Valoración del dolor. Revisión comparativa de escalas y cuestionarios / Pain assessment. Comparative review of scales and questionnaires

El dolor se define como una experiencia sensorial o emocional desagradable, asociada a daño tisular real o potencial. Se trata en todo caso de un concepto subjetivo y existe siempre que un paciente diga que algo le duele. Es una patología prevalente en población general y que adquiere especial relevancia entre la población laboral por sus implicaciones socioeconómicas. Es objetivo de este trabajo revisar los distintos baremos, escalas y cuestionarios utilizados para la valoración del dolor y sus limitaciones para su posterior uso, tanto con fines médicos como laborales o periciales. Se realizó una búsqueda de las escalas, cuestionarios y baremos de discapacidad e incapacidad para la valoración del dolor realizando una comparativa entre ellos y revisando la consideración del dolor como objeto de calificación en distintos países. La comparativa de escalas y cuestionarios reafirma la complejidad de la valoración del dolor, especialmente para su posterior calificación con finalidad pericial ante la inexistencia de la valoración del dolor en los baremos. Como conclusión se consideran de utilidad las escalas y cuestionarios, todas ellas válidas y ninguna concluyente, siendo el investigador quien debe decidir cuál utilizar en cada caso en función de su experiencia y del objetivo buscado

Pain is defined as an unpleasant emotion, experience, or sensation, associated with potential or the general population, but it acquires special relevance among the working-class population, because of its socioeconomic implications. The objective of this work is to perform a review of the different scales and questionnaires used for the assessment of pain and its limitations, for their later use in medical, professional, and research purposes. An investigation of the different scales, questionnaires, disability and incapacity concept for the assessment of pain was carried out, comparing them and reviewing the consideration of pain as an object of qualification in different countries. The results reaffirm the complexity of the assessment of pain, especially for its future use, quantification, and qualification when those did not previously existed. Conclusion: All kinds of measurement scales and questionnaires are considered very useful, all beign valid, but none finally conclusive; The researchers must decide which method they will apply in each different case, based on their experience and the goal they try to achieve

CYP2D6*4 allele and breast cancer risk: is there any association?

BACKGROUND: CYP2D6 is an important cytochrome P450 enzyme. These enzymes catalyse the oxidative biotransformation of about 25% of clinically important drugs as well as the metabolism of numerous environmental chemical carcinogens. The most frequent null allele of CYP2D6 in European populations, CYP2D6*4, has been studied here in order to elucidate whether a relationship exists between this allele and the risk of developing breast cancer in a Spanish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six breast cancer Spanish patients and one hundred healthy female volunteers were genotyped for the CYP2D6*4 allele using AmpliChip CYP450 Test technology. RESULTS: Homozygous CYP2D6*4 frequency was significant lower in breast cancer patients than in the control group (OR=0.22, p=0.04). The heterozygous CYP2D6*4 group also displayed lower values in patients than in controls but the difference was not significant (OR=0.698, p=0.28). Therefore, the presence of the CYP2D6*4 allele seems to decrease susceptibility to breast carcinoma in the selected population. CONCLUSIONS: A possible decreased transformation of procarcinogens by CYP2D6*4 poor metabolisers could result in a protective effect against carcinogens (AU)

Marcadores biológicos emergentes de riesgo cardiovascular en población laboral / Emergent biological markers of cardiovascular risk in occupational poblation

Este estudio transversal y descriptivo se realizó sobre una población inicial de 200 trabajadores que, tras aplicar los criterios de exclusión, se redujo a 119 sujetos. Determinamos los factores de riesgo cardiovascular más prevalentes y relacionamos los marcadores emergentes (proteína C reactiva, lipoproteína (a) y homocisteina) con el valor de la clasificación de predicción de coronariopatía a los diez años de Framingham (FCRS). Finalmente valoramos la necesidad de introducirlos en el screening lipídico (prevención primaria). Resultados: la hipercolesterolemia, el tabaquismo y el estrés son los factores de riesgo más frecuentemente observados y están fuertemente relacionados con los hábitos personales, siendo por tanto, modificables. La proteína C reactiva resultó ser el mejor marcador de riesgo de los tres marcadores (aunque no significativa estadísticamente), además de ser la más eficiente y no precisar especiales cuidados en la fase preanalítica

This transversal and descriptive study was based over 200 workers, but only 119 passed the exclusion criteria. The aim of this study is to determinate the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and to evaluate the relation between the emergent markers of cardiovascular risk (C Reactive Protein, Lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine) and the Framingham Coronary Risk Score (FCRS). We also sought the possibility of introducing these markers in the initial blood screening. Results: hypercholesterolemia, smoking and stress are the prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, and all of them can be modified. Although not statistically significant in our results, the C Reactive Protein is the best biological emergent marker of cardiovascular risk that we studied, and the less expensive, thus being very adequate as a preventive marker

[Genetic susceptibility to the development of acute alcoholic hepatitis: role of genetic mutations in dehydrogenase alcohol, aldehyde dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450 2E1]. / Susceptibilidad genética al desarrollo de hepatitis alcohólica aguda: papel de las mutaciones genéticas en alcohol deshidrogenasa, aldehído deshidrogenasa y citocromo P450 2E1.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the frequencies of genetic mutation in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and establish their possible association with the development of acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH). METHODOLOGY: Case-control study in a total of 85 Spanish patients. We distinguish three groups (one case group and two control groups) based on hepatic histological lesion and alcohol consumption: controls (group 1: teetotalers; group 2: drinkers without AAH; cases: group 3: drinkers with AAH). Case diagnosis was established based on the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrate in histological study. We analyzed the presence of the genetic mutations R47H and R369C (ADH2), E487K (ALDH2) and mutation Rsa I of CYP2E1 (allele c2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS: The allele c2 of CYP2E1 was found in 10%, 16% and 50% of the groups 1, 2 and 3 patients, respectively. Presence of the mutation Rsa I showed influence on the development of AAH (odds ratio [OR]: 3.63; confidence interval (95% [CI]: 0.88-15.02). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest a possible association between the presence of the Rsa I of CYP2E1 and the development of AAH in patients with chronic alcohol consumption.

