Handwriting movements for assessment of motor symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder.

The main aim of the present study was to explore the value of several measures of handwriting in the study of motor abnormalities in patients with bipolar or psychotic disorders. 54 adult participants with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder and 44 matched healthy controls, participated in the study. Participants were asked to copy a handwriting pattern consisting of four loops, with an inking pen on a digitizing tablet. We collected a number of classical, non-linear and geometrical measures of handwriting. The handwriting of patients was characterized by a significant decrease in velocity and acceleration and an increase in the length, disfluency and pressure with respect to controls. Concerning non-linear measures, we found significant differences between patients and controls in the Sample Entropy of velocity and pressure, Lempel-Ziv of velocity and pressure, and Higuchi Fractal Dimension of pressure. Finally, Lacunarity, a measure of geometrical heterogeneity, was significantly greater in handwriting patterns from patients than from controls. We did not find differences in any handwriting measure on function of the specific diagnosis or the antipsychotic dose. Results indicate that participants with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder exhibit significant motor impairments and that these impairments can be readily quantified using measures of handwriting movements. Besides, they suggest that motor abnormalities are a core feature of several mental disorders and they seem to be unrelated to the pharmacological treatment.

Incremental diagnostic and prognostic value of the QRS-T angle, a 12-lead ECG marker quantifying heterogeneity of depolarization and repolarization, in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The value of the 12-lead ECG in the diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is limited due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity of standard ECG criteria. The QRS-T angle reflects depolarization-repolarization heterogeneity and might assist in detecting patients with a NSTEMI (diagnosis) as well as predicting patients with an increased mortality risk (prognosis). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 2705 consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of NSTEMI. The QRS-T angle was automatically derived from the standard 10 s 12-lead ECG recorded at presentation to the ED. Patients were followed up for all-cause mortality for 2 years. RESULTS: NSTEMI was the final diagnosis in 15% (n = 412) of patients. QRS-T angles were significantly greater in patients with NSTEMI compared to those without (p < 0.001). The use of the QRS-T angle in addition to standard ECG criteria indicative of ischemia improved the diagnostic accuracy for NSTEMI as quantified by the area under the ROC curve from 0.68 to 0.72 (p < 0.001). An algorithm for the combined use of standard ECG criteria and the QRS-T angle improved the sensitivity of the ECG for NSTEMI from 45% to 78% and the specificity from 86% to 91% (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The 2-year survival rates were 98%, 97% and 87% according to QRS-T angle tertiles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected NSTEMI, the QRS-T angle derived from the standard 12-lead ECG provides incremental diagnostic accuracy on top of standard ECG criteria indicative of ischemia, and independently predicts all-cause mortality during 2 years of follow-up.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of QRS duration and QTc interval in patients with suspected myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: While prolongation of QRS duration and QTc interval during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been reported in animals, limited data is available for these readily available electrocardiography (ECG) markers in humans. METHODS: Diagnostic and prognostic value of QRS duration and QTc interval in patients with suspected AMI in a prospective diagnostic multicentre study were prospectively assessed. Digital 12-lead ECGs were recorded at presentation. QRS duration and QTc interval were automatically calculated in a blinded fashion. Final diagnosis was adjudicated by two independent cardiologists. The prognostic endpoint was all-cause mortality during 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Among 4042 patients, AMI was the final diagnosis in 19% of patients. Median QRS duration and median QTc interval were significantly greater in patients with AMI compared to those with other final diagnoses (98 ms [IQR 88-108] vs. 94 ms [IQR 86-102] and 436 ms [IQR 414-462] vs. 425 ms [IQR 407-445], p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The diagnostic value of both ECG signatures however was only modest (AUC 0.56 and 0.60). Cumulative mortality rates after 2 years were 15.9% vs. 5.6% in patients with a QRS > 120 ms compared to a QRS duration ≤ 120 ms (p < 0.001), and 11.4% vs. 4.3% in patients with a QTc > 440 ms compared to a QRS duration ≤ 440 ms (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and important ECG and clinical parameters, the QTc interval but not QRS duration remained an independent predictor of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Prolongation of QRS duration > 120 ms and QTc interval > 440 ms predict mortality in patients with suspected AMI, but do not add diagnostic value.

