Prevalence Of Positive Cases Research Articles

Screening for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies among healthcare workers: A single-center study in Egypt

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global public health disaster, spreading throughout the world. In order to accurately determine the extent of the pandemic, it is important to accurately identify the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study intended to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs and examine its correlation with the demographic characteristics of the study participants prior to the implementation of the vaccination campaign. In this cross-sectional study included 431 HCWs from Suez Canal University Hospital in Ismailia, Egypt. Their sera were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a one-step novel coronavirus (COVID-19) IgM/IgG antibody test from Artron, Canada. Positive cases were then confirmed using nasal swab real-time reverse transcriptase PCR from Viasure, Spain. Of the 431 study participants, 254 (58.9%) were males and 177 (41.1%) females. The majority of participants, 262 (60.8%), were younger than 30 years old, 150 (34.8%) between 30 and 40 years old, and only 19 (4.4%) older than 40 years old. Out of the total samples, 26 (6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM, while 19 (4.4%) tested positive for both IgM and IgG. The majority of the samples, 386 (89.6%), tested negative for both IgG and IgM. There was no association between the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and either sex or age of study participants. In conclusion, during the study period, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers at Suez Canal University Hospital in Egypt was relatively low. Additionally, there was no significant correlation observed between the prevalence of positive cases and either age or sex.

Female Sexual Assualt: Prevalence of Positive Cases from a Tertiary Care Center of Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Objective: To assess the prevalence of recent/current positive cases in sexually assaulted female cases reported at a tertiary care center of the province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methodology: The study was designed as cross-sectional observational in nature and was conducted at District Headquarter Hospital, Swabi on a sample of 93 victims. The study span was from Jan 2021 to Dec 2021, while sample was enrolled using non-probability convenience sampling. After following ethical consideration, a pre-designed performa was used to collect the data which included demographic and sexual assault related queries. SPSS v.25.0 was used as tool to analyze and interpret data; descriptive and advanced statistics were used where needed. Results: In a study sample of 93 patients, the mean age was recorded as 22.84+6.71 years with range of 4 to 41 years. In age group, age between 10-19 years was found to be most prone for assault 35 (37.63%), followed by 20-29 years 23 (25%). The study revealed that maximum of the victims were reported after 72 hours of the incident 52 (55.91%), followed by those reported in 48-72 hours 20 (21.51%). It was revealed that in 63 (67.74%) of the victims, assailant was known to her. Injuries to genital area showed that 80 (86.2%) of the victims had healed tear of hymen, followed by 8 (8.6%) having bruise over vagina. An overall positivity was recorded as 21 (22.59%) for sexual assault in serological assessment. Conclusion: The results of the study conclude that about ¼ of each case reported is positive as per semen analysis in female sexual cases. Most of the cases presented were in early adulthood, were reported after 72 hours of the assault and in most cases assailant was known to the victim. Keywords: Assault; Sexual Examination; Injuries; Semen analysis.

Sensitivity of RSUP Dr Sardjito's Covid Score to Positive PCR Swab Test Results as A Diagnostic Tool

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered disease that has spread throughout the world so that it isconsidered a pandemic. Effective initial screening in patients is important to determine the need for diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Until now, there have been no screening tools that have been designated as gold standards so that RSS was developed based on the manifestation of COVID-19 as an early scoring tool. Assess the sensitivity of RSS scoring to comfirmed PCR COVID events. A case control study was conducted on patients from March to April 2021 at RSUP dr. Sardjito. A total of 50 respondents were randomly screened using RSS tools and confirmed with PCR. Then the prevalence of positive cases is calculated based on RSS scoring with patients who are positive based on PCR of the 50 respondents examined, 45 people were declared confirmed with COVID-19. The number of patients with high probable criteria who confirmed COVID-19 was 37 people. The number of patients with moderate probable criteria who confirmed COVID-19 was 9 people. Based on the formula, the sensitivity of RSS to confirmed COVID-19 is 97.72%. Dr Sardjito's SOP r scoring sensitivity to confirmed COVID-19 was 97.72%. Thus, Dr Sardjito's SOP r scoring sensitivity to confirmed COVID-19 was 97.72%. Thus, Dr. Sardjito's Covid R SUP Scoring can be used as a tool to assess high risk confirmed COVID-19 patients in early screening.

