Association of muscle disorders in late postmenopausal women according to the type of experienced menopause.

OBJECTIVE: Musculoskeletal disorders frequently affect postmenopausal women. This study aims to compare muscle disorders between women according to the type of experienced menopause: premature (PM) or normal age of menopause (NAM). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in nine Latin American countries in which late postmenopausal women (55 to 70 years) were surveyed with a general questionnaire, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS: item #4 exploring musculoskeletal discomfort), and the trength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falling questionnaire (risk of sarcopenia). RESULTS: A total of 644 women were included: 468 who had NAM, and 176 who had PM (116 spontaneous and 60 surgical). The overall mean age of the participants was 60.9 ± 4.2 years. Women who had PM experienced more musculoskeletal discomfort (33.5% vs 20.9%, P < 0.001) and a higher likelihood of sarcopenia (35.2% vs 19.9%, P < 0.001) than women who had a NAM. Women who had surgical PM exhibited a higher prevalence of severe musculoskeletal discomfort (46.7% vs 29.3%, P < 0.02) and a higher likelihood of sarcopenia (45.0% vs 27.6%, P < 0.02) than women who had a NAM. After adjusting for covariates (age, body mass index, menopausal hormone therapy use, physical activity, education, cigarette consumption, use of antidepressants, sexual activity, comorbidities, and having a partner), our logistic regression model determined that spontaneous PM was not associated with higher odds of musculoskeletal discomfort and higher odds of sarcopenia. On the other hand, women who had surgical PM were more likely to experience musculoskeletal discomforts (odds ratio: 2.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.22-4.17) and higher odds for sarcopenia (odds ratio: 2.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-3.65) as compared to women who experienced a NAM. CONCLUSIONS: Women experiencing surgical PM have a higher likelihood of developing muscle disorders. This underscores the potential significance of hormonal levels in influencing musculoskeletal health during postmenopause.

Anxiety but not menopausal status influences the risk of long-COVID-19 syndrome in women living in Latin America.

OBJECTIVE: To study sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the long-COVID-19 syndrome among women living in Latin American countries using undirected and directed methods. METHOD: We studied 347 patients with COVID-19 (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) living in nine Latin American countries between May 2021 and July 2022, including 70 premenopausal, 48 perimenopausal, and 229 postmenopausal women. We compared the sociodemographic and general health information of women with (n = 164) and without (n = 183) the long-COVID-19 syndrome. They also completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Jenkins Sleep Scale, and the Menopause Rating Scale to define the minimum set of variables for adjustment. We designed a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to identify factors related to the long-COVID-19 syndrome. Data were submitted to categorical logistic regression analyses. Results are reported as means and standard deviations or ß-coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals. RESULTS: Women with long-COVID-19 syndrome had a poor lifestyle, severe menopause symptoms, hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety, chronic diseases/conditions, risk of hospitalization, sleep disturbance, and low menopause-related quality of life compared to women without the syndrome. The DAG identified the following long-COVID-19 covariates: age, obesity, anxiety, depression, cancer, lifestyle, smoking, and menstrual status. A multivariable logistic model with these covariates indicated that anxiety is the only factor to be significantly associated with long-COVID-19 syndrome, whereas other covariates were confounding factors. There was no significant influence of menopausal status on the long-COVID-19 syndrome. CONCLUSION: Among factors selected by the DAG, only anxiety was significantly associated with the long-COVID-19. There was no significant influence of the menopause status on the long-COVID-19 syndrome in the studied population.

Using a multimodal approach to manage difficult visceral cancer pain: A case study.

