Autoantibodies neutralizing GM-CSF in HIV-negative Colombian patients infected with Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or C. gattii. Autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in otherwise healthy adults with cryptococcal meningitis have been described since 2013. We searched for neutralizing auto-Abs in sera from Colombian patients with non-HIV related cryptococcosis in a retrospective national cohort collected from 1997 to 2016. Methods: We reviewed clinical and laboratory records and assessed the presence of neutralizing auto-Abs in 30 HIV (-) adults presenting cryptococcosis (13 by C. gattii, and 17 by C. neoformans). Results: We detected auto-Abs neutralizing GM-CSF in the plasma of 9 out of 13 (69%) patients infected with C. gattii and 1 out of 17 (6%) patients with C. neoformans. Conclusions: We report ten Colombian patients with cryptococcosis due to auto-Abs neutralizing GM-CSF. Nine of the ten patients were infected with C. gattii, and only one with C. neoformans.

A factorial experiment grounded in the multiphase optimization strategy to promote viral suppression among people who inject drugs on the Texas-Mexico border: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs living with HIV (PWIDLH) suffer the lowest rates of HIV viral suppression due to episodic injection drug use and poor mental health coupled with poor retention in HIV care. Approximately 44% of PWIDLH along the US-Mexico border are retained in care and only 24% are virally suppressed. This underserved region faces a potential explosion of transmission of HIV due to highly prevalent injection drug use. This protocol describes an optimization trial to promote sustained viral suppression among Spanish-speaking Latinx PWIDLH. METHODS: The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) is an engineering-inspired framework for designing and building optimized interventions and guides this intervention. The primary aim is to conduct a 24 factorial experiment in which participants are randomized to one of 16 intervention conditions, with each condition comprising a different combination of four behavioral intervention components. The components are peer support for methadone uptake and persistence; behavioral activation therapy for depression; Life-Steps medication adherence counseling; and patient navigation for HIV care. Participants will complete a baseline survey, undergo intervention, and then return for 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments. The primary outcome is sustained viral suppression, defined as viral loads of < 40 copies per mL at 6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments. Results will yield effect sizes for each component and each additive and interactive combination of components. The research team and partners will make decisions about what constitutes the optimized multi-component intervention by judging the observed effect sizes, interactions, and statistical significance against real-world implementation constraints. The secondary aims are to test mediators and moderators of the component-to-outcome relationship at the 6-month follow-up assessment. DISCUSSION: We are testing well-studied and available intervention components to support PWIDLH to reduce drug use and improve their mental health and engagement in HIV care. The intervention design will allow for a better understanding of how these components work in combination and can be optimized for the setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This project was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05377463) on May 17th, 2022.

Anti-GM-CSF Neutralizing Autoantibodies in Colombian Patients with Disseminated Cryptococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is a potentially life-threatening fungal disease caused by encapsulated yeasts of the genus Cryptococcus, mostly C. neoformans or C. gattii. Cryptococcal meningitis is the most frequent clinical manifestation in humans. Neutralizing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have recently been discovered in otherwise healthy adult patients with cryptococcal meningitis, mostly caused by C. gattii. We hypothesized that three Colombian patients with cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. neoformans in two of them would carry high plasma levels of neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF. METHODS: We reviewed medical and laboratory records, performed immunological evaluations, and tested for anti-cytokine auto-Abs three previously healthy HIV-negative adults with disseminated cryptococcosis. RESULTS: Peripheral blood leukocyte subset levels and serum immunoglobulin concentrations were within the normal ranges. We detected high levels of neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF in the plasma of all three patients. CONCLUSIONS: We report three Colombian patients with disseminated cryptococcosis associated with neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF. Further studies should evaluate the genetic contribution to anti-GM-CSF autoantibody production and the role of the GM-CSF signaling pathway in the immune response to Cryptococcus spp.

