticipated outcomes if they are not strategically avoided. Socioeconomic development and national sustainability are often posed as being in conflict because of tradeoffs between the growing demands of least developed counties like Somaliland as well as lower standards of living and poor capacity of the national institutions. This review paper suggests a need to adopt an indigenous integrated framework, which ensures that synergy is exploited and collaborative strategies are put in place towards achieving SDG targets. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework and key recommendations focusing on filling the gaps left in the MDGs and accelerate in achieving the new goals and targets of SDGs.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not just one disease, but includes a wide spectrum alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology caused by external force. The most important effect of traumatic brain injury is the development of the intracranial haematomas. It is estimated thet intracranial hematomas occur In 25-45% of severy traumatic brain injuries, 3-12% of moderate cases, and 0,2% of mild craniocerebral injuries. The mostly consequence of injury is acute subdural hematoma or epidural hematoma. Initial prognostic factors could be divided In: demographic factors, vital signs, laboratory parameters and Computer Tomography scan characteristics. Demographic factors as: age, gender, Glasgow coma scale, mechanism of injury, time injury-surgery. Vital signs: blood pressure, saturation, heart and respiratory rate, among that factors there are secondary brain injury so hypotensia and hipoxia. Laboratory paremeters include routine laboratory test were taken measuremets. Computer Tomography scan characteristics include Marshall and Roterdam scale and independent characterics. A lot of that factors has been requiring research yet. Particulary factors from vital sings and laboratory paremeters In patients with acute, traumatic subdural hematoma and epidural hematoma.

There are many misconceptions about traumatic brain injuries, their recovery and outcome; misconceptions that have their origin in a lack of information influenced by the image that the media show of the brain damage. Development. Based on clinical experience, the authors of this essay sets out his personal view on some of the most frequent misconceptions in the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury: 1) All deficits are evident; 2) The recovery depends mainly on the involvement of the patient: more effort, more rapid recovery; 3) Two years after traumatic brain injury there is no possibility of improvement and recovery; and 4) The “miracle” of recovery will occur when is found the appropriate professional or treatment. These and other beliefs may influence directly or indirectly on the recovery process and the expectations placed on it by the families and patients. Conclusions. Provide accurate, clear and honest information, at the right time, helps patients and their families to better understand the deficits, the course of recovery and to adapt to the new reality resulting from a traumatic brain injury.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Hospital readmissions post-transplant is a common complication and can be considered an indication of avoidable morbidity and hospital quality, and there is a significant correlation between EHR and adverse patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the readmission rate following kidney transplants, the underlying causes, and possible ways to prevent it., Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of recipients from January 2016 to December 2021 in a single center. The primary objective of this study is to find the readmission rate for kidney transplants and the variables that contribute to readmission. Post-transplant complications that were resulted in the readmission categorized into surgical complications, graft-related complications, infections, DVT, and other medical complications., Results: Four hundred seventy-four renal allograft recipients met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. 248 (52.3%) of the allograft recipients had at least one readmission during the first 90 days after the transplantation. 89 (18.8%) allograft recipients had more than one readmission episode in the first 90 days post-transplant. The perinephric fluid collection was the most common surgical complication (52.4%), and UTI was the most common infection (50%), causing readmission in the first 90 days post-transplant. The readmission odd ratio was significantly higher in patients above 60 years old and in kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85, and in recipients with DGF., Conclusion: Early hospital readmission (EHR) following a kidney transplant is a common complication. Identifying the causes not only helps the transplant centers to take further steps to prevent some incidents and help to improve the patients' morbidities and mortalities, but also it can reduce the unnecessary costs of readmissions., (Copyright © 2023 AEU. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Profound changes in perioperative management, namely "fast track surgery" have been recently proposed. This is a bundle of various techniques used for subjects undergoing elective operations that allows an improved well-being, faster recovery, shorter hospitalization and better outcome. From a nutritional point of view this new approach translates into a more rapid return of bowel function and thus to safely tolerate oral re-feeding within 1-3 days even after major operations. Nevertheless, the classic indications for perioperative artificial nutritional support remain valid but they should now apply only to a minority of patients. Extensive research in the last 20 years has clearly shown that modifying the composition of standard nutritional feeds by adding supernormal doses of specific substrates that have immuno-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, anabolic, and tissue protective ability often translates into improved surgical outcome. The most convincing and reproducible results were obtained on the reduction of infectious complication by the perioperative use of enteral formulas enriched with arginine and omega-3 fatty acids.Recientemente, se han propuesto cambios notables en el manejo perioperatorio, denominado «cirugía du curso rápido». Esto es un conjunto de técnicas diversas empleadas en individuos sometidos a cirugías programadas que permiten una mejora del bienestar, una recuperación más rápida, una hospitalización más corta y mejores resultados. Desde un punto de vista nutricional, este nuevo abordaje se traduce en una recuperación más rápida de la función intestinal y, por lo tanto, tolerar de forma segura la realimentación n 1-3 días, incluso después de intervenciones mayores. Sin embargo, las indicaciones clásicas del soporte nutricional artificial perioperatorio siguen siendo válidas pero serían aplicables hoy en día a una minoría de pacientes. La extensa investigación de los últimos 20 años ha demostrado claramente que la modificación de la alimentación nutricional estándar añadiendo dosis supranormales de sustratos específicos que poseen propiedades inmunomoduladoras, antiinflamatorias, anabólicas y protectoras de los tejidos a menudo se traduce en una mejora del resultado quirúrgico. Los resultados más convincentes y reproducibles se obtuvieron con la reducción de las complicaciones infecciosas mediante el uso perioperatorio de fórmulas enterales enriquecidas con arginina y ácidos grasos omega-3.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Until the end of the previous century it remained controversial to admit cancer patients to the ICU for advanced-life-supporting therapy. However, over the past few years several centres over the world have shown that it is possible to achieve a meaningful survival in these patients. The aim of this review is to focus on the improvement in outcome that has been achieved over the past two decades in critically ill cancer patients. CONTENTS: We performed a MEDLINE search (period of 1980 to November 2007) to identify full-text English language publications on critically ill patients with solid tumors or hematological malignancies with particular interest for the outcome and treatment. Major MESH search terms included; cancer, solid tumor, hematologic or hematological malignancies, immunosupression, ICU, ventilation, organ failure, sepsis and infection. Additional studies were identified through a manual search of citations from retrieved articles. CONCLUSIONS: In this review, we first focus on the grim prognosis in the past, subsequently we discuss the improvements in outcome over the past few years across subgroups of cancer patients with increasing degree of severity of illness, and finally, we focus on the value of non-invasive ventilation since it is considered the initial ventilatory strategy in these patients.