Detection of Escherichia coli O157H7 and Campylobacter jejuni in Bovine Carcasses in Two Slaughterhouses in Bio-Bío District, Chile.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) are pathogenic microorganisms that can cause severe clinical symptoms in humans and are associated with bovine meat consumption. Specific monitoring for E. coli O157: H7 or C. jejuni in meat is not mandatory under Chilean regulations. In this study, we analyzed 544 samples for the detection of both microorganisms, obtained from 272 bovine carcasses (280 kg average) at two slaughterhouses in the Bio-Bío District, Chile. Sampling was carried out at post-shower of carcasses and after channel passage through the cold chamber. Eleven samples were found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7 (4.0%) using microbiological and biochemical detection techniques and were subjected to a multiplex PCR to detect fliC and rfbE genes. Six samples (2.2%) were also found to be positive for the pathogenicity genes stx1, stx2, and eaeA. Twenty-two carcasses (8.0%) were found to be positive for C. jejuni using microbiological and biochemical detection techniques, but no sample with amplified mapA gene was found.

Perfil cognitivo en el Mareo Perceptual Postural Persistente: Implicancias sobre su fisiopatología como disfunción cognitiva viso-vestibular superior

Introducción: El mareo perceptual postural persistente (MPPP) es, probablemente, la causa más prevalente de mareo crónico. Sin embargo, su fisiopatología es aún motivo de duda y debate. En el presente artículo, proponemos que el MPPP se caracteriza por disfunciones cognitivas de orden superior, al punto de diferenciarse en estas dimensiones de controles sanos y pacientes con patologías vestibulares no-MPPP. Objetivo: Determinar si pacientes con MPPP presentan alteraciones discriminantes respecto a grupos controles, en ámbitos de atención, memoria de trabajo visoespacial, planificación espacial, funciones ejecutivas y rendimiento cognitivo global. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal con sujetos de entre 18 y 65 años, reclutados de una unidad de otoneurología ambulatoria. Se aplicaron pruebas Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), tarea de retención de dígitos, Trail Making Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Task y Torre de Londres. Resultados: 30 pacientes fueron categorizados en tres grupos: grupo MPPP (n = 14), grupo vestibular no-MPPP (n = 11) y grupo control (n = 5). El grupo MPPP exhibió un rendimiento significativamente inferior en pruebas de planificación, velocidad de procesamiento y funciones ejecutivas en ámbitos visoespaciales, mientras que en atención y memoria visoespacial no hubo diferencias entre grupos. Conclusión: El MPPP podría caracterizarse por una disfunción de procesos cognitivos superiores de construcción espacial de mayor complejidad, respetando funciones visoespaciales de menor orden como la memoria de trabajo. Estos hallazgos ofrecen nuevas luces para comprender la fisiopatología del MPPP y sus implicancias clínicas.

Introduction: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is probably the most prevalent cause of chronic dizziness. However, its pathophysiology is still a matter of uncertainty and debate. In this article, we propose that PPPD is characterized by higher-order cognitive dysfunctions, to the point of differentiating it from healthy controls and patients with non-PPPD vestibular pathologies. Aim: To determine whether patients with PPPD exhibit discriminant alterations compared to control groups in the areas of attention, visuospatial working memory, spatial planning, executive functions, and global cognitive performance. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 years, recruited from an outpatient otoneurology unit. Tests included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), digit retention task, Trail Making Test, Corsi Block-Tapping Task, and the Tower of London. Results: 30 patients were categorized into three groups: PPPD group (n = 14), non-PPPD vestibular group (n = 11), and control group (n = 5). The PPPD group showed significantly lower performance on tests of planning, processing speed, and executive function in visuospatial domains, while there were no differences between groups in attention and visuospatial memory. Conclusion: PPPD may be characterized by dysfunction of higher-order cognitive processes related to spatial construction of greater complexity, while sparing lower-order visuospatial functions such as working memory. These findings offer new insights into the pathophysiology of PPPD and its clinical implications.

Different presentations of the Buccal Bifurcation Cyst: A case series.

The buccal bifurcation cyst (BBC) is an uncommon odontogenic inflammatory cyst affecting the vestibular aspects of the first or second mandibular molar of pediatric patients. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood, but it is hypothesized that food and detritus impacting buccal periodontal pockets in titled tooth would be responsible for inflammation of the pericoronal tissues, leading to proliferation of epithelial rests and subsequent cystic formation. The true prevalence of the BBC is not known, but it is estimated to be less than 1% of all the inflammatory cysts. Most cases are unilateral but bilateral cases may account for up to 30% of all BBCs, which can generate confusion to unfamiliar clinicians. Maxillary cases are extremely uncommon, and to our knowledge, there are no cases published in the English literature. In this case series, we present five BBC cases; two unilateral, two bilateral, and one affecting the maxilla. We included clinical, imaging, and histopathological information to highlight the different presentations that this cyst might have, with the final aim to aid clinicians in its diagnosis and ultimately, its treatment.

Functional Dizziness as a Spatial Cognitive Dysfunction.