Lesión hepática inducida por consumo de Valeriana officinalis y Passiflora incarnata, reporte de caso / Hepatic injury induced by the consumption of Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata, a case report

Los medicamentos homeopáticos y fitoterapéuticos que contienen productos herbarios son cada vez más utilizados, sin embargo, se desconoce el potencial de efectos adversos por parte de los usuarios y personal sanitario. Se reporta el caso de una mujer de 34 años quien consulta por dolor abdominal y náuseas, con alteraciones al ingreso de función hepática con patrón hepatocelular, se descartaron múltiples etiologías y se consideró que pudiera ser lesión hepática medicamentosa secundaria al consumo de medicamentos desde hacía una semana para dismenorrea, y a fitoterapéuticos que consumía de forma crónica, los cuales se suspendieron. A los doce días de su egreso, reingresó por sintomatología similar; se documentó nuevamente perfil hepático con patrón hepatocelular. Al reinterrogatorio, la paciente comentó la ingesta crónica de Valeriana officinalis y Passiflora incarnata, que retomó al egreso hospitalario, por lo que luego de descartar diagnósticos diferenciales, se consideró que el cuadro era inducido por el consumo de dichos medicamentos. Durante la hospitalización se suspendió su consumo, con normalización del perfil hepático. Es importante que los consumidores estén informados sobre los riesgos potenciales de los productos herbarios, sus efectos por consumos prolongados y las implicaciones de la autoformulación.

Homeopathic and phytotherapeutic medicines containing herbal products are increasingly used, however the potential for adverse effects on users and healthcare personnel is unknown. We report the case of a 34-year-old woman who consulted for abdominal pain and nausea, accompanied by hepatocellular pattern on liver function tests. Multiple etiologies were ruled out and it was considered that it could be a drug-induced liver injury secondary to the consumption of medications she had been taking a week prior for dysmenorrhea, and phytotherapeutics that she had been taking for seve-ral years, which were all discontinued. Twelve days after her discharge, she was readmitted due to similar symptoms; a liver profile with a hepatocellular pattern was again documented. Upon further questioning, the patient mentioned a chronic intake of Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata, which she resumed upon discharge. After ruling out the differential diagnoses, it was concluded that the symptoms of the patient were induced by the consumption of these herbal products. During hos-pitalization, their consumption was suspended, with normalization of the liver profile. It is important that consumers are informed about the potential risks of herbal products, their effects from long-term use, and the implications of self-medication.

Gestión mSalud para la atención pacientes con Covid-19 / mHealth management for patient care with COVID-19

El SARS-CoV-2, ha tenido un gran impacto en la salud humana a nivel mundial, infectando a un gran número de personas y causando enfermedades graves. Durante el comienzo de la pandemia de Covid-19 no había la existencia de alguna cura o vacuna designada, la única forma conocida de romper la cadena de infección era el autoaislamiento y el mantenimiento del distanciamiento físico. Por lo tanto, con la finalidad de conocer y hacer un seguimiento para la correcta gestión y atención a los pacientes con Covid­19, las nuevas herramientas tecnológicas han cobrado un importante papel que ha permitido mejorar la atención en salud con respecto a la enfermedad y ayudar a evitar los contagios, así como favorecer a un buen pronóstico y progresión positiva de la enfermedad. Por medio de la revisión de publicaciones científicas actuales se ha podido observar la amplia implementación de diferentes apps para agilizar el reconocimiento, detección y diagnóstico oportuno de pacientes que contraen esta enfermedad, como la aplicación de rastreo de contacto, reconocimiento facial, Chatbot, APP para radiografías de tórax­Covid, dispositivo móvil basado en IoT, entre otros. Todas estas nuevas tecnologías presentan un importante impacto socioepidemiologico en las regiones a través de la disminución de la mortalidad, permitir el distanciamiento físico, detección oportuna, seguimiento geográfico y mapeo epidemiológico, reducción de los tiempos de espera y control de la propagación del covid; permitiendo a los sistemas de salud organizarse y prepararse mejor para futuras pandemias y así evitar el colapso de las redes de salud(AU)

