The drop plate method as an alternative for Azospirillum spp viable cell enumeration within the consensus protocol of the REDCAI network

Abstract Quality evaluation of commercial inoculants is essential to warrant an adequate cropresponse to inoculation within a biosecurity framework. In this sense, this work is aimed at standardizing and validating the drop plate method for the enumeration of Azospirillum viable cellsas an alternative to the spread plate technique, which is currently proposed in the consensusprotocol of the REDCAI network. Between 14 and 25 private and public laboratories partici-pated in three independent trials. We obtained consistent and robust results that allowed toconfirm that both techniques are equivalent, concluding that the drop plate method is an alternative enumeration technique that is adequate to be included in the abovementioned consensusprotocol.

Resumen La evaluación de la calidad de los inoculantes comerciales es fundamental para garantizar una adecuada respuesta de los cultivos a la inoculación dentro de un marco de bioseguridad. En este sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo fue la estandarización y validación de la técnica de la microgota para la cuantificación de Azospirillum como metodología alternativa a la técnica de siembra en superficie, propuesta actualmente en el protocolo consenso de la Red de Calidad de Inoculantes, REDCAI. Entre 14 y 25 laboratorios, tanto privados como públicos, participaron de tres ensayos independientes. A partir de ellos se obtuvieron resultados reproducibles y robustos que permiten confirmar que ambas técnicas son equivalentes y concluir que la técnica de recuento por la microgota es una alternativa adecuada para ser incluida dentro del mencionado protocolo consenso.

Sources of poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban storm water runoff in Tijuana, Mexico

Eight sites were sampled during seven rain events to quantify and identify the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban runoff in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. The total 16 PAHs concentration ranged from 1113 to 4866 microg/L in the sampled sites and thetotal suspended solid concentrations ranged from 7725 to 4413 microg/L. The high concentrations of total suspended solids were probably the result of the erosion of bare soil areas in the basin area of the sampling sites. The PAH concentration in urban runoff from industrial sites was not as high as expected in comparison to residential sites. The potential sources of PAH were identified using the diagnostic ratios between PAHs and PC A analysis. Vehicular exhaust emissions [diesel and gasoline] and used crankcase oil were the main contributors to PAHs in urban storm water runoff. Charcoal combustion, diesel oil andlubricant oil were also identified as contributors to PAHs

early response to a novel coronavirus in the Middle East

The detection of a novel coronavirus in patients from the Arabian Peninsula in late 2012 raised serious concerns of a possible international outbreak. Ministries of health of the three affected countries invited missions from the World Health Organization to participate in a review of data and capacity to detect and respond to further cases. Recommendations were made for investigations to answer critical questions about human-to human transmission and the geographic extent of the virus. Additional recommendations were made to improve surveillance capacity by acquiring the capacity to test for the virus and enhance syndromic surveillance. Available evidence continues to suggest an unknown animal reservoir for the virus with sporadic zoonotic transmission as the primary epidemiological pattern of transmission. Human-to-human transmission, while it can occur, does not appear to be sustained in the community

Physician satisfaction with hospital clinical laboratory services in Aden Governorate, Yemen, 2009

To evaluate the level of physicians' satisfaction with hospital clinical laboratory services and related factors in Aden Governorate, we carried out this cross-sectional study during September 2008-September 2009. Satisfaction with laboratory services of 3 public and 3 private hospitals was assessed. The overall physician satisfaction was 3.30 out of 5.00. The highest mean score [3.40] was observed for phlebotomy services, while the lowest mean score [1.95] was for esoteric test turnaround time. The most important laboratory service category for the physicians was quality and reliability of the results [54.4%]. An association was observed between physician satisfaction and institution type in 11 categories, with lower satisfaction for public compared to private institutions for all services. No statistically significant association was observed between physician satisfaction and experience in the field. Lower satisfaction was observed among those with more than 20 years experience. Our findings may help to improve the quality of clinical laboratory services

