Safety of intracameral application of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone (Vigadexa®) after phacoemulsification surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intracameral antibiotics, such as moxifloxacin and cefuroxime, are safe to corneal endothelial cells and effective prophylaxis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Corneal endothelial cells decrease in density after cataract surgery. Any substance used in the anterior chamber may affect corneal endothelial cells and lead to a greater decrease in density. This study wants to determine the percentage of endothelial cell loss after cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with off-label intracameral injection of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone (Vigadexa®). METHODS: An observational retrospective study was performed. The clinical records of patients undergoing cataract surgery by phacoemulsification plus intracameral injection of Vigadexa® were analyzed. Endothelial cell loss (ECL) was calculated using preoperative and postoperative endothelial cell density. The relation of endothelial cell loss with cataract grade using LOCS III classification, total surgery time, total ultrasound time, total longitudinal power time, total torsional amplitude time, total aspiration time, estimated fluid usage, and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) was studied using univariate linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The median loss of corneal endothelial cells was 4.6%, interquartile range 0 to 10.4%. Nuclear color and CDE were associated with increased ECL. ECL>10% was associated with age and total ultrasound time in seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The endothelial cell loss after the intracameral use of Vigadexa® at the end of cataract surgery was similar to the reported in other studies of cataract surgery without the use of intracameral prophylaxis for postoperative endophthalmitis (POE). This study confirmed the association of CDE and nuclear opalescence grade with postoperative corneal endothelial cell loss.

Fitness Changes in Adolescent Girls Following In-School Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise: Interaction With Birthweight.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of a supervised in-school combined resistance and aerobic training program in adolescent girls and investigate whether responses differ according to birthweight. METHODS: Participants (girls aged 13-17 y) were randomized either to an intervention replacing physical education (PE) classes with 2 × 60-minute training sessions per week (n = 58) or to a control group that continued to attend 2 × 60 minutes per week of curriculum PE (n = 41). We measured muscular fitness (handgrip, standing long jump, and sit-ups), cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), skinfolds, and lean body mass preintervention and postintervention and determined effect size (Hedge's g) differences between changes in these measures. We also compared changes within lower (<3000 g) and normal birthweight intervention and PE control subgroups. RESULTS: The intervention group showed greater improvements in all the fitness measures and lean body mass (g = 0.22-0.48) and lower skinfold increases (g = 0.41) than PE controls. Within the intervention group, improvements in all fitness measures were larger in lower birthweight (g = 0.53-0.94) than in normal birthweight girls (g = 0.02-0.39). CONCLUSION: Replacing curriculum PE with supervised training improved muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition outcomes in adolescent females. Our findings suggest an enhanced adaptive response to training in participants with lower birthweight which warrants further investigation.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Colombia.

Hypertension awareness and control is poor in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, implementing strategies to increase hypertension detection is needed. Colombia participated as one of the 92 countries involved in the third campaign of the May Measurement Month in 2019. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in 48 324 volunteers from 13 departments in Colombia. In total, 27.9% individuals were identified with hypertension. Of those with hypertension, 63.7% were aware of their condition, 60.0% were on antihypertensive medication, and 38.4% had controlled BP. These results showed low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in this sample of subjects volunteered to participate, suggest the urgent necessity of implementing programmes to improve the diagnosis and management of hypertension in Colombia.

May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening results in Colombia-Americas.

Despite the availability of efficient methods to evaluate blood pressure (BP) and of safe and efficient medication to treat and control hypertension, the levels of awareness, treatment and control are very low globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To highlight the importance of improving these rates, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) endorsed by the World Hypertension League have implemented the May Measurement Month initiative. We present here the results obtained in Colombia. The Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander (FOSCAL) led the implementation of this strategy in Colombia and 11 departments participated. The data collection followed the guidelines of the ISH. The information collected was compiled for the report generation and the submission to the Technical Secretariat of the ISH. Data cleaning was performed locally by FOSCAL. Data were collated and analysed centrally. A total of 22 258 participants (58.8% female) were included in the analysis. Mean age was 40.9 ± 17.7 years. Age and sex-standardized BP excluding participants receiving BP medications was 118/74.3 mmHg, and in those on treatment 125/78 mmHg. High BP was present in 5036 (22.8%) individuals, 1637 of 18 644 (8.8%) who were not receiving anti-hypertensive medications were hypertensive, and 961 of 3359 (28.6%) receiving treatment were not controlled. These results highlight the need to develop innovative promotion strategies at individual and population levels to increase the awareness of the importance of BP, and the consequences of not having well-controlled hypertension. This initiative is an effective and easy to implement strategy that should be maintained in the coming years.