SARS-CoV-2 has had a great impact on human health worldwide, infecting large numbers of people and causing serious illness. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic there was no designated cure or vaccine, the only known way to break the chain of infection was self-isolation and maintaining physical distancing. Therefore, in order to know and follow up for the correct management and care of patients with COVID - 19, the new technological tools have played an important role that has allowed improving health care regarding the disease and help avoid contagion, as well as favor a good prognosis and positive progression of the disease. Through the review of current scientific publications, it has been possible to observe the wide implementation of different apps to expedite the recognition, detection and timely diagnosis of patients who contract this disease, such as the application of contact tracing, facial recognition, Chatbot, APP for chest x-rays ­ Covid, IoT-based mobile device, among others. All these new technologies have a significant socio-epidemiological impact in the regions by reducing mortality, allowing physical distancing, timely detection, geographic monitoring and epidemiological mapping, reduction of waiting times and control of the spread of covid; allowing health systems to better organize and prepare for future pandemics and thus avoid the collapse of health networks(AU)

Second Adjuvant Radioiodine Therapy after Reoperation for Locoregionally Persistent or Recurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Introduction Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has increased incidence. Intermediate- and high-risk patients have lymph node relapse rate ranging from 10 to 50%, and receive multiple reinterventions, increasing the morbidity of the disease. Currently, there are no established guidelines for the use of second radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy after the reintervention for local recurrence. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective review of the medical records of 1,299 patients treated from January 2016 to July 2019 with DTC. We included 48 patients who received total thyroidectomy, RAI remnant ablation, surgery to remove the locally recurrent/persistent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and received a second RAI therapy. Results There were no significant differences between thyroglobulin (Tg) levels before reoperation (Tg0), Tg levels postoperatively (Tg1), and Tg levels after 6 months of second adjuvant RAI therapy (Tg2). However, we evidenced a 69.79% drop in first Tg levels (Tg0: 24.7 vs. Tg1: 7.56, p =0.851) and 44.4% decrease in second Tg levels (Tg1: 7.56 vs. Tg2: 4.20, p =0.544). Also, 77.1% of the patients did not have another documented recurrence. The median relapse-free time was 10.9 months (range: 1.3-58.2 months). Conclusion The results of the study cannot assess that a second RAI treatment after reoperation for locoregionally persistent or recurrent disease have a significant impact on treatment outcomes in intermediate- or high-risk patients with PTC. However, the 77.1% of patients have not presented a second documented recurrence and the median values of Tg and TgAb levels showed a substantial decrease after surgery and second RAI treatment.

Replaced right hepatic artery arising from the distal renal artery, a new variation.

PURPOSE: Arterial irrigation of the liver is highly variable and widely studied due to its importance in the correct planification of the surgical or endovascular treatment of the hepatobilary area. Various classifications have been published of the common and uncommon anatomic variations of the hepatic arterial distribution. While the classic anatomic pattern of the proper hepatic artery-when it originates from the celiac trunk dividing into left and right branches-represents 50-83% of the described patterns, there are numerous uncommon distributions based on the presence of replaced or accessory hepatic arteries. In this article, we present a case of a replaced right hepatic artery originating from the right distal renal artery. METHODS: Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) examination was performed on a 67 years-old male patient with compensated alcoholic cirrhosis as part of the disease monitoring. RESULTS: The replaced right hepatic artery of the patient arises from the right distal renal artery and-after its cranial course-enters the porta hepatis posterior to the main portal vein. After giving off the cystic artery, it irrigates the right hepatic lobe. The left hepatic artery does not show any variation. CONCLUSION: We present CT angiography images of an extremely rare anatomic variation of the hepatic arterial irrigation in a cirrhotic patient.

Liver Hydatid Cyst Rupture with Respiratory Distress During COVID-19 Pandemic.

We present a case of a young male patient who was brought to the emergency room with abdominal pain, fever, dyspnea and hypoxemia, and was initially oriented as an acute COVID-19 pneumonia. A thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed to rule out pneumonia and the abdominal extension of the study revealed a hepatic hydatid cyst with rupture into the abdominal cavity with respiratory distress secondary to an anaphylactic reaction that, if left untreated, may lead to a fatal outcome. An urgent laparotomy was performed with cyst resection. The follow-up and complications are briefly described.

