The Fiber Optic Reel System: A Compact Deployment Solution for Tethered Live-Telemetry Deep-Sea Robots and Sensors.

Tethered deep-sea robots and instrument platforms, such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and vertical-profiling or towed instrument arrays, commonly rely on fiber optics for real-time data transmission. Fiber optic tethers used for these applications are either heavily reinforced load-bearing cables used to support lifting and pulling, or bare optical fibers used in non-load bearing applications. Load-bearing tethers directly scale operations for deep-sea robots as the cable diameter, mass, and length typically require heavy winches and large surface support vessels to operate, and also guide the design of the deep-sea robot itself. In an effort to dramatically reduce the physical scale and operational overhead of tethered live-telemetry deep-sea robots and sensors, we have developed the Fiber Optic Reel System (FOReelS). FOReelS utilizes a customized electric fishing reel outfitted with a proprietary hollow-core braided fiber optic fishing line and mechanical termination assembly (FOFL), which offers an extremely small diameter (750 µm) load-bearing (90 lb/400 N breaking strength) tether to support live high-bandwidth data transmission as well as fiber optic sensing applications. The system incorporates a novel epoxy potted data payload system (DPS) that includes high-definition video, integrated lighting, rechargeable battery power, and gigabit ethernet fiber optic telemetry. In this paper we present the complete FOReelS design and field demonstrations to depths exceeding 780 m using small coastal support vessels of opportunity. FOReelS is likely the smallest form factor live-telemetry deep-sea exploration tool currently in existence, with a broad range of future applications envisioned for oceanographic sensing and communication.

Effectiveness of ceftazidime/avibactam as salvage therapy for treatment of infections due to OXA-48 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Background: Experience in real clinical practice with ceftazidime/avibactam is limited, and there are even fewer data on infections due to OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Methods: We designed an observational study of a prospectively collected cohort of adult patients receiving ceftazidime/avibactam in our centre. Only the first treatment course of each patient was analysed. Efficacy and safety were evaluated as 14 and 30 day mortality, recurrence rate at 90 days, resistance development and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: Fifty-seven patients were treated with ceftazidime/avibactam. The median age was 64 years (range 26-86), 77% were male and the median Charlson index was 3. The most frequent sources of infection were intra-abdominal (28%), followed by respiratory (26%) and urinary (25%). Thirty-one (54%) patients had a severe infection (defined as presence of sepsis or septic shock). Most patients received ceftazidime/avibactam as monotherapy (81%) and the median duration of treatment was 13 days. Mortality at 14 days was 14%. In multivariate analysis, the only mortality risk factor was INCREMENT-CPE score >7 (HR 11.7, 95% CI 4.2-20.6). There was no association between mortality and monotherapy with ceftazidime/avibactam. The recurrence rate at 90 days was 10%. Ceftazidime/avibactam resistance was not detected in any case and only two patients developed adverse events related to treatment. Conclusions: Ceftazidime/avibactam shows promising results, even in monotherapy, for the treatment of patients with severe infections due to OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae and limited therapeutic options. The emergence of resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam was not observed.

Automatic detection of facial expressions during the Cyberball paradigm in Borderline Personality Disorder: a pilot study.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms include inappropriate control of anger and severe emotional dysregulation after rejection in daily life. Nevertheless, when using the Cyberball paradigm, a tossing game to simulate social exclusion, the seven basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust, and contempt) have not been exhaustively tracked out. It was hypothesized that these patients would show anger, contempt, and disgust during the condition of exclusion versus the condition of inclusion. When facial emotions are automatically detected by Artificial Intelligence, "blending", -or a mixture of at least two emotions- and "masking", -or showing happiness while expressing negative emotions- may be most easily traced expecting higher percentages during exclusion rather than inclusion. Therefore, face videos of fourteen patients diagnosed with BPD (26 ± 6 years old), recorded while playing the tossing game, were analyzed by the FaceReader software. The comparison of conditions highlighted an interaction for anger: it increased during inclusion and decreased during exclusion. During exclusion, the masking of surprise; i.e., displaying happiness while feeling surprised, was significantly more expressed. Furthermore, disgust and contempt were inversely correlated with greater difficulties in emotion regulation and symptomatology, respectively. Therefore, the automatic detection of emotional expressions during both conditions could be useful in rendering diagnostic guidelines in clinical scenarios.

