Clinical and Sociodemographic Features of Alopecia Areata in Five Colombian Cities: An Analysis of the RENAAC Registry. / [Artículo traducido] Características clínicas y sociodemográficas de la alopecia areata en 5 ciudades colombianas: un análisis del RENAAC.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by non-scaring hair loss and preservation of hair follicles. The information available on disease course, and clinical features of AA is scarce worldwide, and almost nonexistent in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with AA who presented to a dermatology consultation in five Colombian cities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and multicenter study on data from an ongoing National Registry of Alopecia Areata in Colombia (RENAAC) collected in Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellin, Colombia from March 2022 through April 2023. Data was recorded in a standardized form by trained physicians. The variables were expressed as measures of central tendency and dispersion, and absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS: A total of 562 patients were included, 59.4% of whom were women, aged between 15 and 49 years (63.9%) with a mean disease course of 1.7 years. The most common finding was multiple plaque (53.2%), the predominant AA subtype was patchy (71.4%), and 29.5% of the patients had a past dermatological history, 18.3% had a past endocrinological history, and 8.9% had a past psychiatric history. The treatments most widely used were steroid injections (76.4%), 5% topical minoxidil (46.4%), followed by high-potency corticosteroids (42.5%). STUDY LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: AA was slightly predominant in women. As seen in other populations, this disease had an earlier onset in men vs women. Presentation in pediatric age was uncommon. The previous history of other dermatological diseases was checked in almost one third of the patients. Analysis of the co-presentation of AA with other autoimmune diseases is biased due to excluding patients with systemic erythematous lupus from the study.

Comparison of Intraoperative Results of Simple Open and Laparoscopic Nephrectomies in the Treatment of Benign Renal Pathologies in a First-Level Center in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of simple open versus laparoscopic nephrectomies for treating benign renal pathologies, with a focus on comparing the prevalence of surgical complications at a first-level center in Mexico City. METHODS: A retrospective analysis spanning 2010-2020 was conducted where all patients undergoing simple nephrectomy for benign conditions were included and stratified into open and laparoscopic surgery groups. Variables analyzed included urological history, laboratory findings, surgical outcomes, complications, and histopathological results. Statistical comparisons employed Student's t-test for means and the chi-square test for frequencies. Additionally, binary logistic regression was utilized to identify predictors associated with conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. RESULTS: The laparoscopic approach showed significant advantages in intraoperative bleeding (p=0.008) and intensive care unit stay (p=0.04). The conversion rate from laparoscopic to open surgery was 19.23%, with no significant risk factors identified for conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic simple nephrectomy proves to be a secure and effective method in specialized urological centers with skilled surgeons, offering superior intraoperative outcomes compared to open surgery. It effectively reduces intraoperative hemorrhage, minimizes blood transfusion needs, and shortens hospital stays. Nonetheless, challenges such as equipment availability, costs, and surgeon expertise must be addressed. Further research focused on postoperative complications is crucial to advocate for broader adoption of laparoscopic nephrectomy as the preferred standard for treating relevant urological conditions, emphasizing substantial advantages over traditional open approaches.

Limited drought tolerance in the neotropical seasonally dry forest plants impairs future species richness.

Neotropical seasonal dry forest (NSDF) is one of the most threatened ecosystems according to global climate change predictions. Nonetheless, few studies have evaluated the global climate change impacts on diversity patterns of NSDF plants. The lack of whole biome-scale approaches restricts our understanding of global climate change consequences in the high beta-diverse NSDF. We analysed the impact of global climate change on species distribution ranges, species richness, and assemblage composition (beta diversity) for 1,178 NSDF species. We used five representative plant families (in terms of abundance, dominance, and endemism) within the NSDF: Cactaceae, Capparaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Zygophyllaceae. We reconstructed potential species distributions in the present and future (2040-2080), considering an intermediate Shared Socioeconomic Pathway and two dispersal ability assumptions on the taxa. Using a resource use scores index, we related climate-induced range contractions with species' water stress tolerance. Even under a favourable dispersal scenario, species distribution and richness showed future significant declines across those sites where mean temperature and precipitation seasonality are expected to increase. Further, changes in species range distribution in the future correlated positively with potential use of resources in Fabaceae. Results suggest that biotic heterogenization will likely be the short-term outcome at biome scale under dispersal limitations. Nonetheless, by 2080, the prevailing effect under both dispersal assumptions will be homogenization, even within floristic nuclei. This information is critical for further defining new areas worth protecting and future planning of mitigation actions for both species and the whole biome.

