[Alteration of X-ray measurements in proximal humerus osteosynthesis with intramedullary nail]. / Alteración de mediciones radiográficas en osteosíntesis de húmero proximal con clavo centromedular.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of reduction in proximal humerus fractures is valuable with radiographic criteria (Neck-shaft angle [NSA]; medial offset [MO]; distance head tuberosity [DHT] and subacromial space [SS]) that predict functionality. These criteria set for other implants are not described for the intramedullary nail. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational cohort study, retrospective, with patients 18 years, with osteosynthesis with intramedullary nail (2014 to 2017), evaluating demographic characteristics, severity of injury (Neer classification), progressive radiographic measurements and complications. RESULTS: 84 cases with an average age of 65 ± 2 years and an average follow-up of 13.9 months were analyzed. By Neer rating 40.4% were grade II, 29.7% grade III and 29.7% grade IV. Consolidation in varus increases to 10.7% at the end of follow-up, with Neer III and IV patients. The 140° deformity is prevalent for Neer II (n = 15/34). 30.9% have a change of neck-shaft angle of 10°. Overall 86.9% has HTD changes 5 mm. Cases Neer III/IV 32% has alteration of SS 5 mm. The most common complication is avascular necrosis (AVN) with 44% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic measurements have changes in long-term follow-up. Alterations in NSA ( 10o) and SS ( 5 mm) occur in higher proportion of Neer III/IV patients, according to the severity of the fracture, favoring vicious consolidations in varus or valgus and increased presence of AVN.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La calidad de reducción en las fracturas de húmero proximal es posible valorarla a través de criterios radiográficos (ACD = ángulo cervicodiafisario; OM = offset medial; DTC = distancia tuberosidad-cabeza y ES = espacio subacromial), los cuales predicen la funcionalidad. Sin embargo, estos criterios establecidos para otros implantes no están descritos para el clavo centromedular. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte observacional y retrospectivo en pacientes 18 años con osteosíntesis con clavo centromedular (durante el período de 2014 a 2017), en donde se evaluaron las características demográficas, severidad de lesión (clasificación de Neer) y las mediciones radiográficas progresivas y complicaciones. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 84 casos, cuya edad en promedio fue de 65 ± 2 años y la media de seguimiento de 13.9 meses. Por clasificación de Neer: 40.4% fueron grado II; 29.7%, grado III y 29.7%, grado IV. La consolidación en varo aumenta 10.7% al final del seguimiento, siendo aquellos pacientes Neer grado III y IV los más frecuentes. La deformidad 140° predomina para Neer grado II (n = 15/34). En 30.9%, se presenta un cambio de ACD (ACD) 10°. En general, 86.9% tiene cambios de DTC 5 mm. En los casos Neer grado III/IV, 32% tiene una alteración de ES 5 mm. La complicación más frecuentemente es la necrosis avascular (NAV) con 44% de los casos. CONCLUSIONES: Las mediciones radiográficas presentan cambios en valoraciones a largo plazo. Las alteraciones en ACD ( 10o) y ES ( 5 mm) se dan en mayor proporción en aquellos pacientes Neer grado III/IV (acorde con la severidad de la fractura), lo que favorece consolidaciones viciosas en varo o valgo y una mayor presencia de NAV.

Alteración de mediciones radiográficas en osteosíntesis de húmero proximal con clavo centromedular / Alteration of X-ray measurements in proximal humerus osteosynthesis with intramedullary nail