Systematic mapping of gender equality and social inclusion in WASH interventions: knowledge clusters and gaps.

INTRODUCTION: Poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services threatens population health and contributes to gender and social inequalities, especially in low-resource settings. Despite awareness in the WASH sector of the importance of promoting gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) to address these inequalities, evaluations of interventions focus largely on health outcomes, while gender equality and other social outcomes are rarely included. This review aimed to collate and describe available research evidence of GESI outcomes evaluated in WASH intervention studies. METHODS: We applied a systematic mapping methodology and searched for both academic and grey literature published between 2010 and 2020 in 16 bibliographic databases and 53 specialist websites. Eligibility screening (with consistency checking) was conducted according to predetermined criteria, followed by metadata coding and narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Our evidence base comprises 463 intervention studies. Only 42% of studies measured transformative GESI outcomes of WASH interventions, referring to those that seek to transform gender relations and power imbalances to promote equality. A majority of studies disaggregated outcome data by sex, but other forms of data disaggregation were limited. Most included studies (78%) lacked a specific GESI mainstreaming component in their intervention design. Of the interventions with GESI mainstreaming, the majority targeted women and girls, with very few focused on other social groups or intersectional considerations. CONCLUSION: The review points to various areas for future primary and secondary research. Given the potential contribution of WASH to GESI, GESI considerations should be incorporated into the evaluation of WASH interventions. Regular collection of data and monitoring of GESI outcomes is needed as well as developing new and testing existing methods for monitoring and evaluation of such data.

Randomized, direct comparison study of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 versus multi-strained Bacillus clausii probiotics for the treatment of pediatric acute gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: The choice of an appropriate probiotic for pediatric acute gastroenteritis (PAGE) can be confusing. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 vs a 4-strain mixture of Bacillus clausii O/C, SIN, N/R, T) for the treatment of PAGE. METHODS: A 2-arm parallel, randomized trial recruited children (6 months to 5 years old) with mild-moderate acute diarrhea, from 8 centers in Argentina. A total of 317 children were enrolled and blindly randomized to 5 days of either S boulardii CNCM I-745 (n = 159) or a 4-strain mixture of B clausii (n = 158), then followed for 7 days post-probiotic treatment. A stool sample was collected at inclusion for pathogen identification. The primary outcome was duration of diarrhea defined as the time from enrollment to the last loose stool followed by the first 24-hour period with stool consistency improvement. Secondary outcomes included frequency of loose stools/day, severity of diarrhea, number reporting no diarrhea at Day 6, time-to-first formed stool, recurrence of diarrhea by study end (Day 12) and safety outcomes. RESULTS: Three hundred twelve (98%) children completed the study. S boulardii CNCM I-745 showed a significant reduction (P = .04) in the mean duration of diarrhea (64.6 hours, 95% confidence interval [CI] 56.5-72.8) compared to those given B clausii (78.0 hours, 95% CI 69.9-86.1). Both probiotics showed improvement in secondary outcomes and were well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: In this study, S boulardii CNCM I-745 demonstrated better efficacy than B clausii mix for reducing the duration of pediatric acute diarrhea.

Neurological Manifestations and Outcomes in a Retrospective Cohort of Mexican Inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia: Design of a Risk Profile.

