Abordaje de síntomas de diarrea y estreñimiento por el farmacéutico comunitario en periodo de pandemia por la COVID-19: estudio observacional, transversal y multicéntrico / Community pharmacist management of diarrhoea and constipation symptoms during a COVID-19 pandemic: an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study

Introducción: el papel del farmacéutico comunitario ha adquirido mayor relevancia en el contexto de las restricciones derivadas por la pandemia de COVID-19. Objetivo del estudio: identificar el resultado de la indicación farmacéutica ante la consulta por diarrea o estreñimiento durante este período.Material y métodos: estudio observacional, transversal, multicéntrico y nacional. Se invitó a participar a los farmacéuticos comunitarios registrados en la base de datos Medynet. Los seleccionados se estratificaron por comunidades autónomas y población rural o urbana. La población de estudio fueron los pacientes que acudieron a las farmacias comunitarias desde enero a junio de 2021 por estreñimiento o diarrea. Resultados: un total de 121 farmacéuticos de un máximo establecido de 120 reclutaron a 849 pacientes (49,7 % consultaron por diarrea y un 50,3 % por estreñimiento). Un 83,5 % de farmacéuticos consideraba haber atendido un mayor número de consultas por síntomas digestivos, pero sin llegar a ser el doble que antes de la pandemia. En los pacientes con diarrea, dieta (76,9 %) y suero oral (64,2 %) fueron las indicaciones más frecuentes, mientras que en los pacientes con estreñimiento destacaron el aumento de la ingesta de agua (86,9 %), la dieta (84,1 %) y la indicación de algún medicamento de prescripción libre (68,1 %). 4 de cada 5 consultas farmacéuticas por diarrea o estreñimiento fueron resueltas en la farmacia comunitaria sin precisar derivación al médico.Conclusión: el presente estudio refuerza el papel destacado del farmacéutico comunitario como profesional de primera línea, realizando indicaciones farmacéuticas personalizadas a pacientes con diarrea o estreñimiento, contribuyendo de forma sustancial a la eficiencia y sostenibilidad del sistema sanitario durante la pandemia de COVID-19. (AU)

Hypertension secondary to abdominal mass

Secondary arterial hypertension (HTN) can be caused by primary hyperaldosteronism, renovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome, chronic kidney disease, drug use, etc. In addition, some urological disorders such as hydronephrosis can cause hypertension due to an increase in intraglomerular pressure that activates the renin angiotensin system.(AU)

La hipertensión arterial (HTA) secundaria engloba un amplio diagnóstico diferencial que incluye causas tan distintas como el hiperaldosteronismo primario, la enfermedad renovascular, el síndrome de apnea del sueño, la enfermedad renal crónica, el consumo de fármacos, etc. Existen, además, ciertos trastornos urológicos como la hidronefrosis que pueden producir HTA debido a un aumento de presión intraglomerular que active el sistema renina-angiotensina.(AU)

Hypertension secondary to abdominal mass.

Secondary arterial hypertension (HTN) can be caused by primary hyperaldosteronism, renovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome, chronic kidney disease, drug use, etc. In addition, some urological disorders such as hydronephrosis can cause hypertension due to an increase in intraglomerular pressure that activates the renin angiotensin system.

An expert consensus definition of failure of a treatment to provide adequate relief (F-PAR) for chronic constipation - an international Delphi survey.

BACKGROUND: As treatments for constipation become increasingly available, it is important to know when to progress along the treatment algorithm if the patient is not better. AIM: To establish the definition of failure of a treatment to provide adequate relief (F-PAR) to support this management and referral process in patients with chronic constipation. METHODS: We conducted an international Delphi Survey among gastroenterologists and general practitioners with a special interest in chronic constipation. An initial questionnaire based on recognised rating scales was developed following a focus group. Data were collected from two subsequent rounds of questionnaires completed by all authors. Likert scales were used to establish a consensus on a shorter list of more severe symptoms. RESULTS: The initial focus group yielded a first round questionnaire with 84 statements. There was good consensus on symptom severity and a clear severity response curve, allowing 67 of the symptom-severity pairings to be eliminated. Subsequently, a clear consensus was established on further reduction to eight symptom statements in the final definition, condensed by the steering committee into five diagnostic statements (after replicate statements had been removed). CONCLUSIONS: We present an international consensus on chronic constipation, of five symptoms and their severities, any of which would be sufficient to provide clinical evidence of treatment failure. We also provide data representing an expert calibration of commonly used rating scales, thus allowing results of clinical trials expressed in terms of those scales to be converted into estimates of rates of provision of adequate relief.

