Variability in the Timing of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Epidemics in Guatemala, 2008-2018.

BACKGROUND: The description of local seasonality patterns in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) incidence is important to guide the timing of administration of RSV immunization products. METHODS: We characterized RSV seasonality in Guatemala using the moving epidemic method (MEM) with absolute counts of RSV-associated acute respiratory infections (ARI) from hospital surveillance in Santa Rosa and Quetzaltenango departments of Guatemala. RESULTS: From Week 17 of 2008 through Week 16 of 2018, 8487 ARI cases tested positive for RSV by rRT-PCR. Season onsets varied up to 5 months; early seasons starting in late May to early August and finishing in September to November were most common, but late seasons starting in October to November and finishing in March to April were also observed. Both epidemic patterns had similar durations ranging from 4 to 6 months. Epidemic thresholds (the levels of virus activity that signal the onset and end of a seasonal epidemic) calculated prospectively using previous seasons' data captured between 70% and 99% of annual RSV detections. Onset weeks differed by 2-10 weeks, and offset weeks differed by 2-16 weeks between the two surveillance sites. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in the timing of seasonal RSV epidemics in Guatemala demonstrates the difficulty in precisely predicting the timing of seasonal RSV epidemics based on onset weeks from past seasons and suggests that maximal reduction in RSV disease burden would be achieved through year-round vaccination and immunoprophylaxis administration to at-risk infants.

Changes in Anti-OV-16 IgG4 Responses to Onchocerciasis after Elimination of Transmission in the Central Endemic Zone of Guatemala.

Current WHO guidelines for onchocerciasis elimination provide requirements for stopping mass drug administration of ivermectin and the verification of elimination of transmission. These guidelines also recommend post-elimination surveillance (PES) based on entomological surveys. Serological markers in humans could complement entomological PES once the longevity of anti-OV-16 antibody responses is better understood. In 2014-2015 we evaluated ELISA anti-OV-16 IgG4 antibody persistence among previously seropositive people from the central endemic zone of Guatemala. The country stopped all onchocerciasis program interventions in 2012 and was verified by WHO as having eliminated transmission of onchocerciasis in 2016. A total of 246 participants with prior OV-16 ELISA results from 2003, 2006, 2007, or 2009 were enrolled in a follow-up study. Of these, 77 people were previously OV-16 seropositive and 169 were previously seronegative. By 2014 and 2015, 56 (72.7%) previously seropositive individuals had sero-reverted, whereas all previous negatives remained seronegative. The progression of antibody responses over time was estimated using a mixed-effects linear regression model, using data from seropositive participants who had sero-reverted. The temporal variation showed a mean activity unit decay of 0.20 per year (95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.17, 0.23), corresponding to an estimated antibody response half-life of 3.3 years (95% CrI: 2.7, 4.1). These findings indicate that the majority of seropositive people will sero-revert over time.

Localização topográfica da emergência do condóito nasolagrimal medido em tomografia como reparação anatômica para procedimentos de cirurgia maxilofacial / Topographic location of the nasolagrimal conduit emergence measured on ct scans as an anatomical repair for maxillofacial surgery procedures / Ubicación topográfica de la emergencia del conducto nasolagrimal medida en tomografías como reparo anatómico para procedimientos de cirugía maxilofacial

Contexto: Na cirurgia maxilofacial existem procedimentos que envolvem o ducto nasolacrimal, pelo que esta medida é um ponto de referência para evitar a sua lesão. Artigos anteriores tomam como referência o fenótipo anglo-saxão e não a população latino-americana, o que é uma grande limitação quando se extrapola para a cirurgia maxilofacial. Objetivo: Medir a distância do ducto nasolacrimal às estruturas anatômicas adjacentes em uma amostra de tomografias computadorizadas do Hospital Universitário San Ignacio em Bogotá, Colômbia, em 2021. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional retrospetivo com base em tomografias computadorizadas do HUSI. Foi utilizada uma amostragem não probabilística, na qual foram identificadas 150 tomografias computadorizadas. Informações sobre sexo, idade e distância do ducto nasolacrimal em milímetros foram coletadas em um banco de dados em planilha Excel, tendo como marcos anatômicos o entalhe piriforme, o forame infraorbitário e o assoalho da fossa nasal em cortes axiais, sagitais e coronais. Resultados: A análise das medidas mostrou que nenhuma das distribuições de medidas se comportou de forma diferente da distribuição normal. Em relação à comparação das medidas por sexo, a idade foi semelhante entre homens e mulheres, enquanto nas comparações por idade foram evidenciadas diferenças significativas. Conclusão: Os resultados são consistentes com os dados publicados em estudos anteriores. Em termos de distribuição por sexo, o comprimento do ducto nasolacrimal é maior nos homens do que nas mulheres, e a distribuição por idade indica que, à medida que a idade aumenta, a distância do ducto a estas estruturas diminui... (AU)