We analyzed the neurological manifestations in Mexican patients hospitalized with pneumonia due to COVID-19 and investigated the association between demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables and outcomes, including death. A retrospective, analytical study was conducted using the electronic records of patients hospitalized between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020. Records of 1040 patients were analyzed: 31.25% died and 79.42% had neurological symptoms, including headache (80.62%), anosmia (32.20%), ageusia (31.96%), myopathy (28.08%), disorientation (14.89%), encephalopathy (12.22%), neuropathy (5.4%), stroke (1.3%), seizures (1.3%), cerebral hemorrhage (1.08%), encephalitis (0.84%), central venous thrombosis (0.36%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.24%). Patients also had comorbidities, such as hypertension (42.30%), diabetes mellitus (38.74%), obesity (61.34%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.17%), and asthma (2.01%). Factors associated with neurological symptoms were dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, advanced respiratory support, prolonged hospitalization, and worsening fibrinogen levels. Factors associated with death were older age, advanced respiratory support, amine management, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intensive care unit management, dyspnea, disorientation, encephalopathy, hypertension, neuropathy, diabetes, male sex, three or more neurological symptoms, and obesity grade 3. In this study we designed a profile to help predict patients at higher risk of developing neurological complications and death following COVID-19 infection.

Management of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction after ESC 2016 Heart Failure Guidelines: The Linx Registry.

AIMS: In May 2016, a new version of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines for the management of heart failure (HF) was released. The aim of this study was to describe the management of HF with reduced ejection fraction after the publication of ESC Guidelines. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Linx registry is a multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study from 14 Catalan hospitals that enrolled 1056 patients with HF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (≤40%) from 1 February to 30 April 2017 in outpatient cardiology clinics. Results were compared between hospitals according to their level of complexity in our own registry and compared with previously published registries similar to ours. Sacubitril/valsartan was prescribed to 23.9% of patients in our population, as a consequence, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blockers in monotherapy decreased to 48.1% and 16.9%, respectively, and prescription of beta-blockers (91.8%), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (72.7%), and ivabradine (21.4%) remained similar to previous registries. Target doses of beta-blockers (25.4%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (24.9%), angiotensin receptor blockers (7.7%), sacubitril/valsartan (8.1%), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (19.7%) were accomplished in a low proportion of patients. Our results also suggest that prescription and up-titration of class I HF drugs were greater in hospitals with higher level of complexity. CONCLUSIONS: The Linx registry shows an appropriate adherence to pharmacological recommendations from ESC HF Guidelines despite a low proportion of patients reached target doses. Almost one-quarter of patients were under treatment with sacubitril/valsartan a few months after ESC HF Guidelines recommendations.

Síndrome multisistémico post COVID-19 y dificultad en su diagnóstico etiológico: a propósito de un caso clínico / Multisystem post COVID-19 syndrome and its difficult etiological diagnosis: a clinical case / Síndrome multissistêmica pós COVID-19 e a dificuldade no seu diagnóstico etiologico: relato de caso clínico

El SARS-CoV-2 afecta a un reducido número de pacientes pediátricos, que en su mayoría son asintomáticos o presentan compromiso respiratorio leve y evolución favorable. Sin embargo, en niños previamente sanos puede aparecer el síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico (SIM-C) o similar a Kawasaki (Kawasaki-like) asociado a la enfermedad por COVID-19, que evolucionan al shock y requiere internación en la unidad de cuidados intensivo. Presentamos el caso de un adolescente con antecedentes ambientales de SARS-CoV-2 37 días antes de su ingreso, que no se testeó en ese momento. Recibe la primera dosis de vacuna Pfizer 15 días antes de la presentación de un cuadro de sintomatología digestiva con dolor abdominal y fiebre, con test de antígenos COVID-19 y PCR viral negativos. Luego de una laparoscopia exploratoria, al sexto día de fiebre y dolor instaló conjuntivitis bilateral no supurada y exantema en tórax, odinofagia, astenia y lengua saburral con fenotipo Kawasaki. La serológica IgG anti spike fue positiva y la IgM negativa, con parámetros inflamatorios elevados, por lo que se planteó un síndrome multisistémico post COVID-19. Recibió tratamiento con inmunoglobulina intravenosa, ácido acetilsalicílico y metilprednisolona. Dada la necesidad de descartar la posibilidad de un evento atribuible a vacunación o inmunización (ESAVI), se realizó la búsqueda serológica para SARS-CoV-2, en un estudio cualitativo, buscando anticuerpos que no se generan con la vacuna Pfizer, que fueron positivos. De esta forma confirmamos la etiología post COVID-19 y descartamos la etiología por ESAVI, realizándose además el estudio cuantitativo de los anticuerpos anti spike con disminución de estos al mes del debut.

