Mother-to-child Chagas disease transmission: The challenge of detection and prevention in areas without the risk of vectorial transmission.

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Although it is endemic in many Latin American (LA) countries, mother-to-child transmission has caused it to expand to other countries and continents. In places where vector transmission is controlled or absent, the epidemiological importance of T. cruzi transmission of the infected mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth (i.e., perinatal CD) increases. In countries where CD is not endemic, CD screening should be performed in pregnant or fertile women who are native to LA countries or whose mothers are native to LA countries. Diagnosis is established by detecting anti-T. cruzi IgG antibodies in a serum or plasma sample. Antiparasitic treatment cannot be offered during pregnancy, and since the majority of infected newborns are asymptomatic at birth, a diagnosis is made by direct observation or concentration (microhematocrit) or by using molecular testing techniques. Once the infected child receives a diagnosis, it is essential to offer treatment (benznidazole/nifurtimox) as soon as possible, with good tolerance and effectiveness in the first year of life. Even if the diagnosis is negative at birth, the newborn must be followed up for at least the first 9 months of life.

The Spanish Scientific Societies before the ESC 2021 guidelines on vascular disease prevention: Generalizing the measurement of albuminuria to identify vascular risk and prevent vascular disease.

The 2021 guidelines on the prevention of vascular disease (VD) in clinical practice published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and supported by 13 other European scientific societies recognize the key role of screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the prevention of VD. Vascular risk in CKD is categorized based on measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR). Thus, moderate CKD is associated with a high vascular risk and severe CKD with a very high vascular risk requiring therapeutic action, and there is no need to apply other vascular risk scores when vascular risk is already very high due to CKD. Moreover, the ESC indicates that vascular risk assessment and the subsequent decision algorithm should start with measurement of eGFR and ACR. To optimize the implementation of the ESC 2021 guidelines on the prevention of CVD in Spain, we consider that: 1) Urine testing for albuminuria using ACR should be part of the clinical routine at the same level as blood glucose, cholesterolemia, and GFR estimation when these are used to make decisions on CVD risk. 2) Spanish public and private health services should have the necessary means and resources to optimally implement the ESC 2021 guidelines for the prevention of CVD in Spain, including ACR testing.

Optimizing soy isoflavones effect in postmenopausal women: the impact of timing on climacteric symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The most common complaints during climacteric are vasomotor symptoms. A circadian rhythm has been observed when hot flashes start; however, not much information is available in this field. AIMS: To analyze whether the time (morning/evening) of administration of a compound containing 60 mg of dry soy seed extract (glycine max) with 40% of total isoflavones, primrose oil and α-tocopherol modifies the effect on the climacteric syndrome. TRIAL DESIGN: Multicentric, observational, open, prospective, longitudinal and cross-sectional study. Subjects and methods. One thousand six hundred eighty-two postmenopausal women with climacteric symptoms were allocated in two groups in order to receive the treatment in the morning (Group 1) or in the evening (Group 2), switching administration time after 3 months. Clinical evaluation was carried out at 0, 3 and 6 months of follow-up using Blatt-Kupperman and Greene scales. RESULTS: 233 (13.9%) women dropped out from the study. Both administration times improved the climacteric symptoms after 3 and 6 months of treatment, showing a reduction in the scores of Blatt-Kupperman and Greene scales (p < 0.001). No differences between both groups during the follow-up were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The time of administration of isoflavones does not modify its effect on climacteric symptoms.

[Milk as a health vehicle in pregnancy and lactation]. / La leche como vehículo de salud en embarazo y lactancia.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of a correct diet and nutrition before pregnancy to the end of lactation seems to be without doubt with the scientific information and evidence that we have today. Despite this, recent studies have shown that the mother´s diet is not as adequate as it should be and deficiencies of certain critical nutrients have been detected at this stage. The importance of a correct nutrition of the mother at this stage has already been recognized for decades and today we can affirm that it will affect not only the development of the fetus but also the genetic organization of the future metabolic response of the child and later of the adult. Several recent publications seem to have made clear that they seem to relate maternal nutrition with a possible programming effect related to the appearance of various metabolic alterations in adult life giving rise to the possible appearance of various chronic diseases. For this reason, gestation is going to be a challenge for the mother at the nutritional level due to increase energy and nutrient needs and their relationship to maternal and child health. In the daily diet, milk and milk products are critical sources of nutrients for the correct development of the fetus and the early development of the child. The purpose of this text is to highlight them, to review the effects of conventional dairy products and dairy products fortified with various nutrients on nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La importancia de una correcta alimentación y nutrición desde antes del embarazo hasta el final de la lactancia está fuera de cualquier duda basándonos en la información y en la evidencia científica disponibles en la actualidad. A pesar de ello, estudios recientes han puesto de manifiesto que la alimentación de las madres en nuestro medio es inadecuada. Se han detectado carencias en cuanto a la ingesta de determinados nutrientes críticos en esta etapa. La importancia de una correcta nutrición de la madre ya ha sido reconocida desde hace décadas, ya que influye no solo en el desarrollo fetal, sino también en la organización genética de la respuesta metabólica futura del niño, y después del adulto, como ponen de manifiesto varias publicaciones recientes que relacionan la nutrición materna con un posible efecto programador responsable de la aparición de diversas alteraciones metabólicas en la vida adulta que condicionan la aparición de varias enfermedades crónicas. Por estas razones, la gestación supone un reto para la madre en cuanto a su nutrición debido al incremento en los requerimientos de energía y nutrientes, que tiene por objetivo alcanzar una adecuada salud materno-fetal. En la alimentación cotidiana, la leche y los productos lácteos son fuente de nutrientes críticos para el correcto desarrollo del feto y, posteriormente, del recién nacido. En este artículo, se revisa la influencia de los productos lácteos convencionales y de los lácteos enriquecidos y fortificados con diversos nutrientes sobre el estado nutricional durante la gestación y la lactancia y los resultados perinatales relacionados con ello.