Uso de Antibióticos y Resistencia Antimicrobiana en la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal / Use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Resumen La sepsis neonatal constituye una de las principales causas de mortalidad neonatal en los países en desarrollo. Los neonatos, en particular los prematuros, tienen un mayor riesgo de infecciones bacterianas, por lo que el manejo con antibióticos constituye la terapia más frecuente en la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal (UCIN), estimándose en hasta un 70%. La presentación clínica de la sepsis neonatal es inespecífica en muchas ocasiones, lo que hace que la antibioticoterapia empírica se inicie tempranamente para evitar consecuencias deletéreas para los pacientes; su inespecificidad la caracteriza como un reto diagnóstico, por lo que diferentes autores han diseñado estrategias para determinar neonatos candidatos a terapia antimicrobiana. La microbiología permanece en contacto estrecho con la clínica ya que conocer los gérmenes frecuentemente asociados a la sepsis neonatal ayuda a determinar el espectro antibiótico a usar. De igual forma, el conocimiento de la farmacología antibiótica es clave puesto que el tratamiento antibiótico no es inocuo y puede asociarse a aumento de morbilidad o mortalidad. El tiempo de evolución y los factores de riesgo maternos están asociados a los gérmenes responsables esperados, ya descritos por múltiples estudios descriptivos a nivel mundial. El uso indiscriminado de antibióticos de amplio espectro para el manejo de infecciones en los recién nacidos ha generado un aumento en la resistencia antibiótica, lo que a su vez lleva a tasas más altas de fallo terapéutico con el uso de las terapias antibióticas empíricas. A razón de lo anterior, los Programas de Vigilancia de Uso de Antibióticos juegan un papel determinante para monitorear el cambio en la resistencia a nivel local para ajustar y homogeneizar la práctica médica que logre regular el uso de antibióticos y mitigar la emergente resistencia bacteriana.

Abstract Neonatal sepsis constitutes one of the main causes of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Newborns, particularly premature newborns, have a higher risk of bacterial infections that result in frequent administration of antibiotics in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), which is estimated to be as high as 70%. The clinical presentation of neonatal sepsis is nonspecific, prompting the early use of empirical antibiotic prescription to avoid adverse consequences in the patients. Its non-specificity characterizes it as a challenging diagnostic, this aspect led several authors to design strategies to determine which newborns are true candidates for antimicrobial therapy. Microbiology is closely linked to clinical practice. Thus, knowing the most frequent bacteria associated with neonatal sepsis will be closely related to the antibiotic spectrum that should be used to treat it. Furthermore, knowledge on basic pharmacology is key inasmuch as the antimicrobial treatment is not innocuous and can be related to an increase in mortality and morbidity. Clinical course and maternal risk factors are associated with the expected responsible germs that are already described in multiple descriptive studies worldwide. Indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for the management of newborn infections is leading to antibiotic resistance increase. At the same time, this is related to even higher rates of therapeutic failure with empiric antimicrobial treatment. Based on this, Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs play a determinant role to monitor the changes in local resistance to adjust and homogenize medical practice to regulate the use of antibiotics and mitigate the emergent and threatening antimicrobial bacterial resistance.

The role of contrast enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of segmental testicular infarction.

A 43-year-old male presented to the emergency department with acute left testicular pain. Physical exam showed a tender left testicle and epididymis with mild swelling. Doppler and contrast enhanced ultrasound revealed a heterogeneous, avascular lesion with hyper vascularized surrounding. Follow-up contrast enhanced ultrasound performed a few days later showed persistence of the sparsely vascularized lesion with more hypoechoic echo structure. Despite the tumor markers being negative, a necrotic tumor could not be ruled out and a left orchiectomy was performed. Pathology report described an extensive segmental testicular infarction with no evidence of malignant tissue. We present the ultrasound and pathology findings, differential diagnostic pearls and clinical perspective of segmental testicular infarction.

