Case report: persistent double dorsal aorta.

Persistent double dorsal aorta is an extremely rare congenital anomaly, with only 13 cases published to date. The objective of this study is to present this embryological variant as observed in the abdominal aorta of a patient. The anatomical description was written up on the basis of a review of electronic medical records and imaging exams. The patient in this case was an elderly 79-year-old man who presented at emergency with pain at rest in the left lower limb. He was admitted and laboratory tests and imaging exams were ordered. The variation was an imaging finding observed on angiotomography, consisting of complete separation of the abdominal aorta into two portions - a ventral and a dorsal, with different calibers - at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. There was also an anomalous origin of the inferior mesenteric artery.

Sapovirus infection as another cause of persistent viral diarrhea: case series and review of the literature.

Human sapovirus (HuSaV) is a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and is responsible for approximately 4% of acute gastroenteritis episodes in Europe. As reported with norovirus, patients with immunocompromised states are at increased risk of developing HuSaV infection, which can lead to persistent diarrhea and chronic viral shedding in some individuals. Chronic infections are incompletely investigated in these patients, and, due to the lack of specific treatment for HuSaV infection, different clinical approaches were carried out in order to provide further evidence on clinical evolution of these patients with different treatments. In this retrospective study, we report five immunocompromised pediatric patients with recurrent diarrhea caused by HuSaV and long-term viral shedding. Stool samples were analyzed by real-time PCR and tested for enteropathogenic viruses and bacteria and protozoa. Among transplant recipients, reduction of immunosuppressant therapy led to clinical improvement and relief of symptoms, maintaining a balance between managing the infection and preventing graft rejection. Nitazoxanide for 14 days was only used in one of these patients, showing to be an effective therapy to achieve reduction in time to resolution of symptoms. Neither nitazoxanide nor modification of immunosuppressant therapy could avoid recurrences. Further investigations are needed to develop new approaches that can both clear the infection and avoid persistent diarrhea in these patients.

Relato de caso: aorta dorsal dupla persistente / Case report: persistent double dorsal aorta

Resumo A aorta dorsal dupla persistente é uma anomalia congênita extremamente rara, com apenas 13 casos publicados até o presente momento. Este estudo tem como objetivo apresentar a variação embriológica observada em aorta abdominal do paciente. A descrição anatômica foi realizada a partir da revisão de prontuário eletrônico e exames de imagem. Desta forma, o presente caso refere-se a um paciente idoso de 79 anos admitido em atendimento hospitalar por queixa de dor em membro inferior esquerdo ao repouso. Foi solicitada a internação do mesmo, assim como exames laboratoriais e de imagem. Obtida como um achado de imagem a partir de angiotomografia, a variação consiste na completa separação em duas porções: uma ventral e outra dorsal, de calibres diferentes, da aorta abdominal, ao nível da terceira vértebra lombar. Isso ocorre em conjunto com a origem anômala da artéria mesentérica inferior.

Abstract Persistent double dorsal aorta is an extremely rare congenital anomaly, with only 13 cases published to date. The objective of this study is to present this embryological variant as observed in the abdominal aorta of a patient. The anatomical description was written up on the basis of a review of electronic medical records and imaging exams. The patient in this case was an elderly 79-year-old man who presented at emergency with pain at rest in the left lower limb. He was admitted and laboratory tests and imaging exams were ordered. The variation was an imaging finding observed on angiotomography, consisting of complete separation of the abdominal aorta into two portions - a ventral and a dorsal, with different calibers - at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. There was also an anomalous origin of the inferior mesenteric artery.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria causing bacteremia: A 13-year (2010-2022) retrospective study in a tertiary hospital.