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Até o final do século passado, havia grande incerteza quanto a propriedade de internar pacientes com câncer em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) para medidas de suporte avançado. Contudo, ao longo dos últimos anos, vários centros ao redor do mundo têm reportado aumento significativo da sobrevida de tais pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi rever os principais artigos publicados nas duas últimas décadas, com foco na melhoria do prognóstico de pacientes com câncer criticamente enfermos. CONTEÚDO: Realizou-se uma busca bibliográfica no sistema MedLine - PubMed (www.pubmed.gov) para identificar artigos em linguagem inglesa sobre cuidados intensivos no pacientes com tumores sólidos ou neoplasias hematológicas, com ênfase no prognóstico e no tratamento. Utilizaram-se os seguintes unitermos: cancer, solid tumor, hematologic or hematological malignancies, immunosupression, ICU, ventilation, organ failure, sepsis and infection. Estudos referenciados nos artigos selecionados na busca também foram utilizados. CONCLUSÕES: O tema será abordado de forma sistematizada. Inicialmente, haverá uma discussão sobre o prognóstico sombrio experimentado por estes pacientes no passado. Subseqüentemente, serão discutidos os estudos publicados nos anos recentes sobre a melhoria do prognóstico para os diversos subgrupos de pacientes, a despeito de uma maior gravidade das complicações agudas. Para finalizar, será discutido o papel da ventilação não-invasiva como estratégia inicial de ventilação para estes pacientes.

Introduction: Idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGI) are an electroclinical syndrome that includes four subsyndromes according to the ILAE 2017 classification. The long-term prognosis of these syndromes is uncertain due to the scarcity and heterogeneity of the studies. The objective of this study is to analyze the long-term prognosis of these syndromes, pharmacological treatment and the seizure recurrence., Method: Observational and retrospective study of a serie of patients diagnosed with EGI. Epidemiological variables, pharmacological treatment, freedom of seizures and recurrence after withdrawal of treatment were collected., Results: We included 101 patients, the majority women (56.4%), with a median evolution of epilepsy of 17 years (interquartile range: 7-31). The most frequent syndrome was juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (46.5%), followed by epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (25.7%), juvenile absence epilepsy (13.9%) and childhood absence epilepsy (13.9%). The 71.29% were on monotherapy and 20.79% on polytherapy, with significant differences between the different syndromes (P=.001). The most widely used drug was valproic acid. 39.6% presented seizure remission at 5 years, but we did not observe significant differences between the different syndromes (P=.982). The recurrence rate was 71.4% after withdrawal of treatment., Conclusion: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy was the most frequent subtype of IGE. We observed significant differences in terms of polytherapy in the different syndromes, although not in the rates of remission of seizures at one year and at five years. The majority of patients with treatment withdrawal relapsed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Data regarding early (within 24h) and urgent endoscopy (within 12h) in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NV-UGIB) revealed conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the impact of endoscopy timing on the outcomes of high-risk patients with NV-UGIB., Patients and Methods: From February 2020 to February 2021, consecutive high-risk (Glasgow-Blatchford score ≥12) adults admitted to the emergency department with NV-UGIB were analyzed retrospectively. The primary composite outcome was 30-day mortality from any cause, inpatient rebleeding, need for endoscopic re-intervention, need for surgery or angiographic embolization., Results: 240 patients were enrolled: 152 (63%) patients underwent urgent endoscopy (<12h) and 88 (37%) patients underwent early endoscopy (12-24h). One or more components of the composite outcome were observed in 53 (22.1%) patients: 30 (12.5%) had 30-day mortality, rebleeding occurred in 27 (11.3%), 7 (2.9%) underwent endoscopic re-intervention, and 5 (2.1%) required surgery or angiographic embolization. The composite outcome was similar between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed only hemodynamic instability on admission (OR: 3.05, p=0.006), and the previous history of cancer (OR: 2.42, p=0.029) were significant in predicting composite outcome. In terms of secondary outcomes, the endoscopic intervention was higher in the urgent endoscopy group (p=0.006), whereas the number of transfused erythrocyte suspensions and the length of hospital stay was higher in the early endoscopy group (p=0.002 and p=0.040, respectively)., Conclusions: Urgent endoscopy leads to a significant reduction in the length of hospitalization and the number of transfused erythrocyte suspensions in NV-UGIB, which can contribute to patient satisfaction, reduce healthcare expenditure, and improve hospital bed availability. The composite outcome and its sub-outcomes were the same among both groups., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A parada cardíaca é um estado de grave hipoperfusão cerebral. Os pacientes que sobrevivem a uma reanimação cardiorrespiratória estão sob grande risco de vir a morrer ou desenvolver lesão cerebral incapacitante, inclusive estado vegetativo persistente. Uma definição precoce do prognóstico desses pacientes tem implicações éticas e econômicas. O objetivo desse estudo foi revisar o valor prognóstico da Enolase Específica do Neurônio (NSE) em predizer precocemente os desfechos de pacientes após uma parada cardíaca. CONTEÚDO: A lesão cerebral permanente é a complicação mais temida de uma reanimação cardíaca prolongada. Muitos estudos têm tentado isolar fatores prognósticos que possam estar associados com desfechos clínicos em pacientes sobreviventes de parada cardíaca. Indicadores bioquímicos de morte neuronal parecem promissores nesse cenário. Nesse contexto, a NSE vem sendo estudada em pacientes reanimados de paradas cardíacas e níveis elevados dessa enzima sugerem lesão encefálica mais extensa e estão associados a desfechos clínicos desfavoráveis. CONCLUSÕES: Os desfechos depois de uma parada cardíaca são determinados principalmente pelo grau de lesão cerebral isquêmica e medidas precoces de NSE sérica podem ser um método adjunto de grande valor na avaliação prognóstica desses pacientes.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac arrest is a state of severe cerebral perfusion deficit. Patients recovering from a cardiopulmonary resuscitation are at great risk of subsequent death or incapacitating neurologic injury, including persistent vegetative state. The early definition of prognosis for these patients has ethical and economic implications. The main purpose of this manuscript was to review the prognostic value of serum Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) in predicting outcomes in patients early after a cardiac arrest. CONTENTS: Severe neurologic disability is the most feared complication after a cardiac arrest. Many studies are trying to find prognostic markers that can be associated with outcomes in patients surviving a cardiac arrest. Biochemical markers of neuronal injury seem to be promising in this scenario. Therefore, NSE levels have been studied in patients after a cardiac arrest and high enzyme levels suggest more extensive brain damage and are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Outcome after a cardiac arrest is mostly determined by the degree of hypoxic brain damage and early determinations of serum NSE level can be a valuable ancillary method for assessing outcome in these patients.

