Vitamin D supplementation: position Statement of the Iberoamerican Society of Osteoporosis and Mineral Metabolism (SIBOMM).

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is a global pandemic that affects more than a third of the population worldwide. The population of Latin America and the Caribbean exceeds 620 million inhabitants with diverse ethnic origins and different latitudes and altitudes, which make comparisons and generalizations difficult. AIM AND METHOD: We sought to establish an expert consensus regarding the recommendations for VD supplementation in Latin America by means of the Delphi methodology. RESULTS: The prophylactic dosage of VD in the general population should be individualized according to age, race, body weight, sun exposure of an individual, altitude, and dietary and exercise habits, without ruling out existing chronic diseases. CONCLUSION: The importance of VD has been widely documented and its deficiency is a pandemic. Many individuals have difficulty meeting daily VD requirements through food and the sun. The population of Latin America and the Caribbean has diverse ethnics, cultures, in addition to living in different latitudes and altitudes. Therefore, it is important to make a position on VD supplementation, given the different characteristics, ages and serum levels of 25(OH)D.

Recommended measurement instruments for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) consortium.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to identify suitable definitions and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess each of the six core outcomes previously identified through the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) global consensus process relating to vasomotor symptoms: frequency, severity, distress/bother/interference, impact on sleep, satisfaction with treatment, and side effects. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant definitions for the outcome of side-effects and PROMs with acceptable measurement properties for the remaining five core outcomes. The consensus process, involving 36 participants from 16 countries, was conducted to review definitions and PROMs and make final recommendations for the measurement of each core outcome. RESULTS: A total of 21,207 publications were screened from which 119 reporting on 40 PROMs were identified. Of these 40 PROMs, 36 either did not adequately map onto the core outcomes or lacked sufficient measurement properties. Therefore, only four PROMs corresponding to two of the six core outcomes were considered for recommendation. We recommend the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale to measure the domain of distress, bother, or interference of vasomotor symptoms and to capture impact on sleep (one item in the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale captures interference with sleep). Six definitions of "side effects" were identified and considered. We recommend that all trials report adverse events, which is a requirement of Good Clinical Practice. CONCLUSIONS: We identified suitable definitions and PROMs for only three of the six core outcomes. No suitable PROMs were found for the remaining three outcomes (frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms and satisfaction with treatment). Future studies should develop and validate PROMs for these outcomes.

Factors associated with oxygen requirement and persistent symptoms 1 year after severe COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the prevalence and factors associated with the need for supplemental oxygen and persistent symptoms 1 year after severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: In this historical cohort and nested case-control study, we included adults with severe COVID-19 (requiring admission to the intensive care unit or invasive mechanical ventilation). We evaluated factors associated with a need for supplemental oxygen and persistent symptoms 1 year after severe infection. RESULTS: We included 135 patients (median age 62 years, 30% women). At 1-year follow-up, the main symptoms were dyspnea (32%), myalgia (9%), cough (7%), anxiety (4%), and depression (5%); 12.59% of patients had prolonged requirement for supplemental oxygen. Factors associated with a persistent requirement for supplemental oxygen were female sex (odds ratio 3.15, 95% confidence interval 1.11-8.90) and Charlson Comorbidity Index > 4 (odds ratio 1.60, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.12). CONCLUSIONS: We found that a high prevalence of supplemental oxygen requirement 1 year after severe COVID infection was associated with female sex and a baseline high rate of comorbidities. It is unknown whether this prevalence was related to other factors, such as the altitude at which patients lived. More than half of patients had prolonged post-COVID syndrome.

Atrial Arrhythmias in Chagas' Disease.

There is extensive knowledge in the ablation of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy, as well as specific characteristics of the arrhythmogenic substrate, and the need for an epicardial approach to achieve success. On the contrary, no publications currently address the ablation of atrial fibrillation in these patients or the characteristics of the arrhythmia such as the successful ablation sites. Our two case reports highlight the association of Chagas' disease with atrial arrhythmias, the tailored approach that was needed to give an appropriate treatment and a discussion of our current knowledge of Chagas' cardiomyopathy as a substrate for atrial arrhythmias.

