ABSTRACT
JUSTIFICATION: In Mexico, the number of unidentified bodies has been steadily rising for years. By now, more than 50,000 bodies are considered unidentified. Forensic laboratories that could perform comparative molecular genetic investigation are often overburdened and examinations can take months. Therefore, pragmatic approaches that can help to identify more unknown bodies must be sought. The increased use of distinctive physical features might be one, and the high rate of tattooed people in Mexico points towards a great potential of tattoos as a tool for identification. The prerequisite for a comparison of antemortem (missing persons) and postmortem (unknown bodies) data is an objective description of the particularities, e.g., of the tattoos. The aim of this study was to establish an objective classification for tattoo motives, taking into consideration local preferences. METHODS: In the database of the medicolegal services of the Instituto Jaliscience de Ciencias Forenses (IJCF) in Guadalajara, postmortem data of 1000 tattooed bodies from 2019 were evaluated. According to sex and age, the tattooed body localization and the tattoo motives were categorized. RESULTS: The 1000 tattooed deceased showed tattoos on 2342 body localizations. The motives were grouped and linked to the following 11 keywords (with decreasing frequency): letters/numbers, human, symbol (other), plant, symbol (religious), animal, object, fantasy/demon/comic, tribal/ornament/geometry, other, unrecognizable. CONCLUSION: Using the proposed classification, tattoo motives can be described objectively and classified in a practical way. If used for antemortem (missing persons) and postmortem (unknown bodies) documentation, motives can be searched and compared efficiently-helping to identify unknown bodies.
Subject(s)
Tattooing , Autopsy , Forensic Medicine , Humans , Mexico , MotivationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To calculate the prevalence of white-coat syndrome (WCS) in patients with hypertension, comparing the two most common definitions and their effect on the profile of the patient with WCS. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.Setting. Urban health centre.Patients. Hypertense patients selected by simple randomised sampling from among those included in the hypertension programme. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical blood pressure (CBP) from the previous year was collected. Home blood pressure (HBP) was measured by the patient with an electronic sphygmomanometer. Age, sex, further tests (analysis and electrocardiogram) and other clinical features were also recorded. WCS was defined as when CBP was above/equal to 140/90 mmHg and HBP was under 135/85 mmHg or when the difference between CBP and HBP was more than/equal to 20 mmHg systolic and/or 10 mmHg diastolic pressure. RESULTS: In 154 hypertense patients (60.4% women) between 38 and 92 years old, mean CBP (141.1/85.3) was higher than mean HBP (136.8/79.8). WCS prevalence varied (p = 0.001), depending on the definition used (20.1% and 36.4%). The systolic and diastolic mean CBP of the last year were higher in those patients with WCS (p < 0.001 for diastolic pressure). The profile of hypertense patients with WCS varied according to the definition used. CONCLUSIONS: WCS is common in hypertense patients treated in Primary Care and may condition an inadequate assessment of the degree of blood pressure monitoring. As the way of defining WCS conditions its prevalence, its profile and clinical decision-taking, it is essential to agree a uniform definition for practical use.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/psychology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia del fenómeno de bata blanca (FBB) en hipertensos tratados, comparando las dos definiciones más empleadas y su influencia en el perfil del paciente con FBB. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Emplazamiento. Centro de salud urbano. Pacientes. Hipertensos seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio simple entre los incluidos en el programa de hipertensión arterial. Mediciones. Se recogieron las tensiones arteriales en la clínica (TAC) del último año y se midieron por el paciente las tensiones arteriales domiciliarias (TADo) con esfigmomanómetro electrónico, además de edad, sexo, pruebas complementarias (analítica y electrocardiograma) y otras características clínicas. Se definió FBB cuando la TAC era 140/90 mmHg y la TADo < 135/85 mmHg o cuando la diferencia entre TAC y TADo era 20 mmHg de sistólica y/o 10 mmHg de diastólica. Resultados. En 154 pacientes hipertensos (60,4 por ciento mujeres) de 38-92 años, la TAC media (141,1/85,3) fue superior a la TADo media (136,8/79,8). La prevalencia de FBB fue diferente (p = 0,001) según la definición empleada (20,1 por ciento y 36,4 por ciento). Las TAC sistólicas y diastólicas medias del último año fueron superiores en los pacientes que presentaban FBB (p < 0,001 para la diastólica). El perfil del hipertenso con FBB variaba según la definición empleada. Conclusiones. El FBB es frecuente en hipertensos tratados en atención primaria y puede condicionar una inadecuada valoración del grado de control de la TA. La manera de definirlo condiciona su prevalencia, perfil y toma de decisiones clínicas, por lo que consensuar una definición uniforme parece imprescindible para su aplicación práctica (AU)
