HYPOVITAMINOSIS D EXACERBATES TYPE 2 DIABETIC COMORBIDITIES

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the prominent nutritional deficiencies in India that needs special attention. The effects of hypovitaminosis D on skeletal and cardiovascular functions are well known. However, its effect on metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still left unexplored. In the present study, our primary aim is to find out the potential effect of hypovitaminosis D in T2DM patients. The study was conducted on 250 T2DM patients mainly from Madhya Pradesh, India. Among them, 125 had hypovitaminosis D (case group) and were compared against the control group of 125 patients with normal serum vitamin D. We were mainly investigating the major T2DM-related complications including chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary heart disease (CHD and recurrent infections. Major organ functions including liver, kidney, and cardiac functions were affected by hypovitaminosis D in T2DM patients when compared to control counterparts. We also noticed an association between hypovitaminosis D and the exacerbation of T2DM comorbidities. Our findings show the importance of maintaining normal serum vitamin D levels in T2DM patients to avoid further complications.

¿Supuración crónica o pseudoquiste infectado? Una complicación de la eventroplastia con malla / Chronic suppuration or infected pseudocyst? A complication of incisional hernia repair with mesh

RESUMEN Las infecciones crónicas posteriores a reparaciones de la pared abdominal pueden presentarse como colecciones que involucran a la malla y suelen obligar a su extracción, mientras que los pseudoquistes son colecciones estériles con una gruesa pared fibrótica que debe ser extirpada para lograr la curación. Presentamos una paciente de 75 años con antecedente de eventroplastia, que consultó por un tumor abdominal de 6 meses de evolución, con características imagenológicas de pseudoquiste parietal. Durante la operación se encontró una malla preperitoneal no integrada a los tejidos y rodeada de "biofilm" y líquido turbio. La prótesis se retiró fácilmente y la aponeurosis, muy engrosada, se cerró borde a borde. El posoperatorio transcurrió sin incidentes y el cultivo desarrolló estafilococo aureus sensible a trimetoprima-sufametoxazol. Seis meses después, la evolución fue favorable y sin signos de recidiva.

ABSTRACT Chronic infections after abdominal wall repairs may present as collections involving the mesh which usually require removing the mesh, while pseudocysts are sterile collections with a thick fibrotic wall that must be removed to achieve healing. We report the case of a 75-year-old female patient with a history incisional hernia repair who sought medical advice due to an abdominal tumor which appeared 6 months before consultation with imaging tests suggestive of an abdominal wall pseudocyst. Surgery revealed a preperitoneal mesh without tissue integration surrounded by biofilm and cloudy fluid. The mesh was easily removed and the edges of the thick aponeurosis were sutured. The postoperative period evolved uneventful and the fluid culture was positive for staphylococcus aureus sensitive to trimethoprim-sufamethoxazole. Six months later the patient evolved with favorable outcome without recurrence.

Biopelículas microbianas y su impacto en áreas médicas: fisiopatología, diagnóstico y tratamiento / Microbial biofilms and their impact on medical areas: physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment

Resumen Las biopelículas son comunidades de microorganismos que crecen agregados y rodeados por una matriz extracelular que ellos mismos producen, la cual favorece la adhesión covalente sobre superficies inertes y vivas; además, les ayuda a desarrollar alta tolerancia a las moléculas con actividad antimicrobiana. Por otra parte, las biopelículas se asocian con infecciones crónicas y persistentes que impactan de manera negativa en distintas áreas médicas. Además, generan altos costos a los sistemas de salud y a los pacientes cada año, porque son difíciles de tratar con antimicrobianos convencionales; adicionalmente, generan altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. El objetivo de esta revisión es presentar información extensa y actualizada sobre el origen, la biosíntesis y la fisiopatología de las biopelículas, así como sobre su relación con infecciones crónicas, el diagnóstico, los tratamientos antimicrobianos actuales con actividad antibiopelícula y las perspectivas sobre la búsqueda de nuevos tratamientos. Estos últimos aún representan una importante área de investigación.

