[Answer to comment on article "Severe scorpionism causing acute flaccid paralysis. Case report"]. / Respuesta a comentario al artículo "Alacranismo severo causante de parálisis flácida aguda. Reporte de caso".

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[Scorpionism causing severe acute flaccid paralysis. Case report]. / Alacranismo severo causante de parálisis flácida aguda. Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Scorpionism is a public health problem in various regions of the world, being Mexico the country with the highest number of cases. Clinical manifestations range from local symptoms to severe disease with an impact on cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological level, and even death. There are no reports of acute flaccid paralysis as a manifestation of the clinical picture of the scorpion sting of the Centruroides gender, Family Buthidae, highly toxic, causes high rates of morbidity and mortality in our region. CLINICAL CASE: We documented a case of scorpionism, caused by a scorpion gender Buthidae, Centruroides family, which caused acute flaccid paralysis, after resolution of other severe manifestations. There is only one case report of scorpionism that produces acute flaccid paralysis in the literature, but it is related to the Parabuthus scorpion, endemic of South Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of this complication, new for our region, will maximize efforts to diagnose and appropriately manage this symptoms, with the adequate application of the specific fabotherapy and advanced life support for proper survival in the patients with compromise of vital functions and imminent risk of death mainly by respiratory failure.

Introducción: el alacranismo es un problema de salud pública en diversas regiones del mundo, siendo México el país que tiene mayor número de casos. Las manifestaciones clínicas oscilan desde sintomatología local hasta cuadros graves con repercusiones a nivel cardiovascular, respiratorio y neurológico, e incluso la muerte. No existen reportes de parálisis flácida como una manifestación del cuadro clínico por picadura del alacrán del género Centruroides, familia Buthidae, especie altamente tóxica, endémica y causante de altos índices de morbimortalidad en nuestra región. Caso clínico: documentamos un caso de alacranismo grave, provocado por escorpión de la familia Buthidae del género Centruroides, que causó parálisis flácida aguda, posterior a resolución de otras manifestaciones severas. Solo existe un reporte de caso de alacranismo que produce parálisis flácida aguda en la literatura médica, pero relacionado con el escorpión de la familia Parabuthus, endémico de Sudáfrica, el cual no es endémico en México. Conclusiones: conocer esta complicación, nueva para nuestra región, permitirá maximizar esfuerzos para diagnosticar y manejar oportunamente esta entidad con la aplicación temprana de faboterápico específico y soporte vital avanzado.

[Trend of antimicrobial susceptibility in a neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit]. / Tendencia de sensibilidad antimicrobiana en una terapia intensiva neonatal y pediátrica.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections in intensive care units are a health problem worldwide due to their incidence, prevalence and clinical impact. The objective of this article was to describe the trend of antimicrobial susceptibility during a 10-years period in both a pediatric and a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: This is a follow-up cohort study. In 10 years of follow-up, the antimicrobial used was considered the independent variable, and the antimicrobial susceptibility as the dependent variable. By using chi squared with Fisher exact test, the initial and final susceptibilities were compared, and also the most prevalent diagnoses and the antimicrobials. A two-tailed p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. SPSS 8 and Epi-Info 0.6 were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Antimicrobial susceptibility decreased from 66 to 45 % in 10 years, representing a global loss of 13 % (p = 0.002). The most affected antimicrobials were first-generation cephalosporin (p = 0.02), ciprofloxacin (p = 0.05), erythromycin (p = 0.001), imipenem (p = 0.001), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is an alarming loss of effectiveness in antimicrobial agents.

Introducción: las infecciones en las unidades de cuidados intensivos son un problema de salud pública mundial por su incidencia, prevalencia e impacto clínico. El objetivo fue determinar la tendencia de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos en un periodo de 10 años en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos. Métodos: estudio de seguimiento de cohorte. Se consideró variable independiente el antimicrobiano utilizado y variable dependiente la sensibilidad antimicrobiana con seguimiento a 10 años. Se comparó la sensibilidad inicial y final, y los diagnósticos más prevalentes y antimicrobianos con chi cuadrada con prueba exacta de Fisher. Se consideró significación estadística con p a dos colas de 0.05. Los datos se analizaron mediante los programas estadísticos SPSS 8 y Epi-Info 0.6 Resultados: la sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos pasó del 66 al 45 % en 10 años, lo cual representó una pérdida global del 13 % (p = 0.002). Los antimicrobianos que más perdieron sensibilidad fueron la cefalosporina de primera generación (p = 0.02), el ciprofloxacino (p = 0.05), la eritromicina (p = 0.001), el imipenem (p = 0.001) y el trimetroprim-sulfametoxasol (p = 0.05). Conclusión: existe una pérdida preocupante de efectividad de los antimicrobianos.

