Development of a Versatile Lipid Core for Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) Using Design of Experiments (DoE) and Raman Mapping.

The objective of this study was to develop a versatile lipid core for the 'brick-dust type of drugs' (poorly water-soluble and poorly lipid-soluble drugs). In the first step, excipients of different polarities were classified according to their behavior in aqueous solutions. Subsequently, binary mixtures were prepared with cetyl palmitate (Crodamol™ CP pharma, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) as the solid lipid, and its miscibility with other excipients was evaluated using Raman mapping and classical least squares (CLS). Based on the results, the excipients Crodamol™ CP pharma (hydrophobic), Super Refined™ DMI (dimethyl isosorbide; hydrophilic, Mill Hall, PA, USA), and Super Refined™ Lauryl Lactate (lauryl lactate, medium polarity, Mill Hall, PA, USA) were chosen to compose the lipid core. The ideal proportion of these excipients was determined using a mixture design and the standard deviation (STD) of image histograms as the response variables. After statistical evaluation of the DoE results, the final composition was determined, and drugs with different logP (0 to 10) and physicochemical characteristics were evaluated in the optimized mixture. The drugs butamben (Sigma-Aldrich Co., Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO, USA), tacrolimus (NutriFarm, São Paulo, Brazil), atorvastatin calcium, and resveratrol (Botica da Terra, Campinas, Brazil) presented a homogeneous distribution in the optimized lipid core, indicating that this is a promising system to be used in nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) formulations of such types of drugs.

Infections in patients with adverse reactions to the use of unknown modeling substances for soft tissue enhancement in Cali, Colombia.

The infiltration of foreign materials not approved for medical purposes or of modeling substances used in soft tissue to modify the anatomical appearance for aesthetic purposes represents a serious health problem. These procedures lead to the development of delayed complications, including infections. The objective of this study was to characterize infections in patients with adverse reactions to the use of modeling substances in Cali, Colombia. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was used to determine the frequency of bacterial and fungal infections associated with complications from and adverse reactions to the use of modeling substances in 113 patients. We identified microorganisms in 22 patients and a frequency of 68.1% monomicrobial infections and 31.8% polymicrobial infections. The microorganisms identified in our study included Bacillus cereus, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Pseudomonas stutzeri, among other microorganisms. The presence of adverse effects derived from the use of illegal modeling substances has been demonstrated; among these effects, infections occur with high frequency and place the health of the patient at risk and increase problems in health care.

Traditional medicine in Incahuasi: An ethnobotanical study.

Introduction: Understanding the use of medicinal plants as herbal medicines is considered essential for the survival and continuity of humanity. Since ancient times, the origin and development of natural and traditional medicine have been intrinsically linked to humanity struggle for survival. Nowadays, ethnobotanical studies are employed as a tool for the preservation and conservation not only of taxonomic biodiversity but also of cultural biodiversity. Methodology: A descriptive research with a quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional design was carried out. The study was conducted in six Quechua-speaking communities in the district of Incahuasi (3,000 meters above sea level), selected for convenience considering factors such as altitude, accessibility, and proximity to the city. A questionnaire was administered to 32 residents from the communities, who shared their knowledge about medicinal plants, providing relevant information about them. The gender of the participants was considered because men and women use traditional medicine and the knowledge of them is transmitted from parents to children. Results: During the study, a total of 46 medicinal species were recorded, belonging to 42 genera and 22 botanical families. The most representative medicinal families used by the informants of the communities were Asteraceae (30.4%) and Lamiaceae (15.2%). It is also worth mentioning the genera Salvia and Baccharis, with three and two species respectively, which are commonly used to treat various ailments and diseases. Conclusions: Ethnobotanical information was collected on the medicinal plants used by the community members of the selected communities in Incahuasi, and the corresponding data were recorded. A total of 46 plants were collected, with the majority belonging to the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families.

Quality of care in the EsSalud emergency service, northern Region, Peru.

This study explores the user's quality of medical attention. The aim was to analyze the quality-of-care indicators in the EsSalud emergency service of the hospitals of the Lambayeque Juan Aita Valle Healthcare Network, according to the perceptions and expectations of the patients. The research has a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, which includes the description, registration, analysis, and interpretation of the current nature of the quality of emergency medical care in the selected hospital institutions. The population is represented by patients who attended the emergency department of the hospital institution's understudy for one month. The sample was obtained using a simple random system. The technique used was the application of Servqual Quality of Emergency Care questionnaire. The instrument consisted of three parts, General Data, Expectations of the External User, and Perceptions of the External User. All statistical tests were processed using SPSS v.25 through the T-test of means. Higher customer dissatisfaction was revealed with regard to intangibility, lack of security, lack of reliability, and lack of empathy towards the user. User expectations and perceptions regarding the health service quality are also marked by dissatisfaction and great dissatisfaction.