Rationale and design of a cluster randomized trial of a multifaceted intervention in people with hypertension: The Heart Outcomes Prevention and Evaluation 4 (HOPE-4) Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death throughout the world, with the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Despite clear evidence for the benefits of blood pressure reduction and availability of safe and low-cost medications, most individuals are either unaware of their condition or not adequately treated. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether a community-based, multifaceted intervention package primarily provided by nonphysician health workers can improve long-term cardiovascular risk in people with hypertension by addressing identified barriers at the patient, health care provider, and health system levels. METHODS/DESIGN: HOPE-4 is a community-based, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial involving 30 communities (1,376 participants) in Colombia and Malaysia. Participants ≥50 years old and with newly diagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension were included. Communities were randomized to usual care or to a multifaceted intervention package that entails (1) detection, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors by nonphysician health workers in the community, who use tablet-based simplified management algorithms, decision support, and counseling programs; (2) free dispensation of combination antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering medications, supervised by local physicians; and (3) support from a participant-nominated treatment supporter (either a friend or family member). The primary outcome is the change in Framingham Risk Score after 12 months between the intervention and control communities. Secondary outcomes including change in blood pressure, lipid levels, and Interheart Risk Score will be evaluated. SIGNIFICANCE: If successful, the study could serve as a model to develop low-cost, effective, and scalable strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in people with hypertension.

Association Between Cigarette Smoking Prevalence and Income Level: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Previous evidence linked low socioeconomic status with higher smoking prevalence. Our objective was to assess the strength of this association in the world population, updating a previous work. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Subgroup analyses included continents, WHO regions, country mortality levels, gender, age, risk of bias, and study publication date. Independent reviewers selected studies, assessed potential bias and extracted data. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, SOCINDEX, AFRICAN INDEX MEDICUS, and LILACS, and other sources from 1989 to 2013 reporting direct measurements of income and current cigarette smoking. RESULTS: We retrieved 13,583 articles and included 93 for meta-analysis. Median smoking prevalence was 17.8% (range 3-70%). Lower income was consistently associated with higher smoking prevalence (odds ratio [OR]: 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-1.56). This association was statistically significant in the subgroup analysis by WHO regions for the Americas (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.42-1.68), South East Asia (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.10-2.00), Europe (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.29-1.63), and Western Pacific (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.02-1.72), and in studies conducted during 1990s (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.24-1.62) and 2000s (OR: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.30-1.64). Likewise, it was noted in low-mortality countries (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.37-1.60) and for both genders. Prevalence was highest in the lowest income levels compared to the middle (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.49-1.92), followed by the middle level compared to the highest (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.20-1.43). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that current cigarette smoking was significantly associated with lower income worldwide and across subgroups, suggesting a dose-response relationship. IMPLICATIONS: This unique updated systematic review shows a consistent inverse dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and income level, present among most geographical areas and country characteristics. Public health measures should take into account this potential inequity and consider special efforts directed to disadvantaged populations.

