SIGMA-VB: Validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale using the Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS

Objective: The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is widely used to assess depression severity. The Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS (SIGMA) was created to standardize MADRS assessment. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the original SIGMA into a Brazilian Portuguese version (SIGMA-VB). Methods: We translated and cross-culturally validated the original SIGMA into the SIGMA-VB, and assessed its psychometric properties using data from 93 adult outpatients enrolled in the Integral Assessment in Unipolar Depression (AIUNI) trial. Participants were assessed by two raters on five visits over 8 weeks. We calculated multiple interrater reliability indexes for the SIGMA-VB and used the Hamilton Depression Hating Scale (HAM-D) for validation purposes. Results: According to the SIGMA-VB, participants had moderate depression at baseline followed by mild depression at 8 weeks. We found over 90% of correlation between scores attributed by different raters using the SIGMA-VB. Correlations between the SIGMA-VB and the HAM-D were above 66%. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that the SIGMA-VB is a valid and reliable instrument to assess depression severity in clinical research and practice. Its interrater reliability was similar to that of a previously published Japanese version of the SIGMA.

Depressive Symptoms in Pregnancy: The Influence of Social, Psychological and Obstetric Aspects / Sintomas depressivos na gestação: influência dos aspectos social, comportamental, psicológico e obstétrico

Abstract Purpose To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their association with social, psychological, behavioral and obstetric characteristics in pregnant women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 375 pregnant women who attended prenatal clinics in two public maternity hospitals located in the city of Goiania, Brazil. To testify the depressive symptoms, we used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using programs such as CDC EPI-INFO(tm), version 7.1.5, and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS), version 21.0. Results the patients had probable depressive symptoms (15.47%) and possible depressive symptoms (25.33%). The bivariate analysis showed a significant association among "depressive symptoms" and the following variables: "single or divorced" (prevalence ratio, PR = 2.08; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.26 to 3.44); "physical activity during pregnancy" (PR = 3.96; 95%CI = 1.28 to 12.31); exposure to "psychological/emotional" violence (PR = 4.74; 95%CI = 2.94 to 7.64); "prior mental problem" (PR = 2.66; 95%CI =1.49 to 4.73) and "obstetric complications during pregnancy" (PR = 2.53; 95%CI = 1.55 to 4.13). The multivariate analysis confirmed the association of these depressive symptoms with the variables "suffered psychological/emotional violence" (odds ratio, OR = 5.821; 95%CI = 2.939 to 11.528); "physical activity during pregnancy" (OR = 3.885; 95%CI = 1.060 to 14.231); "obstetric complications during pregnancy" (OR = 2.442; 95%CI = 1.233 to 4.834) and "single or divorced" (OR = 2.943; 95%CI = 1.326 to 6.533). Conclusions the prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women is of 15.47%, and emotional violence is the main factor associated with gestational depression.

Resumo Objetivo verificar a prevalência de sintomas depressivos e suas associações com características sociais, psicológicas, comportamentais e obstétricas em mulheres grávidas. Métodos trata-se de estudo transversal. A amostra constou de 375 grávidas atendidas no ambulatório de pré-natal de duas maternidades públicas localizadas na cidade de Goiânia. Para a comprovação dos sintomas depressivos, empregou-se a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Foi realizada análise estatística descritiva com auxílio dos programas CDC EPI-INFO(tm), versão 7.1.5, e Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS), versão 21.0. Resultados apresentaram prováveis sintomas depressivos e possíveis sintomas depressivos 15,47% e 25,33% das entrevistadas, respectivamente. A análise bivariada demonstrou associação significante entre "sintomas depressivos" e as seguintes variáveis: "solteira ou separada" (razão de prevalência, RP =2,08; intervalo de confiança, IC95% = 1,26-3,44); "atividade física na gestação" (RP = 3,96; IC95% = 1,28-12,31); submissão a "violência psicológica/emocional" (RP = 4,74; IC95% = 2,94-7,64); "problema mental prévio" (RP = 2,66; IC95% = 1,49-4,73) e "complicações obstétricas na gestação atual" (RP = 2,53; IC95% = 1,55-4,13). A análise multivariada confirmou associação desses sintomas depressivos com as variáveis "sofreu violência psicológica/emocional" (odds ratio, OR = 5,821; IC95% = 2,939- 11,528); "atividade física na gestação" (OR = 3,885; IC95% =1,060-14,231); "complicações obstétricas na gestação atual" (OR = 2,442; IC95% = 1,233-4,834); e "solteira ou separada" (OR = 2,943; IC95% = 1,326-6,533). Conclusões a prevalência de sintomas depressivos entre as grávidas é de 15,47%, e a violência emocional é o principal fator associado à depressão gestacional.