(1) Background: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common chronic dizziness disorder with an unclear pathophysiology. It is hypothesized that PPPD may involve disrupted spatial cognition processes as a core feature. (2) Methods: A cohort of 19 PPPD patients underwent psycho-cognitive testing, including assessments for anxiety, depression, memory, attention, planning, and executive functions, with an emphasis on spatial navigation via a virtual Morris water maze. These patients were compared with 12 healthy controls and 20 individuals with other vestibular disorders but without PPPD. Vestibular function was evaluated using video head impulse testing and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, while brain magnetic resonance imaging was used to exclude confounding pathology. (3) Results: PPPD patients demonstrated unique impairments in allocentric spatial navigation (as evidenced by the virtual Morris water maze) and in other high-demand visuospatial cognitive tasks that involve executive functions and planning, such as the Towers of London and Trail Making B tests. A factor analysis highlighted spatial navigation and advanced visuospatial functions as being central to PPPD, with a strong correlation to symptom severity. (4) Conclusions: PPPD may broadly impair higher cognitive functions, especially in spatial cognition. We discuss a disruption in the creation of enriched cognitive spatial maps as a possible pathophysiology for PPPD.

Fitoterapias en lesiones de mucosa oral: propiedades reparativas y aplicación clínica: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Phytotherapies in oral mucosa lesions: reparative properties and clinical application: systematic review of the literature

Dada la exposición constante a injurias, las lesiones de mucosa oral (LMO) y su cicatrización son asunto de importancia para la práctica odontológica, siendo relevante contribuir al restablecimiento de la integridad del área afectada. Se plantea la utilización de fitofármacos como coadyuvantes en la cicatrización de LMO, pero aun cuando los fitofármacos están socialmente valorados, no siempre existe evidencia que los respalde como alternativa terapéutica. Es por esto que consideramos necesario determinar que fitofármacos efectivamente ejercen acción sobre las LMO, para una práctica odontológica basada en evidencia. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo exploratoria pre-sistemático (scoping review), para lo cual se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Korean Journal Database, ProQuest Central, SciELO, Biblioteca Cochrane, CUMED, IBECS y LILACS, utilizando los términos MeSH "phytotherapy", "plant extracts", "medicinal plants", "ethnopharmacology", "mouth mucosa" y "oral mucosa". Se incluyeron artículos de los últimos 15 años escritos en español, inglés o portugués, siendo requisito el estudio de heridas o lesiones ulcerativas de la mucosa oral y la evaluación de fitofármacos como alternativa terapéutica para la resolución de las mismas. Resultados: Se seleccionaron mediante lectura de resumen un total de 21 artículos para revisión, correspondiendo 6 a estudios experimentales realizados en animales, 3 a estudios en cultivos celulares, 11 a ensayos clínicos y 1 a revisión Cochrane. Acorde a lo obtenido, los fitofármacos entregan una amplia gama de evidencia de mejorías clínicas e histológicas; existiendo un gran número de artículos científicos que avalan las propiedades benéficas de las plantas y sus componentes activos, sin embargo en cuanto a la cavidad oral, existe un menor número de ensayos clínicos en donde se observen resultados específicos para la mucosa oral. Es necesario ampliar el estudio e inversión en el campo de la fitoterapia, especilamente en lo que concierne a la cicatrización en cavidad oral y sus efectos en la regeneración celular, con el fin de avalar este tipo de terapias.

Given the constant exposure to injuries, oral mucosal lesions (OML) and their healing are important issues for dental practice, and it is important to contribute to the restoration of the integrity of the affected area. The use of phytopharmaceuticals as adjuvants in the healing of OML is considered, but even when phytopharmaceuticals are socially valued, there is not always evidence to support them as a therapeutic alternative. This is why we consider it necessary to determine that phytopharmaceuticals effectively exert action on the OMLs, for an evidence-based dental practice. A descriptive exploratory scoping study was carried out, for which MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Korean Journal Database, ProQuest Central, SciELO, Cochrane Library, CUMED, IBECS And LILACS, using the terms MeSH "phytotherapy", "plant extracts", "medicinal plants", "ethnopharmacology", "mouth mucosa" and "oral mucosa". We included articles of the last 15 years written in Spanish, English or Portuguese, being required the study of wounds or ulcerative lesions of the oral mucosa and the evaluation of phytopharmaceuticals as a therapeutic alternative for the resolution of the same. Results: A total of 21 articles were selected for review, 6 for experimental studies in animals, 3 for studies on cell cultures, 11 for clinical trials and 1 for Cochrane review. According to the obtained, the phytopharmaceuticals deliver a wide range of evidence of clinical and histological improvements; There is a large number of scientific articles that support the beneficial properties of the plants and their active components, however in the oral cavity, there are fewer clinical trials where specific results are observed for the oral mucosa. It is necessary to expand the study and investment in the field of phytotherapy, especially with regard to healing in the oral cavity and its effects on cellular regeneration, in order to support this type of therapies.

Artritis séptica de rodilla por Neisseria meningitidis serogrupo W-135: primer caso reportado en un adulto / Septic arthritis of the knee by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135: First case reported in adults

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