Plasma proteoglycan 4: a novel biomarker for acute lung injury after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Identification of biological molecules related to post cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) lung injury could help diagnose, predict and potentially impact patient's clinical course after cardiac surgery. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) initially identified as potential biomarker for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation following CPB in a prior study. To further validate these findings, we sought to understand the association of lower plasma PRG4 with prolonged mechanical ventilation and worse lung compliance in a larger cohort of pediatric patients post CPB. Methods: Retrospective chart review study. Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Tertiary Hospital. Infants <1 year old with tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, or atrioventricular septal defect who underwent surgical repair 2012-2020 and had stored plasma samples in our biorepository were screened for inclusion. Patients with mechanical ventilation before surgery were excluded. Patients were divided into quartiles based on postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation (control <25th percentile, study >75th percentile). Preoperative and 48-hour postoperative samples for each cohort (20 patients each) were tested for PRG4 level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Study group had lower lung compliance, higher mean airway pressure and higher oxygen need postoperative when compared to control group. Plasma PRG4 levels before surgery and 48 hours postoperative were lower in study group compared to control group (P=0.0232 preoperative; P=0.0016 postoperative). Plasma PRG4 levels were compared preoperative to PRG4 levels postoperative in both group, there was no statistically significant difference (study group: P=0.0869; control group: P=0.6500). Conclusions: Lower levels of plasma PRG4 is associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation, worse ventilator compliance and higher oxygen requirement after cardiac surgery in our patient population. Further validation of this finding in a larger and more diverse patient population is necessary prior to its application at the bedside.

Safety and Efficacy of Early Vitamin D Supplementation in Critically Ill Extremely Preterm Infants: An Ancillary Study of a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite substantial evidence that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among infants born extremely preterm (≤28 weeks' of gestation), several consensus statements do not recommend vitamin D doses >400 IU/day for these infants. Safety remains a concern. OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to determine safety and efficacy profiles of enteral vitamin D in Black and White infants randomized to three different vitamin D doses soon after birth. DESIGN: Ancillary study of a masked randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Seventy-three infants born extremely preterm between 2012 and 2015 at a southern US academic neonatal unit (33' latitude) who had >90% compliance with the assigned intervention were included. INTERVENTION: Infants were randomized to receive placebo (placebo group), 200 IU/day vitamin D (200 IU group), or 800 IU/day vitamin D (800 IU group) during the first 28 days after birth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Safety outcomes included serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) and calcium concentrations. Efficacy outcomes included the predictive risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Per-protocol analysis using unadjusted, repeated-measures mixed models. RESULTS: Mean birth weight was 815 ± 199 g. Half were male and 56% were Black. Of 58 infants with 25(OH)D measurements at birth, 40 (69%) had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL). The mean difference in 25(OH)D in nanograms per milliliter between Postnatal Day 28 and Postnatal Day 1 was +9 in the placebo group, +23 in the 200 IU group, and +62 in the 800 IU group (P < 0.0001). The increase observed in 25(OH)D was more significant among Black infants. The predictive risk of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the 200 IU and 800 IU groups was lower, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. No vitamin D or calcium toxicity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A vitamin D dose of 800 IU/day safely corrected vitamin D deficiency by Postnatal Day 14.

Interacting pest control and pollination services in coffee systems.

Biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services (ES) support human well-being, but their values are typically estimated individually. Although ES are part of complex socioecological systems, we know surprisingly little about how multiple ES interact ecologically and economically. Interactions could be positive (synergy), negative (trade-offs), or absent (additive effects), with strong implications for management and valuation. Here, we evaluate the interactions of two ES, pollination and pest control, via a factorial field experiment in 30 Costa Rican coffee farms. We found synergistic interactions between these two critical ES to crop production. The combined positive effects of birds and bees on fruit set, fruit weight, and fruit weight uniformity were greater than their individual effects. This represents experimental evidence at realistic farm scales of positive interactions among ES in agricultural systems. These synergies suggest that assessments of individual ES may underestimate the benefits biodiversity provides to agriculture and human well-being. Using our experimental results, we demonstrate that bird pest control and bee pollination services translate directly into monetary benefits to coffee farmers. Excluding both birds and bees resulted in an average yield reduction of 24.7% (equivalent to losing US$1,066.00/ha). These findings highlight that habitat enhancements to support native biodiversity can have multiple benefits for coffee, a valuable crop that supports rural livelihoods worldwide. Accounting for potential interactions among ES is essential to quantifying their combined ecological and economic value.