First Mexican Consensus on Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's disease (CD) is a subtype of chronic and incurable inflammatory bowel disease. It can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract and its etiology is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this consensus was to establish the most relevant aspects related to definitions, diagnosis, follow-up, medical treatment, and surgical treatment of Crohn's disease in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mexican specialists in the areas of gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease were summoned. The consensus was divided into five modules, with 69 statements. Applying the Delphi panel method, the pre-meeting questions were sent to the participants, to be edited and weighted. At the face-to-face meeting, all the selected articles were shown, underlining their level of clinical evidence; all the statements were discussed, and a final vote was carried out, determining the percentage of agreement for each statement. RESULTS: The first Mexican consensus on Crohn's disease was produced, in which recommendations for definitions, classifications, diagnostic aspects, follow-up, medical treatment, and surgical treatment were established. CONCLUSIONS: Updated recommendations are provided that focus on definitions, classifications, diagnostic criteria, follow-up, and guidelines for conventional medical treatment, biologic therapy, and small molecule treatment, as well as surgical management.

[Phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of KMT2B dystonia. Description of three Colombian patients]. / Espectro fenotípico y genotípico de la distonía causada por el gen KMT2B. Descripción de tres casos colombianos.

INTRODUCTION: KMT2B-related dystonia is a childhood-onset movement disorder characterized by focal dystonia of the lower extremities progressing to generalized dystonia with predominant cervical, cranial, and laryngeal involvement. So far, fewer than 100 variants have been reported, the vast majority being de novo mutations. The presenting frame of KMT2B dystonia, with dysmorphology features and other complex neurologic symptoms shows the spectrum of KMT2B dystonia as a probable syndromic disease, rather than an isolated early-onset dystonia, which has been the classic view of the condition. CASE REPORTS: We report three patients who presented regression in their neurodevelopment, focal dystonia of the lower limbs with subsequent generalization, in whom two de novo variants were reported in the KMT2B gene, with a mean age of presentation lower than the average reported worldwide. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the largest local series of patients with KMT2B dystonia in Colombia (to our knowledge), which allows us to expand the genotype-phenotype relationship of this genetic dystonia. Although many affected individuals follow a similar disease course, it is important to determine clinical features that may be associated such as neurodevelopmental regression.

TITLE: Espectro fenotípico y genotípico de la distonía causada por el gen KMT2B. Descripción de tres casos colombianos.Introducción. La distonía relacionada con KMT2B es un trastorno del movimiento hipercinético, de inicio en la infancia, caracterizado inicialmente por distonía focal de las extremidades inferiores que progresa a una distonía generalizada con mayor afectación cervical, craneal y laríngea. Hasta el momento se han descrito aproximadamente 100 variantes causantes de enfermedad, y la mayoría son de novo. La presentación clínica de la distonía con hallazgos fenotípicos comunes en los pacientes, asociada a frecuente afectación del neurodesarrollo, afectación intelectual y otros trastornos del movimiento, hace pensar más en el espectro KMT2B como una condición sindrómica, más que en una distonía aislada de inicio temprano, como clásicamente se ha clasificado. Casos clínicos. Se presenta el caso de tres pacientes con regresión del neurodesarrollo, distonía focal de los miembros inferiores con posterior generalización, en quienes se identificaron tres variantes en el gen KMT2B, en dos de los casos de novo (en una de ellas se desconoce la segregación), y dos de ellas comunicadas por primera vez en la bibliografía. La edad media de presentación fue menor a la edad promedio notificada a nivel mundial. Conclusiones. Describimos una serie de pacientes colombianos con distonía DYT-KMT2B (la más grande en nuestro conocimiento a nivel local), lo que nos permite ampliar la relación genotipo-fenotipo de esta distonía genética. Si bien múltiples individuos afectados siguen un curso de enfermedad similar, es importante determinar las características clínicas que pueden estar asociadas, como la regresión del neurodesarrollo y su potencial clasificación como distonía compleja. Describimos, además, dos nuevas variantes asociadas al fenotipo.