Abstract Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that grow aggregated and surrounded by an extracellular matrix, which they produce and favors them to adhere covalently to inert and living surfaces; it also helps them to develop high tolerance to molecules with antimicrobial activity. Moreover, biofilms are associated with chronic and persistent infections, which negatively impact different medical areas since they generate high costs to health care systems and patients every year because they are difficult to treat with conventional antimicrobial drugs. Additionally, they generate high rates of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this review was to present extensive and up-to-date information on the origin, biosynthesis, and pathophysiology of biofilms. Also, its relationship with chronic infections, diagnosis, current antimicrobial treatments with antibiotic activity, and perspectives on the search for new treatments, since the latter still represent an important area of research.

Determination of IgG avidity in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with Toxocara canis / Determinação da avidez de IgG em camundongos BALB/c experimentalmente infectados com Toxocara canis

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease in that IgM titers can remain high for long periods making difficult to determine the stage of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of indirect ELISA, associated with urea, to discriminate between the acute and chronic toxocariasis. IgG avidity was evaluated in 25 BALB/c mice experimentally infected with 1000 Toxocara canis eggs. Blood samples were collected, and sera treated with 6 M urea and assayed by ELISA every two weeks. The percent IgG avidity was determined using the mean absorbance of sera treated with urea, divided by the mean absorbance of untreated sera. In the first 15 days post-inoculation, was observed a low percentage, between 7.25 and 27.5%, IgG avidity, characteristic of an acute infection. After 60 days of infection, all the mice showed between 31.4 and 58% IgG avidity, indicating a chronic infection.

A toxocaríase é uma zoonose na qual os títulos de IgM podem permanecer elevados por longos períodos, tornando difícil a determinação do estágio em que a doença se encontra. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a aplicabilidade de um teste indireto de ELISA, associado com ureia, para fazer a discriminação entre as fases aguda e crônica da toxocaríase. A avidez de IgG foi avaliada em 25 camundongos BALB/c experimentalmente infectados com 1000 ovos embrionados de Toxocara canis. A cada duas semanas, amostras de sangue foram coletadas, o soro tratado com ureia 6M e realizado o ensaio pela técnica de ELISA. O percentual de avidez de IgG foi determinado, usando-se a média das absorbâncias dos soros tratados com ureia dividida pela média das absorbâncias dos soros não tratados. Nos primeiros 15 dias pós-inoculação, foi observado um baixo percentual de avidez de IgG, entre 7,25 e 27,5%, característico da fase aguda da infecção. Após 60 dias de infecção, todos apresentaram avidez de IgG entre 31,4 e 58%, indicando a fase crônica da infecção.

Paracoccidioidomicosis: características clínicas de 94 casos / Paracoccidioidomycosis: Clinical Characteristics of 94 Cases

Paraguay es considerado una zona afectada por esta micosis endémica en gran parte de Sudamérica. No existe trabajo analítico en nuestro país que evalúe las formas de presentación y los desenlaces de la forma crónica de la paracoccidioidomicosis. Objetivo: Descripción de las características clínicas de casos de paracoccidioidomicosis con compromiso pulmonar. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo de fichas clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de paracoccidioidomicosis internados en el INERAM durante el período de enero 1980-diciembre 2003. El análisis estadístico consistió en un análisis bivariado (X2 y ANOVA), considerando significativa una p < 0,05. Resultados: Se identificaron 94 casos diagnosticados durante el periodo de estudio. La edad de presentación fue de 49±11 años y un notorio bajo índice de masa corporal promedio (16,6) sumado a la alta prevalencia de tabaquismo (77%) caracterizaron a la serie. A pesar de la preponderancia de síntomas respiratorios, se consignaron además lesiones mucosas en 33% y adenopatías cervicales en 19% de los registros médicos. Se describen hallazgos en la analítica sanguínea y en los análisis radiográficos asentados. El análisis de las variables entre el grupo de los fallecidos y de los sobrevivientes mostró una diferencia significativa en la frecuencia respiratoria y en la distribución radiográfica de las lesiones al momento de la internación. Utilizando imidazólicos en 97% de los casos, la mejoría sintomática fue constatada a las 1.6 semanas en promedio, aunque se ha registrado una mortalidad intrahospitalaria del 11.7%. Los pacientes quedaban internados durante 63±58 días para poder recibir tratamiento, pero una vez en condiciones ambulatoriales, el 88% discontinuaba los fármacos. Conclusión: Pese a los síntomas inespecíficos, se debería considerar el diagnóstico de esta micosis en cuadros respiratorios subagudos o crónicos concomitantes a lesiones mucosas y/o adenopatías. Urgen medidas generales que puedan paliar la alta tasa de abandono terapéutico.

