Coexistencia de distintos síndromes de falsos reconocimientos delirantes en la práctica clínica: serie de casos

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la coexistencia de varios síndromes de falsos reconocimientos delirantes en una muestra clínica. Métodos: A lo largo de 1 ano, se seleccionó una muestra de 6 pacientes con 2 o más tipos de falsos reconocimientos delirantes durante el mismo episodio. Todos ellos se encontraban hospitalizados en la unidad de hospitalización psiquiátrica en un hospital de España. Resultados: A pesar de los distintos diagnósticos, los pacientes incluidos presentaban diferentes tipos de falsos reconocimientos delirantes, tanto de hiperidentificación como de hipoidentificación. El tratamiento antipsicótico fue escasamente eficaz contra estos síndromes de falsos reconocimientos delirantes. Conclusiones: La coexistencia de varios síndromes de falsos reconocimientos delirantes indica que la etiopatogenia de los distintos tipos es similar. Se trata de un campo con importantes implicaciones tanto clínicas, por la baja respuesta al tratamiento, como las posibles médico-legales.

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the coexistence of several delusional misidentification syndromes in a clinical sample. Methods: Over one year, a sample of six patients presenting two or more types of delusional misidentification syndromes was selected. All these patients were admitted to the psychiatric inpatient unit of a Spanish hospital. Results: Despite the different diagnoses, the patients included presented different types of delusional misidentification syndromes, both hyperidentification and hypoidentification. Antipsychotic treatment was not very effective against these delusional misidentification syndromes Conclusions: The coexistence of several delusional misidentification syndromes indicates that the aetiopathogenesis of the different types is similar. It is a field with important clinical implications, due to the poor response to treatment, as well as the possible medico-legal implications.

Scorpion incidents, misidentification cases and possible implications for the final interpretation of results

The aim of this contribution is to bring general information on the classification and in particular on the specific identification of scorpion species dangerous to humans. Several generic groups are taken into consideration, but the Neotropical genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 is used as a major example. The content of this paper is mostly addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in several fields such as venom toxins and public health. Although efforts have been made in the last 20 years to create better links between true scorpion experts and non-specialists who use scorpions in their research, such exchanges had never led to a consensus among those different branches of biological and medical research. Consequently, many cases of species misidentification and even more serious errors concerning scorpion classification/identification are often present in the specialized literature. In conclusion, it is suggested here that the frequent cases of misidentification observed in several reports may induce mistakes in the final interpretation of results, leading only to more inefficacity in the treatment of problems caused by infamous scorpion species.

Scorpion incidents, misidentification cases and possible implications for the final interpretation of results

The aim of this contribution is to bring general information on the classification and in particular on the specific identification of scorpion species dangerous to humans. Several generic groups are taken into consideration, but the Neotropical genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 is used as a major example. The content of this paper is mostly addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in several fields such as venom toxins and public health. Although efforts have been made in the last 20 years to create better links between 'true scorpion experts' and non-specialists who use scorpions in their research, such exchanges had never led to a consensus among those different branches of biological and medical research. Consequently, many cases of species misidentification and even more serious errors concerning scorpion classification/identification are often present in the specialized literature. In conclusion, it is suggested here that the frequent cases of misidentification observed in several reports may induce mistakes in the final interpretation of results, leading only to more inefficacity in the treatment of problems caused by infamous scorpion species.(AU)

Microscopical descriptions and chemical analysis by HPTLC of Taraxacum officinale in comparison to Hypochaeris radicata: a solution for mis-identification

Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg, Asteraceae, is frequently misidentified or substituted with Hypochaeris radicata L., Asteraceae (false dandelion). To increase our knowledge of T. officinale and differentiate it from H. radicata, we investigated the two species using a combination of taxonomy, microscopy, and chromatographic studies via fingerprint profiles. Micromorphological characteristics were studied using scanning electron microscopy, while optic light microscopy was used for histochemical observations. Fingerprint profiles were constructed using HPTLC. T. officinale was found to have a morphologically distinct type of pluricellular trichomes that can be used to differentiate the two species, as these structures were not identified in H. radicata samples. Furthermore, two types of laticiferous vessels may also be distinctive characteristics of T. officinale at species level. In addition, the HPTLC data derived from methanolic extracts of H. radicata and T. officinale roots showed clearly different chemical profiles. Thus this study establishes the authenticity of T. officinale, and the observed parameters could help minimize drug substitutions in herbal medicines.

