ABSTRACT
Cryptococcus is an encapsulated yeast that is found in both yeast and hyphal forms. Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are the most medically important species, causing disease in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. A large, friable, sublingual mass was surgically resected from the oral cavity of a pink-tongued skink (Cyclodomorphus gerarrdii). Histopathology, fungal culture and PCR testing with Sanger sequencing confirmed granulomatous inflammation containing large numbers of yeasts identified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. Surgical excision and treatment with oral amphotericin B and terbinafine was unsuccessful in managing the infection. On Day 67 after surgery, Cryptococcus DNA was detected by PCR in the blood but not oral, cloacal or skin swabs. The skink was euthanised 72 days after surgery due to anorexia, weight loss and progressive neurological signs of disease. Necropsy results showed disseminated cryptococcosis, including meningoencephalitis and ventriculitis. Two in-contact pink-tongued skinks remained asymptomatic and PCR-negative during 198 days of observation. This case suggests Cryptococcus infections should be considered for oral masses presenting with or without neurological signs in skinks. Further investigation is required to determine the best treatment options for disseminated cryptococcosis in reptiles. This report describes the third reported case of Cryptococcus in a reptile and the first case of cryptococcosis in a pink-tongued skink. It is also the first report of Cryptococcus in a reptile identified to the variety level using PCR, including in whole blood samples.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: En un abordaje integral de la epilepsia es indispensable considerar aquellos aspectos psicosociales que afectan a la consideración del enfermo acerca del impacto de su enfermedad. Objetivos: Determinar el estado actual de la actitud social frente a la epilepsia en la isla de Mallorca. Analizar si se han producido cambios en la actitud social frente a la epilepsia y el enfermo epiléptico en la isla de Mallorca. Sujetos: 729 residentes en la isla de Mallorca. Método: Se elaboró un cuestionario basado en el diseñado previamente por los autores, el cual permite describir tres perfiles actitudinales frente a la epilepsia: Estigmatizador, Integrador e Inconsistente. Resultados y Conclusiones: Se observa un claro predominio de la actitud integradora y una práctica ausencia de actitud estigmatizadora, aunque persiste una actitud inconsistente en aproximadamente un tercio de los encuestados. Longitudinalmente, se observa una traslación hacia actitudes más positivas
Introduction: On a holistic approach to Epilepsy is essential to consider psychosocial aspects that affects the patient´s consideration about the impact of his disease. Objectives: To assess the actual social attitude towards epilepsy in Majorca. To analyze if there have been changes in the social attitudes towards epilepsy and the epileptic patients, and if so, in what sense, comparison with a precious survey made 20 years ago. Subjects: 729 residents in Majorca. Method: We made a questionnaire based on one previously designed by the authors, that allows to describe three attitudinal profiles regarding epilepsy: stigmatizer, integrative and inconsistent. Results and Conclusions: We observed a clear predominance of an integrative attitude and a practical absence of the stigmagtizant one, but an inconsistent attitude persists in one third of the population interviewed. Longitudinally, we observed a translation tomore positive attitudes (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Epilepsy/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Self Concept , Interview, Psychological/methods , Social Support , Psychosocial Impact , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/epidemiologyABSTRACT
En este trabajo se han analizado distintos parámetros cognitivos, emocionales y sensoriales asociados al recuerdo de los sueños propios de la fase MOR en sujetos normales. La apariencia visual (cromática, acromática, y nivel de nitidez), la extrañeza, el papel del durmiente, el nivel del recuerdo y la emoción asociada constituyeron las variables de un cuestionario administrado a una población de 12 sujetos (siete mujeres y cinco hombres) voluntarios sanos al ser despertados tras una fase de movimientos oculares rápidos en el Laboratorio de Sueño. Los resultados muestran la existencia de un patrón de características sensoriales y cognitivas en los sujetos normales, que incluye cromaticidad, nitidez, sonido, emociones asociadas, protagonismo del durmiente, duración subjetiva distinta de la duración real del episodio onírico y diferencia entre la extrañeza subjetiva y la objetiva percibida durante el sueño (AU)
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Male , Humans , Cognition/physiology , Sleep/physiology , Sleep Stages/physiology , Eye Movements/physiology , Sound , Emotions/physiology , Sensory Receptor Cells , Neurons, AfferentABSTRACT
Nine of thirty California quail (Callipepla californica achrustera) captured in autumn of 1992, 17 km west of La Paz, Baja California Sur, México, were parasitized by louse flies. We identified eight Microlynchia pusilla and three Stilbometopa impressa from 30 quails in the ratio of 2.75:1. These are the first records of S. impressa for Cape Region and the first time either fly has been reported from the California quail in Baja California Sur.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/parasitology , Diptera , Ectoparasitic Infestations/veterinary , Quail/parasitology , Animals , Bird Diseases/epidemiology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/epidemiology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/parasitology , Female , Male , Mexico/epidemiologyABSTRACT
In Spain in recent years two studies have been carried out into the prevalence of stroke. In the study made in Girona of the rural population over 64 years of age, the prevalence for stroke was 4,012 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The figure was higher for women- 5,072 -than for men 2,675 cases. Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA) had a prevalence rate of 679 cases per 100,000 population of those aged over sixty-nine, being higher for men (1,161 cases) than for women (371 cases). The results from Girona differ from the findings in other Spanish regions in that the former are lower but at the same time are similar to those obtained in other western countries. The greatest risk factors for those over 69 years old were arterial hypertension, earlier episodes of TIA, diabetes, auricular fibrillation, congestive cardiac insufficiency, chronic bronchitis, myocardial infarction peripheral vascular-diseases, arteriosclerosis, heart disease with embolization and alcohol abuse.