Efeitos do sildenafil pela via intraperitoneal na viabilidade de retalhos cutâneos de ratos / Effects of intraperitoneal application of sildenafil on the viability of mice’s skin flap

Introdução: o sildenafil pertence a uma classe relativamente nova de medicamentos, cujo mecanismo de ação ocorre por inibição da fosfodiesterase-5, que é responsável pela degradação intracelular da guanosina monofosfato cíclica (GMPc). A GMPc promove vasodilatação, alteração no perfil de granulação plaquetária e angiogênese. Nesse contexto, seus efeitos vasoativos podem aumentar o fluxo sanguíneo de retalhos, melhorando a sua viabilidade. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade de retalhos cutâneos de ratos à McFarlane após a administração de sildenafil pela via intraperitoneal. Métodos: 20 ratos Wistar foram distribuídos em dois grupos - controle (confecção do retalho cutâneo dorsal, aplicação intraperitoneal de solução salina a 0,9%) e estudo (confecção do retalho cutâneo dorsal, aplicação intraperitoneal de sildenafil). Sete dias após a operação, os retalhos foram fotografados e representados graficamente, para serem analisados com o programa AutoCad. Três biópsias (cranial, média e caudal) foram coletadas de cada retalho, para análise histológica. Resultados: à análise macroscópica, o uso do sildenafil pela via intraperitoneal esteve associado à maior contração tecidual (p=0,019). O estudo histológico evidenciou menos granulação associada a polimorfonucleares no terço distal dos retalhos (p=0,001) e mais necrose interpondo os locais de granulação no terço médio dos retalhos (p=0,011). Conclusão: o sildenafil intraperitoneal não se mostrou eficaz para melhorar a viabilidade de retalhos à McFarlane em ratos. Outros estudos talvez possam esclarecer o seu mecanismo de ação para a contração tecidual.

Sildenafil belong to a relatively new class of drugs. Its mechanism of action consists of inhibiting phosphodiesterase-5, which is responsible for the intracellular degradation of cyclic monophosphate guanosine (CMPG). CMPG leads to vasodilation, platelet granulation change, and angiogenesis. CMPG vasoactive effects can increase the blood flows of the flaps, improving their viability. This study aims to assess the viability of McFarland skin flaps after intraperitoneal sildenafil administration. Methods: In total, 20 Wistar mice were distributed in two groups: control (production of dorsal skin flap, intraperitoneal applicatdion of 0.9 % salt solution), and study (production of dorsal skin flap with intraperitoneal application of sildenafil). Skin flaps were photographed seven days after operation and represented graphically with a view to AutoCad-based analysis. Three biopsies (cranial, middle, and caudal) were collected for histological analysis of each flap. Results The macroscopic analysis showed that intraperitoneal application of sildenafil was associated with stronger tissue contraction (p=0.019). The histological study showed less granulation associated with polymorphonuclears in the distal third of the flaps (p=0.001) and more necrosis in granulation sites in the middle third of the flaps (p=0.011). Conclusion: The intraperitoneal application of sildenafil was not effective in improving the viability of McFarlane skin flaps in mice. Other studies may shed light into its mechanism of action for tissue contraction.

Patient's satisfaction with hospital clinical laboratory services in Aden governorate, Yemen, 2009

