Prevalencia de asma y su impacto en la calidad de vida de los adolescentes escolarizados de la ciudad / Asthma prevalence and its impact on the quality of life of school adolescents in the city

Antecedentes. La presencia de asma o su combinación con otros factores afectaría la calidad de vida de los adolescentes. No habría estudios que contemplen estas asociaciones en la ciudad. Objetivo. Describir la frecuencia de asma, factores asociados y su impacto en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en adolescentes de 13 a 18 años de la ciudad. Material y métodos. Encuesta a adolescentes de escuelas públicas y privadas durante el año 2008, que empleó un muestreo por conglomerados en 2 etapas y un cuestionario autoadministrado. La prevalencia de asma se midió con la metodología ISAAC, y la CVRS por medio de la versión argentina KIDSCREEN-52. Se analizaron los factores asociados a asma por medio de la prueba del χ2 y regresión logística múltiple. Se estratificó el análisis de la CVRS en presencia y ausencia de asma, controlando por género y presencia de adicciones. Resultados. Se encuestó a 2.566 adolescentes. La prevalencia de asma fue 15% (379/2.566): 9% (221/2.566) con síntomas indicadores de asma (SIA) y 6% (158/2.566) con asma declarada. El 10% presentó condiciones con elevada sospecha de asma. Las puntuaciones medias en asmáticos fueron más bajas que en los no asmáticos en todas las dimensiones de la CVRS, aunque las diferencias no fueron significativas. Los adolescentes con asma y adicciones presentaron las puntuaciones más bajas, particularmente en la percepción sobre bienestar físico y el estado de ánimo. Asma se relacionó con baja percepción del estado de ánimo, aún controlando por otras variables. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de asma en adolescentes de la ciudad puede considerarse como intermedia a nivel global, regional y nacional, aunque existiría una proporción elevada de casos con subdiagnóstico. El asma se relacionó con una baja percepción del estado de ánimo.(AU)

Background. The presence of asthma or its combination with other factors, affect the quality of life of adolescents. There wouldn´t be studies that consider these associations in the city. Objective. To describe the prevalence of asthma, associated factors and their impact on quality of life related to health (HRQOL) in adolescents 13 to 18 years in the city. Methods. A survey of adolescents in public and private schools in 2008 that used a cluster sampling in two stages and a self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of asthma was measured using the ISAAC methodology and HRQL by Argentina's version KIDSCREEN-52. The factors associated with asthma were analyzed by the χ2 test and multiple logistic regression. Stratified analysis of HRQOL in the presence and absence of asthma, controlling for gender and presence of addictions. Results. 2.566 adolescents were surveyed. Prevalence of asthma: 15% (379/2.566) - 9% (221/2.566) with SIA and 6% (158/2.566) with asthma declared. 10% had conditions with high suspicion of asthma. The mean scores were lower in asthmatics than in non-asthmatics in all dimensions of HRQOL, although the differences were not significant. Adolescents with asthma and addictions had the lowest scores, particularly in the perception of physical and mood. Asthma was associated with low perception of mood, even when controlling for other variables. Conclusions. The prevalence of asthma in adolescents in the city can be regarded as intermediate global, regional and national levels, although there would be a high proportion of cases with subdiagnosis. Asthma was associated with a low perception of mood.(AU)

Zinc uptake by human erythrocytes with and without serum albumins in the medium.

Different mechanisms of Zn uptake are present in mammalian cells. The variations in the Zn uptake by human erythrocytes in the absence and presence of albumins, bovine and human, as well as the differences of Zn uptake with and without 4-4'-diidothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid have been analyzed in this study. The results show a significantly greater rate of Zn uptake in the absence rather than in the presence of albumins in the extracellular medium and being significantly greater with bovine than with human serum albumin when the experiments were performed in media with equimolar concentrations of Zn. However, when comparing Zn uptake in a medium without albumin with similar free-Zn concentration to Zn ultrafiltrable (20%) of other one with albumin, a significantly greater Zn uptake on the latter was observed. The DIDS inhibition on Zn uptake is higher if the albumin is also present in the medium. These results suggest that in Zn uptake by erythrocytes the albumin directly or indirectly would be involved, facilitating the well-known processes of passive transport and anionic exchanger.

Longitudinal study of serum copper and zinc levels and their distribution in blood proteins after acute myocardial infarction.

The levels and distribution of serum Cu and Zn were studied in patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction from the day of admission to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit until the 10th day following the attack. The results obtained show that Cu increases significantly (p < 0.01) after the 5th day after the acute myocardial infarction, while Zn decreases significantly (p < 0.01) with respect to the control group from the first day on, with the lowest values being found on the 3rd day after the attack. Further, total serum Cu showed an excellent correlation with the albumin-bound and globulin-bound Cu (ceruloplasmin), as well as with the concentrations of both serum protein fractions. In contrast, total serum Zn only presents this correlation with Zn bound to albumin, but not with Zn bound to globulin nor with the albumin concentration. These findings suggest the existence of some type of relationship between the two fractions of the element bound to protein. This relationship is probably different for both metals.

Short- and long-term effects of calcitonin and calcium administration on blood calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus in post menopausal osteoporosis.

This paper studies the effects of the administration of calcitonin (CT) and Ca on post menopausal osteoporosis, immediately (short-term) and after three months (long-term) of treatment, on total and ionic calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), inorganic phosphorus (Pi), calcitonin (CT) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in plasma. The short-term results show a decrease in total and ionic Ca and Pi four hours after the beginning of the treatment; at seven hours, only Pi varies. A decrease in the total and ionic Ca was observed after three months of CT treatment (long-term effects). No hormonal (PTH and CT) variations were found either in the short or the long-term. However, the PTH/CT ratio decreased significantly during the experiment and this may be an important factor in explaining the long-term Ca variations.

