Intervencion minima en tabaquismo a pacientes internados. Experiencia en un hospital de Mendoza / Minimal intervention in smoking to inpatients. Experience in a hospital in Mendoza

Objetivos: El medico cumple un importante papel en el control del tabaquismo, una manera de objetivarlo es mediante la intervencion m¨ªnima realizada durante la internacionde pacientes fumadores en un Servicio de Clinica Medica. Material y metodo: Se realiza una encuesta en pacientes internados en el Servicio de Clinica Medica del Hospital del Carmen, horas previas al alta hospitalaria, en un periodo de 30 dias, donde se incluyen datos epidemiologicos, anamnesis, consejo antitabaco y derivacion a cesacion. Se realizan comparaciones estadisticas de ¦Õ2. Resultados: De los 173 pacientes encuestados, el 100% habia sido consultado sobre sucondicion de fumador y constaba en la historia clinica, el 19.1% correspondian a fumador actual, el 34.1% a ex fumador y el 46.8% a no fumador. Durante la internacion se realizointervencion minima en el 33% de los fumadores y del total de fumadores fueron derivados a consultorios de cesacion el 18.1%. Estos pacientes refieren haber recibido consejo medico para dejar de fumar en atenciones medicas previas a la internacion en el 57.5%. Conclusiones: Si bien se destaca que en su totalidad los pacientes internados fueron consultados sobre su condici¨®n tabaquica, solo uno de cada tres recibio intervencion minima, y solo el 18% se derivo a consultorios de Cesacion Tabaquica. Debiendo ser mejorados estos aspectos, sobre todo por contar con varios dias de contacto para esta intervencion y la motivacion extra de la descompensacion del paciente que origino la internacion.

Objectives: Physicians fulfill an important role in tobacco control, especially through the minimal intervention performed during the hospitalization of smoker patients in aninternal medicine service. Material and method: a survey was carried out among patients in an internal medicineservice of Del Carmen Hospital a few hours before hospital discharge. The survey included questions on epidemiological and clinical data, anti-tobacco advice and referral to cessation therapy. The survey was carried out in a period of 30 days. ¦Õ2 statisticalcomparisons were performed. Results: Out of 173 surveyed patients, their clinical records showed that 100% had been questioned on the smoking habit, 19.1% were current smokers, 34.1% former smokers and 46.8% non-smokers. During hospitalization a minimal intervention took place in 33%of smokers and of the total of smokers 18.1% were referred to cessation clinics. Among these patients, 57% reported having received medical advice to quit smoking in medical consultations before the hospitalization.

Subcortical anarthria: a case report.

A 56-year-old right-handed male with a history of hypertension and diabetes presented two episodes of stroke: The first affected territory was the left anterior coroidal artery (capsular and paracapsular infarcts at the level of the genu and posterior arm of the internal capsule) and the second was the right thalamus, due to a hematoma. Following the first stroke, the patient developed severe dysarthria and after the second stroke remained anarthric. The pathophysiology of the disorder is discussed, and the role of the left and right thalamus as far as speech is concerned is reviewed.

An overview of mechanisms by which sulphate-reducing bacteria influence corrosion of steel in marine environments.

This communication provides an overview of the literature on the biocorrosion of steel in marine media, influenced by the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Electrochemical aspects, microbial interactions within biofilms, the significance of medium composition and the role of iron sulphides, and hydrogen effects are discussed. A brief description of recent experiments involving the use of electrochemical techniques for corrosion assessment, surface studies employing energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microprobe complemented with electron microscopy observations, as well as the application of novel techniques, such as micro sensors and atomic force microscopy, is given. The growth of SRB in marine environments causes significant modifications of many physicochemical parameters at the steel/seawater interface, including local changes in pH and redox potential values, variations in anion and cation concentrations and alteration of the composition and structure of corrosion products. Complex chemical and biological reactions and equilibria are also markedly altered during bacterial proliferation. These effects, which are absent in abiotic media, often lead to significant changes in the corrosion behaviour of steel. The complicated nature of the local environment at the steel/seawater interface is enhanced in the presence of microorganisms and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). As a consequence of biofilm heterogeneity, areas with different ion concentrations are formed and the development of corrosion product layers of dissimilar protective characteristics occurs.

Akinetic mutism: a report of three cases.

OBJECTIVES: To report 3 new cases of akinetic mutism, a clinical syndrome defined by silent immobility with preserved visual alertness not accountable by lesion of the areas and/or effector pathways of speech and voluntary movements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anatomopathological studies were performed in Cases 1 and 2; clinical follow-up, EEG, angiography and CT scans in Case 3. RESULTS: Case 1: Bipallidal necrosis; Case 2: Left pallidal necrosis with right frontoparietal cortico-subcortical infarction; Case 3: Striato-capsular infarction on the left side, involving the caudate nucleus and the anterior arm of the internal capsule, together with obstructive hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: The roles of both globus pallidus and prefrontostriatal circuits in the onset of voluntary movements are discussed.

Biocorrosión

la biocorrosión es un proceso electroquímico al iagual que la corrosión inorgánica. No obstante, la participación de los microorganismos es activa e introduce características diferenciales en el proceso, pero sin modificar su naturaleza. Se presentan los resultados de los estudios realizados

Electrochemical study of endodontic silver cones used in root canal therapy.

In previous studies it was observed that endodontic silver cones placed in fine canals became dislodged as a result of corrosion. To investigate the corrosion of high purity silver, potentiostatic and potentiodynamic electrochemical techniques were used. Triangular potential sweeps made in physiological solutions and human plasma showed similar potential-current relationships. However, in human plasma, peak currents were lower and peak potentials were more anodic than those observed in the physiological solutions. The electron microprobe analysis and the EDAX of the film formed in the biological fluids revealed the presence of silver and chloride and a certain amount of carbon. The addition of small quantities of Na2S to the physiological solutions favoured metal dissolution and promoted the formation of a mixed film of AgCL and Ag2S. According to these results chloride and sulphide anions seem to be particularly aggressive towards the metal surface in implanted silver cones. Precautions to avoid direct contact of the cones with saliva and tissue fluids must be taken. Fractures and discontinuities present in the cement considerably increase the corrosion risks.

Electrochemical behavior of aluminum in human plasma.

The electrochemical behavior of aluminum in isotonic saline solutions, citrated human plasma, and citrated human blood is studied using potentiostatic and potentiodynamic polarization techniques complemented with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dispersive x-ray analysis. The effect of corrosion products on plasmatic proteins is investigated using electron microprobe analysis and immunoelectrophoresis analysis. Electrochemical data show a breakdown of the protective film on aluminium, due to the action of chloride, leading to the pitting of the metal. During pitting, the interaction of aluminium ion and the plasma proteins produces a nonadherent precipitate. Strong protein denaturation can be observed by immunoelectrophoresis of the precipitate suspended in physiologic solutions. The convenience of using organic fluids in addition to saline solutions to evaluate in vitro the behavior of metal for implants is suggested.

Study of the biological films formed during the pitting of aluminium in human plasma.

Film formation during the pitting corrosion of aluminium in human plasma is studied using conventional electrochemical techniques complemented with scanning electron microscopy as well as energy-dispersive x-ray, electron microprobe and immunoelectrophoresis analysis. The anodic polarization curve of aluminium in human plasma at 37 degrees C shows a passive region related to a low corrosion rate that extends up to -0.66 V (s.c.e.). At more positive potential values than -0.66 V, the breakdown of the oxide protective film occurs due to the chloride anions, leading to an intense localized dissolution of the metal (pitting corrosion). Scanning electron microscopy of the metal surface reveals a thick non-adherent precipitate covering pits of a crystallographic feature. Energy-dispersive x-ray and the microprobe analysis show the presence of aluminium, chloride and carbon signals. Immunoelectrophoresis of the precipitate resuspended in physiological solution shows a strong protein denaturization. Results suggest that the corrosion products are formed during pitting by the interaction of the saturated AlCl3 salt present within the pits and the adsorbed plasma proteins.

The response of a bioelectrochemical cell with Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolizing glucose under various fermentation conditions.

Working conditions of a biochemical fuel cell formed by an oxygen cathode and a platinum bioanode in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae suspension metabolizing glucose are described. The biocell response in terms of bioanode potential and current drainage under different fermentation conditions is reported. A kinetic equation relating the current, the number of microorganisms, and the substrate concentration is obtained. The bioanode potential corresponds to that of an oxygen concentration polarization cell.

Biocorrosión

la biocorrosión es un proceso electroquímico al iagual que la corrosión inorgánica. No obstante, la participación de los microorganismos es activa e introduce características diferenciales en el proceso, pero sin modificar su naturaleza. Se presentan los resultados de los estudios realizados