Sociodemographic factors related to handgrip strength in children and adolescents in a middle income country: The SALUS study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine sociodemographic factors associated with handgrip (HG) strength in a representative sample of children and adolescents from a middle income country. METHODS: We evaluated youth between the ages of 8 and 17 from a representative sample of individuals from the Department of Santander, Colombia. Anthropometric measures, HG strength, and self-reported physical activity were assessed, and parents/guardians completed sociodemographic questionnairres. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics and tertiles of relative HG strength. We also produced centile data for raw HG strength using quantile regression. RESULTS: 1,691 young people were evaluated. HG strength increased with age, and was higher in males than females in all age groups. Lower HG strength was associated with indicators of higher socioeconomic status, such as living in an urban area, residence in higher social strata neighborhoods, parent/guardian with secondary education or higher, higher household income, and membership in health insurance schemes. In addition, low HG strength was associated with lower physical activity levels and higher waist-to-hip ratio. In a fully adjusted regression model, all factors remained significant except for health insurance, household income, and physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS: While age and gender specific HG strength values were substantially lower than contemporary data from high income countries, we found that within this middle income population indicators of higher socioeconomic status were associated with lower HG strength. This analysis also suggests that in countries undergoing rapid nutrition transition, improvements in socioeconomic conditions may be accompanied by reduction in muscle strength.

Neck circumference as a predictor of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and low-grade systemic inflammation in children: the ACFIES study.

BACKGROUND: The current study aims to evaluate the association between neck circumference (NC) and several cardio-metabolic risk factors, to compare it with well-established anthropometric indices, and to determine the cut-off point value of NC for predicting children at increased risk of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and low-grade systemic inflammation. METHODS: A total of 669 school children, aged 8-14, were recruited. Demographic, clinical, anthropometric and biochemical data from all patients were collected. Correlations between cardio-metabolic risk factors and NC and other anthropometric variables were evaluated using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to further examine these associations. We then determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses the optimal cut-off for NC for identifying children with elevated cardio-metabolic risk. RESULTS: NC was positively associated with fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides (p = 0.001 for all), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, insulin and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001 for all), and negatively with HDL-C (p = 0.001). Whereas, other anthropometric indices were associated with fewer risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: NC could be used as clinically relevant and easy to implement indicator of cardio-metabolic risk in children.

Aged garlic extract improves adiponectin levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Garlic (Allium sativum) has been shown to have important benefits in individuals at high cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of aged garlic extract (AGE) on the risk factors that constitute the cluster of metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS AND DESIGN: Double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of 1.2 g/day of AGE (Kyolic), for 24 weeks of treatment (12 weeks of AGE and 12 weeks of placebo), on subjects with MS. RESULTS: The administration of AGE increased the plasma levels of adiponectin (P = 0.027). No serious side effects associated with the intervention were reported. CONCLUSION: The present results have shown for the first time that the administration of AGE for 12 weeks increased plasma adiponectin levels in patients with MS. This suggests that AGE might be a useful, novel, nonpharmacological therapeutic intervention to increase adiponectin and to prevent cardiovascular (CV) complications in individuals with MS.

Adherence to pharmacological treatment in non-communicable chronic diseases in the Colombian population: Systematic review and meta-analysis / Cumplimiento del tratamiento farmacológico en enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en la población colombiana: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis.

Introduction. Non-communicable chronic diseases represent the leading cause of death worldwide, and their prevalence is increasing due to the epidemiological transition. Despite the advances in their management, control rates are deficient, attributed to multiple factors like adherence to pharmacological treatment, one of the most significant and least studied in the Colombian population. Objective. To calculate adherence to treatment in Colombian patients with arterial hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dyslipidemia between 2005 and 2022. Materials and methods. We performed a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of studies identified through the Medline and LILACS databases to quantitatively synthesize treatment adherence percentage. Results. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and 5,658 patients were analyzed. The treatment adherence was 59%, with significant heterogeneity among the included studies (95% CI= 46- 71%; I2 = 98.8%, p< 0.001). Higher adherence rates were observed for diabetes mellitus (79%; 95% CI = 65- 90%) and dyslipidemia (70%; 95% CI = 66- 74%). Adherence to arterial hypertension treatment was 51% (95 %; CI = 31- 72%). Conclusions. This systematic review showed low adherence to recommendations regarding pharmacological management in non-communicable chronic diseases, which can have implications for long-term clinical outcomes and disease burden.

