The Importance of Regional Integration and Cooperation in the Development of Science

Abstract

Dear readers of Alerta journal, in this new issue we are pleased to present a wide range of content comprising six case reports featuring unusual and challenging clinical situations. These reports offer a detailed overview of diagnoses and treatments that can be helpful for healthcare professionals in their daily practice. Among them are: "Eisenmenger's syndrome secondary to Ostium Secundum Type Interatrial Communication in an Adult Woman," "Mesenteric Heterotopic Ossification as a Cause of Intestinal Obstruction" and "Kartagener's Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis," among others, for scientific or educational purposes. At the same time, they stimulate and open windows to conduct research studies in the future with a higher level of evidence.

We present four original articles. The first one, "Factors that influence the survival of dialysis patients in El Salvador," is highlighted on the cover, given the importance of adopting preventive and control measures in chronic kidney disease. In addition, "Somatoform disorders and personality traits in patients with chronic low back pain" is a relevant topic that generates evidence on healthcare in the Salvadoran Social Security Institute. Furthermore, two other articles showed novel research in diverse scientific areas, offering a unique perspective on the most recent developments in their respective disciplines.

There are included five narrative reviews with emerging topics such as "Genetic Alterations Associated with Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease," related to the evolution and response to treatment; "Professional Burnout Syndrome in Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic," and "Intermittent Fasting as a Treatment in Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis," among others. These narrative reviews are based on extensive literature searches and explore specific topics from different angles, providing an overview and critical analysis of the existing literature responding to a knowledge gap. They are, therefore, valuable for those who wish to keep up to date with advances in their field of study.