Closed-form expressions to Gompertz-Makeham life expectancies: a historical note / Expressões de forma fechada para as expectativas de vida de Gompertz-Makeham: uma nota histórica / Expresiones de forma cerrada a las esperanzas de vida de Gompertz-Makeham: una nota histórica

Abstract Results well known in the actuarial community about closed-form expressions to Gompertz and Gompertz-Makeham life expectancies for a person aged x are still being independently rediscovered to this day. This note seeks to acknowledge previous results about closed-form expressions to Gompertz-Makeham life expectancies, especially in the actuarial science field, hoping to stimulate interdisciplinarity and provide the background for further developments, especially since the derivation of closed-form expressions for life expectancy (and annuities) based on particular mortality laws are matters of interest for multiple fields such as actuarial science, biology, demography, statistics among others.

Resumo Resultados bem conhecidos pela comunidade atuarial sobre expressões de forma fechada para esperança de vida de Gompertz e Gompertz-Makeham para uma pessoa de idade x ainda estão sendo redescobertos de forma independente nos dias atuais. Esta nota visa fornecer algum reconhecimento aos resultados anteriores sobre expressões de forma fechada para expectativa de vida de Gompertz e Gompertz-Makeham, especialmente no campo das ciências atuariais, na esperança de estimular a interdisciplinaridade e fornecer o pano de fundo para novos desenvolvimentos, em especial porque a derivação de expressões de forma fechadas para expectativa de vida (e anuidades) com base em leis de mortalidade despertam o interesse de várias áreas, como ciências atuariais, biologia, demografia, estatística, entre outras.

Resumen Los resultados bien conocidos por la comunidad actuarial sobre las expresiones de forma cerrada de las esperanzas de vida de Gompertz y Gompertz-Makeham para una persona de edad x todavía se están redescubriendo de forma independiente en la actualidad. Esta nota pretende reconocer algunos resultados anteriores sobre expresiones cerradas para la esperanza de vida de Gompertz y Gompertz-Makeham, en especial en el campo de las ciencias actuariales, con la esperanza de fomentar la interdisciplinariedad y proporcionar el telón de fondo para futuros desarrollos, sobre todo desde que la derivación de expresiones cerradas para la esperanza de vida (y anualidades) basado en leyes de mortalidad despertó el interés de varias áreas, como las ciencias actuariales, biología, demografía, estadística, entre otras.

Análise da mortalidade perinatal e seus fatores associados / Análisis de la mortalidad perinatal y sus factores asociados / Analysis of perinatal mortality and its associated factors

Objetivo analisar a Mortalidade Perinatal e seus fatores associados no estado do Paraná, Brasil. Método pesquisa transversal analítica, com dados secundários do Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos e Mortalidade. Foi calculada a Taxa de Mortalidade Perinatal, entre 2006 e 2014, e analisadas as variáveis independentes relativas aos óbitos com o teste qui-quadrado . Resultados a mortalidade perinatal apresentou redução de 11,7%, mantendo a predominância dos óbitos fetais em relação aos neonatais precoces, bem como significância em relação à escolaridade materna (p=0,016) e o baixo peso (p=0,000). Conclusão identificou-se que a Taxa de Mortalidade Perinatal sofreu redução contínua e lenta no Paraná, durante nove anos.

Objetivo analizar la Mortalidad Perinatal y sus factores asociados en el estado de Paraná, Brasil. Método Investigación transversal analítica, con datos secundarios del Sistema de Información sobre Nacidos Vivos y Mortalidad. Se calculó la Tasa de Mortalidad Perinatal, entre 2006 y 2014, y se analizaron las variables independientes relativas a los óbitos con la prueba Chi-cuadrado . Resultados la mortalidad perinatal presentó reducción de 11,7%, manteniendo la predominancia de los óbitos fetales en relación a los neonatales precoces, así como la significancia en relación a la escolaridad materna (p=0,016) y al bajo peso (p=0,000). Conclusión se identificó que la Tasa de Mortalidad Perinatal ha sufrido reducción continua y lenta en Paraná, durante nueve años.

