Coronavirus disease 2019, allergic diseases, and allergen immunotherapy: Possible favorable mechanisms of interaction.

Background: Both, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and SARS-COV-2 infection cause a set of immunologic changes that respectively vary during the course of the treatment or the disease. Objective: To review immune changes brought along by each of these entities and how they might interrelate. Methods: We start presenting a brief review of the structure of the new coronavirus and how it alters the functioning of the human immune system. Subsequently, we describe the immune changes induced by AIT and how these changes could be favorable or unfavorable in the allergic patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 at a particular point of time during the evolving infection. Results: We describe how a healthy immune response against SARS-CoV-2 develops, versus an immune response that is initially suppressed by the virus, but ultimately overactivated, leading to an excessive production of cytokines (cytokine-storm-like). These changes are then linked to the clinical manifestations and outcomes of the patient. Reviewing the immune changes secondary to AIT, it becomes clear how AIT is capable of restoring a healthy innate immunity. Investigators have previously shown that the frequency of respiratory infections is reduced in allergic patients treated with AIT. On the other hand it also increases immunoregulation. Conclusion: As there are many variables involved, it is hard to predict how AIT could influence the allergic patient's reaction to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In any case, AIT is likely to be beneficial for the patient with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as controlling allergic diseases leads to a reduced need for contact with healthcare professionals. The authors remind the reader that everything in this article is still theoretical, since at the moment, there are no published clinical trials on the outcome of COVID-19 in allergic patients under AIT.

Prehospital and First Hospital System Response to a Terrorist Attack in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Assembling an effective medical response for an overwhelming number of casualties has become a priority worldwide. Terrorist attacks have been part of the Colombian contemporaneous history. On February 7, 2003, a terrorist car bomb explosion occurred inside a private club in Bogotá, causing the largest number of casualties of all terrorist attacks for over 15 years. The present study analyses the hospital and prehospital responses to this mass casualty event by characterizing the patterns of injury, resource allocation, and outcome in a tertiary-level hospital where most of the casualties were treated. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective chart review of the patients brought to a single hospital (La Clínica del Country), which was the nearest to the terrorist attack. Demographics, severity of injury, patterns of injury, prehospital care, and outcomes were determined from the hospital medical records and government registries. Results: Of the 240 victims, 35 died at the explosion site (immediate mortality 17%). The 205 survivors were dispersed throughout the city, of whom 63 patients came to La Clínica del Country hospital. Most of these patients were evaluated only clinically and deemed not serious. The main mechanism of trauma was blunt (81.4%). The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 5.6 ± 8.3. Ten patients required emergent surgical intervention and 14 patients were admitted. The in-hospital mortality was 20%. Conclusion: This mass casualty event was a true test for the Colombian emergency medical system and disaster preparedness. The medical response and resource optimization resulted in an overall mortality rate similar to those observed in the recent European and North American bombings. Despite the limited resources, the continuous challenge of terrorist's attacks in Colombia made the country feel the need for training and preparing the healthcare professionals, allowing effective delivery of medical care.

Introducción: La organización de una respuesta médica efectiva a un número excesivo de víctimas de ataques terroristas se ha convertido en una prioridad en el mundo. Los ataques terroristas han sido parte de la historia colombiana contemporánea. El 7 de Febrero de 2003, un carro bomba explotó en el interior de un club privado en Bogotá, resultando en el ataque terrorista con mayor numero de víctimas durante los últimos 15 años. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la respuesta del sistema pre y hospitalario a un ataque terrorista masivo, caracterizar los patrones de lesión, utilización de recursos y desenlaces en un hospital de primer nivel, donde la mayoría de las víctimas fueron atendidas. Métodos: Este es un estudio retrospectivo de la revisión de 43 historias clínicas de 63 pacientes que fueron llevados al hospital privado más cercano después de un ataque terroristas. La información demográfica, la severidad, el patrón de las lesiones y los desenlaces fueron determinados a partir de las historias clínicas y los registros gubernamentales. Resultados: Treinta y cinco personas murieron en la escena y 205 personas fueron lesionadas (mortalidad inmediata de 17%). 63 pacientes fueron transferidos a nuestros hospitales. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron valorados clínicamente y no tenían lesiones serias. El principal mecanismos de trauma fue cerrado. El promedio de ISS fue 5.6 ± 8.3. Diez pacientes requirieron intervenciones quirúrgicas de urgencia y 14 fueron admitidos al hospital. La mortalidad crítica fue de 20%. Conclusione: Este incidente fue un verdadero examen a nuestro sistema médico de emergencias y plan de desastres hospitalario. Nuestro sistema médico optimizó los recursos resultando en una mortalidad crítica similar a la de las bombas ocurridas en Europa y Norte América. El desafío permanente de confrontar los ataques terroristas en Colombia ha proporcionado entrenamiento y preparación para asegurar un cuidado médico efectivo, aun con recursos limitados. Palabras clave: Ataque terrorista, Bomba, Evento con lesionados masivos, Respuesta medica.