Satisfaction is one of the outcome measures for health care and thus monitoring patient satisfaction is an important and useful quality improvement tool required by most clinical laboratories. To assess the level of patient's satisfaction with the hospital clinical laboratory services and related factors in Aden Governorate. This is an observational cross-sectional study, carried out from September 2008 to September 2009. Three public and three private hospitals in Aden Governorate were included. Patient satisfaction was assessed through personal interview. The overall mean patient satisfaction with hospital clinical laboratories in Aden is [4.10]. Males showed higher level, of satisfaction than females in most of the services and lower satisfaction level with waiting time, Elderly patients showed statistically significant lower level of satisfaction with phlebotomist skill. An association was observed between patient satisfaction and educational level. Illiterate patients showed higher level of satisfaction with waiting time. On the other hand, high-educated patients [secondary and university patients] showed statistically significant higher level of satisfaction with lab personnel communication. An association was also observed between patient satisfaction and type of institution, with less satisfaction in private hospitals for waiting room, and lab personnel communication, and in public hospitals for waiting time, comfort and cleanliness, information regarding report receipt and phlebotomist use of gloves and laboratory coat. Satisfaction, hospital clinical laboratory. Patient satisfaction with some of the services provided by clinical laboratory is related to gender, age, educational level and .institution type. The overall patient satisfaction with hospital clinical laboratories is high in Aden. This is the first published study in Yemen in this field. The results can contribute to the implementation of measures to improve the quality of clinical laboratory services in Aden, which could be extended to the rest of Governorates in Yemen

Overweight/obesity and hypertension in schoolchildren aged 6-16 years, Aden governorate, Yemen, 2009

Hypertension and obesity in children are increasing concerns worldwide. A cross-sectional study of hypertension in relation to overweight/obesity was conducted in 2009 among schoolchildren aged 6-16 years in Aden, Yemen. Using multistage stratified random sampling 1885 children were classified into wasted, normal weight, overweight and obese according to body mass index. The prevalence of wasting was 10.1%, normal weight 69.2%, overweight 12.7% and obesity 8.0%. The rate of high blood pressure [World Health Organization criteria] was 8.2% for prehypertension and 2.4% for hypertension and was significantly related to the presence of overweight or obesity. Child's body mass index combined with age was a predictor for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The study provides further evidence that overweight/obesity is associated with hypertension in these schoolchildren

Surface methane emission in a former dumpsite in Tijuana, Mexico

Dumpsites can produce serious pollution problems in soil, water and air, and are the most frequent method o solid water disposal in many developing countries. One of the pollution concerns at dumpsites is the emission of methane, which has been identified as a green house gas. In order to determine the surface emission of methane at an informal settlement built on a former dumpsite, six sampling events were conducted using the enclosed chamber method. The results showed that the surface emission of methane in the study area is high, with a maximum mean value of 2441.8 g/m[2]/h; this surface emission is between one to four orders of magnitude higher than the maximum values found in other published studies. The total mass of methane emitted at the site is also two orders of magnitude higher compared to studies within a similar area. But it is 177 and 3.5 times lower than in other studies conducted in South Korea and India, respectively. High variation in the surface emission of methane may be a result of the changing conditions in this urban environment

Prevalencia del síndrome de agotamiento profesional (burnout) en médicos familiares mexicanos: análisis de factores de riesgo / Prevalence of Burn-out Syndrome in Mexican Family Physicians: Analysis of Risk Factors

Introducción: El síndrome de agotamiento profesional (burnout) se refiere a un problema de tipo psicosocial que se presenta más frecuentemente entre los médicos. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia y los factores de riesgo en los médicos familiares mexicanos. Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo-transversal, mediante muestra aleatoria con asignación proporcional de 240 profesionales aplicándoseles el Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey en forma autoadministrada. Las estadísticas descriptivas y el análisis inferencial se realizó con apoyo del SPSS 12.0 y Epi-info V 6.1. Resultados: Se logró el 97,5% de respuesta. Se detectó una frecuencia del síndrome de agotamiento profesional en el 41,6% de los profesionales. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas en función del sexo, grupo de edad, tener hijos, antigüedad en la institución y tipo de contratación. Conclusiones: El síndrome de agotamiento profesional es frecuente (41,6%) en los médicos familiares, y sus principales factores de riesgo: el ser mujer, mayor de 40 años, con hijos, con 10 años o más de antigüedad institucional y contratación de base. La afectación del agotamiento emocional se comporta como el síndrome. Se encontró una correlación negativa entre las subescalas agotamiento emocional y despersonalización y positiva entre la falta de realización personal en el trabajo con la presencia del síndrome. Es necesario establecer medidas preventivas o de intervención en los planos individual, social u organizacional para reducir la prevalencia encontrada...

