Corrección del artefacto producido en imágenes tomográficas en equipos odontológicos / Correction of the artifact produced in tomographic images in dental equipment

Objetivo: disminuir el efecto de artefacto que generan objetos de alta densidad mediante la utilización de filtros de distintos materiales y espesores, ubicados en lugares estratégicos del tomógrafo. Material y métodos: se utilizaron filtros de aluminio y de cobre ubicados en lugares estratégicos en el equipo tomográfico. Se realizaron cortes oblicuos en piezas dentarias con restauraciones metálicas y en implantes; se midió la extensión del artefacto en ancho y alto en cada adquisición tomográfica. Resultados: se hallaron diferencias significativas respecto a la disminución de la dispersión de acuerdo con cada filtro con respecto a la no utilización de estos elementos. Conclusión: la utilización de filtros logró disminuir el efecto de artefacto en estructuras de alta densidad, obteniendo una mejor calidad de imagen para el diagnóstico, permitiendo que el software pueda reconstruir una imagen real (AU)

Objective: to diminish the artifact effect generated by high density objects by using filters of different materials and thickness, located in strategic places of the tomograph. Material and methods: aluminum and copper filters located in strategic places in the tomographic equipment were used. Oblique cuts were made on dental pieces with metal restorations and implants; the extension of the artifact in width and height was measured in each tomographic acquisition. Results: significant differences were found regarding the decrease of the dispersion according to each filter with respect to the non-use of these elements. Conclusion: the use of filters achieves to diminish the artifact effect in structures of high density, obtaining a better image quality for the diagnosis, allowing the software to reconstruct a real image (AU)

Emerging subcutaneous mycoses by opportunistic filamentous fungi: A retrospective study in Northwest Spain.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous mycoses caused by opportunistic filamentous fungi are emerging infections in developed countries due to the longer survival of immunocompromised patients. The evidence published in relation to subcutaneous mycoses is fundamentally based on case reports and small case series. METHODS: We performed an observational retrospective study of subcutaneous mycoses caused by opportunistic filamentous fungi diagnosed at our institution between 2017 and 2022. This study aims to estimate the incidence rate of subcutaneous mycoses, identify which fungal species are involved, and analyse which clinical variables predispose to infection and if any are associated with mortality. RESULTS: Fifteen patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 61 years (range 27-84), and 80% of them were males. Alternaria spp. were the most common fungi. Two other organisms were frequently isolated: Scedosporium apiospermum and Fusarium solani. Among patients infected with F. solani, 66.7% died. The most common clinical presentation was suppurative nodules in the lower limbs and the main risk factors for infection were immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, previous trauma and transplantation, but they were not particularly associated with increased mortality. A statistically significant association with mortality was only found in the case of positive blood culture (p = <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Phaeohyphomycosis has a lower risk of dissemination, especially when compared to subcutaneous mycoses caused by hyalohyphomycetes. It is important to convey the severity of these skin infections to the physicians involved in the treatment and follow-up of susceptible patients to avoid misdiagnosis and delays in the treatment, especially in the case of hyalohyphomycosis.

Características epidemiológicas y clínicas de una cohorte de pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana / Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients infected with HIV / Características epidemiológicas e clínicas de uma coorte de pacientes com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana

Introducción. Los estudios de cohortes han sido fundamentales para describir la evolución de múltiples enfermedades. El Grupo de estudio Uruguayo de VIH, comenzó en 2018 el seguimiento de una cohorte de personas con VIH de diferentes prestadores de salud. Objetivo . Describir las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de las personas incluidas en la cohorte GeUVIH. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio descriptivo, observacional, multicéntrico transversal y prospectivo. Desde 1 de julio de 2018 hasta 31 de mayo de 2021. Se analizaron 795 personas con VIH de centros con consultas ambulatorias públicas y privadas de Montevideo-Uruguay. Resultados. Se analizaron 795. Relación hombre/ mujer 2 a 1. Mediana de edad 46 años. El 56,6% tenía entre 39 y 58 años. Motivaron al diagnóstico de VIH sobre todo controles en salud y enfermedades oportunistas. Al ingresar a la cohorte el 49% llevaba más de 10 años viviendo con VIH y el 25% estaba en estadio SIDA. El 98.4% estaban recibiendo antirretrovirales y de ellos 84% tenían carga viral indetectable. El 1,3% estaba co-infectado con el VHB y 3,9% con el VHC. Fallecieron 4 pacientes de la cohorte. Conclusiones. Se observó una población vinculada a los servicios de salud, que recibe TAR y es adherente. El envejecimiento de la población nos obliga a diagnosticar y tratar precozmente las comorbilidades. Se debe estimular el diagnóstico de VIH durante el control en salud y/o campañas preventivas. El mantenimiento de la cohorte prospectivamente dará información fundamental para la toma de decisiones.

