Daniel unout B

La mantención de peso en humanos: ¿podría ser equivalente a la restricción calórica de los modelos animales?

Background: Energy restriction (ER) extends life span in animals, by decreasing oxidative stress. Aim: To compare adiposity, metabolic variables and DNA oxidative damage, among adults, reporting a constant body weight (weight maintainers), versus those reporting a progressive increase (weight gainers). Subjects and Methods: Clinical history, dietary recall, anthropometric measures, abdominal CT scan and fasting blood samples (to measure lipoproteins, glucose and insulin), were obtained in 44 males. These subjects were classified as weight maintainers if they had a change in weight of 3 kg or less in the last 10 years, or weight gainers, if they had a weight increment of more than 6 kg in the same lapse. Oxidative damage was assessed by 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in DNA extracted from circulating lymphocytes, in 5 weight maintainers, 8 weight gainers and 5 healthy elders. Results: Energy intake was 18% higher in weight gainers (p <0.01). Adiposity and central fat were higher among weight gainers (p <0.01). Abdominal fat correlated with serum lipoproteins, glucose and insulin sensitivity, assessed by the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). 8-OHdG levels did not differ between groups. Conclusions: The analysis of weight change based on the clinical history correlates with actual body composition, thus it may be a reliable indicator of long term energy intake. This method could be comparable to weight clamp models employed in animals to study aging (Rev Med Chile 2004; 132: 1166-72)

Influencia de factores de riesgo y terapia farmacológica en la mortalidad de hipertensos esenciales

BACKGROUND: The V JNC consensus stated that although new antihypertensive agents, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, are considered safer drugs, there is no firm evidence from large controlled trials that these drugs are associated with a lower cardiovascular mortality. AIM: To study the association between cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure levels, pharmacological treatment and mortality in a group of hypertensive patients followed at an hypertension outpatient clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with essential hypertension were treated with different antihypertensive medications, according to physicians criteria, and controlled until death or loss from follow up. Causes of death were obtained from hospital records and death certificates. Survival was analyzed using life tables, comparisons between groups of patients were done using chi square or a Coxs proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-nine hypertensive patients aged 33 to 80 years old were followed for a mean period of 9.8 +/- 4.9 years. Eighty-six were treated with beta blockers, 64 with diuretics, 133 with calcium antagonists and 56 with ACE inhibitors. Blood pressure dropped similarly with all medications. During follow up, 79 patients died. Life table analysis showed that patients with a history of angina, diabetes or myocardial infarction had higher mortality rates. Similarly, patients treated with beta blockers and diuretics had higher mortality than patients treated with calcium antagonists or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The proportional hazards model showed that the effect of treatment modality persisted after correction for the other risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of hypertensive patients, those treated with beta blockers or diuretics had higher mortality rates than those receiving calcium channel antagonists or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Qué opinan sus lectores de la Revista Médica de Chile

BACKGROUND A few objective indicators support the relevance of articles published in medical journals, such as the ISI Impact Factor and Citation Indices. However, a feedback from the readers can help to improve a journal. AIM To report the results of an opinion survey addressed to readers of Revista Medica de Chile, in June-August 2007. MATERIAL AND METHODS A survey was devised and distributed electronically or by mail among all subscribers. It requested information about gender, age, site of work, proportion of time dedicated to clinical practice, teaching or research, plus their opinion about the contents and format of the journal, inviting them to propose improvements. RESULTS The survey was distributed to 1274 subscribers (98.7% physicians, most living in Chile) and was responded by 309 (24%). Those who responded were practicing medicine for a mean of 24 +/- 13 (SD) years and did not differ in gender, age or years of medical practice from those that did not respond. Sixty-three percent practiced as internists and dedicated 63 +/- 26 (SD) % of their time to clinical practice, 21 +/- 16% to teaching activities and 16 +/- 17% to research. More than half of respondents qualified the sections of the journal as good or excellent. Fifty-one per cent requested to include more clinical topics updates, 35% more articles on evidence based medicine and 34% more articles focused on continuing medical education. The more frequent free suggestions referred to changes in the format of the journal. CONCLUSIONS Most readers are satisfied with the journals contents. Suggested changes were referred to review articles and the journals format.

ÍNDICE GLICÉMICO E INSULINEMICO DE DOS TIPOS DE PASTA DE PRESENTACIÓN LARGA Y CORTA EN INDIVIDUOS SANOS

Resumen es: Introduccion: Las pastas secas (industrializadas) se caracterizan por ser manufacturadas a base de harina dura de trigo y otros cereales, llamado semolin...