Estrategias para la reconversión del ejercicio profesional: Proyecto Bioquímico Nexo / Strategies for the reconversion of professional practice: Biochemical Nexus Project

El avance de la ciencia y la tecnología en el área de la bioquímica clínica ha ocasionado la necesidad de reflexionar acerca de una reingeniería de la práctica profesional. El proceso diagnóstico es complejo y dinámico, requiere del trabajo interdisciplinario y de la comunicación efectiva, además de un cambio en el accionar profesional, con el eje centrado en el paciente y en un laboratorio "a puertas abiertas". En este marco se planteó el Proyecto Bioquímico Nexo (BN) con el propósito de lograr las competencias y habilidades necesarias para formar profesionales bioquímicos clínicos integrales que puedan cumplir con este nuevo rol sobre la base de una construcción colectiva de los saberes (AU)

Advances in science and technology in the area of clinical biochemistry have prompted the need to reflect on the reengineering of professional practice. The diagnostic process is complex and dynamic, requiring interdisciplinary work and effective communication, as well as a change in professional action, with the focus on the patient and an "open-door" laboratory. Within this framework, the Biochemical Nexus Project (BN) was proposed with the purpose of achieving the competencies and skills necessary to comprehensively train clinical biochemists who can fulfill this new role based on a collective construction of knowledge (AU)

Síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico pediátrico (SIMS) asociado con el SARS-CoV-2: Un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo / SARS-CoV-2-associated pediatric multisystemic inflammatory syndrome: A retrospective cohort study

Introduccion: El Síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico pediátrico (SIMS) asociado con el SARS-CoV-2 es una enfermedad aguda acompañada de un síndrome hiperinflamatorio, con falla multiorgánica y shock, asociada a la infección por SARS CoV2, que produce alta morbilidad en la población pediátrica, que hasta el momento es la afectada por este síndrome. Objetivo: Evaluar las características diferenciales del síndrome multisistémico inflamatorio asociado al SARS-COV-2 (SIMS) en niños. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo. La definición de SIMS se basó en los criterios de la OMS. Los pacientes con COVID-19 relacionados temporalmente se incluyeron como controles. Resultados: se incluyeron 25 pacientes con SIMS y 75 controles. El modelo de regresión logística múltiple de las variables que mostraron ser significativas en el análisis univariado reveló que la edad ≥ 2 años (OR 24,7; IC del 95%: 1,03 -592,4; P = 0,048), la linfopenia (OR 9,03; IC del 95%: 2,05-39,7; P = 0,004), y el recuento de plaquetas <150x109 / L (OR 11,7; IC del 95%: 1,88-75,22; P = 0,009) se asociaron significativamente con SIMS. La presencia de una enfermedad subyacente pareció reducir el riesgo de SIMS (OR 0,06; IC del 95%: 0,01-0,3). Conclusión: El SIMS fue más común en pacientes mayores de 2 años y en aquellos con linfopenia o trombocitopenia. La enfermedad subyacente parece reducir el riesgo del mismo. (AU)

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2-associated pediatric multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) is an acute disease accompanied by a hyperinflammatory syndrome, with multiorgan failure and shock associated with SARS CoV2 infection, producing high morbidity in the pediatric population, which so far is affected by this syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the differential characteristics of SARS-COV-2-associated PMIS in children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The definition of PMIS was based on WHO criteria. Patients with temporally related COVID-19 were included as controls. Results: 25 patients with PMIS and 75 controls were included. A multiple logistic regression model of the variables shown to be significant in univariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 2 years (OR 24.7; 95% CI: 1.03 -592.4; P = 0.048), lymphopenia (OR 9.03; 95% CI 2.05-39.7; P = 0.004), and platelet count < 150x109/L (OR 11.7; 95% CI: 1.88-75.22; P = 0.009) were significantly associated with PMIS. The presence of an underlying disease appeared to reduce the risk of PMIS (OR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.3). Conclusion: PMIS was more common in patients older than 2 years and in those with lymphopenia or thrombocytopenia. Underlying disease appears to reduce the risk of SMIS.(AU)

Prevalencia de factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular en niños y adolescentes con infección por HIV / Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected children and adolescents