Difficult visceral cancer pain is defined as pain that does not improve with conventional non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies, including opioids and adjuvants, and occurs in up to 15% of patients with cancer. In oncological practice, we must be prepared to establish strategies for dealing with such complex cases. Different analgesic strategies have been described in the literature, including managing refractory pain through palliative sedation; however, this might become a dilemma from a clinical and bioethical point of view in end-of-life situations. We present the case of a young male patient with moderately differentiated intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the left colon, with intra-abdominal sepsis, and for whom despite the multimodal treatment for difficult visceral cancer pain, the pain was refractory leading to palliative sedation. Difficult visceral cancer pain is a pathology that affects the quality of life of patients and is a challenge for pain specialists, for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome in a sample of climacteric women living in Latin America.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess resilience, fear of COVID-19, sleep disorders, and menopause-related symptoms after the acute phase of COVID-19 in middle-aged women with positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and noninfected women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, analytical study of climacteric women from 9 Latin American countries, aged 40-64 years, attending a routine health checkup. We evaluated clinical characteristics and used the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Jenkins Sleep Scale, and the Menopause Rating Scale to evaluate their health. RESULTS: A total of 1,238 women were studied, including 304 who were positive for COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The median (interquartile range) age was 53 (12) years; years of studies, 16 (6); body mass index, 25.6 (5.1) kg/m 2 ; and time since first COVID-19 symptom, 8 (6) months. COVID-19 patients reported fatigability (18.8%), joint and muscular discomfort (14.1%), and anosmia (9.5%). They had a significantly lower resilience score (26.87 ± 8.94 vs 29.94 ± 6.65), higher Fear of COVID-19 score (17.55 ± 7.44 vs 15.61 ± 6.34), and a higher Jenkins Scale score (6.10 ± 5.70 vs 5.09 ± 5.32) compared with control women. A logistic regression model confirmed these results. There was not a significant difference in the total Menopause Rating Scale score, although the odds ratios for both severe menopausal symptoms (1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.76) and the use of hypnotics were higher in women with COVID-19 (1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-2.50) compared with those without infection. We found no decrease in studied outcomes between the initial 7 months versus those reported after 8 to 18 months since first COVID-19 symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 climacteric women have sleep disorders, lower resilience and higher fear of COVID-19.

Factors affecting climacteric women with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A multinational Latin America study (REDLINC XI).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between factors, especially those linked to the climacteric, and a history of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study in which women from ten Latin American countries, aged 40-64, who attended a routine health check-up were invited to participate. A positive history for COVID-19 was based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction reports. We evaluated sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, anthropometric variables, and menopausal symptoms using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). RESULTS: A total of 1238 women were included for analysis, of whom 304 (24.6 %) had a positive history for COVID-19. The median [interquartile range: IQR] age of participants was 53 [IQR 12] years, duration of formal education was 16 [6] years, body mass index 25.6 [5.1] kg/m2, and total MRS score 10 [13]. In a logistic regression model, factors positively associated with COVID-19 included postmenopausal status and having a family history of dementia (OR: 1.53; 95 % CI: 1.13-2.07, and 2.40; 1.65-3.48, respectively), whereas negatively associated were use of menopausal hormone therapy (current or past), being a housewife, and being nulliparous (OR: 0.47; 95 % CI: 0.30-0.73; 0.72; 0.53-0.97 and 0.56; 0.34-0.92, respectively). Smoking, being sexually active, and use of hypnotics were also factors positively associated with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal status and a family history of dementia were more frequent among women who had had COVID-19, and the infection was less frequent among current or past menopause hormone therapy users and in those with less physical contact.

Mitophagy in Human Diseases.

Mitophagy is a selective autophagic process, essential for cellular homeostasis, that eliminates dysfunctional mitochondria. Activated by inner membrane depolarization, it plays an important role during development and is fundamental in highly differentiated post-mitotic cells that are highly dependent on aerobic metabolism, such as neurons, muscle cells, and hepatocytes. Both defective and excessive mitophagy have been proposed to contribute to age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, metabolic diseases, vascular complications of diabetes, myocardial injury, muscle dystrophy, and liver disease, among others. Pharmacological or dietary interventions that restore mitophagy homeostasis and facilitate the elimination of irreversibly damaged mitochondria, thus, could serve as potential therapies in several chronic diseases. However, despite extraordinary advances in this field, mainly derived from in vitro and preclinical animal models, human applications based on the regulation of mitochondrial quality in patients have not yet been approved. In this review, we summarize the key selective mitochondrial autophagy pathways and their role in prevalent chronic human diseases and highlight the potential use of specific interventions.

