La dinámica del comercio ilegal de armas de fuego en Lima, Perú / The dynamics of the illegal firearms trade in Lima, Peru / A dinâmica do comércio ilegal de armas de fogo em Lima, Peru

El comercio ilegal de armas de fuego representa un problema significativo para mantener el orden y la seguridad del país, pues conlleva la adquisición de armas y municiones sin cumplir la normatividad y las regulaciones proporcionadas por el Estado, desviando la utilización de dichos equipos hacia la delincuencia. La investigación tiene como propósito analizar la dinámica del comercio ilegal de armas de fuego en Lima, Perú, mediante una metodología cualitativa y de diseño fenomenológico hermenéutico. La muestra incluye veinte funcionarios de la Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) y la Superintendencia Nacional de Control de Servicios de Seguridad, Armas, Municiones y Explosivos de Uso Civil (Sucamec). La información se recolectó por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas. El estudio concluye que el comercio ilegal de armas de fuego se estructura en tres fases clave: la primera fase determinada por la filtración o desvío de armas del mercado legal al ilegal, debido a la falta de control y fiscalización por las autoridades pertinentes. La segunda fase implica la creación de un mercado ilegal en espacios itinerantes, donde participan diversos actores, como intermediarios y compradores. La tercera y última fase comprende la consumación del delito, incluye la entrega del arma y el pago bajo estrictas medidas de seguridad para asegurar la impunidad de los involucrados.

The illegal trade in firearms represents a significant problem for the maintenance of order and security in the country, as it leads to the acquisition of arms and ammunition without complying with the norms and regulations provided by the State, diverting the use of such equipment towards crime. The purpose of this research is to analyse the dynamics of the illegal firearms trade in Lima, Peru, using a qualitative methodology and a hermeneutic phenomenological design. The sample includes twenty officers from the Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (Sucamec). The information was collected through semi-structured interviews. The study concludes that the illegal firearms trade is structured in three key phases: the first phase determined by the leakage or diversion of arms from the legal to the illegal market, due to the lack of control and oversight by the relevant authorities. The second phase involves the creation of an illegal market in itinerant spaces, where various actors, such as intermediaries and buyers, participate. The third and final phase involves the consummation of the crime, including the delivery of the weapon and payment under strict security measures to ensure the impunity of those involved.

O comércio ilegal de armas de fogo representa um problema significativo para a manutenção da ordem e da segurança no país, pois leva à aquisição de armas e munições sem o cumprimento das normas e regulamentos fornecidos pelo Estado, desviando o uso desses equipamentos para o crime. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar a dinâmica do comércio ilegal de armas de fogo em Lima, Peru, usando uma metodologia qualitativa e um desenho fenomenológico hermenêutico. A amostra inclui vinte policiais da Polícia Nacional do Peru (PNP) e da Superintendência Nacional de Controle de Serviços de Segurança, Armas, Munições e Explosivos para Uso Civil (Sucamec). As informações foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. O estudo conclui que o comércio ilegal de armas de fogo está estruturado em três fases principais: a primeira fase é determinada pelo vazamento ou desvio de armas do mercado legal para o ilegal, devido à falta de controle e fiscalização por parte das autoridades competentes. A segunda fase envolve a criação de um mercado ilegal em espaços itinerantes, onde vários atores, como intermediários e compradores, participam. A terceira e última fase envolve a consumação do crime, incluindo a entrega da arma e o pagamento sob rigorosas medidas de segurança para garantir a impunidade dos envolvidos.

Prevalence of antibiotic resistance and virulent factors in nosocomial clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Panamá

