Capi-score: a quantitative algorithm for identifying disease patterns in nailfold videocapillaroscopy.

OBJECTIVES: The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) supports the use of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to identify disease patterns (DPs) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Recently, EULAR proposed an easy-to-manage procedure, a so-called Fast Track algorithm, to differentiate SSc from non-SSc patterns in NVC specimens. However, subjectivity among capillaroscopists remains a limitation. Our aim was to perform a software-based analysis of NVC peculiarities in a cohort of samples from SSc and RP patients and, subsequently, build a Fast Track-inspired algorithm to identify DPs without the constraint of interobserver variability. METHODS: NVCs were examined by 9 capillaroscopists. Those NVCs whose DPs were consensually agreed (≥2 out of 3 interobservers) were subsequently analysed with an in-house developed software. Each variable's results were grouped according to the consensually agreed DPs in order to identify useful hallmarks to categorise them. RESULTS: Eight-hundred and fifty-one NVCs (21 957 images) whose DPs had been consensually agreed were software-analysed. Appropriate cut-offs set in capillary density and percentage of abnormal and giant capillaries, tortuosities and hemorrhages allowed DP categorization and the development of the CAPI-Score algorithm. This consisted of 4 rules: Rule 1, SSc vs non-SSc, accuracy 0.88; Rules 2 and 3, SSc-early vs SSc-active vs SSc-late, accuracy 0.82; Rule 4, non-SSc normal vs non-SSc non-specific, accuracy 0.73. Accuracy improved when the analysis was limited to NVCs whose DPs had achieved full consensus among interobservers. CONCLUSIONS: The CAPI-Score algorithm may become a useful tool to assign DPs by overcoming the limitations of subjectivity.

Conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: Risk factor analysis based on clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound parameters.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The standard of care for gallbladder disease is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Difficult dissection of the hepatocytic triangle and bleeding can result in conversion to open cholecystectomy, which is associated with increased morbidity. Identifying risk factors for conversion in the context of acute cholecystitis will allow patient care to be individualized and improve outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study included all patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, according to the 2018 Tokyo Guidelines, admitted to a tertiary care academic center, from January 1991 to January 2012. Using logistic regression, we analyzed variables to identify risk factors for conversion. Variables that were found to be significant predictors of conversion in the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate model. We then performed an exploratory analysis to identify the risk factor summation pathway with the highest sensitivity for conversion. RESULTS: The study included 321 patients with acute cholecystitis. Their mean age was 49 years (±16.8 SD), 65% were females, and 35% were males. Thirty-nine cases (12.14%) were converted to open surgery. In the univariate analysis, older age, male sex, gallbladder wall thickness, and pericholecystic fluid were associated with a higher risk for conversion. In the multivariate analysis all of the variables, except pericholecystic fluid, were associated with conversion. Our risk factor summation model had a sensitivity of 84%. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative clinical data can be utilized to identify patients with a higher risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy. Being aware of such risk factors can help improve perioperative planning and preparedness in challenging cases.

Conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: Risk factor analysis based on clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound parameters. / Conversión de colecistectomía laparoscópica a abierta: análisis de factores de riesgo con base en parámetros clínicos, de laboratorio y de ultrasonido.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The standard of care for gallbladder disease is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Difficult dissection of the hepatocytic triangle and bleeding can result in conversion to open cholecystectomy, which is associated with increased morbidity. Identifying risk factors for conversion in the context of acute cholecystitis will allow patient care to be individualized and improve outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study included all patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, according to the 2018 Tokyo Guidelines, admitted to a tertiary care academic center, from January 1991 to January 2012. Using logistic regression, we analyzed variables to identify risk factors for conversion. Variables that were found to be significant predictors of conversion in the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate model. We then performed an exploratory analysis to identify the risk factor summation pathway with the highest sensitivity for conversion. RESULTS: The study included 321 patients with acute cholecystitis. Their mean age was 49 years (±16.8 SD), 65% were females, and 35% were males. Thirty-nine cases (12.14%) were converted to open surgery. In the univariate analysis, older age, male sex, gallbladder wall thickness, and pericholecystic fluid were associated with a higher risk for conversion. In the multivariate analysis all of the variables, except pericholecystic fluid, were associated with conversion. Our risk factor summation model had a sensitivity of 84%. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative clinical data can be utilized to identify patients with a higher risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy. Being aware of such risk factors can help improve perioperative planning and preparedness in challenging cases.

