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The textile industry in Colombia is a source of employment for more than 200.000 people and more than 50% of this production is undertaken in Medellin. Modeling and improving textile processes allow this economic line to be competitive internationally. In this paper, we make a description about the use of discrete event simulation in a textile finishing company through the presentation of the results of four scenarios, which finally shows the potential of discrete simulations in productive environments and its high impact when modelling part of reality without the necessity of experimenting with the real system. The method used in this paper is summarized in three major stages: the first one is the simulation methodology, the second one is the data to support the simulation, and the final stage is an analysis of the results with the comparison of the four scenarios. The simulation was statistically validated and verified with the real behaviors of the company and it is executed by using software tools such as EasyFit®, Microsoft Excel® and Simul8®. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify the sociodemographic, clinical, and environmental factors associated with recurrences in ocular toxoplasmosis (OT)., Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients who consulted in the Health Centre at Universidad del Quindío between 2004 and 2017. Patients with retinochoroiditis due to Toxoplasma gondii infection and follow up >12 months were included. Comparisons were made with a recurrence index adjusted for months of follow up. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were performed in Epi Info 7.2 and SPSS 14.0. A statistical significance is shown if p ≤ 0.05., Results: A total of 58 patients were included, with median age of 28 years (range 1-61) and 55.1% were women. The median of recurrences was 1.4 (range 0.6-16.6). High recurrence index was present in 43.1% of the patients. A higher size of lesions was observed in low socioeconomic groups ( p = .016) and patients with congenital infection had more bilateral compromise ( p = .002). Intake of boiled water was related to a lower recurrence index ( p = .04)., Conclusions: Low socioeconomic level was associated with bigger lesions and congenital infection was related with higher frequency of bilateral OT. Finally, intake of boiled water is related to a lower recurrence index of OT.

The high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the human population in Colombia has been linked to the existence of a high density of urban stray cats, exposing the whole population to a high density of oocysts. The goal of this study was to determine the DNA prevalence of T. gondii by conventional PCR and to phylogenetically analyze ROP18 sequences from positive samples in domestic cat (Felis catus) fecal samples in the city of Armenia, Quindío. Fecal samples from 140 cats were collected from 10 districts around the city. Samples were concentrated using Ritchie's method and analyzed through optical microscopy. Concentrates were used for DNA extraction followed by nested PCR amplification for T. gondii gene B1. PCR for ROP18 was performed on all B1 positive samples; the ROP18 sequences obtained were related to the Archetype I Brazilian and Chinese strains. No oocysts were detected by optical microscopy; however, 17.8% (25/140) B1 and 24% (6/25) ROP18 PCR-positive samples were detected. Phylogenetic analyses showed that isolates clustered into a single group. We assessed whether associations existed between T. gondii positive fecal samples and survey variables such as cat healthcare and socioeconomic characteristics of owners, but no statistically significant associations were found. The presence of T. gondii in cat feces is an important factor contributing to the high prevalence in the human population of this city., (© A. Zamora-Vélez et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2020.)

Objectives: To establish the prognostic value, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the OESIL syncope risk score to predict the presentation of severe outcomes (death, invasive interventions, and readmission) after 6 months of observation in adults who consulted the emergency department due to syncope., Methods: Observational, prospective, and multicentre study with enrolment of subjects older than 18 years, who consulted in the emergency department due to syncope. A record was mad of the demographic and clinical information of all patients. The OESIL risk score was calculated, and severe patient outcomes were followed up during a 6 month period using telephone contact., Results: A total of 161 patients met the inclusion criteria and were followed up for 6 months. A score above or equal to 2 in the risk score, classified as high risk, was present in 72% of the patients. The characteristics of the risk score to predict the combined outcome of mortality, invasive interventions, and readmission for a score above or equal to 2 were 75.7, 30.5, 43.1, and 64.4% for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, respectively., Conclusions: A score above or equal to 2 in the OESIL risk score applied in Colombian population was of limited use to predict the studied severe outcomes. This score will be unable to discriminate between patients that benefit of early admission and further clinical studies., (Copyright © 2017 Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for acute and chronic liver failure, for selected cases of tumors, and for conditions resulting from errors in metabolism. This paper reports the experience of a medical center in Latin America., Methods: Were conducted 305 orthotopic liver transplantations on 284 patients between 2004 and 2010. Of these patients, 241 were adults undergoing their first transplantation., Results: The average age of patients was 52 years old, and 62% of the individuals were male. The most common indication was alcoholic cirrhosis. The rate of patient survival after 1 and 5 years was 82 and 72% respectively. The rate of liver graft survival after 1 and 5 years was 78 and 68% respectively. The main cause of death was sepsis. Complications in the hepatic artery were documented for 5% of the patients. Additionally, 14.5% of the patients had complications in the biliary tract. Infections were found in 41% of the individuals. Acute rejection was observed in 30% of the subjects, and chronic rejection in 3%., Conclusion: In conclusion, liver transplantation at our medical center in Colombia offers good mid-term results, with a complication rate similar to that reported by other centers around the world.