Clinical and Sociodemographic Features of Alopecia Areata in Five Colombian Cities: An Analysis of the RENAAC Registry.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by non-scaring hair loss and preservation of hair follicles. The information available on disease course, and clinical features of AA is scarce worldwide, and almost nonexistent in Colombia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with AA who presented to a dermatology consultation in five Colombian cities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and multicenter study on data from an ongoing National Registry of Alopecia Areata in Colombia (RENAAC) collected in Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellin, Colombia from March 2022 through April 2023. Data was recorded in a standardized form by trained physicians. The variables were expressed as measures of central tendency and dispersion, and absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS: A total of 562 patients were included, 59.4% of whom were women, aged between 15 and 49 years (63.9%) with a mean disease course of 1.7 years. The most common finding was multiple plaque (53.2%), the predominant AA subtype was patchy (71.4%), and 29.5% of the patients had a past dermatological history, 18.3% had a past endocrinological history, and 8.9% had a past psychiatric history. The treatments most widely used were steroid injections (76.4%), 5% topical minoxidil (46.4%), followed by high-potency corticosteroids (42.5%). STUDY LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: AA was slightly predominant in women. As seen in other populations, this disease had an earlier onset in men vs women. Presentation in pediatric age was uncommon. The previous history of other dermatological diseases was checked in almost one third of the patients. Analysis of the co-presentation of AA with other autoimmune diseases is biased due to excluding patients with systemic erythematous lupus from the study.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in paediatric patients with epilepsy: experience of a tertiary center in Colombia. / Vacunación contra el SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes pediátricos con epilepsia: experiencia de un centro terciario en Colombia.

AIM: The objective of this study is to evaluate effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on seizure pattern in paediatric patients with epilepsy that attended our tertiary center in the city of Bogota, Colombia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with epilepsy who were treated at our center and have had SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and their caregivers were asked to report their experience following vaccination. We documented age, sex, age at onset of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, epilepsy type, seizure frequency, number of medications, time from last crisis, vaccination schemes, and seizures two weeks after vaccination. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients with epilepsy were included (58%, male; and 42%, female). The average age was 11 years, 73% had focal epilepsy, and 27%, generalized. Twenty-one fulfilled criteria for refractory epilepsy and 11 had a personal history of febrile seizures. Forty-seven patients had been vaccinated with Sinovac's vaccine; 41 patients, with Pfizer's; 12 patients, with Moderna's; and one, with CoronaVac's. Three patients presented seizures 24 hours after the application of the vaccine with no clear relation between vaccination and seizure frequency, and one patient required admission to the hospital for a prolonged seizure. CONCLUSION: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in paediatric patients with epilepsy is safe. Approximately 3% of patients with epilepsy could eventually have seizures in the post-vaccination period.

