A cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in Argentina to evaluate the impact of the exposome on skin aging.

BACKGROUND: Skin aging is a gradual cumulative process that may be accelerated by various exposome factors. AIMS: To investigate associations between exposome factors and facial skin aging in 11 locations in Argentina. PATIENTS/METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study with assessments by exposome questionnaire, Glogau photoaging classification from I to IV, AI-based algorithm analysis of 7 skin aging signs, and SCINEXA score. RESULTS: Of 1346 participants, most were women (82%), aged 31-50 years (62%), of skin phototype III (52%), and living in urban areas (94%). The Glogau skin age was higher than the chronological age for 28% of overall participants, 36% of men, and 45% of participants from Ciudad de Buenos Aires versus 12% from Jujuy (p < 0.001). Being male (OR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.18-2.13), exposed to agrochemicals (OR = 1.59: 95% CI 1.01-2.51), of lower socioeconomic levels (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.32-3.21) and doing outdoor physical activity (OR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.00-1.76) increased the risk for premature aging. Odds decreased with high daily intake of water (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.59-0.97), daily dermocosmetic use (moisturizers [OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.55-0.94], cleansers [OR = 0.53; CI 95% 0.42-0.67], retinoids [OR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.39-0.95]), and antiaging treatments (OR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.57-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Some exposome factors increased the risk for premature skin aging (physical outdoor activity, exposure to agrochemicals), while others were protective factors (high water intake, antiaging treatments, use of dermocosmetics). Locations with higher pollution levels had more premature skin aging.

Spatial patterns and risk of aggression of dogs and cats in a central township of Mexico City.

Dog and cat aggressions are public health concerns associated with rabies transmission to the human population. The social and environmental conditions of marginalized and urban areas stand a risk due to people's contact with dogs. This study aimed to identify spatial patterns related to dog and cat aggression in a densely populated area in the center of Mexico City, analyzing the risk of aggression at the census unit level in the 2018-2020 triennium. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Coyoacán, in the south-central area of Mexico City's urbanized region. The total number of cases (n = 1,078) was obtained from monthly records of aggressions by dogs and cats, from the Control and Prevention of Zoonoses-Rabies Program of the Coyoacán Sanitary Jurisdiction. The information collected was related to the victims and the aggressors. Associations between the occurrence of bites and the characteristics of the victim were evaluated using a geographic information system (GIS), as well as the spatio-temporal distribution of the aggressions to the census unit level. Out of 1,078 cases reported, 977 (90.6%) were caused by dogs and 101 (9.4%) by cats, 55.1% (n = 587) occurred within the same household, and 13.7% (n = 148) were categorized as severe injuries. Adult men were the most affected group. Attacks on the street had a higher risk of resulting in a severe injury, compared to those that occurred at home (OR 1.63, 95CI 1.15 - 2.31, p <0.006). According to the standardized rate of the triennium, the values ​​ranged between 54.1 and 619 aggressions per 100,000 inhabitants, and summer was the season with a higher probability of occurrence. These results provide a basis for the analytical investigation of the spatial patterns of dog and cat aggression, highlighting the need to implement efficient surveillance systems and public health strategies.

Cirugía laparoscópica en un paciente con mielolipoma suprarrenal derecho / Laparoscopic surgery in a patient with right adrenal myelolipoma

Los mielolipomas suprarrenales son tumores benignos inusuales de crecimiento lento, compuestos por tejido adiposo maduro y células hematopoyéticas. Se presentan en adultos entre la quinta y la sexta década de la vida y usualmente miden entre 3 y 7 cm. El 70 % de los casos son asintomáticos y hacen parte de los denominados 'incidentalomas' de la glándula suprarrenal. El tratamiento puede ser conservador o quirúrgico, dependiendo de los síntomas, el tamaño de la masa y el crecimiento tumoral en estudios consecutivos de imágenes diagnósticas. La suprarrenalectomía laparoscópica es un procedimiento seguro, que tiene una recuperación rápida, no requiere instrumentos, dispositivos o fuentes de energía costosos, y estéticamente es superior a la técnica abierta. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 63 años con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial sistémica, diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 e hiperlipidemia, quien presentó como hallazgo incidental en imágenes diagnósticas una masa suprarrenal derecha. El examen físico y los estudios paraclínicos descartaron que el tumor fuera funcional. Se practicó suprarrenalectomía derecha laparoscópica sin complicaciones y se diagnosticó un mielolipoma por histopatología.