Background: In maxillofacial surgery there are procedures that involve the nasolacrimal duct, so this measure is a reference point to avoid its injury. Previous articles take as reference the Anglo-Saxon phenotype and not the Latin American population, which is a great limitation when extrapolating it to maxillofacial surgical procedures. Objective: To measure the distance of the nasolacrimal duct to adjacent anatomical structures in a sample of CT scans from the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá- Colombia in 2021. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed based on CT scans from HUSI. A non-probabilistic sampling was used in which 150 CT scans were identified. Information on sex, age and distance of the nasolacrimal duct in millimeters was collected in an Excel spreadsheet database, taking as anatomical landmarks the piriform notch, the infraorbital foramen and the floor of the nasal fossa in axial, sagittal and coronal sections. Results: The analysis of the measurements showed that none of the measurement distributions had a behavior different from the normal distribution. In relation to the comparison of the measurements by sex, age was similar in men and women, while significant differences were evidenced in the comparisons by age. Conclusion: The results coincide with the data published in previous studies. Regarding the distribution by sex, the length of the nasolacrimal duct is greater in men than in women, and the distribution by age indicates that as age increases the distance of the duct to these structures decreases... (AU)

Antecedentes: En cirugía maxilofacial existen procedimientos que involucran el conducto nasolagrimal, por lo cual esta medida es un punto de referencia para evitar su lesión. Artículos previos toman como referencia el fenotipo anglosajón y no la población Latinoamericana, lo cual supone una gran limitante al extrapolarlo a intervenciones quirúrgicas maxilofaciales. Objetivo: Medir la distancia del conducto nasolagrimal a estructuras anatómicas adyacentes en una muestra de tomografías del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio en BogotáColombia en 2021. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo basado en tomografías del HUSI. Se utilizó un muestreo no probabilístico en el que se identificaron 150 tomografías. En una base de datos en hoja de cálculo en Excel se recolectó información sobre sexo, edad y distancia del conducto nasolagrimal en milímetros, teniendo como reparo anatómico la escotadura piriforme, el agujero infraorbitario y el piso de la fosa nasal en los cortes axial, sagital y coronal. Resultados: El análisis de las mediciones realizadas mostró que ninguna de las distribuciones de medición tuvo un comportamiento distinto a la distribución normal. En relación con la comparación de las medidas por sexo la edad fue similar en los hombres y mujeres, mientras que se evidenciaron diferencias significativas en las comparaciones por edad. Conclusión: Los resultados coinciden con los datos publicados en estudios previos. En cuanto a la distribución por sexo, la longitud del conducto nasolagrimal es mayor en hombres que en mujeres, y la distribución por edad indica que conforme aumenta la edad la distancia del conducto a estas estructuras disminuye... (AU)

[Evaluation of post-surgical complications between "Rendez-vous" technique vs. standard care in patients with choledocholithiasis]. / Evaluación de complicaciones posquirúrgicas de la técnica «Rendez-vous¼ vs. el manejo estándar en pacientes con coledocolitiasis.

Background: "Rendez-vous" (RV) technique is a mixed-technique which uses both laparoscopic and endoscopic skills; however, the evidence is contradictory regarding the implementation of this technique or the 2-step sequential technique (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC]) in the management of cholecysto-choledocholitiasis. Objective: To estimate the association between the implementation of RV technique and the presence of post-surgical complications as primary outcome, using as comparator the 2-step sequential technique. Method: An observational, analytical, retrospective study was conducted, using as exposed cohort the medical records from patients with a diagnosis of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or mild biliary pancreatitis. The exposed cohort underwent RV technique, while the unexposed cohort were those which underwent two step technique. Results: There was a lower post-surgical complication rate in the RV group (0%) compared with the 10.1% (p = 0.3617) in the control group. Also, RV technique showed a lesser hospitalization time (p = 0.0377) and a lesser post-surgical hospitalization time (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: RV technique is superior when compared with the 2-step sequential technique (ERCP followed by LC), based on a better surgical success rate, a fewer complications rate and less hospitalization time.

