Constrictive Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade Due to Tuberculosis as Presentation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Syndrome of Acquired Immunodeficiency: Case Report / Pericarditis constrictiva y taponamiento cardíaco por tuberculosis como presentación de virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida: presentación de caso / Pericardite constritiva e tamponamento cardíaco devido à tuberculose com uma apre-sentação do vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida: relato de cas

We report a case of constrictive pericarditis due to extrapulmonary tuberculosis associated with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, complicated by cardiac tamponade that required surgical intervention in a drug user patient. The importance of early diagnosis and management is widely highlighted

El artículo presenta un caso de pericarditis constrictiva secundaria a tuberculosis extrapulmonar en un paciente con prueba positiva para virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) consumidor de sustancias psicoactivas, quien durante la hospitalización desarrolló un taponamiento cardíaco con requerimiento de intervención quirúrgica. Se plantea la discusión de la importancia de cada una de las pruebas solicitadas y el manejo adecuado en pacientes con dichas patologías

O artigo apresenta um caso de pericardite constritiva secundária à tuberculose extrapulmonar em paciente com teste positiva para vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e usuário de substâncias psicoativas que, durante a internação, desenvolveu tamponamento cardíaco com necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica. Discute-se a importância de cada um dos exames solicitados e o manejo ade-quado de pacientes com essas patologias

The challenge of detecting adverse events in adults with autism spectrum disorder who have intellectual disability.

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated intellectual disability (ID) take a high number of different psychotropic drugs simultaneously. Nowadays, little is known about this multidrug pattern efficacy and safety. The present study has endeavored to fill this gap creating a local pharmacovigilance system. A 36-month, retrospective and prospective, observational, and multicenter pharmacovigilance study was carried out in adults with ASD and ID (n = 83). Information regarding ongoing medications (polypharmacy: taking simultaneously >4 drugs; safety profile: adverse events' number, adverse drug reactions' number, and affected system; and observed-to-expected [O/E] ratio using the summary of product characteristics), and current diagnoses were recorded. A median of four ongoing medications per participant was registered, half of the sample was under polypharmacy regimen. Regarding all ongoing medications, 50% were antipsychotic drugs, and 47% of participants had >1 antipsychotic prescribed. In contrast, only 64 adverse events were identified from electronic health records, mostly due to risperidone. Half of them were related either to nervous or metabolic systems, and almost a third were not previously described in the corresponding drug summary of products characteristics. Extrapyramidalism, gynecomastia, hypercholesterolemia, and urinary retention were some AEs that occurred more frequently than expected (O/E ratio > 6 times) according to our data. The highest O/E ratio scores (>120 times) were for hypercholesterolemia and rhabdomyolysis caused by valproic acid. According to the number of adverse events and adverse drug reactions reported in electronic health records locally and nationally by clinicians, we need to increase awareness about medications safety. LAY SUMMARY: A 36-month study in adults with autism, ID, and polypharmacy (>4 drugs) was done to investigate drug safety on everyone. A median of four medications per person was registered, half were antipsychotic drugs, and 47% of participants had >1 antipsychotic medication simultaneously. Only 64 adverse events were identified from electronic health records, mostly due to risperidone. Half of them were related to nervous or metabolic systems and a third were not previously described in the drug information sheet.

Infección por COVID-19 previo al inicio de la epidemia en Colombia / COVID-19 infection prior to the beginning of the epidemic in Colombia

Resumen La identificación del nuevo Coronavirus tipo 2 en marzo de 2020 en Colombia ha generado paradigmas e incógnitas en la epidemiología nacional con respecto a la llegada aproximada del virus y sus mecanismos de diseminación local en los departamentos y ciudades principales. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con COVID-19 que tuvo su inicio de síntomas dos semanas antes de la declaración del primer caso en Colombia, lo que sugiere circulación del virus y transmisión local en Colombia previo a la declaración de la epidemia.

Abstract The identification of Coronavirus type 2 in March 2020 in Colombia has generated paradigms and unknows in the national epidemiology regarding the approxi mate arrival of the virus and its mechanisms of local dissemination in the main departments and cities. We present the case of a patient with COVID-19 that had its onset of symptoms two weeks before the declaration of the first case in Colombia, wich moves the circulation of the virus and local transmission in Colombia prior the declaration of the epidemic.

