Latin American Clinical Epidemiology Network Series - Paper 6: The influence of alcohol in traffic accidents and health care costs of it in Bogotá-Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: In Colombia, some studies have estimated medical costs associated to traffic accidents. It is required to assess results by city or region and determine the influence of variables such as alcohol consumption. The main objective of this study was to identify health care costs associated to traffic accidents in Bogota and determine whether alcohol consumption can increase them. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional costs study conducted in patients over 18 years treated in the emergency rooms of six different hospitals in Bogota, Colombia. RESULTS: The average total cost of medical care per patient was 628 USD, in Bogota-Colombia. The average cost per accident was estimated at 1,349 USD. On average, the total cost for health care for patients with positive blood alcohol level was 1.8 times higher than those who did not consume alcohol. The indirect costs were on average 115.3 USD per injured person. Numbers are expressed in 2011 U.S. dollars. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption increases the risk of traffic accidents and direct medical health costs.

Heptanickel(ii) double-cubane core in wells-dawson heteropolytungstate, [Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6(P2W15O56)2](16-).

The hepta-Ni(2+)-containing 30-tungsto-4-phosphate(v) [Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6(P2W15O56)2](16-) (1) has been synthesized in aqueous, slightly basic medium under conventional reaction conditions, and charactarized via different physical methods. Single-crystal XRD showed that 1 consists of a corner-fused double-cubane {Ni7(OH)6(H2O)6}(8+) fragment sandwiched by two trilacunary [P2W15O56](12-) units. Polyanion 1 is solution-stable as shown by (31)P NMR. Ferromagnetic coupling interaction between the 7 paramagnetic centers of the double-cubane core in 1 with a S = 7 ground state was demonstrated. Electrochemical studies were also performed on 1.

[Prevalence of birth defects in Risaralda, 2010-2013].

INTRODUCTION: The data regarding birth defects at local levels in developing countries like Colombia are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of congenital abnormalities in the province of Risaralda, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included the information on infants with structural and functional abnormalities at birth between June, 2010, and December, 2013, from records of the Instituto Nacional de Salud, and compared it with those of children born in the same period in a local clinic participating in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations. We analyzed the data using Stata 10®. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of nine defects per 1,000 newborns from the total live births in Risaralda. The local clinic registered in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations registered a prevalence of 34 defects per 1,000 births. Most frequent defects were heart defects, followed by cleft lip and palate, abdominal wall defects, skeletal dysplasia, hydrocephalus, polydactyly and Down syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Having a baseline on the prevalence of congenital defects in Risaralda is very useful in the design of prevention policies oriented to decrease congenital defects incidence and severity. Inclusion of maternity hospitals in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations strengthens national recording and reporting of birth defects.

Síndrome de Valentino: una causa no común de abdomen agudo. Reporte de un caso / Valentino Syndrome: an uncommon cause of acute abdomen. Case Report.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome de Valentino es la perforación de una úlcera péptica a nivel gástrico o duodenal, en donde el paciente se presenta de forma atípica, con un cuadro clínico sugerente de apendicitis aguda, asociado a peritonitis localizada. Al ser una entidad con escasos reportes a nivel mundial y con ningún caso documentado en el Ecuador, es fundamental difundir el presente caso clínico para conocimiento de la comunidad médico-científica. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente masculino de 63 años, acudió a servicio de emergencia con dolor abdominal de 12 horas de evolución localizado en fosa iliaca derecha asociado a signos de irritación peritoneal y descompensación hemodinámica, sugestivo de peritonitis. Se realizó laparotomía exploratoria. EVOLUCIÓN: En el procedimiento quirúrgico no se evidenciaron cambios inflamatorios en el apéndice y tras la exploración de la cavidad abdominal se encontró una úlcera gástrica perforada; se realizó rafia primaria en dos planos, apendicectomía incidental, más lavado de cavidad abdominal. Paciente con recuperación exitosa, se indicó alta médica al séptimo día de hospitalización. CONCLUSIÓN: La perforación de una úlcera péptica puede generar un cuadro clínico de dolor en fosa ilíaca derecha, que puede confundirse con una apendicitis aguda debido a su similitud clínica. El equipo médico debe considerar al Síndrome de Valentino como un diagnóstico diferencial importante durante la evaluación del paciente que llega a la emergencia con cuadro clínico de dolor abdominal sugestivo de apendicitis aguda.

