The Immunoglobulin M-Shed Acute Phase Antigen (SAPA)-test for the Early Diagnosis of Congenital Chagas Disease in the Time of the Elimination Goal of Mother-to-Child Transmission.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of congenital Chagas disease (CChD) in most endemic areas is based on low-sensitive microscopy at birth and 9-month immunoglobulin G (IgG), which has poor adherence. We aim to evaluate the accuracy of the Immunoglobulin M (IgM)-Shed Acute Phase Antigen (SAPA) test in the diagnosis of CChD at birth. METHODS: Two cohort studies (training and validation cohorts) were conducted in 3 hospitals in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Pregnant women were screened for Chagas disease, and all infants born to seropositive mothers were followed for up to 9 months to diagnose CChD. A composite reference standard was used to determine congenital infection and was based on the parallel use of microscopy, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and IgM-trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigen (TESA) blot at birth and/or 1 month, and/or the detection of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi IgG at 6 or 9 months. The diagnostic accuracy of the IgM-SAPA test was calculated at birth against the composite reference standard. RESULTS: Adherence to the 6- or 9-month follow-up ranged from 25.3% to 59.7%. Most cases of CChD (training and validation cohort: 76.5% and 83.7%, respectively) were detected during the first month of life using the combination of microscopy, qPCR, and/or IgM-TESA blot. Results from the validation cohort showed that when only 1 infant sample obtained at birth was evaluated, the qPCR and the IgM-SAPA test have similar accuracy (sensitivity: range, 79.1%-97.1% and 76.7%-94.3%, respectively, and specificity: 99.5% and 92.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The IgM-SAPA test has the potential to be implemented as an early diagnostic tool in areas that currently rely only on microscopy.

Ascitis fetal: a propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Fetal ascites: Apropos of a case and literature review

Fetal ascites is defined as the presence of intraperitoneal fluid that may be part of a generalized or isolated hydrops. The mortality of non-immune ascites, both fetal and neonatal, is approximately 60%. We present a case of fetal ascites not associated with hydrops and we review the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic approach and treatment of this fetal and neonatal condition.

La ascitis fetal se define como la presencia de líquido intraperitoneal que puede ser parte de un hidrops generalizado o aislado. La mortalidad de la ascitis no inmune, tanto fetal como neonatal, es aproximadamente 60%. Se presenta un caso de ascitis fetal no asociada a hidrops y se revisa la patogenia, clínica y el enfoque diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta condición fetal y neonatal.

Trypomastigote Excretory Secretory Antigen Blot Is Associated With Trypanosoma cruzi Load and Detects Congenital T. cruzi Infection in Neonates, Using Anti-Shed Acute Phase Antigen Immunoglobulin M.

Background: Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi infection accounts for an estimated 22% of new cases of Chagas disease in Latin America. However, neonatal diagnosis is challenging, as 9-month follow-up for immunoglobulin G testing is poor, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis is not routinely performed, and the micromethod misses ≥40% of congenital infections. Methods: Biorepository samples from new mothers and their infants from Piura, Peru, (an area of nonendemicity), and Santa Cruz, Bolivia (an area of endemicity) were accessed. Infant specimens were assessed using the micromethod, qPCR analysis, and a trypomastigote excretory secretory antigen (TESA) blot for detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM)-specific shed acute phase antigen (SAPA) bands, using qPCR as the gold standard. Results: When compared to qPCR, IgM TESA blot was both sensitive and specific for congenital Chagas disease diagnosis. Cumulative sensitivity (whether only 4 bands or all 6 bands were present) was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59%-92%). Specificity was 94% (95% CI, 92%-96%) in the area of endemicity and 100% in the area of nonendemicity. SAPA bands occurred sequentially and in pairs, and parasite loads correlated highly with the number of SAPA bands present. The micromethod detected infection in fewer than half of infected infants. Conclusions: The IgM TESA blot for detection of SAPA bands is rapid, relatively inexpensive, and more sensitive than the micromethod and may be a useful point-of-care test for detection of congenital T. cruzi infection.

Prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus: findings from a universal screening feasibility program in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global public health concern with potential implications for the health of a mother and her offspring. However, data on the prevalence and risk factors of GDM in Latin America are scarce. The study was designed to estimate the prevalence of GDM and identify maternal risk factors among Peruvian women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1300 pregnant women attending a prenatal clinic in Lima, Peru. GDM was diagnosed using an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) performed between 24 and 28 gestational weeks using the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. Depression status was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors of GDM. RESULTS: Approximately 16% of pregnant women were diagnosed with GDM. The prevalence of obesity and depression were 24.4 and 10.6%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, mid-pregnancy obesity was associated with a 1.64-fold increased odds of GDM (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.03-2.61). Participants with a family history of diabetes had a 1.5-fold increased odds of developing GDM (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.10-2.07) as compared to women without this family history. Depression was associated with a 1.54-fold increased odds of GDM (OR: 1.54; 95% CI:1.09-2.17). CONCLUSIONS: GDM is highly prevalent and was associated with maternal obesity, family history of diabetes and antepartum depression among Peruvian women. Intervention programs aimed at early diagnoses and management of GDM need to take maternal obesity, family history of diabetes and antepartum depression into account.

