Efficacy of metadoxine in the management of acute alcohol intoxication.

This randomized, open-label study evaluated the efficacy of 300 mg metadoxine (given intravenously) added to standard treatment compared with standard treatment alone in managing the physical and psychological signs of acute alcohol intoxication. Fifty-two acutely intoxicated patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups and followed during a 2-h period. Changes in clinical symptoms, degree of intoxication, and blood alcohol level were monitored. More patients receiving metadoxine in addition to standard therapy significantly improved by at least one degree of intoxication (one clinical category) compared with those receiving standard treatment alone (76.9% versus 42.3%, respectively). Metadoxine-treated patients also exhibited a significantly greater decrease in blood alcohol concentration compared with those receiving standard treatment alone (-105.4 +/- 61.5 mg/dl versus -60.1 +/- 38.6 mg/dl, respectively). Metadoxine improved the clinical signs of acute alcohol intoxication and accelerated alcohol clearance from the blood, thus supporting existing data. In contrast to previous data, these effects were concurrent but independent. No adverse effects were observed with metadoxine therapy.

Sistema bact-alert de hemocultivos: evaluación de los subcultivos terminales / Bact-Alert system for hemocultures: evaluation of terminal subcultures

Few laboratory microbiological procedures are as important as the isolation of microorganisms from blood. To evaluate the usefulness of the terminal subcultures, 5669 blood cultures giving negative results after 7 days of incubation in the Bact/Alert System (Organon Teknika) were studied. Bottles were distributed as follows: 1562 adult aerobic bottles, 119 adult anaerobic bottles, 3960 pediatric bottles and 28 FAN bottles. From 5669 blood cultures, 10 subcultures that yielded growth had not been detected by the system. These included 5 adult aerobic bottles and 5 pediatric bottles, 7 of these microorganisms were considered contaminants according to clinical data (2 Micrococcus spp, 1 staphylococci coagulase negative, 1 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Peptoestreptococcus spp, 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Scedosporium spp) while the other 3 were considered true bacteremia (1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 Proteus mirabilis, 1 Streptococcus sanguis), although no one made any change in treatment on the basis of the previous isolation. Based on these results the routinary utilization of terminal subcultures is not advisable and should be used only for special cases or a second system of blood culture should be added according to clinical or epidemiological data.(AU)

Sistema bact-alert de hemocultivos: evaluación de los subcultivos terminales / Bact-Alert system for hemocultures: evaluation of terminal subcultures

Few laboratory microbiological procedures are as important as the isolation of microorganisms from blood. To evaluate the usefulness of the terminal subcultures, 5669 blood cultures giving negative results after 7 days of incubation in the Bact/Alert System (Organon Teknika) were studied. Bottles were distributed as follows: 1562 adult aerobic bottles, 119 adult anaerobic bottles, 3960 pediatric bottles and 28 FAN bottles. From 5669 blood cultures, 10 subcultures that yielded growth had not been detected by the system. These included 5 adult aerobic bottles and 5 pediatric bottles, 7 of these microorganisms were considered contaminants according to clinical data (2 Micrococcus spp, 1 staphylococci coagulase negative, 1 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Peptoestreptococcus spp, 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Scedosporium spp) while the other 3 were considered true bacteremia (1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 Proteus mirabilis, 1 Streptococcus sanguis), although no one made any change in treatment on the basis of the previous isolation. Based on these results the routinary utilization of terminal subcultures is not advisable and should be used only for special cases or a second system of blood culture should be added according to clinical or epidemiological data.

[Bact-Alert system for hemocultures: evaluation of terminal subcultures]. / Sistema bact-alert de hemocultivos: evaluación de los subcultivos terminales.

Few laboratory microbiological procedures are as important as the isolation of microorganisms from blood. To evaluate the usefulness of the terminal subcultures, 5669 blood cultures giving negative results after 7 days of incubation in the Bact/Alert System (Organon Teknika) were studied. Bottles were distributed as follows: 1562 adult aerobic bottles, 119 adult anaerobic bottles, 3960 pediatric bottles and 28 FAN bottles. From 5669 blood cultures, 10 subcultures that yielded growth had not been detected by the system. These included 5 adult aerobic bottles and 5 pediatric bottles, 7 of these microorganisms were considered contaminants according to clinical data (2 Micrococcus spp, 1 staphylococci coagulase negative, 1 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Peptoestreptococcus spp, 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Scedosporium spp) while the other 3 were considered true bacteremia (1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 Proteus mirabilis, 1 Streptococcus sanguis), although no one made any change in treatment on the basis of the previous isolation. Based on these results the routinary utilization of terminal subcultures is not advisable and should be used only for special cases or a second system of blood culture should be added according to clinical or epidemiological data.

Sistema bact-alert de hemocultivos: evaluación de los subcultivos terminales. / [Bact-Alert system for hemocultures: evaluation of terminal subcultures]

Few laboratory microbiological procedures are as important as the isolation of microorganisms from blood. To evaluate the usefulness of the terminal subcultures, 5669 blood cultures giving negative results after 7 days of incubation in the Bact/Alert System (Organon Teknika) were studied. Bottles were distributed as follows: 1562 adult aerobic bottles, 119 adult anaerobic bottles, 3960 pediatric bottles and 28 FAN bottles. From 5669 blood cultures, 10 subcultures that yielded growth had not been detected by the system. These included 5 adult aerobic bottles and 5 pediatric bottles, 7 of these microorganisms were considered contaminants according to clinical data (2 Micrococcus spp, 1 staphylococci coagulase negative, 1 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Peptoestreptococcus spp, 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Scedosporium spp) while the other 3 were considered true bacteremia (1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 Proteus mirabilis, 1 Streptococcus sanguis), although no one made any change in treatment on the basis of the previous isolation. Based on these results the routinary utilization of terminal subcultures is not advisable and should be used only for special cases or a second system of blood culture should be added according to clinical or epidemiological data.

Métodos estadísticos / Statistical methods

Manual preparado para ser utilizado en cursos de estadística básica e introductorios a la inferencia estadística. Está organizado en once capítulos, siguiendo una secuencia lógica, que contienen elementos conceptuales, principios, ilustraciones, aplicaciones y otro material auxiliar. Incluye temas referentes a la concepción moderna de la estadística, métodos estadísticos y temas relacionados con las etapas de planeamiento y recolección de datos, las distintas fases de la elaboración de datos, el análisis unidimiensional y bidimensional de datos, la teoría de muestreo, y la teoría de la decisión estadística