Resumen El Virus Linfotrópico de células T humanas tipo 1 (HTLV-1), retrovirus con propiedades oncogénicas, afecta alrededor de 10-20 millones de personas mundialmente. Las manifestaciónes más comúnmente asociadas a HTLV-1 incluyen leucemia/linfoma de células T (ALT) y mielopatía asociada a HTLV-1/ paraparesia espástica tropical (HAM/TSP). Estudios han reportado otras manifestaciones clínicas en pacientes positivos para HTLV-1, incluyendo enfermedades inflamatorias, coinfecciones con gérmenes oportunistas y enfermedad pulmonar. Objetivo: es describir clínicamente una cohorte de pacientes pediátricos con infección por HTLV-1 confirmada que presentan manifestaciones clínicas diferentes a síntomas neurológicos. Metogolodía y pacientes: Análisis retrospectivo de historia clínica describiendo procedencia y hallazgos clínicos en 12 pacientes con infección por HTLV-1 confirmada, atendidos durante el periodo de Enero de 2018 a Febrero de 2020 en un hospital pediátrico de referencia en Cali, Colombia. Resultados: Once de 12 pacientes procedían de la costa Pacífica Colombiana, 10 con deficiencias nutricionales significativas. Seis mostraron compromiso dermatológico, 3 compatibles con dermatitis infectiva. Ningún paciente presentó hallazgos clínicos o paraclínicos sugestivos de ALT o HAM/TPS. Ocho pacientes presentaron enfermedad pulmonar estructural evidenciada por TAC de tórax; 4 de ellos con antígeno galactomanan positivo en lavado broncoalveolar, sugiriendo aspergilosis pulmonar, y otros 2 resultaron con PCR positiva para tuberculosis. Tres pacientes presentaron enfermedades autoinmunes concomitantes: uno con Enfermedad de Crohn, uno con Púrpura Trombocitopénica Autoinmune, y un paciente con Síndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada. Conclusiones: Existe un amplio rango de manifestaciones clínicas en pacientes pediátricos con HTLV-1, considerando enfermedad pulmonar estructural, coinfecciones oportunistas y enfermedades autoinmunes dentro del algoritmo diagnóstico.

Summary The Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus with oncogenic properties, affects around ten to twenty million people worldwide. The most common disorders associated with HTLV-1 infection are T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ALT) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Studies have reported other clinical manifestations in HTLV-1 seropositive patients, including inflammatory disorders, co-infections with opportunistic agents, and pulmonary diseases. Objective: Here, we aim to describe a cohort of juvenile patients with confirmed HTLV-1 infection that showed clinical manifestations other than neurological symptoms. Methodology and patients: Retrospective analysis of clinical data describing background and clinical findings of 12 juvenile patients with confirmed HTLV-1 infection, attended during January 2018 to February 2020 in a pediatric referral hospital in Cali, Colombia. Results: 11 out 12 patients were from Colombia´s Pacific coast, 10 suffered from significant nutritional deficiencies. Six exhibited dermatological findings, 3 compatible with infective dermatitis. None of the cases exhibited clinical or laboratory findings suggesting ALT or HAM/TPS. Eight patients had structural lung disease assessed by chest Computed Tomography (CT) scans; 4 of them tested positive for galactomannan antigen in bronchoalveolar fluid suggesting pulmonary aspergillosis, and 2 others exhibited a positive PCR testing for tuberculosis. Three patients were diagnosed with autoimmune disorders; 1 patient with Crohn´s Diseases, 1 case of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, and a patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (non-granulomatous uveitis). Conclusions: There is a broad range of clinical manifestations in pediatric HTLV-1 patients, and the clinician should consider structural pulmonary disease, opportunistic co-infections and autoimmune disorders in the diagnostic algorithm.

ABSTRACT Objective This cross sectional study intended to evaluate two bedside tests (Neuropad and VibraTip) as screening tools for distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) in Latin American patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Subjects and methods Ninety-three Colombian patients diagnosed with T2D were recruited. Anthropometric variables, glycemic control parameters, lipid profile and renal function were assessed for each patient. DSPN was defined by a Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) clinical score greater than 2. Both Neuropad and Vibratip tests were applied to each patient. Contingency analyses were performed to evaluate the diagnostic power of both tools. Results The prevalence of DSPN determined clinically by MNSI was 25.8%. DSPN in these patients was associated with age, worsening renal function, and insulin treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of the Neuropad test for DSPN was 66.6% and 63% respectively. Its negative predictive value (NPV) was 84.6%. The VibraTip test exhibited a sensitivity of 54.1% and specificity of 91.3%, with a NPV of 85.1%. Conclusion Neuropad and VibraTip are reliable screening tools for DSPN in Latin American population. VibraTip presents a considerable diagnostic power for DSPN in this population. Further studies regarding the cost-effectiveness of these tools in clinical practice are needed.

MicroRNAs are small, non-coding molecules with a crucial function in the cell´s biologic regulation. Circulating levels of miRNAs may be useful biomarkers in metabolic diseases such as type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2), which alters the circulating concentrations of several types of miRNA. Specific serum profiles of these molecules have been identified in high-risk patients before the development of DM2 and its chronic complications. Most importantly, these profiles can be modified with physical exercise, which is crucial in the treatment of metabolic diseases. Acute physical activity alone can induce changes in tissue specific miRNAs, and responses are different in aerobic or non-aerobic training. Muscle and cardiovascular miRNAs, which may play an important role in the adap tation to exercise, are predominantly altered. Even further, there is a correlation between serum levels of miRNAs and fitness, suggesting a role for chronic exercise in their regulation. Thus, miRNAs are molecules of growing importance in exercise physiology, and may be involved in the mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of physical activity for patients with metabolic diseases.