The burden of the most common rheumatic disease in Colombia.

Background: Estimating the burden of rheumatic diseases (RDs) requires proper evaluation of its lethal and nonlethal consequences. In Colombia, it is possible to find local data and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports that collect information from varied contexts and apply complex statistical models, but no on-site estimations are available.

Methods: This was a descriptive study on the burden of RD based on occurrence and mortality data in the general population during 2015, including information and prevalence estimations from the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) study.

Aortitis: An Unusual Inflammatory Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can involve any organ system. Vasculitides are classified according to the predominant vessel involved such as large vessel, medium vessel, or small vessel vasculitis. Of these, Takayasu arteritis, Behcet's disease, relapsing polychondritis, and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease predominantly involve large vessels.

Association of ERAP2 polymorphisms in Colombian HLA-B27+ or HLA-B15+ patients with SpA and its relationship with clinical presentation: axial or peripheral predominance.

Objective: To determine the association between endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase (ERAP)1 and ERAP2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-B27+ or HLA-B15+ patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: 104 patients with SpA according to Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society criteria were included in the study. HLA typing was performed by PCR.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of chikungunya patients from six Colombian cities, 2014-2015.

In 2014, the chikungunya virus reached Colombia for the first time, resulting in a nationwide epidemic. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of suspected chikungunya cases. Chikungunya infection was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 548 patients where included in the study.

Dickkopf 1 protein circulating levels as a possible biomarker of functional disability and chronic damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease characterized by joint destruction, deformity, lower functionality, and decrease in life expectancy. Wingless signaling pathway (Wnt) has been recently involved in bone homeostasis. Studies suggest that overexpression of the pathway inhibitors, like the Dickkopf 1 protein (DKK1), has been implicated in bone destruction.

Effect of microalgae inoculation on the start-up of microalgae-bacteria systems treating municipal, piggery and digestate wastewaters.

The effect of the inoculation of a microalgae-bacteria system on the removal of nutrients and organic matter using municipal, piggery and digestate wastewaters was evaluated. Three conditions for each substrate were evaluated: (1) inoculation with activated sludge and illumination, (2) inoculation with activated sludge without illumination, and (3) inoculation with activated sludge plus a native microalgae consortium under illumination. The illuminated reactors that were inoculated only with activated sludge developed microalgae after 12 operation days.

[Fibrinogen-thrombin as bridge therapy in massive hemoptysis].

This article presents the case of a young woman with massive hemoptysis (1,000 mL in 6 hours) due to tuberculosis, which could not be controlled by insertion of a Fogarty catheter through a fiber-optic bronchoscope. Because of asphyxia and persistent bleeding risk we instilled fibrinogen-thrombin through a fiber-optic bronchoscope inserted catheter, achieving bleeding cessation and permitting the placing of a double-lumen oro-tracheal tube. Later on, the patient underwent lobectomy and anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Giant retroperitoneal sarcoma: case report.

Objective: To report a new case of giant retroperitoneal mass with silent beginning.

Methods: We present the case of a 36 year old man with a giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma 35 × 15 cm in size. The only symptom was a one month history of minimal abdominal pain.

[Care for ulcers having diverse etiology prospective study on PermaFoam].

PermaFoam, the dressing under study, is characterized as a polyurethane foam having gradient pores which, besides all the aforementioned characteristics, makes it possible to: rapidly absorb large quantity of seepage or exudation, cell remains and viscous seepage thanks to a layer of large size pores that are in contact with the wound; distribute and retain seepage in an intermediate layer of this dressing which is composed of pores having a smaller diameter; and, through a final layer characterized by an even smaller pore which permits a high degree of semi-permeability and adaptability to the distinct locales where this dressing needs be applied. With the objective to evaluate the usefulness of this dressing under study for the cicatrization of wounds having diverse etiology this research project was carried out. Secondary objectives included: reducing the surface of a wound, respecting the perilesional skin, estimating the ease of handling and applying this dressing, and identifying the most outstanding qualities this dressing provides.

Effects of different quinoid redox mediators on the removal of sulphide and nitrate via denitrification.

The impact of different quinoid redox mediators on the simultaneous conversion of sulphide and nitrate in a denitrifying culture was evaluated. All quinones evaluated, including anthraquinone-2,6-disulphonate (AQDS), 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) were reduced by sulphide under abiotic conditions. NQS showed the highest reduction rate by sulphide (132 micromol h(-1)) and promoted the maximum rate of sulphide oxidation (87 micromol h(-1)) by denitrifying sludge, which represents an increase of 44% compared to the control lacking quinones.

Contribution of quinone-reducing microorganisms to the anaerobic biodegradation of organic compounds under different redox conditions.

The capacity of two anaerobic consortia to oxidize different organic compounds, including acetate, propionate, lactate, phenol and p-cresol, in the presence of nitrate, sulfate and the humic model compound, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as terminal electron acceptors, was evaluated. Denitrification showed the highest respiratory rates in both consortia studied and occurred exclusively during the first hours of incubation for most organic substrates degraded. Reduction of AQDS and sulfate generally started after complete denitrification, or even occurred at the same time during the biodegradation of p-cresol, in anaerobic sludge incubations; whereas methanogenesis did not significantly occur during the reduction of nitrate, sulfate, and AQDS.

[Infections and chronic wounds: current state of knowledge].

An infection in a wound, whether serious or chronic, is one of the main problems and complications which can occur a reason why infections have always caused worry. Although the published evidence regarding infections in wounds is very scarce, in recent years many advances have taken place in the determination of some concepts such as "TIME" or the preparation of the bed of a wound or in the use of silver as a very apt element in some situations. The following article goes into detail about these topics and forms part of the content the authors presented in the VI National Symposium on Bed Sores and Chronic Wounds.