Identification and quantification of pathogenic helminth eggs using a digital image system.

A system was developed to identify and quantify up to seven species of helminth eggs (Ascaris lumbricoides -fertile and unfertile eggs-, Trichuris trichiura, Toxocara canis, Taenia saginata, Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, and Schistosoma mansoni) in wastewater using different image processing tools and pattern recognition algorithms. The system was developed in three stages. Version one was used to explore the viability of the concept of identifying helminth eggs through an image processing system, while versions 2 and 3 were used to improve its efficiency. The system development was based on the analysis of different properties of helminth eggs in order to discriminate them from other objects in samples processed using the conventional United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) technique to quantify helminth eggs. The system was tested, in its three stages, considering two parameters: specificity (capacity to discriminate between species of helminth eggs and other objects) and sensitivity (capacity to correctly classify and identify the different species of helminth eggs). The final version showed a specificity of 99% while the sensitivity varied between 80 and 90%, depending on the total suspended solids content of the wastewater samples. To achieve such values in samples with total suspended solids (TSS) above 150 mg/L, it is recommended to dilute the concentrated sediment just before taking the images under the microscope. The system allows the helminth eggs most commonly found in wastewater to be reliably and uniformly detected and quantified. In addition, it provides the total number of eggs as well as the individual number by species, and for Ascaris lumbricoides it differentiates whether or not the egg is fertile. The system only requires basically trained technicians to prepare the samples, as for visual identification there is no need for highly trained personnel. The time required to analyze each image is less than a minute. This system could be used in central analytical laboratories providing a remote analysis service.

Documento de Consenso SEIP-SERPE-SEOP sobre etiopatogenia y diagnóstico de la osteomielitis aguda y artritis séptica no complicadas / SEIP-SERPE-SEOP Consensus Document on aetiopathogenesis and diagnosis of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis

Se presenta el Documento de Consenso sobre etiopatogenia y diagnóstico de la osteomielitis aguda y la artritis séptica no complicadas elaborado por la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica, la Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica y la Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica. En este documento se revisan la etiopatogenia y la fisiopatología de la infección osteoarticular aguda en niños, considerada como aquella no complicada, de origen comunitario, que presenta una evolución inferior a 14 días, así como la aproximación clínico-diagnóstica a estas entidades, basándonos en las mejores evidencias científicas disponibles. En función de dichas evidencias, se aportan una serie de recomendaciones para la práctica clínica

This is a Consensus Document of the Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica, Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica and Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica on the aetiology and diagnosis of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. A review is presented of the aetiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute osteoarticular infection defined as a process with less than 14 days of symptomatology, uncomplicated, and community-acquired. The diagnostic approach to these conditions is summarised based on the best available scientific knowledge. Based on this evidence, a number of recommendations for clinical practice are provided

Respuesta a la carta al editor de SEOP en relación con el documento de consenso SEIP-SERPE-SEOP sobre el tratamiento de la osteomielitis aguda y artritis séptica no complicadas / Response to the letter to the editor from SEOP as regards the SEIP-SERPE-SEOP consensus document on the treatment of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis

No disponible

Documento de consenso SEIP-SERPE-SEOP sobre el tratamiento de la osteomielitis aguda y artritis séptica no complicadas / SEIP-SERPE-SEOP Consensus document on the treatment of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis

Presentamos el Documento de Consenso sobre tratamiento de la osteomielitis aguda y la artritis séptica no complicadas, elaborado por la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica, la Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica y la Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica. En este documento se revisa el abordaje y el tratamiento médico-quirúrgico de la infección osteoarticular aguda, considerada como aquella que presenta una evolución inferior a 14 días, no complicada, de origen comunitario en niños, basándonos en las mejores evidencias científicas disponibles y valorando las diversas opciones disponibles en la actualidad. En función de dichas evidencias, se aportan una serie de recomendaciones para la práctica clínica

