Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes two entities, Chronic Bronchitis (C.B.) and Emphysema (E.), assembled by their common physiopathological feature, a progressive expiratory airflow obstruction. The presence of hyperreactivity is common and partial reversibility may be observed. The coexistence of CB and E. is largely the most prevalent. Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor per se or ass...
The purpose of this study is to describe the concept and physiopathology of myocardial viability to provide rational use of diagnostic methodologies and their value. Great relevance has been given to the diagnosis of myocardial viability since it was published in 1982, because of the consequences of therapeutic decisions and prognostic evaluation on the patient's quality of life. The cost/benefit values of thes...
Gentamicin has an excellent cost/efficacy ratio for gram negative infections treatment. Its use is often limited in clinical practice by its narrow safety margins and a high incidence of toxicity. Gentamicin related nephrotoxicity is a major adverse effect, mostly in patients with other concomitant potential risk factors. As many other Authors we have found in our Internal Medicine Service during 1992 a gentami...
Ingestion of organophosphate (OP) compounds usually results in severe poisoning. We undertook a retrospective study of 52 consecutive patients admitted with severe OP poisoning to determine the value of serum cholinesterase (SChE) in monitoring clinical course. Considering survivors and non-survivors, we evaluate clinical and laboratory baseline characteristics, severity scores (APACHE II, SAPS II), atropine ra...
To determine whether hyperhomocysteinemia represents a risk factor of early thrombotic cerebrovascular disease.In a group of patients under 55 years of age (n = 33, 19 males) which had suffered a stroke from 3 months to 1 year before the study, defined by clinical criteria and presence of cerebral infarction confirmed by tomography, without history or predisposition to embolic disease. The patients were matched...