Embriogénesis somática de Citrus macrophylla Wester con el empleo del Pectimorf® y análogos de brasinoesteroides / Somatic embryogenesis of Citrus macrophylla Wester using Pectimorf® and analogues of brassinosteroids

Los cítricos son frutales muy utilizados como patrones de injerto. Para incrementar la cantidad de estos cultivos en las plantaciones citrícolas, se pueden usar técnicas de propagación in vitro como la embriogénesis somática, que requiere medios de cultivos artificiales y fitohormonas. Debido a los altos costos de las fitohormonas, una alternativa cubana es el uso de biorreguladores del crecimiento de producción nacional como: los análogos de brasinoesteroides: 25(R) 2α, 3α, dihidroxi 5α espirostan- 6-ona (Biobras-6) y C: 25(R) 2α, 3α, 5α, trihidroxiespirostan-6-ona (MH-5) y una mezcla de oligogalacturónido de grado de polimerización entre 10-14 (Pectimorf®). Estos biorreguladores son efectivos en los procesos morfogenéticos como sustitutos o complemento de las auxinas y citoquininas. El presente trabajo estuvo dirigido a determinar el efecto del Pectimorf® y los brasinoesteroides como sustitutos de las fitohormonas tradicionales en el desarrollo de la embriogénesis somática y en la obtención de una línea celular embriogénica de Citrus macrophylla Wester. Se utilizó el medio de cultivo de Murashige y Skoog (MS) (1962), suplementado con los biorreguladores del crecimiento MH-5, Biobras-6 y Pectimorf®. Mediante la embriogénesis somática se obtuvieron embriones, raíces y plántulas, en todos los tratamientos. En la formación de plántulas estos biorreguladores fueron muy efectivos.

Citrus fruits are widely used as rootstock. To increase the amount of these crops in plantations, in vitro propagation techniques such as somatic embryogenesis can be used, which requires artificial culture media and plant hormones. Due to the high cost of the plant hormone, a Cuban alternative is the use of cuban bioregulators growth as the analogs of brassinosteroids, 25(R) 2α, 3α, dihidroxi 5α espirostan- 6-ona (Biobras-6) y C: 25(R) 2α, 3α, 5α, trihidroxiespirostan-6-ona (MH-5) and oligogalacturonic mixed degree polimerization between 10-14 (Pectimorf ®). These bioregulators are effective in morphogenetic processes as a substitute or complement for auxins and cytokinins. Our work was aimed to determine the effect of Pectimorf ® and brassinosteroids (MH-5 and Biobras-6) in morphogenetic development and to obtain embryogenic cell line of Citrus macrophylla Wester. We used the medium of Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962), supplemented with MH-5, Biobras-6 and Pectimorf ®. Embryos, roots and seedlings were obtained through somatic embryogenesis in all treatments. These products were effective in plant regeneration.

Policies for alcohol restriction and their association with interpersonal violence: a time-series analysis of homicides in Cali, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Cali, Colombia, has a high incidence of interpersonal violence deaths. Various alcohol control policies have been implemented to reduce alcohol-related problems. The objective of this study was to determine whether different alcohol control policies were associated with changes in the incidence rate of homicides. METHODS: Ecologic study conducted during 2004-08 using a time-series design. Policies were implemented with variations in hours of restriction of sales and consumption of alcohol. Most restrictive policies prohibited alcohol between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. for 446 non-consecutive days. Moderately restrictive policies prohibited alcohol between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m. for 1277 non-consecutive days. Lax policies prohibited alcohol between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. for 104 non-consecutive days. In conditional autoregressive negative binomial regressions, rates of homicides and unintentional injury deaths (excluding traffic events) were compared between different periods of days when different policies were in effect. RESULTS: There was an increased risk of homicides in periods when the moderately restrictive policies were in effect compared with periods when the most restrictive policies were in effect [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.15, 90% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.26, P = 0.012], and there was an even higher risk of homicides in periods when the lax policies were in effect compared with periods when the most restrictive policies were in effect (IRR 1.42, 90% CI 1.26-1.61, P < 0.001). Less restrictive policies were not associated with increased risk of unintentional injury deaths. CONCLUSION: Extended hours of sales and consumption of alcohol were associated with increased risk of homicides. Strong restrictions on alcohol availability could reduce the incidence of interpersonal violence events in communities where homicides are high.