Infections from anaerobic microorganisms result from breached mucosal barriers, posing a significant mortality risk. A retrospective study at Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid) from 2010 to 2022 analyzed 491 (6.17 %) anaerobic bacteremia cases out of 7956 significant bacteremia cases among 171,833 blood culture requests. Bacteroides fragilis was the most frequently isolated species (28.3 %), followed by Clostridium perfringens (13.6 %). B. fragilis showed good susceptibility to amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (86 %), piperacillin/tazobactam (86 %), and metronidazole (87.7 %). In general, non-fragilis Bacteroides species showed low susceptibility to penicillin (7 %), amoxicillin (17.5 %), and clindamycin (64.9 %). Of our 13 non-perfringens Clostridium isolates, four exhibited resistance to penicillin and four showed resistance to clindamycin. Lactobacillus species were highly susceptible to antibiotics tested. Prevotella spp. showed low susceptibility to penicillin (20 %), amoxicillin (20 %), and clindamycin (40 %). The study contributes valuable data for monitoring and improving anaerobic bacteremia treatment.

Pulmonary and central nervous system nocardiosis: Alcoholism as an immunocompromising factor / Nocardiosis pulmonar y del sistema nervioso central: el alcoholismo como factor de inmunocompromiso

Nocardiosis is a disease with worldwide distribution. It is usually found in tropical areas and mainly affects immunocompromised patients, however, there are also cases where its infection has been reported in immunocompetent patients. This pathology is caused by bacteria known as Nocardia spp., which are gram-positive microorganisms and environmental saprophytes, and although exposure to Nocardia spp. is almost universal, only a small fraction of exposed people develops the disease. We present the case of a 47-year-old man, with no evidence of immunosuppression, from a rural area of Boyacá, who was admitted due to intense and intermittent headache accompanied by paresthesia and, finally, a decrease in consciousness. A brain magnetic resonance was performed and evidenced a fronto-temporo- occipital space-occupying lesion in the cortico-subcortical region with a compressive effect and displacement of the ventricular system cavities. It was suspected at first a neoplastic lesion or a brain abscess. The lesion was surgically resected, and its culture showed Nocardia africana/nova. In later studies a possible primary pulmonary focus was evidenced. Alcoholism was the only risk factor documented. The patient completed 6 weeks of hospital antibiotic treatment with favorable clinical and radiological evolution and was discharged with a 1-year plan of outpatient antibiotic therapy. Although Nocardia spp. mainly affects immunocompromised patients, evidence shows that this microorganism can also be a threat to individuals without traditional immunosuppression risk factors.

La nocardiosis es una enfermedad de distribución mundial; de forma habitual se encuentra en zonas tropicales y afecta principalmente a pacientes inmunocomprometidos, sin embargo, también existen casos reportados de infección en personas inmunocompetentes. Esta infección es causada por actinomicetos del género Nocardia spp. que son bacterias Gram positivas, saprófitos ambientales. Aunque la exposición a Nocardia spp. es casi universal, solo una pequeña fracción de las personas expuestas desarrollan la enfermedad. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 47 años, sin dato de inmunosupresión, procedente de un área rural de Boyacá, que consultó por un cuadro clínico de cefalea intensa e intermitente, con parestesias y, finalmente, alteración del estado de conciencia. Se practicó una resonancia magnética cerebral, en la que se evidenció una lesión que ocupaba espacio de localización córtico-subcortical en la región fronto-témporo-parietal izquierda, con efecto compresivo y desplazamiento de las cavidades del sistema ventricular. Se sospechó, inicialmente, una lesión neoplásica o un absceso cerebral. El paciente fue sometido a una resección quirúrgica, y el cultivo de la lesión documentó Nocardia africana/nova; en estudios posteriores, se evidenció un posible foco pulmonar primario. Como único factor de riesgo en el paciente, se documentó alcoholismo. Completó seis semanas de tratamiento antibiótico intrahospitalario con evolución clínica y radiológica, y egresó con plan de un año de terapia antibiótica ambulatoria. Aunque la enfermedad por Nocardia spp. afecta principalmente a pacientes inmunocomprometidos, la "evidencia" clínica demuestra que este microorganismo también puede ser una amenaza para individuos sin los factores de riesgo tradicionales para inmunosupresión.

