Factors accounting for high ferritin levels in obesity.

UNLABELLED: Ferritin is a widely used marker of iron status. A relationship between iron stores, obesity and metabolic syndrome (METs) has been proposed. OBJECTIVE: To compare serum ferritin between obese women with and without METs, and to evaluate the main factors accounting for ferritin levels. DESIGN: Prospective study. SUBJECTS: A total of 239 consecutive postmenopausal women with body mass index (BMI) > or =30 kg/m(2) were included. Exclusion criteria were conditions that could influence body iron stores. In addition to ferritin, serum iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation index and the soluble transferrin receptor were measured. METs was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines. Multiple regression analyses were performed taking into account ferritin as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in obese women with METs (n=169) in comparison with obese women without METs (n=70): 81.00 (17-648) vs 48.50 (11-149) ng ml(-1), P<0.001. No differences in the other markers of iron status were observed. Diabetic patients (n=82) had higher ferritin levels than non-diabetic patients (P<0.001). Non-diabetic patients with METs (n=95) also showed higher ferritin levels than non-diabetic patients without METs (P=0.001). Among the components of METs only diabetes was independently associated with serum ferritin levels in both the whole group (P=0.02) and in patients with METs (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and in particular type 2 diabetes is the main contributor to the high ferritin levels reported in obesity. Our findings suggest that ferritin should not be used as a reliable index of iron overload in obese patients with diabetes.

[Etiological agents of dermatomycoses isolated in a hospital of Santa Fe City, Argentina]. / Agentes etiológicos de micosis superficiales aislados en un hospital de Santa Fe, Argentina.

Superficial mycoses are limited to skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. The most common etiological agents are dermatophytes and yeasts of Candida genus. The aim of this work was to know the etiological agents of dermatomycoses and their clinical presentation. Were analized 2073 samples of skin, hair, nails, and oral mucous membranes obtained from 1817 patients who attended the Microbiology Branch of the Central Laboratory at Dr. J. M. Cullen Hospital, since September 1999 to September 2003. The samples were examined and identified according to the localization and type of lesion. Out of the total samples 55.67% were positive; 63% were recovered from females, and 37% from males. The most common localization was the skin. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequent dermatophyte, and among yeasts, Candida albicans was the prevalent species. Fourteen non-dermatophytic fungi (Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp.) were isolated, and considered emergent pathogens from superficial mycoses.

Anestesia en el consultorio. Documento de consenso / Office-based anesthesia: concensus report

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[Model to predict staffing for anesthesiology and post-anesthesia intensive care units and pain clinics]. / Modelo de cálculo de plantillas de los servicios de anestesiología, reanimación y terapéutica del dolor.

Human resources account for a large part of the budgets of anesthesia and post-anesthesia intensive care units and pain clinics (A-PICU-PC). Adequate staffing is a key factor in providing for both effective care and professional staff development. Changes in professional responsibilities have rendered obsolete the concept of one anesthesiologist per operating room. Duties must be analyzed objectively to facilitate understanding between hospital administrators and A-PICU-PC chiefs of service when assigning human resources. The Catalan Society of Anesthesiology, Post-anesthesia Intensive Care and Pain Therapy has developed a model for estimating requirements for A-PICU-PC staffing based on three factors: 1) Definition of staff positions that must be filled and criteria for assigning human resources; 2) Estimation of non-care-related time required by the department for training, teaching, research and internal management, and 3) Estimation of staff required to cover absences from work for vacations, personal leave or illness. The model revealed that the ratio of number of staff positions to number of persons employed by an A-PICU-PC is approximately 1.3. Differences in the nature of services managed by an A-PICU-PC or the type of hospital might change the ratio slightly. The model can be applied universally, independently of differences that might exist among departments. Widespread application would allow adoption of a common language to be used by health care managers and A-PICU-PC departments when discussing a basis for consensus about our specialty.

Modelo de cálculo de plantillas de los servicios de anestesiología, reanimación y terapéutica del dolor / Model to predict staffing for anesthesiology and postanesthesia intensive care units and pain clinics

El recurso humano es el principal capítulo presupuestario de un servicio de anestesiología, reanimación y terapia del dolor (ARTD) y su adecuada dimensión es la pieza angular para la eficacia asistencial y el desarrollo profesional de los anestesiólogos.La evolución de las responsabilidades profesionales de estos servicios ha dejado obsoleto el concepto de "un quirófano, un anestesiólogo". Se requiere un análisis objetivo de dichas responsabilidades, para facilitar el entendimiento entre los gestores hospitalarios y los responsables de los servicios de ARTD, al asignar recursos humanos a dichos servicios.La Sociedad Catalana de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor ha elaborado un modelo para calcular las necesidades de plantilla de los servicios de ARTD basado en tres puntos: 1. Definición de los puestos de trabajo que debe cubrir un servicio de ARTD y criterios de asignación de recursos.2. Cuantificación del tiempo no asistencial que gestiona el servicio para formación, docencia, investigación y gestión interna.3. Determinación de las necesidades de personal para cubrir las incidencias laborales, que incluye vacaciones, permisos, enfermedades, etc.Al aplicar el modelo de cálculo de plantillas a un servicio de ARTD, se observa que la relación entre el número de puestos de trabajo y la plantilla necesaria para cubrirlos es de aproximadamente 1,3 anestesiólogos por puesto de trabajo. Esta proporción podría variar ligeramente dependiendo de las características del servicio de ARTD y del tipo de hospital.Este modelo puede ser de aplicación universal independientemente de las diferencias que existen entre distintos servicios y su difusión permitirá crear un lenguaje común entre los gestores sanitarios y los servicios de ARTD sobre la base de un consenso amplio dentro de nuestra especialidad (AU)

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[Usefulness of the quantification of the alpha-1 serous protein band in the screening of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency]. / Utilidad de la cuantificación de la banda alfa-1 del proteinograma sérico en el cribado del déficit de alfa-1-antitripsina.