TITLE: Vacunación contra el SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes pediátricos con epilepsia: experiencia de un centro terciario en Colombia.Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los efectos de la vacunación contra el SARS-CoV-2 sobre el patrón convulsivo en pacientes pediátricos con epilepsia que acudieron a nuestro centro terciario en la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia. Pacientes y métodos. Se pidió a los niños con epilepsia que fueron tratados en nuestro centro y que habían recibido la vacuna contra el SARS-CoV-2 y a sus cuidadores que informaran de su experiencia después de la vacunación. Se documentaron la edad, el sexo, la edad de inicio de la epilepsia, la duración de la epilepsia, el tipo de epilepsia, la frecuencia de las convulsiones, el número de medicamentos, el tiempo transcurrido desde la última crisis, los esquemas de vacunación y las convulsiones dos semanas después de la vacunación. Resultados. Se incluyó a 101 pacientes con epilepsia (58%, hombres; y 42%, mujeres). La edad promedio fue de 11 años, el 73% tenía epilepsia focal, y el 27%, generalizada. Veintiuno cumplían los criterios para la epilepsia refractaria y 11 tenían antecedentes personales de convulsiones febriles. Cuarenta y siete pacientes habían sido vacunados con la vacuna de Sinovac; 41, con Pfizer; 12, con Moderna; y uno, con CoronaVac. Tres pacientes presentaron convulsiones 24 horas después de la aplicación de la vacuna sin una relación clara entre la vacunación y la frecuencia de las convulsiones, y un paciente requirió ingreso en el hospital por una convulsión prolongada. Conclusión. La vacunación contra el SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes pediátricos con epilepsia es segura. Aproximadamente el 3% de los pacientes con epilepsia podría eventualmente tener convulsiones en el período posterior a la vacunación.

Assessment of surface and electrical properties of the TiO2@zeolite hybrid materials.

Degradation of pollutants in aqueous medium is of high interest due to the impact on environment and human health, therefore, design and study of the physico-chemical properties of photocatalysts for water remediation are of major significance. Among properties of photocatalyst, those related to the surface and electrical mechanism are crucial to the photocatalyst´s performance. Here we report the chemical and morphological characteristics of TiO2@zeolite photocatalyst by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively, and a coherent electrical conduction mechanism was proposed based on data obtained from assisted laser impedance spectroscopy (ALIS), in which the zeolite was synthesized from recycled coal fly ash. The results obtained by SEM and XPS verified the presence of spherical particles of TiO2 anatase with presence of Ti3+ state. ALIS results showed that impedance of the entire system increases when the amount of TiO2 increases and the samples with lower capacitive performance allowed a larger transfer of the charges between the solid-liquid interface. All results showed that higher photocatalytic performance of TiO2 growth over hydroxysodalite with 8.7 wt% and 25 wt% of TiO2 can be explained in terms of the morphology of TiO2 and the interactions between substrate-TiO2 mainly.

Nevo de Ota bilateral: presentación de un caso de distribución poco frecuente / Bilateral nevus of Ota: an unusual presentation

RESUMEN El Nevo de Ota, es una melanocitosis dérmica que se desarrolla por un defecto embrionario en la migración de los melanocitos desde la cresta neural a la piel y mucosas. Presentamos una paciente de 32 años, con Nevo de Ota bilateral de presentación infrecuente.

ABSTRACT Nevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytosis that develops due to an embryonic defect in the migration of melanocytes from the neural crest to the skin and mucous membranes. We report a 32-year-old female patient with a bilateral nevus of Ota with a rare manifestation due to its unusual distribution.

[Lumbar plexus nerve block provides better analgesic management than periarticular infiltration in primary total hip arthroplasty. Comparative, prospective, and single-blind clinical trial]. / El bloqueo nervioso del plexo lumbar proporciona un mejor manejo analgésico que la infiltración periarticular en artroplastía total primaria de cadera. Ensayo clínico comparativo, prospectivo y simple ciego.