Optimization of the crossflow microfiltration of arazá juice (Eugenia stipitata) under different operation modes / Optimización del proceso de microfiltración tangencial de jugo dearazá (Eugenia stipitata) a diferentes modos de operación

This study analyzed the effects of temperature and transmembrane pressure on the crossflow microfiltration process of arazá (Eugenia stipitata) juice treated with a commercial pectic enzyme preparation, thus finding the appropriate operation values of the process. Clarified arazá juice was obtained with a crossflow microfiltration pilot plant equipped with ceramic membranes with a 0.48 m2 total effective filtration area and mean pore diameter of 0.2 µm. The juice was evaluated at transmembrane pressures 1.5,3.0 and 4.5 bar, and at temperatures of 30, 35 and 40ºC at different volumetric reduction factors. The tests were carried out using three systems (total recirculation, concentration, and continuous mode). In total recirculation, it was found that the most influential variable was the transmembrane pressures, and that the partial enzymatic liquefaction of the arazá juice, prior to microfiltration, produced an unusual pattern of permeate flux, characterized by an increase following an abrupt decrease at 4.5 bar and 6.5 m/s. In this case, the highest values of the flux were obtained when compared with those obtained during the crossflow microfiltration in concentration mode. After reaching the value of volumetric reduction factor (3.2), during the crossflow microfiltration in continuous mode, it was not necessary to stop the process as the volumetric reduction factor remained constant for the continuous removal of retained, achieving a high permeate fluxin a short period of time 319 L/(h m2), thus adding to the economic viability of the process.

En este trabajo se analizaron los efectos de la temperatura y la presión transmembrana sobre el proceso de microfiltración tangencial de jugo de arazá (Eugenia stipitata) tratado con una preparación comercial de enzimas pectolíticas, encontrando los valores adecuados de operación. Se obtuvo un jugo clarificado de arazá con un equipo piloto de microfiltración tangencial provisto de membranas cerámicas de 0,48 m2 de área total efectiva de filtración, diámetro promedio de poro de 0,2 µm, evaluado a diferentes presionestransmembrana de 1,5; 3,0 y 4,5 bar y temperaturas de 30, 35 y 40ºC, a diferentes factores de reducciónvolumétrica. Las pruebas fueron llevadas a cabo utilizando tres modos de operación: recirculación total,concentración y continuo. En recirculación total, se encontró que la variable más influyente sobre el proceso fue la presión transmembrana y que la licuefacción enzimática parcial realizada al jugo de arazá, previo a la microfiltración, produjo un patrón inusual del flux de permeado, caracterizado por un incremento después de una disminución abrupta cuando se trabajó a 4,5 bar y 6,5 m/s. En este caso se encontraron los valores más altos del flux al compararse con los obtenidos durante la microfiltración tangencial en modo de concentración. Una vez alcanzado el valor de factor de reducción volumétrica (3,2) durantela microfiltración tangencial en modo continuo no fue necesario detener el proceso, ya que el factor de reducción volumétrica se mantuvo constante durante la eliminación continua de retenido, lográndose altos flujos de permeado en corto tiempo (319 L/(h m2)), facilitando la viabilidad económica del proceso.

