Methodo Investigación Aplicada a las Ciencias Biológicas

Evaluation of prognostic scales for patients hospitalized with sars-cov2 infection in a private clinic in Córdoba

2025-06-30T16:33:41+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Prognostic scores are useful tools for the clinical management of COVID-19 infection, as they allow for timely recognition of severe disease for appropriate intensive care and accurate risk stratification in hospitalized patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the 4C, NEWS2, and CALL prognostic scores in identifying patients with severe COVID-19 disease, high risk of admission to a critical care unit (ICU), and mortality in the context of regular ward admission.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational design was used. Adult patients diagnosed
with COVID-19 and hospitalized in a general ward in 2020 were evaluated. The 4C, NEWS2, and CALL
scores were calculated, along with their correlation with the need for ICU transfer and in-hospital mortality.
ROC curve analysis was performed, calculating the area under the curve for the different scales, as well as
sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.
RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included in the study. The areas under the ROC curves for the requirement for ICU admission were: 4C scale = 0.52 (95% CI = 0.44 - 0.60), CALL scale = 0.80 (95% CI = 0.74 - 0.86), NEWS 2 scale = 0.71 (95% CI = 0.64 - 0.78). The areas under the ROC curves for mortality were: 4C scale = 0.91 (95% CI = 0.87 - 0.94), CALL scale = 0.88 (95% CI = 0.83 - 0.92), NEWS 2 scale = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.75 - 0.87).
CONCLUSION: The CALL score was the most accurate predictor of both ICU admission and mortality, supporting its usefulness as a prognostic tool in patients with COVID-19. On the other hand, the 4C score demonstrated poor predictive capacity for ICU admission but excellent predictive discrimination for in- hospital mortality, while the NEWS 2 score demonstrated fair predictive capacity for both.

Evaluation of diagnostic delay in hidradenitis suppurativa

2025-06-30T19:04:28+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease that has a great impact on quality of life. Early treatment is essential to control outbreaks and reduce complications. However, diagnostic delay is a global and multifactorial problem.

OBJECTIVES: Identify the delay in diagnosis and the reasons related to it in patients with HS.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Observational, cross-sectional study. Electronic surveys were sent to patients diagnosed with HS from the Dermatology department of Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. The variables were divided into sociodemographic, socioeconomic, pathology-related, and reasons for

diagnostic delay. The statistical analysis was carried out according to the distribution and type of variables. P<0.05 was shown to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: The population sample consisted of 82 surveys. The patients had a median age of 34 years and 72% of the population were female. The median age at onset of symptoms was 19 years and at the time of diagnosis was 30 years. The median diagnostic delay time was 5 years with a range of 1 to 13 years. We found a significant statistical relationship between the diagnostic delay with age and the number of previous consultations (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The diagnostic delay of HS presented a median of 5 years, mainly related to the age of the patients and the need for several prior consultations to confirm the diagnosis.

Study of root canal obturation with bioceramic sealers in lower premolars

2025-07-02T14:08:26+00:00

INTRODUCTION: The use of sealers in endodontics is essential to ensure the complete obturation of the root canal system.

OBJECTIVES: To study in vitro the presence of voids in canals obturated with bioceramic and resin- based sealers. Specific Objectives: 1. To evaluate the voids in contact with the root canal wall and the gutta-percha cone.2. To analyze the voids within the filling material.3. To study the voids in the obturation in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the root canal.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty single-rooted lower premolars were selected. After instrumentation and irrigation of the canals, for obturation, the sample was divided into 4 groups (n=10) based on the sealer and technique used. The single-cone technique and bioceramic sealers: BioRoot (BR), AH Plus Bioc-eramic Sealer (AHB), and CeraSeal (CS), as well as the control group with resin sealer AH Plus, of which 5 were obturated with single cone (AHP CU) and 5 with AH Plus with lateral compaction (AHP CL). The teeth were incubated at 37°C for 72 hours and then three cuts were made, resulting in three fragments: 1. Apical, 2. Middle, and 3. Coronal. Each fragment had two surfaces: one coronal (c) and one apical (a), which were observed under an optical microscope (Olympus) and photographed. The images were analyzed using Image Pro-Plus morphometry software. The data were analyzed using InfoStat software (FCA-UNC) and statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s and Student’s tests. A significance level of 5% was set for all cases.