Introduction: cohort studies are essential to describe the evolution of multiple diseases. In 2018 the Uruguayan group for the study of HIV started to monitor a cohort of individuals infected with HIV in different health care Institutions. Objective: to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of individuals included in an HIV cohort (GeUVIH). Patients and method: descriptive, observational, multi-transversal and prospective study. From July 1, 2018 to May 31, 2021. 795 individuals infected with HIV were analyzed in private and public outpatient consultations in Montevideo, Uruguay. Results: the case of 795 patients was analyzed. Men/women ratio was 2/1. Median age was 46 years old. 65.6% was between 39 and 58 years old. HIV diagnosis mainly resulted from health control and opportunistic diseases. Upon inclusion in the cohort group, 49% of patients had been living with HIV for over 10 years and were in the AIDS stage of infection. 98.3% were under antiretroviral treatment and in 84% of them viral load could not be detected. 1.3% of patients presented HIV-HIB coinfection and 3.9% HIV-HIC coinfection. 4 patients in the cohort died. Conclusions: the studied population was found to be related to the health care services, receiving antiretroviral therapy and showing good adherence to treatment. The aging of population makes it mandatory for the early diagnosis and treatment of comorbilities. Diagnosis of HIV must be encouraged in health care controls or preventive campaigns. The prospective maintenance of the cohort will provide key data for the making of decisions.

Introdução: estudos de coorte têm sido essenciais para descrever a evolução de múltiplas doenças. O Grupo Uruguaio de Estudos de HIV começou a monitorar uma coorte de pessoas com HIV de diferentes prestadores de serviços de saúde em 2018. Objetivo: descrever as características epidemiológicas e clínicas das pessoas incluídas na coorte GeUVIH. Pacientes e métodos : estudo descritivo, observacional, multicêntrico, transversal e prospectivo. No período 1º de julho de 2018 a 31 de maio de 2021 foram analisadas 795 pessoas com HIV de unidades ambulatoriais públicas e privadas em Montevidéu-Uruguai. Resultados: foram incluídas 795 pessoas. A proporção homem/mulher foi 2 para 1, a mediana de idade 46 anos sendo que 56,6% tinham entre 39 e 58 anos. O diagnóstico do HIV foi motivado especialmente por controles de saúde e pela detecção de doenças oportunistas. Ao ingressar na coorte, 49% viviam com HIV há mais de 10 anos e 25% encontravam-se na fase de AIDS. 98,4% estavam recebendo antirretrovirais e 84% deles tinham carga viral indetectável. 1,3% estavam co-infectados com HBV e 3,9% com HCV. Quatro pacientes da coorte morreram. Conclusões: observou-se uma população vinculada aos serviços de saúde, que recebe TARV com adesão ao tratamento. O envelhecimento da população obriga-nos a diagnosticar e tratar precocemente as comorbilidades. O diagnóstico de HIV deve ser incentivado durante controles de saúde e/ou campanhas preventivas. Manter a coorte prospectivamente fornecerá informações essenciais para a tomada de decisões.

Clinitest rapid COVID-19 antigen test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A multicenter evaluation study.

OBJECTIVES: RT-PCR assay is the reference method for diagnosis of COVID-19, but it is also a laborious and time-consuming technic, limiting the availability of testing. Rapid antigen-detection tests are faster and less expensive; however, the reliability of these tests must be validated before they can be used widely. The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the Clinitest Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test (ClinitestRT) (SIEMENS) for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. METHODS: This prospective multicenter study was carried out in three Spanish university hospitals including individuals with clinical symptoms or epidemiological criteria for COVID-19. Only individuals with ≤7 days from the onset of symptoms or from exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19 were included. Two nasopharyngeal samples were taken to perform the ClinitestRT, as a point-of-care test, and a diagnostic RT-PCR test. RESULTS: Overall sensitivity and specificity for the ClinitestRT among the 450 patients studied were 93.3% (CI 95%: 89.7-96.8) and 99.2% (CI 95%: 97.2-99.8), respectively. Sensitivity in participants with ≤5 days of the clinical course was 93.6% (CI 95%: 89.2-96.3), and in participants who had a CT < 25 for the RT-PCR test was 98.4% (CI 95%: 94.5-99.6). Agreement between techniques was 96.7% (kappa score: 0.93; CI 95%: 0.90-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: The ClinitestRT provides good clinical performance, with more reliable results for patients with a higher viral load. The results must be interpreted based on the local epidemiological context.