Projected losses of ecosystem services in the US disproportionately affect non-white and lower-income populations.

Addressing how ecosystem services (ES) are distributed among groups of people is critical for making conservation and environmental policy-making more equitable. Here, we evaluate the distribution and equity of changes in ES benefits across demographic and socioeconomic groups in the United States (US) between 2020 and 2100. Specifically, we use land cover and population projections to model potential shifts in the supply, demand, and benefits of the following ES: provision of clean air, protection against a vector-borne disease (West Nile virus), and crop pollination. Across the US, changes in ES benefits are unevenly distributed among socioeconomic and demographic groups and among rural and urban communities, but are relatively uniform across geographic regions. In general, non-white, lower-income, and urban populations disproportionately bear the burden of declines in ES benefits. This is largely driven by the conversion of forests and wetlands to cropland and urban land cover in counties where these populations are expected to grow. In these locations, targeted land use policy interventions are required to avoid exacerbating inequalities already present in the US.

Ectopic Cushing syndrome in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe the clinical features of patients with ectopic Cushing syndrome (ECS) from Colombia and compare these findings with other series to provide the best management for these patients. METHODS: Records of patients with ECS from 1986 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed; patients with a diagnosis of adrenal or pituitary Cushing syndrome (CS) were excluded. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with ECS were analyzed in this study. The mean age was 54.4 (SD 17.1) years, and the female to male ratio was 1.33:1. Regarding the etiology of ECS, four patients had lung carcinoids (28.6%), three had small-cell lung carcinoma (21.4%), three had pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (21.4%), one had medullary thyroid cancer (7.1%), one had non-metastatic pheochromocytoma (7.1%), one had metastatic thymoma (7.1%) and one patient had an occult source of ACTH (7.1%). The most common clinical features at presentation were moon-face, muscle weakness, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Hyperpigmentation was present in 36% of patients, and 12 patients had hypokalemia with a mean value of 2.3 mEq/L (SD 0.71). The median basal cortisol, 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) and ACTH were 30.5 ug/dL (IQR 21-59 ug/dL), 2,600 ug/24 h (IQR 253-6,487 ug/24 h) and 91 pg/mL (IQR 31.9-141.9), respectively. Thirteen patients (92.8%) had the site of the primary lesion identified. Six patients had undergone a surgical intervention to address the primary tumor. Resection was curative in 28.5% of patients. Death occurred in 57.1% of patients, and the median overall survival was 27 months. Intrathoracic tumors had the most aggressive behavior. CONCLUSION: ECS is a rare disease; however, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A rapid intervention supported by an interdisciplinary group is required to improve overall survival and quality of life.

Ectopic Cushing syndrome in Colombia

ABSTRACT Objective The aim was to describe the clinical features of patients with ectopic Cushing syndrome (ECS) from Colombia and compare these findings with other series to provide the best management for these patients. Materials and methods Records of patients with ECS from 1986 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed; patients with a diagnosis of adrenal or pituitary Cushing syndrome (CS) were excluded. Results Fourteen patients with ECS were analyzed in this study. The mean age was 54.4 (SD 17.1) years, and the female to male ratio was 1.33:1. Regarding the etiology of ECS, four patients had lung carcinoids (28.6%), three had small-cell lung carcinoma (21.4%), three had pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (21.4%), one had medullary thyroid cancer (7.1%), one had non-metastatic pheochromocytoma (7.1%), one had metastatic thymoma (7.1%) and one patient had an occult source of ACTH (7.1%). The most common clinical features at presentation were moon-face, muscle weakness, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Hyperpigmentation was present in 36% of patients, and 12 patients had hypokalemia with a mean value of 2.3 mEq/L (SD 0.71). The median basal cortisol, 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) and ACTH were 30.5 ug/dL (IQR 21-59 ug/dL), 2,600 ug/24 h (IQR 253-6,487 ug/24 h) and 91 pg/mL (IQR 31.9-141.9), respectively. Thirteen patients (92.8%) had the site of the primary lesion identified. Six patients had undergone a surgical intervention to address the primary tumor. Resection was curative in 28.5% of patients. Death occurred in 57.1% of patients, and the median overall survival was 27 months. Intrathoracic tumors had the most aggressive behavior. Conclusions ECS is a rare disease; however, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A rapid intervention supported by an interdisciplinary group is required to improve overall survival and quality of life

Molecular systematics and biogeography of lowland antpittas (Aves, Grallariidae): The role of vicariance and dispersal in the diversification of a widespread Neotropical lineage.