RESULTS: The sealer with the lowest percentage of voids was AHB (4.6%), followed by AHP CL (5.2%), BR (5.7%), CS (6.8%), and the highest percentage was observed with AHP CU (10.9%). Differences were not statistically significant between groups (p=0.33), but significant differences were found between levels (p<0.05). The lowest percentage of voids was found in the apical fragment (3.7%) for all studied sealers, which progressively increased towards the coronal level, resulting in 4.9% in 2a, 5.7% in 2c, 8.1% in 3a, and 8.8% in 3c. The smallest voids corresponded to the AHP CU sealer (42.8 µm), followed by AHB (51.1 µm), BR (54.2 µm), CS (55.3 µm), and AHP CL (57.4 µm) (Kruskal-Wallis: p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Voids were observed in the obturation of the canals with all the sealers analyzed. The lowest percentage of voids was observed with the AH Plus Bioceramic sealer, and the highest with the resin-based AH Plus sealer using the single-cone technique. In all sealers, more voids were found in the coronal area, decreasing towards the apical area.

Folic acid and homocysteine values as a possible preeclampsia marker/intrauterine growth restriction

2025-07-03T13:04:05+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Folate deficiency has been associated with elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood.For its part, hyperhomocysteinemia plays a role in the mechanisms of placental vasculopathy, gestational arterial hypertension and preeclampsia. Therefore, if elevated homocysteine is a factor associated with these pathologies, folic acid supplementation could significantly reduce the risk of develop them.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the changes in folic acid and homocysteine values in the preconception period

and during the first trimester of pregnancy and their correlation with screening for preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). To determine the relationship between folic acid and homocysteine

values in the preconception period and obstetric outcomes such as preeclampsia and IUGR. To evaluate the association of these values in the preconception period with other adverse perinatal outcomes, such as late abortion.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cohort, prospective, analytical study. The population was made up of patients who attended the preconception consultation at the Reina Fabiola University Clinic in the period 2021-2024.

Demographic and clinical variables [pathological history, preconception, pre-eclampsia risk screening and

intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and current pregnancy, including perinatal and biochemical outcomes (preconception and first trimester of pregnancy folemia and homocysteinemia) were analyzed.

RESULTS: Data from 28 patients were analyzed. Of the total, 3 (10%) patients had hypertension, 1 (3%)

had IUGR, and 2 (7%) had abortion. The median (RIQ) of preconception folate was 16.4 (14.7-17.7) in those who presented high-risk screening and 13.3 (12-17.2) in those with low risk; 17.1 (1604-17.6) in patients with hypertension vs 14.6 (12.4-17.5) in those without; 17.7 (12.5-17.7) in those who presented IUGR vs 14.7 (12.5-17.5) in those who did not; 13.4 (12.6-14.1) in those who had an abortion vs 14.7 (12.6-17.6) in those who achieved a normal pregnancy. Preconception homocysteine values were 7.90 (7.80-8.80) in patients with high-risk screening vs 7.40 (6.72-8.80) in low-risk patients; 9.95 (9.59-10.3) in patients with hypertension vs 7.56 (6.60-7.99) in those without; of 7.60 (6.84-9.95) in the patient who presented IUGR vs 5.90 (6.84-8.78) in a normal pregnancy.

CONCLUSION: In this study, no significant difference was found regarding the values of folic acid and homocysteine with the first trimester screening. Preconception folate concentrations also did not differ in patients with hypertension, IUGR, or abortion. Although preconception homocysteinemia values were higher in patients with high-risk screening, in those who developed hypertensive states and in those who had an abortion as an outcome, a statistically significant association was found with the development of HTA.