Antecedentes: La técnica de «Rendez-vous¼ (RV) es una técnica mixta en la que se combinan las habilidades endoscópicas y laparoscópicas. La evidencia es contradictoria respecto al uso de RV frente a la técnica secuencial en dos tiempos (colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica [CPRE] seguida de colecistectomía laparoscópica [CL]) para el manejo de la colecisto-coledocolitiasis. Objetivo: Estimar la asociación entre el uso de la técnica RV y la presencia de complicaciones posquirúrgicas como desenlace primario, en comparación con la técnica secuencial. Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional analítico retrospectivo que tomó como cohorte expuesta las historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de colelitiasis, colecistitis o pancreatitis leve de origen biliar sometidos a la técnica RV, y se compararon con registros en los que se realizó la técnica de dos tiempos. Resultados: La tasa de complicaciones posquirúrgicas en el grupo de RV fue del 0%, frente al 10.1% (p = 0.3617) en el grupo control. Además, la RV presentó menor tiempo de hospitalización global (p = 0.0377) y posquirúrgica (p < 0.0001). Conclusiones: La técnica RV es superior a la técnica secuencial de CPRE seguida de CL, por su mayor tasa de éxito, menor tasa de complicaciones y menor tiempo hospitalario.

Baseline associations between household air pollution exposure and blood pressure among pregnant women in the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) multi-country randomized controlled trial.

Cooking and heating using solid fuels can result in dangerous levels of exposure to household air pollution (HAP). HAPIN is an ongoing randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a liquified petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention on HAP exposure and health in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda among households that rely primarily on solid cooking fuels. Given the potential impacts of HAP exposure on cardiovascular outcomes during pregnancy, we seek to characterize the relationship between personal exposures to HAP and blood pressure among pregnant women at baseline (prior to intervention) in the study. We assessed associations between PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm), BC (black carbon), and CO (carbon monoxide) exposures and blood pressure at baseline, prior to intervention, among 3195 pregnant women between 9 and 19 weeks of gestation. We measured 24-hour personal exposure to PM2.5/BC/CO and gestational blood pressure. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between personal exposures to three air pollutants and blood pressure parameters. Trial-wide, we found moderate increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and decreases in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as exposure to PM2.5, BC, and CO increased. None of these associations, however, were significant at the 0.05 level. HAP exposure and blood pressure associations were inconsistent in direction and magnitude within each country. We observed effect modification by body mass index (BMI) in India and Peru. Compared to women with normal weights, obese women in India and Peru (but not in Rwanda or Guatemala) had higher SBP per unit increase in log transformed PM2.5 and BC exposures. We did not find a cross-sectional association between HAP exposure and blood pressure in pregnant women; however, HAP may be associated with higher blood pressure in pregnant women who are obese, but this increase was not consistent across settings.

Spanish Validation of the PALMS (Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale).

Although there is abundant evidence supporting an active lifestyle, it is necessary to promote the practice of physical activity among the population. To understand this phenomenon, several studies have been conducted to describe the reasons why people participate in sports activities. The PALMS (Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale) was created as a comprehensive tool to measure the reasons for practicing sports. This tool consists of 40 items related to sports and is designed for the young and adult population. Each of the subscales is formed of five items (mastery, enjoyment, psychological condition, physical condition, appearance, the expectations of others, affiliation, competition/ego) that reflect the possible reasons for practicing sports. This study sought to validate the PALMS in the cultural context of Spain, for the type of population for which it is designed. In total, 596 voluntary participants completed the study from Spain, aged 18 to 53, who regularly practice sports. The adequacy of the model obtained in the exploratory study was confirmed, since a model composed of eight factors and 40 indicators in total was obtained. The parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and the factor loadings presented values greater than 0.5. Regarding internal consistency, the values of Cronbach's alpha and those of the composite reliability were above 0.8. In conclusion, the validation of the Spanish PALMS proved to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument for the evaluation of the reasons that lead the population to perform sports physical activity.