BACKGROUND: Population studies indicate that alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an under diagnosed disease. Although alpha-1 serum protein is widely known to accompany AAT deficiency, the diagnostic utility of measuring the alpha-1 band to screen for this condition has not been assessed in the literature. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Electropherograms with alpha-1 band widths under the reference values were collected over a period of 3 months. The Pi phenotype of AAT was identified for these sera by isoelectric point determination. The phenotypes were compared to those obtained for the population of the same geographic area (n = 440). The alpha-1 band reference values were obtained from 73 healthy individuals with no Pi phenotype deficiency. Moreover, the alpha-1 band was also measured for a group of 17 PiZZ deficient patients. RESULTS: We analyzed 7,305 electropherograms. One hundred four individuals (1.4%) without hypoproteinemia had alpha-1 readings below reference (set at 2.3%). The phenotypes in this group were 25 PiMM (24%), 52 PiMS (54%), 13 PiMZ (12.5%) and 5 PiSS 5 (5%). The odds ratios (CI 95%) in comparison with the normal population were, respectively, 0.10 (0.16-0.06); 4.58 (2.97-7.04); 4.35 (2.09-9.04) and 5.51 (1.66-18.16) (p < 10-5 in all cases except PiSS, which was p < 0.05). The levels for PiZZ patients were 1.4% +/- 0.3% (range 1.0%-2.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Three times fewer subjects with a normal PiMM phenotypes are found among individuals with low alpha-1 band serum protein levels, and many more of such individuals are carriers of Z allele heterozygotes. Alpha-1 band readings in patients with AAT deficiency (PiZZ phenotype) have alpha-1 values below reference. Measuring alpha-1 protein is an easy technique, within the expertise of any laboratory, and may be very useful for screening for AAT deficiency in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

[Efficacy of the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric block in the treatment of the postoperative pain of inguinal herniorrhaphy]. / Eficacia del bloqueo ilioinguinal e iliohipogástrico en el tratamiento del dolor postoperatorio de la herniorrafia inguinal.

INTRODUCTION: The ileoinguinal-ileohypogastric block (IHB) improves pain control in inguinal hernioplasty. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of the IHB on the treatment of postoperative pain in inguinal herniorrhaphy, and to compare the effect of its use before and after incision for diminishing pain and postponing the first dose of analgesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients scheduled for inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh were enrolled and distributed randomly in 4 groups as follows: 1) IHB before incision using 0.25 ml/kg bupivacaine 0.5% with no vasoconstrictor; 2) IHB after incision with the same dose of bupivacaine; 3) IHB before incision with 0.25 ml/kg of serum; and 4) IHB after incision with 0.25 ml/kg of serum. Pain was evaluated on visual analog scales employing facial expressions and verbal description, a patient questionnaire and time elapsing between surgery and the first dose of analgesia. The evaluations were performed in the postoperative recovery unit and on the ward 8 and 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The total overall score for postoperative pain was lower in the bupivacaine group than in the placebo group (9.2 +/- 4.4 and 1.5 +/- 3.9, respectively; p = 0.026). The first dose of analgesia was given to those who received placebo between the second and third hour after surgery, whereas it was given between the fourth and fifth hour to the bupivacaine group. No significant differences were found between infiltration before and after incision. CONCLUSIONS: IHB decreases pain, delaying the need for a first dose of analgesic and improving patient comfort. Its use is therefore recommended for relief of postoperative pain.

[Selection criteria used in 1,310 patients in ambulatory major surgery]. / Criterios de selección utilizados en 1.310 pacientes de cirugía mayor ambulatoria.

From October 1990 through March 1992, 1,310 patients underwent surgery on an out-patient basis. Fifty (3.82%) could not be released on the day of surgery, most often because of surgical complications (17), postoperative pain (11), poor screening (9), and nausea and vomiting (8). Screening for out-patient surgery must not be based solely surgical procedure. Factors of social context, personality and associated pathology must also be weighed.

[Long term follow-up of non-symptomatic HBsAg carriers]. / Seguimiento a largo plazo de portadores asintomáticos de HBsAg.

232 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were controlled between May/1986 and May/1990. The were detected in our blood bank between 1974 and 1976 or during pregnancy or delivery period after 1981. 23 of 232 (10%) became negative during the follow-up, this happening more frequently in carriers after 5 years of follow-up. Only 2 of 209 carriers with HBsAg were HBeAg positive and 1 of these was also DNA-VHB positive. None of the HBeAg negative carriers showed DNA-VHB; only 5 had increased transaminases. 7 were anti-VHC positive, these individuals experiencing more frequent increases in transaminases. The results of this study suggests that the determination of transaminases, viral activity markers, anti-HD, anti-VHC in HBsAg carriers are enough to identify those with hepatic disease.