What Influences the Sustainable Food Consumption Behaviours of University Students? A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Global environmental challenges demand sustainable behaviours and policies to protect human and planetary health. We aimed to summarize the evidence about the factors related to Sustainable Food Consumption (SFC) behaviours of university students, and to propose an operational categorization of SFC behaviours. Methods: Seven databases were searched for observational studies evaluating Sustainable Food Consumption (SFC) among university students and that reported at least one behavioural outcome measure. Qualitative synthesis was conducted, and PRISMA guidelines for reporting were followed. Results: Out of 4,479 unique references identified, 40 studies were selected. All studies examined personal factors, while 11 out of 40 also measured social or situational factors. Except for food waste, females had higher levels of SFC behaviours, but situational factors moderated this association. Knowledge and attitudes showed mixed results. Overall, sustainable food consumers reported healthier lifestyles. Conclusions: Healthy lifestyle of sustainable food consumers suggests possible synergies between human health and sustainability in terms of motivations for food choice. Moderation effects of social and situational factors on personal factors reveal opportunities to design and examine the effects of choice architecture interventions.

Skin Cancer and Dermoscopy Training for Primary Care Physicians: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy and effect of an educational training on skin cancer course and dermoscopy use among primary care physicians in rural areas of Colombia. The secondary objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of skin cancer diagnosis and detection rate after 3 months of the initial training. METHODS: Twenty-one primary care physicians from 6 rural areas of Colombia participated in a 2-day skin cancer and dermoscopy training, followed by a day-long hands-on session on dermoscopy at a free skin cancer screening event. Pre- and post-tests were performed using clinical and dermoscopic images to evaluate the user's ability to diagnose and differentiate benign and malignant neoplasms. In addition, participants' levels of confidence were assessed. RESULTS: After the training, the sensitivity and specificity of characterizing skin lesions as benign or malignant or providing a specific diagnosis (ie, angioma, seborrheic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, etc.) increased by 23.6% (62.9% to 86.5%; P < 0.0001) and 21% (54.7% to 75.7%; P < 0.0017), respectively. In addition, levels of confidence when diagnosing skin lesions changed from extremely low or low, to high or extremely high by 20.7% (38.3% to 59%) using dermoscopic images (odds ratio (OR) 3.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.67-3.86; P < 0.0001). The secondary objective was not achieved due to loss of follow-up of the majority of participants. CONCLUSION: Providers serving populations with limited healthcare access may benefit from education in diagnosing and differentiating skin cancer with the use of dermoscopy, which may ultimately improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs.

Perfil cl ínico y epidemiológico de gestantes con infecc ión del tracto urinario y bacteriuria asintomática que consultan a un hospital de mediana complejidad de Antioquia (Colombia) / Clinical and epidemiological profile of pregnant women with urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria who attend to an hospital of medium complex of Antioquia (Colombia)

Objetivo: caracterizar el perfil clínico y epidemiológico de las mujeres embarazadas con diagnóstico de infección de vías urinarias. La infección del tracto urinario es una de las patologías infecciosas más frecuentes, que afecta en especial a las mujeres gestantes por las complicaciones inherentes a los cambios fisiológicos durante el embarazo. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, empleando historias clínicas de pacientes gestantes entre los años 2017-2020, definiendo criterios para incluirlas en el presente estudio; la información se registró en una base de datos para facilitar su análisis. Resultados: 112 historias clínicas cumplieron con los criterios de elegibilidad. El microorganismo más frecuente en el urocultivo fue la Escherichia coli en el 34.8%. La mediana de días de manejo intrahospitalario fue de 3 días, por el tiempo que toma obtener el resultado del urocultivo para definir la sensibilidad al antibiótico. De las pacientes manejadas con aztreonam, solo una requirió escalar tratamiento antibiótico. Conclusiones: el aztreonam podría considerarse primera línea de elección empírica para manejo intrahospitalario, no obstante, se requieren estudios controlados al respecto; así mismo se requieren estudios de casos y controles que permitan detectar que condiciones predisponen a algunas gestantes frente a otras al desarrollo de estas infecciones..Au

