Epidemiological characterization of patients with sarcoidosis in a high complexity hospital in southwestern Colombia

Introduction: Epidemiological studies on sarcoidosis in Colombia are scarce, and although recent reports from the north of the country have been published, clinical-epidemiological associations are not clear. Our aim was to characterize patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed at Fundación Valle del Lili in Cali, Colombia. Methods: A retrospective study of a series of sarcoidosis cases was conducted between 2011 and 2019. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, histopathological, and treatment variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 34 patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis were found. The majority were women (n = 25; 73%), and the mean age was 50 years. The main symptoms of onset were erythema nodosum (n = 11; 33%), arthritis (n = 10; 30%), and cough (n = 9; 27%). In 64% of the cases, there was pulmonary involvement, with pulmonary nodules, mediastinal adenopathy, and interstitial lung disease found in 54%, 50%, and 36% of cases, respectively. In 85% of cases, there were extrapulmonary manifestations, mainly cutaneous (50%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was elevated in 62% of the cases in which it was measured (n = 16; 47%). During the diagnostic process, 23 biopsies were performed, of which 95% showed granulomas with noncaseating necrosis. Most of the patients (76%) were controlled with prednisolone, at an average dose of 20 mg (7.5-50 mg) per day. Conclusions: Sarcoidosis was more frequent in women and mestizos, and it presented earlier in men. Elevated ACE was not associated with extrapulmonary involvement. Calcium-phosphorus profile and antinuclear antibodies were not useful to establish the diagnosis.

Introducción: En Colombia son escasos los estudios epidemiológicos sobre la sarcoidosis; aunque recientemente se han publicado reportes del norte del país, son grupos muestrales pequeños, por lo que no quedan claras las asociaciones clínico-epidemiológicas. Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar pacientes con sarcoidosis en la Fundación Valle del Lili, en Cali, Colombia. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de una serie de casos de sarcoidosis entre el 2011 y el 2019. Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas, de laboratorio, imagenológicas, histopatológicas y de tratamiento. Resultados: Se encontraron 34 pacientes con diagnóstico de sarcoidosis, la mayoría fueron mujeres (n = 25; 73%), y la edad promedio fue 50 anos. Los principales síntomas de inicio fueron eritema nudoso (n = 11; 33%), artritis (n = 10; 30%) y tos (n = 9; 27%). En el 64% de los casos hubo compromiso pulmonar, y se encontraron nódulos pulmonares, adenopatías mediastinales y enfermedad pulmonar intersticial en un 54, 50 y 36% de los casos, respectivamente. En el 85% de los casos hubo manifestaciones extrapulmonares, principalmente cutáneas (50%). Los niveles de enzima conversora de angiotensina estuvieron elevados en el 62% de los casos en los que fue medida (n = 16; 47%). Durante el proceso diagnóstico se realizaron 23 biopsias, de las cuales el 95% evidenció granulomas con necrosis no caseificante. La mayoría de los pacientes (76%) fueron controlados con prednisolona, a una dosis promedio de 20 mg (7,5-50 mg) por día. Conclusiones: La sarcoidosis fue más frecuente en mujeres y mestizos. La presentación fue más temprana en hombres. La enzima conversora de angiotensina no se relacionó con compromiso extrapulmonar. Ni el perfil fósforo-calcio ni los anticuerpos antinucleares fueron útiles para establecer el diagnóstico.

Renal amyloidosis in ankylosing spondylitis: A case report / Amiloidosis renal en espondilitis anquilosante: un reporte de caso

ABSTRACT Renal manifestations of spondyloarthritis are rare. The case is presented of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis of nine years of evolution. He had intense inflammation, as well as articular sequelae, with a significant deterioration in his quality of life. At the initial evaluation, the patient had a serum creatinine of 1.44mg/dL and a 24-h urine protein in the sub-nephrotic range (1.44 g). Renal biopsy showed the presence of Congophilic material, confirming the diagnosis of AA amyloidosis. Treatment with a TNF blocking agent was initiated with clinical improvement, especially regarding articular disease.

RESUMEN Las manifestaciones renales de la espondiloartritis son poco comunes. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con espondilitis anquilosante de 9 anos de evolución, con intensa inflamación y secuelas articulares y con un deterioro significativo en su calidad de vida. En la evaluación inicial, el paciente tenía una creatinina sérica de 1,44mg/dL y una proteína en orina de 24 horas en un rango subnefrótico (1,44 g). La biopsia renal mostró la presencia de material congofílico que confirmaba el diagnóstico de amiloidosis AA. Se inició tratamiento con un anti-TNF, con mejoría clínica, especialmente con respecto al componente articular.

Venom complexity of Bothrops atrox (common lancehead) siblings

Variability in snake venoms is a well-studied phenomenon. However, sex-based variation of Bothrops atrox snake venom using siblings is poorly investigated. Bothrops atrox is responsible for the majority of snakebite accidents in the Brazilian Amazon region. Differences in the venom composition of Bothrops genus have been linked to several factors such as ontogeny, geographical distribution, prey preferences and sex. Thus, in the current study, venom samples of Bothrops atrox male and female siblings were analyzed in order to compare their biochemical and biological characteristics. Methods: Venoms were collected from five females and four males born from a snake captured from the wild in São Bento (Maranhão, Brazil), and kept in the Laboratory of Herpetology of Butantan Intitute. The venoms were analyzed individually and as a pool of each gender. The assays consisted in protein quantification, 1-DE, mass spectrometry, proteolytic, phospholipase A2, L-amino acid oxidase activities, minimum coagulant dose upon plasma, minimum hemorrhagic dose and lethal dose 50%. Results: Electrophoretic profiles of male's and female's venom pools were quite similar, with minor sex-based variation. Male venom showed higher LAAO, PLA2 and hemorrhagic activities, while female venom showed higher coagulant activity. On the other hand, the proteolytic activities did not show statistical differences between pools, although some individual variations were observed. Meanwhile, proteomic profile revealed 112 different protein compounds; of which 105 were common proteins of female's and male's venom pools and seven were unique to females. Despite individual variations, lethality of both pools showed similar values. Conclusion: Although differences between female and male venoms were observed, our results show that individual variations are significant even between siblings, highlighting that biological activities of venoms and its composition are influenced by other factors beyond gender.(AU)

