Antimicrobial peptide for bacterial infection imaging: first case reported in Brazil

ABSTRACT Molecular imaging markers can be used to differentiate between infection and aseptic inflammation, determine the severity of infection, and monitor treatment responses. One of these markers is ubiquicidin(29-41) (UBI), a cationic peptide fragment that binds to the bacterial membrane wall and is labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga), a positron emitter radioisotope. The use of UBI in positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for improved detection of lesions has been receiving considerable attention recently. Herein, we report the first case of 68Ga-UBI PET/CT performed in Brazil. The patient was a 39-year-old woman referred for a scan to confirm a clinical suspicion of chronic osteomyelitis of her fractured left tibia. PET images revealed radiotracer uptake near the posterior contour of the tibial fracture focus and the fixation plate, in the soft tissue around the distal half of the tibia, and in the non-consolidated fracture of the left distal fibula. Surgery for local cleaning was performed, and culture of a specimen collected from the surgical site confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. In the present case, 68Ga-UBI PET/CT, a non-invasive imaging modality, identified the infection foci in vivo, indicating its potential for clinical use.

Comparative analysis of somatostatin analog uptake between successfully irradiated and non-irradiated meningiomas

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether there is a significant difference in somatostatin analog uptake in meningiomas treated or not with radiation therapy. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed comparing measurements of somatostatin analog (68Ga-DOTATATE) uptake in two independent groups of ten patients each - one consisting of patients with meningiomas previously treated with radiation therapy and another comprising patients who had never been submitted to radiation therapy. All patients underwent PET/CT and MRI scans in an interval shorter than 24 hours between exams. Results A total of 32 meningiomas from 20 patients were analyzed, all presenting significant somatostatin analog uptake in different degrees. The uptake levels of somatostatin analog were similar between the lesions treated or not with radiation therapy, and the mean values of SUVmax were 27.62 and 24.82, respectively (p=0.722). For SUVmean, the values were 16.20 and 14.82, respectively (p=0.822). Conclusion Comparative analysis between the groups showed no significant differences in degree of somatostatin analog uptake in successfully irradiated and non-irradiated meningiomas.

Burnout syndrome in nurses of prehospital rescue team / A síndrome de Burnout em enfermeiros da equipe de resgate pré-hospitalar

Objetivo: Verificar a presença e avaliar os níveis da síndrome de burnout em enfermeiros da equipe de resgate pré-hospitalar. Métodos: Estudo transversal em uma amostra de 17 enfermeiros da equipe de resgate pré-hospitalar, sendo aplicado o Inventário de burnout de Maslach e um questionário elaborado pelas autoras. Resultados: No grupo estudado, 76% dos enfermeiros da equipe de resgate pré-hospitalar eram do sexo feminino. A idade variou entre 30 a 49 anos. Quanto ao tempo de atuação na profissão, 59% referiram trabalhar de cinco a dez anos no resgate pré-hospitalar. No grupo estudado de 17 enfermeiros da equipe de resgate pré-hospitalar, verificou-se quanto às médias das subescalas do Inventário de burnout de Maslach, uma média baixa/moderada (31,53) em reduzida realização profissional, média baixa/moderada (18,41) em exaustão emocional e média baixa/moderada (8,88) em despersonalização. Quanto aos níveis de burnout em dimensões, verificou-se que 76,47% dos enfermeiros apresentaram baixo/moderado nível de exaustão emocional, despersonalização e reduzida realização profissional. Conclusões: Demonstrou-se que nesta amostra não há presença da síndrome de burnout, pois somente é indicativa quando ocorrem altas pontuações em exaustão emocional, despersonalização e em reduzida realização profissional.