Manejo prenatal del teratoma sacroccocígeo, a propósito del primer caso sometido a transfusión sanguínea intrauterina en el Perú / Prenatal management of sacroccocygeal teratoma, a propos of the first case subjected to intrauterine blood transfusion in Peru

El teratoma sacrococcígeo es una enfermedad rara en el feto, pero con alta mortalidad perinatal debido al secuestro de flujo sanguíneo y consiguiente desarrollo de anemia fetal severa. Presentamos el caso de una gestante de 27 semanas referida a nuestro servicio para manejo prenatal de un feto con teratoma sacrococcígeo gigante, que desarrolló anemia fetal severa y fue sometido a una transfusión intrauterina intravascular, la cual pudo prolongar el embarazo y mejorar los resultados perinatales.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma is a rare fetal disease but with high perinatal mortality due to sequestration of blood flow and consequent development of severe fetal anemia. We present the case of a 27 weeks pregnant woman referred to our service for prenatal management of a fetus with giant sacrococcygeal teratoma and severe anemia and who was subjected to intrauterine intravascular transfusion that could permit prolongation of the pregnancy and improve perinatal results.

Valor predictivo del índice de pulsatilidad promedio de las arterias uterinas en la predicción de preeclampsia en las gestantes entre 11 y 14 semanas, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal / Predictive value of mean pulsatility index of uterine arteries in the prediction of preeclampsia in pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks, National Maternal Perinatal Institute

Los trastornos hipertensivos son una de las complicaciones más frecuentes del embarazo, constituyendo un problema de salud pública mundial. En el Perú se registra entre un 10% y 14%, y constituye una de las tres primeras causas de mortalidad materna y de retardo del crecimiento intrauterino. En los últimos años se ha demostrado que un patrón anormal en las ondas velocidad de flujo de las arterias uterinas durante el primer trimestre del embarazo está relacionado con un mayor riesgo de desarrollar preeclampsia. Objetivo: Determinar el índice de pulsatilidad (IP) promedio de las arterias uterinas y calcular el valor predictivo del percentil mayor o igual que 95 (p95) en la predicción de preeclampsia en las gestantes entre 11 y 14 semanas de gestación. Métodos: Estudio longitudinal llevado a cabo en la Unidad de Medicina Fetal del Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, hospital docente de la ciudad de Lima, en el periodo mayo de 2009 a marzo de 2010. Las participantes fueron gestantes entre 11 y 14 semanas. Se realizó una evaluación Doppler de las arterias uterinas en las gestantes que acudían a su control prenatal. Mediante Doppler color se identificaron las arterias uterinas derecha e izquierda y luego con el Doppler pulsado se obtuvieron las ondas de velocidad de flujo. Se realizó la determinación del índice de pulsatilidad (IP) promedio de las arterias uterinas, identificación del p95, determinación de la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y negativo (VPN). Resultados: De las 120 pacientes estudiadas, 24 presentaron hipertensión gestacional (20%), seis preeclampsia leve (5%) y cuatro preeclampsia severa (3.3%). El valor del IP promedio para el p95 fue 2.66. La capacidad predictiva del IP anormal (IP 2.66) se estableció estimando una sensibilidad de 20% (IC95%: 0.0% a 49.8%), especificidad de 96.4% (IC95%: 92.4% a 100%), VPP de 33.3% (IC95%: 0.0% a 79.4%), VPN de 93.0% (IC95%: 87.9% a 98.1%)...

Hypertensive disorders are one of the most common complications during pregnancy, constituting a public health problem worldwide. It has been reported between 10% and 14% of pregnancy, in Peru, and it is one of the three leading causes of maternal mortality and intrauterine growth retardation. In recent years it has been shown that an abnormal pattern on the flow rate of the uterine arteries during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. Objective: To determine the pulsatility index (PI) average of the uterine arteries and calculate the predictive value of percentile more or equal than 95 (p95) in the prediction of preeclampsia in pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation. Methods: A longitudinal study conducted in the Fetal Medicine Unit of the National Maternal Perinatal Institute, a teaching hospital in the city of Lima, in the period May 2009 to March 2010. Participants were pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks. An assessment of uterine artery Doppler in pregnant women attending prenatal care was performed. Color Doppler identified the right and left uterine arteries and then obtained Doppler waves velocity. We performed the determination of the pulsatility index average of the uterine arteries, identification of p95, determination of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV). Results: Of the 120 patients studied, 24 had gestational hypertension (20%), six mild pre-eclampsia (5%) and four severe pre-eclampsia (3.3%). The average value of IP for p95 was 2.66. The predictive ability of abnormal IP (IP 2.66) was established by estimating a sensitivity of 20% (95%CI 0.0% to 49.8%), specificity of 96.4% (95%CI 92.4% to 100%), PPV of 33.3% (95%CI 0.0% to 79.4%), NPV of 93.0% (95%CI 87.9% to 98.1%) and validity index of 90.0% (95%CI 84.2% to 95.8%). The estimated relative risk was 4.75 (95%CI: 1.28 to 17.68)...

