ABSTRACT
Background: Influenza is an acute respiratory disease responsible for several episodes of high mortality throughout human history. In 2009, Mexico experienced an atypical influenza outbreak caused by a mutant strain of the influenza A (H1N1) subtype, which generated significant mortality. The aim of this paper was to analyze the clinical and sociodemographic conditions of the first 1000 fatalities recorded during this outbreak. Methods: We conducted a study based on an analysis of the clinical files of patients positive for influenza A (H1N1) using Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) to conduct an analysis of deaths compared to deaths in the general population. Results: The majority of deaths occurred in patients aged 35-84 years (65.8%). Average time between symptom onset and death was 13.8 days, with an average of 7.8 days from time of hospitalization until death. Ca. 25% of deaths occurred in residents from Mexico City and from the nearby State of Mexico. In the majority of cases, we found that patients who died had a low educational and socioeconomic status along with co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome and its individual components, as well as respiratory illnesses. In 80% of cases, patients received mechanical ventilation, and a similar percentage received antiviral therapy (oseltamivir, zanamivir). Conclusions: The primary-care level was not utilized by patients who died from influenza. The higher prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases among deaths compared with the general population indicates that these groups of patients should be considered and prioritized in the event of future outbreaks.
ABSTRACT
Resumen La sepsis es un síndrome que continúa siendo una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad entre los pacientes críticamente enfermos. Pese al desarrollo de la investigación básica dedicada al tema y los numerosos ensayos clínicos, no se han logrado avances notables en el desarrollo de terapias vanguardistas y eficaces para su manejo. Los trastornos fisiológicos inducidos por la sepsis son en gran parte debidos a la respuesta del huésped a los microorganismos invasores en contraste con los efectos directos del propio microorganismo. La sepsis, entendida como la respuesta inflamatoria sistémica a la infección, está marcada por la producción desregulada de citocinas proinflamatorias. Estos mediadores conducen de manera colectiva a la insuficiencia orgánica múltiple, y en última instancia, a la muerte. Es en este sentido que el papel de la inflamación en la fisiopatogenia de la sepsis, aunque todavía no entendida completamente, resulta claramente crítico. Esta revisión proporciona una perspectiva de las diversas interacciones moleculares que ocurren durante la sepsis, con el intento de poder comprender la naturaleza de la respuesta desregulada del sistema inmunitario durante ésta.
Abstract Sepsis continues to be a primary cause of high mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients. Despite constant growth in dedicated basic investigation and numerous clinical studies, no remarkable developments have been made for effective and innovative therapies. The physiologic disorders induced by sepsis are primarily due to the overwhelming immune response to invading pathogens rather than the direct effects caused by the pathogen. Sepsis, understood as the systemic inflammatory response to infection is characterized by the unregulated production of proinflammatory cytokines. These mediators collectively lead to multiple organ failure and eventually to death. In this context, the role of inflammation in the physiopathology of sepsis, though not fully understood, is of critical importance. This review provides a perspective of the most current understandings of the molecular mechanisms during sepsis, which may provide an attempt to understand the nature of this unregulated response of the immune systems during sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo: Conocer la frecuencia de las lesiones de la vesícula biliar, incluyendo al cáncer in situ , mediante el estudio definitivo de anatomía patológica en una serie clínica de pacientes con diagnóstico preoperatorio benigno crónico. Sede: Hospital General de México. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, observacional y transversal. Análisis estadístico: Porcentajes como medida de resumen para variables cualitativas. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo y observacional que incluyó a 200 pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía, tanto por vía abierta como laparoscópica, en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital General de México, en el periodo de junio de 1991 a junio de 1995. Todos los pacientes fueron intervenidos por el mismo grupo de cirujanos. Se analizó la distribución por sexo, edad, antecedentes heredofamiliares, antecedentes personales, evolución de la sintomatología, datos clínicos, estudios ultrasonográficos, tipo de cirugía, y hallazgos de anatomía patológica. Resultados: En nuestra serie clínica de 200 pacientes, de acuerdo a los resultados del estudio histopatológico, se encontró a dos pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma de vesícula in situ más colelitiasis, ambas fueron mujeres. Conclusión: La frecuencia del carcinoma in situ de vesícula biliar en esta serie fue del 1%.
Objective: To know the frequency of gallbladder injuries, including in situ cancer, by means of a definitive pathological anatomy study, in a clinical series of patients with a benign chronic preoperative diagnosis. Setting: General Hospital of Mexico (Third Level Health Care Center). Design: Retrospective, descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study. Statistical analysis: Percentages as summary measure for qualitative variables. Patients and methods: A retrospective and observational study was perfomed that included 200 patients subjected to cholecystectomy, through open surgery or laparoscopically, at the General Surgery Unit of the General Hospital of Mexico from June 1991 to June 1995. All patients were operated by the same surgical team. We analyzed the distribution according to gender, age, familial antecedents, personal antecedents, evolution of symptomatology, clinical data, ultrasound studies, type of surgery, and pathological anatomy findings. Results: In our clinical series of 200 patients, according to the histopathological results there were two patients with diagnosis of in situ gallbladder carcinoma plus cholelithiasis; both were women. Conclusion: Frequency of in situ gallbladder carcinoma in this series was of 1%.
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Objetivo: Proporcionar material didáctico útil al estudiante y al médico general para conocer la técnica de venodisección en un modelo biológico no vivo. Sede: Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM. Diseño: Modelo de enseñanza. Material y método: Se proporcionan indicaciones, contraindicaciones, características anatómicas y técnica a considerar. Empleamos pata de cerdo como modelo didáctico por ser accesible en costos, disponibilidad y un modelo fácilmente reproducible por los alumnos. Por su semejanza con los eventos clínicos que suceden en los pacientes a nivel hospitalario, consideramos que representa un buen método de enseñanza de habilidades quirúrgicas en el pregrado. Conclusión: El actual modelo biológico es una opción viable y representativa de la venodisección; el alumno aprende a identificar al paciente que requiere de este procedimiento; una vez identificado, podrá realizar el procedimiento de manera adecuada evitando, en la medida de lo posible, cualquier tipo de complicación.
Objective: To provide teaching material useful for the medical student and the general physician to learn the venous cutdown technique in a non-live biological model. Setting: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, UNAM. Design: Teaching model. Material and method: Indications, contraindication, anatomical characteristics and technique to be considered will be provided. We use a pig foot as didactic model because it is accessible in terms of costs, availability, and can be reproduced easily by students. Due to its similarity with clinical events occurring in patients at the hospital level, we consider that it represents a good teaching method of surgical skills at the undergraduate level. Conclusion: The current biological model is a viable option and representative of venous cutdown. The student learns to identify the patient that requires this procedure, once identified he will be able to perform the procedure adequately avoiding, as much as possible, any type of complication.