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Introduction: Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare benign entity that affects the mesentery, often detected incidentally in an imaging examination. Its association with cancer is a controversial topic. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of this condition in a known oncological population and compare it with that of a control population.

Methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective study, comparative with a control group. Patients referred for PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) staging for recently diagnosed cancer, who had not been treated and had no history of other previous cancer, were selected. This oncological group was separated according to type of cancer. The control group included patients referred for multiple traumatic injuries to undergo computed tomography that included the abdomen and pelvis. Control patients with a history of cancer were excluded. In both cases, the images were reviewed in search of mesenteric panniculitis.

Results: Of the oncological group (1911 patients), 5.2% presented mesenteric panniculitis. The types of cancer with the highest frequency of mesenteric panniculitis were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16.1%) and prostate cancer (12.8%), followed by multiple myeloma (6.9%), urothelial carcinoma (6.2%), cancer of the head and neck (5.3%) and pancreatic cancer (5.2%). Hodgkin lymphoma and cancers exclusive to women (breast, cervix, uterus, ovary) presented a low frequency of mesenteric panniculitis, similar to the control population. The frequency of mesenteric panniculitis in the control population (1056 individual) was 0.6%. The Odds Ratio of the oncological population vs. control for mesenteric panniculitis exposure was 9.6 (95% CI4.2249 to 22.1015, p < 0,0001).

Conclusions: The frequency of mesenteric panniculitis depends on the type of cancer, and it is high in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and prostate cancer, but low and similar to that of the control population in other neoplasms.

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a multisystemic genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the gene, characterized by variable clinical manifestations such as pigmentary abnormalities, neurofibromas, skeletal dysplasia, and tumor predisposition. However, genotype-phenotype correlations remain insufficiently explored, particularly in underrepresented populations.

Methods: Three unrelated Ecuadorian pediatric patients with a presumptive diagnosis of NF1 underwent detailed clinical evaluation, next-generation sequencing (NGS), using the TruSight Cancer panel, and ancestry analysis based on 46 ancestry-informative insertion-deletion (InDel) markers. Variants were classified according to ACMG/AMP guidelines using the Franklin and Variant Interpreter platforms, which incorporate in silico prediction tools to assess variant pathogenicity.

Results: Three distinct pathogenic variants were identified: one nonsense (p.Arg1534Ter) and two missense (p.Gln20His, p.Asp1644Asn). Clinical findings included early-onset orbital plexiform neurofibroma, multiple café-au-lait macules, axillary/inguinal freckling, radial bone dysplasia, cutaneous neurofibromas, and prepubertal gynecomastia. All patients exhibited predominantly Native American ancestry. analyses predicted a pathogenic classification of all variants. Early pigmentary signs, present in all cases, served as key diagnostic indicators.

Conclusions: This case series expands the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of NF1 in a pediatric Ecuadorian cohort. Findings underscore the diagnostic value of early pigmentary signs and highlight less commonly reported manifestations such as radial bone dysplasia and prepubertal gynecomastia. Integrating molecular diagnostics with early clinical evaluation may enable earlier and more precise diagnosis, guiding personalized management strategies. Further studies should investigate genotype-phenotype correlations and the influence of ancestry on NF1 expression.

Introduction: This study evaluates the efficacy of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight technology and the Phoenix™ M50 system for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing from bacterial concentrate obtained from urine samples, reducing diagnostic time to 24 hours compared to the traditional 72 hours in a public hospital in Antofagasta, Chile.

Methods: Through differential centrifugation, a bacterial concentrate is obtained directly from urine, allowing the preparation of a McFarland standard for identification and susceptibility studies. We compared the identification and minimal inhibitory concentration results obtained from the bacterial concentrate with those obtained from the strain isolated in culture.

Results: 380 samples were analyzed after exclusions. Direct identification showed 93.4% sensitivity and 73.8% specificity, with moderate agreement (κ=0.604) versus culture. had 98.5% concordance. For antimicrobial susceptibility test, Phoenix M50 performed well with , meeting Cumitech 31A standards for 13 out of 19 antibiotics. In contrast, only 8 of 19 antibiotics met the criteria for .

Conclusions: The antimicrobial susceptibility method varies depending on the species-antibiotic combination; therefore, specific studies for each species are crucial. Despite these challenges, the direct method offers significant advantages in diagnostic speed and emphasize its potential for improving clinical decision-making, though further validation and protocol refinement are needed, particularly for Gram-positive pathogens.

Introduction: In 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 93% of the countries in the Region of the Americas continued to report interruptions in essential health services, with worse outcomes in vulnerable social groups. The present study aims to describe barriers to access to health care in Chile, disaggregated by sex and international migrant status.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, analyzing the results of the CASEN 2022 survey of persons ≥18 years of age. We calculated ascription, effective access and health barriers by international migrant status and sex. Multiple logistic regression models were performed adjusting for age, rurality, educational level, occupation, and income quintile. The model was expressed as an adjusted Odds Ratio (ORadj) with a 95% confidence interval in STATA v.18.5.

