The collective impact of childhood abuse, psychache, and interpersonal needs on suicidal ideation among individuals with bipolar disorder: A discriminant analysis.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death in the United States. Childhood abuse, psychache (intense emotional pain), and interpersonal needs are widely known to be associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, only a limited number of studies investigate whether these variables, when analyzed collectively, are able to distinguish between a group of individuals who report suicidal ideation and those who deny such thoughts. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data were collected from individuals (N =177) with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder participating in an intensive outpatient program that provides mental health care to indigent, mostly minority patients in Southeast United States. METHODS: The dependent variable was item number 9 on the Beck Depression Inventory that asks about any suicidal thoughts in the past two weeks. We utilized discriminant analysis to test whether childhood abuse, interpersonal needs, and psychache were collectively able to accurately identify group membership of the study participants. RESULTS: The discriminant model included six independent variables: three different types of childhood abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), interpersonal needs (perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness), and psychache. Results revealed that the model was able to correctly classify group membership in 75% of the individuals in the study. CONCLUSION: In context of bipolar disorder, history of childhood abuse (particularly sexual and emotional abuse), intense psychache, and greater perceived thwarted belongingness and burdensomeness put an individual at a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Gaining insight into the interactions among these variables may lead to formulating early interventions to prevent suicide in patients reporting this constellation of symptoms.

[Posttraumatic osteoarthrosis in a patient with chronic anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Case report and review of the literature]. / Osteoartrosis postraumática en paciente con ruptura crónica de ligamento cruzado anterior. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a very important epidemiological pathology in our environment. It has a peak incidence between 16 to 39 years of age. It is estimated that between 70-84% of ACL injuries are non-contact. The "no return" position describes the knee in valgus, femoral external rotation, tibial internal rotation and semiflexion, promoting injury to this ligament. Geometric measurements of the knee have been associated with an increased probability of non-contact ACL injury. The management of ACL tears is divided into two: conservative treatment and surgical management. Early OA (osteoarthritis) is the most common consequence of an ACL tear. We present the case of a 35-year-old patient with an inveterate ACL rupture of 10 years of evolution. With conservative management initially that progresses to knee instability and pain in the medial and lateral joint line as well as increased volume and functional limitation. After diagnostic studies, it was decided to perform diagnostic-therapeutic arthroscopy and continued close follow-up for associated pathology.

La ruptura de ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) es una patología epidemiológicamente muy importante en nuestro medio. Tiene un pico de incidencia entre los 16 a 39 años de edad. Se calcula que entre 70-84% de las lesiones de LCA son sin contacto. La posición de "no retorno" describe a la rodilla en valgo, rotación externa femoral, rotación interna tibial y semiflexión, promoviendo la lesión de este ligamento. Las medidas geométricas de la rodilla se han asociado con un aumento en la probabilidad de lesión del LCA sin contacto. La ruptura crónica del LCA conlleva al desarrollo de artrosis en pacientes jóvenes. El manejo de la ruptura del LCA se divide en dos: tratamiento conservador y manejo quirúrgico. La osteoartrosis temprana es la consecuencia más común de la ruptura del LCA. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 35 años con ruptura inveterada del LCA de 10 años de evolución. Con manejo conservador inicialmente que progresa a inestabilidad de rodilla y dolor en línea articular medial y lateral, así como aumento de volumen y limitación funcional. Tras estudios diagnósticos, se decide realizar artroscopía diagnóstica-terapéutica y se continúa con seguimiento estrecho por patología asociada.

Anesthesia for Nonobstetric Surgery in Pregnancy.

Nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy occurs in 1% to 2% of pregnant women. Physiologic changes during pregnancy may have an impact when anesthesia is needed. Anesthetic agents commonly used during pregnancy are not associated with teratogenic effects in clinical doses. Surgery-related risks of miscarriage and prematurity need to be elucidated with well-designed studies. Recommended practices include individualized use of intraoperative fetal monitoring and multidisciplinary planning to address the timing and type of surgery, anesthetic technique, pain management, and thromboprophylaxis. Emergency procedures should be performed immediately and elective surgery should be deferred during pregnancy.