Background & aim: To asses the nutritional status ofhospitalised trauma patients and the repercussion on the clinical follow up. Methods: In a prospective way 161 adult patients admitted to the units of Intensive Care (ICU), General Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthopedics of the Centro de Emergencias Médicas in Asunción, Paraguay, from March 2002 to March 2004 were evaluated at admission by using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Patients were followed to determine length of hospital stay, complications and in-hospital mortality. Results: From the trauma patients median age was 27 (14-92) years and 94% were males. Most patients (74%) were from the countryside. The most frequent anatomic sites of trauma were: head 25%, thorax 16.6%, limbs 15.4%, abdomen 14%. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 20 (1-39). From this population of patients, 40% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition according to the SGA. Multivariate analysis identified as significant risk factors for mortality: malnutrition according to the SGA (p = 0.04, RR = 4 (1-15), and admission to the ICU (p = 0.0001, RR 53 (12-234). Risk factors for complications were malnutrition according to the SGA (p = 0.003, RR 2.9 (1.4-5.8) and ISS over 20 (p = 0.001, RR = 8.4 (2.3-29.9). The risk factors for length of stay were malnutrition according to the Subjective Global Assesment (p = 0.01, RR = 2.3 (1.2-4.7) and Injury Severity Score over 20, p = 0.03, RR = 2.8 (1-7.3). Conclusions: In the conditions of this study, malnutrition is frequent on admission in trauma patients, and is an independent risk factor for morbidity, mortality, and prolongs the length of hospitalisation. Efforts should be made to quickly assess the nutritional status of these patients and early start nutritional intervention.Antecedentes y objetivo: determinar el estado nutritivo de pacientes traumatológicos hospitalizados y su repercusión sobre el seguimiento clínico. Métodos: evaluamos de forma prospectiva a 161 pacientes adultos ingresados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI), cirugía general, cirugía maxilofacial y traumatología, en el Centro de Emergencias Médicas de Asunción, Paraguay, desde marzo de 2002 a marzo de 2004, a su ingreso, mediante el Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Se siguió a los pacientes para determinar la duración de la estancia hospitalaria, las complicaciones y la mortalidad intra-hospitalaria. Resultados: en la unidad traumatológica, la edad media de los pacientes fue 27 años (14-92) y el 94% eran varones. La mayoría era de origen rural (74%). Los sitios anatómicos lesionados con mayor frecuencia fueron: cabeza 25%, tórax 16,6%, miembros 15,4%, abdomen 14%. La puntuación mediana del Injury Severity Score (ISS) fue 20 (1-39). En esta población de pacientes, 40% estaba malnutrida o en riesgo de malnutrición de acuerdo con el SGA. El análisis multivariado identificó los siguientes factores de riesgo de mortalidad: malnutrición según el SGA (p = 0,04, RR = 4 (1-15), y el ingreso en la UCI (p = 0,0001, RR = 53 (12-234). Los factores de riesgo de complicaciones fueron la malnutrición según el SGA (p = 0,003, RR = 2,9 (1,4-5,8) y el ISS mayor de 20 (p = 0,001, RR = 8,4 (2,3-29,9). Los factores de riesgo para la duración de la estancia fueron la malnutrición según el SGA (p = 0,01, RR = 2,3 (1,2-4,7) y el ISS mayor de 20 (p = 0,03, RR = 2,8 (1-7,3). Conclusiones: en las condiciones de estudio, la malnutrición es frecuente al ingreso de pacientes traumatológicos, y es un factor de riesgo independiente sobre la morbilidad, mortalidad y prolonga la duración de la hospitalización. Se deberían realizar esfuerzos para valorar rápidamente el estado nutritivo de estos pacientes y comenzar una intervención nutricional de forma precoz.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A doença oncológica per se é uma condição que muitas vezes influencia no tratamento dispensado ao paciente. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar o desfecho hospitalar de pacientes oncológicos e não oncológicos submetidos à procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos com alto risco de óbito. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte prospectivo observacional, realizado em UTI de hospital terciário no período de 01 de abril a 31 de julho de 2005. Foram coletados dados demográficos, escore APACHE II, MODS, variáveis hemodinâmicas, laboratoriais e avaliadas complicações definidas como re-operação, necessidade de ventilação mecânica, transfusão sangüínea e uso de cateter de artéria pulmonar no pós-operatório desses pacientes. Todos foram acompanhados até alta ou o óbito hospitalar. Para variáveis numéricas foi utilizado o teste t de Student e Mann-Whitney, para variáveis categóricas o teste do Qui-quadrado sendo considerado significativo o valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 119 pacientes, 43 não oncológicos e 76 oncológicos, 52,9% eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade foi 65,1 ± 14,1 anos, o escore médio de APACHE II 16,5 ± 5,8 e a mediana do MODS de 3 (2-6). A duração mediana da intervenção cirúrgica foi de 5 (3,3-7) horas e a mortalidade na UTI e hospitalar foram 10,9% e 25,2%, respectivamente. Os pacientes oncológicos apresentaram maiores tempos de internação hospitalar e de internação antes da cirurgia, sendo estes resultados estatisticamente significativos. A mortalidade hospitalar dos pacientes oncológicos não foi superior a dos pacientes sem neoplasia (22,4% versus 30,2%, p = 0,32). CONCLUSÕES: Nesta observação os pacientes oncológicos, submetidos à procedimentos cirúrgicos de alto risco, apresentaram mortalidade semelhante aos pacientes não oncológicos com gravidade de doença similar.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oncologic diseases are conditions that have influence in the treatment offered to affected patients. The aim of this study was to compare hospitalar outcome of oncologic and non oncologic patients submitted to high risk elective surgery. METHODS: Prospective, observational cohort study realized in an ICU of a tertiary hospital during the period between 04/01/2005 and 07/31/2005. Demographic data, APACHE II and MODS scores and laboratorial and hemodynamic variables were collected and complications like re-intervention need for mechanical ventilation, red blood cell transfusions and pulmonary artery catheter use during the post-operative period were evaluated. All patients were followed until hospital discharge or death. T student and Mann Whitney tests were used to compare numerical variables. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. A p < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: 119 patients were included in the study. 43 were oncologic and 76 were non-oncologic. 