We infer phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and the diversification history of the avian Neotropical antpitta genera Hylopezus and Myrmothera (Grallariidae), based on sequence data (3,139 base pairs) from two mitochondrial (ND2 and ND3) and three nuclear nuclear introns (TGFB2, MUSK and FGB-I5) from 142 individuals of the 12 currently recognized species in Hylopezus and Myrmothera and 5 outgroup species. Phylogenetic analyses recovered 19 lineages clustered into two major clades, both distributed in Central and South America. Hylopezus nattereri, previously considered a subspecies of H. ochroleucus, was consistently recovered as the most divergent lineage within the Grallaricula/Hylopezus/Myrmothera clade. Ancestral range estimation suggested that modern lowland antpittas probably originated in the Amazonian Sedimentary basin during the middle Miocene, and that most lineages within the Hylopezus/Myrmothera clade appeared in the Plio-Pleistocene. However, the rate of diversification in the Hylopezus/Myrmothera clade appeared to have remained constant through time, with no major shifts over the 20 million years. Although the timing when most modern lineages of the Hylopezus/Myrmothera clade coincides with a period of intense landscape changes in the Neotropics (Plio-Pleistocene), the absence of any significant shifts in diversification rates over the last 20 million years challenges the view that there is a strict causal relationship between intensification of landscape changes and cladogenesis. The relative old age of the Hylopezus/Myrmothera clade coupled with an important role ascribed to dispersal for its diversification, favor an alternative scenario whereby long-term persistence and dispersal across an ever-changing landscape might explain constant rates of cladogenesis through time.

Clinical Outcomes After 1 Year of Augmented Insulin Pump Therapy in Patients with Diabetes in a Specialized Diabetes Center in Medellín, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes can be difficult to control. Augmented pump therapy (CSII-rtCGM) has become an important tool for controlling blood glucose and decreasing hypoglycemia. METHODS: Describe the results 1 year after starting CSII-rtCGM in patients with diabetes in Medellín, Colombia. This is an observational, retrospective study. Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes started on CSII-rtCGM between January 2008 and June 2015 were included. Qualitative variables were analyzed as absolute or relative frequencies. Quantitative variables were obtained through central tendency and dispersion according to the normal distribution of the analyzed variable using Kolmogorov-Smirnov. SPSS 19 from IBM was used. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven patients were identified, of those 183 were included. The starting HbA1C was 8.7% ± 1.7% and 7.4% ± 0.8% (P < 0.05) 1 year later. 16.5% of patients had been admitted to the hospital before starting CSII-rtCGM, after 1 year the admission rate was 6.0% (P < 0.05). The incidence of severe hypoglycemia at the beginning was 32%, 1 year later it was 7.1%. CONCLUSION: CSII-rtCGM therapy improves glucose control and decreases severe hypoglycemic events and hospital admission rate.

Parathyroid cysts: the Latin-American experience.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid cyst is an infrequent and unsuspected disease. There are more than 300 hundred cases reported in the world literature, a few of them are from Latin America. The experience of our centers and a review of the cases are presented. METHODS: Case report of a series of patients with parathyroid cyst from our institutions according to the CARE guidelines (Case Reports). A search of Medline, Embase, BIREME (Biblioteca Regional de Medicina) LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud), Google Scholar and Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library on Line) databases and telephonic or email communications with other experts from Latin-America was performed . RESULTS: Six patients with parathyroid cyst were found in our centers in Colombia. Most of them were managed with aspiration of the cyst. Two of them required surgery. Only one case was functional. Twelve reports from Latin America were found for a total of 18 cases in our region adding ours. CONCLUSIONS: Parathyroid cysts are uncommonly reported in Latin America. Most of them are diagnosed postoperatively. Suspicion for parathyroid cyst should be raised when a crystal clear fluid is aspirated from a cyst. The confirmation of the diagnosis may be easily done if parathyroid hormone (PTH) level is measured in the cyst fluid.

Epidemiological characterization of diabetic patients on therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and continuous glucose monitoring in real time.

