ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the discrepancies between the professionals and outpatients on quality perceived of a Nuclear Medicine Department (NMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study has been carried out using two questionnaires: a validated patient experience questionnaire and a quality perception questionnaire for professionals. Both questionnaires use the same 25 categorical items to measure service quality, 2 Likert scale items to measure satisfaction and willingness to recommend the NMD and 1 open-ended question. The patient questionnaire included 6 socio-demographic items and one job-related question (professionals). The categorical items were classified as "conformity" or "non-conformity." RESULTS: The response rate was 36.7% for outpatients and 100% for professionals. Mean value for satisfaction with the NMD was 9 points for patients and 6.9 points for professionals. Mean number of non-conformity items per person was 2.8 for the patient group and 8.7 for the professional group. Cohen's Kappa value was 0.112, indicating poor agreement in the classification of items as strong points and areas for improvement. Of the 25 items, the professionals and patients coincided on 12 (48%). CONCLUSION: Agreement was low between the quality perception of patients and professionals. The patients scored quality of service higher than the NMD professionals did. These instruments are useful aid to help health organizations detect areas for improvement, and to improve the quality of the service provided to patients.
Subject(s)
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital , Patients/psychology , Personnel, Hospital/psychology , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Facility Environment , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction , Quality of Health Care , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To know the cutoff point at which in-house Nuclear Medicine Department (MND) customers consider that the quality of service is good (personalized cutoff). MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a survey of the professionals who had requested at least 5 tests to the Nuclear Medicine Department. A total of 71 doctors responded (response rate: 30%). A question was added to the questionnaire for the user to establish a cutoff point for which they would consider the quality of service as good. The quality non-conformities, areas of improvement and strong points of the six questions measuring the quality of service (Likert scale 0 to 10) were compared with two different thresholds: personalized cutoff and one proposed by the service itself a priori. Test statistics: binomial and Student's t-test for paired data. RESULTS: A cutoff value of 7 was proposed by the service as a reference while 68.1% of respondents suggested a cutoff above 7 points (mean 7.9 points). The 6 elements of perceived quality were considered strong points with the cutoff proposed by the MND, while there were 3 detected with the personalized threshold. Thirteen percent of the answers were nonconformities with the service cutoff versus 19.2% with the personalized one, the differences being statistically significant (difference 95% CI 6.44%:0,83-12.06). CONCLUSIONS: The final image of the perceived quality of an in-house customer is different when using the cutoff established by the Department versus the personalized cutoff given by the respondent.
Subject(s)
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital/standards , Patient Satisfaction , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Humans , Reference Values , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objetivo. Determinar el porcentaje de identificación global del ganglio centinela (GC) en el cáncer de mama, la evolución cronológica de este parámetro y la influencia de la introducción de una gammacámara portátil. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo a partir de una base de datos prospectiva de 754 pacientes a las que se realizó biopsia selectiva del GC de forma consecutiva entre enero de 2003 y diciembre de 2011. La técnica fue mixta en periodo inicial y posteriormente con radiotrazador administrado intra-peritumoralmente. Hasta octubre de 2009 la exéresis del GC fue guiada por sonda y a partir de esta fecha se introdujo una gammacámara portátil para la detección intraoperatoria. Resultados. Se ha biopsiado el GC en 725 de 754 pacientes, siendo por tanto la eficacia global del 96,2%. Según el año de intervención quirúrgica los porcentajes de identificación han sido del 93,5% en 2003, del 88,7% en 2004, del 94,3% en 2005, del 95,7% en 2006, del 93,3% en 2007, del 98,8% en 2008, del 97,1% en 2009 y del 99,1% en 2010 y 2011. Existe una diferencia de proporciones entre el porcentaje de identificación antes y después de la incorporación de la gammacámara portátil del 4,6% que es estadísticamente significativa (IC 95% de la diferencia 2-7,2% con una p asociada de 0,0037). Conclusiones. El porcentaje de identificación global se halla por encima del nivel recomendado por las directrices actuales. Cronológicamente se constata elevación de este parámetro a lo largo del periodo estudiado. Los datos apuntan a que la incorporación de una gammacámara portátil ha tenido un papel en ello (AU)