Presión intraabdominal y síndrome compartimental en cirugía (artículo de revisión) / Intraabdominal pressure and compartment syndrome in surgery ( review article)

La hipertensión intraabdominal se define como el incremento de la presión dentro de la cavidad abdominal por encima de 10 cm. H2O, y se clasifica en cuatro grados de acuerdo a la severidad: I)- 10 -15 cm. H2O, II)- 16 -25 cm. H2O, III)- 26 -35 cm. H2O y IV)- mayor de 35 cm. H2O. El interés por la PIA y sus mediciones comenzó en la última mitad del siglo XIX; en la revisión de la literatura se encontró que desde principios de siglo, en EE.UU. se midió por primera vez la PIA, hasta que se propuso un método estandarizado de medirla con la ayuda de la sonda de Foley por vía transvesical a mediado de siglo. Con la determinación de múltiples factores que incrementan la PIA se conocieron las causas que provocan cambios fisiopatológicos sistémicos, la aparición de las manifestaciones clínicas y del SCA en los grados III y IV, permitiendo tomar una conducta quirúrgica precoz y menos riesgosa que podría mejorar los resultados de la atención a estos pacientes y su mortalidad (AU)

Intraabdominal hypertension is defined as the pressure increase within the abdominal cavity above 10 cm. H2O, and is classified into 4 degrees according to the severity: I, 10 15 cm. H2O; II, 16 25 cm. H2O; III, 26 35 cm. H2O; and IV, greater than 35 cm. H2O. The interest in the IP (Intraabdominal Pressure) and its measurements began in the last half of the 19th. century. In the review of the literature it was found that, since the beginning of the century, in U.S.A. IP was first measured, until a standardized method was proposed to measure it, with the help of a Foleys probe, transvesically, by the half of the century. As multiple factors were determined that increase IP, the causes that trigger system pathological changes were known, as well as the emergence of clinical manifestations and abdominal compartment syndrome of degree III and IV, which allowed to take a less risky and earlier surgical stand (AU)

Procedimientos para el monitorieo de la Presión Intraabdominal (PIA) / Procedures for monitoring intraabdominal pressure

La hipertensión intraabdominal se define como el incremento de la presión dentro de la cavidad abdominal por encima de 10 cm H2O, y se clasifica en cuatro grados de acuerdo a la severidad, I: 10 -15 cm H2O, II: 16 -25 cm H2O, III: 26 -35 cm H2O ó IV: mayor de 35 cm H2O. La mayoría de las alteraciones fisiológicas se dan en los grados III y IV, los efectos fisiológicos de la hipertensión intraabdominal comienzan a darse antes de que el Síndrome de Compartimento Intraabdominal sea clínicamente evidente. La medición de la Presión Intraabdominal (PIA) por vía transvesical es un método sencillo e inocuo, y la determinación de los valores que se corresponden con la aparición de las manifestaciones clínicas del SCA permitirá tomar una conducta quirúrgica precoz y menos riesgosa, que podría mejorar los resultados de la atención a estos pacientes, por lo tanto el objetivo de nuestro trabajo es promover su procedimiento y utilización como criterio de laparotomía (AU)

Intraabdominal hypertension is defined as increased pressure into the abdominal cavity over 10 cm.H2O, and is classified in four degrees in terms of severity: I: 10 15 cm. H2O; II : 16 25 cm. H2O; III : 26 35 cm. H2O; or IV : greater than 35 cm. H2O. Most physiological alterations are frequent in degrees III and IV, the physiological effects of intraabdominal hypertension start before the intraabdominal compartimental Syndrome (ICS) becomes clinically evident. The measurement of the IAP through transvesical route is a simple and harmless method, and the determining of the values corresponding to the emergence of the clinical manifestations of ICS would allow to take an early surgical and less risky stand which could improve the results from the assistance to these patients; therefore, the aim of this work is promoting its procedure and use as criterium of laparotomy (AU)