Diferencias en las presiones del canal anal y la sensibilidad rectal en pacientes con incontinencia anal, estreñimiento crónico y sujetos sanos / No disponible

Introducción: Existe gran variabilidad en los hallazgos manométricos entre pacientes con incontinencia anal (IA) y sujetos sanos. La correlación entre las presiones del canal anal y la IA no es exacta por el amplio rango de valores normales. Objetivos: Estudio prospectivo para evaluar diferencias en las presiones del canal anal y en la sensibilidad rectal en pacientes con IA, estreñimiento crónico (EC) y sujetos sanos. Material y métodos: Noventa y cuatro pacientes con IA, 36 pacientes con EC y 15 sujetos sanos. Se obtuvieron: edad, sexo, presión de reposo, longitud del canal anal (LCA), presión de máxima contracción voluntaria (PMCV), duración de la contracción voluntaria, primera sensación, sensación de urgencia y máximo volumen tolerado (MVT). Estudio estadístico: test de Kruskal-Wallis, test de Mann-Whitney, regresión logística multinomial. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la edad (p < 0,001), la presión de reposo (p < 0,001), la LCA (p < 0,001) y la PMCV (p < 0,01) en el grupo de IA con respecto a los otros dos grupos. El volumen para la primera sensación fue significativamente más bajo en los sujetos sanos que en los otros dos grupos (p < 0,05). El volumen de urgencia y el MVT fueron menores en el grupo con IA con respecto a los otros dos grupos (p < 0,001). En el análisis multivariante la edad, la presión de reposo y el volumen de la primera sensación y de la urgencia aumentan el riesgo relativo de IA. Conclusiones: La mayor edad, la disminución presión basal del canal anal y la alteración del umbral sensorial rectal aumentan el riesgo de IA(AU)

Introduction: There exist a great variability in the manometric findings between patients with anal incontinence (AI) and healthy subjects. The correlation between the pressures of the anal canal and the AI is not exact by the wide rank of normal values. Objectives: Prospective study to evaluate differences in the pressures of the anal canal and in rectal sensitivity in patients with AI, chronic constipation (CC) and healthy subjects. Material and methods: Ninety four patients with AI, 36 patients with CC and 15 healthy subjects were included. The following data were obtained: age, sex, resting pressure, anal canal length (ACL), squeeze maximum pressure (SMP), squeeze pressure duration (SPD), first sensation, urge and maximum tolerated volume (MTV). Statistical study: test of Kruskal-Wallis, test of Mann-Whitney, and multinomial logistic regression test. Results: There were significant differences in the resting pressure (p < 0.001), the ACL (p < 0.001) and the SMP (p < 0.01) in the group of AI with respect to the other two groups. The volume for the first sensation was significantly lower in the healthy subjects than that in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The urge volume and the MVT were smaller in the group with AI with respect to the other groups (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis the age, the resting pressure and the volume for the first sensation and urge increase the relative risk for AI. Conclusions: The greater age, the decrease in anal canal resting pressure and the alteration of rectal sensation increase the risk for AI(AU)

Differences in the pressures of canal anal and rectal sensitivity in patients with fecal incontinence, chronic constipation and healthy subjects.

INTRODUCTION: There exists a great variability in the manometric findings between patients with anal incontinence (AI) and healthy subjects. The correlation between the pressures of the anal canal and the AI is not exact by the wide rank of normal values. OBJECTIVES: Prospective study to evaluate differences in the pressures of the anal canal and in rectal sensitivity in patients with AI, chronic constipation (CC) and healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety four patients with AI, 36 patients with CC and 15 healthy subjects were included. The following data were obtained: age, sex, resting pressure, anal canal length (ACL), squeeze maximum pressure (SMP), squeeze pressure duration (SPD), first sensation, urge and maximum tolerated volume (MTV). Statistical study: test of Kruskal-Wallis, test of Mann-Whitney, and multinomial logistic regression test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the resting pressure (p < 0.001), the ACL (p < 0.001) and the SMP (p < 0.01) in the group of AI with respect to the other two groups. The volume for the first sensation was significantly lower in the healthy subjects than that in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The urge volume and the MVT were smaller in the group with AI with respect to the other groups (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis the age, the resting pressure and the volume for the first sensation and urge increase the relative risk for AI. CONCLUSIONS: The greater age, the decrease in anal canal resting pressure and the alteration of rectal sensation increase the risk for AI.

