Increase in C-reactive protein as early predictor of anastomotic leakage in abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the C-reactive protein (CRP) and white cell count (WC) in the prediction of anastomotic leakage (AL) in major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, and observational study of adult patients who underwent major abdominal surgery. CRP and hemogram were measured after post-operative day (POD) 3 and POD 5. Complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 63 ± 12 years and 47 (48%) were male. Colorectal (56%) and gastric cancer (36%) were the most frequent diagnoses. About 23% had post-operative complications, of which 5% had AL. The most significant predictive factor was the increase in CRP ≥ 2.84 mg/L among POD 3 and 5 (AUC, 0.99, sensitivity, 95.6%, specificity, 100%, positive likelihood ratio, 23.0). The accuracy of the other biomarkers was lower, CRP on POD 3 (AUC, 0.55), on POD 5 (AUC, 0.93), WC on POD 3 (AUC, 0.33), and POD 5 (AUC, 0.35). CONCLUSION: The increase of CRP among POD 3 and 5 was an early predictor of AL in adult patients with major abdominal surgery.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el papel de la proteína C-reactiva (PCR) y el recuento de glóbulos blancos (RGB) en la predicción de la Fuga Anastomotica (FA) en la cirugía abdominal mayor. MÉTODO: Estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo y observacional de pacientes adultos sometidos a cirugía abdominal mayor. Se midieron la PCR y el hemograma después del día postoperatorio (DPO) 3 y DPO 5. Las complicaciones se categorizaron según la clasificación de Clavien-Dindo y la precisión diagnóstica se evaluó mediante el área bajo la curva (AUC). RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 97 pacientes. La edad media era de 63 ± 12 años y 47 (48%) eran hombres. El factor predictivo más significativo fue el aumento de la PCR ≥ 2,84 mg/L entre los DPO 3 y 5 (AUC, 0,99, sensibilidad, 95,6%, especificidad, 100%, ratio de probabilidad positiva, 23,0). La precisión de los demás biomarcadores fue menor, la PCR en el DPO 3 (AUC, 0,55), en el DPO5 (AUC, 0,93), el RGB en el DPO 3 (AUC, 0,33) y en el DPO 5 (AUC, 0,35). CONCLUSIONES: El aumento de la PCR entre los DPO 3 y 5 fue un predictor temprano de FA en pacientes adultos con cirugía abdominal mayor.

Descripción de la variación en el tiempo del cáncer gastrointestinal en el centro occidente de Colombia / Description of the variation in time of gastrointestinal cancer In Central-Western Colombia

Introducción. A nivel mundial los tumores gastrointestinales tienen un impacto importante en la mortalidad y se asocian a diferentes factores, entre ellos regionales y sociodemográficos. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la variación en el tiempo del cáncer gastrointestinal en una población del centro occidente de Colombia, dada su alta incidencia y desenlace frecuentemente fatal.Métodos. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo observacional con muestreo no probabilístico en un tiempo de seis años. Se seleccionaron pacientes diagnosticados con algún tipo de neoplasia del tracto digestivo, en un hospital de tercer nivel del centro occidente de Colombia. Resultados. Se evaluaron un total de 1152 pacientes. Los tumores del tracto digestivo superior (esófago, unión esófago-gástrica y estómago) fueron los más frecuentes (44 %), seguidos de los tumores del tracto digestivo medio e inferior (intestino delgado, colon, recto y ano; 31 %) y de los tumores hepato-bilio-pancreáticos (25 %). La edad media de presentación fue 64,6 años, con una mayor frecuencia en el sexo masculino (51,6 %). El adenocarcinoma fue el tipo histológico más común.Conclusión. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que los tumores gastrointestinales son una neoplasia frecuente en nuestro país, siendo los tumores gástricos los que se presentan con mayor prevalencia, seguidos de los tumores colorrectales y las neoplasias biliopancreáticas, las cuales se mantiene en el tiempo.

Introduction. Worldwide, gastrointestinal tumors have a significant impact on mortality and are associated with different factors, including regional and sociodemographics. The objective of this study was to describe the variation over time of gastrointestinal cancer in a population from Central-Western Colombia, given its high incidence and frequently fatal outcome. Methods. An observational retrospective study with non-probabilistic sampling was carried out over a period of six years. Patients diagnosed with some type of neoplasm of the digestive tract were selected in a tertiary care hospital in the Central-Western Colombia. Results. A total of 1152 patients were evaluated. Tumors of the upper digestive tract (esophagus, esophagogastric junction, and stomach) were the most frequent (44%), followed by tumors of the middle and lower digestive tract (small intestine, colon, rectum and anus; 31%), and hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors (25%). The mean age of presentation was 64.6 years with a higher frequency in males (51.6%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type.Conclusion. The results of this study show that gastrointestinal tumors are a frequent neoplasm in our country, with gastric tumors being the most prevalent, followed by colorectal tumors and biliopancreatic neoplasms, which are maintained over time.

