Revista médica de Chile
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Hypopituitarism after moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is usually underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated. Its course can be divided in an acute phase during the first 14 days after TBI with 50 to 80% risk of hypopituitarism, and a chronic phase, beginning three months after the event, with a prevalence of hypopituitarism that ranges from 2 to 70%. Its pathophysiology has been addressed in several studies, suggesting that a vascular injury to the pituitary tissue is the most important mechanism during the acute phase, and an autoimmune one during chronic stages. ⋯ Hence, we propose a simple and cost-effective algorithm to detect and treat a potential hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment and alterations of sodium homeostasis, both of which can be life-threatening. In the chronic phase, post-concussion syndrome is the most important differential diagnosis. Given the high prevalence of hypopituitarism, we suggest that all pituitary axes should be assessed in all patients with moderate to severe TBI, between 3 to 6 months after the event, and then repeated at 12 months after trauma by a specialized team in pituitary disease.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2020
Observational Study[Features of 50 patients with SARS-CoV2 admitted to an intensive care unit and requiring mechanical ventilation].
Since March, Chile experienced an exponential increase in SARS-CoV2 cases, which led to an almost full occupancy of the intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ The information obtained in this study provides characteristics and early outcomes of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 and IMV, admitted to the ICU of our center.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2020
Association between fitness, anthropometric indices and laboratory parameters in elderly women.
Aging causes an involution of anthropometric and health indices that can affect physical fitness. ⋯ Anthropometric variables, serum lipid levels and blood glucose were predictors of different physical fitness parameters in these women.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2020
[Mortality in survivors of torture ad prison during the chilean dictatorship between 1973 and 1990].
Studies on the long-term consequences of torture in survivors in Chile have only addressed the consequences for mental health, leaving aside the physical consequences. ⋯ These results can inform prevention and treatment strategies for victims of the Chilean dictatorship.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2020
[Participation of Chilean undergraduate medical students in scientific research].
The participation of medical students in research generates professional, scientific, and personal benefits for the student. ⋯ Respondents showed a great deal of interest in participating in scientific research. However, there is a gap between this interest and the available opportunities. Medical professors should promote and facilitate the participation of their students in research.