[Experience with an enteral diet with fiber and a high fat content in ICU patients with glucose intolerance]. / Experiencia con una dieta enteral con fibra y alto contenido en grasas en pacientes de UCI con intolerancia a la glucosa.

The use of EN in diabetics is problematic due to the rapid absorption of the nutrients and difficulties in controlling glycemia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical tolerance and effects of a special diet for patients unable to tolerate glucose on glycemia and insulin requirements, containing 50% of its caloric intake in the form of fats (mainly monounsaturated fatty acids) and a high fibre content. This diet was used on a group of Intensive Care patients with stress diabetes, comparing it to a high protein diet in terms of Nitrogen Balance and evolution of circulating proteins. 35 patients admitted to Intensive Care with traumas or sepsis were studied. The patients received EN for a period of 14 days. They were divided into two groups at random. Group A received a high protein diet and Group B the special diet for patients with intolerance to glucose. In Group A, the levels of glycemia and insulin requirements were significantly higher than those of Group B. There were no significant differences in albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and RBP levels in both groups. Cholesterol levels remained normal, although on day 14 they were higher in Group B patients. Group A patients had higher triglyceride levels. The nitrogen balance was only higher on days 6 and 7 in Group A patients, with and accumulated Balance for the 14 days of 11.54 +/- 3.5 g. In Group A compared to 6.24 +/- 2.63 g. in Group B. Clinical tolerance to the diet was satisfactory, with the usual problems in critical patients.

Calcitonin and metabolic alkalosis.

Calcitonin is used in the treatment of osteoporosis and several adverse effects, such as rash, antibody presence, hypocalcemia, etc have been reported with the therapeutic use of large quantities of this hormone. The results found in this paper show that 7 h after administration of large doses of calcitonin to osteoporotic patients on hormone treatment, the acid-base status shifts to metabolic alkalosis. This represents another adverse effect of the use of pharmacological doses of calcitonin.

[Changes in nutritional and biochemical parameters in septic patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition. Their relationship with mortality]. / Evolución de parámetros nutricionales y bioquímicos en pacientes sépticos bajo NPT. Su relación con la mortalidad.

The response of 24 septic patients admitted into the ICU to total parenteral nutrition was studied, and the course of the parameters evaluated from non-surviving (14) and surviving patients was compared. Serum glucose, triglyceride, albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, RBP, zinc levels and CD4/CD8 ratio were measured at 48 hours, 4 days and 8 days after the onset of parenteral nutrition. Overall, a significant increase in prealbumin (p less than 0.01) and RBP (p less than 0.05) levels were the only findings to parenteral nutrition response. When the non-surviving and surviving groups were compared, the former showed a significant increase in serum triglyceride (p less than 0.001), while a significant increase in serum transferrin and CD4/CD8 ratio (p less than 0.01) was observed in the latter.

[The effect of thyroparathyroidectomy, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin on plasma strontium in rats]. / Efecto de la tiroparatiroidectomía, la parathormona y la calcitonina sobre el estroncio plasmático en rata.

The effect of thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX) on the plasmatic Sr concentrations in rats previously supplemented with this element, has been studied, as well as its effect on the treatment of TPTX rats with hormonal combinations and, finally, the one presenting hormonal excess or defect of the phosphocalcium metabolism regulating hormones: parathormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT). Twenty four hours after TPTX, the plasmatic Sr concentrations show a pattern similar to those of Ca and Mg and contrary to Pi. The subsequent evolution is different, as the plasmatic concentrations increase, probably due to the maintenance of Sr supplementation. The administration of this element to TPTX rats and the treatment with a hormonal combination with two of the following hormones: PTH, CT and T4 antagonize the hormonal effect on the restoration of the plasmatic concentrations of the elements analyzed. The PTH excess and defect (TPTX treated with CT + T4) show plasmatic increases in Sr; the CT excess provokes decreases while the defect (administration of PTH + T4) causes increases. The T4 administration reproduces the CT effects, but inconsistently. These results suggest that CT may be the hormone that plays a regulating role in the plasmatic Sr concentrations.

[Effects of lithium on serum calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus after exercise in rats]. / Influencia del litio sobre calcio, magnesio y fósforo inorgánico séricos tras ejercicio en ratas.

Exercise, in patients on lithium (Li) treatment, causes alterations in serum concentration of this element, not well established yet. Besides, lithium treatment and exercise practice bring about variations in the serum levels of other mineral elements. This paper intends to analyze these variations in rats with and without lithium treatment after training and exhausting exercise. In normal rats, lithium treatment increases serum concentrations in all ions analyzed, larger than those found in the trained rats having received lithium treatment. In rats treated with Li, training (15 min/day during one week), significatively decreases serum concentration in this element, while exhausting exercise did not offer significant results. In normal rats, exhausting exercise causes serum increases of Ca, Mg and Pi; in rats treated with lithium, when compared with normal rats plus exhaustion, greater increases of serum Ca stand out, while Mg concentrations are smaller. Training arises serum Mg and Pi in normal rats; while it increases serum Ca in rats treated with Li.

Hematological indices as markers of ischemic heart disease in young smokers.

This paper evaluates the hematological indices in young smokers compared to non-smokers of similar age, diet, physical exercise, profession and alcohol consumption.