Characterization of inflammatory bowel disease in Colombia: Results of a national register. / Caracterización de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en Colombia: resultados de un registro nacional.

AIM: To determine the clinical, sociodemographic, and treatment characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a Colombian population register. METHODS: A descriptive, analytic, observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study on patients with IBD from 17 hospital centers in 9 Colombian cities was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 2,291 patients with IBD were documented, 1,813 (79.1%) of whom presented with ulcerative colitis (UC), 456 (19.9%) with Crohn's disease (CD), and 22 with IBD unclassified (0.9%). The UC/CD ratio was 3.9:1. A total of 18.5% of the patients with UC and 47.3% with CD received biologic therapy. Patients with extensive UC had greater biologic therapy use (OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.10-3.65, p = 0.000), a higher surgery rate (OR = 5.4, 95% CI: 3.5-8.3, p = 0.000), and greater frequency of hospitalization (OR = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.47-5.44, p = 0.000). Patients with severe UC had greater biologic therapy use (OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 3.75-6.78, p = 0.000), a higher surgery rate (OR = 8.64, 95% CI: 5.4-13.78, p = 0.000), and greater frequency of hospitalization (OR = 28.45, 95% CI: 19.9-40.7, p = 0.000). CD patients with inflammatory disease behavior (B1) presented with a lower frequency of hospitalization (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.07-0.19, p = 0.000), a lower surgery rate (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.043-0.15, p = 0.000), and less biologic therapy use (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.17-0.41, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In Colombia, there is a predominance of UC over CD (3.9:1), as occurs in other Latin American countries. Patients with extensive UC, severe UC, or CD with noninflammatory disease behavior (B2, B3) have a worse prognosis.

[Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium in the acute phase of relapses in multiple sclerosis]. / Resonancia magnetica con gadolinio en la fase aguda de las recaidas en esclerosis multiple.

AIM: To describe the factors that are associated with gadolinium enhancement on MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and symptoms of relapse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients over 18 years diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, secondary progressive and primary progressive from 2009 to 2014, who had a clinical relapse and underwent brain and spinal resonance with gadolinium during the acute phase of the symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 93 patients enrolled, 70% were women, the average age was 37 ± 9.6 years. 90% had relapsing-remitting MS and 50% had at least 5 years since the diagnosis. The 56% had medullar involvement, being the most frequent sensory disturbances (44%). The median duration of symptoms was 6 days (range: 1-89 days). The 93% required treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone 3-5 days, which was administered after performing MRI studies. No evidence statistical difference in the presence of lesions that gadolinium enhancement on MRI during relapse with any of the clinical variables analyzed and only a tendency was observed with associated symptoms (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The definition of relapse MS is clinic. However, the enhancement of the MRI in the phase of relapse could be useful to confirm the disease's activity. With this information, could be a useful point on the treatment of these patients with immunomodulatory drugs.

TITLE: Resonancia magnetica con gadolinio en la fase aguda de las recaidas en esclerosis multiple.Objetivo. Describir los factores que estan relacionados con el realce de gadolinio en la resonancia magnetica (RM) en pacientes con esclerosis multiple (EM) con sintomas de recaida. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio observacional de corte transversal, retrospectivo, de pacientes mayores de 18 años con diagnostico de EM remitente recurrente o progresiva, que presentaron actividad clinica y a quienes se les realizo resonancia cerebral y medular con contraste durante la fase aguda de los sintomas. Resultados. De los 93 pacientes incluidos, el 70% fueron mujeres, con una edad media de 37 ± 9,6 años. El 90% presentaba un diagnostico de EM remitente recurrente y el 50% tenia una duracion de la enfermedad de al menos cinco años. El 56% presento actividad clinica de origen medular, y las alteraciones sensitivas fueron las mas frecuentes (44%). La mediana de duracion de los sintomas fue de seis dias (rango: 1-89 dias). El 93% requirio tratamiento con metilprednisolona intravenosa durante 3-5 dias, que se administro despues de realizar los estudios de RM. La presencia de lesiones que realzaran con contraste durante la fase de recaida en los estudios de RM no mostro relacion significativa con ninguna de las variables clinicas analizadas y solo se observo una tendencia con los sintomas asociados (p = 0,07). Conclusiones. La definicion de recaida en la EM es clinica. Una RM en la fase de recaida podria ser util para confirmar la actividad de la enfermedad, pero el realce de gadolinio durante la recaida no se encontro que fuera determinado por la presentacion clinica, la localizacion anatomica o la duracion del sintoma.

