Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious disease, transmitted by diverse viral strains from the Coronaviridae family. It can manifest as a mild-moderate condition with general symptoms such as malaise, body aches and fever. However, when it finds a patient with other comorbidities it can enhance its virulence, potentially leading to a severe disease with pulmonary-systemic effects. Obesity recognized as a pandemic nowadays, displays and imminent increase in the risk of developing complications during the course of COVID-19 process.  Objective: Identify the prevalence of obesity in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that displayed an unfavorable prognostic.  Methodology: Observational, retrospective study, data was retrieved from a single medical center in Dominican Republic. In the period of time from March to December 2020 a total of 382 patients hospitalized in ICU with a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was extracted from the electronic medical records. Conclusion: Obesity leads to a homeostatic imbalance that severely affects the body´s immune system, making the patient more susceptible to present severe cases of COVID-19, requiring higher levels of hospitalization and ICU admissions.

Introduction: Ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic calls for trustworthy, evidence-based medicine to be able to comprehend and treat opportunely new manifestations of this disease, therefore preventing complications and children mortality. Materials and methods: This case report adresses a unique presentation of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) & COVID-19. Results: The patient was a 6-year-old girl admitted to the emergency room with neurological symptoms numbness in lower and upper extremities, ataxia, drowsiness, and dysarthria. After blood work, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and electromyography test, the patient was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and concomitant COVID-19 infection. Both IgM antibody and RT-PCR were positive for SARS-coV-2 infection and no evidence of cellularity was found in cerebrospinal fluid examination, but a high protein level of 100 mg/dL and an abnormal glucose level (58mg/dL) was observed within this patient. Lastly, a therapy consisted of dexamethasone 3.5mg/kg, acetaminophen 315 mg/kg, azithromycin 105mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of intravenous immune globulin was administered. Conclusion: Considering this clinical case, we reinforce the hypothesis of the association between Guillain-Barré syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, as has already been documented by other authors in both adults and pediatrics patients.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is caused by alterations in carbohydrate metabolism and its prevalence is increasing due to the increase in the rate of obesity and changes in nutritional habits. In Colombia, about 8.36% of the population suffers from type 2 diabetes and less than 1% from type 1 diabetes. Methods: Fifty-one articles were selected, on diabetes and different clinical scenarios, mostly published between 2015-2021. Results: In patients with chronic liver disease, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are increased; therefore, they should be treated in the first instance with Metformin or Insulin. In diabetics, cardiovascular risk is increased for both infarction and stroke. In these patients, treatment can be performed with Metformin, Empagliflozin, among others. Patients with renal failure have a higher risk of hypoglycemia due to prolonged insulin metabolism as a consequence of glomerular filtration; medications such as Liraglutide and similar drugs are useful in these patients. Conclusion: There are multiple clinical scenarios that occur in conjunction with diabetes mellitus. The multiple comorbidities of patients should be taken into account when instituting treatment and its different determinants to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment to be appropriate for the patients.

The existing myth about the absence of vulnerability in doctors makes them more challenging to manage in their role as patients. Likewise, sometimes their previous knowledge makes them have opposing beliefs, attitudes, and practices. Therefore, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the Dominican doctor's beliefs, attitudes, and practices in the role of the patient. A survey was created and disseminated online, and 238 responses were obtained. As a result, most doctors find it more challenging to treat a patient if they are colleagues. Concerning their beliefs and attitudes, they are usually favorable in their work as a doctor; however, in practice, acts such as self-medication and change of prescription are present in large proportion.

