Epidemiology of coronary heart disease risk factors in a free-living population.

A project for the detection and treatment of multiple risk factors (MRF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) has been initiated in Argentina. After complete medical and routine laboratory studies, 462 apparently normal subjects were found. The prevalence of RF was: hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) 43.9%, hypertension (?160-95) 17.3%, smoking habits 35% (heavy smokers 7.9%), psychosocial stress 49.5%, overweight (weight/height > 1.10) 40.3%, sedentary habits 44.8%, family history of CHD 10.9%, diabetes 6.9%, and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities 6.6%. The distribution of the different types of HLP showed that type IV, with a frequency of 21.9%, was the most common. Types IIa and IIb had a prevalence of 11.5 and 10.6%, respectively. An extra pre-β band was detected in 25% of the population. Striking sex differences were found. Both type IV HLP prevalence and serum uric acid levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in males than in females. On the contrary, sedentary habits and psychosocial stress were significantly more prevalent in women than in men (P < 0.001). RF associations have been demonstrated between type IV HLP, overweight, hypertension, tobacco smoking, and diabetes. RF prevalence tended to increase with advancing age with the exception of smoking habits. In this apparently normal population, 36.9% of the men and 19.4% of the women had two or more major risk factors requiring treatment because of their high CHD risk.     

Rapid identification of emerging pathogens: coronavirus

We describe a new approach for infectious disease surveillance that facilitates rapid identification of known and emerging pathogens. The process uses broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify nucleic acid targets from large groupings of organisms, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for accurate mass measurements of PCR products, and base composition signature analysis to identify organisms in a sample. We demonstrate this principle by using 14 isolates of 9 diverse Coronavirus spp., including the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We show that this method could identify and distinguish between SARS and other known CoV, including the human CoV 229E and OC43, individually and in a mixture of all 3 human viruses. The sensitivity of detection, measured by using titered SARS-CoV spiked into human serum, was approximate, equals1 PFU/mL. This approach, applicable to the surveillance of bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoal pathogens, is capable of automated analysis of >900 PCR reactions per day.     

Superselective catheterization and embolization as first-line therapy for lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Emergent operative intervention for lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in endovascular techniques have made superselective catheterization and embolization (SSCE) of small visceral arterial branches possible. We hypothesized that SSCE for LGIB would be an effective first-line therapy and associated with low mortality. We identified all patients that underwent visceral angiography at our institution from 1997 to 2003. Records from all patients with documented LGIB and in whom SSCE was used as first-line therapy were reviewed. Twenty-three patients (69 +/- 11 years) were treated with SSCE as an initial intervention for LGIB. A definitive bleeding site was identified in 95 per cent of cases (22/23). Eleven patients (48%) developed an early complication [recurrent bleeding (n=5; two required surgery), asymptomatic ischemic colonic mucosa (n=3), acute renal insufficiency (n=1; resolved), and femoral pseudo-aneurysm (n=2; one treated operatively)]. Long-term (mean 19 months) follow-up was available for 17 patients. Five patients (22%) experienced recurrent LGIB, and three patients had evidence of colonic ischemic. One patient required endoscopic dilation of a stricture, and three underwent surgical resection. There was no mortality in our series. In this series, SSCE was an effective first-line therapy for LGIB. Rebleeding and ischemia rates were low.     

Continuous monitoring of cervical dilatation during labour by ultrasonic transit-time measurement

Instrumentation for continuously measuring cervical dilatation during labour based upon measuring the transit time of a short pulse of ultrasound across the intracervical space is described. 1 mm × 1 mm × 5 mm ultrasonic transducers are attached to diametrically opposite sides of the cervical rim by spring-loaded clips, and their separation increases as the cervix dilates. The velocity of ultrasound in the intracervical space has been determined to be 1·48 mm/μs, making it possible to convert the transit-time measurements between the transducers to displacement. Samples are taken once a second, allowing a continuous recording to be made throughout labour. Examples of cervical dilatation recordings from primigravid and multiparous patients are presented.     

Anxiety, nostalgia and melancholy. A few remarks on psychoanalysis and tango

Our work is based on the application of psychoanalytic techniques, in order to unveil this cultural phenomenon called tango, related with sexuality and unconscious processes. As a way of introduction, it deals with a brief theory of the birth of tango, the possible terminological source of its name, its main creators and interpreters, as well as the chronological classification into the first wave tangos, Guardia Vieja, and the newer wave tangos, Guardia Nueva. The former ones were awash with festive themes of the centennial years, expressed in behaviors that denote sexuality and love, whereas the latter ones, expose the great bewilderment of the thirties' crisis, due to the imminent downfall of the country, the denunciation of materialism, the crumbling of ideas; which led up to feelings of utter pessimism, loneliness and abandonment. From this point onwards, through the use of techniques provided by psychoanalysis applied to tango lyrics, we are able to unravel the unconscious processes of the drama of its characters; the immigrant, hopeful and at same time nostalgic for the loss of his mother country; the porteno -urban man from Buenos Aires city- who, overwhelmed by immigrants, has to give way to the new compatriots; the inland inhabitant, who was dragged to the city because of the new conditions of rural work; and finally the conventillo, tenement house, as a melting pot that fulfilled the integration of these groups. Like in a painter's palette, which contains various colors and shades, the interpretations about nostalgia, grief and loneliness become apparent, along with the father-son rivalry, the conflict with the absent mother, the relationship between sexes, male chauvinism, infatuation, identity, the fear of death, the rebirth to a new life, the passage from gaucho to guapo, from a shrewd horseman to a daring, bullying braggart.