Revista médica de Chile
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This article discusses the origin and implications of the "war on cancer" metaphor. Commonly present in mass media, the "war on cancer" notion circulates also among patients, their loved ones, their support networks, and oncological multidisciplinary teams. In our view when cancer is uprooted of its illness status, and conceptualized as an "enemy", myths about disease and those who suffer it (especially the idea of psychogenesis) are strengthened. ⋯ Also, it encourages emotional isolation, concealment of psychiatric symptoms and conspiracies of silence. It is concluded that public policies to avoid the "war on" notion are required. Instead, education of the general population about wrong beliefs about cancer should be encouraged.
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Revista médica de Chile · Feb 2015
Review[Advances in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer: emphasis in new hormonal therapies].
Prostate cancer represents the second cancer-related cause of death in North American and Chilean men. The main treatment for incurable stages of disease is surgical or pharmacological castration. ⋯ The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent therapeutic breakthroughs in the management of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), with greater emphasis in the newer hormonal therapy agents such as Abiraterone and Enzalutamide. Future combination and sequential treatment strategies are contextualized in the current era of personalized cancer medicine and genomic characterization of prostate cancer.
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Revista médica de Chile · Feb 2015
Case Reports[Orbital emphysema after Valsalva maneuver. Report of one case].
Orbital emphysema is a rare complication of orbital and facial trauma, involving the sinuses and occasionally the nasal cavity. Most cases occur as a result of trauma but spontaneous orbital emphysema has been reported. ⋯ We report a 29-years-old male who consulted in the emergency room due to eyelid swelling after a Valsalva maneuver, a couple of hours after suffering a facial injury secondary to a fall. In the presence of eyelid emphysema, the patient underwent craniofacial imaging studies, confirming an ethmoidal lamina papyracea fracture.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jan 2015
Review Case Reports[Pneumomediastinum and cutaneous necrosis in dermatomyositis: Report of one case].
We report a 37 years old male with a dermatomyositis treated with oral cyclophosphamide. He was admitted to the hospital due to a zone of skin necrosis with purulent exudate, located in the second left toe. A complete blood count showed a leukocyte count of 2,600 cells/mm³. ⋯ Cyclophosphamide was discontinued and leukocyte count improved. The affected toe was amputated and a chest CAT scan showed a partial resolution of the pneumomediastinum. We discuss and review the pathogenesis, clinical presentation and management of pneumomediastinum and cutaneous necrosis in association with dermatomyositis.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jan 2015
Observational Study[Safety and efficacy of Vildagliptin in real life Chilean diabetic patients].
Vildagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor (DPP4i). Its efficacy and safety of DPP4i in Chilean real life type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients is not well known. ⋯ Vildagliptin treatment reduced glycosylated hemoglobin by 1.1% and was well tolerated in this group of diabetic patients.