Relationship between hypovitaminosis D and sarcopenia in patients with stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease in Colombian patients.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a condition associated with aging and multiple medical conditions such as CKD and hypovitaminosis D. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out, based on patients registered in a database of specialized nephrology consultation in the city of Manizales, Colombia. 101 patients over 18 years of age who had stage 3 or 4 CKD were included. RESULTS: The frequency of sarcopenia was 10.9%. No relationship was found between sarcopenia alone and serum vitamin D levels. However, when sarcopenia was categorized as severe there was a direct relationship with hypovitaminosis D. There was also a direct relationship between dynapenia and hypovitaminosis D. In addition, patients who had serum vitamin D levels above 40 ng/ml had better muscle performance, and, consequently, probably a lower risk of frailty. CONCLUSION: When patients, within their treatment, received vitamin D supplementation, no effect on muscle performance was observed.

Quantum Dot-Doped Electrospun Polymer Fibers for Explosive Vapor Sensors.

This research seeks to support reconnaissance efforts against homemade explosives (HMEs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which are leading causes of combat casualties in recent conflicts. The successful deployment of a passive sensor to be developed for first responders and military must take expense, training requirements, and physical burden all into consideration. By harnessing the size-dependent luminescence of quantum dots (QDs) being electrospun into polymer fibers, the authors of this work hope to progress toward the development of lightweight, multivariable, inexpensive, easy to use and interpret, field-applicable sensors capable of detecting explosive vapors. The data demonstrate that poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fibers doped with Fort Orange cadmium selenide (CdSe) QDs, Birch Yellow CdSe QDs, or carbon (C) QDs will quench in the presence of explosive vapors (DNT, TNT, TATP, and RDX). In all cases, the fluorescent signal of the doped fiber continuously quenched upon sustained exposure to the headspace vapors. The simple method for the integration of QDs into the fibers' structure combined with their straightforward visual response, reusability, and durability all present characteristics desired for a field-operable and multimodal sensor with the ability to detect explosive threats.

Uso de IECA o ARA II más espironolactona y su relación con hiperkalemia en pacientes ambulatorios / Use of ace inhibitors or ARA II plus spironolactone and their relationship with hyperkalemia in day care patients

Objetivo: establecer la relación existente entre la combinación farmacológica de un inhibidor de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina (IECA) o un bloqueante del receptor de angiotensina tipo II (ARA II) más espironolactona y los niveles de potasio sérico en los pacientes adultos con insuficiencia cardiaca y tasa de filtración glomerular (TFG) mayor o igual a 60 mL/min, que acuden a la consulta de cardiología de dos centros hospitalarios de la ciudad de Manizales.Diseño: estudio de tipo prospectivo, observacional, de casos incidentes.Material y métodos: se incluyeron 30 pacientes con diagnóstico de insuficiencia cardiaca, que recibían la combinación farmacológica IECA o ARA II más espironolactona, cuya depuración de creatinina fuera mayor o igual a 60 mL/min. Se hizo seguimiento durante seis meses, evaluando cada mes electrolitos y pruebas de función renal. El análisis estadístico, para las variables cualitativas, se realizó con la prueba de Chi cuadrado; para las variables cuantitativas se utilizó la prueba de t de Student. Se utilizó el programa EpiInfo Versión 6.04 d y Epidata 3.1...

Objective: to establish the relationship between the pharmacologic combination of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocking agent Type II(ARA II) plus spironolactone and the serum potassium levels in adult patients with heart failure, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) higher or equal to 60 mL/min, who go for consultation in the cardiology unit of hospital centers in the city of Manizales. Design: prospective, observational study of incident cases. Material and methods: 30 patients with diagnosis of heart failure were included. They weregiven the pharmacologic combination of ACE inhibitors or ARA II plus spironolactone, with a creatinine clearance of more or equal to 60 mL/min. They were followed for 6 months, monthly assessments of the electrolytes as well as renal function. The statistical analysis for the quantitative variables was carried out with the Chi square test; for the quantitative variables the Student t wasused. The EpiInfo program Version 6.04 and Epidate 3.1 were used.Results: 368 patients with diagnosis of heart failure were found, 126 of them lived in Manizalez, of which 54 had creatinine clearance...

Dolor abdominal agudo en el anciano en el Hospital de Caldas / Acute abdominal pain in the elderly in Hospital de Caldas

Objetivos: Determinar las enfermedades causales de dolor abdominal agudo, en pacientes mayores de 65 años que se presentaron al servicio de urgencias con este síntoma, su presentación clínica, correlación diagnóstica entre diagnósticos de ingreso y egreso, tardanza diagnóstica, estancia hospitalaria y morbilidad y mortalidad asociada. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo de casos incidentes durante 12 meses (marzo de 2000 a febrero de 2001), de los ancianos que consultaron al servicio de urgencias y se hospitalizaron a causa de dolor abdominal agudo no traumático. Escenario: Hospital de Caldas, tercer nivel de atención Resultados: Fueron 209 pacientes, 129 mujeres y 80 hombres, con una edad promedio de 75 años. Como principales causas se encontraron enfermedad del tracto biliar (22.5%), enfermedad ácido péptica (20.6%) y enfermedades cardiovasculares (11%). Los síntomas asociados fueron inespecíficos (predominantemente anorexia, náuseas y vómito), presentando signos físicos sólo el 66% de los casos; 66 pacientes (31.6%) requirieron cirugía. Hubo correlación entre el diagnóstico inicial y el final en el 49.5% Se presentaron complicaciones en 48.8% de los casos con mortalidad global de 28 pacientes (13.4%), predominantemente del grupo sometido a tratamiento quirúrgico (18 casos), y enfermedades concomitantes en el 84% de los pacientes. La estancia hospitalaria promedio fue de 7.8 días. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico del dolor abdominal agudo en ancianos es difícil por la falta relativa de síntomas y signos físicos. Se destaca el amplio predominio de las enfermedades del tracto biliar y la enfermedad ácido péptica. En los pacientes sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico hay tendencia a presentar mayores complicaciones y mortalidad. Las complicaciones son poco toleradas por los ancianos, enfatizando la importancia de su predicción y prevención.

Objectives: to determine the causal illnesses of acute abdominal pain, in patients older than 65 years old that consult to the emergency service with this symptom, their clinical presentation, correlation between initial and definitive diagnosis, delay in diagnosis, hospital stay and morbilility and associate mortality. Design: descriptive study of incident cases during 12 months (March of 2000 to February of 2001), of the ancient patients that consulted to the emergency service and were hospitalized because of none traumatic acute abdominal pain. Scenario: Hospital of Caldas, third level of attention, Manizales, Colombia. Results: there were 209 patients, 129 female and 80 male, with an average age of 75 years. As main causes of illness were biliary tract diseases (22.5%), peptic disease (20.6%) and cardiovascular diseases (11%). The associate symptoms were none especific (predominantly anorexia, nauseas and vomit), only presenting physical signs in 66% of the cases; 66 patients (31.6%) of them required surgical tratment. There was correlation between the initial and the definitive diagnsosis in 49.5%. Complications presented in 48.8% of the cases, with 28 patients as the global mortality (13.4%), predominantly in the group submitted to surgical treatment (18 cases), and concomitant diseases in 84% of the patients. The average hospital stay was of 7.8 days. Conclusions: diagnosis of the acute abdominal pain in ancient patients is difficult because of the relative lack of symptoms and physical signs. Is evident the wide prevalence of the biliary tract disease and the peptic disease. In the patients submitted to surgical treatment there is a tendency to present higher complication and mortality rate. Complications are bad tolerated by the older patients, emphasizing the importance of their prediction and prevention.