Introduction: Introduction: Burn-out syndrome refers to a psycho-social problem that is common among physicians. Objective: To determine its prevalence and risk factors in Mexican family physicians. Method: Observational, descriptive-cross-sectional study, by means of self-administration of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) in a random sample with proportional allocation of 240 physicians. The descriptive statistics and the inferential analysis were made with support of the SPSS 12.0 and Epi-info V 6.1. Results: 97.5% of the answers were obtained. We detected Burnout syndrome in 41.6% of the physicians. We found significant differences based on gender, age group, number of children, seniority, and type of job contract. Conclusions: Burn-out syndrome is frequent (41.6%) in family physicians, and its main risk factors are: Being a woman, 40 years-old or more, with children, with a minimum of 10 years at the workplace, and a long-term contract. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization had a negative correlation, and lack of personal ccomplishments at work had a positive correlation with the syndrome. It is necessary to establish preventive measures and interventions at the individual, social, and organizational levels to reduce its prevalence...

Ramón Indalecio Cardozo como pionero de la psicología en el Paraguay / Ramón Indalecio Cardozo as a pioneer of psychology in Paraguay

La Escuela Activa representó un amplio movimiento educacional que renovó las bases y los fundamentos de la pedagogía de comienzos del siglo XX. El nuevo enfoque surgió en Suiza y fue un movimiento que tuvo un impacto importante en varios países de América Latina en los que su recepción fue entusiasta y fructífera. Los defensores de la Escuela Activa basaron una parte importante de su accionar pedagógico en los conocimientos aportados por la Psicología, principalmente los estudios sobre la cognición y la personalidad del niño. Por eso muchos de sus exponentes centrales fueron también figuras relevantes en el ámbito de la Psicología. En este artículo se estudia la obra de Ramón Indalecio Cardozo (1876-1943), el más importante de los representantes de la Escuela Activa en el Paraguay, analizando en particular su rol como pionero de la psicología paraguaya. Se discuten sus conexiones con el movimiento de la Escuela Activa y con algunos de sus representantes a nivel internacional, las contribuciones de Cardozo a la Psicología y las áreas principales que abarcó su trabajo dentro de esta. Finalmente se determina la pertinencia de ubicar a Cardozo como uno de los pioneros de la Psicología en el Paraguay.

The Active School was a broad educational movement that renewed both the basis and the fundamentals of pedagogy at the beginnings of the twenty century. The new approach appeared in Switzerland but also was a movement with a great impact in several countries of Latin America where its reception was both enthusiast and fruitful. The defenders of the Active School based an important part of their pedagogical action on psychological knowledge, specialy research on cognition and children's personality. For this reason many of its main researchers were also important figures in the field of Psychology. In this article we study the works of Ramón Indalecio Cardozo (1876-1943), the most important representative of the Active School in Paraguay and also we make an analysis of his place as a pioneer of paraguayan psychology. Both Cardozo's connection with the movement of the Active School and with some of its international representatives are discussed, as well as the contributions of Cardozo to Psychology and the main areas that covered his work related to that science. The relevance of Cardozo as a pioneer of Psychology in Paraguay is discussed at the end of this article.

Dominio cultural del autocuidado en diabeticos tipo 2 con y sin control glucémico en México / Cultural domain of self-care in type 2 diabetes patients with and without blood glucose control in Mexico