Time of Cold Ischemia and Delayed Graft Function in a Cohort of Renal Transplant Patients in a Reference Center.

There are many factors involved in the delayed graft function of a renal graft, with prolonged cold ischemia time being one of the most relevant. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the time of cold ischemia and the delayed graft function, and acute rejection and graft loss at 1 year of follow-up. A retrospective cohort of 347 renal transplant patients were evaluated during the years 2009-2013. The incidence of delayed graft function was 18.4% (n = 65). The cold ischemia time was an independent risk factor for delayed graft function (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.16). By grouping the time of cold ischemia by intervals, the risk of delayed graft function was greater in the 12-18 hours group (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.02-4.15) and in the >18 hours group (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.57-7.27). The risk of acute rejection did not increase with longer cold ischemia (p = 0.69), and cold ischemia time was not a risk factor for renal graft loss at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.88-1.06). In conclusion the time of cold ischemia (>12 hours) in renal transplant recipients of optimal deceased donors increases the risk of delayed graft function; however, this does not negatively impact the results in acute rejection or graft loss in the first year of the transplant.

Control de crecimiento de Listeria monocytogenes en co-cultivo con Lactobacillus plantaram / Growth control of Listeria monocytogenes in co-culture with Lactobacillus plantarum

RESUMEN Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) es un patógeno emergente causante de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos de consumo masivo principalmente cárnicos y lácteos. Actualmente se buscan diferentes estrategias para su control, entre ellas compuestos naturales producidos por otros microorganismos como ácidos orgánicos y otros compuestos como lactoferrina, lisozima y bacteriocinas, estas últimas producidas por especies de bacterias como Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp). El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el efecto de cepas de Lp aisladas de suero costeño sobre el control de crecimiento de L. monocytogenes inoculada en co-cultivos. Se realizaron curvas de crecimiento para Lm, Lp 60-1 y Lp 62-1 y co-cultivos de cada Lp con Lm. La cinética de crecimiento fue evaluada determinando la viabilidad durante 24h en agares selectivos. La tasa de crecimiento de L. monocytogenes inoculada como control en leche UHT y en co-cultivos, presentaron diferencias significativas (p<0,05) entre los tratamientos, evidenciando que el control alcanzó un valor promedio de tasa de crecimiento mayor (µmax =0,65 h-1), que el obtenido para los co-cultivos con Lp 60-1 y Lp 62-1 (µmax =0,22 h-1 y µmax =0,27 h-1 respectivamente). La mayor diferencia fue alcanzada en el co cultivo con Lp 60-1, obteniendo el menor valor promedio de tasa de crecimiento de Lm. Los resultados demuestran la eficiencia de las cepas de Lp (60-1 y 62-1) para el control de crecimiento de Lm en leche UHT comercial, siendo esta una alternativa para reducir el uso de aditivos químicos durante la producción de lácteos.

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an emerging pathogen causing foodborne diseases especially in dairy products and meat. Nowadays are sought different strategies to their control for example natural compounds produced by microorganisms, such as organic acids and other compounds as lactoferrin, lysozyme and bacteriocins, the latter produced by bacterial species as Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp). The main objective of this research was to determine the effect of Lp strains isolated from "Suero costeño" inoculated in co-culture over the L. monocytogenes growth. There where made growth kinetics for Lm, Lp 60-1 and Lp 62-1 and co-cultures of each Lp with Lm. The growth kinetic was evaluated establishing the viability during 24h in selective culture media. The growth rate of L. monocytogenes inoculated in UHT milk and in co-culture, showed a significative difference (p<0,05) between the treatments, demonstrating that the control reach an average value of growth rate higher (µmax =0,65 h-1) than the one obtained for the co-culture with Lp 60-1 and Lp 62-1 (µmax =0,22 h-1 and µmax =0,27 h-1 respectively). The higher difference between the last two treatments was given by the treatment with Lp 60-1, obtaining the lowest average value for the Lm growth. The results showed the efficiency of the Lp strains (60-1 y 62-1) for the growth control of Lm in UHT commercial milk, being an alternative to reduce the use of chemical additives during the production of dairy products.

