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Serologic response to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) virus-like particles in HPV-16 DNA-positive invasive cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III patients and controls from Colombia and Spain.

A human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 virus-like particle-based ELISA was used to assess antivirion immune responses in 300 women participating in cervical cancer case-control studies in Colombia and Spain. Virion IgG antibodies were detected in the sera of 51% and 59% of women with HPV-16 DNA-positive invasive cervical cancer and 81% and 73% of women with HPV-16 DNA-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) in Colombia and Spain, respectively. Capsid antibodies were detected in 22% and 3% of cancer controls (P < .001) and in 43% and 10% of CIN III controls (P = .010) from Colombia and Spain, respectively. Since Colombia has an 8-fold higher incidence of cervical cancer, these results demonstrate an association between ELISA positivity and cancer risk. Capsid antibody responses did not correlate with humoral responses of the same women to HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Molecular epidemiology of rabies epizootics in Colombia: evidence for human and dog rabies associated with bats.

Three urban rabies outbreaks have been reported in Colombia during the last two decades, one of these is occurring in the Caribbean Region (northern Colombia), while the other two occurred almost simultaneously in Arauca (eastern Colombia) and in the Central Region and ended in 1997. In order to derive phylogenetic relationships between rabies viruses isolated in these three areas, 902 nt cDNA fragments encoding the cytoplasmic domain of protein G and a fragment of protein L were obtained by RT-PCR. These amplicons contained the G-L intergenic region and were sequenced to draw phylogenetic trees. Phylogenetic analysis showed three distinct groups of viruses in the study sample. Colombian genetic variant I viruses were isolated in both Arauca and the Central Region. These viruses are apparently extinct in Colombia. Colombian genetic variant II viruses were isolated in the Caribbean Region and are still being transmitted in that area. The third group of viruses consists of viruses isolated from two insectivorous bats, three domestic dogs and a human. According to sequence analysis, the data here indicate that the isolates in this third group are bat rabies virus variants. This finding is the first that associates bats to rabies in Colombian dogs and humans, showing an unsuspected vector threatening animal and public health.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evaluation of institutional cancer registries in Colombia.

The four primary objectives of this descriptive study were to: 1) design a quality-measurement instrument for institutional cancer registries (ICRs), 2) evaluate the existing ICRs in Colombia with the designed instrument, 3) categorize the different registries according to their quality and prioritize efforts that will efficiently promote better registries with the limited resources available, and 4) determine the institution with the greatest likelihood of successfully establishing Colombia's second population-based cancer registry. In 1990 the National Cancer Institute of Colombia developed 13 institution-based cancer registries in different Colombian cities in order to promote the collection of data from a large group of cancer diagnostic and treatment centers. During the first half of 1997, this evaluation reviewed 12 registries; one of the original 13 no longer existed. All of the Colombian institutions (hospitals) that maintain institution-based cancer registries were included in the study. At each institution, a brief survey was administered to the hospital director, the registry coordinator, and the registrar (data manager). Researchers investigated the institutions by looking at six domains that are in standard use internationally. Within each domain, questions were developed and selected through the Delphi method. Each domain and each question were assigned weights through a consensus process. In most cases, two interviewers went to each site to collect the information. The university hospitals in Cali, Pereira, and Medellín had substantially higher scores, reflecting a good level of performance. Four of the 12 institutions had almost no cancer registry work going on. Five of the 12 hospital directors considered that the information provided by the cancer registries influenced their administrative decisions. Three of the registries had patient survival data. Four of the institutions allocated specific resources to operate their cancer registries; in the other 8 hospitals there was no clear budget allocation. Seven of the hospital directors could not identify five or more objectives of a cancer registry. Data management was usually poor and resources insufficient at most of the institutions. In summary, the cancer registry system in Colombia varies greatly from institution to institution. A few of the hospitals do a good job while others have neglected the registries. The high, identical total scores for Pereira and Medellín suggest they would be good locations to establish new population-based cancer registries similar to the existing one in Cali. However, the overall characteristics in Pereira may provide a more appropriate environment for the second registry, with Medellín as an alternative.

Colombia↗

[Estimating the supply of medical specialists in Colombia by using the capture-recapture method].

OBJECTIVE: Given that it is not known how many medical doctors there are in Colombia and that, without that datum, studies of demand are simply theoretical exercises, we proposed to estimate the supply of 12 medical specialties in Colombia, using the capture-recapture technique, which was developed by zoologists to estimate wild-animal populations. METHODS: Three lists, or "captures," were used: 1) university degrees obtained abroad and graduates of postgraduate programs in Colombia, 2) members of medical societies, and 3) specialists in the principal health care enterprises. To estimate the total population we used the CAPTURE software program. RESULTS: A total of 24,910 records were obtained: 8,397 from the university records, 6,561 from the scientific societies, and 9,952 from the health care businesses. More than half of the physicians have entered the labor market during the last decade. The estimated number of physicians (with the 95% confidence interval) for each specialty was: anesthesiology, 1,753 (1,727 to 1,789); cardiology, 607 (598 to 624); dermatology, 517 (514 to 525); obstetrics and gynecology, 2,338 (2,290 to 2,400); pulmonary disease, 304 (297 to 320); neurosurgery, 324 (319 to 334); neurology, 321 (296 to 369); ophthalmology, 1,049 (1,042 to 1,061); orthopedics, 1,217 (1,212 to 1,227); otolaryngology, 634 (628 to 645); psychiatry, 855 (838 to 879); and urology, 452 (452 to 458). CONCLUSIONS: The capture-recapture technique is useful in the study of human resources. In Colombia the number of specialists doubled in less than a decade. There are specialties that are already oversupplied, such as neurosurgery. All the other specialties show growth rates that indicate a future over-supply for the health care system.

Colombia↗

[Identifying barriers to food and nutrition policies in Colombia: a study using the Delphi method].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the most important barriers to the development and progress of Colombia's National Food and Nutrition Plan (NFNP) (which was enacted in 1996), from the viewpoint of food and nutrition plan planners, implementers, and academicians. METHODS: The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage consisted of a pilot study in 1998 based on individual interviews with 35 key informants with knowledge of nutrition policies in Colombia, in order to identify possible groups of experts with experience in the development of the NFNP and also to confirm the relevance and feasibility of the research. The second stage consisted of a study using the Delphi method with 77 experts who identified the principal barriers that the NFNP was facing. In a second step in the Delphi process, 58 of the experts took the 10 barriers that had been mentioned most frequently in the first step and then ranked those barriers, using a point scale from 1 to 10. In order to analyze the individual responses overall and by the three groups (planners, implementers, and academicians), we calculated the mean, the median, and the standard deviation of the scores, and we then ranked the barriers according to their median point scores. When median values were the same, we then utilized the higher mean or the smaller standard deviation. We had meetings to discuss those results with the participating experts in order to assess the soundness of our interpretations, to explore the usefulness of the study, and to formulate recommendations. RESULTS: The five most important barriers identified were: (1) the poor linkage between the NFNP and other social and economic policies, and the lack of consistency with agriculture and foreign policies; (2) the lack of coordination between different sectors and administrative organizations in Colombia; (3) administrative corruption, which was made worse by violence and the lack of security; (4) inequity in the distribution of resources; and (5) the lack of continuity in the commitment by the different sectors that are involved. The experts who attended the sessions where the results were discussed said that their opinions had been interpreted correctly, and they also suggested possible ways to apply the study results and thus improve the operations of the NFNP. CONCLUSIONS: Food and nutrition policies in Colombia have faced various obstacles, both from outside sources and from within the policies themselves, which can limit their usefulness to society. There is need to create a coordinating body for the NFNP.

Colombia↗

[Erythrocyte defects and parasitemia density in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Buenaventura, Colombia].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of some erythrocyte defects and to evaluate the relation that that has with parasitemia density in individuals diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a population in the Pacific coastal region of Colombia. METHODS: This prevalence study was carried out with 242 persons with P. falciparum malaria who had gone for consultation at the Program of Tropical Diseases diagnostic center in the city of Buenaventura, Colombia. The parasitemia levels were measured, and also determined was the presence of congenital erythrocyte defects (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, abnormal hemoglobins, and thalassemias) and of other factors possibly related to parasitemia levels. RESULTS: The prevalence of erythrocyte defects was 26.4% (95% confidence interval, 21.0%-32.5%), which was similar to what had been found in previous studies in the same area of Colombia. In the multiple regression models, individuals with sickle cell anemia or a complete deficiency of G6PD had a lower density of parasitemia than did persons without any erythrocyte defect. After adjusting for other variables of interest, the risk of high parasitemias was lower in persons with sickle cell anemia (odds ratio = 0.30) and individuals with a complete deficiency of G6PD (odds ratio = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the high prevalence of erythrocyte defects in Colombia's Pacific coastal region, in a population with ethnic characteristics that are similar to those of some populations in West Africa. Our results also lend support for the existence of innate resistance to malaria among carriers of hemoglobin AS and in persons with G6PD deficiency.

Adult↗

Genotype by environment interaction for Holstein milk yield in Colombia, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Components of (co)variance and genetic parameters were estimated by REML procedures from first lactation mature equivalent Holstein milk records from 54,604 Colombian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican cows and 198,079 US cows. The objective was to determine the cause of heterogeneous daughter response to sire selection for milk yield between the regions. Data from Latin America were partitioned by country and by herd-year SD class for milk to obtain five joint analyses between the US and Latin America, low herd-year SD, high herd-year SD, Colombia, and Mexico. Sire and residual variances for milk were 41 and 29% smaller in Latin America than in the US, 47 and 58% smaller for low than for high herd-year SD, and 31 and 49% smaller for Colombia than for Mexico. Resultant heritabilities ranged from .20 to .29. Genetic correlations for milk yield between the US and Latin America, low and high herd-year SD, Colombia, and Mexico were .91, .82, .89, .78, and .90. Expected correlated responses for milk in Latin America, low and high herd-year SD, Colombia, and Mexico were 70, 53, 79, 56, and 78% of the direct response in the US. The scaling effects of heterogeneous variance resulted in smaller daughter milk responses in Latin America compared with the US even when herd-year SD was similar.

Animals↗

A review of bartonellosis in Ecuador and Colombia.

A review of the literature regarding bartonellosis or Carrion's disease in Colombia and Ecuador is presented, together with observations made by the author in areas of both countries from which the disease has been recorded. There is evidence from pre-Columbian artifacts that verruga peruana, the cutaneous form of the disease, was present in Ecuador at least 1,000 years prior to the arrival of Europeans. These artifacts were discovered in the coastal province of Manabi, a low-lying area very different from the high Andean valleys of Peru with which bartonellosis is normally associated. Most of the cases recorded in recent years from this coastal area. The disease does not appear to have occurred in Colombia before the 1930s and only one case has been reported during the past 40 years. The possibility of many more subclinical cases being present in both Ecuador and Colombia is discussed, together with the possibility that the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic will reveal a higher prevalence among the inhabitants of endemic areas than previously suspected. Although the suspected vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, the sand fly Lutzomyia verrucarum, has not been recorded from Ecuador or Colombia, related species are present in endemic areas and may be involved in transmission.

Bartonella Infections↗

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

To assess the current epidemiologic status of onchocerciasis in Colombia two surveys were undertaken in 1995 in a suspected new focus on the border between Colombia and Ecuador and in the known focus located on the Micay River. No new focus was found along the Colombia-Ecuador border. In the known focus, communities along the upper Micay River and its tributaries were surveyed; 655 adults underwent physical examinations and skin biopsies. Infected individuals were found almost exclusively in the community of Naiciona, where prevalence of infection was 40% (36 of 91). Polymerase chain reaction detection of onchocercal DNA in skin snips correlated with the skin-snip biopsy results. The prevalence of punctate keratitis, the only ocular manifestation found, was 33%. A rapid entomologic assessment demonstrated Simulium exiguum infected with Onchocerca volvulus. This is the first finding in Colombia of naturally infected black flies and confirms S. exiguum as a vector species. These data will be used for implementing a control program using periodic ivermectin distribution.

Adolescent↗

Increasing mortality rates of common malignancies in Colombia: an emerging problem.

BACKGROUND: As a result of a major social and demographic transition, Colombia is currently undergoing major changes in disease-specific mortality rates, including an increasing burden of cancer death. The current article described some aspects of the evolution of cancer mortality in Colombia and, in particular, highlighted the trends for the most common causes of cancer death in Colombia. METHODS: Cancer deaths registered in the national mortality database from 1981-1996 were used to obtain age-standardized mortality rates by gender and site using the world standard population. The estimated annual percentage change was obtained by fitting a simple log-linear model to the rates in the last decade of recorded data, to gauge recent and near-future cancer mortality trends. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1996, the most common causes of cancer death were gastric carcinoma (17% of all cancer deaths), followed by lung (10.5%), prostate (6.2%), cervical (6%), and colorectal carcinoma (5.4%). There were observed declines in mortality trends noted in both genders for gastric carcinoma. Trends in lung carcinoma appeared to be reaching a plateau among men, but increased among women. There were apparent increases in rates of death from colorectal carcinoma for both genders, and from prostate carcinoma for men. Cervical carcinoma appeared to be increasing moderately. CONCLUSIONS: The authors reported that mortality rates from the most common malignancies are increasing, indicating that effective strategies for cancer control need to be put into immediate practice. To monitor and evaluate future trends, the provision of high-quality data also needs to be addressed.

Colombia↗

Sexually transmitted agents and cervical neoplasia in Colombia and Spain.

Case-control studies of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) and of invasive cervical cancer were carried out in Spain and Colombia to assess the relationship between cervical cancer and 6 common sexually transmitted agents (STAs). The CIN-III studies included 525 cases and 512 controls matched for age and for the place of recruitment; the invasive-cancer studies included 373 histologically confirmed cases of squamous-cell carcinoma and 387 age-stratified controls selected randomly from the populations that generated the cases. Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were tested in 88% of the women. Cervical scrapes were examined for HPV DNA in 63% of the women using a polymerase-chain-reaction assay (PCR). Among controls, the highest antibody prevalence was to CMV (96.5%), followed by HSV-2 (31.4%) and C. trachomatis (23.3%). For all STAs, the sero-prevalence was markedly higher in Colombia than in Spain both for cases and for controls. After adjustment for the presence of HPV DNA, C. trachomatis was the only STA associated with CIN III in both countries; Spain and Colombia. In both countries, the risk of CIN III increased with increasing of C. trachomatis antibody titers. Among Spanish women, an increase in risk of invasive carcinoma was found for those with antibodies to N. gonorrhoeae; those with antibodies to HSV-2 and those with antibodies to C. trachomatis. These associations were present only in HPV-DNA-negative women. Among HPV-DNA-positive women, none of the STAs considered were associated with cervical neoplasia. Our findings could be interpreted as indicating that past infections with HSV-2, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis are surrogate markers of HPV, but because HPV DNA may have escaped detection, we cannot exclude that these STAs are also of separate etiological significance.

Case-Control Studies↗

Ethical challenges in pharmacoepidemiological research in Colombia.

PURPOSE: To illustrate and to discuss some ethical challenges encountered during pharmacoepidemiological research in a developing country (Colombia), as well as the decisions made to solve them. METHODS: The authors in Bogotá describe three recent studies. The first one collected data from clinical records to evaluate the prescriptions patterns in recently graduated physicians. The second used an interrupted time series design, with a set of observations prior and after a combined intervention, to assess whether it improved the quality of intravenous antibiotic prescribing practices in a university-based hospital. The third evaluated pharmacists' advice in childhood acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea through a community survey, followed by focus groups and in-depth interviews of key informers. RESULTS: The ethical issues raised by these studies include the need for obtaining informed consent from participants (physicians in Study 1 and drug sellers in Study 3), deciding when to intervene in case of gross prescription mistakes detected during the collection of data as part of the time series assessment (Study 2), the use of simulated clients to collect data in the community survey, and the use of study resources to buy, in some cases, useless medications (Study 3). CONCLUSION: Although ethical challenges in pharmacoepidemiology in non-industrialized countries like Colombia may be different from those in developed nations, ethical principles that guide research remain the same. The processes to safeguard these principles in Colombia for virtually all research are also universal in nature, and include the ethical review committee, subject privacy, informed consent, and disclosure of funding sources.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

High proportion of BRCA1/2 founder mutations in Hispanic breast/ovarian cancer families from Colombia.

In South America, a high proportion of the population is of Hispanic origin with an important representation in Colombia. Since nothing is known about the contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations to hereditary breast/ovarian cancer in the Hispanic population from Colombia, we conducted the first study of 53 breast/ovarian cancer families from this country. Comprehensive BRCA mutation screening was performed using a range of techniques, including DHPLC, SSCP, and PTT, followed by DNA sequencing analysis. Thirteen deleterious germline mutations (24.5%) were identified in 53 families, comprising eight in BRCA1 and five in BRCA2. The two recurrent BRCA1 mutations, 3450 delCAAG and A1708E, accounted for 100% of all BRCA1 mutations identified in this cohort and the recurrent 3034 delACAA BRCA2 mutation for 40% of all BRCA2 mutations. Haplotype analyses suggested that each of these mutations has arisen from a common ancestor. The prevalence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations was 50% in multiple case breast cancer families, and was 33% for the breast-ovarian cancer families. Our findings show that BRCA mutations account for a substantial proportion of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer in Colombia. The spectrum of mutations differed completely to that previously reported in Hispanic families of predominantly Mexican origin from Southern California [1] suggesting that specific genetic risk assessment strategies for the different Hispanic populations in South America and in the United States need to be developed.

Adult↗

Socioeconomic factors associated with malaria in Colombia.

In spite of progress made to control tropical diseases many developing countries in the world still show high rates of incidence. A program for malaria eradication has been in operation in Colombia since 1953, and the malaria incidence rate was falling until 1971. However, in recent years the rate has begun to rise again in affected areas of the country. The resurgence of the disease leads one to think that traditional methods of controlling it are approaching the saturation point, and a reassessment of the determinants of the problem is needed in order to identify social and economic factors that might be playing an important role by themselves or in association with epidemiological or health determinants of the disease. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology which is being applied to the analysis of social, economic and health determinants of malaria incidence in Colombia. The model is theoretically based on a home economics framework. However, an expansion of the original version is made to take into account social and organizational factors which are thought to be important in the Colombian case. Economic variables included in the testing of the model are income, wealth and occupation. Social variables include education and housing conditions. Health factors considered are nutrition and health services. The model is tested using data collected in July 1982 in one of the most malaria affected areas of Colombia, and preliminary results are presented.

Colombia↗

Juridical and sociocultural problems on the definition of a law concerning property, usage and access to genetic resources in Colombia.

The property, usage, and access to genetic resources, is today one of the primary topics in international business, as a result of the strategic importance of the resources for the biotechnology industry. Internationally, the sovereignty that each country has over its natural patrimony is recognized. However, the new laws of international marketing have obligated countries in the process of development, such as Colombia, to adopt and copy a concept of intellectual property on living resources that does not have anything to do with the country's sociocultural identity, and sometimes even does not take into account its material enjoyment. The new juridical movement that treats genetic resources as private property produces a cultural conflict between indigenous populations, Afro-Americans and peasants, because for them the genetic resources are an element of community life. In these communities, knowledge is freely transmitted; it is an understanding that they have to conserve their agricultural customs and the relationship that they have with the environment. They do not recognize the term "property' according to patenting laws. These elements have to be considered, respected, and guaranteed in the laws that recognize the genetic resources in the country. On the other hand, not even countries that are pioneers in biotechnological development can adopt a concept about patents that is in agreement with the particularities that the living materials possess. This is obviously the reason for the numerous discussions on the legal interpretation, as well as complicated debates in court. Confronting that situation, there are countries rich in biodiversity, such as Colombia, but which do not have a proper concept and are not economically strong in the international context. These countries have to copy inadequate protection policies that do not take into account all their rights. This paper describes some of the technical, juridical, and sociocultural difficulties which Colombia has to confront, in order to set a guideline on patenting living organisms, and on the access and usage of the genetic resources.

Breeding↗

Genomic epidemiology of dengue virus 2 and 3 reveals repeated introductions and exportations of several lineages in Colombia.

Dengue fever, a major mosquito-borne viral disease, is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and poses a significant global health burden. Despite extensive research, the spatiotemporal dynamics of dengue virus (DENV) lineages in Colombia remain understudied. Here, we analyze 11,443 complete genome sequences from Colombia and the Americas to map the genomic epidemiology of DENV-2 and DENV-3. Phylogeographic reconstruction revealed multiple independent introductions and exportations of the DENV-2 II and III lineages, as well as the DENV-3 lineage III_C.2, underscoring Colombia's critical role as both a source and a sink of viral traffic within the Americas. Antigenic profiling demonstrated distinct clustering of emergent lineages in antigenic space, consistent with immune-escape-driven turnover. These results highlight the necessity of sustained, high-resolution genomic surveillance to guide targeted public health interventions and mitigate dengue transmission across the region.

Dengue Virus↗

Is what I have just a cold or is it dengue? Addressing the gap between the politics of dengue control and daily life in Villavicencio-Colombia.

In Colombia, dengue has been a target for public health interventions since the 1950s, with inadequate results. Furthermore, during the last few years in Colombia, the reported cases of dengue have increased. The social and cultural realities of the disease has been shown to be important and has not been considered when creating and implementing prevention and control programs. The paper draws on qualitative research of low- and high-income communities in the vicinity of Villaviecencio, South East Colombia to describe changing practices and direction of dengue prevention and control. It can be clearly observed from individuals' therapeutic itineraries and their perception of disease that public policies advertised in booklets and flyers and on television differ radically from people's everyday reality. This difference influences the success or failure of these policies.

Colombia↗

[Child maltreatment: social representation of the general population and the professionals working with children in the Caribbean area of Colombia].

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to know social representations about child maltreatment (severity, etiology, and intervention strategies) of the general population and the professionals working with children in the Caribbean area of Colombia. METHOD: Sample was composed for 402 participants. From this pool of participants, 111 of them were working in child protection, 95 worked with children but not in the child protection system and 196 pertained to the general population. All participants answered to a questionnaire composed by 86 items. The questionnaire was developed to assess (1) the perceived severity of different typologies of child abuse, (2) opinions about risk factors for child maltreatment and sexual abuse, and (3) opinions about the most adequate ways of intervention with perpetrator of child abuse. RESULTS: Sexual abuse is considered as the most severe typology of child maltreatment and emotional abuse is considered as more severe than physical abuse. No differences between groups were found in perceived severity of typologies of child maltreatment. Differences in the social representation about the etiology of child maltreatment were found. Professionals working in the child protection system give more value to characteristics of parents and to the socio-economic and familiar environment in the etiology of child maltreatment than participants from the general population. Prevention and treatment programs for abusers were considered as the more relevant strategies against child maltreatment. DISCUSSION: Findings of present study suggest that social representations about child maltreatment of general population and professionals from the Caribbean area of Colombia are similar than social representation observed in other regions and countries. It is important to take into account that child labor and child poverty were considered as non-severe typologies of child maltreatment. Moreover, findings suggest that people from general population in the Caribbean area of Colombia have a relevant knowledge about agencies working for child protection.

Caribbean Region↗