Niveles de propéptido aminoterminal de procolágeno tipos I y III y gravedad de la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial en mujeres mexicanas con esclerosis sistémica progresiva / Procollagen Type I and III Aminoterminal Propeptide Levels and Severity of Interstitial Lung Disease in Mexican Women With Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

Antecedentes: La enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI) es una complicación frecuente en la esclerosis sistémica (ES) progresiva, presente en el 25-90% de los pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar si los niveles séricos de propéptido aminoterminal de procolágeno tipos i y iii (PINP y PIIINP) se correlacionan con la gravedad de la EPI en mujeres mexicanas con ES. Métodos: En 33 pacientes con ES se evaluaron las características de la enfermedad, anticuerpos antitopoisomerasa (topo i), pruebas de función pulmonar y tomografía computarizada de alta resolución (TCAR). Diecinueve pacientes tenían ES + EPI y 14 no presentaban afectación pulmonar (ES sin EPI). Se compararon con 45 controles sanos. Se evaluaron PINP y PIIINP en los 3 grupos. Resultados: El grupo ES tuvo mayores niveles de PINP y PIIINP que el control (p = 0,001 y p < 0,001, respectivamente). Las pacientes ES + EPI habían presentado la enfermedad más años que las ES sin EPI (p = 0,005), tenían mayor puntuación en el índice modificado de Rodnan (p < 0,001), puntuación alta en el índice de evaluación de discapacidad (p < 0,001), mayores niveles de antitopoisomerasa i (p < 0,001), PINP (49,28 ± 28,63 vs. 32,12 ± 18,58 μg/l, p = 0,05), y PIIINP (4,33 ± 1,03 vs. 2,67 ± 1,26 μg/l, p < 0,001). La gravedad de la EPI en TACAR se correlacionó con los niveles de PINP (r = 0,388, p = 0,03) y PIIINP (p = 0,594, p < 0,001). En el análisis ajustado, la gravedad de la EPI se asoció con la duración de la enfermedad (p = 0,037) y con los niveles de PIIINP (p = 0,038) y de antitopoisomerasa i (p = 0,045). Conclusiones: El PINP y el PIIINP son marcadores útiles para la ES + EPI grave. Esto apoya su uso clínico para el seguimiento de esta complicación

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent complication in progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc), being present in 25% to 90% of cases. Objectives: To evaluate whether serum levels of procollagen type i and iii aminoterminal propeptide (PINP and PIIINP) correlate with severity and patterns of ILD in Mexican women with SSc. Methods: Thirty three SSc patients were assessed for disease characteristics and anti-topoisomerase antibodies (topo i), and also underwent pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Nineteen patients had ILD + SSc, and 14 had no lung involvement (no ILD-SSc); data were compared with those from 45 healthy controls. PINP and PIIINP were assessed in all 3 groups. Results: Patients with SSc had higher PINP and PIIINP vs controls (P = .001, P < .001, respectively). Compared to no ILD-SSc patients, those with ILD + SSc had longer disease duration in years (P = .005), higher modified Rodnan skin score (P < .001), higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability-Index scores (P < .001), higher topo i U/mL (P < .001), PINP (49.28 ± 28.63 vs. 32.12 ± 18.58 g/L, P = .05), and PIIINP (4.33 ± 1.03 vs. 2.67 ± 1.26 g/L, P < .001) levels. ILD severity based on total HRCT correlated with PINP (r = .388, P = .03) and PIIINP (P = .594, P < .001). On adjusted analysis, ILD severity was associated with disease duration (P = .037), PIIINP (P = .038), and topo i (P = .045). Conclusions: PINP and PIIINP are useful markers for severe ILD + SSc, suggesting they could play a role in the follow-up of this complication in SSc

Effectiveness of botulinum toxin (type-A) administered by the fixed-site dosing approach versus the muscle area identification.