Introduction: Currently the main indication for FFP transfusion is to correct coagulation factor deficiency in patients with active bleeding or its suggestion, however, clinical practice has shown that a large percentage of FFP transfusions in neonatology do not they follow current guideline recommendations and are mostly unnecessary. Objective: To expand the knowledge about these transfusions in neonatology and the implementation of thrombelastography to avoid performing these interventions. Methodology: A review of the literature was carried out in the PubMed and Elsevier databases, using keywords such as "thrombelastography", "plasma transfusion in neonates", "neonatal hemostasis". Conclusion: It was evidenced that the coagulation times of healthy neonates and premature infants are longer compared to adults, thus facilitating their misinterpretation and limiting their use when talking about FFP transfusion, therefore TEG is a good tool. to evaluate the coagulation interpretación y limita su utilización status of neonates in a comprehensive manner, without giving way to interpretation errors and facilitating treatment decisions in patients in the NICU before requiring FFP transfusions.  

It is known that millions of people, regardless of their race or social class, suffer from diabetes. The cure is not yet possible, but we can delay its appearance.

Introduction: High blood pressure is the main risk factor for global disease. In the Dominican Republic, 31% of the population suffers from arterial hypertension (HTN) and of these, 60% have medical treatment. Objective: To determine blood pressure levels in non-hypertensive individuals between 18-65 years of age in the community of Pizarrete Abajo during the period of August - September 2018. Methodology: Prospective, descriptive, and longitudinal study in which 85 individuals residing in the community of Pizarrete Abajo were analyzed, of which 44 resulted in altered blood pressure levels. Results: 51.7% of the individuals presented altered blood pressure levels without previously being diagnosed with hypertension. 24% of people showed altered levels one week after the first blood pressure measurement. Conclusions: In a sample of 85 people, altered blood pressure levels were found in 44 individuals. A second blood pressure measurement was carried out one week after the first measurement and it was observed that 56.8% corresponded to high blood pressure values, 20.4% corresponded to stage 1 HTN levels, and 18.1% corresponded to stage 2 HTN levels.

Introduction: Cancer represents one of the main causes of death in children and adolescents globally, which is barely surpassed by accidents. The most frequent neoplasms are leukemias first, Central Nervous System tumors second, and lymphomas third. It is important to note that there is no prevention, however, there are warning signs that, if identified in time, can be translated into a more manageable disease with higher survival and a better prognosis. Objective: To carry out an academic update on the importance of warning signs and symptoms of childhood cancer. Method: A documentary research was carried out and Google Scholar was used as a search engine for scientific information. Research and review articles from different databases were evaluated, such as: the World Health Organization site, the Pan American Health Office site, the Comprehensive Pediatrics Review, the American Cancer Society, local journalistic publications, among others. Conclusions: Cancer in childhood and adolescence cannot be prevented, however, if doctors at the different levels of health care can recognize the warning signs in the event of a probable case of malignancy, timely referrals, early diagnoses and a better curability rate will be achieved and survival in children.

Caroli disease is a rare congenital disorder characterized by dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts. The treatment could correspond to hepatic resection for localized disease. This paper describes a case of Caroli’s disease in a 60 years old female patient, who presented jaundice and diffuse abdominal pain. Further examinations suggested the diagnosis of Caroli disease associated with cholestatic syndrome. We decided to perform a Hepp Couinaud biliodigestive bypass by video laparoscopy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. There were no immediate complications and no longterm complications after 6 months of follow-up. The VLP biliodigestive bypass in patients with associated cholestatic syndromes should be considered a treatment prior to a more aggressive approach.  

The use of digital platforms and the analysis of the attitudes of the consumer of financial products are the challenge that the financial cooperative industry has acquired when immersed in the digital world. Therefore, the objective of the research was to determine the attitudes that influence social networks through the use of the coping model of user adaptation in digital platforms in the cooperative sector of the province of Tungurahua. To do this, a survey was applied to 281 members who were evaluated using the factors perceived opportunity, social influence, perceived control, enjoyment, self-improvement, fear, trust, and digital adaptation. The use of the exploratory factorial analysis method made it possible to determine the degree of correlation between the system of variables. The results revealed that the partners have perceived a positive effect on the part of the organizations according to the perceived opportunity, the social influence, the perceived control, and enjoyment. It was concluded that trust and fear are negative adaptation attitudes towards digital platforms, since there is fear when interacting between company and partner, since they show danger of exposure of their personal information.