Objective to analyze Perinatal Mortality and its associated factors in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Method cross-sectional analytical research, using secondary data from the Information System on Live Births and Mortality. The Perinatal Mortality Rate was calculated between 2006 and 2014 and analyzed the independent variables related to deaths with the chi-square test. Results Perinatal Mortality decreased by 11.7%, maintaining the predominance of fetal deaths in relation to early neonates, as well as significance in relation to maternal schooling (p=0.016) and low weight (p=0.000). Conclusion it was identified that the Perinatal Mortality Rate suffered a continuous and slow reduction during the period of nine years in Paraná.

Comparative study of electrical stimulation of the heart with vdd and ddd pacemakers as to the evolution to atrial fibrillation

Abstract Introduction: The pacemaker implantation VDD is considered simpler, faster, less expensive and causes fewer complications compared to DDD. However, the VDD pacemaker has not been widely used in many centers, perhaps for fear of dysfunction of the sinus node and the reduction of atrial sensitivity by the pacemaker during follow-up after implantation. Objective: To compare patients with DDD and VDD pacemakers regarding the evolution of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and length of stay outside this postoperative arrhythmia. Methods: It was included 158 patients with dual chamber pacemakers, 48 DDD and 110 VDD. Follow-up period: between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2015. The mean follow-up of patients with DDD was 5.35 years and the VDD, 4.74 years. The percentage of each group (DDD and VDD) which evolved to AF during follow-up was assessed. Also, it was made an actuarial study with the respective curves indicating the time free from AF for each group. Patients were classified according to the diagnosis that led to pacemaker implantation and the degree of heart failure. Results: The percentage of patients who developed AF was higher in DDD group (10.42%) than in VDD group (6.36%), but without statistical significance. Patients with DDD and VDD remained free of AF for similar period. Conclusion: Considering the results, the VDD pacemaker continues to be a good option to the DDD for routine use in cases properly indicated.

Survie actuarielle comparée des malades atteints de cancer du sein et de l'estomac

Le cancer de l'estomac atteint un organe profondément situé, dont l'accessibilité n'est rendue possible que par l'endoscopie. Par contre le sein est un organe accessible à l'examen clinique mais chargé de symbolismes : féminité, maternité, sexualité. Cette différence dans l'apparence nous a conduits à en évaluer la survie globale à cinq ans, à partir des données du Registre des cancers de Brazzaville. Nous avons alors utilisé la méthode actuarielle pour construire les courbes de survie qui ont été comparées par la suite selon le test du log-rank. Ces différents calculs nous ont permis de constater l'absence de différence statistiquement significative entre les survies globales des malades atteints de ces cancers d'apparence si dissemblable

Minimally Invasive Stereotactical Radio-ablation of Adrenal Metastases as an Alternative to Surgery / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to study the clinical outcome for patients with metastases of the adrenal gland treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients were studied retrospectively. The dose prescription was 40 Gy in four fractions. Dosimetric analysis was performed using the dose volume histograms while clinical outcome was assessed using actuarial analysis with determination of the overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) rates. RESULTS: The planning objectives were met for all patients. With a median follow-up period of 7.6 months, at the last follow-up 42 patients (91.3%) were alive and four had died because of distant progression. The actuarial mean OS was 28.5±1.6 months, the median was not reached. One-year and 2-year OS were 87.6±6.1%. None of the risk factors was significant in univariate analysis. Actuarial mean LC was 14.6±1.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0 to 18.2) and median LC was 14.5±2.0 months (95% CI, 10.5 to 18.5). One-year and 2-year LC were 65.5±11.9% and 40.7±15.8%, respectively. A mild profile of toxicity was observed in the cohort of patients. Forty patients (86.9%) showed no complication (grade 0); two patients reported asthenia, six patients (13.1%) reported either pain, nausea, or vomiting. Of these six patients, five patients (10.9%) were scored as grade 1 toxicity while one patient (2.2%) was scored as grade 2. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment provided an adequate clinical response in the management of adrenal gland metastases.

