Abstract Background Pulmonary aspiration is one of the most important complications in anesthesiology. Assessment of gastric content by ultrasound is a good method to quantify gastric volume and to determine the risk of intraoperative pulmonary aspiration. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of the gastric ultrasonography in the qualitative analysis of gastric content, mainly in the analysis of small amounts of liquid content. Methods Gastric ultrasound was performed to 36 patients before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGI), making two longitudinal scans at the epigastric level, one in supine position and the other in right lateral decubitus position, measuring two diameters and the area of the gastric antrum and assessing the content characteristics determining whether it was an empty stomach or contained fluid or solid content. Subsequently, the ultrasound findings were compared with UGI findings. Results Gastric areas were analyzed by the trace and the lengths of the craniocaudal and anteroposterior axes concluding that there are no significant differences between the two methods. No statistically significant difference was found between UGI and US assessment technics. No statistically significant difference was found between the estimated volume by UGI and US. Conclusions Though our study has some limitations, qualitative analysis of gastric content using ultrasound followed by endoscopy enabled the conclusion that there are no differences in the qualitative assessment regarding these two techniques, supporting the important role of point-of-care gastric ultrasound (POCGUS) in the assessment of pulmonary aspiration risk by the anesthesiologist in the perioperative period.

Resumen: Introducción: el COVID-19 suscitó una preocupación particular para las personas con enfermedades reumáticas autoinmunes, debido a la conocida mayor susceptibilidad a las infecciones de este grupo de pacientes. Material y Métodos: es un estudio observacional descriptivo, retrospectivo, basado en registro de historias clínicas de pacientes ingresados en las salas respiratorias del Departamento de Cuidados Intensivos Adultos del Hospital de Clínicas (San Lorenzo, Paraguay) desde agosto de 2020 a marzo de 2022. Resultados: ingresaron 311 pacientes con COVID-19 a terapia intensiva. Ocho pacientes con diagnóstico de enfermedades reumatológicas (2,5 %). La mayoría con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (37,5%), todos tratados con corticoides previamente, un paciente con Artritis Reumatoidea en tratamiento con Metotrexate. La mediana de la edad fue de 43 años, la mayoría de sexo femenino (62,5%). Los pacientes ingresaron al hospital al octavo día del inicio del COVID-19. Todos los pacientes con comorbilidades: hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus y obesidad (37,5% cada una). Los síntomas predominantes fueron fiebre (62,5%) y disnea (50%). El APACHE II al ingreso tuvo una mediana de 15,5 y SOFA de Todos recibieron corticoides y 50 % remdesivir. Requirieron ARM y vasopresores en el 62,5% de los casos. Se observó sepsis de origen bacteriano en un 87,5 % de los pacientes. El desenlace fatal con Falla multiorgánica se observó en el 50% de los casos. Conclusiones: Se observó un bajo porcentaje de ingreso a terapia intensiva de pacientes reumatológicos con COVID-19, probablemente por adhesión estricta a las medidas higiénicas y de confinamiento que adoptaron estos pacientes desde el inicio de la pandemia. Los pacientes fueron en su mayoría de sexo femenino, con Score de gravedad de alta puntuación al ingreso. Se constató un alto porcentaje de requerimiento de asistencia respiratoria mecánica y vasopresores. La mortalidad fue elevada relacionada con el estado grave al ingreso de estos pacientes.

Abstract: Introduction: COVID-19 arouse particular concern for people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, due to the known higher susceptibility to infections in this group of patients. Materials and methods: Descriptive observational and retrospective study, based on clinical records of patients admitted in respiratory unit at the Department Intensive Care Adult at Hospital de Clinicas (San Lorenzo, Paraguay) from August 2020 to march 2022. Results: 311 patients were admitted with COVID-19 to the intensive care unit. Eight of these patients with a rheumatic disease diagnose (2.5%). The majority with Systemic Erythema- tous Lupus (38.5%), all of them previously treated with corticoids, one patient with Rheu- matoid Arthritis also receiving Methrotrexate. The average age was 43 years, most of these patients were female (62.5%). These patients were admitted to the hospital on their eighth day of COVID-19 illness. All of them with comorbidity: hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity (37.5% each). The predominant symptoms were fever (62%) and dyspnea (50%). APACHE II scores at admission were on average 15.5 and the SOFA scores on average were 5. All of these patients recieved corticosteroids for COVID-19 and 50% of them recieved Remdesivir. Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and shock requiring vasopressors were seen in an equal amount of patients (62.5%). Infections were a frequent complication in these patients as sepsis was diagnosed in 87.5%. The 50% of the patients died as a result of multi-organ failure. Conclusions: Low percentage of admission to our intensive care unit for rheumatological patients with COVID-19, probably due to strict adherence to hygiene and confinement measures, and regular medical control. Female predominance. Severe patients with a high severity score at admission. High percentage of requiring mechanical respiratory assistance and vasopressors. High mortality related to the serious condition at admission of these patients.