INTRODUCTION: Botulinum toxin is widely used in glabellar musculature. The authors express the need to individualize the approach by means of muscular identification to improve effectiveness. Despite these guidelines, the fixed-point technique is still used. OBJECTIVE: Comparison of effectiveness of botulinum toxin administration in the glabellar zone by using fixed-site application versus objective-muscle-identification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prolective dynamic cohort study. Patients (after previous informed consent) were assessed on their facial expressions, level of satisfaction, re-interventions, adverse effects, dosage, dilution, and number of injections. All patients who experienced either of both techniques of botulinum toxin administration (fixed-site or objective-muscle-identification) were subjected to followup by the following parameters: statistical analysis: student's t Test (inter-group mean comparisons), paired student's t test (intra-group mean comparisons), χ (2) with Fisher exact text. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were evaluated (31 fixed-site approach, 31 objective-muscle-identification). No patient abandoned the trial during followup. Fixed-site injections required larger doses (16 vs 12 U, p = 0.001), greater volume (0.48 vs. 0.37 ml, p = 0.001), and more application sites (4 vs 2, p = 0.001), compared to the objective-muscle-identification approach. Under the objective-muscle-identification technique, facial expressions were better attenuated (52 vs 65%, p = 0.001), with a higher initial satisfaction level (6 vs 9, p = 0.001) and final satisfaction level (9 vs 9.9, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin application is more effective when administered through the objective-muscle-identification approach (less frowning, lower doses, less fixed sites injected, and patients more satisfied at the end). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Procollagen Type I and III Aminoterminal Propeptide Levels and Severity of Interstitial Lung Disease in Mexican Women With Progressive Systemic Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent complication in progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc), being present in 25% to 90% of cases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether serum levels of procollagen typei and iii aminoterminal propeptide (PINP and PIIINP) correlate with severity and patterns of ILD in Mexican women with SSc. METHODS: Thirty three SSc patients were assessed for disease characteristics and anti-topoisomerase antibodies (topoi), and also underwent pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Nineteen patients had ILD+SSc, and 14 had no lung involvement (no ILD-SSc); data were compared with those from 45 healthy controls. PINP and PIIINP were assessed in all 3 groups. RESULTS: Patients with SSc had higher PINP and PIIINP vs controls (P=.001, P<.001, respectively). Compared to no ILD-SSc patients, those with ILD+SSc had longer disease duration in years (P=.005), higher modified Rodnan skin score (P<.001), higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability-Index scores (P<.001), higher topoi U/mL (P<.001), PINP (49.28±28.63 vs. 32.12±18.58µg/L, P=.05), and PIIINP (4.33±1.03 vs. 2.67±1.26µg/L, P<.001) levels. ILD severity based on total HRCT correlated with PINP (r=.388, P=.03) and PIIINP (P=.594, P<.001). On adjusted analysis, ILD severity was associated with disease duration (P=.037), PIIINP (P=.038), and topoi (P=.045). CONCLUSIONS: PINP and PIIINP are useful markers for severe ILD+SSc, suggesting they could play a role in the follow-up of this complication in SSc.

[Prognosis in pediatric traumatic brain injury. A dynamic cohort study]. / Pronóstico del traumatismo craneoencefálico pediátrico. Estudio de una cohorte dinámica.

BACKGROUND: traumatic brain injury is a main cause of hospital admission and death in children. Our objective was to identify prognostic factors of pediatric traumatic brain injury. METHODS: this was a dynamic cohort study of traumatic brain injury with 6 months follow-up. The exposition was: mild or moderate/severe traumatic brain injury, searching for prognosis (morbidity-mortality and decreased Glasgow scale). Relative risk and logistic regression was estimated for prognostic factors. RESULTS: we evaluated 440 patients with mild traumatic brain injury and 98 with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury. Morbidity for mild traumatic brain injury was 1 %; for moderate/severe traumatic brain injury, 5 %. There were no deaths. Prognostic factors for moderate/severe traumatic brain injury were associated injuries (RR = 133), fractures (RR = 60), street accidents (RR = 17), night time accidents (RR = 2.3) and weekend accidents (RR = 2). Decreased Glasgow scale was found in 9 %, having as prognostic factors: visible injuries (RR = 3), grown-up supervision (RR = 2.5) and time of progress (RR = 1.6). CONCLUSIONS: there should be a prognosis established based on kinetic energy of the injury and not only with Glasgow Scale.

Introducción: en los niños con traumatismo, las lesiones craneoencefálicas son las principales causas de hospitalización y muerte. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar los factores pronóstico del traumatismo craneoencefálico en los niños. Métodos: cohorte dinámica con seis meses de seguimiento. El trauma craneoencefálico se estratificó como leve o moderado-severo, se identificó morbilidad y se realizó evaluación con la escala de coma de Glasgow. Se estimó riesgo relativo (RR) y regresión logística para factores pronóstico. Resultados: se identificaron 440 pacientes con trauma craneoencefálico leve y 98 con moderado-severo; se observó morbilidad en 1 y 5 %, respectivamente. No hubo defunciones. Los factores pronóstico para el trauma moderado-severo fueron los siguientes: lesiones relacionadas (RR = 133), fracturas (RR = 60), accidentes en la calle (RR = 17), horario nocturno (RR = 2.3) y fin de semana (RR = 2). Se presentó deterioro en la puntuación de Glasgow en 9 %, con los siguientes factores pronóstico: lesiones visibles (RR = 3), supervisión por adulto (RR = 2.5) y tiempo de evolución (RR = 1.6). Conclusiones: en los niños con trauma craneoencefálico debe establecerse el pronóstico según la energía cinética de la lesión y con la escala Glasgow.

