Comparación del test directo de anticuerpos fluorescentes y el cultivo bacteriológico para detección de Brucella suis

Methods available for detection of Brucella sp from different specimens include bacteriological culture or detection of specific DNA fragments by polymerase chain reaction. The use of fluorescein-labeled anti-Brucella globulin for demonstrating this antigen in animal tissues is a simple, easy, reproducible, cheap and fast technique. The aim of this work was to evaluate the gamma globulin fraction of polyclonal anti-Brucella abortus serum labeled with fluorescein iso-tio-cyanate (FITC-labeled antibody): 1) against different smooth and rough Brucella sp, 2) against bacterium of other genus, and 3) to compare direct fluorescent antibody test results with bacteriological culture for the detection of B. suis in different tissues from infected animals. This conjugate stained all Brucella sp with different intensities but it did not stain any heterologous bacterium tested. Background fluorescence associated with its use on smears from infected sources of different specimens was particularly low. Most of the infected tissues showed the presence of yellowish-green fluorescent organisms with brucella morphology. The tested FITC-labeled antibody allows a quick, effective and inexpensive diagnosis of brucellosis.El diagnóstico de brucelosis se apoya en el cultivo bacteriológico o en la detección de fragmentos de ADN de la bacteria mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. El empleo de una inmunoglobulina anti-Brucella conjugada a fluoresceína para la detección de este antígeno en tejidos constituye una técnica simple, fácil, reproducible, económica y rápida. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la fracción gammaglobulínica de un suero policlonal anti-Brucella abortus marcada con isotiocianato de fluoresceína (FITC), 1) contra distintas especies lisas y rugosas de Brucella sp, 2) contra bacterias de otros géneros, y 3) comparar los resultados obtenidos con la inmunofluorescencia directa y el cultivo bacteriológico para la detección de B. suis en distintos tejidos de porcinos infectados. Este conjugado detectó todas las brucelas con distinta intensidad de fluorescencia, pero no hubo fluorescencia inespecífica cuando se ensayaron las bacterias de otros géneros. La fluorescencia de fondo en muestras de los distintos tejidos infectados fue baja. La mayoría de los tejidos infectados mostraron la presencia de microorganismos verde-fluorescentes con la morfología de las brucelas. El anticuerpo conjugado a FITC permitió un diagnóstico de brucelosis rápido, efectivo y económico

Hipocalcemia severa o sintomática secundaria a hipoparatiroidismo posoperatorio en cirugía de tiroides: experiencia en un hospital universitario de Medellín, Colombia

Objetivo: caracterizar la población de pacientes que presentan hipocalcemia severa o sintomática después de una tiroidectomía total y que requieren calcio parenteral. Diseño: estudio observacional retrospectivo realizado en un centro especializado de Medellín, Colombia. Marco de referencia: la hipocalcemia posoperatoria (POP) es una complicación bien reconocida de la tiroidectomía, que se caracteriza por la presencia de hipocalcemia, con niveles de hormona paratiroidea (Parathyroid hormone, PTH) bajos o inadecuadamente normales. La hipocalcemia sintomática o severa (calcio corregido <7,5 mg/dL) es una verdadera emergencia médica, que requiere un rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento con calcio parenteral. Pacientes: pacientes en POP de tiroidectomía que presentan hipocalcemia severa o sintomática. Intervenciones: reposición con calcio parenteral. Resultados: la hipocalcemia severa o sintomática se presentó en el 8 % de los pacientes llevados a una tiroidectomía total, con predominio en el sexo femenino. La patología tiroidea maligna se constituyó en la indicación más frecuente de la cirugía. En estos pacientes, la media de la PTH fue de 11,3 pg/ mL, mientras que los valores de calcio más bajos se presentaron a las 48 horas POP. Solo se visualizaron las paratiroides en cirugía en una tercera parte de los casos y un paciente tuvo una reintervención en las primeras 24 horas; hasta el 18 % tuvieron hipomagnesemia concomitante. Conclusión: la hipocalcemia por hipoparatiroidismo POP es una complicación frecuente después de la cirugía de tiroides, y en un grupo de pacientes será severa o sintomática, razón por la cual requiere uso de calcio parenteral. En consecuencia, esta complicación tendrá que identificarse y tratarse como una emergencia médica para disminuir la morbilidad y la potencial mortalidad asociadas

