Safety of aerosol therapy in children during noninvasive ventilation with helmet and total face mask / Seguridad de la aerosolterapia durante la ventilación mecánica no invasiva con helmet y mascarilla facial total en población pediátrica

Purpose: To evaluate the consequences of using nebulized drugs in patients subjected to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with total face mask (TFM) and helmet. Design: A descriptive analytical study of a prospective patient cohort was carried out. Ambit: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital. Patients: Consecutive sampling was used to include all patients admitted to the PICU and requiring NIV with helmet or TFM over a period of 29 months. No patients were excluded. Interventions: Nebulized treatment was added according to medical criteria. Variables of interest: Independent variables were age, sex, diagnosis, disease severity, ventilation parameters and nebulized drugs (if administered). Secondary outcomes were duration and failure of NIV, and length of PICU stay. Results: The most frequent diagnoses were bronchiolitis (60.5%) and asthma (23%). Patients received NIV for a median of 43h. Nebulized drugs were administered in 40% of the cases during NIV, and no adverse effects were registered. Using Bayesian statistics, the calculated probability of suffering an adverse effect was 1.3% with helmet and 0.5% with TFM (high density 95% probability intervals). Patients with helmet and nebulized therapy were in more serious condition than those who did not receive nebulization; nevertheless, no differences were observed regarding the need to change to bilevel modality. With TFM, PICU stay was shorter for the same degree of severity (p=0.033), and the NIV failure rate was higher in patients who did not receive inhaled drugs (p=0.024). Conclusions: The probability of suffering an adverse effect related to nebulization is extremely low when using a helmet or TFM. Inhaled therapy with TFM may shorten PICU stay in some patients

Objetivo: Evaluar las consecuencias de la medicación nebulizada en pacientes con ventilación no invasiva (VNI) con mascarilla facial total (MFT) y casco. Diseño: Estudio analítico descriptivo sobre una cohorte prospectiva de pacientes. Ámbito: UCIP de hospital de tercer nivel. Pacientes: Todos los pacientes ingresados en UCIP (muestreo consecutivo) con VNI con casco o MFT durante 29 meses. No se excluyeron pacientes. Intervenciones: Se añadió tratamiento nebulizado según criterio médico. Variables de interés: Independientes: edad, sexo, diagnóstico, gravedad, parámetros ventilatorios y medicación nebulizada (si se utilizaba). Secundarias: duración, fallo de VNI y estancia en UCIP. Resultados: Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron bronquiolitis (60,5%) y asma (23%). La mediana de conexión a VNI fue de 43 horas. Se administraron nebulizaciones durante la VNI en un 40% sin registrarse efectos adversos. La probabilidad calculada de tener un efecto adverso fue 1,3% con casco y 0,5% con MFT (estadística bayesiana, intervalo de probabilidad 95%). Los pacientes con casco y aerosolterapia tenían mayor gravedad que los que no recibieron nebulizaciones, sin encontrarse diferencias en la necesidad de cambiar a modalidad con doble nivel de presión. En los pacientes con MFT la estancia en UCIP fue menor (p=0,033) a pesar de no existir diferencias en el nivel de gravedad; la tasa de fallo de VNI fue mayor en los que no recibieron nebulizaciones (p=0,024). Conclusiones: La probabilidad de tener un efecto adverso relacionado con la nebulización es baja utilizando casco o MFT. La terapia inhalada con MFT puede disminuir la estancia en UCIP en algunos pacientes

Safety of aerosol therapy in children during noninvasive ventilation with helmet and total face mask.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the consequences of using nebulized drugs in patients subjected to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with total face mask (TFM) and helmet. DESIGN: A descriptive analytical study of a prospective patient cohort was carried out. AMBIT: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive sampling was used to include all patients admitted to the PICU and requiring NIV with helmet or TFM over a period of 29 months. No patients were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Nebulized treatment was added according to medical criteria. VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Independent variables were age, sex, diagnosis, disease severity, ventilation parameters and nebulized drugs (if administered). Secondary outcomes were duration and failure of NIV, and length of PICU stay. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnoses were bronchiolitis (60.5%) and asthma (23%). Patients received NIV for a median of 43h. Nebulized drugs were administered in 40% of the cases during NIV, and no adverse effects were registered. Using Bayesian statistics, the calculated probability of suffering an adverse effect was 1.3% with helmet and 0.5% with TFM (high density 95% probability intervals). Patients with helmet and nebulized therapy were in more serious condition than those who did not receive nebulization; nevertheless, no differences were observed regarding the need to change to bilevel modality. With TFM, PICU stay was shorter for the same degree of severity (p=0.033), and the NIV failure rate was higher in patients who did not receive inhaled drugs (p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The probability of suffering an adverse effect related to nebulization is extremely low when using a helmet or TFM. Inhaled therapy with TFM may shorten PICU stay in some patients.

Androgen receptor gene polymorphism influence fat accumulation: A longitudinal study from adolescence to adult age.

