Cancer Mortality in Older Mexican Individuals (2000 – 2010)

Objective: Given the trends in aging worldwide, in Mexico, we determined trends in adjusted mortality rates due to cancer and 11 cancer subtypes in older individuals (>65 years) from 2000 to 2010. Methods: For this retrospective study, we collected data on mortality due to cancer from the registries of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Adjusted rates were calculated with a direct method based on the world standard population. Trend analysis was performed with a linear regression of the natural logarithm of the adjusted rate, and trends were evaluated with the Student´s t test. Results: During the studied period, the cancer mortality rates significantly declined from 630.21 to 573.03 (per 100,000 inhabitants) in the overall population. Similar declines were observed in women (from 548.81 to 490.09) and men (from 726.03 to 672.94). Significant declines in mortality rates were observed across several cancer subtypes, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal-anal, liver-biliary, pancreatic, and tracheal-bronchial-lung cancers. Significant increases in mortality rates were observed in colorectal and breast cancer, but no changes were observed in mortality rates due to prostate, ovarian, bladder, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancers. Conclusion: Mortality due to cancer in older Mexicans was lower than that observed in developed countries, and it significantly declined over the study period. Men had higher mortality rates than women. The highest mortality rates were due to breast and prostate cancer subtypes in older individuals

Cancer Mortality in Older Mexican Individuals (2000 – 2010)

The article shows the trends of cancer mortality in older mexican individuals during the period from 2000 to 201

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a review

Complex regional pain syndrome is a chronic and painful condition that affects the quality of life of patients. It is usually triggered by a traumatic event of the soft tissues involving the nervous tissue. Although the factors that cause the syndrome are varied and not well known, different etiopathologic concepts have been proposed to explain the presence of this syndrome, such as autonomic dysfunction and changes in CNS plasticity, among others. The patient characteristically presents pain, sensory abnormalities, vasomotor disturbances in the skin, edema, changes in sweating, and motor alterations. The pain is associated with changes in the autonomic nervous system and has a distal predominance. Since there is no definitive diagnostic test, diagnosis is mainly based on a complete medical history and physical examination. Treatment is multidisciplinary and based on pain relief. Although in most cases evolution is favorable, rapid diagnosis and treatment are recommended to avoid dystrophic stage as much as possibl

Comparison of the eficacy and safety of 4 mg of ondansetron vs. 4 mg of nalbuphine for the treatment of neuraxial morphineinduced pruritus

Objective: To compare the eficacy and safety of 4 mg of ondansetron vs. 4 mg of nalbuphine for the treatment of neuraxial morphine-induced pruritus, in patients at the “Dr. José Eleuterio González” University Hospital from September 2012 to August 2013. Material and methods: A controlled, prospective, randomized study of 28 patients (14 per group) receiving neuraxial morphine analgesia was conducted, which was registered and approved by the ethics Committee of the Institution and patients agreed to participate in the study under informed consent. The results were segmented and contrasted (according to drug) by hypothesis testing; the association was determined by X2 with a 95% conidence interval (CI). Results: Pruritus was effectively resolved in both groups and no signiicant difference was found in the rest of the variables. An increase in the visual analogue scale (eVA) was observed at 6 and 12 hours for the ondansetron group, which was statistically signiicant (p≤0.05), however both groups had an eVA of less than 3. Conclusions: When comparing the eficacy and safety of ondansetron 4 mg vs. nalbuphine 4 mg for the treatment of neuraxial morphine induced pruritus, the only signiicant difference found was the mean eVA at 6 and 12 hours, favoring the ondansetron group. However, both groups scored less than 3 on the eVA. Therefore, we consider that both treatments are effective and safe in the treatment of pruritus caused by neuraxial morphine

Iniltration vs. instillation of ropivacaine 7.5% in radical mastectomies for postoperative analgesia

Objective: Determining the effectiveness of iniltration versus instillation with 7.5% ropivacaine in reducing the intensity of postoperative pain in patients undergoing a radical mastectomy. Material and methods: Clinical, prospective, and comparative analytical study in a sample of 20 female patients between 20 and 60 years of age, ASA I and II, weight 50-90 kg, who were divided into 2 groups (10 patients each). In Group 1 infiltration with ropivacaine 7.5% (20 ml) was applied prior to closure of the surgical wound, meanwhile in Group 2 ropivacaine 7.5% (20 ml), was instilled into the surgical wound. P ain intensity was assessed by a visual analog scale (V AS) upon extubation. The need for rescue medication and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were measured from 0 to 30 minutes postoperatively and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours. Results: There was no statistical difference between the groups (only the group managed through iniltration required rescue medications), but the iniltration group had a lower perception of pain. Conclusions: This study reported the same eficacy of preventive treatment of postoperative pain in patients who underwent radical mastectomy for instillation and iniltration with 7.5% ropivacaine and little need for rescue medication postoperatively

Risk perception of medicinal marijuana in medical students from northeast Mexico [version 1; referees: awaiting peer review]

Background. Several studies have shown support from the public toward the use of medicinal marijuana. In this cross-sectional study, we assess the risk perception to medicinal marijuana in a sample of medical students. Methods. To estimate risk perception, a visual scale that ranges from 0 cm (without risk) to 10 cm (totally risky) was used. Risk  perception was expressed as the median of the cm marked over the scale. Differences among groups was tested with the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as appropriate. Results. 283 students participated in the study. Risk perception to medicinal marijuana was 4.22, paracetamol 1.56 and sedatives 5.0. A significant difference in risk perception was observed in those that self-reported to smoke and consume alcohol. Conclusions. Risk perception of medicinal marijuana is 4.22 in medical students of northeast of Mexico. Students may underestimate its adverse effects. More studies with respect to this are needed

Perception of the risk of adverse reactions to analgesics: Differences between medical students and residents

Low permeability of many wood species due to their anatomical properties causes problems during timber drying as well as impregnating with preservatives and resins. Microwave (MW) treatment influences heartwood permeability and improves preservative uptake and distribution. In the present study, microwave treatment of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) wood was done at 2,45 GHz frequency at different level of intensity and radiation time. The gas permeability of chir pine wood was measured in an in-house built apparatus. Preservative uptake was tested using acid copper chromate (ACC) preservative by a dipping process. The effect of radiation intensity and time on preservative uptake and air permeability were studied. The results revealed remarkable increase in longitudinal woodair permeability and preservative uptake with the increase of intensity and time of treatment. The results indicate that this technology can be tested and applied on pilot scale for application in wood preservation industry

Anafilaxia por atracurio. Reporte de un caso

La respuesta observada con la administración intradérmica del atracurio puede relacionarse con la liberación de histamina por un mecanismo no inmunológico. Por la magnitud de la respuesta cutánea en este caso no se descarta una reacción mediada por IgE. El atracurio es un liberador potente de his- tamina en mastocitos y es el relajante muscular que menos reacciones mediadas por IgE ocasiona. ABSTRACT The response to atracurium intradermal test could be related to the ability of histamine release by a nonimmunological mechanism. But the magnitude of the skin response in this case, do not rule out the possibility of an IgE-mediated reaction. Atracurium is a known potent histamine releaser from mast cells, but rarely can it cause IgE-mediated reactions