Structural inequality linked to brain volume and network dynamics in aging and dementia across the Americas.

Structural inequality, the uneven distribution of resources and opportunities, influences health outcomes. However, the biological embedding of structural inequality in aging and dementia, especially among underrepresented populations, is unclear. We examined the association between structural inequality (country-level and state-level Gini indices) and brain volume and connectivity in 2,135 healthy controls, and individuals with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobe degeneration from Latin America and the United States.

Development of a diagnostic multivariable prediction model of a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result in healthcare workers with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital settings.

Background: Despite declining COVID-19 incidence, healthcare workers (HCWs) still face an elevated risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We developed a diagnostic multivariate model to predict positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results in HCWs with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on episodes involving suspected SARS-CoV-2 symptoms or close contact among HCWs in Bogotá, Colombia.

Prioritizing Parkinson's disease risk genes in genome-wide association loci.

Recent advancements in Parkinson's disease (PD) drug development have been significantly driven by genetic research. Importantly, drugs supported by genetic evidence are more likely to be approved. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a powerful tool to nominate genomic regions associated with certain traits or diseases, pinpointing the causal biologically relevant gene is often challenging.

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.

Assessment of TISA "Transcutaneous Implant Skin Anomalies" scale for cutaneous complications related to bone conduction hearing implants.

Objective: To describe the use of the TISA (Transcutaneous Implant Skin Anomalies) scale by members of the Colombian Association of Otology (ACON) in the evaluation of patients using bone conduction implants.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted among the members of the Colombian Association of Otology. A voluntary survey was performed, where participants evaluated images of patients with transcutaneous bone conduction implants exhibiting different skin conditions.

ID1 and ID3 functions in the modulation of the tumour immune microenvironment in adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Introduction: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in adults often presents a poor prognosis. ID1 and ID3 genes have been identified as predictors of poor response in Colombian adult B-ALL patients, contributing to cancer development. In various cancer models, these genes have been associated with immune regulatory populations within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Evaluating the precision and reliability of real-time continuous glucose monitoring systems in ambulatory settings: a systematic review.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with minimally invasive devices plays a key role in the assessment of daily diabetes management by detecting and alerting to potentially dangerous trends in glucose levels, improving quality of life, and treatment adherence. However, there is still uncertainty as to whether CGMs are accurate enough to replace self-monitoring of blood glucose, especially in detecting episodes of hypoglycemia.

Objectives: Evaluate clinical, numerical accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the CGM devices commercially available when compared to the reference standard of arterial or venous blood glucose.

Molecular epidemiology and clinical characterization of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter spp. from an international cohort.

Background: Despite the global public health threat posed by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter spp., clinical and molecular epidemiological studies on international isolates remain scarce. Historically, the taxonomy of Enterobacter has been challenging, limiting our understanding of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter spp.

Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypophosphatasia.

Introduction: Hypophosphatasia is a rare inherited systemic metabolic disorder, with an estimated prevalence in the severe forms of the disease of 1/100.000-1/300.000, that affects the typical architecture of bone, leading to defective mineralization during growth and remodeling.

Brain and brain blood vessels histological description in autopsies of fetuses/neonates born to mothers with hypertension during pregnancy. A case-control study.

Background: Children born to women with hypertension during pregnancy have a two to threefold increased risk of developing cognitive disorders compared to children born to women without hypertension. However, structural changes in the central nervous system of these children remain poorly understood. We aim to compare the brain histological findings from autopsies of neonates and fetuses born to women with and without hypertension during pregnancy.

External validation of ID-BactER and Shapiro scores for predicting bacteraemia in the emergency department.

Introduction: The blood culture positivity rate in the emergency department (ED) is <20%; however, the mortality associated with Community-acquired bacteraemia (CAB) is as high as 37.8%. For this reason, several models have been developed to predict blood culture positivity for the diagnosis of CAB.

Outcomes and experiences of music workshops for adolescents with depression and anxiety: An exploratory noncontrolled trial in Bogotá.

Objective: Adolescents frequently experience mental distress. However, there is little research on community activities that help adolescents recover from depression and anxiety. This study investigated the outcomes and experiences of music workshops for helping adolescents overcome anxiety and/or depression.

Association between stressful life events and depression, anxiety, and quality of life among urban adolescents and young adults in Latin America.

Background: Latin American youth have a high prevalence of mental health disorders and face major socioeconomic and public safety problems. This study assesses the association between stressful life events (SLEs) and depression, anxiety, and quality of life among adolescents and young adults from deprived neighbourhoods of Latin America.

Methods: The sample consisted of 2,402 participants, between adolescents (15-16 years) and young adults (20-24 years), from Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lima (Peru), assessed in 2021-2022 and recruited in education and community settings and social media.

Factors influencing in-hospital mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19: A retrospective survival analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate survival in patients with COVID-19 and cancer, and to find factors associated with early mortality.

Methods: Retrospective cohort derived from a registry of a referral center in Bogotá. Survival was analyzed according to the type of neoplasm using Kaplan-Meier method.

Which personal and social resources help adolescents to recover from negative affect in daily life? An experience sampling study.

Reducing anxiety and depression in adolescents is a global health priority. Personal and social resources (e.g.

Unilateral double fenestration of the same posterior cerebral artery at P1 segment: first cadaveric case report and literature review.

Purpose: Arterial fenestration involves an artery emerging from the same embryological origin, with its lumen divided into two channels that subsequently rejoin. This kind of vascular variant has consequences, such as focal defects in the histologic layers of the arteries, hemodynamic stress, and challenges for endovascular procedures in the management of vascular pathologies. The main objective of this work is to present a rare vascular variant, a double fenestration of the same P1 segment of a cadaveric specimen, and a literature review of these kind of vascular variants.

Cognitive Frailty and Aging: Clinical Characteristics, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Potential Prevention Strategies.

Frailty has been conceptualized not only as a physical disease, but also as a multidomain entity that encompasses a multimorbid status, disability, cognitive impairment, psychosocial risk factors, and even geriatric syndromes. In addition to physical ailments and depending on the diagnostic model. Standardized neuropsychological tests can identify cognitive deficiencies along with mild cognitive impairment, a pre-dementia stage characterized by memory and/or other cognitive domain impairments with relatively preserved instrumental activities of daily living.