Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Feb 2003
[Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: current situation among rodent reservoirs and human population in the 10th region, Chile].
In Chile, three Hantavirus seropositive rodent species (O longicaudatus, A olivaceus and A longipilis) are distributed from the Pacific coast to the Andes mountains and represent nearly 90% of the rodents captured in the Xth Region. ⋯ A dispersal movement of O longicaudatus to open habitats close to human outdoor activities during the dry season was confirmed.
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Revista médica de Chile · Feb 2003
Case Reports[Mechanical ventilation to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Role of dynamic axial computed tomography of the lung].
Lung computed tomography (CT) is being used increasingly to assess lung morphology in patients on mechanical ventilation. Lung CT under known levels of airway pressure (dynamic CT) can also assess the response of lung parenchyma to ventilatory therapy. We report a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to descending necrotizing mediastinitis, in whom lung dynamic CT oriented ventilatory management. Independent lung ventilation improved gas exchange and helped patient recovery.
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Despite significant advances in the recognition of etiological factors and pathological mechanisms, the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) is still not fully understood. Visceral hypersensitivity has been recognized as a characteristic of patients with FGD, especially in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Visceral afferent input is modulated by a variety of mechanisms, operating between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. ⋯ Although imaging techniques indicate that there are also differences in cortical activation. Furthermore, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may benefit FGD. Recent pharmacological studies suggest that 5-HT3 antagonist such as alosetron and cilansetron, and 5-HT4 agonist such as legaserod and prucalopride may also have a potential use in FGD.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jan 2003
Editorial Comment[The relevance of declaring a conflict of interest in medical journals].
Medical journals are often at risk of difusing research articles, reviews, position articles, editorials or letters whose message has been influenced by a conflict of interest. The readers may then be induced to accept conclusions and recommendations based on biased protocols or an unwarranted interpretation of the results. ⋯ Even when a potential conflict of interest exists, it may not necessarily have influenced the manuscript or its review but in order to defend the transparency of the editorial process, from submission to publication, authors, reviewers and editors should declare any conflict of interest they may have and allow others to decide whether the action has been biased or not. In the present issue of Revista Médica de Chile, an updated text of the Instructions to Authors establishes that all authors should sign a statement of having or not a conflict of interest, clarifying which aspects of the work might have been affected by it.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2002
Letter Case Reports[Two cases of empyema caused by Peptostreptococcus].