Aim. To define the sentinel node identification rate in breast cancer, the chronological evolution of this parameter and the influence of the introduction of a portable gamma camera. Material and methods. A retrospective study was conducted using a prospective database of 754 patients who had undergone a sentinel lymph node biopsy between January 2003 and December 2011. The technique was mixed in the starting period and subsequently was performed with radiotracer intra-peritumorally administered the day before of the surgery. Until October 2009, excision of the sentinel node was guided by a probe. After that date, a portable gamma camera was introduced for intrasurgical detection. Results. The SN was biopsied in 725 out of the 754 patients studied. The resulting technique global effectiveness was 96.2%. In accordance with the year of the surgical intervention, the identification percentage was 93.5% in 2003, 88.7% in 2004, 94.3% in 2005, 95.7% in 2006, 93.3% in 2007, 98.8% in 2008, 97.1% in 2009 and 99.1% in 2010 and 2011. There was a significant difference in the proportion of identification before and after the incorporation of the portable gamma camera of 4.6% (95% CI of the difference 27.2%, P = 0.0037). Conclusions. The percentage of global identification exceeds the recommended level following the current guidelines. Chronologically, the improvement for this parameter during the study period has been observed. These data suggest that the incorporation of a portable gamma camera had an important role (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/trends , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Lymphoscintigraphy/instrumentation , Lymphoscintigraphy/methods , Lymphoscintigraphy , Breast Neoplasms/complications , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/instrumentation , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/methods , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/standards , Evaluation of the Efficacy-Effectiveness of Interventions , Breast Neoplasms/physiopathology , Breast Neoplasms , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
AIM: To define the sentinel node identification rate in breast cancer, the chronological evolution of this parameter and the influence of the introduction of a portable gamma camera. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using a prospective database of 754 patients who had undergone a sentinel lymph node biopsy between January 2003 and December 2011. The technique was mixed in the starting period and subsequently was performed with radiotracer intra-peritumorally administered the day before of the surgery. Until October 2009, excision of the sentinel node was guided by a probe. After that date, a portable gamma camera was introduced for intrasurgical detection. RESULTS: The SN was biopsied in 725 out of the 754 patients studied. The resulting technique global effectiveness was 96.2%. In accordance with the year of the surgical intervention, the identification percentage was 93.5% in 2003, 88.7% in 2004, 94.3% in 2005, 95.7% in 2006, 93.3% in 2007, 98.8% in 2008, 97.1% in 2009 and 99.1% in 2010 and 2011. There was a significant difference in the proportion of identification before and after the incorporation of the portable gamma camera of 4.6% (95% CI of the difference 2-7.2%, P = 0.0037). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of global identification exceeds the recommended level following the current guidelines. Chronologically, the improvement for this parameter during the study period has been observed. These data suggest that the incorporation of a portable gamma camera had an important role.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Gamma Cameras , Intraoperative Care/instrumentation , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms, Male/diagnostic imaging , Breast Neoplasms, Male/pathology , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radionuclide Imaging , Retrospective Studies , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/methods , Time FactorsABSTRACT
GOAL: To know the perceived quality and the levels of patient satisfaction with the Nuclear Medicine Service (MN). METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. The authors designed a self-applied questionnaire based on a questionnaire from a survey created by the National Health Service of the UK. The answers of 32 items were analyzed, including 4 social-demographic questions and one open question. The authors recoded the variables related to service quality and recorded them as "in accordance" and "not in accordance." The validity of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's alpha and determination (R(2)) indexes. The authors used the χ(2), Student's T, ANOVA and linear regression analysis statistical tests. RESULTS: A total of 179 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 36.6%, sampling error: 5.8%). Evaluation of general satisfaction and the recommendation of the NM Service obtained a mean score of 8.96 and 9.20 (1-10 scale) points, respectively. The most influential variable regarding general satisfaction was the general impression of the organization of the service. The strong points of the service were courtesy, general organizational image and cleanliness. The main areas for improvement were appointment change process and waiting list. There were no significant differences regarding satisfaction due to the social-demographic variables except for age. CONCLUSION: This satisfaction survey has shown that patients are satisfied with the Nuclear Medicine Service and that it is a useful tool to detect the strong points and areas for improvement of the Service from the user's perspective.