Riesgo cardiovascular, una herramienta útil para la prevención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares / Cardiovascular risk, a useful tool for prevention of cardiovascular diseases

El riesgo cardiovascular se define como la probabilidad de padecer un evento cardiovascular en un determinado período. Mejorar la exactitud en la predicción del riesgo requiere la evaluación y el tratamiento de múltiples factores de riesgo cardiovascular, los que tienen un efecto sinérgico, más que aditivo, sobre el riesgo cardiovascular total. El cálculo utilizando métodos cuantitativos es más preciso que el obtenido con métodos cualitativos. La predicción del riesgo cardiovascular ha constituido, en los últimos años, la piedra angular en las guías clínicas de prevención cardiovascular, y deviene una herramienta útil del Médico de Familia para establecer prioridades en la atención primaria, mejorando la atención a los pacientes y eligiendo más eficazmente la terapéutica a seguir, con el objetivo de acercarnos más a la realidad multifactorial de las enfermedades cardiovasculares y a su prevención

The cardiovascular risk is defined like a probability of suffering a cardiovascular event in a determined period. To improve the accuracy in risk prediction requires the assessment and treatment of different cardiovascular risk factors, which have a synergistic effect more than additive on the total cardiovascular risk. The calculus using quantitative methods is more accurate than that obtained with qualitative methods. The prediction of cardiovascular risk has been in past years the cornerstone in clinical guidances of cardiovascular prevention and becomes an useful tool for Family Physician to establish priorities in the primary care, improving the patients care and selecting in a more effective way the therapy to be followed to bring closer more to multifactor reality of cardiovascular diseases and its prevention

Papilomavírus humano e prognóstico de tumores de cabeça e pescoço / Human papillomavirus and prognostic of head and neck cancer

Introdução. O Papilomavírus humano (HPV), particularmente o tipo 16, têm sido associado com risco e prognóstico de tumores de cabeça e pescoço. Contudo, o papel do DNA do HPV e resposta sorológica na sobrevida neste grupo de pacientes ainda não está claro. Objetivos. Avaliar o efeito do HPV (resposta sorológica e detecção do DNA no tecido tumoral) na sobrevida de pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço, considerando-se as distintas localizações anatômicas (cavidade oral, orofaringe, hipofaringe e laringe). Material e métodos. Coorte de 1.475 pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço, oriundos de dois estudos multicêntricos, diagnosticados entre novembro de 1998 e dezembro de 2008 e acompanhados até 30 de junho de 2009. Detecção de DNA do HPV no tecido tumoral foi feita pela técnica de PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) em tecido fresco e material parafinado. Resposta sorológica às proteínas do HPV foi determinada pela técnica Multiplex Luminex. Sobrevida global e específica pela doença foram calculadas pelo método atuarial (tábuas de vida). Curvas de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier e teste Log-rank para comparação de curvas de sobrevida foram calculados. Hazard ratio (HR) do efeito da infecção pelo HPV nos tumores de cabeça e pescoço e respectivo intervalo com 95 por cento de confiança (IC95 por cento ) foram calculados via modelo de regressão de Cox ajustado pelas variáveis: estudo de origem dos casos, sexo, idade, educação, consumo de tabaco e de álcool, estadiamento do tumor e tratamento, assim como hábitos sexuais para a subcoorte com esta informação. Resultados. Prevalência de DNA do HPV 16 no tecido tumoral foi de 6,7 por cento nos casos recentes (2003-2008) comparado com 1 por cento nos casos iniciais (1998-2002) para a subcoorte de São Paulo. Aumento da soropositividade para HPV 16 E7 nos casos do estudo mais recente (2003-2008) comparado com os casos do estudo inicial (1998-2002) resultou estatisticamente significante. Foi observada pobre concordância entre os resultados de sorologia e DNA do HPV.

Registry of Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School: first official solid organ and tissue transplantation report - 2008

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report a single center experience of organ and tissue transplantation INTRODUCTION: This is the first report of organ and tissue transplantation at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School. METHODS: We collected data from each type of organ transplantation from 2002 to 2007. The data collected were patient characteristics and actuarial survival Kaplan-Meier curves at 30 days, one year, and five years RESULTS: There were a total of 3,321 transplants at our institution and the 5-year survival curve ranged from 53 percent to 88 percent. CONCLUSION: This report shows that solid organ and tissue transplants are feasible within the institution and allow us to expect that the quality of transplantation will improve in the future.

