Dynamics of humoral immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with different clinical stages.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a global health problem. As in other viral infections, the humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is thought to be crucial for controlling the infection. However, the dynamic of B cells in the clinical spectrum of this disease is still controversial. This study aimed to characterize B cell subsets and neutralizing responses in COVID-19 patients according to disease severity through a one-month follow-up. Methods: A cohort of 71 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR were recruited and classified into four groups: i) asymptomatic; ii) symptomatic outpatients; iii) hospitalized in ward, and iv) intensive care unit patients (ICU). Samples were taken at days 0 (inclusion to the study), 7 and 30. B cell subsets and neutralizing antibodies were assessed using multiparametric flow cytometry and plaque reduction neutralization, respectively. Results: Older age, male gender and body mass index over 25 were common factors among hospitalized and ICU patients, compared to those with milder clinical presentations. In addition, those requiring hospitalization had more comorbidities. A significant increase in the frequencies of CD19+ cells at day 0 was observed in hospitalized and ICU patients compared to asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. Likewise, the frequency of plasmablasts was significantly increased at the first sample in the ICU group compared to the asymptomatic group, but then waned over time. The frequency of naïve B cells decreased at days 7 and 30 compared to day 0 in hospitalized and ICU patients. The neutralizing antibody titers were higher as the severity of COVID-19 increased; in asymptomatic individuals, it was strongly correlated with the percentage of IgM+ switched memory B cells, and a moderate correlation was found with plasmablasts. Conclusion: The humoral immune response is variable among SARS-CoV-2 infected people depending on the severity and time of clinical evolution. In severe COVID-19 patients, a higher plasmablast frequency and neutralizing antibody response were observed, suggesting that, despite having a robust humoral immunity, this response could be late, having a low impact on disease outcome.

Hemosiderosis pulmonar idiopática en paciente adulto / Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in an adult patient

Resumen Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 46 años de edad con cinco años de evolución de episodios intermitentes de hemoptisis cuyo diagnóstico final fue hemosiderosis pulmonar idiopática. Su presentación y características clínicas son comparadas con los otros casos reportados en la literatura.

Abstract The case of a 46-year-old patient with five years of evolution of intermittent episodes of hemoptysis whose final diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is reported. Its presentation and clinical characteristics are compared with the other cases reported in the literature.

Successful treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to histoplasmosis in a patient with HIV/AIDS.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is an uncommon syndrome that results from an uncontrolled activation of macrophages and lymphocytes resulting in the compromise of multiple organs that is potentially fatal without timely treatment. It can be hereditary or a secondary result of infectious processes, neoplasms or autoimmune conditions. We present the case of a patient with HIV/AIDS who developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as well as disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with histoplasmosis and who was successfully treated with amphotericin B, steroids and transitory dialytic support.

Orofacial infection by Conidiobolus coronatus.

Entomophtoramycosis is a type of subcutaneous mycosis which includes both basidiobolomycosis and conidiobolomycosis; the latter is caused by Conidiobolus coronatus, a saprophytic fungus which lives in tropical soils. This mycosis characteristically affects the paranasal sinuses and oropharynx, with the potential to deform the face in patients without apparent immunodeficiency. It has a chronic course of infection with a tendency to form granulomas visible using histology. We present the case of a 28 year-old male agricultural worker, with a clinical profile of 6 months' evolution of rhinofacial tumefaction, nasal obstruction and post-nasal drip who was diagnosed with conidiobolomycosis by means of tissue culture after multiple biopsies of the facial area. The patient received antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and subsequently with itraconazol, resulting in a dramatic improvement without the need for surgical treatment; itraconazol was administered for one year and there was no evidence of relapse at the end of this period. Due to the low frequency of this disease there is no established treatment strategy; however, the use of azoles such as itraconazol with or without adjuvant surgical treatment is increasingly seen in case reports. The present report adds to the clinical experience in Colombia of this rare mycosis and also describes the long-term clinical and therapeutic response.