Immunopathological evaluation of recombinant mycobacterial antigen Hsp65 expressed in Lactococcus lactis as a novel vaccine candidate.

Bovine tuberculosis (TBB) is a zoonotic disease distributed worldwide and is of great importance for public health and the livestock industry. Several experimental vaccines against this disease have been evaluated in recent years, yielding varying results. An example is the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which has been used extensively in humans and tested in cattle showing mixed results related to protection (0-80%) against Mycobacterium bovis. In this study, we used the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis as an expression system for production of mycobacterial protein Hsp65. For this purpose, the construction of a replicable plasmid in strain NZ9000 L. lactis (pVElepr) was conducted, which expressed the Mycobacterium leprae Hsp65 antigen, and was recognized by traded anti-Hsp65 antibodies. The strain NZ9000-pVElepr was applied to calves that were negative to tuberculin test and the immune response was monitored. The results showed that immune response was not significantly increased in calves with NZ9000-pVElepr with respect to control groups, and no injury was observed in any lung or lymph of the calves. Finally, this study suggest that the recombinant NZ9000 strain of L. lactis may protect against the development of M. bovis infection, although studies with longer exposure to this pathogen are necessary to conclude the matter.

Protothecal bursitis after simultaneous kidney/liver transplantation: a case report and review.

Solid organ transplantation is an accepted therapy for end-stage diseases of the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. Unfortunately, transplantation is associated with infectious complications. Here, we present a case report of Prototheca wickerhamii olecranon bursitis and review all of the cases in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients published in the literature to date. In our patient, the infection resolved with surgical therapy and limited antifungal therapy, and no symptoms have recurred over 24 months of follow-up. A review of the literature suggests that 50% of SOT recipients with Prototheca infection present with disseminated infection, and the overall mortality is 75%. More studies are required to determine the optimal management of protothecosis in this population.

Ameboma del recto con absceso hepático asociado: reporte de un caso / Case Report of Rectal Ameboma with Associated Liver Abscess

La infección por Entamoeba histolytica sigue siendo un problema mayor de salud pública en los países en desarrollo como Colombia. Aunque en la gran mayoría de casos se presenta como una disentería o un absceso hepático amebiano, existen casos donde la evolución genera una verdadera masa inflamatoria en el colon llamada ameboma. Estos amebomas son fácilmente confundidos con una lesión neoplásica y, de no tener un gran nivel de sospecha clínica o endoscópica, terminan en una resección de colon con un diagnóstico posoperatorio dado por la presencia de trofozoítos sin malignidad. Sin embargo, cuando el diagnóstico se hace de manera preoperatoria, podría haber resolución del cuadro sin necesidad de cirugía. Exponemos el caso de una rara presentación de ameboma en el recto asociado con un absceso hepático perforado, en el cual se hizo un diagnóstico preoperatorio, pero dada la ruptura de la lesión en el hígado, requirió de una intervención quirúrgica.

Entamoeba histolytica infections continue to be a major public health problem in developing countries such as Colombia. Although it most often presents as dysentery or amebic liver abscess, there are cases in which a true inflammatory mass develops in the colon. This is called an ameboma. These amebomas are easily confused with neoplastic lesions so that in the absence of a high level of clinical and endoscopic suspicion, a colon resection may be performed with the postoperative diagnosis given by the presence of trophozoites without malignancy. However, when the diagnosis is made preoperatively symptoms can be without surgery. We report a rare presentation of ameboma in the rectum associated with a perforated liver abscess. This was diagnosed prior to surgey, but given the liver injury, required surgery.

