Revista médica de Chile
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Alcohol and tobacco are important risk factors for chronic pancreatitis (CP). ⋯ A total of 50 patients diagnosed with CP were included. Of these, 28 patients underwent PERT, 39 were smokers and 33 were alcohol users. Compared with patients without PERT, those with PERT had a higher proportion of diabetes (64 and 32%, respectively), had a higher need for endoscopic treatment (25 and 0%, respectively) and a normal body mass index (71 and 27.3%, respectively. The smokers had higher calcium levels and increased lymphocytosis and leukocytosis. The alcohol consumption group had a higher mean age (p = 0.04) Conclusions: PERT may improve the nutritional status but does not reduce the need for endoscopic or surgical treatment. Smoking and alcohol consumption favored the progression of CP. Also, smoking induced a pro-inflammatory state.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2022
[Association between educational level and suspicion of cognitive imparirment in Chilean older people].
A low education level has been associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. ⋯ Older adults with low education attainment had an increased likelihood of developing suspicion of cognitive imparirment. However, the risk differs by sex, being higher in women than men.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2022
[Multidisciplinary care and therapeutic advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects the motor system, resulting in progressive weakness and muscle wasting. Despite the tremendous advances in physiopathological and clinical characterization, we do not have a curative treatment yet. The progressive and fatal course of ALS makes its management particularly complex and challenging given the diversity of symptoms presenting during the disease progression. ⋯ Lastly, early palliative care intervention is essential to optimize symptomatic management. Anticipatory guidelines to face the inevitable patient deterioration should be devised. This article updates the main therapeutic strategies used in these patients, including evolving clinical trials with promising novel therapies.
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Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2022
[The impact of COVID-19 on the health status of older people in Chile].
The article presents the main impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health status of older people, systematizing the information about the direct impact of the pandemic in terms of number of cases, hospitalizations, deaths, the policies implemented for the prevention and management of COVID-19 in older people and the indirect impact of the two years of pandemic. Adopting a broad definition of health, the need to monitor and recover health care of older people is highlighted. ⋯ The policies towards institutionalized older people must be revised. These areas should be the focus of health care policies for older people in Chile.
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A work that dignifies, that is adequately rewarded and is carried out with social protection is considered decent by the International Labor Organization. ⋯ The dignity of medical work is understood by doctors as a polysemic and relational concept.