BACKGROUND: Valentino's syndrome is secondary to a perforated peptic ulcer, which could be located in the stomach or the duodenum, patients present with clinical features that suggest acute appendicitis, with localized peritonitis. There are few case reports about this syndrome worldwide and no one submitted in Ecuador. It is essential to transmit this clinical case for the knowledge of the medical- scientific community. CASE REPORT: A 63-year-old male patient came to the emergency department with abdominal pain, located in the right iliac fossa, that began 12 hours ago, associated to peritoneal irritation signs and hemodynamic decompensation; suggestive of peritonitis. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. EVOLUTION: During exploratory laparotomy, no inflammatory changes were identified in the appendix. After abdominal cavity exploration, a perforated gastric ulcer was found. Primary raffia was stitched in two planes, incidental appendectomy and lavage of the abdominal cavity were performed. The patient had a successful recovery; and was discharged after 7 days at hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The perforation of a peptic ulcer can generate right iliac fossa pain, simulating acute appendicitis due to its clinical similarity. The medical team should consider Valentino's Syndrome as an important differential diagnosis during the evaluation of a patient that arrives to the emergency room with abdominal pain, suggestive of appendicitis.

[Direct costs involved in providing medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá]. / Costos directos de atención médica de accidentes de tránsito en Bogotá D.C.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: Prospective observational study with data from adult patients attended to in the emergency centers of 6 hospitals. RESULTS: Average total cost per patient was $1'112.000 COP. Average daily cost of hospitalized patients was $1'200.000 COP. Average cost of ambulatory treated patients ascended to $247.400 COP. Cost per accident calculated was $2'333.700 COP. In the whole city during study period, total medical costs were around $2.301'028.200 COP. All data was expressed in 2011 Colombian pesos. CONCLUSION: The medical cost of transit accidents is a significant economic burden.

Prevalencia de defectos congénitos en Risaralda, 2010-2013 / Prevalence of birth defects in Risaralda, 2010-2013

Resumen Introducción. Los datos sobre defectos congénitos en el ámbito regional de los países en desarrollo como Colombia son escasos. Objetivo. Describir la prevalencia de anomalías congénitas en el departamento de Risaralda, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se incluyeron los neonatos con defectos estructurales y funcionales entre junio de 2010 y diciembre de 2013, cuyos casos fueron notificados al Instituto Nacional de Salud por ser de interés en salud pública. Se compararon con los nacidos en el mismo periodo en una clínica de la región inscrita en el Estudio Colaborativo de Malformaciones Congénitas. Los datos se analizaron con el programa Stata 10(r). Resultados. La prevalencia entre los nacidos vivos en el periodo de estudio fue de nueve casos por cada 1.000 recién nacidos en el departamento. En la clínica inscrita en el Estudio Colaborativo de Malformaciones Congénitas, se encontró una prevalencia de 34 casos por cada 1.000 nacimientos; el primer lugar lo ocuparon las cardiopatías, seguidas por el labio y paladar hendido, los defectos de la pared abdominal (no especificados), la displasia esquelética, la hidrocefalia, la polidactilia y el síndrome de Down. Conclusión. El establecimiento de una línea de base sobre la prevalencia de los defectos congénitos en Risaralda es de gran utilidad para la adopción de políticas preventivas que lleven a la disminución de la incidencia y de la gravedad de las discapacidades; la inclusión de los hospitales materno-infantiles en la red del Estudio Colaborativo de Malformaciones Congénitas mejora el registro nacional y la notificación de los defectos congénitos.

