Interest on the internet for systemic lupus erythematosus: Analysis of Google Trends in Latin American countries.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Information available on the internet about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can influence the doctor-patient relationship. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the terms used for SLE on the internet. METHODS: We analyzed the data downloaded from Google Trends, considering the term "Lupus" in a six-year web-based research. The frequency of the terms for each Pan-American country was obtained automatically from Google Trends, which reports relative search volumes or RSV (on a scale from 0 to 100) across regions. RESULTS: We obtained a total of 67 registered terms in 18 countries. The terms were distributed into five categories. The categories with interest in all countries were "definition" and "symptoms". CONCLUSIONS: Google Trends allows us to find useful information about SLE on the internet; once the accuracy of this information is validated, it can be used by patients, health institutions, rheumatologists and other health professionals.

Vasoactive Agents for the Management of Acute Variceal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vasoactive agents with endoscopic therapy are used to treat acute variceal bleeding (AVB). There are two main groups of vasoactive agents: terlipressin and vasopressin (T-V), and octreotide and somatostatin (O-S). However, the benefit/harm balance is unclear. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of T-V versus O-S for the management of AVB. METHODS: We performed a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Scopus, and CENTRAL. Our main outcomes were mortality and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were bleeding control, rebleeding, blood transfusion, hospital stay. We evaluated the certainty of evidence using GRADE methodology. RESULTS: We included 21 RCTs. The risk of mortality (RR: 1.01; 95%CI: 0.83-1.22), bleeding control (RR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.91-1.02; I 2 =53%), early rebleeding (RR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.66-1.24: I 2 =0%), late rebleeding (RR: 0.94; 95 CI: 0.56-1.60; I 2 =0%), blood transfusion (MD: 0.04; 95%CI: -0.31-0.39; I 2 =68%) and hospital stay (MD: -1.06; 95%CI: -2.80-0.69; I 2 =0%) were similar between T-V and O-S groups. Only 15 studies reported adverse events, which were significantly higher in the T-V compared to the O-S group (RR 2.39; 95%CI: 1.58-3.63; I 2 =57%). The certainty of evidence was moderate for the main outcomes, and low or very low for others. CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhotic patients with AVB, those treated with T-V had similar mortality risk compared to O-S. However, the use of T-V showed an increased risk of adverse events compared to O-S.

Avances en la investigación de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en el Perú / Advances in the investigation of chronic non-communicable diseases in Peru

RESUMEN Las enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT) son causa importante de carga de enfermedad en el Perú, así como en otros países en desarrollo. Las respuestas para el control de las ENT requieren de investigación multidisciplinaria, tanto a nivel local como internacional. Desde hace más de 10 años, CRONICAS: Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades Crónicas, de la Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, realiza investigación en el campo de las ENT en el Perú. En el presente artículo se describen algunos estudios realizados, incluyendo los estudios epidemiológicos PERU MIGRANT, y la cohorte CRONICAS. También se presentan resultados de revisiones sistemáticas y resultados de intervenciones frente a las ENT. A través de estos estudios llevados a cabo por el centro CRONICAS se señalan potenciales áreas para afrontar las ENT en países en desarrollo.

ABSTRACT Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of disease burden in Peru as well as in other developing countries. Responses to control NCDs require multidisciplinary research, both locally and internationally. The CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Peru, has conducted scientific research in the field of NCDs in Peru for more than 10 years. This article highlights some of the scientific research, including epidemiological studies such as the PERU MIGRANT study, and the CRONICAS cohort study. We also summarize our results from systematic reviews in the field of NCDs and results of interventions to tackle NCDs. The scientific research studies conducted by CRONICAS signal potential advancements to counter NCDs in developing countries.