Introducción. Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles representan la principal causa de muerte en el mundo y su prevalencia va en aumento debido a la transición epidemiológica. A pesar de los avances en su manejo, las cifras de control son deficientes y esto se atribuye a múltiples factores, como el cumplimiento del tratamiento farmacológico, que es uno de los más representativos y menos estudiados en la población colombiana.Objetivo. Establecer la frecuencia de casos que cumplieron con el tratamiento farmacológico en pacientes colombianos con hipertensión arterial, enfermedad cerebrovascular, diabetes mellitus, asma, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y dislipidemia, entre el 2005 y el 2022.Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura y un metaanálisis de los estudios identificados mediante las bases de datos Medline y LILACS para sintetizar cuantitativamente el porcentaje de cumplimiento del tratamiento.Resultados. Catorce estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y se analizaron 5.658 pacientes. El cumplimiento del tratamiento fue del 59 %, con una heterogeneidad alta entre los estudios incluidos (IC95 % = 46-71 %; I2 = 98,8 %, p<0,001). Se obtuvo un mayor cumplimiento para la diabetes mellitus (79 %; IC95 % = 65-90 %) y la dislipidemia (70 %; IC 95 % = 66-74 %). En los pacientes con hipertensión arterial el cumplimiento fue del 51 % (IC 95 % = 31-72 %).Conclusiones. La revisión sistemática muestra un bajo cumplimiento de las recomendaciones sobre el manejo farmacológico de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, lo que puede repercutir en los resultados clínicos y en la carga de la enfermedad a largo plazo.

The SIMAC study: A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of resistance training and aerobic training on the fitness and body composition of Colombian adolescents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on muscle strength, aerobic fitness and body composition, of replacing the physical education (PE) class of Colombian adolescents with resistance or aerobic training. 120 tanner stage 3 adolescents attending a state school were randomized to resistance training, aerobic training, or a control group who continued to attend a weekly 2- hour PE class for 16 weeks. The resistance training and aerobic training groups participated in twice weekly supervised after-school exercise sessions of < 1 hour instead of their PE class. Sum of skinfolds, lean body mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis), muscular strength (6 repetition maximum (RM)) bench press, lateral pulldown and leg press) and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage 20 meter shuttle run) were assessed at pre and post intervention. Complete data were available for n = 40 of the resistance training group, n = 40 of the aerobic training group and n = 30 PE (controls). Resistance training attenuated increases in sum of skinfolds compared with controls (d = 0.27, [0.09-0.36]). We found no significant effect on lean body mass. Resistance training produced a positive effect on muscle strength compared with both controls (d = 0.66 [.49-.86]) and aerobic training (d = 0.55[0.28-0.67]). There was a positive effect of resistance training on cardiorespiratory fitness compared with controls (d = 0.04 [-0.10-0.12]) but not compared with aerobic training (d = 0.24 [0.10-0.36]). Replacing a 2-hour PE class with two 1 hour resistance training sessions attenuated gains in subcutaneous adiposity, and enhanced muscle strength and aerobic fitness development in Colombian youth, based on a median attendance of approximately 1 session a week. Further research to assess whether adequate stimuli for the development of muscular fitness exists within current physical education provision is warranted.

[Validity and reliability of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale in Colombian adolescent students]. / Validez y confiabilidad de la escala del Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression en estudiantes adolescentes de Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder is the second major cause of adolescent psychological incapacitation in Latin-America. However, scales for detecting these disorders have not been validated for screening adolescents in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: The validity and reliability of a Spanish translation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CES-D)-Depression scale was assessed in adolescent students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A validation study for a diagnostic scale was performed with a sample of 390 adolescent students from Bucaramanga, Santander Province, in northwestern Colombia. The students were evaluated by two methods: (a) the CPS-depression scale and (b) a semi-structured clinical interview. Three to 28 days after the interview, the scale was re-applied. Criterion validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 14.8 +/- 1.2 years old. The prevalence of major depressive disorder was 11.5%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.85. The area under the curve produced by the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.82, and the cut point of > or =23 showed a sensitivity of 73.3%; specificity, 73.6%; positive predictive value, 26.6%, and negative predictive value, 95.5%. Lin's coefficient of concordance was 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of the Spanish translation of the CES-D scale were similar to those reported in the international literature although with a higher cut point. CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of the Spanish translation of the CES-D scale were similar to those reported in the international literature although with a higher cut point.