INTRODUCTION: joint replacement is a highly effective intervention that significantly improves the patient's quality of life, relieves symptoms, restores joint function, and improves mobility and independence. The optimal pain control after total hip replacement has become an important goal of postoperative management. The purpose of this paper is to compare periarticular infiltration (PAI) and lumbar plexus nerve block (LPNB) for the management of post-operative pain in primary total hip arthroplasty because we believe that LPNB provides better analgesic management and lower opioid consumption. We evaluated the opioid usage during hospitalization and the complications derived from either technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we randomized 45 patients who underwent elective total hip arthroplasty between January 2019 and January 2020. Two groups were evaluated based on the association of PAI or LPNB. Both as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen. RESULTS: a total of 45 patients were evaluated (22 PAI group, 23 LPNB group). Block group required less opioid administration (p = 0.069). Most of the patients in both groups reported mild/moderate pain. The LPNB group had lower pain scale with physiotherapy. We did not have complications derived from either technique. CONCLUSION: lumbar plexus nerve block (LPNB) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty provides better pain management and reduced opioid consumption compared to PAI. The performance of this technique does not delay the beginning of physiotherapy and there were not any issues with the patient's recovery.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la artroplastía es una intervención altamente eficaz que mejora de manera significativa la calidad de vida del paciente, alivia los síntomas, restaura la función articular y mejora la movilidad e independencia. El control óptimo del dolor después de la artroplastía total de cadera se ha convertido en un objetivo importante del tratamiento postoperatorio. El propósito de este trabajo es comparar la infiltración periarticular (IPA) y el bloqueo nervioso del plexo lumbar (BNPL) para el manejo del dolor postoperatorio en la artroplastía total de cadera primaria, ya que creemos que la BNPL proporciona mejor manejo analgésico y menor consumo de opioides. Se evaluó el uso de opioides durante la hospitalización y las complicaciones derivadas de cada técnica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: fueron aleatorizados 45 pacientes tratados con artroplastía total de cadera electiva entre Enero de 2019 y Enero de 2020 en dos grupos: IPA o BNPL. Ambos como parte de un régimen analgésico multimodal. RESULTADOS: veintidós en el grupo IPA y 23 en el grupo BNPL. El grupo de bloqueo requirió menos administración de opioides (p = 0.069). La mayoría de los pacientes de ambos grupos reportaron dolor leve/moderado. El grupo de BNPL tuvo menor escala de dolor al realizar fisioterapia. No tuvimos complicaciones derivadas de ninguna de las técnicas analgésicas. CONCLUSIÓN: el BNPL en pacientes sometidos a artroplastía total de cadera proporciona mejor manejo del dolor y una reducción del consumo de opioides en el postoperatorio en comparación con la IPA. La realización de esta técnica no retrasa el inicio de la fisioterapia y no hubo problemas con la recuperación del paciente.

Tolerance and response to ketogenic therapy in neonates and infants younger than 4 months. Case series in a hospital center in Medellin, Colombia. / Tolerancia y respuesta a la terapia cetógena en neonatos y lactantes menores de 4 meses. Serie de casos en un centro hospitalario de Medellín, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Ketogenic therapy (KT) studies have focused in children older than 2 years and adults. Recently its efficacy in infants has been reported, but there are few studies in this age group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a case series of nine newborn and children younger than 4 months of age with refractory epilepsy treated with KT. We retrospectively reviewed charts of children treated at our center between 2015-2021. RESULTS: Data was collected on seven patients. Six patients began having seizures on day one of life, one had seizures starting on day 45. Different epilepsy etiologies were found. KT was started as soon as 9 days of life. The average age at which ketogenic therapy was started was 24 days of life. Initially, the diet was started at 1:1 or 2:1 ratio, and was progressed to a 4:1 ratio. After one month of KT 5/7 patients experienced a significant reduction in seizure frequency (>50%) and 2/7 had complete seizure control. At six months, 4/7 patients achieve complete seizure freedom and 1/7 had >50% seizure reduction. Two patients were lost to follow-up. None of our patients reported gastrointestinal side effects that required diet adjustments. One patient had mild and one mild hypertriglyceridemia. CONCLUSION: Even though evidence about KT in young children are starting to emerge, our experience shows it can be successful in controlling seizure burden without considerable adverse effects. There is great research potential regarding KT in young children.