Blank-comparison matching-to-sample reveals a false positive symmetry test in a capuchin monkey

A positive symmetry test result was obtained with a capuchin monkey that had previously exhibited virtually errorless AB and BA arbitrary matching-to-sample (MTS) with different stimuli. The symmetry test (BA) followed the acquisition of a new AB relation. It seemed possible, however, that the positive result could have occurred through the exclusion of previously defined comparison stimuli and not because the new AB and BA relations had the property of symmetry. To assess this possibility, a blank-comparison MTS procedure was implemented that permitted the separate assessment of select and reject (i.e., exclusion) control with both baseline and BA matching relations. In this assessment, the monkey did not exhibit reliable BA matching when exclusion was not possible, thus showing that the symmetry result was a false positive. However, the study demonstrated the feasibility of using a blank comparison MTS procedure with capuchins. The present results may set the stage for more successful methodology for establishing desired forms of relational stimulus control in capuchins and ultimately improving the assessment of relational learning capacity in that species, other nonhuman species, and nonverbal humans...

Expansão de repertório de relações arbitrárias em Sapajus sp. via exclusão / Expanding arbitrary relations repertoire by exclusion in Sapajus sp

O procedimento de exclusão pode expandir repertório relacional arbitrário de crianças, em condições de aprendizagem sem erros. Embora a escolha por exclusão esteja presente em diversas espécies não humanas, ela nem sempre resulta na aprendizagem de novas relações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a escolha por exclusão em um macaco-prego e a aquisição das novas relações arbitrárias como um resultado do contexto de exclusão. O sujeito apresentava um repertório de 5 relações arbitrárias A-B e suas simétricas B-A adquirido em estudo prévio, em um procedimento de pareamento ao modelo com atraso, envolvendo cinco ou mais escolhas como comparações. Neste estudo, usando o procedimento de pareamento ao modelo com duas escolhas, novas relações arbitrárias A-C foram introduzidas, usan-do-se estímulos B como S-, para verificar exclusão. O sujeito respondeu corretamente nas tentativas de exclusão excluindo o estímulo B e escolhendo o estímulo C. A aprendizagem das novas relações A-C foi avaliada em tentativas compostas apenas por comparações do Conjunto C, e o sujeito respondeu incorretamente nessas tentativas. Um treino com comparação vazia visando estabelecer controle por seleção e rejeição nas relações A-C não foi efetivo em gerar relações de controle por seleção. Em estudos futuros serão usadas mais de duas escolhas por tentativa no treino A-C, em contexto de exclusão, visando obter a aprendizagem das novas relações.

The procedure of exclusion may expand children's repertoire of arbitrary relations resulting in errorless learning, but although choice by exclusion has been reported in a variety of species, it is not followed by learning of the new relations. The objective of this paper was to verify if capuchins would choose by exclusion, and if they subsequently would acquire the new arbitrary relations as outcome of exclusion. The capuchin monkey had previously acquired a repertory of 5 A-B and their symmetric B-A arbitrary relations in delayed-matching to-sample (DMTS) with five or more choices. Using a two-choice DMTS, new A-C relations were introduced using non paired B stimuli as S- to verify exclusion. The subject excluded non paired B and chose the new C stimuli. However, performance was disrupted in trials with only C stimuli as comparisons; training with a blank stimulus substituting either comparison in turns was ineffective. Further studies using trials with more than two comparison stimuli will verify arbitrary relations' learning in capuchins after exclusion.