Results: For the year 2022 in Chile, a total of 14,767,688 people were represented in this study, with a mean age of 45.4 years (SD: 17.8), 51.2% were women and 9.27% were migrants. Regarding health insurance, 3.11% of the population was not affiliated with the health system, with men (ORadj: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.54-0.68) and immigrants (ORadj: 10.3; 8.78-12.15) being the most affected groups. In terms of effective access, 17.4% had health needs, with a predominance of the female sex (ORadj: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.21-1.32). However, of those who had needs and expressed them, 39.2% expressed unmet needs, with a higher probability of showing it in women (ORadj: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.10-1.27).

Conclusions: In Chile, health system coverage remains a challenge for men and the migrant population. We observe with concern high percentages of unmet health needs, particularly among women. The intersection of sex and international migration reveals a dual vulnerability in access to health care that warrants further study.

Introduction: Diabetes-related foot infections are a common cause of hospitalization and are associated with prolonged hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and poor outcomes. However, information on clinical risk factors for prolonged hospital stay in resource-limited settings is scarce. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with prolonged hospital stay in patients hospitalized for diabetes-related foot infection.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted with diabetes-related foot infection at Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren part of the Peruvian Social Security system, between 2020 and 2021. Clinical characteristics, wound features, and treatment types were collected from electronic medical records. Prolonged hospital stay was defined as more than 10 days according to national guidelines. Associations with prolonged hospital stay were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance.

Results: A total of 228 patients were included (76.3% male; median age: 66 years). The most frequent comorbidities were atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (56.6%), arterial hypertension (54.8%), and chronic kidney disease (42%). Overall, 50.5% of patients were treated with bedside wound debridement; 25.4% underwent minor amputation; and 24.1% received surgical management (major amputation or operating-room debridement). Prolonged hospital stay occurred in 49.6% of patients. Independent risk factors included wound length >5 cm (adjusted relative risk: 1.63; 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 2.26), surgical management (1.63; 1.40 to 2.97), minor amputation (1.63; 1.22 to 2.63), and a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (1.63; 1.08 to 1.84).

Conclusions: Nearly half of patients with diabetes-related foot infection experienced prolonged hospital stay. Larger wound size, surgical treatment, minor amputation, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were associated with prolonged hospitalization. Identifying these factors may guide clinical decisions to reduce hospital stays in resource-limited health systems.

Introduction: Bariatric and metabolic surgery is a safe and effective method for treating clinically severe obesity. In Argentina, Law 26 396 and its amendments establish the regulatory framework for its coverage. However, administrative, regulatory, and financial barriers limit effective access to it, with gaps remaining in its scope and understanding. This study aimed to explore surgeons' and health insurance providers' perceptions of the implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Argentina, within the framework of Law 26 396, and to identify the barriers that impede effective, timely access.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study comprising 16 in-depth virtual interviews with eight surgeons specializing in bariatric and metabolic surgery and eight health insurance officers of the Argentine healthcare system, conducted between November and December 2024. The sampling was intentional. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. A thematic and recursive analysis was conducted, enabling us to identify emerging categories.

Results: We identified multiple barriers and challenges to the effective implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery in Argentina, including geographic inequalities, heterogeneity in surgical module agreements, administrative and bureaucratic restrictions related to variability in the interpretation of the law and its requirements, high costs, and the imposition of quotas that delay timely access, among others.

Conclusions: The implementation of bariatric and metabolic surgery presents structural and functional challenges that affect equitable and timely access. Although Law 26 396 and its subsequent regulations established a regulatory framework for its coverage, tensions among healthcare system actors and regional disparities have resulted in heterogeneous implementation. Administrative and financial barriers persist, affecting its effective and timely practice. We highlight the need to strengthen coordination between physicians and health insurance providers, promoting opportunities for dialogue that optimize authorization and funding processes.

This study aims to analyze Chile's policy governing access to the emergency contraceptive pill from the perspective of Walt and Gilson's policy triangle. Its purpose is to generate evidence on relevant actors, implementation, activities, and decisions taken. Through a retrospective case study with a qualitative-analytical approach, supported by a literature review, official reports available online, and analysis of relevant documents, an empirical analysis was conducted using a qualitative-descriptive synthesis matrix based on the Policy Triangle. The analysis followed a historical structure organized into four time periods that characterized the political process surrounding the emergency contraceptive pill in Chile. The main results highlight the participation of numerous sociopolitical actors in formulating the public policy to secure access to the emergency contraceptive pill, within a context of persistent ideological tensions. These dynamics were expressed in arguments that at different moments strengthened or weakened the policy process. Although issues were progressively resolved and the policy remains a work in progress, the process contributed to strengthening the reproductive rights of Chilean women. In conclusion, Walt and Gilson's policy triangle, as an interpretive tool, offers concrete opportunities to analyze public policy in health, confirming the importance of interaction among health authorities, politicians, academic groups, and civil society organizations in matters related to health in general and respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of women with the introduction of emergency contraception.