Comparison of hematocrit and platelet levels obtained from peripheral venous catheter vs venipuncture in patients admitted at Philippine Children’s Medical Center for dengue fever

OBJECTIVES@#To determine the statistical agreement between hematocrit and platelet counts obtained via peripheral venous catheters and venous puncture. It also aims to compare the success rate of obtaining samples via PVC and the hemolysis rate between different gauges of IV catheter.@*DESIGN@#Prospective Cross-sectional Study.@*PARTICIPANTS@#Clinically stable patients admitted for dengue aged 1 to 18 years old and are eligible to be enrolled in the study. Twenty-two patients were enrolled and completed the study.@*INTERVENTION@#Paired samples of venous blood collection using venipuncture and PVC on the contralateral arm was done during daily serial CBC monitoring. Hematocrit and platelet values between the two methods were analyzed using Bland-Altman Analysis.@*MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES@#Statistical agreement of platelet and hematocrit levels obtained using PVC and Venipuncture.@*RESULTS@#We had 22 patients and a total of 67 paired samples. Out of the 67 samples submitted, two samples each from PVC (2.9%) and venipuncture (2.9%) were clotted. There was100% success rate in both methods at the first attempt of collection. None on the samples had hemolysis. On the average, hematocrit measurements from venipuncture are increased by 1.17 (units) compared to PVC, while platelet measurements from PVC are increased by 4.83 (units) compared to venipuncture. There is no significant difference in both platelet count and hematocrit between the two methods, demonstrating agreement between the two methods.@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is statistical agreement between samples drawn from PVC and venipuncture in terms of hematocrit and platelet counts in dengue pediatric patients. Success rate and hemolysis rates between the two methods are the same. PVC is an acceptable alternative to venipuncture.

El nuevo DSM-V o Kraepelin antes de su madurez: el oxímoron del "Trastorno esquizoafectivo" / [DSM-5: a young Kraepelin and the \"schizoaffective disorder\" oxymoron].

The last several years have witnessed the accumulation of evidence suggesting that the Kraepelinian binary system of classification of the psychoses does not capture their true nature, as Kraepelin himself had cautioned in his late years. The long-awaited new edition of the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual will in all probability incorporate symptom dimensions and suppress schizophrenia subtypes. However, the initial Kraepelinian conceptualization of the psychoses is maintained, along with the diagnostic category that epitomizes its obsolescence: schizoaffective disorder. We hereby make a brief critical appraisal of this fact, pointing out how the current classification system might be an obstacle to much-needed advances in this knowledge field.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Blutaparon portulacoides ethanolic extract against the inflammatory reaction induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom and isolated myotoxins BthTX-I and II

This article reports the anti-inflammatory effect of Blutaparon portulacoides (B. portulacoides), specifically the ethanolic extract of its aerial parts, on the edema formation and leukocyte influx caused by Bothrops jararacussu (B. jararacussu) snake venom and Bothropstoxin-I and II (BthTX-I and II) isolated from this venom as an alternative treatment for Bothrops snakebites. The anti-inflammatory effect of B. portulacoides ethanolic extract was compared with an animal group pretreated with dexamethasone. B. portulacoides ethanolic extract significantly inhibited paw edema induced by B. jararacussu venom and by BthTX-I and II. Also, results demonstrated that the extract caused a reduction of the leukocyte influx induced by BthTX-I. However, the extract was not capable of inhibiting the leukocyte influx induced by the venom and by BthTX-II. In conclusion, these results suggest that the ethanolic extract of this plant possess components able to inhibit or inactivate toxins present in B. jararacussu venom, including its myotoxins, responsible for the edema formation. However, the leukocyte migration caused by the venom and BthTX-II was not inhibited by the plant, probably due to the different mechanisms involved in the edema formation and leukocyte influx. This is the first report of B. portulacoides extract as anti-inflammatory against snake venoms and isolated toxins.(AU)

Teste de esforço cardiopulmonar durante estimulaçäo colinérgica com dose única de piridostigmina em indivíduos saudáveis / Exercise stress testing in healthy subjects during cholinergic stimulation after a single dose of pyridostigmine

