Impacto de la cirugía cardiovascular precoz. Resultados en el Hospital Juan P. Garrahan / Impact of early cardiovascular surgery. Results at Hospital Juan P. Garrahan

Objetivos: Describir los resultados actuales en cirugía cardiovascular de pacientes portadores de cardiopatía congénita (CC) intervenidos con circulación extracorpórea (CEC) en menores de un año de vida. Métodos: Se incluyeron todos los pacientes operados de cirugía cardiovascular (CCV) en el Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan en el periodo comprendido 2004-2017. Se analizaron los resultados actuales en términos de morbi-mortalidad de neonatos y lactantes menores de 1 año que requirieron cirugía precoz. Se excluyeron todos los pacientes operados que no requirieron cirugía con CEC y aquellos operados que ingresaron al Área de Neonatología. El análisis de mortalidad fue realizado por riesgo estratificado con la escala de RACHS-1. Los datos se obtuvieron de la base de datos de la Unidad de Recuperación Cardiovascular (UCI 35). Resultados: El número anual de pacientes intervenidos en cirugía cardiovascular ha presentado un incremento persistente desde sus comienzos. En el año 2004 se registraron 448 casos y a partir del año 2014, en forma persistente, los pacientes intervenidos superan las 500 cirugías anuales de cardiopatías. A inicios del 2004 el 75% de las cirugías totales eran con CEC, mostrando un ascenso significativo que alcanzo el 89% durante los últimos años. Los menores de 1 años representan más del 50% de las cirugías y en promedio un 15% son neonatos. También se evidenció un importante incremento de cirugías en cardiopatías más complejas, pero se mantuvo un número estable para aquellas cirugías de complejidad intermedia. En la escala RACHS-1, el 55% de las intervenciones correspondieron a un score >3 y más del 10% para categorías 5-6. La mortalidad global fue entre 5- 6% de las cirugías realizadas, y un 15% para la cirugía neonatal. El 10% de los fallecidos eran portadores de síndromes genéticos o presentaban asociación con otras malformaciones mayores. Conclusiones: Es notorio el incremento anual en frecuencia de patologías de mayor severidad que son enfrentadas en forma precoz logrando modificar la historia natural de las cardiopatías complejas. Aumenta el riesgo de morbimortalidad en CC asociadas a síndrome genético y condición clínica desfavorable pre quirúrgica. La intervención quirúrgica correctora precoz mejoraría los resultados en término de crecimiento y desarrollo del niño portador de CC (AU)

Objectives: To describe the current results in cardiovascular surgery of patients with congenital heart defects (CHD) who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support at less than one year of life. Methods: All patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery (CVS) at the Juan P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital between 2004 and 2017 were included. Current results regarding morbidity and mortality in neonates and infants under 1 year who required early surgery were analyzed. Patients who did not require ECMO postoperatively and those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were excluded. Mortality analysis was performed stratified by risk using the RACHS-1 scale. Data were obtained from the Cardiovascular Recovery Unit (ICU 35) database. Results: The annual number of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery has steadily increased since its beginning. In 2004, 448 cases were reported and as of 2014, yearly more than 500 patients undergo heart surgery. At the beginning of 2004, 75% of all surgeries were with ECMO, significantly increasing to 89% over the last few years. Children under 1 years of age account for more than 50% of surgeries and around 15% are neonates. A significant increase in surgeries in more complex heart disease was also evident, but a stable number was maintained for those surgeries of intermediate complexity. On the RACHS-1 scale, 55% of the interventions were score >3 and more than 10% were scores 5-6. Overall mortality was between 5-6% of all surgeries performed, and 15% for neonatal surgery. Of the children who died, 10% were carriers of genetic syndromes or had other major malformations. Conclusions: There was a remarkable yearly increase in frequency of more severe conditions that are managed early, modifying the natural history of complex heart disease. In CHD associated with a genetic syndrome and an unfavorable pre-surgical clinical condition the risk of morbidity and mortality is increased. Early surgical intervention may improve outcomes in terms of the growth and development of the child with CHD (AU)

Phenotypic, molecular characterization, antimicrobial susceptibility and draft genome sequence of Corynebacterium argentoratense strains isolated from clinical samples.

During a 12-year period we isolated five Corynebacterium argentoratense strains identified by phenotypic methods, including the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility was determined, and genome sequencing for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes was performed. The organisms were isolated from blood and throat cultures and could be identified by all methods used. All strains were resistant to cotrimoxazole, and resistance to ß-lactams was partly present. Two strains were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. The draft genome sequences of theses isolates revealed the presence of the erm(X) resistance gene that is embedded in the genetic structure of the transposable element Tn5423. Although rarely reported as a human pathogen, C. argentoratense can be involved in bacteraemia and probably in other infections. Our results also show that horizontal transfer of genes responsible for antibiotic resistance is occurring in this species.

Contamination of liquid soap for hospital use with Raoultella planticola.

This article reports the contamination of a batch of liquid soap for hospital use with Raoultella planticola. The micro-organism was first identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae due to the inability of automated systems to characterize this species. There is a need to strengthen the inspection of cosmetic products to be used in the hospital setting. It is recommended that hospitalized patients at the highest risk of infection should use antimicrobial soaps for personal hygiene. The incidence of infections due to R. planticola is unknown as it is usually misclassified as Klebsiella spp. by automated systems.

First field results on the use of stallion sex-sorted semen in a large-scale embryo transfer program.

Flow cytometry sex-sorting technology was developed in 1989. However, it is only the bovine species in which offspring of the desired sex are obtained at a commercial level. The aim of the present work was to evaluate efficiency parameters when using fresh sexed semen in a large-scale equine commercial embryo transfer program. During the 2009, 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons, 938 synchronized cycles were artificially inseminated. One hundred (10.6%) mares failed to ovulate, and for the remaining 838 useable cycles, 887 doses of sexed semen were used, representing 1.06 doses per cycle. In general, 435 (51.9%) out of 838 flushing performed resulted in the recovery of at least one embryo and 496 (59.1%) embryos were recovered, including twins and triplets. Pregnancy rate at 25 days achieved 81.5% (one embryo transferred per recipient). Embryo recovery rate was not statistically different either between preovulatory and postovulatory artificially inseminated mares or when increased quantities of sexed sperm per dose were used (15-45 million) (P > 0.05). A broad variation in embryo recovery rate was observed between the different stallions used in this study. Sex accuracy of the sex sorting assessed by ultrasound fetal sex determination was 90.3%. Finally, overall efficiency (female embryo pregnancies per useable cycles) was 39% (325/838), meaning that to obtain a female pregnancy of at least 75 days it was necessary to perform 2.5 flushing.

[Relationship between psychiatric emergencies and meteorologic factors]. / Relaciones entre las urgencias Psiquiátricas y los factores meteorológicos.

Man's environment, natural as well as artificial, may exert a pathogenic influence on man's life, according to which we could divide the population in meteorosensitive (about 60%) and non meteorosensitive. Psychic patients and patients who suffer from certain organic diseases are those ones who more frequently behave as meteorosensitive. We accept this as starting point of our work. In our paper we analysed statistically the relation among different cosmo-meteorologic factors in the incidence of psychiatric emergencies during two years separated by five years and the probable existence of seasonal rhythms in the different studied diagnostic categories. As well as partial results for every diagnostic category we elaborate as final conclusion that these relations have a multifactorial character, that is to say, there are several factors that interact to unchain certain pathology in meteorosensitive people. We emphasize the existence of seasonal cycles in certain psychiatric syndromes. These conclusions are seen specially in personality disorders, suicide attempts, anxiety crisis and disorders, drug addictions and psycho-organic diseases.