Digital microscopic image application (DMIA), an automatic method for particle size distribution analysis in waste activated sludge.

An important physical property in environmental samples is particle size distribution. Several processes exist to measure particle diameter, including change in electrical resistance, blocking of light, the fractionation of field flow and laser diffraction (these being the most commonly used). However, their use requires expensive and complex equipment. Therefore, a digital microscopic imaging application (DMIA) method was developed adapting the algorithms used in the helminth egg automatic detector software coupled with a neural network (NN) and Bayesian algorithms. This allowed the determination of particle size distribution in samples of waste activated sludge (WAS), recirculated sludge (RCS), and pre-treated sludge (PTS). The recirculation and electro-oxidation pre-treatment processes showed an effect in increasing the degree of solubilization, decreasing particle size and breakage factor with ranges between 44.29%, and 31.89%. Together with a final NN calibration process, it was possible to compare results. For example, the 90th percentile of equivalent diameter value obtained by the DMIA with the corresponding result for the laser diffraction method. DMIA values: 228.76 µm (WAS), 111.18 µm (RCS), and 84.45 µm (PTS). DMIA processing has advantages in terms of reducing complexity, cost and time, and offers an alternative to the laser diffraction method.

[Paraosteal osteosarcoma of the tibia treated with the OSS prosthesis. Case report]. / Osteosarcoma paraostal de tibia, tratamiento con prótesis OSS. Reporte de un caso.

Parosteal osteosarcoma originates on the surface of long bones and spares the medullary canal. Its peak incidence occurs in the third decade of life and it is more frequent in females than males. The juxtacortical variety of parosteal osteosarcoma is one of the most common ones, accounting for 1-6% of all osteosarcomas. The classical radiographic appearance of osteosarcoma includes high ossification density and a lobed mass, usually in the posterior aspect of the distal femur, sparing the medullary canal. We report herein the case of a 31 year-old male patient with a clinical picture that included left knee pain and who was seen as outpatient. He was started on treatment for enbloc resection of the tumor and implantation of the OSS (Orthopedic Salvage System) prosthesis. Treatment consisted of broad resection of the proximal tibia, of approximately 14 cm, as well as the implantation of a nonconventional modular tibial prosthesis. Both the radiographic and the clinical results were good and appropriate at the three week follow up.

Tracking poles with an autoregressive model: a confidence index for the analysis of the intrapartum cardiotocogram.

Clinicians often rely upon the cardiotocogram, a display of the fetal heart rate and maternal uterine activity (UA) over time, as a means of monitoring fetal health during labour. Fetal health can be monitored adequately only when the signal quality of the cardiotocogram is good. We propose an automated assessment of UA signal quality in order to create a confidence index for subsequent analysis of the intrapartum cardiotocogram. We use an autoregressive (AR) model of the UA to estimate the power at the contraction frequency, with high power indicative of "good" UA signal quality. 5th, 10th, and 15th-order AR models are used to assess the signal quality of 12 intrapartum UA traces as "good/medium" or "poor". We compare our results to two experts' visual assessments of signal quality. The 10th-order model exhibits the highest percent agreement rate of 62%. It also exhibits the most balanced false positive and false negative rates, where "good" or "medium" signal quality is considered a positive and "poor" signal quality a negative. The 10th-order model can therefore be used as a confidence index to reduce the errors made in the identification of uterine contractions in the UA trace and in the subsequent analysis of the cardiotocogram as a whole.

Tobramycin: maternal-fetal pharmacology.

To investigate the maternal-fetal transfer of tobramycin (TBM) and its distribution in the fetus, a single dose of 2 mg/kg was administered intramuscularly to 35 pregnant patients (13 first trimester, 22 second trimester) 0.5 to 34 h before hysterectomy. TBM concentration was assayed microbiologically in maternal serum, fetal tissues (placenta, brain, lung, liver, and kidney), and fluids (amniotic, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF], urine, and serum). Mean maternal serum half-life (1.54 h) and mean peak serum concentration of TBM were within ranges reported for nonpregnant adults. In fetal serum, half-life was 5.2 h, and TBM levels did not exceed 0.58 mug/ml. For intervals up to 34 h, the mean TBM concentration in placental tissues was 1.4 mug/g. Concentration differences related to fetal maturation were found for fetal CSF, amniotic fluid, and fetal kidney. No antimicrobial activity was found in the fetal CSF of >16 weeks' gestation. TBM was present predominantly in the second trimester amniotic fluid specimens. Fetal kidney concentrations reached 7.2 mug/g at 34 h after maternal drug administration. Higher TBM concentrations were related to advanced maturation of the fetal kidney. Second trimester fetal urine concentrations for TBM ranged from 0.1 to 3.4 mug/ml, and the fetal urinary half-life was 3.7 h. Knowledge of fetal pharmacology is essential for weighing the fetal benefits or risks of antimicrobial therapy for the infected gravid patient.