Abstract 5415: Glypican-3 immunohistochemistry precision, validation, and prevalence in selected solid tumors to identify target populations for CAR T cell therapy

Abstract Background: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal tumor antigen that is an attractive target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy due to its highly restricted expression on normal tissue and high prevalence in several adult and pediatric solid tumors. Aberrant GPC3 expression is implicated in tumorigenesis, and GPC3+ cancers are characterized by a highly immunosuppressive landscape which induces exhaustion in tumor-resident T cells. We sought to assess the validity of a GPC3 antibody clone in immunohistochemistry (IHC) and then measure GPC3+ prevalence in selected solid tumors. Methods: We evaluated GPC3 transcripts in human normal and tumor tissue specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genome-Tissue Expression Project. GPC3 IHC was performed on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumor tissues: hepatocellular (HCC), squamous cell lung (SCC), colorectal (CRC), serous ovarian (OC), Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) and liposarcoma (LS) using antibody clone GC33 and scored using H-score (range 0-300), with appropriate positive and negative controls. Accuracy and precision of GPC3 antibody clone GC33 were tested in GPC3+ high prevalence tumor types compared to a validated anti-GPC3 clone (1G12). GPC3+ cutoff was set as H-score ≥ 30 (GC33) compared to >20 (1G12). The prevalence of GPC3 expression measured by IHC was also used to calculate the theoretical mRNA cutoff value from the TCGA data for GPC3+ indications represented in the database. Results: GPC3 mRNA was expressed at low levels predominantly in lung, adipose, tibial nerve, kidney and breast. GPC3 IHC of normal tissue showed predominantly faint, cytoplasmic staining in a few tissues including heart, kidney and stomach and no expression in lung or breast. HCC, SCC, LS, CRC, and OC showed high and varying levels of GPC3 mRNA expression in TCGA samples. The theoretical mRNA expression cutoff value based on IHC were HCC=1396 RSEM, SCC= 2675 RSEM, Sarcoma= 4126 RSEM; and OC 4486 RSEM; respectively. A cutoff for CRC could not be determined because the prevalence of GPC3 by IHC was <10%. GPC3 IHC using GC33 showed a higher prevalence of positive cases in myxoid/round cell LS (MRCLS) relative to other LS subtypes (15/45 vs. 8/75). HCC (n=110), SCC (n=73), MRCLS (n=45), and MCC (n=20) had a prevalence of 69%, 33%, 33%, and 70%; respectively. However, <10% of CRC (n=80) or OC (n=31) were GPC3+. GPC3 IHC assay using clone GC33 was fully validated for use as a lab-developed test by assessing accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision in SCC, HCC, MCC and LS specimens. Conclusions: GPC3 has a high prevalence in selected tumors with low level expression in some normal tissues, making it an attractive target for CAR T cell therapy. The GC33 clone performs similarly to 1G12 and could be used for IHC screening for CAR T cell therapy. MRCLS has higher prevalence of GPC3+ expression relative to other LS subtypes. Citation Format: Glen J. Weiss, Amy Jensen-Smith, Sujatha Muralidharan. Glypican-3 immunohistochemistry precision, validation, and prevalence in selected solid tumors to identify target populations for CAR T cell therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5415.