RESUMO Objetivo: A identificação de obstrução persistente das vias aéreas é fundamental para o diagnóstico de DPOC. As diretrizes da GOLD sugerem um critério fixo - relação VEF1/CVF pós-broncodilatador < 70% - para definir obstrução, embora outras diretrizes sugiram que a relação VEF1/CVF pós-broncodilatador < o limite inferior da normalidade (LIN) é o critério mais preciso. Métodos: Estudo observacional com indivíduos ≥ 40 anos de idade com fatores de risco para DPOC encaminhados ao nosso laboratório de função pulmonar para espirometria. Também foram registrados sintomas respiratórios. Calculamos a prevalência de obstrução e de ausência de obstrução das vias aéreas segundo o critério GOLD (GOLD+ e GOLD−, respectivamente) e segundo o critério LIN (LIN+ e LIN−, respectivamente). Avaliamos também o grau de concordância entre os dois critérios. Resultados: Foram incluídos 241 indivíduos. Obstrução das vias aéreas foi identificada segundo o critério GOLD em 42 indivíduos (17,4%) e segundo o critério LIN em 23 (9,5%). A concordância global entre os dois critérios foi boa (k = 0,67; IC95%: 0,52-0,81), embora tenha sido menor entre os indivíduos ≥ 70 anos de idade (k = 0,42; IC95%: 0,12-0,72). A proporção de obesos foi menor na categoria GOLD+/LIN+ do que na categoria GOLD+/LIN− (p = 0,03), assim como a mediana de DLCO (p = 0,04). Conclusões: A utilização do critério GOLD parece estar associada a uma maior prevalência de DPOC. A concordância entre os critérios GOLD e LIN também parece ser boa, embora seja mais fraca em indivíduos mais velhos. A utilização de diferentes critérios para definir obstrução das vias aéreas parece identificar indivíduos com diferentes características. É essencial compreender o significado clínico da discordância entre esses critérios. Até que mais dados estejam disponíveis, recomendamos uma abordagem holística e individualizada e também um acompanhamento cuidadoso dos pacientes com resultados discordantes para obstrução das vias aéreas.

ABSTRACT Objective: The identification of persistent airway obstruction is key to making a diagnosis of COPD. The GOLD guidelines suggest a fixed criterion-a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < 70%-to define obstruction, although other guidelines suggest that a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < the lower limit of normal (LLN) is the most accurate criterion. Methods: This was an observational study of individuals ≥ 40 years of age with risk factors for COPD who were referred to our pulmonary function laboratory for spirometry. Respiratory symptoms were also recorded. We calculated the prevalence of airway obstruction and of no airway obstruction, according to the GOLD criterion (GOLD+ and GOLD−, respectively) and according to the LLN criterion (LLN+ and LLN−, respectively). We also evaluated the level of agreement between the two criteria. Results: A total of 241 individuals were included. Airway obstruction was identified according to the GOLD criterion in 42 individuals (17.4%) and according to the LLN criterion in 23 (9.5%). The overall level of agreement between the two criteria was good (k = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.52-0.81), although it was lower among the individuals ≥ 70 years of age (k = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.12-0.72). The proportion of obese individuals was lower in the GOLD+/LLN+ category than in the GOLD+/LLN− category (p = 0.03), as was the median DLCO (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The use of the GOLD criterion appears to be associated with a higher prevalence of COPD. The agreement between the GOLD and LLN criteria also appears to be good, albeit weaker in older individuals. The use of different criteria to define airway obstruction seems to identify individuals with different characteristics. It is essential to understand the clinical meaning of discordance between such criteria. Until more data are available, we recommend a holistic, individualized approach to, as well as close follow-up of, patients with discordant results for airway obstruction.