Treatment-resistant depression increases health costs and resource utilization / Depressão resistente ao tratamento aumenta os custos e utilização de recursos

OBJECTIVE: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a debilitating condition with a marked social impact. The impact of MDD and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD+) within the Brazilian health system is largely unknown. The goal of this study was to compare resource utilization and costs of care for treatment-resistant MDD relative to non-treatment-resistant depression (TRD-). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 212 patients who had been diagnosed with MDD according to the ICD-10 criteria. Specific criteria were used to identify patients with TRD+. Resource utilization was estimated, and the consumption of medication was annualized. We obtained information on medical visits, procedures, hospitalizations, emergency department visits and medication use related or not to MDD. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 90 TRD+ and 122 TRD- patients. TRD+ patients used significantly more resources from the psychiatric service, but not from non-psychiatric clinics, compared to TRD- patients. Furthermore, TRD+ patients were significantly more likely to require hospitalizations. Overall, TRD+ patients imposed significantly higher (81.5%) annual costs compared to TRD- patients (R$ 5,520.85; US$ 3,075.34 vs. R$ 3,042.14; US$ 1,694.60). These findings demonstrate the burden of MDD, and especially of TRD+ patients, to the tertiary public health system. Our study should raise awareness of the impact of TRD+ and should be considered by policy makers when implementing public mental health initiatives.

OBJETIVO: O Transtorno Depressivo Maior (TDM) é uma condição debilitante com um forte impacto social. O impacto do TDM e Depressão Resistente ao Tratamento (DRT+) no sistema de saúde brasileiro é praticamente desconhecido. Nosso objetivo é comparar a utilização de recursos e custos dos cuidados para o tratamento de DRT+ em relação ao TDM não resistente (DRT-). MÉTODOS: Foram analisados retrospectivamente os prontuários de 212 pacientes diagnosticados com TDM segundo a CID-10. Critérios específicos foram utilizados para identificar pacientes com DRT+. A utilização dos recursos foi estimada e consumo de medicamentos foram anualizados. Foram obtidas informações sobre consultas, procedimentos, internações, atendimentos no serviço de emergência e uso de medicação relacionada ou não ao TDM. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta de 90 pacientes DRT+ e 122 DRT-. Pacientes DRT+ utilizaram significativamente mais recursos do serviço de psiquiatria, mas não em clínicas não psiquiátricas, em relação a DRT-. Eles eram significativamente mais propensos a exigir internações. Pacientes DRT+ apresentaram um custo direto anual significativamente maior (81,5%) do que pacientes com depressão não resistente (R$ 5.520,85; US$ 3.075,34 contra R$ 3.042,14, US$ 1.694,60). Estes resultados demonstram o impacto do TDM, principalmente da DRT+ ao sistema de saúde público terciário. Nosso estudo deve aumentar a sensibilização para o impacto da DRT + e deve ser considerado pelos formuladores de políticas públicas na implementação de iniciativas de saúde mental.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and Papanicolaou cytology in low-resource women in Posadas city, Misiones, Argentina / Detección del virus papiloma humano (HPV) y citología de Papanicolaou en mujeres de bajos recursos de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones, Argentina

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and cervical lesions present in women who attended a health center in a low-resource area of the city of Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Cervical cell samples (n = 163) were processed for Papanicolaou cytology and HPV-PCR tests. Socio-cultural risk factors were estimated using the odds ratio (OR, CI 95 %). Cervical lesions were detected in 14.7 % of women. The general prevalence of HPV infection was of 38 %. The most common types among the total population were HPV-16 (9.8 %) and HPV-33 (9.3 %). HPV-16 was detected in association with 29.2 % and 6.5 % of women with and without cervical lesions, respectively, the OR being 5.3 (1.8-15.8). Risk factors for HPV-16 infection were a smoking habit and a history of previous sexually-transmitted diseases. These data are important for the implementation of prevention programs, including an appropriate introduction of vaccination and the baseline for virological surveillance in the vaccine era.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la infección por HPV y de lesiones cervicales en mujeres asistidas en un centro de salud situado en un área de bajos recursos de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Las muestras (n = 163) fueron examinadas mediante las pruebas de Papanicolaou y de PCR para HPV. Los factores socio-culturales de riesgo fueron identifcados mediante el cálculo de la odds ratio (OR, IC 95 %). Se detectaron lesiones cervicales en el 14,7 % de las mujeres. La prevalencia de infección por HPV fue de 38 %. Los tipos más frecuentes en la población total fueron HPV-16 (9,8 %) y HPV-33 (9,3 %). El HPV-16 se detectó asociado al 29,2 % y al 6,5 % de las mujeres con lesiones del cuello uterino y sin ellas, respectivamente, con un OR de 5,3 (1,8-15,8). Los factores de riesgo para la infección por HPV-16 fueron el hábito de fumar y el antecedente de enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Estos datos son importantes para la ejecución de los programas de prevención, incluyendo una introducción adecuada de la vacunación y la línea de base para la vigilancia virológica en la era de la vacuna.

