Syringoma of vulva: an unusual presentation. Clinical, morphological and immunohistochemnical aspects / Siringoma de vulva / una presentación inusual. Aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e inmunohistoquímicos

The case of a 34-year-old woman, who consulted because she observed the appearance of numerous yellow-white asymptomatic papules on the vulva, is presented. Clinical diagnosis of syringoma of vulva was established. The pathological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis. Vulvar syringoma usually occurs as a multiple flesh-colored or brownish papules on both sides of labia majora of women in their third decade. Its diagnosis should be considered when the patient complaints of vulvar pruritus and/or sweating.

Se presenta un caso de una paciente de 34 años de edad quien consultó por presentar la aparición de numerosas pápulas de color blanco-amarillentas en la vulva. El diagnóstico clínico de siringoma de vulva fue realizado. Los estudios de patología y de inmunohistoquimica confirmaron el diagnóstico. El siringoma vulvar usualmente se presenta como múltiples pápulas del color de la piel o marrones en ambos labios mayores en mujeres en su tercera década de la vida. Su diagnóstico debe ser considerado en pacientes que se quejan de prurito y/o sudoración vulvar

Mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica en Chile: quiénes, cuántos y dónde / Mortality from ischemic heart disease in Chile: who, how many, and where

OBJETIVO: Describir las características de la mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica en Chile y su evolución temporal, e identificar los factores asociados a mortalidad extrahospitalaria por esta patología entre 1997 y 2007. MÉTODOS. Estudio de serie temporal que utiliza las bases de defunciones del Departamento de Estadísticas e Información en Salud entre 1997 y 2007. De un total de 917 029 muertes notificadas, se seleccionaron aquellas cuya causa primaria fue cardiopatía isquémica (códigos I20 a I25 de la CIE-10). Se calcularon tasas crudas y ajustadas por edad y sexo para analizar la tendencia. Se analizaron las características de la mortalidad según el lugar de defunción, evaluando posibles factores asociados a mortalidad extrahospitalaria (casa/habitación u otro lugar), incluidos edad, ruralidad, estado civil, educación y sexo, así como el efecto de la incorporación del infarto agudo al miocardio a la ley de garantías en salud (GES), con regresión binomial. RESULTADOS: Durante el período estudiado se notificaron 87 342 muertes por cardiopatía isquémica, de las cuales 57,7 por ciento eran hombres y 59,5 por ciento ocurrieron fuera del hospital. La tasa de mortalidad ajustada por edad disminuyó de 52,9 a 40,4 por 100 000 habitantes. Los factores asociados a mortalidad extrahospitalaria en hombres fueron ruralidad, riesgo relativo (RR) 1,24 (1,21-1,27); edad mayor a 70 años, RR 1,03 (1,01-1,05); estado civil soltero, RR 1,10 (1,08-1,12), mientras que en las mujeres los valores correspondientes fueron 1,13 (1,10-1,18); 1,31 (1,27-1,36) y 1,07 (1,04-1,09). La adopción de la GES se asoció con un aumento en el porcentaje de muertes intrahospitalarias en mujeres, RR 0,95 (0,92-0,97). CONCLUSIONES: †La mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica en Chile ha disminuido. El mayor porcentaje de las muertes ocurren fuera de hospitales o clínicas. Los factores asociados a mortalidad extrahospitalaria en ambos sexos fueron edad avanzada, estado civil soltero y ruralidad.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of mortality from ischemic heart disease in Chile and its trend over time, and to identify the factors associated with extra-hospital mortality from this pathology between 1997 and 2007. METHODS: A time-series study was conducted using the mortality database of the Department of Health Statistics and Information for 1997 to 2007. Of the total of 917 029 deaths reported in this period, those whose primary cause was ischemic heart disease (ICD-10 codes I20-I25) were selected. Crude and adjusted rates were calculated by age and sex in order to analyze the trend. Mortality characteristics were analyzed by the place of death, evaluating potential factors associated with extra-hospital mortality (death at home or elsewhere outside a hospital or clinic). The factors considered, using binomial regression, were age, rurality, marital status, education, and sex, as well as the effect of the incorporation of acute myocardial infarction into the explicit health guarantees law. RESULTS: During the period in question, 87 342 deaths from ischemic heart disease were reported, 57.7 percent of which were in males and 59.5 percent outside the hospital. The age-standardized mortality rate declined from 52.9 to 40.4 per 100 000 population. Factors related to extra-hospital mortality in men were rurality, relative risk (RR) 1.24 (1.21-1.27); age of over 70 years, RR 1.03 (1.01-1.05); and being single, RR 1.10 (1.08-1.12). In women, the respective values were rurality, 1.13 (1.10-1.18); advanced age, 1.31 (1.27-1.36); and being single, 1.07 (1.04-1.09). Passage of the explicit health guarantees law was associated with an increase in the percentage of in-hospital deaths in women, RR 0.95 (0.92-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality from ischemic heart disease in Chile has declined. The majority of deaths from this cause occur outside hospitals or clinics. The factors associated with extra-hospital mortality in both sexes were advanced age, being single, and rurality.

Validez y confiabilidad de la versión chilena del Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) / Assessment of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) to detect problem drinkers

Background: AUDIT is a self-reported questionnaire used to detect problem drinkers. It must be translated into Spanish and validated in order to be used in Chile. Aim: To assess the validity of a Chilean version of the AUDIT questionnaire. Material and methods: The English version of the questionnaire was translated into Spanish and adapted to the Chilean cultural environment. Using the Delphi method, an expert group examined the text and then decided on which would be the definitive version. This test was translated to English again and was approved by one of the original authors. It was then applied to 93 subjects aged 37 ± 12 years (60 percent males) consulting at a primary health care center These subjects also answered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), version 2.1 that was used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of hazardous drinking and alcohol dependence. Cronbach alpha and test-retest validity were analyzed. Sensitivity and specificity were determined using receiver operating (ROC) curves. Results: The internal consistency of AUDIT was 0.93, its test re-tests reliability was 0.97 (95 percent confidence intervals 0.96-0.98). Using a cutoff point of 6 for hazardous consumption, its sensitivity and specificity were 83 percent and 88 percent, respectively. The figures for dependence and harmful consumption, using a cutoff point of 9, were 87 percent and 85 percent, respectively. Conclusions: AUDIT is a valid questionnaire to detect problem drinkers.

Importancia del apoyo social en la permanencia de la abstinencia del consumo de drogas / Social support as a protective factor of recurrence after drug addiction treatment

Lack of social support can be one of the factors that influences recurrences of drug consumption after treatment of addictions. Aim: To assess the role of social support in maintaining drug abstinence after treatment. Material and methods: We studied 306 subjects that were treated in drug addiction centers, financed by the National Council for Drug Control (CONACE). At discharge, social and demographic data were recorded and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) questionnaire was given to evaluate social support. Subjects that achieved abstinence at the moment of discharge were contacted six months later and interrogated about eventual drug consumption thereafter. Results: One hundred fifty three (76 percent male, aged 32 ± 10 years) of 197 abstinent subjects at discharge, were located six months later. Of these, 108 (71 percent) were not consuming drugs. On univariate analysis, social support had a protective effect against recurrence of drug consumption (OR - 0.98; CI 95 percent = 0.96-0.99). This effect remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, occupational situation, mental health self-assessment, family history of alcohol and drug consumption, type of drug treatment and type of discharge as confounding variables (OR = 0.97; CI 95 percent = 0.94-0.99). Conclusions: These data provide evidence that social support protects against recurrence into drug consumption at ¡east up to six months. Long-term effects should be evaluated.