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Cocaine trafficking threatens countries' national security and is a major public health challenge. Cocaine is transported from producer countries to consumer markets using various routes, methods, and transportation means. These routes develop in the geographical environment, are carefully planned and are geo-strategic objects that respond to the opportunities that drug trafficking organisations (DTOs) find to reduce the risks of interdiction. In this sense, individual drug seizure data (IDS) become essential indicators for identifying trends and understanding trafficking flows associated with drug trafficking routes. However, due to the illicit nature of DTOs, the availability of these data is considerably limited, hindering the ability to analyse and identify trends. This study presents a methodology for collecting and processing data from open-source information reported by Brazil's federal government news website. Using geospatial intelligence and natural language processing methods, we created a dataset with 939 records and 44 variables related to cocaine seizures in Brazil in 2022. We applied geospatial analysis techniques from this dataset to identify trends and potential cocaine trafficking flows. The results were broadly consistent with existing literature on drug trafficking. They demonstrated the potential of open-source information for environmental scanning and knowledge generation through geographic information science. The approach proposed in our research provides tools that can be used to complement drug trafficking monitoring and formulate public policies to strengthen prevention and enforcement strategies.

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INTRODUCTION: Twenty percent of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have poor outcomes despite proper management. The aim of the study was to characterize electrophysiological factors related to poor outcome in patients with GBS. METHODS: We conducted an observational study from a prospective cohort of 91 patients with GBS in a tertiary healthcare center in Mexico, from 2017 to 2019. Demographics and nerve conduction studies were performed on admission, and a 3-month follow-up for GBS disability score was ensued, allocating patients in good (GBS disability score ≤ 2) and poor outcome (GBS disability score ≥ 3) groups. A logistic regression analysis for independent walk at 3 months was performed. Kaplan-Meier estimator curves for independent walk in very low (< 20% LLN) and low-normal ( ≥20% LLN) peroneal nerve CMAPs are presented. RESULTS: From the 91 GBS patients included, 37 (40.6%) did not regain independent walk at 3 months. Axonal variants were more common in the poor outcome group (31.4% vs 59.4%, p = 0.01) as well as AIDP variants with motor conduction block (6.6% vs 42.4%, p = 0.018). Univariable analysis was statistically significant for very low median, ulnar, tibial, and peroneal CMAP amplitudes in poor outcome patients; however, multivariable analysis was only significant for very low peroneal nerve CMAP amplitude (OR 3.6 [1.1-11.5, p = 0.024]). Conversely, a greater proportion of GBS patients with low-normal CMAPs recovered independent walk at 90 days (75% vs 30%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Severe axonal injury of the peroneal nerve, axonal, and AIDP with motor conduction block variants predicts worse functional outcome regarding independent walk at 3 months.

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BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of electrophysiological subtypes and prognostic factors of Mexican adults diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) have not been described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single center, ambispective, cohort study was performed (2015-2019). GBS was defined following the Asbury and Cornblath criteria. Electrodiagnosis was made according to Hadden criteria. Clinical, biochemical and electrodiagnostic parameters were described, compared and analyzed using a multivariate model. Only patients who completed a 3-month follow-up were included. RESULTS: 137 GBS patients (92 males; mean age 46.6 ± 16.6).132 (96.3%) underwent an electrodiagnostic assessment.68 (51.5%) were classified as axonal GBS, with further classified into two groups: acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) 45.4%, and acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) 8,6%. The following characteristics were lower in the AMAN group: Medical Research Counsel sumscore (MRC) 30.1 ± 16.3 vs 36.4 ± 14.4, unilateral facial palsy 10% vs 25.9% and albuminocytologic dissociation 41.3% vs. 71.7%.Multivariate analysis found AMAN as an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome OR: 3.34 (p = 0.03) CONCLUSIONS: AMAN subtype is the most frequent presentation of GBS in Mexican adult patients and an independent predictor of inability to walk independently at 3 months after discharge.

