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  1. Article ; Online: Reduced microbial diversity of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in household contacts with latent tuberculosis infection

    Cinthya Ruiz-Tagle / Juan A. Ugalde / Rodrigo Naves / Rafael Araos / Patricia García / María Elvira Balcells

    Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2023  Volume 12

    Abstract: Abstract The upper respiratory tract is an obliged pathway for respiratory pathogens and a healthy microbiota may support the host's mucosal immunity preventing infection. We analyzed the nasopharyngeal microbiome in tuberculosis household contacts (HHCs) ...

    Abstract Abstract The upper respiratory tract is an obliged pathway for respiratory pathogens and a healthy microbiota may support the host's mucosal immunity preventing infection. We analyzed the nasopharyngeal microbiome in tuberculosis household contacts (HHCs) and its association with latent tuberculosis infection (TBI). A prospective cohort of HHCs was established and latent TBI status was assessed by serial interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). Nasopharyngeal swabs collected at baseline were processed for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The 82 participants included in the analysis were classified as: (a) non-TBI [IGRA negative at baseline and follow-up, no active TB (n = 31)], (b) pre-TBI [IGRA negative at baseline but converted to IGRA positive or developed active TB at follow-up (n = 16)], and (c) TBI [IGRA positive at enrollment (n = 35)]. Predominant phyla were Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. TBI group had a lower alpha diversity compared to non-TBI (padj = 0.04) and pre-TBI (padj = 0.04). Only TBI and non-TBI had beta diversity differences (padj = 0.035). Core microbiomes’ had unique genera, and genus showed differential abundance among groups. HHCs with established latent TBI showed reduced nasopharyngeal microbial diversity with distinctive taxonomical composition. Whether a pre-existing microbiome feature favors, are a consequence, or protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis needs further investigation.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Subject code 572
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Portfolio
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: Enfermedades infecciosas y migración. Una responsabilidad compartida.

    María Elvira Balcells / Yasna Alarcón V

    Ars Medica, Vol 42, Iss 2, Pp 4-

    2017  Volume 6

    Abstract: En la actualidad, se estima que más de 244 millones de personas viven fuera de sus países de origen ya sea por conflictos políticos, pobreza, búsqueda de nuevas oportunidades laborales o en educación, la mayoría de los cuales se mueve intrarregionalmente. ...

    Abstract En la actualidad, se estima que más de 244 millones de personas viven fuera de sus países de origen ya sea por conflictos políticos, pobreza, búsqueda de nuevas oportunidades laborales o en educación, la mayoría de los cuales se mueve intrarregionalmente.
    Keywords No aplica ; Medicine ; R ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920
    Language English
    Publishing date 2017-09-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: A first insight on the population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex as studied by spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTRs in Santiago, Chile.

    María Elvira Balcells / Patricia García / Paulina Meza / Carlos Peña / Marcela Cifuentes / David Couvin / Nalin Rastogi

    PLoS ONE, Vol 10, Iss 2, p e

    2015  Volume 0118007

    Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health problem worldwide, but the ecology of the prevalent mycobacterial strains, and their transmission, can vary depending on country and region. Chile is a country with low incidence of TB, that has a ... ...

    Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health problem worldwide, but the ecology of the prevalent mycobacterial strains, and their transmission, can vary depending on country and region. Chile is a country with low incidence of TB, that has a geographically isolated location in relation to the rest of South American countries due to the Andes Mountains, but recent migration from neighboring countries has changed this situation. We aimed to assess the genotypic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains in Santiago, Chile, and compare with reports from other Latin-American countries. We analyzed MTBC isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis cases collected between years 2008 and 2013 in Central Santiago, using two genotyping methods: spoligotyping and 12-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTRs). Data obtained were analyzed and compared to the SITVIT2 database. Mean age of the patients was 47.5 years and 61% were male; 11.6% were migrants. Of 103 strains (1 isolate/patient) included, there were 56 distinct spoligotype patterns. Of these, 16 strains (15.5%) corresponded to orphan strains in the SITVIT2 database, not previously reported. Latin American and Mediterranean (LAM) (34%) and T (33%) lineages were the most prevalent strains, followed by Haarlem lineage (16.5%). Beijing family was scarcely represented with only two cases (1.9%), one of them isolated from a Peruvian migrant. The most frequent clustered spoligotypes were SIT33/LAM3 (10.7%), SIT53/T1 (8.7%), SIT50/H3 (7.8%), and SIT37/T3 (6.8%). We conclude that LAM and T genotypes are the most prevalent genotypes of MTBC in Santiago, Chile, and together correspond to almost two thirds of analyzed strains, which is similar to strain distribution reported from other countries of Latin America. Nevertheless, the high proportion of SIT37/T3, which was rarely found in other Latin American countries, may underline a specific history or demographics of Chile related to probable human ...
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Language English
    Publishing date 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Association of vitamin D deficiency, season of the year, and latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts.

