Deconstructing adverse reactions to Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid: the importance of time of onset.

BACKGROUND: Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AX-CL) is the most consumed betalactam antibiotic worldwide. We aimed to establish the different phenotypes of betalactam allergy in those referring a reaction with AX-CL and to investigate the differences between immediate and non-immediate onset. METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective study performed at Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC) and Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga (HRUM) in Spain. Patients reporting reactions with AX-CL who completed the allergy workup between 2017 and 2019 were included. Data of reported reaction and allergy workup were collected. Reactions were classified as immediate and non-immediate with 1hour cut-off point. RESULTS: We included 372 patients (HCSC 208, HRUM 164). There were 90 (24.2%) immediate, 252 (67.7%) non-immediate reactions, and 30 (8.1%) with unknown latency. Allergy to betalactams was ruled-out in 266 (71.5%) and confirmed in 106 patients (28.5%). The final main diagnosis in the overall population were allergy to aminopenicillins (7.3%), to CL (7%), to penicillin (6.5%) and to betalactams (5.9%). Allergy was confirmed in 77.2% and 14.3% of immediate and non-immediate reactions respectively, with a relative risk of 5.06 (95%CI 3.64-7.02) of an allergy diagnosis in those reporting immediate reactions. Only 2/54 patients with late-positive intradermal test (IDT) to CL were diagnosed of CL allergy. CONCLUSION: Allergy diagnosis was confirmed in a minority of the whole study population, but 5 times more frequently in those reporting immediate reactions, making this classification useful in risk stratification. Late-positive IDT for CL has no diagnostic value and its late reading could be retrieved from the diagnosis work-up.

Evaluation of Polysaccharide Typhim Vi Antibody Response as a predictor of Humoral Immunodeficiency in Haematological Malignancies.

An increasing healthcare challenge in the management of haematological malignancy (HM) is secondary immunodeficiency. From January 2019, the EMA included the evaluation of specific antibody (Ab) responses to better select patients for immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT). We evaluated Ab responses to pneumococcal and Salmonella typhi pure polysaccharide immunization in a cohort of 42 HM patients and 24 healthy-controls. Pre-post specific Ab concentrations were measured by ELISA at 4 weeks. Globally, significantly lower Typhim Vi (TV) seroprevalence (9%) compared to 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) (76%) (p <0.001) was observed. TV non responders (88%) were higher than PPV non responders (62%) (p <0.0001) and correlated better to infectious history. By ROC analysis, pre-post 5-fold TV increase was the best cut-off to discriminate HM with recurrent infections and controls (sensitivity 91%, specificity 100%). Despite the small sample cohort, our results suggest that specific anti-S typhi Ab response is a useful complementary assay in the diagnosis and management decision of SID to HM.

Seizures in the Emergency Department: clinical and diagnostic data from a series of 153 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Seizures are a frequent reason for admission to emergency departments and require early, precise diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and prognostic characteristics of a series of patients with seizures attended at our hospital's emergency department. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study of all patients with seizures who were admitted to our hospital's emergency department and attended by the on-call neurology service between February and August 2017. RESULTS: We included 153 patients, representing 9.9% of all neurological emergency department admissions. The median age was 58 years, 52.3% of patients were women, and 51% had history of epilepsy. Onset was focal in 82.4% of cases, and the most frequent aetiology was cerebrovascular disease (24.2%). Twelve patients (7.8%) developed status epilepticus, which was associated with higher scores on the ADAN scale (P < .001) and with history of refractory epilepsy (P = .002). The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%, and in-hospital mortality was associated with older age (P = .049) and status epilepticus (P = .018). Eighty percent of patients with no history of epilepsy were diagnosed with epilepsy at the emergency department; all started treatment. The kappa coefficient for epilepsy diagnosis in the emergency department compared to diagnosis after one year of follow-up by the epilepsy unit was 0.45 (diagnosis was modified in 20% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: Seizures are a frequent neurological emergency with potential complications and considerable morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with no known history of epilepsy, the condition may be diagnosed in the emergency department, but follow-up at specialised epilepsy units is recommended.

The importance of timing in epilepsia partialis continua.

INTRODUCTION: Timing is one of the most important modifiable prognostic factors in the management of status epilepticus. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is a status epilepticus subtype of highly variable, occasionally prolonged, duration. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between EPC duration and outcomes. METHODS: We performed an observational prospective study of all patients with EPC admitted to our tertiary hospital between 1 September 2017 and 1 September 2018. RESULTS: The sample included 10 patients, of whom 9 were women; median age was 74 years. The most frequent aetiology was cerebrovascular disease (n = 6). EPC onset occurred outside the hospital in 5 patients, with a median time to hospital admission of 4 hours. The median time to treatment onset (TT) for all patients was 12.3 hours. The median time from treatment onset to EPC control (TC) was 30 hours; TC showed a strong positive correlation with TT (Spearman's rho = 0.88). Six patients presented hyperglycaemia at onset; this was positively correlated with TC (rho = 0.71). All 6 patients with hyperglycaemia presented a brain injury explaining the EPC episode. CONCLUSIONS: Delays were observed in different phases of EPC management, which was related to longer duration of the episode. Glycaemia was also related to episode duration, probably acting as a triggering factor rather than as the aetiology.