Subject(s)
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital , Patient Satisfaction , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Attitude of Health Personnel , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hospital Design and Construction , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital/organization & administration , Professional-Patient Relations , Socioeconomic Factors , Spain , Surveys and Questionnaires , Waiting Lists , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objetivo. Conocer la calidad percibida y el grado de satisfacción de los pacientes con el servicio de Medicina Nuclear (MN). Metodología. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se diseñó un cuestionario, adaptando un cuestionario elaborado por el National Health Service. Se analizaron las respuestas de 32 ítems, incluyendo 4 preguntas socio-demográficas y una abierta. Las variables relacionadas con la calidad de servicio se recodificaron en conformidad y no conformidad. Se midió la validez del cuestionario a través de los coeficientes alfa de Cronbach y de determinación (R2). Se utilizaron los test estadísticos χ2, t de Student, ANOVA y análisis de regresión lineal. Resultados. Fueron analizados 179 cuestionarios (tasa de respuesta: 36,6%, error muestral: 5,8%). La valoración de la satisfacción general y la recomendación del servicio de MN obtuvieron una puntuación media de 8,96 y 9,20 puntos respectivamente (escala 1-10). La variable que más influyó en la satisfacción general fue la impresión de la organización del servicio. Los principales puntos fuertes del servicio fueron la cortesía, la impresión de la organización del servicio y la limpieza; y las principales áreas de mejora, el cambio de cita y la lista de espera. No hubo diferencias significativas en la satisfacción en función de las variables sociodemográficas excepto para la edad. Conclusiones. La encuesta de satisfacción realizada nos ha permitido conocer que los pacientes están satisfechos con el Servicio de MN y, al mismo tiempo, constituye un instrumento útil para poder detectar los puntos fuertes y áreas de mejora del servicio desde la óptica del usuario(AU)
Goal. To know the perceived quality and the levels of patient satisfaction with the Nuclear Medicine Service (MN). Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. The authors designed a self-applied questionnaire based on a questionnaire from a survey created by the National Health Service of the UK. The answers of 32 items were analyzed, including 4 social-demographic questions and one open question. The authors recoded the variables related to service quality and recorded them as "in accordance" and "not in accordance". The validity of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's alpha and determination (R2) indexes. The authors used the χ2, Student's T, ANOVA and linear regression analysis statistical tests. Results. A total of 179 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 36.6%, sampling error: 5.8%). Evaluation of general satisfaction and the recommendation of the NM Service obtained a mean score of 8.96 and 9.20 (1-10 scale) points, respectively. The most influential variable regarding general satisfaction was the general impression of the organization of the service. The strong points of the service were courtesy, general organizational image and cleanliness. The main areas for improvement were appointment change process and waiting list. There were no significant differences regarding satisfaction due to the social-demographic variables except for age. Conclusion. This satisfaction survey has shown that patients are satisfied with the Nuclear Medicine Service and that it is a useful tool to detect the strong points and areas for improvement of the Service from the users perspective(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data , Nuclear Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence , Nuclear Medicine/statistics & numerical data , /statistics & numerical data , Quality of Health Care/organization & administration , Quality of Health Care/standards , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies/methods , Cross-Sectional Studies/trends , Analysis of Variance , Linear Models , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Osteonecrosis/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , /methods , /methods , Technetium , Osteonecrosis/complications , Osteonecrosis , Bone and Bones/pathology , Bone and BonesSubject(s)
