In Vitro Cestocidal Activity of Thymol on Mesocestoides corti Tetrathyridia and Adult Worms

Nothing is known about the possible effect of thymol or other compounds of essential oils against the adult worms of cestodes. The aim of the present work was to determine in vitro cestodicidal activity of thymol against Mesocestoides corti adult worms. Moreover, the in vitro effect on tetrathyridia was also demonstrated. Tetrathyridia exposed to different concentrations of thymol showed a concentration and time-dependent effect. At lower concentrations, the main change observed was mainly in morphology, with larvae exhibiting an elongation of the body. When tetrathyridia were exposed to higher concentrations, increased surface alterations and damage were detected. The body appeared elongated and flattened, and a complete loss of morphology and microtriches was observed. Thymol was able to kill M. corti tetrathyridia, since following inoculation of treated parasites in mice no parasites could be recovered. The effect on M. corti adult worms was dose and time-dependent. Changes in motility coincide with the tissue damage were observed at the structural and ultrastructural level. Thymol caused severe damages to both developmental stages analyzed. Damages were more significant in fully segmented worms. The data reported in this paper demonstrate a clear in vitro effect of thymol against M. corti tetrathyridia and adult worms.Fil: Maggiore, Marina Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Elissondo, María Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentin

Efficacy of Essential Oils of Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare on Echinococcus granulosus

The aim of the present work was to determine the in vitro effect of T. vulgaris and O. vulgare essential oils against E. granulosus protoscoleces and cysts. Essential oils were added to the medium resulting in thymol final concentrations of 10 μg/mL. The essential oils had a time-dependent effect provoking the complete loss of protoscolex viability after 72 days of postincubation. The results were confirmed at the ultrastructure level. Loss of infectivity in protoscoleces incubated with O. vulgare after 60 days was observed. On the other hand, the weight of cysts recorded in mice inoculated with T. vulgaris treated protoscoleces was significantly lower than that obtained in control group. Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity was readily detected in the culture supernatant of protoscoleces treated either with the essential oils or thymol. T. vulgaris and O. vulgare essential oils and thymol can induce cell apoptosis of protoscoleces after short incubation times. The efficacy of T. vulgaris and O. vulgare essential oils was also demonstrated in vitro on E. granulosus murine cysts. Our data suggest that essential oils of T. vulgaris and O. vulgare have anthelmintic effect against protoscoleces and cysts of E. granulosus.Fil: Pensel, Patricia Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Maggiore, Marina Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Gende, Liesel Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Denegri, Guillermo Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Elissondo, María Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biologia. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentin

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Determinação de parâmetros físico-químicos e aplicação do Índice de Qualidade NSF em Los Arroyos La Totora e Carolina do Partido de Gral Alvarado, província de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Activities such as agriculture, livestock, industry and urbanization often modify the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of streams and rivers and their banks. For example, to evaluate them, environmental quality indexes are used as a combination of parameters. These indexes allow to assess the environmental quality of the water resources through a number, a color, a verbal description, etc. In the present work, the environmental quality of the La Totora and La Carolina streams located in the General Alvarado County, Buenos Aires, Argentina was evaluated through the application of the Environmental Quality Index of the National Sanitation Foundation of the United States and the analysis of physicochemical parameters at two sampling points per stream from July 2016 to June 2017. Applying NSF WQI in each sampling point, we founded that the streams environmental quality was mostly bad.Actividades como la agricultura, la ganadería, la industria y la urbanización suelen modificar las características físicas, químicas y biológicas de arroyos y ríos y sus riberas. Para evaluarlas se utilizan, por ejemplo, índices de calidad ambiental que surgen de una combinación de parámetros. Estos permiten valorar la calidad ambiental del recurso hídrico por medio de un número, color, una descripción verbal, etc. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la calidad ambiental de los arroyos La Totora y La Carolina ubicados en el Partido de Gral. Alvarado, Provincia de Buenos Aires Argentina, mediante la aplicación del Índice de Calidad Ambiental de la National Sanitation Foundation de Estados Unidos y el análisis de los parámetros fisicoquímicos en los muestreos realizados desde julio de 2016 a junio de 2017. Al aplicar el ICA-NSF en cada punto de muestreo se halló que la calidad ambiental de los arroyos, en su mayoría, fue mala.Atividades como agricultura, pecuária, indústria e urbanização geralmente modificam as características físicas, químicas e biológicas de córregos e rios e suas margens. Para avaliá-los, por exemplo, são utilizados índices de qualidade ambiental que surgem de uma combinação de parâmetros. Isso permite que a qualidade ambiental dos recursos hídricos seja avaliada por meio de um número, cor, descrição verbal etc. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade ambiental dos córregos La Totora e La Carolina localizados no Partido de Gral, Alvarado, Província de Buenos Aires, Argentina, aplicando o Índice de Qualidade Ambiental da Fundação Nacional de Saneamento dos Estados Unidos e a análise dos parâmetros físico-químicos nas amostragens realizadas de julho de 2016 a junho de 2017. Ao aplicar o ICA-NSF em cada ponto de amostragem, verificou-se que a qualidade ambiental dos córregos era principalmente ruim. &nbsp

Chemoprophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of thymol in murine cystic echinococcosis

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. The drugs commonly used against cystic echinococcosis are benzimidazoles. Unfortunately, 20%-40% of cases do not respond favorably to such chemotherapy. Consequently, the search of new therapeutic alternatives such as the use of traditional medicinal plants has been increased. The aim of the current experimental work was to investigate the chemoprophylactic and clinical efficacy of thymol on mice infected with E. granulosus metacestodes. Thymol (40. mg/kg) was administered under two different therapeutic schemes: dosing every 24. h over 20. days and treatment every 12. h for 10. days. Thymol demonstrated efficacy against experimental murine cystic echinococcosis. The chemoprophylactic and therapeutic effects of thymol were comparable to that of albendazole. Due to the lack of toxicity observed in mice at the tested doses; we consider that thymol is a potential alternative to be applied for the treatment of human hydatid disease.Fil: Maggiore, Marina Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Pensel, Patricia Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Denegri, Guillermo Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Elissondo, María Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentin

Epidemiology of echinococcosis in bonaerense rural child population

La hidatidosis es una de las enfermedades parasitarias de mayor importancia socioeconómica y es considerada por la OMS como una de las principales parasitosis desatendidas a nivel mundial, siendo en Argentina, una de las de mayor prevalencia. El uso de ecógrafos portátiles para su diagnóstico ha hecho de la ultrasonografía el instrumento de elección para efectuar la detección precoz de quistes hidatídicos en poblaciones asintomáticas.Estudios previos realizados en la región del Partido de General Pueyrredón, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina evidenciaron la ausencia de programas de control de la hidatidosis en marcha y que la enfermedad continúa sin intervención humana para controlarla. Este trabajo representa el primer reporte de casos humanos asintomáticos de hidatidosis detectados por ultrasonografía en el partido. Se realizaron encuestas epidemiológicas y ecografías abdominales a 982 niños de establecimientos educativos rurales (8 escuelas primarias y 1 jardín de infantes). Se detectaron 12 hallazgos patológicos (1,2%), de los cuales 4 (0,41%) fueron casos con Imágenes Compatibles con Quistes hidatídicos localizados en hígado, categorizados como casos con epidemiología positiva y clasificados como quistes tipo CE5, según clasificación de la OMS.Este trabajo aporta información relevante al estado de situación de la hidatidosis en el partido, sin embargo, sería necesario que se realizaran actividades de este tipo de manera sistemática y periódica.Hydatid disease is one of the parasitic disorder of major socioeconomic importance and is considered by WHO as an important neglected disease. Cystic echinococcosis is one of the most prevalent zoonoses in Argentina. The use of portable ultrasound for diagnostic, have made ultrasonography, the instrument of choice to make early detection of hydatid cysts in asymptomatic populations. Previous studies realized in General Pueyrredón, Buenos Aires, Argentina showed the absence of control programs in the area and that hydatid disease continues without human intervention to control it. This work represents the first report of asymptomatic human cases of hydatid disease detected by ultrasonography in the region. Epidemiological surveys and abdominal scans were performed in 982 children of rural educational institutions (8 elementary schools and one kindergarten). 12 pathological findings (1.2%), of which 4 (0.41%) were cases of hydatid cysts Compatible Images localized in the liver, categorized as epidemiology positive cases and classified as type CE5 cysts according to WHO classification. This work provides relevant information to the state of situation of hydatidosis in the región. Altough it would be necessary for such activities that are conducted systematically and periodically.Fil: Palazzo, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Statti, Miguel. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Rae, Elizabeth. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Maggiore, Marina Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Elissondo, María Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentin

Epidemiology of echinococcosis in bonaerense rural child population

La hidatidosis es una de las enfermedades parasitarias de mayor importancia socioeconómica y es considerada por la OMS como una de las principales parasitosis desatendidas a nivel mundial, siendo en Argentina, una de las de mayor prevalencia. El uso de ecógrafos portátiles para su diagnóstico ha hecho de la ultrasonografía el instrumento de elección para efectuar la detección precoz de quistes hidatídicos en poblaciones asintomáticas.Estudios previos realizados en la región del Partido de General Pueyrredón, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina evidenciaron la ausencia de programas de control de la hidatidosis en marcha y que la enfermedad continúa sin intervención humana para controlarla. Este trabajo representa el primer reporte de casos humanos asintomáticos de hidatidosis detectados por ultrasonografía en el partido. Se realizaron encuestas epidemiológicas y ecografías abdominales a 982 niños de establecimientos educativos rurales (8 escuelas primarias y 1 jardín de infantes). Se detectaron 12 hallazgos patológicos (1,2%), de los cuales 4 (0,41%) fueron casos con Imágenes Compatibles con Quistes hidatídicos localizados en hígado, categorizados como casos con epidemiología positiva y clasificados como quistes tipo CE5, según clasificación de la OMS.Este trabajo aporta información relevante al estado de situación de la hidatidosis en el partido, sin embargo, sería necesario que se realizaran actividades de este tipo de manera sistemática y periódica.Hydatid disease is one of the parasitic disorder of major socioeconomic importance and is considered by WHO as an important neglected disease. Cystic echinococcosis is one of the most prevalent zoonoses in Argentina. The use of portable ultrasound for diagnostic, have made ultrasonography, the instrument of choice to make early detection of hydatid cysts in asymptomatic populations. Previous studies realized in General Pueyrredón, Buenos Aires, Argentina showed the absence of control programs in the area and that hydatid disease continues without human intervention to control it. This work represents the first report of asymptomatic human cases of hydatid disease detected by ultrasonography in the region. Epidemiological surveys and abdominal scans were performed in 982 children of rural educational institutions (8 elementary schools and one kindergarten). 12 pathological findings (1.2%), of which 4 (0.41%) were cases of hydatid cysts Compatible Images localized in the liver, categorized as epidemiology positive cases and classified as type CE5 cysts according to WHO classification. This work provides relevant information to the state of situation of hydatidosis in the región. Altough it would be necessary for such activities that are conducted systematically and periodically.Fil: Palazzo, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; ArgentinaFil: Statti, Miguel. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Rae, Elizabeth. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Maggiore, Marina Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Elissondo, María Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias; Argentin