Histoplasmosis in renal transplant patients in an endemic area at a reference hospital in Medellin, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Histoplasmosis is an uncommon systemic fungal infection, but it is potentially fatal in immunosuppressed populations. In Latin America, which is considered an endemic area for this mycosis, there have been no published reports regarding the incidence, clinical presentation, morbidity, and mortality of histoplasmosis in renal transplant patients. The objective of this study was to describe cases of histoplasmosis in renal transplant patients treated at the Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital (Medellin, Colombia) between 2006 and 2013. METHODS: This is a descriptive, retrospective study. RESULTS: The incidence of histoplasmosis in our renal transplant population was 1.1%. The ages of the 9 patients (4 men and 5 women) ranged between 27 and 59 years. In 2 of these patients, histoplasmosis appeared during the first year after transplantation. At the time of transplantation, 66% of patients received induction with alemtuzumab; 88% had a prior rejection episode and required increased immunosuppressive medication; 88% had renal graft dysfunction with creatinine levels >1.5 mg/dL; and the primary clinical presentation was disseminated histoplasmosis followed by the pulmonary form of the disease. Diagnoses were performed by histology in 6 patients, blood culture in 2 patients, and antigenuria in 1 patient. Three patients required treatment with amphotericin B for the severity of their infection, and 2 of these patients died before receiving the cumulative dose of amphotericin B. The 7 remaining patients received itraconazole for 12 months and had a successful treatment response. Regarding complications, 2 patients had hemophagocytic syndrome. At the 1-year follow-up appointment, renal function remained stable in all patients, and no patients had acute rejection or required renal replacement therapy. Thus, the overall mortality rate observed was 22.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, histoplasmosis in renal transplant patients presented as an aggressive opportunistic infection with a higher incidence than that previously reported in the literature. The following risk factors have been associated with histoplasmosis: renal graft dysfunction, previous acute rejection, immunosuppression with tacrolimus-mycophenolate, and induction with alemtuzumab. The clinical presentation of histoplasmosis was nonspecific, which complicated disease diagnosis, and the treatment regimens were highly toxic and associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates.

A rare case of hemolytic anemia in a pediatric patient due to ring dehiscence after mitral valve repair: utility of real-time three-dimensional imaging and management.

A rare case of hemolytic anemia in a 3-year-old child due to mitral valve ring dehiscence is described. The dehiscence of mitral valve ring was diagnosed utilizing real-time three-dimensional echocardiography. The patient subsequently underwent reoperation with successful resolution of hemolysis after replacement of the ring.

Microvessel density is high in clear-cell renal cell carcinomas of Ukrainian patients exposed to chronic persistent low-dose ionizing radiation after the Chernobyl accident.

During the 25-year period subsequent to the Chernobyl accident, the morbidity of malignant renal tumors in Ukraine has increased from 4.7 to 10.7 per 100,000 of the total population. Recent studies of our group have shown that increases in morbidity, aggressiveness, and proliferative activity of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), especially clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), in Ukrainian patients continuously inhabiting the radio-contaminated areas could be explained by specific molecular changes influenced by the so-called "chronic persistent low-dose ionizing radiation" (CPLDIR) exposure. This study aimed to examine the role of angiogenesis in CCRCC carcinogenesis associated with CPLDIR in patients living more than 20 years in cesium 137 ((137)Cs) contaminated areas after the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine. Paraffin-embedded specimens of 106 CCRCs were studied: Control cases were 18 tumors from Spanish patients (group 1), 25 tumors from Ukrainian patients from so-called clean areas without known radio-contamination (group 2), and 63 tumors from Ukrainian patients from radio-contaminated areas (group 3). For intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) determination, anti-CD31 antibody was used. A computerized image analysis program was used to quantitatively calculate the vascular density. Seventy-three percent of group 3 and 72 % of group 2 CCRCCs displayed the highest MVD. A striking increase in MVD was seen in group 3 CCRCCs, in comparison with groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). The majority of the hot spot vessels in group 3 was poorly differentiated. Moreover, MVD values for total vessels as well as for capillaries and tumor grade were strongly correlated. When we compared only tumor-node-metastasis tumor stages I and II, the differences remained statistically significant (p < 0.1). The ratio of the average total vessels and capillaries in the Ukrainian groups combined was 1.65:1 in comparison to the Spanish group. Our results provide evidence that CPLDIR exposure increases MVD (particularly capillary) in CCRCCs and is associated with a higher histological grade.

