Neglected tropical diseases: prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), schistosomiasis and the three main soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs), i.e., ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, represent the most common infections in developing countries. In Brazil, there is a lack of epidemiological data in many parts of the country, which favors the unawareness of the real situation concerning these diseases. Due to this, we investigated the occurrence of schistosomiasis and STHs in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS: One stool sample was collected from 503 individuals, whose ages ranged from 0.1 to 91.2 years, and screened using both the Kato-Katz and the Formol-Ether methods. In parallel, a malacological survey was carried out in the main water bodies of the district, and Biomphalaria susceptibility assays and kernel-based techniques were also performed. RESULTS: No individual was found infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or hookworm. Schistosoma mansoni was the most common parasite found (1.6%). The prevalence was higher in males and the chance of acquiring the disease increased by 43.35 times with contact with a body of water. None of the Biomphalaria tenagophila and B. glabrata specimens were found naturally infected, but B. glabrata was highly susceptible to infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Using kernel-based techniques, clusters of Biomphalaria were found near the households where the infected individuals lived. CONCLUSIONS: Schistosomiasis was the most prevalent parasitic infection found. Our findings show that the occurrence of this disease has been underestimated by the local health care service, and highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance in areas of low prevalence for schistosomiasis.

[Fundamental aspects for accrediting medical equipment calibration laboratories in Colombia]. / Aspectos fundamentales para la acreditación de laboratorios de calibración de equipos médicos en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Analysing the fundamental methodological aspects which should be considered when drawing up calibration procedure for electro-medical equipment, thereby permitting international standard-based accreditation of electro-medical metrology laboratories in Colombia. METHODS: NTC-ISO-IEC 17025:2005 and GTC-51-based procedures for calibrating electro-medical equipment were implemented and then used as patterns. RESULTS: The mathematical model for determining the estimated uncertainty value when calibrating electro-medical equipment for accreditation by the Electrical Variable Metrology Laboratory's Electro-medical Equipment Calibration Area accredited in compliance with Superintendence of Industry and Commerce Resolution 25771 May 26th 2009 consists of two equations depending on the case; they are: E = (Ai + sigmaAi) - (Ar + sigmaAr + deltaAr1) and E = (Ai + sigmaAi) - (Ar + sigmaA + deltaAr1). CONCLUSION: The mathematical modelling implemented for measuring uncertainty in the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira's Electrical Variable Metrology Laboratory (Electro-medical Equipment Calibration Area) will become a good guide for calibration initiated in other laboratories in Colombia and Latin-America.

Aspectos fundamentales para la acreditación de laboratorios de calibración de equipos médicos en Colombia / Fundamental aspects for accrediting medical equipment calibration laboratories in Colombia

Objetivo Analizar los aspectos metrológicos fundamentales que se deben tener en cuenta en la elaboración de los procedimientos de calibración de equipo electromédico, que permitan acreditar en Colombia, laboratorios de metrología electromédica con base en la normatividad internacional. Métodos Con base en las normas NTC-ISO-IEC 17025:2005 y GTC-51, se diseñaron e implementaron procedimientos para la calibración de equipo electromédico, contando para ello con un conjunto completo de analizadores de equipos electromédicos que fueron utilizados como patrones. Resultados El modelo matemático para determinar el valor estimado de incertidumbre en la calibración de equipos electromédicos, para la acreditación del área de Calibración de Equipos Electromédicos del Laboratorio de Metrología de Variables Eléctricas, acreditado según Resolución 25771 del 26 mayo de 2009 de la Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio, consta de dos ecuaciones según sea el caso; ellas son: y Conclusión El modelamiento matemático implementado para el cálculo de incertidumbre de medición en el proceso de acreditación del área de calibración de equipos electromédicos del Laboratorio de Metrología de Variables Eléctricas, de la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, constituye una buena guía para futuros procesos de calibración que emprendan otros laboratorios de Colombia y Latinoamérica.

Objective Analysing the fundamental methodological aspects which should be considered when drawing up calibration procedure for electro-medical equipment, thereby permitting international standard-based accreditation of electro-medical metrology laboratories in Colombia. Methods NTC-ISO-IEC 17025:2005 and GTC-51-based procedures for calibrating electro-medical equipment were implemented and then used as patterns. Results The mathematical model for determining the estimated uncertainty value when calibrating electro-medical equipment for accreditation by the Electrical Variable Metrology Laboratory's Electro-medical Equipment Calibration Area accredited in compliance with Superintendence of Industry and Commerce Resolution 25771 May 26th 2009 consists of two equations depending on the case; they are: and Conclusion The mathematical modelling implemented for measuring uncertainty in the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira's Electrical Variable Metrology Laboratory (Electro-medical Equipment Calibration Area) will become a good guide for calibration initiated in other laboratories in Colombia and Latin-America.