Higher levels of triglycerides, ApoE and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio are associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. Further studies that allow for a causal inference are needed to confirm or refute the aetiological role of blood lipids in pre-eclampsia.

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the need to develop rapidly effective and safe vaccines to prevent infection, particularly in those at-risk populations such as medical personnel. This study’s objective was to assess the perception of COVID-19 vaccination amongst Colombian physicians featuring two different scenarios of COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out through an online survey directed at medical staff in several cities in Colombia. The percentage of physicians who have a positive perception to be vaccinated and the associated factors that determine that decision were determined. A binomial regression analysis adjusted for age and sex was carried out, taking as a dependent variable the acceptance of free vaccination with an effectiveness of 60 and 80%. The most significant factors were determined in the non-acceptance of vaccination. Results: Between 77.0% and 90.7% of physicians in Colombia accept COVID-19 vaccination, according to the scenario evaluated where the vaccine’s effectiveness was 60 or 80%, respectively. Medical specialty, having never paid for a vaccine, recommending the administration of the vaccine to their parents or people over 70 years, and dispensing the vaccine to their children, were the factors to consider to be vaccinated for free with an effectiveness of 60% and 80%. Conclusions: There is a high perception of the intention to vaccinate physicians in Colombia against COVID-19, and this is very similar to that of the general population.

The inverse association we found suggests that the higher the levels of vitamin D the lesser the probability of developing preeclampsia, in spite of the heterogeneity of the global measurement in this type of analysis.

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BackgroundMaternal serum concentrations of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 have been associated with pre-eclampsia. Nevertheless, reported studies involve limited number of cases to reliably assess the nature of these associations. Our aim was to examine the relation of these three biomarkers with pre-eclampsia risk in a large Colombian population.Materials and methodsDesign: A case-control study.Setting: Cases of pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant controls were recruited at the time of delivery from eight different Colombian cities between 2000 and 2012.Population or Sample: 2978 cases and 4096 controls were studied. Maternal serum concentrations of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 were determined in 1148 (43.6%) cases and 1300 (31.7%) controls. Also, self-reported folic acid supplementation was recorded for 2563 (84%) cases and 3155 (84%) controls.Analysis: Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for pre-eclampsia were estimated for one standard deviation (1SD) increase in log-transformed biomarkers. Furthermore, we conducted analyses to compare women that reported taking folic acid supplementation for different periods during pregnancy.Main Outcomes Measures: Odds ratio for pre-eclampsia.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders in logistic regression models, the OR for pre-eclampsia was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.90) for 1SD increase in log-folate, 1.16 (95%CI: 1.05, 1.27) for 1SD increase in log-homocysteine, and 1.10 (95%CI: 0.99, 1.22) for 1SD increase in log-vitamin B12. No interactions among the biomarkers were identified. Women who self-reported consumption of folic acid (1 mg/day) throughout their pregnancy had an adjusted OR for pre-eclampsia of 0.86 (95%CI: 0.67, 1.09) compared to women that reported no consumption of folic acid at any point during pregnancy.ConclusionsMaternal serum concentrations of folate were associated as a protective factor for pre-eclampsia while concentrations of homocysteine were associated as a risk factor. No association between maternal vitamin B12 concentrations and preeclampsia was found.

Background: The food transition can no longer be studied in developed countries because the so-called Western diet now predominates in these areas. However, in developing countries, it is still possible to study the food transition. It is a novel concept that complements other transitions such as the demographic, economic, nutritional and epidemiological transitions. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to a) estimate the average departmental adherence to the three pre-established food patterns, b) assess adherence patterns based on the Global Spatial Analysis, c) evaluate whether the Local Spatial Variations in the adherence to food patterns are random or follow defined patterns (cluster) and d) generate 2D maps to graphically locate the food patterns that compose the phenomenon of the food transition occurring in Colombia. Methods: The National Survey of the Nutritional Situation in Colombia, 2010 was analyzed. Based on factor analysis, three consumption patterns were established; Protein/Fiber, Snack and Snack and Traditional/Starch and the average departmental adhesion was estimated. The global and local spatial variation was calculated with the Moran indexes. Findings: the average adherence to the traditional consumption/starch pattern was –0.00 (95% CI: –0.12 to 0.12). The mean adherence to the protein/fiber intake pattern was –0.07 (95% CI: –0.16 to 0.03). The average adherence to the pattern of snack consumption was –0.03 (95% CI: –0.11 to 0.05). The three patterns of food consumption values for the Global Total Moran Index, for men and women were positive and statistically significant. Conclusions: The food transition experienced by Colombia is not homogeneous and there are well defined clusters for adherence in the three predefined food patterns. Within the clusters there are differences by sex. In regions where the traditional pattern/starch predominates, the presence of the snack pattern is very weak.

BackgroundObesity is common among children and teenagers and is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the adult age. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the association between the percentage of body fat and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia.Material and MethodsAbout 494 children and adolescents aged 10–20 years were studied. Laboratory tests were made for analyzing cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric measurements. Percentage body fat was determined with Slaughter equation. Lineal regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and the percentage body fat.ResultsPrevalence of percentage body fat (>26%) was 46.1%. Variables associated with percentage body fat were HOMA-IR – insulin resistance, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.ConclusionsIncrease in percentage body fat is significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga. Early identification and intervention of this population at risk is fundamental.

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