OBJECTIVE: To describe baseline characteristics of diabetic patients who were started on insulin pump and real time continuous glucose monitor (CSII-rtCGM) in a specialized center in Medellin, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with diabetes with complete data who were started on CSII-rtCGM between February 2010 and May 2014 were included. This is a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: 141 of 174 patients attending the clinic were included. 90,1% had type 1diabetes (T1D). The average age of T1D patients at the beginning of therapy was 31,4 years (SD 14,1). 75.8% of patients had normal weight (BMI<25), 21.0% were overweight (BMI 25-30) and 2,3% were obese (BMI>30). The median duration of T1D was 13 years (P25-P75=10.7-22.0). 14,2% of the patients were admitted at least once in the year preceding the start of CSII-rtCGM because of diabetes related complications. Mean A1c was 8.6%±1.46%. The main reasons for starting CSII-rtCGM were: poor glycemic control (50.2%); frequent hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia related to exercise, asymptomatic hypoglycemia (30.2%); severe hypoglycemia (16.44%) and dawn phenomena (3.1%). CONCLUSION: Baseline characteristics of patients included in this study who were started on CSII-rtCGM are similar to those reported in the literature. The Clinic starts CSII-rtCGM mainly in T1D patients with poor glycemic control, frequent or severe hypoglycemia despite being on basal/bolus therapy.

Inferring speciation history in the Andes with reduced-representation sequence data: an example in the bay-backed antpittas (Aves; Grallariidae; Grallaria hypoleuca s. l.).

In the Andes, humid-forest organisms frequently exhibit pronounced genetic structure and geographic variation in phenotype, often coincident with physical barriers to dispersal. However, phylogenetic relationships of clades have often been difficult to resolve due to short internodes. Consequently, even in taxa with well-defined genetic structure, the temporal and geographic sequences of dispersal and vicariance events that led to this differentiation have remained opaque, hindering efforts to test the association between diversification and earth history and to understand the assembly of species-rich communities on Andean slopes. Here, we use mitochondrial DNA and thousands of short-read sequences generated with genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to examine the geographic history of speciation in a lineage of passerine birds found in the humid forest of the Andes, the 'bay-backed' antpitta complex (Grallaria hypoleuca s. l). Mitochondrial DNA genealogies documented genetic structure among clade but were poorly resolved at nodes relevant for biogeographic inference. By contrast, relationships inferred from GBS loci were highly resolved and suggested a biogeographic history in which the ancestor originated in the northern Andes and dispersed south. Our results are consistent with a scenario of vicariant speciation wherein the range of a widespread ancestor was fragmented as a result of geologic or climatic change, rather than a stepping-stone series of dispersal events across pre-existing barriers. However, our study also highlights challenges of distinguishing dispersal-mediated speciation from static vicariance. Our results further demonstrate the substantial evolutionary timescale over which the diverse biota of the Andes was assembled.

Caracterización epidemiológica de pacientes diabéticos en terapia con infusión subcutánea continua de insulina y monitorización continua de glucosa en tiempo real / Epidemiological characterization of diabetic patients on therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and continuous glucose monitoring in real time

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar los pacientes con diabetes que iniciaron terapia con bomba de insulina y monitorización continua de glucosa en tiempo real (CSII-rtCGM) en un centro especializado de Medellín, Colombia. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron los pacientes con diabetes que recibieron entrenamiento e instalación del dispositivo en el centro entre febrero de 2010 y mayo de 2014. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 141 pacientes de los 174 pertenecientes al programa. El 90,1% tenía diabetes tipo 1 (DT1), siendo la edad promedio al inicio de la terapia de 31,4 años (SD: 14,1). El 75,8% de los pacientes tenía peso normal (IMC < 25), el 21,0% sobrepeso (IMC = 25-30) y el 2,3% era obeso (IMC ≥ 30). La mediana de duración de la enfermedad fue de 13 años (P25-P75 = 10,7-22,0). El 14,2% de los pacientes fueron hospitalizados al menos una vez en el año previo al inicio de la terapia con CSII-rtCGM por causas relacionadas con la diabetes. El promedio de hemoglobina glucosilada era de 8,6% ± 1,46%. Las principales indicaciones para la formulación de CSII-rtCGM fueron: mal control glucémico (50,2%); hipoglucemias frecuentes, nocturnas o asociadas al ejercicio y sin síntomas de alarma (30,2%); hipoglucemias severas (16,44%) y fenómeno del alba (3,1%). CONCLUSIÓN: Las características de los pacientes que inician terapia con CSII-rtCGM son similares a las reportadas en la literatura. Los resultados muestran que el centro especializado inicia esta terapia principalmente en pacientes con DT1 con mal control glucémico a pesar de la terapia intensiva, hipoglucemias leves persistentes o hipoglucemias severas