Ocorrência e correlatos do espectro bipolar em pacientes com transtornos alimentares atendidos em serviço terciário: projeto ESPECTRA / Ocurrence and correlates of bipolar spectrum in eating disorders patients of a tertiary service

Pacientes com transtornos alimentares freqüentemente apresentam comorbidades com outros transtornos psiquiátricos, em especial com os transtornos de humor. Apesar de estudos recentes sugerirem uma íntima relação com o transtorno bipolar, o estudo do espectro bipolar em suas formas abrangentes ainda não foi realizado nesta população. O presente trabalho estudou, em pacientes com transtornos alimentares atendidos em serviço terciário, a ocorrência do espectro bipolar e os correlatos de impulsividade, imagem corporal, sintomas de humor ao longo da vida, adequação social e qualidade de vida. Avaliou sessenta e nove pacientes com diagnóstico de anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa ou transtorno alimentar sem outra especificação e, como grupo comparativo, sessenta e nove mulheres sem diagnóstico de transtornos alimentares ou transtorno bipolar. A avaliação foi constituída pela Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para Transtornos do Eixo I do DSM IV, avaliação clínica dos critérios de Zurich para diagnóstico do espectro bipolar, a Escala de Impulsividade de Barrat, o Questionário de Imagem Corporal, a Escala de Auto-avaliação de Hipomania, a Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para o Espectro do Humor, Escala de Hamilton para Avaliação de Depressão, Escala de Young para Avaliação de Mania, a Escala de Adequação Social e a Escala de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida. As comparações das médias das variáveis contínuas foram realizadas por meio dos testes de Kruskal- Wallis e Mann-Whitney. A associação entre as variáveis categóricas e os grupos foi descrita através de tabelas de contingência e analisadas através do teste Chi- Quadrado de Pearson ou Exato de Fisher. A análise multivariada pelo método de stepwise foi realizada para verificar o efeito das variáveis sobre a imagem corporal, adequação social e qualidade de vida. O nível de significância alfa foi estabelecido em 5%. Os resultados mostraram que 68,1% das pacientes apresentaram comorbidade com espectro bipolar e isto esteve...

Eating disorder patients often have comorbidities with other psychiatric disorders, especially with mood disorders. Although recent studies suggest an intimate relationship with bipolar disorder, the study of bipolar spectrum broader definition has not been done in this population. This work studied the occurrence of bipolar spectrum and correlates of impulsivity, body image, mood symptoms throughout life, social adjustment and quality of life in eating disorders patients of a tertiary service. Sixty-nine female patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified and, as a comparative group, sixty-nine women without a diagnosis of eating disorder or bipolar disorder were evaluated. The evaluation comprised the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I Disorders, clinical criteria for diagnosis of Zurich bipolar spectrum, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Body Shape Questionnaire, the Hypomania Checklist-32, the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, Social Adjustment Scale and the World Health Organizations Quality of Life Questionnaire. Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests compared means of continuous variables. The association between categorical variables and the groups were described using contingency tables and analyzed using the chi-squared or Fisher exact test. Multivariate analysis using the stepwise method was performed to verify the effect of variables on body image, social adjustment and quality of life. The level of significance alpha was set at 5%. The results showed that 68,1% of patients had comorbidity with bipolar spectrum and this was associated with higher family income, proportion of married people, comorbidity with substance use and more manic/hypomanic symptoms throughout life. The groups with or without comorbidity with bipolar spectrum showed more severity in all outcomes compared with the comparison group...