TITLE: Tolerancia y respuesta a la terapia cetógena en neonatos y lactantes menores de 4 meses. Serie de casos en un centro hospitalario de Medellín, Colombia.Introducción. Los estudios para terapia cetógena (TC) se han concentrado en niños mayores de 2 años y adultos. Su eficacia en lactantes se ha descrito, pero hay pocos estudios en este grupo de edad. Pacientes y métodos. Se describe una serie de casos de nueve neonatos y lactantes menores de 4 meses de edad con epilepsia refractaria que recibieron tratamiento con TC. Se evaluaron, retrospectivamente, los registros clínicos de niños tratados entre 2015 y 2021. Resultados. Se recolectaron datos de siete pacientes. Seis pacientes iniciaron con crisis epilépticas el primer día de vida, y uno, el día 45. La etiología de la epilepsia fue variada (metabólica, genética y estructural). La TC se inició tan temprano como a los 9 días de vida. La edad promedio de inicio fue los 24 días de vida. Se inició con una tasa cetógena de 1:1 o 1:2, y se progresó posteriormente a 4:1. Después de un mes de TC, 5/7 pacientes presentaron una reducción significativa en la frecuencia de las crisis (>50%) y 2/7 experimentaron un control completo. A los seis meses, 4/7 pacientes lograron un control completo y 1/7 un control >50%. Dos pacientes se perdieron en el seguimiento. No se notificaron efectos gastrointestinales que obligaran al ajuste o la suspensión de la dieta. Se notificaron hipoglucemia e hipertrigliceridemia. Conclusión. A pesar de que la evidencia en la TC en lactantes y neonatos apenas está empezando a aparecer, nuestra experiencia muestra que puede ser una buena opción terapéutica para el control de las crisis epilépticas, sin efectos adversos importantes. Existe un gran potencial de investigación en el área de la TC en lactantes y neonatos.

Prevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infection in breeding ewes from central western Mexico.

The objective of the study was to analyse the prevalence of infection by N. caninum and T. gondii in breeding ewes from central western Mexico. For this purpose, 184 blood samples were collected from sheep in the reproductive stage, which were analysed by ELISA and PCR tests, respectively, and the association between seroprevalence and some management factors was estimated by means of a logistic regression analysis. For N. caninum, a seroprevalence of 15.22% was identified, while the DNA detection in blood was 14.13% (26/184); positive animals were found in 75% of the farms (6/8). The variables poor placental waste management (OR 8.4), abortion history (OR 1.5) and presence of rodents (OR 1.3) were identified as risk factors for N. caninum infection. In the case of T. gondii, a seroprevalence of 61.96% was found, and antibodies were detected in eight farms included in the study; no positive samples were identified for T. gondii by the PCR test. The main identified risk factors for T. gondii were as follows: poor hygiene conditions (OR 12.5), presence of cats (OR 9.5), presence of other domestic animals (OR 5.7), urban context of the farm (OR 9.5) and public water supply (OR 5.3). The seroprevalence of co-infection of T. gondii and N. caninum in breeding ewes was 7% (13/184; 95% CI 6.92-7.20). T. gondii has a high seroprevalence while N. caninum was of lower proportion, and both may be associated with reproductive losses for these herds studied.

Dermatosis Pustulosa Subcórnea / Subcorneal pustular dermatosis

RESUMEN La dermatosis pustulosa subcórnea o enfermedad de Sneddon Wilkinson, es una enfermedad poco frecuente, caracterizada por lesiones pustulosas, recurrentes que suelen coalescer. Esta afección también se relaciona con enfermedades neoplásicas o inmunológicas. El propósito de este estudio es describir un caso clínico de ladermatosis referida en una paciente de 54 años de edad inicialmente tratada con dapsona, aunque,si bien, durante dos meses hubo mejoría, posteriormente se observa desarrollo de nuevas lesiones y alteración de las transaminasas. Por este motivo se procede a cambiar de tratamiento, por trimetoprima /sulfametoxazol.