Paraguay is an endemic country for paracoccidiomycosis. There is no analytical work in our country evaluating the clinical presentation and the outcomes of the chronic form of paracoccidioidomycosis. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of paracoccidioidomycosis cases with pulmonary involvement. Material and Methods: Observational study of clinical records of patients admitted with a diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis during the period of January 1980 - December 2003 in INERAM, a reference medical center. Statistical analysis consisted of a bivariate analysis (X2 and ANOVA), considering significant a p < 0.05. Results: 94 cases diagnosed during the study period were identified. The mean age of presentation was 49 ± 11 years old. The patients had notorious low average body mass index (16.6) and a high prevalence of smoking habit (77%). Respiratory symptoms, mucosal lesions (33%) and cervical lymphadenopathy (19%) were noted. Blood testing and radiographic results are described. The analysis of the variables between the group who died and the survival group showed significant difference in the respiratory rate and the radiographic images at admission. Most patients (97%) were treated with imidazole antifungal drugs; clinical improvement was observed after on average 1.6 weeks of treatment. Lethality among hospitalized patients was 11.7%. Patients were hospitalized for 63 ± 58 days, in order to receive treatment but once at home, 88% discontinued the drugs . Conclusion: Despite the nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis should be suspected in patients with subacute or chronic respiratory symptoms which are concomitant with mucosal lesions and lymphadenopathy. General measures should be taken to decrease the high rate of treatment default at home.

Chronic infections & coronary artery disease with special reference to Chalmydia pneumoniae.

Background & objectives: Studies on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in India have shown about 10-20 per cent of cases with no obvious risk factors, raising a suspicion of infections as a cause. There is a paucity of data on this possible role of infections. This study was, therefore, undertaken to find out the association between infection due to Chlamydia pneumoniae and other organisms and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Patients with CAD were selected in group I (acute myocardial infarction, AMI) and group III (patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery), and normal controls in group II. Routine biochemical, haematological and inflammatory tests [C-reactive protein (CRP), total leucocyte count (TLC), fibrinogen, ESR], serodiagnostic tests for IgA and IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Parvovirus B-19 by ELISA kits, C. pneumoniae antigen by microimmunofluorescence and PCR from endothelial tissue obtained at CABG were carried out. Aortic punch biopsies were done in patients who underwent CABG. Results: Acute MI patients had a significantly higher association with accepted cardiac risk factors, lipid profile, inflammatory and thrombogenic tests. IgG and IgA antibodies levels against C. pneumoniae were not significantly different in the controls as against the AMI group. However, C. pneumoniae antigen seropositive group had significant association with HDL cholesterol, lipid tetrad index (P<0.001) and with triglycerides. Parvovirus B antigen was detected in 8.3 per cent of tissue specimens by PCR and of 44 patients with AMI (6.8%) were also positive for parvovirus B-19 IgG antibodies. Interpretation & conclusions: There was no direct evidence of the involvement of C. pneumoniae and other infective agents and viruses in CAD. It is possible that such infections produce an indirect adverse effect on the lipid profile.