High prevalence of neuroimaging abnormalities in eclampsia: Justifying the routine use of non-contrast CT in resource-limited settings.

Objectives: Eclampsia remains a principal cause of maternal mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The frequent association with Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) underscores the critical role of neuroimaging in clinical assessment. We aimed to evaluate tomographic findings in women with eclampsia and analyze clinical factors associated with these abnormalities.

Soluble concentrations of the terminal complement complex C5b-9 correlate with end-organ injury in preeclampsia.

Objective: We sought to determine if soluble levels of C5b-9, the terminal complement complex, correlate with end-organ injury in preeclampsia.

Study Design: Project COPA (Complement and Preeclampsia in the Americas), a multi-center observational study in Colombia from 2015 to 2016, enrolled hypertensive pregnant women into four groups: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia with severe features. Trained coordinators collected clinical data, blood and urine.

Differences in Endothelial Activation and Dysfunction Induced by Antiphospholipid Antibodies Among Groups of Patients With Thrombotic, Refractory, and Non-refractory Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by pregnancy morbidity or thrombosis and persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that bind to the endothelium and induce endothelial activation, which is evidenced by the expression of adhesion molecules and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent endothelial dysfunction marked by a decrease in the synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO). These endothelial alterations are the key components for the development of severe pathological processes in APS. Patients with APS can be grouped according to the presence of other autoimmune diseases (secondary APS), thrombosis alone (thrombotic APS), pregnancy morbidity (obstetric APS), and refractoriness to conventional treatment regimens (refractory APS).

Plasma CD59 concentrations are increased in preeclampsia with severe features and correlate with laboratory measures of end-organ injury.

Objectives: Dysregulation of CD59 may lead to increased complement-mediated end-organ injury in preeclampsia. We sought to determine if soluble CD59 concentrations are altered in preeclampsia with severe features.

Study Design: Observational case-control study, which enrolled subjects prospectively from six centers in Colombia from 2015 to 2016.

Terminal Complement Activation in Preeclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate whether C5b-9 concentrations in blood and urine are increased in preeclampsia with severe features.

Methods: The Complement and Preeclampsia in the Americas study is a prospective, multicenter case-control study performed at six centers in Colombia from November 2015 to July 2016. The case group included women with preeclampsia with severe features, and the control group included women who were healthy or had chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia without severe features.

Antibiosis of Trichoderma spp strains native to northeastern Mexico against the pathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina.

Sampling of agricultural soils from the Mexican northeastern region was performed to detect Trichoderma spp., genetically characterize it, and assess its potential use as a biologic control agent against Macrophomina phaseolina. M.

Chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Carapa guianensis collected from Venezuelan Guayana and the antimicrobial activity of the oil and crude extracts.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae) leaves was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Twenty-three components were identified, which made up 93.

H1N1 influenza pandemic and maternal mortality in Antioquia, Colombia.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the H1N1 influenza pandemic on maternal mortality in the province of Antioquia, Colombia, in 2009.

Methods: The present study was a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study of maternal deaths in Antioquia in 2009 caused by H1N1-related pneumonia. The study formed part of the epidemiologic surveillance process undertaken by the Health and Social Protection Directorate of Antioquia and the particular healthcare institutions involved in the cases.