COMPOSICIÓN DE ÁCIDOS GRASOS DE SACHA INCHI (Plukenetia volúbilis Linneo) Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA BIOACTIVIDAD DEL VEGETAL / FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF INCA PEANUT (Plukenetia volúbilis Linneo) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VEGETAL BIOACTIVITY

Omega and unusual fatty acids were evaluated from ethanol extracts of roots and leaves ofPlukenetia volúbilis L. were evaluated. Seed oil was obtained by soxhlet and bioreactor; the fatty acids were determined and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). Also, antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS/HRP enzymatic. Fatty acid in seed oil was beyond 80%. Meanwhile, the main unusually fatty acids in leaves and roots are ciclopropenic acids. The phytocompounds, omega and functional fatty acids could be responsible for the lipophilic antioxidant activity in leaves.

A partir de extractos etanólicos de hojas y raíces de Plukenetia volúbilis L, se evaluó la presencia de ácidos grasos omega (FAc) y funcionales. El aceite de las semillas de la planta, extraído por Soxhlet y a través de un biorreactor, fue caracterizado físicamente, se le determinó el perfil lipídico mediante cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM) y, se evaluó el potencial antioxidante (ABTS-HRP). El análisis dejó ver que el aceite del vegetal contiene ácidos grasos poliinsaturados en una proporción mayor al 80%. Los extractos de hojas y raíces mostraron principalmente ácidos de tipo ciclo-propénico. Tanto los fitocompuestos como los ácidos grasos omega y funcionales parecen estar asociados con la actividad antioxidante de las hojas.

Molecular typing of Mycobacterium bovis isolates in Argentina: first description of a person-to-person transmission case.

Bovine tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a mycobacterium highly similar to M. tuberculosis that belongs to the M. tuberculosis complex. The main host of M. bovis is cattle but it also affects many other mammalians including humans. Tuberculosis in humans caused by either M. bovis or M. tuberculosis is clinically hard to distinguish. During 2004-2005, samples from 448 patients with diagnosis of TB were collected from different regions of Argentina. The PRA technique identified 400 isolates with representative patterns of mycobacterium. The predominant ones were the M. tuberculosis complex, the M. avium-M. intracellulare complex and M. gordonae. Samples with M. tuberculosis complex PRA restriction profiles were analyzed with a multiplex PCR to differentiate between M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. Multiplex PCR identified nine M. bovis. The results allowed the possibility to establish that 2% of pulmonary tuberculosis was due to M. bovis. Isolates of M. bovis from humans were examined using spoligotyping. These isolates presented five different spoligotypes. The main spoligotype was also the most frequently one found in cattle. The remaining human spoligotypes (grouped in clusters) are occasionally found in cattle. Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis identified five different patterns. By combining the results of spoligotyping and VNTR analysis, we were able to differentiate seven M. bovis isolates. The remaining two M. bovis samples showed the same spoligotype and VNTR profile and belonged to household contacts. An MDR-M. bovis was isolated from the samples of these household contacts. The identification of two epidemiologically linked cases of human M. bovis infection suggests person-to-person transmission of an MDR-M. bovis.

Field evaluation of the protective efficacy of Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine against bovine tuberculosis.

