ABSTRACT
Background: Dupilumab is a treatment approved for uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Tropical and developing countries such as Colombia have characteristics that may impact the natural history of AD and access to medical treatments. In that sense, we aimed to describe the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in adults with moderate to severe AD in a Colombian multicenter cohort. Methods: Multicenter descriptive study that included patients who started treatment between March 2018 and May 2020 in 6 centers. Disease severity was assessed using the following: Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). These measurements were collected according to availability at baseline, 3-5 months, 6-12 months, and more than 12 months. Days of sick leave, hospitalizations, and AD flares before and after dupilumab treatment were reported. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded during follow-up. Results: Ninety-three patients were included, with a median age of 32 years (IQR: 24.0; 40.0) and a disease evolution time of 21 years (IQR: 16.0; 29.5). 88.2% had at least 1 allergic disease other than AD. An improvement greater than or equal to 75% EASI was observed in 41.7% of patients at 3-5 months, in 73.7% of patients at 6-12 months, and in 75.0% of patients after 12 months. For those reporting SCORAD and POEM, the median percent change ([IQR], n) from baseline in SCORAD was -67.1 ([-79.2; -54.2], n = 16), -70.5 ([-85.8; -47.9], n = 36) and -66.7 ([-77.3; -51.0], n = 13); and POEM, -58.6 ([-66.4; -55.5], n = 4), -73.0 ([-86.5; -66.7], n = 16) and -87.3 ([-93.4; -69.6], n = 8), respectively. Before initiation of dupilumab treatment, 82 (88.2%) patients reported at least 1 flare of AD in the past 12 months. During the follow-up period, 30 (32.3%) patients reported at least 1 exacerbation or flare. Twelve patients (12.9%) presented an AE and 3 (3.2%) patients discontinued dupilumab for this cause. Conclusions: Dupilumab was effective and safe for the treatment of moderate to severe AD in point-of-care settings, with results similar to randomized controlled and other real-life studies. These positive results are still maintained even though a high number of patients had short interruptions in the use of dupilumab due to administrative problems.
ABSTRACT
The Phyllidiidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia) is a family of colourful nudibranchs found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Despite the abundant and widespread occurrence of many species, their phylogenetic relationships are not well known. The present study is the first contribution to fill the gap in our knowledge on their phylogeny by combining morphological and molecular data. For that purpose 99 specimens belonging to 16 species were collected at two localities in Indonesia. They were photographed and used to make a phylogeny reconstruction based on newly obtained cytochrome oxidase subunit (COI) sequences as well as sequence data from GenBank. All mitochondrial 16S sequence data available from GenBank were used in a separate phylogeny reconstruction to obtain information for species we did not collect. COI data allowed the distinction of the genera and species, whereas the 16S data gave a mixed result with respect to the genera Phyllidia and Phyllidiella. Specimens which could be ascribed to species level based on their external morphology and colour patterns showed low variation in COI sequences, but there were two exceptions: three specimens identified as Phyllidia cf. babai represent two to three different species, while Phyllidiella pustulosa showed highly supported subclades. The barcoding marker COI also confirms that the species boundaries in morphologically highly variable species such as Phyllidia elegans, Phyllidia varicosa, and Phyllidiopsis krempfi, are correct as presently understood. In the COI as well as the 16S cladogram Phyllidiopsis cardinalis was located separately from all other Phyllidiidae, whereas Phyllidiopsis fissuratus was positioned alone from the Phyllidiella species by COI data only. Future studies on phyllidiid systematics should continue to combine morphological information with DNA sequences to obtain a clearer insight in their phylogeny.
ABSTRACT
Plakobranchus papua Meyers-Muñoz & van der Velde, sp. n. from West Papua (Papua Barat province, Indonesia), is described based on its external morphology, colour pattern, internal anatomy, radula and reproductive system. In a molecular phylogenetic study specimens of this new species were compared with those of ten candidate taxa under the name Plakobranchus ocellatus van Hasselt, 1824. DNA analyses of COI mtDNA showed a clear distinction between Plakobranchus papua sp. n. and "Plakobranchus ocellatus". Plakobranchus papua, sp. n. also differed from all taxa that have been synonymised with Plakobranchus ocellatus. The genus is in dire need of taxonomic revision, preferably based on an integrative analysis involving morphology and DNA of all known Plakobranchus varieties.
