La globalización de la economía, el crimen y la seguridad

Este escrito ofrece un marco general de lectura que proporciona algunos criterios sobre dos temas que ocupan hoy el centro de las preocupaciones regionales y generan tensiones geopolíticas en el hemisferio. De una parte, la globalización económica y su expresión hemisférica concreta, el Área de Libre Comercio de las Américas (ALCA), y, de otra, la estrategia global de Washington contra el terrorismo internacional y sus repercusiones en Colombia y el continente. Tanto en el tema comercial como, sobre todo en el de la seguridad, Colombia ocupa un lugar significativo en el marco hemisférico. En ese sentido, el artículo da cuenta de los contextos internacionales en los que el país se haya inmerso: la estrategia que adelanta Brasil con miras al ALCA, la Venezuela de Chávez, el Plan Colombia y la doctrina Bush de “guerra preventiva” contra el terrorismo internacional.This paper provides a general framework of lecture which furnishes some criteria on the two themes that are in the center of the regional worries and generate geopolitical tensions in the hemisphere. On one side, the economical globalization and its concrete hemispherical expression, the Americas Area of Free Trade and on the other hand the global strategy of Washington against international terrorism and its consequences for Colombia and for the continent. In the trade as well as the security themes, Colombia plays a significant role in the hemispheric frame. In this sense, the article provides information on the international contexts that the country is imbedded: the strategy that Brazil prepares for the AAFT, Chavez’s Venezuela, the Colombia Plan and the Bush doctrine of “preventive war” against international terrorism

Linear and nonlinear optical absorption coefficients in GaAs/Ga1−xAlxAs concentric double quantum rings : Effects of hydrostatic pressure and aluminum concentration

ABSTRACT: The linear and nonlinear intra-band optical absorption coefficients in GaAs/Ga1−xAlxAs two-dimensional concentric double quantum rings are investigated. Taking into account the combined effects of hydrostatic pressure and aluminum concentration the energies of the ground and the first excited state have been found using the effective mass approximation and the transfer matrix formalism. The energies of these states and the corresponding threshold energy of the intra-band optical transitions are examined as a function of hydrostatic pressure and aluminum concentration for different sizes of the structure. We also investigated the dependencies of the linear, nonlinear, and total optical absorption coefficients as functions of the incident photon energy for different values of hydrostatic pressure, aluminum concentration, sizes of the structure, and incident optical intensity. Its is found that the effects of the hydrostatic pressure and the aluminum concentration lead to a shifting of the resonant peaks of the intra-band optical spectrum

Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii and Risk Factors Associated with the Infection in Stray Dogs and Cats of Panama

Stray animals such as dogs and cats have an important role in maintaining the transmission cycles and dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of T. gondii in stray dogs and cats in six different regions of Panama and determine risk factors associated with the dynamics of infection in each of the studied regions. Data were obtained using serological tests for the detection of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. The results of this study revealed an overall infection frequency of 23.73%. The infection frequencies found in dog and cat populations were 25.70% and 21.93% respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. Risk factor correlations suggested different infection dynamics depending on the region analyzed. The San Miguelito, North and West regions were more associated with positive cases in dogs with an age range greater than 13 months. Conversely, the Metro, Central and East regions were more associated with negative cases in cats with age ranging between 0 and 5 months. Infection of the parasite in stray animals can be influenced by intrinsic characteristics of each region, which can potentiate different risk factors associated with the different routes of transmission.Stray animals such as dogs and cats have an important role in maintaining the transmission cycles and dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of T. gondii in stray dogs and cats in six different regions of Panama and determine risk factors associated with the dynamics of infection in each of the studied regions. Data were obtained using serological tests for the detection of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. The results of this study revealed an overall infection frequency of 23.73%. The infection frequencies found in dog and cat populations were 25.70% and 21.93% respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. Risk factor correlations suggested different infection dynamics depending on the region analyzed. The San Miguelito, North and West regions were more associated with positive cases in dogs with an age range greater than 13 months. Conversely, the Metro, Central and East regions were more associated with negative cases in cats with age ranging between 0 and 5 months. Infection of the parasite in stray animals can be influenced by intrinsic characteristics of each region, which can potentiate different risk factors associated with the different routes of transmission

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Fungal Planet description sheets: 320–370