    María Elvira Balcells / Patricia García / Camila Tiznado / Luis Villarroel / Natalia Scioscia / Camila Carvajal / Francesca Zegna-Ratá / Mariluz Hernández / Paulina Meza / Luis F González / Carlos Peña / Rodrigo Naves

    PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 4, p e

    2017  Volume 0175400

    Abstract: OBJECTIVES:Vitamin D (VD) enhances the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, and VD deficiency has been described in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). However, the role of hypovitaminosis D in the pathogenesis of early TB ... ...

    Abstract OBJECTIVES:Vitamin D (VD) enhances the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, and VD deficiency has been described in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). However, the role of hypovitaminosis D in the pathogenesis of early TB infection acquisition is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of VD deficiency, season of the year, and latent TB infection in household contacts (HHC), given that this is a potentially modifiable condition often related to nutritional deficiencies and lack of sun exposure. METHODS:We prospectively enrolled new pulmonary TB cases (n = 107) and their HHC (n = 144) over a 2-year period in Santiago, Chile. We compared plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) levels and examined the influence of season, ethnic background, living conditions, and country of origin. RESULTS:Over 77% of TB cases and 62.6% of HHC had VD deficiency (<20 ng/ml). Median 25OHD concentration was significantly lower in TB cases than in HHC (11.7 vs. 18.2 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Migrants HHC had lower 25OHD levels than non-migrants (14.6 vs. 19.0 ng/ml, p = 0.026), and a trend towards a higher burden of latent TB infection (52.9% vs. 35.2%, p = 0.066). Multivariate analysis found VD deficiency in HHC was strongly associated with being sampled in winter/spring (adOR 25.68, 95%CI 7.35-89.7), corresponding to the seasons with lowest solar radiation exposure. Spring enrollment-compared with other seasons-was the chief risk factor for latent TB infection in HHC (adOR 3.14, 95%CI 1.28-7.69). CONCLUSIONS:Hypovitaminosis D was highly prevalent in TB cases and also in HHC. A marked seasonality was found for both VD levels and latent TB in HHC, with winter being the season with lowest VD levels and spring the season with the highest risk of latent TB infection.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Early versus deferred anti-SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma in patients admitted for COVID-19

    María Elvira Balcells / Luis Rojas / Nicole Le Corre / Constanza Martínez-Valdebenito / María Elena Ceballos / Marcela Ferrés / Mayling Chang / Cecilia Vizcaya / Sebastián Mondaca / Álvaro Huete / Ricardo Castro / Mauricio Sarmiento / Luis Villarroel / Alejandra Pizarro / Patricio Ross / Jaime Santander / Bárbara Lara / Marcela Ferrada / Sergio Vargas-Salas /
    Carolina Beltrán-Pavez / Ricardo Soto-Rifo / Fernando Valiente-Echeverría / Christian Caglevic / Mauricio Mahave / Carolina Selman / Raimundo Gazitúa / José Luis Briones / Franz Villarroel-Espindola / Carlos Balmaceda / Manuel A Espinoza / Jaime Pereira / Bruno Nervi

    PLoS Medicine, Vol 18, Iss 3, p e

    A randomized phase II clinical trial.

    2021  Volume 1003415

    Abstract: Background Convalescent plasma (CP), despite limited evidence on its efficacy, is being widely used as a compassionate therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early CP therapy in COVID-19 ... ...

    Abstract Background Convalescent plasma (CP), despite limited evidence on its efficacy, is being widely used as a compassionate therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of early CP therapy in COVID-19 progression. Methods and findings The study was an open-label, single-center randomized clinical trial performed in an academic medical center in Santiago, Chile, from May 10, 2020, to July 18, 2020, with final follow-up until August 17, 2020. The trial included patients hospitalized within the first 7 days of COVID-19 symptom onset, presenting risk factors for illness progression and not on mechanical ventilation. The intervention consisted of immediate CP (early plasma group) versus no CP unless developing prespecified criteria of deterioration (deferred plasma group). Additional standard treatment was allowed in both arms. The primary outcome was a composite of mechanical ventilation, hospitalization for >14 days, or death. The key secondary outcomes included time to respiratory failure, days of mechanical ventilation, hospital length of stay, mortality at 30 days, and SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR clearance rate. Of 58 randomized patients (mean age, 65.8 years; 50% male), 57 (98.3%) completed the trial. A total of 13 (43.3%) participants from the deferred group received plasma based on clinical aggravation. We failed to find benefit in the primary outcome (32.1% versus 33.3%, odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.32-2.84, p > 0.999) in the early versus deferred CP group. The in-hospital mortality rate was 17.9% versus 6.7% (OR 3.04, 95% CI 0.54-17.17 p = 0.246), mechanical ventilation 17.9% versus 6.7% (OR 3.04, 95% CI 0.54-17.17, p = 0.246), and prolonged hospitalization 21.4% versus 30.0% (OR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.19-2.10, p = 0.554) in the early versus deferred CP group, respectively. The viral clearance rate on day 3 (26% versus 8%, p = 0.204) and day 7 (38% versus 19%, p = 0.374) did not differ between groups. Two patients experienced serious adverse events within 6 hours ...
    Keywords Medicine ; R
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-03-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  6. Article ; Online: Isoniazid Preventive Therapy and Risk for Resistant Tuberculosis

    Maria Elvira Balcells / Sara L. Thomas / Peter Godfrey-Faussett / Alison D. Grant

    Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 12, Iss 5, Pp 744-

    2006  Volume 751

    Abstract: In the context of tuberculosis (TB) resurgence, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is increasingly promoted, but concerns about the risk for development of isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis may hinder its widespread implementation. We conducted a ... ...

