Medicina
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This study assessed the causes of visual impairment over a decade in Buenos Aires City. This is a retrospective case series where we reviewed the database of visual disability certificates issued by the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Health between 2009 and 2017. In Argentina, visual disability is defined as a visual acuity = 20/200 in the better eye, or a corresponding visual field of less than 20 degrees in the less impaired eye. ⋯ In subjects younger than 50, degenerative myopia was the first cause of visual disability. Interestingly in Argentina, where the prevalence of myopia is low, degenerative myopia is found to be the major cause of visual disability in middle-aged adult subjects. Population and clinical methods to avoid this preventable disease should need to be implemented as a matter of urgency.
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The BCG vaccine was given for the first time in 1921, in Paris, to a newborn of a mother with tuberculosis. Between 1924 and 1960, the Pasteur Institute delivered BCG cultures to more than 50 laboratories around the world. In 1925, Dr Andrés Arena introduced the BCG seed to Argentina, where the vaccine began to be produced and applied orally to newborns. ⋯ There are currently more than 20 TB vaccine candidates under evaluation. History teaches, and the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed, that vaccination is a fundamental instrument for the control of infectious diseases. Until a more effective vaccine becomes available, BCG will continue to be included in the Argentine National Vaccination Calendar for application to newborns.
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An age difference > 5 years in the choice of sexual partner may constitute a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection. A sexual and reproductive health survey was carried out on people who consulted for STIs or HIV serology in two health centers in Buenos Aires suburbs, with the aim of providing information for the design of prevention measures and to know if in this area there is an association between the maximum age difference (MAD) in the choice of sexual partner and the acquisition of HIV and/or STIs. A total of 120 patients consulted, 90% (108) performed serology, resulting 15 of them (13.9%) infected with HIV and 46 (42.6%) with syphilis. ⋯ The percentage of urethritis cases was significantly lower in the age group = 25 years. None of the people with urethritis had HIV infection. In conclusion: Men who have sex with men tended to choose their sexual partners with a higher MAD, and a higher MAD was a risk factors for HIV infection.
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The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in limited access of post-stroke patients to their usual medical follow-up and rehabilitation. To continue these activities, we adopted a technology that is free and has universal access. We remotely followed 32 patients after discharge from the stroke unit during the mandatory lock-down. ⋯ Early discontinuation of rehabilitation therapies was identified and immediately compensated with tele-rehabilitation. All expressed their willingness to continue with this treatment modality. This strategy was successful to effectively continue medical follow-up and rehabilitation supervision with the collaboration of families, is an accessible and low-cost technology that could be replicated and used in health institutions that treat neurovascular diseases.
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Mother-to-child transmission in Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs only when the infection is acquired for the first time during pregnancy. Diagnosis of maternal infection and the newborn is achieved by a combination of serological tests, clinical features and ultrasound images. An early diagnosis of maternal infection allows treatment that offers a reduction both in transmission rate and risk of congenital damage. The aim of this expert consensus was to review the scientific literature which would enable an update of the clinical practice guideline of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis in our country.