IgE responses to Ascaris are associated with asthma symptoms in a population living in the tropics. Sensitization to the cross-reactive Ascaris and mite tropomyosins partially underlies this finding. These results have potential relevance in asthma diagnosis and management.

BackgroundInadequate glucose control may be simultaneously associated with inflammation and decreased lung function in type 2 diabetes. We evaluated if lung function is worse in patients with inadequate glucose control, and if inflammatory markers are simultaneously increased in these subjects.MethodsSubjects were selected at the Colombian Diabetes Association Center in Bogotá. Pulmonary function tests were performed and mean residual values were obtained for forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC, with predicted values based on those derived by Hankinson et al. for Mexican-Americans. Multiple least-squares regression was used to adjust for differences in known determinants of lung function. We measured blood levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), fibrinogen, ferritin, and C-reactive protein (C-RP).Results495 diabetic patients were studied, out of which 352 had inadequate control (HBA1c > 7%). After adjusting for known determinants of lung function, those with inadequate control had lower FEV1 (-75.4 mL, IC95%: -92, -59; P < 0.0001) and FVC (-121 mL, IC95%: -134, -108; P < 0,0001) mean residuals, and higher FEV1/FVC (0.013%, IC95%: 0.009, 0.018, P < 0.0001) residuals than those with adequate control, as well as increased levels of all inflammatory markers (P < 0.05), with the exception of IL-6.ConclusionsSubjects with type 2 diabetes and inadequate control had lower FVC and FEV1 than predicted and than those of subjects with adequate control. It is postulated that poorer pulmonary function may be associated with increased levels of inflammatory mediators.

ABH effectively prevent ADD and ARI, and are safe. Colombia's national public health policies for prevention of these diseases should include use of ABH, especially in settings where handwashing with soap and water is limited by water availability.

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A cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in 20 Colombian ICUs is used to describe the application of three imputation techniques: single, hot deck and multiple imputation. These strategies were used to impute the missing data in the variables used to construct APACHE II scores, a scoring system for the ICU patients that provides an unbiased standardized estimate of the probability of hospital death. Imputed APACHE II scores were then used in the APACHE II model to estimate adjusted hospital mortality rates. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare imputation strategies with respect to predictive power. While statistically significant differences were found for the area under the ROC curve, these differences were not clinically significant.

Gram-negative organisms predominate in Colombia among infants <2000 g. The emergence of gram-negative organisms and their associated risk factors requires further study.

Nosocomial infections in Colombian neonatal intensive care units were associated with modifiable risk factors including use of postnatal steroids and H2-blockers.