X-linked recessive TLR7 deficiency in ~1% of men under 60 years old with life-threatening COVID-19.

Autosomal inborn errors of type I IFN immunity and autoantibodies against these cytokines underlie at least 10% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases. We report very rare, biochemically deleterious X-linked TLR7 variants in 16 unrelated male individuals aged 7 to 71 years (mean: 36.7 years) from a cohort of 1,202 male patients aged 0.5 to 99 years (mean: 52.9 years) with unexplained critical COVID-19 pneumonia. None of the 331 asymptomatically or mildly infected male individuals aged 1.3 to 102 years (mean: 38.7 years) tested carry such TLR7 variants (p = 3.5 × 10-5). The phenotypes of five hemizygous relatives of index cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 include asymptomatic or mild infection (n=2, 5 and 38 years), or moderate (n=1, 5 years), severe (n=1, 27 years), or critical (n=1, 29 years) pneumonia. Two boys (aged 7 and 12 years) from a cohort of 262 male patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia (mean: 51.0 years) are hemizygous for a deleterious TLR7 variant. The cumulative allele frequency for deleterious TLR7 variants in the male general population is < 6.5x10-4 We also show that blood B cell lines and myeloid cell subsets from the patients do not respond to TLR7 stimulation, a phenotype rescued by wild-type TLR7 The patients' blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) produce low levels of type I IFNs in response to SARS-CoV-2. Overall, X-linked recessive TLR7 deficiency is a highly penetrant genetic etiology of critical COVID-19 pneumonia, in about 1.8% of male patients below the age of 60 years. Human TLR7 and pDCs are essential for protective type I IFN immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract.

What is the role of ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of scaphoid fractures?

Scaphoid fractures are the most prevalent type of carpal bone fractures. High-spatial-resolution sonography detects direct signs of scaphoid fractures such as scaphoid cortical disruption; nevertheless, indirect signs such as radiocarpal effusion and scapho-trapezium-trapezoid effusion can also be visible. The diagnosis is performed when both direct and indirect signs of scaphoid fracture are presented. The presence of indirect signs alone is not enough to complete the diagnosis, for which more advanced imaging modalities are usually required. Here, we review the anatomy of the scaphoid, the clinical manifestations of scaphoid fractures, as well as ultrasonographic findings and differential diagnosis.

Cirugía radioguíada con análogos de somatostatina radiomarcados en tumores neuroendocrinos: reporte de caso / Radioguided surgery with radiolabeled somatostatin analogues in neuroendocrine tumors: Case report

Resumen Introducción: El mejor tratamiento para los tumores neuroendocrinos es la resección completa del tumor, los ganglios, e inclusive en casos seleccionados, las metástasis a distancia. En ocasiones, el tumor primario es pequeño y de difícil localización preoperatoria o sus recaídas pueden ser difíciles de localizar en el terreno de fibrosis por cirugías o tratamientos previos. La cirugía radioguíada ofrece una opción adicional de localización intraoperatoria que hasta ahora no ha sido muy utilizada en tumores neuroendocrinos. Presentación del caso: Paciente de 59 años con antecedente de resección atípica de duodeno y páncreas por tumor neuroendocrino grado 2 del duodeno un año antes. En la tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada (PET/CT) 68Ga-DOTANOC se encontró un ganglio con sobreexpresión de receptores de somatostatina en el mesenterio, sin otras lesiones a distancia. Por los antecedentes quirúrgicos y la dificultad de visualizar la lesión en las imágenes anatómicas (resonancia magnética [RM]) se decidió realizar la cirugía radioguíada. En el preoperatorio se administraron 15 mCi de tecnecio 99 metaestable-hidrazinonicotinilo-Tyr3-octreotida (99mTc-HYNIC-TOC) y se verificó la buena captación en el ganglio. En cirugía, luego de la disección inicial se utilizó la sonda gamma, que detectó una actividad 5 veces mayor en el ganglio, comparado con los tejidos vecinos, lo que permitió su localización y resección. La evolución fue adecuada y un año después no hay evidencia de recaídas. Conclusión: La cirugía radioguíada no ha sido muy utilizada en la localización intraoperatoria de tumores neuroendocrinos, pero es una buena alternativa en casos seleccionados, como el presentado en este artículo, y permite la detección intraoperatoria y su resección completa.