[Concordance of the assessment of pubertal development with the Tanner scale between adolescents and a trained physician]. / Concordancia en la evaluación del desarrollo puberal mediante la escala de Tanner entre adolescentes y un médico entrenado.

OBJECTIVES.: To assess the concordance between self-assessment of pubertal development with the Tanner scale performed by adolescents compared to the assessment performed by a trained physician. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: As part of the SIMAC project, data was collected on 244 adolescents. At baseline, we included an anthropometric and pubertal development assessment, with a self-assessment by the participants. RESULTS.: We included 229 teenagers from 12 to 17 years old. The agreement between the self-assessment and the clinical evaluation with the Tanner scale presented an 88.3% agreement and a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.554. The self-assessment in women showed a good agreement ( kappaweighted=0.653) and in men a moderate agreement (kappaweighted=0.464). The only variable with a significant influence on the agreement ability was gender; the disagreement probability in males was 63% greater than in females, regardless of age, height, or weight (95% CI: 1,18-2, 26). CONCLUSIONS: . Self-assessment was not accurate enough to replace medical examination, especially in males. More research is needed on this subject considering the impact that self-assessment of sexual development could have.

OBJETIVOS.: Evaluar la concordancia entre la autoevaluación del desarrollo puberal mediante la escala de Tanner realizada por adolescentes, comparado con la evaluación efectuada por un médico entrenado. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Los datos de 244 adolescentes fueron recolectados como parte del proyecto SIMAC. En la línea de base incluimos una evaluación antropométrica y del desarrollo puberal, con una autoevaluación por parte de los participantes. RESULTADOS.: Incluimos 229 adolescentes de 12 a 17 años. La concordancia entre la autoevaluación y la evaluación clínica de la escala de Tanner presentó un acuerdo obtenido de 88,3% y un coeficiente kappa ponderado de 0,554. La autoevaluación en mujeres demostró una concordancia buena (kappapond=0,653), y en varones una concordancia moderada (kappapond=0,464). La única variable con una influencia significativa sobre la capacidad de acuerdo fue el sexo; la probabilidad de desacuerdo en los varones fue 63% mayor que en las mujeres, independiente de edad, talla y peso (IC 95%:1,18-2,26). CONCLUSIONES.: La autoevaluación no fue lo suficientemente precisa para reemplazar el examen médico, sobre todo en los varones. Se requieren más estudios en relación con este tema, reconociendo el impacto que podría llegar a tener la autoevaluación del desarrollo sexual.

Reevaluating nutrition as a risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases.

INTRODUCTION: The consumption of saturated fats is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: Review published papers on the role of macro-nutrient intake in cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Recent reports from the PURE study and several previous meta-analyses, show that the consumption of total saturated and unsaturated fat is not associated with risk of acute myocardial infarction or mortality due to cardiovascular disease. High carbohydrate intake was associated with the highest risk of total and cardiovascular mortality, while total fat consumption or of its different types was associated with a lower risk of mortality. A high consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes was associated with lower risk of total mortality and non-cardiovascular mortality. The consumption of 100 g of legumes, two or three times a week, ameliorated deficiencies of the nutrients contained in these foods and was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases. CONCLUSION: A healthy diet should be balanced and varied, be composed of a proportion of complex carbohydrates rich in fibber between 50-55% of the daily energy consumed, of saturated and unsaturated fat (25-30%), animal and vegetable protein (including legumes) between 15-25%, vitamins, minerals and water. These nutrients are abundantly present in fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, milk and its derivatives, eggs and meats, so public policies should promote the availability and access to these nutrients within primary prevention programs to reduce the growing prevalence of cardio-metabolic diseases.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El consumo de grasas saturadas es considerado como un factor de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares. OBJETIVO: Revisar trabajos publicados sobre el papel de la ingesta de macro-nutrientes en el riesgo cardiovascular. RESULTADOS: Varios meta-análisis y reportes del estudio PURE demuestran que el consumo de grasa total, saturada e insaturada, no se asoció con riesgo de infarto agudo de miocardio o mortalidad por enfermedad cardiovascular. La alta ingesta de carbohidratos fue la que se asoció con mayor riesgo de mortalidad total y cardiovascular, mientras que el consumo de grasa total o de sus diferentes tipos se asoció con menor mortalidad. Un alto consumo de frutas, vegetales y legumbres se asoció con menor riesgo de mortalidad total y mortalidad no cardiovascular. El consumo de 100 g de leguminosas, dos o tres veces por semana contribuyó a mejorar las deficiencias de nutrientes contenidos en estos alimentos y está asociado con una disminución del riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. CONCLUSIÓN: Una dieta saludable debe ser equilibrada y variada, estar compuesta con una proporción de carbohidratos complejos ricos en fibra entre 50-55 % de la energía diaria consumida, de grasa saturada e insaturada (25-30 %), proteína animal y vegetal (incluidas las leguminosas) entre 15-25 %, vitaminas, minerales y agua. Estos nutrientes están abundantemente presentes en frutas, vegetales, cereales, leguminosas, leche y sus derivados, huevos y carnes, por lo que las políticas públicas deben promover la disponibilidad y acceso a estos nutrientes dentro de los programas de prevención primaria para disminuir la creciente prevalencia de enfermedades cardio-metabólicas.

