Terapias de purificación sanguínea en COVID-19 / Blood purification therapies in COVID-19

Resumen Introducción: el COVID-19 es una enfermedad causada por un nuevo beta coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), cuyo espectro incluye casos severos con neumonía y complicaciones sistémicas que se dan como consecuencia de una liberación exagerada de mediadores inflamatorios conocida como "tormenta de citoquinas". En este tipo de pacientes las terapias de purificación sanguínea, incluyendo la hemoadsorción y la terapia plasmática podrían tener un beneficio clínico importante y evitar las complicaciones como disfunción multiorgánica y muerte. Objetivo: revisar toda la literatura disponible acerca de las terapias de purificación sanguínea y sus beneficios en los pacientes con COVID-19. Materiales y métodos: se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura en las bases de datos ClinicalKey, Embase, PubMed y Ovid con los términos "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "Tormenta de citoquinas", "terapias de purificación sanguínea", "sepsis", "hemoadsorción" y "CytoSorb". Resultados: se encontraron 246 referencias y luego de aplicar los filtros, se seleccionaron 61 publicaciones con contenido relevante para la presente revisión. Conclusión: teniendo en cuenta su gran evidencia científica en el manejo de la tormenta de citoquinas en otros escenarios, las terapias de purificación sanguínea, que incluyen técnicas difusivas, convectivas, de hemoadsorción y terapia plasmática, pueden ser herramientas de tratamiento muy prometedoras en pacientes con COVID-19.

Abstract Introduction: COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new beta coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), whose spectrum includes severe cases with pneumonia and systemic complications that occur as a consequence of an exaggerated release of inflammatory mediators known as "cytokine storm". In this type of patients, blood purification therapies, including hemoadsorption and plasma therapy, could have an important clinical benefit and avoid complications such as multiple organ dysfunction and death. Objective: to review all available literature about blood purification therapies and their benefits in patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: a literature search was conducted in the ClinicalKey, Embase, PubMed and Ovid databases using the terms "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "Tormenta de citoquinas", "terapias de purificación sanguínea", "sepsis", "hemoadsorción" and "CytoSorb". Results: 246 references were found and after applying filters, 61 publications with relevant content for the present review were selected. Conclusion: taking into account the great scientific evidence in the management of the cytokine storm in other scenarios, blood purification therapies, including diffusive, convective, hemoadsorption and plasma therapy techniques, could be very promising treatment tools for patients with COVID-19.

Differential Item Functioning of the Psychological Domain of the Menopause Rating Scale.

Introduction. Quality of life could be quantified with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), which evaluates the severity of somatic, psychological, and urogenital symptoms in menopause. However, differential item functioning (DIF) analysis has not been applied previously. Objective. To establish the DIF of the psychological domain of the MRS in Colombian women. Methods. 4,009 women aged between 40 and 59 years, who participated in the CAVIMEC (Calidad de Vida en la Menopausia y Etnias Colombianas) project, were included. Average age was 49.0 ± 5.9 years. Women were classified in mestizo, Afro-Colombian, and indigenous. The results were presented as averages and standard deviation (X ± SD). A p value <0.001 was considered statistically significant. Results. In mestizo women, the highest X ± SD were obtained in physical and mental exhaustion (PME) (0.86 ± 0.93) and the lowest ones in anxiety (0.44 ± 0.79). In Afro-Colombian women, an average score of 0.99 ± 1.07 for PME and 0.63 ± 0.88 for anxiety was gotten. Indigenous women obtained an increased average score for PME (1.33 ± 0.93). The lowest score was evidenced in depressive mood (0.50 ± 0.81), which is different from other Colombian women (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The psychological items of the MRS show differential functioning according to the ethnic group, which may induce systematic error in the measurement of the construct.

Instruments to study sleep disorders in climacteric women.