Introducción: La exposición prolongada a las drogas en el tratamiento antirretroviral de alta eficacia (HAART) cambió el pronóstico de la enfermedad pero puede generar alteraciones metabólicas y lipodistrofia que aumentan el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular precoz (ECVP). En la población pediátrica infectada con HIV los estudios son escasos y las medidas para disminuir el riesgo de ECVP no han sido definidas. Objetivo: investigar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo de ECVP en niños y adolescentes con infección crónica por HIV en un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad. Material y Métodos: estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, controlado, de corte transversal. Se incluyeron niños con infección vertical por HIV, edad entre 2 y 18 años estratificados según esquema de tratamiento antirretroviral recibido (con y sin Inhibidores de la Proteasa-IP-) y controles seronegativos. Se realizó antropometría, impedanciometría bioeléctrica (BIA)y ecodoppler carotídeo. Se dosó glucemia basal, insulina basal, perfil lipídico, TGO, TGP, recuento de leucocitos y plaquetas, linfocitos TCD4+ y TCD8+, carga viral, proteína C Reactiva cuantitativa de alta sensibilidad. Se consideraron pacientes con riesgo de ECVP a los que presentaron: obesidad, hipertensión arterial, intolerancia a la glucosa/ diabetes, resistencia a la insulina, dislipemia, aumento de proteína C reactiva (PCR) o aumento del grosor arterial. Resultados: Ambos grupos HIV+ presentaron un escore Z para peso, talla y BMI significativamente menor que el grupo control., mientras que la frecuencia de aparición del índice Cintura/Talla con valores patológicos fue significativamente mayor en el grupo HIV+. Utilizando el método clínico de Carr el 18% de los pacientes HIV+ presentaba lipodistrofia, la mayoría de los cuales tenían hipertrigliceridemia. El grupo HIV+ presento un% de masa grasa (MG) mayor y un% de masa libre de grasa (MLG) y masa celular menor que el grupo control medido por BIA. Se constató alta prevalencia de dislipidemia en el grupo HIV+ con niveles medios más altos de Colesterol total, c-LDL, y TG que el grupo control, que fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes expuestos a IP con valores más elevados de colesterol total y c-LDL y mayor frecuencia de alteración del índice CT/HDL y significativamente mayor en el grupo expuesto a IP. No se encontraron diferencias de los niveles medios de glucemia en ayunas, insulina basal ni resistencia a la insulina evaluada por HOMA. En el subgrupo HIV+ estudiado se observó un aumento del espesor de la íntima media carotidea. Conclusión: En un grupo de niños y adolescentes infectados verticalmente por HIV bajo TARV de alta eficacia el peso, talla,% de MLG y MC fue significativamente menor y el% de MG mayor que el grupo control. La alta prevalencia de dislipidemia encontrada en el grupo HIV+, particularmente en aquellos expuestos a IP y el indice Cintura/Talla constituyen factores que aumentarían el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad cardiovascular precoz (AU)

Introduction: Long-term drug exposure using highly active antirretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed disease prognosis in HIV-infected patients, but may cause metabolic alterations and lipodystrophy increasing the risk of early cardiovascular disease (ECVD). Studies in the population of HIV-infected children are scarce and measures to reduce the risk of ECVD have not been defined. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of risk factors for ECVD in children and adolescents with a chronic HIV-infection in a tertiary pediatric. Material and Methods: A descriptive, prospective, controlled cross-sectional study was conducted. Children with a mother-to-child HIV infection between 2 and 18 years of age, stratified according to HAART regimen received (with or without protease inhibitors (PI)) and seronegative controls were included. Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and carotid ultrasonography were performed. Baseline glycemia and insulin, lipid profile, ALT, AST, leukocyte and platelet counts, TCD4+ and TCD8+ lymphocytes, viral load, and high-sensitivity quantitative C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Patients were considered at high risk for ECVD when they had: obesity, arterial hypertension, glucose intolerance/diabetes, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, increased CRP, or increased intima-media thickness. Results: Both HIV+ groups presented with significantly lower Z-scores for weight, height, and BMI than the control group, while the prevalence of pathological measures of waist-to-height index was significantly higher in the HIV+ group. Using the clinical method of Carr, 18% of the HIV+ patients presented with lipodistrophy, the majority of whom had hypertriglyceridemia. The HIV+ group had a higher percentage of fat mass (FM) and a lower percentage of fat-free mass (FFM) and cell mass (CM) than the control group measured by BIA. A high prevalence of dyslipidemia was found in the HIV+ group with higher mean total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, and TG levels than in the control group. This prevalence was significantly higher in patients receiving PI, with increased levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and a higher rate of alteration of the total cholesterol/HDL ratio. No differences were found in mean fasting glycemia, baseline insulin, or insulin resistance levels assessed using HOMA. In the HIV+ PI subgroup, increased carotid intima-media thickness was observed. Conclusion: In a group of vertically HIV-infected children on HAART, weight, height, percentage of FFM and CM were significantly lower and percentage of FM was significantly higher than in the control group. The high prevalence of dyslipidemia found in the HIV+ group, particularly in those exposed to PI, as well as the higher waist-to-height index increase the risk of developing ECVD (AU)