Tratamiento exitoso de linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica y coagulación intravascular diseminada secundarias a histoplasmosis en un paciente con HIV/sida / Successful treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to histoplasmosis in a patient with HIV/AIDS

La linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica es un síndrome poco frecuente que resulta de una activación incontrolada de los macrófagos y linfocitos, la cual compromete múltiples órganos y es potencialmente fatal sin el tratamiento oportuno. El síndrome puede ser de origen hereditario o secundario a procesos infecciosos, neoplásicos o autoinmunitarios. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con HIV/sida que desarrolló linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica y coagulación intravascular diseminada asociadas a histoplasmosis, y que fue exitosamente tratado con anfotericina B, esteroides y tratamiento dialítico transitorio.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is an uncommon syndrome that results from an uncontrolled activation of macrophages and lymphocytes resulting in the compromise of multiple organs that is potentially fatal without timely treatment. It can be hereditary or a secondary result of infectious processes, neoplasms or autoimmune conditions. We present the case of a patient with HIV/AIDS who developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as well as disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with histoplasmosis and who was successfully treated with amphotericin B, steroids and transitory dialytic support.

Infección orofacial por Conidiobolus coronatus / Orofacial infection by Conidiobolus coronatus

La entomoftoromicosis es un tipo de micosis subcutánea en el cual se incluyen la basidiobolomicosis y la conidiobolomicosis; esta última es causada principalmente por Conidiobolus coronatus , un hongo saprobio que habita el suelo en países tropicales y genera una afección rinofacial que compromete los tejidos blandos de la cara, los senos paranasales y la orofaringe, y tiene la capacidad de deformar el rostro en personas sin inmunodeficiencia aparente. La infección tiene un curso crónico con tendencia a la formación de granulomas que se pueden observar en el estudio histopatológico. Se presenta el caso de un agricultor de 28 años con un cuadro clínico de tumefacción rinofacial, obstrucción nasal y escurrimiento posterior, de seis meses de evolución, a quien se le diagnosticó conidiobolomicosis a partir de un cultivo de tejido después de múltiples biopsias de tejidos del área facial. El paciente recibió tratamiento antifúngico con anfotericina B y posteriomente con itraconazol, con lo cual su mejoría fue notable, por lo que no requirió tratamiento quirúrgico. El tratamiento con itraconazol se extendió por un año, al cabo del cual no había evidencia de recaída. Dada la poca frecuencia de esta enfermedad, no hay una estrategia de tratamiento establecida; sin embargo, el uso de azoles, como el itraconazol, se señala cada vez más en los diferentes reportes de caso, haya habido tratamiento quirúrgico adyuvante o no. En este reporte de caso se describe, además, la respuesta clínica y terapéutica a largo plazo de esta micosis infrecuente en Colombia.

Entomophtoramycosis is a type of subcutaneous mycosis which includes both basidiobolomycosis and conidiobolomycosis; the latter is caused by Conidiobolus coronatus , a saprophytic fungus which lives in tropical soils. This mycosis characteristically affects the paranasal sinuses and oropharynx, with the potential to deform the face in patients without apparent immunodeficiency. It has a chronic course of infection with a tendency to form granulomas visible using histology. We present the case of a 28 year-old male agricultural worker, with a clinical profile of 6 months´ evolution of rhinofacial tumefaction, nasal obstruction and post-nasal drip who was diagnosed with conidiobolomycosis by means of tissue culture after multiple biopsies of the facial area. The patient received antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and subsequently with itraconazol, resulting in a dramatic improvement without the need for surgical treatment; itraconazol was administered for one year and there was no evidence of relapse at the end of this period. Due to the low frequency of this disease there is no established treatment strategy; however, the use of azoles such as itraconazol with or without adjuvant surgical treatment is increasingly seen in case reports. The present report adds to the clinical experience in Colombia of this rare mycosis and also describes the long-term clinical and therapeutic response.

Factores pronósticos de mortalidad por sepsis severa en unidades de cuidado crítico del área metropolitana de Bucaramanga / Association between prognosis factors and mortality in Bucaramanga

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente artículo fue evaluar los factores de riesgo para mortalidad por sepsis severa en cuatro instituciones de cuidado crítico de la ciudad, estudiando variables socio-demográficas, clínicas y microbiológicas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de cohorte de 150 pacientes admitidos a unidad de cuidado crítico de cuatro unidades del área metropolitana de Bucaramanga, con diagnóstico de sepsis severa o choque séptico. Fueron estudiados mediante un cuestionario sobre variables socio-económicas, clínicas y microbiológicas. Se realizó análisis bivariado con pruebas t de student y chi cuadrado. El análisis multivariado mediante regresión de Cox con el tiempo al evento como variable de desenlace. Resultados: Los pacientes sobrevivientes tuvieron un promedio de edad de 64 años y los no sobrevivientes de 67 años, sin que se demostraran diferencias estadísticas entre los dos grupos de pacientes. No se encontraron diferencias en cuanto al género. El factor de riesgo más importante asociado a mortalidad por sepsis fueron las complicaciones durante la hospitalización, incluso luego de ajustar por el puntaje SOFA inicial, el sitio de infección y los indicadores de respuesta inflamatoria como la hiperlactatemia e hiperbilirrubinemia. Conclusiones: Se encontraron tres modelos de riesgo para mortalidad por sepsis con otras complicaciones durante la hospitalización como el factor de riesgo más relevante y el control glicémico como el factor de protección más importante. [Niño ME, Torres D, Cárdenas ME, Godoy AP, Moreno N, Sanabria V, et al. Factores pronósticos de mortalidad por sepsis severa en unidades de cuidado critico del área metropolitana de Bucaramanga. MedUNAB 2012; 15:7-13].