P242 Latent Tuberculosis: frequency of occurrence and effect on clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and morphological activity of the course Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract Background Early diagnosis of tuberculosis remains challenging due to the nonspecific clinical manifestations that can mimic other gastrointestinal diseases and range from acute to chronic abdominal disease. In recent decades, latent tuberculosis (LTI) has been of particular interest. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at risk of contracting tuberculosis. Aim to identify the incidence of LTI in patients with IBD and its effect on the clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and morphological activity of IBD. Methods The study included 350 patients with IBD, who were monitored and a group of patients (188 people (UC = 80, CD = 101, MC = 7) who did not respond / or poorly respond to basic IBD therapy were identified. In this group, the determination of the quantiferon test was carried out. To achieve this goal, two main hypotheses were considered: assessment of IBD-associated and systemic vascular lesions (h/s CRP, platelet count, homocysteine, vit D, urine albumin, fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin; α-TNF, IL-1,IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-18; endoscopic examination with pathomorphological assessment), assessment of changes in the thickness of the vascular intima and blood flow velocity (based on the doppler determination of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the thickness of the intima media (CIMT) on the common carotid, vertebral and subclavian arteries). Results The number of positive responses to the quantiferon test was found in 37 patients (19.7%) / 10.6%) out of 188 patients (53.7%); positive skin tests (Mantoux reaction) ≥5 mm in 78 (22.3%) patients; altered peritoneal lymph nodes in 28 (8%), pulmonary and pleural TB in 9 (2.57%) patients. There were no patients with intestinal TB / “+” TB PCR in the gastrointestinal tract tissue. The prevalence of positive cases according to the quantiferon test was: in the general group of patients - 10.6%. Laboratory indicators for both IBD and systemic vascular lesions were higher in the group of patients with latent tuberculosis (Table 1, Table 2). Damage to the vascular bed (based on doppler determination of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and intimal thickness (CIMT) on the common carotid, vertebral and subclavian arteries) was more pronounced in the group of patients with latent tuberculosis (CIMT (mm) 0.68 ± 0, 1 / 0.67 ± 0.2; PWV (sm / s) 93.3 ± 2.2 / 97.2 ± 1.4). Conclusion Conclusion. Comparing the results of the data before and after the treatment of latent TB in patients with IBD, certain dependences of the influence of infection on the course of IBD (h/s CRP, platelet levels, homocysteine, fecal calprotetin and lactoferrin, IL-8 and a decreased vit. D; changes, associated with damage to the vascular bed), endoscopic and morphological activity.

Evaluation of molecular testing for Mycoplasma genitalium for symptomatic women.

Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging cause of sexually transmitted infections (STI) with a capacity to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. The aim of this work was to carry out an evaluation and descriptive analysis of routine molecular testing of M. genitalium in symptomatic women at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin January 2018-December 2019. 1972 specimens were tested from1291 individual symptomatic female patients > 18years old. The median age was 29 (range 18-71). There were 10 confirmed positive specimens (0.77%); median patient age 26 (range 18-34); seven were obstetrics/gynaecology patients and three were attendees at a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU). The prevalence of positive cases in the ≥ 18 ≤ 30-year-old age group (n = 683) was six times that of the ≥ 30year-old age group (n = 608) at 1.3% versus 0.2%. Patient symptoms included: discharge in five (50%); pelvic pain on examination in five (50%); abdominal pain in two (20%); pelvic bleeding in two (20%); dyspareunia in two (20%) patients. Co-infections were present in three patients (30%). Macrolide resistance was detected in two positives (28.6%). This initial pilot study prompts the following recommendations which require further study and consideration: 1. promotion of M. genitalium status to notifiable disease; 2 widespread screening of female population not warranted; 3. M. genitalium testing for women symptomatic for STIs; 4. antibiotic resistance testing of all positive cases. 5. Further research into other potential risk groups.

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis scintigraphy, experience in a reference cardiology center