ABSTRACT
Las interacciones entre el corazón y el riñón se han convertido en un área de considerable interés, dada la interdependencia de los mismos. Esto motivó la definición y conceptualización del síndrome cardio-renal anémico, que incluye interacciones bidireccionales, donde alteraciones, tanto agudas como crónicas de cualquier órgano, pueden afectar indistintamente la función renal o la ventricular. El tratamiento, involucra el bloqueo del eje renina angiotensina aldosterona y durante una descompensación aguda es válido el soporte dialítico para control de la volemia. La anemia, es multifactorial, se debe tratar de manera oportuna con hierro endovenoso y eritropoyetina recombinante, reduciendo al mínimo el soporte transfusional. El manejo, la definición y el pronóstico del síndrome cardio-renal anémico aún sigue siendo controversial y es un reto para el internista moderno (Acta Med Colomb 2011; 36: 141-144).
The interactions between the heart and the kidney have become an area of considerable interest, given their interdependence. This led to the definition and conceptualization of cardio-renal anemic syndrome, which includes a bidirectional interaction: acute or chronic injuries of any organ indiscriminately affect renal or ventricular function. Treatment involves blocking the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and, during acute decompensation, dialytic support for volemic control. Anemia is due to multiple causesand must be treated promptly with intravenous iron and recombinant erythropoietin, to minimize the need for transfusions. Management, definition and prognosis of cardio-renal anemic syndrome are still controversial and represent a challenge for the modern internist (Acta Med Colomb 2011; 36: 141-144).
ABSTRACT
El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar el rendimiento del SPECT miocárdico gatillado-dobutamina y la Ecocardiografía (Eco) stress con dobutamina en el diagnóstico de cardiopatía coronaria. Pacientes y método: Se realizó Eco dobutamina a 37 pacientes con sospecha de cardiopatía coronaria y coronariografía reciente, administrando hasta 40 ug/Kg/min y 0,5 a 2 mg de atropina cuando fuese necesario. Al alcanzar la frecuencia cardiaca submáxima, una dosis de 25 mCi de Tc99m-MIBI fue administrada vía e.v., realizando el estudio SPECT stress 60 minutos después. El SPECT de reposos se efectuó dentro de 7 días. En la interpretación de la Eco se consideró el resultado del electrocardiograma de reposo previo. Ambos exámenes fueron interpretados sin conocimiento del resultado de la coronariografía. Para el análisis estadístico se empleó test de Mc Nemar. Resultados: Del grupo de pacientes estudiados, 18 presentaron enfermedad coronaria significativa y 19, coronarias normales o sin lesiones significativas. Para estenosis de 70 por ciento del lúmen o más, la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y eficiencia del SPECT fueron 83 por ciento, 78 por ciento, 79 por ciento y 81 por ciento, respectivamente. Para la Eco estos valores fueron 89 por ciento, 84 por ciento, 84 por ciento y 86 por ciento, respectivamente, sin diferencia significativas respecto al rendimiento del SPECT. Al excluir los exámenes dudosos (5 para SPECT, 1 para Eco) la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y eficiencia fueron 81 por ciento, 93 por ciento, 94 por ciento y 88 por ciento para la Eco, respectivamente. La concordancia entre ambas técnicas fue alta, especialmente en el resultado general del examen (normal/anormal) y territorio coronario afectado (93 por ciento concordancia excluyendo los dudosos). Conclusión: El SPECT miocárdico Tc99m-MIBI dobutamina gatillado y la Ecocardiografía Stress con dobutamina tienen un elevado rendimiento en el diagnóstico de cardiopatía coronaria, con una alta concordancia entre ambas técnicas.
