Lesiones vertebrales postraumáticas / Post-traumatic vertebral injuries

Introducción: Las lesiones raquídeas son frecuentes en hombres adultos jóvenes. Reconocer la cinemática ayuda a disminuir la tasa de diagnósticos tardíos, principalmente si hay trastornos de la conciencia. Las fracturas vertebrales pueden ser únicas o múltiples, y asociarse con lesiones extravertebrales. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron analizar la distribución de la lesión según el mecanismo de producción, caracterizar el cuadro neurológico, evaluar el patrón de lesión y la asociación con lesiones extra-vertebrales, y analizar el tratamiento. materiales y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo de pacientes con lesiones vertebrales postrauma, que ingresaron entre el 1 de julio de 2018 y el 30 de junio de 2020. Se analizaron los siguientes parámetros: edad, sexo, cinemática, cuadro neurológico, sector afectado, patrón de lesión, lesiones extravertebrales asociadas. Resultados: Se evaluó a 281 pacientes (60% hombres) con 400 lesiones vertebrales y 118 extravertebrales que, en 62 casos, conformaban un cuadro de politraumatismo; 147 con trauma por caída de altura y 98, por accidente de tránsito. El cuadro neurológico más observado fue ASIA E (8 casos), no determinado al ingreso. El sector T2-L5 fue el más afectado, en su mayoría, por lesiones por compresión. Las lesiones extravertebrales más frecuentes fueron el trauma de cráneo y de tórax; hubo un caso de SCIWORA y un óbito temprano. Conclusiones: Los sectores raquídeos más afectados fueron: el toracolumbar, el torácico y el lumbar; las lesiones suelen deberse a caídas de altura y suelen ser únicas, sin cuadro neurológico. El tratamiento se decide según la estabilidad y el cuadro neurológico. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Spinal injuries are common among young adult men. Recognizing kinematics can help reduce the number of late diagnoses, especially if there are consciousness disorders. Vertebral fractures can be single or multiple, and they are often associated with extravertebral injuries. Objectives: To examine the distribution of the lesion based on the mechanism of production, to characterize the neurological condition, to evaluate the lesion pattern and its relationship with extravertebral lesions, and to analyze the treatment. materials and methods:This was a multicenter, prospective study of patients admitted with post-trauma vertebral injuries between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2020. Age, gender, kinematics, neurological condition, affected sector, pattern of injury, and associated extravertebral injuries were all examined. Results: There were 281 patients (60% men) evaluated, with 400 vertebral and 118 extravertebral lesions. The causes were as follows: polytrauma in 62 cases, falls from great heights in 147 patients, and traffic accidents in 98. ASIA E was the most frequently observed neurological picture (8 cases), which was not determined at admission. The T2-L5 sector was the most affected, mostly by compression injuries. Head and chest trauma were the most common extravertebral injuries; there was one case of SCIWORA and one early death. Conclusions: The most commonly affected spinal sectors were thoracolumbar, thoracic, and lumbar; the injuries are typically caused by falls from great heights and, in general, are isolated, with no neurological injuries. The treatment is determined by the stability and neurological condition. Level of Evidence: IV

