Background Healthcare Workers (HCW) are repeatedly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW in one of the largest cities in Colombia. Methods We conducted a case–control study, where cases had a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and controls had a negative result. Participants were randomly selected and interviewed by phone. Analyses were performed using logistic regression models. Results A total of 110 cases and 113 controls were included. Men (AdjOR 4.13 95% CI 1.70–10.05), Nurses (AdjOR 11.24 95% CI 1.05–119.63), not using a high-performance filtering mask (AdjOR 2.27 95% CI 1.02–5.05) and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (AdjOR 4.82 95% CI 1.18–19.65) were identified as risk factors. Conversely, graduate (AdjOR 0.06 95% CI 0.01–0.53) and postgraduate (AdjOR 0.05 95% CI 0.005–0.7) education, feeling scared or nervous (AdjOR 0.45 95% CI 0.22–0.91), not always wearing any gloves, caps and goggles/face shields (AdjOR 0.10 95% CI 0.02–0.41), and the use of high-performance filtering or a combination of fabric plus surgical mask (AdjOR 0.27 95% CI 0.09–0.80) outside the workplace were protective factors. Conclusion This study highlights the protection provided by high-performance filtering masks or double masking among HCW. Modifiable and non-modifiable factors and the difficulty of wearing other protective equipment needs to be considered in designing, implementing and monitoring COVID-19 biosafety protocols for HCW.

We had the challenged to treat a 40-year-old female with Systemic Scleroderma who was showing unspecific symptoms. During her time at the hospital she rapidly develops renal dysfunction, associated with hypertension. She required renal replacement therapy initiation and we observed a decline in hemoglobin and platelets numbers. We confirm a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and rule out other immune diseases or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Systemic Sclerosis is a chronic immune disorder of unknown origin that it is not completely understood. It is believed that environmental factors may contribute and also altered genes may be implicated in the immune system's function. Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia occurs in 43% of patients who develop scleroderma renal crisis and an activation of the complement system through the classical pathway may be involved. Given that context we decided to treat the patients with C5 blocker Eculizumab and obtain an extraordinary positive response.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a primary bone marrow tumor that very rarely develops in extra-osseous tissues, such as lung. The hallmark of ES tumors is a translocation between chromosomes 11 and 22, resulting in a fusion protein, commonly referred to as EWS-FLI1. The epigenetic profile (histone acetylation and methylation enrichment of the promoter region) that may regulate the expression of the aberrant transcription factor EWS-FLI1, remains poorly studied and understood. Knowledge of epigenetic patterns associated with covalent histone modification and expression of enzymes associated with this process, can contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the disease, as well as to the identification of possible molecular targets involved in expression of the EWS-FLI1 gene, so that therapeutic strategies may be improved in the future. In the present study, the transcriptional activation and repression of the EWS-FLI1 fusion gene in ES was accompanied by selective deposition of histone markers on its promoter. The EWS-FLI1 fusion gene was evaluated in two patients with ES using conventional cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization and nested PCR assays, which revealed that the aberrant expression of the EWS-FLI1 gene is accompanied by enrichment of H3K4Me3, H3K9ac and H3K27ac at the promoter region.

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Background: Healthcare Workers (HCW) are repeatedly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW in one of the largest cities in Colombia. Methods: We conducted a case-control study, where cases had a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and controls had a negative result. Participants were randomly selected and interviewed by phone. Analyses were performed using logistic regression models. Results: A total of 110 cases and 113 controls were included. Men (AdjOR 4.1 95%CI 1.7-10), Nurses (AdjOR 11.2 95%CI 1.1-119.6), not using a high-performance filtering mask (AdjOR 2.2 95%CI 1-5.1) and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (AdjOR 4.8 95%CI 1.1-19.6) were identified as risk factors. Conversely, graduate (AdjOR 0.1 95%CI 0.01-0.5) and postgraduate (AdjOR 0.05 95%CI 0.004-0.5) education, feeling scared or nervous (AdjOR 0.5 95%CI0.2-0.9), not wearing any of gloves, hat and googles/face shields (AdjOR 0.1 95%CI0.02-0.4), and the use of high-performance filtering or a combination of fabric plus surgical mask (AdjOR 0.2 95%CI 0.1-0.8) outside the workplace were protective factors. Conclusion: This study highlights the protection provided by high-performance filtering mask or double masking among HCW. Individual factors and the difficulties of wearing other protective equipment needs to be considered in designing, implementing and monitoring COVID-19 biosafety protocols for HCW.