Subject(s)
Ischemic Attack, Transient/epidemiology , Rural Population , Aged , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
In Spain in recent years several studies have been carried out into the incidence of acute stroke among the population at large. The average figure for incidence in these studies was 227 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, ranging from a low of 163 to a high of 323 cases. In the study made among the rural population of Girona the incidence rate was 257 cases per 100,000 inhabitants which was reduced to 134 cases when adjustment was made with world population. The overall incidence rate for stroke was 193 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with that for first stroke being 174 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence of Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA) was 64 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Acute stroke incidence was greater in men (364 per 100,000) than in women (149 per 100,000). The fatality rate for acute stroke in the first month was 38 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Significant risk factors in acute stroke were alcohol abuse, hypertension, valvulopathy, earlier episodes of stroke and TIA and emboligenous source of cardiac origin.
Subject(s)
Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology , Rural Population , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Two groups of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease underwent quantified electroencephalography (EEGq) using fast Fourier transfer to assess the effects of treatment with citicholine. Evidence of cortical cognitive impairment was seen in one group but not in the other. Certain parameters were established which enabled the two groups to be distinguished by examining specific EEGq indices. Specifically, differences were found in the overall potentials of the delta and alpha bands, in the alpha/theta index, in posterior activity, in the anteriorization index of the delta and alpha rhythms, and in the spatialization index of the alpha rhythm. The implications of these differences in the potential involvement of the frontal lobes in subcortical dementia in Parkinson's disease are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cytidine Diphosphate Choline/therapeutic use , Dementia/drug therapy , Parkinson Disease/complications , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Dementia/complications , Electroencephalography/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Quantified electroencephalography (EEGq) by means the Fast Fourier Transformed system (FFT) was carried out on two groups of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD). The first one was with symptoms of cortical deterioration, and the second group consisting of subjects without signs of cortical impairment. The study of the specific EEGq indices has led to the establishment of parameters which establish differences between these two groups. Specifically, a difference has been found with regard to the total potentials of delta and alpha frequency bands; alpha/theta index; posterior activities; changes in the lobular antero-posterior of delta and alpha rhythms; and in the distribution of the spatialization index of alpha rhythm. We discuss the implications of this electrophysiological differentiation between the two groups, regarding the possible frontal lobe affection in the subcortical dementiation of the Parkinson's disease.
Subject(s)
Electroencephalography , Frontal Lobe/physiopathology , Parkinson Disease/physiopathology , Aged , Alpha Rhythm , Cerebral Cortex/physiopathology , Dementia/classification , Electroencephalography/methods , Female , Fourier Analysis , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
"The Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly" (CAMDEX) is a new structured interview developed for diagnostic of dementia and other psychogeriatric disorders frequent in the old age. The CAMDEX is composed of three main sections: 1) A clinical interview structured to obtain from the patient a systematized information about his present condition, his antecedents and his familiar history. 2) A short neuropsychological battery formed by several cognitive tests. 3) A structured interview to obtain independent information about relative or another informing person about the present state of the patient, his antecedents and his familiar history. The good results obtained by the original version of CAMDEX, as in clinical works as in epidemiological ones, have determined their translation and fitting in our environment. The present work shows the changes that have been necessary to insert in the original version in order that this interview may be used in our geriatric population.
Subject(s)
Aged/psychology , Interview, Psychological , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Cultural Characteristics , Dementia/diagnosis , Depression/diagnosis , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Physical Examination , SpainABSTRACT
A neurologist and a psychiatrist diagnosed independently, according to DSM-III-R and ICD-10 criteria, to 15 subjects with dementia, 15 with depression and 15 without any of two previous diagnostics. Later, a psychologist held an interview with them by means of the structured interview CAMDEX. The lump levels of agreement between clinical diagnostic and DSM-III-R diagnostic obtained through CAMDEX is of Kappa = 0.63. These levels are increased to one Kappa = 0.76 if we compare the clinical diagnostic with CAMDEX diagnostic according to the ICD-10. On the other hand, we value the outputs of some instruments that are included in the CAMDEX: Mini Examen Cognoscitivo, Mini-Mental State, CAMCOG, Organicity Scale, Blessed Scale and Depressión Scale.
Subject(s)
Dementia/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/methods , Aged , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Middle Aged , SpainABSTRACT
Three teams formed by psychologists with experience in the administration of structured interviews evaluated by the CAMDEX (The Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination) in a sample of 41 patients for the interrater reliability study. While a psychologist interview patient, the other one observes each patient. The CAMDEX were completed independently by each of the examiners. The results demonstrate an elevated level agreement both for the different scales (p less than 0.001) and for the different diagnostic criteria employed by the CAMDEX (kappa = 0.88 for the DSM-III-R and Kappa = 1 for the ICD-10).
