ABSTRACT
El Síndrome de Rasmussen es una enfermedad neurológica poco frecuente que inicia en la infancia pero puede progresar hasta la edad adulta. Se caracteriza por la presencia de epilepsia parcial continua y el desarrollo de epilepsia refractoria, datos relevantes en la explotación clínica, alteraciones en los estudios de neuroimágenes especialmente en la resonancia magnética y hallazgos histopatológicos característicos en la biopsia cerebral. Se ha relacionado esta entidad con un episodio previo de encefalitis que predispone a ua reacción inmunológica contra algunos componentes del encéfalo, lo cual lleva a un atrofia de un sólo hemisterio cerebral. Actualmente el tratamiento más efectivo en controlar las crisis convulsivas es la hemisferectomía, aunque algunos pacientes pueden tener mejoría transitoria con el uso de inmunoglobulina intravenosa .Se reporta el caso de una paciente quien reúne los criterios clínicos y radiológicos que hacen suponer sufre de esta enfermedad. Al momento de terminar de redactar este artículo está recibiendo dosis semanales de inmunoglobulina intravenosa para valorar respuesta clínica a la misma. Ante eventual falla terapéutica será sometida a una hemisferectomía de la cual una vez realizado el análisis histopatológico será reportado el caso. Palabras Claves : Síndrome de Rasmussen - Epilepsia Parcial Continua -Epilepsia Refractoria -Hemisferectomía-Inmunoglobulina intravenosa-Resonancia Magnética.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adolescent , Anticonvulsants , Encephalitis , Epilepsia Partialis Continua , Immunoglobulins , Costa RicaABSTRACT
Streptococcus agalactiae, a Group B streptococcus, is the main cause of bacterial perinatal infection and is also an important opportunistic pathogen. Detection and identification of S. agalactiae are straight forward with special culture media, where Group B streptococci show a specific, typical pink or red pigment. To quickly and easily detect the pigment, culture media should contain: (i) starch; (ii) an inhibitor of the folate pathway; (iii) animal serum; (iv) a pepsic proteic hydrolysate; and (v) glucose, together with a high-capacity buffer. When selective antibiotics are added to culture media designed in this way, it is possible to detect S. agalactiae directly from clinical samples by observation of its pigment after less than 12 hours of aerobic incubation.
Subject(s)
Streptococcus agalactiae/isolation & purification , Culture MediaABSTRACT
The prevalence of anti-CMV antibodies was studied on 1,552 serum samples by means of latex passive haemagglutination method. Of all the sera studied, 1,084 were positive (69.8%). Amongst them, 523 samples came from women and 561 from men, which represent 74.7% and 65.8%, respectively. Regarding to age, 62.3% of the positive samples were from people under 30 years and 91.3% from subjects over that age. The screening of anti-CMV antibodies is especially important in blood and organ donors, where the high percentage of positivity makes it difficult to select negative blood donations. Thus, taking into account the cost-effectiveness, and the results of this study, the search for CMV-negative blood must be exerted preferentially on the group of blood donors under 30 years of age, regardless of sex.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Blood Donors , Cytomegalovirus Infections/epidemiology , Cytomegalovirus/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A methotrexate-containing medium for the detection of beta-hemolytic group B streptococci from clinical specimens on the basis of detection of pigment is described. The medium contained peptone, starch, serum, MgSO4, glucose, pyruvate, methotrexate (as pigment enhancer), phosphate-morpholine-propanesulfonic acid buffer, and selective agents. The recovery of beta-hemolytic group B streptococci was comparable to that obtained with selective broth.
Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques , Culture Media , Streptococcus agalactiae/isolation & purification , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Methotrexate , Pigmentation , Streptococcus agalactiae/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Using the Vitek card for identification of gram-positive agents, 244 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were studied. Twenty five out of these strains were studied during 3 consecutive days. The study also involved 25 pairs of maternal and neonatal strains. The system gave correct identification of only 52 out of 244 strains of S. agalactiae. Due to the low reproducibility of the system it is suggested that the bionumbers used in the codification of a microorganism should be avoided.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Typing Techniques , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcus agalactiae/isolation & purification , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Serotype distribution and adherence to epithelial cells (HeLa and Hep-2) were studied in 230 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) isolated in adult patients with GBS infection or in asymptomatic carriers. In the population investigated, serotypes Ia and III predominated in the strains isolated from both carriers and patients. Adhesivity was significantly greater in strains isolated from the former, regardless of serotype. Thus in adults, serotype cannot be correlated with virulence of a given strain.