Prevalencia de IACS en el HIGA San Roque de Gonnet : Otra medida de la calidad de atención

Las infecciones asociadas a los cuidados de la salud (IACS) son un grave problema de salud pública y uno de los indicadores de la calidad de la asistencia. Todos reconocemos que hoy es de vital importancia su vigilancia y prevención. En el HIGA San Roque de Gonnet se implementan dos herramientas para evaluar los índices de riesgo de IACS. Desde el 2005 el hospital realiza vigilancia continua en áreas críticas (UTIUCIN) y cirugías limpias de Traumatología y Neurocirugía. Desde el 2010 se incorpora al Estudio Nacional de Prevalencia de Infecciones Hospitalarias de Argentina (ENPIHA) que se realiza anualmente en el mes de agosto. Este instrumento de vigilancia permite proporcionar datos homogéneos y comparables para nuestra Institución. Son esperables según la bibliografía tasas entre 3 y 9 % ; los datos obtenidos en nuestra institución son imprescindibles para gestionar las actividades del Comité de Control de Infecciones y son una evidencia de la calidad de atención que se ofrece a nuestros pacientes.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Frequency of antibodies against Neospora caninum y Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with clinical signs of neuromuscular disease

Toxoplasma gondii y Neospora caninum son causantes de enfermedades neuromusculares en canes. El objetivo de este estudio de Caso-Control fue encontrar la asociación entre la presencia de anticuerpos contra N. caninum y T. gondii en canes con signos clínicos neuromusculares. Se colectó muestras de sangre a 96 y 120 canes con y sin signos clínicos de afección neuromuscular, respectivamente. Los sueros se analizaron con la prueba de Inmunofluorescencia Indirecta (IFI) para la detección de anticuerpos (IgG), donde los sueros con fluorescencia completa del taquizoíto en la dilución 1:50 fueron considerados positivos. La frecuencia para T. gondii fue de 24.0 ± 8.5% (23/96) y de 3.3 ± 3.1 (4/120) para canes con y sin afecciones neuromusculares, respectivamente, y para N. caninum fue de 5.2 ± 4.4 (5/96) y de 1.7 ± 2.5 (2/120) para canes con y sin afecciones neuromusculares, respectivamente. Se observó asociación significativa entre la afección neuromuscular y la presencia de anticuerpos anti-T. gondii, mas no así con anticuerpos anti-N. caninum.Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum can cause neuromuscular disorders in dogs. The aim of the Case-Control study was to determine the association between antibodies anti N. caninum and anti-T. gondii in dogs with neuromuscular disorders. Blood samples were collected in 96 and 120 dogs with and without clinical signs of neuromuscular disorders respectively. Serum samples were analyzed by the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFI) for the detection of IgG antibodies, considering positive the sera showing complete fluorescence of the tachyzoite in the dilution 1:50. The frequency for T. gondii was 24.0 ± 8.5% (23/96) and 3.3 ± 3.1 (4/120) for dogs with and without signs of neuromuscular disorders, and for N. caninum was 5.2 ± 4.4 (5/96) and 1.7 ± 2.5 (2/120) for dogs with and without signs of neuromuscular disorders, respectively. There was a significant association between neuromuscular disorders and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies but not in the case of the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies

Deep census of variable stars in a VLT/VIMOS field in Carina

We have searched for variable stars in deep V-band images of a field towards the Galactic plane in Carina. The images were taken with VIMOS instrument at ESO VLT during 4 contiguous nights in April 2005. We detected 348 variables among 50897 stars in the magnitude range between V=15.4 and V=24.5 mag. Upon detection, we classified the variables by direct eye inspection of their light curves. All variable objects but 9 OGLE transits in the field are new discoveries. We provide a complete catalog of all variables which includes eclipsing/ellipsoidal binaries, miscellaneous pulsators (mostly delta Scuti-type variables), stars with flares and other (irregular and likely long-period) variables. Only two of the stars in our sample are known to host planets. Our result give some implications for future large variability surveys.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Radiological Study of Water for Human Use and Consumption in Rural Areas of the Central Zone of the State of Veracruz, Mexico

A study and spatiotemporal radiological characterization of water for human use and consumption in the main rural populations of the center of the State of Veracruz was carried out, covering 22 municipalities. The objective was to estimate the annual effective dose as a function of the concentration of gross alpha and beta activity. For this purpose, a low background proportional flux detection system calibrated with NIST-traceable radioactive standards was used. Sampling included only wells, springs, and lagoons in rural areas that supply water to these populations. The decision was based on the fact that these do not have a physicochemical treatment and was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons, which became factors of impact on the radiological material. The analysis included the results of 195 samples from 22 municipalities which showed ranges in the gross alpha of 0.052-0.95 BqL-1 with a mean of 0.376 ±0.101BqL-1 and a gross beta of 0.034-1.48 BqL-1 with a mean of 0.389 ±0.108 BqL-1. The comparison of the values obtained with respect to those of other countries and their complement with analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference, particularly, for the results of gross alpha in the municipality of Alto Lucero de Gutierrez Barrios and gross beta in Nautla and Tecolutla in dry and rainy seasons (at a probability of p≤0.05 with the Tukey-Kramer HSD statistical test). A correlation between gross alpha and gross beta was also performed with an r of -0.18 and -0.44 in dry and rainy seasons. This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. For the determination of gross alpha, the municipalities in the mountainous zones showed lower values of this activity than the municipalities in the coastal zone. Gross alpha activity values of 0.95 ± 0.11 BqL-1 were detected in the municipality of Alto Lucero de Gutiérrez Barrios in the locality of Arroyo Agrio, which exceeded the limit of the Official Mexican Standard