Summary: SARS-CoV-2 affects a low number of pediatric patients, most asymptomatic or with mild respiratory compromise and favorable evolution. However, in previously healthy children, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (SIM-C) or Kawasaki-like Syndrome(Kawasaki-like) may appear linked to the COVID-19 disease, progressing to shock and requiring admission to the intensive care unit. We present the case of an adolescent with an environmental history of SARS-CoV-2 37 days prior to her admission, who was not tested at that time. She had received the first dose of Pfizer vaccine 15 days before the presentation of digestive symptoms with abdominal pain and fever. She had a negative Covid-19 antigen test and viral PCR. After an exploratory laparoscopy, on the sixth day of fever and pain, she developed bilateral non-suppurative conjunctivitis and a rash on the chest, odynophagia, asthenia, and coated tongue with the Kawasaki phenotype. The anti-spike IgG serology was positive and the IgM negative, with elevated inflammatory parameters, so a post-COVID-19 multisystem syndrome was suggested. She received treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, ASA and methylprednisolone. In order to rule out the possibility of an event allegedly caused by vaccination or immunization (ESAVI), the serological search for SARS-CoV-2 was carried out through a qualitative study, looking for antibodies that are not generated with the Pfizer vaccine. The result was positive. Therefore, we confirmed the post-Covid etiology and ruled out the ESAVI etiology, and also performed the quantitative study of the anti-spike antibodies, which showed a decrease one month after the debut.

O SARS-CoV-2 afeta um número reduzido de pacientes pediátricos, em sua maioria, assintomáticos ou apresentando comprometimento do nível respiratório e evolução favorável. Porém, em crianças previamente sãs, pode aparecer a Síndrome Inflamatória Multissistêmica (SIM-C) ou similar a Kawasaki (Kawasaki-like) associada à doença por COVID-19, que pode evoluir a choque e requer a internação na UTI. Apresentamos o caso de um adolescente com antecedentes ambientais de SARS-CoV-2 37 dias antes do seu ingresso, que não se testou nesse momento. Recebendo a dose da primeira vacina Pfizer 15 dias antes da apresentação de sintomatologia digestiva com dor abdominal e febre. Teve um teste de antígenos COVID-19 viral negativo. Depois de una laparoscopia exploratória, ao sexto dia de febre e dor, teve conjuntivite bilateral não supurada e exantema en tórax, odinofagia, astenia e língua saburral com fenótipo Kawasaki. A sorologia IgG anti-spike foi positiva e a gM negativa, com parâmetros inflamatórios superiores, indicando uma síndrome multissistêmica pós Covid 19. O tratamento recebido foi imunoglobulina intravenosa, AAS e Metilprednisolona. Com o fim de descartar a possibilidade de um evento supostamente atribuível à vacinação ou vacinação positiva (ESAVI), realizou-se uma busca sorológica para SARS COV2, através de um estúdio qualitativo, procurando anticorpos não gerados pela vacina Pfizer, os quais foram confirmados. Nesta forma, confirmamos a etiologia pós-Covid e descartamos a etiologia por ESAVI. Aliás, realizamos um estudo quantitativo dos anticorpos anti-spike e comprovamos a sua diminuição a um mês de ter acontecido o debut.

Relation of myocardial perfusion defects and nonsignificant coronary lesions by angiography with insights from intravascular ultrasound and coronary pressure measurements.

Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between myocardial ischemia and severity of coronary lesions as determined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements. However, their value for the assessment of mild coronary stenoses that are associated with myocardial perfusion abnormalities has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to prospectively compare the results of myocardial perfusion as determined by exercise/dipyridamole myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography with IVUS and FFR measurements in patients who had angiographically mild coronary stenosis (< 50% diameter stenosis by quantitative coronary angiography). Forty-eight patients who had stable coronary disease (61 +/- 11 years of age; 6 women) were included. All had mild coronary stenosis in the proximal/middle segment of > or = 1 coronary artery and had undergone maximal exercise myocardial technetium-99m tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography within 48 hours before coronary angiography. IVUS measurements included lesion lumen area, external elastic membrane area, lesion plaque burden (calculated as external elastic membrane minus lumen area, divided by external elastic membrane, and multiplied by 100), and lumen area stenosis (calculated as reference lumen area minus lesion lumen area, divided by reference lumen area, multiplied by 100). Fifty-three coronary lesions were studied, with a mean percent diameter stenosis of 34.9 +/- 7.9% on angiography. Myocardial perfusion defects were demonstrated by single-photon emission computed tomography in 11 patients (12 myocardial regions) with no differences in lesion percent diameter stenosis compared with those without perfusion defects. The presence of reversible perfusion defects was associated with a higher lesion plaque burden as evaluated by IVUS (67.4 +/- 8.1% vs 60.2 +/- 9.3%, p = 0.01). FFR values did not differ in the presence or absence of perfusion defects (0.90 +/- 0.06 vs 0.92 +/- 0.07, respectively; p = NS). In conclusion, plaque burden as determined by IVUS may partly explain the presence of myocardial perfusion defects in cases of angiographically nonsignificant coronary lesions. However, the high FFR values associated with these lesions suggest that other mechanisms, such as endothelial/microvascular dysfunction, might also account for perfusion abnormalities in these patients.

[Intake of leguminous in the Department of Santander, Colombia, 2000-2003]. / Consumo de leguminosas en el departamento de Santander, Colombia, 2000-2003.

With the objective of describing the participation and quantity (g) in the intake of leguminous in two geographical areas (metropolitan and rural), three surveys were re-analyzed, in them 571 subjects (148 scholars and 443 mothers) described their intake by the 24-hour dietary recall method. For the above mentioned, descriptive measures and confidence intervals were calculated with a reliability of 95% (IC 95%), the comparison of the intake among groups was carried out by t test and analysis of variance. 36.4% of the subjects consumes leguminous dry; differences were observed in the consumption of leguminous for geographical area; leguminous dry (p = 0.03) and green (p = 0.04). Of the group of leguminous, the dry ones represent the best resource to cover the energy necessities and nutritious; the biggest contribution to the daily recommendation is for folic acid, magnesium, thiamine, protein, phosphorus, iron and zinc. The contribution of the leguminous ones to the recommendations of nutrients was different for geographical area (p < 0.01). The low cost and the nutritional contribution of the leguminous dry, especially to the daily recommendations of folic acid and proteins are aspects to consider in their promotion.

Tratamientos Basados en Mindfulness en la Población Infanto-Juvenil con Sintomatología Ansiosa. Una Revisión Sistemática / Treatments Based on Mindfulness in the Child-Youth Population with Anxious Symptomatology. A Systematic Review / Tratamentos Baseados na Atenção Plena na População Infantil-Jovem com Sintomatologia Ansiosa. Uma revisão sistemática