Funding AcknowledgementsType of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio ChavezIntroductionTransthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is a progressive disease that significantly reduces patients" quality of life and survival.1 In our country there are no statistics of this disease, only isolated cases. The ability to diagnose it has dramatically improved since the 2019 Multisociety Consensus for Multimodality Imaging.2,3 The study aimed to know patients" demographic and imaging characteristics in suspected ATTR-CA and the prevalence of positive cases in a reference Cardiology Center using 99mTc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy (99mTc-PYP).MethodsProspective, observational study approved by Institutional committees. We studied with 99mTc-PYP patients from November 2019 to December 2020 sent to the Nuclear Cardiology Department with clinical suspicion of ATTR-CA and negative light chain quantification. We included parameters as red flags, ECHO suggestive findings (septal thickness >12 mm, diastolic dysfunction), and MRI suggestive findings. ATTR-CA was diagnosed by clinical suspicious, positive scintigraphy, and negative serum studies. 99mTc-PYP were acquired according to current recommendations. Frequency distribution of categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages; continuous variables are presented in mean. Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted for continuous variables, while Fisher"s exact test was performed for categorical variables.ResultsDue to the Covid-19 pandemic, our Cardiology Hospital reconverted to covid attention; we studied a reduced number, and they were mainly inpatients: total 35 (28-inpatients, 7-outpatients). 21 (60%) were male, 14 (40%) were female, average age was 56.5 yo. 31%-heart failure diagnosis, 6%-history of carpal tunnel syndrome and 3%-spinal stenosis. ECHO: 26% had suggestive imaging, 43% with diastolic dysfunction, and 37% had a septal thickness >12mm. MRI: 42.9% had suggestive CA findings. No significant differences were found in the characteristics of suspicion between positive and negative patients. Regarding of the 35 patients scintigraphy, 7 (20%) were positives, establishing ATTR-CA diagnosis, 28 (80%) were negatives. The positivity probability was significant by H/Cl ratio, Perugini score, and SPECT findings (p 0.001). Until this protocol started and we share it among hospital physicians, we had never been asked to acquired this type of scintigraphy. Our study shows that if we purposely search for the disease, it can be found. The sample is small due to the limitations we had in the face of the pandemic; however, the study findings are significant for ATTR-CA diagnosis. It is striking that the ECHO and MRI suggestive findings were not statistically significant for the diagnosis. ConclusionsWe present the initial experience of the first study of cardiac amyloidosis in our country, to show the disease"s presence and that the diagnosis can be made effectively, quickly, economically, and non-invasively by nuclear medicine scintigraphy. Figure. 99mTc-PYP scan positive to ATTR-CA Figure. Patients characteristics

Risk factors of Atopic dermatitis in 1- to 4-Years Old Children in Al-Bayda city, Libya

may be an important factor in children with atopic eczema under 4 years. Our objective was to assess the extent and characteristics of confirmed and unconfirmed diagnoses of AD in 112 children who were diagnosed by Pediatric Allergy Clinic at El-Beyda’s hospital with a high possibility of having AD at some point in their lifetimes. Sera from the patients were analyzed for specific IgE antibodies to 20 allergens. About 95% of children with AD have IgE-mediated clinical reactivity. The prevalence of positive cases with food allergens ranged from 19-20%, and environmental factors ranged from 11-14% for boys and girls respectively. Positive cases of environmental factors in this population were recorded against some species of plants. As a result, a combined sensitization to food and environmental allergens not only has an additive increase in serum IgE antibody production, but also increases the risk of developing allergic diseases such as asthma during childhood. An evaluation for AD should be considered to these children.

Estudio de contactos de casos pediátricos de tos ferina en un hospital de tercer nivel de Barcelona

Background and objectivesPertussis remains an important cause of morbimortality despite current vaccination strategies. This study was designed to describe the results and characteristics of close contacts of pertussis cases diagnosed in children less than 16 years in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Patients and methodsCross-sectional study. Data were collected from chart review of contacts of paediatric cases of pertussis in Vall d’Hebron University Hospital from 2005 to 2009. Only patients with microbiological study done were included. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated as association measure. ResultsNinety-one index cases and 404 contacts were studied. The prevalence of positive cases among contacts was 33.2%. Contacts of index cases younger than 6 months had a higher risk of being positive for pertussis than contacts of older children (OR: 3.38; 95% CI: 1.88-6.10). Primary cases were identified as 16.7% of the contacts studied, who were the source of infection for 67.7% of index cases younger than 6 months and for 26.9% of older index cases. ConclusionsContact tracing of paediatric pertussis cases is a necessary clinical activity. It is more likely to find primary cases in the contact investigation of children less than 6 months. Preventive strategies should be targeted primarily to frequent contacts of this age group.

Ecological study and risk mapping of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area of Iran based on a geographical information systems approach

Between 1998 and 2001, a total of 1,062 human cases of visceral leishmaniasis were reported from the rural district of Meshkin-Shahr in the mountainous, north-western Iranian province of Ardabil. In the summer of 2008, a cross-sectional study of dogs was conducted in this endemic area by randomly selecting 384 animals from 21 villages and testing them serologically for leishmaniasis. Villages, in which more than 10% of investigated dogs showed anti- Leishmania titres ≥ 1/320, were considered to be high-risk environments. Regression analysis showed no statistically significant correlation between topographic conditions and the prevalence of positive cases. However, when the results were compared with past meteorological records, a statistically significant positive correlation (P = 0.007) was found between the number of infected dogs with anti-Leishmania titres ≥ 1/640 and the number of days in a year with temperatures below 0 °C. While humidity showed an inverse correlation (P = 0.009) with the anti-Leishmania titres, a positive correlation (P <0.001) was found in relation to the amount of rainfall. Mapping of the areas at risk for kala-azar in the Meshkin-Shahr district supports the impression that the low temperatures prevalent in the Ardebil province constitute an important factor influencing the distribution of leishmaniasis there.