Resumen: Introducción: La calidad de reducción en las fracturas de húmero proximal es posible valorarla a través de criterios radiográficos (ACD = ángulo cervicodiafisario; OM = offset medial; DTC = distancia tuberosidad-cabeza y ES = espacio subacromial), los cuales predicen la funcionalidad. Sin embargo, estos criterios establecidos para otros implantes no están descritos para el clavo centromedular. Material y métodos: Estudio de cohorte observacional y retrospectivo en pacientes > 18 años con osteosíntesis con clavo centromedular (durante el período de 2014 a 2017), en donde se evaluaron las características demográficas, severidad de lesión (clasificación de Neer) y las mediciones radiográficas progresivas y complicaciones. Resultados: Se analizaron 84 casos, cuya edad en promedio fue de 65 ± 2 años y la media de seguimiento de 13.9 meses. Por clasificación de Neer: 40.4% fueron grado II; 29.7%, grado III y 29.7%, grado IV. La consolidación en varo aumenta 10.7% al final del seguimiento, siendo aquellos pacientes Neer grado III y IV los más frecuentes. La deformidad > 140o predomina para Neer grado II (n = 15/34). En 30.9%, se presenta un cambio de ACD (ΔACD) ≥ 10o. En general, 86.9% tiene cambios de DTC < 5 mm. En los casos Neer grado III/IV, 32% tiene una alteración de ES > 5 mm. La complicación más frecuentemente es la necrosis avascular (NAV) con 44% de los casos. Conclusiones: Las mediciones radiográficas presentan cambios en valoraciones a largo plazo. Las alteraciones en ACD (> 10o) y ES (> 5 mm) se dan en mayor proporción en aquellos pacientes Neer grado III/IV (acorde con la severidad de la fractura), lo que favorece consolidaciones viciosas en varo o valgo y una mayor presencia de NAV.

Abstract: Introduction: The quality of reduction in proximal humerus fractures is valuable with radiographic criteria (Neck-shaft angle [NSA]; medial offset [MO]; distance head tuberosity [DHT] and subacromial space [SS]) that predict functionality. These criteria set for other implants are not described for the intramedullary nail. Material and methods: Observational cohort study, retrospective, with patients > 18 years, with osteosynthesis with intramedullary nail (2014 to 2017), evaluating demographic characteristics, severity of injury (Neer classification), progressive radiographic measurements and complications. Results: 84 cases with an average age of 65 ± 2 years and an average follow-up of 13.9 months were analyzed. By Neer rating 40.4% were grade II, 29.7% grade III and 29.7% grade IV. Consolidation in varus increases to 10.7% at the end of follow-up, with Neer III and IV patients. The >140o deformity is prevalent for Neer II (n = 15/34). 30.9% have a change of neck-shaft angle of ≥ 10o. Overall 86.9% has HTD changes < 5 mm. Cases Neer III/IV 32% has alteration of SS > 5 mm. The most common complication is avascular necrosis (AVN) with 44% of cases. Conclusions: Radiographic measurements have changes in long-term follow-up. Alterations in NSA (> 10o) and SS (> 5 mm) occur in higher proportion of Neer III/IV patients, according to the severity of the fracture, favoring vicious consolidations in varus or valgus and increased presence of AVN.

Historical evolution of the diseases caused by non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria in a University Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria (NPRGM) are a group of organisms of increasing interest due to the growing number of potential patients and the difficulties for a proper treatment in many of them. However, the evolution of these diseases in a long period of time and its evolutionary changes has been described only in a scanty number of reports. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study between January 1st 2004 and December 31st 2017 in order to evaluate the clinical significance and types of diseases caused by NPRGM. Patients with isolates of NPRGM during this period were selected for the study, and clinical charts were reviewed using a predefined protocol. RESULTS: During this period we identified 59 patients (76 clinical samples) with isolates of NPRGM, with 12 cases of clinical disease and one patient with doubtful significance (including 6 respiratory tract infections, 2 catheter infections, 1 skin and soft tissue infection, 1 disseminated infection, 1 conjunctivitis, 1 prosthetic joint infection and 1 mastitis). Fifty percent of M. chelonae isolates, 37.5% of M. abscessus isolates and 23.33% of M. fortuitum isolates were clinically significant. None of the isolates of other species were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Most isolates in respiratory samples were contaminants/colonizations. M. abscessus was the main etiological agent in respiratory syndromes, whereas M. chelonae and M. fortuitum were more frequently associated with other infections, especially clinical devices and skin and soft tissue infections.

International standards for IgG and IgM anti-ß2glycoprotein antibody measurement.