OBJECTIVE: To describe baseline characteristics of diabetic patients who were started on insulin pump and real time continuous glucose monitor (CSII-rtCGM) in a specialized center in Medellin, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with diabetes with complete data who were started on CSII-rtCGM between February 2010 and May 2014 were included. This is a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: 141 of 174 patients attending the clinic were included. 90,1% had type 1 diabetes (T1D). The average age of T1D patients at the beginning of therapy was 31,4 years (SD 14,1). 75.8% of patients had normal weight (BMI < 25), 21.0% were overweight (BMI 25-30) and 2,3% were obese (BMI > 30). The median duration of T1D was 13 years (P25-P75 = 10.7-22.0). 14,2% of the patients were admitted at least once in the year preceding the start of CSII-rtCGM because of diabetes related complications. Mean A1c was 8.6% ± 1.46%. The main reasons for starting CSII-rtCGM were: poor glycemic control (50.2%); frequent hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia related to exercise, asymptomatic hypoglycemia (30.2%); severe hypoglycemia (16.44%) and dawn phenomena (3.1%). CONCLUSION: Baseline characteristics of patients included in this study who were started on CSII-rtCGM are similar to those reported in the literature. The Clinic starts CSII-rtCGM mainly in T1D patients with poor glycemic control, frequent or severe hypoglycemia despite being on basal/bolus therapy

Caracterización matemática de la enfermedad de Legg-Calvé-Perthes mediante geometría fractal / Caractérisation mathématique de la maladie de Legg-Calvé-Perthes par géométrie fractale / Mathematical characterization of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease through the fractal geometry

Introducción: la geometría fractal permite la medición objetiva de estructuras irregulares tales como las del cuerpo humano. Esta geometría se aplicó al desarrollo de una nueva metodología de caracterización de imágenes radiográficas frontales para la evaluación de enfermedad de Legg-Calve-Perthes. Objetivos: desarrollar una nueva metodología de caracterización matemática, objetiva y reproducible de la radiografía diagnóstica de Perthes, a partir de las imágenes radiográficas frontales obtenidas de la articulación de la cadera, mediante geometría fractal. Métodos: estudio exploratorio descriptivo en el que se evaluó la morfología de la cabeza del fémur mediante la dimensión fractal obtenida por el método de Box-Counting, aplicada a 20 placas radiográficas con enfermedad de Legg-Calve-Perthes, estableciendo una nueva medida morfométrica objetiva para esta enfermedad. Resultados: se obtuvieron nuevas medidas morfométricas objetivas y reproducibles de imágenes radiográficas frontales para la evaluación de enfermedad de Perthes a partir de dimensiones fractales. Conclusiones: la geometría fractal permite la caracterización matemática objetiva y reproducible de imágenes radiográficas frontales de la cadera para la evaluación de enfermedad de Perthes(AU)

Introduction: fractal geometry allows the objective measurement of irregular structures such as those of the human body. This geometry is applied to the development of a new methodology for characterization of front radiographic images for the evaluation of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Objectives: to develop a new methodology for the mathematical, objective and reproducible characterization of diagnostic radiography of Perthes disease from the front radiographic images of the hip joint by using the fractal geometry. Methods: descriptive and exploratory study that evaluated the morphology of the femur head through the fractal dimension estimated by the Box-Counting method, which was then applied to 20 radiographies of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, thus establishing a new objective morphometric measure for this disease. Results: new objective reproducible morphometric measures of front radiographic images were reached to evaluate Perthes disease, taking fractual dimensions as a basis. Conclusions: fractal geometry allows the mathematical, objective and reproducible characterization of front radiographic images of the hip for the final evaluation of Perthes disease(AU)