Objective: to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of pregnant women diagnosed with urinary tract infection. The urinary tract infection is one of the most frequent infectious diseases, it has great implications in pregnant women because have a higher risk of secondary complications due to the physiological changes inherent in pregnancy. Materials and methods: a retrospective cohort study was carried out, using medical records of pregnant patients between the years 2017-2020, criteria were defined to include the patients; the information was registered in a data base to facilitate the analysis. Results: 112 medical records that met the eligibility criteria were included. The most common microorganism in the culture was Escherichia coli in 34.8%. The median days of in-hospital management in this study was 3 days, explained by the time it takes to obtain the urine culture result to define antibiotic sensitivity. Of the patients managed with aztreonam, only one required scaling antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: aztreonam may be used as first empiric line of treatment in hospitalized patients, nonetheless it requires controlled studies. Likewise, case and control studies are required to detect which conditions predispose some pregnant women to develop urinary tract infections..Au

Continued dysregulation of the B cell lineage promotes multiple sclerosis activity despite disease modifying therapies.

A clear understanding of the origin and role of the different subtypes of the B cell lineage involved in the activity or remission of multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for the treatment and follow-up of patients living with this disease. B cells, however, are dynamic and can play an anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory role, depending on their milieu. Depletion of B cells has been effective in controlling the progression of MS, but it can have adverse side effects. A better understanding of the role of the B cell subtypes, through the use of surface biomarkers of cellular activity with special attention to the function of memory and other regulatory B cells (Bregs), will be necessary in order to offer specific treatments without inducing undesirable effects.

Multimorbidity and psychotropic polypharmacy among participants with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability.

Nowadays, adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience several comorbidities whose treatment implies a wide range of psychotropic prescriptions. This study aimed to evaluate medication-related safety, drug-drug interactions, and psychotropics prescription trends. We conducted an observational and multicentric pharmacovigilance study in subjects with ASD and Intellectual disability (ID, n = 83). Clinical information (diagnoses, ongoing medications, comorbidities [multimorbidity ≥ 4 chronic health conditions]) and psychotropic prescriptions (polypharmacy ≥ 4 chronic drugs, daily drug doses, co-prescription) were registered. Ethical approval for this study was obtained. Participants (30±10 years old, 86% men, BMI 27±6 kg/m2) displayed 37% multimorbidity (mean of 3, IQR 2-4), and 57% polypharmacy (13% out of dose recommended range). Most drugs prescribed were psychotropic risperidone which is related to nervous system comorbidities (18% epilepsy, 16% insomnia, and 14% psychotic agitations). Risperidone and quetiapine were co-prescribed in 60% of the cases without any monitoring adverse event routine. The rates of multimorbidity and polypharmacy, among our young adults with ASD and ID, are concerning. Data suggest the need to develop a pharmacovigilance monitoring system to evaluate prescription accuracy, long-term safety of ongoing medications, and the fixed doses in this autistic population with associated ID.

Role of CXCL13 in the formation of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ in multiple sclerosis.

Immunomodulatory therapies available for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) accomplish control and neutralization of peripheral immune cells involved in the activity of the disease cascade but their spectrum of action in the intrathecal space and brain tissue is limited, taking into consideration the persistence of oligoclonal bands and the variation of clones of lymphoid cells throughout the disease span. In animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the presence of CXCL13 has been associated with disease activity and the blockade of this chemokine could work as a potential complementary therapeutic strategy in patients with MS in order to postpone disease progression. The development of therapeutic alternatives with ability to modify the intrathecal inflammatory activity of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ to ameliorate neurodegeneration is mandatory.

Evidence of disease control: a realistic concept beyond NEDA in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Although no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) permits evaluation of response to treatment in the systematic follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), its ability to accomplish detection of surreptitious activity of disease is limited, thus being unable to prevent patients from falling into a non-reversible progressive phase of disease. A protocol of evaluation based on the use of validated biomarkers that is conducted at an early stage of disease would permit the capture of abnormal neuroimmunological phenomena and lead towards intervention with modifying therapy before tissue damage has been reached.

A change in landscape: Lessons learned from abandonment of ancient Wari agricultural terraces in Southern Peru.