Activity of imipenem/relebactam against a Spanish nationwide collection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

BACKGROUND: Imipenem/relebactam is a novel carbapenem/ß-lactamase inhibitor combination, developed to act against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). OBJECTIVES: To assess the in vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against a Spanish nationwide collection of CPE by testing the susceptibility of these isolates to 16 widely used antimicrobials and to determine the underlying ß-lactam resistance mechanisms involved and the molecular epidemiology of carbapenemases in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical CPE isolates (n = 401) collected for 2 months from 24 hospitals in Spain were tested. MIC50, MIC90 and susceptibility/resistance rates were interpreted in accordance with the EUCAST guidelines. ß-Lactam resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology were characterized by WGS. RESULTS: For all isolates, high rates of susceptibility to colistin (86.5%; MIC50/90 = 0.12/8 mg/L), imipenem/relebactam (85.8%; MIC50/90 = 0.5/4 mg/L) and ceftazidime/avibactam (83.8%, MIC50/90 = 1/≥256 mg/L) were observed. The subgroups of isolates producing OXA-48-like (n = 305, 75.1%) and KPC-like enzymes (n = 44, 10.8%) were highly susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam (97.7%, MIC50/90 = 1/2 mg/L) and imipenem/relebactam (100.0%, MIC50/90 = ≤0.25/1 mg/L), respectively.The most widely disseminated high-risk clones of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae across Spain were found to be ST11, ST147, ST392 and ST15 (mostly associated with OXA-48) and ST258/512 (in all cases producing KPC). CONCLUSIONS: Imipenem/relebactam, colistin and ceftazidime/avibactam were the most active antimicrobials against all CPEs. Imipenem/relebactam is a valuable addition to the antimicrobial arsenal used in the fight against CPE, particularly against KPC-producing isolates, which in all cases were susceptible to this combination.

Estudio de las variantes anatómicas en el conducto incisivo en pacientes desdentados utilizando la tomografía de haz cónico / Study of the anatomical variants in the incisive canal in edentulous patients using cone beam tomography

Introducción: La región anterior de la mandíbula, ubicada entre los agujeros mentonianos contiene conductos intraóseos con elementos vasculares y ramas nerviosas terminales provenientes del nervio alveolar inferior. El objetivo del trabajo es determinar las variantes anatómicas producidas en el conducto incisivo y las corticales superior, inferior, externa e interna en pacientes edéntulos con respecto a pacientes dentados en tomografía computarizada de haz cónico. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio comparativo, retrospectivo y observacional. Se estudiaron 50 tomografías en pacientes edéntulos y 50 en pacientes dentados de ambos sexos desde los 38 hasta los 81 años. En cada corte se realizó una medición en lo alto y ancho del conducto. También se determinó la posición del conducto incisivo mediante la realización de cuatro mediciones. Resultados: Se observaron diferencias significativas en lo que respecta al alto y ancho del conducto incisivo y también entre las distancias hacia la cortical vestibular, lingual, alveolar y basal entre pacientes dentados y desdentados. Conclusión: Se pudo comprobar una mayor resorción ósea en los pacientes desdentados, hallado entre el conducto incisivo y las corticales superior y vestibular y un menor calibre del conducto incisivo con respecto a los pacientes dentados (AU)

Introduction: The previous region of the mandible, located between the mental foramen, contains intraosseous ducts with vascular elements and terminal nervous branches from the inferior alveolar nerve. The objective of the work is to determine the anatomical variants produced in the incisive canal and the superior, inferior, external and internal cortices in edentulous patients with respect to dentate patients in cone beam computed tomography. Material and methods: A retrospective observation al comparative study was carried out. Fifty tomographies were studied in edentulous patients and 50 in dentate patients of both sex es from 38 to 81 years. In each cut a measure men twasmade in height and width of the conduit. The position of the incisive cannel was also determined by performing four measurements. Results: Significant differences were observed regarding the height and width of the incisal canal and also between the distances to the vestibular, lingual, alveolar and basal cortical area between dentate and edentulous patients. Conclusion: A greater bone reabsorption in thee dentulous patients found between the incisive canal and the superior and vestibular cortices and a smaller caliber of the incisive canal with respect to the dentate patient should be verified (AU)

Quiste dentígero: presentación de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Dentigerous cyst: report of a clinical case and review of the literature

Introduccion: según la clasificación de la oms de 1992, el quiste dentígero o folicular se clasifica dentro de los quistes de desarrollo odontogénicos. Este se origina en la evolución de un germen dentario. La pieza dentaria, generalmente, se encuentra en íntima relación con la membrana quística, adherida al límite amelocementario. El crecimiento es lento y continuo. Radiográficamente se observa una imagen radiolúcida, definida y unilocular. Afecta con más frecuencia al sexo masulino y la proporción de pacientes de 6 a 7 años con quistes dentígero es de solo 9.1%. Caso clínico: paciente masculino de 6 años concurre a la consulta con su abuela presentando inflamación facial del maxilar superior derecho, asintomática. Luego del examen clínico se le solicita una radiografía panorámica. Por su severidad, se le solicita una tomografía computada y se lo deriva para su intervención quirúrgica y análisis de la muestra. Conclusion: el odontólogo clínico debe realizar la anamnesis e inspección clínica y ante la sospecha de una patología, debe solicitar un estudio radiográfico y/o tomográfico complementario. Se puede observar que durante el recambio dentario, es frecuente la presentación de lesiones patológicas que si no son diagnosticadas a tiempo estas podrían malignizarse y llevar al paciente a grandes resecciones quirúrgicas (AU)

