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A Contreras

Publications and source records attributed to A Contreras.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
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The SOL formulas for converting SMOG readability scores between health education materials written in Spanish, English, and French.

The SMOG formula is widely used to determine how easy written health education materials are to read and comprehend. This study was conducted to assess whether the SMOG formula, originally developed and tested in English, was also valid for texts written in Spanish and French. Readability scores from a sample of passages written in Spanish, English, and French were analyzed. Study results showed that the SMOG formula seemed to be consistent in measuring readability in the three languages. However, SMOG scores varied from language to language. Two hypotheses are being laid out to explain these results. First, the SMOG equation is systematically biased for texts in Spanish or French. Second, English is more readable than French, and French is more readable than Spanish. Under the assumption of a systematic bias in the SMOG formula, the so-called SOL formulas are presented here to convert SMOG scores between Spanish, English, and French. In addition, a new scale for grading reading difficulty is proposed based on SMOG scores obtained from classical literature. This is important to the extent that it will provide Spanish speaking and French speaking health communicators with a readability formula for preparing written materials appropriate to the level of comprehension of specific target audiences.

Communication↗
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Thyroid nodules. Role of fine needle aspiration and intraoperative frozen section examination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and intraoperative frozen section examination (IFSE) on thyroid nodules. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 470 patients who underwent thyroidectomy. FNA was performed on 289 patients and IFSE on 326. The FNA and IFSE results were compared with the final histologic diagnosis obtained after examination of permanent sections. RESULTS: The overall FNA sensitivity was 65%, specificity 88% and positive predictive value 61%. The IFSE sensitivity was 50%, and the specificity and positive predictive value were 100%. When both procedures were used together, FNA identified 16 of 45 (36%) carcinomas as malignant and an additional 13 (29%) as follicular proliferative lesions; IFSE correctly identified only 23 of 45 (51%) carcinomas. CONCLUSION: FNA provides enough information for determining the extent of thyroid surgery when a diagnosis of cancer is made. However, IFSE should be considered a supplementary procedure when FNA is not positive for cancer.

Biopsy, Needle↗
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Dental disease indices and caries related oral microflora in children with phenylketonuria.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dental caries, plaque and gingivitis indices and caries related oral flora in children with classic phenylketonuria. Forty-one children at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and controls were included in the study. The main findings were: No significant difference in the decayed, missing and filled surfaces of the primary and permanent teeth between the phenylketonuria children and the controls. A significantly greater mean plaque score for the control children compared with the phenylketonuria children (p < 0.01) for the permanent teeth only. A significantly greater number of white opacities in the permanent teeth of the phenylketonuria group compared with the control group (p < 0.02). No significant differences in the caries related microflora.

Candida albicans↗
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[Long-term evolution of the doses of Botulinum toxin used in laryngeal and cervical dystonias].

INTRODUCTION: Dystonia is a neurological condition characterised by involuntary movements that give rise to abnormal postures. Different strategies have been used in the treatment of focal dystonias, but the most widely accepted at the present time involves the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections. Yet, despite its widespread use, the ideal dosages for long-term treatment are still not known with precision. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to report on our experience with long-term BTA therapy in laryngeal (LD) and in cervical dystonia (CD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the data concerning the dosages of BTA injected in 10 patients with LD who received treatment in our centre over a period of eight years. We also analysed the data regarding the doses of BTA injected over an eight-year period in 17 patients with CD. The data were analysed using an ANOVA for paired data. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the highest dosages of BTA needed for the treatment of LD throughout the progression of the disease (p=0.84). These data contrast with those obtained from the analysis of the treatment of CD, which do show a gradual increase in the dose of toxin that is required (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the long-term response to treatment is different in the two conditions.

Analysis of Variance↗
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[New therapeutic options in Alzheimer's disease].

INTRODUCTION: At present, cholinesterase inhibitors constitute the basis for therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD); these drugs were rationally introduced given the loss of central cholinergic neurotransmission, even though there are many other systems affected in AD, including glutamatergic pathway. DEVELOPMENT: In addition to the loss of central cholinergic neurotransmission, biochemical evidence suggests glutamatergic dysfunction in AD and thus, therapeutic strategies directed at the glutamatergic system may be useful. These drugs include milacemide, cicloserine and ampakines (positive modulation) and memantine (negative modulation). Lithium seems to be a promising agent in AD, although the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Finally anti-inflammatory agents may be another therapeutic approach to AD. CONCLUSION: In addition to drugs acting on the cholinergic system, a large number of drugs with different mechanism could be used for the treatment and prevention of AD.

Acetamides↗
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[Liver transplantation in Mexico. Report of the first successful case].