Acetabulum/diagnostic imaging , Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Chondrosarcoma/diagnosis , Diagnostic Errors , Ilium/diagnostic imaging , Multimodal Imaging , Osteonecrosis/diagnostic imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Back Pain/etiology , Fractures, Bone/diagnosis , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis, Hip/diagnosis , Radiopharmaceuticals , Sciatica/etiology , Technetium Tc 99m Medronate , Whole Body ImagingABSTRACT
Arenaviridae comprises 23 recognized virus species with a bipartite ssRNA genome and an ambisense coding strategy. The virions are enveloped and include nonequimolar amounts of each genomic RNA species, designated L and S, coding for four ORFs (N, GPC, L, and Z). The arenavirus Junín (JUNV) is the etiological agent of Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever, an acute disease with high mortality rate. It has been proposed that Z is the functional counterpart of the matrix proteins found in other negative-stranded enveloped RNA viruses. Here we report the optimized expression of a synthetic gene of Z protein, using three expression systems (two bacterial and a baculoviral one). One of these recombinant proteins was used to generate antibodies. A bioinformatic analysis was made where Z was subdivided into three domains. The data presented contributes methodologies for Z recombinant production and provides the basis for the development of new experiments to test its function.
Subject(s)
Junin virus/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/isolation & purification , Viral Matrix Proteins/isolation & purification , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/metabolism , Arenaviridae Infections/virology , Blotting, Western , Escherichia coli/genetics , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Protein Structure, Tertiary/genetics , Rabbits , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism , Sequence Alignment , Spodoptera/genetics , Viral Matrix Proteins/chemistry , Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics , Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Fundamento. La biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela(BSGC) ha reemplazado a la linfadenectomía axilar (LA),como procedimiento de elección, en el estadiaje del cáncerde mama en estadios iniciales y axila clínicamente negativa.El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar la supervivenciaglobal y libre de eventos de aquellas pacientes a lasque se realizó, en el periodo de validación de la técnica,BSGC seguida de LA respecto a las que se practicó BSGCy LA si el ganglio centinela (GC) presentaba metástasis.Material y métodos. Se han incluido 148 pacientes, 81pertenecientes al periodo de validación y 67 al grupo deaplicación clínica. El radiocoloide se administró intraperitumoralmente,obteniéndose imágenes hasta la visualizacióndel GC, posteriormente en la intervenciónquirúrgica se procedió a su identificación y extirpación.Resultados. En el grupo de validación, la eficacia de latécnica ha sido del 92,5%, la sensibilidad del 95,6% y latasa de falsos negativos del 4%. De las 81 pacientes, 75se encuentran libres de enfermedad (92,6%). De las 67pacientes pertenecientes al grupo de aplicación clínica,63 (94%) viven libres de enfermedad. Ninguna pacienteha presentado recurrencia ganglionar axilar.Conclusiones. En la validación de la técnica hemos obtenidounos valores que se hallan dentro de las exigenciasde calidad generalmente aceptadas. Con una mediade seguimiento de 6 años no hemos observado recurrenciaaxilar en ninguno de los dos grupos. No existediferencia estadísticamente significativa en la supervivenciaglobal y libre de eventos entre ambos grupos(AU)
Background. Selective biopsy of the sentinel ganglion(SBSG) has replaced axillary lymphadectomy (AL) asthe procedure of choice in staging breast cancer in itsinitial stages and in clinically negative axilla. The aimof this study is to compare global event-free survival ofthose patients subjected to SBSG followed by AL, duringthe period of validation of the technique, with respectto those subjected to SBSG and AL if the sentinelganglion (SG) showed metastasis.Methods. One hundred and forty-eight patients wereincluded, 81 belonging to the period of validation and67 to the clinical application group. Radiocoloid wasadministered intraperitumorally, obtaining images upuntil the visualisation of the SG; its identification andextirpation were carried out subsequently in the surgicalintervention.Results. The efficacy of the technique in the validationgroup was 92.5%, sensitivity was 95.6% and the rate offalse negatives was 4%. Of