Novel species of fungi described in the present study include the following from Malaysia: Castanediella eucalypti from Eucalyptus pellita, Codinaea acacia from Acacia mangium, Emarcea eucalyptigena from Eucalyptus brassiana, Myrtapenidiella eucalyptorum from Eucalyptus pellita, Pilidiella eucalyptigena from Eucalyptus brassiana and Strelitziana malaysiana from Acacia mangium. Furthermore, Stachybotrys sansevieriicola is described from Sansevieria ehrenbergii (Tanzania), Phacidium grevilleae from Grevillea robusta (Uganda), Graphium jumulu from Adansonia gregorii and Ophiostoma eucalyptigena from Eucalyptus marginata (Australia), Pleurophoma ossicola from bone and Plectosphaerella populi from Populus nigra (Germany), Colletotrichum neosansevieriae from Sansevieria trifasciata, Elsinoë othonnae from Othonna quinquedentata and Zeloasperisporium cliviae (Zeloasperisporiaceae fam. nov.) from Clivia sp. (South Africa), Neodevriesia pakbiae, Phaeophleospora hymenocallidis and Phaeophleospora hymenocallidicola on leaves of a fern (Thailand), Melanconium elaeidicola from Elaeis guineensis (Indonesia), Hormonema viticola from Vitis vinifera (Canary Islands), Chlorophyllum pseudoglobossum from a grassland (India), Triadelphia disseminata from an immunocompromised patient (SaudiArabia), Colletotrichum abscissum from Citrus (Brazil), Polyschema sclerotigenum and Phialemonium limoniforme from human patients (USA), Cadophora vitícola from Vitis vinifera (Spain), Entoloma flavovelutinum and Bolbitius aurantiorugosus from soil (Vietnam), Rhizopogon granuloflavus from soil (Cape Verde Islands), Tulasnella eremophila from Euphorbia officinarum subsp. echinus (Morocco), Verrucostoma martinicensis from Danaea elliptica (French West Indies), Metschnikowia colchici from Colchicum autumnale (Bulgaria), Thelebolus microcarpus from soil (Argentina) and Ceratocystis adelpha from Theobroma cacao (Ecuador). Myrmecridium iridis (Myrmecridiales ord. nov., Myrmecridiaceae fam. nov.) is also described from Iris sp. (The Netherlands). Novel genera include (Ascomycetes): Budhanggurabania from Cynodon dactylon (Australia), Soloacrosporiella, Xenocamarosporium, Neostrelitziana and Castanediella from Acacia mangium and Sabahriopsis from Eucalyptus brassiana (Malaysia), Readerielliopsis from basidiomata of Fuscoporia wahlbergii (French Guyana), Neoplatysporoides from Aloe ferox (Tanzania), Wojnowiciella, Chrysofolia and Neoeriomycopsis from Eucalyptus (Colombia), Neophaeomoniella from Eucalyptus globulus (USA), Pseudophaeomoniella from Olea europaea (Italy), Paraphaeomoniella from Encephalartos altensteinii, Aequabiliella, Celerioriella and Minutiella fromPrunus (South Africa). Tephrocybella (Basidiomycetes) represents a novel genus from wood (Italy). Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa

IFNγ Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Risk of Infection and Disease in Household Contacts of Tuberculosis Patients in Colombia

OBJECTIVES: Household contacts (HHCs) of pulmonary tuberculosis patients are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and early disease development. Identification of individuals at risk of tuberculosis disease is a desirable goal for tuberculosis control. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) using specific M. tuberculosis antigens provide an alternative to tuberculin skin testing (TST) for infection detection. Additionally, the levels of IFNgamma produced in response to these antigens may have prognostic value. We estimated the prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection by IGRA and TST in HHCs and their source population (SP), and assessed whether IFNgamma levels in HHCs correlate with tuberculosis development. METHODS: A cohort of 2060 HHCs was followed for 2-3 years after exposure to a tuberculosis case. Besides TST, IFNgamma responses to mycobacterial antigens: CFP, CFP-10, HspX and Ag85A were assessed in 7-days whole blood cultures and compared to 766 individuals from the SP in Medellín, Colombia. Isoniazid prophylaxis was not offered to child contacts because Colombian tuberculosis regulations consider it only in children under 5 years, TST positive without BCG vaccination. RESULTS: Using TST 65.9% of HHCs and 42.7% subjects from the SP were positive (OR 2.60, p<0.0001). IFNgamma response to CFP-10, a biomarker of M. tuberculosis infection, tested positive in 66.3% HHCs and 24.3% from the SP (OR = 6.07, p<0.0001). Tuberculosis incidence rate was 7.0/1000 person years. Children <5 years accounted for 21.6% of incident cases. No significant difference was found between positive and negative IFNgamma responders to CFP-10 (HR 1.82 95% CI 0.79-4.20 p = 0.16). However, a significant trend for tuberculosis development amongst high HHC IFNgamma producers was observed (trend Log rank p = 0.007). DISCUSSION: CFP-10-induced IFNgamma production is useful to establish tuberculosis infection prevalence amongst HHC and identify those at highest risk of disease. The high tuberculosis incidence amongst children supports administration of chemoprophylaxis to child contacts regardless of BCG vaccination

