BACKGROUND: The assessment of activity in keloids may be critical for defining their management. There is a lack of clinical scorings designed for the evaluation of keloids and biopsies may be contraindicated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the sonographic activity of keloids in comparison with clinical scoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of the clinical and color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) images of patients medically derived to CDU with the diagnosis of keloid was performed. Activity was evaluated clinically (modified Seattle Scar Scale) and CDU. Keloids were considered active when CDU detected vascularity within the lesion. Statistical analysis was performed (Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney, Student t-test, and interobserver agreement). RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with 42 keloids were evaluated. Color Doppler ultrasound provided the diameters, including depth, and vascularity. On CDU, 76% were active and 24% inactive. Clinically, Observer 1 found 55% and Observer 2 found 88% of active keloids. Interobserver agreement between clinical observers was moderate (k = 0.42). Subclinical fistulous tracts, involvement of the hypodermis, muscle, and calcifications were also found on CDU. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler ultrasound can support the assessment of activity in keloids. Clinical evaluation alone can underestimate the activity in keloids. Relevant anatomical and subclinical features can be detected by CDU.

Birth before the 37th week of gestation (preterm birth) is an important cause of infant and neonatal mortality, but has been little studied outside of wealthy nations. Chile is an urbanized Latin American nation classified as "middle-income" based on its annual income per capita of about $6000.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes 73.6% of coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths in Chile. Aim: To estimate the incidence and case fatality of AMI and analyze their trends between 2001-2007. Material and Methods: A time-series study analyzing all cases of AMI (according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10, I21 code), registered in the National Hospitalizations and Death databases. Annual incidence rates and case fatality by sex and age groups were calculated. The direct method was used to standardize rates by age, using the World Health Organization 2000 Population. Prais-Winsten regression models were used to evaluate trends, expressed as relative change. Results: Between 2001 and 2007, we estimated that 83,754 cases of AMI occurred. Standardized annual incidence rate was 74.4 per 100,000 inhabitants (98.0 in men and 51.0 in women). Incidence rates increased by 34% in individuals < 45 years of age and 9.2% in the group 55-64 years (p < 0.001, both). Total case fatality was 49.5% (45.4% in men and 57.2% in women; p < 0.001), and its trend analysis showed a significant annual reduction of 1.2% in men and 0.81% in women. In-hospital case fatality was 14.2% (11.3 and 20.4% in men and women, respectively; p < 0.001). There was a significant annual reduction of mortality (0.57 and 1.01% in men and women, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The incidence of AMI was stable in the whole population, but increased in younger age groups. Total and in-hospital case-fatality decreased. Despite the greater reduction of case fatality in women, they still have a higher risk of dying while in hospital.