ABSTRACT Pain is the most common reason for consulting and seeking medical attention, and the one that presents the greatest difficulty in receiving a patient is neuropathic pain. One of the neuropathies of small fibers par excellence is Fabry Disease, a little known disorder. The objective of this review was to collate the available bibliography to determine the key points in the management of this disease, using search tools such as Up To Date, Pubmed and Google Scholar. After reviewing more than 30 scientific articles, it was concluded that the characteristic pain and thermal hyposensitivity are due to the accumulation of glycolipids that produce a neuropathy of small fibers. This is associated with a picture of burning pains in the hands and feet that can present great difficulty at the time of diagnosis and treatment. Thus, suspecting the diagnosis involves a series of steps from the clinical history and physical examination, which are of great importance, to the percentage biochemical determination of the absence of activity of alpha-galactosidase A until neurological and histological examinations. It was concluded that the clinical characteristics of this disease may be typical in most patients, however, the pathophysiology underlying the problem should be known and the management of chronic pain should be differentiated from that of pain crises. This is imperative because of the importance of establishing the specific therapy as soon as possible.

RESUMEN El dolor es la razón más común de consulta y de búsqueda de atención médica, y el que presenta una mayor dificultad al recibir un paciente es el dolor neuropático. Una de las neuropatías de fibras finas por excelencia es la enfermedad de Fabry, un desorden poco conocido. El objetivo de esta revisión fue cotejar la bibliografía disponible para determinar los puntos clave en el manejo de esta enfermedad, usando herramientas de búsqueda como Up To Date, Pubmed y Google Scholar. Luego de la revisión de más de 30 artículos científicos se pudo concluir que el característico dolor y la hiposensibilidad térmica se deben al acúmulo de glicolípidos que producen una neuropatía de fibras finas. Esto se asocia a un cuadro de dolores quemantes en manos y pies que puede presentar gran dificultad al momento del diagnóstico y tratamiento. De este modo, sospechar el diagnóstico conlleva una serie de pasos desde la historia clínica y examen físico, que son de gran importancia, hasta la determinación bioquímica porcentual de la ausencia de actividad de la alfa-galactosidasa A hasta los exámenes neurológicos e histológicos. Se llegó a la conclusión de que las características clínicas de esta enfermedad pueden ser típicas en la mayoría de los pacientes, sin embargo se debería conocer la fisiopatología subyacente al problema y diferenciar el manejo de un dolor crónico con el de las crisis de dolor. Esto es imperioso debido a la importancia de instaurar la terapia especifica lo antes posible.

ABSTRACT Medicinal cannabis controversies are based on multiple factors. While the legality of its use is supported by some government laws, the disapproval on the part of the most important drug control agencies in the world remains constant. To date, it is set out if there is reliable and updated scientific evidence that disapproves of the use of cannabis for chronic pain. For this, search tools such as Pubmed, Google Scholar and Science Direct were used to review the literature on the Internet. The conclusions of more than thirty articles found on the web are similar in determining the great need for more scientific evidence to reaffirm the safety and reliability the use of cannabis for chronic pain including musculoskeletal pain, cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain and those of nonspecific type and origin. Side effects, drug interactions, packaging standardization and control and administration routes were also reviewed. Due to the scarcity of well-designed clinical studies with substantial samples and duration, essential factors for quality and reliability, it is concluded that there is currently no scientific evidence to approve or disapprove its use for medical purposes.

RESUMEN Las controversias del cannabis medicinal se basan en múltiples factores. Mientras la legalidad de su uso es respaldada por algunas leyes gubernamentales, la desaprobación de parte de las agencias controladoras de medicamentos más importantes del mundo permanece constante. Se plantea a la fecha si hay evidencia científica fiable y actualizada que desapruebe el uso del cannabis para el dolor crónico. Para esto se utilizó herramientas de búsqueda como Pubmed, Google Scholar y Science Direct para la revisión de la literatura en internet. Las conclusiones de más de 30 artículos encontrados en la web se asemejan en la determinación de la gran necesidad de mayor evidencia científica para reafirmar la seguridad y confiabilidad del uso del cannabis para el dolor crónico incluyendo el dolor musculoesquelético, el relacionado con el cáncer, el neuropático, el de tipo y origen inespecíficos. Se revisaron también los efectos secundarios, las interacciones medicamentosas, la estandarización de embalaje y el control y vías de administración. Debido a la escasez de estudios clínicos bien diseñados con muestras sustanciales y tiempo de duración, factores imprescindibles para la calidad y fiabilidad, se concluye que no existe actualmente evidencia científica para aprobar o desaprobar su uso con fines médicos.