52.9% were female. Mean age was 65.1 ± 14.1 years. Mean APACHE II score was 16.5 ± 5.8 and MODS median was 3 (2-6). Median length of surgery was 5 (3.3-7) hours and ICU and hospital mortality were 10.9% and 25.2%, respectively. Oncologic patients had greater length of hospital stay and length of stay before surgery. These results were statistically significant. Hospital mortality of oncologic patients was not greater than non-oncologic patients (22.4% versus 30.2%, p = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, oncologic patients submitted to high risk surgery had the same mortality rate as non-onconlogic patients with similar disease severity.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A evolução dos pacientes cuja internação é negada nos centros de terapia intensiva (CTI) é pouco conhecida. Os objetivos deste estudo foram comparar as características dos pacientes internados com aqueles que não foram internados em CTI e identificar os fatores associados com o processo de triagem para a internação. MÉTODO: Foi realizado um estudo do tipo coorte prospectiva e observacional durante 26 meses. Os dados dos pacientes foram coletados através de um formulário padronizado para a solicitação de internação no CTI. Os desfechos de interesse do estudo foram a internação no CTI e a evolução hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 455 pacientes dos quais 254 (56%) foram internados e 201 (44%) não; a maioria destes, por falta de vagas (82%). Os pacientes não internados apresentaram maior letalidade (85% versus 61%; p < 0,001). Na análise multivariada, foram identificados os seguintes fatores associados à não internação dos pacientes no CTI [razão de chances, (intervalo de confiança 95%)]: neoplasia metastática [5,6(1,7-18,7)], pressão arterial sistólica < 90 mmHg [5,2(3,0-8,8)], idade >70 anos [4,0(2,4-6,5)], cirrose hepática [3,7(1,8-7,5)], e escala de coma de Glasgow < 5 [3,6(1,9-6,9)]. Por outro lado, os pacientes em ventilação mecânica [0,5(0,3-0,7)] e aqueles com cardiopatia isquêmica [0,1(0,03-0,6)] apresentaram maior probabilidade de internação no CTI. CONCLUSÕES: A recusa de pacientes no CTI é freqüente e ocorre geralmente por falta de vagas. Os pacientes não internados apresentaram maior letalidade. Foram identificadas características dos pacientes que estão associadas ao processo de seleção de pacientes para internação na unidade de terapia intensiva.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Information on the outcomes of patients who were refused to the ICU is limited. The aims of this study were to compare the clinical characteristics of patients who were admitted with those of patients who were refused to the ICU and to identify clinical parameters associated with triage procedures. METHODS: Observational prospective cohort study. The following data were collected using a standard questionnaire: comorbidities, acute illness, vital status, laboratory data and APACHE II score. The end-points of interest were admission to the ICU and vital status at hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 455 patients were studied; 254 (56%) were admitted and 201 (44%) were not. The main reason for the refuse of admission was the lack of ICU beds (82%). Patients who were not admitted had a higher mortality (85% vs. 61%; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, the following variables were associated to non-admission [odds ratio, (95% confidence interval)]: metastatic cancer [5.6(1.7-18.7)], arterial systolic pressure < 90 mmHg [5.2(3.0-8.8)], age > 70 years [4.0(2.4-6.5)], hepatic cirrhosis [3.7(1.8-7.6)], and Glasgow coma scale < 5 [3.6(1.9-6.9)]. The variables associated with ICU admission were: mechanical ventilation [0.5(0.3-0.7)] and acute coronary syndromes [0.1(0.03-0.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Refusal of ICU admission is frequent and generally as a consequence of ICU beds shortage. Patients who were not admitted had a higher mortality. Clinical characteristics associated with the refusal of admission were identified suggesting that they are used in clinical decision-making for ICU triage.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A utilização do cateter de artéria pulmonar (CAP) é ainda fonte de debates, devido aos questionamentos sobre sua segurança e eficácia. Este estudo reproduz, entre uma amostra de médicos brasileiros, outra pesquisa, na qual foi evidenciada a heterogeneidade de condutas guiadas através dos dados fornecidos pelo CAP entre médicos norte-americanos. MÉTODO: Durante o Congresso Brasileiro de Medicina Intensiva (Curitiba, 2004), foram distribuídos formulários nos quais constavam três casos com dados de CAP e, na metade deles, de ecocardiografia. Foi solicitado aos médicos que assinalassem uma entre seis opções terapêuticas. Determinou-se que uma resposta homogênea resultaria em uma escolha selecionada por pelo menos 80% dos respondedores. RESULTADOS: Duzentos e trinta e sete médicos responderam os formulários. Em todos os três casos foram observadas escolhas de intervenção terapêutica completamente distintas, nenhuma delas obtendo mais de 80% de concordância. Quando se comparam as escolhas direcionadas pelos resultados da ecocardiografia, observou-se a persistência da variação de escolhas e que nenhuma delas alcançou número suficiente para ser considerada homogênea. CONCLUSÕES: Semelhantemente ao estudo original, observou-se total heterogeneidade nas condutas dirigidas pelo CAP, o que, em última instância, pode indicar conhecimento inadequado de conceitos fisiopatológicos básicos, e que o ensino nos cursos médicos precisa ser revisto e aprimorado.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) is still a debatable issue, mainly due to questions raised about its security and efficacy. This study reproduced in a sample of Brazilian physicians, another one conducted amidst American doctors, in which was pointed out the heterogeneity of clinical decisions guided by data obtained from PAC. METHODS: During the Brazilian Congress of Intensive Care Medicine (Curitiba 2004), doctors were asked to answer a survey form with three vignettes. Each of them contained PAC data and one half of the surveys contained echocardiographic information. Every doctor was asked to select one of six interventions for each vignette. A homogeneous answer was considered when it was selected by at least 80% of the respondents. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty seven doctors answered the questionnaires. They selected completely different therapeutic interventions in all three vignettes and none of the interventions achieved more than 80% agreement. Variability persisted with the choices guided by echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: As in the original study, we observed total heterogeneity of therapeutic interventions guided by CAP and echocardiography. These results could be caused by lack of knowledge about basic pathophysiologic concepts and maybe we had to improve its teaching at the medical school benches.