OBJETIVO: Analisar los principales elementos relacionados con el dominio cultural del autocuidado de la salud, entre pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 con y sin controle glucémico. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo en 57 diabéticos controlados y 76 sin control glucémico, con promedio de 60 años de edad en una clínica del Seguro Social en México en 2003. Se aplicaron técnicas de antropología cognitiva de listas libres y cuestionario estructurado para obtener modelo semántico y promedio de conocimiento cultural a seis preguntas sobre su padecimiento por análisis de consenso. RESULTADOS: Los datos sociodemográficos de ambos grupos no mostraron diferencias significativas. Todos los modelos de respuesta comparados presentaron estructuras semánticas similares, con excepción a: "Qué se entiende como ejercicio" (p<0.05). El promedio de conocimiento cultural sobre los aspectos analizados fue similar en ambos grupos, solamente el nivel de conocimiento relacionado a "Cómo debe ayudar la familia a un adulto para estar sano" fue estadísticamente significativamente mayor en pacientes controlados. CONCLUSIONES: Los hallazgos muestran a diferente estructura semántica sobre la concepción del ejercicio entre los grupos de pacientes y la diferencia en el promedio de conocimiento cultural sobre el apoyo familiar para la salud de paciente. Estas informaciones deben ser tomadas en cuenta al elaborar programas educativos, de auto atención y atención médica adaptados a la cultura del paciente con diabetes tipo 2.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main elements related with the cultural domain of self-health care in type 2 diabetes patients with and without good blood glucose control. METHODS: Descriptive study comprising diabetes patients, 57 with and 76 without good blood glucose control, with an average age of 60 years, who attended a Social Security family clinic in Mexico in 2003. A cognitive anthropology approach using free lists and a structured questionnaire was applied and a semantic model and average cultural knowledge based on six questions about their illness was developed by consensus analysis. RESULTS: Sociodemographic information of both groups showed significant differences. The comparison of all semantic models revealed similar structures with the exception of "What do you understand exercise is" (p<0.05). The average cultural knowledge was similar in both groups except for that related to "How family can help an adult be healthy", which was statistically higher in those patients with good blood glucose control. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings show a different semantic structure on exercise conception between both diabetes groups studied as well as different average cultural knowledge on family support for patient's health. These findings should be taken into account in the development of education, self-care and medical care programs specific to the knowledge of type 2 diabetes patients.

Long bone fractures in extreme low birth weight infants at birth: obstetrical considerations

BACKGROUND: Cesarean section is a common delivery route for breech fetuses < 1000 gm to prevent trauma. However, abdominal and vaginal delivery maneuvers are similar. Cesarean section avoids the risk of head entrapment but long bone trauma can still occur. CASES: We identified three neonates with femoral fractures during a one year period. All mothers were in active labor. All were premature newborns less than 32 weeks gestation, in breech presentation and delivered by a low vertical cesarean section. Review of all cesarean sections done due to mal presentation (n = 26) during that time showed 11 classic and 15 lower segment vertical incisions (both vertical and transverse). CONCLUSIONS: The interest to reduce maternal morbidity may prompt physicians to perform a low segment vertical incision for delivery of a preterm breech. This decision may increase the chances of trauma by providing less area for the required obstetric maneuvers.

Algunos aspectos antropológicos del encuentro médico-paciente con tuberculosis pulmonar en el occidente de México / Various anthropologic features of the physician-patient encounter with pulmonary tuberculosis in Western Mexico

The present work has as its purpose a description of the information exchanged during doctor-patient encounters immediately following diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. To accomplish this nine such encounters were audiotape at two public health clinics in Guadalajara, Mexico. Communication of information and affect was evaluated by adapting the Roter interactional process analysis. Results show that the physician instructed the patient to behave in ways to prevent disease transmission while assuring patient recovery. Virtually lacking from these recordings is evidence of physician concern with the struggle patients experience to incorporate this regimen of directly observed therapy in to their daily lives. Because these sessions are managed by clinicians to encourage a unidirectional flow of information from physician to patient, the former fail to attain either patient cultural understanding of his/her disease process or comprehensive understanding of how he is affected she by the illness.