Procedimientos para el monitoreo de la presión intraabdominal / Procedures for monitoring intraabdominal pressure (IAP)

La hipertensión intraabdominal se define como el incremento de la presión dentro de la cavidad abdominal por encima de 10 cm H2O, y se clasifica en cuatro grados de acuerdo a la severidad, I: 10 -15 cm H2O, II: 16 -25 cm H2O, III: 26 -35 cm H2O ó IV: mayor de 35 cm H2O. La mayoría de las alteraciones fisiológicas se dan en los grados III y IV, los efectos fisiológicos de la hipertensión intraabdominal comienzan a darse antes de que el Síndrome de Compartimento Intraabdominal sea clínicamente evidente. La medición de la Presión Intraabdominal (PIA) por vía transvesical es un método sencillo e inocuo, y la determinación de los valores que se corresponden con la aparición de las manifestaciones clínicas del SCA permitirá tomar una conducta quirúrgica precoz y menos riesgosa, que podría mejorar los resultados de la atención a estos pacientes, por lo tanto el objetivo de nuestro trabajo es promover su procedimiento y utilización como criterio de laparotomía.

Intraabdominal hypertension is defined as increased pressure into the abdominal cavity over 10 cm.H2O, and is classified in four degrees in terms of severity: I: 10 _ 15 cm. H2O; II : 16 _ 25 cm. H2O; III : 26 _ 35 cm. H2O; or IV : greater than 35 cm. H2O. Most physiological alterations are frequent in degrees III and IV, the physiological effects of intraabdominal hypertension start before the intraabdominal compartimental Syndrome (ICS) becomes clinically evident. The measurement of the IAP through transvesical route is a simple and harmless method, and the determining of the values corresponding to the emergence of the clinical manifestations of ICS would allow to take an early surgical and less risky stand which could improve the results from the assistance to these patients; therefore, the aim of this work is promoting its procedure and use as criterium of laparotomy.

Presión intraabdominal y síndrome compartimental en cirugía. Artículo de revisión / Intraabdominal pressure and compartment syndrome in surgery. Review article

La hipertensión intraabdominal se define como el incremento de la presión dentro de la cavidad abdominal por encima de 10 cm. H2O, y se clasifica en cuatro grados de acuerdo a la severidad: I)- 10 -15 cm. H2O, II)- 16 -25 cm. H2O, III)- 26 -35 cm. H2O y IV)- mayor de 35 cm. H2O. El interés por la PIA y sus mediciones comenzó en la última mitad del siglo XIX; en la revisión de la literatura se encontró que desde principios de siglo, en EE.UU. se midió por primera vez la PIA, hasta que se propuso un método estandarizado de medirla con la ayuda de la sonda de Foley por vía transvesical a mediado de siglo. Con la determinación de múltiples factores que incrementan la PIA se conocieron las causas que provocan cambios fisiopatológicos sistémicos, la aparición de las manifestaciones clínicas y del SCA en los grados III y IV, permitiendo tomar una conducta quirúrgica precoz y menos riesgosa que podría mejorar los resultados de la atención a estos pacientes y su mortalidad.

Intraabdominal hypertension is defined as the pressure increase within the abdominal cavity above 10 cm. H2O, and is classified into 4 degrees according to the severity: I, 10 - 15 cm. H2O; II, 16 - 25 cm. H2O; III, 26 - 35 cm. H2O; and IV, greater than 35 cm. H2O. The interest in the IP (Intraabdominal Pressure) and its measurements began in the last half of the 19th. century. In the review of the literature it was found that, since the beginning of the century, in U.S.A. IP was first measured, until a standardized method was proposed to measure it, with the help of a Foley's probe, transvesically, by the half of the century. As multiple factors were determined that increase IP, the causes that trigger system pathological changes were known, as well as the emergence of clinical manifestations and abdominal compartment syndrome of degree III and IV, which allowed to take a less risky and earlier surgical stand.