The key role of plants in drug discovery pipelines

2025-06-26T18:01:51+00:00

Desde tiempos inmemoriales, la humanidad ha recurrido a la naturaleza para satisfacer sus necesidades. La utilización de medicinas herbales, a veces conocidas como fitomedicina o medicina botánica, ha sido una de las estrategias más destacada para tratar y prevenir muchas enfermedades. El conocimiento acerca de la terapéutica basada en plantas se remonta a tiempos milenarios, tal como ha sido documentado por diversas culturas, entre las más notables la egipcia, griega y romana, así como en la medicina tradicional china o en el sistema Ayurveda de India.

Se estima que hay al menos 250.000 especies de plantas que coexisten en ecosistemas con otros seres vivos y en donde la química juega un rol fundamental¹. Este último argumento se sustenta en la aptitud de las plantas de sintetizar metabolitos secundarios cuya principal función es la defensa frente a organismos indeseados, propiedad que ha sido aprovechada por el hombre para nutrir un vasto arsenal de sustancias bioactivas. Estos compuestos son capaces de interactuar con una importante variedad de proteínas y otros blancos biológicos, habilidad que los posiciona como efectivos moduladores de diversos procesos o componentes celulares afectando a organismos vivos perjudiciales o interfiriendo con diversas patologías. Esta propiedad ha dado lugar a diferentes aplicaciones en el campo de la farmacología. De esta manera las plantas se han constituido en la principal fuente de drogas terapéuticas siendo la base de reconocidos sistemas de medicina tradicional, muchos de los cuales son aún utilizados. Ha sido descripto que alrededor del 80% de la población mundial utiliza productos fitoterápicos como tratamiento primario o alternativo de la salud. En la actualidad, las drogas derivadas de plantas comprenden un alto porcentaje del total de entidades aprobadas y aproximadamente un tercio de los fármacos más vendidos provienen de especies vegetales. Las novedosas estructuras de las moléculas de productos naturales superan a las de otras fuentes: a través de comparaciones con las bases de datos, se ha podido determinar que un 40% de las características químicas estructurales de los metabolitos naturales están ausentes en los compuestos sintéticos. Este importante número de posibles farmacóforos es fundamental cuando se buscan nuevos agentes terapéuticos.

The renin-angiotensin system in Alzheimer’s disease

2025-06-27T18:01:01+00:00

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid
deposits and hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein. In recent years, however, a growing body of evidence
has demonstrated that age-related vascular alterations and cardiovascular risk factors play a significant role
in the pathogenesis of AD. Within this context, pharmacological agents targeting the renin-angiotensin
system (RAS), widely prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, have shown considerable potential in
delaying the progression of AD due to their actions on the cerebral RAS. In AD, the pressor axis comprising
ACE/Ang II/AT1R within the RAS is overactivated, contributing to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation,
increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, astrocyte dysfunction, and reductions in cerebral blood
flow, all of which are hallmark features of the disease. Consistent with these findings, retrospective studies
have reported a decreased risk of developing AD among individuals treated with RAS inhibitors. This
article focuses on the interplay between the RAS and AD.

Severe immune-mediated colitis due to Nivolumab-Ipilimumab: a case report

2025-07-03T14:41:47+00:00

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used as a treatment of choice for various types of cancer. The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab induces immune activation, enhancing the antitumor response with excellent results in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. However, multiple adverse reactions associated with their use have been reported, with the digestive system being one of the main systems affected.
Mild immune-mediated toxicity (grades 1-2) is relatively common, occurring in 16% to 25% of patients. In contrast, more severe forms (grades 3-5) are much rarer, with a frequency of less than 5%. The frequency of severe adverse events, however, increases when these two drugs are combined.
We present the case of a patient with a history of stage IV melanoma undergoing combination therapy with nivolumab plus ipilimumab who developed a severe immune-mediated colitis. Timely recognition of this complication in patients exposed to ICIs is crucial, as delayed diagnosis and failure to initiate early treatment are associated with higher hospitalization rates and potentially life-threatening complications.