Concentraciones de Vitamina D en niños y adolescentes con enfermedad celíaca / Vitamin D concentrations in children and adolescents with celiac disease

INTRODUCCIÓN: En celíacos la ingesta de gluten provoca una lesión inflamatoria de origen autoinmune que causa un daño progresivo de las vellosidades del intestino delgado, comprometiendo la absorción de nutrientes y posible daño a otros órganos. OBJETIVO: Determinar las concentraciones plasmáticas de 25-hidroxivitamina D (25OHD) en niños y adolescentes chilenos con enfermedad celíaca. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Participaron 16 pacientes pediátricos de ambos sexos, diagnosticados con enfermedad celíaca. Se determinó antecedentes ge nerales, estado nutricional y parámetros bioquímicos. Las concentraciones plasmáticas de 25OHD se clasificaron como suficientes cuando estaban entre 30-100 ng/ml, insuficiente (20-29 ng/ml) y deficiente (< 20 ng/ml). RESULTADOS: La edad de los pacientes estaba comprendida entre 5 y 18 edad (edad: 11 ± 4 años). De los participantes 4 de 16 presentaron concentraciones normales de 25OHD, 8 insuficiente y 1 deficiente. Según IMC, 11 tenían estado nutricional normal, 4 sobrepeso y 1 obesidad. El diagnóstico de la talla mostró 7 de 16 casos de talla baja y normal baja. Al relacionar las concentraciones de 25OHD con estado nutricional, los parámetros deficientes e insuficientes se concentraron en 9 pacientes con estado nutricional normal, 2 con sobrepeso y 1 con obesidad. Se realizaron asociaciones entre las concentraciones de 25OHD y todas las variables estudiadas y no se encontró ninguna asociación significativa. CONCLUSIÓN: Se encontró una alta frecuencia de insuficiencia y deficiencia de 25OHD en el grupo de niños y adolescentes chilenos con enfermedad celíaca.

INTRODUCTION: In children with celiac disease, gluten intake causes an autoimmune, inflammatory and progressive lesion of the small intestine villi, compromising the absorption of nutrients and pos sible damage to others organs. OBJECTIVE: To determine plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in Chilean child and adolescents with celiac disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in which 16 pediatric patients of both genders diagnosed with celiac disease participated. General background, nutritional status and biochemical parameters were determined. Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were classified as sufficient between 30-100 ng/ ml, insufficient between 20-30 ng/ml and deficient as <20 ng/ml. RESULTS: The age of the patients was between 5 and 18 years (age: 11 ± 4 years). Four out of 16 participants had normal 25(OH)D concentrations, eight had insufficient concentrations and one had deficient concentrations. Accor ding to BMI, 11 patients had normal nutritional status, four were overweight and one was obese. In relation to height, seven out of 16 cases presented short stature and normal-low height. Associating 25(OH)D concentrations to nutritional status, nine patients with normal nutritional status, two with overweight and one with obesity presented deficient and insufficient parameters. No significant asso ciations were found between 25(OH)D concentrations and all studied variables. CONCLUSION: A high frequency of insufficiency and deficiency of 25(OH)D was found in the group of Chilean children and adolescents with celiac disease.

Aspectos generales de la homeopatía: [revisión] / General aspects of homeopathy: [revision]

Homeopathic medicine is a type of therapy that appeared in Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. At the present time, it is widely accepted in developed countries as a form of alternative medicine. In Chile, health regulation includes homeopathy as pharmaceutical producís and homeopathy is also considered a form of complementary medicine, that is well accepted by the public. The scientific rationale of homeopathy is based on an empine type of thought that goes from the general to the particular. The symptoms that are valued are those that are particular to each sick individual. It uses diluted solutions of plants, minerals, animáis and even venoms. There are basically two hypotheses to explain its mechanisms ofaction: The "immunological memory" and the "memory of water" or the transmission of electromagnetic information of the water. There still is needed to perform new studies to scientifically assess homeopathy and its usefulness, as an accepted alternative therapy.