Estudo da transmissäo do Trypanosoma cruzi pelo Psammolestes tertius, considerado vetor secundário ou acidental do parasita, na natureza / Study of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission by Psammolestes tertius, considered to be a secondary or accidental vector of the parasite in nature

O Psammolestes tertius, nas regiöes Leste e Nordeste do Brasil, habita quase exclusivamente ninhos de aves furnaríidas, e está incluído no grupo de triatomíneos tipicamente silvestres. Nos grandes ninhos abandonados de duas espécies dessas aves, o Phacellodomus rufifrons e o Annumbis annumbi encontram-se, também, como habitantes, gambás e ratos arborícolas. Coletamos, em ninho abandonado de P. rufifrons, 5 adultos e 8 ninfas de triatomíneo, 2 exemplares de gambá, Didelphis azarae e 1 rato Wiedomys pyrrorhinus, sendo que os dois gambás apresentaram xenodiagnóstico positivo. As reaçöes de precipitina, realizadas com o conteúdo do tubo digestivo dos insetos, deram resultados positivos com soro antigambá. No ninho de A. annumbi capturamos 11 adultos e 16 ninfas de triatomíneo, 1 gambá D. azarae, 2 ratos W. pyrrorhinus e 2 exemplares de Rattus rattus, sendo que um rato de cada espécie mostrou-se infectado pelo T. cruzi. Submetidos às reaçöes de precipitina, o conteúdo intestinal de 2 triatomíneos deram resultados com soro anti-rato. Embora os achados de triatomíneos da espécie P. tertius com infecçäo natural sejam pouco numerosos, este vetor pode ser considerado um elo, ainda que secundário, no ciclo silvestre da transmissäo do T. cruzi

Rattlesnake venom: action upon erythrocytes and leucocytes of rats

Hemos estudiado la acción del veneno completo de serpiente de cascabel sobre los glóbulos rojos y leucocitos de ratas adultas machos y hembras. Los animales fueron quirúrgicamente canulados para realizar recolecciones de sangre directamente de la vena cava inferior, e inyectados intramuscularmente en el muslo con la mezcla de veneno obtenido de un gran número de cascbeles. Los signos mostrados por los animales fueron parálisis de la parte posterior del cuerpo, déficit de la coordinación motora y dificultad repiratoria, con muerte en algunos casos. La autopsia mostró hemorragias petequiales en el intestino y yeyuno, además de oscurecimiento visceral y obstrucción de los vasos sanguíneos verificada en el examen histopatológico. Los exámenes sanguíneos mostrarón cambios de color hacia marrón oscuro debido a la transformación de la hemoglobina en metahemoglobina. Los índices de sedimentación sanguínea mostraron una clara variación, especialmente 60 minutos después de inuectado el veneno. Ambos fenómenos pueden estar ligados al poder lítico de los venenos. Un interesante fenómeno fue el que los animales presentaron inicialmente leucopenia, que fue seguida por persistente leucocitosis. Los presentes reultados nos llevan a concluir que el veneno de cascabel tiene un relativo poder hemolítico que se incrementa con la concentración del veneno y con la concentración de las fracciones en veneno completo

Indice de cura de camundongos tratados com nifurtimox e benzonidazol na doença de Chagas experimental / Cure index of mice treated with nifurtimox and benzonidazol in the experimental Chagas' disease

No presente estudo, os autores investigaram a suscetibilidade, em camundongos, de duas cepas polares do Trypanosoma cruzi: cepa Y com formas delgadas e cepa Bolívia com predominância de formas largas, frente a açäo do Nifurtimox e do Benzonidazol. 40 dias após a inoculaçäo intraperitoneal de 10 tripomastigotas das cepas Y e Bolívia e posterior tratamento com os quimioterápicos, os autores observaram que camundongos tratados com Nifurtimox apresentaram índice de 35 por cento de cura quando infectados com cepa Y e nulo com a cepa Bolívia; e camundongos tratados com Benzonidazol apresentaram 57 por cento de cura com cepa Y e 18 por cento com cepa Bolívia. Estudo deste tipo nos parece útil em relaçäo a terapêutica na Doença de Chagas