Prevalence and risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia in White, Black, Amerindian and Mixed Hispanics in Zulia State, Venezuela.

Studies have highlighted the association between insulin resistance (IR) and several cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, including hypertension (HTN), obesity, dyslipidemia (i.e. high triglyceride and low HDL-cholesterol) and glucose intolerance, in a cluster known as the metabolic syndrome (MS). There are few data on the frequency of the MS and dyslipidemia in developing countries, and none in South America. To estimate the prevalence of the MS and its components in Zulia State, Venezuela, and to establish associated demographic and clinical factors, we evaluated 3108 Hispanic men and women aged 20 years or older from a cross-sectional survey of a random representative sample from each health district in Zulia State, Venezuela (1999-2001). Prevalence of the MS and dyslipidemia was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)/Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. The age-adjusted prevalence of MS and dyslipidemia was 31.2% and 24.1%, respectively, with higher rates in men than in women. Prevalence rates increased with age and with the degree of obesity. MS prevalence was lower in Amerindian (17.%) compared to Black (27.2%), White (33.3%) and Mixed (37.4%) men, but no differences were found among women. Overall, low HDL-cholesterol (65.3%), abdominal obesity (42.9%) and HTN (38.1%) were the most frequent MS components. After adjusting for age, sex and race groups, family history of diabetes, obesity and HTN were associated with the MS. Sedentary lifestyle also increased the risk of MS, event after adjusting for the same covariates, obesity and the degree of IR. These results suggest that MS is found in approximately one-third of the Venezuelan adult population in Zulia State, with higher prevalence in men related to the presence of dyslipidemia. Lifestyle interventions in MS subjects are needed in Venezuela to halt the burden of CV disease and diabetes.

Mieloma múltiple: revisión clínico patológica en el Hospital Militar "Dr. Carlos Arvelo" (1981-1991) / Multiple myeloma: clinical and pathological review at the military hospital \"Dr Carlos Arvelo\"

Se revisó la incidencia y los aspectos clínicos patológicos del mieloma múltiple, en el decenio 1981-1991 en el Hospital Militar "Dr. Carlos Arvelo". Se revisaron 43 historias de pacientes a quienes se les realizó este diagnóstico en ese período. Resultados: el sexo masculino fue el más frecuentemente afectado (62,79 por ciento); el 67,44 de los pacientes fueron mayores de 60 años.El dolor óseo fue el motivo de consulta más frecuente (60,4 por ciento). La velocidad de sedimentación globular fue mayor de 50 mm/1h. en el 60,46 por ciento la hemoglobina fue menor de 10 gr por ciento en el 60.46 por ciento y el calcio sérico fue mayor de 10 mgr por ciento en el 53,48 por ciento de los pacientes. En relación a la electroforesis de inmunoglobulinas, la más frecuentemente afectada, fue la cadena gamma (en el 59,13 por ciento de los pacientes). Es de resaltar que en nuestra revisión la proteína de Bence Jones fue negativa en la mayoría de los pacientes (69,76 por ciento)