OBJETIVE: The evaluation, by exercise stress testing, of the cardiorespiratory effects of pyridostigmine (PYR), a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled comparison of hemodynamic and ventilation variables of 10 healthy subjects who underwent three exercise stress tests (the first for adaptation and determination of tolerance to exercise, the other two after administration of placebo or 45mg of PYR). RESULTS: Heart rate at rest was: 68 + or - 3 vs 68 + or - 3bpm before and after placebo, respectively (P=0.38); 70 + or - 2 vs 59 + or - 2bpm, before and after pyridostigmine, respectively (P<0.01). During exercise, relative to placebo: a significantly lower heart rate after PYR at, respectively, 20 per cent (P=0.02), 40 per cent (P=0.03), 80 per cent (P=0.05) and 100 per cent (P=0.02) of peak effort was observed. No significant differences were observed in arterial blood pressure, oxygen consumption at submaximal and maximal effort, exercise duration, respiratory ratio, CO2 production, ventilation threshold, minute ventilation, and oxygen pulse. CONCLUSION: Pyridostigmine, at a dose of 45mg, decreases heart rate at rest and during exercise, with minimal side effects and without interfering with exercise tolerance and ventilation variables.

Depresión y enfermedad cardiovascular / Depression and cardiovascular disease

El presente estudio revisa las interacciones entre enfermedad cardiovascular y depresión. En pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular conocida, la depresión empeora el pronóstico, siendo esto especialmente evidente en sobrevivientes de infarto de miocardio. Los individuos que desarrollan depresión parecen asimismo tener un riesgo aumentado de desarrollo ulterior de enfermedad cardiovascular. Se ofrece una hipótesis que vincula ambos cuadros y se revisan estrategias de manejo de la depresión en pacientes cardiológicos

Validez del diagnóstico clínico de rinitis alérgica / Validity of the clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

Las rinitis alérgicas son entidades frecuentemente diagnosticadas en la consulta diaria del otorrinolaringólogo, en base a los signos y síntomas de los pacientes. Sin embargo, para confirmar dicho diagnóstico se considera necesario realizar pruebas de hipersensibilidad. El presente estudio tiene por fin determinar si es válido el diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica basado exclusivamente en los signos y síntomas mas frecuentes que presentan pacientes con etiología alérgica comprobada. Los resultados del estudio señalaron que el diagnóstico clínico de rinitis alérgica tiene una sensibilidad muy alta pero una especificidad muy baja, ocasionando problemas que se sobre diagnostique esta enfermedad si no se usan las técnicas de laboratorio apropiadas

Some neurovegetative correlates of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

In 57 patients with psicovegetative disorders and abnormal MMPI, abnormality in MMPI scales indicating hypochondriasis, hysteria, gender deviant, paranoia, psychastenia, schizophrenia, hypomania or introversion was accompanied by increased plasma catecholamine levels and/or responses to hypoglycemia or by an increased cardiovascular reactivity. A high depression scale was associated with lower plasma catecholamine levels. Blunted plasma growth hormone responses to hypoglycemia were found in abnormal hypomania scale, and augmented responses of plasma cortisol in abnormal hysteria or schizophrenia scales. Paranoia and hypomania traits correlated with absence of morning-evening differences in blood cortisol levels. Electrodermal responses compatible with increased sympathetic activity correlated with high hysteria, gender, paranoia, schizophrenia or hypomania MMPI scales. This study indicates that most psychopathological traits in MMPI are accompanied by humoral and/or electrophysiological signs of abnormality of the autonomic nervous system

Arsenicismo cronico en la provincia de Salta. / Chronic arsenicism in the province of Salta

Con el estudio realizado en la provincia de Salta, se revela en la Republica Argentina una nueva zona de aguas con alto contenido arsenical y enfermos con manifestaciones dermatologicas de intoxicacion arsenical cronica. Despues de un prolijo interrogatorio, detectamos seis pacientes (4 hombres y 2 mujeres), que contrajeron la enfermedad en territorio salteno