Abstract Introduction: The best treatment for neuroendocrine tumors is complete resection of the tumor, lymph nodes, and even distant metastases in selected cases. Sometimes, the primary tumor is small and difficult to detect before surgery, or its relapses may be difficult to locate in the fibrosis field due to previous surgeries or treatments. Although radioguided surgery allows for additional intraoperative localization, it has yet to be widely used in neuroendocrine tumors. Case report: A 59-year-old patient with a history of atypical resection of duodenum and pancreas due to grade 2 neuroendocrine tumor of the duodenum one year earlier. On 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT, a node with somatostatin receptor overexpression was found in the mesentery, with no other distant lesions. Due to the surgical history and the difficulty in visualizing the lesion on anatomical images (MRI), it was decided to perform the radioguided surgery. During the preoperative period, 15 mCi of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC were administered verifying good uptake in the ganglion. Following the initial dissection, a gamma probe was used, detecting 5 times more activity in the ganglion than in adjacent tissues, allowing for localization and resection. The patient's progress was satisfactory, and one year later there is no evidence of relapse. Conclusion: Although radioguided surgery is not commonly used in the intraoperative location of neuroendocrine tumors, it is a viable option in some situations, such as the one presented here, because it allows for intraoperative detection and full resection.

68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT With Lung Involvement in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Patient was a 55-year-old man with history of pancreas neuroendocrine tumor grade 2, Ki-67 index 10%. He was treated with surgical resection. 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was performed as part of follow-up of known disease. The images showed opacities in both lungs' parenchyma with moderate uptake of radiotracer and mediastinal lymph nodes with high uptake suggestive of infection. Two weeks before a high-resolution CT was performed, these findings in the lungs were not present. The patient was asymptomatic and was referred to the emergency department for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 test, and the result was positive.

Spirosoma endbachense sp. nov., isolated from a natural salt meadow.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated I-24T, was isolated from soil of a natural salt meadow. Strain I-24T was aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive and grew optimally at pH 7 and 25 °C. Comparative 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that strain I-24T has closest similarities to Spirosoma agri KCTC 52727T (95.9 %) and Spirosoma terrae KCTC 52035T (95.5 %). Strain I-24T contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 1 ω5c as the major fatty acids, the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine as well as an unidentified phosphoaminolipid. The draft genome of strain I-24T consists of 10 326 072 base pairs with 9153 predicted coding sequences and a G+C content of 47.7 mol%. Clear distinctions between strain I-24T and S. agri KCTC 52727T or S. terrae KCTC 52035T were shown in the pairwise average nucleotide identity results with values of 76.71 and 74.01 %, respectively. Moreover, the digital DNA-DNA relatedness values to these strains were 20.8 and 19.0 %. Based on its phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain I-24T represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma endbachense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is I-24T (DSM 111055T=KCTC 72613T).

Incidental findings of COVID-19 in F18-FDG PET/CT from asymptomatic patients with cancer in two healthcare institutions in Bogotá, Colombia / [Hallazgos incidentales de COVID-19 en tomografías PET/CT 18F-FDG de pacientes asintomáticos con cáncer en dos instituciones de salud de Bogotá, Colombia].

COVID-19 is the viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. Patients with cancer have a higher risk to acquire the infection and worse prognosis as they have to attend more medical visits in healthcare institutions, receive medical and surgical treatments, and be subjected to diagnostic studies such as PET/CT in nuclear medicine services where the infection may be an incidental finding. We present here F18-FDG PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose), images with findings of COVID-19 from patients with different oncological conditions but no respiratory symptoms.

