[Coverage of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the prevention of gastric cancer in Chile: results from the 2009-2010 National Health Survey].

Background: In Chile, gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of cancer related deaths. The current screening strategy consists of an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) for people aged 40 years or more with epigastric pain.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic coverage of the use of UGE for early detection of GC in Chile.

[Coverage of the gallbladder cancer prevention strategy in Chile: results from the 2009-2010 National Health Survey].

Background: In Chile, gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one of the most important causes of death and gallstone disease (GSD) is its main risk factor. Abdominal ultrasonography (AU) is used for the diagnosis of GSD and cholecystectomy is used to prevent it.

Aim: To estimate GSD prevalence in the general population and to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic coverage of GSD as a preventive strategy for GBC in Chile.

[New spirometric reference equations for healthy Chilean adults].

Background: To correctly interpret spirometric results, reference values should come from the same population. Current spirometric reference equations have been under scrutiny due to deficiencies to fit adequately for Chilean population, specially, for those aged over 65 years old.

Aim: To develop new spirometric reference values for Chilean adults, based on national studies in which spirometries were performed in healthy non-smoker adults.

[Strategies for dealing with cholera disease. A public health perspective of the Chilean experience].

During the latest Latin American epidemic of cholera (1991), more than 70,000 cases were identified and over 6,000 deaths occurred. Cholera started in Peru and expanded to the rest of Latin American countries, including Chile. Compared to Peru, the epidemic in Chile had minor consequences due to the strategies adopted by the National System of Health Services, together with other public institutions.

[Changes in asthma prevalence among school children during a 6 -year period: Influence of socioeconomic status].

Background: Asthma prevalence is increasing worldwide, especially in developing countries.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of asthma diagnosis and related symptoms in children, its changes during a 6-year period and the influence exerted by socioeconomic status.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted among school children of Santiago.

[Climate change and infectious diseases. A novel epidemiological scenario].

For the international scientific community, it is undoubted that planetary temperature is increasing, being projected an average raise of 1.0 degrees C-3.5 degrees C by the year 2100.

[Cystic fibrosis mortality in Chile between 1997 and 2003].

Unlabelled: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal autosomic recessive disease among Caucasians. In Chile, its incidence is estimated in 1/4,000 newborns and it is possibly underestimated.

Aim: To analyze CF mortality in Chile during the period 1997-2003.

[John Snow, the cholera epidemic and the foundation of modern epidemiology].

John Snow (1813-1858) was a brilliant British physician. Since young he stood out for his acute observation capacity, logical thinking and perseverance, first in anesthetics and later in epidemiology. The successive outbreaks of cholera that affected London, motivated him to study this disease from a populational point of view.

[Vertebral fractures, osteoporosis and vitamin D levels in Chilean postmenopausal women].

Background: Approximately one-third of vertebral fractures can be clinically diagnosed.

Aim: To study the frequency of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 555 postmenopausal women from Santiago, Chile, aged 55-84 years, who manifested interest in their bone health.

[Risk factors and prevalence of allergic rhinitis among Chilean children].

Background: The prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis experienced a steady increase in the last years, probably associated to changes in lifestyles.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, to evaluate changes over time (1994-2000), and to describe risk factors.

Material And Methods: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core questionnaire, with questions added about socioeconomic status (SES), was applied to 4594 children between 6-7 years old and 13-14 years old during october-december 2000.

[Epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults].

Respiratory diseases represent the third cause of death in Chilean population, after cardiovascular diseases and malignancy. Fifty percent of deaths caused by respiratory diseases in adults are attributable to pneumonia. In Chile, they represent the main cause of death due to infectious diseases and the first specific one in senescent adults over 80 years old.

[Critical assessment of randomized controlled trials published in biomedical Chilean journals].

Background: Well designed clinical trials yield the strongest evidence for the effect of health care interventions.

Aim: To assess the methodological quality of the design and report of randomized clinical trials in a sample, published in biomedical Chilean journals between 1980 and 2002.

Material And Methods: All trials identified by hand search by the Unit of Evaluation of Technologies in Health, were assessed for quality of randomization, blinding, analysis of results and other characteristics of trial design, along with the application of Jadad's Score, that assesses the methodological quality of clinical trials in a scale that ranges from 0 to 5.