trans-sialidase inhibition assay, a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for Chagas' disease.

For the diagnosis of Chagas' disease, the trans-sialidase inhibition assay was able to resolve the results for samples with borderline results, to detect as positive 60% of samples that were negative by conventional serology, and to discriminate idiopathic from chagasic megaviscera or cardiopathy. No cross-reaction with sera from patients with other diseases was observed.

[Blood cultures: use of presumptive antiobiograms]. / Hemocultivos: utilidad de los antibiogramas presuntivos.

Mortality associated to bacteremia varies between 20 and 40% depending upon several factors, such as focus of infection, microorganism, host conditions, etc. It has also been documented that mortality may double when the patient does not receive antibiotic treatment to which the microorganism is susceptible. The objective of our work has been to determine the correlation between disk diffusion antibiogram according to NCCLS guidelines, from isolated colonies, and the one performed directly from the blood culture flask. During 1996, in the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (ICYCC) in Buenos Aires City, 81 episodes of bacteremia were studied. In every case, an antibiogram was carried out: 1) from the bottle: a- Directly (D), harvesting 20 microliters in Mueller Hinton agar, b- Diluted (d), previous centrifugation and Gram staining to adjust turbidity equivalent to 0.5 Mc Farland; 2) from isolated colonies, according to NCCLS guidelines. There were almost no major errors, except with two strains of Enterobacter cloacae versus cephalotin. The diluted method was not so convenient to read inhibition zones, especially with staphylococci. With gram-positive bacteria, the main problems appeared in the direct method with erythromycin, oxacillin and ciprofloxacin because of minor errors. With gram-negative bacteria, major errors were observed in the direct method, mainly with piperacillin (7%) and to a lesser extent with piperacillin tazobactam (2%). Except for imipenem, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazoie and cefotaxime, all antimicrobial agents presented minor errors with both methodologies. Based upon the high rate of minor errors, we consider it is important to confirm results obtained with the standard technique (NCCLS), considering as presumptive those results from the blood culture bottles (D and d).

Hemocultivos: utilidad de los antibiogramas presuntivos / Blood cultures: use of presumptive antiobiograms

Mortality associated to bacteremia varies between 20 and 40 depending upon several factors, such as focus of infection, microorganism, host conditions, etc. It has also been documented that mortality may double when the patient does not receive antibiotic treatment to which the microorganism is susceptible. The objective of our work has been to determine the correlation between disk diffusion antibiogram according to NCCLS guidelines, from isolated colonies, and the one performed directly from the blood culture flask. During 1996, in the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (ICYCC) in Buenos Aires City, 81 episodes of bacteremia were studied. In every case, an antibiogram was carried out: 1) from the bottle: a- Directly (D), harvesting 20 microliters in Mueller Hinton agar, b- Diluted (d), previous centrifugation and Gram staining to adjust turbidity equivalent to 0.5 Mc Farland; 2) from isolated colonies, according to NCCLS guidelines. There were almost no major errors, except with two strains of Enterobacter cloacae versus cephalotin. The diluted method was not so convenient to read inhibition zones, especially with staphylococci. With gram-positive bacteria, the main problems appeared in the direct method with erythromycin, oxacillin and ciprofloxacin because of minor errors. With gram-negative bacteria, major errors were observed in the direct method, mainly with piperacillin (7) and to a lesser extent with piperacillin tazobactam (2). Except for imipenem, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazoie and cefotaxime, all antimicrobial agents presented minor errors with both methodologies. Based upon the high rate of minor errors, we consider it is important to confirm results obtained with the standard technique (NCCLS), considering as presumptive those results from the blood culture bottles (D and d).