Caracterización clínica y serológica de las infecciones por el virus del dengue en la ciudad de Barranquilla y área metropolitana durante los años 2006 - 2007

Cincuenta millones de casos de dengue alrededor del mundo son reportados anualmente por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), ilustrando el impacto de esta enfermedad. Barranquilla está en riesgo de presentar epidemias de las formas más severas por la co-circulación de serotipos y localización geográfica.MaestríaMagister en Ciencias Básicas Biomédica

Local injection of anti-cancer drugs in an experimental model of colorectal cancer

Purpose: Endoscopic resection of colorectal lesions significantly decreases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and death. Patients with invasive neoplasia or metastatic CRC have an evident poorer prognosis. Next step could be a more personalized treatment strategy, as a targeted therapy by direct injection of active substances in a selected lesion. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of intratumoral injection of a drug-eluting platform (CoverGel) with different anti-cancer drugs in a rat model of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced CRC. Methods: Experimental CRC was induced in 20 rats. Animals were randomized in five groups (four each): CoverGel + Aflibercept (AFL), CoverGel + Bevacizumab (BVZ), CoverGel + Cetuximab (CTX), CoverGel + Panitumumab (PNT) and CoverGel + Irinotecan (IRT). Endoscopic, histological and necrosis score (0-3 scale) test were performed during follow-up to evaluate clinical success. Results: All animals developed invasive neoplasia (NICE 3, JNET 3), 7.2 mm as mean size (range 6 - 8). Intratumoral injection was feasible in all animals with no adverse events. AFL, an angiogenesis inhibitor agent, in comparison with the other medications (BVZ, CTX, PNT and IRT) obtained the best results: significantly reduction in tumor size (-30% vs. -10%, -3%, +2% and + 2%; p < 0.05, respectively) and significantly higher necrosis score (3 vs. 1, 0.3, 0 and 0; p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Angiogenesis inhibitors medications produced the higher cell necrosis and reduction in tumor size in an experimental model of CRC. Intratumoral injection of a drug-eluting platform could open a new way to manage invasive CRC.Medicin

Comparative study of electrical and rheological properties of different solutions used in endoscopic mucosal resection

Background and Aim: The study of electrical and rheological properties of solutions to carry out endoscopic resection procedures could determinate the best candidate. An ex vivo study with porcine stomachs was conducted to analyze electrical resistivity (R) and rheological properties (temperature, viscosity, height and lasting of the cushion) of different substances used in these techniques. Methods: Tested solutions were: 0.9% saline (S), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Gliceol (GC), hyaluronic acid 2% (HA), Pluronic-F127 20% (PL), saline with 10% glucose (GS), Gelaspan (GP), Covergel-BiBio (TB) and PRP with TB (PRP+TB). Measurements of electrical and rheological properties were done at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after submucosal injection. Results: Solutions showed a wide variability of transepithelial R after submucosal injection. Substances able to maintain the highest R 60 min postinjection were TB (7 × 10 Ω), HA (7 × 10 Ω) and PL (7 × 10 Ω). Protective solutions against deep thermal injury (Tª lower than 60°C) were PL (47.6°C), TB (55°C) and HA (56.63°C). Shortest time to carry out resections were observed with GC (17.66″), PRP (20.3″) and GS (23.45″). Solutions with less cushion decrease (<25%) after 60 min were TB (11.74%), PL (18.63%) and PRP (22.12%). Conclusions: Covergel-BiBio, PL and HA were the best solutions with long-term protective effects (transepithelial R, lower thermal injury and less cushion decrease). Solutions with quicker resection time were GC, PRP and GS

Manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a la infección por Cryptosporidium en pacientes de Barranquilla y tres municipios del Atlántico (Colombia)