Fracturas vertebrales múltiples / Multiple vertebral fractures

Introducción: Las fracturas vertebrales múltiples son el resultado de traumatismos de alta energía. Se clasifican en contiguas cuando hay fractura de dos o más cuerpos vertebrales en forma adyacente y no contiguas cuando hay lesiones de varios niveles separadas por, al menos, una vértebra sin lesión. Objetivos: Evaluar la clínica y la cinemática de las fracturas vertebrales múltiples, establecer su distribución, evaluar la asociación con lesiones extravertebrales y detallar las complicaciones. Materiales y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo y observacional de pacientes con fracturas vertebrales múltiples. Resultados: 66 pacientes (26 mujeres y 40 hombres; promedio de edad 39 años) con 196 lesiones vertebrales, 55 no tenían déficit neurológico. Cinemática: 32 accidentes automovilísticos, 27 caídas de altura, 5 traumas directos y 2 traumas deportivos. Topografía: dos C0-C3, cuatro C3-C7, ocho C7-T1, 61 T1-T10, 91 T10-L2, 28 L2-L5 y una sacro. Combinación: 21 toracolumbar-toracolumbar y 8 torácica-torácica. Treinta y dos fracturas eran contiguas; 19, no contiguas y 15 tenían un patrón mixto. Veintiséis pacientes pre-sentaron 47 lesiones extravertebrales (20 politraumatismos), 12 traumas torácicos. Treinta y seis pacientes recibieron tratamiento conservador y 30 fueron operados. Conclusiones: La presencia de fracturas vertebrales múltiples es frecuente y son consecuencia de accidentes automovilísticos, la mayoría de los pacientes no tiene compromiso neurológico. El sector más afectado fue entre T2 y L5, la combinación más frecuente fue toracolumbar-toracolumbar, seguida de torácica-torácica. Las lesiones extravertebrales más frecuentes fueron traumatismos de cráneo y de tórax. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Background: Multiple vertebral fractures (MVF) are the result of high-energy trauma. These can be contiguous (CMVF) when there is a fracture of two or more vertebral bodies in an adjacent way and non-contiguous (NCMVF) when there are lesions of various levels separated by at least one vertebra without injury. Objective: To evaluate clinical features and kinematics, establish distribution, evaluate association with extra-vertebral injuries, detail complications. materials and methods: A multicenter, prospective, and observational study. Patients with MVF. Results: Sixty-six patients presented 196 vertebral lesions, without neurological deficit in 55; 26 were women and 40 were men, with an average age of 39 years old. Kinematics: 32 car accidents, 27 falls from height, 5 direct traumas and 2 sports traumas. Topography: 2 C0-C3, 4 C3-C7, 8 C7TT1, 61 T1-T10, 91 T10-L2, 28 L2-L5 and 1 sacrum. Combination: 21 thoracolumbar-thoracolumbar and 8 thoracic-thoracic. There were 32 contiguous injuries, 19 non-contiguous injuries, and 15 mixed-pattern injuries. Twenty-six patients presented 47 extra-verterbral injuries (20 multiple trauma, 12 thoracic trauma). 36 patients received non-surgical treatment and 30 patients underwent surgery. Conclusion: The presence of MVF in spinal cord trauma is frequent, most do not show neurological involvement and are consequences of motor vehicle accidents. The most affected sector was between T2 to L5, the most frequent combination was thoracolumbar-thoracolumbar, followed by thoracic-thoracic; the most frequent were extra-vertebral injuries, mainly head and chest trauma. Complications: one patient had increased kyphosis; one, surgical site infection; and one patient died. Level of Evidence: IV

Sustainability assessment of water hyacinth fast pyrolysis in the Upper Paraguay River basin, Brazil.

Fast pyrolysis of naturally produced water hyacinth was assessed through Emergy accounting approach. Two analyses were carried out to evaluate the influence of additional services and externalities on Emergy indicators for a pyrolysis plant unit able to process 1000 kg of dry biomass per hour. The initial approach was a traditional Emergy assessment in which financial fluxes and externalities were not considered. The second approach included taxes and fees of the Brazilian government, interests related to financing operations and assumes a reserve financial fund of 5% of the total investment as externalities cost. For the first evaluation, the renewability of 86% indicates that local and renewable resources mainly support the process and the Emergy Yield Ratio of 3.2 shows that the system has a potential contribution to the regional economy due to the local resources use. The inclusion of financial fluxes and externalities in the second evaluation reduces both renewability and Emergy Yield Ratio, whereas it increases the Emergy Investment Ratio which means a higher dependence on external resources. The second analysis allows portraying significant forces of the industrial and financial systems and the evaluation of the externalities' impact on the general system Emergy behavior. A comparison of the renewability of water hyacinth fast pyrolysis with other biofuels like soybean biodiesel and sugarcane ethanol indicates that the former is less dependent on fossil fuel resources, machinery and fertilizers. To complement the sustainability assessment provided by the Emergy method, a regular financial analysis for the second defined system was done. It shows that the system is financially attractive even with the accounting of additional costs. The results obtained in this study could be used as the maximum and minimum thresholds to subsidize regulatory policies for new economic activities in tropical wetlands involving natural resources exploitation and bio-industrial systems.

Rendimiento de índices pronósticos en infección asociada a Clostridium difficile grave: Análisis retrospectivo en un hospital universitario / Performance of prognostic index in severe Clostridium difficile-associated infection: Retrospective analysis in a university hospital

Introduction: By consensus severe, Clostridium difficile-associated infection (CDAI) is one that results in hospitalization in ICU, colectomy or death within 30 days. Multiple prognostic indices (IP) attempt to predict these adverse events. Objective: To evaluate the performance of 4 PI in predicting severe CDI. Methods: Hospitalized patients ≥ 18 years old with ICD were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with recurrent infection or hematological cancer were excluded. Four PI were evaluated: UPMC version 1, Calgary version 1, Hines VA and Calgary version 2. Results: Seven of 81 patients (8.1%) met the definition of severe CDI. Positive predicted value (PPV) and negative predicted value (NPV) of PI ranged from 20-75% and 91.3-95.7%, respectively. Only Hines VA index had a satisfactory Kappa index (0.74; 95% CI 0.41-1) with a PPV of 75% and NPV of 95,7%. However, because of the variables included, this PI could be calculated only in 32.6% of patients. Conclusion: Hines VA index has the best predicted value and agreement to rule out a severe CDI. Like others PI it has the limitation of including difficult variables to assess in all patients and tends to overestimate an unfavorable course.

