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Introduction: It has been reported in different parts of the world that war veterans are more exposed to cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of this study was to establish the risk factors, the cardiometabolic profile and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in a group of ex-combatants of the Malvinas War (HdeM)., Methods: In a case-control design, data from 799 HdeM were analyzed and compared with 799 controls matched by age. The sample was selected from the participants of the Cardiovascular Health Prevention Program of the Favaloro Foundation, between January 2017 and December 2019., Results: The average age was 56.9 ± 3.9 years. An increase in weight was observed among the HdeM (91.3 ± 16.6 kg vs. 88.2 ± 14.7 kg; p = 0.0001). A higher frequency of arterial hypertension (42% vs. 34%; p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (15.1% vs. 10.4%; p < 0.005) was observed in HdeM. Metabolic syndrome was also more prevalent in HdeM (49.2% vs. 39.7%; p = 0.0001). It was observed that the history of acute myocardial infarction was more frequent among the HdeM (3.6% vs. 2%; p < 0.05), with a similar prevalence of stroke (1.2% vs. 1%; p = ns), coronary angioplasty (3.2% vs. 2.1%; p = ns) or myocardial revascularization surgery (0.8% vs. 0.4%; p = ns)., Discussion: The HdeM showed an increase in the frequency of risk factors, metabolic syndrome and acute myocardial infarction. It is important to take this increased risk into account in order to maximize cardiovascular prevention strategies in ex-combatants.

We present a clinical case of antiretroviral treatment failure with appearance of mutations demonstrated by genotyping. We also show the evolution of the pattern of mutations that confers resistance to protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors along with changes in the scheme of drugs indicated to the patient. A deletion was found in codon 67 of the TR gen, along with a novel resistance model to AZT pointing out the benefits of the detection of antiviral resistance by sequencing (genotyping).

Hyperinsulinemia and insulin-resistance are metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, essential hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, glucose intolerance, overt non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, polymetabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic disease. The assessment of in vivo insulin sensitivity (SAI in vivo) changes achieved by life style modifications or drug interventions require a reproducible technique. To evaluate the day-to-day intra-individual repeatability of SAI-in vivo, we determined the variation in the SI index (calculated from the Minimal Model of Bergman modified by insulin or MMins) in 11 subjects with a wide range of insulin-resistance. SI (first study) varied from 0.82 to 8.48 x 10(-4) min-1/microU.mL (4.43 +/- 2.85 x 10(-4) min-1/microU.mL mean +/- SD) and highly correlated with SI (second study) (r = 0.89; p = 0.0002). The average interday coefficient of variation was 20.9 +/- 13.9% and was similar in subjects with low or high SI values. We also measured SAI in vivo by assessing the rate of serum glucose decline induced by human cristalline insulin 0.025 U/kg IV dose after a 12-14 hours fasting period (a modified Bonora's method or BBD) in 11 subjects. No subject presented biochemical or symptomatic hypoglycemia. SAI in vivo values determined by BBD varied from 21 a 234 mumol/ml/min (134 +/- 64.8 mumol/ml/min, mean +/- SD). We found a highly significant correlation between SI values obtained from MMins and SAI in vivo assessed by the BBD (r = 0.89, p = 0.0002). Our results suggest that the Mmins is a fairly reproducible procedure and that a BBD is an acceptable option to quantify SAI in vivo, mainly when a fast-execution practice is necessary or cost restrictions are required.

HTLV-I and HTLV-II are two related retroviruses that are transmitted by sexual contact, breast feeding, blood transfusion and needle sharing. In this study the prevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II was evaluated in voluntary blood donors as a measure of the infection in the general population. Samples were tested by a gelatine particle agglutination test and repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot tests (WBT), enriched with recombinant rgp21, rgp461 y rgp4611 proteins, which differentiates HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies. Of 19,426 samples, 40 were repeatedly reactive by particle agglutination (0.21%). When analyzed by WBT, 6 met the criteria for HTLV-I (0.036%), 2 for HTLV-II (0.01%) and 1 for HTLV-I/II, 13 samples were indeterminate and 18 were negative. The prevalence is low and comparable to that from non endemic countries. Screening for anti HTLV-I/II antibodies is necessary to prevent transmission through blood transfusions.