Ancient agricultural terrace practices have survived for millennia, sustaining populations through extreme climatic shifts and political regime changes. In arid regions with abrupt relief such as Southern Peru, agricultural terracing is undergoing a resurgence, as has seen revitalization of once abandoned terrace and hydraulic systems. Wari terraces at Cerro Baul provide clues to past cultural practices. They also document sustainable farming practices by using resilient land management techniques which can help combat desertification and degradation of arable lands. Three abandoned Wari terrace systems were mapped using microtopographic methods, the erosion patterns examined, the states of preservation compared, and then the design contrasted with modern terracing practices in the Moquegua Valley. In order to negate the harmful effects of desertification, rehabilitation and reconstruction of these terraces using ancient knowledge and techniques may be necessary. Rehabilitation must be conducted with consideration for preservation of cultural patrimony that may be encountered within the terrace treads or riser structures. With future climatic shifts impacting vulnerable dryland areas more than others, the ability to resiliently respond to these changes may be found in the lessons learned from ancient farming techniques such as the Wari.

Medición del NGAL urinario en el donante para detectar función retardada del injerto renal en el receptor / NGAL as a marker to detect donor risk factors for delayed graft function

Resumen Introducciónen el trasplante renal de donante fallecido es importante tener marcadores tempranos que ayuden a predecir la funcionalidad adecuada del injerto renal. La medición de creatinina continóa siendo el marcador de elección para definir si los riñones de un posible donante son aptos para ser trasplantados. La lipocalina asociada a la gelatinasa del neutrófilo urinaria (NGALu) es un biomarcador que ha sido utilizado para el diagnóstico temprano de lesión renal aguda, pero su comportamiento es incierto en el donante fallecido. Este estudio tiene como objetivo determinar si los niveles de NGALu del donante pueden predecir la función retardada del injerto (FRI) en los receptores. Métodología: cohorte prospectiva en la que se evaluaron los niveles de NGALu del donante al momento de la extracción renal; se aplicó estadística descriptiva y pruebas no paramétricas. Se exploró el comportamiento de este biomarcador en el donante del injerto renal para determinar si es un factor predictivo de función retardada del injerto. Resultados: se evaluaron 27 donantes de criterios óptimos; el 74,1 % eran hombres, la edad tuvo una mediana de 27 años (rango: 18,8-43,3); la principal causa de muerte fue trauma encefalocraneano, seguido por el accidente cerebrovascular. La creatinina tuvo una mediana de 0,8 mg/dl y los valores de NGALu tuvieron una mediana de 11,1ng/ml (4,2-33,6). En total se realizaron 46 trasplantes, de los cuales el 15,2 % presentaron función retardada del injerto y dos pacientes necesitaron terapia de reemplazo renal en la primera semana luego del trasplante. Los valores de NGALu agrupados de acuerdo a presencia o no de función retardada del injerto fueron de 11,1 ng/ml (3-17,3) en los pacientes sin función retardada del injerto y 11,2 ng/ml en los pacientes con dicha función (7,7-39,4) (p=0,40). En el análisis multivariado no se encontró ningón factor asociado al desarrollo de función retardada del injerto. Conclusión: en este estudio la medición de uNGAL en donantes fallecidos de criterios óptimos no predijo función retardada del injerto.

Abstract Introduction: For deceased donor renal transplantation, it is important to have early markers that can predict the functional outcome of the transplant. Currently, creatinine is the marker of choice for determining whether a potential donor's kidneys are suitable for transplantation. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a biomarker that has been utilized to diagnose early-stage acute kidney injury, but its behavior in deceased donors is uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine whether donor uNGAL levels can predict delayed graft function in recipients. Methodology: A prospective cohort utilizing descriptive statistics and non-parametric median tests was carried out to evaluate donor uNGAL levels at the time of kidney removal. The behavior of this biomarker was analyzed in kidney transplant donors to evaluate its use as a predictive factor for DGF. Results: A total of 27 standard criteria transplants were evaluated, including 7 (25.9%) women and 20 (74.1%) men with a median age of 27 years (18.75-43.25). The principal cause of death was traumatic head injury, followed by stroke. The median creatinine level was 0.8 mg/dl (0.57-1), and the median uNGAL level was 11.1 ng/ml (4.2-33.6). In total, 46 transplants were performed, of which 15.22% (7 patients) presented with delayed graft function and 2 patients needed renal replacement therapy within the first week after transplantation. The patients were grouped according to the presence of DGF, with median uNGAL values of 11.1 ng/ml (3-17.3) in patients without DGF and median values of 11.2 ng/ml (7.7-39.4) (p=0.4) in those with delayed graft function. No factors were found to be associated with the development of delayed graft function in the multivariate analysis. Discussion: in this study, uNGAL measurements in deceased standard criteria donors did not predict delayed graft function.