Adverse effects of modeling substances in Cali, Colombia / Efectos adversos de las sustancias modelantes en Cali, Colombia.

Introduction: The desire to improve one's physical appearance through simple and economical methods has resulted in the indiscriminate application of modeling substances. As a result, iatrogenic allogenosis has emerged as an increasingly prevalent disease in Latin America. Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics and adverse effects arising from the use of modeling substances in a group of patients from Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who consulted for complications arising from the use of modeling substances during a six-year period. Results: A total of 1,322 patients were included of whom 95.5% were women. Patients' ages ranged from 19 to 83 years, with an average of 39 years. The most infiltrated anatomical site showing adverse effects due to modeling substances was the buttocks. The asymmetry and increased volume of the infiltrated site were the most common signs while pain, mood disturbances, and depression or anxiety were the most commonly perceived symptoms. A total of 41.8% of patients ignored what substances they had received, and 28.5% received biopolymers; these procedures were mostly performed by non-qualified personnel. Conclusions: The care of these patients requires multidisciplinary teams to establish treatment alternatives to improve their quality of life. In addition, the regulation of establishments, as well as the surveillance, inspection, and control of the imports and use of these substances should be warranted.

Introducción. El deseo de mejorar la apariencia física mediante métodos sencillos y económicos, ha generado la aplicación indiscriminada de sustancias modelantes y, con ello, el surgimiento de la alogenosis iatrogénica, enfermedad cada vez más prevalente en Latinoamérica. Objetivo. Describir las características epidemiológicas y los efectos adversos de las sustancias modelantes en un grupo de pacientes de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo una revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas de los pacientes que acudieron a consulta por complicaciones producidas por sustancias modelantes durante un sexenio. Resultados. Se incluyeron 1.322 pacientes, 95,5 % de ellos mujeres. Las edades oscilaron entre los 19 y los 83 años, con una media de 39 años. El sitio anatómico de infiltración con sustancias modelantes con mayor frecuencia de efectos adversos, fueron los glúteos. La asimetría y el aumento del volumen en el sitio infiltrado fueron los signos más comunes, en tanto que el dolor, las alteraciones del ánimo y la depresión o la ansiedad fueron los síntomas más percibidos. El 33,6 % de los pacientes desconocía la sustancia aplicada y el 28,1 % refirió haberse aplicado biopolímeros. La mayoría de estos procedimientos estuvo a cargo de personal sin la debida formación. Conclusiones. Estos pacientes requieren la atención de equipos multidisciplinarios para establecer alternativas de tratamiento que mejoren su calidad de vida. Además, se necesitan la regulación de los establecimientos, y las medidas de vigilancia, inspección y control en la importación y el uso de estas sustancias.

Efectos adversos de las sustancias modelantes en Cali, Colombia / Adverse effects of modeling substances in Cali, Colombia

Resumen | Introducción. El deseo de mejorar la apariencia física mediante métodos sencillos y económicos, ha generado la aplicación indiscriminada de sustancias modelantes y, con ello, el surgimiento de la alogenosis iatrogénica, enfermedad cada vez más prevalente en Latinoamérica. Objetivo. Describir las características epidemiológicas y los efectos adversos de las sustancias modelantes en un grupo de pacientes de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo una revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas de los pacientes que acudieron a consulta por complicaciones producidas por sustancias modelantes durante un sexenio. Resultados. Se incluyeron 1.322 pacientes, 95,5 % de ellos mujeres. Las edades oscilaron entre los 19 y los 83 años, con una media de 39 años. El sitio anatómico de infiltración con sustancias modelantes con mayor frecuencia de efectos adversos, fueron los glúteos. La asimetría y el aumento del volumen en el sitio infiltrado fueron los signos más comunes, en tanto que el dolor, las alteraciones del ánimo y la depresión o la ansiedad fueron los síntomas más percibidos. El 33,6 % de los pacientes desconocía la sustancia aplicada y el 28,1 % refirió haberse aplicado biopolímeros. La mayoría de estos procedimientos estuvo a cargo de personal sin la debida formación. Conclusiones. Estos pacientes requieren la atención de equipos multidisciplinarios para establecer alternativas de tratamiento que mejoren su calidad de vida. Además, se necesitan la regulación de los establecimientos, y las medidas de vigilancia, inspección y control en la importación y el uso de estas sustancias.