Seroprevalence and Trends of HTLV-1/2 among Blood Donors of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2012-2017.

OBJECTIVE: Being a Caribbean country, the Dominican Republic is considered endemic for HTLV-1. Viral screening in blood banks is recommended for this blood borne infection. The purpose of this work is to analyze the seroprevalence and trends of HTLV-1/2 in the Dominican Republic blood donors; it is focused on Santo Domingo, the capital of the country, which has the largest blood donation activity. We also aim at comparing our findings with published data from neighboring countries. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 10 blood centers of Santo Domingo, which reported HTLV and the other blood-transmitted infections in full. They represent more than 40% of the province's blood donations. Annual seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2, period prevalence (2012-2017), and time trend were determined. RESULTS: A total of 352,960 blood donations were evaluated. The HTLV-1/2 period prevalence was 0.26% (929/352,960)(95% CI: 0.24-0.28%). We also found a marked predominance of replacement donation (90.4%) in comparison to voluntary contributions (9.6%). Therefore, this blood donor study may provide clues on the general prevalence of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 in blood donors of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, showed a relatively low and steady trend in the studied period.

Typhim vi immunization assists to discriminate primary antibody responses in hematological malignancies.

Assessment of specific antibody (Ab) production to polysaccharide antigens is clinically relevant, identifying patients at risk for infection by encapsulated bacteria and thus enabling a more rigorous selection of patients that can benefit of immunoglobulin replacement therapy. Classically, the gold-standard test is the measurement of antibody production to pure polysaccharide pneumococcal (PPV) immunization. Several factors, including introduction of conjugate vaccination schedule, serotyping analysis, high baseline Ab levels, have hindered the evaluation of polysaccharide antigens. This is even more difficult in secondary immunodeficiencies (SID), where patients can show secondary responses despite lack of primary antibody responses and present with recurrent or severe infections. Assessment of specific Ab production to pure Salmonella typhi Vi polysaccharide (TV) immunization has been proposed as a complementary test to PPV, given its low seroprevalence. To set the optimal cut-off value for PPV and TV response in SID, we tested different biostatistical methodologies, including ROC analysis, Youden index, Union index and Closest-topleft in a cohort of 42 SID patients and 24 healthy controls. The statistically chosen cut-offs value pre-post TV Ab ratio was ≥5, (sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 100%) and a postvaccination TV concentration of 28.5 U/mL (sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 95%), showing relevant clinical correlate.

Seizures in the Emergency Department: Clinical and diagnostic data from a series of 153 patients. / Crisis epilépticas en urgencias: aspectos clínicos y diagnósticos de una serie de 153 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Seizures are a frequent reason for admission to emergency departments and require early, precise diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and prognostic characteristics of a series of patients with seizures attended at our hospital's emergency department. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study of all patients with seizures who were admitted to our hospital's emergency department and attended by the on-call neurology service between February and August 2017. RESULTS: We included 153 patients, representing 9.9% of all neurological emergency department admissions. The median age was 58 years, 52.3% of patients were women, and 51% had history of epilepsy. Onset was focal in 82.4% of cases, and the most frequent aetiology was cerebrovascular disease (24.2%). Twelve patients (7.8%) developed status epilepticus, which was associated with higher scores on the ADAN scale (P<.001) and with history of refractory epilepsy (P=.002). The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%, and in-hospital mortality was associated with older age (P=.049) and status epilepticus (P=.018). Eighty percent of patients with no history of epilepsy were diagnosed with epilepsy at the emergency department; all started treatment. The kappa coefficient for epilepsy diagnosis in the emergency department compared to diagnosis after one year of follow-up by the epilepsy unit was .45 (diagnosis was modified in 20% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: Seizures are a frequent neurological emergency with potential complications and considerable morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with no known history of epilepsy, the condition may be diagnosed in the emergency department, but follow-up at specialised epilepsy units is recommended.