Bacteremia por Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo con concentración inhibitoria mínima para vancomicina ≥ 2 / Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteremia with Vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥ 2

Introducción: La bacteremia por Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo (SCN) es una infección que actualmente genera significativa morbimortalidad dado el tipo de pacientes a los que afecta y el cambio en el perfil de susceptibilidad a los antibióticos. Objetivo: Describir características de los pacientes con aislamientos de SCN en sangre con CIM para vancomicina ≥2. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo en pacientes hospitalizados ≥ 15 años. Resultados: De 130 aislamientos, 38 (29,23%) tenían CIM para vancomicina ≥ 2. La mediana de edad fue de 54 años y la razón hombre:mujer, de 1,37:1. Las especies más frecuentes fueron: S. epidermidis (71,1%), S. haemolyticus (13,2%) y S. hominis (7,9%). El 44,7% tenían antecedentes de inmunosupresión, siendo las más importantes: neoplasias (28,9%), enfermedad reumatológica (5,2%) y VIH (2,6%). El 81,5% tenían accesos vasculares, el 97,3% antecedente de hospitalización previa y el 60,5% habían requerido manejo en la UCI. El 81,4% tuvieron exposición previa a antibióticos, y los más utilizados fueron: betalactámicos (78,9%) y vancomicina (50%). En el 2,6% se documentó endocarditis infecciosa. De los aislamientos de SCN con CIM para vancomicina ≥2 µg/ml, el 26,3% fueron sensibles a meticilina. Los principales tratamientos recibidos fueron: daptomicina (31,5%), vancomicina (21%), linezolid (15,7%) y betalactámicos (10,5%). Se utilizó terapia combinada en el 10,5%. La mortalidad general fue del 15,8%, y la mortalidad atribuible, del 33,3%. Conclusión: Un porcentaje considerable de aislamientos tenían heterorresistencia para vancomicina. La bacteremia estuvo asociada con accesos vasculares, hospitalizaciones previas, tratamientos en cuidado intensivo y exposición previa a antibióticos. La inmunosupresión es la comorbilidad más importante, y la mortalidad es significativa.

Introduction: Currently, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) bacteremia is an infection that leads to significant morbidity and mortality given the type of patients affected and the recent changes in antimicrobial susceptibility. Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients with CNS blood isolates with vancomycin MIC ≥ 2. Methodology: Descriptive observational study on hospitalised patients ≥ 2 15 years of age. Results: Of 130 isolates, 38 (29,23%) contained vancomycin MIC ≥ 2. The median age was 54 years and the male:female ratio was 1.37:1. The most frequent species were S. epidermidis (71.1%), S. haemolyticus (13.2%) and S. hominis (7.9%). Some 44.7% of patients had a history of immunosuppression, including: neoplasms (28.9%), rheumatologic disease (5.2%) and HIV (2.6%). Some 81,5% had vascular access; 97.3% had previous hospitalisations and 60.5% had required intensive care. A total of 81.4% of the patients had prior exposure to antibiotics and the most commonly used were beta-lactams (78.9%) and vancomycin (50%). Infective endocarditis was documented in 2.6%. Of the CNS isolates with vancomycin MIC ≥ 2, 26.3% were sensitive to methicillin. The main treatments received were: daptomycin (31.5%), vancomycin (21%), linezolid (15.7%) and betalactams (10.5%). Combined therapy was performed in 10.5%. The overall mortality was 15.8% and attributable mortality was 33.3%. Conclusion: A significant proportion of isolates were hetero-resistant to vancomycin. The bacteremia was associated with vascular access, previous hospitalisations, intensive care treatments and prior antibiotic exposure. Immunosuppression is the most important comorbidity and mortality is significant.

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis: Biomarker Relevance for Patient Recruitment and Follow up.