To determine the influence of androgen receptor CAG and GGN repeat polymorphisms on fat mass and maximal fat oxidation (MFO), CAG and GGN repeat lengths were measured in 128 young boys, from which longitudinal data were obtained in 45 of them [mean ± SD: 12.8 ± 3.6 years old at recruitment, and 27.0 ± 4.8 years old at adult age]. Subjects were grouped as CAG short (CAGS ) if harboring repeat lengths ≤ 21, the rest as CAG long (CAGL ); and GGN short (GGNS ) if GGN repeat lengths ≤ 23, or long if > 23 (GGNL ). CAGS and GGNS were associated with lower adiposity than CAGL or GGNL (P < 0.05). There was an association between the logarithm of CAG repeats polymorphism and the changes of body mass (r = 0.34, P = 0.03). At adult age, CAGS men showed lower accumulation of total body and trunk fat mass, and lower resting metabolic rate (RMR) and MFO per kg of total lean mass compared with CAGL (P < 0.05). GGNS men also showed lower percentage of body fat (P < 0.05). In summary, androgen receptor CAG and GGN repeat polymorphisms are associated with RMR, MFO, fat mass, and its regional distribution in healthy male adolescents, influencing fat accumulation from adolescence to adult age.

Isoinertial and isokinetic sprints: muscle signalling.

To determine if the muscle signalling response to a 30 s all-out sprint exercise is modulated by the exercise mode and the endocrine response, 27 healthy volunteers were divided in 2 groups that performed isokinetic (10 men and 5 women) and isoinertial (7 men and 5 women) Wingate tests. Blood samples and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were taken before, immediately after, 30 and 120 min after the sprints. Groups were comparable in age, height, body weight, percentage of body fat, peak power per kg of lower extremities lean mass (Pmax) and muscle fibre types. However, the isoinertial group achieved a 25% greater mean power (Pmean). Sprint exercise elicited marked increases in the musculus vastus lateralis AMPKα, ACCß, STAT3, STAT5 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation (all P<0.05). The AMPKα, STAT3, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation responses were more marked after the isoinertial than isokinetic test (interaction: P<0.01). The differences in muscle signalling could not be accounted for by differences in Pmax, although Pmean could explain part of the difference in AMPKα phosphorylation. The leptin, insulin, glucose, GH, IL-6, and lactate response were similar in both groups. In conclusion, the muscle signalling response to sprint exercise differs between isoinertial and isokinetic sprints.

[INFORNUT process: validation of the filter phase-FILNUT--and comparison with other methods for the detection of early hospital hyponutrition]. / Proceso INFORNUT: validación dela fase de filtro-FILNUT--y comparación con otros métodos de detección precoz de desnutrición hospitalaria.

INTRODUCTION: According to several series, hospital hyponutrition involves 30-50% of hospitalized patients. The high prevalence justifies the need for early detection from admission. There several classical screening tools that show important limitations in their systematic application in daily clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationship between hyponutrition, detected by our screening method, and mortality, hospital stay, or re-admissions. To analyze, as well, the relationship between hyponutrition and prescription of nutritional support. To compare different nutritional screening methods at admission on a random sample of hospitalized patients. Validation of the INFORNUT method for nutritional screening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a previous phase from the study design, a retrospective analysis with data from the year 2003 was carried out in order to know the situation of hyponutrition in Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, at Malaga, gathering data from the MBDS (Minimal Basic Data Set), laboratory analysis of nutritional risk (FILNUT filter), and prescription of nutritional support. In the experimental phase, a cross-sectional cohort study was done with a random sample of 255 patients, on May of 2004. Anthropometrical study, Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS), Gassull's method, CONUT and INFORNUT were done. The settings of the INFORNUT filter were: albumin < 3.5 g/dL, and/or total proteins <5 g/dL, and/or prealbumin <18 mg/dL, with or without total lymphocyte count < 1.600 cells/mm3 and/or total cholesterol <180 mg/dL. In order to compare the different methods, a gold standard is created based on the recommendations of the SENPE on anthropometrical and laboratory data. The statistical association analysis was done by the chi-squared test (a: 0.05) and agreement by the k index. RESULTS: In the study performed in the previous phase, it is observed that the prevalence of hospital hyponutrition is 53.9%. One thousand six hundred and forty four patients received nutritional support, of which 66.9% suffered from hyponutrition. We also observed that hyponutrition is one of the factors favoring the increase in mortality (hyponourished patients 15.19% vs. non-hyponourished 2.58%), hospital stay (hyponourished patients 20.95 days vs. non-hyponourished 8.75 days), and re-admissions (hyponourished patients 14.30% vs. non-hyponourished 6%). The results from the experimental study are as follows: the prevalence of hyponutrition obtained by the gold standard was 61%, INFORNUT 60%. Agreement levels between INFORNUT, CONUT, and GASSULL are good or very good between them (k: 0.67 INFORNUT with CONUT, and k: 0.94 INFORNUT and GASSULL) and wit the gold standard (k: 0.83; k: 0.64 CONUT; k: 0.89 GASSULL). However, structured tests (SGA, MNA, NRS) show low agreement indexes with the gold standard and laboratory or mixed tests (Gassull), although they show a low to intermediate level of agreement when compared one to each other (k: 0.489 NRS with SGA). INFORNUT shows sensitivity of 92.3%, a positive predictive value of 94.1%, and specificity of 91.2%. After the filer phase, a preliminary report is sent, on which anthropometrical and intake data are added and a Nutritional Risk Report is done. CONCLUSIONS: Hyponutrition prevalence in our study (60%) is similar to that found by other authors. Hyponutrition is associated to increased mortality, hospital stay, and re-admission rate. There are no tools that have proven to be effective to show early hyponutrition at the hospital setting without important applicability limitations. FILNUT, as the first phase of the filter process of INFORNUT represents a valid tool: it has sensitivity and specificity for nutritional screening at admission. The main advantages of the process would be early detection of patients with risk for hyponutrition, having a teaching and sensitization function to health care staff implicating them in nutritional assessment of their patients, and doing a hyponutrition diagnosis and nutritional support need in the discharge report that would be registered by the Clinical Documentation Department. Therefore, INFORNUT would be a universal screening method with a good cost-effectiveness ratio.