Resumen Objetivos: Caracterizar manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a Cryptos- poridiosis. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 423 pacientes, con análisis macroscópico y microscópico de muestras fecales, para identificar manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a Cryptosporidiosis en tres municipios del Atlántico y su capital en un período de 4 meses. Se identificaron ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. después de teñirse con Ziehl-Neelsen modificado. Se comparó el método de concentración NaCl saturado con el método en fresco, para la detección de parásitos intestinales en 279/423 (66.0%) pacientes. El análisis estadístico se realizó usando EPI-INFO 6.04. Resultados: La prevalencia de Cryptosporidium spp. fue 1.9% (8/423). Se encontraron asociaciones estadísticas entre cryptosporidiosis y fiebre (p=0.01), sangre en muestras fe- cales (p=0.01) y presencia de animales domiciliarios (p=0.02). La mayoría de los pacientes (267/423:20.3 %) fueron positivos para parásitos intestinales. Los parásitos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron protozoos no enteropatógenos, Entamoeba coli (118/423: 27.9%) y Endolimax nana (86/423: 20.3%), seguido de Blastocystis hominis (76/423: 18%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (28/423: 6.6%) y Giardia lamblia (23/423: 5.4%). Ascaris lumbricoides (6/423: 1.4%) fue el helminto identificado con mayor frecuencia. Una sensibilidad/especificidad de 99.45/95.2% y 87.5%/99.6% se obtuvo para protozoos y helmintos respectivamente usando el método de NaCl saturado. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con cryptosporidosis tuvieron fiebre y muestras fecales san- guinolentas. Probablemente fueron infectados por animales domésticos. Microscópicamente, la utilización de la tinción Ziehl Neelsen modificado fue esencial para la identificación de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. El método de NaCl saturado concentró eficientemente los parásitos. Palabras claves: Cryptosporidium spp., Ziehl-Neelsen modificado, parasitosis in- testinales. Abstract Objectives: To characterize the clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was performed on 423 patients, with mac- roscopic and microscopic faecal sample analyses, to identify the clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with cyptosporidiosis in 3 towns and the principal city in Atlantico (Colombia) over a 4-month period. Cryptosporidium spp oocysts were identified after stain- ing with modified Ziehl-Neelsen. A saturated NaCl parasite-concentration method was also compared with wet-mount method for the detection of all intestinal parasites in 279/423 (66.0%) patients. Statistical analyses were performed using EPI-INFO 6.04. Results: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 1.9% (8/423). Statistical associations were found between cryptosporidiosis infections and fever (p=0.01), blood in the faecal samples (p=0.01) and the presence of household animals (p=0.02). Most of the patients (267/423: 63.1%) were positive for intestinal parasites. The most commonly identified parasites were the non-pathogenic protozoa, Entamoeba coli (118/423: 27.9%) and Endoli- max nana (86/423: 20.3%), followed by Blastocystis hominis (76/423: 18%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (28/423: 6.6%) and Giardia lamblia (23/423: 5.4%). Ascaris lumbricoi- des (6/423: 1.4%) was the most common helminth identified. Sensitivities/specificities of 99.4%/95.2% and 87.5%/99.6% were obtained for protozoa and helminths respectively using the saturated NaCl method. Conclusions: Patients with cryptosporidiosis had fever and bloody faecal samples, and were probably infected by domestic animals. Microscopy, using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, was essential for Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst identification. The saturated NaCl method efficiently concentrated the parasites. Key words: Cryptosporidium spp., modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, intestinal parasi- tesis

Correction: Dueñas et al. Assessing effectiveness of colonic and gynecological risk reducing surgery in Lynch syndrome individuals. Cancers 2020, 12, 3419.

In the original article, there was a mistake in Figure 3 as published [1]. The image presented corresponded to endometrial cancer-specific mortality cumulative incidence, instead of the figure referred to in the title (all-cause mortality cumulative incidence)

High prevalence of liver fibrosis among european adults with unknown liver disease: a population-based study

[Background & Aims] Liver fibrosis is the main determinant of long-term outcome in chronic liver diseases. Little is known about the prevalence of liver fibrosis in the general population. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of liver fibrosis in the general adult population with unknown liver disease.[Methods] This was a population-based, cross-sectional study performed in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Subjects aged 18 to 75 years old were identified randomly from citizens included in the primary health care registry. Of 4866 subjects invited, 3076 participated (63.2%). Liver fibrosis was estimated by measuring liver stiffness (LS) with transient elastography (TE). Liver histology was assessed in 92 subjects with increased LS.[Results] Prevalence estimates of increased LS (≥6.8, ≥8.0, and ≥9.0 kPa) were 9.0%, 5.8%, and 3.6%, respectively. The etiology of liver disease was mainly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), followed by alcohol risk consumption (consumption of ≥21 standard drinking units/wk in men and ≥14 standard drinking units/wk in women). Factors independently associated with increased LS were male sex, abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, serum glucose, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels. Subjects without risk factors for NAFLD or without alcohol risk consumption had a very low prevalence of increased LS. The best cut-off value of LS for significant liver fibrosis (F2–F4) was 9.2 kPa, with high sensitivity and specificity. TE was more accurate than alanine aminotransferase, NAFLD fibrosis score, or Fibrosis 4. An algorithm for screening for liver fibrosis using TE in the community setting is proposed.[Conclusions] These findings show a high prevalence of silent liver disease with advanced fibrosis mainly related to NAFLD in adult European subjects without known liver disease. An LS value less than 9.2 kPa predicts the absence of significant liver fibrosis with high accuracy and could be used for screening purposes.The project received a research grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), awarded on the 2011 call under the Health Strategy Action 2013–2016, within the National Research Program oriented to Societal Challenges, within the Technical, Scientific and Innovation Research National Plan 2013–2016, with reference PI11/0267, co-funded by European Union European Regional Development Fund funds. Also supported by grants from Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Subdirección General de Evaluación and the European Regional Development Fund Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (PI16/ 00043), the Agencia de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitarisi de Recerca, and the European Horizon 20/20 program, H20/20-SC1-2016-RTD, and an Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats Academy Award (P.G.).Peer reviewe

Manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a la infección por Cryptosporidium en pacientes de Barranquilla y tres municipios del Atlántico (Colombia)