Splenic volume as a biomarker of hepatic damage after chemotherapy in patients with resected colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-associated liver injury (CALI) is a matter of concern for hepatobiliary surgeons as it can entail postoperative liver failure after an extensive hepatectomy. Recent studies have taken special interest in liver function parameters which can correlate with CALI to decrease this adverse event. Therefore, the current study investigates the usefulness of splenic volume as a biomarker of CALI through a portal hypertension mechanism, in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a study in patients with CRLM operated on between 2009 and 2014 in our center. All samples of healthy liver were graded for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sinusoidal obstructive syndrome. Computarized tomography scans for spleen volumetry were analyzed for each patient at CRLM diagnosis, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 1 and 6 months after resection. RESULTS: A group of 65 consecutive patients with CRLM of large bowel adenocarcinoma submitted to liver resection were included. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a greater spleen volume increase than those who did not receive treatment (p = 0.053), finding a statistically significant spleen growth in patients with NAFLD (p = 0.036). There was no correlation between spleen enlargement and postoperative complications or average stay. However, survival was decreased in patients with spleen growth and CALI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy for liver metastasis surgery have a greater splenic volume increase, which correlates with NAFLD and a lower survival.

The importance of timing in epilepsia partialis continua. / La relevancia del tiempo en la epilepsia parcial continua.

INTRODUCTION: Timing is one of the most important modifiable prognostic factors in the management of status epilepticus. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is a status epilepticus subtype of highly variable, occasionally prolonged, duration. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between EPC duration and outcomes. METHODS: We performed an observational prospective study of all patients with EPC admitted to our tertiary hospital between 1 September 2017 and 1 September 2018. RESULTS: The sample included 10 patients, of whom 9 were women; median age was 74 years. The most frequent aetiology was cerebrovascular disease (n=6). EPC onset occurred outside the hospital in 5 patients, with a median time to hospital admission of 4hours. The median time to treatment onset for all patients was 12.3hours. The median time from treatment onset to EPC control was 30hours; time from treatment onset to EPC control showed a strong positive correlation with TT (Spearman's rho=0.88). Six patients presented hyperglycaemia at onset; this was positively correlated with time from treatment onset to EPC control (rho=0.71). All 6 patients with hyperglycaemia presented a brain injury explaining the EPC episode. CONCLUSIONS: Delays were observed in different phases of EPC management, which was related to longer duration of the episode. Glycaemia was also related to episode duration, probably acting as a triggering factor rather than as the aetiology.

Crisis epilépticas en urgencias: aspectos clínicos y diagnósticos de una serie de 153 pacientes / Seizures in the Emergency Department: Clinical and diagnostic data from a series of 153 patients

Introducción: Las crisis epilépticas son un motivo de ingreso frecuente en urgencias y requieren una actuación diagnóstico-terapéutica precoz y precisa. Nuestro objetivo fue describir las características clínico-evolutivas de una serie de pacientes con crisis epilépticas atendidos en urgencias.MétodosEstudio observacional retrospectivo de todos los pacientes con crisis epilépticas que ingresaron en urgencias y fueron atendidos por neurología de guardia, de febrero a agosto de 2017.ResultadosSe incluyeron 153 pacientes, correspondientes al 9,9% del total de urgencias neurológicas. La mediana de edad fue de 58 años, el 52,3% fueron mujeres y el 51% tenía antecedente de epilepsia. El 82,4% de las crisis tuvo un inicio focal y la etiología más frecuente fue la enfermedad cerebrovascular (24,2%). Doce pacientes se complicaron con estatus epiléptico (7,8%), lo que se relacionó con mayor puntuación en la escala ADAN (p < 0,001) y con antecedente de epilepsia refractaria (p = 0,002). La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 3,7%; se asoció a mayor edad (p = 0,049) y a estatus epiléptico (p = 0,018). El 80% de los pacientes sin epilepsia conocida recibió el diagnóstico de epilepsia en urgencias, todos iniciaron tratamiento. El índice Kappa de concordancia para el diagnóstico de epilepsia en urgencias, comparado con el diagnóstico tras un año de seguimiento en la unidad de epilepsia fue 0,45 (se modificó el diagnóstico en el 20% de los pacientes).ConclusionesLas crisis epilépticas constituyen una urgencia neurológica frecuente, con potenciales complicaciones y una morbimortalidad relevante. En pacientes sin epilepsia conocida es apropiado realizar el diagnóstico de epilepsia en urgencias, pero es recomendable un seguimiento posterior en consultas especializadas. (AU)

Introduction: Seizures are a frequent reason for admission to emergency departments and require early, precise diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and prognostic characteristics of a series of patients with seizures attended at our hospital's emergency department.MethodsWe performed a retrospective, observational study of all patients with seizures who were admitted to our hospital's emergency department and attended by the on-call neurology service between February and August 2017.ResultsWe included 153 patients, representing 9.9% of all neurological emergency department admissions. The median age was 58 years, 52.3% of patients were women, and 51% had history of epilepsy. Onset was focal in 82.4% of cases, and the most frequent aetiology was cerebrovascular disease (24.2%). Twelve patients (7.8%) developed status epilepticus, which was associated with higher scores on the ADAN scale (P < .001) and with history of refractory epilepsy (P = .002). The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%, and in-hospital mortality was associated with older age (P = .049) and status epilepticus (P = .018). Eighty percent of patients with no history of epilepsy were diagnosed with epilepsy at the emergency department; all started treatment. The kappa coefficient for epilepsy diagnosis in the emergency department compared to diagnosis after one year of follow-up by the epilepsy unit was .45 (diagnosis was modified in 20% of patients).ConclusionsSeizures are a frequent neurological emergency with potential complications and considerable morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with no known history of epilepsy, the condition may be diagnosed in the emergency department, but follow-up at specialised epilepsy units is recommended. (AU)