Dolor abdominal y síndrome de secreción inadecuada de hormona antidiurética (SIADH) en un paciente diagnosticado de porfiria aguda intermitente / No disponible

No disponible

[Sedation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Analysis of tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness]. / Sedación en la endoscopia gastrointestinal alta. Análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Sedation of patients is an important complement to endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness in patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 357 patients were prospectively studied: 138 non-sedated, 116 sedated with midazolam and 103 sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Subjective tolerance, tolerance perceived by the endoscopist, complications, and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. The Chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Subjective tolerance was greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Tolerance perceived by the endoscopist was greater in the group sedated with both drugs than in the group sedated with midazolam (p < 0.05). Subjective tolerance was better in sedated men and women but there was no association between sedation and perceived tolerance according to sex. Subjective tolerance was better in sedated patients older than 70 years than in those younger than 40 years (p < 0.05). Complications were more frequent in sedated patients and the most frequent complication in all the groups studied was mild desaturation; there was a significant difference between the group sedated with midazolam and meperidine and the non-sedated group (p < 0.05). Non-sedation had the best cost-effectiveness ratio but sedation with midazolam and meperidine was the most effective alternative. CONCLUSION: From the point of view of the endoscopist, endoscopy can be performed without sedation, although subjective tolerance is greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Non-sedation is more cost-effectiveness than sedation but if sedation is required midazolam and meperidine achieve better results in terms of effectiveness than midazolam alone.

Motility abnormalities in esophageal body in GERD: are they truly related to reflux?

BACKGROUND: Esophageal motility abnormalities have been observed in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. GOALS: The aim of the present study was to determine if esophageal motor disorders in patients with a positive response to the omeprazole test are related to the existence of reflux or they are concomitant findings. STUDY: A 24-hour pH monitoring and a stationary manometry were performed on 128 patients: 49 of them had normal manometry, 31 hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter, 29 motor disorder in esophageal body, and 19 hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter and motor disorder in esophageal body. RESULTS: We found an association between the presence of abnormal reflux and motor disorder in esophageal body (chi test; P < 0.05). However, ineffective esophageal motility was the disorder most strongly related to reflux, whereas the hypercontractile disorders were not clearly attributed to it. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal manometric abnormalities should be considered cautiously before considering a motor disorder as a consequence of abnormal reflux.

Sedación en la endoscopia gastrointestinal alta. Análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad / Sedation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Analysis of tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness

Introducción y objetivo: La sedación del paciente es un importante complemento de los procedimientos endoscópicos. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo ha sido el análisis de la tolerancia, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad de la sedación en pacientes sometidos a endoscopia gastrointestinal diagnóstica alta. Pacientes y método: Se estudió a 357 pacientes prospectivamente: 138 no sedados, 116 sedados con midazolam y 103 sedados con midazolam y meperidina. Se analizaron la tolerancia subjetiva, la tolerancia percibida por el endoscopista, las complicaciones y el coste-efectividad. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la prueba de la c2, y valores de p < 0,05 se consideraron estadísticamente significativos. Resultados: La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor en pacientes sedados con midazolam y meperidina que en los otros grupos (p < 0,05). Respecto a la tolerancia percibida, se encontró diferencia entre el grupo sedado con ambas drogas y el grupo sedado con midazolam (p < 0,05). La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor tanto en mujeres como en varones sedados, pero no hubo una asociación entre la sedación y la tolerancia percibida en ninguno de los sexos. La tolerancia subjetiva fue mejor en pacientes sedados mayores de 70 años que en los pacientes menores de 40 (p < 0,05). Las complicaciones fueron más frecuentes en pacientes sedados; la más frecuente en todos los grupos fue la desaturación leve; se observó una diferencia significativa entre el grupo sedado con los 2 fármacos y el no sedado (p < 0,05). La alternativa de no sedación es la que consigue una mejor relación coste-efectividad, pero la sedación con midazolam y meperidina es la más efectiva. Conclusión: La endoscopia puede realizarse sin sedación desde el punto de vista del endoscopista, pero la tolerancia subjetiva es mejor en pacientes sedados con midazolam y meperidina. Respecto al coste-efectividad, la mejor alternativa es la no sedación pero, en caso de precisarse sedación, la opción midazolam más meperidina ofrece una mejor efectividad que el midazolam aislado