Rio de Janeiro Global Consensus on Landmarks, Definitions, and Classifications in Barrett's Esophagus: World Endoscopy Organization Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Despite the significant advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE), there is still a need for standardized definitions, appropriate recognition of endoscopic landmarks, and consistent use of classification systems. Current controversies in basic definitions of BE and the relative lack of anatomic knowledge are significant barriers to uniform documentation. We aimed to provide consensus-driven recommendations for uniform reporting and global application. METHODS: The World Endoscopy Organization Barrett's Esophagus Committee appointed leaders to develop an evidence-based Delphi study. A working group of 6 members identified and formulated 23 statements, and 30 internationally recognized experts from 18 countries participated in 3 rounds of voting. We defined consensus as agreement by ≥80% of experts for each statement and used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool to assess the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. RESULTS: After 3 rounds of voting, experts achieved consensus on 6 endoscopic landmarks (palisade vessels, gastroesophageal junction, squamocolumnar junction, lesion location, extraluminal compressions, and quadrant orientation), 13 definitions (BE, hiatus hernia, squamous islands, columnar islands, Barrett's endoscopic therapy, endoscopic resection, endoscopic ablation, systematic inspection, complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia, complete eradication of dysplasia, residual disease, recurrent disease, and failure of endoscopic therapy), and 4 classification systems (Prague, Los Angeles, Paris, and Barrett's International NBI Group). In round 1, 18 statements (78%) reached consensus, with 12 (67%) receiving strong agreement from more than half of the experts. In round 2, 4 of the remaining statements (80%) reached consensus, with 1 statement receiving strong agreement from 50% of the experts. In the third round, a consensus was reached on the remaining statement. CONCLUSIONS: We developed evidence-based, consensus-driven statements on endoscopic landmarks, definitions, and classifications of BE. These recommendations may facilitate global uniform reporting in BE.

Cirrhosis etiology trends in developing countries: Transition from infectious to metabolic conditions. Report from a multicentric cohort in central Mexico.

Background: Cirrhosis is a public health threat associated with high mortality. Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is the leading cause in Latin America and Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in western countries. In Mexico, ALD and chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection (HCV) were the most frequent aetiologies during the past decades. We aimed to describe the trends in the aetiologies of cirrhosis in a middle-income country. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including patients diagnosed with cirrhosis between 2000 and 2019 from six different tertiary care hospitals in central Mexico. We collected information regarding cirrhosis etiology, year of diagnosis, hepatocellular carcinoma development, liver transplantation, and death. We illustrated the change in the tendencies of cirrhosis aetiologies by displaying the proportional incidence of each etiology over time stratified by age and gender, and we compared these proportions over time using chi square tests. Findings: Overall, 4,584 patients were included. In 2019, MAFLD was the most frequent cirrhosis etiology (30%), followed by ALD (24%) and HCV (23%). During the study period, MAFLD became the leading etiology, ALD remained second, and HCV passed from first to fourth. When analysed by gender, ALD was the leading etiology for men and MAFLD for women. The annual incidence of HCC was 3·84 cases/100 persons-year, the median survival after diagnosis was 12·1 years, and seven percent underwent LT. Interpretation: Increased alcohol consumption and the obesity epidemic have caused a transition in the aetiologies of cirrhosis in Mexico. Public health policies must be tailored accordingly to mitigate the burden of alcohol and metabolic conditions in developing countries. Funding: None.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a diagnostic challenge of vascular tumors.

Epitheloid hemangioendothelioma is a very rare tumor, with a variable presentation and unpredictable clinical behavior. The etiology and the triggering risk factors have not been specified. Unlike other primary liver tumors, it does not arise in the background of chronic liver disease. The approach is challenging due to the spectrum of possibilities and the need for immunohistochemistry to establish the definitive diagnosis. The information available so far is limited due to the few published cases, this favors that the therapeutic options are few or that there is insufficient evidence to standardize them when the lesion is not resectable.

El hemangioendotelioma epiteloide es un tumor muy infrecuente, con una presentación variable y un comportamiento clínico impredecible. No se han precisado la etiología ni los factores de riesgo desencadenantes. A diferencia de otros tumores hepáticos primarios, no surge en el contexto de una enfermedad crónica del hígado. El abordaje es un reto debido al espectro de posibilidades y la necesidad de inmunohistoquímica para establecer el diagnóstico definitivo. La información disponible hasta el momento es limitada por los escasos casos publicados, lo que favorece que las opciones terapéuticas sean pocas o no exista la evidencia suficiente para estandarizarlas cuando la lesión no sea resecable.

LPG stove and fuel intervention among pregnant women reduce fine particle air pollution exposures in three countries: Pilot results from the HAPIN trial.

