The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM 2) is decreasing in developed countries despite the increase in the percentage of subjects with obesity and other well-recognized cardiovascular risk factors. In contrast, the recent transition of the economic model experienced by developing countries, characterized by the adoption of a Western lifestyle, that we have named "socioeconomic pathology," has led to an increase in the burden of CVD. It has been demonstrated that conventional cardiovascular risk factors in developed and developing countries are the same. Why then does the population of developing countries currently have a higher incidence of CVD than that of developed countries if they share the same risk factors? We have proposed the existence of a higher susceptibility to the development of systemic inflammation at low levels of abdominal obesity in the population of developing countries and the consequent endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, DM 2, and CVD. In contrast, an important percentage of obese people living in developed countries have a healthy phenotype and low risk of developing CVD and DM 2. Human epidemiologic studies and experimental dietary interventions in animal models have provided considerable evidence to suggest that nutritional imbalance and metabolic disturbances early in life may later have a persistent effect on an adult's health that may even be transmitted to the next generations. Epigenetic changes dependent on nutrition could be key in this evolutionary health behavior, acting as a buffering system, permitting the adaptation to environmental conditions by silencing or increasing the expression of certain genes.

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Rapidly growing mycobacteria are non-tuberculous mycobacteria amply present in the environment. Although they are not usually pathogenic for humans, they are opportunistic in that they can cause disease in people with disadvantageous conditions or who are immunocompromised. Mycobacterium peregrinum, an opportunistic, rapidly growing mycobacteria, belongs to the M. fortuitum group and has been reported as responsible for human cases of mycobacteriosis. A case of M. peregrinum type III is herein reported as the first in Colombia. It presented as a disseminated disease involving a prosthetic aortic valve (endocarditis) in a seventeen-year-old girl with a well-established diagnosis of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis who was referred for a surgical replacement. Due to a congenital heart disease (subaortic stenosis with valve insufficiency), she had two previous aortic valve implantation surgeries. One year after the second implantation, the patient presented with respiratory symptoms and weight lost indicative of lung tuberculosis. A chest X-ray did not show parenchymal compromise but several Ziehl-Neelsen stains were positive. An echocardiography showed a vegetation on the prosthetic aortic valve. In blood and sputum samples, M. peregrinum type III was identified through culture, biochemical tests and hsp65 gene molecular analysis (PRA). The patient underwent a valve replacement and received a multidrug antimycobacterial treatment. Progressive recovery ensued and further samples from respiratory tract and blood were negative for mycobacteria.Key words: Mycobacterium, Mycobacterium peregrinum infections, aortic valve, endocarditis, Colombia. Micobacteriosis diseminada con compromiso de válvula aórtica protésica: primer caso de Mycobacterium peregrinum de tipo III reportada en ColombiaLas micobacterias de rápido crecimiento son microorganismos pertenecientes a las micobacterias no tuberculosas que tienen amplia distribución ambiental. Aunque usualmente no son patógenas para los humanos, en condiciones desfavorables, pueden causar enfermedad en la población general o en huéspedes inmunocomprometidos, por lo cual se consideran oportunistas. Mycobacterium preregrinum es una micobacteria de rápido crecimiento perteneciente al complejo fortuitum que ha sido reportado como responsable de casos de micobacteriosis en humanos. Se presenta el caso de una micobacteriosis por M. peregrinum de tipo III, el primero reportado en Colombia, en una paciente de 17 años de edad con una endocarditis de una válvula aórtica protésica, implantada inicialmente por estenosis subaórtica congénita con insuficiencia y, posteriormente, por estenosis aórtica relacionada con la válvula inicialmente implantada. Un año después del segundo implante, presentó sintomas respiratorios y pérdida de peso sugestivos de tuberculosis pulmonar. Las coloraciones de Ziehl-Neelsen del esputo fueron positivas aunque la radiografía de tórax no mostró compromiso del parénquima. En el ecocardiograma se encontró una vegetación en la válvula aórtica. En las muestras...

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En niños con insuficiencia o estenosis valvular significativa, la intervención de la válvula, ya sea valvuloplastia o reemplazo valvular, suele ser inevitable. El seguimiento de estos pacientes puede ser complejo; los síntomas iniciales de disfunción valvular protésica son inespecíficos y en ocasiones es difícil diferenciar entre los efectos de la disfunción valvular, las patologías no cardíacas, la disfunción ventricular y la hipertensión pulmonar. Aunque el examen físico puede alertar al clínico acerca de alteraciones, se requieren otros métodos diagnósticos para evaluar la función de la prótesis. La ecocardiografía Doppler es el método de elección no invasivo para estudiar la función valvular y pese a que muchas de las mediciones y parámetros de normalidad y anormalidad son extrapolados de estudios en adultos, se han tratado de definir estándares en pacientes pediátricos. Este documento ofrece una revisión acerca de las técnicas usadas en el estudio de las válvulas protésicas con base en literatura científica, consensos internacionales y opiniones de expertos.In children with significant valvular insufficiency or stenosis, valve surgery, either valvuloplasty or valve replacement is usually inevitable. The monitoring of these patients can be complex, the initial symptoms of prosthetic valve dysfunction are nonspecific and sometimes difficult to differentiate between the effects of valvular dysfunction, non-cardiac pathologies, ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Although physical examination may alert the clinician about alterations, other diagnostic methods to assess the function of the prosthesis is required. Doppler echocardiography is the noninvasive method of choice to study valvular function and although many of the measurements and parameters of normality and abnormality are extrapolated from adult studies have been attempted to define standards in pediatric patients. This document provides an overview about the techniques used in the study of prosthetic valves based on scientific literature, international consensus and expert opinion