Effects of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting and respiratory function in women undergoing conservative breast surgery for cancer: Results of a controlled clinical trial.

The objective was to evaluate whether preoperative administration of dexamethasone improved postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain and respiratory function tests in women undergoing conservative surgery for breast cancer. This was a controlled clinical trial conducted between June 2013 and October 2014. Eighty patients were evaluated. Patients received a preoperative dose of 8 mg of dexamethasone (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40). The data on PONV and pain intensity was obtained and forced spirometry tests were performed, 1 hr before and at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hr after surgery. Any use of additional analgesic/antiemetic drugs was recorded. Patients were followed until 30 days after surgery for any surgical or medical complications. The pain intensity was lower in the treatment group for all periods; PONV was lower at 6, 12 and 24 hr; Additional analgesics/antiemetics were required less frequently (all p < .05). Both groups exhibited a restrictive ventilatory pattern immediately after surgery, which was reversed in the following hours. However, spirometric values were higher in the dexamethasone group. There were no pulmonary or metabolic complications after surgery. Our conclusions were that dexamethasone significantly reduced the incidences of PONV, pain and improved respiratory parameters, and reduced the need for additional postoperative analgesic and antiemetic drugs.

Body weight changes after adjuvant chemotherapy of patients with breast cancer: results of a Mexican cohort study.

Weight gain is observed in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and is a well-known complication. Several factors that contributing to weight gain have been identified. However, there is a lack of information about factors associated with weight changes following adjuvant chemotherapy. A retrospective cohort of 200 pre- and post-menopausal Mexican patients treated for breast cancer was made. Anthropometric variables were measured before/after treatment. Biomarkers, cellular differentiation and chemotherapy were similar between groups. Weight gain occurred in 85.6% of pre-menopausal and 72.6% of post-menopausal women (p = .03). At the end of chemotherapy, weight and body mass index (BMI) did not differ significantly between pre-menopausal (69.3 ± 12.6 kg; 26.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2 ) and post-menopausal women (69.5 ± 10.9 kg; 27.3 ± 4.4 kg/m2 ) (p = .91 and 0.34). Dexamethasone doses were higher in pre-menopausal (85.7 ± 39.1 g) than post-menopausal patients (79.2 ± 22.5 g; p = .13). Weight loss was observed in 9.2% of pre-menopausal and 20.2% of post-menopausal patients (p = .04). A multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.26-5.79; p = .01), menopausal status (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.09-4.80; p = .03), dexamethasone dosage (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.04-4.23; p = .03) and daily caloric intake (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.12-5.10; p = .02) were independent variables that inducted weight gain. Pre- and post-menopausal women gained weight, but more pre-menopausal patients showed gain. An effort should be made to administer lower steroid doses to reduce weight gain.

Diabetes tipo 2 mal controlada en un paciente de edad avanzada y con buen estado general / Poor-controlled type 2 diabetes in an aged patient and good general condition

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[Sedation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Analysis of tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness]. / Sedación en la endoscopia gastrointestinal alta. Análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Sedation of patients is an important complement to endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness in patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 357 patients were prospectively studied: 138 non-sedated, 116 sedated with midazolam and 103 sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Subjective tolerance, tolerance perceived by the endoscopist, complications, and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. The Chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Subjective tolerance was greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Tolerance perceived by the endoscopist was greater in the group sedated with both drugs than in the group sedated with midazolam (p < 0.05). Subjective tolerance was better in sedated men and women but there was no association between sedation and perceived tolerance according to sex. Subjective tolerance was better in sedated patients older than 70 years than in those younger than 40 years (p < 0.05). Complications were more frequent in sedated patients and the most frequent complication in all the groups studied was mild desaturation; there was a significant difference between the group sedated with midazolam and meperidine and the non-sedated group (p < 0.05). Non-sedation had the best cost-effectiveness ratio but sedation with midazolam and meperidine was the most effective alternative. CONCLUSION: From the point of view of the endoscopist, endoscopy can be performed without sedation, although subjective tolerance is greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Non-sedation is more cost-effectiveness than sedation but if sedation is required midazolam and meperidine achieve better results in terms of effectiveness than midazolam alone.

