[Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in climacteric women. Influence of menopause and hormone replace therapy]. / Prevalencia de los trastornos de la sexualidad en mujeres climatéricas. Influencia de la menopausia y de la terapia de reemplazo hormonal.

BACKGROUND: Few trials have studied the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and related risk factors in postmenopausal women using the DSM-IV criteria. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of SD in menopausal women and the impact of risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred thirty four healthy women, 40 to 64 years of age were interviewed using the Laumann test (DSM-IV). RESULTS: Mean age was 52.4 +/- 5.7 years. Eighty three percent were peri or postmenopausal, 23% used hormonal substitution therapy and 79.2% were sexually active. Among sexually active women, the prevalence of SD increased along with age, from 22.2% at the 40-44 years old range to 66.0% in the 60-64 years old group. Hormone users and healthy women had a low risk for SD (Odds ratio (OR): 0.1 IC: 0.0-0.1 and OR: 0.6 IC: 0.3-0.9, respectively). The risk increased in menopausal women (OR: 3.3 IC: 1.6-6.9), those older than 49 years (OR: 3.4 IC: 1.8-6.4), those subjected to hysterectomy (OR: 3.7 IC: 1.3-10.6) or those with an impotent sexual partner (OR: 3.2 IC: 1.2-8.6). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of SD among climacteric women. Estrogens, either endogenous or exogenous, have a positive influence on sexuality.

Use of hormone replacement therapy among Chilean women: a comparison between socioeconomic levels.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) among Chilean women according to their socioeconomic level. METHODS: A total of 540 women between 50 and 79 years of age were interviewed in Santiago, Chile. Women were allocated into two groups (H, high; L, low), according to their socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Each group consisted of 270 women. The mean age and percentage of menopausal women were similar in both groups. Of the interviewed women, 47% had taken HRT at some time; marked differences between the two groups were observed (L, 15%; H, 79%; < 0.0001). In group H, the percentage of women who had been advised about HRT was close to 88%, whereas, in group L, the percentage was only 24%. Among the women who were informed about HRT, 83% ( = 253) had used it at some time. The percentage of women who used HRT for >2 years was similar in both groups. The main reason for not taking HRT in group H was fear of adverse effects, whereas the main reason for not taking it in group L was the lack of medical advice. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of women in the low socioeconomic group who use HRT is low. Medical advice is fundamental to increasing HRT use in this group.

Tumores epiteliales del ovario de bajo potencial de malignidad / Epithelial tumors of the ovary of low potential of malignancy

Se analizan las caracteristicas clínicas y morfológicas de los tumores epiteliales del ovario de bajo potencial de malignidad. Se comunica una casuística de 28 casos de esta variedad de tumores. Se analizan los siguientes aspectos: edad, paridad, estadio clínico al diagnóstico, tamaño del tumor, variedad histológica, tratamiento y pronóstico

Mucormicosis en un paciente con leucemia aguda monoblástica / Mucormicosis in a patient with acute monoblastic leucemia

La mucormicosis es una enfermedad inusual que se presenta en pacientes diabéticos quetoacidóticos y/o inmunodeprimidos. Se comunica el segundo caso en Chile de mucormicosis asociado a candidiasis en un paciente con leucemia aguda monoblástica, que se manifestó por fiebre y compromiso ocular, tratándose con Anfotericina B en forma tardía, sin obtenerse mejoría. La importancia de este caso clínico radica en el hecho de que en un paciente inmunodeprimido, cualquiera que sea su causa, ante la presencia de un cuadro inflamatorio paranasal o periocular debe plantearse el diagnóstico de una mucormicosis. No debe esperarse el resultado de un cultivo o de la biopsia para iniciar de inmediato un tratamiento antimicótico