Modelo computacional interactivo, semi-automatizado y de código abierto aplicado a la vigilancia de virus respiratorios / Interactive, semi-automatized and open source computational model applied to respiratory viruses surveillance

Resumen Las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) causadas por virus son una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo, afectando principalmente a niños y adultos mayores. Se asocian a un alto número de consultas y hospitalizaciones, a una significativa sobrecarga del sistema de salud y a un alto costo económico. La vigilancia de virus respiratorios tiene el potencial de ayudar a optimizar la respuesta sanitaria, garantizar la disponibilidad de recursos humanos, racionalizar los recursos y disminuir los costos asociados a la atención en salud. Con el objetivo de optimizar la recolección y visualización de los datos de nuestro actual sistema de vigilancia de virus respiratorios, se diseñó una plataforma basada en R y sus paquetes Shiny, que permite la creación de una interfase web interactiva y amigable para la recolección, análisis y publicación de los datos. Se ingresaron a esta plataforma los datos de la red de vigilancia metropolitana de virus respiratorios disponibles desde 2006. En esta plataforma, el investigador demora menos de un minuto en registrar los datos. El análisis y publicación es inmediato, llegando a cualquier usuario con un dispositivo conectado a Internet, quien puede elegir las variables a consultar. Con un costo muy bajo, en poco tiempo y utilizando el lenguaje de programación R, se logró crear un sistema simple e interactivo, disminuyendo el tiempo de carga y análisis de datos de forma considerable, posiblemente aumentando el impacto y la disponibilidad de esta vigilancia.

Abstract Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting mainly children and the elderly. They are associated with a high economic burden, increased number of medical visits and hospitalizations. The surveillance of the circulation of respiratory viruses can reduce the health care associated costs, and to optimize the health response. A platform based on R and its package Shiny was designed, to create an interactive and friendly web interface for gathering, analysis and publication of the data. The data from the Chilean metropolitan respiratory viruses surveillance network, available since 2006, was uploaded into the platform. Using this platform, the researcher spends less than 1 minute to upload the data, and the analysis and publication is immediate, available to be seen by any user with a device connected to Internet, who can choose the variables to be displayed. With a very low cost, in a short time, and using the R programming language, it was possible to create a simple, and interactive platform, considerably decreasing the upload and analysis time, and increasing the impact and availability of this surveillance.

Genotipo y fenotipo de la enzima tiopurina metiltransferasa en población chilena / Phenotype and genotype of thiopurine methyltransferase in Chilean individuals

Background: Thiopurines (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) are highly effective medications but with potential adverse effects. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TMPT) is the key enzyme in their pharmacokinetics and is genetically regulated. A low activity of TPMT is associated with myelotoxicity. The genotype and enzyme activity can vary by ethnicity. Aim: To study the activity and genotype of TPMT in a group of Chilean subjects. Material and Methods: In 200 healthy adult blood donors, TPMT activity was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Deficient, low, normal or high levels were defined when enzymatic activity was < 5, 6-24,25-55 and > 56 nmol/grHb/h, respectively. Genotyping of TPMT (*1, *2, *3A, *3B, *3C) was performed by PCR. Results: Seventy seven women (38.5%) and 123 men (61.5%), with an average age of 34.9 years were studied. Eighteen subjects (9%) had a low enzymatic activity, 178 (89%) had normal activity, 4 (2%) had high activity and no genotype deficient subjects were identified. The wild type genotype (*1) was found in 184 (92%) individuals and 16 (8%) were heterozygous for the variants: *2 (n = 2), *3A (n = 13) and *3C (n = 1). No homozygous subjects for these variants were identified. Wild type genotype had an increased enzymatic activity (40.8 ± 7.2 nmol/gHb/h) compared to heterozygous group (21.2 ± 3 nmol/ gHb/h; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Less than 10% of a Chilean population sample has a low enzymatic activity or allelic variants in the TPMT gene, supporting the use of thiopurines according to international recommendations.