Helminth Egg Automatic Detector (HEAD): Improvements in development for digital identification and quantification of Helminth eggs and its application online.

Conventional analytical techniques for evaluating Helminth eggs are based on different steps to concentrate them in a pellet for direct observation and quantification under a light microscope, which can generate under-counts or over-counts and be time consuming. To enhance this process, a new approach via automatic identification was implemented in which various image processing detectors were developed and incorporated into a Helminth Egg Automatic Detector (HEAD) system. This allowed the identification and quantification of pathogenic eggs of global medical importance. More than 2.6 billion people are currently affected and infected, and this results in approximately 80,000 child deaths each year. As a result, since 1980 the World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented guidelines, regulations and criteria for the control of the health risk. After the initial release of the analytical technique, two improvements were developed in the detector: first, a texture verification process that reduced the number of false positive results; and second, the establishment of the optimal thresholds for each species. In addition, the software was made available on a free platform. After performing an internal statistical verification of the system, testing with internationally recognized parasitology laboratories was carried out, Subsequently, the HEAD System is capable of identifying and quantifying different species of Helminth eggs in different environmental samples: wastewater, sludge, biosolids, excreta and soil, with in-service sensitivity and specificity values for the open library for machine learning TensorFlow (TF) model of 96.82% and 97.96% respectively. The current iteration uses AutoML Vision (a computer platform for the automatization of machine learning models, making it easier to train, optimize and export results to cloud applications or devices). It represents a useful and cheap tool that could be utilized by environmental monitoring facilities and laboratories around the world.•The HEAD Software will significantly reduce the costs associated with the detection and quantification of helminth eggs to a high level of accuracy.•It represents a tool, not only for microbiologists and researchers, but also for various agencies involved in sanitation, such as environmental regulation agencies, which currently require highly trained technicians.•The simplicity of the device contributes to the control the contamination of water, soil, and crops, even in poor and isolated communities.

Diagnostic performance of a single and duplicate Kato-Katz, Mini-FLOTAC, FECPAKG2 and qPCR for the detection and quantification of soil-transmitted helminths in three endemic countries.

BACKGROUND: Because the success of deworming programs targeting soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) is evaluated through the periodically assessment of prevalence and infection intensities, the use of the correct diagnostic method is of utmost importance. The STH community has recently published for each phase of a deworming program the minimal criteria that a potential diagnostic method needs to meet, the so-called target product profiles (TPPs). METHODOLOGY: We compared the diagnostic performance of a single Kato-Katz (reference method) with that of other microscopy-based methods (duplicate Kato-Katz, Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2) and one DNA-based method (qPCR) for the detection and quantification of STH infections in three drug efficacy trials in Ethiopia, Lao PDR, and Tanzania. Furthermore, we evaluated a selection of minimal diagnostic criteria of the TPPs. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: All diagnostic methods showed a clinical sensitivity of ≥90% for all STH infections of moderate-to-heavy intensities. For infections of very low intensity, only qPCR resulted in a sensitivity that was superior to a single Kato-Katz for all STHs. Compared to the reference method, both Mini-FLOTAC and FECPAKG2 resulted in significantly lower fecal egg counts for some STHs, leading to a substantial underestimation of the infection intensity. For qPCR, there was a positive significant correlation between the egg counts of a single Kato-Katz and the DNA concentration. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that the diagnostic performance of a single Kato-Katz is underestimated by the community and that diagnostic specific thresholds to classify intensity of infection are warranted for Mini-FLOTAC, FECPAKG2 and qPCR. When we strictly apply the TPPs, Kato-Katz is the only microscopy-based method that meets the minimal diagnostic criteria for application in the planning, monitoring and evaluation phase of an STH program. qPCR is the only method that could be considered in the phase that aims to seek confirmation for cessation of program. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03465488.

Comparación de la eficacia ejercicio terapéutico isocinético vs isométrico en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla / Comparison of the effectiveness of isokinetic vs isometric therapeutic exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of knee

Introducción. En el tratamiento de la artrosis se emplea tanto el ejercicio isométrico como el ejercicio isocinético, sin embargo, no queda claro cuál de los tipos de ejercicio es más eficaz en el manejo terapéutico. Objetivos. Comparar la eficacia del ejercicio terapéutico isométrico vs ejercicio terapéutico isocinético en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla. Material y métodos. Estudio cuasiexperimental en población 45 a 75 años de edad con diagnóstico de artrosis de rodilla. El grupo 1 (experimental) sometido a ejercicios isocinético y el grupo 2 (control) sometido a ejercicios isométricos. El tamaño de la muestra fue de 33 por grupo, la asignación al grupo de experimentación o control fue no aleatoria, pero se estratificó por grados de artrosis de rodilla. La eficacia del ejercicio se midió en tres dimensiones: fuerza muscular, rango articular y dolor. La intervención tuvo una duración de ocho semanas y la actividad física se realizó cada tercer día. El análisis estadístico incluyó promedios, desviación estándar, porcentajes, prueba de chi cuadrada, prueba de z para dos poblaciones, prueba de t para dos poblaciones independientes y prueba de t pareada. Resultados. El análisis de la fuerza muscular comparando las categorías de forma independiente demuestra diferencia a las 8 semanas, en la categoría normal se encuentra el 33,3% del ejercicio isocinético y el 15,2% del ejercicio isométrico (p=0,04). No se encontró diferencia del rango articular entre los grupos, no obstante, el rango articular fue grado I en el 100,0% del grupo isocinético y 97,0% del isométrico (p>0,05). El dolor fue menor en el grupo de ejercicio isocinético a las 8 semanas (p=0,01). Conclusiones. El estudio sugiere que los ejercicios isocinéticos tienen una mayor efectividad que los ejercicios isométricos para la fuerza y dolor en el paciente con artrosis de rodilla. Son necesarios más estudios que confirmen estos resultados (AU)