Efectos pleiotrópicos de las estatinas: [revisión] / Pleiotropic effects of statins: [review]

Results of numerous epidemiologic studies indicate that elevated serum cholesterol, especially the LDL fraction, is a major cause of coronary heart disease (CHD). Epidemiologic and angiographic evidence from primary and secondary prevention studies involving several HMG-CoA reducíase inhibitors (statins) indicate that decreasing elevated serum cholesterol concentration (specifically LDL-cholesterol) can reduce the incidence of CHD and/or progression of atherosclerosis and results in a decrease in associated morbidity and mortality. It has been estimated that each 1 percent reduction in LDL-cholesterol concentration may result in a 1 percent decrease in the incidence of CHD. Furthermore, an analysis of pooled data from primary and secondary prevention studies found that treatment with a statin for a median duration of 5.4 years was associated with a 31 percent and 21 percent reduction in the risk of major coronary events and total mortality, respectively. This paper deals with the pharmacology of statins, specially with the pleiotropic effects ofthese drugs.

Relación entre niveles de carbamazepina en saliva y plasma: Estudio piloto / Saliva and plasma levels of carbamazepine have a poor correlation: a pilot study

Abstract: Carbamazepine is one of the most commonly used anticonvulsants for the treatment of epilepsy and its plasma concentrations must be monitored periodically to obtain a useful and safe clinical effect. There is not a good relationship between the dose of the carbamazepine and their effects in humans, but the effects of this drug have been well correlated with its plasma levels. Aim: To measure the correlation between plasma and saliva levels of carbamazepine in children with epilepsy. Material and Methods: Saliva and plasma levels of carbamazepine were measured by using instrumental planar chromatography in 11 epileptic children aged 8 to 15 years treated with the drug for at least six months. Results: The mean saliva/plasma ratio was 0.18±0.05 and the mean of carbamazepine concentration in saliva, expressed as a percentage of concentrations in plasma, was 17.97±5.40. There was a poor linear correlation (r =0.37) between the concentrations of carbamazepine in both fluids. Conclusions: In this group of epileptic children the correlation between saliva and plasma carbamazepine levels was weak.

Características del uso de Sildenafil en una muestra de pacientes a nivel de farmacias comunitarias de Concepción, Chile / Features of subjects purchasing Sildenafil at community pharmacies in Concepción, Chile

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a public health problem. Millions of men worldwide experience this condition, affecting their quality of life. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, is the treatment of choice for erectile dysfunction. Aim: To study the characteristics of Sildenafil use among costumers of community pharmacies in Concepcion Chile. Material and methods: A structured interview about Sildenafil use was applied to subjects purchasing the drug in community pharmacies and that consented to participate. Results: One hundred thirty eight males were studied. Forty six percent of patients were fifty years old or older. Most (47.1%) used Sildenafil for one year or more and 60.5% had no adverse events. Among those experiencing side effects, headache was experienced by 38.9%, flushing by 16.6% and gastrointestinal effects by 16.7%. Ninety percent of patients had a good evaluation of the drug in terms of benefits and tolerance. Thirty two percent of the subjects, had diseases associated to erectile dysfunction. Among these, 45% had diabetes mellitus, 29.5% had hypertension, and 18.2% had prostatic diseases. In 54% of cases, the drug was prescribed by a physician. Twenty two percent of patients experienced changes in the effect of the drug when it was simultaneously used with other drugs or meals. Thirty four percent of patients used other drugs. Among these, 43.3% were using antihypertensives, and 26.7% were using antidiabetic drugs. Conclusions: Considering the elevated age and the number of associated disease of patients using Sildenafil, the use of the drug under medical prescription must be emphasized to avoid untoward effects.

Estudio de la estabilidad química de comprimidos de ácido acetilsalicílico mediante un control de estanterías en farmacias de Concepción, Chile / Chemical stability of acetylsalicylic acid tablets during storage in pharmacies at Concepción, Chile

Background: The chemical stability of a pharmaceutical product depends, among other factors, on environmental factors during transport, storage and manipulation of the product. Aim: To study the chemical stability of acetylsalicylic acid (AAS) tablets during ten months of storage in five pharmacies of Concepci-n, Chile. Material and methods: Tablets were randomly collected at the beginning of the study and at the third, sixth and tenth month. Quantitative analyses of AAS tablets was carried out by instrumental thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Results: AAS in tablets was between 99 and 109 percent at the beginning of the study, between 76 and 110 percent at three months, between 71 percent and 112 percent at six months and between 86 and 110 percent at ten months of storage. Conclusions: There was a progressive decrease in the content of acetylsalicylic acid in tables during storage, but it remained between the limits accepted by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) (90-110 percent)