Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: Fahr's disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal calcium deposits in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Objective: To describe the unusual presentation of a patient with Fahr's disease. Clinical Case: A 30-year-old male patient with focal onset epileptic seizures in the left upper limb of one month's duration, accompanied by bradypsychia. A computed tomography of the head was performed, which reported the presence of multiple hyperdense images with calcium density in both cerebral hemispheres with bilateral nucleocapsular topography and in the gray matter, as well as in both cerebellar hemispheres; findings related to Fahr's disease. After ruling out other etiologies, treatment was started for symptomatic relief and anticonvulsant medication with favorable evolution and results. Conclusions: Fahr's disease is a diagnosis to consider in young patients with focal epileptic seizures and bilateral calcifications of the basal ganglia.

Introduction: Secondary prevention in nursing care is a relevant issue, especially when it comes to postpartum women with complications admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Objective: To identify problems in nursing care for secondary prevention in postpartum women with suspected venous thromboembolism admitted to the ICU. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of nursing staff (n= 60). The complex variable: preventive nursing care for postpartum women with suspected thromboembolism in the ICU context was studied. It was operationalized in 5 dimensions and 12 indicators, with qualitative and quantitative measurement criteria for each indicator, classified into 5 categories. A frequency analysis was performed. Results: The most frequently affected dimensions were "health promotion for postpartum women with suspected thromboembolism" (1) and "rehabilitation of postpartum women" (5); in the indicators of health education in nursing (81.6%) and training for postpartum women for their reintegration into social life (83.3%). Conclusions: Preventive nursing care in the ICU for postpartum women with suspected thromboembolism is frequently compromised, primarily in actions related to health promotion and rehabilitation.

Introduction: The quality of water for human consumption is essential for public health, with a more notable impact in rural areas. The presence of heavy metals in water can pose serious health risks. Objective: To assess the quality of water intended for human consumption based on metal levels determined using spectroscopic techniques. Methods: Twenty-six water samples were collected from various sources in the Ongoy district, Apurímac, of which 22 were selected for analysis. These included groundwater intakes, chlorination tanks, and residential taps. The protocols of the General Directorate of Environmental Health and Food Safety were applied for sample handling and transportation, ensuring their conservation under controlled conditions. Metal concentrations were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry and Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry. Results: The analyses revealed that most metal concentrations were within the limits allowed by regulations. However, some samples showed elevated levels of aluminum (up to 0.130 mg/L) and barium (up to 0.135 mg/L). Cadmium and chromium were undetectable, while sodium concentrations reached significant levels (up to 1183 mg/L). Conclusions: Although water quality in Ongoy is generally adequate, the elevated levels of aluminum and barium in certain samples highlight the need for continued monitoring and treatment.

Introduction: Nursing care constitutes one of the fundamental pillars in long-term health care for patients with chronic diseases; The monitoring of adverse drug events, pharmacological adherence, clinical manifestations and possible complications stand out among the most evaluated elements. Objective: To describe the results of a program on nursing care, through video consultation, in patients with chronic diseases. Methods: An observational and descriptive research was carried out in a universe of 116 patients with non-communicable diseases, belonging to rural communities of the Riobamba canton; The sample was made up of 90 patients. The program included daily video calls, from Monday to Friday for 3 months, to monitor drug adherence, adverse drug events, physical activity, healthy nutrition, and skin care. The general characteristics of the patients and their level of satisfaction with the program activities were analyzed as variables; for which a survey was applied to the participants. Descriptive statistics were used in the processing of the information collected. Results: Average age of 51.26 years, predominance of female people (54.44%). The most represented chronic diseases were high blood pressure (36.67%), hypothyroidism (25.56%), diabetes mellitus (15.56%) and rheumatoid arthritis (8.89%). 62.22% of patients showed a high level of satisfaction with the program activities. Conclusions: The nursing care program applied via video call allowed patients to be guided on fundamental issues related to the disease, and also facilitated maintaining adequate contact with them.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important medical-health problems in contemporary medicine; they are the leading cause of death worldwide and among them, ischemic heart disease causes the highest number of deaths and years of life lost. They are largely associated with cardiac complications in the acute phase of the coronary event. Objective: To design a clinical-echocardiographic predictive model of cardiac complications in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Retrospective case-control research, carried out at the Santiago de Cuba Cardiovascular Surgery and Cardiology Center, during the period from 2019 to 2021. Clinical and echocardiographic variables were analyzed. A multivariate analysis and model validation parameters were performed. Results: Cardiac complications were associated with age ≥ 65 years (odd ratio-OR= 12.28; 95% CI: 8.16-18.49; p= 0.001), absence of thrombolytic therapy (OR= 1.63; 95% CI: 1.18-2.26; p= 0.001), and left ventricular systolic function (OR= 1.76; 95% CI: 1.23-2.52; p= 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 0.875 to 0.926. The model fit was Nagelkerke's R2, whose value of 0.65 explains about 66% of cardiac complications; the corresponding statistic of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a value of 0.760. Conclusions: The predictive model designed from clinical and echocardiographic elements presented good fit and discriminatory power, especially positive predictive value.