BACKGROUND: Despite the current availability of disease modifying therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, there are still patients who suffer from severe neurological dysfunction in the relapsing-remitting or early progressive forms of the disease. For these patients autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant offers an important therapeutic solution to prevent progression to irreversible disability. In spite of multiple studies in the last two decades, patient inclusion criteria, protocols for peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and bone marrow cell conditioning and methodology of follow up for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in multiple sclerosis have not been strictly unified. METHODS: We reviewed five recent clinical studies that confirmed the positive outcome of transplant in spite of disclosing significant differences in methodology of enrollment including patient disease subtypes, disease duration range, disability, regimens of peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and bone marrow cell conditioning, scheduling of imaging studies after transplant, and absence of laboratory biomarkers consistently applied to these studies. RESULTS: Therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant has shown best results among young individuals with severe relapsing-remitting or early progressive disease through its ability to maintain no evidence of disease activity status in a significantly higher proportion of patients after transplant in comparison to patients treated with disease modifying therapies. Important cross-sectional differences in the reviewed studies were found. CONCLUSION: A specific and careful selection of biomarkers, based on the current physiopathological mechanisms known to result in multiple sclerosis, will contribute to a better and earlier patient selection for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant and follow up process. An objective and measurable response could be obtained with the determination of biomarkers at the onset of treatment and after follow-up on reconstitution of the immune response. The application of such parameters could also help further our understanding of pathogenesis of the disease.

Influences of health literacy, judgment skills, and empowerment on asthma self-management practices.

UNLABELLED: Asthma self-management has been recognized as an essential factor for the improvement of asthma outcomes and patients' quality of life (WHO, 2013). Likewise, empowerment and health literacy have been noted as important elements for the management of chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of health literacy and empowerment on asthma self-management. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a self-reported questionnaire assessing health literacy, judgment skills, empowerment, and asthma self-management; 236 patients were recruited from medical offices in Switzerland and Italy. RESULTS: Judgment skills (B=2.28, p<0.001) and empowerment (B=0.19, p<0.05) have a significant and positive influence on several asthma self-management practices such as use of medicines, timely medical consultation, and asthma triggers control whereas health literacy (B=-0.15, p<0.175) appeared to have a negative effect on self-management practices. However, this was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that empowered patients with adequate judgment skills carry out key self-management tasks more appropriately, which in turn will potentially result in better asthma control. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study recommends that both empowerment and judgment skills should be addressed in patient education as they serve as essential motivators to engage patients in these behaviors.

Memory binding and white matter integrity in familial Alzheimer's disease.

Binding information in short-term and long-term memory are functions sensitive to Alzheimer's disease. They have been found to be affected in patients who meet criteria for familial Alzheimer's disease due to the mutation E280A of the PSEN1 gene. However, only short-term memory binding has been found to be affected in asymptomatic carriers of this mutation. The neural correlates of this dissociation are poorly understood. The present study used diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whether the integrity of white matter structures could offer an account. A sample of 19 patients with familial Alzheimer's disease, 18 asymptomatic carriers and 21 non-carrier controls underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological and memory binding assessment. The short-term memory binding task required participants to detect changes across two consecutive screens displaying arrays of shapes, colours, or shape-colour bindings. The long-term memory binding task was a Paired Associates Learning Test. Performance on these tasks were entered into regression models. Relative to controls, patients with familial Alzheimer's disease performed poorly on both memory binding tasks. Asymptomatic carriers differed from controls only in the short-term memory binding task. White matter integrity explained poor memory binding performance only in patients with familial Alzheimer's disease. White matter water diffusion metrics from the frontal lobe accounted for poor performance on both memory binding tasks. Dissociations were found in the genu of corpus callosum which accounted for short-term memory binding impairments and in the hippocampal part of cingulum bundle which accounted for long-term memory binding deficits. The results indicate that white matter structures in the frontal and temporal lobes are vulnerable to the early stages of familial Alzheimer's disease and their damage is associated with impairments in two memory binding functions known to be markers for Alzheimer's disease.

Nonconventional MRI biomarkers for in vivo monitoring of pathogenesis in multiple sclerosis.

To date, biomarkers based on nonconventional MRI have not been standardized for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The sequential monitoring of pathogenesis in MS by imaging of the normal appearing brain tissue is an important research tool in understanding the early stages of MS. In this review, we focus on the importance of deciphering the physiopathogenesis of the disease cascade in vivo based on imaging biomarkers that allow a correlation with immunohistochemistry and molecular biology findings in order to provide earlier clinical diagnosis and better individualization of treatment and follow-up in patients with MS. Among the nonconventional imaging techniques available, we remark on the importance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging because of its ability to assist in the simultaneous evaluation of different events in the pathogenesis of MS that cannot be determined by conventional MRI. Nonconventional MRI and the use of novel contrast agents are expected to elucidate the process of neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity in vivo that characterizes MS, thus leading to more specific neuroprotective and immunomodulatory therapies and reducing progression toward disability.