Phlebotomine vector ecology was studied in the largest recorded outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia in 2004. In two rural townships that had experienced contrasting patterns of case incidence, this study evaluated phlebotomine species composition, seasonal abundance, nocturnal activity, blood source, prevalence of Leishmania infection, and species identification. CDC miniature light traps were used to trap the phlebotomines. Traps were set indoors, peridomestically, and in woodlands. Natural infection was determined in pools by polymerase chain reaction-Southern blot, and blood sources and species identification were determined by sequencing. Large differences were observed in population abundance between the two townships evaluated. Lutzomyia longiflocosa was the most abundant species (83.1%). Abundance was higher during months with lower precipitation. Nocturnal activity was associated with human domestic activity. Blood sources identified were mainly human (85%). A high prevalence of infection was found in L. longiflocosa indoors (2.7%) and the peridomestic setting (2.5%). L. longiflocosa was responsible for domestic transmission in Chaparral.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis in a Colombian cohort., Methods: We collected prospectively the clinical features of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis seen at the 'Universidad del Quindio' health centre between September 2005 and September 2007 (24 months)., Results: Seventy patients were included in the analysis (95 affected eyes). The median age at the first episode was 21 years (range: 1-54 years). Thirty-two patients had active lesions (45.7%), one of them had active lesions in both eyes. The acquisition of infection was determined in 14 patients as congenital (20%), in seven as an acquired postnatal infection (10%), and in 49 as undetermined (70%). Bilateral involvement was found in 25 cases (35.7%). Unilateral legal blindness (<20/200) was found in 14 of 37 inactive cases (37.8%). The most frequent complication was strabismus (n: 12; 13.4%)., Conclusions: There is a high incidence of cases of ocular toxoplasmosis in Quindio region (three new episodes by 100,000 inhabitants by year). Clinical features of ocular toxoplasmosis in Colombia are similar to those reported in other regions but there are no comparative data about the size and number of lesions.

We studied the frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies in serum of 28 immunocompetent Colombian patients, selected by ophthalmologists and with lesions that were compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis. Patients were classified in three groups: (i) group 1 consisted of ten patients with a first episode; (ii) group 2, with seven patients with a recurrence and (iii) group 3, consisted of eleven patients with chronic chorioretinal lesion without uveitis. We found that 10/28 (35%) of Colombian patients with ocular toxoplasmosis possessed at least one serological marker for Toxoplasma infection different from IgG. In group 1 (first episode), we found simultaneous presence of specific IgM plus IgA plus IgE in 1/10 (10%). In group 2 (recurrences) in 1/7 (14%) we found IgM and IgA test positives and in 1/7 (14%) we found IgM and IgE tests positives. In group 3 (toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar) the IgA serological test was positive in 2/11 (18%). These results show that serum IgM or IgA or IgE can be present during recurrences.

In order to study polymorphisms of the DNA insertion sequence 6110 (IS6110) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from Colombian patients, together with resistance to antituberculous medications in the Department of Quindío, Colombia, a prospective study was conducted using a consecutive sample of 59 patients with symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis whose cases had been confirmed by bacilloscopy, both with and without a history of treatment. The patients, who were participating in the Tuberculosis Control Program of the Regional Health Institute of Quindío in Armenia, included all individuals attending local health centers and hospitals between March and July 1993 who were referred to the regional institute. Sputum specimens from each patient were cultured and subjected to drug sensitivity tests. Subsequently, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of IS6110 from 27 patients were analyzed. The patients' treatment histories were used to classify their cases according to WHO criteria. Forty-five cultures were found positive, 44 for M. tuberculosis and 1 for M. africanum. Initial drug resistance was observed in 4 of 42 new cases, or 9.5% (95% CI: 0.6, 18), 2 showing resistance to isoniazid (INH) and 2 to isoniazid plus streptomycin (INH-SM). Acquired resistance was observed in 2 of the 3 chronic cases and relapses, the bacteria being resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, and streptomycin (INH-RM-SM) in one case and to isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, and streptomycin (INH-EMB-RM-SM) in the other. In those 27 strains subjected to RFLP analysis, the number of copies of IS6110 ranged from 6 to 17. Similarity coefficients revealed five distinct groups of strains. Overall, the RFLP analysis permitted most of the strains to be distinguished from one another, implying that the polymorphisms involved are sufficient to permit effective employment of this technique, which appears to have considerable potential for use in epidemiologic studies and in work designed to provide a basis for tuberculosis control program decision-making.

The purpose of this study was to determine the polymorphism of insertion segment 6110 (IS6110) in strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from Colombian patients as well as the current status of resistance to antituberculosis drugs in the department of Quindío, Colombia. To this end, a prospective study was performed with a consecutive sample of 59 patients who sought care at local health centers and hospitals in rural and urban areas of Quindío from March to July 1993. The patients in the sample had symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by bacteriologic inspection of sputum, with and without a history of treatment, and were participants in the Tuberculosis Control Program of the Sectional Health Institute of Quindío in Armenia, Colombia. Sputum cultures and drug sensitivity tests were done. Later, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of IS6110 were analyzed in accordance with the protocols of van Soolingen et al. (1992). Cases were classified by treatment history, applying the criteria of WHO (1991). The results showed 44 cultures positive for M. tuberculosis and one positive for M. africanum. Primary drug resistance was found in 4 of 42 cultures, or 9.5% (CI 95%: 0.6 to 18); 4.8% were resistant to isoniazid (INH) and 4.8% to isoniazid and streptomycin (INH-SM). Acquired resistance was found in two of three cultures, or 66% (to isoniazid, rifampicin, and streptomycin [INH-RM-SM] and to isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, and streptomycin [INH-EMB-RM-SM]). In 27 strains submitted to RFLP analysis, the number of copies of IS6110 varied from 6 to 17. Similarity coefficients revealed five distinct groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)