the 81 patients, 75 are freeof disease (92.6%). Of the 67 patients belonging to theclinical application group, 63 (94%) are free of disease.No patient has presented axillary ganglion recurrence.Conclusion. In the validation of the technique we obtainedvalues that fall within the demands of generallyaccepted quality. With an average follow up of 6 yearswe did not observe axillary ganglion recurrence in anyof the two groups. There is no statistically significantdifference in global and event free survival between thetwo groups(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Lymph Node Excision , Spectrometry, Gamma , Disease-Free Survival , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Selective biopsy of the sentinel ganglion (SBSG) has replaced axillary lymphadectomy (AL) as the procedure of choice in staging breast cancer in its initial stages and in clinically negative axilla. The aim of this study is to compare global event-free survival of those patients subjected to SBSG followed by AL, during the period of validation of the technique, with respect to those subjected to SBSG and AL if the sentinel ganglion (SG) showed metastasis. METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight patients were included, 81 belonging to the period of validation and 67 to the clinical application group. Radiocoloid was administered intraperitumorally, obtaining images up until the visualisation of the SG; its identification and extirpation were carried out subsequently in the surgical intervention. RESULTS: The efficacy of the technique in the validation group was 92.5%, sensitivity was 95.6% and the rate of false negatives was 4%. Of the 81 patients, 75 are free of disease (92.6%). Of the 67 patients belonging to the clinical application group, 63 (94%) are free of disease. No patient has presented axillary ganglion recurrence. CONCLUSION: In the validation of the technique we obtained values that fall within the demands of generally accepted quality. With an average follow up of 6 years we did not observe axillary ganglion recurrence in any of the two groups. There is no statistically significant difference in global and event free survival between the two groups.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Lymph Node Excision , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Axilla , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to optimize and evaluate the purification techniques, isolation and breaking of cysts of Giardia spp from fecal samples to isolate DNA. Filtrated fecal samples were tested in 3 purification techniques: Telleman solution, sucrose and Telleman plus sucrose. The sucrose solution let us to isolate the cysts with less detritus. The cleaned cysts were splited in 3 techniques to test the breaking: osmotic shock and heat, chemistry degradation and thermic shock, enzymatic action and mechanic effect. Only the last method was successful and showed bands in agarose gel. The result of this study shows a routine and common method which could be used in the previous steps to the PCR technique for the genotypification of these parasites.
Subject(s)
Cell Fractionation/methods , Cell Separation/methods , Feces/parasitology , Giardia/isolation & purification , Oocysts , Oocysts/isolation & purification , Animals , DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Dogs , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel , Endopeptidase K/pharmacology , Giardia/cytology , Giardia/genetics , Hot Temperature , Humans , Oocysts/chemistry , Oocysts/drug effects , Osmotic Pressure , Sodium Chloride/pharmacology , Solutions , Stress, Mechanical , Sucrose/pharmacologyABSTRACT
El objetivo de este trabajo fue optimizar y evaluar las técnicas de purificación, aislamiento y ruptura de quistes de Giardia spp a partir de heces formoladas para la obtención de ADN. La materia fecal filtrada fue sometida a 3 técnicas de purificación, utilizando soluciones de formol-éter, sacarosa y formol-éter más sacarosa. La solución de sacarosa permitió aislar los quistes con menos detritos. Los quistes purificados fueron tratados con 3 técnicas para la ruptura de los mismos: shock osmótico y calor, degradación química y shock térmico, acción enzimática y efecto mecánico. Solamente con la técnica de shock térmico, acción enzimática y efecto mecánico se observaron bandas fluorescentes en geles de agarosa. Los resultados de este trabajo permiten contar con una metodología de rutina, simple, que podría ser usada en los pasos previos a la técnica de PCR para la genotipificación de este parásito.
