Revista médica de Chile
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 1997
Comparative Study[Study of the survival of elderly patients in intensive care units. Should they be admitted to these units?].
An important increase in health care costs has occurred lately, determined in part by the expenses of intensive care units. An important proportion of beds in these units are occupied by elders, with high costs and dubious results. ⋯ Older age was not associated with a higher mortality during intensive care unit stay. Prognosis is determined by the admission severity score and the number of concomitant chronic diseases.
-
Recent reports have described a pathogenic role of nitric oxide in several respiratory disease. It is specially useful in the adult respiratory distress syndrome, where it acts as a selective vasodilator and improves gas exchange, decreasing pulmonary shunting. Although it has a proven bronchodilator effect, its therapeutic role in diseases such as asthma and chronic limitation of airway flow is not well defined. This article review the metabolism, mechanisms of action, potential uses and adverse effects of nitric oxide in respiratory disease.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jul 1997
Biography Historical Article[A tribute to Germán Schneider, MD, first editor of Revista Médica de Chile].
Germán Schneider was born in 1820 in Magdeburg, Germany, and graduated as M. D. at the University of Bonn. In 1848, caught by the political and intellectual reformist movement in Europe, he was exiled in Paris. ⋯ As first Editor of this medical journal, he established the basis for its continuous success and devotion to medical progress and education. Dr. Schneider died in 1884, leaving several distinguished pupils who followed his path, and a medical journal that now stands as one of the oldest in the world.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jun 1997
Comparative Study[Immune response reduced by intense intellectual stress: changes in lymphocyte proliferation in medical students].
There is a relationship between stressful situations and the susceptibility towards certain diseases, probably mediated by immune system modifications. ⋯ There is a decrease in lymphocyte proliferation and an increase in cortisol levels during a period of acute academic stress in medical students, suggesting that, the exposure of the healthy subjects to common stressful stimuli, may affect their immunocompetance.