Sedación en la endoscopia gastrointestinal alta. Análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad / Sedation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Analysis of tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness

Introducción y objetivo: La sedación del paciente es un importante complemento de los procedimientos endoscópicos. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido el análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad de la sedación en pacientes sometidos a endoscopia gastrointestinal diagnóstica alta. Pacientes y método: Se estudió a 357 pacientes prospectivamente: 138 no sedados, 116 sedados con midazolam y 103 sedados con midazolam y meperidina. Se analizaron la tolerancia subjetiva, la tolerancia percibida por el endoscopista, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la prueba de la c2, y valores de p < 0,05 se consideraron estadísticamente significativos. Resultados: La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor en pacientes sedados con midazolam y meperidina que en los otros grupos (p < 0,05). Respecto a la tolerancia percibida, se encontró diferencia entre el grupo sedado con ambas drogas y el grupo sedado con midazolam (p < 0,05). La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor tanto en mujeres como en varones sedados, pero no hubo una asociación entre la sedación y la tolerancia percibida en ninguno de los sexos. La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor en pacientes sedados mayores de 70 años que en los pacientes menores de 40 (p < 0,05). Las complicaciones fueron más frecuentes en pacientes sedados; la más frecuente en todos los grupos fue la desaturación leve; se observó una diferencia significativa entre el grupo sedado con los 2 fármacos y el no sedado (p < 0,05). La alternativa de no sedación es la que consigue una mejor relación coste-efectividad, pero la sedación con midazolam y meperidina es la más efectiva. Conclusión: La endoscopia puede realizarse sin sedación desde el punto de vista del endoscopista, pero la tolerancia subjetiva es mejor en pacientes sedados con midazolam y meperidina. Respecto al coste-efectividad, la mejor alternativa es la no sedación pero, en caso de precisarse sedación, la opción midazolam más meperidina ofrece una mejor efectividad que el midazolam aislado

Introduction and aim: Sedation of patients is an important complement to endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness in patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients and method: A total of 357 patients were prospectively studied: 138 non-sedated, 116 sedated with midazolam and 103 sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Subjective tolerance, tolerance perceived by the endoscopist, complications, and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. The Chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Subjective tolerance was greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Tolerance perceived by the endoscopist was greater in the group sedated with both drugs than in the group sedated with midazolam (p < 0.05). Subjective tolerance was better in sedated men and women but there was no association between sedation and perceived tolerance according to sex. Subjective tolerance was better in sedated patients older than 70 years than in those younger than 40 years (p < 0.05). Complications were more frequent in sedated patients and the most frequent complication in all the groups studied was mild desaturation; there was a significant difference between the group sedated with midazolam and meperidine and the non-sedated group (p < 0.05). Non-sedation had the best cost-effectiveness ratio but sedation with midazolam and meperidine was the most effective alternative. Conclusion: From the point of view of the endoscopist, endoscopy can be performed without sedation, although subjective tolerance is greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Non-sedation is more cost-effectiveness than sedation but if sedation is required midazolam and meperidine achieve better results in terms of effectiveness than midazolam alone

Role of stationary esophageal manometry in clinical practice. Manometric results in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia or non-cardiac chest pain.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of stationary esophageal manometry in 263 patients divided into three groups: 150 patients with reflux symptoms, 68 with dysphagia, and 45 with non-cardiac chest pain. Patients with endoscopic abnormalities were excluded. Standard manometry was performed following the station pull-through technique. In the group of patients with reflux symptoms 40.7% had a normal manometry and 57.3% had abnormalities, being the most frequent (43%) hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter. In the dysphagia group, 20.6% of manometries were normal and 79.4% were abnormal, of which achalasia was the most frequent disorder (53.7%). In the case of non-cardiac chest pain, 42.2% of patients had a normal manometry and 57.8% an abnormal one, of which hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter was the most frequent abnormality. A significant higher proportion of manometric alterations were found in the dysphagia group compared to reflux symptoms and non-cardiac chest pain (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were found between the reflux and the non-cardiac chest pain groups. Manometry yields a higher diagnostic value in patients with dysphagia, and therefore manometry should be performed routinely after the exclusion of any organic esophageal disease. Manometry is not a first-choice functional diagnostic test in the study of patirnts with gastroesophageal reflux or non-cardiac chest pain.

[Macroprolactin as etiology of hyperprolactinemia. Method for detection and clinical characterization of the entity in 39 patients]. / Macroprolactina como causa de hiperprolactinemia. Método de detección y caracterización clínica de la entidad en 39 pacientes.