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OBJECTIVE: : To determine the effectiveness of desloratadine syrup in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) among children in Latin America. METHODS: : In an open-label trial conducted in 5 Latin American countries, 455 children aged 6 to 12 years with seasonal or perennial AR were treated with desloratadine syrup 2.5 mg/d for 6 weeks. Thirty percent of subjects were concomitantly taking corticosteroids, and 21.3% had a history of asthma. Efficacy was measured by improvement in the Total Symptom Severity 4 questionnaire and decrease in severity of individual nasal symptoms of congestion, rhinorrhea, pruritus, and sneezing. Physicians and subjects' caregivers rated symptom improvement in a separate assessment at final visit. RESULTS: : Treatment with desloratadine led to a significant decrease in mean Total Symptom Severity 4 score, from 7.54 at baseline to 1.96 at study end (P < 0.0001), and in individual symptom scores, including congestion (P < 0.0001 for all). Similar improvements were found in groups receiving desloratadine monotherapy and desloratadine plus corticosteroids. Allergic rhinitis symptoms were rated "better" or "much better" by 94% of caregivers. Incidence of adverse events was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: : Desloratadine, with or without concomitant corticosteroids, was efficacious and safe in the treatment of AR in this group of Latin American children.

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Este artigo pretende socializar reflexões desde a perspectiva sociológica de uma pesquisa-ação realizada no Hospital Pediátrico de Posadas, Argentina. Abordou-se o fenômeno das infecções hospitalares com estudos biomédicos e sociológicos. Esta interdisciplinaridade forneceu compreensão ao comportamento dos sujeitos sociais em relação ao tema. O cuidado é multidimensional e impacta na qualidade da atenção e saúde populacional. As infecções hospitalares representam grave problema de saúde pública, geram-se principalmente, por erros do sistema sanitário. Considerou-se ao hospital como uma “instituição total” com uma ordem social própria. As formas de atuar sustentam-se em supostos conceituais, crenças e percepções e incidem na forma de construir a realidade da esfera do cuidado cotidiano familiar e da equipe de saúde. Este cruzamento disciplinar favorece o avanço da compreensão dos fenômenos sociais em relação à complexidade que o cuidado da saúde significa.

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Rhinoscleroma is a rare infection in developed countries; although, it is reported with some frequency in poorer regions such as Central Africa, Central and South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East, India and Indonesia. Nowadays, rhinoscleroma may be erroneously diagnosed as mucocutaneos leishmaniasis, leprosy, paracoccidioidomycosis, rhinosporidiasis, late syphilis, neoplasic diseases or other upper airway diseases. From 1996 to 2003, we diagnosed rhinoscleroma in eight patients attended in the Dermatologic and Transmitted Diseases service of "Cayetano Heredia" National Hospital, in Lima, Peru. The patients presented airway structural alterations producing nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and, in one patient, laryngeal stenosis. Biopsy samples revealed large vacuolated macrophages (Mikulicz cells) in all patients. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid for four to 12 weeks was used in seven patients and oxytetracycline 500 mg qid for six weeks in one patient. After follow-up for six to 12 months the patients did not show active infection or relapse, however, all of them presented some degree of upper airway stenosis. These cases are reported because of the difficulty diagnosing the disease and the success of antibiotic treatment.

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Rhinoscleroma is a rare infection in developed countries; although, it is reported with some frequency in poorer regions such as Central Africa, Central and South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East, India and Indonesia. Nowadays, rhinoscleroma may be erroneously diagnosed as mucocutaneos leishmaniasis, leprosy, paracoccidioidomycosis, rhinosporidiasis, late syphilis, neoplasic diseases or other upper airway diseases. From 1996 to 2003, we diagnosed rhinoscleroma in eight patients attended in the Dermatologic and Transmitted Diseases service of "Cayetano Heredia" National Hospital, in Lima, Peru. The patients presented airway structural alterations producing nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and, in one patient, laryngeal stenosis. Biopsy samples revealed large vacuolated macrophages (Mikulicz cells) in all patients. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid for four to 12 weeks was used in seven patients and oxytetracycline 500 mg qid for six weeks in one patient. After follow-up for six to 12 months the patients did not show active infection or relapse, however, all of them presented some degree of upper airway stenosis. These cases are reported because of the difficulty diagnosing the disease and the success of antibiotic treatment.