Changes in bone turnover markers after calcium-enriched milk supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of calcium, phosphorus, lactose, and vitamin D fortified skimmed milk on biomarkers of bone turnover in healthy postmenopausal women. DESIGN: The design was of a prospective, double-blind, randomized, 6 months study. Eighty postmenopausal women (aged 49-71 y) were allocated in two groups receiving 750 mL/day of a fortified skimmed milk containing 1,200 mg of calcium and 5.7 microg of vitamin D (group A) or 900 mg of calcium and 5.7 microg of vitamin D (group B). Ultrasound bone mass measurements and biochemical markers of bone formation, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (AP), and carboxi-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and of bone resorption, urinary excretion of pyridinoline (Pyr), deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), and urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) were performed at baseline and after 10 weeks and 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: PICP levels showed a significant reduction during the study, but no differences were observed between groups (-18.47 +/- 11.4 group A vs -14.42 +/- 12.5 group B). Pyr levels decreased in group A (P < 0.001), whereas no changes were detected in group B. At the end of the study, a significant difference (P < 0.01) was detected between groups in Pyr (-23.66 +/- 5.7 group Avs 3.465 +/- 7.1 group B) and D-Pyr (-16.64 +/- 1.6 group Avs 2.955 +/- 2.1 group B). At the 6th month, serum 25OH vitamin D increased in group A and decreased in group B (P = 0.007). Additionally, no differences were observed between groups in bone mass and in the other bone markers. Body weight was unchanged for group A, whereas a significant increase was observed in group B. CONCLUSIONS: The daily intake of 750 mL of enriched skimmed milk containing 1,200 mg of calcium appears to be a useful, safe, and acceptable measure to calcium supplementation in healthy elderly postmenopausal women.

Trombosis de senos venosos cerebrales / Cerebral venous thrombosis

La trombosis de los senos venosos cerebrales ocurre como consecuencia de una alteración en los factores trombogénicos y fibrinolíticos, a su vez ocasionada por diversos factores locales o sistémicos. Entre las causas mejor conocidas se hallan las infecciosas, las alteraciones de la coagulación que acompañan la anticoncepción, el embarazo y el parto, el trauma y los neoplasmas. La prevalencia e incidencia de esta patología se ha aproximado mediante registros de casos, pero su notificación no es obligatoria y el subregistro es amplio. La presentación clìnica es variable por lo cual resulta más fácil tratar de reconocerla en diversos síndrome como: la hipertensión endocranea benigna, la cefalea aguda con signos focales y depresiòn de la conciencia, las convulsiones con paresia post ictal transitoria entre otros. El diagnóstico por imágenes ha sufrido un gran cambio con la aparición de la TAC y la resonancia magnética y han permitido una pronta confirmación, en la sospecha clìnica, frente a la bien conocida positividad de la angiografía. El tratamiento continua generando controversia pues algunos pacientes mejoran sin intervención alguna. Empero la anticoagulación con heparina a dosis plenas continùa siendo un tratamiento seguro y eficaz, incluso en presencia de hemorragia. La trombolisis local está indicada en aquellos casos en los cuales la anticoagulación no produce resultado. Se presentan para ilustración del lector, cinco casos atendidos en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de Bogotá

Factores de riesgo en enfermedad cerebro vascular isquémica en paciente menores de 45 años / Risk factors of stroke in young people

Un Evento Cerebro Vascular (ECV) es un suceso dramático en un paciente joven, al considerar la discapacidad, el impacto social y los altos costos en procesos de rehabilitación. Por lo anterior, se han creado programas de prevención para los factores de riesgo implicados en la presentación de éstos. Con este trabajo, se pretende realizar una revisión teórica de los factores de riesgo, etiologías implicadas en la presentación de un ECV, además se presenta un informe de las historias clínicas de los pacientes que consultaron al Hospital San Juan de Dios, en el período comprendido entre enero de 1995 y junio del 2000, con el fin de describir los factores de riesgo, enfermedades asociadas en esta población y aportar una información preliminar