Introduction. Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease; isometric exercise leads to the development of mechanical work and isokinetic exercise leads to better joint mobility. Objectives. To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isokinetic therapeutic exercises in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Material and methods. Quasiexperimental study in a population of 45 to 75 year old patients with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. Group 1 (experimental) was put under isokinetic exercises and group 2 (control) under isometric exercises. The sample size was of 33 patients per group; the allocation to the experimentation or control group was nonrandom, but stratified by degrees of knee osteoarthritis. The effectiveness of the exercise was measured in three dimensions: muscle strength, joint range and pain. The intervention lasted eight weeks and the physical activity was carried out every third day. The statistical analysis included averages, standard deviation, percentage, Chi square test, z test for two populations, t test for two independent populations and twin t test. Results. The analysis of muscle strength comparing the categories independently demonstrates differences at 8 weeks; 33.3% of the isokinetic exercise is in the normal category and 15.2% in the isometric exercise (p= 0.04). There was not difference of joint range between groups, despite finding a stage I range in 100.0% of the isokinetic group and 97.0% in the isometric (p> 0.05) group. Pain was milder in the isokinetic exercise group at 8 weeks (p= 0.01). Conclusions. Isokinetic exercises have a greater effectiveness than isometric exercises for muscle strength and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, other studies with randomized designs are needed (AU)

[Comparison of the effectiveness of isokinetic vs isometric therapeutic exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of knee]. / Comparación de la eficacia ejercicio terapéutico isocinético vs isométrico en pacientes con artrosis de rodilla.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease; isometric exercise leads to the development of mechanical work and isokinetic exercise leads to better joint mobility. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isokinetic therapeutic exercises in patients with knee osteoarthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasiexperimental study in a population of 45 to 75 year old patients with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. Group 1 (experimental) was put under isokinetic exercises and group 2 (control) under isometric exercises. The sample size was of 33 patients per group; the allocation to the experimentation or control group was nonrandom, but stratified by degrees of knee osteoarthritis. The effectiveness of the exercise was measured in three dimensions: muscle strength, joint range and pain. The intervention lasted eight weeks and the physical activity was carried out every third day. The statistical analysis included averages, standard deviation, percentage, Chi square test, z test for two populations, t test for two independent populations and twin t test. RESULTS: The analysis of muscle strength comparing the categories independently demonstrates differences at 8 weeks; 33.3% of the isokinetic exercise is in the normal category and 15.2% in the isometric exercise (p= 0.04). There was not difference of joint range between groups, despite finding a stage I range in 100.0% of the isokinetic group and 97.0% in the isometric (p> 0.05) group. Pain was milder in the isokinetic exercise group at 8 weeks (p= 0.01) CONCLUSIONS: Isokinetic exercises have a greater effectiveness than isometric exercises for muscle strength and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, other studies with randomized designs are needed.

The removal of microorganisms and organic micropollutants from wastewater during infiltration to aquifers after irrigation of farmland in the Tula Valley, Mexico.

The Tula Valley receives untreated wastewater from Mexico City for agricultural irrigation, half of which infiltrates to aquifers from where drinking water is extracted. Samples of wastewater and infiltrated water from three areas of the valley were analyzed for microorganisms, organic micropollutants, and some basic parameters. Concentrations of microorganisms in the infiltrated water were generally very low but the incidence of fecal coliforms (present in 68% of samples), somatic bacteriophages (36%), Giardia spp. (14%), and helminth eggs (8%) suggested a health risk. Organic micropollutants, often present at high concentrations in the wastewater, were generally absent from the infiltrated water except carbamazepine which was in 55% of samples (up to 193 ng/L). There was no correlation between carbamazepine concentrations and the presence of microorganisms but highest concentrations of carbamazepine and boron coincided. A treatment such as nanofiltration would be necessary for the infiltrated water to be a safe potable supply.

La determinación de huevos de ascaris como indicador de la calidad de agua para riego agrícola

Los estudios epidemiológicos en México, han evidenciado que existe riesgo de enfermedades helmínticas asociadas al uso de aguas residuales crudas en la agricultura, de aquí que el objetivo del presente estudio fué seleccionar y estandarizar técnicas de determinación de huevos de ascaris como indicadores de la calidad helmíntica de aguas para fines agrícolas. Se da cuenta del monitoreo de 5 estaciones de muestreo durante 15 días