Abstract Subcorneal pustular dermatosis or Sneddon Wilkinson's disease is a rare disease characterized by recurrent pustular lesions that often coalesce. This condition is also associated with neoplastic or immunologic diseases. The purpose of this study is to describe a clinical case of the referred dermatosis in a 54-year-old female patient initially treated with dapsone, although there was improvement for two months, subsequently new lesions developed and transaminase alteration was observed, for this reason the treatment was changed to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

El bloqueo nervioso del plexo lumbar proporciona un mejor manejo analgésico que la infiltración periarticular en artroplastía total primaria de cadera. Ensayo clínico comparativo, prospectivo y simple ciego / Lumbar plexus nerve block provides better analgesic management than periarticular infiltration in primary total hip arthroplasty. Comparative, prospective, and single-blind clinical trial

Resumen: Introducción: La artroplastía es una intervención altamente eficaz que mejora de manera significativa la calidad de vida del paciente, alivia los síntomas, restaura la función articular y mejora la movilidad e independencia. El control óptimo del dolor después de la artroplastía total de cadera se ha convertido en un objetivo importante del tratamiento postoperatorio. El propósito de este trabajo es comparar la infiltración periarticular (IPA) y el bloqueo nervioso del plexo lumbar (BNPL) para el manejo del dolor postoperatorio en la artroplastía total de cadera primaria, ya que creemos que la BNPL proporciona mejor manejo analgésico y menor consumo de opioides. Se evaluó el uso de opioides durante la hospitalización y las complicaciones derivadas de cada técnica. Material y métodos: Fueron aleatorizados 45 pacientes tratados con artroplastía total de cadera electiva entre Enero de 2019 y Enero de 2020 en dos grupos: IPA o BNPL. Ambos como parte de un régimen analgésico multimodal. Resultados: Veintidós en el grupo IPA y 23 en el grupo BNPL. El grupo de bloqueo requirió menos administración de opioides (p = 0.069). La mayoría de los pacientes de ambos grupos reportaron dolor leve/moderado. El grupo de BNPL tuvo menor escala de dolor al realizar fisioterapia. No tuvimos complicaciones derivadas de ninguna de las técnicas analgésicas. Conclusión: El BNPL en pacientes sometidos a artroplastía total de cadera proporciona mejor manejo del dolor y una reducción del consumo de opioides en el postoperatorio en comparación con la IPA. La realización de esta técnica no retrasa el inicio de la fisioterapia y no hubo problemas con la recuperación del paciente.

Abstract: Introduction: Joint replacement is a highly effective intervention that significantly improves the patient's quality of life, relieves symptoms, restores joint function, and improves mobility and independence. The optimal pain control after total hip replacement has become an important goal of postoperative management. The purpose of this paper is to compare periarticular infiltration (PAI) and lumbar plexus nerve block (LPNB) for the management of post-operative pain in primary total hip arthroplasty because we believe that LPNB provides better analgesic management and lower opioid consumption. We evaluated the opioid usage during hospitalization and the complications derived from either technique. Material and methods: We randomized 45 patients who underwent elective total hip arthroplasty between January 2019 and January 2020. Two groups were evaluated based on the association of PAI or LPNB. Both as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen. Results: A total of 45 patients were evaluated (22 PAI group, 23 LPNB group). Block group required less opioid administration (p = 0.069). Most of the patients in both groups reported mild/moderate pain. The LPNB group had lower pain scale with physiotherapy. We did not have complications derived from either technique. Conclusion: Lumbar plexus nerve block (LPNB) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty provides better pain management and reduced opioid consumption compared to PAI. The performance of this technique does not delay the beginning of physiotherapy and there were not any issues with the patient's recovery.

Optimization of nickel and cobalt biosorption by native Serratia marcescens strains isolated from serpentine deposits using response surface methodology.