Evaluation of highly sensitive diagnostic tools for the detection of P. falciparum in pregnant women attending antenatal care visits in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: In low transmission settings early diagnosis is the main strategy to reduce adverse outcomes of malaria in pregnancy; however, microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are inadequate for detecting low-density infections. We studied the performance of the highly sensitive-RDT (hsRDT) and the loop mediated isothermal DNA amplification (LAMP) for the detection of P. falciparum in pregnant women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two malaria-endemic municipalities in Colombia. We screened pregnant women in the context of an antenatal care program in health facilities and evaluated five tests (microscopy, conventional RDT, hsRDT, LAMP and nested polymerase chain reaction-PCR) for the detection of P. falciparum in peripheral blood, using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) as the reference standard. Diagnostic performance of hsRDT and LAMP were compared with routine testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of P. falciparum was 4.5% by qRT-PCR, half of those infections were subpatent. The sensitivity of the hsRDT (64.1%) was slightly better compared to microscopy and cRDT (59 and 53.8% respectively). LAMP had the highest sensitivity (89.7%) for detecting P. falciparum and the ability to detect very low-density infections (minimum parasite density detected 0.08 p/µL). CONCLUSIONS: There is an underestimation of Plasmodium spp. infections by tests routinely used in pregnant women attending antenatal care visits. LAMP methodology can be successfully implemented at local hospitals in malaria-endemic areas. The relevance of detecting and treating this sub-patent P. falciparum infections in pregnant women should be evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03172221 , Date of registration: May 29, 2017.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the treatment of obesity: evidence based update through randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses.

Bariatric surgery was introduced in 1953, but during the last 20 years its popularity has increased after the development of significant Romaevidenced based breakthroughs in the field. Currently, approximately 150 long-term randomized clinical trials and 40 meta-analyses support and give credibility to the surgical approaches for the treatment of obesity and its related metabolic disturbances. Bariatric surgery has demonstrated improved outcomes compared to medical treatment, conduct therapy, and endoscopic procedures. Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy (RYGB) and Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are the surgical procedures most frequently performed, due to their satisfactory results and security profile. There is sufficient evidence in medical literature to perform these procedures when indicated; however, there are still several controversies regarding technical aspects that need to be further explored.

Estudio de patrones capilaroscópicos en población sana / Capillarroscopic patterns in healthy population

La capilaroscopia es un método no invasivo y seguro que permite la visualización de los capilares a nivel del lecho periungueal de los dedos de las manos. Es útil en la evaluación del Fenómeno de Raynaud y de las colagenopatías, principalmente de la esclerodermia; sin embargo, se conoce poco acerca de la prevalencia y distribución de los cambios capilaroscópicos en sujetos sanos, siendo el objetivo de este estudio evaluar y describir las alteraciones capilaroscópicas en este grupo. A 100 participantes seleccionados por criterios de inclusión y exclusión se les realizó una videocapilaroscopia del lecho ungueal del cuarto y quinto dedo de la mano no dominante; el 86% de la población estudiada presentó hallazgos capilaroscópicos como: capilares tortuosos, entrecruzados y arborificados. Además, las alteraciones capilaroscópicas fueron más frecuentes en sujetos que consumían tabaco, se encontró una relación significativa entre el tabaco y la presencia de arborificaciones. Este es el primer estudio descriptivo de alteraciones capilaroscópicas en sujetos sanos en el Ecuador.

Capillaroscopy is a noninvasive and safe method that allows visualizationof capillaries in the nailbed. It is useful in the assesment ofRaynaud’s phenomenon and collagen diseases, especially scleroderma;however, little is known about the prevalence and distributionof capillaroscopic changes in healthy subjects, hence the aim ofthis study was to assess and describe the microvascular alterationsin this group. 100 participants selected by inclusion and exclusioncriteria underwent videocapillaroscopy of the nailfold of the fourthand fifth fingers of the nondominant hand; 86% of the study populationpresented capillaroscopic findings such as tortuous capillaries,crisscrossing and arborifications. Also, the microvascular alterationswere more frequent in subjects who had history of tobaccosmoking: a significant relationship between smoking and the presenceof arborifications was found. This is the first descriptive studyof microvascular alterations in healthy subjects in Ecuador.

Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes from diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients are functionally impaired.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a persistent virus with oncogenic capacity that has been implicated in the development of aggressive B cell lymphomas, primarily in immunosuppressed individuals, although it can be present in immunocompetent individuals. Changes in the function and clonal diversity of T lymphocytes might be implied by viral persistence and lymphoma development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency, phenotype, function and clonotypical distribution of EBV-specific T cells after peripheral blood stimulation with a virus lysate in newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) aged more than 50 years without prior histories of clinical immunosuppression compared with healthy controls. Our results showed impaired EBV-specific immune responses among DLBCL patients that were associated primarily with decreased numbers of central and effector memory CD8(+) T lymphocytes. In contrast to healthy controls, only a minority of the patients showed CD4(+)/tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α(+) T cells expressing T cell receptor (TCR)-Vß17 and CD8(+)/TNF-α(+) T cells with TCR-Vß5·2, Vß9 and Vß18 in response to EBV. Notably, the production of TNF-α was undetectable among TCR-Vß5·3(+), Vß11(+), Vß12(+), Vß16(+) and Vß23(+) CD8(+) T cells. In addition, we observed decreased numbers of CD4(+)/TNF-α(+) and CD8(+)/TNF-α(+), CD8(+)/interleukin (IL)-2(+) and CD8(+)/TNF-α(+)/IL-2(+) T lymphocytes in the absence of T cells capable of producing TNF-α, IL-2 and IFN-γ after EBV stimulation simultaneously. Moreover, DLBCL patients displayed higher IL-10 levels both under baseline conditions and after EBV stimulation. These findings were also observed in patients with positive EBV viral loads. Prospective studies including a large number of patients are needed to confirm these findings.

[Joint and sensory branch block of the obturator and femoral nerves in a case of femoral head osteonecrosis and arthritis]. / Bloqueo intraarticular y de ramas sensoriales de los nervios obturador y femoral en cuadro de osteonecrosis y artrosis de cabeza femoral.

The sensory innervation of the hip joint is complex. The joint and sensory branch block of the obturator and femoral nerves is effective for treating the pain caused due to different hip diseases. This could be an option to be considered in certain circumstances such as, being a surgical-anaesthetic high risk, or if there is significant overweight, It could also be useful on other occasions if the traumatoligist considers that it is better to delay hip replacement for a limited period.

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene product dystrophin Dp71d is dependent on the importin α/ß and CRM1 nuclear transporters and microtubule motor dynein.

Even though the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene product Dystrophin Dp71d is involved in various key cellular processes through its role as a scaffold for structural and signalling proteins at the plasma membrane as well as the nuclear envelope, its subcellular trafficking is poorly understood. Here we map the nuclear import and export signals of Dp71d by truncation and point mutant analysis, showing for the first time that Dp71d shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm mediated by the conventional nuclear transporters, importin (IMP) α/ß and the exportin CRM1. Binding was confirmed in cells using pull-downs, while in vitro binding assays showed direct, high affinity (apparent dissociation coefficient of c. 0.25nM) binding of Dp71d to IMPα/ß. Interestingly, treatment of cells with the microtubule depolymerizing reagent nocodazole or the dynein inhibitor EHNA both decreased Dp71d nuclear localization, implying that Dp71d nuclear import may be facilitated by microtubules and the motor protein dynein. The role of Dp71d in the nucleus appears to relate in part to interaction with the nuclear envelope protein emerin, and maintenance of the integrity of the nuclear architecture. The clear implication is that Dp71d's previously unrecognised nuclear transport properties likely contribute to various, important physiological roles.

Escrofuloderma: la tuberculosis olvidada / Scrofuloderma: the forgotten tuberculosis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La escrofuloderma es una manifestación extrapulmonar de la tuberculosis, siendo su incidencia menor al 1 por ciento de los casos de tuberculosis no pulmonar. Actualmente, la escrofuloderma se presenta con mayor frecuencia en personas inmunocomprometidas o en pacientes que viven en condición de hacinamiento, recintos tales como hogares de ancianos, cárceles o en viviendas de estratos socioeconómicos más bajos. PRESENTACIÓN DEL CASO: A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente de 29 años que vive en condiciones de hacinamiento en un recinto penitenciario. Es derivado a policlínico de Medicina Broncopulmonar para estudio con fibrobroncoscopía ante la sospecha de tuberculosis pulmonar. Se pesquisa lesión nodular subcutánea supurativa, asociada a placas cicatriciales rojo-violáceas que, según contexto del paciente, características de las lesiones y resultado de biopsia se diagnosticaron como escrofuloderma. Se inició tratamiento antituberculoso con buena respuesta clínica de las lesiones cutáneas. DISCUSIÓN: Debido al proceso de eliminación que está sufriendo la tuberculosis en Chile, las manifestaciones extrapulmonares de la tuberculosis, entre ellas las cutáneas, representan hoy en día un desafío diagnóstico principalmente por el bajo índice de sospecha que se tiene sobre ellas.