Abstract | Introduction: The desire to improve one's physical appearance through simple and economical methods has resulted in the indiscriminate application of modeling substances. As a result, iatrogenic allogenosis has emerged as an increasingly prevalent disease in Latin America. Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics and adverse effects arising from the use of modeling substances in a group of patients from Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who consulted for complications arising from the use of modeling substances during a six-year period. Results: A total of 1,322 patients were included of whom 95.5% were women. Patients' ages ranged from 19 to 83 years, with an average of 39 years. The most infiltrated anatomical site showing adverse effects due to modeling substances was the buttocks. The asymmetry and increased volume of the infiltrated site were the most common signs while pain, mood disturbances, and depression or anxiety were the most commonly perceived symptoms. A total of 41.8% of patients ignored what substances they had received, and 28.5% received biopolymers; these procedures were mostly performed by non-qualified personnel. Conclusions: The care of these patients requires multidisciplinary teams to establish treatment alternatives to improve their quality of life. In addition, the regulation of establishments, as well as the surveillance, inspection, and control of the imports and use of these substances should be warranted.

[Registry of Inborn errors of immunity in a pediatric hospital]. / Registro de errores innatos de la inmunidad en un hospital pediátrico.

In 2017, the Pediatric Hospital of Sinaloa (PHS) began its affiliation to the registry of patients with primary immunodeficiency or inborn errors of immunity (IEI) on the platform of the Latin American Society for Immunodeficiencies (LASID). During this period, twelve cases with IEI have been diagnosed and treated at the hospital. The age category at the time of diagnosis varied from two days to sixteen years old, and the range of the onset of the symptoms varied from nineteen days to four years, with a predominance of males (67%). The most frequent IEI was predominantly antibody deficiency (33.3%), followed by defects in the number or function of phagocytes (16.6%), autoinflammatory disorders (16.6%), immunodeficiencies that affect cellular and humoral immunity (16.6%), combined immunodeficiencies associated with syndromic findings (8.3%), and defects in intrinsic and inborn immunity (8.3%). 84% of patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and, in one case of a patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a pathogenic variant in the WAS gene was identified; a patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 33.3% of patients died, of which 25% died of sepsis and 8.3% died of massive hemorrhage. The registry of IEI provides information about epidemiological data, incidences, prevalence, diagnoses, and treatments, which will favor the development of new health policies for obtaining resources and tools to improve the care models.

El Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa (HPS) inició el registro de pacientes con inmunodeficiencia primaria o error innato de la inmunidad (EII) en la plataforma de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Inmunodeficiencias Primarias (LASID) desde 2017. Durante ese periodo se han diagnosticado y tratado 12 casos en el hospital. El rango de edad al momento del diagnóstico fue de dos días a 16 años y el rango de inicio de los síntomas de 19 días a cuatro años, con predominio del sexo masculino (67 %). El EII más frecuente fue la deficiencia predominantemente de anticuerpos (33.3 %), seguida de defectos en fagocitos en número o función (16.6 %), desórdenes autoinflamatorios (16.6 %), inmunodeficiencias que afectan la inmunidad celular y humoral (16.6 %), inmunodeficiencias combinadas asociadas con los hallazgos sindromáticos (8.3 %) y defectos en la inmunidad intrínseca e innata (8.3 %). El 84 % recibió inmunoglobulina intravenosa; se identificó la variante patogénica en el gen WAS en un caso con síndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich; un paciente recibió trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyética; 33.3 % falleció, 25 % por sepsis y 8.3 % por hemorragia masiva. El registro de las EII permite conocer datos epidemiológicos, incidencia, prevalencia, diagnósticos y tratamientos, lo que favorecerá al desarrollo de nuevas políticas sanitarias para la obtención de recursos y herramientas para mejorar los modelos de atención.

Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Series Report in a Pediatric Center in Mexico.

We report four cases of patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, of which three patients presented characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD). All presented fever of more than 3 days, and gastrointestinal involvement, significant increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), polymorphonuclear cells, procalcitonin, D-dimer, fibrinogen and troponin, lymphopenia and hypoalbuminemia. Myocardial involvement was observed in two patients. All were treated with fluids resuscitation and vasoactive therapy, 75% received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and systemic steroids. Two patients developed a transient acute kidney injury, one patient presented as acute appendicitis and developed a bilateral pleural effusion. One patient required a second dose of IVIG and boluses of methylprednisolone. None required mechanical ventilation and there were no deaths.