Peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal causada por el complejo Paecilomyces variotii

La peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal es una complicación grave en el paciente con este tipo de modalidad de terapia de reemplazo renal, siendo la etiología fúngica una de las que conlleva mayor morbimortalidad. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 22 años que desarrolló una peritonitis asociada a diálisis peritoneal causada por el complejo Paecilomyces variotii; un hongo filamentoso poco frecuente en este grupo de pacientes.

Peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis is a serious complication in patients with this type of renal replacement therapy modality, with fungal aetiology being one of the most associated with morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 22-year-old patient who developed fungal peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis caused by Paecilomyces variotii complex; a rare cause of peritonitis in this group of patients.

Sintomatología depresiva y trastornos neurocognitivos en pacientes con VIH adherentes y no adherentes a TARAA: estudio transversal analítico / Depressive symptomatology and neurocognitive disorders in haart-adherent and non-adherent hiv patients: a cross-sectional analytical study

Introducción: Las personas portadoras del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) presentan mayor comorbilidad de trastornos neurocognitivos y del ánimo que la población general. La introducción de los antirretrovirales ha disminuido significativamente la demencia asociada a VIH, relacionado a la adherencia a la terapia antirretroviral altamente activa (TARAA). Diversos estudios han demostrado la coexistencia de otros factores para explicar dicho trastorno cognitivo, tales como enfermedad neurológica previa, enfermedad psiquiátrica, consumo de drogas, nivel educativo, reserva cognitiva, entre otras. Objetivo: Determinar el grado de sintomatología depresiva, deterioro cognitivo y su relación con la adherencia a TARAA y otros factores de curso clínico en pacientes portadores de VIH en control ambulatorio. Métodos: Estudio transversal. Se incluyeron pacientes que viven con VIH adscritos al programa de infectología del Hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke, Viña del mar, Chile. Se utilizaron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y se aplicaron las escalas Depression in the Medicaly III Questionary, Montreal Cognitive Assesment y Morysky Green Levin Test. Resultados: Se incluyeron 29 participantes, en su mayoría hombres (86,2%) y con escolaridad técnica o profesional (86.2%). No hubo diferencias entre variables biodemográficas, depresivas ni subdimensiones cognitivos. Entre pacientes adherentes y no adherentes se encontró diferencias significativas respecto a la presencia de algún deterioro cognitivo. Conclusiones: Los resultados deben ser interpretados con cautela, dado su alcance limitado. Futuros estudios traslacionales debieran incorporar mediciones más certeras del nivel de adherencia al TARAA.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers present more neurocognitive and mood disorders than the general population. The introduction of antiretrovirals has significantly lowered the incidence of HIV associated dementia, and this is related to adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Several studies have shown the coexistence of other factors that could explain the cognitive disorder, such as a pre-existing neurological disease, psychiatric disease, drug consumption, level of education, cognitive reserve, and others. Objective: To determine the degree of depressive symptomatology and cognitive impairment and their relation to adherence to HAART and other factors of the clinical course of HIV carriers in outpatient supervision. Methods: Cross-sectional study. We included HIV patients in the infectious diseases program, Dr Gustavo Fricke Hospital, Viña del Mar, Chile. We used sociodemographic and clinical data and we applied the Depression in the Medically Ill questionnaire, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Morysky Green Levin Test. Results: 29 patients participated, mainly men (86.2%) with technical or professional education (86.2%). There were no significant differences in sociodemographic, depressive, or cognitive subdomain variables. There were significant differences in cognitive impairment between adherents and non-adherents. Conclusions: Care should be taken with interpreting the results, given their limited scope. Future cross-sectional studies should incorporate more accurate measurements of HAART adherence.

Macromolecular composition and anaerobic degradation of the sludge produced in a sequencing batch reactor

The effect of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operating conditions on sludge macromolecular composition and the effect of sludge macromolecular composition on the anaerobic degradation of the sludge produced in SBR was investigated in this work. A SBR, fed with synthetic wastewater, was operated at different air flow rates. The resulting sludge was analyzed in terms of protein, carbohydrate, phospholipid and polyhydroxybutyrate concentrations. Methane production during anaerobic digestion of the sludge was also measured. Ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) track studies in the SBR were carried out in order to relate SBR performance and sludge macromolecular composition. The lowest air flow rate at which the SBR was operated was 2 l min-1, in which case the dissolved oxygen concentration was lower than 0.5 mg l-1 in the SBR and partial denitrification occurred during the feeding phase. An increased air flow rate caused a decrease in protein concentration, as well as an increase in carbohydrate concentration. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) concentration in the sludge was independent of air flow rate. At different air flows, the methane production rates were similar, but the total volume of methane was greater during anaerobic digestion of the sludge produced at low air flow rates. These results indicate a strategy by which changes in sludge composition can optimize the operation of anaerobic sludge digesters.