Ingesta alimentaria y estado nutricional de pacientes con enfermedad de chagas / Dietary intake and nutritional status of patients with Chagas disease

La enfermedad de Chagas es una infección parasitaria que afecta a 17 millones de personas en Latinoamérica. Es aún desconocida la real influencia del efecto del estado nutricional y la ingesta alimentaria sobre la evolución de la enfermedad hacia la miocardiopatía chagásica crónica, así como los factores de riesgo cardiovascular que pueden influir en la evolución de la patología. Con el objetivo de caracterizar la ingesta alimentaria y determinar el estado nutricional de las personas con enfermedad de Chagas, se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal de una muestra de pacientes atendidos en el servicio de cardiología del Hospital Centenario de Rosario. Se recolectaron datos sobre las características generales de la muestra, se realizaron mediciones antropométricas y se entrevistó sobre el consumo de alimentos a través de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo y un atlas fotográfico. Se reclutaron 113 paciente, de los cuales el 70% de los hombres y el 90 % de las mujeres presentaban sobrepeso u obesidad. Además el 78.9% de las mujeres y el 27% de los hombres, presento un Índice cintura/cadera de riesgo cardiovascular. En el análisis de la ingesta de macronutrientes se observa que se superan las recomendaciones del aporte de lípidos. Al analizar la ingesta de alimentos por grupos se encontró que los hombres consumen más carne vacuna magra, fiambres y embutidos, carne de cerdo y bebidas alcohólicas, en cambio las mujeres ingieren más lácteos enteros y bebidas azucaradas. Esta muestra urbana de pacientes con enfermedad de Chagas, presenta un perfil nutricional similar al de la población general, y el consumo alimentario se encuentra influenciado por la vida en las grandes ciudades(AU)

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection that affects 17 million people in Latin America. The real influence of nutritional status and food intake effect over the course of the disease to chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy is still unknown. Furthermore, some cardiovascular risk factors might influence the evolution of the disease. A cross-sectional study of a sample of patients with Chagas disease attending the Cardiology Section of the Hospital Centenario of Rosario was carried out in order to characterize their food intake and nutritional status. Data on the general characteristics of the sample was collected; anthropometric measurements were performed and food consumption was investigated using a food frequency questionnaire and a n photographic atlas. One hundred and thirteen patients were enrolled; 70% of men and 90% of women were overweight or obese. In addition 78.9% of women and 27% of men presented a waist-hip ratio according to cardiovascular risk. When analyzing macronutrient intake, it was observed that lipid intake recommendations were exceeded. When the food intake groups were analyzed separately, it was found that men consume more lean beef, cold cuts, pork and alcoholic drinks, while women eat more whole dairy products and sugary drinks. This patients´ urban sample with Chagas disease, he presents a nutritional profile similar to that of the general population, and the food consumption is influenced by life in big cities(AU)

Medición del espesor miointimal carotídeo como predictor de riesgo de accidente isquémico transitorio / Carotid Intima - Media Thickness measurement as a risk predictor of transient ischemic attack Objectives

Objetivos. Determinar si el riesgo de accidente isquémico transitorio (AIT) es mayor en pacientes con valores anormales de espesor miointimal carotídeo (EMIC). Materiales y Métodos. Evaluación de 168 pacientes con y sin AIT estudiados con ecografías de vasos de cuello, midiendo EMIC. Diseño de casos y controles apareados por distintas variables. Análisis estadístico: variables continuas (media ± DS), comparadas mediante prueba "t de Student" para muestras relacionadas. Variables categóricas (porcentajes) comparadas mediante pruebas de McNemar. Para evaluar EMIC como predictor de AIT, se ajustaron dos modelos de regresión logística condicional, considerando EMIC como variable continua y como variable binaria EMIC normal (<1 mm) vs. patológico (>1 mm). Se construyó una curva ROC para evaluar la capacidad discriminativa de EMIC, calculando la sensibilidad y especificidad para diferentes puntos de corte. Resultados. Valor de EMIC: casos 1,03 ± 0,31 mm (IC 95%: 0,97-1,10); controles 0,77 ± 0,27mm (IC 95%: 0,710,83); p<0,001. El riesgo de AIT fue casi 9 veces mayor en pacientes con EMIC patológico (OR=8,8; p<0,001). Con un 95% de confianza pudo afirmarse que por cada 0,05 mm de incremento en el EMIC, el riesgo de AIT aumentó entre 16 y 44%. Área bajo la curva ROC: 0,75 (IC 95%: 0,67-0,82). Conclusiones. Los valores anormales de EMIC están significativamente asociados a una mayor probabilidad de presentar AIT. En nuestra experiencia, el estudio de las paredes carotídeas con ecografía permitiría predecir enfermedad preclínica cerebrovascular.

