ABSTRACT
Streptococcus agalactiae is an endogenous bacterium that has emerged in the last 20 years as an etiological agent in both neonatal and perinatal infections, and in immunocompromised patients. The differentiation of the capsular polysaccharide, the presence of surface proteins c, X, R, and molecular methods allow classification in serotypes and genotypes. This identification is a useful tool for epidemiological purposes and virulence studies in this bacterium. The objective of this work was to study the serotypes and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates recovered from invasive diseases in different areas of Argentina. In the analyzed sample a fair predominance of Ia and III serotypes was recovered, followed by II and IV serotypes. All the isolates were found to be sensitive to penicillin. A 6% of resistance to erythromycin and a 4.5% to clindamycin were detected. In three of the isolates, constitutive MLS phenotype (resistance to macrolides, lincosamins and streptogramins) was founded, while in the remaining one, inducible MLS phenotype was detected. These results stress the importance of conducting a surveillance of the prevalent serotypes in our country with the goal of future prevention of this disease with an effective vaccine. The knowledge of the antimicrobial susceptibility profile will be also important to obtain therapeutic success in the treatment.
Subject(s)
Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcus agalactiae/classification , Streptococcus agalactiae/drug effects , Argentina , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Serotyping , VirulenceABSTRACT
Introducción. Se buscó determinar la frecuencia de alteraciones tiroideas en pacientes con trastorno depresivo mayor, trastorno de pánico o ambos, en el Servicio de Psiquiatría del Hospital Regional de Concepción. Métodos. Se realizó estudio tiroideo a 30 pacientes en primera consulta por trastorno depresivo mayor, trastorno de pánico o ambos, con estrictos criterios de exclusión (sin otra patología psiquiátrica, médica ni endocrina asociada, sin uso de fármacos antidepresivos ni otros que alteren la función tiroidea en los últimos 3 meses). A todos ellos se les aplicó una evaluación clínica psiquiátrica y endocrinológica, entrevista semi-estructurada DSM-IV, entrevista estructurada CIDI y exámenes de laboratorio. Resultados. De los 30 pacientes, 19 (63,3 por ciento) presentaron trastorno depresivo mayor, 3 (10,0 por ciento) presentaron trastorno de pánico y 8 (26,7 por ciento) ambos diagnósticos. Hubo alteración tiroidea en 10 pacientes (33,3 por ciento). En trastorno depresivo mayor, encontramos 21,0 por ciento de hipotiroidismo subclínico y un 25,0 por ciento cuando se consideró sólo el grupo de mujeres. Conclusiones. Se encontró una importante asociación entre alteraciones tiroideas y trastorno depresivo mayor y/o trastorno de pánico. Los resultados del presente estudio confirman los hallazgos publicados en la literatura y reafirman la importancia del estudio tiroideo especialmente en mujeres depresivas.
Subject(s)
Male , Humans , Female , Thyroid Diseases/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/complications , Panic Disorder/complications , Chile , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersABSTRACT
Streptococcus agalactiae es una bacteria colonizante que ha emergido en los últimos años como causante de infecciones neonatales, perinatales y en pacientes con compromiso inmunológico. La caracterización del polisacárido capsular, de las proteínas de superficie (c, X, R), así como el análisis de marcadores moleculares, permiten su clasificación en serotipos y genotipos. Esto resulta de utilidad para fines epidemiológicos y para estudios de virulencia de la bacteria. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer los serotipos prevalentes y la sensibilidad antimicrobiana de aislamientos provenientes de procesos infecciosos en pacientes de distintas zonas de Argentina. En la muestra analizada se obtuvo predominio de los serotipos Ia y III, seguido de II y IV. Todas las cepas resultaron sensibles a penicilina. Se observó 6% de resistencia a eritromicina y 4,5% a clindamicina. En 3 de las cepas se detectó fenotipo MLS (resistencia a macrólidos, lincosaminas y estreptograminas) constitutiva y en una cepa, resistencia MLS inducible. Los resultados logrados en este estudio destacan la importancia de efectuar un relevamiento de los serotipos más frecuentes en nuestro país en vistas a la prevención de esta infección con una vacuna que realmente sea eficaz, como así también el conocimiento de la sensibilidad antimicrobiana para lograr éxito terapéutico en los tratamientos.
Streptococcus agalactiae is an endogenous bacterium that has emerged in the last 20 years as an etiological agent in both neonatal and perinatal infections, and in immunocompromised patients. The differentiation of the capsular polysaccharide, the presence of surface proteins c, X, R, and molecular methods allow classification in serotypes and genotypes. This identification is a useful tool for epidemiological purposes and virulence studies in this bacterium. The objective of this work was to study the serotypes and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates recovered from invasive diseases in different areas of Argentina. In the analyzed sample a fair predominance of Ia and III serotypes was recovered, followed by II and IV serotypes. All the isolates were found to be sensitive to penicillin. A 6% of resistance to erythromycin and a 4.5% to clindamycin were detected. In three of the isolates, constitutive MLS phenotype (resistance to macrolides, lincosamins and streptogramins) was founded, while in the remaining one, inducible MLS phenotype was detected. These results stress the importance of conducting a surveillance of the prevalent serotypes in our country with the goal of future prevention of this disease with an effective vaccine. The knowledge of the antimicrobial susceptibility profile will be also important to obtain therapeutic success in the treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcus agalactiae/classification , Streptococcus agalactiae/drug effects , Argentina , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Serotyping , VirulenceABSTRACT
Streptococcus agalactiae is an endogenous bacterium that has emerged in the last 20 years as an etiological agent in both neonatal and perinatal infections, and in immunocompromised patients. The differentiation of the capsular polysaccharide, the presence of surface proteins c, X, R, and molecular methods allow classification in serotypes and genotypes. This identification is a useful tool for epidemiological purposes and virulence studies in this bacterium. The objective of this work was to study the serotypes and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates recovered from invasive diseases in different areas of Argentina. In the analyzed sample a fair predominance of Ia and III serotypes was recovered, followed by II and IV serotypes. All the isolates were found to be sensitive to penicillin. A 6
of resistance to erythromycin and a 4.5
to clindamycin were detected. In three of the isolates, constitutive MLS phenotype (resistance to macrolides, lincosamins and streptogramins) was founded, while in the remaining one, inducible MLS phenotype was detected. These results stress the importance of conducting a surveillance of the prevalent serotypes in our country with the goal of future prevention of this disease with an effective vaccine. The knowledge of the antimicrobial susceptibility profile will be also important to obtain therapeutic success in the treatment.
ABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio estadístico de todos los suicidios ocurridos en el Servicio de Salud Concepción-Arauco de Chile entre los años 1994-1998. Para ello se revisó el 100 por ciento de los Certificados de Defunción que contenían tal diagnóstico y fueron emitidos en ese período de tiempo. Se trabajó con un universo que alcanzó a 549 sujetos, con un promedio de edad de 41,2 en un rango que va desde los 15 a los 97 años. Entre las variables estudiadas se encuentran la edad, el género, el lugar y hora de ocurrencia, método usado, nivel de instrucción, ocupación del fallecido y estación del año y mes. A través de este análisis se demuestran una vez más todas las limitaciones y riesgos propios de este tipo de estudio retrospectivo. Esto plantea la necesidad de realizar estudios prospectivos que permiten acercarse con más detalle al fenómeno del suicidio, especialmente en relación alos factores asociados.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Mortality/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Mycological and/or bacteriological studies were performed on 294 samples isolated from the external auditory control (EAC). It was observed that 185 (81.5%) of the mycological analysis were negative while 42 (18.5%) were positive with the following distribution: 22 Candida (9.7%), 15 Aspergillus (6.5%) and five associations of Aspergillus and Candida (2.2%). The bacteriological studies were negative in 52 cases (23.6%) and the frequency of the bacterial agents (75.5%) isolated were as follows: 41 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.6%), 24 Proteus mirabilis (10.9%), 24 Staphylococcus aureus (10.9%), and three associations of Ps. aeruginosa and Pr. mirabilis (1.4%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was the most frequent bacterial species isolated, did not present associations with any fungus.
Subject(s)
Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Candida/isolation & purification , Otitis Externa/microbiology , Argentina , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus/classification , Bacteria/classification , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Candida/classification , Candidiasis/microbiology , HumansABSTRACT
The study attempted to determine the extent of dissociative experiences and the prevalence of dissociative disorders (DDs) in a series of acute psychiatric inpatients and to correlate these experiences and disorders with some sociodemographic, clinical, and historical variables. A total of 207 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients qualified for the study. All were examined with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Questionnaire (SCID-II PQ), Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and Frankfurter Self-Concept Scales (FS). Patients who scored greater than 20 on the DES were examined with the Dissociative Disorders interview Schedule (DDIS). Altogether, 20% of patients scored greater than 20 on the DES. In 5% of the patients, a DD was diagnosed. Significant positive correlations were found between DES scores and SCID-II PQ items' frequency with regard to all personality disorder types, especially borderline, antisocial, schizotypal, and dependent. Less pronounced correlations were found between DES and PBI scores, and between DES score and age. Clinical axis I diagnoses did not have any pronounced influence on the DES score. In contrast, patients with greater proneness to dissociation scored lower on most FS scales. There was a tendency for patients with DDs to report childhood abuse more frequently and they complained significantly more of somatic symptoms. Dissociative experiences seem to be as frequent in Swiss as in North American inpatients, whereas DDs (and childhood abuse) were encountered less frequently in Swiss inpatients. A correlation seems to exist between dissociation and somatization.
Subject(s)
Dissociative Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Acute Disease , Adult , Dissociative Disorders/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Inventory , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
The case of a young female patient is described who presented symptoms of transsexualism; surgical intervention was considered. Admitted to the hospital after having become depressed and suicidal, a thorough examination and observation revealed the presence of multiple personality disorder (MPD). Even though transsexualism and MPD represent two different conditions, there are many similarities between them. The possibility of MPD should be considered in every case of transsexualism.
Subject(s)
Dissociative Identity Disorder/diagnosis , Transsexualism/diagnosis , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
In 15 random autopsies, nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) were determined quantitatively by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in human lung tissue to evaluate norm values. None of the deceased persons had had an occupational exposure to Cr or Ni or their compounds. In all, 22 tissue samples were taken from each lung at specific topographical anatomical locations. The analytical procedure is described in detail. The results showed substantial variation in concentrations both within a single lung and also between individuals. Median values found were 204 ng/g for Cr and 25.6 ng/g for Ni. Topographical concentrations of Cr and Ni were 1.3-1.9 times higher in the upper lung areas. In view of the variability in metal concentration, analysis of only one part of lung tissue is not sufficient for determining the content of the entire lung. The evaluation of norm values is an important precondition for appraisal of Cr and Ni accumulation in human pulmonary tissue that may be due to occupational exposure.
Subject(s)
Chromium/analysis , Lung/analysis , Nickel/analysis , Environmental Exposure , Humans , Reference Values , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
The authors examine the changing role of hospital trustees and discuss seven areas of board responsibility and performance: the CEO evaluation process, educational programming, hospital/medical staff relations, quality of care, community support, long-range planning, and policymaking.