Clinical outcomes of patterned laser trabeculoplasty as adjuvant therapy in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of patterned laser trabeculoplasty (PLT) as an adjunctive treatment in open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) patients who were under antiglaucoma medical treatment. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of primary or secondary OAG patients and OHT patients with medically uncontrolled (≥18 mm Hg) intraocular pressure (IOP) who underwent 360° PLT from June 2016 to August 2016. Follow-up visits at week 1, and 1, 3 and 6mo were performed. IOP, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), complications and eye drop glaucoma medication were recorded at each follow-up visit. Success was defined as IOP reduction ≥20% from baseline. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes of 25 patients were included in this study. Pre-treatment mean IOP was 20.2±1.6 mm Hg. After PLT, IOP was 19.3±5.2, 16.1±2.7, 17.1±3.7 and 16.3±3.5 mm Hg, at 1wk, 1, 3 and 6mo, respectively. IOP reduction from baseline was statistically significant from the first month, remaining stable at 6mo (P<0.001). PLT success at 6mo of follow-up was 48.78%. The number of glaucoma medication per eye (P=0.10) and the mean BCVA both remained constant (P=0.37). Complications included transient IOP spikes in 4 eyes (9.8%) and peripheral anterior synechiae in 7 eyes (17.1%). CONCLUSION: PLT is an effective and safe method for the management of patients with OHT or OAG as an adjunctive therapy. Additional larger studies should be designed to verify the long-term stability of IOP reduction with this laser technology.

Validation of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in patients with suicide risk. / Validación de la Escala de Desesperanza de Beck en pacientes con riesgo suicida.

INTRODUCTION: Only a few scales have been validated in Spanish for the assessment of suicide risk, and none of them have achieved predictive validity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity and reliability of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in patients with suicide risk attending the specialist clinic. METHODS: The Beck Hopelessness Scale, reasons for living inventory, and the suicide behaviour questionnaire were applied in patients with suicide risk attending the psychiatric clinic and the emergency department. A new assessment was made 30 days later to determine the predictive validity of suicide or suicide attempt. RESULTS: The evaluation included a total of 244 patients, with a mean age of 30.7±13.2 years, and the majority were women. The internal consistency was .9 (Kuder-Richardson formula 20). Four dimensions were found which accounted for 50% of the variance. It was positively correlated with the suicidal behaviour questionnaire (Spearman .48, P<.001), number of suicide attempts (Spearman .25, P<.001), severity of suicide risk (Spearman .23, P<.001). The correlation with the reasons for living inventory was negative (Spearman -.52, P<.001). With a cut-off ≥12, the negative predictive value was 98.4% (95% CI: 94.2-99.8), and the positive predictive value was 14.8% (95% CI: 6.6-27.1). CONCLUSION: The Beck Hopelessness Scale in Colombian patients with suicidality shows results similar to the original version, with adequate reliability and moderate concurrent and predictive validity.