Abstract Introduction: The data regarding birth defects at local levels in developing countries like Colombia are scarce. Objective: To describe the profile of congenital abnormalities in the province of Risaralda, Colombia. Materials and methods: We included the information on infants with structural and functional abnormalities at birth between June, 2010, and December, 2013, from records of the Instituto Nacional de Salud, and compared it with those of children born in the same period in a local clinic participating in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations. We analyzed the data using Stata 10(r). Results: We found a prevalence of nine defects per 1,000 newborns from the total live births in Risaralda. The local clinic registered in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations registered a prevalence of 34 defects per 1,000 births. Most frequent defects were heart defects, followed by cleft lip and palate, abdominal wall defects, skeletal dysplasia, hydrocephalus, polydactyly and Down syndrome. Conclusions: Having a baseline on the prevalence of congenital defects in Risaralda is very useful in the design of prevention policies oriented to decrease congenital defects incidence and severity. Inclusion of maternity hospitals in the Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations strengthens national recording and reporting of birth defects.

Costos directos de atención médica de accidentes de tránsito en Bogotá D. C / Direct costs involved in providing medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá

Objetivo Determinar los costos de atención médica generados por la accidentalidad vial en Bogotá. Metodología Estudio observacional prospectivo con datos de pacientes mayores de edad atendidos en la central de urgencias de 6 instituciones hospitalarias. Resultados El promedio del costo totalde atención por paciente fue de $1'112.000 El costo promedio día de paciente hospitalizado fue de $1'200.000. Pacientes con atención ambulatoria tuvieron un costo promedio de $247.400. El costo promedio por accidente se calculó en $2'333.700. Los costos médicos por accidentes en el periodo de análisis en Bogotá fueron aproximadamente $2.301'028.200. Cifras en pesos de 2011. Conclusiones Los costos de la atención médica de los accidentes de tránsito constituyen una carga económica considerable.

Objective To determine the cost of medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods Prospective observational study with data from adult patients attended to in the emergency centers of 6 hospitals. Results Average total cost per patient was $1'112.000 COP. Average daily cost of hospitalized patients was $1'200.000 COP. Average cost of ambulatory treated patients ascended to $247.400 COP. Cost per accident calculated was $2'333.700 COP. In the whole city during study period, total medical costs were around $2.301'028.200 COP. All data was expressed in 2011 Colombian pesos. Conclusion The medical cost of transit accidents is a significant economic burden.

Papulosis linfomatoide / Lymphomatoid papulosis

La papulosis linfomatoide es una entidad poco frecuente caracterizada por ser una erupción clínicamente benigna histológicamente maligna. Presentamos un caso de Papulosis Linfomatoide clásico no asociado a linfoma. Fue tratado con dosis bajas de metotrexato el cual fue muy efectivo y bien tolerado.

Ectasia vascular antral: tratamiento quirúrgico / Watermelon stomach: surgical treatment

La ectasia vascular gástrica antral es una entidad reconocida clínica e histopatológicamente, de etiología no precisada, siendo a su vez una causa infrecuente de sangrado digestivo crónico o agudo. Existen muy pocos casos clínicos documentados en la literatura. Existen variadas formas de enfrentar esta patología, existiendo consenso que las más exitosas son la cirugía invasiva y/o terapia endoscópica ND:YAG láser. Se presenta un caso clínico de una mujer de 70 años atendida en nuestro hospital en el cual no contamos con terapia endoscópica, siendo sometida a tratamiento quirúrgico convencional (Antrectomía) con buen resultado.

Papulosis linfomatoide / Lymphomatoid papulosis

La papulosis linfomatoide es una entidad poco frecuente caracterizada por ser una erupción clínicamente benigna histológicamente maligna. Presentamos un caso de Papulosis Linfomatoide clásico no asociado a linfoma. Fue tratado con dosis bajas de metotrexato el cual fue muy efectivo y bien tolerado.