Results of serological reactions in patients with presumptive diagnosis of toxoplasmosis]

Even though Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous parasite that can effect most of human structures and organs, not all clinical manifestations suggestive of being produced by it are caused by this protozoon. For these reasons sera samples of patients suspected of having toxoplasmosis are sent to the laboratory for detecting specific antibodies which would facilitate the differential diagnosis. Thus, 716 sera from suspected patients, mainly from the Metropolitan Region of Chile, were sent to the Parasitology Laboratory of Chile University in order to carry out in them, specific serological tests for toxoplasmosis: indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT), Sabin Feldman reaction (SFT) and complement fixation test (CFT). Were considered positive: IHAT and/or SFT with titers > or = 1:16 and CFT with titer > or = 1:5. The pathologies for demanding these serological tests were obstetrical problems 210 (29.3%), congenital problems 193 (27.0%), ophthalmopathies 81 (11.3%), adenopathies 77 (10.8%), AIDS 67 (9.4%), myocardiopathies 46 (6.4%) and miscellaneous 42 (5.9%). The positivity found in these sera was higher in ophthalmopathies (61.7%), followed by obstetrical problems, miscellaneous problems, myocardiopathies and AIDS (50.7-52.4%), less frequent was the positivity in adenopathies (35.1%) and congenital problems (23.1%). In general, the 43.7% of positivity for toxoplasmosis found in these patients is higher than the 37.0% found in the general population. High titers of IHAT and SFT plus positive CFT was found in 13-fold higher proportion than in the general population.     

Hepatitis B virus infection in medical and health care personnel.

Analysis of 51 cases of hepatitis B virus infection in health care workers admitted as patients to the liver unit over seven years showed three healthy carriers of hepatitis B virus, seven cases of fulminant hepatic persistent hepatitis, 17 cases of chronic active hepatitis (of whom 11 had cirrhosis), and five cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. To date 11 of these patients have died. Only 15 of the 51 patients had a history of direct occupational exposure and only three patients could recall specific inoculation injuries. In contrast, the source of infection was apparent in 32 of 50 consecutive cases of fulminant hepatic failure or acute hepatitis B in nonmedical staff. Since specific inoculation injuries are not the usual mode of infection ion medical staff and since only a few of the patients who are hepatitis B virus carriers will be detected by selective screening of "high-risk" patients, the overall risk of infection can be reduced only by stricter precautions in the handling of any patient''s blood and by the use of hepatitis B virus vaccines for medical staff at high risk.     

Desktop analysers: quality of results obtained by medical office personnel.

We carried out a study to evaluate the quality of results obtained by 14 nontechnical medical office personnel using desktop analysers. The instruments evaluated were the Reflotron analyser, the Seralyzer, the Vision analyser and the DT60 analyser. For precision studies low and high concentrations of control materials were used. For correlation studies the results obtained by the office personnel were compared with those obtained by a trained technologist. The coefficient of variation for the office personnel ranged from 3.0% to 8.1% with the Reflotron analyser, from 6.3% to 26.5% with the Seralyzer, from 1.0% to 4.1% with the Vision analyser and from 1.4% to 16.7% with the DT60 analyser. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.970 to 0.997 with the Reflotron analyser, from 0.779 to 0.997 with the Seralyzer, from 0.975 to 0.998 with the Vision analyser and from 0.963 to 0.995 with the DT60 analyser. The proportion of results obtained by the office personnel that differed by more than 10% from those obtained by the technologist was 7% with the Reflotron analyser, 42% with the Seralyzer, 2% with the Vision analyser and 21% with the DT60 analyser. The instruments whose operation involves the least number of steps gave the most reliable results in the hands of medical office personnel.     

Vaccination of medical personnel against hepatitis B: epidemiological and socio-economic aspects

Epidemiological and social aspects of the vaccinal prophylaxis of medical personnel against hepatitis B are discussed on the basis of the morbidity analysis in viral hepatitis, the results of dynamic screening for the presence of hepatitis B markers and the state of postvaccination immunity. The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccine "Euvax B", as well as the socio-economic effect of vaccinal prophylaxis, are evaluated.     

河南省76 698例体检人群心肺功能检查结果与分析*

目的: 肺功能和心电图检查是心肺运动试验（CPET）人体心肺代谢整体功能评估不可或缺的组成部分,本研究对肺通气功能、换气功能和小气道功能异常及其临床相关特征进行分析。方法: 采用横断面研究方法对2016年1月至2019年l2月在河南省人民医院就诊76 698例体检人员行常规心电图、肺通气和换气功能检查,比较不同性别、年龄组心肺功能异常检出率,进一步分析心肺功能异常严重程度的特点。结果: ①在76 698例常规心电图异常检出率为71.04%。②肺通气功能异常检出率36.86％,其中男性44.78％（17 570/39 237）,女性28.57％（10 703/ 37 461）,男性显著高于女性（P<0.01）,且各年龄段男性检出率均高于女性（P均<0.01）。③小气道功能异常检出率为56.26％,男性57.73%（22 661/39 237）,女性54.72％（20 499/37 461）,不同性别比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）,其中30~39岁组,40-49岁组女性检出率高于男性（P均<0.05）,20~29岁组,50~59岁组,60~69岁组,≥70岁组均男性高于女性（P<0.05）。④换气功能异常检出率为28.54％,其中男性30.55％（7 433/24 327）,女性26.50％（5 507/20 780）,二者差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;30~39岁组（P<0.05）、20~29岁组和40~49岁组（P均>0.05）,检出率女性高于男性,50~59岁组,60~69岁组,≥70岁组,男性检出率均高于女性（P均<0.05）。结论: 河南体检人群心功能、肺通气功能、换气功能及小气道功能异常的检出率较高,男性明显大于女性,年龄≥70岁者高于其他年龄段。