The purpose of this study was to optimize and evaluate the purification techniques, isolation and breaking of cysts of Giardia spp from fecal samples to isolate DNA. Filtrated fecal samples were tested in 3 purification techniques: Telleman solution, sucrose and Telleman plus sucrose. The sucrose solution let us to isolate the cysts with less detritus. The cleaned cysts were splited in 3 techniques to test the breaking: osmotic shock and heat, chemistry degradation and thermic shock, enzymatic action and mechanic effect. Only the last method was successful and showed bands in agarose gel. The result of this study shows a routine and common method which could be used in the previous steps to the PCR technique for the genotypification of these parasites.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Humans , Cell Fractionation/methods , Cell Separation/methods , Feces/parasitology , Giardia/isolation & purification , Oocysts , Oocysts/isolation & purification , DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel , Endopeptidase K/pharmacology , Giardia/cytology , Giardia/genetics , Hot Temperature , Osmotic Pressure , Oocysts/chemistry , Oocysts/drug effects , Solutions , Stress, Mechanical , Sodium Chloride/pharmacology , Sucrose/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to optimize and evaluate the purification techniques, isolation and breaking of cysts of Giardia spp from fecal samples to isolate DNA. Filtrated fecal samples were tested in 3 purification techniques: Telleman solution, sucrose and Telleman plus sucrose. The sucrose solution let us to isolate the cysts with less detritus. The cleaned cysts were splited in 3 techniques to test the breaking: osmotic shock and heat, chemistry degradation and thermic shock, enzymatic action and mechanic effect. Only the last method was successful and showed bands in agarose gel. The result of this study shows a routine and common method which could be used in the previous steps to the PCR technique for the genotypification of these parasites.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare patients with Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus bacteremia (CoNS-B) and pseudobacteremia (CoNS-PB) in a pediatric hospital. METHODS: Descriptive and comparative study between children diagnosed with CoNS-B and CoNS-PB. RESULTS: A total of 159 children with CoNS positive blood cultures were evaluated. 66 children were classified as CoNS-B (41.5%) and 93 as CoNS-PE3 (58.5%). On the average CoNS was isolated on day 21 among children with bacteremia (B) and on day 2 in those with PB (p < 0.01). Excluding newborns, patients with B and PB had on average 2.6 and 1.1 positive cultures respectively. Most children with bacteremia were at the intensive care unit (67.2%), while patients with PB were mostly detected at the emergency room. Using logistic regression analysis, we found four factors independently associated with CoNS bacteremia: total parenteral nutrition (OR 5.4; 95% CI 2.2-12.9), low birth weight (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1-5.9), catheters placed by cut-down technique (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.8), and inmuno-compromised patients (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-6.7). Resistance to oxacilin was reported in 71.7% of the CoNS isolated. The overall mortality associated to CoNS-B was 6%. Among children with CoNS-PB, 10% received antibiotics, half of them vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that CoNS-B occurs mainly as a nosocomial episode. CoNS-PB more likely resulted from specimen contamination at collection, being responsible for almost 60% of all positive blood cultures. The false-positive results caused unnecessary administration of antibiotics in a significant proportion of CoNS-PB events and have a potential impact upon the emergence of resistant pathogens.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Adolescent , Bacteremia/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Coagulase/metabolism , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Retrospective Studies , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology , Staphylococcus/enzymologyABSTRACT
RNA polymerase pausing and transcriptional antitermination regulates gene activity in several systems. In arenavirus infected cells the switch from transcription to replication is subjected to a hairpin-dependent termination and requires protein synthesis to bypass this signal. The transcriptional antitermination control by Junín virus nucleocapsid protein N, has been demonstrated in vivo by infecting BHK-21 cells expressing this viral protein in the presence of translation inhibitors. This is the first demonstration in vivo of a transcriptional antitermination control in arenavirus-infected cells.