Evaluación de la estrategia de comunicación "Mejor Hablemos" para promover la convivencia pacífica en Cali, 1996-2000 / Evaluating the “It’s better if we talk” (Mejor Hablemos) communication strategy for promoting pacific co-existence in Cali, Colombia, between 1996-2000

Objetivos: Evaluar la estrategia de comunicación "Mejor Hablemos" para prevenir la violencia y promover la convivencia pacífica en Cali, Colombia. Materiales y Métodos En Cali, entre Agosto de 1996 y Septiembre de 1998, se desarrolló la estrategia a través de dos componentes de intervención: uno poblacional, usando medios masivos de comunicación y otro comunitario, utilizando los medios de comunicación autóctonos de las Comunas 13 y 20. Para determinar el impacto de la estrategia, se hizo una medición post-intervención en el año 2000 y se comparó con la línea de base del estudio ACTIVA, realizada en 1996 por la OPS en ocho ciudades de Latinoamérica (incluida Cali) y España. Se realizaron tres tipos de análisis: descriptivo-comparativo entre los periodos, y análisis bivariado y multivariado usando actitudes y habilidades como variables dependientes. Resultados Las habilidades mejoraron a nivel poblacional aunque no cambiaron en las comunas intervenidas. En las actitudes hubo cambios favorables en las áreas comunitarias y permanecieron igual a nivel poblacional; los mecanismos para resolver conflictos presentaron una mejora, sugiriendo un aumento de tolerancia de 1996 al 2000, en hombres mayores de la Comuna 20 y resto de Cali. Discusión "Mejor Hablemos" tuvo poco impacto en las áreas comunitarias intervenidas; sin embargo, la intervención universal generó un impacto positivo sobre el resto de Cali. Para abordar el problema multifactorial de la violencia en los países de Latinoamérica, es necesario poner en marcha procesos de promoción y prevención multisectorial, interdisciplinaria, continua y prolongada, que involucren de forma articulada al individuo y sus contextos familiar, comunitario e institucional-gubernamental.

Objective: Evaluating the "It’s better if we talk" communication strategy for preventing violence and promoting pacific coexistence in Cali, Colombia. Materials and Methods The strategy was developed through two intervention components in Cali between August 1996 and September 1998: the population (using the mass media) and the community (using Commune 13 and 20’s local media). Post-intervention measurement was made in 2000 to determine the strategy’s impact and compared to PAHO’s 1996 ACTIVA base-line study carried out in eight Latin-American cities (including Cali) and Spain. 3 types of analysis were used: descriptive-comparative between the periods and bivariate and multivariate analysis using attitudes and abilities as dependent variables. Results Abilities improved at population level, although they did not change in the communes taking part. Favourable changes occurred in attitudes in community areas, though remaining equal at population level. The mechanisms for solving conflicts displayed an improvement, suggesting increased tolerance from 1996 to 2000 in older men from Commune 20 and the rest of Cali. Discussion "It’s better if we talk" had little impact on the community areas taking part; nevertheless, the universal intervention had a positive impact on the rest of Cali. Interdisciplinary, ongoing multi-sector promotion and prevention must be embarked on for approaching the multifactor problem of violence in Latin-American countries involving individuals and their family, community and institutional-governmental contexts.

Low-level laser-assisted liposuction: the Neira 4 L technique.

Low-level laser-assisted liposuction (LLLL), known as the Neira 4 L technique, is an excellent adjuvant tool for the surgeon practicing liposculpture. A low-level laser is used to create a transitory pore in the cell membrane of the adipocyte to move fat from inside the cell to the interstitial space outside without killing the cell. LLLL has been performed successfully in in-vitro and human adipose tissue cultures. It protects the patient from the surgical trauma of liposuction by protecting and preparing tissues for the surgical trauma; modulating the inflammatory response to prevent short and long-term side effects of surgery; and improving the quality and quantity of the healing process by accelerating recovery time, modulating secondary cicatrization, and preventing postoperative neuralgias.

[Evaluating the "it's better if we talk" (Mejor Hablemos) communication strategy for promoting pacific co-existence in Cali, Colombia, between 1996-2000]. / Evaluación de la estrategia de comunicación "Mejor Hablemos" para promover la convivencia pacífica en Cali, 1996-2000.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the "It's better if we talk" communication strategy for preventing violence and promoting pacific coexistence in Cali, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The strategy was developed through two intervention components in Cali between August 1996 and September 1998: the population (using the mass media) and the community (using Commune 13 and 20's local media). Post-intervention measurement was made in 2000 to determine the strategy's impact and compared to PAHO's 1996 ACTIVA base-line study carried out in eight Latin-American cities (including Cali) and Spain. 3 types of analysis were used: descriptive-comparative between the periods and bivariate and multivariate analysis using attitudes and abilities as dependent variables. RESULTS: Abilities improved at population level, although they did not change in the communes taking part. Favourable changes occurred in attitudes in community areas, though remaining equal at population level. The mechanisms for solving conflicts displayed an improvement, suggesting increased tolerance from 1996 to 2000 in older men from Commune 20 and the rest of Cali. DISCUSSION: "It's better if we talk" had little impact on the community areas taking part; nevertheless, the universal intervention had a positive impact on the rest of Cali. Interdisciplinary, ongoing multi-sector promotion and prevention must be embarked on for approaching the multifactor problem of violence in Latin-American countries involving individuals and their family, community and institutional-governmental contexts.