Significance of Pathologic Response in Patients With Early and Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a Middle-Income Country. A Real-World Historical Cohort.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent neoplasm in women in Colombia and is associated with a higher mortality rate than in other countries and regions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has become a standard treatment in locally advanced BC and provides an opportunity to improve clinical outcomes in BC. This study aims to describe characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes after NACT in a cohort of Colombian patients with BC.

The polygenic implication of clopidogrel responsiveness: Insights from platelet reactivity analysis and next-generation sequencing.

Clopidogrel is widely used worldwide as an antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary disease. Genetic factors influence interindividual variability in response. Some studies have explored the polygenic contributions in the drug response, generating pharmacogenomic risk scores (PgxPRS).

Efficacy and safety of drugs in residual cardiovascular risk: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: The objective of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs in the residual risk in any of its three components: lipid, inflammatory and thrombotic risk.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted of randomized clinical trials that included as a primary outcome, at least one of the conditions related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The databases used were PUBMED/MEDLINE, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.

Subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conversion to open as a bailout procedure: a cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate morbidity and mortality in patients taken to conversion to open procedure (CO) and subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) as bailout procedures when performing difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Method: This observational cohort study retrospectively analyzed patients taken to SLC or CO as bailout surgery during difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 2014 and 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors for morbimortality.

Fatal co-infection by multiple pathogens in an indigenous woman with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and tuberculosis: a case report.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, has a higher incidence among indigenous people. Albeit uncommon, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has been deemed a risk condition to develop mycobacterial infection, as a result of the immunosuppressive treatments. TB, in turn, can be a predisposing factor for secondary infections.

Off-plane technique ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis via anterior approach: short communication.

The pericardiocentesis procedure is common, often performed via the subxiphoid approach, although other transthoracic approaches have been described. This short communication describes an off-plane technique ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis using an anterior approach, performed using a linear transducer and guided in real-time by ultrasound, offering the advantage of continuous needle tracking to reduce complications associated with this approach such as pneumothorax, inadvertent cardiac puncture, and injury to the left internal mammary artery (LIMA).

Germline mutations of breast cancer susceptibility genes through expanded genetic analysis in unselected Colombian patients.

Background: In Colombia and worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasia and the leading cause of death from cancer among women. Studies predominantly involve hereditary and familial cases, demonstrating a gap in the literature regarding the identification of germline mutations in unselected patients from Latin-America. Identification of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants is important for shaping national genetic analysis policies, genetic counseling, and early detection strategies.

Blood eosinophils levels in a Colombian cohort of biomass-and tobacco-related COPD patients.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of illness and death among adults. In 2019, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy incorporated blood eosinophils as a biomarker to identify patients at increased risk of exacerbations which, with the history of exacerbations during the previous year, allows identification of patients who would benefit from anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce the risk of future exacerbations. The aim of this study was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics, eosinophil counts, and exacerbations in a cohort of COPD patients stratified by clinical phenotypes (non-exacerbator, frequent exacerbator, asthma-COPD overlap) in a Colombian cohort at 2600 meters above sea level.

Correlation between the radial artery resistance index and the systemic vascular resistance index: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Ultrasound measurement of the radial resistance index (RRI) in the anatomical snuffbox has been proposed as a useful method for assessing the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI). This study aims to establish the correlation between SVRI measured by pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and RRI.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included all consecutive patients undergoing postoperative (POP) cardiac surgery with hemodynamic monitoring using PAC.

Non- and Non- Causing Invasive Candidiasis in a Fourth-Level Hospital in Colombia: Epidemiology, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Genetic Diversity.

Increasingly common and associated with healthcare settings, infections are very important, since some species of this genus can develop antifungal resistance. We contribute data on the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, and genetic diversity of non- and non- affecting critically ill patients in a fourth-level hospital in Colombia. Ninety-seven isolates causing invasive infections, identified by conventional methods over 18 months, were studied.

Navigated Anterior Full-Endoscopic Transcervical Approach Odontoidectomy for Traumatic Posterior Atlantoaxial Dislocation Without Odontoid Fracture.

Background And Importance: Complete posterior atlantoaxial dislocation (PAAD) with an unfractured odontoid process is a rare condition where a dislocated but intact odontoid process is positioned ventrally to the anterior arch of C1. This lesion is related to transverse and alar ligament rupture secondary to hyperextension and rotatory traumatic injury and is often associated with neurological deficit. The treatment strategy remains controversial, and in many cases, odontoidectomy is required.

Postoperative pain in transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair with staple fixation versus self-fixation mesh.