Alteration in the expression of cdk4 and cdk6 proteins in oral cancer and premalignant lesions

Cdk4 and cdk6, key players in G1 phase, have been shown to play an important role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study investigated the expression of these two proteins in OSCC and premalignant lesions including oral leukoplakia (OL) with and without dysplasia and determined if alterations in the expression of these two proteins could be used as markers of malignant transformation. Expressions of cdk4 and cdk6 were evaluated in 61 samples including OSCC, OL with and without dysplasia and normal oral mucosa using immunohistochemistry method. Nuclear staining of the keratinocytes was considered positive and the percentage of positive cells was calculated. Expression of cdk4 was found in 11/15 (73.33%) OSCC, 13/14 (92.85%) OL with dysplasia, 13/20 (65%) OL without dysplasia and 3/12 (25%) normal mucosa. Expression of cdk6 was detected in 9/15 (60%) OSCC, 3/14 (21.43%) OL with dysplasia, 5/20 (25%) OL without dysplasia and 1/12 (8.33%) normal mucosa. In cdk4 stained specimens, the frequency of positive cases and the percentage of positive cells in normal mucosa was significantly lower than OL with dysplasia and OSCC. For cdk6 staining, the prevalence of positive cases and the percentage of positive cells in normal mucosa were significantly lower than OSCC. Overexpressions of cdk4 and cdk6 were observed in OSCC, indicating that these two proteins play a crucial role in OSCC. The aberrant expression of cdk4 was found in OL with dysplasia, suggesting that cdk4 may be involved in the early event of carcinogenesis.

Cognitive impairment in old people living in the community

Cognitive impairment has a high prevalence in the elderly, especially in the oldest old, and it is a major concern for autonomous old people living in the community and their families. Any possible intervention will benefit from early detection of cognitive decline related signs. The Portuguese version of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive impairment in a sample of 1266 old community-dwellers in Portugal, mean age 70.3 ± 8.7 years. A standard questionnaire was also used including measures on social network, psychological distress, functionality, perceived health status, and socio-demographic variables. We recorded education levels and illiteracy by using different cut points to select people with and without cognitive impairment and results showed a 9.6% prevalence of positive cases. In general, cognitive impairment is higher in women, older people, widows(ers), and people with negative self-perception of health and with difficulties in basic and in instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL). Cognitive impairment was found to be predicted by gender, age and psychological distress, explaining 18% of variance. Findings are discussed considering available literature and possible interventions for community residents.

Sobrediagnóstico de amebiasis en niños con disentería

There are morphologically identical amebaes, but with differences that can distinguish them; one as pathogenic: Entamoeba histolytica, and the other: Entamoeba dispar, as inoffensive. That brought the new hypothesis that many of the cases treated as amebiasis, weren't so. To identify E. hystolitica in patients with dysentery, supposed to be caused by amebae. Transversal and observational study performed between March 2005 and November 2007 in the city of Santa Fe, Argentina. Stools from children aged 2 months to 15 years-old with dysentery and direct exams with E. hystolitica/ dispar, were studied with ELISA to detect the adhesin of E. histolytica (adhesin Eh). Permanent stains for amebae were done as well as stool cultures. Clinical data were charted. 75 children were studied; 35 were male and 40, female, with a median age of 3 years-old. All of them presented diarrhea with leucocyte, 73% macroscopic blood on stool and 27% detectable on the microscope. Elisa Eh was positive in 21; 3 cases had hematophagous trophozoites. In 15 stool cultures were found: S. flexneri S2 type in 5 cases. Other parasites: 6 (Blastocystis homini 5). In 54 adhesin Eh was negative, 19% of the coulouring detected E. dispar. From 44 stool cultures: S. flexneri S2 type was detected in 13, Shigella sp in 1, C jejuni 5, other: 3. Other parasites: 12 (Blastocystis homini 9). In this group of children with "amebic dysentery", half of them developed invasive bacteriae and only 28% had E. histolytica on stools; that means that the prevalence of positive cases in the population could be 18% to 38% [CI 95% (0.179; 0.381)].

