Chlamydia trachomatis: transmisión vertical con membranas integras / Chlamydia trachomatis: vertical transmission with intact membranes

Se presenta un caso clínico de transmisión vertical de Chlamydia trachomatis con membranas amniocoriónicas íntegras. Se discute esta rara vía de contagio realizando una revisión actualizada de su diagnóstico y tratamiento.

We report a clinical case of vertical transmision of Chlamydia trachomatis with intact membranes; discussion of this rare route of infection and a follow up on diagnosis and therapy is done.

Alcohol consumption among high school students in Barcelona, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Since adolescents are a high-risk group for alcohol-related problems, this study was undertaken to gain insight into the prevalence of alcohol consumption among this population. METHOD: This study was carried out in the city of Barcelona using an anonymous questionnaire which included information about frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. The sample population was composed of all the students from 13 to 20 years old who were attending high school during 1992-93 (n = 1,137) and 1994-95 (n = 1,094). The amount of alcohol consumption was calculated in alcohol units per week for 4 groups of different beverages (beer, wine, spirits and aperitifs) and also in grams per day. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption was 92.5% in 1992-93 and 77.0% in 1994-95. Students who drank more frequently were older and male. In 1992-93, 8% of female students had an absolute alcohol intake beyond 24 g per day (risk consumption), which was the same percentage in 1994-95. Male students had a higher intake, although risk consumption rate (more than 40 g per day) was similar to that of females: 9% and 7.4% in 1992-93 and 1994-95, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While changes in the prevalence of drinking are encouraging, the results of this study also show an increase in the quantity of alcohol consumed.

Caso inusual de cáncer de ovario avanzado / Unusual case of advanced ovarian cancer

El cáncer de ovario, es una patología de diagnóstico tardío y de alta mortalidad en sus estadios avanzados. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 51 años, portadora de un cáncer de ovario (Cistoadenocarcinoma seroso papilar ovárico bilateral) estadio IIIb, con 13 años de sobrevida post tratamiento. Se analiza tanto su historia clínica, estudio, tratamiento y su evolución en el tiempo

[Leisure-time physical activity of first-year students in 3 health science departments]. / Actividad física durante el tiempo libre del alumnado de primer curso en tres facultades de Ciencias de la Salud.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a well-known risk factor for many chronic diseases which have high prevalence in developed countries. The aims of this study are to describe leisure-time physical activity levels and to identify preferences for its practice among first grade students in three Health Sciences Faculties at the University of Barcelona. METHODS: During the year 1994-95, a total of 887 first grade students of three Faculties, Pharmacy (n = 573), Medicine (n = 222) and Dentistry (n = 92), were interviewed using a recall of their leisure time physical activity over last 8 months. Physical activity level was classified into four categories: non-active, low, medium and high, based on the number of hours per week. Statistical methods consisted in the estimation of rates, comparisons using the chi-square test, and computing the odds ratio. RESULTS: Women were 75% of students. Fifty per cent of men and 71.5% of women referred to be non-active or having low physical activity level (chi 2 = 36.8; DF = 3; p < 0.0001), being no evidence of association with current smoking or overweight (Body Mass Index > or = 25). Among the rest of students, men's most frequently reported activities were football, swimming and tennis, and those of women's were swimming, aerobic and tennis. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity level among first grade health sciences university students is poorly exemplary. More physical activity promotion is needed, particularly to female students, as an important primary preventive measure among this group.

[Epidemiology of tobacco use in health-science students]. / Epidemiología del tabaquismo en los estudiantes de ciencias de la salud.

The characteristics of tobacco use by students of the Division of Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona have been studied. During the 1988-1989 school year, 382 students were individually interviewed about their use of tobacco by means of a questionnaire routinely used by the Department of Health and Social Security of the Generalitat of Catolonia (Spain), with pertinent modifications for this specific group. These interviews were performed by appropriately trained personnel. Information was also gathered on the influence of university-level studies on smoking habits, the effect of advertising and the efficacy of antitobacco programs and campaigns carried out by the government. The study sample was drawn from lists supplied by the registrars' offices, by means of a random sampling by school (Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Odontology and Nursing). The prevalence of tobacco use was 40.8% (29.8% daily smokers and 11% occasional smokers). These results are similar to those described in the literature, although these values are somewhat higher than those in more developed countries with a longer tradition of resistance to the use of tobacco. It is important to note that studying health sciences does not appear to be a major influence on the student's habits, but that the social and cultural environment is the factor which weighs the most in this respect. In conclusion, to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in this important group, educational programs must be begun at the pre-university level (secondary school) and changes should be made in the curricula of the health professional so that areas related to tobacco use are more motivational for students.

Epidemiología del tabaquismo en los estudiantes de ciencias de la salud / Tobacco use in health-science students

Foram estudadas as características do hábito de fumar nos estudantes de ciências da saúde da Universidade de Barcelona. Durante o ano letivo 1988-89 foram entrevistados 382 aluno em relaçäo ao uso do fumo, por meio de questionário rotinamente utilizado por um Departamento daquela Universidade, no qual foram efetuadas modificaçöes pertinentes ao grupo estudado. Foram obtidas informaçöes relacionadas com a influência dos estudos universitários no hábito de fumar, com os efeitos da publicidade e com a eficácia dos programas e das campanhas da luta anti-fumo desenvolvidos pelas administraçöes públicas. A amostra foi obtida a partir das listagens fornecidas pelas diferentes secretarias administrativas, por meio de uma amostragem aleatória estratificada por Faculdades (Medicina, Farmácia, Psicologia, Odontologia e Enfermagem). A prevalência do tabagismo foi de 40,8 por cento (29,8 por cento de fumantes habituais e 11 por cento ocasionais). Os estudos relacionados com a saúde näo parecem influir, de uma forma destacada, no hábito dos estudantes, sendo o meio cultural e social o fator que exerce papel mais determinante nesse sentido. Assinala-se que, para poder diminuir a prevalência do fumo nesse importante grupo, devem-se iniciar programas educativos ao nível de escolarizaçäo pré-universitária (bacharelato unificado polivalente e curso de orientaçäo universitária) e introduzir modificaçöes nos futuros planos de estudo das profissöes sanitárias, de forma a que os conteúdos relacionados com o fumo sejam canais motivadores para os alunos

[Abdominal tuberculosis in childhood: the clinical manifestations]. / Tuberculosis abdominal en la infancia: manifestaciones clíncas.

The authors reviewed the histories of 133 patients with abdominal tuberculosis in Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño (Children's Hospital), Lima, Perú, between 1989 and 1991. We found morbidity higher in scholars (67.4%). Weight lost were present in all cases and malaise in 95.3%, abdominal distension in 83.72% and abdominal pain in 79.06%. Anaemia in 76.06%, ratio albumin/globulin were altered in 74.41% leukocytosis in 67.44%. Evidence of tuberculosis on chest X-ray were detected only in 62.5%.