Calling all Campy--how routine investigation and molecular characterization impacts the understanding of campylobacteriosis epidemiology--Alaska, United States, 2004-2013.

Unlike most jurisdictions in the United States, Alaska performs pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) characterization of all Campylobacter sp. isolates at the state public health laboratory--a practice that started in 2002. Moreover, in order to ensure early detection and response to campylobacteriosis outbreaks, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology has investigated all incident Campylobacter sp. case reports since 2004. This report summarizes the public health impact of routine incident case investigations and molecular characterization of all Campylobacter sp. isolates. In sum, we found that these efforts have contributed to better characterization of the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in Alaska, and facilitated more rapid outbreak detection, more public health investigations, and earlier public health interventions.

A sputum smear microscopy image database for automatic bacilli detection in conventional microscopy.

In this work, we present an image database for automatic bacilli detection in sputum smear microscopy. The database comprises two parts. The first one, called the autofocus database, contains 1200 images with resolution of 2816 × 2112 pixels. This database was obtained from 12 slides, with 10 fields per slide. Each stack is composed of 10 images, with the fifth image in focus. The second one, called the segmentation and classification database, contains 120 images with resolution of 2816×2112 pixels. This database was obtained from 12 slices, with 10 fields per slice. In both databases, the images were acquired from fields of slides stained with the standard Kinyoun method. In both databases, accordingly to the background content, the images were classified as belonging to high background content or low background content. In all 120 images of segmentation and classification database, the identified objects were enclosed within a geometric shape by a trained technician. A true bacillus was enclosed in a circle. An agglomerated bacillus was enclosed by a rectangle and a doubtful bacillus (the image focus or geometry does not allow a clear identification of the object) was enclosed by a polygon. These marked objects could be used as a gold standard to calculate the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of bacilli recognition.

Sharing milk but not messages: campylobacteriosis associated with consumption of raw milk from a cow-share program in Alaska, 2011.

Alaska public and environmental health authorities investigated a cluster of campylobacteriosis cases among people who had consumed raw, unpasteurized milk obtained from a cow-share program in Alaska. Although raw milk is not permitted by law to be offered commercially, consumers can enter into cow-share agreements whereby they contribute funds for the upkeep of cows and in turn receive a share of the milk for their personal use. Laboratory testing of stool specimens collected from ill persons and from cows on the farm revealed an indistinguishable strain of Campylobacter. In this outbreak, numerous confirmed and suspected cases were not among cow shareholders; therefore, these individuals had not been advised of the potential health hazards associated with consumption of raw milk nor were they informed of the outbreak developments.

Estimulacao ultra-sonica do calo osseo. Aplicacao clinica. / Ultrasonic stimulation of callus. Clinical use

Em uma investigacao clinica, iniciada em 1979, no Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto - USP, os autores avaliaram o uso da estimulacao ultra-sonica do calo osseo em 27 pacientes portadores de pseudartrose e/ou retarde de consolidadcao de fraturas. Todos os casos tratados foram periodicamente reexaminados tanto clinica como radiologicamente.O tempo de estimulacao variou entre um minimo de 45 e um maximo de 120 dias. Na maioria dos casos, as aplicacoes foram realizadas diariamente por 20 minutos, nao ocorrendo reacao anomala sistemica ou local. O metodo da estimulacao ultra-sonica do calo osseo, na forma por nos utilizada, oferece as seguintes vantagens: 1) nao e invasivo, 2) e seguro; 3) e promissor. Na nossa causistica, o indice de cura obtido foi de 70% nas pseudartroses do tipo hipertrofico