Na prática diária as decisões tomadas para resolver o problema do paciente são usualmente baseadas na aplicação consciente da informação avaliável por regras explicitamente definidas. A prática clínica baseada em evidências leva em consideração o reconhecimento dos conhecimentos explícitos e tácitos, entendendo que é impossível tornar explícito todos os aspectos da competência profissional. A dúvida passa a fazer parte do processo de decisão, inicialmente na identificação dos componentes inconscientes envolvidos, e em seguida na análise do conhecimento explícito utilizado nesse processo. Ao elaborarmos uma questão clínica estruturada e que possa ser respondida, devemos lembrar que essa dúvida pode estar relacionada a aspectos básicos e de definição da doença ou relacionada ao atendimento do paciente, como em diagnóstico, terapêutica ou prognóstico. Ao longo de nossa vida médica, ambos os tipos de questões estão presentes, variando na proporção em que nossa experiência aumenta à medida do tempo de prática clínica. O processo de encontrar resposta apropriada à dúvida surgida no atendimento depende da forma como estruturamos as partes deste processo. A forma preconizada é conhecida pela sigla PICO. formada por P de paciente ou população, I de intervenção ou indicador, C de comparação ou controle e O de "outcome", que na língua inglesa significa desfecho clínico, resultado, ou por fim, a resposta que se espera encontrar nas fontes de informação científica. Esta é a primeira condição básica para que a nossa busca possa ser bem sucedida, a segunda é encontrar as palavras-chaves que melhor descrevem cada uma destas quatro características da questão. Sem estes cuidados as pesquisas em bases de dados informatizadas costuma resultar em ausência de informação ou em quantidade muito grande de informação que não está relacionada com o nosso interesse.Clinical decisions in daily practice, to resolve patient's problem, are usually based at the conscious use of the available information, through explicit determined rules. Evidence based clinical practice recognize the explicit and tacit knowledge, understanding that it is impossible all the aspects of professional competence become explicit. The doubt becomes part of the decision process, identifying initialy the inconcious component envolved and after the explicit knowledge used. When we make a stuctured clinical question with a possible answer, it is necessary to remember that the doubt can be relationned to basics and of definition aspects of the disease or relationned to the patient's mananger, like diagnose, treatment and prognose. Along our medical life, both types of question are present, with proportional change as the experience increase along the clinical practice. The process to find an appropriate answer to the doubt, came out at patient's care, depends on how the parts of this process will be structured. The recommended form is known by PICO abreviature, that means: P: patient or population, I: intervention or indicator, C: comparison or controle and O: outcome, or the answer expected found at the cientific information bases. This is the first basic need to a successfull search, and the second need is to find the key words that better describe each of the four components of the questions. Without this caution, the search at compute databases results in absence of information or in a lot of information that it is not related to our interest. [Rev Assoc Med Bras 2003; 49(4): 445-9].

No presente artigo discutiremos como avaliar criticamente as informações obtidas. Para tanto, serão revistos conceitos que a epidemiologia clínica tem colocado à disposição da prática clínica baseada em evidências. A pesquisa clínica busca desenvolver meios diagnósticos e terapêuticos medindo associações, ou relações de causa/efeito, entre um fator em estudo e um desfecho clínico. Onde o fator em estudo é o sintoma, sinal propedêutico, teste laboratorial, exame de imagem, ou tratamento. E o desfecho clínico é o reconhecimento da doença, cura, morte ou limitação. É um erro básico de interpretação tomar os marcadores intermediários como desfechos clínicos. Os desenhos de estudo na área clínica apresentam quatro enfoques principais: diagnóstico, prognóstico, terapêutico, dano/ etiológico. Experimentos animais, estudos anatômicos, fisiológicos, genéticos, farmacológicos, análises econômicas são necessários à formação básica do médico, no entanto, não colaboram diretamente para a tomada de decisão clínica. Os desenhos de estudo são classificados de acordo com a presença de grupo controle, seguimento dos pacientes ao longo do tempo e presença de intervenção dos pesquisadores no sentido de modificar a evolução dos pacientes. A hierarquia da força de evidência científica está fundamentada nestas características e na susceptibilidade aos vícios decorrentes do tipo desenho de estudo. Revisões sistemáticas são consideradas de maior força do que os estudos primários que lhe deram origem, e quando envolvem ensaios clínicos randomizados são colocadas no topo da hierarquia. Desde 1998 é crescente a proporção de "diretrizes clínicas baseadas em evidências" quando comparada às revisões sistemáticas, ou às publicações sobre diretrizes em geral, embora as primeiras sejam ainda em número reduzido. A avaliação crítica do artigo deve responder uma questão clínica, e ser consistente quanto à adequação do desenho de estudo e ao controle dos vícios. Concluímos que se deve oferecer atualização metodológica aos profissionais interessados, e colocar a informação já avaliada à disposição de todos, elaborando e divulgando diretrizes baseadas em evidências.Evidence based health care begins with a clinical question and the search on data bases to retrieve the relevant information, that was the issue of two preceding articles of this series. At present it will be discussed how to critically appraise the medical literature using the clinical epidemiological methodology. Clinical research aims to develop diagnostic and therapeutic procedures measuring association and causality between the exposure and outcome. In this case the exposures are signs, symptoms, laboratorial or image exam, and therapy intervention. It is a mistake to take surrogate end-points instead of clinical outcomes. The main types of clinical study design are diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and harm/etiology. Experimental, physiologic and animal studies are useful for the medical undergraduate education, but do not contribute with clinical decisions. The study designs are classified according with the presence of a control group, patient's follow-up, and therapy interventions. The evidence hierarchy was done by the previous characteristics and the presence of systematic bias. Systematic reviews are stronger than the primary observational studies and are on the top when they revised randomized clinical trial. Since 1998 the proportion of evidence based practice guidelines was increasing compared with systematic reviews or other types of practice guidelines, although the former still are in a few numbers. The article critical appraisal must answer the clinical question, and need to have consistent study design and bias under control. In conclusion we ought to offer methodological actualization to interested physicians and put the information already critically assessed on evidence-based practice guidelines.