O rinoscleroma é uma infecção rara nos países desenvolvidos, no entanto, tem sido relatado com alguma freqüência nas regiões pobres da Africa Central, América Central e do Sul, Europa Central e Oriental, Oriente Médio, índia e Indonésia. A doença pode ser erroneamente diagnosticada como leishmaniose mucocutânea, hanseníase, paracoccidioidomicose, rinosporidiose, sífilis tardia, neoplasias ou outras doenças que afetam a via respiratória superior. No período de 1996 a 2003, foram diagnosticados oito casos de rinoscleroma no serviço de Doenças Dermatológicas e Infecciosas do Hospital Nacional "Cayetano Heredia", em Lima, Peru. Os pacientes apresentaram alterações estruturais das vias respiratórias, caracterizadas por estenose da nasofaringe e orofaringe, e em um paciente, a nível da laringe. As biópsias mostraram macrófagos com grandes vacúolos (células de Mikulicz). A ciprofloxacina 500 mg de 12/12 horas por quatro a 12 semanas foi usada em sete pacientes e oxitetraciclina 500 mg de 6/6 horas por seis semanas em um paciente. Durante o acompanhamento por seis a 12 meses todos os pacientes apresentaram cura clínica, sem recaída, embora exibissem algum grau de estenose na via respiratória superior. O motivo do relato deve-se ao fato desta doença constituir um grande desafio diagnóstico e pelo sucesso alcançado com o tratamento antibiótico.

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Se evaluaron cinco pacientes con un rango de edad de 25-60 años, tres de sexo femenino y 2 de sexo masculino, todos de condición socioeconómica baja, 3 de ellos naturales de provincias. El tiempo de enfermedad varió de 6 meses a 10 años, caracterizado por compromiso de vías aéreas superiores (obstrucción nasal, estridor laríngeo, tos y expectoración esporádica), historia previa de tratamiento antibióticos y otros medicamentos sintomáticos. El diagnóstico se baso en a:) examen otorrinolaringológico, evidenciando en todos los pacientes infiltrado granulomatoso con exudado, alteraciones de la estructura con obstrucción de luz en nasofaringe u orofaringe, b) Biopsia de lesión, todos los pacientes presentaron procesos granulomatoso crónico con células sugerentes de rinoescleroma. c) Cultivo de secreción, siendo positivo en 3/5 de los pacientes, se aisló Klebsiella sp, Klebsiella rhinoescleromatis y Klebsiella ozaenae, según la histria clínica dos pacientes recibieron tratamiento antibiótico previo, pudiendo haber negativizado el cultivo. Tres pacientes recibieron ciprofloxacino 500 mg dos veces por día por un tiempo de 4 a 12 semanas, un cuarto paciente recibió ciprofloxacina por siete meses y un paciente recibió tetraciclina 500 mg cuatro veces al día por 6 semanas. El seguimiento de 3 semanas a un año muestra evolución favorable, desaparición y mejoría de la sintomatología y negativización de los cultivos.

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Presentamos seis pacientes con tumor de la glándula parótida, diagnosticados y tratados quirúrgicamente en el Servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Municipal Dr. Francisco A. Risquez de Caracas, en el período comprendido entre 1987-1990 (4 años). Nuestros pacientes presentaban edades entre 33-68 años, con un promedio de 48 años, relación por sexo 1:1. Todos cursaron en forma asintomática, siendo el único signo importante la presencia de la tumoración en la cual osciló entre 7-5 cm en su diámetro mayor. En tres casos se procedió a realizar citología por punción con aguja fina, en dos ecografías de la glándula, y en uno biopsia a cielo abierto. En los seis casos se realizó parotidectomía superficial. Histopatológicamente el 50 por ciento fue reportado como adenoma pleomórfico, 33,3 por ciento lipomas y 16,6 por ciento hiperplasia inespecífica. No hubo complicaciones intra ni postoperatorias, siendo la evaluación satisfactoria, con un período de estancia intrahospitalaria entre 24-36 horas (P.O)

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Se comunican los tres primeros casos de Salmonella Zaiman en niños mayores de un año, afectados de idarrea aguda infecciosa de menos de siete días de evolución, internados en el Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital R. Madariaga de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones. Además, esta serovariedad se aisló por hemocultivo de una niña de 11 años con infección urinaria y sepsis. Esta Salmonella es una nueva serovariedad aislada del arroyo Zaiman que recorre zonas suburbanas de Posadas

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