Background: The mesh fixation method is one of the multiple factors associated with chronic postoperative pain in inguinal hernia surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate postoperative pain associated with the two available fixation strategies (staple fixation versus self-fixating mesh) used in our field.

Methods: We designed an observational study with retrospective cohorts to analyze postoperative pain in patients who underwent a laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with a self-fixating mesh or staple fixation, which are the two available techniques in our field.

Patterns of Chromosomal Instability and Clonal Heterogeneity in Luminal B Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Chromosomal instability (CIN), defined by variations in the number or structure of chromosomes from cell to cell, is recognized as a distinctive characteristic of cancer associated with the ability of tumors to adapt to challenging environments. CIN has been recognized as a source of genetic variation that leads to clonal heterogeneity (CH). Recent findings suggest a potential association between CIN and CH with the prognosis of BC patients, particularly in tumors expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+).

Total hip arthroplasty in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has demonstrated excellent results in elderly patients, however, the indications, outcomes, and long-term results in adolescent patients are less understood. This study aims to assess the outcomes of THA in patients under 21, providing insights for clinical decision-making in this exceptional population.

Methods: A systematic review in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Embase database was performed.

Predictors of anastomotic leak and conduit necrosis after oesophagectomy: Results from the oesophago-gastric anastomosis audit (OGAA).

Background: Both anastomotic leak (AL) and conduit necrosis (CN) after oesophagectomy are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the identification of preoperative, modifiable risk factors is desirable. The aim of this study was to generate a risk scoring model for AL and CN after oesophagectomy.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte count as an alternative to body mass index for screening malnutrition in older adults living in the community.

Purpose: Accurate height and weight measurement can be challenging in older adults and complicates nutritional status assessment. Other parameters like the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the lymphocyte count (LC) could be an option to these measurements. We aimed to test these variables as subrogates of body mass index (BMI) or calf-circumference (CC) for malnutrition screening in community-dwelling older adults.

Next-generation sequencing of host genetics risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity and long-COVID in Colombian population.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was considered a major public health burden worldwide. Multiple studies have shown that susceptibility to severe infections and the development of long-term symptoms is significantly influenced by viral and host factors. These findings have highlighted the potential of host genetic markers to identify high-risk individuals and develop target interventions to reduce morbimortality.

Outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients older than 80 years: two-years follow-up.

Background: The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with benign biliary disease. It is necessary to evaluate survival after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients over 80 years old to determine whether the long-term mortality rate is higher than the reported recurrence rate. If so, this age group could benefit from a more conservative approach, such as antibiotic treatment or cholecystostomy.

Eosinophilic enterocolitis in duodenum, ileum, and colon: A case report.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare disease which mainly consists of an abnormal eosinophile infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. It's classified according to its location: eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic enteritis (including duodenum, jejunum and/or ileum) and eosinophilic colitis and degree of infiltration (mucosal, muscular, serosal). Depending on eosinophile concentration, type of EGE and the patient's condition it may manifest with different clinical presentations such as functional dyspepsia, abdominal pain, irritability, hypoproteinemia, diarrhea, anemia, among others.

Clinical and economic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus in Colombia.

Aims: Our cost-of-illness (COI) model adopted payer and societal perspectives over five years to measure the economic burden of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Colombia.

Materials And Methods: A prevalence-based model was constructed to estimate costs and economic consequences for SLE patients in Colombia. The model included four health states: three phenotypes of SLE representing mild, moderate, and severe states and death.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Heart Failure Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Colombian Heart Failure Registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) represent conditions that commonly coexist. The impact of AF in HF has yet to be well studied in Latin America. This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical features, along with patients' outcomes with AF and HF from the Colombian Heart Failure Registry (RECOLFACA).

Timing of CHolecystectomy In Severe PAncreatitis (CHISPA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Acute pancreatitis is the recurrent reason for gastrointestinal admission in a clinical urgent setting, it happens secondary to a wide array of pathologies out of which biliary disease stands as one of the most frequent causes for its presentation. Approximately 20% of pancreatitis are of moderate or severe severity. Currently, there is not a clear recommendation on timing for cholecystectomy, either early or delayed.

Primary hepatic angiosarcoma: a systematic review.

Background: Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare type of tumour. In adults, the diagnosis remains challenging as the clinical manifestations are generally nonspecific and are usually made too late when complications or metastases are already present, associated with a poor prognosis. Due to the lack of agreement regarding the optimal treatment approach, a comprehensive analysis of the evidence in the literature on the surgical and survival outcomes in terms of disease-free survival time (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients treated for primary hepatic angiosarcoma is needed.