The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network trial is a multi-country study on the effects of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove and fuel distribution intervention on women's and children's health. There is limited data on exposure reductions achieved by switching from solid to clean cooking fuels in rural settings across multiple countries. As formative research in 2017, we recruited pregnant women and characterized the impact of the intervention on personal exposures and kitchen levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Guatemala, India, and Rwanda. Forty pregnant women were enrolled in each site. We measured cooking area concentrations of and personal exposures to PM2.5 for 24 or 48 h using gravimetric-based PM2.5 samplers at baseline and two follow-ups over two months after delivery of an LPG cookstove and free fuel supply. Mixed models were used to estimate PM2.5 reductions. Median kitchen PM2.5 concentrations were 296 µg/m3 at baseline (interquartile range, IQR: 158-507), 24 µg/m3 at first follow-up (IQR: 18-37), and 23 µg/m3 at second follow-up (IQR: 14-37). Median personal exposures to PM2.5 were 134 µg/m3 at baseline (IQR: 71-224), 35 µg/m3 at first follow-up (IQR: 23-51), and 32 µg/m3 at second follow-up (IQR: 23-47). Overall, the LPG intervention was associated with a 92% (95% confidence interval (CI): 90-94%) reduction in kitchen PM2.5 concentrations and a 74% (95% CI: 70-79%) reduction in personal PM2.5 exposures. Results were similar for each site. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was associated with substantial reductions in kitchen and personal PM2.5 overall and in all sites. Results suggest LPG interventions in these rural settings may lower exposures to the WHO annual interim target-1 of 35 µg/m3. The range of exposure contrasts falls on steep sections of estimated exposure-response curves for birthweight, blood pressure, and acute lower respiratory infections, implying potentially important health benefits when transitioning from solid fuels to LPG.

Toward improved adherence: a text message intervention in an human immunodeficiency virus pediatric clinic in Guatemala City.

ABSTRACT: As access to human immunodeficiency virus treatment expands in Low to Middle Income Countries, it becomes critical to develop and test strategies to improve adherence and ensure efficacy. Text messaging improves adherence to antiretroviral treatment antiretroviral treatment in some patient populations, but data surrounding the use of these tools is sparse in pediatric and adolescent patients in low to middle income countries. We evaluated if a text message intervention can improve antiretroviral treatment adherence while accounting for cell phone access, patterns of use, and willingness to receive text messages.We carried out a cross sectional study to understand willingness of receiving text message reminders, followed by a randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of text message intervention.Enrolled participants were randomized to receive standard care with regular clinic visits, or standard care plus short message service reminders. Adherence was measured 3 times during the study period using a 4-day Recall Questionnaire. Outcome was measured based on differences in the average adherence between the intervention and control group at each time point (baseline, 3 months, 6 months).Most respondents were willing to receive text message adherence reminders (81.1%, n = 53). Respondent literacy, travel time to clinic, cell phone access, and patterns of use were significantly associated with willingness. In the randomized trial the intervention group (n = 50) experienced a small but significant mean improvement in adherence over the six-month period (4%, P < .01) whereas the control group (n = 50) did not (mean improvement: 0.8%, P = .64).Text message interventions effectively support antiretroviral adherence in pediatric patients living with human immunodeficiency virus. Studies designed to assess the impact of text messaging interventions must examine local context for cellular phone infrastructure and use and must account for potential loss to follow up when patients miss appointments and study assessments.

Validity and intra-examiner reliability of the Hawk goniometer versus the universal goniometer for the measurement of range of motion of the glenohumeral joint.

AIM: The aim of this study was to establish the validity of an external measurement system (the Hawk goniometer). This is a digital device which measures joint ranges compared to the universal goniometer for the measurement of shoulder range of motion in healthy adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a correlational study with 157 healthy volunteers completed six shoulder movements (forward flexion, abduction, extension, adduction and internal and external rotation) with each shoulder. The degree of agreement between each goniometer and Hawk measurement was assessed using Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA). RESULTS: the tests showed a very strong relationship between the readings of both devices (CI between 0.81 and 0.99) and there were no significant differences between the mean readings of both devices. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of above 0.9 was obtained, indicating a high intra-evaluator reliability of the Hawk goniometer in repeated measurements of shoulder range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: the Hawk goniometer is a valid and reliable element for the objective measurement of the range of motion at the shoulder joint.

El papel de la vacuna SARS-CoV-2 en población con trasplante hepático.

No disponible.

