Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2012
Editorial Historical Article[Tradition and progress (1872-2012)].
The first issue of Revista Médica de Chile appeared in July, 1872. Since then it has been published monthly and thus it became one of the oldest medical journals being printed since the 19th Century. The opening Editorial in the first issue, labeled as "Prospecto"and written by the first editor, Germán Schneider, M. ⋯ The current Editors comment the main statements found in that document establishing the purpose and scope of this journal. There are good reasons to sustain that through its 140 years of life, Revista Médica de Chile has fully accomplished the expectations of its founders and the owning institution: Sociedad Médica de Santiago-Chilean Society of Internal Medicine. The journal is serving well the medical community as a forum to present and discuss clinical experience, topics in scientific and technological advances related to medicine, medical education, medical ethics, and public health.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2012
[Delirium in older medical inpatients: a one year follow up study].
Delirium is an important problem in older medical inpatients. ⋯ Delirium was significantly associated with higher mortality and functional decline over a one year follow up period in geriatric inpatients.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2012
Case Reports[Hodgkin lymphoma with hepatic involvement treated with dexametasone, gemcitabine and cisplatin as a bridge to standard therapy: report of one case].
The initial presentation of Hodgkin lymphoma with liver involvement is rare. In these patients, the standard first-line therapy with ABVD (Adriamycin, Bleomycine, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine) imply an additional risk for liver toxicity. We report a 64-year-old woman who presented with jaundice, choluria, malaise and weight loss. ⋯ Considering the liver dysfunction, an alternative scheme of chemotherapy with dexamethasone, gemcitabine and cisplatin (GDP) was administered. After 4 cycles, a significant improvement in liver hepatic function tests was reached and a conventional chemotherapy (ABVD) was begun. While the literature provides some low toxicity protocols for patients with liver involvement, favorable results of our clinical case report allows us to postulate GDP as an alternative for salvage therapy in these patients.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2012
[Phenotype and genotype of thiopurine methyltransferase in Chilean individuals].
Thiopurines (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) are highly effective medications but with potential adverse effects. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TMPT) is the key enzyme in their pharmacokinetics and is genetically regulated. A low activity of TPMT is associated with myelotoxicity. The genotype and enzyme activity can vary by ethnicity. ⋯ Less than 10% of a Chilean population sample has a low enzymatic activity or allelic variants in the TPMT gene, supporting the use of thiopurines according to international recommendations.