Resumen: El objetivo de la presente investigación es conocer los efectos de los tratamientos basados en Mindfulness en la población infanto-juvenil con sintomatología ansiosa y/o trastorno de ansiedad a través de una revisión sistemática de la literatura disponible en diversas bases de datos entre enero del 2007 a marzo del 2017. En la búsqueda se encontró un aumento significativo de publicaciones que abordan la temática de Mindfulness. Sin embargo, en la población infanto-juvenil con sintomatología ansiosa y/o trastorno de ansiedad se obtuvo un número reducido de investigaciones. Encontrándose dos revisiones sistemáticas, cuatro revisiones narrativas y cinco ensayos clínicos. El escaso número de publicaciones en esta temática hace difícil dimensionar los efectos del tratamiento de Mindfulness en esta población con sintomatología ansiosa y/o trastorno de ansiedad. Se requiere de más ensayos clínicos controlados para poder establecer su relevancia como herramienta terapéutica para la disminución de la ansiedad en la población infanto-juvenil.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to explore the effects of treatments based on Mindfulness in childhood and adolescent population with anxious symptomatology and/or anxiety disorder through a systematic review of the available literature in various databases between January 2007 to March 2017. In the search we found a significant increase in publications that address the subject of Mindfulness. However, in the child and adolescent population with anxious symptomatology and/or anxiety disorder, a number of reduced investigations were found. Finding two systematic reviews, four narrative reviews and five clinical trials. The small number of publications on this subject makes it difficult to measure the effect on Mindfulness treatment in this population with anxious symptomatology and/or anxiety disorder. More controlled clinical trials are required in order to establish its relevance as a therapeutic tool for the reduction of anxiety with the child and adolescent population.

Resumo: O objetivo desta pesquisa é conhecer os efeitos de tratamentos baseados no Mindfulness na população de crianças e adolescentes com sintomatologia ansiosa e/ou disturbio de ansiedade por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura disponível em várias bases de dados entre janeiro de 2007 a março de 2017. Na pesquisa encontramos um crescimento significativo em publicações que abordam o tema da Atenção Plena. Não obstante, na população de crianças e adolescentes com sintomatologia ansiosa e/ou disturbio de ansiedade, foi encontrado um pequeno número de investigações. Encontraram-se duas revisões sistemáticas, quatro revisões narrativas e cinco ensaios clínicos. O pequeno número de publicações sobre o assunto dificulta a medição dos efeitos do tratamento do Mindfulness nessa população com sintomatologia ansiosa e/ou disturbio de ansiedade. Mais ensaios clínicos controlados são necessários para estabelecer a sua relevância como uma ferramenta terapêutica para a redução da ansiedade na população infanto-juvenil.

Clinical peculiarities of patients with scleroderma exposed to silica: A systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: There are few data regarding the existence of clinical differences between patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) exposed to silica (SSc-si) and "idiopathic" cases (SSc-id). Our goal is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with SSc-si and see if they differ from the SSc-id cases. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases. We also included our own series of patients diagnosed with SSc-si and SSc-id controls at the "Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI)" from 1985 to January 2013. RESULTS: The review of the literature disclosed 32 published series, with clinical data of 254 SSc-si patients (96% males). SSc-si represented 37.5-86% of the scleroderma males and 0-2.7% of the scleroderma females. Globally, more than expected proportion of diffuse forms (61%) and interstitial lung disease (81%) were observed in exposed patients. In the present series, the diagnosis of SSc exposure to silica was recorded in nine patients (9.5%), showing predominance of the diffuse form (77%, p = 0.001), positivity for anti-Scl70 (55%, p = 0.001), presence of ILD (78%, p = 0.048) and lower survival (9.2 versus 15.1, p = 0.023). Diffuse variant remained more prevalent analysing exposed versus non-exposed women (50% versus 8%, p = 0,000) and exposed versus non-exposed men (85.8% versus 50%, p = 0,000). CONCLUSION: Silica exposure is a predominant risk factor in male SSc populations. The review of the literature is consistent with an association of SSc-si and diffuse scleroderma. A trend toward lower survival was observed in our series in SSc-si group.

High root temperature affects the tolerance to high light intensity in Spathiphyllum plants.