Introducción: Por consenso, la infección asociada a Clostridium difficile (IACD) grave es aquella que resulta en hospitalización en unidad de cuidados intensivos, colectomía o muerte dentro de 30 días. Múltiples índices pronósticos (IP) intentan predecir estos eventos adversos. Objetivo: evaluar el rendimiento de cuatro IP en la predicción de IACD grave. Metodología: pacientes hospitalizados ≥ 18 años con IACD fueron evaluados retrospectivamente. Se excluyeron pacientes con infección recurrente o cáncer hematológico. Se evaluaron cuatro IP: UPMC versión 1, Calgary versión 1, Hines VA y Calgary versión 2. Resultados: Siete de 81 pacientes (8,1%) presentaron una IACD grave. El valor predictor positivo (VPP) y valor predictor negativo (VPN) de los IP varió entre 20-75% y 91,3-95,7%, respectivamente. Sólo el índice de Hines VA tuvo un índice Kappa satisfactorio (0,74;IC 95% 0,46-1) con un VPP de 75% y un VPN de 95,7%. Sin embargo, por las variables incluidas en este IP, sólo pudo ser calculado en 32,6% de los pacientes. Conclusión: El índice de Hines VA presenta el mejor valor predictor y concordancia para descartar una IACD grave. Como otros IP, tiene la limitación de incluir variables difícilmente evaluables en todos los pacientes y tiende a sobreestimar un curso desfavorable.

[Performance of prognostic index in severe Clostridium difficile-associated infection: retrospective analysis in a university hospital]. / Rendimiento de índices pronósticos en infección asociada a Clostridium difficile grave: Análisis retrospectivo en un hospital universitario.

INTRODUCTION: By consensus severe, Clostridium difficile-associated infection (CDAI) is one that results in hospitalization in ICU, colectomy or death within 30 days. Multiple prognostic indices (IP) attempt to predict these adverse events. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of 4 PI in predicting severe CDI. METHODS: Hospitalized patients ≥ 18 years old with ICD were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with recurrent infection or hematological cancer were excluded. Four PI were evaluated: UPMC version 1, Calgary version 1, Hines VA and Calgary version 2. RESULTS: Seven of 81 patients (8.1%) met the definition of severe CDI. Positive predicted value (PPV) and negative predicted value (NPV) of PI ranged from 20-75% and 91.3-95.7%, respectively. Only Hines VA index had a satisfactory Kappa index (0.74; 95% CI 0.41-1) with a PPV of 75% and NPV of 95,7%. However, because of the variables included, this PI could be calculated only in 32.6% of patients. CONCLUSION: Hines VA index has the best predicted value and agreement to rule out a severe CDI. Like others PI it has the limitation of including difficult variables to assess in all patients and tends to overestimate an unfavorable course.

Influence of intramammary infection and non-infection factors on somatic cell counts in dairy goats.

A total of 1304 goat udder halves were sampled monthly during an entire lactation (6262 samples) with the aim of identifying factors affecting milk somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteriological analyses for identification of mastitis pathogens were carried out on all samples and SCC was also determined. All animals were examined for infection by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) using a commercial ELISA test kit. Results obtained were arranged in two databases (whole-lactation average half-udder database and monthly half-udder database) and two mixed models were applied. Random effects of half udder nested into flock and fixed effects of flock, intramammary infection (IMI) status, number of kids born, length of lactation and interaction of parity with IMI status were significant for the first database. CAEV infection and its interaction with IMI status was not significant. Milk SCC was significantly increased for infected udder halves and milk from udder halves infected with minor pathogens had lower SCC than udder halves infected with major pathogens. For healthy udder halves, SCC was higher in older animals but this effect was not evident in halves with IMI. Multiple birth and short-duration lactation were factors associated with elevated milk SCC. The second mixed model considered repeated measures in time for consecutive samplings throughout lactation (stage of lactation) which was also a significant factor with increasing stage of lactation. The influence of all these factors should be taken into account in the establishment of more reliable diagnostic SCC thresholds for IMI.