La COVID-19 es la infección viral causada por el SARS-CoV-2 y declarada por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como pandemia. Los pacientes con cáncer tienen un mayor riesgo de adquirir la infección y un peor pronóstico, ya que deben asistir a visitas médicas en diferentes centros hospitalarios, reciben tratamientos médicos y quirúrgicos y deben someterse a estudios diagnósticos como la PET/CT en servicios de medicina nuclear, lo que es ocasión para el hallazgo incidental de la infección. Se presentan las imágenes de tomografías computarizadas por emisión de positrones con 18-fluorodesoxiglucosa (F18) (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose, PET/CT F18-FDG) en las que se evidenció la COVID-19 en pacientes con diversas enfermedades oncológicas, pero sin sintomatología respiratoria.

68Ga-PSMA PET/CT With Incidental Finding of COVID-19 in an Asymptomatic Patient.

A 70-year-old man with prostate adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by transrectal biopsy, with Gleason of 4 + 5 and initial PSA of 225 ng/mL since March 2020. Ga-PSMA PET/CT was performed as part of initial staging. The images showed an enlarged prostate with focal PSMA uptake in both lobes. Retroperitoneal and pelvic lymph nodes with moderate uptake of PSMA were shown. Another finding was a moderate PSMA uptake in the both lung parenchymas associated with opacities in CT. The patient denied any symptoms of coronavirus disease and was referred to the emergency department for RT-PCR COVID-19, and the result was positive.

Hallazgos incidentales de COVID-19 en PET/CT 18F-FDG de pacientes asintomáticos con cáncer en dos instituciones de salud de Bogotá, Colombia / Incidental findings of COVID-19 in F18-FDG PET/CT from asymptomatic patients with cancer in two healthcare institutions in Bogotá, Colombia

La COVID-19 es la infección viral causada por el SARS-CoV-2 y declarada por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como pandemia. Los pacientes con cáncer tienen un mayor riesgo de adquirir la infección y un peor pronóstico, ya que deben asistir a visitas médicas en diferentes centros hospitalarios, reciben tratamientos médicos y quirúrgicos y deben someterse a estudios diagnósticos como la PET/CT en servicios de medicina nuclear, lo que es ocasión para el hallazgo incidental de la infección. Se presentan las imágenes de tomografías computarizadas por emisión de positrones con 18-fluorodesoxiglucosa (F18) (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose, PET/CT F18-FDG) en las que se evidenció la COVID-19 en pacientes con diversas enfermedades oncológicas, pero sin sintomatología respiratoria.

COVID-19 is the viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. Patients with cancer have a higher risk to acquire the infection and worse prognosis as they have to attend more medical visits in healthcare institutions, receive medical and surgical treatments, and be subjected to diagnostic studies such as PET/CT in nuclear medicine services where the infection may be an incidental finding. We present here F18-FDG PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose), images with findings of COVID-19 from patients with different oncological conditions but no respiratory symptoms.

Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor With Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombosis Diagnosed With 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT.

A 69-year-old man with a history of back pain, urinary obstruction, and deep vein thrombosis of both lower extremities 4 years earlier was diagnosed with rectal neuroendocrine tumor, grade 2, Ki-67 index 3%. Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT images showed a left pelvic mass extended to the lumen of the inferior vena cava with a high affinity for somatostatin receptor. A tubular focus of radiotracer accumulation after the course of inferior vena cava with filling defect was suggestive of tumor thrombus.

Draft Genome Sequences of Spirosoma agri KCTC 52727 and Spirosoma terrae KCTC 52035.

Spirosoma agri S7-3-3 (KCTC 52727) and Spirosoma terrae 15J9-4 (KCTC 52035) are type strains isolated from an apple orchard and beach soil in South Korea, respectively; their draft genome sequences were assembled and annotated. The draft genome sequences of S7-3-3T (7,239,915 bp; G+C content, 50.6%) and 15J9-4T (7,551,610 bp; G+C content, 47.3%) are reported.