Estudio retrospectivo de masas cutáneas neoplásicas en caninos diagnosticadas histopatológicamente en la Universidad de la Salle (1999-2003) / Restrospective study of skin neoplasm in dogs diagnosed by histopathology at la Salle University (1999-2003)

El propósito del trabajo fue realizar un análisis retrospectivo de las neoplasias cutáneas en caninos diagnosticadas en la Universidad de la Salle, en Bogotá, en el período 1999-2003. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo con la información obtenida de los registros del área diagnóstica e histopatológica de la Universidad de La Salle. La información fue discriminada y analizada teniendo en cuenta las siguientes variables: diagnóstico, raza, sexo, edad, malignidad y localización del tumor. Los 192 casos de pacientes abordados en el estudio fueron agrupados de acuerdo con las neoplasias con el fin de determinar las características y el comportamiento de dichas patologías. La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 6,5 años, la raza más afectada el Bóxer con el 91,1 por ciento (32 perros), seguido del labrador con un 13 por ciento (26 perros) y el caniche con un 10,5 por ciento (22 perros); los pacientes machos fueron los más afectados con un 58 por ciento (107 perros). Se reveló la gran incidencia del tumor de células de mast (26,2 por ciento en el 2003 y 10 por ciento en el año 2002). Entre otras neoplasias que se observaron de forma recurrente en el estudio se destacan el lipoma, tricoepitelioma, carcinoma de células escamosas y papilomatosis...

Estimation of survival and factors related to it in Esophageal Cancer using actuarial life-table mathod

Esophageal cancer is the 6th common cancer in Iran. Affected patients have a relatively short lifetime, as this cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. This study was conducted to estimate survival and factors related to it in patients with esophageal cancer. All patients definitely diagnosed as esophageal cancer, registered in Fars Cancer Registry Center, were investigated. Required information was gathered from cancer registry forms and other resources. 1- to 5-year survival rates were estimated using life-table method. Wilcoxon test was used to compare survival rates between subgroups. All data were analyzed by SPSS software. Of 161cases, 61.5% were male. Mean age of patients was 64.6 +/- 13.10 years and 57.6 +/- 11.9 years in male and female, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1- to 5-years after diagnosis were: 58, 33, 18, 15 and 9 percent, respectively. Factors such as age at time of diagnosis, Presence of metastasis, histologic grade, type of first treatment, occupation in males, ethnicity and number of household showed to have a significant effect on prognosis. According to this study and similar studies carried out, screening and early detection of patients [in lower ages, and lower stages] is emphasized

Análisis situacional de salud Borota 2005: Ambulatorio Rural Tipo II Borota Parroquia Constitución: Municipio Lobatera julio-agosto 2005 / Situational analysis of health Borota 2005: type II ambulatory rural Borota: Parish Constitutional Municipality Lobatera july-august 2005

La búsqueda de una mejor estrategía de salud para todos los individuos, necesita de un adecuado diagnóstico situacional. El análisis de Situación de Salud (ASIS) es una importante herramienta que nos acerca a este diagnóstico. A continuación se presenta un análisis situacional de salud realizado en la localidad de Borotá, durante un período aproximado de 5 días correspondientes a la semana epidemiológica # 29 del año 2005, en la que se aplicó la Ficha Social del Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social a una muestra de la población compuesta por 30 familias de dicho sector, obteniéndose entre otras las principales características socieconómicas y riesgos de salud personales y comunales inherentes a su población.

Revascularización miocárdica de la arteria descendente anterior con arteria mamaria interna izquierda con circulación extracorpórea: seguimiento a 10 años / Myocardial revascularization of the anterior descending coronary artery with left internal mammary artery by means of extracorporeal circulation: 10 years follow-up

Background: The use of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) as a graft to anterior descending artery (LAD) has been associated with better long term results in coronary surgery. Aim: To assess and report the long-term results of LIMA to LAD bypass grafting for isolated LDA lesions. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records and surgical protocols of 40 patients (aged 60±10 years, 28 male) subjected to coronary surgery between 1992 and 2002. Results: Thirty-four patients presented with unstable angina. On angiography, the LAD had a proximal obstruction in 35 patients. Sixteen presented with a myocardial infarction of the LAD territory. Six were managed previously with angioplasty; four had a new critical obstruction, 1 was catalogued as a procedure failure, and one was totally occluded. There was no operative mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke or need for re operation. There were two late deaths, caused by an advanced cardiac failure at 120 months in one patient, and chronic renal failure at 61 months of follow-up in another. Actuarial survival probability was 100%, 93% and 75% at 1, 5 and 10 years. Probability of freedom from angina was 98%, and freedom of suffering a new myocardial infarction was 100% at more than 10 years. The probability of no need for a new coronary procedure (angioplasty or surgery) also was 100% at more than 10 years. Conclusions: The use of LIMA as a coronary bypass graft to LAD is a safe surgical technique, with an excellent duration and permeability and also provides a prolonged time free from cardiac events as mortality, angina, myocardial infarction, and the need of a new coronary procedure.