Prevención de infecciones en la Copa Mundial de Fútbol 2014 / Infectious diseases prevention at the FIFA World Cup 2014

La medicina del viajero es una disciplina que se ha constituido y afianzado en el mundo entero durante los últimos 20 años y América Latina no ha sido la excepción (1-4). En la región se organizó, en 2008, el Primer Congreso Latinoamericano de Medicina del Viajero, que marcó la consolidación de la creación de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Medicina del Viajero (SLAMVI), la cual es una organización científica de alcance latinoamericano dedicada a tratar la problemática de la salud en los viajeros, preservando la salud individual, de las comunidades emisoras y receptoras, y promoviendo el cuidado del medio ambiente (5).

Travel medicine is a discipline that has been established and consolidated throughout the world during the last 20 years and Latin America has not been the exception (1-4). In the region, the First Latin American Congress of Traveler's Medicine was organized in 2008, which marked the consolidation of the creation of the Latin American Society of Traveler's Medicine (SLAMVI), which is a Latin American scientific organization dedicated to treating the health problems in travelers, preserving the health of the individual, the sending and receiving communities, and promoting care for the environment (5).

Scientific research in malaria: bibliometric assessment of the Latin-American contributions.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a parasitic disease of high global impact in public health, including Latin America. There should be more researched, particularly in this region. A bibliometric assessment of the Latin American contributions about malaria was done. METHODS: Bibliometric study at SCI (1980-2013), MEDLINE/ GOPUBMED (1802-2013), Scopus (1959-2013), SCIELO (2004-2013), LILACS (1980-2013). The studies were characterized by study type, year of publication, city/country of origin, journals and more productive authors, citations and H index. RESULTS: At SCI, 2,806 articles were retrieved (5.13% of the total). Brazil was the highest producer (31.41%), followed by Colombia (14.3%) and Mexico (9.5%). The region received 39,894 citations, 32.2% from Brazil (H index=51), 12.75% Mexico (H index=38), 11.2% Colombia (H index=33). At Scopus, there are 4,150 articles (4.9% of the total), 33.0% Brazil, 11.3% Colombia and 8.8% Mexico; 17% in Brazil were from Universidad de São Paulo; 23.6% of Colombia from Universidad de Antioquia; 15.4% of Mexico from Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. At Medline there were 4,278 records (36.8% Brazil). At SciELO there are 792 records (45.3% Brazil). At LILACS there were 1744 records (34.3% Brazil). CONCLUSIONS: Brazil has the highest output of the region, as Venezuela the scientific production in Malaria was related with the burden of disease. This was not the case for Colombia. Scientific production at bibliographical databases, particularly regionals, is low, compared to the high incidence of this disease that requires more research and control.

Study of the scientific production on leishmaniasis in Latin America.

UNLABELLED: Leishmaniasis is a highly relevant neglected tropical disease. It has important consequences in affected populations, including a high fatality rate in its visceral form. It is present in Latin America, then it is necessary to promote more research on it. A bibliometric assessment of the Latin American scientific production in leishmaniasis was done. METHODS: Bibliometric study at SCI (1980-2013), MEDLINE/GOPUBMED (1802-2013), Scopus (1959-2013), SCIELO (2004-2013), LILACS (1980-2013). Different study types, characterized by years, city/country of origin, journals and more productive authors, by country, cites and H index. RESULTS: At SCI, 2857 articles were found (17.7% of the total). Brazil was the highest producer (58.1%), followed by Colombia (9.9%) and Venezuela (5.6%); the region received 41186 citations, 54.2% of Brazil (H index=62), 12.1% Colombia (H index=30) and 4.5% of Venezuela (H index=25). At Scopus, there are 3681 (14.7% of the total), 53.2% Brazil, 6.8% Colombia and 6.0% Venezuela; 38.46% at Brazil were from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; 30.6% of Colombia corresponded to Universidad de Antioquia; 31.34% at Venezuela were from Universidad Central de Venezuela. At Medline there are 4525 records (60.6% of Brazil). At SciELO there are 1068 records (67.5% Brazil). At LILACS, there are 1740 records (56.0% Brazil). CONCLUSIONS: Scientific production of Brazil predominates in the region, with one single institution generating more articles than Colombia and Venezuela together. Scientific production in bibliographical data bases, particularly regional, is still relatively low, and the disease neglected when compared to other tropical conditions such as dengue and malaria.