The presence of serum macroprolactin is a relatively frequent situation that can lead to expensive explorations and ineffective treatments. The precipitation with polyethylene glycols permits its detection rapidly, trustworthily, and inexpensively. The objective of the present work has been to assess the incidence of macroprolactin in patients with hyperprolactinemia through its identification with polyethylene glycols, as well as the clinical and radiological findings, and the response in these patients to the treatment. For it the clinical history of all the cases in which there was detected macroprolactinemia, some of them with several years of previous follow-up, was reviewed exhaustively. Of the 1505 patients in which prolactin level was determined, 195 (13%) showed values higher than 40 microg/l. In 39 (20%) of them the presence of macroprolactin was detected. After observing the evolution of these patients, spontaneously or under treatment with dopaminergic agonists, a clear relationship of causality between the presence of macroprolactin and the clinical manifestations was not found, except in a case of galactorrhea. In 27 cases nuclear magnetic resonance was done; in 4 of them a picture was observed compatible with small microadenoma or microcyst and in no patient a macroadenoma was detected. We conclude that the macroprolactinemia is a relatively frequent and easily detected entity through precipitation with polyethylene glycols. It has a limited relation with the clinical findings and there should always be sought other possible causes of this situation. It is an apparently benign situation and its identification can avoid unnecessary explorations and treatments.

Macroprolactina como causa de hiperprolactinemia. Método de detección y caracterización clínicade la entidad en 39 pacientes / Macroprolactin as etiology of hyperprolactinemia. Method for detection and clinical characterization of the entity in 39 patients

La presencia de macroprolactina sérica es un hecho relativamente frecuente que puede conducir a exploraciones costosas y tratamientos ineficaces. La precipitación con polietilenglicol permite su detección de forma rápida, fiable y barata. El objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido valorar la incidencia de macroprolactina en pacientes con hiperprolactinemia mediante su identificación con polietilenglicol, así como los hallazgos clínicos, radiológicos y respuesta al tratamiento en dichos pacientes. Para ello se revisó exhaustivamente la historia clínica de todos los casos en que se detectó macroprolactinemia, algunos de ellos con varios años de seguimiento previo. De los 1.505 pacientes en los que se determinó prolactina, 195 (13 por ciento) presentaron valores mayores de 40 µg/l. En 39 (20 por ciento) de ellos se detectó la presencia de macroprolactina. Tras observar la evolución de los mismos, espontánea o bajo tratamiento con agonistas dopaminérgicos, no se encontró una relación clara de causalidad entre la presencia de macroprolactina y las manifestaciones clínicas, excepto en un caso de galactorrea. En 27 casos se practicó resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN), en 4 de ellos se apreció imagen compatible con pequeño microadenoma o microquiste y en ninguno macroadenoma. Concluimos que la macroprolactinemia es una entidad relativamente frecuente y de fácil detección mediante precipitación con polietilenglicol. Presenta una escasa relación con los hallazgos clínicos y se deben buscar siempre otras posibles causas de los mismos. Se trata de una situación aparentemente benigna y su identificación puede evitar exploraciones y tratamientos innecesario (AU)

Bocio, función tiroidea y excreción de yodo en gestantes de la zona de El Bierzo / Goiter, thyroid function and iodine excretion in pregnant women from the area of El Bierzo (Spain)

Estudios publicados en el año 1993 demuestran alta incidencia de bocio en escolares de la zona de El Bierzo. Hemos valorado mediante encuesta el consumo de sal yodada, la preencia de bocio mediante palpación y ecografía, la función tiroidea midiendo concentraciones hormonales en plasma y la excreción de yodo en orina y leche mediante el método de Benotti, en un grupo de mujeres embarazadas de la zona, en los tres trimestres de la gestación y en el posparto. Nuestros resultados demuestran escaso consumo de sal yodada, endemia bociosa grave, hipotiroxinemia materna, pobre excreción de yodo en orina en las gestantes y escasa presencia de yodo en la leche materna. Todo ello indica la necesidad de campañas institucionales para remediar la situación (AU)

[Priapism secondary to testosterone administration in the treatment of delayed puberty]. / Priapismo secundario a la administración de testosterona en el tratamiento del retraso puberal.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of priapism following testosterone administration. METHODS/RESULTS: A 14-year-old boy treated with testosterone for delayed puberty presented with priapism after the administration of a single depot dose of 100 mg testosterone. Punction-aspiration of the corpora cavernosa was required to resolve the priapism. CONCLUSION: Administration of testosterone for delayed male puberty is safe but may occasionally cause priapism.