Prevalence of Microsatellite Instability in Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer patients from a Latin American Country.

Background: In Colombia, gastric cancer is fifth in incidence (12.8 cases per 100,000) and third in mortality (9.9 cases per 100,000).

Anatomical and morphological variations in the dorsal root ganglion: Technical implications for chronic pain treatment with neuromodulation-A systematic review.

Objectives: In the last 20 years, we have seen the flourishing of multiple treatments targeting the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) for pain. However, there is concern regarding the variation in the location of the DRG, which could influence the long-term clinical outcomes. The aim of this work was to determine the exact position of the DRG in the spine and propose a pre-surgical planning.

Recommendations on NMOSD treatment in Latin America: Utilizing consensus-based RAND/UCLA methodology.

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a serious condition affecting people worldwide, including Latin America (LATAM). Healthcare disparities and economic limitations make effective treatment access challenging. It is crucial to consider the best practice therapeutic decision-making, including emerging long-term preventive therapies, to ensure patients in LATAM and elsewhere can effectively manage their disease all over the world.

Evaluating the quality of Spanish-language information for patients with type 2 diabetes on YouTube and Facebook.

Spanish speakers rely on social media for health information, with varying quality of its content. This study evaluates the reliability, completeness, and quality of type 2 diabetes (T2D) information available in Spanish-language videos on YouTube and Facebook. Analytical observational study that included Spanish-language videos on TD2 available on Facebook and YouTube.

TDP-43 Cryptic RNAs in Perry Syndrome: Differences across Brain Regions and TDP-43 Proteinopathies.

Background: Perry syndrome (PS) is a rare and fatal hereditary autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in dynactin (DCTN1). PS brains accumulate inclusions positive for ubiquitin, transactive-response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), and to a lesser extent dynactin.

Objectives: Little is known regarding the contributions of TDP-43, an RNA binding protein that represses cryptic exon inclusion, in PS.

Do coping mechanisms moderate the effect of stressful life events on depression and anxiety in young people? A case-control study from Latin America.

Background: Stressful life events (SLEs) are associated with increased risk of depression or anxiety. Coping mechanisms may moderate this relationship but little is known on this topic in young people or in Latin America.

Aim: To investigate whether coping strategies predict odds of depression and/or anxiety and moderate the relationship between SLEs and depression and/or anxiety in young people in Peru, Lima and Bogotá.

Infrared Spectroscopic Electronic Noses: An Innovative Approach for Exhaled Breath Sensing.

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, requiring the urgent development of innovative diagnostic tools for early detection. This study presents an integrated infrared spectroscopic electronic nose system, a novel device that combines infrared (IR) spectroscopy and electronic nose (eNose) concepts for analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. This system was calibrated using relevant gas mixtures and then tested during a feasibility study involving 26 gastric cancer patients and 32 healthy controls using chemometric analyses to distinguish between exhaled breath profiles.

Comprehensive Gerontological Assessment: An Update on the Concept and Its Evaluation Tools in Latin America and the Caribbean-A Literature Review.

In recent decades, Latin America and the Caribbean region have experienced accelerated aging. However, despite the significant progress of gerontology in the region, the number of geriatricians and professionals trained in the field is low; a notable gap in the training related to the assessment of older adults can also be observed. Therefore, in this literature review, we update the concept of Comprehensive Gerontological Assessment (CGA) for its application in the region.

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.