Cebus cf. apella exhibits rapid acquisition of complex stimulus relations and emergent performance by exclusion

A "second generation" matching-to-sample procedure that minimizes past sources of artifacts involves (1) successive discrimination between sample stimuli, (2) stimulus displays ranging from four to 16 comparisons, (3) variable stimulus locations to avoid unwanted stimulus-location control, and (4) high accuracy levels (e.g., 90 percent correct on a 16-choice task in which chance accuracy is 6 percent). Examples of behavioral engineering with experienced capuchin monkeys included four-choice matching problems with video images of monkeys with substantially above-chance matching in a single session and 90 percent matching within six sessions. Exclusion performance was demonstrated by interspersing non-identical sample-comparison pairs within a baseline of a nine-comparison identity-matching-to-sample procedure with pictures as stimuli. The test for exclusion presented the newly "mapped" stimulus in a situation in which exclusion was not possible. Degradation of matching between physically non-identical forms occurred while baseline identity accuracy was sustained at high levels, thus confirming that Cebus cf. apella is capable of exclusion. Additionally, exclusion performance when baseline matching relations involved non-identical stimuli was shown

A evolução histórica dos conceitos de transtorno de humor e transtorno de personalidade: problemas no diagnóstico diferencial: [revisão] / Historical evolution of mood disorders and personality disorders concepts: difficulties in the differential diagnostic: [review]

CONTEXTO: Os conceitos de transtornos de humor e de personalidade sofreram diversas mudanças nas últimas décadas. Historicamente, esses conceitos foram construídos em paralelo, isto é, transtornos de humor e personalidade são considerados como transtornos independentes em relação ao diagnóstico, ao prognóstico e ao tratamento. Recentemente, entretanto, novas propostas na conceituação nosológica desses transtornos levantaram a questão de uma possível sobreposição dessas entidades, tornando o diagnóstico diferencial entre esses transtornos muitas vezes difícil. OBJETIVOS: Realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre a evolução dos conceitos de transtorno de humor e personalidade sob uma perspectiva histórica, focando em publicações relacionadas ao diagnóstico. MÉTODO: Revisão compreensiva da literatura utilizando o banco de dados MEDLINE (1990-2007). RESULTADOS: Ao contrário do conceito de transtorno de humor, que se apresenta estável e relativamente sem modificações desde suas primeiras descrições, o conceito de transtorno de personalidade mostra considerável variação ao longo dos diferentes achados de literatura. Assim, ambos os grupos de transtornos têm sido conceituados tanto categorial como dimensionalmente. Esta última abordagem pode ser, em parte, responsável pelas dificuldades algumas vezes encontradas no diagnóstico diferencial desses transtornos. CONCLUSÃO: O diagnóstico diferencial entre transtornos de humor e personalidade ainda representa um sério problema na prática clínica e não pode ser completamente esclarecido com base nas evidências disponíveis. O melhor entendimento da base fisiopatológica desses transtornos, bem como a identificação mais precisa de seus marcadores biológicos, pode ajudar a redefinir seus conceitos e seus status nosológicos atuais.

BACKGROUND: The concepts of mood and personality disorders have faced countless changes over the last decades. Historically, these concepts have been built in parallel, that is, mood and personality disorders have been considered as independent disorders with respect to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Recently, however, new proposes on the nosological conceptualization of these disorders have raised the question of a possible overlap between these nosological entities, making the differential diagnosis between these disorders difficult at times. OBJECTIVES: To carry out a literature review on the evolution of mood and personality disorders concepts under a historical perspective, focusing on diagnostic-related issues. METHOD: A comprehensive MEDLINE literature search (1990-2007) was conducted. RESULTS: Contrarily to the concept of mood disorder, which seems to be stable and relatively unchanged since its first description, the concept of personality disorder shows considerable variation over the different literature findings. Thus, both groups of disorders have been conceptualized not only in a categorical point of view but also according to a dimensional approach. The last one may be at least partially accountable for the difficulties sometimes observed in the differential diagnosis of these disorders. DISCUSSION: The differential diagnosis between mood and personality disorders may still represent a serious problem in clinical settings, and can not be completely clarified in light of available evidence. A better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of these disorders, as well as the more accurate identification of their biological markers can help redefining their concepts and their nosological current status.