Trasplante hepático en niños / Pediatric liver transplantation

Pediatric liver transplantation has evolved over the last two decades into an effective and widely accepted therapy for infants and children. Currently, these high-risk patients achieve 85 to 90% one-year patient survival and an excellent quality of life. This paper reviews the special features of the pediatric recipient, the surgical innovations developed to be able to offer them a transplant (reduced size, live donor, split, and auxiliary partial transplantation), the most significant issues in anesthetic, immunosuppressive and postoperative care in children, as well as a global picture of the results. Additionally, the experience of the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez is presented, as the largest and most successful series of pediatric liver transplantation in the country, where the first successful live donor liver transplantation and the first simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation in a child were performed.

El trasplante hepático pediátrico ha evolucionado durante las últimas dos décadas, hasta convertirse en una terapia efectiva y ampliamente aceptada para tratar lactantes y niños. Estos pacientes, considerados de alto riesgo, actualmente logran tasas de sobrevida actuarial al año cercanas a 85-90%, con una excelente calidad de vida después del trasplante. Este artículo revisa las particularidades del receptor pediátrico, las innovaciones quirúrgicas que se desarrollaron para poderles ofrecer un trasplante (trasplante reducido, de donador vivo, dividido o "split" y auxiliar parcial), los puntos más importantes del manejo anestésico, inmunosupresión y cuidados postrasplante en niños, y un panorama de los resultados actuales a nivel mundial. Se presenta además la experiencia del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, que cuenta con la serie de trasplante hepático en niños más grande y con mejores resultados del país, el primer trasplante de hígado de donador vivo con éxito y el primer trasplante hepático-renal simultáneo en un niño en México.

Trasplante de pulmón / Lung transplantation

Lung transplantation (LT) has evolved to become an Important alternative in the management of patients with end-stage pulmonary disease and chronic respiratory failure. The beginnings of this technique can be traced back to the experiments of Carrel and Guthrie over a hundred years ago. However, it was not until 1963 when the first clinical experience was performed by Hardy. Clinical success did not arrive until the 1980's thanks to the works of the Toronto Lung Transplant Group. Well established criteria have been described in order to consider a patient as a potential candidate to receive a lung. Several diseases are capable of causing terminal lung damage and in general they can be classified according to their origin as obstructive (COPD, emphysema), restrictive (fibrosis), chronic infectious (cystic fibrosis, bronquiectasis), and vascular (primary pulmonary hypertension). The most frecuent diagnosis is COPD. Clynically relevant modes of LT include the implant of one lung (single LT), or both lungs (bilateral sequential LT). Transplantation of the cardiopulmonary block is reserved for special situations and lobar transplantation is still considered experimental. Donor condition is essential to the success of LT. The potential donor patient frecuently suffers deterioration in lung function due to edema formation or infection and both complications restrict lung's using for transplantation. Lung preservation is also limited to a short period of time which rarely exceeds 6 hours in spite of specially-designed preservative solutions such as the low potassium dextran. Outcome after LT shows current one-year survival between 65-70% with reduction to 40-45% after five years. Mortality within the first year is usually related to primary graft failure and infection. Long-term survival depends on controlling infectious problems due to immunosupresion as well as the development of bronchilitis obliterans as a manifestation of chronic rejection. LT is a therapeutic modality reserved for selected patients with chronic respiratory failure due to end-stage lung disease.