Influence of nutritional and socio-sexual cues upon reproductive efficiency of goats exposed to the male effect under extensive conditions

This study evaluated the effect of nutritional supplementation and socio-sexual cues upon reproductive efficiency of goats exposed to the male effect under rangeland grazing conditions (22N). Criollo goats (n ≤ 73) were distributed in four experimental groups (1) continuous males (CM, n ≤ 19) in which males (n ≤ 2) remained together with females from 7 March to 28 July; (2) supplemented males (SM, n ≤ 16) in which males (n ≤ 2) were kept separately and were individually supplemented with 18% crude protein and 2.77 Mcal ME kg-1 DM, during a 30-day period; (3) supplemented males exposed to the female effect (SM + FE, n ≤ 19), in which supplemented males (n ≤ 2) were maintained with females induced to oestrus before being used for male effect; and (4) supplemented males and supplemented females (SM + SF, n ≤ 19) in which males (n ≤ 2) were supplemented as in group SM, and females received the same supplementation as males 30 days before and 30 days after male introduction. Grazing was performed from 0900 to 1900 hours; liveweight (LW) was registered weekly before grazing and (or) supplementation. Ovarian activity was evaluated (serum P4 concentrations) in the four groups before and after male introduction. At the beginning of the study and supplementation, female LW did not differ among treatments (P 0.01). However, during the supplementation phase, LW increased in a different fashion among groups (P 0.002), favouring the SM, SM + FE and SM + SF groups. A positive correlation between female LW at the beginning of the rainy season and the onset of ovulatory activity was observed (r ≤ +0.90; P 0.01). The average date for the onset of ovarian activity differed (P 0.001) among groups, being earlier in the SM + SF group (9 May 4.3 days), which also depicted the shortest interval between the introduction of males until the onset of ovulatory activity (P 0.001). Results of the present study indicate that nutritional signalling of the reproductive activity of both female and male Criollo goats reared under marginal conditions surmounts the inhibitory effects of long-day photoperiods during the non-reproductive season. An increased level of nutrition during the anestrous season may be used to increase reproductive function of both male and female goats reared in harsh nutritional conditions and applied as a green, clean, and ethical reproductive tool at these latitudes. © CSIRO 2010

Epidemiology and health-environment relationship: reflections on environmental change, sustainable development and population health

This essay presents a discussion on current environmental problems and their relationship to the health of populations. The limitations of the model of economic and social development are analyzed focusing on the augmentation of the capital and the industrial production and its negative impact on natural resources, the balance of ecosystems and human vulnerability. The methodological basics and the developments in environmental epidemiological approach are exposed analyzing their main potential application. Finally, options for solutions are formulated linking them to the premises of sustainable development and environmental justice. The responsibility of the academic environment is pointed out in the training of human and scientific resources in the field of environmental epidemiology, as well as the role of the community in terms of environmental awareness and active participation from a point of view that becomes critical, responsible and capable of defining proposals to make part of the solution

Study of surface movement of a shallow-multilayered soil under Pwaves

In this work it was designed and implemented an experimental setup to study the surface acceleration of a multilayered soil and the experimental measurements were contrasted with a one-dimensional theoretical model based on ray tracing. For this purpose, a soil was suited, where tiles and expanded polystyrene (EPS) slabs were buried. This soil was disturbed by a sound wave at normal incidence from a subwoofer. In experiment were obtained resonance frequencies which are according to the studied theoretical model.En este trabajo se diseñó e implementó un montaje experimental para estudiar la aceleración superficial de un suelo formado por capas y se contrastaron las mediciones xperimentales con un modelo teórico unidimensional de trazado de rayos. Para tal fin se preparó un suelo donde fueron enterradas placas de poliestireno expandido (EPS: Expanded PolyStyrene) y baldosas. Dicho suelo fue perturbado por una onda acústica bajo incidencia normal proveniente de un parlante. En el experimento se obtuvieron frecuencias de resonancia que están de acuerdo con el modelo teórico estudiado