To identify the scales to assess sleep disorders applied to women with climacteric stage. Bibliographical research without intervention, the available information in scientific databases. Performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Ebscohos OvidSP and Health Library. The words used in this article: insomnia, adjustment sleep disorder, questionnaires, studies and menopause. Publications of all types were included. Seven scales were identified: Insomnia Severity Index, Athens Insomnia Scale, Pittsburgh Quality of sleep Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Jenkins Sleep Scale, Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire and The St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire. There are validated scales in multiple languages and considered appropriate for studying sleep disorders.

Early and premature menopause in women with diabetes mellitus Type 2.

Those women who have early menopause have major cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The menopause below 40 years of age has been associated to increase in the risk of early beginning of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, disorders characterized by hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance due to deficiency of insulin, decrease of the effectiveness of its action or both. The menopausal hormone therapy is the principal therapeutic tool, with the aim to contribute estrogens to suppress the clinical symptomatology and to make a favorably impact on the estrogen-dependent tissues. The existing data regarding menopausal hormone therapy in women experiencing menopause at the median age should not be extrapolated to women experiencing premature menopause.

Manejo de la atrofia vulvovaginal posmenopáusica / Management of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy

Objetivo: Identificar las propuestas terapéuticas disponibles para el manejo de la vulvovaginitis atrófica o atrofia vulvovaginal posmenopáusica (AVVP) o síndrome genitourinario de la menopausia. Metodología: Revisión temática sin intervención en la cual se incluyeron artículos cuyo principal criterio fue tratamiento y manejo de la AVVP, obtenidos luego de búsqueda en las bases de datos: Pubmed, Science Direct, Embase, Medline y Scielo. 2119 títulos se consideraron adecuados, 136 ajustados al objetivo y en 87 fue identificada información relevante. Resultados: Diferentes estrategias terapéuticas han mostrado eficacia para el tratamiento de AVVP. Cambios en el estilo de vida, como evitar el hábito de fumar, prevenir la obesidad, realizar ejercicio físico y adelantar actividad sexual, pueden ser beneficiosos. Los hidratantes y lubricantes vaginales son la primera línea terapéutica para mejorar la AVVP, los primeros se administran permanentemente y los últimos en el coito. Existe controversia acerca de la importancia de la vitamina D, isoflavonas y diferentes hierbas. La terapia estrogénica local es la terapéutica más efectiva y debe preferirse siempre en AVVP severa, puede ser estriol, estradiol, estrógenos conjugados o estrona. El ospemifeno, un modulador selectivo del receptor estrogénico, está aprobado para la AVVP. Se encuentran en investigación los TSECs, existe poca información sobre la eficacia de DHEA y son buenos los resultados con los STEAR. Estudios iniciales han señalado los beneficios del láser fraccionado de CO2. Conclusiones: Diferentes medidas son adecuadas para tratar la AVVP, para que las mujeres conserven saludable la vagina y disfruten la actividad sexual.

Objective: To identify the available therapeutic proposals for the management of the atrophic vulvovaginitis or vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopause (VVAP) or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Methods: Thematic review without intervention in which there was included articles whose main criterion was treatment and management of the VVAP, obtained after search in the databases: Pubmed, Science Direct, Embase, Medline and Scielo. 2119 titles were considered appropriate, 136 were adjusted to the aim and in 87 relevants information was identified. Results: Different therapeutic strategies have shown effectiveness for the treatment of the VVAP. Changes in the lifestyle, as to avoid the smoking habit, to prevent the obesity, to do exercise and to practice sexual activity, could be beneficial. The vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are the first-line therapies for the improvement of the VVAP, the first ones are administered permanently and the last ones are used during the coitus. There is controversy about the importance of the D vitamin, soya isoflavones and different herbs. The local estrogen therapy is the most effective therapeutic and it always must be preferred in severe VVAP. It could be estriol, estradiol, conjugated estrogens or estrone. The ospemifene, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator, is approved for the VVAP. The TSECs are in research, few information exists about the effectiveness of DHEA and the results with the STEAR are good. Initial studies have indicated the benefits of the fractional CO2 laser. Conclusions: Different measures are appropriate to treat the VVAP, in order that the women preserve a healthy vagina and enjoy the sexual activity.