[Development of a tool for evaluating conflict management and sexual negotiation: a contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS among women]. / Desarrollo de un instrumento para evaluar el manejo de conflictos y la negociación sexual: una aportación a la lucha contra el VIH/SIDA entre mujeres.

The development and validation process of the Video Rating Scale of Conflict Management and Sexual Negotiation (EAVI) is presented. This instrument was developed as a response to the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS infection among heterosexual women and recognizes the need to evaluate prevention efforts that focus on the development of sexual negotiation skills. EAVI was used to evaluate taped simulations of couples negotiating safer sex. Content validity and reliability analysis were performed. Overall, the scale has a content validity score of .90 and a reliability of 75%. The validity and reliability of specific subscales was low thus suggesting a need for revision. Suggestions are provided for improving the measure and examples of its actual usefulness in academic and community settings are presented.

[Importance of the family as a resource in social support in Puerto Rico]. / Importancia de la familia como recurso de apoyo social en Puerto Rico.

In this article we examine the role of the family in the provision of social support by studying the identity of persons which the participants consider available for providing support. We define social support as that human relationship in which socio-emotional (closeness, intimacy counseling), instrumental (goods and services) and recreational (companionship for recreation) resources are interchanged. Based on a probabilistic sample of the adult (17-68 yrs.) population, 912 persons were successfully interviewed (response rate = 90.4%) using a structured interview schedule. Results indicate that close relatives (parents, brothers/sisters, sons/daughters) are the main resource of all types of support, not only of the general population but also of specific demographic groups defined by their gender, age (17-39, 40-68) and schooling (0-11, 12 + yrs). The marital partner was also identified as an important support resource, especially emotional and recreational; more distant relatives were also important for providing instrumental support. Although the compared groups showed many similarities, they also differed in various aspects both when individually and jointly analyzed. It is concluded that the family is very important in the provision of social support in Puerto Rico (PR).

Needs assessment and community development: an ideological perspective.

Many practitioners of the social sciences have fostered the value-free, apolitical and ahistorical character of their disciplines. This position distorts the real perception that should permeate the theory, methodology, techniques and practices of the social sciences. This paper, by examining the method of needs assessment, focuses on the undesirability of preserving this point of view. Needs assessment is discussed as a political process for the organization, mobilization and consciousness-raising of groups and communities.

Subverting culture: promoting HIV/AIDS prevention among Puerto Rican and Dominican women.

This article discusses the challenges faced by researchers and interventionists when attempting to promote change in social norms and normative beliefs that promote HIV/AIDS risk-related behaviors among Puerto Rican and Dominican women. The article focuses on the role of culture in HIV/AIDS prevention with women by analyzing the sociohistorical context of some cultural beliefs and by illustrating the tension between risk-related and protective cultural beliefs in research conducted by the authors with women in both New York and Puerto Rico. The authors propose that promoting changes in sex-related social norms and normative beliefs might be constructed as a subversive act and present the challenge this analysis poses for community psychology. They conclude that this conceptualization might be construed as subversive because rather than idealizing culture, it promotes changes that respect diversity within the culture and foster participation in the development of new cultural values, beliefs and norms.

Men's role in HIV/AIDS prevention for women: exploring different views

OBJECTIVE: Explore the role male partners should play in interventions that emerge from an empowerment perspective for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in women. Explore the social and cultural context, rationale and format for interventions if male partners are incorporated. BACKGROUND: Heterosexual women have become the most at risk group for HIV infection. Most of the HIV/AIDS prevention efforts have excluded the participation of male partners. Interventions with women have not been as affective as desired since the negotiation of safer sex method, such as the male condom, is not under their control. METHODS: Thirteen focus groups were conducted in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico. Groups were conducted with HIV/AIDS prevention researchers, service providers, and heterosexual men and women who participated in HIV/AIDS prevention interventions. The taped conversations were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis according to a set of defined categories and subcategories. RESULTS: The majority of participants agreed that men must be incorporated in HIV prevention efforts with women. Many conditioned this participation, while some expressed their opposition. Regarding the ways of participation many favored working with men and women separately at the beginning and integrating at the end. They recommended considering working at a group level. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has put in the forefront the need to consider non-traditional approaches to promote behavior change. A group-base intervention with couples may be an effective way to prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic.