Browsing by Author "Giron, Roberto"

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    Gastrointestinal Bleeding Induced by Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis on Post-Mild COVID-19 Patients
    (Springer Nature, 2022-11-07) Guifarro, Daniel A.; Giron, Roberto; Jimenez, Kathya; Solis Almendarez, Carlos Jose C.; Montalvan Sanchez, Eleazar E.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    We describe the case of a 51-year-old man who presented with a palpable purpuric rash and associated four days of lower gastrointestinal bleeding one month after testing positive for COVID-19. Urine studies showed evidence of microscopic hematuria and an increased protein/creatinine ratio. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed distal ileitis, and a skin biopsy was significant for IgA vasculitis. Treatment with methylprednisolone was started, which led to the resolution of symptoms. Immunologic consequences of COVID-19 must not be overlooked, as they have a wide variety of presentations in diverse aged populations. IgA vasculitis is uncommon in adults, as well as gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication related to COVID-19.
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    High-Dose vs. Low-Dose Dexamethasone in Patients With COVID-19: A Cohort Study in Rural Central America
    (Ainosco Press, 2023) Montalvan-Sanchez, Eleazar; Chambergo-Michilot, Diego; Rodriguez-Murillo, Aida A.; Brooks, Alexandra E.; Palacios-Argenal, Dairy; Rivera-Pineda, Shery; Ordonez-Montes, Jose; Estevez-Ramirez, Rosa; Riva-Moscoso, Adrian; Norwood, Dalton A.; Calderon-Rodriguez, Alex; Pineda-SanMartin, Elizabeth; Giron, Roberto; Rivera-Corrales, Luis; Carcamo-Murillo, Balduino; Garner, Orlando; Medicine, School of Medicine
    To compare the clinical outcomes of a low dose dexamethasone strategy vs. a high-dose dexamethasone strategy in hypoxemic COVID-19 patients. A retrospective observational study comparing low-dose (8 mg) and high-dose dexamethasone (24 mg) of COVID-19 patients admitted from September 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020 in a hospital in Honduras. We included 81 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who required oxygen therapy. The mean age was similar between groups (57.49 vs. 56.95 years). There were more male patients in the group of 24 mg ( p = 0.01). Besides, patients on the 24 mg dose had more prevalence of hypertension ( p = 0.052). More patients in the 24 mg group had a higher rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (15.00% vs. 2.56%, p = 0.058). When evaluating the association between the high dose group and outcomes, we find no significant association with mortality, nosocomial infections, high flow mask, invasive mechanical ventilation, or the need for vasopressors. We find no significant differences in the Kaplan–Meier analysis regarding the survival (log-rank p -value = 0.315). We did not find significant differences between the use of 24 mg and 8 mg of dexamethasone in hypoxemic COVID-19 patients.
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    Prevalence of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in the High Cardiovascular Risk Setting of Rural Western Honduras
    (Ethnicity & Disease, 2024-04-10) Montalvan-Sanchez, Eleazar E.; Rodriguez-Murillo, Aida; Carrasco-Stoval, Tiffani; Carrera, Keila; Beas, Renato; Giron, Roberto; Jerez-Moreno, Valeria; Soriano-Turcios, Roque Antonio; Reyes-Guerra, Orlando; Torres, Karla; Izquierdo-Veraza, Diego; Torres, Tatiana; Beran, Azizullah A.; Montalvan-Sanchez, Daniela; Norwood, Dalton A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Objective: To determine the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the population older than 45 years in rural Western Honduras and contribute to the limited literature on MS in Central America. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the District of Copan. The study includes 382 men and women aged 45 to 75 years. With proper consent, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid profile were evaluated. MS was diagnosed by using the National Cholesterol Education Program Criteria - Adult Panel Treatment III (NCEP-ATP III). Data were stored in REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) and analyzed with STATA14. Results: Data were collected on 382 patients; of these, 38% were male and 62% female. The prevalence of obesity was 24.1% for both sexes. The prevalence of MS was 64.9%. Prevalence in males and females was 54% and 71%, respectively. Notable parameters were elevated triglycerides (71%), low High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (63.4%), and abdominal obesity (56.8%). In men, the distribution of MS was more homogeneous, with a mean result of 80% amongst all ages. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of obesity and MS is severely underestimated in rural Honduras. The most remarkable parameter for MS was high triglycerides (71%). Sixty-nine percent of the population has above-normal Body Mass Index (BMI). Public health efforts to control comorbidities and tackle risk factors in this population should take utmost priority.