Cardio-Obstetrics Practice in Latin America: A Regional Survey of General Cardiologists.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a leading cause of death in pregnant women globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries including Latin America (LATAM), where there is lack of data on how cardiologists are trained in cardio-obstetrics (CO) and the practice patterns in the care of pregnant patients.

Objectives: The authors aimed to identify CO competency and practice patterns among LATAM general cardiologists.

Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional Google-based electronic survey was sent via email to clinical cardiologists through local American College of Cardiology chapters and CV societies.

Evidence-based clinical standard for the diagnosis and treatment of candidemia in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

Candidemia is the predominant form of invasive candidiasis and the most frequently occurring serious fungal infection in critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Studies carried out in Latin America reveal a higher incidence of candidemia and higher mortality rates when compared to North America or Europe. This highlights the need to develop guidelines for correctly diagnosing and treating candidemia in critically ill patients in the ICU.

Living donor-gifted allograft lithiasis: surgical experience after bench surgery stone removal and follow-up.

This study presents the surgical experience and long-term outcomes of living donor kidney transplantations involving asymptomatic kidney stones, using ex vivo flexible ureterorenoscopy (f-URS) during bench surgery for stone removal. Out of 1743 living kidney donors assessed between January 2012 and October 2022, 18 (1%) were diagnosed with urolithiasis. Among them, 12 donors were rejected, and 6 were accepted for kidney donation.

A nationwide survey of antimicrobial dispensation practices in pharmacies and bodegas in the Dominican Republic.

In many developing countries, antimicrobials are available without prescriptions in pharmacies and stores. We performed a survey to describe antimicrobial availability, training, and use recommendations for common symptoms in the Dominican Republic. Pharmacy recommendations varied, whereas aminopenicillins are routinely recommended at bodegas.

Orthotopic kidney transplantation survival and complications: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To determine graft and patient survival and adverse events in patients who undergo orthotopic kidney transplantation.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. We search in Medline, Embase, and Central from inception to nowadays.

Efficacy and safety of the addition of sitagliptin to treatment of youth with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control on metformin without or with insulin.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin in youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled with metformin ± insulin.

Study Design: Data were pooled from two 54-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies of sitagliptin 100 mg daily or placebo added onto treatment of 10- to 17-year-old youth with T2D and inadequate glycemic control on metformin ± insulin. Participants (N = 220 randomized and treated) had HbA1c 6.

A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin as initial oral therapy in youth with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of DPP-4 inhibition with sitagliptin in youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Study Design: This was a 54-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of DPP-4 inhibition with sitagliptin 100 mg once daily as initial oral therapy in youth with T2D. The 190 participants, aged 10-17 years, had HbA1c 6.

Contemporary trends in surgical rheumatic valve disease in a Caribbean nation.

Background: Clinical practice suggests that rheumatic heart disease (RHD) represents a significant public health challenge in the Caribbean region where advanced disease appears early often leading to surgical intervention. We aimed to determine the burden of RHD and type of procedure among patients undergoing valve surgery in the Dominican Republic (DR).

Methods: Demographic, clinical and procedural data of all subjects intervened between January 2014 and December 2018 were obtained including valve disorder, anatomic location and type of surgery.

[Shoulder pain rehabilitation in young athletes].

Early specialisation in sports continues to increase and is a risk factor for the incidence of injuries in young athletes. In overhead athletes, the shoulder is the most affected joint, related to a combination of impingement and glenohumeral instability, as well as musculoskeletal immaturity. Identification of risk factors and rehabilitation is usually an effective recovery option for these athletes.

Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in Latin-America: the RIBEPCI experience.

Background: To describe the design and to present the results of a paediatric and neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program adapted to Latin-America.

Methods: A paediatric CPR coordinated training project was set up in several Latin-American countries with the instructional and scientific support of the Spanish Group for Paediatric and Neonatal CPR. The program was divided into four phases: CPR training and preparation of instructors; training for instructors; supervised teaching; and independent teaching.

Lymph nodes can accurately be measured on PET-CT for lymphoma staging/restaging without a concomitant contrast enhanced CT scan.

Dual imaging with both contrast enhanced CT scan and PET-CT is recommended for evaluation of lymphoma. We compared the performance in identification and size measurements of involved lymph nodes in FDG-avid lymphomas on the low dose non-contrast enhanced CT of a PET-CT scan with those on a diagnostic contrast enhanced CT scan. The size of FDG-avid lymph nodes was measured in both the short and long axis on both the low dose non-contrast CT of the PET-CT and the contrast enhanced CT by two independent readers.