To determine if the risk of transient ischemic attack (TIA) is higher in patients with abnormal values of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Materials and Methods. We evaluated 168 patients with and without TIA by ultrasound of the neck vessels, measuring CIMT. Case and controls were matched according to different variables. Statistical analysis: continuous variables (mean ± SD) were compared using the Student's t test for related samples. Categorical variables (percentages) were compared using the McNemar tests. In order to assess CIMT as a predictor of TIA, two models of conditional logistic regression were adjusted, considering CIMT both as a continuous variable and as a binary variable: normal CIMT (<1 mm) vs. pathologic (>1 mm). A ROC curve was performed to determine the discriminative capacity of CIMT, estimating the sensitivity and specificity for different cutoff values. Results. CIMT value: cases 1.03±0.31 mm (95% CI: 0.971.10); controls 0.77±0.27 mm (95% CI: 0.71-0.83); p<0.001. The risk of TIA was about 9 fold higher in patients with abnormal CIMT (OR=8.8; p<0.001). With 95 % confidence interval we were able to affirm that for each 0.05 mm increase in CIMT, the risk of TIA increased between 16 and 44%. Area under ROC curve: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.82). Conclusions. Abnormal values of CIMT are significantly associated with a higher probability of suffering a TIA. According to our experience, the carotid wall US examination would allow to predict cerebrovascular preclinical disease.

Hábitos alimentarios y riesgo de cancer de piel no melanoma / Diet and risk of non melanoma skin cancer

A case-control study was carried out in order to analyze the association between diet and risk of non melanoma skin cancer -basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with adjustments for demographic, anthropometric and phenotypic characteristics, sunburns history, skin cancerfamily history, sun-exposure history and skin sensitivity to sun exposure. A full-body skin examination was performed. Dietary data were obtained applying a standardized semi-quantitative questionnaire of consumption frequency. Cases (n=27; age: 65,5+15,1 years) and controls (n=37; age: 63,9+12,3 years) were attended at the same facilities. A decreased risk ofBCC and SCC tumors (Adjusted Odd Ratio=0.10; IC 95 percent= 0.02-0.63; p=0.01) was found for high intakes of green leafy vegetables (more than 40 gr/day). However, results obtained for fruits, cruciferous, vitamin A and carotene-rich vegetables and other vegetables were not statistically significant.

Mediante un diseño de casos y controles se evaluó si la dieta habitual modifica el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer de piel no melanoma: carcinomas basocelulares y carcinomas espinocelulares. En la consulta se consignaron datos demográficos, características fenotípicas y antropométricas, antecedentes de quemadura solar, antecedentes familiares de cáncer de piel y hábitos de exposición solar, y se realizó un exhaustivo examen físico cutáneo. La dieta fue evaluada por cuestionarios semi-cuantitativos de frecuencia de consumo. Se estudiaron 27 casos (edad: 65,5±15,1 años) y 37 controles (63,9±12,3) que asistieron a las mismas instituciones por otras patologías. La ingesta alta de vegetales de hojas verdes (más de 40 g/d) actuaría como factor protector (Odd Ratio ajustado= 0,10; IC 95 por ciento= 0,02-0,63; p=0,01), modificando el efecto negativo de la exposición solar. En cambio, los resultados obtenidos para frutas, crucíferas, vegetales ricos en vitamina A y carotenos y otros vegetales no resultaron estadísticamente significativos.

Evolución de las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer de mama en Rosario, Argentina. Asociación con factores socioeconómicos / Mortality rate trends for breast cancer in Rosario, Argentina. Association with socioeconomic factors

This report is based on data from death certificates of all women whose cause of death was breast cancer, residents in Rosario City, during two 5-year-periods: 1977-81 and 1988-92, in order to know these rates evolution. Deaths, which were allocated to the last residence of the decedents, were aggregated into the 22 census areas of the city. Age-standardized mortality rates (SMR) by area were correlated with socioeconomic variables. The SMR for the whole city was not different in the two studied periods: 38000 and 36000, respectively. However, while small changes were found in the high socioeconomic areas, important increments were found in the poorest ones, mainly in postmenopausal women. Consequently, geographic correlations also changed between the two studied periods. While in the first period negative correlations were found with variables considered as socioenvironmental pointers, such as fertility and infant mortality rates, these associations were positive in the last one.

Prevalencia del habito de fumar en jóvenes y sus padres: asociaciones relevantes con educacion y ocupación / Prevalence of smoking in young people and their parents: important associations with education and occupation

Com o objetivo de conhecer a prevalência de hábito de fumar cigarros entre os jovens, estudaram-se amostras aleatórias de homens de 18 anos e de estudantes universitários de medicina e de economia, que responderam um questionário sobre o hábito, escolaridade e ocupaçäo, próprios e de seus pais. A prevalência do hábito de fumar foi maior nos homens de ambas as geraçöes, nos estudantes de medicina, que nos de economia, e nos pais com educaçäo univiersitária. Achou-se associaçäo entre o hábito dos jovens representativos da populaçäo geral (p<0,001), mas näo entre o dos progenitores e de seus filhos universitários. Visto a participaçäo fundamental que os universitários, em especial os médicos, deveriam ter na comunidade, surge a necessidade de programas educativos, näo só nas escolas mas também nas universidades