International standards for anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (anti-ß2GPI) testing are needed. We evaluated the suitability of polyclonal/monoclonal candidate reference materials (RM) for the assay. IgG/IgM anti-ß2GPI were affinity-purified (AP) from high-positive antiphospholipid syndrome sera and IgG from HCAL clone supernatant. Igs were tested for purity by SDS-PAGE, pooled, concentrated, sterile-filtered and the protein concentration determined. One unit was defined as the binding activity of 1 µg/ml of AP anti-ß2GPI Ig. IgG/IgM RM were each assigned a unit value using the respective AP material as a calibrator. Polyclonal/monoclonal RM and 30 samples were evaluated for linearity, unit equivalency and commutability. Polyclonal AP material was assigned a value of 100 U IgG and 15 U IgM anti-ß2GPI, respectively. IgG-RM had a value of 270 IgG and the IgM-RM of 220.3 IgM anti-ß2GPI U. The linearity (R (2)) of each RM curve for the various assays ranged from 0.96 to 0.99. Commutability samples fit very well within 95% prediction intervals and had excellent correlation when comparing assays. IgG and IgM polyclonal and IgG monoclonal RM displayed excellent linearity and commutability, being good candidates for better standardization of anti-ß2GPI immunoassays.

High-visibility photonic crystal fiber interferometer as multifunctional sensor.

A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) interferometer that exhibits record fringe contrast (~40 dB) is demonstrated along with its sensing applications. The device operates in reflection mode and consists of a centimeter-long segment of properly selected PCF fusion spliced to single mode optical fibers. Two identical collapsed zones in the PCF combined with its modal properties allow high-visibility interference patterns. The interferometer is suitable for refractometric and liquid level sensing. The measuring refractive index range goes from 1.33 to 1.43 and the maximum resolution is ~1.6 × 10(-5).

Optical microfiber mode interferometer for temperature-independent refractometric sensing.

We report on a functional optical microfiber mode interferometer and its applications for absolute, temperature-insensitive refractive index sensing. A standard optical fiber was tapered down to 10 µm. The central part of the taper, i.e., the microfiber, is connected to the untapered regions with two identical abrupt transitions. The transmission spectrum of our device exhibited a sinusoidal pattern due to the beating between modes. In our interferometer the period of the pattern-an absolute parameter-depends strongly on the surrounding refractive index but it is insensitive to temperature changes. The period, hence the external index, can be accurately measured by taking the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the detected interference pattern. The measuring refractive index range of the device here proposed goes from 1.33 to 1.428 and the maximum resolution is on the order of 3.7×10(-6).

Patología de columna dorsolumbar en aspirantes a policia detectada por medio de estudio radiológico Hospital Docente Quito N§ 1 Policia Nacional 1995

Se realizó un estudio radiológico en 400 aspirantes a policia, con un rango de edad de 18 a 25 años, de ambos sexos, que acudieron a calificación física, en el Hospital Docente Quito de la Policia Nacional, durante el años de 1995, encontrándose que la media para la edad fue de 22 años, el 64.7 por ciento correspondieron al sexo masculino y el 35.3 por ciento al femenino. Se observaron las siguientes alteraciones tanto en hombres como en mujeres: el 9.75 por ciento de todas las placas radiográficas analizadas, revelaron la presencia de escoliosis, 6 vértebras lumbares se encontraron en el 6.7 por ciento, espina bífida en el 5.5 por ciento, distorsión interapofisaria en el 31 por ciento, sacralización en el 7.75 por ciento y otras alteraciones en el 15 por ciento, demostrandose que la incidencia de patología de columna vertebral, asintomatica es alta, siendo posible detectarla sólo con estudio radiológico simple.

Tuberculous brain abscess. Case report.

An abscess was removed from the left occipital region in a 73-year-old woman with no previous history of tuberculosis. The patient later died from aspiration bronchopneumonia. Autopsy revealed a basilar tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis in the peritracheal lymphatic glands, the liver, the spleen, and in isolated areas of the lungs. No chronic tuberculous foci were noted in any area. Including this case, only 18 instances of tuberculous abscess have been reported.