Introduction: la géométrie fractale permet de mesurer objectivement les structures irrégulières telles que celles du corps humain. Cette géométrie a été appliquée au développement d'une nouvelle méthodologie de caractérisation des images radiographiques frontales pour l'évaluation de la maladie de Legg-Calve-Perthes. Objectifs: le but de cette étude est de développer une nouvelle méthodologie de caractérisation mathématique, objective et reproductible de la radiographie diagnostique de Perthes, à partir des images radiographiques frontales obtenues de l'articulation de la hanche par géométrie fractale. Méthodes: une étude descriptive préliminaire a été réalisée afin d'évaluer la morphologie de la tête fémorale par mesure de la dimension fractale (méthode de box-counting), appliquée à 20 plaques radiographiques de la maladie de Legg-Calve-Perthes, en établissant une nouvelle mesure morpho-métrique objective pour cette maladie. Résultats: on a obtenue de nouvelles mesures morpho-métriques objectives et reproductibles des images radiographiques frontales pour l'évaluation de la maladie de Legg-Calve-Perthes à partir des dimensions fractales. Conclusions: la géométrie fractale permet une caractérisation mathématique objective et reproductible des images radiographiques frontales de la hanche pour l'évaluation de cette maladie(AU)

Clinical efficacy of infliximab in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in a latin american referral population.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that infliximab (IFX) is effective in the management of moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis (UC). Latin American studies are lacking. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of IFX treatment (including corticosteroid withdrawal, complete mucosal healing, colectomy and hospitalization rates) in patients with moderate to severe UC. METHODS: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted on patients with UC in Medellín (Colombia). We included patients steroid dependent or refractory to conventional treatment. RESULTS: Between October 2005 and July 2011, 28 patients with moderate to severe UC received IFX infusions; the median of the follow-up was 27.4 months (range: 1-69 months). Twenty-four patients (86%) had a short-term primary response, whilst 19 (68%) achieved initial clinical remission. After 1 year, 17 (71%) out of the 24 patients who had an initial response were also showing a sustained response, and 10 (42%) remained in clinical remission. At 6 months, complete mucosal healing was observed in 29% of patients and endoscopic improvement in 57%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the IFX use in patients with moderate to severe active UC in a Latin American population. We found that IFX therapy is effective for inducing clinical remission, and that most patients who had an initial response showed a long-term sustained response.

Consenso médico de biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina de tiroides. reporte de citología tiroidea basado en el sistema de bethesda / Medical consensus of fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid. bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology

En este artículo se presenta un consenso médico basado en el sistema de Bethesda del Instituto Nacionalde Cáncer (Estados Unidos) para el uso de la biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina en el manejo de nódulos tiroideos, realizado en conjunto con patólogos, radiólogos, endocrinólogos y otras especialidades médicas de Colombia, España, Chile, Venezuela, Estados Unidos y Panamá. En este trabajo se describen las indicaciones de la biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina de tiroides, requisitos previos, entrenamiento, acreditación, técnicas, terminología diagnóstica, pruebas complementarias y opciones de tratamiento. El objetivo del actual artículo es presentar ante la comunidad médica la clasificación de los reportes citológicos, el reporte de ecografía que propone usar el sistema de datos y el reporte de imágenes tiroideas (TIRADS, del inglés The Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System), el uso de la medición de tiroglobulina en biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina y técnicas de citología líquida;...

This article presents a medical consensus based on the Bethesda system of the National Cancer Institute (USA) for the use of fine needle aspiration biopsy in the management of thyroid nodules. This consensus was performed in conjunction with pathologists, radiologists, endocrinologists, and other medical specialties of Colombia, Spain, Chile, Venezuela, United States, and Panama. In this work was described the indications for fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid, prerequisites, training, accreditation, techniques, diagnostic terminology, additional tests and treatment options. The aim of this article is present to the medical community the classification of cytological report, ultrasound report using the data system, and the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS); as well as, the use of thyroglobulin measurement in fine needle aspiration biopsy, and liquid-based cytology techniques...

Diagnóstico cardiaco basado en la probabilidad aplicado a pacientes con marcapasos / Cardiac diagnosis based on probability applied to patients with pacemakers