Objective: We evaluated cases of severe sepsis to search prognosis factors of mortality in our area. Methods: Cohort study of 150 patients admitted in critical care unit from four clinical centers of the city with severe sepsis or shock septic. We analyzed socio-demographic characteristics, clinical and microbiological factors. Bivariate analysis and cox regression model was realized for found prognosis factors. Results: Patients who survived was 64 years old compared with no surviving patients who was 67 years old, there are not differences in sex between them. A risk factor for mortality was complications in hospital after ajust for sofa score, infection site, hyperlactatemia and hyperbilirrubinemia. Conclusion: We found three models of risk for mortality by sepsis, with other complications in hospital as an important factor and glicemic control as a most important protection factor of mortality. [Niño ME, Torres D, Cárdenas ME, Godoy AP, Moreno N, Sanabria V, et al. Association between prognosis factors and mortality in Bucaramanga MedUNAB 2012; 15:7-13].

Reading and interpretation of chest X-ray in adults with community-acquired pneumonia

INTRODUCTION: Traditional reading of chest X-rays usually has a low prognostic value and poor agreement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the interobserver and intraobserver agreement using two reading formats in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, and to explore their association with etiology and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A pulmonologist and a radiologist, who were blind to clinical data, interpreted 211 radiographs using a traditional analysis format (type and location of pulmonary infiltrates and pleural findings), and a quantitative analysis (pulmonary damage categorized from 0 to 10). For both, the interobserver and intraobserver agreement was estimated (Kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficient). The latter was assessed in a subsample of 25 radiographs three months after the initial reading. Finally, the observers made a joint reading to explore its prognostic usefulness via multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-four chest radiographs were discarded due to poor quality. With the traditional reading, the mean interobserver agreement was moderate (0.43). It was considered good when the presence of pleural effusion, and the location of the infiltrates in the right upper lobe and both lower lobes, were evaluated; moderate for multilobar pneumonia; and poor for the type of infiltrates. The mean intraobserver agreement for each reviewer was 0.71 and 0.5 respectively. The quantitative reading had an agreement between good and excellent (interobserver 0.72, intraobserver 0.85 and 0.61). Radiological findings were neither associated to a specific pathogen nor to mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with pneumonia, the interpretation of the chest X-ray, especially the smallest of details, depends solely on the reader.

Reading and interpretation of chest X-ray in adults with community-acquired pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional reading of chest X-rays usually has a low prognostic value and poor agreement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the interobserver and intraobserver agreement using two reading formats in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, and to explore their association with etiology and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A pulmonologist and a radiologist, who were blind to clinical data, interpreted 211 radiographs using a traditional analysis format (type and location of pulmonary infiltrates and pleural findings), and a quantitative analysis (pulmonary damage categorized from 0 to 10). For both, the interobserver and intraobserver agreement was estimated (Kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficient). The latter was assessed in a subsample of 25 radiographs three months after the initial reading. Finally, the observers made a joint reading to explore its prognostic usefulness via multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-four chest radiographs were discarded due to poor quality. With the traditional reading, the mean interobserver agreement was moderate (0.43). It was considered good when the presence of pleural effusion, and the location of the infiltrates in the right upper lobe and both lower lobes, were evaluated; moderate for multilobar pneumonia; and poor for the type of infiltrates. The mean intraobserver agreement for each reviewer was 0.71 and 0.5 respectively. The quantitative reading had an agreement between good and excellent (interobserver 0.72, intraobserver 0.85 and 0.61). Radiological findings were neither associated to a specific pathogen nor to mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with pneumonia, the interpretation of the chest X-ray, especially the smallest of details, depends solely on the reader.