Enfrentando el problema emergente de consumo de heroína en Colombia: los nuevos programas de tratamiento asistido con metadona / Facing the Growing Heroin Problem in Colombia: The New Methadone-assisted Treatment Programs

RESUMEN Objetivo: Colombia está enfrentado una epidemia emergente del consumo endovenoso de heroína. Un conocimiento de los programas existentes que ofrecen tratamiento asistido con metadona en el país es necesario para que se puedan proponer estrategias de mejoría. Métodos: Se encuestaron 13 programas de regiones prioritarias. Se evaluaron las caracte rísticas demográficas y clínicas de los usuarios, así como los servicios ofrecidos por estos programas, sus protocolos de tratamiento con metadona y las diferencias en las barreras al tratamiento y las causas de abandono del tratamiento. Resultados: Se analizaron 12/13 cuestionarios, con un total de 538 pacientes activos. La mayo ría de los pacientes eran varones (85,5%) de 18 a 34 arios (70%). El 40% eran usuarios de drogas intravenosas y el 25% admitió compartir agujas. Entre las comorbilidades asociadas con el consumo de heroína se encontró la enfermedad mental (48%), la hepatitis C (8,7%) y la infección por el VIH (2%). La comorbilidad psiquiátrica se asocia más con los pacientes que acuden al sector privado (el 69,8 frente al 29,7%; p < 0,03). La media de la dosis inicial de metadona es 25,3 ± 8,9mg/día y las dosis de mantenimiento van de 41 a 80 mg/día. La falta de articulación con atención primaria fue una barrera más sentida que los problemas con la cobertura del seguro médico y los prejuicios del tratamiento con metadona (p < 0,05). También, los problemas administrativos y de la aseguradora (p < 0,003), la falta de sumi nistro de metadona (p < 0,018) y la recaída en el consumo (p < 0,014) son las razones más significativas de abandono del tratamiento. Conclusiones: Estos programas tienen diferentes niveles de desarrollo e implementación en los protocolos de tratamiento. Algunas de las barreras de acceso y de las causas de abandono del tratamiento pueden mitigarse mejorando la administración de salud.

ABSTRACT Objective: Colombia is facing a rising epidemic of intravenous heroin use. Knowledge of the methadone-assisted treatment programs in the country is crucial in order to propose improvement strategies. Methods: 13 programmes from priority regions were surveyed. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients attending the programs, a description of the services offered, their methadone treatment protocols, the various barriers to treatment and the causes of treatment abandonment were reviewed. Results: 12/13 questionnaires were analysed with a total of 538 active patients. Most of the patients attending these programs were men (85.5%) between 18 and 34 years-old (70%). Forty percent (40%) were intravenous drug users and 25% admitted sharing needles. The comorbidities associated with heroin use were mental illness (48%), hepatitis C (8.7%) and HIV (2%). Psychiatric comorbidity was more likely in patients attending the private sec tor (69.8% vs 29.7%; p < 0.03). The initial average dose of methadone administered was 25.3 ± 8.9mg/day, with a maintenance dose ranging from 41 to 80mg/day. Lack of align ment with primary care was perceived to be the most serious barrier to access, ahead of problems with insurance and prejudice towards treatment with methadone (p < 0.05). Health Administration and insurance problems (p < 0.003), together with the lack of availa bility of methadone (p < 0.018) and relapse (p < 0.014) were the most important reasons for abandonment of treatment. Conclusions: The treatment protocols of these programmes offer different levels of develop ment and implementation. Some of the barriers to access and reasons for abandonment of treatment with methadone can be mitigated with better health administration.