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare slow-growing benign tumors composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic cells. They most often occur in adults in the 5th-6th decade, and usually measure between 3 and 7 cm; 70% of cases are asymptomatic and are part of the so called incidentalomas of the adrenal gland. Treatment can be conservative or surgical, depending on the symptoms, the size of the mass and the growth of the tumor in consecutive imaging studies. We report a 63-year old man with history of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hyperlipidemia. A right adrenal mass was reported as incidental finding in diagnostic imaging. Physical examination and paraclinical studies ruled out a functioning tumor. Right laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed without complications and a myelolipoma was diagnosed by histopathology. Myelolipomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of the adrenal gland incidentalomas. Laparsocopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure with rapid recovery, does not require special instruments or devices, and is cosmetically superior to the open technique.

Cerebrovascular complications of neurocysticercosis.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that several infectious diseases can directly lead to ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Neurocysticercosis (NCC), caused by infection of the human central nervous system with the parasite Taenia solium, is recognized as an important public health problem in developing countries. The clinical manifestations of NCC are nonspecific and varied depending on the number and topography of lesions. Cerebrovascular disease is a relatively common but underrecognized complication of NCC; published data indicate that the incidence of stroke is between 4% and 12% in patients with NCC, depicting a clear relationship among these 2 pathologies. REVIEW SUMMARY: We review the cerebrovascular complications of NCC including the possible role of NCC as a cerebrovascular risk factor, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of the cerebrovascular complications derived from cysticercal infarction and those associated with the use of anticysticercal drugs. Common and uncommon clinical manifestations, localization of stroke, and associated syndromes are discussed along with their prognostic significance. CONCLUSIONS: Although an underrecognized cause of stroke, present preponderantly in undeveloped countries, NCC still causes significant incapacity and even death in young patients suffering from stroke in the absence of cerebrovascular risk factors; hence, neurologists should become familiar with this potential complication.

Long-term risk of recurrent stroke in young cryptogenic stroke patients with and without patent foramen ovale.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with a patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic ischemic stroke, the long-term prognosis is unclear. AIMS: This study aims to estimate the recurrence rate in young cryptogenic stroke patients with and without patent foramen ovale. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-six cryptogenic stroke patients (aged 18-45 years) were prospectively followed for up to five-years. They were divided into two groups according to the echocardiographic presence of patent foramen ovale. All patients received aspirin (100 mg/day) for secondary prevention. RESULTS: Mean age was 32·3 (standard deviation 7·9) years. During the mean follow-up of 66 months five patients with patent foramen ovale had recurrent strokes compared with 11 patients without patent foramen ovale. The average annual rate of recurrent cerebral ischemia was 1·1% and 1·6% for patients with and without patent foramen ovale, respectively. The recurrence rate did not increase with the presence of patent foramen ovale, atrial septal aneurysm or other variables. More than 60% of the reported cases achieved a good functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke with and without patent foramen ovale have a low recurrence rate in a long-term follow-up and most present a favorable outcome. Patent foramen ovale with or without atrial septal aneurysm did not increase the risk of recurrence.

Recanalization of vertebral artery dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated the predictors and time course for recanalization after vertebral artery dissection. METHODS: We prospectively studied 61 consecutive patients with confirmed diagnoses of vertebral artery dissection without intracerebral hemorrhage. Neuroimaging and clinical follow-up were performed at presentation and at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: We included 61 patients with confirmed vertebral artery dissection; 19 were evaluated and followed up with conventional angiography, 24 with MR angiography, and 18 with CT angiography. Fifty-one patients had a stenotic dissection, 7 had an occlusive dissection, one had a double-lumen image, and 2 had a pseudoaneurysm. The estimated rate of complete recanalization after vertebral artery dissection was 45.9% at 3 months, 62.3% at 6 months, and 63.9% at 12 months. We found no association between outcome and complete or partial recanalization nor did we find any factors associated with recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that recanalization of vertebral artery dissection occurs mainly within the first 6 months after the onset of symptoms regardless of the location or pattern of the dissection.