Cirugía ambulatoria en afecciones nodulares del tiroides

Se realizó un estudio comparativo, transversal y prospectivo de 104 pacientes afectados por patologías quirúrgicas del tiroides en el periodo comprendido de enero de 2001 hasta diciembre de 2002, los cuales fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente 50 pacientes por el método de Cirugía Mayor no Ambulatoria en el Hospital Universitario Abel Santamaría Cuadrado de Pinar del Río. En la serie predominaron las patologías nodulares con respecto a los difusos, ya que estas últimas fueron excluidas de nuestro trabajo, intervenidos en su totalidad con anestesia general con intubación endotraqueal. Las enfermedades asociadas no constituyen limitaciones en la muestra escogida, en tanto la estadía hospitalaria en los pacientes con patologías nodulares benignas fue inferior a 24 horas postoperatorio, los cuales evolucionaron satisfactoriamente. Se demostró que las operaciones de nódulo de tiroides por cirugía ambulatoria son seguras y factibles para el paciente por el bajo número de complicaciones lo que reduce significativamente el costo hospitalario, ya que la mayoría de los pacientes fueron egresados entre 12 y 24 horas después. Se obtuvieron evidentes ventajas económicas con respecto al ahorro del recurso cama y la del costo hospitalario, así como un elevado grado de satisfacción por parte de los operados, lo que justifica que se recomiende incrementar la aplicación de este proceder y extenderlo al mayor número posible de afecciones quirúrgicas...(AU)

Cirugía ambulatoria en afecciones nodulares del tiroides / Ambulatory surgery in thyroid-nodular conditions

Se realizó un estudio comparativo, transversal y prospectivo de 104 pacientes afectados por patologías quirúrgicas del tiroides en el periodo comprendido de enero de 2001 hasta diciembre de 2002, los cuales fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente 50 pacientes por el método de Cirugía Mayor no Ambulatoria en el Hospital Universitario "Abel Santamaría Cuadrado" de Pinar del Río. En la serie predominaron las patologías nodulares con respecto a los difusos, ya que estas últimas fueron excluidas de nuestro trabajo, intervenidos en su totalidad con anestesia general con intubación endotraqueal. Las enfermedades asociadas no constituyen limitaciones en la muestra escogida, en tanto la estadía hospitalaria en los pacientes con patologías nodulares benignas fue inferior a 24 horas postoperatorio, los cuales evolucionaron satisfactoriamente. Se demostró que las operaciones de nódulo de tiroides por cirugía ambulatoria son seguras y factibles para el paciente por el bajo número de complicaciones lo que reduce significativamente el costo hospitalario, ya que la mayoría de los pacientes fueron egresados entre 12 y 24 horas después. Se obtuvieron evidentes ventajas económicas con respecto al ahorro del recurso cama y la del costo hospitalario, así como un elevado grado de satisfacción por parte de los operados, lo que justifica que se recomiende incrementar la aplicación de este proceder y extenderlo al mayor número posible de afecciones quirúrgicas.

A comparative, cross-sectional and prospective study was carried out in 104 patients affected by surgical thyroid pathologies from January 2001 to December 2002. 50 patients underwent surgery through non ambulatory major surgery method and other 54 patients through ambulatory major surgery at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Hospital in Pinar del Rio. In the sample nodose pathologies prevailed as for diffuses. Since the latter were excluded from our work, assisted totally with general anesthesia and endotraqueal intubations. Associated diseases constitute limitations in the chosen sample, as long as hospital stay in patients with nodose benign pathologies was lower than 24 hours post-operatively, whose progress was satisfactory. The study showed that surgeries of thyroid nodes with ambulatory surgery are safe and feasible for the patients because of low amounts of complications, which significantly reduces hospitalary cost, since most patients were discharged 12 and 24 hours later. Evident economical advantages were known as to saving bed resource and hospitalary cost, as well as a high degree of satisfaction by those patients undergoing surgery, which justifies the fact of recommending the increase of the application of this procedure and the spread of it to as many surgical diseases as possible.