Aplicación de un balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico en procedimientos obstétricos. Reporte de caso / Use of an intra-aortic balloon pump in Obstetrics. Case report

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Las anomalías en la inserción placentaria son cada vez más frecuentes en nuestro medio. En la atención de la paciente embarazada es importante la prevención de la pérdida hemática con balones de contrapulsación intraaórticos, como una opción útil. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 38 años, embarazada, con antecedente de parto eutócico y sin enfermedades de interés, ni intervenciones quirúrgicas previas. El seguimiento prenatal se inició a las 17 semanas, con retraso diagnóstico debido a que continuaba en tratamiento anticonceptivo. La invasión trofoblástica estaba limitada al miometrio, sin evidencia de invasión a los órganos vecinos. Se le expusieron a la paciente las posibles complicaciones a fin de minimizar los riesgos de hemorragia masiva, potencialmente mortal en el momento del parto. Puesto que la paciente expresó no desear volver a embarazarse, se le recomendó la histerectomía poscesárea, dejando la placenta in situ. CONCLUSIONES: La oclusión endovascular con balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico es una opción segura y eficaz para minimizar la pérdida de sangre en casos de anomalías en la inserción placentaria. Además del clásico acceso por vía femoral es posible colocarlo por vía axilar, con igual efectividad. La baja tasa de complicaciones maternas y la seguridad, en términos de irradiación fetal, la convierten en una opción razonable en la atención de pacientes embarazadas en quienes se espera una alta pérdida sanguínea.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Anomalies of placental insertion are becoming increasingly common. Prevention of blood loss with intra-aortic counterpulsation balloons is a useful option in the care of pregnant patients. CLINICAL CASE: 38-year-old pregnant woman with a history of euthyroid delivery and no medical or surgical history. Prenatal follow-up was initiated at 17 weeks, with a delay in diagnosis due to the fact that she was still on contraceptive treatment. Trophoblastic invasion was limited to the myometrium with no evidence of invasion into adjacent organs. The patient was counseled on the potential complications to minimize the risk of massive, potentially fatal hemorrhage at delivery. As the patient did not wish to become pregnant again, a post-cesarean hysterectomy was recommended, leaving the placenta in situ. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular occlusion with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation is a safe and effective option to minimize blood loss in cases of placental insertion anomalies. In addition to the classical femoral approach, the axillary route can be used with equal efficacy. The low rate of maternal complications and the safety with respect to fetal irradiation make it a reasonable option in the management of pregnant patients in whom high blood loss is expected.

[Hormonal treatments for hemorrhaging secondary to fibroids. An alternative or complement to surgery?]. / Tratamientos hormonales en las hemorragias por mioma. ¿Una alternativa o un complemento a la cirugía?

The main objective of treatment in women with uterine fibroids is the control of associated symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding, pain and pressure. Although the cost and potential adverse effects of the long-term use of medical treatment may limit its use for a long time, this alternative should be considered before indicating surgical treatment. At present, we have a considerable variety of drugs that, although not specific treatments for fibroids, may be used for the short to medium-term management of bleeding; however, we have still not found an alternative that eliminates the need for invasive treatments. Further research in this field is therefore warranted. Given the heterogeneity of fibroids and the lack of effective treatments in controlling their growth, the identification of signals that stimulate the onset and growth of these fibroids opens doors to the development of new therapies. In the future we may be able to differentiate classes of fibroids by molecular techniques and thereby implement specific treatments that control their development and their associated symptoms.

Tolerability of different oral iron supplements: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to analyze the tolerability of several oral iron supplements based on data obtained in available publications and to report the incidence of adverse effects (AEs) for each supplement both overall and gastrointestinal. METHODS: Electronic databases - Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies published up to January 2009. Clinical or observational studies reporting data on the tolerability of oral iron supplements were included. Results were described statistically and a quasi-binomial logistic regression model was developed to evaluate and compare the tolerability of the supplements studied. RESULTS: For this review 111 studies were included, with data on 10,695 patients. Ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose had the lowest incidence of AEs (4.1% for overall AEs, 3.7% for gastrointestinal AEs [GAEs]) and was used as the reference supplement in the regression model. Incidence rates of overall AEs for the other supplements were 7.3% for iron protein succinylate [GAEs: 7%; OR for AE compared to the reference supplement, 1.96], 23.5% for ferrous glycine sulfate [GAEs: 18.5%; OR: 5.90], 30.9% for ferrous gluconate [GAEs: 29.9%; OR: 11.06], 32.3% for ferrous sulfate without mucoproteose [GAEs: 30.2%; OR: 11.21], and 47.0% for ferrous fumarate [GAEs: 43.4%; OR: 19.87]. The differences in incidence of AEs between extended-release ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose and all other supplements except iron protein succinylate were statistically significant at p < 0.001. These findings are subject to some limitations as the designs and methodologies of the studies included show heterogeneity among them that has partially been counteracted by the large sample size provided by the substantial number of trials, which is considered a strength in tolerability studies. CONCLUSION: Extended-release ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose appears to be the best tolerated of the different oral iron supplements evaluated.