OBJETIVO: avaliar a freqüência e os tipos de danos permanentes com relação ao tempo da doença em pacientes brasileiros com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) de um hospital universitário, através da aplicação do índice de dano do Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR/DI). MÉTODOS: foram incluídos 60 pacientes neste estudo. Os dados utilizados, extraídos dos prontuários dos pacientes, foram obtidos através de anamnese, exame físico e exames complementares. A freqüência e os tipos de danos permanentes foram avaliados através do SLICC/ACR/DI. A estatística foi realizada através do teste quiquadrado e teste t. Regressão multivariada foi utilizada para correlacionar o dano com o tempo de doença. RESULTADOS: entre os 60 pacientes, 41 (68,3%) apresentaram algum tipo de dano. Houve tendência, entre os pacientes não caucasóides e com maior tempo de doença, a apresentarem mais danos (p=0,058). Os sistemas mais acometidos foram: pele (35,0%); neuropsiquiátrica (18,3%); ocular (15,0%); vascularização periférica (16,6%); e cardiovascular (10,0%). Com o aumento do tempo de doença (superior a 60 meses), houve maior tendência a danos oculares, neuropsiquiátricos, renais, musculoesquelético e da pele. Com evolução superior a 120 meses houve aumento dos danos pulmonares, cardiovasculares e aqueles relacionados com a vascularização periférica. CONCLUSÕES: observou-se 68,3% de dano permanente, havendo maior freqüência de danos relacionados com acometimentos neuropsiquiátricos, oculares, da vascularização periférica e da pele. Não se observou importante acometimento renal e gonadal, ao contrário do descrito anteriormente. Pacientes não caucasóides apresentaram tendência a maiores escores de dano. No entanto, outros estudos são necessários para se comprovar o envolvimento de fatores étnicos e/ou fatores sócioeconômicos nesse processo de dano irreversível.OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the frequency and the different types of organ damage in relation to disease duration in Brazilian patients with SLE followed in a tertiary reference center through the application of the SLICC/ACR-DI. METHODS: sixty SLE patients were enrolled in this study, and relevant data were obtained through medical history, physical and laboratory examinations reviewing the hospital records. The frequency and different types of organ damage were determined using the SLICC/ACR-DI. Statistics were performed through qui-square and t-tests. Multivariate regression was used to correlate damage with disease duration. RESULTS: forty-one patients (68.3%) presented some cumulative organ damage. Non-caucasoid patients and patients with longer disease duration had a slight tendency to have more damage (p = 0.058). Skin (35.0%), neuropsychiatric (18.3%), ocular (15.0%), peripheral vascularization (16.6%) and cardiovascular (10.0%) systems were more frequently affected. Patients with more than 60 months of disease had a slight tendency to present greater ocular, neuropsychiatric, renal, skin and musculoskeletal damage than patients with shorter disease duration. Patients with more than 120 months of disease had greater pulmonary, cardiovascular and peripheral vascular damage. CONCLUSIONS: in this study, 68.3% of permanent damage was observed. Skin, neuropsychiatric, ocular, peripheral vascularization and cardiovascular systems were more frequently affected. Renal and gonadal involvement was not as frequent as previously described. Non-caucasoid patients had a tendency to present higher scores, but more studies are necessary to determinate if ethnic or economic factors are involved.

La incidencia de diabetes gestacional varía notablemente según el origen étnico del grupo evaluado. Se discute la necesidad de realizar screening en el embarazo y el método a utilizar. Este estudio compara dos grupos de 4.944 y 2.385 embarazadas que en periodos distintos, fueron sometidas a screening para diabetes gestacional. El primero según el esquema propuesto por la American Diabetes Association (ADA) y el segundo por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y adoptado por el Ministerio de Salud de Chile (MINSAL) en 1998. Se observó que la incidencia de diabetes gestacional en el grupo según criterio ADA fue de 3,18%, mientras que en el grupo según criterio OMS fue de 7,72%. Asimismo, la incidencia de complicaciones asociadas a diabetes gestacional, tales como, fetos grandes para la edad gestacional, hipoglicemia neonatal e hipertensión del embarazo, fueron más frecuentes en diabéticas gestacionales según criterio ADA que en aquellas según criterio OMS. En contraste, no se observo diferencia entre ambos grupos en lo relativo a traumatismo obstétrico, asfixia neonatal y tasas de cesáreaThe incidence of gestational diabetes has a wide range from each ethnic group to another. In the latest years has been controversy about the convenience of make screening test for gestational diabetes and about the best test to do it. The present report compares two groups of 4944 and 2385 patients, who were tested for gestational diabetes at different times. The first group was tested with American Diabetes Association (ADA) method and the other group with World Health Organization (WHO) method, this one was adopted by National Health Ministry of Chile in 1998. The incidence of gestational diabetes was 3.18% in the group tested by ADA method in contrast to 7.72% in the group tested by WHO method. Therefore, the incidence of complications associated with gestacional diabetes, such as, birth weight above the 90th percentile, hypoglycemia and hypertension induced by pregnancy, were more frequent in diabetic patients from ADA method than WHO method. In contrast to this, there were not differences between both groups related to obstetric traumatism, neonatal asphyxia and cesarean rates

La definición de la cartera de servicios ha sido uno de los elementos del proceso de mejora de la gestión de los servicios sanitarios en España, en curso, del que los servicios de salud pública se han mantenido en buena parte al margen. En este trabajo se analizan los servicios de salud p��blica a partir de la experiencia de la Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona. Se propone un esquema de categorización que permite distinguir entre los que son propiamente servicios productivos de salud pública, los que son asistenciales, los que tienen características de productos intermedios y los que son servicios de apoyo o de coordinación y enlace. Se exploran indicadores de productividad, resultado e impacto y de coste, y se formula un catálogo de servicios para una organización de salud pública con responsabilidades sobre una población y un territorio definidos.Health services in Spain are currently being improved. Definition of the services portfolio has been one of the elements in this process, from which public health services have been largely left out. In the present article public health services are examined from the perspective of the Public Health Agency of Barcelona. We propose a scheme to classify services into productive public health services, health care services, services that are intermediate products, support services, and liaison or coordinating services. Indicators of productivity, result, impact, and cost are explored, and a catalogue of services for a public health organization with a well defined population and area is proposed.

