Prevalencia de valores inadecuados de vitamina D y factores de riesgo asociados en jóvenes universitarios de Asunción / Prevalence of inadequate vitamin D values and associated risk factors in university students of the city of Asunción

La vitamina D es una hormona cumple una función en la regulación de numerosos genes que participan en la proliferación y maduración celular. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de valores inadecuados de esta vitamina en jóvenes sanos de Asunción e identificar los posibles factores de riesgo asociados. Estudio observacional descriptivo basado en datos clínico-epidemiológicos y en la determinación de la 25-hidroxivitamina D (25-OH vitamina D) por el método de quimioluminiscencia (CMIA). Se consideró valor adecuado ≥30 ng/dl, inadecuado por debajo de este rango y deficiente ≤20 ng/dl. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa R-proyect. Para establecer factores de riesgo para tener deficiencia de vitamina D se utilizó regresión logística bi y multivariante. Se incluyeron 817 jóvenes universitarios de edad promedio 21 años. La concentración de vitamina D tuvo una media de 25 ± 8 ng/dl, oscilando entre 64,3 y 2,4 ng/dl. El 75,5% de los participantes tenían valores inadecuados de vitamina D. La deficiencia de vitamina D fue significativamente (p = 0,006) más frecuente en mujeres, personas con sobrepeso (p = 0,03), con falta de exposición al sol (p = 0,001) y con sedentarismo (p = 0,0001). Este estudio confirma la elevada prevalencia de valores inadecuados de vitamina D en nuestro país y permite definir un perfil de muy alto riesgo para las jóvenes sedentarias y con sobrepeso, lo que justifica una atención especial de parte de los médicos y las instituciones responsables de la salud pública en nuestro país(AU)

Vitamin D is a hormone that plays a role in the regulation of numerous genes involved in cell proliferation and maturation. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of inadequate values of this vitamin in healthy young people of the city of Asunción and to identify the possible risk factors associated with it. Descriptive observational study based on clinical-epidemiological data and in the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) by the chemiluminescence method (CMIA). It was considered appropriate values ≥30 ng/dl, inappropriate below this range and deficient <20 ng/dl. Statistical analyzes were carried out with the R-project program. To establish the association, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used. We included 817 university students with an average age of 21 years. The average value of the vitamin D concentration was 25 ± 8 ng/dl, ranging from 64.3 to 2.4 ng/dl. Inadequate vitamin D values were found in 75.5% of the participants. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly (p <0.006) more frequent in women, overweight people (p <0.03), lack of sun exposure (p = 0.001) and sedentary lifestyle (p = 0.0001). This study confirms the high prevalence of inadequate vitamin D values in our country and allows us to define a very high risk profile for sedentary and overweight young women, which justifies special attention from physicians and institutions responsible for public health in our country(AU)

BASAL-BOLUS REGIMEN WITH INSULIN ANALOGUES VERSUS HUMAN INSULIN IN MEDICAL PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN LATIN AMERICA.

OBJECTIVE: Few randomized studies have focused on the optimal management of non-intensive care unit patients with type 2 diabetes in Latin America. We compared the safety and efficacy of a basal-bolus regimen with analogues and human insulins in general medicine patients admitted to a University Hospital in Asunción, Paraguay. METHODS: In a prospective, open-label trial, we randomized 134 nonsurgical patients with blood glucose (BG) between 140 and 400 mg/dL to a basal-bolus regimen with glargine once daily and glulisine before meals (n = 66) or Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) twice daily and regular insulin before meals (n = 68). Major outcomes included differences in daily BG levels and frequency of hypoglycemic events between treatment groups. RESULTS: There were no differences in the mean daily BG (157 ± 37 mg/dL versus 158 ± 44 mg/dL; P = .90) or in the number of BG readings within target <140 mg/dL before meals (76% versus 74%) between the glargine/glulisine and NPH/regular regimens. The mean insulin dose in the glargine/glulisine group was 0.76 ± 0.3 units/kg/day (glargine, 22 ± 9 units/day; glulisine, 31 ± 12 units/day) and was not different compared with NPH/regular group (0.75 ± 0.3 units/kg/day [NPH, 28 ± 12 units/day; regular, 23 ± 9 units/day]). The overall prevalence of hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) was similar between patients treated with NPH/regular and glargine/glulisine (38% versus 35%; P = .68), but more patients treated with human insulin had severe (<40 mg/dL) hypoglycemia (7.6% versus 25%; P = .08). There were no differences in length of hospital stay or mortality between groups. CONCLUSION: The basal-bolus regimen with insulin analogues resulted in equivalent glycemic control and frequency of hypoglycemia compared to treatment with human insulin in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Reactivation of Chagas disease by immunosuppressive therapy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: report of an exceptional case.

Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It presents as a chronic evolution and produces high morbidity and mortality in countries where the disease is endemic, as in ours. The skin disease is very rare and results from the reactivation of latent disease as a result of immunosuppression, presenting with acute, atypical, and severe lesions. We describe the case of a patient who was unaware of being a carrier of Chagas disease and presented reactivation after immunosuppressive therapy instituted to treat her systemic lupus erythematosus.