Subject(s)
Arenavirus/physiology , Eukaryotic Cells/virology , Nucleocapsid Proteins/physiology , Animals , Arenavirus/genetics , Arenavirus/metabolism , Base Sequence , Blotting, Northern , Blotting, Western , Cell Line , Cricetinae , Junin virus/chemistry , Junin virus/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Nucleic Acid Conformation , RNA, Messenger/chemistry , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Viral/analysis , RNA, Viral/genetics , Transcription, Genetic , Transcriptional Activation , Transfection , Virus Replication/geneticsABSTRACT
DNA fingerprints of lactic acid bacteria were generated by polymerase chain reaction using a primer based on the repetitive elements found in the genome of Streptococcus pneumoniae (BOX-PCR). The method made it possible to identify 37 isolates from raw milk. industrial starters and yogurt. Differentiation at species, subspecies and strain level was possible for Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis, Lb. delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus and Str. thermophilus. BOX-PCR was also applied to studying the strain composition of a starter culture and the direct detection of strains in commercial fermented milk.
Subject(s)
DNA Fingerprinting/methods , Lactobacillus/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Streptococcus/isolation & purification , Animals , Base Sequence , DNA, Bacterial , Lactobacillus/classification , Lactobacillus/genetics , Milk/microbiology , Molecular Sequence Data , Phenotype , Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid , Streptococcus/classification , Streptococcus/genetics , Yogurt/microbiologyABSTRACT
Bread from wheat flour is one of the most widely consumed products by the Mexican population. In this study, proximate composition, and mineral content were determined, and cost per/gram of protein and energy of traditional and industrial bread were compared. Seven types of bread were analyzed: bolillo, virginia, white bread and pastries conchita, croissant, breadroll and donuts. Products were analyzed for proximate composition by official methods, and content of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, y Zn by atomic absorption spectrometry. Based on 24 hour recall interviews, the consumption of each type of bread as well as the percent of protein and energy allowances were calculated. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found with respect to nutrient content between traditional and industrial breads. White bread and pastries from industrial origin showed higher costs (p < 0.05) per gram of protein and energy than traditional products in most cases. Both industrial and traditional breads showed higher fat content than that established by Official Mexican regulations. A high content of Ca was found in bread from the industrial origin and K, Mg, Fe y Zn were higher (p < 0.05) than those from the traditional bakery.
Subject(s)
Bread/analysis , Energy Intake , Food Industry , Proteins/chemistry , Mexico , Nutritive ValueABSTRACT
Arenaviridae is a worldwide distributed family, of enveloped, single stranded, RNA viruses. The arenaviruses were divided in two major groups (Old World and New World), based on serological properties and genetic data, as well as the geographic distribution. In this study the phylogenetic relationship among the members of the Arenaviridae was examined, using the reported genomic sequences. The comparison of the aligned nucleotide sequences of the S RNA and the predicted amino acid sequences of the GPC and N proteins, together with the phylogenetic analysis, strongly suggest a possible kinship of Pichindé and Oliveros viruses, with the Old World arenavirus group. This analysis points at the evolutive relationships between the arenaviruses of the Americas and can be used to evaluate the different hypotheses about their origin.
Subject(s)
Arenavirus/genetics , Phylogeny , Arenavirus/classification , Base Sequence , Evolution, Molecular , Genes, Viral , Pichinde virus/genetics , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Viral Proteins/genetics , Viral Structural Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
The Junin virus strain Candid #1 was developed as a live attenuated vaccine for Argentine haemorrhagic fever. In this paper we report the nucleotide sequences of S RNA of Candid #1 and its more virulent ancestors XJ#44 and XJ (prototype). Their relationship to Junin virus wild-type MC2 strain and other closely and distantly related arenaviruses was also examined. Comparisons of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of N and GPC genes from Candid #1 and its progenitor strains revealed some changes that are unique to the vaccine strain. These changes could be provisionally associated with the attenuated phenotype.
