Multilocus Genotyping of Pneumocystis jirovecii from Deceased Cuban AIDS Patients Using Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissues

The results of the genotypic characterization of Pneumocystis jirovecii are described in lung tissue samples from 41 Cubans who died of AIDS with pneumocystosis between 1995 and 2008. Histological sections of the lung preserved as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue were examined. PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of the two mitochondrial genes (large and small) of the pathogen allowed verification of a predominance of genotype 3 (85T/248C) of the large mitochondrial gene and genotype 3 (160A/196T) of the small mitochondrial gene over a period of 14 years (1995–2008). These results suggest that the 85T/248C//160A/196T genotype circulates with the highest frequency (81.3%) among AIDS patients in Cuba. Multilocus analysis indicates a limited circulation of pathogen genotypes on the island with the existence of a clonal genotype with an epidemic structure. Furthermore, it appears that circulating strains of P. jirovecii have not developed mutations related to sulfonamide resistance. Taken together, the data in this study revealed important elements about pneumocystosis in Cuban patients dying of AIDS and the usefulness of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples to carry out molecular epidemiology studies of P. jirovecii

Etiological identification of viral agents in acute encephalitis in Guadalajara, México, 2011-2015

Introduction: Viral encephalitis is a well-known inflammatory process associated with neurological dysfunction that might derive into severe brain damage or a fatal outcome. In México there is no epidemiological data that describes the prevalence of viral agents responsible for acute encephalitis. Objective: To identify the main viral agents by real time PCR involved in acute encephalitis in Mexico. Materials and methods: We obtained cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples from all patients with suspected viral encephalitis admitted to the emergency service of the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde”. To identify pathogens, we performed nucleic acid extraction using real-time PCR and RT-PCR. Results: Sixty-six patients were diagnosed with acute encephalitis from 2011 to 2014. A definitive viral etiological diagnosis was established in 16 patients (24%); the main causative agents were enteroviruses in 50% of the 16 positive samples, followed by herpes simplex virus (37%) and cytomegaloviruses (12.5%). Patients with encephalitis were predominantly male (63.3%) and a seasonal predominance was observed during autumn (37.5%). The main clinical characteristics in the acute encephalitis phase were fever (48.45) and cephalea (36.3), followed by seizures, disorientation, and muscular weakness (30.3%). Kerning sign was present in two cases (3%) and other two cases presented Brudzinski’s sign (3%). Conclusions: CSF PCR is a suitable diagnostic technique for the identification of viral encephalitis caused by viral infections that allows an appropriate antiviral therapeutic treatment

Candida albicans isolated from human fungaemia induces apoptosis in an experimental endocarditis model

Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen known to cause endovascular infections, such as vascular catheter sepsis, infections of vascular prostheses and infective endocarditis. A C. albicans isolate was used to determine the apoptotic potential of the fungus in a rat endocarditis model. This study confirms the ability of C. albicans to induce apoptosis in myocardial tissue