Spathiphyllum wallisii plants were sensitive to temperature stress under high illumination, although the susceptibility of leaves to stress may be modified by root temperature. Leaves showed higher tolerance to high illumination, in both cold and heat conditions, when the roots were cooled, probably because the chloroplast were protected by excess excitation energy dissipation mechanisms such as cyclic electron transport. When the roots were cooled both the activity of electron donation by NADPH and ferredoxin to plastoquinone and the amount of PGR5 polypeptide, an essential component of cyclic electron flow around PSI, increased. However, when the stems were heated or cooled under high illumination, but the roots were heated, the quantum yield of PSII decreased considerably and neither the electron donation activity by NADPH and ferredoxin to plastoquinone nor the amount of PGR5 polypeptide increased. In such conditions, the cyclic electron flow cannot be enhanced by high light and PSII is damaged as a result of insufficient dissipation of excess light energy. Additionally, the damage to PSII induced the increase in both chlororespiratory enzymes, NDH complex and PTOX.

Osteoarthritis in the neonate: risk factors and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, radiological, and bacteriological features, risk factors, and outcome of neonates with bone and joint infections. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, retrospective, and analytical study of 77 patients less than 2 months of age, admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of bone or joint infection, based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with 99 acute osteoarthritis foci in a 16 year period were included in the study. Risk factors for infection could be identified in 69% of the patients. The hip was the most frequent. Staphylococcus aureus was the main isolated microorganism. Twenty-nine infants (38%) had sequelae. Hip involvement, culture positive, and Staphylococcus aureus isolation were risk factors associated with sequelae. CONCLUSION: Osteoarticular infection is unusual in the neonate; however it is associated with an elevated incidence of sequelae. This mandates for a high degree of suspicion to diagnose this potentially disabling entity.

[Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: 17 years of experience in Argentine children]. / Bacteriemias por Staphylococcus aureus adquiridas en la comunidad: 17 años de experiencia en niños de la Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSa) emerged in recent years. Few studies analyzed the impact of these infections in bacteremias (B). OBJECTIVES: To analyze clinical, epidemiological, microbiological and outcome of CASa B between two periods (Period I: 1993-2004, and Period II: 2004-2007). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational and comparative study. All children older than 1 month of age and CASaB were included. RESULTS: During the study period 647 SaB were diagnosed (Period I: 499 and Period II: 148). Of them, 140 (28%) and 49 (33%) were CSaB, respectively. The median age of patients was 5.9 and 4.8 years, respectively (p= NS). Clinical foci of infection and septic shock were more frequent in the period I (78% vs. 47%) and (5% vs. 16%) (p <0.05), respectively. Skin infection and septic shock were similar in both periods (78% vs. 67% and 5% vs. 8%; p= NS). Four CAMRSa B (3%) were diagnosed during the first period. One predisposing factor was identified in all cases. Inversely, 23 cases (47%) were diagnosed during the Period II (p <0.05). Resistance rates to clindamycin and gentamicin were more high during the second period (10% vs. 2% and 20% vs. 3%, respectively) (p <0.05). Patients in the second period had longer antibiotic treatment (X 16.6 vs. 10.1 days) and more frequent inappropriate treatment at admission (53% vs. 5%) (p <0.05). Hospital stay time was longer during de first period (19.2 vs. 12.2 days) (p <0.05). The mortality rate was higher in the first period (13% vs. 4%) (p= NS). CONCLUSION: A significant increase of CAMRSa B were detected in recent years. It is necessary to evaluate the empirical treatment of severe community infections in children in our country.

