Theory and practice of the health systems reforms: the cases of Brazil and Mexico

This study focuses on the role of public health experts in the contemporary health sector reform process. The authors discuss the issue based on the case of Brazil and Mexico, where a group of public health specialists have oriented their participation to influence the conflict concerning health policy reform in the respective countries. One approach has been to develop a new cognitive framework for technical health sector reform projects viewed as policy proposals with technical content. The purpose is to demonstrate how these specialists have managed to influence the national debate over health sector reform when the technical and scientific discussion leaves the academic sphere and reaches the social and political realm. The authors contend that this occurs because such technical and scientific knowledge has been postulated (independently of its intrinsic value) as a political and ideological alternative platform for sustaining a health sector reform proposal which, once transformed into a policy project, has served to aggregate certain political and social forces.     

Health sector decentralization and divergences with the medical society in Mexico

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the medical society's perception and actions in the context of health sector decentralization in the states of Guanajuato and Sonora, Mexico. METHODS: Qualitative research techniques were applied. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical college members of both public and private institutions, and collegiate and union representatives of both states studied. RESULTS: Members of medical society in both states acknowledged that decentralization implied in insecurity due to the lack of clarity of health sector regulations. As a result of actions of the medical college in both states there was a growing politicization of medical college members, elaboration of proposals to increase their control over the medical labor market and their participation in the regional political power structure. CONCLUSIONS: This research supports the existing re-articulation of the medical society at a regional level preserving its status as a respected group. In contrast to studies conducted in the United States and Mexico medical authorities have pressed on the regulations in order to preserve their privileged status within the existing contention.     

Effectiveness of low flow vascular lesions sclerosis with monoethanolamine: report of six cases

Vascular malformations or even hemangiomas need therapeutic intervention if they start to cause clinical symptoms or personal discomfort. Different therapeutic modalities, including cryotherapy, corticosteroids, laser therapy, sclerotherapy, surgery, and/or embolization, can be performed successfully. Sclerotherapy with monoethanolamine is a relatively simple and effective method to treat low flow vascular lesions. We presented a report of six cases of vascular malformations treated with monoethanolamine. There were 3 male and 3 female patients, with an age range of 20 to 68 years. The patients were submitted to applications according to clinical response and/or tolerability. In all cases, low-flow vascular lesions were recorded and submitted to infiltration with 2.5% monoethanolamine, directly into the lesions. The volume applied was approximately the middle of affected area. Vascular lesions were characterized as low-flow due to absence of arterial pulsation and flat consistence. The sclerosis with 2.5% monoethanolamine resulted in complete or partial involution, without severe complications.     

CYP2C19*2 and prognosis after an acute coronary syndrome: Insights from a Portuguese center

BackgroundClopidogrel requires oxidation dependent on the cytochrome P450 enzyme 2C19 (CYP2C19) to form its active metabolite. The importance of loss-of-function alleles (particularly CYP2C19*2, 681G>A) in poor platelet response to clopidogrel is well recognized.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and prognostic impact of the CYP2C19*2 allele in a local acute coronary syndrome (ACS) population.MethodsWe performed a prospective, longitudinal study of 95 patients admitted for an ACS between March and October 2009 to a single coronary care unit. Patients aged under 75 who survived hospital stay and for whom clopidogrel was prescribed were included. At discharge, CYP2C19 was genotyped using a commercially available kit. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (non-carriers, normal metabolizers, CYP2C19*1/*1), n = 69; and Group B (carriers, slow metabolizers, CYP2C19*2/*1 or *2/*2), n = 26. The primary endpoint was a combined outcome of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or re-admission for unstable angina; median follow-up was 136.0 (79.0–188.0) days.ResultsThe median age of the population was 62.0 (51.0–68.0) years, and 83.2% were male. The CYP2C19*2 (A) allele had a frequency of 14.2%. There were no differences between the groups with respect to demographic data or history of cardiovascular disease. Coronary anatomy, left ventricular ejection fraction and renal function were also similar. The groups were also homogenous with respect to GRACE risk score (118.0 (95.0–136.5) vs. 115.0 (96.0–133.0), p = 0.68), medical treatment and percutaneous revascularization during hospital stay. Event-free survival was higher for Group A (94.0% vs. 75.0%, log-rank p = 0.010). Three readmissions for MI were documented, all in the slow metabolizers group.ConclusionIn our ACS population, the CYP2C19*2 allele was a medium-term prognostic marker.     

Rest myocardial perfusion imaging: a valuable tool in ED

BackgroundAcute chest pain is a frequent cause of emergency department (ED) visits. Rest myocardial perfusion imaging (RMPI) during or immediately after an episode of chest pain can provide diagnostic and prognostic information concerning acute coronary syndromes.AimOur purpose was to evaluate the RMPI score in risk stratification of chest pain suspected to be of cardiac ischemic origin and negative troponin assessment.MethodsNinety-six patients without an ongoing myocardial infarction or a history of coronary artery disease and in whom RMPI was performed in the ED because of chest pain suspected to be related with acute myocardial ischemia were included.Follow-up was performed considering the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization in a 12-month period admission.ResultsFourteen (14.6%) patients had events. According to survival analysis, the variables related with events were a history of angina (hazard ratio [HR], 4.5; P ≤ .01), an ischemic electrocardiogram (HR, 4.0; P ≤ .01), the abnormal RMPI (HR, 11.4; P ≤ .05), and the RMPI score (HR, 1.1; P ≤ .0001). When the variables of interest were forced into a multivariate model, the χ² associated with the model that includes clinical and electrocardiogram information was 16.3 (P ≤ .005) and in the model that also includes RMPI score, it was 23.0 (P ≤ .0005).ConclusionIn a low- to intermediate-risk group of patients with suspected acute myocardial ischemia, RMPI gives not only diagnostic information but adds prognostic value to the traditional ED risk stratification tools.     

Pulse wave velocity as expression of arterial compliance and its importance in the evaluation of arterial hypertension]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the arterial compliance through the evaluation of pulse wave velocity. DESIGN: Open study with direct comparison of different groups within a 12 week evaluation period. PATIENTS: 69 patients, 49 with hypertension and 20 normals individuals. INTERVENTIONS: Different groups with the following treatments: Isradipine, Lisinopril, Dilevalol and no therapy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There is marked differences in the pulse wave velocity when hypertensive patients are compared with normal individuals (p < 0.001). In a 12 week therapeutic evaluation there is an improvement in the pulse wave velocity particularly when the arterial pressure was lowered to normal values in the hypertensive patients: Lisinopril (p < 0.005), Isradipine (p < 0.005), Dilevalol (p < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: It is very easy to evaluate the pulse wave velocity. Arterial compliance, which may be evaluated using the pulse wave velocity, is significantly reduced in hypertensive patients, compared with age-matched control subjects. The use of antihypertensive drugs is associated with changes in arterial compliance. There is a significant decrease in the pulse wave velocity after the administration of ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and beta blockers for an equivalent fall in blood pressure. These observations emphasizes the potential importance of the changes in the large arteries, considered as either an associated factor or a consequence of elevated blood pressure, in the evaluation of the cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality of patients treated for hypertension.