Este artículo tiene como propósito presentar las ventajas de usar la metodología basada en tareas (Task -based Learning) para ayudar a un grupo de estudiantes del Centro de Informática de la Universidad de Costa Rica a inferir la regla y uso de la forma superlativa de los adjetivos en inglés Estos estudiantes recibían un curso de inglés con propósitos específicos impartido por dos docentes de inglés. El curso tuvo una duración aproximada de cuatro meses y se cubrieron cuatro unidades. Es necesario señalar que la metodología basada en tareas ayuda a los y las estudiantes a concentrarse más en el significado que en la forma. Al hacer esto, los y las estudiantes llevan a cabo diferentes tareas comunicativas que tienen más significado porque se asemejan más a sus actividades cotidianas que los ejercicios gramaticales tradicionales, los cuales la mayoría de veces son descontextualizadas e insignificantes. En la sección que se presenta en este artículo, los y las estudiantes del Centro de Informática expresaron sus ideas, oralmente o por escrito del tema gramatical: la forma superlativa de los adjetivos en inglés. Este artículo tiene como propósito presentar las ventajas de usar la metodología basada en tareas (Task-based Learning) para ayudar a un grupo de estudiantes del Centro de Informática de la Universidad de Costa Rica a inferir la regla y uso de la forma superlativa de los adjetivos en inglés Estos estudiantes recibían un curso de inglés con propósitos específicos impartido por dos docentes de inglés. El curso tuvo una duración aproximada de cuatro meses y se cubrieron cuatro unidades. Es necesario señalar que la metodología basada en tareas ayuda a los y las estudiantes a concentrarse más en el significado que en la forma. Al hacer esto, los y las estudiantes llevan a cabo diferentes tareas comunicativas que tienen más significado porque se asemejan más a sus actividades cotidianas que los ejercicios gramaticales tradicionales, los cuales la mayoría de veces son descontextualizadas e insignificantes. En la sección que se presenta en este artículo, los y las estudiantes del Centro de Informática expresaron sus ideas, oralmente o por escrito del tema gramatical: la forma superlativa de los adjetivos en inglés.

Background and Objective: We aimed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) to Spanish and ensure its reliability, validity and sensitivity., Material and Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in patients with stroke between September 2017 and March 2019. We developed the Spanish version through the translation-back-translation method, and reached a consensus on the problematic items. The Spanish version of the WGS was applied in 25 post-stroke patients, assessed in the Hospital Movement Analysis Unit. All patients were evaluated by 2 independent evaluators, subsequently performing the instrumented gait analysis using the Elite System (BTS), SMART System. Interobserver confirmation (intraclass correlation coefficient), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and validation were verified by checking their relationship with spatial and temporal parameters and sensitivity to change (Pearson's correlation)., Results: After the translation-back-translation, the committee found cultural equivalence in all but 2 items and reached a consensus on the final version. Interobserver reliability had an intraclass coefficient of 0.99 for the total score, and > 0.7 for each item; Cronbach's alpha was > 0.8; the validity between the WGS and the spatial and temporal parameters was significant (p < 0.05). Sensitivity to change was significant on comparison of the results of the scale at baseline and at 1 month (correlation coefficient 0.92)., Conclusion: The Spanish version of the WGS is a culturally equivalent instrument to the original version, providing an objective means to document observational analysis of gait in post-stroke patients by rehabilitation teams., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) has been shown to be useful for risk stratification in patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). We sought to determine a CA125 cutpoint for identifying patients at low risk of 1-month death or the composite of death/HF readmission following admission for AHF., Methods: The derivation cohort included 3231 consecutive patients with AHF. CA125 cutoff values with 90% negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity up to 85% were identified. The adequacy of these cutpoints and the risk of 1-month death/HF readmission was then tested using the Royston-Parmar method. The best cutpoint was selected and externally validated in a cohort of patients hospitalized from BIOSTAT-CHF (n=1583)., Results: In the derivation cohort, the median [IQR] CA125 was 57 [25.3-157] U/mL. The optimal cutoff value was <23 U/mL (21.5% of patients), with NPVs of 99.3% and 94.1% for death and the composite endpoint, respectively. On multivariate survival analyses, CA125 <23 U/mL was independently associated with a lower risk of death (HR, 0.20; 95%CI, 0.08-0.50; P <.001), and the combined endpoint (HR, 0.63; 95%CI, 950.45-0.90; P=.009). The ability of this cutpoint to discriminate patients at a low 1-month risk was confirmed in the validation cohort (NPVs of 98.6% and 96.6% for death and the composite endpoint). The predicted ability of this cutoff remained significant at 6 months of follow-up., Conclusions: In patients admitted with AHF, CA125 <23 U/mL identified a subgroup at low risk of short-term adverse events, a population that may not require intense postdischarge monitoring., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Despite the highly favorable prognosis, mortality occurs in nearly 2% of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), in which decompressive craniectomy (DC) may be the only way to save the patient's life. The aim of this report is to describe the risk factors, neuroimaging features, in-hospital complications and functional outcome of severe CVT in patients treated with DC., Materials and Methods: Consecutive malignant CVT cases treated with DC from a retrospective third-level hospital database were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and functional outcomes were analyzed., Results: Twenty-six patients were included (20 female, age 35.4±12.1 years); 53.8% of the patients had acute CVT, with neurological focalization as the most common symptom in 92.3% of the patients. Superior sagittal sinus thromboses were found in 84.6% of cases. Bilateral lesions were present in 10 patients (38.5%). Imaging on admission showed a parenchymal lesion (venous infarction±hemorrhagic lesion)>6cm measured along the longest diameter in 25 patients (96.2%). Mean duration of clinical neurological deterioration was 3.5 days; eleven patients (42.3%) died during hospitalization., Conclusion: In patients with severe forms of CVT, we found higher mortality than previously reported. DC is an effective life-saving treatment with acceptable functional prognosis for