Introduction: Psoriasis and psoriatic arthropathy are autoimmune diseases whose sustained clinical activity affects the health status of patients; hence the importance of its control. Objective: To describe the results of a therapeutic intervention with multidisciplinary management of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Methods: Applied research was carried out, with a series of 47 cases with a diagnosis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Multidisciplinary management was carried out by a specialist in dermatology and rheumatology, with 12-month follow-up for each patient. The intensity of joint pain, the presence of dermatological manifestations and other manifestations as part of the symptomatology of the disease were evaluated as variables. Results: Average age less than 45 years in both conditions, female patients predominated in both psoriasis (71.43%) and psoriatic arthritis (73.68%). 57.89% of patients with psoriatic arthritis and 42.86% of patients with psoriasis had at least one associated comorbidity. High blood pressure, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus were the most frequently reported comorbidities in both groups of people. At the beginning of the study, moderate clinical activity of both diseases was identified in 40.42% of cases. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary management of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is essential to improve the control of clinical activity of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; conditions an increase in the percentage of patients with disease remission and mild/low clinical activity.

Introduction: Non-carious cervical lesions affect the tooth cervix and their progress can affect the pulp organ. Objective: To determine the prevalence of non-carious cervical lesions. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample consisted of 750 patients between 18 and 70 years of age. The prevalence of non-carious cervical lesions was evaluated according to sex, age and frequency according to dental group (incisors, canines, premolars and molars). The chi-square test was used to evaluate the association according to sex and age group. Results: The prevalence of non-carious cervical lesions in the patients attended was 68.0 %. In relation to sex, the prevalence was higher in females with 44.4 % (p< 0.05). The age group with the highest prevalence was 46 to 70 years old with 33.8 % (p< 0.01). Abrasion occurred in the incisors with 17.1 %, erosion and abfraction in the premolar group with 10.4 % and 13.5 % respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of non-carious cervical lesions was more than half of the patients evaluated, with a higher prevalence in women and in adults between 46 and 70 years of age; abrasion was the most frequent cervical lesion, especially in the incisor group.

Introduction: Higher medical education aims to train healthcare professionals with a high level of knowledge, sufficient skills, and abilities to ensure adequate professional performance. To achieve this, it is necessary to maintain psychological well-being that allows for high academic performance. Objective: To identify whether there is a relationship between academic stress and psychological well-being in university students. Methods: Descriptive, observational, and correlational research was conducted with university students of health sciences. The sample consisted of a total of 243 nursing students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Chimborazo. The sample consisted of 150 students who were assessed using the Ryff scale to determine psychological well-being and the academic stress coping scale. The Spearman correlation test was used to identify the relationship between psychological well-being and academic stress. Results: The average age was 23.47 years, with a predominance of females (68.67%) and singles (78.67%). Students with a medium level of academic stress (32.00%) and a medium level of psychological well-being (44.67%) predominated. A medium negative correlation (-0.497 and p = 0.001) was identified between academic stress and psychological well-being. Conclusions: There is a relationship between academic stress and psychological well-being. Academic stress affects psychological well-being; the higher the academic stress score, the greater the impact on psychological well-being.

Introduction: Early loss of the first primary molar could cause deficiency in masticatory function and dental migration. Objective: To determine the prevalence of premature loss of first primary molars in children aged 6 to 9 years in urban and rural schools. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample consisted of 204 students, 102 from urban and 102 from rural schools. A data collection form was used that contained: odontogram, age of the children, gender, presence or absence of the first primary molar, affected tooth, dental arch and side of distribution. The data were analyzed using the chi-square distribution with a significance level of 5%. Results: The prevalence of premature loss of the first primary molar was significantly higher in rural areas (21.1%) and in males, compared to urban areas. As for the frequency of this loss, it was higher in the rural area, especially in 9-year-old schoolchildren (31.7%), mainly affecting the right first primary molar (24.4%). The loss was more common in the lower arch (33.8%) and on both sides of the mouth (39.7%). Conclusion: Premature loss of first primary molars was more prevalent among schoolchildren in rural areas than in urban areas.

Introduction: There are several patterns of motility factor alterations for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Objective: To characterize the motility pattern of gastroesophageal reflux disease in high-resolution manometry. Methods: Analytical, observational, cross-sectional study of 60 high-resolution manometry in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in a case series. The variables analyzed were: degrees of esophagitis, hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus and manometric variables (length; mean, minimum, maximum, residual basal pressure and integrated relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter; frontal and integral contractile velocity of the distal contraction). Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied with confidence interval estimation (95%) and the statistical significance of the observable differences between groups was explored with the chi-square test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA for differences in quantitative variables with one factor) was used. A significant value was considered if p<0.05. Results: The mean minimum basal pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was between 13.8 and 21.7 mmHg. The median distal contraction integral was normal, with a value of 972.1 mmHg×s×cm. 78.3% of the patients had an unstable lower esophageal sphincter (with transient relaxations) and hypotonia was found in 33.3%, with a significant association (p= 0.00202) between both variables. Conclusions: Motility factors by high-resolution esophageal manometry in gastroesophageal reflux disease determine a pattern with instability of the lower esophageal sphincter, with transient relaxations, hypotonia and short length.