Resumen Objetivos: Caracterizar manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a Cryptos- poridiosis. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 423 pacientes, con análisis macroscópico y microscópico de muestras fecales, para identificar manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo asociados a Cryptosporidiosis en tres municipios del Atlántico y su capital en un período de 4 meses. Se identificaron ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. después de teñirse con Ziehl-Neelsen modificado. Se comparó el método de concentración NaCl saturado con el método en fresco, para la detección de parásitos intestinales en 279/423 (66.0%) pacientes. El análisis estadístico se realizó usando EPI-INFO 6.04. Resultados: La prevalencia de Cryptosporidium spp. fue 1.9% (8/423). Se encontraron asociaciones estadísticas entre cryptosporidiosis y fiebre (p=0.01), sangre en muestras fe- cales (p=0.01) y presencia de animales domiciliarios (p=0.02). La mayoría de los pacientes (267/423:20.3 %) fueron positivos para parásitos intestinales. Los parásitos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron protozoos no enteropatógenos, Entamoeba coli (118/423: 27.9%) y Endolimax nana (86/423: 20.3%), seguido de Blastocystis hominis (76/423: 18%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (28/423: 6.6%) y Giardia lamblia (23/423: 5.4%). Ascaris lumbricoides (6/423: 1.4%) fue el helminto identificado con mayor frecuencia. Una sensibilidad/especificidad de 99.45/95.2% y 87.5%/99.6% se obtuvo para protozoos y helmintos respectivamente usando el método de NaCl saturado. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con cryptosporidosis tuvieron fiebre y muestras fecales san- guinolentas. Probablemente fueron infectados por animales domésticos. Microscópicamente, la utilización de la tinción Ziehl Neelsen modificado fue esencial para la identificación de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. El método de NaCl saturado concentró eficientemente los parásitos. Palabras claves: Cryptosporidium spp., Ziehl-Neelsen modificado, parasitosis in- testinales. Abstract Objectives: To characterize the clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was performed on 423 patients, with mac- roscopic and microscopic faecal sample analyses, to identify the clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with cyptosporidiosis in 3 towns and the principal city in Atlantico (Colombia) over a 4-month period. Cryptosporidium spp oocysts were identified after stain- ing with modified Ziehl-Neelsen. A saturated NaCl parasite-concentration method was also compared with wet-mount method for the detection of all intestinal parasites in 279/423 (66.0%) patients. Statistical analyses were performed using EPI-INFO 6.04. Results: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 1.9% (8/423). Statistical associations were found between cryptosporidiosis infections and fever (p=0.01), blood in the faecal samples (p=0.01) and the presence of household animals (p=0.02). Most of the patients (267/423: 63.1%) were positive for intestinal parasites. The most commonly identified parasites were the non-pathogenic protozoa, Entamoeba coli (118/423: 27.9%) and Endoli- max nana (86/423: 20.3%), followed by Blastocystis hominis (76/423: 18%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (28/423: 6.6%) and Giardia lamblia (23/423: 5.4%). Ascaris lumbricoi- des (6/423: 1.4%) was the most common helminth identified. Sensitivities/specificities of 99.4%/95.2% and 87.5%/99.6% were obtained for protozoa and helminths respectively using the saturated NaCl method. Conclusions: Patients with cryptosporidiosis had fever and bloody faecal samples, and were probably infected by domestic animals. Microscopy, using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, was essential for Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst identification. The saturated NaCl method efficiently concentrated the parasites. Key words: Cryptosporidium spp., modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, intestinal parasi- tesis

Síndrome HELLP. A propósito de un caso en el Hospital Universidad del Norte

Resumen El Síndrome Hellp es descrito como una enfermedad ocasional en la que ocurre hemólisis, enzimas hepáticas elevadas y trombocitopenia en pacientes con preeclampsial severa. Aunque las características del Síndrome Hellp pueden ser similares a las de la preeclampsia severa, muchos estudios han reportado algunas diferencias en su presentación clínica. Se hizo una revisión del número de casos de Síndrome Hellp en el servicio de gineco-obstetricia de nuestra institución, y encontramos 8 casos de abril a diciembre del 2005, lo que nos estimuló a revisar esta patología debido al incremento de su presentación. El objetivo de este caso clínico fue revisar factores de riesgo, curso clínico, manejo y hacer énfasis en la importancia del control prenatal en un caso presentado en el Hospital Universidad del Norte. Palabras claves: Síndrome Hellp, trombocitopenia, factores de riesgo, preeclampsia, embarazo, alto riesgo obstétrico / SALUD UNINORTE. Barranquilla (Col.) 2006; 22 (2): 188-194 Abstract The Hellp syndrome is described as an occasional disease where a combination of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia is displayed in patients with severe gestational hypertension. While many features of Hellp syndrome may be similar to severe preeclampsia, several studies have reported some differences in their clinical presentation. A casesreview of Hellp syndrome was performed in gynecology and obstetric service. Eight cases were found from april to december of 2005, which stimulate to review this pathology. The aim of this clinic case was to review the risk factors, the clinic course and the management, with an emphasis on the importance of prenatal care in a case presented in Universidad del Norte Hospital. Key words: Hellp syndrome, thrombocytopenia, risk factors, preeclampsia , pregnancy, high risk pregnanc