Resolución quirúrgica de inestabilidad anterior de rodilla en pacientes con fisis abiertas. Técnicas quirúrgicas / Surgical treatment of anterior knee instability in children with open physis. Surgical techniques

Introducción: La lesión de LCA en niños con fisis abierta va en aumento debido a una mayor participación en deportes de contacto y al diagnóstico precoz. El tratamiento conservador de este tipo de lesiones está asociado al desarrollo de lesiones secundarias condrales y meniscales por lo que, sobre la base de la bibliografía actual, su tratamiento en pacientes esqueléticamente inmaduros con inestabilidad anterior de rodilla objetiva y sintomática es quirúrgico. Materiales y métodos: en el siguiente trabajo se presenta una revisión de dieciocho pacientes esqueléticamente inmaduros con reconstrucción de LCA y un seguimiento promedio de veintiséis meses (entre doce y cincuenta y seis) evaluados con los scores Lysholm, Tegner e IKDC, y telemetrías postoperatorias con mejoría de los scores funcionales permitiendo el retorno al mismo nivel de actividad deportiva en la mayoría de los casos. Conclusión: en esta población, no se han observado cambios en la angulación del miembro intervenido en las telemetrías postoperatorias de control, ni en el desarrollo de alteraciones del crecimiento. Tipo de estudio: Serie de Casos. Nivel de evidencia: IV

Introduction: ACL injury in children with open physis is increasing due to greater participation in contact sports and early diagnosis. Conservative treatment of this type of injury is associated with the development of secondary chondral and meniscal injuries, so based on current literature the treatment of this type of injury in skeletally immature patients with objective and symptomatic anterior knee instability is surgical. Materials and methods: the following work presents a review of eighteen skeletally immature patients with ACL reconstruction and an average follow-up of twenty-six months (between twelve and fifty-six months) evaluated with the Lysholm, Tegner and IKDC scores and postoperative telemetries with improvement in functional scores allowing return at the same level of sports activity in most cases. Conclusion: in this population, no changes in the angulation of the operated limb have been observed in the postoperative control telemetries or the development of growth alterations in any case. Type of study: Case series. Level of evidence: IV

Fibromatosis gástrica: un tumor raro en una localización infrecuente. Reporte de un caso.

La fibromatosis tipo desmoide es un tumor benigno de suma rareza con características localmente agresivas. Se desarrolla en especial en tejidos blandos por su origen en los músculos y las aponeurosis. El diagnóstico se establece por inmunohistoquímica con positividad para vimentina, B-catenina y en ocasiones para actina de músculo liso. El espectro clínico de presentación es amplio, y según este y la resecabilidad se ofrece el tratamiento. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con síntomas de obstrucción al vaciamiento gástrico secundaria a una lesión subepitelial en cuerpo con inmunohistoquímica concluyente para fibromatosis gástrica.Desmoid-type fibromatosis is an extremely rare benign tumor with locally aggressive features. It is predominantly developing in soft tissues due to its origin in muscles and aponeurosis. The diagnosis is established by immunohistochemistry with positivity for vimentin, B-catenin and sometimes for smooth muscle actin. The clinical spectrum of presentation is wide, based on this and resectability the treatment is offered. We present the case of a patient with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a subepithelial lesion in the gastric body with conclusive immunohistochemistry for gastric fibromatosis.

High Molecular Weight ACTH-Precursor Presence in a Metastatic Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Causing Severe Ectopic Cushing's Syndrome: A Case Report.

Ectopic ACTH-secretion causing Cushing's syndrome is unusual and its diagnosis is frequently challenging. The presence of high-molecular-weight precursors throughout pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) translation by these tumors is often not reported. We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with a 3-month history of proximal muscular weakness, skin pigmentation, and weight loss. Upon initial evaluation, she had a full moon face, hirsutism, and a buffalo hump. Laboratory workup showed hyperglycemia, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. ACTH, plasma cortisol, and urinary free cortisol levels were quite elevated. Serum cortisol levels were not suppressed on dexamethasone suppression testing. An octreo-SPECT scan showed enhanced nucleotide uptake in the liver and pancreas. Transendoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a pancreatic ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Surgical excision of both pancreatic and liver lesions was carried out. Western blot analysis of the tumor and metastases revealed the presence of a high-molecular-weight precursor possibly POMC (at 30 kDa) but not ACTH (normally 4.5 kDa). ACTH-precursor secretion is more frequent in ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors compared with other causes of Cushing's syndrome. Hence, the measurement of such ACTH precursors warrants further evaluation, especially in the context of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism.