Integral analysis of environmental and economic performance of combined agricultural intensification & bioenergy production in the Orinoquia region

Agricultural intensification is a key strategy to help meet increasing demand for food and bioenergy. It has the potential to reduce direct and indirect land use change (LUC) and associated environmental impacts while contributing to a favorable economic performance of the agriculture sector. We conduct an integral analysis of environmental and economic impacts of LUC from projected agricultural intensification and bioenergy production in the Orinoquia region in 2030. We compare three agricultural intensification scenarios (low, medium, high) and a reference scenario, which assumes a business-as-usual development of agricultural production. The results show that with current inefficient management or with only very little intensification between 26% and 93% of the existing natural vegetation areas will be converted to agricultural land to meet increasing food demand. This results in the loss of biodiversity by 53% and increased water consumption by 111%. In the medium and high scenarios, the intensification allows meeting increased food demand within current agricultural lands and even generating surplus land which can be used to produce bioenergy crops. This results in the reduction of biodiversity loss by 8-13% with medium and high levels of intensification compared to the situation in 2018. Also, a positive economic performance is observed, stemming primarily from intensification of cattle production and additional energy crop production. Despite increasing irrigation efficiency in more intensive production systems, the water demand for perennial crops and cattle production over the dry season increases significantly, thus sustainable management practices that target efficient water use are needed. Agricultural productivity improvements, particularly for cattle production, are crucial for reducing the pressure on natural areas from increasing demand for both food products and bioenergy. This implies targeted investments in the agricultural sector and integrated planning of land use. Our results showed that production intensification in the Orinoquia region is a mechanism that could reduce the pressure on natural land and its associated environmental and economic impacts

Non-motor symptom burden in patients with Parkinson's disease with impulse control disorders and compulsive behaviours : results from the COPPADIS cohort

The study was aimed at analysing the frequency of impulse control disorders (ICDs) and compulsive behaviours (CBs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in control subjects (CS) as well as the relationship between ICDs/CBs and motor, nonmotor features and dopaminergic treatment in PD patients. Data came from COPPADIS-2015, an observational, descriptive, nationwide (Spain) study. We used the validated Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale (QUIP-RS) for ICD/CB screening. The association between demographic data and ICDs/CBs was analyzed in both groups. In PD, this relationship was evaluated using clinical features and treatment-related data. As result, 613 PD patients (mean age 62.47 ± 9.09 years, 59.87% men) and 179 CS (mean age 60.84 ± 8.33 years, 47.48% men) were included. ICDs and CBs were more frequent in PD (ICDs 12.7% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001; CBs 7.18% vs. 1.67%, p = 0.01). PD patients had more frequent previous ICDs history, premorbid impulsive personality and antidepressant treatment (p < 0.05) compared with CS. In PD, patients with ICDs/CBs presented younger age at disease onset, more frequent history of previous ICDs and premorbid personality (p < 0.05), as well as higher comorbidity with nonmotor symptoms, including depression and poor quality of life. Treatment with dopamine agonists increased the risk of ICDs/CBs, being dose dependent (p < 0.05). As conclusions, ICDs and CBs were more frequent in patients with PD than in CS. More nonmotor symptoms were present in patients with PD who had ICDs/CBs compared with those without. Dopamine agonists have a prominent effect on ICDs/CBs, which could be influenced by dose

Documento de posición sobre las necesidades y niveles óptimos de vitamina D

IntroducciónEn los últimos años se ha producido un notable interés por la vitamina D, no sólo por su importancia crucial en el metabolismo mineral óseo, sino también por los efectos extraóseos, cada vez mejor conocidos. Asi mismo, se ha constatado la existencia de valores séricos bajos de vitamina D, por debajo de lo deseable, en diferentes poblaciones, tanto sanas como enfermas, y se discute cuáles serían los niveles óptimos de vitamina D en sangre. Por todo ello, la Sociedad Española de Investigación Ósea y Metabolismo Mineral (SEIOMM), conjuntamente con todas las Sociedades Científicas implicadas en el estudio del metabolismo óseo, han elaborado el presente documento de posición sobre las necesidades y niveles óptimos de vitamina D