Relationship between diversity of hepatitis C quasispecies and histological severity of liver disease

The aim of this work to assess in the diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies is related to histological severity and duration of infection in a cohort of untreated patients with an estimated onset of the disease. A total of 27 patients with diagnosis of chronic liver disease and history of blood transfusion (n = 16) or intravenous drug use (IDU) (n = 11) were included. All were anti-HCV positive and had detectable serum drug injection. Patients who consumed drugs for more than 2 years, or were coinfected with HBV or HIV were excluded. History of alcohol intake (> 80 g/day), ALT level and age at infection were recorded. Histological assessment of grading and staging was performed according to knodell score. The quasispecies diversity was investigated by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) target to HVR-E2 region and SSCP pattern was evaluated as a single or multiple bands. The number of quasispecies did not correlate with estimated duration of the disease. Patients who acquired hepatitis C by blood transfusion did not differ in number of bands from patients who were IDU. There was no correlation between the heterogeneity of HCV quasispecies and age, serum ALT, Knodell score, HAI and fibrosis. In clonclusion the quasiespecies diversity of E2 had no correlation with grade and stage of chronic HCV infection and the presence of quasispecies was independent of the duration of the disease.

In vivo down regulation of HIV replication after hepatitis C superinfection

There are increasing molecular and clinical evidences that the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can be modified by coinfection with other viruses. The objective was to investigate the viral interaction between HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) after HCV superinfection. A 16 year-old pregnant woman was evaluated because of icteric acute hepatitis. Admission laboratory tests showed the following results: ALT 877 IU/L; AST 1822 1822 IU/L; bilirubin 6.79 mg/dl. Diagnosis of acute HCV was based on detection of serum HCV RNA by PCR and anti-HCV seroconversion. ELISA for anti HIV testing was positive and confirmed by western blot. Serum markers for other viruses were negative. The patient was followed during 19 months; serum samples were taken monthly during this period for detection of plasma HIV and HCV RNA. Levels of plasma HIV-RNA were positive in all samples ttested before and after the onset of acute hepatitis C. Six months later and a for two month period, and 13 months later for a period of one month HIV viremia was undetectable; then HIV-RNA in plasma was detectable again. In conclusion, HCV superinfection may have temporarily interfered with HIV replication in our patient. The following observations support our hypothesis: it has been demonstrated that HIV-1 replication is suppressed by HCV core protein which has transcriptional regulation properties of several viral and cellular promoters. Clinical implications of this event are not generally known and the interaction between these two viruses in dual infections is worth considering.

Magnesio, el ion olvidado: prevalencia de hipomagnesemia en la UCI / Magnesium, the forgotten ion: prevalence of hypomagnesemia in the ICU

Objetivo. Con la finalidad de conocer la deficiencia de magnesio (Mg) en el paciente crítico a su ingreso a la unidad de cuidados intensivos y su relación con la mortalidad, revisamos 90 enfermos mediante un estudio descriptivo transversal y prospectivo. Material y métodos. La concentración de magnesio sérico y otros estudios de laboratorio se analizaron haciendo uso de la escala APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health), para determinar la gravedad del padecimiento. Los pacientes se dividieron de acuerdo con la concentración de magnesio sérico; se comparó la mortalidad entre grupos. Para la validación estadística se usaron t de Student, chi cuadrada, sensibilidad y especificidad. Resultados. Treinta y nueve pacientes (43 por ciento) fueron normomagnesémicos; 41 (46 por ciento) hipomagnesémicos y 10 (10 por ciento) hipermagnesémicos. No hubo significancia estadística (p<0.5) entre las concentraciones de magnesio y pH, sodio y creatinina; la escala APACHE II fue similar en ambos grupos; la sensibilidad (45 por ciento) y especificidad (49 por ciento) mostraron al magnesio como un pobre predictor de mortalidad. Conclusión. La hipomagnesemia es frecuente en el paciente crítico; su hallazgo debe alertar al médico para iniciar tratamiento correctivo

Edema pulmonar: Una complicación del empleo de terbutalina como tratamiento tocolítico / Plmonary edema: a complication in the use of terbutaline as a tocolytic therapy

Los agentes tocolíticos han demostrado tener una variedad de efectos indeseables. Los betamiméticos principalmente conllevan riesgo para edema pulmonar en la madre. Se reporta una paciente en quien se presentó edema pulmonar agudo 24 horas después de tratamiento con terbutalina por vía intravenosa. La paciente presentaba estenosis mitral que no había sido reconocida. El mecanismo por el cual el edema pulmonar se desarrolla en la mujer embarazada es desconocido, siendo más comúnmente multifactorial. Las medidas para disminuir el riesgo de edema pulmonar deben incluir medición estricta de ingresos y egresos de líquidos, evitar esteroides con alto poder mineralcorticoide y frecuentes determinaciones de electrólitos séricos y hematócrito