This is a Consensus Document of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediatrica), Spanish Society of Paediatric Rheumatology (Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica) and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Orthopaedics (Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica), on the treatment of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. A review is presented on the medical and surgical treatment of acute osteoarticular infection, defined as a process with less than 14 days of symptomatology, uncomplicated and community-acquired. The different possible options are evaluated based on the best available scientific knowledge, and a number of evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice are provided

[SEIP-SERPE-SEOP Consensus Document on aetiopathogenesis and diagnosis of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis]. / Documento de Consenso SEIP-SERPE-SEOP sobre etiopatogenia y diagnóstico de la osteomielitis aguda y artritis séptica no complicadas.

This is a Consensus Document of the Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica, Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica and Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica on the aetiology and diagnosis of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. A review is presented of the aetiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute osteoarticular infection defined as a process with less than 14 days of symptomatology, uncomplicated, and community-acquired. The diagnostic approach to these conditions is summarised based on the best available scientific knowledge. Based on this evidence, a number of recommendations for clinical practice are provided.

[SEIP-SERPE-SEOP Consensus document on the treatment of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis]. / Documento de consenso SEIP-SERPE-SEOP sobre el tratamiento de la osteomielitis aguda y artritis séptica no complicadas.

This is a Consensus Document of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediatrica), Spanish Society of Paediatric Rheumatology (Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica) and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Orthopaedics (Sociedad Española de Ortopedia Pediátrica), on the treatment of uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. A review is presented on the medical and surgical treatment of acute osteoarticular infection, defined as a process with less than 14 days of symptomatology, uncomplicated and community-acquired. The different possible options are evaluated based on the best available scientific knowledge, and a number of evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice are provided.

Mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in Spanish patients with multiple osteochondromas.

Multiple osteochondromas is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder characterized by the formation of multiple cartilage-capped tumours. Two causal genes have been identified, EXT1 and EXT2, which account for 65% and 30% of cases, respectively. We have undertaken a mutation analysis of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in 39 unrelated Spanish patients, most of them with moderate phenotype, and looked for genotype-phenotype correlations. We found the mutant allele in 37 patients, 29 in EXT1 and 8 in EXT2. Five of the EXT1 mutations were deletions identified by MLPA. Two cases of mosaicism were documented. We detected a lower number of exostoses in patients with missense mutation versus other kinds of mutations. In conclusion, we found a mutation in EXT1 or in EXT2 in 95% of the Spanish patients. Eighteen of the mutations were novel.

[Malignant Mediterranean boutonneuse fever. Septic shock of unknown origin?]. / Fiebre botonosa mediterránea maligna. Shock séptico de origen desconocido?

Mediterranean Botonous Fever (MBF) is an infectious disease which provokes multisystemic vasculitis due to endothelial proliferation of rickettsia conorii. Its incidence, in our environment, has greatly increased during the last years being endemic in many large cities and their surrounding suburbs. In some cases its evolution is specially malignant resulting in septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and multiorgan failure. The purpose of this communication is to present a new case of malignant MBF with a bad evolution factor which has not been previously referred to, which is the persistence of vector ticks in the inoculation spot.

Mortality prediction models in intensive care: acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II and mortality prediction model compared.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score with the Mortality Prediction Model (MPM). DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A nine-bed ICU in a 300-bed, nonteaching secondary hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred thirty-two consecutive, unselected adults. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We found a good correlation between APACHE II and MPM; their performance expressed as area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was nearly the same. Goodness-of-fit between observed and expected occurrences was better for APACHE II than for admission MPM, which overestimated deaths. Because we evaluate patients early, often in the Emergency Department, we felt that a "lead-time bias" could explain this discrepancy. Reevaluation after initial stabilization improved the performance of the MPM model to the level of APACHE II. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation indicates that both APACHE II and MPM are good predictors of hospital outcome in our population, but the level of intensive care services received before conventional ICU admission modifies accuracy of predictive models. In any study of outcome using comparative studies of classification systems, confounding biases should be measured.