Facing the Growing Heroin Problem in Colombia: The New Methadone-assisted Treatment Programs. / Enfrentando el problema emergente de consumo de heroína en Colombia: los nuevos programas de tratamiento asistido con metadona.

OBJECTIVE: Colombia is facing a rising epidemic of intravenous heroin use. Knowledge of the methadone-assisted treatment programs in the country is crucial in order to propose improvement strategies. METHODS: 13 programmes from priority regions were surveyed. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients attending the programs, a description of the services offered, their methadone treatment protocols, the various barriers to treatment and the causes of treatment abandonment were reviewed. RESULTS: 12/13 questionnaires were analysed with a total of 538 active patients. Most of the patients attending these programs were men (85.5%) between 18 and 34 years-old (70%). Forty percent (40%) were intravenous drug users and 25% admitted sharing needles. The comorbidities associated with heroin use were mental illness (48%), hepatitis C (8.7%) and HIV (2%). Psychiatric comorbidity was more likely in patients attending the private sector (69.8% vs 29.7%; p<0.03). The initial average dose of methadone administered was 25.3±8.9mg/day, with a maintenance dose ranging from 41 to 80mg/day. Lack of alignment with primary care was perceived to be the most serious barrier to access, ahead of problems with insurance and prejudice towards treatment with methadone (p<0.05). Health Administration and insurance problems (p<0.003), together with the lack of availability of methadone (p<0.018) and relapse (p<0.014) were the most important reasons for abandonment of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment protocols of these programmes offer different levels of development and implementation. Some of the barriers to access and reasons for abandonment of treatment with methadone can be mitigated with better health administration.

Prevalencia de hipertensión enmascarada en niños con factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de hipertensión arterial / Prevalence of masked hypertension among children with risk factors for arterial hypertension

Introducción. La hipertensión enmascarada (HE) en niños se define por registros de presión arterial normal en la consulta y elevados fuera de ella. El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial de 24 horas (MAPA) permite su diagnóstico. Existe poca información sobre su prevalencia en nuestra población. Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de HE en niños con factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de hipertensión arterial. Material y método. Estudio prospectivo, observacional, corte transversal. Se incluyeron en forma consecutiva pacientes asistidos en el Hospital General de Niños P. de Elizalde entre 1/7/2015 y 1/12/2016, de 5 a 11 años, con presión arterial normal y, al menos, un factor de riesgo para hipertensión arterial. Se realizó MAPA durante 24 horas (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Muestra estimada: 110 pacientes. Se contó con las aprobaciones pertinentes. Resultados. Se incluyeron 110 pacientes, edad de 8,7 ± 1,8 años, 60 mujeres. Tiempo de MAPA: 23,18 ± 1,8 horas. Tenían antecedentes neonatales 23 pacientes; todos tenían, al menos, un antecedente personal (los más frecuentes, ingesta aumentada de sal y obesidad); 101 tenían, al menos, un antecedente familiar. El MAPA permitió identificar a 10 pacientes con HE (9,1%; IC 95%: 5,1-15,9); 7 con hipertensión nocturna aislada (6,4%; IC 95%: 3,1-23,5) y 28, prehipertensión (25,4%; IC 95%: 18,2-34,3). Los 10 pacientes con HE fueron 7 varones, 9 obesos y con, al menos, un antecedente familiar. Conclusión. La prevalencia de HE en niños con factores de riesgo de desarrollar hipertensión arterial fue cercana al 10%.