Is myopia another clinical manifestation of insulin resistance?

Myopia is a multifactorial visual refraction disease, in which the light rays from distant objects are focused in front of retina, causing blurry vision. Myopic eyes are characterized by an increased corneal curvature and/or ocular axial length. The prevalence of myopia has increased in recent decades, a trend that cannot be attributed exclusively to genetic factors. Low and middle income countries have a higher burden of refractive error, which we propose could be a consequence of a shorter exposure time to a westernized lifestyle, a phenomenon that may also explain the rapid increase in cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes, among those populations. We suggest that interactions between genetic, epigenetic and a rapidly changing environment are also involved in myopia onset and progression. Furthermore, we discuss several possible mechanisms by which insulin resistance may promote abnormal ocular growth and myopia to support the hypothesis that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are involved in its pathogenesis, providing a link between trends in myopia and those of cardiometabolic diseases. There is evidence that insulin have direct ocular growth promoting effects as well an indirect effect via the induction of insulin-like growth factors leading to decreases insulin-like growth factor-binding protein, also implicated in ocular growth.

Topical Atropine in the Control of Myopia.

Atropine has been used for more than a century to arrest myopia progression. Compelling evidence of its protective effect has been reported in well-designed clinical studies, mainly performed during the last two decades. However, its exact mechanism of action has not been determined. Experimental findings have shown that the mechanism is not related to accommodation, as was thought for decades. A review of the published literature revealed a significant amount of evidence supporting its safety and efficacy at a concentration of 1.0%, and at lower concentrations (as low as 0.01%).

[Hyperglycaemia is associated with worse outcomes in Latin-American individuals with acute myocardial infarction]. / Hiperglucemia se asocia a mayor número de desenlaces adversos en individuos latinoamericanos con infarto agudo de miocardio.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in glucose metabolism have been reported as risk and poor prognostic factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however in Latin-American population this information is limited. Thus, an evaluation was performed on the association between glycaemic status and short- and long-term outcomes in patients with a first AMI. METHODS: A multicentre, prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted in 8 hospitals from Colombia and Ecuador. RESULTS: A total of 439 patients with confirmed AMI were included, of which 305 (69.5%) had prediabetes or type2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Compared with normal glycaemia group, patients with known DM2 had greater risk of prolonged hospital stay (HR: 2.60, 95%CI: 1.38-4.92, P=.003), Killip class iii/iv (HR: 9.46, 95%CI: 2.20-40.62, P=.002), and in-hospital heart failure (HR: 10.76, 95%CI: 3.37-34.31, P<.001). Patients with prediabetes, new DM2, and known DM2 showed higher rates of major adverse cardiovascular events after 3years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Glucose metabolism abnormalities have an important significance in the short- and long-term prognosis in Latin-American patients that survive a first AMI.

Evaluation of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score to predict type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Colombian population: A longitudinal observational study.

AIM: To assess the performance of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) questionnaire for detecting and predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in a Colombian population. METHODS: This is a longitudinal observational study conducted in Floridablanca, Colombia. Adult subjects (age ≥ 35 years) without known diabetes, were included. A modified version of FINDRISC was completed, and the glycemia values from all the subjects were collected from the hospital's database. Firstly, a cross-sectional analysis was performed and then, the subsample of prediabetic participants was followed for diabetes incidence. RESULTS: A total of 772 subjects were suitable for the study. The overall prevalence of undiagnosed DM2 was 2.59%, and the incidence of DM2 among the prediabetic participants was 7.5 per 100 person-years after a total of 265257 person-years follow-up. The FINDRISC at baseline was significantly associated with undiagnosed and incident DM2. The area under receiver operating characteristics curve of the FINDRISC score for detecting undiagnosed DM2 in both men and women was 0.7477 and 0.7175, respectively; and for predicting the incidence of DM2 among prediabetics was 71.99% in men and 67.74% in women. CONCLUSION: The FINDRISC questionnaire is a useful screening tool to identify cross-sectionally unknown DM2 and to predict the incidence of DM2 among prediabetics in the Colombian population.