ABSTRACT Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important causative agent of nosocomial infections. As pathogen, P. aeruginosa is of increasing clinical importance due to its ability to develop high-level multidrug resistance (MDR). Methods: The aim of the present study was to better understand the intrinsic virulence of circulating strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by surveying and characterizing the antibiotic resistance profiles and prevalence of virulence factors in 51 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa obtained from children admitted to Hospital del Niño-Panamá during the period of October 2016 until March 2017. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration for 12 antibiotics against P. aeruginosa clinical isolates using the VITEK system (https://www.biomerieux.com). Additionally, all isolates were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the presence of components of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump system (mexABR) and pyoverdine receptor genes and betalactamases resistance genes (ESBL) using gene-specific primers. Results: A total of 51 pyoverdine producing clinical isolates were analyzed, all of which expressed resistance genes such as genes of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump system (mexABR) and pyoverdine receptor genes (fpvA). Out of 51 MDR isolates, 22 were ESBL producers. The most common ESBL gene was blaTEM expressed by 43% of the isolates. The isolates tested in this study showed increased resistance to antibiotics in the following categories: (i) penicillins (ampicillin (69%), piperacillin (22%); (ii) pyrimethamines (trimethoprim, 65%); (iii) nitrofurans (nitrofurantoin, 63%), and (iv) third-generation cephalosporin cefotaxime (53%). These results underscore a high prevalence of MDR amongst clinical isolates from Panama. Conclusions: The present study indicates that prevalence of BlaTEM-carrying strains is increasing with subsequent multidrug resistance in Panamá and as well reported worldwide. The virulent factors identified in this study provide valuable information regarding the prevalence of resistance genes and their potential impact on treatments that exploit the unique physiology of the pathogen. To prevent further spread of MDR, the proportions of resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa should be constantly evaluated on healthcare institutions of Panamá. More importantly, this information can be used to better understand the evolution and dissemination of strains hoping to prevent the development of resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Future studies quantifying the expression of these virulent genes will emphasize on the acquisition of multidrug resistance.

Síndrome de Evans Fisher asociado con esclerodermia / Fisher Evans syndrome associated with scleroderma

El síndrome de Evans Fisher, descrito por primera vez en 1951, es un desorden autoinmune caracterizado por la presencia simultánea o secuencial de anemia hemolítica, trombocitopenia inmune y, en ocasiones, neutropenia inmune; con una prueba de antiglobulina directa positiva. Puede ser de causa primaria o secundaria a otras condiciones, como el lupus eritematoso sistémico, los síndromes linfoproliferativos o inmunodeficiencias primarias. Es muy rara su asociación con la esclerodermia. Con el término esclerodermia, que en sentido literal significa piel dura, se designa un grupo de enfermedades y síndromes que tienen como característica común la induración y el engrosamiento cutáneos. Se caracteriza por la presencia de un depósito excesivo de los componentes del tejido conjuntivo, expresado en forma de fibrosis hística, y por alteraciones estructurales del lecho vascular. Con un cuadro clínico muy amplio, afecta fundamentalmente la piel y ciertos órganos internos, como tubo digestivo, pulmón, corazón y riñón. Se presenta una paciente femenina de 75 años de edad, piel negra, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, cardiopatía isquémica y esclerodermia, esta última diagnosticada seis meses antes de su ingreso. Acudió por decaimiento marcado, palidez cutáneo-mucosa intensa y petequias generalizadas. En los estudios realizados se detectó anemia y trombocitopenia severas, reticulocitosis, prueba de antiglobulina directa positiva e hipercelularidad medular con hiperplasia severa de los sistemas megacariopoyético y eritropoyético. Se diagnosticó un síndrome de Evans Fisher y se trató con esteroides e inmunomoduladores; se logró la mejoría clínica y la remisión hematológica

The Evans syndrome, first described in 1951, is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the simultaneous or sequential development of hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia or immune neutropenia. It may be of primary origin or secondary to other diseases or conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, lymphoproliferative disorders or primary immunodeficiencies. Its association with scleroderma is considered very rare. The word scleroderma, which literally means hard skin, designates a group of diseases and syndromes of common feature in induration and thickening the skin. It is characterized by the presence of excessive deposition of connective tissue components, expressed as histic fibrosis, and structural alterations of the vascular bed. With a broad clinical view, it primarily affects the skin and certain internal organs such as gastrointestinal tract, lung, heart and kidney. We present a 75 year-old female, black skin, with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and scleroderma, the latter diagnosed six months before admission. The patient referred marked weakness, pale skin and generalized petechiae. The complete blood count detected severe anemia, thrombocytopenia and reticulocytosis. Other studies showed positive direct Coombs test and severe hypercellularity. Evans Fisher syndrome was diagnosed and treated with steroids and immunomodulators; clinical improvement and hematologic remission was achieved