Diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up of osteoporosis-position statement of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology.

Unlabelled: The Latin American Federation of Endocrinology position statement on osteoporosis was developed by endocrinologists from 9 countries. It encompasses the definition, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the disease, the identification of barriers to healthcare, and proposals to improve the disease care in the region.

Introduction: There is a gap in the understanding of osteoporosis in Latin America.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance index, leptin and thyroid hormone levels in the general population of Merida (Venezuela).

The metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events, but scarce information exists about its frequency in Venezuela. In this cross-sectional study, we quantified the prevalence of the MetSyn in a probabilistic, stratified sample of 274 subjects aged > or =18 years from the Libertador district in Merida, Venezuela. Secondary outcomes were the measurement of thyroid hormones (free T4 and TSH), leptin levels, and insulin resistance index (HOMA2-IR).

The metabolic syndrome and its constituting variables in atypical antipsychotic-treated subjects: comparison with other drug treatments, drug-free psychiatric patients, first-degree relatives and the general population in Venezuela.

Background: Few studies on the association between atypical antipsychotic drug (AAP) administration and metabolic dysfunction have concurrently evaluated the general population (GP), other psychotropic drug treatments and drug-free psychiatric patients.

Methods: We assessed the frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria (NCEP) and its constituting variables in a GP sample (n=271) and in patients receiving, for at least three consecutive months, antiepileptic drugs (n=93), olanzapine (n=162), clozapine (n=105), typical antipsychotics (n=117), other AAP (n=58), other psychotropic drugs (n=185), and drug-free individuals (n=636). Subjects were clinically classified as schizophrenia, bipolar or other axis I disorders (DSM-IV-RT), and as first-degree relatives of each diagnostic group.

[Obesity in schoolchildren from Merida, Venezuela: association with cardiovascular risk factors].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors in schoolchildren in our city, given the influence of these factors on the development of atherosclerosis.

Methods: We studied a representative sample of second grade students composed of 370 children aged 7.82+/-0.

Surgery in expeditionary strike group.

Unlabelled: There is little published data that quantifies the types of surgical and medical cases encountered during a 6-month West Pacific (WestPac) deployment with naval and marine assets.

Methods: We report our fleet surgical team case series during a greater than 6-month 2006 WestPac deployment onboard a casualty receiving-and-treatment ship (CRTS) of an expeditionary strike group (ESG), previously known as an amphibious ready group (ARG)-marine expeditionary unit (MEU).

Results: One hundred twenty surgical cases were performed but only 37 cases (31%) were urgent; the remaining 82 cases were elective.