INTRODUCTION: Scrofuloderma is a manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, being its incidence less than 1 percent of the non-pulmonary cases. Nowadays, scrofuloderma is presented more frequently in immunosuppressed people or in patients living in overcrowded conditions, in enclosures such as nursing homes, prisons or houses from the lowest socioeconomic status. CASE REPORT: We present a clinical case of a 29-year-old patient living in overcrowded conditions in a penitentiary facility. The patient is referred to the neumology Outpatients Unit for study with fibrobronchoscopy for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. A nodular subcutaneous suppurative lesion is found, associated to purpurish red cicatricial plaques that according to the clinical context of the patient, characteristics of the lesions and biopsy results, were diagnosed as scrofuloderma. Antituberculosis treatment was initiated, with a positive clinical response of the skin lesions. DISCUSSION: Due to the process of elimination that tuberculosis is suffering in Chile, the extrapulmonary manifestations, being the cutaneous manifestations among them, represent a diagnosis challenge principally because of the low index of suspicion.

[Acute renal failure due to multiple stings by Africanized bees. Report on 43 cases]. / Insuficiencia renal aguda por picadura múltiple de abejas africanizadas. Comunicación de 43 casos.

UNLABELLED: This study reports on acute renal failure (ARF) due to multiple stings by Africanized bees (AB) occurring in 43 cases collected between 1982 and 2007 (at the Nephrology Section, University of Antioquia School of Medicine and San Vicente de Paul University Hospital, Medellin, Colombia). No intervention on patient care was performed except for responding the Nephrology consult and prescribing dialysis. Data obtained from the medical records included demography; clinical presentation; laboratory results on admission; evolution of renal function to document improvement and normalization; intervals between stings and outcomes; number of dialysis sessions; length of follow-up and hospitalization; survival; and mortality. Not all patients had complete data and therefore, the number of observations is included where required. Mean age was 56 ± 26 yr (range 2-96); 37 (86%) were men; 38 (of 41 cases) came from rural areas (91%); 22 (of 39) were farmers (56.4%); 33 (of 41) lived in Medellin or in the department of Antioquia (80.5%). Number of stings per patient: ~ 900. Interval between stings and ARF < 48 hours: in 31 cases (72.1%; mean 2.6 ± 2.6 days; range 1-12); 37 (of 43) required dialysis (86%); mean number of sessions: 4.7 ± 3.3 (range 1-12). Survival occurred in 36 cases (83.7%) and mortality, in 7, all > 60 yr (16.3%). At last follow-up, renal function improvement was documented in 36 (83.7%) and normalization in 15 of them (41.7%). Interval until initiation of diuresis: 10.6 ± 6.8 days (range 1-25). Duration of hospitalization: 16.9 ± 8.7 days (range 1-39). FOLLOW-UP: 25.2 ± 18.3 days (range 1-75). Hematuria and oliguria occurred before 24 hours; there was an increase of CPK in 90%, of ALT in 96%, of AST in 89%, of DHL in 95%, and of BUN and creatinine in 100%. Based on our findings and on the review of the available information, we propose that this type of ARF occurs as a result of rhabdomyolysis with subsequent myoglobinuria, which lead to nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis; a variable degree of direct nephrotoxicity, not quantifiable with current diagnostic methods, is also probably involved. A better knowledge of this entity by the medical community could improve care and prognosis of the patients who develop it.

Acute and chronic brain infarcts on MR imaging in a 20-year-old woman with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy.

A 20-year-old woman recently diagnosed with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy developed headaches, weakness, and paresthesias. MR imaging of the brain revealed an acute infarct (demonstrated by diffusion-weighted images) in the head of the right caudate nucleus, a chronic infarct with encephalomalacia in the body of the corpus callosum, and multiple foci of abnormal signal intensity in the white matter of the centrum semiovale.