[Assessment of serum IgG activity correlation against cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, topoisomerase I and centromere proteins in Mexican patients with progressive systemic sclerosis]. / Evaluación de la correlación de la actividad de IgG sérica contra péptido citrulinado cíclico, topoisomerasa I y proteínas de centrómero en pacientes mexicanos con esclerosis sistémica progresiva.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sera titers for antibodies anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and their correlation against sera levels of anti-topoisomerase I and anti-centromere antibodies in Mexican patients with systemic sclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive outpatients with systemic sclerosis who attending to rheumatology clinic at a second level hospital facility. The antibodies anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, anti-topoisomerase I and anti-centromere were determined by enzymatic immunoassay (ELISA). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Spearman for correlation between numerical variables with nonparametric distribution. Fisher exact test or chi2 to compare proportions and Student t test for dimensional variables. RESULTS: Thirty female patients were included; aged 53 +/- 13, the disease duration at the time of the study was 10 +/- 9. Twenty-three patients (77%) exhibited diffuse disease. Anti-centromere, anti-topoisomerase I, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide were detected in nine, nine and three patients respectively. The correlation analysis showed the independence of autoantibodies anti-centromere and anti-topoisomerase I with respect to the levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the low frequency of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis. A lack of correlation between autoantibodies considered as "mutually excluded" anti-topoisomerase I and anti-centromere, indicating that the analysis of the relevance for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide in systemic sclerosis must include other clinical and serological variables.

Clinical competence for autoimmune and non-autoimmune rheumatic disorders in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the competence of the primary care physicians for the evaluation of rheumatic disorders. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey we included primary care physicians working at the official Mexican Social Security Institute that provides nation-wide health-care for salaried workers. Four hospitals from 23 potentially eligible primary-care hospitals in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, were randomly selected. From these hospitals the physicians who agree to participate were asked to answer a questionnaire for clinical competence. Using a Delphi modified approach; this questionnaire was elaborated by a group of rheumatologists and researchers working in continuous medical education. A Kuder-Richardson reliability index was computed in 0.94. The diseases included in the questionnaire were: (1) rheumatoid arthritis, (2) Sjogren syndrome, 3) gout, 4) osteoarthritis and 5) systemic lupus erythematosus and questions regarding to these were made using the technique of "representative patients". Domains included in the questionnaire were: assessment of risk factors, strategies for diagnosis, and treatment. According to the scores obtained in the questionnaire the ranges for clinical competence were: very high level 93-110 points, high level 75-92, moderate 57-74, low 39-56, very low 21-38 and <20 points was considered obtained by chance. RESULTS: One-hundred and four primary care physicians were interviewed. From the total, 60 (58%) physicians had the speciality of family physician. Only 11% (95% CI 5-17) of the interviewed had a high level of competence according to the instrument. Moderate competence was achieved by 20% (95% CI 13-27), whereas suboptimal levels had 51%: being low 31% (95% CI 22-40), very low 20% (95% CI 13-27). An additional 18% had scores obtained by chance (95% CI 11-25). There was no statistical difference in the scores between physicians with or without the specialty in family medicine. CONCLUSIONS: These results pointed-out a sub-optimal competence in a significant proportion of the primary care-physicians attending rheumatic disorders. Higher efforts need to be made to increase the levels of competence and improve the effectiveness of continuous medical education for these physicians.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in ankylosing spondylitis: prevalence and association with clinical variables.

We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ninety-seven patients with AS were compared with 97 controls. The assessment included clinical characteristics, disease activity (BASDAI), functioning (BASFI), history of drugs, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Total serum homocysteine (tHcy) was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. A higher frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 micromol/L) was observed in AS (12 vs. 1%, P = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis the risk for hyperhomocysteinemia was increased in patients with higher score of HAQ-S (OR = 5.27, 95% CI: 1.29-21.44) and higher ESR (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18). No statistical associations was observed between hyperhomocysteinemia with other variables including methotrexate or sulfasalazine utilization. In conclusion, this study found a significant prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in Mexican patients with AS mainly associated to a worst functional impairment. Further follow-up studies are required to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients.