Autoimmune encephalitis after BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccination: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is an important public health strategy; however, many neurological adverse effects are associated with COVID-19 vaccination, being encephalitis a rare manifestation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 33-year-old woman who received the first dose of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine against COVID-19 on April 4 and the second dose on April 28, 2021. Three days after receiving the second dose, she experienced a subacute episode of headache, fever, insomnia, and transient episodes of environment disconnection. We obtained negative results for infectious, systemic, and oncological causes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed lesions in the bilateral caudate nucleus and nonspecific demyelinating lesions at the supratentorial and infratentorial compartments. The results of the neuronal autoantibodies panel were negative. She had an adequate response to immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone; however, she experienced an early clinical relapse and received a new cycle of immunosuppressive treatment followed by a satisfactory clinical evolution. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of severe encephalitis associated with BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccination in Latin America. The patient had atypical imaging patterns, with early clinical relapse and a favorable response to corticosteroid therapy.

[Social and family factors associated with quality of life in children in schools from Piura, Peru]. / Factores sociofamiliares asociados a la calidad de vida en niños de colegios de la ciudad de Piura, Perú.

To determine the socio-familial factors associated with quality of life within the family in children of schools in Piura, Peru. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of children between 3 to 6 years in schools in the city of Piura, Perú. The quality of life was measured by the HOME test, with data adjusted to the Machover and Koppitz test, and were also associated with other social and family variables. P values were obtained by generalised linear models, adjusting for the residence of each subject. RESULTS: Of the 431 respondents, 64% (275) were male. The median age was 4 years old. A poor quality of life was observed in 50% of children. Traits of violence (p < .001) and aggression (p < .001) were associated to higher frequencies of poor quality of life, adjusted for shyness, dependence, and immaturity. The perception of parent’s love (p = .005), living with both parents (p < .001), playing with someone at home (p = .036), the person with whom plays most is the mother (p = .003) or both parents (p = .004) were associated with the quality of life in the survey. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of children who had a poor quality of life was found. The social and family protective factors were to live with both parents, and the demonstration of affection between both parents and play with both.

Post-Vaccinal Encephalitis with Early Relapse after BNT162b2 (COMIRNATY) COVID-19 Vaccine: A Case Report.

We describe the case of a 72-year-old man who received the first dose of the BNT162b2 (COMIRNATY) vaccine against COVID-19 on 18 May 2021, and the second dose on 9 September 2021. One day after receiving the first dose, he cursed with malaise, headache, fever, confusion, aggressiveness, and gait alterations. We performed serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests (finding elevated proteins in CSF) with negative results for infectious, systemic, and neoplastic causes. We performed brain nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), finding circumscribed encephalitis at the anterior frontal and bilateral temporal lobes. We were unable to perform a panel of antineuronal antibodies. The patient was readmitted due to early clinical relapse four days after receiving his second dose. We found sequelae lesions at the frontal level but with new demyelinating lesions at the left temporal level in brain MRI. We indicated methylprednisolone, and he presented a favorable improvement. We report an encephalitis case of probable autoimmune etiology after vaccination with BNT162b2, which presented early clinical relapse after receiving the second dose and presented a favorable response to methylprednisolone.

Case Report: Focal leptomeningeal disease, atypical cancer of unknown primary site.

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis is an infrequent form of cancer expression, and it has a poor prognosis due to its torpid evolution and its challenging diagnosis. Case report: We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with rapidly progressing cognitive decline and focal epilepsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive gyriform hypersignal in the right precentral sulcus region, without mass effect, tenuous contrast uptake, and hydrocephalus with transependymal edema. The body tomographic study was negative for solid cancer and the 18F-FDG PET-CT revealed a severe hypermetabolism in the right lung upper lobe. These findings were suggestive of lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis. We performed a brain biopsy, finding atypical cells in the leptomeningeal region with positive immunohistochemical staining for CK7 and negative for CK20 corresponding to lung adenocarcinoma. The patient was evaluated in the oncology service and scheduled for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusions: Focal leptomeningeal disease is an entity that should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all cases of focal leptomeningitis. Timely diagnosis and adequate cancer management can increase patient survival.

Factors associated with producing a scientific publication during medical training: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 40 medical schools in Latin America.

