Exploring kidney biopsy findings in congenital heart diseases: Insights beyond cyanotic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: The association between congenital heart disease and chronic kidney disease is well known. Various mechanisms of kidney damage associated with congenital heart disease have been established. The etiology of kidneydisease has commonly been considered to be secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), however, this has only been demonstrated in case reports and not in observational or clinical trials. AIM: To identify baseline and clinical characteristics, as well as the findings in kidney biopsies of patients with congenital heart disease in our hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study conducted at the Nephrology Department of the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez". All patients over 16 years old who underwent percutaneous kidney biopsy from January 2000 to January 2023 with congenital heart disease were included in the study. RESULTS: Ten patients with congenital heart disease and kidney biopsy were found. The average age was 29.00 years ± 15.87 years with pre-biopsy proteinuria of 6193 mg/24 h ± 6165 mg/24 h. The most common congenital heart disease was Fallot's tetralogy with 2 cases (20%) and ventricular septal defect with 2 (20%) cases. Among the 10 cases, one case of IgA nephropathy and one case of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with immune complexes were found, receiving specific treatment after histopathological diagnosis, delaying the initiation of kidney replacement therapy. Among remaining 8 cases (80%), one case of FSGS with perihilar variety was found, while the other 7 cases were non-specific FSGS. CONCLUSION: Determining the cause of chronic kidney disease can help in delaying the need for kidney replacement therapy. In 2 out of 10 patients in our study, interventions were performed, and initiation of kidney replacement therapy was delayed. Prospective studies are needed to determine the usefulness of kidney biopsy in patients with congenital heart disease.

[Correlation between insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D levels and interleukins 1ß and 6]. / Correlación entre la insuficiencia o deficiencia de los niveles de vitamina D y las interleucinas 1ß y 6.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to define the relationship between vitamin D levels and interleukins (IL) 1ß and 6 as inflammatory markers in a healthy population. As a secondary objective, to measure the prevalence of insufficiency/ deficiency of vitamin D in the same population. METHODS: A sample of 43 healthy blood donors, without chronic-degenerative, inflammatory, or infectious diseases, and without obesity, was selected. Serum levels of IL-1ß and IL-6 were measured in individuals with insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D. The correlation between vitamin D and interleukins was measured using Spearman's rho. RESULTS: No correlation was found between levels of vitamin D and interleukins. In addition, a prevalence of insufficiency/deficiency of vitamin D was found in 95.3% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy subjects with deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin D, there is no association between the levels of this vitamin and IL-1ß and IL-6.

Objetivos: El objetivo primario de este estudio fue definir la relación entre los niveles de vitamina D y las interleucinas (IL) 1ß y 6, como marcadores inflamatorios en población sana. Como objetivo secundario, medir la prevalencia de insuficiencia/deficiencia de vitamina D en la misma población. Métodos: Se seleccionó una muestra de 43 donadores de sangre sanos, sin enfermedades crónico-degenerativas, inflamatorias o infecciosas, y sin obesidad. A los individuos con insuficiencia o deficiencia de vitamina D se les midieron niveles séricos de IL-1ß e IL-6. Se midió la correlación de vitamina D e interleucinas mediante rho de Spearman. Resultados: No se encontró correlación entre los niveles de vitamina D y las interleucinas. Adicionalmente, se encontró una prevalencia de insuficiencia/deficiencia de vitamina D en 95.3 % de la muestra. Conclusiones: En sujetos sanos con deficiencia o insuficiencia de vitamina D, no existe correlación entre los niveles de esta vitamina y de IL-1ß e IL-6.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as First Manifestation of Rhupus.

"Rhupus" syndrome is a rare condition that describes the coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which prevalence among patients with SLE varies from 0.01% to 9.7%. There are few reported cases of the association between autoimmune hemolytic anemia and rheumatoid arthritis with systemic lupus erythematosus (rhupus). We report a rare case of rhupus in a 29-year-old woman, associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Prone position in non-intubated patient with COVID-19 as a maneuver to avoid intubation. / Posición prono en paciente no intubado con COVID-19 como maniobra para evitar la intubación.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 (from Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a disease that has generated a pandemic that has affected the world, Mexico included. The spectrum of the disease ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The objective of the case is to demonstrate the usefulness of the prone position in non-intubated patients. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a woman without comorbidities with COVID-19 and moderate ARDS, in whom intubation was avoided after improvement with the prone position, as determined by arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry and by the relationship of arterial oxygen pressure and the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2). CONCLUSION: There is scarce evidence of this therapeutic maneuver in awake patients. However, it can help to improve oxygenation and to avoid intubation in these patients.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la COVID-19 (del inglés Coronavirus Disease 2019) es una enfermedad que ha generado una pandemia, la cual ha afectado a todo el mundo, incluido México. Esta enfermedad puede presentarse desde una infección asintomática hasta síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (SDRA) grave. El objetivo del reporte de caso es mostrar la utilidad de la posición prono en pacientes no intubados. CASO CLÍNICO: presentamos el caso de una mujer sin comorbilidades con COVID-19 y SDRA moderado, en quien se evitó la intubación tras la mejoría con la posición prono, evaluada por la saturación arterial de oxígeno por pulsioximetría y por la relación de la presión arterial de oxígeno y la fracción inspirada de oxígeno (PaO2/FiO2). CONCLUSIÓN: existe poca evidencia sobre esta maniobra terapéutica en pacientes despiertos. Sin embargo, puede ser de ayuda para mejorar la oxigenación y evitar la intubación en estos pacientes.

Lung ultrasound: clinical applications and its teaching in medical education. / Ultrasonido pulmonar: aplicaciones clínicas y su enseñanza en la formación médica.

The ultrasound as care at the bedside of the patient, or POCUS (Point-Of-Care Ultrasound), has taken today a primary place as a complementary tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients in different intensive care units and health care services. One of these specialties is internal medicine, since in the area of hospitalization patients with complex and critical clinical conditions are treated, who benefit from this tool for diagnostic complementation, monitoring and performing safer procedures. The pulmonary ultrasound is a tool to integrate the signs, symptoms and physical examination, for a better diagnostic accuracy and monitoring of patients. That is why we consider important the training of the internist not only in the pulmonary ultrasound, but also in other areas related to this diagnostic method. For this reason, we performed a review of the basic concepts of pulmonary ultrasound, a practical guide of how to do it, the current state of education and training in this area. As well as the importance in areas of clinical performance of the internist.

El ultrasonido como estrategia de cuidado a la cabecera del enfermo, o POCUS (Point-Of-Care Ultrasound), ha tomado actualmente un lugar primordial como herramienta complementaria en el diagnóstico y el monitoreo de pacientes hospitalizados en las diferentes unidades de terapia intensiva y servicios de atención médica. Una de las especialidades es medicina interna, debido a que en los servicios de hospitalización se atiende a pacientes con cuadros clínicos complejos y críticos, quienes se benefician de esta herramienta tanto para complementación diagnostica como para monitoreo y realización de procedimientos invasivos más seguros. El ultrasonido pulmonar permite integrar el cuadro clínico y la exploración física para una mejor precisión de diagnóstico y monitoreo de los pacientes. Por ello, esta herramienta es importante en la formación del médico internista no solo en el ultrasonido pulmonar, sino también en diversas áreas afines a este método diagnóstico. Por esta razón realizamos una revisión de los conceptos básicos de ultrasonido y anatomía pulmonar, una guía práctica sobre cómo llevarlo a cabo, el estado actual sobre la enseñanza y formación en esta área, y la importancia en áreas de desempeño clínico del médico internista.