El trasplante de pulmón se ha desarrollado como parte del manejo de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar terminal que presentan insuficiencia respiratoria. Si bien los inicios de la técnica se encuentran en los experimentos de Carrel y Guthrie a principios del siglo XX, no fue sino hasta 1963 en que Hardy efectuó el primer trasplante pulmonar. Sin embargo, el éxito clínico no se tradujo en realidad sino hasta fines de los años ochenta gracias al esfuerzo del Grupo de Trasplante de la Universidad de Toronto. Existen criterios bien establecidos para considerar cuando un enfermo pulmonar terminal se encuentra en condiciones de ameritar un trasplante. Las patologías capaces de producir daño pulmonar terminal son muy variadas, pero en términos generales pueden dividirse en aquellas de origen obstructivo (EPOC, enfisema), las de tipo intersticial (fibrosis pulmonar), las de origen infeccioso crónico (fibrosis quística, bronquiectasias) y las de patología vascular (hipertensión pulmonar primaria). Con mucho el diagnóstico más frecuente es la EPOC. Es posible trasplantar un solo pulmón (trasplante unilateral) o bien los dos pulmones (trasplante bilateral secuencial). El trasplante del bloque cardiopulmonar se reserva para situaciones especiales y el trasplante lobar se considera aún experimental. Las condiciones del donador son especialmente importantes y constituyen muchas veces el principal obstáculo a vencer debido al deterioro pulmonar que sufren estos pacientes durante el manejo previo a la toma de decisión sobre la donación de los órganos. El deterioro pulmonar y la infección sobreagregada son los principales problemas que limitan la procuración de pulmones. La preservación pulmonar aún se encuentra limitada a un tiempo corto que rara vez excede las seis horas a pesar de utilizar soluciones especialmente diseñadas como lo es la de dextrán baja en potasio. Los resultados muestran una sobrevida a un año de entre 65-70% disminuyendo a 40-45% a los cinco años. Las causas de mortalidad dentro del primer año se relacionan con falla primaria del injerto, así como infecciones oportunistas. A largo plazo, además de infecciones oportunistas por la inmunosupresión se agrega el problema del desarrollo de bronquiolitis obliterante como manifestación de rechazo crónico. El trasplante pulmonar es una modalidad de manejo adecuada para pacientes seleccionados con falla respiratoria crónica secundaria a enfermedad terminal, sin embargo, se encuentra limitada por la disponibilidad de órganos para trasplantar.

Breast cancer in males: a PGIMER experience.

AIM: Male breast cancer is a rare disease representing 1% of all breast cancers and less than 1% of all cancers in men. Because of its rarity, carcinoma breast has not been studied extensively and this prompted us to carry out this retrospective study. The aim of the study was to observe the clinical and pathological features, evaluate the prognostic factors and to co-relate the outcome in patients of male breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients of male breast cancer treated in the department of radiotherapy from year 1996-2000 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The actuarial five- year disease free survival was 40%. Three out of 30 i.e. 10% patients had loco-regional recurrence and all of them had locally advanced disease at presentation. Distant metastasis occurred in 9 patients of whom 6 patients had T3-T4 tumor and 1 patient had T1-T2 tumor. CONCLUSION: Modified radical mastectomy followed by external radiation therapy is the standard treatment for male breast cancer. Hormone therapy, as an adjuvant treatment, is the first line approach in a majority of patients and chemotherapy is reserved for patients with poor prognostic factors.

Resultados alejados de la cirugía reparadora de la insuficiencia mitral degenerativa / Long-term results of repair surgery of degenerative mitral insufficiency

Background: Mitral valve repair is probably the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of degenerative mitral insufficiency. Aim: To evaluate the late results of mitral valve repair in degenerative mitral insufficiency. Patients and method: The records of 88 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency from December 1991 through June 2002 were reviewed. Mean age was 59.9 years (range 22 to 82). At least moderate mitral insufficiency was present in every patient. Mean left atrial diameter was 55 mm and mean end diastolic and end systolic left ventricular diameters were 61 and 37 mm respectively. Results: The most common underlying lesion was ruptured chordae tendineae (66%) and posterior leaflet prolapse (68%). The surgical procedure most frecuently performed was quadrilateral resection of the posterior leaflet (68%). A Carpentier-Edwards ring was placed in 97% of patients. An associated procedure was performed in 34%. Operative mortality was 2.3%. A complete follow up was obtained in 93% of cases with a mean of 54±36 months. Overall survival rate was 98% at one year, 88% at 5 and 82% at 10 years. Free of cardiac death rates were 94% at 5 and 89% at 10 years. Only 2 patients were reoperated during follow up, resulting in a 98% reoperation free rate follow up. Functional class improved in all patients at the end of follow up. Late echocardiographic evaluation showed absent or minimal mitral regurgitation in 83% and mild mitral regurgitation in 17%. Conclusion: Good late results have been obtained with mitral valve repair, avoiding the inconveniencies of prosthetic replacement. Therefore, mitral valve repair should be the procedure of choice to treat degenerative mitral insufficiency (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1355-64).