Background: Scientific publication during medical training is key to promoting enduring cutting-edge knowledge. The promotion of science among medical students in Latin America is a multisectoral issue that is hampered by the lack of governmental knowledge to invest in national research, as well as by the lack of support from local universities. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the production of a scientific publication during medical training among Latin American medical students of local scientific societies. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 that assessed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among medical students from 40 local scientific societies of medical students affiliated with FELSOCEM. Teams from each local scientific society surveyed self-reported scientific publications and explored their association with socioeconomic, academic, and research training conditions. We applied nested models to identify the covariates associated with self-reported scientific publication, obtaining a parsimonious mixed-effects multilevel model grouped by medical scientific society. Results: Of 11,587 participants, the prevalence of scientific publications increased in 36% among medical students affiliated to a Scientific Society of Medical Students [parsimonious prevalence ratio (pPR)=1.36, 95%CI=1.16-1.59], 51% among medical students with advanced English proficiency [pPR=1.51, 95%CI=1.21 - 1.87], 85% among medical students who attended a scientific writing skills course [pPR=1.85, 95%CI=1.59-2.15], 81% among medical students who use Sci-Hub [pPR=1.81, 95%CI=1.50-2.20], and 108% among medical students who have access to a pirated academic account [pPR=2.08, 95%CI=1.83-2.36]. Conclusions: Producing a scientific publication among medical students is associated with being affiliated to a scientific society of medical students, English proficiency, training in scientific writing, use of Sci-Hub, and pirated academic accounts. The results will help clinical educators and medical programs improve resources for training students in high-quality research.

Mielopatía dorsal aguda como presentación atípica de una neurocisticercosis espinal / Acute dorsal myelopathy as an atypical presentation of spinal neurocysticercosis

La neurocisticercosis espinal es una enfermedad infecciosa poco frecuente. Su presentación puede ser extraespinal o intraespinal y la mayoría de casos es de evolución subaguda o crónica. Se presenta el caso de una paciente mujer de 55 años, natural y procedente de Lima, Perú, con cuadro clínico de una paraparesia aguda secundaria a una mielopatía dorsal por lesiones quísticas de cisticercosis espinal. La paciente recibió tratamiento médico y quirúrgico con una evolución clínica y de imágenes favorable. Es importante considerar en nuestro contexto epidemiológico, la cisticercosis espinal como diagnóstico diferencial, ante un cuadro clínico de mielopatía aguda, ya que el adecuado enfoque diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno de esta rara entidad pueden mejorar el pronóstico de los pacientes.

Spinal neurocysticercosis is an infectious and rare disease. Its presentation can be extraspinal or intraspinal and most cases are of subacute or chronic evolution. We report the case of a 55-year-old female patient from Lima, Peru with a 2-day history of acute paraparesis secondary to dorsal myelopathy due to cystic lesions of spinal cysticercosis. The patient received medical and surgical treatment with a favorable clinical and imaging evolution. In our epidemiological context, it is important to consider a spinal cysticercosis as a differential diagnosis when faced with a clinical picture of acute myelopathy, since the appropriate diagnostic approach and timely treatment of this rare entity can improve the prognosis of patients.

[Factors associated with the regular use of sources of information by medical students from four cities of Peru]. / Factores asociados al uso regular de fuentes de información en estudiantes de medicina de cuatro ciudades del Perú.

UNLABELLED: Objetives. To determine the factors associated with regular use of sources of information by medical students in four cities in Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, medical students were surveyed in four cities of Peru, gathering information on the use of 14 sources of information and other educational and computer variables. Frequent use of the information source was defined if the respondent reported that they access an information source at least once a week. P values were obtained by generalized linear models adjusted for each respondent site. RESULTS: 2,300 students were surveyed. The median age was 21 years and 53% were women. Having received training in the use of sources increased the use in twelve of the consulted bases, not in SciELO (p=0.053) or in the university library (p=0.509).When adjusting for owning a laptop/netbook, these associations remained. After also adjusting for owning a smartphone the association was lost with the BVS Peru database (p=0.067). The association was also lost after making the final adjustment, if the respondent had carried out any research activities. CONCLUSIONS: The frequent use of sources of information is associated with having received training, conducting research and use of information technologies and communication. This should be taken into account in training programs and continuous improvement in undergraduate education.