This article reports the first successful human orthotopic liver transplantation performed in Mexico. The recipient was a 41 year old white male, with a history of essential hypertension and hepatitis in 1975. The diagnosis of postnecrotic cirrhosis was made in 1985 by liver biopsy. The HBsAg was negative and the functional reserve of the liver was limited (Stage "C" of the Child-Pugh classification). A liver graft was obtained through the National Cadaver Organ Transplant Program on May 2, 1988 and an orthotopic liver transplantation was performed without incidents, using the portosystemic veno-venous bypass. Inmunosuppression was carried out with triple drug therapy, cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone. His postoperative course was characterized by idiopathic cholestasis, one episode of acute rejerction, arterial hypertension, renal dysfunction, esophageal herpes and inguinal lymphocele, all of which resolved. Currently the patient is alive 22 months postransplantation with normal liver function and adequate quality of life.

Adult↗
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[Lead exposure and its effects on child health].

Childhood lead poisoning is a man-made disease whose magnitude has not yet been measured in Chile. In the U.S.A. it has been estimated that 4 percent of children have elevated blood lead levels and that among poor black children, this rate is as high as 18 percent. The main sources of symptomatic lead poisoning are lead-based paint used in interior and exterior house surfaces, airborne lead from leaded gasoline and industrial emissions. Lead can be transferred from any source to soil and dust. Other sources of lead are contaminated food and water, occupational sources, and lead glazed pottery. Neurological symptoms (hyperactivity, distractibility, lower intellectual development), psychological difficulties (behavioral deficits), hematologic abnormalities (reduction in the biosynthesis of heme, anemia), and metabolic changes (reduction in concentration of 1-25 dihydroxy vitamin D and in the metabolism of erythrocyte pyrimidine) have been shown to occur in lead poisoning. Recent data suggests that prenatal exposure to lead my be related to minor congenital abnormalities, tumors of the kidney, and growth abnormalities.

Air Pollution↗
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[Mortality due to lesions in accidents and violence in children under 20 years of age].

Given the importance of injury's associated mortality in children, the total number of deaths caused by injuries in subjects under 20 years of age along years 1982 through 1987 in Chile, were studied. The Annals of Mortality and Causes of Death of the Chilean National Institute of Statistics were reviewed for that period. The average annual injury's death rate was 21.95 per 100,000 inhabitants younger than 20 years. Suffocation, motor vehicle accidents, burning and drowning were the leading causes of death by injuries. In infants, the main reported cause of death was suffocation (90.1% of the total deaths). Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 19 years. Fifty percent of the total deaths occurred in children aged less than one year. The total injury death rate trend remained stable over the analyzed period. The same occurred for deaths due to motor vehicle accidents in 5 to 19 years old. The trend for deaths by suffocation in children aged less than one year has clearly increased during the period, as is also the case for the proportion due to this same cause over the total number of deaths.

Accidents↗
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[The epidemiological profile of trichinosis in the state of Zacatecas].

A compilation of data from the cases which have occurred in Zacatecas during the period between 1976 and 1987 has been made. It describes the endemia and locates the problem in time, person and space. Because of their impact, magnitude and consequences the more important data of the outbreaks is presented. The first case of trichinosis diagnosed in Zacatecas was in 1975; since then there have been other outbreaks; four in 1978, with the highest mortality of 33 per cent which occurred in Laguna del Carretero a community of Villanueva. During the period between 1979-1988 there have been 17 more, among these a death occurred in Valparaiso and, in Pozo de Gamboa there was an abortion in a 20-year-old female patient. This infection has higher frequency in urban areas. The most affected group age is 15-44 years; in this group there have been 51 percent of the cases occurring in females in a proportion of 1:1.8. Seven of the 36 countries in the state of Zacatecas, such as Zacatecas, Villanueva, Valparaiso, Panuco, Jerez, Jalpa and Guadalupe, have reported cases; the countries are listed by frequency. The transmission in most of the cases was caused by ingestion of raw pork products, in a fen undercooked pork meat. The diagnosis was confirmed in sixty cases by the conservation of the parasite in muscle biopsy and oronyosistis which represent a 38 percent of the reported total cases. Six cases was confirmed by histologic sections and immunoelectrophoresis test.

Age Factors↗
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Amikacin nephrotoxicity in patients with chronic liver disease.

Chronic liver disease is a risk factor for aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. We conducted this study to identify the incidence and risk factors associated with it. A total of 45 patients with liver disease and 329 controls were included, with a toxicity incidence of 17.7%, similar to that in controls. Chronic liver disease patients received lower amikacin doses than calculated on the basis of creatinine clearance (498 +/- 1187 vs 611 = 313 mg/day). Serum albumin, both at the beginning of the treatment and at the end was lower in patients who developed toxicity, and bilirubin levels were higher in these patients at the end of the treatment. Apparently, a dose reduction may lessen the risk for amikacin nephrotoxicity in patients with chronic liver disease. We conclude that hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia are risk factors in this complication.

Amikacin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Adenocarcinoma of the ceruminous glands: report of three cases].

We report three cases of ceruminoma seen in our department over a 1-year period and review the neoplasms of the ceruminous glands. According to the Welti classification, our three cases were ceruminous adenocarcinomas. Based on existing literature, ceruminous adenocarcinoma is the least frequent neoplasm of the ceruminous glands.

Adenocarcinoma↗