Anticuerpos asociados al lupus neuropsiquiátrico: rol fisiopatológico, prevalencia y utilidad diagnóstica / Antibodies associated with neuropsychiatrie lupus: Pathophysiological role, prevalence and diagnostic usefulness

RESUMEN El lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) es una enfermedad autoinmune multisistémica que puede comprometer cualquier órgano. El compromiso neurológico es una de las mayores causas de morbimortalidad en estos pacientes. Las manifestaciones pueden ser muy variadas y comprender compromiso tanto del sistema nervioso central como del periférico. Estas manifestaciones representan un reto para el clínico, puesto que son de difícil diagnóstico y tratamiento. Aunque existen diversas ayudas de laboratorio e imagenológicas que se han reportado como potencialmente útiles para el diagnóstico del compromiso neurológico en LES, no existe aún un estándar de oro disponible en el presente, por lo que esfuerzos para identificar biomarcadores que puedan mejorar la sensibilidad y la especificidad del diagnóstico del compromiso neurológico en LES son materia de estudio actualmente. Puesto que algunas de estas manifestaciones son mediadas o relacionadas a la presencia de anticuerpos específicos, en este artículo se revisan diferentes anticuerpos asociados al compromiso neuropsiquiátrico del LES, su posible rol fisiopatológico, su prevalencia y su asociación en esta forma de presentación clínica.

ABSTRACT Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with the potential to involve any organ. The neurological manifestations are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality related to SLE, and they can be expressed in the central or peripheral nervous system. Given their complexity, their diagnosis and treatment are a challenge for clinicians. Although there are plenty of helpful laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging tools to achieve a good diagnosis, there is no gold standard available yet. Finding biomarkers with adequate sensitivity and specificity are still being studied. A review is presented in this article on the specific antibodies that have been associated with, or that may trigger, the neurological manifestations in SLE, their pathophysiological importance, prevalence, and their association with this clinical presentation of the illness.

Hernia de Amyand: presentación de un caso / Amyand hernia. Case report / Hérnia de Amyand. apresentação de um caso

RESUMEN La hernia inguinal es la protrusión de un órgano o fascia a través de la pared de la cavidad que lo contiene y es una de las situaciones más frecuentes que debe enfrentar el cirujano. Por lo general, el contenido de las hernias es epiplón o intestino delgado, pero ocasionalmente se puede observar el apéndice cecal, condición que se denomina "Hernia de Amyand". Esta es una situación infrecuente y de difícil diagnóstico, que generalmente se hace durante la intervención quirúrgica. Se presenta el caso de una hernia de Amyand en un hombre de 40 años que consultó por un cuadro de 10 horas de dolor en la región inguinal derecha, con masa palpable, dolorosa e irreductible; en la cirugía se encontró una hernia que contenía epiplón y el apéndice cecal con cambios inflamatorios. Se hicieron apendicectomía y hernioplastia inguinal por vía preperitoneal con aplicación de malla. No hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias y la evolución fue satisfactoria.

SUMMARY Inguinal hernia is the protrusion of an organ or fascia through the wall of the cavity that contains it. It is one of the most frequent situations that surgeons must face. Typically, the content of herniary sac is omentum or small bowel, but occasionally it includes the cecal appendix, a condition called "Amyand hernia". Diagnosis is usually established during surgical intervention. We present the case of an Amyand hernia in a 40 year-old male, who consulted by pain in the right inguinal region, lasting 10 hours. On physical examination a palpable, painful and irreducible mass was found. During surgery, the sac was observed to contain omentum and the cecal appendix, the latter with inflammatory changes. Pre-peritoneal inguinal hernia repair with application of a mesh was performed. No intra-operatory complications occurred and the outcome was satisfactory.

RESUMO A hérnia inguinal é a protrusão de um órgão ou fáscia através da parede da cavidade que os contém e é um dos procedimentos cirúrgicos mais frequentes aos que vai enfrentar o cirurgião. Comumente o conteúdo das hérnias é Epiplon ou intestino delgado e em poucas ocasiões se pode observar a apêndice cecal, condição que se denomina "Hérnia de Amyand". Esta é uma situação pouco frequente e de difícil diagnóstico, que geralmente se diagnostica durante a intervenção cirúrgica. Se apresentou o caso de uma hérnia de Amyand em um paciente masculino de 40 anos de idade que consultou por quadro de 10 horas de dor na região inguinal direita, com massa palpável, dolorosa e irredutível; foi levado a cirurgia e foi durante a qual se encontrou uma hérnia com conteúdo de Epiplon e apêndice cecal com câmbios inflamatórios, se realizou apendicectomia e hernioplastia inguinal por via pré-peritoneal com aplicação de malha. Não se apresentaram complicações intraoperatórias e a evolução foi satisfatória.