Prevalencia de ventilación mecánica en pacientes pediátricos con sepsis internados en Cuidados Intensivos / Prevalence of ventilation Mechanics in patients pediatric patients with sepsis interned in Intensive Care

Objetivo: Describir las características sociodemográficas y clínicas de niños con sepsis y ventilación mecánica. Métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal, multicéntrico, de un año de duración, en 19 Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos. Los datos se recolectaron a través de la página www.sepsisencolombia.com. Los pacientes fueron clasificados por diagnósticos, según tuvieran criterios de sepsis, sepsis grave, choque séptico y falla orgánica múltiple, y la necesidad o no de ventilación mecánica. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1051 pacientes con sepsis y el 67,7% de ellos requirió ventilación mecánica. El 43,1% eran niñas, la mediana de la edad era de 12 meses (rango intercuartílico 1-59). La mediana de estancia en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos de los pacientes ventilados fue de 8 días (rango intercuartílico 5-15) y de 4 días (rango intercuartílico 3-6) de los no ventilados. En el 97,1%, se conoció el origen de la sepsis, el más frecuente fue el aparato respiratorio. Se encontró relación entre tener sepsis y no requerir ventilación mecánica (rango intercuartílico 0,279-0,439) (p = 0,0000) y de requerirla, si había choque séptico (rango intercuartílico 0,694-0,781) (p = 0,0000). Los pacientes que requirieron ventilación mecánica tuvieron más probabilidad de morir (odds ratio 30,0; rango intercuartílico 11,5-78,6). Conclusiones: La sepsis y desarrollar choque séptico hacen más probable la necesidad de ventilación mecánica y hay una asociación entre ésta y mayor probabilidad de muerte.(AU)

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children with sepsis and mechanical ventilation. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study in 19 pediatric intensive care units. Data were collected through the website www. sepsisencolombia.com. Patients were classified by diagnosis, according to the following criteria: sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ failure, with or without mechanical ventilation. Results: 1051 patients with sepsis were included and 67.7% of them required mechanical ventilation. 43.1% were female, median age: 12 months (interquartile range 1-59). The median stay in the PICU of ventilated patients was 8 days (interquartile range 5-15) and 4 days (interquartile range 3-6) of those without ventilation. The origin of sepsis was known in 97.1%, the most frequent source was the respiratory system. Relationship was found between having sepsis and not requiring mechanical ventilation (interquartile range 0.279 to 0.439) (p = 0.0000) and requiring it was found, if there was septic shock (interquartile range 0.694 to 0.781) (p = 0.0000). Patients who required mechanical ventilation were more likely to die (odds ratio 30.0; interquartile range 11.5 to 78.6. Conclusions: Sepsis and the development of septic shock make it more likely to need mechanical ventilation and there is an association between this and increased probability of death.(AU)

Local structure of layered oxide electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Li-ion batteries are promising candidates for electrical energy storage in applications ranging from portable electronics to hybrid and electric vehicles. In this context, layered compounds in the Li(1+delta)(TM(x)Mn(1-x))(1-delta)O(2) family (TM = transition metal) have received much attention due to their high capacity and stability. In this Research News article we describe recent advances on structural characterization of Li-ion electrode materials using state-of-the-art electron microscopy. Direct evidence of the monoclinic nature of Li(2)MnO(3) has been provided. It has been demonstrated that differences in Z-contrast imaging between Li(2)MnO(3) and LiTMO(2) may be used to screen samples for phase separation in the 10-100 nm scale.