The treatment of metal-polluted wastes is a challenging issue of environmental concern. Metals can be removed using microbial biomass, and this is an interesting approach towards the design of eco-friendly technologies for liquid waste treatment. The study reported here aimed to optimize nickel and cobalt biosorption from aqueous solutions using three native metal-resistant Serratia marcescens strains. Ni(II) and Co(II) biosorption by S. marcescens strains was found to fit better to Langmuir's model, with maximum uptake capacities of 13.5 mg g-1 for Ni(II) ions and 19.9 mg g-1 for Co(II) ions. Different experimental conditions of initial metal concentration, pH, initial biomass, and temperature were optimized using the Plackett-Burman method, and, finally, biomass and metal concentration were studied using the response surface methodology (RSM) to improve biosorption. The optimum uptake capacities for Co(II) ions by the three biosorbents used were obtained for initial metal concentrations of 35-40 mg L-1 and an initial biomass of 6 mg. For Ni(II) ions, the optimum uptake capacity was achieved with 1 mg of initial biomass for S. marcescens C-1 and C-19, and with 7 mg for S. marcescens C-16, with initial concentrations of 20-50 mg L-1. The results obtained demonstrate the viability of native S. marcescens strains as biosorbents for Ni(II) and Co(II) removal. This study also contributes to our understanding of the potential uses of serpentine microbial populations for the design of environmental cleanup technologies.

Biosorption of nickel, cobalt, zinc and copper ions by Serratia marcescens strain 16 in mono and multimetallic systems.

The metallurgical industry is one of the main sources of heavy metal pollution, which represents a severe threat to life. Metals can be removed from aqueous solutions by using microbial biomasses. This paper analyses the heavy metal biosorption capacity of Serratia marcescens strain 16 in single and multimetallic systems. The results obtained show that Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) biosorption in monometallic systems is two to three times higher than in the presence of bi-metallic and multimetallic solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that carbonyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl were the main functional groups, as well as the amide bands I and II involved in metal uptake, which are present in external structures of the bacterial cell. The results obtained demonstrated the viability of S. marcescens strain 16 as a biosorbent for the design of eco-friendly technologies for the treatment of waste liquor.

First day postoperative values of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein as complication predictors following gastric oncologic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level are simple laboratory test parameters that can provide us with information on the inflammatory status of the organism. CRP has been shown to be a predictor of postoperative complications, whereas NLR and PLR have shown greater usefulness in the prognosis of oncologic pathologies. AIM: To evaluate the associations of NLR and PLR with postoperative complications following gastric oncologic surgery and compare them with CRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 66 patients that underwent oncologic gastric surgery, within the time frame of January 2014 and March 2019. The variables analyzed were sociodemographic data, surgical technique, tumor extension, and NLR, PLR, and CRP levels from the first day after surgery, as well as postoperative complications. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (25.8%) presented with grade III-V complications, utilizing the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Mean NLR value was 11.30 and was associated with the appearance of major complications, with statistical significance (p = 0.009). Mean PLR was266.05 and was not significantly associated with complications (p = 0.149). Fifty-four patients had a mean CRP level of 143.24 and it was not related to the appearance of major complications (p = 0.164). CONCLUSIONS: The NLR is a simple and inexpensive parameter, which measured on postoperative day one, predicted the appearance of major postoperative complications in our study sample and appears to be a better predictive parameter than CRP for said complications. Further studies to confirm that trend need to be carried out.

Assessing optical remote sensing for grave detection.

The application of an effective and ready-to-use tool for discovering clandestine graves is crucial for solving a number of cases where disappearance of people is involved. This is the case in Mexico, where the government drug war has resulted in a large number of missing people that has been estimated to be over 40,000 since the year 2006. In this article, we report results from an experimental study on simulated animal graves detection using several techniques from optical remote sensing. Results showed that several spectral indices from hyperspectral and/or multispectral sensors may be used to detect N-enriched vegetation. Thermal imagery was also effective to detect underground voids through differential thermography, although this was only effective for detecting large graves with bare terrain. Lastly, while dense pointclouds reconstructed from oblique aerial photography was able to detect vegetation regrowth over the pits, the terrain subsidence was not sufficiently large to be detected with this technique, even in the case of mechanical removal of vegetation.