Not all marketed skin cleansers' pH is optimal for atopic dermatitis.

Background: The normally acidic skin pH changes in atopic dermatitis (AD) to alkaline, which contributes to the associated skin-barrier dysfunction. Hence, acidic cleansers would be preferred, but such information is scarce. Objective: Guiding health-care providers and patients on selecting skin cleansers with a pH optimal for AD. Methods: A total of 250 products were tested: 37 soaps (32 bars, 5 liquid) and 213 syndets (14 bars, 199 liquid); 10% solutions were tested for pH by using a pH meter; pH values 6.65-7.35 were considered neutral. Results: The pH of the tested skin cleansers varied widely (3.59-10.83). All 37 soaps were highly alkaline. In the 14 syndet bars, the pH was neutral in 6, alkaline in 8, and acidic in none. In the 199 syndet liquids, the pH was acidic in 84.9%, neutral in 11.1%, and alkaline in 4.0%. The product's pH was disclosed in none of the 37 soaps and in only 32 syndets (15%) , of which 9 bars were labeled "balanced," whose measured pH was neutral in 6 and alkaline in 3. Of the other 23 syndets, the labeled pH was referred to as "balanced" in 20 whose measured pH was neutral in 2 (6.80, 6.88) and acidic in 18 (3.59-6.59). The pH in the other three syndets was 4.25-6.00. Conclusion: All tested soaps had undesirable pH, whereas 84.9% of the liquid syndets were acidic (which is desirable) and 11.1% were neutral (which could be acceptable). Only 12.8% of the products disclosed the pH, an issue in need of improvement.

Health disparities in hymenoptera venom allergy management.

Background: Hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis (HVA) is reported in up to 3% of stings and accounts for approximately 40 US deaths annually. HVA patients require immediate availability of epinephrine and Allergist referrals for consideration of venom immunotherapy. Data regarding epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions, Allergist referral rates, and potential racial disparities are limited. Objective: The primary objective was to determine if there were statistically significant differences in epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions and Allergist referrals between white and African American patients. The secondary objectives were to determine if there were statistically significant differences between adult and pediatric patients and to determine if there were significant differences between epinephrine prescriptions between patients with and without Allergist referrals. Method: This study is a retrospective, descriptive chart review analyzing patients seen between January 01, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Data were obtained utilizing the Epic Systems (Verona, WI) application Slicer Dicer. Individual chart review was performed for age, race, epinephrine autoinjector prescription, and Allergist referral. Results: 342 patients were identified as having HVA. White patients (60 out of 219; 27.4%) were more likely to get epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions than African American patients (17 out of 109; 15.6%) (p = 0.018). Adult patients (25 out of 314; 8.0%) were less likely than pediatric patients (8 out of 28; 28.6%) to have Allergist referrals (p = 0.004). Patients with Allergist referrals (25 out of 32; 78.1%) were more likely to be prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector than patient without Allergist referrals (54 out of 310; 17.4%) (p < 0.00001). Conclusion: Epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions and Allergist referrals are low overall in HVA. Racial disparities were identified with African American patients being significantly less likely to receive epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions. Additionally, adult patients, who may be at increased risk, were less likely to receive Allergist referrals.

Chlorthalidone-Induced Fixed-Drug Eruption: Unmasking an Uncommon Reaction to a Common Diuretic.

Fixed-drug eruptions (FDEs) are dermatological reactions characterized by specific skin lesions triggered by certain medications. Our case reports commonly used medications that can cause drug-induced skin reactions. Chlorthalidone, a widely used diuretic, had not been prominently linked to FDEs. Here, we present the case of a 45-year-old African-American male who developed classic FDE skin lesions following the initiation of chlorthalidone therapy. This case underscores the imperative for further investigation and heightened awareness among healthcare professionals regarding chlorthalidone-associated FDEs. Findings suggest that such reactions might be more prevalent than previously acknowledged, underscoring the significance of prompt diagnosis and effective management of drug-induced skin responses. Notably, the patient's lesions showed complete resolution upon discontinuing the diuretic, reinforcing the causal relationship. This case is an essential reminder of the importance of vigilance in monitoring patients for adverse drug reactions, even in unlikely medications, such as chlorthalidone.​​​​​​.

Case report: Refractory Evans syndrome in two patients with spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation treated successfully with JAK1/JAK2 inhibition.

Biallelic mutations in the ACP5 gene cause spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation (SPENCDI). SPENCDI is characterized by the phenotypic triad of skeletal dysplasia, innate and adaptive immune dysfunction, and variable neurologic findings ranging from asymptomatic brain calcifications to severe developmental delay with spasticity. Immune dysregulation in SPENCDI is often refractory to standard immunosuppressive treatments. Here, we present the cases of two patients with SPENCDI and recalcitrant autoimmune cytopenias who demonstrated a favorable clinical response to targeted JAK inhibition over a period of more than 3 years. One of the patients exhibited steadily rising IgG levels and a bone marrow biopsy revealed smoldering multiple myeloma. A review of the literature uncovered that approximately half of the SPENCDI patients reported to date exhibited increased IgG levels. Screening for multiple myeloma in SPENCDI patients with rising IgG levels should therefore be considered.