Introduction and aim: Sedation of patients is an important complement to endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance, complications and cost-effectiveness in patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients and method: A total of 357 patients were prospectively studied: 138 non-sedated, 116 sedated with midazolam and 103 sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Subjective tolerance, tolerance perceived by the endoscopist, complications, and cost-effectiveness were evaluated. The Chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Subjective tolerance was greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Tolerance perceived by the endoscopist was greater in the group sedated with both drugs than in the group sedated with midazolam (p < 0.05). Subjective tolerance was better in sedated men and women but there was no association between sedation and perceived tolerance according to sex. Subjective tolerance was better in sedated patients older than 70 years than in those younger than 40 years (p < 0.05). Complications were more frequent in sedated patients and the most frequent complication in all the groups studied was mild desaturation; there was a significant difference between the group sedated with midazolam and meperidine and the non-sedated group (p < 0.05). Non-sedation had the best cost-effectiveness ratio but sedation with midazolam and meperidine was the most effective alternative. Conclusion: From the point of view of the endoscopist, endoscopy can be performed without sedation, although subjective tolerance is greater in patients sedated with midazolam and meperidine. Non-sedation is more cost-effectiveness than sedation but if sedation is required midazolam and meperidine achieve better results in terms of effectiveness than midazolam alone

Role of stationary esophageal manometry in clinical practice. Manometric results in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia or non-cardiac chest pain.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of stationary esophageal manometry in 263 patients divided into three groups: 150 patients with reflux symptoms, 68 with dysphagia, and 45 with non-cardiac chest pain. Patients with endoscopic abnormalities were excluded. Standard manometry was performed following the station pull-through technique. In the group of patients with reflux symptoms 40.7% had a normal manometry and 57.3% had abnormalities, being the most frequent (43%) hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter. In the dysphagia group, 20.6% of manometries were normal and 79.4% were abnormal, of which achalasia was the most frequent disorder (53.7%). In the case of non-cardiac chest pain, 42.2% of patients had a normal manometry and 57.8% an abnormal one, of which hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter was the most frequent abnormality. A significant higher proportion of manometric alterations were found in the dysphagia group compared to reflux symptoms and non-cardiac chest pain (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were found between the reflux and the non-cardiac chest pain groups. Manometry yields a higher diagnostic value in patients with dysphagia, and therefore manometry should be performed routinely after the exclusion of any organic esophageal disease. Manometry is not a first-choice functional diagnostic test in the study of patirnts with gastroesophageal reflux or non-cardiac chest pain.

Enfermedad celiaca en paciente con criterios Roma II de síndrome de intestino irritable / Celiac disease in a patient with Rome II criteria of irritable bowell syndrome

No disponible

[Macroprolactin as etiology of hyperprolactinemia. Method for detection and clinical characterization of the entity in 39 patients]. / Macroprolactina como causa de hiperprolactinemia. Método de detección y caracterización clínica de la entidad en 39 pacientes.

The presence of serum macroprolactin is a relatively frequent situation that can lead to expensive explorations and ineffective treatments. The precipitation with polyethylene glycols permits its detection rapidly, trustworthily, and inexpensively. The objective of the present work has been to assess the incidence of macroprolactin in patients with hyperprolactinemia through its identification with polyethylene glycols, as well as the clinical and radiological findings, and the response in these patients to the treatment. For it the clinical history of all the cases in which there was detected macroprolactinemia, some of them with several years of previous follow-up, was reviewed exhaustively. Of the 1505 patients in which prolactin level was determined, 195 (13%) showed values higher than 40 microg/l. In 39 (20%) of them the presence of macroprolactin was detected. After observing the evolution of these patients, spontaneously or under treatment with dopaminergic agonists, a clear relationship of causality between the presence of macroprolactin and the clinical manifestations was not found, except in a case of galactorrhea. In 27 cases nuclear magnetic resonance was done; in 4 of them a picture was observed compatible with small microadenoma or microcyst and in no patient a macroadenoma was detected. We conclude that the macroprolactinemia is a relatively frequent and easily detected entity through precipitation with polyethylene glycols. It has a limited relation with the clinical findings and there should always be sought other possible causes of this situation. It is an apparently benign situation and its identification can avoid unnecessary explorations and treatments.