Medicina
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A sero-epidemiological survey was conducted to detect evidence of the circulation of Hantavirus seoul. This virus of worldwide distribution is associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. ⋯ Thirty five samples from hypertensive patients undergoing a follow up health program, living in the same neighbourhood, were also tested. The antibody prevalence in rodents was 31% while no evidence of infection was found in the human samples.
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The hypoxemia of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) depends chiefly upon shunt and ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) inequality produced by fluid located in the interstitial space, alveolar collapse and flooding. Variables other tham inspired oxygen fraction and the underlying physiological abnormality can influence arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2). Changes in cardiac output, hemoglobin concentration, oxygen consumption and alcalosis can cause changes in PaO2 through their influence on mixed venous PO2. ⋯ Intravenous almitrine, a selective pulmonary vasoconstrictor, has been shown to increase PaO2 by increasing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. A synergistic effect was found between inhaled NO and almitrine. In spite of the improval of GE shown by these different techniques on ARDS, no effect was demonstrated on mortality or duration of mechanical ventilation.
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The purpose of the present study was: 1) to relate the Hoover sign -SH (+)- with several functional (spirometry and lung volumes) and radiographic (AP x-ray) parameters, 2) to characterize the changes in diaphragmatic curvature radius and the efficiency and to establish some relationships with the functional and radiographic parameters. Fifteen patients with COPD (SH (+), n: 8) were studied. The radius was determined in the right hemidiaphragm after maximal inspired and expired x-ray. ⋯ The FEV1 correlated with the diaphragmatic movement (r 0.71, p 0.003). The PaCO2 correlated with the TLC % (r 0.534, p 0.04), the RV% (r 0.62, p 0.014) and with the radiographic parameters of hyperinflation (r 0.546, p 0.035) and air trapping (r 0.528, p 0.043). The presence of Hoover sign suggest severe bronchial obstruction, diaphragmatic flattening, increase of curvature radius, decrease of mobility and efficiency.
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Handwashing is considered the most important and effective infection control measure to prevent transmission of nosocomial pathogens. However, compliance with handwashing by health care workers is low. A new modality for hand hygiene is alcohol gel rub, which reduces time required, does not damage the skin and increases health care workers compliance. ⋯ Two periods were compared, 12 months before and 12 months after starting alcohol gel use. The second period (AG use) showed a significant reduction on incidence rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae with extended spectrum betalactamase (RR: 0.38) overall infections and specially bacteremias (RR: 0.10). Nevertheless, on the basis of this study, we cannot conclude that the result was due to AG itself or to an increase in hand-hygiene compliance.