Bacteriemias por Staphylococcus aureus adquiridas en la comunidad: 17 años de experiencia en niños de la Argentina / Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: 17 years of experience in Argentine children

Introducción. Escasos estudios han evaluado el impacto de S. aureus meticilino-resistente proveniente de la comunidad en bacteriemias. Objetivos. Analizar las características epidemiológicas, microbiológicas, clínicas y de evolución de los niños con bacteriemias por S. aureus (SA) provenientes de la comunidad. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, observacional y comparativo (Período I: 1993-2004 y Período II: 2004-2007). Se incluyeron niños mayores de 1 mes con bacteriemias por S. aureus provenientes de la comunidad. Resultados. Se registraron 647 bacteriemias por SA (Período I: 499 y Período II: 148), 140 (28%) y 49 (33%) fueron de la comunidad en cada período. La edad (media) fue 5,9 y 4,8 años, respectivamente (p= NS). La presencia de foco clínico de infección y shock séptico fue semejante en ambos períodos (78 contra 67%; p= NS). La celulitis prevaleció durante el segundo período (56 contra 40%) (p= NS). En el primer período se detectaron 4 niños con bacteriemias por SA de la comunidad resistentes a meticilina (3%) mientras que en el segundo período ocurrieron 23 casos (47%) (p <0,05). La resistencia a clindamicina y gentamicina fue mayor en el segundo período (10% contra 2% y 20% contra 3%, respectivamente) (p <0,05). En el período II hubo mayor duración del tratamiento antibiótico (media: 16,6 contra 10,1; p < 0,05) y mayor porcentual de tratamiento discordante (53 por ciento contra por ciento)(p <0,05). Durante el primer período fue mayor el tiempo de internación (19,2 contra 12,2 días) (p <0,05). La mortalidad fue más alta durante el primer período (14% contra 5%) (p= NS). Conclusión. Se registró un aumento significativo de niños con bacteriemias por SA de la comunidad resistentes a meticilina a partir de 2004. Estomotivó la revaloración del tratamiento empírico de estos niños con infección grave.

Background. Community-acquired methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSa) emerged in recent years. Few studies analyzed the impact of these infections in bacteremias (B). Objectives. To analyze clinical, epidemiological, microbiological and outcome of CASa B between two periods (Period I: 1993-2004, and Period II: 2004-2007).Material and methods. Retrospective, observational and comparative study. All children older than 1 month of age and CASa B were included. Results. During the study period 647 SaB werediagnosed (Period I: 499 and Period II: 148). Of them, 140 (28%) and 49 (33%) were CSa B, respectively. The median age of patients was 5.9 and4.8 years, respectively (p= NS). Clinical foci of infection and septic shock were more frequent in the period I (78% vs. 47%) and (5% vs. 16%) (p <0.05), respectively. Skin infection and septicshock were similar in both periods (78% vs. 67% and 5% vs. 8%; p=NS). Four CAMRSa B (3%) were diagnosed during the first period. One predisposing factor was identified in all cases. Inversely, 23 cases (47%) were diagnosed during the Period II (p<0.05). Resistance rates to clindamycin and gentamicin were more highduring the second period (10% vs. 2% and 20% vs. 3%, respectively) (p <0.05). Patients in the second period had longer antibiotic treatment (X16.6 vs. 10.1 days) and more frequent inappropriate treatment at admission (53% vs. 5%) (p <0.05). Hospital stay time was longer during de first period (19.2 vs. 12.2 days) (p <0.05). Themortality rate was higher in the first period (13% vs. 4%) (p=NS). Conclusion. A significant increase of CAMRSa B were detected in recent years. It is necessary to evaluate the empirical treatment of severe community infections in children in our country.

Osteoarthritis in the neonate: risk factors and outcome

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, radiological, and bacteriological features, risk factors, and outcome of neonates with bone and joint infections. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, retrospective, and analytical study of 77 patients less than 2 months of age, admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of bone or joint infection, based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with 99 acute osteoarthritis foci in a 16 year period were included in the study. Risk factors for infection could be identified in 69 percent of the patients. The hip was the most frequent. Staphylococcus aureus was the main isolated microorganism. Twenty-nine infants (38 percent) had sequelae. Hip involvement, culture positive, and Staphylococcus aureus isolation were risk factors associated with sequelae. CONCLUSION: Osteoarticular infection is unusual in the neonate; however it is associated with an elevated incidence of sequelae. This mandates for a high degree of suspicion to diagnose this potentially disabling entity.