Introducción: la teoría de la probabilidad permitió el desarrollo de una nueva metodología de ayuda diagnóstica del Holter. En este trabajo se aplicó este método al diagnóstico a pacientes con marcapasos. Metodología: se seleccionaron 5 Holter normales y 10 de pacientes mayores de 21 años con implante de marcapasos. Se calculó la probabilidad del número de frecuencias obtenidas en los rangos definidos, respecto a la totalidad de frecuencias obtenidas en cada Holter, durante mínimo 21 horas, cuantificando el número de rangos en cada paciente, además de estimar la diferencia entre los rangos de los dos valores de frecuencia con mayor probabilidad y la suma de las probabilidades de dichos valores. Se evaluó la probabilidad del número total de latidos por hora a partir de rangos de 250 latidos, determinando la máxima probabilidad encontrada en cada Holter y determinando el diagnóstico físico matemático con base en los parámetros establecidos en el trabajo previo. Resultados: las dinámicas con marcapasos presentaron para el parámetro de evaluación 1, un total de rangos de frecuencias que osciló entre 9 y 16, donde sólo un Holter presentó un valor superior a 14, requiriendo su evaluación con los parámetros 2 y 3, evidenciando que las dinámicas de pacientes con implante de marcapasos presentan siempre un comportamiento característico de enfermedad. Las dinámicas normales presentaron entre 16 y 21 rangos, donde sólo dos Holter presentaron valores menores o iguales a 17, los cuales al ser evaluados con los parámetros restantes fueron diagnosticados como normales. El sobrelapamiento de las probabilidades de las frecuencias cardiacas evidencia que la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca no diferencia fundamentalmente normalidad de enfermedad y evolución entre éstas. Conclusión: la metodología con base en la probabilidad es adecuada para detectar el estado de anormalidad de la dinámica cardiaca de pacientes con marcapasos. (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 183-191).

Introduction: the theory of probability allowed the development of a new diagnostic aid methodology of Holter. In this work we applied this method to diagnose patients with pacemakers. Methods: we selected 5 normal Holter and 10 patients over 21 years with pacemaker implantation. We calculated the probability of the number of frequencies obtained in the ranges defined with respect to the totality of frequencies obtained in each Holter, during at least 21 hours, quantifying the number of ranges in each patient, in addition to estimating the difference between the most likely two frequency value ranges and the sum of the probabilities of these values. We assessed the likelihood of the total number of beats per hour from ranges of 250 beats, determining the maximum likelihood found in each Holter and determining the physical mathematical diagnosis based on parameters established on the previous work. Instituciones: Grupo Insight: Línea de Profundización e Internado Especial: Teorías Físicas y Matemáticas Aplicadas a la Medicina - Universidad Militar Nueva Granada: Centro de Investigaciones de la Clínica del Country: Proyecto Nano Puente A-V. Results: the dynamics with pacemakers presented for 1evaluation parameter a total range of frequencies that ranged from 9 to 16, where only one holter presented a value greater than 14, requiring evaluation with 2 and 3 parameters, showing that dynamics of patients with implanted pacemakers have always a characteristic disease behavior. Normal dynamics showed ranges between 16 and 21, with only two holter showing values less than or equal to 17, which when evaluated with the remaining parameters were diagnosed as normal. The overlap of probabilities of the heart rates evidence that the heart rate variability does not differentiate essentially normality from disease, nor evolution among these. Conclusion: the method based on the likelihood is suitable for detecting the abnormality state of heart dynamics of patients with pacemakers. (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 183-191).

Hepatitis autoinmune asociada al uso de adalimumab en un paciente con artritis reumatoide / Autoimmune hepatitis associated to adalimumab in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

La hepatitis autoinmune es una entidad progresiva de causa desconocida. en su patogénesis, se han propuesto disparadores ambientales, como virus y drogas, que al actuar sobre un paciente predispuesto genéticamente, desencadenan eventos mediados por células t, llevando a injuria hepatocelular. Los antagonistas del factor de necrosis tumoral son medicamentos utilizados para el manejo de la artritis reumatoide. se ha demostrado, sin embargo, que pueden generar daño hepático por diferentes mecanismos, uno de ellos la inducción de hepatitis autoinmune; la mayoría de los casos publicados se han asociado al uso de infliximab o etanercept. Se presenta un caso de hepatitis autoinmune inducido por adalimumab en una paciente con artritis reumatoide. (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 147-151).

Autoimmune hepatitis is a progressive autoimmune disease of unknown cause. in regard to its pathogenesis, environmental triggers such as viruses and drugs have been proposed . these triggers when acting on a genetically predisposed patient, trigger t cell-mediated events, leading to hepatocellular injury. tumor necrosis factor antagonists are drugs used for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. it has been shown, however, that they can generate liver damage by different mechanisms, one of which is induction of autoimmune hepatitis. Most of the reported cases have been associated with use of infliximab or etanercept. We report a case of autoimmune hepatitis induced by adalimumab in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 147-151).