Odontología Forense II: La Identificación Inequívoca / Forensic Dentistry II: The Positive Identification

La identificación de cadáveres con importante deterioro debe poseer validez científica, fiabilidad y aplicabilidad en un plazo razonable de tiempo. Entre los métodos primarios, los análisis comparativos odontológicos son apropiados para este fin cuando puede contarse con dos informaciones cotejables: la proveniente de fichas y registros previos de la supuesta víctima ­información antemortem (AM)-, y la obtenida de los restos ­información postmortem (PM). Tras esta comparación, el odontólogo forense podrá concluir en una identificación inequívoca cuando existe una certeza absoluta de que los datos PM y AM pertenecen a una misma persona. Este procedimiento depende no solo de la resistencia de los tejidos dentarios o sus caracteres individuales, sino también de la disponibilidad, calidad y adecuado procesamiento de toda la información AM y PM disponible. Los errores críticos, aquellos que pueden llevar a una identificación errónea o una falsa exclusión, pueden ser resultado de la ausencia de estándares, la falta de competencia de los profesionales actuantes y el ocultamiento o el fraude. Todas estas situaciones han sido tan reportadas históricamente tanto como los éxitos, aunque escasamente divulgadas en la literatura de habla hispana. Dado que aún en las mejores planificaciones, cada incidente negativo supone un gran desafío de resolución y experiencia, se presenta una revisión de casos y tópicos inherentes a la identificación odontológica, sus necesidades, postulados, limitaciones y nuevos paradigmas, con el objeto de optimizar la flexibilidad y la coordinación necesarias para promover un odontólogo forense no solo idóneo sino también moderado y observador, cualidades necesarias del perito.

The identification of destructed human bodies must have scientific validity, reliability and applicability in a reasonable time frame. Between the primary methods, the comparative dental analyses are useful to this aim when two types of data are available to compare: the one obtained from previous records of the supposed victim ­ the antemortem data (AM)-, and the obtained of the remains ­ the postmortem data (PM). After this match, the forensic odontologist will be able to conclude in a positive identification when the AM and PM data match in sufficient detail to establish that they are from the same individual. This procedure depends not only on the resistance of the dental tissues or their individual characters, but also on the availability, quality and suitable processing of all the available AM and PM data. The critical errors, which can lead to misidentifications or false exclusions, can be a result of the absence of standards, the lack of professional competencies, hiding or fraud. All these circumstances have been reported historically as well as the successes, but scantily informed in the Spanish literature. Since that, still in the best planning, every negative incident supposes a great challenge of resolution and experience. In this paper we present a review on cases and topics inherent to the dental identification, its needs, postulates, limitations and new paradigms to optimize the necessary flexibility and coordination to promote a forensic odontologist not only competent but also moderate and alert, necessary qualities of the expert witness.

A Case of Misidentification of Dermabacter hominis as Listeria grayi / 대한임상미생물학회지

Listeria grayi is a catalase-positive, non-spore forming, and glucose-fermenting Gram-positive rod. L. grayi is widely distributed in environments such as soil, water and fresh food. Human infection by L. grayi is very rare, and there have been no cases reported in Korea, and only two cases worldwide. Dermabacter hominis is a relatively new species belonging to the coryneform bacteria and is a component of the normal human skin flora. D. hominis is a non-motile, glucose-fermenting, Gram-positive rod that has similar biochemical characteristics to L. grayi. The authors of the present study report a case initially misidentified as L. grayi via a traditional morphological and biochemical identification method but that was subsequently confirmed as D. hominis using sequence analysis of 16S rRNA.

A Case Report of Tsukamurella pulmonis Infection Misidentified as Atypical Mycobacteria / 대한임상미생물학회지

We report a case of catheter-related bacteremia due to Tsukamurella pulmonis. T. pulmonis is a rare cause of opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed patients and in cases of indwelling foreign materials. This infection was nearly impossible to identify using conventional phenotyping methods because of its similarities to the related genera Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Streptomyces, Corynebacterium, and Mycobacterium. This organism was initially misidentified as Mycobacterium aubagnense through PCR-RFLP analysis. We correctly identified this organism using 16S rRNA sequencing combined with phenotyping tests.

Distinquishment of Armillifer and a Correction on Pathogen Misidentification from a Reported Case / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

A worm-like specimen recovered from a patient previously identified as Armillifer sp. in the city of Yulin,Guangxi Autonomous Region. After comparative analysis of habitat (serpents as final hosts and human being as accidental intermediate host) and body size of the 4 known pathogenic pentastomid species of Armillifer (A.agkistrodontis, A.armillatus, A.grandis and A.moniliformis) with the recovered specimen, the present authors consider that the recovered specimen has been misidentified as Armillifer sp. The recovered specimen probably belongs to a nasal leech.