Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Pulse wave velocity reference values in 3,160 adults referred to a hypertension clinic for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Background: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a direct measure of aortic stiffness used in the stratification of cardiovascular risk. Its clinical application in Latin America has been limited by the absence of reference values. The objective of this study was to establish PWV reference values among adults referred to a specialized cardiology center for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in Medellín, Colombia. Methods: A descriptive study of 3,160 records of adult (older than 18 years) patients without pharmacological treatment assessed for PWV using a Mobil-O-Graph® 24-hour PWA device (IEM, Stolberg, Germany) and 24-hour ABPM with hemodynamic parameters based on suspected hypertension or hypotension was conducted. Patient records were categorized by decade of age and sub-divided based on the following 24-hour ABPM categories: normal ( 150/90 mmHg). Results: PWV increased with age (r = 0,894; p < 0,001) and blood pressure category (ρ = 0,081; p < 0,001); the age-related increase was more pronounced among the patients in the higher blood pressure categories. Measures of central tendency and dispersion regarding PWV are presented, and reference values are proposed from the 90th percentile based on the age and 24-hour ABPM categories. Conclusions: PWV is directly related to age and blood pressure and can be predicted using a simple equation that includes these two variables. To stratify the cardiovascular risk of patients and make clinical decisions, the 90th percentile based on the age and 24-hour ABPM categories is recommended as a cut-off

Determination of the change in the value of the land for the construction of the second lane of the Bogota - Girardot road in the section included in the municipalities of Granada and Silvania between Km 23 + 385 to Km 48 + 800

A grandes rasgos la adquisición predial por medio de enajenación voluntaria o forzosa debe traer consigo un avalúo comercial el cual es realizado por las lonjas autorizadas; queremos determinar si la construcción o ampliación de una vía en el país valoriza o no la tierra, por lo cual se quiere estudiar el valor que tenían los predios antes de la construcción y posterior a la misma, para esto necesitamos avalúos iniciales, también índices de valoración predial los cuales serán consultados en las entidades encargadas y finalmente valores actualizados, por medio de investigación indirecta en el mercado inmobiliario actual.Generally speaking, the land acquisition through voluntary or forced selling should give us a commercial valuation that is made by authorized market; we want to find out if the construction or amplification of a new road affects the land value around this road. For this reason we pretend to study the value that this land had before and after the construction. For this task we needed the first valuation, also the properties' valuation rate that are going to be given by the proper entities, and to complete our goal we also need the actual values, that are going to be found through indirect research of the market in the current real state market

Paciente con hipertensión arterial y deterioro de su clase funcional secundarios al síndrome de taquicardia postural ortostática

Resumen: La hipertensión ortostática ha sido un diagnóstico elusivo en la práctica clínica por la falta de estudio respecto a su fisiopatología y epidemiología. De esa manera, el abordaje clínico no ha sido expedito para su diagnóstico y tratamiento, así que las causas primarias pueden pasar inadvertidas y sin tratamiento. Se expone el caso clínico de una paciente latina, con hipertensión arterial sumada a deterioro de su clase funcional, a quien se le descartaron otras causas secundarias de hipertensión, y se diagnosticó, mediante estudio hemodinámico y autonómico, síndrome de taquicardia ortostática postural y compromiso del retorno venoso como causa primaria. Este reporte de caso pretende ilustrar respecto a esta causa infrecuente de hipertensión secundaria. Abstract: Orthostatic hypertension has been an elusive diagnosis in clinical practice due to the lack of research with regards to its pathophysiology and aetiology. Thus, clinical approach has not been unobstructed for its diagnosis and treatment, so the primary causes may go unnoticed and remain untreated. The clinical case of a Latin American patient with arterial hypertension associated to a deterioration of her functional class is reported. Secondary causes for hypertension were ruled out and, by means of a hemodynamic and autonomic study, she was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and reduced venous return as the primary cause. This case report pretends to illustrate this rare case of secondary hypertension. Palabras clave: Hipertensión, Taquicardia, Sistema nervioso autónomo, Barorreceptor, Keywords: Hypertension, Tachycardia, Autonomic nervous system, Barorecepto

Efectos tempranos de un programa integral de prevención cardiovascular guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis sobre la edad vascular

Objetivo: evaluar a corto plazo el efecto de un programa integral de prevención cardiovascular guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis sobre la edad vascular y factores de riesgo mayores. Métodos: estudio de intervención cuasi-experimental que incluyó 190 pacientes con múltiples comorbilidades y dos o más factores de riesgo cardiovascular, entre 2013 y 2015. Los casos analizados (n = 177) presentaban múltiples factores de riesgo o síndrome metabólico, razón por la cual recibieron un programa integral de tratamiento guiado por una estratificación clínica de aterosclerosis. Se hizo un seguimiento durante tres meses y se compararon: presión arterial, perfil lipídico, HbA1c, medidas antropométricas, riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años y edad vascular, antes y después de la intervención. Resultados: se observó disminución en la presión arterial sistólica de 6,9 mm Hg (IC 95%; 4,6-9,3; p < 0,001), presión arterial diastólica de 2,8 mm Hg (IC 95%; 1,3-4,3; p < 0,001), colesterol total de 10,1 mg/dl (IC 95%; 2,5-17,7; p = 0,010), colesterol LDL de 9,9 mg/dl (IC 95%; 2,1-17,6; p = 0,013) y HbA1c de 0,4% (IC 95%; 0,2-0,6; p < 0,001). Además, reducción del riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años del 4,8% (IC 95%; 3,2-6,5; p < 0,001), así como de la edad vascular de 1,4 años (IC 95%; 0,6-2,3; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: a corto plazo, en pacientes con múltiples comorbilidades, el programa integral de prevención cardiovascular implementado, guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis, mostró una reducción en las cifras de presión arterial, colesterol total, colesterol LDL, HbA1c, puntaje de riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años y edad vascular

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data