ABSTRACT
Abstract Neonatal screening in Colombia has been carried out since 2000. The problem that most concerns is the absence of expanded screening. To stablish reference values for amino acids and acylcarnitines, in order to provide information to guide the implementation of expanded screening. Samples collected on Whatman 903 filter paper from 10284 newborns were processed by Tandem Mass Spectrometry System (Waters - Perkin Elmer), and the NeoBase™ non-derivatized MS/MS kit (PerkinElmer), which contains controls for 11 amino acids, and 31 acylcarnitine species. For each analyte the upper limit was set above the 99th percentile, while the lower limit was set below the 1st percentile. Comparison of full-term newborn amino acid concentrations with premature ones showed no significant differences in three of them: Glycine p-0.99574, Ornithine p=0.35274, Phenylalanine p=0.13499, neither in levels of 11 of the 31 acylcarnitines. Comparison of analyte concentrations in this study with previous reports showed significant differences for all amino acids and acylcarnitines (<0.05). Experience was gained in the pre-analytic stage of expanded screening and reference values were established, for the implementation of neonatal screening program in the country.
ABSTRACT
Background: Birth weight acts as a crucial sensitive and reliable tool to prevent infant and child morbidity and mortality. There has been a considerable interest in recent years for using simple anthropometric measures as an alternative to birth weight. Objective of the study is to determine the cut off values of the anthropometric measurements and to assess the accuracy of the anthropometric surrogates to identify low birth weight babiesMethods: This is a cross sectional study conducted for a period of one year from 1st Dec 2011 to 31st Nov 2012 at Christian fellowship hospital, Oddanchatram, Dindigal, Tamilnadu. Study population included all the live newborns of term gestation at the hospital. A total of 500 newborns were included in the study during the period. Birth weight of the newborn was measured using spring scale to the nearest 25 grams. Head circumference, Chest circumference, Mid Upper Arm Circumference, Foot Length, Thigh circumference, Calf circumference, Crown-hell length were measured using proper guidelines to the nearest 0.1 cm.Results: In the present study, low birth weight was present in 262 (52.4%) of the newborns. Thigh circumference with cut off value of 15 cm had higher sensitivity and specificity of 97.5% and 80.9% respectively. It was followed by Mid upper arm circumference with cut off value of 10 cm, sensitivity of 81.5% and specificity of 93.9%. Thigh circumference and mid upper arm circumference had high area under curve of 0.949 and 0.855 respectively. All the anthropometric measurements were statistically significant at 5% level of significance.Conclusions: Thigh circumference with a cut off of 15 cm, followed by mid upper arm circumference of 10 cm were the better surrogate anthropometric measurements with better sensitivity, specificity to identify low birth weight babies.
ABSTRACT
El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la frecuencia y el perfil de sensibilidad in vitro de aislamientos del Complejo Candida parapsilosis provenientes de casos de candidemias. Se estudiaron 754 cepas (Periodo 2008-2011), de la Red de Vigilancia de Candidemia del Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel. La identificación de las cepas se realizó por pruebas fenotípicas. La sensibilidad in vitro a los antifúngicos se evaluó por el método de Etest® y se determinó la concentración mínima inhibitoria a anfotericina B (AB), caspofungina (CS), fluconazol (FZ), y voriconazol (VZ). Se calcularon los puntos de corte epidemiológicos (PCE) y los rangos de cepas salvajes (PS) para cada antifúngico. El 43,6% de las cepas (n=328) fueron identificadas como Complejo C. parapsilosis; todas fueron sensibles a AB y presentaron bajos porcentajes de resistencia a FZ (4,3%), VZ (1,2%) y CS (0,6%). Los PCE y los rangos de PS (en µg/mL) fueron: FZ: 2/0,03-2; VZ y AB: 0,06/0,002-0,06 y CS: 0,5/0,002-0,5 respectivamente. Los resultados de este estudio aportaron información importante sobre el comportamiento del Complejo C. parapsilosis frente a los antifúngicos más utilizados en el tratamiento de las candidemias.
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and in vitro susceptibility profile of Candida parapsilosis Complex isolates from patients with candidemia. Seven hundred and fifty four (754) strains (Period 2008-2011), from the Candidemia Surveillance Network of the Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel were studied. The strains identification was performed by phenotypic methods. In vitro antifungal susceptibility was evaluated by the Etest® method and minimum inhibitory concentration for amphotericin B (AB), caspofungin (CS), fluconazole (FZ), and voriconazole (VZ) was determined. Epidemiological cut off values (ECV) and ranges for wild type strains (WT) were also calculated for each antifungal. Forty three point six (43.6%) of the isolates (n=328) belonged to C. parapsilosis Complex; all of them were susceptible to AB and showed low resistance percentages to FZ (4.3%), VZ (1.2%) and CS (0.6%). The ECV and WT strains ranges (in mcg/mL) were: FZ: 2/0.03-2; VZ and AB: 0.06/0.002-0.06 and CS: 0.5/0.002-0.5 respectively. The results of this study provided important information about the behavior of the C. parapsilosis Complex against the most commonly antifungal agents used for the treatment of candidemias.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We performed this study to compare the TSH and free T4 levels according to gestational age and birth weight, and to reevaluate the cut-off values in the neonatal screening test for congenital hypothyroidism. METHODS: Total 2,133 neonates(1,749 healthy newborns and 384 sick neonates) were screened in Dankook University Hospital from May 2000 to January 2003. Neonates with abnormal TSH values (higher than 20 microliterU/mL) or abnormal free T4 levels(lower than 1 ng/dL) were recalled to recheck the thyroid function test. At that time, physical examinations and history-taking regarding perinatal problem, medication history, and mother's illness were undertaken. RESULTS: Serum TSH and free T4 values revealed no significant difference according to sex, delivery type, and Apgar score. The free T4 levels showed statistically significant differences, with gestational age or birth weight(P20 microliterU/mL or free T4<1 ng/dL was relatively high, it was impossible to set up new cut-off values without compromising sensitivity. We think studies including a larger study population will be required to change the cut-off values.