Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2023
[Health-Related Quality of Life in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Review].
Organ transplantation is a therapeutic alternative for patients with end-stage organ failure resulting from chronic or acute disease. In this context, health-related quality of life is an important multidimensional concept to evaluate the benefits of transplantation. ⋯ Heart transplantation represents a successful therapeutic alternative that not only prolongs life but also makes it possible to achieve an adequate health-related quality of life. Family and social support are crucial elements that impact adjustment and quality of life during the pre- and post-transplant process.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Review[Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Risk Factors & Protective Measures].
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BD) is a severe mental pathology characterized by recurrent mood episodes that usually cycle between two opposite poles: mania or hypomania and depression. It has a high level of morbidity/mortality (i.e., cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, altered functionality, and absenteeism from work) and associated substantial socioeconomic costs. The most dramatic outcome is death by suicide, which occurs in 5% to 15% of patients. ⋯ It is essential to determine the disease's risk and specific protective factors to prevent its occurrence, delay its appearance, and reduce its deterioration effects. Characteristics such as genetic profile, cognitive reserve (partially explained by educational level and premorbid intelligence), chronotype (particularly morning chronotype), personality aspects (including resilience and hyperthymic temperament), the absence of substance use and childhood maltreatment, in addition to an adequate support network, have been associated with a lower impact in the onset and course of the disease. Once present, interventions -both in the early and late stages (i.e., specific pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, dietary factors, physical activity, and judicious use of antipsychotics)-can play a protective role against the appearance of the disease and the severity of its mood episodes.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jun 2023
Review[Pulmonary hypertension: calcium channel-mediated signaling, present and future pharmacological targets].
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure, resistance, and pathological remodeling of pulmonary arteries. Calcium entry from the extracellular to the intracellular space through voltage-dependent and -independent channels play a major role in the increase of contractility of pulmonary arteries and in the loss of regulation of the proliferative behavior of the cells from the different layers of the pulmonary arterial wall. In doing so, these channels contribute to enhanced vasoconstriction of pulmonary arteries and their pathological remodeling. This review aims to summarize the evidence obtained from animal and cellular models regarding the involvement of the main plasma membrane calcium channels in these key pathophysiological processes for pulmonary arterial hypertension, discussing the potential value as pharmacological targets for therapies in the present and the future.
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Revista médica de Chile · May 2023
Review[MALA: Lactic acidosis associated with the use of metformin, review of clinical cases].
Metformin is the preferred medication for the initial management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although its use is widely recommended, caution should be exercised when prescribing it to populations susceptible to systemic hypoperfusion conditions, as it can lead to accumulation in the body and metabolic disturbances that may result in metformin-associated lactic acidosis. ⋯ To promote a better understanding of this topic, the present review focuses on the analysis of the clinical, pathophysiological, diagnostic, and management aspects of metformin-associated lactic acidosis, with particular attention to management through renal replacement therapies. The analysis will be based on the experience of a series of cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis treated at a hospital clinical center in Chile.
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Revista médica de Chile · May 2023
Review[Update on the Diagnosis and Stratification of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Urgent National Need].
Acute myeloid leukemia is a neoplasm with a high lethality, with alarming results in our country, positioning it as a priority from the point of view of oncological public health. Cytology, immunophenotype, karyogram, and a few translocations/mutations by molecular biology are currently available for diagnosis and stratification. This diagnostic approach is insufficient since it allows classifying less than 50% of patients in a specific group. ⋯ In this review, an update of the integrated diagnosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia is carried out in light of the new diagnostic (WHO 2022 and ICC 2022), and prognostic classifications (ELN 2022). We propose an algorithm for integrated diagnosis to be considered for its implementation. It is imperative as a country to invest in new diagnostic technologies to improve the prognosis of our patients.