The protective efficacy of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (1 x 10(6) single dose) was evaluated under field conditions. A total of 140 male Holstein Friesian calves, one to two week-old were selected. Two groups of 70 each were formed, one group was vaccinated and the other was injected with a placebo during their second week of age and followed until 12 months of age. The study considered a positive case of tuberculosis to be an animal that had a positive reaction to the three following tests in a row: tuberculin, IFNgamma PPD-B and IFNgamma ESAT6-CFP10 during the 12 months of exposure. The results showed a 59.4% efficacy (IC95%: 47.64-71.16). The non-vaccinated calves were 2.4 times more at risk of becoming infected (IC95%: 1.07-5.68) compared to vaccinated animals. As a complementary test a PCR test was performed using nasal exudates in some animals from both groups using a Mycobacterium complex detection kit. All the positive PCR reactions (5/44) were found in the non-vaccinated animals. These findings suggest that the use of the BCG vaccine, even though it is not capable of protecting 100%, does prevent TB vaccinated animals from excreting bacilli in their nasal secretions at their first year of age.

Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity is associated with gastroesophageal disease.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, more than 80% of the population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. The frequency of H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is unknown, as its relationship with gastroesophageal pathology. AIM: To detect the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity in Mexican population by PCR and to determine its association with gastroesophageal disease. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups with different clinic conditions from whom gastric biopsy, dental plaque, and saliva samples were taken and analyzed. The first group comprised of hospitalized patients, the majority of whom were diagnosed with gastroesophageal disease, while the second group was selected from a dental clinic (ambulatory population) the majority of whom appeared to be healthy subjects. RESULTS: H. pylori was detected in gastric biopsy, dental plaque and saliva samples by PCR using a set of specific primers for the signal sequence of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene; detection of H. pylori in general was higher in gastric biopsy and dental plaque samples than in saliva samples. Detection of H. pylori in the oral cavity is significantly (P = 0.0001) associated with patients presenting gastroesophageal disease, while healthy subjects and those with other non-gastric disease do not present with H. pylori in their oral cavity. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is associated to gastroesophageal disease. In addition, it is suggested that all patients presenting gastric symptoms and H. pylori detection in the oral cavity would begin bacterial treatment immediately.

Characterization of the Apa antigen from M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis: a conserved Mycobacterium antigen that elicits a strong humoral response in cattle.

Johne's disease or paratuberculosis is widespread in almost all countries and remains difficult to eradicate. Nowadays, diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MPTB) infection is one of the main concerns. In this work, we evaluated the expression, biochemical properties and antigenicity of the Apa antigen, encoded by the gene annotated as MAP1569, in the MPTB genome. We confirmed its expression in MPTB and its glycosylation by the ConA binding assay. Although the MPTB-Apa is not an immunodominant antigen, MPTB-infected cattle showed a strong humoral response to recombinant Apa by Western blot and ELISA. Milk was also a suitable sample to be tested by ELISA. We comparatively analysed the humoral cross-reactivity to the Apa from MPTB (MPTB-Apa) and the orthologue from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT-Apa, identical to that from Mycobacterium bovis) in both infected and control cows. Response of M. bovis- and MPTB-infected animals against MT-Apa was similar (P=0.6985) but the response of the M. bovis-infected ones to MPTB-Apa was differential, being significantly diminished (P<0.0001). Although 6 out 45 animals from MPTB-infected herds responded to MPTB-Apa stimulation in the IFNgamma release assay, we found no significant differences when compared infected herds with non-infected ones (P=0.34). This antigen, in contrast to bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPDb), was strongly represented in avian PPD (PPDa), as shown by the recognition of BALB/c mice hyperimmune sera against MPTB-Apa by Dot-blot immunoassay. We therefore demonstrated the antigenicity of Apa in MPTB-infected animals and a differential response to the recombinant antigen when compared to M. bovis-infected animals. These traits herein described, added to the usefulness of milk samples to detect IgG anti-Apa, could be important for routine screening in dairy cattle, considering a multiantigenic approach to overcome the lack of immunodominance.