Cultura hospitalaria: y el proceso narrativo en el niño enfermo

This article focuses in the traumatic experiences of girls and boys hospitalized, which impact their perception of wellness, as well as how do they construct their reality during the internment. This is part of the hospital culture, institutional vision that influences the way for users to perceive and interact with them, then that the hospital becomes a transmitter of meanings which strengthen or weaken the role of patients and their families. The narrative of the events experienced during a medical placement shapes an active and daily process of reconstructing of the reality. The goal of the investigation was to analyze the narrative of girls and boys in infectious orthopaedics and paediatrics services to know how they perceive the hospital, and analyze the impact of narrative in the restructuring and resignification of the trauma experience. Methodology: we worked with five children and girls with ages between 7 and 14 years, interned in the field of infected pediatrics' and orthopedics of the civil hospital Fray Antonio Alcalde in Guadalajara, Mexico. The working sessions were individual and consecutive, with a duration of one hour and a half. For the exploration two interview guides were used, the first one covered life prior hospitalization and the hospital experience; the second one explored indicators of anxiety and strategies for confronting stress. The narrative of each child was analyzed using the methodology of Bertaux. Results: the factors that affected the perception of the hospitable culture were: the age of the participants, the internment time, previous hospitalizations, the capacity for confrontation and the duration of the received psychological support. It was observed that the narrative process allowed to the participants to go out of his saturated plot and to view the problematics from other perspectives and to identify positive aspects of the hospitalization like: constant familiar accompaniment, support of the medical personnel and paramedic, acquired learning and the importance of the hospital in his recovery. Thus the narrative is associated with a cultural process through which patients modify and resignify their traumatic experiences in order to cope with their health plan for life.Las experiencias traumáticas que viven las niñas y los niños hospitalizados impactan su percepción de bienestar así como la manera en la que construyen su realidad durante el internamiento. Lo anterior se inscribe en la cultura hospitalaria, visión institucional que influye en la forma de percibir a los usuarios e interrelacionarse con ellos, de tal manera que el hospital se convierte en un transmisor de significados que fortalecen o debilitan el papel de los pacientes y sus familiares. La narración de los sucesos experimentados durante un internamiento médico conforma un proceso activo y cotidiano de reconstrucción de lo vivido. El objetivo de la investigación fue analizar el proceso narrativo de niñas y niños del servicio de infecto pediatría y ortopedia para conocer cómo perciben el hospital, así como analizar el impacto de la narrativa en la reestructuración y en la resignificación de la experiencia traumática. Metodología: se trabajó con cinco niños y niñas con edades entre 7 y 14 años, internados en el área de infectología pediátrica y ortopedia del hospital civil "Fray Antonio Alcalde" de Guadalajara, México. Las sesiones de trabajo fueron individuales y consecutivas, con una duración de una hora y media. Para la exploración se usaron dos guías de entrevista: la primera comprendió vida previa a la hospitalización y experiencia hospitalaria; la segunda exploró indicadores de ansiedad y estrategias de enfrentamiento al estrés. La narración de cada niño se analizó mediante la metodología de Bertaux. Resultados: la edad de los participantes, el tiempo de internamiento, las hospitalizaciones previas, la capacidad de afrontamiento y la duración del apoyo psicológico recibido, fueron los factores que impactaron en la percepción de la cultura hospitalaria. Se observó que el proceso narrativo permitió a los participantes salir de la trama saturada y mirar desde otra óptica las problemáticas, además de identificar aspectos positivos de la hospitalización como: acompañamiento familiar constante; apoyo del personal médico y paramédico; aprendizajes adquiridos; así como la importancia del hospital en su recuperación. El proceso narrativo es asociado a un proceso cultural a través del cual los pacientes modifican y resignifican sus experiencias traumáticas para afrontar con salud su plan de vida

Pensamiento lógico computacional

Este eBook tiene el propósito de apoyar a todas las personas interesadas en comenzar sus estudios en el área de computación ya sea que necesiten conocer las partes de un equipo de cómputo o bien que les interese resolver problemas cuya solución se plantea algorítmicamente. Es una herramienta que sirve para desarrollar la capacidad de abstracción de problemas, síntesis de información y un pensamiento estructurado que \ua0permitirá tomar decisiones y resolver inconvenientes de forma efectiva, lo cual sirve como punto de partida para quienes deseen, por ejemplo, aprender a desarrollar aplicaciones. Dentro de este eBook encontrarás ejercicios interactivos que te ayudarán a reforzar lo aprendido de una forma divertida y dinámica. Este eBook tiene el propósito de apoyar a todas las personas interesadas en comenzar sus estudios en el área de computación ya sea que necesiten conocer las partes de un equipo de cómputo o bien que les interese resolver problemas cuya solución se plantea algorítmicamente. Es una herramienta que sirve para desarrollar la capacidad de abstracción de problemas, síntesis de información y un pensamiento estructurado que\ua0 permitirá tomar decisiones y resolver inconvenientes de forma efectiva, lo cual sirve como punto de partida para quienes deseen, por ejemplo, aprender a desarrollar aplicaciones. Dentro de este eBook encontrarás ejercicios interactivos que te ayudarán a reforzar lo aprendido de una forma divertida y dinámica