Death of John Paul II and the basic human care for the sick and the dying.

The death of Terri Schiavo by starvation and its sanction by some United States Courts indicates the alarming revival of the eugenics and euthanasia movement. From the legal sanction of physician-assisted suicide, the euthanasia movement now tries to advance the legal protection for "mercy killing." Terri was diagnosed with persistent vegetative state, a term that is outdated, vague and imprecise and that likens a human being to a vegetable. Medical literature indicates that patient with so-called "persistent vegetative state" can recover, and that they do experience pain. The euthanasia movement, linked to eugenics in its origin and present day influence in bioethics espouses the Nazi notion of "lives not worth living," unlimited patient autonomy, and philosophical utilitarianism. John Paul II countered the eugenic philosophy with the classical Western concept of man as the image and likeness of God, responsible for the care of himself and society as a whole. He taught in writing and by example that food and water are basic human care that every person should receive. In the last days of his life he showed a judicious use of proportionate or ordinary means to maintain life. He chose to forego disproportionate medical treatment when there was no reasonable hope of recovery. At that point he continued to receive ordinary medical care, together with basic human and spiritual care.

Infección por VIH/SIDA en la mujer / HIV/AIDS infection in women

A pesar de todo lo aprendido en los 20 años transcurridos desde la descripción de los primeros casos de SIDA y el desarrollo de esquemas terapéuticos efectivos, la epidemia causada por el Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana (VIH) sigue expandiéndose. Uno de los grupos más vulnerables es el de las mujeres, las cuales constituyen ahora el grupo poblacional en donde más rápidamente crece el problema. La discriminación económica, social y cultural, y restricciones en el acceso a los servicios de salud son algunas de las causas que potencian el riesgo. El contacto heterosexual es, desde 1991, la principal forma en que adquieren la infección. Favorecen el contagio la presencia de otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual, especialmente si cursan con úlcera genital, el coito durante la menstruación, la penetración anal y el embarazo. Disminuyen el riesgo el condón, los microbicidas tópicos y la educación a la mujer. El sarcoma de Kaposi, mucho más frecuente en los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres, y las enfermedades cérvicovaginales, dentro de las cuales la vaginitis recurrente por Candida spp. y la neoplasia intraepitelial cervical son las más comunes, representan las únicas diferencias en el espectro clínico entre los dos sexos. Aunque la progresión de la enfermedad es semejante, la carga viral inicial es significativamente inferior en ellas, lo que pudiera generar diferencias en los criterios de elegibilidad al momento de iniciar la terapia de acuerdo con el género. Algunos efectos adversos de los antirretrovirales parecen ser más frecuentes en las mujeres

Pharmacokinetics and toxicity of intravitreal chemotherapy for primary intraocular lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of intravitreal chemotherapeutic agents in the rabbit eye for the potential treatment of primary intraocular lymphoma and other intraocular malignancies. METHODS: The ocular pharmacokinetics of intravitreal methotrexate sodium (400 microg) was studied in 10 New Zealand white rabbits, and a single-compartment, first-order elimination model was used to calculate the drug half-life. With the use of these data, a treatment schedule using serial injections of intravitreal methotrexate and single injections of fluorouracil and dexamethasone sodium phosphate was developed. This schedule was studied in 4 New Zealand white rabbits to explore the combined toxicity of these agents. RESULTS: Methotrexate vitreous levels, following a 400-microg intravitreal injection, remained therapeutic (>0.5 microM) in the rabbit eye for 48 to 72 hours. Intravitreal methotrexate, combined with fluorouracil and dexamethasone, showed no evidence of drug toxicity as determined by electroretinography and histopathologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: A treatment schedule for primary intraocular lymphoma consisting of methotrexate intravitreal injections every 48 to 72 hours provides therapeutic drug concentrations in the vitreous and, in combination with fluorouracil and dexamethasone, appears to be safe in the rabbit eye. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although responsive to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, recurrence of ocular involvement with primary central nervous system lymphoma occurs in more than 50% of treated cases. Anecdotal reports of the use of intravitreal chemotherapy for primary intraocular lymphoma have been encouraging. However, animal data on the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of combined intravitreal agents for the treatment of this disease are lacking.