Laserpuntura en el tratamiento de la bursitis aguda en el Hospital "Abel Santamaría Cuadrado"

El empleo de la Laserpuntura en nuestro Hospital nos ofrece grandes ventajas por sus efectos terapéuticos sorprendentes. Evaluamos su eficacia sobretodo en el tratamiento de la Bursitis Aguda no Complicada en el cual escogimos una muestra de 40 pacientes al azar en coordinación con el servicio de Ortopedia y Traumatología del hospital Abel Santamaria y la Clínica del Dolor.La muestra fue dividida en dos grupos o estratos, al primero de ellos se sometieron los pacientes a tratamiento con terapia AINES, reposo y analgésicos menores. El segundo grupo recibió tratamiento con Laserterapia durante 20 segundos diariamente por 7 días en los puntos acupunturales IG 4;IG 11; IG15; IG 16, TR 14.Por ser esta entidad tan frecuente en nuestro medio nos motivamos a buscar la mejor de las alternativas en la cual pudiéramos reducir el peligro de contaminación percutánea con agujas, el estrés y sobre todo el alivio del dolorLlegamos a la conclusión en nuestro estudio que el empleo de la terapia Láser Acupuntural es más eficaz y ofrece más ventajas que otras técnicas analgésicas como la medicina natural y tradicional, bloqueo de nervios, y terapia AINES(AU)

Porphyrinogen carboxylyase. Studies on existence of isoenzymes

Porphyrinogen carboxylyase from normal rat liver was subjected to purification methods. Two different purification protocols were used. In both cases, the inital steps consisted in obtaining a liver homogenate, followed by centrifugation, salt precipitation and phosphate gel absorption. Scheme I consisted in then submiting the preparation to DEAE-cellulose, followed by Sephacryl S-200 and Phenyl-sepharose sequential column chromatographies. Scheme II involved an affinity column followed by a Sephadex G-75 gel filtration column. In both cases, the enzyme was stored at-20 degrees Celsius until its assay. The addition of 2mM dithiotreytol to the incubation media or to the enzyme extract before storage, did not help improve the activity nor the stability of the enzyme. Those fractions containing the maximal enzyme activity, detected using Uroporphyrinogen III or Pentacarboxy-porphyrinogen III as substrate, were not alawys present in the same tubes for the different columns employed. In addition, the degree of purification obtained in some steps was different according to the substrate employed. The results suggest the existence of at least two isoenzymes for rat liver porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase.

Porphyrinogen carboxylyase. Studies on existence of isoenzymes

Porphyrinogen carboxylyase from normal rat liver was subjected to purification methods. Two different purification protocols were used. In both cases, the inital steps consisted in obtaining a liver homogenate, followed by centrifugation, salt precipitation and phosphate gel absorption. Scheme I consisted in then submiting the preparation to DEAE-cellulose, followed by Sephacryl S-200 and Phenyl-sepharose sequential column chromatographies. Scheme II involved an affinity column followed by a Sephadex G-75 gel filtration column. In both cases, the enzyme was stored at-20 degrees Celsius until its assay. The addition of 2mM dithiotreytol to the incubation media or to the enzyme extract before storage, did not help improve the activity nor the stability of the enzyme. Those fractions containing the maximal enzyme activity, detected using Uroporphyrinogen III or Pentacarboxy-porphyrinogen III as substrate, were not alawys present in the same tubes for the different columns employed. In addition, the degree of purification obtained in some steps was different according to the substrate employed. The results suggest the existence of at least two isoenzymes for rat liver porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase. (AU)