survivors., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology, clinical profile, treatments, and to determine cardiovascular and renal outcomes after two years of follow-up in a contemporary chronic kidneay disease (CKD) population in Spain. This was also analyzed among the DAPA-CKD-like population (patients who met most inclusion criteria of DAPA-CKD trial)., Methods: Observational, retrospective, population-based study using BIG-PAC database. The CKD population was defined as patients ≥18 years, with at least one diagnostic code of CKD prior to the index date (January 1st, 2018). CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60mL/min/1.73m 2 (CKD-EPI), or albuminuria >30mg/g., Results: We identified 56,435 CKD patients after exclusions (76.4 years, 52.2% men, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio 390.8mg/g, eGFR 49.7mL/min/1.73m 2 ). CKD prevalence was 4.91% and incidence 2.10 per 1000 patient-years. Regarding treatments, 69.2% were taking renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (only 4.2% at maximal doses) and 3.5% of diabetic patients SGLT-2 inhibitors. During the two years of follow-up, rates of heart failure, all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and CKD were 17.9, 12.1, 7.2, 6.3, and 5.9 events per 100 patient-years, respectively. During this period, 44% of patients were hospitalized, and 6.8% died during hospitalization. Cardiovascular outcomes were more common in the DAPA-CKD-like population., Conclusions: In Spain, CKD population is older and comorbidities, including diabetes and heart failure, are common. Cardiovascular and renal outcomes are frequent. There is room for improvement in CKD management, particularly through the use of drugs with proven cardiovascular and renal benefit., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There is sufficient evidence on the usefulness of surgery as a therapeutic alternative for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy; however this treatment is underutilized, especially in developing countries., Methods: We describe the outcomes of epilepsy surgery in 27 paediatric patients at Hospital Baca Ortiz in Quito, Ecuador. Our analysis considered the following variables: reduction in seizure frequency, surgery outcome according to the Engel classification, improvement in quality of life, and serious complications due to surgery., Results: 21 corpus callosotomies and 6 resective surgeries were performed. The mean seizure frequency decreased from 465 per month before surgery to 37.2 per month thereafter (p<.001); quality of life scale scores increased from 12.6 to 37.2 (p<.001), and quality of life improved in 72.7% of patients. Regarding resective surgery, 2 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and one with posterior quadrant epilepsy achieved Engel class IA, and one patient undergoing hemispherotomy due to Rasmussen encephalitis achieved Engel class IIA. Two patients underwent surgery for hypothalamic hamartoma: one achieved Engel III and the other, Engel IA; however, the latter patient died in the medium term due to a postoperative complication. The other major complication was a case of hydrocephalus, which led to the death of a patient with refractory infantile spasms who underwent corpus callosotomy., Conclusions: Favourable outcomes were observed in 92.5% of patients., (Copyright © 2018 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objective: T-14 and TAHSI are validated and reliable specific questionnaires which measure the quality of life in paediatric patients with adenotonsillar disease. The present study aims to compare the adapted and validated versions in Spanish of these two questionnaires (T-14-s and s-TAHSI) in order to assess the preferential use of either of them in our environment., Material and Methods: A multicentre prospective cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2015 and April 2016, to determine the possible correlation between these two instruments. Subjects aged from 2 to 16 years with indication for adenotonsillar surgery and healthy controls, were consecutively included. Parents or caregivers of these children completed T-14-s and s-TAHSI questionnaires initially, after 2-6 weeks and at 6 months after surgery. T-14-s and s-TAHSI scores of the entire sample were compared globally, patient and control subgroups were compared separately and finally, compared in the group of patients at 6 months from surgery, using Pearson correlation coefficient. The proportion of variability shared between both tests was calculated., Results: A hundred subjects (50 cases and 50 controls) were studied. The overall correlation presented by both questionnaires was very high (0.97) with a significance level of p < .01. The proportion of shared variability was 94%, very high. The results were maintained when comparing the questionnaires in the subpopulations of cases and controls, as well as the postoperative questionnaires., Conclusion: Quality of life questionnaires for paediatric patients with adenotonsillar pathology, T-14-s and s-TAHSI, showed high correlation and allows the equivalent use of both in our environment., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Different genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) have been associated with the risk and prognosis of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there is an association between HLA genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility to and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients., Design: Observational and prospective study., Setting: Eight Intensive Care Units (ICU) from 6 hospitals of Canary Islands (Spain)., Patients: COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU and healthy subjects., Interventions: Determination of HLA genetic polymorphisms., Main Variable of Interest: Mortality at 30 days., Results: A total of 3886 healthy controls and 72 COVID-19 patients (10 non-survivors and 62 survivor patients at 30 days) were included. We found a trend to a higher rate of the alleles HLA-A*32 (p=0.004) in healthy controls than in COVID-19 patients, and of the alleles HLA-B*39 (p=0.02) and HLA-C*16 (p=0.02) in COVID-19 patients than in healthy controls; however, all these p-values were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of certain alleles was associated with higher mortality, such as the allele HLA-A*11 after controlling for SOFA (OR=7.693; 95% CI=1.063-55.650; p=0.04) or APACHE-II (OR=11.858; 95% CI=1.524-92.273; p=0.02), the allele HLA-C*01 after controlling for SOFA (OR=11.182; 95% CI=1.053-118.700; p=0.04) or APACHE-II (OR=17.604; 95% CI=1.629-190.211; p=0.02), and the allele HLA-DQB1*04 after controlling for SOFA (OR=9.963; 95% CI=1.235-80.358; p=0.03)., Conclusions: The new finding from our preliminary study of small sample size was that HLA genetic polymorphisms could be associated with COVID-19 mortality; however, studies with a larger sample size before definitive conclusions can be drawn., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)