Browsing by Author "Parada, Alejandra"

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    C-Reactive protein levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    (SOC MEDICA SANTIAGO, 2012) Diaz, Orlando; Parada, Alejandra; Ramos, Cristobal; Klaassen, Julieta; Carlos Diaz, Juan; Andresen, Max; Lisboa, Carmen; Saldias, Fernando
    Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have elevated serum levels of ultrasensitive C reactive protein (CRPus). This raise may be related directly to COPD and its associated systemic inflammation or secondary to other factors such as smoking status, disease severity, acute exacerbations, or associated complications. Aim: To evaluate the potential causes of raised levels of CRPus in stable COPD patients. Patients and Methods: Cohorts of 133 mild-to-very severe COPD patients (41 current smokers), 31 never-smokers, and 33 current smoker controls were compared. Clinical assessments included body mass index (BMA fat (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) measurement by DEXA, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), six-minute walking test (SMWT), emphysema (EMPH) and right thigh muscle cross-sectional area (TMCSA), both quantified by high resolution computed tomography. Results: Serum CRPus levels were significantly higher in COPD patients than in controls (7 +/- 4.2 and 3.7 +/- 2.7 mg/L, respectively; p < 0.0001). Being smoker did not influence CRPus levels. These levels were significantly correlated with FM (r = 0.30), BMI (r = 0.21), FEV1 (r = -0.21), number of acute exacerbations of the disease in the last year (r = 0.28), and PaO2 (r = -0.27). Using multivariate analysis FM, PaO2, and number of acute exacerbations of the disease in the last year had the strongest association with CRPus levels. Conclusions: CRPus is elevated in COPD patients, independent of smoking status. It is weakly associated with fat mass, arterial oxygen tension and frequency of exacerbations. (Rev Med Chile 2012; 140: 569-578).
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    Excess weight and gastrointestinal symptoms in Chilean celiac patients at the time of diagnosis.
    (2019) Parada, Alejandra; Mendez Vejar, Constanza; Aguirre, Carolina
    Introduction: celiac disease is an immune condition that results in histologic changes in the small bowel and produces both digestive and extra-digestive symptoms. Intestinal damage results in malabsorption and impaired weight or impaired optimal weight gain. However, these patients may be overweight or obese in spite of histologic damage. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of excess weight in newly diagnosed (adult) celiac patients.Methodsthis was a retrospective observational study of patients recently diagnosed with celiac disease according to the standard Marsh classification. Nutritional status was assessed based on body mass index (BMI), as categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Clinical presentation was classified as typical or atypical. Potential differences in gastrointestinal symptoms according to nutritional status were also assessed.Resultsa total of 135 medical records of adult celiac patients (women = 123; men = 12) were reviewed. The average weight and BMI were 61.1 kg and 23.7 kg/m2, respectively. The proportion of typical clinical presentations was 59.2% and of atypical presentations 40.8%. A total of 71.8% of patients had a BMI indicating low or normal weight and 28.1% had a BMI indicative of being overweight or obese. No differences with regard to the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms were found according to nutritional status.Conclusionsfurther studies are needed to jointly assess energy intake and intestinal absorption in these patients, in order to explain the high rate of excess weight.