Social protection and informality in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latin American governments swiftly implemented income assistance programs to sustain families' livelihoods during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. This paper analyzes the potential coverage and generosity of these measures and assesses the suitability of current safety nets to deal with unexpected negative income shocks in 10 Latin American countries. The expansion of pre-existing programs (most notably conditional cash transfers and non-contributory pensions) during the COVID-19 crisis was generally insufficient to compensate for the inability to work among the poorest segments of the population. When COVID-19 ad hoc programs are analyzed, the coverage and replacement rates of regular labor income among households in the first quintile of the country's labor income distribution increase substantially. Yet, these programs present substantial coverage challenges among families composed of fundamentally informal workers who are non-poor, but are at a high risk of poverty. These results highlight the limitations of the fragmented nature of social protection systems in the region.

HIV in women over 50 years: An analysis of administrative data in the departments of the Colombian Pacific region (2014-2018) / [HIV en mujeres mayores de 50 años. Análisis de datos administrativos en departamentos del Pacífico colombiano (2014-2018)].

Introduction: HIV is a public health problem that is relevant in the Colombian Pacific due to major social problems in the region where women are exposed to more risk factors. Objective: To describe the differences by gender and age of the most frequent ICD-10 code related to HIV in four departments of the Colombian Pacific region during the period 2014 to 2018. Materials and methods: We conducted a descriptive, retrospective observational study with ecological units of analysis (departments and municipalities) obtained by aggregation. The data source was SISPRO, a platform for the mandatory registration of health services in the country. For each age group and territorial entity, we estimated the proportions of each code for women and men, as well as the absolute differences (the female proportion minus the male proportion). Results: At the regional level, there was a predominance of women in 9 of 22 groups evaluated. The largest absolute difference was in the 25-29 age group. Five of the nine age groups with a predominance of women represented ages over 50 years. The greatest difference was found in the 50-54 age group in Chocó, and the smallest difference was found in the 90-94 age group in Nariño. The analysis identified the following two patterns: before the age of 50 with a predominance of men and over the age of 50 with a predominance of women. Conclusions: The secondary analysis of databases for routine information collection is useful. Given that the data showed a prevalence of older adults, especially women, it is important to consider including this population in the promotion and prevention strategies of the HIV program.

Introducción. El HIV es un problema de salud pública relevante en el Pacífico colombiano debido a la gran problemática social de la región y la exposición de las mujeres a más factores de riesgo. Objetivo. Describir las diferencias por sexo y grupos de edad con respecto al código CIE-10 de HIV más frecuente en los cuatro departamentos de la Región Pacífica colombiana durante el periodo de 2014 a 2018. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional descriptivo, retrospectivo y con unidades de análisis ecológicas (departamentos y municipios) obtenidas por agregación. La fuente de datos fue el SISPRO, una plataforma para el registro obligatorio de las prestaciones de servicios de salud en el país. Para cada grupo de edad y ente territorial, se estimaron las proporciones del código para mujeres y para hombres, y se calcularon las diferencias absolutas (la proporción femenina menos la proporción masculina). Resultados. A nivel regional, en 9 de 22 grupos se observó el predominio de mujeres, con la mayor diferencia en el grupo de 25 a 29 años. Cinco de los nueve grupos de edad con mayor reporte en mujeres correspondían a mayores de 50 años. La mayor diferencia se encontró en el grupo de 50 a 54 años en Chocó y, la menor, en el grupo de 90 a 94 años en Nariño. En el análisis se identificaron dos patrones: antes de los 50 años, con predominio de los hombres, y después de los 50 años, con predominio de las mujeres. Conclusiones. El análisis secundario de una base de datos de recolección rutinaria es útil. Dado que los datos evidenciaron una prevalencia de los adultos mayores, especialmente mujeres, es importante que se considere incluir esta población en las estrategias de promoción y prevención del programa de HIV.

