Bronchial hyperreactivity in patients who inhale heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil

BACKGROUND: In our area, inhaling heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil, known as rebujo, is becoming more and more common. AIM: To define the prevalence and the characteristics of bronchial disease (wheezing, bronchial hyperreactivity [BHR], and asthma) present in subjects inhaling heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one subjects who inhaled the drug mixture were included in the study: 62 subjects were from a drug rehabilitation center (INH-I group), and 29 subjects were among patients admitted to our hospital for a variety of reasons (INH-II group). A questionnaire was completed in both groups, as well as IgE determination and lung function tests (spirometry and methacholine challenge). The control group consisted of 122 individuals who did not inhale the drug mixture, and were chosen randomly from the general population (NO-INH group). All subjects were tobacco smokers. RESULTS: In the INH-I group, there was a 41.9% prevalence of wheezing over the past 12 months, a 44.4% prevalence of BHR, and a 22.02% prevalence of asthma, defined as wheezing plus BHR. In the NO-INH group, these values were 32.78% (p = 0.22), 15.57% (p < 0.0001), and 8.19% (p < 0.01), respectively. Of the subjects who inhaled the drug mixture and denied having symptoms prior to the use of the drug mixture, 31.4% had wheezing develop after commencing use of the drug, following a mean latency of 4.09 months. Wheezing remitted in only 7.6% after discontinuation of the drug. CONCLUSIONS: (1) There is a real increase in BHR in subjects who inhale heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil; and (2) this BHR is associated with wheezing that develops after a variable period of latency, once drug inhalation begins, and persists despite discontinuation of the drug.     

Portal and mesenteric thrombosis associated with protein S deficiency]

INTRODUCTION: liver cirrhosis is the main cause of portal thrombosis (PT), while hypercoagulability syndromes are rarely found as the etiology of PT. We report a case of portal and mesenteric thrombosis secondary to protein S deficiency. CASE REPORT: a 74-year-old woman was admitted with melena secondary to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. She reported mild, diffuse abdominal pain in the last 2 weeks. Endoscopy revealed ruptured esophageal varices. Doppler ultrasonography and CT demonstrated a heterogeneous liver, splenomegaly and ascites, and complete non-occlusive PT involving the hilum and portal branches, as well as the superior mesenteric vein, with portosystemic collaterals. At this point a complete study for cirrhosis etiologies was negative, including a liver biopsy that showed nonspecific architectural changes secondary to diminished blood flow, which suggested non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The search for hypercoagulability states determined a deficiency of S protein, with total pS = 107% and free pS = 56%. The patient was started on anticoagulant treatment and no other thrombotic events occurred. DISCUSSION: PT usually manifests without specific symptoms. The most common presentation is upper gastrointestinal bleeding, as occurred in our patient. Liver cirrhosis is one of the most frequent cause of PT. Up to 65% of these patients present an associated prothrombotic state, including protein S deficiency. Our case reminds us of the importance of a systematic search for hipercoagulability syndromes in patients with TP, even when the etiology can be conferred to liver cirrhosis.     

Rehabilitation of patients with coronary cardiopathy. Early mobilization after acute myocardial infarction

The early mobilization of selected patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction is not any longer a controversial subject. The benefits are the prevention of decreasing physical capacity and other complications due to physical immobilization. Anxiety and depressive states are prevented or improved, physical capacity is maintained; there is a well being sensation upon discharge and there are economical advantages due to shortening of the hospitalization period. The latter favors an early return to work and a rapid turnover of hospital beds. From different points of view, early discharge of these patients is desirable, safe, possible, decreases expenses, and favors recovery.     

Pericarditis secondary to the rupture of a hydatid cyst

Cardiac hydatic cysts are rare and represent 0.5 to 2% of all hydatic cysts in humans, but usually associated with fatal complications. We report a case of a male 27 years old with a hydatid cyst located in left ventricle asymptomatic until rupture. It was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiogram in a control.     

Failure of endoscopic therapy in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to duodenal ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in patients with upper gastrointestinal (UGIH) due to duodenal ulcer with high risk of persistent or recurrent bleeding and to determine the associated failure factors of this procedure. PATIENTS AND METHOD: three hundred and thirty-six patients with UGIH due to duodenal ulcer requiring endoscopic treatment were analyzed between January 1992 and December 2001. The patients were classified according to the endoscopic findings: a) patients with limited bleeding; and b) patients with persistent and/or recurrent bleeding due to therapeutic failure. The clinical guidelines followed in patients with endoscopic treatment failure were previously established in the internal protocol. The variables that obtained statistical significance in the univariate analysis were included in the logistic regression model to identify those with an independent predictive value for failure of the endoscopic treatment. RESULTS: mean age of the patients was 60 +/- 17 years, 271 (81%) were male. Bleeding with severe hemodynamic affectation was detected in 82 patients (24%). The most common location of the duodenal ulcer was on the anterosuperior part of the duodenal bulb (227 patients, 68%). In 43 patients (13%) the ulcer was larger than 2 cm. The bleeding stigmata were classified as: Forrest I in 125 (38%) and Forrest II in 211 (62%). It was initially reached in 297 patients (88%). Twenty-two patients required emergency surgery (6,5%) and the global mortality rate was 3%. Severe hemodynamic affectation at admission (OR 11.8, p>0.001), ulcers exceeding 2 cm (OR 6.95, p = 0.019) and the presence of active bleeding during endoscopy (Forrest I) (OR 3.55, p = 0.08) were the variables included in the multivariate analysis independently associated to endoscopic therapy failure. CONCLUSION: endoscopic therapy is an efficient treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to duodenal ulcer. By means of a clinical variable, the hemodynamic status and two endoscopies, bleeding stigmata and the size of the ulcer, a group of patients with high risk of endoscopic treatment failure can be selected.     

Left ventricular function impairment in pregnancy-induced hypertension

The changes induced by transient hypertension on cardiac structure and function are unclear. Pregnancy-induced hypertension offers a natural and spontaneous model of this condition. To assess the potential of echocardiographic Doppler to unmask left ventricular function impairment, we studied 28 women aged 26.4 +/- 7.2 years with pregnancy-induced hypertension defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg in the third trimester of pregnancy without a history of hypertension. Twenty normal pregnant women, aged 27.5 +/- 6.4 years, were the controls. Left ventricular diastolic diameter, fractional shortening, E velocity, A velocity, E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), and the combined index of myocardial performance (Tei index = IRT + ICT/ET), were calculated by echocardiography Doppler 2 to 4 days postpartum. There were statistically significant differences between groups in the following parameters: E/A ratio: 1.3 +/- 0.3 in pregnancy-induced hypertension v 1.5 +/- 0.3 in normal pregnant women (P < .05), IRT: 104 +/- 14 msec v 84 +/- 7 msec (P < .000), and the Tei index: 0.51 +/- 0.15 v 0.35 +/- 0.04 (P < .00), respectively. According to this data pregnancy-induced hypertension evaluated 2 to 4 days after delivery showed left ventricular dysfunction, mainly diastolic. The IRT and the Tei index are the most useful echocardiographic parameters to unmask left ventricular dysfunction in pregnancy-induced hypertension.