ABSTRACT A 23-year-old woman has been presenting headache for two months that is accompanied by blurred vision, dysarthria and loss of consciousness. Cerebrospinal fluid confirms meningitis to Cryptococcus. In spite of the treatment with amphotericin B and fluconazole she presents a general deterioration. During her evolution she presented pulmonary paracoccidiomycosis and vaginal candidiasis. Despite specific therapy, the patient dies with the late confirmation of a common variable immunodeficiency.

RESUMEN Mujer de 23 años presenta hace 2 meses cefalea que se acompaña de visión borrosa, disartria y pérdida de la conciencia. Por líquido cefalorraquídeo se confirma meningitis a criptococo. A pesar del tratamiento con anfotericina B y fluconazol presenta empeoramiento general. Durante su evolución presentó paracoccidioidomicosis pulmonar y candidiasis vaginal. A pesar de la terapia dirigida, la paciente fallece con la tardía confirmación de una inmunodeficiencia variable común.

This article presents the analysis of a funeral archaeological site in La Hoyada site (SSalCac144) located on the left bank of Las Arcas ravine in Cachi County. It applies to an event in which objects of local manufacture (vessels, spindle whorls, pectorals) are associated with objects of European manufacture (vitreous accounts), representing an occupancy in the Hispanic Indan contact moment. In order to make comparisons with other findings of the region part of the mortuary accompaniment is analyzed. Thus it is intended to generate a contribution to the understanding of human occupations during the Hispanic American Indian period in the North of Calchaquí Valley, reflecting on the social practice and its transformation during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries linking together the material analyzed.

Se presentan el análisis de un entierro registrado en el sitio arqueológico de La Hoyada (SSalCac144), ubicado en la margen izquierda de Qda. Las Arcas en el Dpto. de Cachi. El mismo corresponde a un evento en el que se asocian objetos de manufactura local (vasijas, torteros, topus) con objetos de manufactura europea (cuentas vítreas), lo que supone un contexto propio de momentos del contacto Hispano Indígena. A fin de poder establecer comparaciones con otros hallazgos de las región es que se analizan parte del acompañamiento mortuorio. De esta manera es que se pretende generar un aporte hacia la comprensión de las ocupaciones humanas durante el período Hispano Indígena en el Valle Calchaquí Norte, reflexionando sobre la práctica social y su transformación durante los siglos XVI y XVII en vinculación al conjunto material analizado.

The objective of the present contribution is to present the results obtained from the planimetric layout and excavations made in Epifanio Burgos (SsalCac170), located approximately to 8 km to the northwest of Cachi, in North Calchaquí Valley, Salta Province. This site, is located on a slope on the right margin of the Quebrada de Las Arcas, presenting a series of particular characteristics. The location stands out by the coexistence of dispersed knolls throughout a series of circular structures surrounded by a perimetral wall towards the south, as well as by the presence of some rectangular structures, whose constructive characteristics differ substantially from the previous ones.These characteristics, associated to the remarkable variability of material found in surface, among them, ceramics fragments monochrome (gray, and black), similar to which characterizes the Formative sites of the area, allow to tentatively locate to Epifanio Burgos like a site pertaining to the final moments of the Formative period and beginnings of the Regional Developments in North Calchaquí Valley

El objetivo de la presente contribución, es dar a conocer los resultados obtenidos a partir del relevamiento planimétrico y de las excavaciones realizadas en el sitio Epifanio Burgos (SsalCac170), ubicado aproximadamente a 8 km al noroeste del pueblo de Cachi, en el Valle Calchaquí Norte, Provincia de Salta. Dicho sitio, se encuentra localizado en un faldeo sobre la margen oriental de la Quebrada de Las Arcas, presentando una serie de características particulares. El emplazamiento se destaca por la coexistencia de montículos dispersos a lo largo de una serie de estructuras circulares rodeadas por un muro perimetral hacia el sur y este del mismo, así como por la presencia de algunas estructuras rectangulares, cuyas características constructivas difieren sustancialmente de las anteriores. Estas características, asociadas a la notable variabilidad de material encontrado en superficie, entre ellos, fragmentos de cerámica monocroma (gris, y negro), similar a los que caracterizan los sitios Formativos del área, permiten ubicar tentativamente a Epifanio Burgos como un sitio perteneciente a los momentos finales del período Formativo e inicios de los Desarrollos Regionales en el Valle Calchaquí Norte