Factores sociofamiliares asociados a la calidad de vida en niños de colegios de la ciudad de Piura, Perú / Social and family factors associated with quality of life in children in schools from Piura, Peru

Determinar los factores sociofamiliares asociados a la calidad del ambiente en niños de los colegios de Piura, Perú. SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Estudio analítico transversal en una muestra por conveniencia de niños entre 3 y 6 años de los colegios de la ciudad de Piura. Se midió la calidad de vida mediante el test HOME, ajustado a los datos del test de Machover y Koppitz; se asociaron otras variables sociofamiliares. Se obtuvieron los valores p mediante modelos lineales generalizados, ajustados por la sede de cada encuestado. RESULTADOS: De los 431 encuestados, el 64% (275) fueron hombres, con una mediana de edad de 4 años. La mala calidad de vida en los niños fue de 50%. Los rasgos de violencia (p < 0,001) y agresividad (p < 0,001) estuvieron asociados con una mayor frecuencia a mala calidad de vida, ajustado por la timidez, dependencia e inmadurez. La percepción que sus papás le quieren (p = 0,005), el vivir con ambos padres (p < 0,001), el que se juegue con alguien en casa (p = 0,036), que la persona con quien más juegue sea la madre (p = 0,003) o ambos padres (p = 0,004) estuvieron asociados a la calidad de vida en los niños encuestados. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontró un gran porcentaje de niños con mala calidad de vida. Los factores sociofamiliares protectores de la calidad de vida son la convivencia con ambos padres, la demostración de que ambos padres se quieren y el juego con ambos.

To determine the socio-familial factors associated with quality of life within the family in children of schools in Piura, Peru. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of children between 3 to 6 years in schools in the city of Piura, Perú. The quality of life was measured by the HOME test, with data adjusted to the Machover and Koppitz test, and were also associated with other social and family variables. P values were obtained by generalised linear models, adjusting for the residence of each subject. RESULTS: Of the 431 respondents, 64% (275) were male. The median age was 4 years old. A poor quality of life was observed in 50% of children. Traits of violence (p < .001) and aggression (p < .001) were associated to higher frequencies of poor quality of life, adjusted for shyness, dependence, and immaturity. The perception of parent's love (p = .005), living with both parents (p < .001), playing with someone at home (p = .036), the person with whom plays most is the mother (p = .003) or both parents (p = .004) were associated with the quality of life in the survey. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of children who had a poor quality of life was found. The social and family protective factors were to live with both parents, and the demonstration of affection between both parents and play with both.

Factores asociados al uso regular de fuentes de información en estudiantes de medicina de cuatro ciudades del Perú / Factors associated with the regular use of sources of information by medical students from four cities of Peru

Objetivos. Determinar los factores asociados al uso regular de fuentes de información en estudiantes de Medicina de cuatro ciudades de Perú. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico, se encuestó a estudiantes de Medicina de cuatro ciudades del Perú, recopilando información del uso de 14 fuentes de información y otras variables educativas e informáticas. Se definió uso frecuente de la fuente de información si accedía a ella mínimo una vez a la semana. Se obtuvieron los valores p mediante modelos lineales generalizados ajustando por la sede de cada encuestado. Resultados. Se encuestaron 2300 estudiantes con una mediana de edad de 21 años, el 53% fueron mujeres. El recibir una capacitación para el uso de las fuentes incrementó el uso en doce de las bases consultadas, no en SciELO (p=0,053) ni en la biblioteca universitaria (p=0,509). Cuando se añadió el ajuste por poseer una laptop/netbook se mantuvieron dichas asociaciones. Al ajustar también por poseer un smartphone se perdió la asociación con la base BVS Perú (p=0,067), lo mismo ocurrió al hacer el último ajuste, si había realizado alguna actividad de investigación. Conclusiones. El uso frecuente de las fuentes de la información está asociado con haber recibido capacitación, realizar investigación y el uso de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación. Esto debe ser tomado en cuenta en programas de capacitación y mejora continua en el pre y posgrado.

Objetives. To determine the factors associated with regular use of sources of information by medical students in four cities in Peru. Materials and methods. In this cross-sectional study, medical students were surveyed in four cities of Peru, gathering information on the use of 14 sources of information and other educational and computer variables. Frequent use of the information source was defined if the respondent reported that they access an information source at least once a week. P values were obtained by generalized linear models adjusted for each respondent site. Results. 2,300 students were surveyed. The median age was 21 years and 53% were women. Having received training in the use of sources increased the use in twelve of the consulted bases, not in SciELO (p=0.053) or in the university library (p=0.509).When adjusting for owning a laptop/netbook, these associations remained. After also adjusting for owning a smartphone the association was lost with the BVS Peru database (p=0.067). The association was also lost after making the final adjustment, if the respondent had carried out any research activities. Conclusions. The frequent use of sources of information is associated with having received training, conducting research and use of information technologies and communication. This should be taken into account in training programs and continuous improvement in undergraduate education.