Human Papillomavirus 16 E7 Promotes EGFR/PI3K/AKT1/NRF2 Signaling Pathway Contributing to PIR/NF-κB Activation in Oral Cancer Cells.

A subset of oral carcinomas is etiologically related to high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, with HPV16 being the most frequent HR-HPV type found in these carcinomas. The oncogenic role of HR-HPV is strongly dependent on the overexpression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which, in turn, induce p53 and pRb degradation, respectively. Additionally, it has been suggested that HR-HPV oncoproteins are involved in the regulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), inducing cancer progression and metastasis. Previously, we reported that HPV16 E7 oncoprotein promotes Pirin upregulation resulting in increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration, with Pirin being an oxidative stress sensor and activator of NF-κB. In this study, we demonstrate the mechanism by which HPV16 E7-mediated Pirin overexpression occurs by promoting EGFR/PI3K/AKT1/NRF2 signaling, thus causing PIR/NF-κB activation in oral tumor cells. Our results demonstrate a new mechanism by which E7 contributes to oral cancer progression, proposing PIR as a potential new therapeutic target.

Air Pollutant Exposure and Stove Use Assessment Methods for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) Trial.

BACKGROUND: High quality personal exposure data is fundamental to understanding the health implications of household energy interventions, interpreting analyses across assigned study arms, and characterizing exposure-response relationships for household air pollution. This paper describes the exposure data collection for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN), a multicountry randomized controlled trial of liquefied petroleum gas stoves and fuel among 3,200 households in India, Rwanda, Guatemala, and Peru. OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of the exposure assessment are to estimate the exposure contrast achieved following a clean fuel intervention and to provide data for analyses of exposure-response relationships across a range of personal exposures. METHODS: Exposure measurements are being conducted over the 3-y time frame of the field study. We are measuring fine particulate matter [PM < 2.5µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] with the Enhanced Children's MicroPEM™ (RTI International), carbon monoxide (CO) with the USB-EL-CO (Lascar Electronics), and black carbon with the OT21 transmissometer (Magee Scientific) in pregnant women, adult women, and children <1 year of age, primarily via multiple 24-h personal assessments (three, six, and three measurements, respectively) over the course of the 18-month follow-up period using lightweight monitors. For children we are using an indirect measurement approach, combining data from area monitors and locator devices worn by the child. For a subsample (up to 10%) of the study population, we are doubling the frequency of measurements in order to estimate the accuracy of subject-specific typical exposure estimates. In addition, we are conducting ambient air monitoring to help characterize potential contributions of PM2.5 exposure from background concentration. Stove use monitors (Geocene) are being used to assess compliance with the intervention, given that stove stacking (use of traditional stoves in addition to the intervention gas stove) may occur. CONCLUSIONS: The tools and approaches being used for HAPIN to estimate personal exposures build on previous efforts and take advantage of new technologies. In addition to providing key personal exposure data for this study, we hope the application and learnings from our exposure assessment will help inform future efforts to characterize exposure to household air pollution and for other contexts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6422.

Design and conduct of facility-based surveillance for severe childhood pneumonia in the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial.

Pneumonia is both a treatable and preventable disease but remains a leading cause of death in children worldwide. Household air pollution caused by burning biomass fuels for cooking has been identified as a potentially preventable risk factor for pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries. We are conducting a randomised controlled trial of a clean energy intervention in 3200 households with pregnant women living in Guatemala, India, Peru and Rwanda. Here, we describe the protocol to ascertain the incidence of severe pneumonia in infants born to participants during the first year of the study period using three independent algorithms: the presence of cough or difficulty breathing and hypoxaemia (≤92% in Guatemala, India and Rwanda and ≤86% in Peru); presence of cough or difficulty breathing along with at least one World Health Organization-defined general danger sign and consolidation on chest radiography or lung ultrasound; and pneumonia confirmed to be the cause of death by verbal autopsy. Prior to the study launch, we identified health facilities in the study areas where cases of severe pneumonia would be referred. After participant enrolment, we posted staff at each of these facilities to identify children enrolled in the trial seeking care for severe pneumonia. To ensure severe pneumonia cases are not missed, we are also conducting home visits to all households and providing education on pneumonia to the mother. Severe pneumonia reduction due to mitigation of household air pollution could be a key piece of evidence that sways policymakers to invest in liquefied petroleum gas distribution programmes.