Is there a reservoir of sub-clinical lymphogranuloma venereum and non-LGV Chlamydia trachomatis infection in men who have sex with men?

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to determine if a reservoir of sub-clinical LGV infection exists in men who have sex with men (MSM), as this finding might account for the recent rise in lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) Chlamydia trachomatis infections among MSM in Canada. MSM without proctitis were enrolled between January and August 2006 in a cross-sectional study. Rectal, urine, serology and pharyngeal specimens were tested for specific C. trachomatis serovars. The median age of the 253 participants was 43 years; 53% were HIV+. We found no active cases of LGV infection; but 20 (8%) participants had positive serology. Thirteen participants (5%) had non-LGV C. trachomatis infections. Unprotected anopenetrative intercourse, rectal enema and drug use were associated with non-LGV C. trachomatis infection. Sub-clinical rectal non-LGV C. trachomatis infection was relatively common but LGV was not identified in our sample. Further studies of screening for non-LGV chlamydia infection in MSM are needed.

Relación entre consumo de fármacose hipopotasemia en atención primaria / No disponible

Objetivo. Describir la relación entre la hipopotasemia y el consumo de fármacos en el ámbito de la atenciónprimaria. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo realizado en el conjunto del área de saludde Albacete sobre el año 2007. Se recogió información sobre los niveles de potasio sérico (Hospital General deAlbacete), la prescripción farmacéutica (Digitalis) y datos demográficos (Turriano) de los pacientes seleccionados.Los datos fueron codificados, depurados y analizados mediante el programa estadístico SPSS(versión 13.0), y se realizó un análisis descriptivo y un análisis estadístico (prueba de la t de Student yprueba de la ji al cuadrado). Resultados. Se encontraron 310 pacientes con el potasio plasmático disminuidodurante el periodo de estudio, de los que 231 habían consumido algún fármaco capaz de producir hipopotasemia.Los grupos de fármacos más consumidos por los pacientes fueron los diuréticos no ahorradores depotasio (63,9% del total de pacientes), los beta-2-agonistas (13,2%), los laxantes (13,2%) y los alfa-antagonistas(9%). Conclusiones. Dado que consideramos la hipopotasemia como una condición clínica que puede tenerrepercusiones graves y dado que los grupos farmacológicos mencionados se prescriben ampliamente en atenciónprimaria, creemos que convendría hacer determinaciones periódicas de los niveles de potasio a lospacientes que toman este tipo de medicamentos, para evitar de este modo las complicaciones asociadas a laaparición de hipopotasemia severa o grave (AU)

Objective. to describe the relationship between hypokalemia and the consumption of drugs in the field ofprimary care. Material and Method. retrospective descriptive study in the year 2007 in the ensemble ofHealth Care Services of Albacete. The data regarding the levels of serum potassium (H.G. Albacete), pharmaceuticalprescriptions (Digitalis) and the demographic data (Turriano) of the selected patients was collected.The data was codified, refined and analysed with SPSS v13.0: descriptive analysis and statistical analysis:Student’s t test and Chi-square test. Results. during the period of the study decreased plasma potassium wasfound in 310 patients, 231 of whom had taken some kind of drug capable of producing hypokalemia. The druggroups most consumed in this type of patients were non-potassium-sparing diuretics (63.9% of the totalpatients), beta-2-agonists (13.2%), laxatives (13.2%) and alfa-antagonists (9%). Conclusions. consideringhypokalemia as a clinical condition that could have serious repercussions, and given that these groups ofmedicines are broadly prescribed in Primary Care, we consider it appropriate for the levels of potassium inpatients who consume this type of medication to be monitored periodically, in order to avoid complicationsassociated with the onset of severe or serious hypokalemia (AU)