Intramedullary spinal cord paracoccidioidomycosis: report of two cases

Two cases of intramedullary paracoccidioidomycosis are reported. Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic disease that involves the buccopharyngeal mucosa, lungs, lymph nodes and viscera and infrequently the central nervous system. Localization in the spinal cord is rare. Case 1: a 55-year old male admitted with crural pararesis, tactile/painful hypesthesia and sphincter disturbances of 15 days duration. Cutaneous-pulmonary blastomycosis was diagnosed 17 years ago. Myelotomography showed a blockade of T3-T4 (intramedullary lesion). The lesion surgically removed was a Paracoccidioides brasiliensis granuloma. Treatment with sulfadiazine was started after the surgery. Follow-up of 15 month showed an improvement of the clinical signs. Case 2: a 57-year old male was admitted elsewhere 6 months ago and, with a radiologic diagnosis of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis, was treated with amphotericin B. He progressively developed paresthesia and tactile/ pain anaesthesia on the left side, sphincter disturbances and tetraparesis with bilateral extensor plantar response and clonus of the feet. Myelotomography showed a blockade of C4-C6 (intramedullary lesion). The lesion was not found during surgical exploration and the patient deteriorated and died. Post-mortem examination revealed an intramedullary tumor above the site of the mielotomy (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis granuloma). The preoperative diagnosis of intramedullary paracoccidioidomycotic granulomas is difficult because the clinical and radiologic manifestations are uncharacteristic. Clinical suspicion was possible in our cases based on the history of previous systemic disease. Contrary to intracranial localizations, paracoccidioidomycotic granulomas causing progressive spinal cord compression may require early surgery because response to clinical treatment is slow and the reversibility of neurological deficits depends on the promptness of the decompression.São relatados dois casos de granuloma blastomicótico intramedular. A paracoccidioidomicose é micose sistêmica que atinge predominantemente a mucosa bucofaríngea, pulmões, linfonodos e vísceras e infrequentemente o sistema nervoso. A localização medular é rara. Caso 1: paciente masculino, de 55 anos, admitido com parestesias, hipoestesia táctil/dolorosa, paraparesia crural e distúbios esfincterianos. Tinha diagnóstico de blastomicose cutâneo-pulmonar há 17 anos. A mielotomografia mostrou bloqueio em T3-T4 (lesão intramedular). A lesão removida cirurgicamente revelou-se um granuloma blastomiótico. Após a cirurgia foi tratado com sulfadiazina. Durante o seguimento (15 meses) apresentou melhora do quadro clínico. Caso 2: paciente masculino, de 57 anos, internado em outro hospital há 6 meses por blastomicose pulmonar e tratado com anfotericina B. Desenvolveu parestesias, hipoestesia táctil/dolorosa à esquerda, distúrbios esfincterianos e tetraparesia com sinal de Babinski bilateral e clonus nos pés. A mielotomografia mostrou bloqueio de C4-C6 (lesão intramedular). A lesão não foi encontrada durante a cirurgia e o paciente piorou e faleceu. A necrópsia revelou um granuloma blastomicótico intramedular, acima do local da mielotomia. O diagnóstico dos granulomasblastomicóticos intramedulares apresenta dificuldades porque as manisfestações clínicas e radiológicas são incaracterísticas. Nos casos relatados, a suspeita clínica foi baseada nos antecedentes de doença sistêmica prévia. Para os granulomas blastomicóticos raquídeos que causam compressão medular progressiva, ao contrário dos encefálicos, a cirurgia precoce deve ser considerada, pois a regressão com o tratamento clínico é lenta e a reversibilidade dos deficits neurológicos depende da rapidez da descompressão medular