Monocyte distribution width (MDW) as an infection indicator in severe patients attending in the Emergency Department: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a biomarker for sepsis diagnosis in severe patients attended in the Emergency Department for different conditions and not only infections. METHODS: We performed an observational study in a consecutive prospective cohort including severe patients attending the Emergency Department with different conditions. MDW and other biomarkers were determined from samples obtained during the first care of patients. The diagnostic performance of the different biomarkers was determined based on the final diagnosis at patient discharge. RESULTS: One hundred two patients, with a mean age of 76.7 (SD 16.5) years were included, 53 being (51.9%) male. Among the patients included, 65 (63.7%) had an infectious disease while the remaining had other different conditions. A MDW cut-off of 20.115 provided the best accuracy to identify infected patients, with a sensitivity of 89.2 (95% CI 79.4-94.7), a specificity of 89.2 (95% CI 75.3-95.7), a positive predictive value of 93.5 (95% CI 84.6-97.5), a negative predictive value of 82.5% (95% CI 68.0-91.3), a positive likelihood ratio of 8.25 (3.26-20.91), and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.12 (0.06-0.24). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for infection according to MDW was 0.943 (95% CI 0.897-0.989; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A MDW > 20.115 may be associated with infection and could help to distinguish between infected and non-infected patients in severe patients. These results must be confirmed in new studies due to the limited patient sample included.

COVID-19 in donation and transplant.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a major impact on donation and transplantation. Since the cessation of activity two years ago, the international medical community has rapidly generated evidence capable of sustaining and increasing this neccesary activity. This paper analyses the epidemiology and burden of COVID-19 in donation and transplantation, the pathogenesis of the infection and its relationship with graft-mediated transmission, the impact of vaccination on donation and transplantation, the evolution of donation in Spain throughout the pandemic, some lessons learned in SARS-CoV-2 infected donor recipients with positive PCR and the applicability of the main therapeutic tools recently approved for treatment among transplant recipients.

Fast and simple assessment of surface contamination in operations involving nanomaterials.

The deposition of airborne nanosized matter onto surfaces could pose a potential risk in occupational and environmental scenarios. The incorporation of fluorescent labels, namely fluorescein isotiocyanate (FITC) or tris-1,3-phenanthroline ruthenium (II) chloride (Ru(phen)3Cl2), into spherical 80-nm silica nanoparticles allowed the detection after the illumination with LED light of suitable wavelength (365 or 405 nm respectively). Monodisperse nanoparticle aerosols from fluorescently labeled nanoparticles were produced under safe conditions using powder generators and the deposition was tested into different surfaces and filtering media. The contamination of gloves and work surfaces that was demonstrated by sampling and SEM analysis becomes immediately clear under laser or LED illumination. Furthermore, nanoparticle aerosols of about 105 nanoparticles/cm3 were alternatively fed through a glass pipe and personal protective masks to identify the presence of trapped nanoparticles under 405 nm or 365 nm LED light. This testing procedure allowed a fast and reliable estimation of the contamination of surfaces with nanosized matter, with a limit of detection based on the fluorescence emission of the accumulated solid nanoparticles of 40 ng of Ru(phen)3@SiO2 of silica per mg of non-fluorescent matter.

Areas turísticas de la cuenca Lacar. Reserva N.Lanin - Argentina

El presente trabajo se realizó a partir de la inquietud del grupo de investigación de la Facultad de Turismo UNC y de la Intendencia del Parque Nac. Lanin. El trabajo abarca dos ámbitos de análisis: la oferta ambiental y demanda. Para medir los efectos ambientales se trabajó con indicadores para determinar estándares de uso y capacidad de carga turística. A partir de la evaluación del perfil del visitante y de los efectors ambientales provocados y teniendo en cuenta las políticas de conservación de Parque Nacionales se definieron directrices y acciones para el manejo de oportunidades turísticas-recreativas sustentables