Refractive surgery training during residency - do not be afraid of the dark.

Refractive errors are a fairly common eye condition worldwide, and the ophthalmologist should be capable of offering the patient both nonsurgical and surgical solutions to their refractive conditions. Nevertheless, currently, refractive surgery training during residency is poor at best. This paper explores recent evidence to suggest that postsurgical results of patients operated on by residents are not inferior to those operated on by experienced staff. It points out the urgent need to improve the current approach to refractive surgery training.

Judgment skills, a missing component in health literacy: development of a tool for asthma patients in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy has been recognized as an important factor influencing health behaviors and health outcomes. However, its definition is still evolving, and the tools available for its measurement are limited in scope. Based on the conceptualization of health literacy within the Health Empowerment Model, the present study developed and validated a tool to assess patient's health knowledge use, within the context of asthma self-management. METHODS: A review of scientific literature on asthma self-management, and several interviews with pulmonologists and asthma patients were conducted. From these, 19 scenarios with 4 response options each were drafted and assembled in a scenario-based questionnaire. Furthermore, a three round Delphi procedure was carried out, to validate the tool with the participation of 12 specialists in lung diseases. RESULTS: The face and content validity of the tool were achieved by face-to-face interviews with 2 pulmonologists and 5 patients. Consensus among the specialists on the adequacy of the response options was achieved after the three round Delphi procedure. The final tool has a 0.97 intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), indicating a strong level of agreement among experts on the ratings of the response options. The ICC for single scenarios, range from 0.92 to 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed tool provides a final score representing patient's health knowledge use, based on the specialist's consensus. This tool contributes to enriching the measurement of a more advanced health literacy dimension.

[Clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients evaluated at a pediatric ophthalmology department]. / Caracterización de los pacientes evaluados en un servicio de oftalmopediatría.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate treatment for a disease requires a deep knowledge in regards to the epidemiology of the most common pathological entities. Therefore, it is important to make studies of clinical and epidemiological characterization in order to establish the evolution of the diseases in the outpatient services. The objective of this study was to perform a clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients evaluated at a pediatric ophthalmology department during the course of twelve months, in Medellín, Colombia. METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective study, in which the clinical records of all patients below the age of 18 were reviewed, regardless of their referral diagnosis. RESULTS: The most frequently diseases identified were pathological refractive errors, physiological refractive errors, and strabismus, with a prevalence of 55.1 %, 40.5 % and 32.9 %, respectively. Among strabismus, the most common were primary, residual, and accommodative. CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatric patients referred to a pediatric ophthalmology department, both refractive errors (mainly mild astigmatism) and strabismus were the most prevalent diseases. Therefore, the general physician and the general ophthalmologist should be prepared to recognize, diagnose and refer the cases that require attention.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el adecuado tratamiento de las enfermedades requiere un conocimiento extenso de la epidemiología de las entidades patológicas más comunes en el medio en el cual se desenvuelve el médico. De ahí la importancia de realizar estudios de caracterización clínica epidemiológica que permitan determinar la evolución de las enfermedades en la consulta externa. El objetivo de esta investigación fue realizar la caracterización de los pacientes atendidos en un servicio de oftalmopediatría durante un año, en Medellín, Colombia. MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, en el cual se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes con edad inferior a 18 años, atendidos en un servicio de oftalmopediatría por cualquier causa. RESULTADOS: las patologías más comunes fueron los defectos refractivos patológicos, los fisiológicos y el estrabismo de cualquier tipo en 55.1, 40.5 y 32.9 %, respectivamente. Entre los estrabismos, el más común fue el primario, seguido por el residual y el acomodativo. Se evaluó el comportamiento de las patologías en los diferentes grupos de edad. CONCLUSIONES: en los niños atendidos en el servicio de oftalmología, los defectos refractivos de cualquier tipo (principalmente astigmatismo leve) y el estrabismo continúan siendo comunes, por lo que el médico y el oftalmólogo generales deben estar preparados para el reconocimiento, diagnóstico y referencia de los casos que lo ameriten.