Introduction. Masked hypertension (MH) in children is defined as normal office blood pressure values and high values outside the clinical setting. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is helpful for diagnosis. There is little information on MH prevalence in our population. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension. Material and method. Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Patients seen at Hospital General de Niños "P. de Elizalde" between July 1st, 2015 and December 1st, 2016, aged 5-11 years, with normal blood pressure and at least one risk factor for arterial hypertension were included in consecutive order. A 24-hour ABPM was done (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Estimated sample: 110 patients. All relevant authorizations were obtained. Results. One hundred and ten patients aged 8.7 ± 1.8 years were included; 60 were girls. ABPM duration: 23.18 ± 1.8 hours. Twenty-three patients had neonatal history; all had at least one factor corresponding to personal history (the most common ones were increased salt intake and obesity); 101 had at least one factor corresponding to family history. ABPM helped to identify 10 patients with MH (9.1%; 95% confidence interval --1;CI--3;: 5.1-15.9); 7 had isolated nocturnal hypertension (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.1-23.5) and 28 had prehypertension (25.4%; 95% CI: 18.234.3). Among the 10 patients with MH, 7 were boys, 9 were obese and had at least one factor corresponding to family history. Conclusion. The prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension was close to 10%.

Prevalence of masked hypertension among children with risk factors for arterial hypertension. / Prevalencia de hipertensión enmascarada en niños con factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de hipertensión arterial.

INTRODUCTION: Masked hypertension (MH) in children is defined as normal office blood pressure values and high values outside the clinical setting. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is helpful for diagnosis. There is little information on MH prevalence in our population. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Patients seen at Hospital General de Niños "P. de Elizalde" between July 1st, 2015 and December 1st, 2016, aged 5-11 years, with normal blood pressure and at least one risk factor for arterial hypertension were included in consecutive order. A 24-hour ABPM was done (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Estimated sample: 110 patients. All relevant authorizations were obtained. RESULTS: One hundred and ten patients aged 8.7 ± 1.8 years were included; 60 were girls. ABPM duration: 23.18 ± 1.8 hours. Twenty-three patients had neonatal history; all had at least one factor corresponding to personal history (the most common ones were increased salt intake and obesity); 101 had at least one factor corresponding to family history. ABPM helped to identify 10 patients with MH (9.1%; 95% confidence interval |-1;CI|-3;: 5.1-15.9); 7 had isolated nocturnal hypertension (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.1-23.5) and 28 had prehypertension (25.4%; 95% CI: 18.234.3). Among the 10 patients with MH, 7 were boys, 9 were obese and had at least one factor corresponding to family history. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension was close to 10%.

Introducción. La hipertensión enmascarada (HE) en niños se define por registros de presión arterial normal en la consulta y elevados fuera de ella. El monitoreo ambulatorio de presión arterial de 24 horas (MAPA) permite su diagnóstico. Existe poca información sobre su prevalencia en nuestra población. Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de HE en niños con factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de hipertensión arterial. Material y método. Estudio prospectivo, observacional, corte transversal. Se incluyeron en forma consecutiva pacientes asistidos en el Hospital General de Niños P. de Elizalde entre 1/7/2015 y 1/12/2016, de 5 a 11 años, con presión arterial normal y, al menos, un factor de riesgo para hipertensión arterial. Se realizó MAPA durante 24 horas (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Muestra estimada: 110 pacientes. Se contó con las aprobaciones pertinentes. Resultados. Se incluyeron 110 pacientes, edad de 8,7 ± 1,8 años, 60 mujeres. Tiempo de MAPA: 23,18 ± 1,8 horas. Tenían antecedentes neonatales 23 pacientes; todos tenían, al menos, un antecedente personal (los más frecuentes, ingesta aumentada de sal y obesidad); 101 tenían, al menos, un antecedente familiar. El MAPA permitió identificar a 10 pacientes con HE (9,1%; IC 95%: 5,1-15,9); 7 con hipertensión nocturna aislada (6,4%; IC 95%: 3,1-23,5) y 28, prehipertensión (25,4%; IC 95%: 18,2-34,3). Los 10 pacientes con HE fueron 7 varones, 9 obesos y con, al menos, un antecedente familiar. Conclusión. La prevalencia de HE en niños con factores de riesgo de desarrollar hipertensión arterial fue cercana al 10%.