Introduction: according to the who classification of 1992, the dentigerous or follicular cyst is classified within the odontogenic development cysts. This originates in the evolution of a dental germ. The dental piece is usually in close relation with the cystic membrane, adhered to the amelocementary limit. The growth is slow and continuous. Radiographically, a radiolucent, defined and unilocular image is observed. It affects the masculine sex more frequently and the proportion of patients from 6 to 7 years with dentigerous cysts is only 9.1%. Clinical case: a 6-year-old male patient attended the consultation with his grandmother presenting facial inflammation of the right upper jaw, asymptomatic. After the clinical examination, a panoramic radiograph is requested. Due to its severity, a tomography where it is then transferred for its surgical intervention and sample analysis. Conclusion: the clinical dentist must perform the anamnesis and clinical inspection and, if pathology is suspected, he or she must request a complementary radiographic and / or tomographic study. In odontopediatry, during dental replacement, it is common the presentation of pathological lesions that if not diagnosed in time they could be malignant and take the patient to large surgical resections (AU)

Estudio de las variantes anatómicas del conducto dentario inferior en el sector posteroinferior mediante tomografía de haz cónico en pacientes desdentados / Study of the anatomical variants of the mandibular dental canal in the lower posterior sector by cone-beam tomography in edentulous patients

Objetivo: Determinar las variantes anatómicas producidas entre el conducto dentario inferior y las corticales alveolares superior, inferior, externa e interna en pacientes desdentados con respecto a pacientes dentados posteroinferiores en tomografía axial computarizada (TAC). Métodos: Se estudiaron 15 tomografías en pacientes edéntulos y 15 en pacientes dentados en el sector posteroinferior, de ambos sexos en pacientes con un rango de edad entre los 50 hasta los 65 años. Se midieron en cortes oblicuos a partir del agujero mentoniano realizando 5 cortes posteriores cada 4 milímetros. En cada corte se realizaron mediciones desde el conducto dentario inferior hasta las corticales superior, inferior, interna y externa. Resultados: Se pudo observar que en los pacientes desdentados se hallan diferencias signifi cativas entre las mediciones del conducto dentario inferior y las corticales óseas, con respecto a los pacientes dentados. Conclusión: Según este estudio se pudo comprobar que el hueso sufre mayor resorción en los pacientes desdentados observándose más acentuada la pérdida ósea entre el conducto dentario y las corticales superior e interna con respecto a los pacientes dentados (AU)

Objective: To determine the anatomical variants produced between the mandibular canal and the superior, inferior, external and internal alveolar cortices in edentulous patients with respect to dentate patients posteroinferior in computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Fifteen tomographies were studied in edentulous patients and 15 in dentate patients in the posteroinferior sector, of both sexes in patients with an age range between 50 and 65 years. They were measured in oblique cuts from the mental foramen making 5 posterior cuts every 4 millimeters. In each cut, measurements were made from the mandibular canal to the upper, lower, internal and external cortices. Results: It was observed that in the edentulous patients there are signifi cant diff erences between the measurements of the mandibular canal and the bone cortical, with respect to the dentate patients. Conclusion: According to this study it was possible to verify that the bone undergoes greater resorption in the edentulous patients, with more marked loss of bone between the mandibular canal and the superior and internal cortices with respect to the dentate patients (AU)

Nickel(II) biosorption from aqueous solutions by shrimp head biomass.

The present study evaluates the capacity of shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) head to remove toxic Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Relevant parameters that could affect the biosorption process, such as shrimp head pretreatment, solution pH level, contact time and initial Ni(II) concentration, were studied in batch systems. An increase in Ni(II) biosorption capacity and a reduction in the time required to reach Ni(II) biosorption equilibrium was manifested by shrimp head biomass pretreated by boiling in 0.5 N NaOH for 15 min; this biomass was thereafter denominated APSH. The optimum biosorption level of Ni(II) ions onto APSH was observed at pH 7.0. Biosorption increased significantly with rising initial Ni(II) concentration. In terms of biosorption dynamics, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model described Ni(II) biosorption onto APSH best. The equilibrium data adequately fitted the Langmuir isotherm model within the studied Ni(II) ion concentration range. According to this isotherm model, the maximum Ni(II) biosorption capacity of APSH was 104.22 mg/g. Results indicate that APSH could be used as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and promising biosorbent with high biosorption capacity to remove Ni(II) from aqueous solutions.