Collagen is More Abundant and Structurally Altered in Lichen Sclerosus.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that genital skin and male urethra affected by lichen sclerosus (LS) has increased collagen content and altered collagen structure. METHODS: We used picrosirius red to stain and image collagen in human urethral, vulvar, and foreskin specimens with and without LS. Using Image J software, we quantified and compared (1) collagen content (using 2o metrics: collagen proportionate area [CPA] and collagen fiber count), (2) collagen fiber length and width, and (3) collagen structure using the texture analysis technique gray level co-localization matrix (GLCM) with respect to LS status and tissue type. RESULTS: We analyzed 23 LS specimens (vulva n=9, urethra n=7, foreskin n=7) and 29 non-LS specimens (vulva n=9, urethra n=7, foreskin n=13). Fiber count and CPA were significantly higher in all LS specimens compared to non-LS specimens (CPA: mean±SD 0.971±0.03 vs 0.948±0.02, P < .007; fiber count: mean±SD = 2906±127 vs 2509±78 fibers; P = .003). Collagen fiber width and length were similar with respect to LS status. GLCM analysis showed decreased inverse difference moment and increased entropy in LS tissues indicative of less homogeneous and more disorganized tissue structure (P<.001). CONCLUSION: LS tissues have greater collagen content compared to non-LS tissues. Quantitative assessment of collagen organization, using GLCM, revealed less homogeneity and more disorganization of collagen in LS compared to non-LS tissues. Taken together, our findings suggest that alterations in physical tissue properties seen in LS may be due to both increased collagen abundance and altered structure.

Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección por Cryptococcus spp / Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of infection by Cryptococcus spp

Las infecciones por levaduras del género Cryptococcus pueden causar un abanico amplio de manifestaciones clínicas, dependiendo de si se trata de una infección invasora o no. Los pacientes susceptibles, especialmente de las formas invasoras, comparten el compromiso de la inmunidad celular, ya sea por afecciones primarias o secundarias. El grupo más estudiado es el de personas que viven con VIH. La mortalidad es alta, especialmente en entornos de recursos reducidos. El esquema de tratamiento es en fases, inicialmente combinado, para luego continuar con monoterapia por un periodo prolongado, dependiendo de la duración del factor de riesgo subyacente. Hacemos una revisión de la evidencia y recomendaciones actualizadas.

Infection by yeast of the Cryptococcus genus can cause a wide range of clinical manifestations, depending on whether it is an invasive infection or not. Susceptible patients, especially those with invasive forms, share the compromise of cellular immunity, either due to primary or secondary conditions. The most studied group is that of people living with HIV. Mortality is high, especially in resource-poor settings. The treatment scheme is in phases, initially combined, to then continue with monotherapy for a prolonged period, depending on the duration of the underlying risk factor. We review the evidence and update recommendations.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of infection by Toxoplasma gondii]. / Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección por Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitosis in the world. It is associated with perinatal morbidity and in immunocompromised population. Currently, there are several diagnostic tests, both serological and molecular, that can help confirm the diagnosis and differentiate a recent infection of a pass. We propose some recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in different clinical scenarios based on the currently available evidence.

Tuberculosis de muñeca, una infección poco frecuente / Tuberculosis of the wrist, a rare infection

Resumen La tuberculosis es una infección que afecta a millones de personas en el mundo cada año, provocando una alta carga de morbimortalidad. La localización pulmonar corresponde a más del 80 % de los casos. Su diagnóstico y tratamiento aún representa un desafío para los clínicos, especialmente en sus localizaciones extrapulmonares. Presentamos un caso de tuberculosis de muñeca izquierda, la cual fue diagnosticada con biopsia de hueso y tratada de forma exitosa con cuatro drogas por seis meses.

Abstract Tuberculosis is an infection that affects millions of people worldwide every year, causing a high burden of morbidity and mortality. The pulmonary localization accounts for more than 80 % of the cases. Its diagnosis and treatment still represent a challenge for clinicians, especially for its extrapulmonary presentations. We present the case of a patient with tuberculosis of the left wrist, which was diagnosed with bone biopsy and successfully treated with four drugs during six months.

Recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infección por Toxoplasma gondii / Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of infection by Toxoplasma gondii

Resumen La toxoplasmosis es una de las parasitosis con mayor prevalencia en el mundo. Se asocia a morbimortalidad perinatal y en población inmunocomprometida. Actualmente se cuenta con varias pruebas diagnósticas, tanto serológicas como moleculares, que pueden ayudar a confirmar el diagnóstico y diferenciar una infección reciente de una pasada. Proponemos algunas recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la toxoplasmosis en distintos escenarios clínicos basados en la evidencia actualmente disponible.