Susceptibilidad genética al desarrollo de hepatitis alcohólica aguda: papel de las mutaciones genéticas en alcohol deshidrogenasa, aldehído deshidrogenasa y citocromo P450 2E1 / Genetic susceptibility to the develpment of acute alcoholic hepatitis: role of genetic mutations in dehydrogenae alcohol, aldehyde dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450 2E1

Objetivo. Analizar las frecuencias de mutaciones genéticas en alcohol deshidrogenasa (ADH), aldehído deshidrogenasa (ALDH) y citocromo P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) y establecer su posible asociación con el desarrollo de hepatitis alcohólica aguda (HAA). Metodología. Estudio de casos-control en un total de 85 pacientes españoles. Distinguimos tres grupos (un grupo de casos y dos grupos control) en función de lesión histológica hepática y consumo de alcohol: controles (grupo 1: abstemios; grupos 2: bebedores sin HAA; casos: grupo 3: bebedores con HAA). El diagnóstico de caso se estableció en base a la presencia de infiltrado de leucocitos polimorfonucleares en el estudio histológico. Analizamos mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y electroforesis capilar la presencia de las mutaciones genéticas R47H y R369C (ADH2), E487K (ALDH2) y la mutación Rsa I de CYP2E1 (alelo c2). Resultados. El alelo c2 de CYP2E1 se halló en el 10%, 16% y 50% de los pacientes de los grupos 1, 2 y 3, respectivamente. La presencia de la mutación Rsa I mostró influencia sobre el desarrollo de HAA (odds ratio [OR]: 3,63; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 0,88-15,02). Conclusiones. Los datos sugieren una posible asociación entre la presencia de la mutación Rsa I de CYP2E1 y el desarrollo de HAA en pacientes con consumo crónico de alcohol

Objective. Analyze the frequencies of genetic mutation in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and establish their possible association with the development of acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH). Methodology. Case-control study in a total of 85 Spanish patients. We distinguis three groups (one case group and two control groups) based on hepatic histological lesion and alcohol consumption: controls (group 1: teetolaers; group 2: drinkers without AAH; cases: group 3: drinkers with AAH). Case diagnosis was established based on the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrate in histological study. We analyzed the presence of the genetic mutations R47H and R369C (ADH2), E487K (ALDH2) and mutation Rsa I of CYP2E1 (allele c2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis. Results. The allele c2 of CYP2E1 was found in 10%, 16% and 50% of the groups 1, 2 and 3 patients, respectively. Presence of the mutation Rsa I showed influence on the development of AAH (odds ratio [OR]: 3,63; confidence interval (95% [CI]: 0,88-15,02). Conclusions. The data suggest a posibble association between the presence of the Rsa I of CYP2E1 and the development of AAH in patients with chronic alcohol consumption

Marcadores biológicos de alcoholismo comparados mediante la utilización de curvas ROC / Comparison of biological markers of alcoholism through the use of ROC curves

Numerosos estudios realizados en los últimos años señalan la utilidad de la transferrina deficiente en hidratos de carbono (CDT) como marcador biológico de alcoholismo. En el presente estudio se comparan la sensibilidad y la especificidad de la CDT y de la gamma-glutamil transpeptidasa (GGT), como marcadores biológicos de consumo de alcohol, mediante la obtención de curvas ROC en una muestra específica de pacientes diagnosticados de dependencia alcohólica. El resultado obtenido indica que la CDT presenta un valor en la curva ROC superior al de la curva ROC de GGT, en esta muestra

In the last few years, numerous studies have reported the effectiveness of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) as a biological marker for alcoholism. The present study compares the sensitivity and specificity of CDT and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) as biological markers of alcohol consumption, through ROC curves obtained from a specific sample of patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism. The results from this sample indicate a higher value for CDT than for GGT in the ROC curves

[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and excessive consumption of alcohol in a nonhospital worker population]. / Prevalencia del virus de la hepatitis C y consumo excesivo de alcohol en una población laboral no hospitalaria.

The aim of the study was to know the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a non hospital work population by ELISA 3.0 and PCR-Amplicor, as well as its relationship with excessive alcohol intake (more than 280 g/week in men and 168 g/week in women). A transversal seroepidemiologic study was carried out in 1,109 workers of the Empresa Nacional de Electricidad, S.A. (ENDESA). During the annual medical examinations (April 1993-October 1994) the amount of alcoholic beverages each worker had consumed over the 7 days prior to the medical examination was obtained by anamnesis together with a blood sample for different laboratory tests. Sixteen percent of the workers had had excessive alcohol intake. The prevalence of anti HCV antibodies in the study population was 2.4% being up to 4.6% in the workers declaring excessive alcohol consumption and 10.4% if they also presented an elevation in any of the transaminases. The prevalence of the potentially ineffective workers was 1.46%. The prevalence of anti C antibodies by ELISA 3.0 was greater than expected (2.4%) significantly increasing in the population group which declared excessive alcohol intake, thereby demonstrating the relationship between alcohol and hepatitis C.