HIV en mujeres mayores de 50 años. Análisis de datos administrativos en departamentos del Pacífico colombiano (2014-2018) / HIV in women over 50 years: An analysis of administrative data in the departments of the Colombian Pacific region (2014-2018)

Resumen | Introducción. El HIV es un problema de salud pública relevante en el Pacífico colombiano debido a la gran problemática social de la región y la exposición de las mujeres a más factores de riesgo. Objetivo. Describir las diferencias por sexo y grupos de edad con respecto al código CIE-10 de HIV más frecuente en los cuatro departamentos de la Región Pacífica colombiana durante el periodo de 2014 a 2018. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional descriptivo, retrospectivo y con unidades de análisis ecológicas (departamentos y municipios) obtenidas por agregación. La fuente de datos fue el SISPRO, una plataforma para el registro obligatorio de las prestaciones de servicios de salud en el país. Para cada grupo de edad y ente territorial, se estimaron las proporciones del código para mujeres y para hombres, y se calcularon las diferencias absolutas (la proporción femenina menos la proporción masculina). Resultados. A nivel regional, en 9 de 22 grupos se observó el predominio de mujeres, con la mayor diferencia en el grupo de 25 a 29 años. Cinco de los nueve grupos de edad con mayor reporte en mujeres correspondían a mayores de 50 años. La mayor diferencia se encontró en el grupo de 50 a 54 años en Chocó y, la menor, en el grupo de 90 a 94 años en Nariño. En el análisis se identificaron dos patrones: antes de los 50 años, con predominio de los hombres, y después de los 50 años, con predominio de las mujeres. Conclusiones. El análisis secundario de una base de datos de recolección rutinaria es útil. Dado que los datos evidenciaron una prevalencia de los adultos mayores, especialmente mujeres, es importante que se considere incluir esta población en las estrategias de promoción y prevención del programa de HIV.

Abstract | Introduction: HIV is a public health problem that is relevant in the Colombian Pacific due to major social problems in the region where women are exposed to more risk factors. Objective: To describe the differences by gender and age of the most frequent ICD-10 code related to HIV in four departments of the Colombian Pacific region during the period 2014 to 2018. Materials and methods: We conducted a descriptive, retrospective observational study with ecological units of analysis (departments and municipalities) obtained by aggregation. The data source was SISPRO, a platform for the mandatory registration of health services in the country. For each age group and territorial entity, we estimated the proportions of each code for women and men, as well as the absolute differences (the female proportion minus the male proportion). Results: At the regional level, there was a predominance of women in 9 of 22 groups evaluated. The largest absolute difference was in the 25-29 age group. Five of the nine age groups with a predominance of women represented ages over 50 years. The greatest difference was found in the 50-54 age group in Chocó, and the smallest difference was found in the 90-94 age group in Nariño. The analysis identified the following two patterns: before the age of 50 with a predominance of men and over the age of 50 with a predominance of women. Conclusions: The secondary analysis of databases for routine information collection is useful. Given that the data showed a prevalence of older adults, especially women, it is important to consider including this population in the promotion and prevention strategies of the HIV program.

Coinfections and differential diagnosis in immunocompetent patients with uveitis of infectious origin.

BACKGROUND: Making a definite diagnosis of infectious uveitis is a challenging task because many other infectious, and non-infectious uveitis, may have similar non-specific symptoms and overlapping clinical appearances. Co-infections in immunocompetent patients are not frequently proved with traditional serologic-diagnostic tools. METHODS: Descriptive transversal study, in a Uveitis Service of an Ophthalmology Reference Center, in Bogotá, Colombia, from July 2014 to February 2016. Aqueous humor (AH) and/or vitreous fluid, blood and serum samples were collected from consecutive patients suspected of having infectious uveitis. The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) was confirmed by the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Differential diagnosis by PCR in AH was done for viral origin such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: In 66 Colombian patients with uveitis of presumed infectious origin: 22 (33.3%) were confirmed as OT, 16 (24.2%) as undetermined OT, five (7.5%) as co-infections and 23 (34.8%) as other uveitis. Toxoplasma coinfection with M. tuberculosis was identified in one case by PCR and in four cases with HSV by GWC. The initial clinical diagnosis changed, after laboratory examination, in 21 cases (31.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical diagnosis can be changed by laboratory examination in a significant proportion of cases of uveitis. Diagnosis of OT should combine the use of PCR and GWC to reach the maximum of confirmation of cases. The use of multiple laboratory methods is necessary to identify co-infections and viral infections that can mimic OT in immunocompetent patients.

Bilateral Herpes Simplex Uveitis: Review of the Literature and Own Reports .

PURPOSE: Herpes simplex-associated uveitis is usually considered a unilateral eye disease, and rarely included in the differential diagnosis whenever there is bilateral involvement. We report three cases of bilateral herpetic anterior uveitis. METHODS: We evaluated three patients who presented with clinical manifestations of bilateral uveitis suggestive of viral origin. RESULTS: We found intraocular hypertension, cells in the anterior chamber, paralytic mydriasis, iris atrophy with transillumination defects, and variable anterior vitreous cellularity. According to the clinical findings, supported with herpes-specific antibody titers and aqueous humor PCR results in two of them, they were diagnosed with bilateral anterior herpetic uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients were initially misdiagnosed as having non-infectious uveitis and were treated with immunomodulatory medications, which could have favored the extension of infection bilaterally. Although uncommon, bilateral herpetic uveitis should always be considered in the differential diagnoses, when patients present with hypertensive uveitis in both eyes.