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitosis in the world. It is associated with perinatal morbidity and in immunocompromised population. Currently, there are several diagnostic tests, both serological and molecular, that can help confirm the diagnosis and differentiate a recent infection of a pass. We propose some recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in different clinical scenarios based on the currently available evidence.

The use of intraoperative comparative fluoroscopy allows for assessing sagittal reduction and predicting syndesmosis reduction in ankle fractures.

Intraoperative fluoroscopic parameters have shown to be poor predictors for ankle syndesmosis reduction, with up to 52% of syndesmotic malreduction (SMR) reported in the literature. Anteroposterior Tibio-Fibular index (APTF) was previously described to evaluate sagittal tibiofibular alignment in lateral ankle radiographs with a high correlation between both ankles in uninjured subjects. Reproducible intraoperative measurements for sagittal syndesmotic reduction are lacking. We propose the use of the "cAPTF," calculated as the absolute difference between the APTF of the non-injured and the operated ankle, to evaluate sagittal syndesmotic reduction. OBJECTIVE: Determine the predictive capability of cAPTF for SMR. METHOD: Prospective observational study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients with unstable ankle fractures requiring syndesmotic fixation, with a healthy contralateral ankle. Intraoperatively APTF was measured in both ankles after syndesmotic fixation. Postoperatively cAPTF was calculated. Only direct syndesmosis visualization through the lateral approach and AP and mortise views were used by surgeons to assess syndesmotic reduction. Quality of syndesmotic reduction was evaluated with bilateral postoperative CT. To estimate cAPTF discriminatory power for SMR, a receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. Youden index was used to determine the ideal cAPTF cut-off value for predicting SMR. For this determined cut-off value, sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included. Sixteen (30%) had SMR. Patients with SMR had a statistically significant higher cAPTF value than the well reduced (median 0.26 vs 0.09; P < 0.01). The cAPTF cut-off value to predict SMR was 0.161. A cAPTF greater than 0.161 had 100% sensitivity and 97,2% specificity for SMR. The area under the ROC curve was 0.99. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative cAPTF has excellent discriminatory power for predicting syndesmotic malreduction. We propose the routine use of intraoperative bilateral comparative fluoroscopy to assess sagittal syndesmotic reduction.

Dosis de refuerzo de vacuna SARS CoV-2 para la prevención de COVID-19: Desafío en un escenario con incertezas / SARS CoV-2 booster dose for COVID-19 prevention: challenge in an uncertain scenario

Al 16 de julio pasado existían 108 vacunas en etapa clínica de desarrollo, 28 de ellas con estudios en fase III y 6 autorizadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) según datos publicados al 3 de junio (AstraZeneca/Oxford, Johnson and Johnson/Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer/BionTech, Sinopharm, Sinovac) (1,2). A la vez, las entidades regulatorias como la FDA (Food and Drugs Agency) y la EMA (European Medicine Agency) han autorizado para uso de emergencia las vacunas de los productores Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca y Janssen (3) y en Chile el Instituto de Salud Pública ha autorizado 6 vacunas (Pfizer, CoronaVac, Astrazeneca, CanSino, Janssen, Sputnik). En las últimas semanas, en el contexto de la preocupante propagación de la variante Delta (B.1.617.2) del SARS-CoV-2, la compañía Pfizer solicitó a la FDA la autorización para la administración de una dosis de refuerzo (booster) con su vacuna BNT162b2 , luego de que el análisis interino de datos provenientes de la población vacunada en Israel mostrará una reducción significativa de los anticuerpos neutralizantes a los seis meses de completado el esquema primario, solicitud que generó debate en la comunidad científica. Hasta ahora los datos disponibles sobre eficacia de la vacuna BNT162b2 en escenario de circulación de variantes sugieren que continúa siendo altamente efectiva (4,5). Los estudios para definir la eventual necesidad de una dosis de refuerzo a diferentes esquemas primarios están en etapas de reclutamiento inicial en varios países.(AU)

Variante Ómicron SARS-CoV-2: una nueva variante de preocupación / Ómicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: anew variant of concern

Ha surgido una nueva variante de preocupación de SARS-CoV-2, cuyos efectos en la evolución de la pandemia parecen inciertos. Sin embargo, ha comenzado a surgir evidencia con respecto al comportamiento viral en cuanto a su transmisibilidad, unión a receptor de la célula hospedadora y escape del sistema inmune. Presentamos una revisión actualizada de los datos existentes en la literatura respecto a los aspectos microbiológicos y epidemiológicos que pueden ayudarnos a comprender las futuras investigaciones en esta variante.(AU)

A new variant of concern for SARS-CoV-2 has emerged, the effects of which on the evolution of the pandemic appear uncertain. However, evidence has begun to emerge regarding viral behavior in terms of its transmissibility, receptor binding on the host cell, and escape from the immune system. We present an updated review of the existing data in the literature regarding the microbiological and epidemiological aspects that can help us understand future research on this variant.(AU)

Solid lipid nanoparticles by Venturi tube: preparation, characterization and optimization by Box-Behnken design.

In this study, a Venturi tube is proposed as an efficient static mixer incorporated into a continuous recirculation system for obtaining solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) of monoolein. The device's operating principle consists of producing a turbulent flux in the throat of a Venturi tube. Taking advantage of this effect SLN of monoolein were obtained by rapid diffusion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase (stabilizer), causing lipid aggregation on the nanometric particles. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the critical factors for obtaining the SLN of monoolein in order to control the independent variables of this methodology. A Box-Behnken design was used to study such independent variables (factors) as injection rate (X1), recirculation rate (X2), and stabilizer (X3) on the dependent variables; namely, process yield (Y1), particle size (Y2), polydispersity index (Y3) and zeta potential (Y4). The optimum operating conditions for preparing SLN were: injection rate, 1.6 mL/min; recirculation rate, 4.2 L/min; and stabilizer concentration, 1.0 w/v, with a value of D = 0.84. The predicted responses of the particle size were 212.0 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.21, a zeta potential of -19.9 mV, and a process yield of 96.0%. Under the same operating condition, SLN formed with different lipids and stabilizers were obtained with nanometric size and zeta potential of ∼ -30.0 mV. Results show that the Venturi tube method is an innovative and versatile technique for preparing SLN of nanometric size with high process yields through a turbulent flow.

COVID-19, embarazo, vacunas y lactancia materna / COVID-19, pregnancy, vaccines and breastfeeding

Las mujeres embarazadas o en período de lactancia han sido excluidas de los ensayos clínicos sobre vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2, evitando así la obtención de datos sólidos que permitan determinar la seguridad e inmunogenicidad de las vacunas en esta población, a la vez que se han asociado peores resultados maternos ­ fetales. La evidencia acerca de la seguridad e inmunogenicidad en esta población es limitada, en base a estudios observacionales, con pocos casos y en mujeres vacunadas con plataformas ARNm, en las cuales no se ha descrito por ahora una mayor asociación a eventos adversos relacionados a vacunas, como tampoco, variaciones significativas en la respuesta inmunológica en comparación a la población no embarazada. También existen datos que documentan la adquisición de anticuerpos transplacentarios, considerándose de bajo riesgo la posibilidad de transmisión vertical. Se hacen necesarios ensayos clínicos que permitan precisar recomendaciones basadas en evidencia para esta población, en un contexto de utilización de emergencia de vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2. (AU)

Pregnant or breastfeeding women have been excluded from clinical trials on vaccines against SARSCoV-2, thus avoiding obtaining solid data to determine the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines in this population, as well as being associated worse maternal-fetal outcomes. The evidence about safety and immunogenicity in this population is limited, based on observational studies, with few cases and in women vaccinated with mRNA platforms, in which a greater association to adverse events related to vaccines has not been described or significant variations in the immune response compared to the non-pregnant population. There are also data that document the acquisition of transplacental antibodies, considering the possibility of vertical transmission as low risk. Clinical trials are necessary to evidence-based recommendations for this population, in a context of emergency use of vaccines against SARSCoV-2. (AU)