Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosed by Dermoscopy in Dermatology Clinic of the Miguel Enríquez University Hospital

Foundation: basal cell carcinoma is a very common malignant tumor in humans. It is considered locally invasive, also aggressive and destructive. Objective: to show the behavior of patients with basal cell carcinoma diagnosed by dermoscopy in dermatology clinic of the Miguel Enríquez University Hospital, between June 2020 and May 2021. Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out to show the behavior of patients with basal cell carcinoma who attended the dermatology consultation at the Miguel Enríquez University Hospital from June 2020 to May 2021. The universe of study was made up of patients older than 18 years who presented one or more presumptive lesions of basal cell carcinoma less than 3 cm in diameter. The variables used were: age, sex, skin phototype, clinical forms, dermoscopic patterns, topography of the lesion, occupation related or not to sun exposure. We worked with absolute frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum values, the ratio, chi-square and student's t tests, with significance p≤0.05. Results: it prevailed in the elderly (66.4±14.9 years), in men (54.1 %), with phototype 2 (57.8 %), and in the nose 33.9 %. The nodular form was more frequent (41.3 %), occupation exposed to the sun (66.9 %), average size of the lesion 1.4 cm. Dermoscopy showed a predominance of arborizing vessels (73.4 %). By histology, 90.8 % of the cases were confirmed. Conclusions: the elderly prevailed among the patients, with phototype 2. The nodular form was more frequent, the average size of the lesion was 1.4 cm. Dermoscopy showed a predominance of arborizing vessels. Dermoscopy turned out to be a necessary tool for systematic use in dermatology

Mortality during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. Cuba, 2005-2018

Foundation: Maternal mortality in the world is unacceptably high. Complications in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium are the leading cause of death in women of childbearing age. In recent years the number of maternal deaths in Cuba, is one of the lowest in Latin America, but it is still far from the results of more developed countries. The most evident achievements are made in reducing infant mortality.Objective: to describe the behavior of deaths that occurs during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium in Cuba, in the period 2005-2018.Methods: an annual cross-sections descriptive study was carried out. The universe was the total deaths registered during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium in the period 2005-2018, in Cuba (N = 829). The mortality ratio, percentages, the trend and the average were calculated.Results: the death ratio during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium averaged 48.6 per 100,000 live births, as well as the average maternal mortality was 41.6. Direct obstetric deaths contributed 463, indirect 247; and for other deaths, there were 119.Conclusion: in the studied period, the behavior between the number of deaths and the ratio has been very similar, which indicates that the last one was determined mainly by the number of deaths and not by the number of live births. Direct obstetric deaths predominated, followed by indirect deaths, and then by the others. Indirect obstetric deaths were the only ones that showed a tendency to increase over time.</p

Maternal mortality burden study from direct causes. Cuba, 2005-2018

Background: complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium are the main causes of death in women of childbearing age. The study of the mortality burden derived from these complications is useful to quantify the impact of premature deaths on the population life expectancy.Objective: to describe the behavior of the maternal deaths burden due to direct causes in Cuba, between 2005 and 2018.Methods: descriptive study of annual series, cross-sectional. The universe was the total of direct maternal deaths (N = 463). The mortality ratio, years of life potentially lost due to mortality, the trend, the percentage and the average were calculated.Results: during the years 2005-2018, 463 women died in Cuba from direct obstetric causes. Premature deaths quantified 22897 years of life lost due to this cause, with a tendency to decrease over time and with an annual average of 1636 years of life potentially lost; on average, they stopped living for each deceased, 49 years. The group of complications related to the puerperium (6790) was the direct cause that generated more years of life lost.Conclusion: the causes with the greatest impact on life expectancy were complications related to the puerperium, other hemorrhages and ectopic pregnancy; but the women who died at younger ages were from abortion and puerperal infection. Puerperal infections, placental disorders, and other complications tended to increase over time.</p

Mortality Burden of Cancer of the Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx

Background: an analysis of the trend of change in the mortality of cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx and the quantification of the impact on life expectancy in the Cuban population can help researchers and those responsible for formulating health policies. Public to have a comprehensive view of this problem. Objective: to estimate the mortality burden of cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, by sex, in Cuba in the period 2005-2020. Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in which five-year data series were used. The universe was made up of all deaths from cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx for the years studied. For each year and causes, the number of deaths was used; rates per 100,000 inhabitants and the years of life potentially lost due to mortality were calculated. The average was calculated and the annual percentage change was estimated. Results: mortality rates were between 7.62 and 12.23 in men and 2.60 and 3.74 in women, per 100,000 inhabitants. Regarding the years of life lost early, due to cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, it was observed that in men the rates rose from 131 in 2005 to 169 in 2020 and from 40 to 52 in women. Conclusions: the burden of cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx in Cuba has increased, it was higher in men, the trend is growing in both sexes, both men and women died at younger ages due to nasopharyngeal cancer than, due to other locations studied, the percentage change was higher for pharyngeal cancer