[Psycho-pathological risk factor of arterial disease (prevalence, superposition or vinculation with other factors)]. / Estudio oncativo: factores de riesgo psicopatológicos de enfermedad arterial (prevalencia, superposición o vínculo con otros factores).

Alexitimia and depression may or not coexist with others risk factors (comportment o physical). Frecuently they have relation with socio-echonomic status and with ethnia. Sometimes are determinants of the atherosclerotic process by increasing the vascular reactivity by the alteration of the evolution. There is no information in our country about this problem in general population. The present study result of the investigation of these aspects and the comportamental and physical factors of arterial disease, in a population of Cordoba province (Argentina Republic).

Estudio oncativo: factores de riesgo psicopatológicos de enfermedad arterial (prevalencia, superposición o vínculo con otros factores) / Psycho-pathological risk factor of arterial disease (prevalence, superposition or vinculation with other factors)

Entidades psicopatológicas como alexitimia y depresión, pueden coexistir o no con factores de riesgo de enfermedad arterial o ser entidades independientes. Tienen frecuentemente relación con aspectos socio-económico-culturales y con la etnia; a veces son determinantes del proceso ateroesclerótico por alterar la reactividad vascular (Alexitimai) o agravadores del proceso evolutivo (depresión). Materiales y métodos: Existe escasa información sobre esta tematica en nuestro país: la existente se refiere a los mismos en muestras seleccionadas, no de poblaciones generales (urbanas o rurales). Resultados: se exponen los resultados obtenidos de lainvestigación de esos factores en una población de la Provincia de Córdoba (RA), donde simultáneamente se estudiaron factores de orden fisico y conductual. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de la depresión es más elevada que en otras poblaciones

Alexitimia and depression may or not coexist with others risk factors (comportment o physical). Frecuently they have relation with socio-echonomic status and with ethnia. Sometimes are determinants of the atherosclerotic process by increasing the vascular reactivity by the alteration of the evolution. There is no information in our country about this problem in general population. The present study result of the investigation of these aspects and the comportamental and physical factors of arterial disease, in a population of Cordoba province (Argentina Republic).

Risk progression to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: influence of male sex and of parasitaemia detected by polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood throughout the course of Chagas' disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether T cruzi DNA detected by PCR is associated with progression to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary care centre in Argentina. PATIENTS: 56 consecutive patients with chronic T cruzi infection. METHODS: Clinical examination, ECG, and Doppler echocardiography were carried out at baseline and at the end of the follow up. Detection of T cruzi DNA by PCR amplifying a nuclear sequence was undertaken in all patients at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progression was defined as death from chronic cardiomyopathy or the presence of a new ECG or left ventricular echocardiographic abnormality at the end of follow up. RESULTS: The 56 patients (21 male, 35 female; mean (SD) age, 56.0 (11.3) years) were followed for a mean 936.3 (244.39) days. Progression to cardiomyopathy was detected in 12 patients (21.4%). Three of these patients died after baseline evaluation. Univariate analysis showed that a positive PCR (relative risk 4.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60 to 9.85) and male sex (5.00, 95% CI 1.65 to 15.73) were associated with progression. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that both sex and PCR were independent variables affecting the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of seropositive individuals, patients with T cruzi DNA detected by PCR and male patients were at higher risk of progression. These results highlight the importance of T cruzi in the pathophysiology of chronic cardiomyopathy.

Dose finding study in chronic congestive heart failure patients. Results of a short- and long-term study.

A multi-center open trial was carried out with 103 patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) of diverse etiologies with oedemas, 25 with hepatomegalia, placed in classes II or III of NYHA functional capacity, with increasing doses of 30, 60 and 90 mg of muzolimine qd to ascertain (1) the effective dose for the elimination of oedemas and hepatomegalia and (2) whether such a dose keeps its efficacy throughout a long administration period. After a wash-out period of 3-7 days, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in supine and standing positions, body weight (BW) and 24 hour diuresis were controlled and laboratory tests were performed. Muzolimine was administered and an assessment of the therapeutic effect was carried out every week. When the clinical results were ineffective, the dose was increased weekly up to 90 mg. When the results were partial, the same dose was given for another week and when it was effective the search for the dose was concluded. Out of the 103 patients, 67 needed only 30 mg of muzolimine for an effective elimination of oedemas and hepatomegalia, 32 needed 60 mg and only 4 had to have the dose increased to 90 mg to obtain efficacy. The SBP and DBP diminished by 6.3% and 7.2% respectively, and HR was reduced, though not significantly. BW diminished an average of 2.4 Kg and the diuresis increased significantly from a mean value of 1.043 ml/24 h to 1.714 ml/24 h. Sixty-two patients with effective results agreed to undergo chronic treatment for 24 weeks and be controlled every 2 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)