Resultados imediatos e de seguimento a médio prazo da valvoplastia com cateter balão para estenose aórtica congênita / Short- and midterm follow-up results of valvuloplasty with balloon catheter for congenital aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVE: To report short and midtem follow-up results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty to treat congenital aortic stenosis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients (median age: 8 years) underwent the procedure through the retrograde femoral or carotid route. RESULTS: The procedure was completed in 74 patients (98.6 percent). The peak-to-peak systolic gradient dropped from 79.6±27.7 to 22.3±17.8 mmHg (P<0.001), the left ventricular systolic pressure dropped from 164±39.1 to 110±24.8 mmHg (P<0.001), and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure dropped from 13.3±5.5 to 8.5±8.3 mmHg (P< 0.01). Four patients (5.3 percent) died due to the procedure. Aortic regurgitation (AoR) appeared or worsened in 27/71 (38 percent) patients, and no immediate surgical intervention was required. A mean follow-up of 50±38 months was obtained in 37 patients. Restenosis and significant AoR were observed in 16.6 percent of the patients. The estimates for being restenosis-free and for having significant AoR in 90 months were 60 percent and 50 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: Aortic valvuloplasty was considered the initial palliative method of choice in managing congenital aortic stenosis, with satisfactory short- and midterm results

Aplicación y técnicas del análisis de supervivencia en las investigaciones clínicas / Application and techniques of survival analysis in clinical research

Se realizó una actualización sobre el análisis de supervivencia en las investigaciones clínicas. Se expusieron algunos de los conceptos más generales sobre este tipo de análisis y las características de los tiempos de supervivencia.Se abordan temas relacionados con los diferentes métodos que facilitan la estimación de las probabilidades de supervivencia para uno o más grupos de individuos, con la ejemplificación del cálculo de las probabilidades para el método de Kaplan-Meier. Se destaca la comparación de la supervivencia de varios grupos atendiendo a distintos factores que los diferencian, así como también se enuncian algunas de las pruebas estadísticas que nos posibilitan la comparación, como son la prueba log rank y la Breslow, como alternativa de esta cuando se evidencia una divergencia del azar proporcional, es decir, cuando las curvas de supervivencia se cruzan.

Radioterapia em adenocarcinoma de pâncreas / Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar retrospectivamente a sobrevida dos pacientes portadores de adenocarcinoma de pâncreas tratados no Serviço de Radioterapia do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, comparando os resultados com a literatura, e apresentando proposta de conduta. MÉTODOS: Entre abril de 1993 e agosto de 1999, 40 pacientes com adenocarcinoma de pâncreas foram admitidos para radioterapia neste Serviço. Destes, 25 haviam sido submetidos a procedimento cirúrgico radical com ressecçäo do tumor e em 15 o tumor näo havia sido ressecado (näo operados, biopsiados apenas ou submetidos a intervençöes cirúrgicas paliativas). RESULTADOS: A sobrevida actuarial mediana para toda amostra foi de 14,8 meses, sendo as probabilidades de sobrevida em 12 e 24 meses, 70 por cento e 22,2 por cento, respectivamente. A sobrevida actuarial mediana para o grupo de pacientes que tiveram o tumor ressecado foi de 21,4 meses e para o grupo de pacientes com tumor näo ressecado, 16,1 meses, sendo a probabilidade de sobreviver 12 e 24 meses de 76 por cento e 32 por cento no primeiro grupo e 60 por cento e 0 por cento no segundo (p=0,0156). CONCLUSÖES: Os nossos resultados säo semelhantes aos descritos na literatura médica atual. Há necessidade de introduzir novas drogas ativas para o tratamento destes tumores e a radioterapia intra-operatória tem que ser melhor explorada

Atraumatic restorative treatment and glass ionomer sealants in Tunisian children: survival after 3 years

We evaluated the survival rates of atraumatic restorative treatment restorations and of glass ionomer sealants after 3 years of usage in primary and permanent teeth in Tunisian children aged 3-15 years attending rural schools, and assessed the presence or absence of dental caries in the restored teeth. After an initial survey of 1949 children, 242 were selected and agreed to undergo treatment. The loss to follow-up after 3 years was about 40%. Of those evaluated, 45.73% of one-surface ART restorations in permanent teeth had survived, 54.96% of one-surface sealants in permanent teeth had survived and 27.85% of one-surface ART restorations in primary teeth had survived. Caries was found in only 19 teeth after 3 years