[Anthropometric and nutritional study in young adults. Evaluation of submandibular skinfold thickness]. / Estudio antropométrico y nutricional en adultos jóvenes. Valoración del pliegue cutáneo submandibular.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the main anthropometric characteristics of a young adult population, to compare some measurements obtained with different formulas, and to compare these results with a reference population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied 72 healthy female university students aged 19.0 to 20.9 years (mean age 19.63). We have measured weight, height, body mass index (BMI), cervical and arm circumferences, and biceps, triceps, and submandibular skinfolds. We have calculated total arm area, fat arm area and muscular arm area using traditional formulas and others recently published. Means were compared using Student's t test and we also calculated Pearson correlations. RESULTS: Concerning anthropometric measurements, they were similar to those of the reference population. Arm areas were different when calculated with different formulas (p < 0.000). All the anthropometric characteristics measured correlated with each other, except with height. Submandibular skinfold correlated with biceps skinfold (0.467), triceps skinfold (0.513), BMI (0.503), weight (0.476), cervical circumference (0.511) and arm circumference (0.505). Submandibular skinfold also showed a significant correlation with arm measurements, especially fat area (0.519, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fat and muscular arm areas were different depending on the different formulas used to be calculated. Submandibular skinfold is easy to obtain and is related with the other indexes of body fat. This measure could be included in nutritional surveys.

[A bronchogenic cervical cyst. A case report]. / Quiste broncogénico cervical. A propósito de un caso.

The bronchogenic cyst is a tracheobronchial tree congenital malformation, normally intrathoracic. Usually presenting as an acute respiratory insufficiency (especially during infancy) or as recurrent respiratory infections or may be an accidental finding in asymptomatic patients. We present a rare case of cervical localization which began as an acute respiratory distress following a tonsilar infection.

[Aspergillosis of maxillary sinus: a case report]. / Aspergillosis de seno maxilar. A propósito de un caso.

A case of semi-invasive maxillary aspergillosis that presented with epiphora and responded well to surgical treatment is reported. Sixteen percent of cases of chronic sinusitis are produced by mycosis (particularly aspergillosis). The infection may be limited to the affected sinus (non-invasive forms) or may destroy the sinus wall, without tissue invasion (semi-invasive forms) or with tissue invasion (invasive forms). The diagnosis is mainly histological. Cultures present a high percentage of false positives and negatives. Treatment consists of surgical debridement of the sinus. Systemic amphotericin B is reserved for invasive aspergillosis (particularly fulminant cases).

[The study of the evolution of laryngeal premalignant lesions]. / Estudio evolutivo de lesiones premalignas laríngeas.

Hyperkeratosis of the laryngeal epithelium is considered a clinically premalignant lesion that develops into invasive carcinoma in about 7-20% of cases. We reviewed 125 cases of patients with laryngeal keratosis in biopsy obtained by direct laryngocopy over a 10-year period. The evolution of these lesions to malignancy was conditioned by age, the presence of atypias in the initial lesions, and smoking; smoking is a modifiable factor. Surgery is the treatment of choice, with periodic follow-up for three to five years. The literature was reviewed.

[Myringoplasty: onlay vs. underlay. Review of 460 cases]. / Miringoplastia: onlay versus underlay. Revisión de 460 casos.

A retrospective review was made of 460 myringoplasties performed in our department from 1984 to 1990. In 80%, the perforation closed successfully. There were no differences in site, size, cause, or previous operations. Results were statistically better with the onlay technique than with the underlay technique, particularly in large perforations. Poorer results were obtained in younger patients, a difference that almost reached statistical significance. Hearing improved in 64% of patients with closed perforations and hearing deteriorated in 29% (2.1% complete hearing loss).

[Acute respiratory obstruction caused by laryngeal rheumatoid arthritis]. / Obstrucción respiratoria aguda por artritis reumatoide laríngea.

We present a case of acute upper airway obstruction due to cricoarytenoid arthritis in severe rheumatoid arthritis. Although laryngeal involvement is common in severe rheumatoid arthritis, the upper airway obstruction is a very rare complication. The endotracheal intubation may be very difficult in these patients, thus fiberotopic bronchoscopy may be useful. Surgery is the final treatment.