Risk of impending preterm delivery associated with the presence of amniotic fluid sludge in women in preterm labor with intact membranes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of amniotic fluid sludge with impending preterm delivery in women in preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in women at 22-34 weeks' gestation in preterm labor with intact fetal membranes between February 2008 and May 2009. 16 women with amniotic sludge were identified. Each case of amniotic sludge was matched with 3 randomly selected controls. The primary outcome was delivery within 48 h of examination. RESULTS: Mean cervical length was shorter in women with sludge than women without sludge (20.5 ± 9.0 vs. 27.9 ± 6.9 mm, p = 0.0016). There was a significant difference in the mean ultrasound-to-delivery interval in women with and without sludge (21.7 vs. 49.4 days, p = 0.006). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that amniotic fluid sludge is a strong independent predictor of impending preterm delivery within 48 h (OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.2-125.9), 7 days (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-17.3) and 14 days (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.8-30.4). CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic fluid sludge on ultrasound scan is associated with impending preterm delivery in women in preterm labor with intact membranes.

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of duplicated middle cerebral artery.

We report a fetus scanned by color Doppler ultrasound at 37 weeks for suspicion of growth restriction with an extremely rare variation of duplicated middle cerebral artery. Three-dimensional color power Doppler and tomographic ultrasound imaging enhanced our incidental finding.

El censo: resultados y perpectivas para la planificación del desarrollo / The census: results and prospects for the development planning

En la exposición presento el objetivo del censo, implicaciones del censo, beneficiarios de lso resultados censales y el sistema de indicadores. En el comentario se recomienda al INE que procese esta información en el menor tiempo posible que sea transparente y difundida de manera democrática. Al final se encuentran también las lineas de acción

Uso de drogas sociales en estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo de Huaraz / Use of social drugs in students of the UNASAM

El presente estudio, de tipo descriptivo correlacional, describe y establece relaciones entre las variables de prevalencia de uso de drogas sociales, con las variables socioeconómicas y familiares, en una muestra probabilística de 290 estudiantes que cursaban del I al X ciclo en la Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, se ha utilizado un cuestionario previamente validado por criterios de jueces y estudio piloto. Se concluye que la prevalencia de usos de drogas sociales es alto y similar tanto para el alcohol (84.3) como para el tabaco (80.3), en los estudiantes de la UNASAM, siendo mayor la prevalencia, como la frecuencia de uso, para los varones en comparación a las mujeres; en las edades de 20 a 29 años y en los primeros ciclos académicos.

This research, a descriptive correlational one, describes and stablishes relationships between the prevalence variables of social drugs use and the socioeconomic and family variables in a probabilistic sample of 290 studentes attending from I to X semester at UNASAM. It has been used a questionary previously validated by judges criteria and a pilot study. The conclusion was that the prevalence of social drugs use is high and similar for alcohol (84.3) as well as for tabaco (80.3) in the UNASAM students, being the prevalence and the frecuency os use higher in men than in women, in ages between, in ages between 20 and 29 and in the firts semesters.

Prevalencia de insuficiencia renal crónica en la ciudad de Lima*Perú, enero 1990 / Prevalence of kidney failure, chronic in the Lima-Peru city, january 1990

Con la finalidad de tener una primera aproximación a la prevalencia de pacientes urémicos en la ciudad de Lima así como sus procedencias, tipo de cobertura y tratamiento existente, se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en el mes de enero de 1990 en todos los servicios de salud de la ciudad. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: última úrea sérica mayor-igual a 100 mg. por decilitro o creatinina sérica mayor-igual a 5 mg. por ciento o depuración de Creatinina menor-igual a 10cc. por min. por 1.73 m2 de SC o tratamiento dialítico o sintomatología de uremia asociada a 1 o más de los criterios anteriores. La tasa total fue de 122 pacientes por millón de habitantes, para una población estimada de la ciudad de 6`423,000. El 88.1 por ciento de los pacientes contaban con un seguro permanente para el soporte dialítico; el 3.07 por ciento tenían un seguro transitorio y el 8.73 por ciento carecían de cualquier soporte. El 92.8 por ciento de los pacientes se encontraban en Hemodiálisis Crónica, el 0.68 por ciento en Diálisis Peritoneal y el 7.8 por ciento en manejo conservador. Las causas más frecuentes de uremia fueron: No Precisable (33 por ciento), GNC-1 (24 por ciento), Nefritis Intersticial (16 por ciento), Diabetes Mellitus (10 por ciento), Hipertensión Arterial (9 por ciento), Poliquistosis Renal (4 por ciento), Otros (4 por ciento). Se enfatiza que únicamente el 10 por ciento de los pacientes diabéticos fueron DBT- Tipo I, lo que da una tasa de pacientes DBT-I marcadamente inferior a lo reportado en la literatura de otros países