    Abstract In the context of tuberculosis (TB) resurgence, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is increasingly promoted, but concerns about the risk for development of isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis may hinder its widespread implementation. We conducted a systematic review of data published since 1951 to assess the effect of primary IPT on the risk for isoniazid-resistant TB. Different definitions of isoniazid resistance were used, which affected summary effect estimates; we report the most consistent results. When all 13 studies (N = 18,095 persons in isoniazid groups and N = 17,985 persons in control groups) were combined, the summary relative risk for resistance was 1.45 (95% confidence interval 0.85–2.47). Results were similar when studies of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected persons were considered separately. Analyses were limited by small numbers and incomplete testing of isolates, but findings do not exclude an increased risk for isoniazid-resistant TB after IPT. The diagnosis of active TB should be excluded before IPT. Continued surveillance for isoniazid resistance is essential.
    Keywords tuberculosis ; review ; isoniazid ; chemoprevention ; prophylaxis ; drug resistance ; Medicine ; R ; Infectious and parasitic diseases ; RC109-216
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2006-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  7. Article ; Online: Metodología de adaptación de una guía clínica para el manejo de pacientes adultos con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en una red de salud privada

    Tomás Pantoja C / Constanza Ferdinand O / Fernando Saldías P / Luis Rojas O / María Elvira Balcells M / Ricardo Castro L / Rodrigo Poblete U

    Revista Médica de Chile, Vol 139, Iss 11, Pp 1403-

    2011  Volume 1413

    Abstract: Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. Guidelines developed elsewhere, can be adapted using a valid and systematic process. Aim: To describe the methodology used in the process of ... ...

    Abstract Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. Guidelines developed elsewhere, can be adapted using a valid and systematic process. Aim: To describe the methodology used in the process of adaptation of a guideline for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a private health care organization. Material and Methods: We used the ADAPTE framework involving three main phases. At the set-up phase a guideline adaptation group integrated by medical specialists from different disciplines, a methodologist and a nurse coordinator was formed. At the adaptation phase, the specific clinical questions to be addressed by the guidelines were identified. Results: Twenty five guidelines were initially retrieved. After their assessment, the number was reduced to only three. Recommendations from these guidelines were 'mapped' and focused searches were carried out where 'evidence gaps' were identified. An initial draft was written and revised by the adaptation group. At the finalization phase, the external review of the guideline was carried out and a process for the regular review and update of the adapted guideline was defined. Conclusions: We developed a guideline for the management of adults with CAP, adapted to the local context of our health care system, using guidelines developed elsewhere. This guideline creation method can be an efficient means of saving professional resources.
    Keywords Pneumonia ; Practice guidelines as topic ; Quality of health care ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920 ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 360
    Language Spanish
    Publishing date 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Sociedad Médica de Santiago
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  8. Article ; Online: Metodología de adaptación de una guía clínica para el manejo de pacientes adultos con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en una red de salud privada The adaptation methodology of a guideline for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia

    Tomás Pantoja C / Constanza Ferdinand O / Fernando Saldías P / Luis Rojas O / María Elvira Balcells M / Ricardo Castro L / Rodrigo Poblete U

    Revista Médica de Chile, Vol 139, Iss 11, Pp 1403-

    2011  Volume 1413

    Abstract: Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. Guidelines developed elsewhere, can be adapted using a valid and systematic process. Aim: To describe the methodology used in the process of ... ...

    Abstract Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are widely used as tools for improving quality of health care. Guidelines developed elsewhere, can be adapted using a valid and systematic process. Aim: To describe the methodology used in the process of adaptation of a guideline for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a private health care organization. Material and Methods: We used the ADAPTE framework involving three main phases. At the set-up phase a guideline adaptation group integrated by medical specialists from different disciplines, a methodologist and a nurse coordinator was formed. At the adaptation phase, the specific clinical questions to be addressed by the guidelines were identified. Results: Twenty five guidelines were initially retrieved. After their assessment, the number was reduced to only three. Recommendations from these guidelines were 'mapped' and focused searches were carried out where 'evidence gaps' were identified. An initial draft was written and revised by the adaptation group. At the finalization phase, the external review of the guideline was carried out and a process for the regular review and update of the adapted guideline was defined. Conclusions: We developed a guideline for the management of adults with CAP, adapted to the local context of our health care system, using guidelines developed elsewhere. This guideline creation method can be an efficient means of saving professional resources.
    Keywords Pneumonia ; Practice guidelines as topic ; Quality of health care ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920 ; Medicine ; R ; DOAJ:Medicine (General) ; DOAJ:Health Sciences
    Subject code 360
    Language Spanish
    Publishing date 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Sociedad Médica de Santiago
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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