Modeling Length of Stay as an Optimized Two-class Prediction Problem

To develop a predictive model for the outcome length of stay at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU LOS), including the choice of an optimal dichotomization threshold for this outcome. Reduction of prediction problems of this type of outcome to a two-class problem is a common strategy to identify high-risk patients. Threshold selection and model development are performed simultaneously. From the range of possible threshold values, the value is chosen for which the corresponding predictive model has maximal precision based on the data. To compare the precision of models for different dichotomizations of the outcome, the MALOR performance statistic is introduced. This statistic is insensitive to the prevalence of positive cases in a two-class prediction problem. The procedure is applied to data from cardiac surgery patients to dichotomize the outcome ICU LOS. The class probability tree method is used to develop predictive models. Within our data, the best model precision is found at the threshold of seven days. The presented method extends existing procedures for predictive modeling with optimization of the outcome definition for predictive purposes. The method can be applied to all prediction problems where the outcome variable needs to be dichotomized, and is insensitive to changes in the prevalence of positive cases with different dichotomization thresholds.

Detection ofPneumocystisspp. in lung samples from pigs in Brazil

The genus Pneumocystis is composed of opportunistic fungi currently considered as specific pulmonary pathogens in humans and other mammals. In pigs, Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) could create significant economical losses due to its detrimental effects on growth, food conversion, and carcass/viscera condemnation. This study revealed that Pneumocystis organisms could be detected by Grocott's staining or immunohistochemistry in 36.9% of 564 slaughtered pigs from two geographic regions of Brazil. The prevalence of positive cases was 39.9% and 33.9% in pigs slaughtered in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Mato Grosso (MT) states, respectively. Among the positive cases in RS, Pneumocystis organisms were observed in 41.9% of 33 histologically normal lungs, and in 58.0% of lungs presenting with histological lesions. In contrast, the prevalence in MT in normal and abnormal lungs was 36.3% and 63.5%, respectively. Major histopathological findings in lungs of infected animals were bronchointerstitial pneumonia (47.6%), suggestive of enzootic pneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia (37.9%), compatible with PcP. The results of this survey strengthened the interest of detecting fungal pathogens, in addition to other infectious agents, and evaluating their financial impact on Brazilian pig industry. Preventive and/or therapeutic strategies should be developed in order to minimize the incidence of respiratory fungal infections in pigs and associated economic losses.

Alzheimer neuropathology in non-Down's syndrome mentally retarded adults

We examined the brains of 385 mentally retarded adults aged 23-90 years without Down's syndrome (DS), metabolic disorder, or hydrocephalus to extend our knowledge about the occurrence of Alzheimer-type neuropathology in this population. Relevant measures of neuropathology also were related to selected information available from clinical records. The presence of one or more neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and/or neuritic plaques (NP) was observed in 63.4% of all cases and varied with age. The prevalence of positive cases was higher when mental retardation was due to head trauma, congenital malformation, or familial factors and when a history of seizures was reported. Comprehensive morphometric analyses of neocortical, hippocampal and parahippocampal areas indicated that recommended age-specific quantitative criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease [Khachaturian ZS (1985) Arch Neurol 42:1097-1105] were met in 9.5% of cases less than 50 years of age, 54.2% between 50 and 65, 70% between 66 and 75, and 87% of the cases greater than 75 years of age. However, a limited immunohistochemical study revealed that in most cases the NP did not have a neuritic component containing paired helical filaments and in this respect most of the plaques observed in this population may differ from those most strongly associated with Alzheimer disease. In addition, substantial numbers of NFT were seen in frontal cortex, contrasting with results reported in the literature for nonretarded populations. The number of NP per mm2 consistently increased with age for all areas examined, while the relationship between NFT density and age varied across areas, and was clearly not monotonic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical experience in detecting endotoxemia with the limulus test in typhoid fever and other Salmonella infections.

Semiquantitative estimates of circulating endotoxin were performed by the limulus test in patients suffering from typhoid fever and other salmonelloses. The test was positive in a large number of cases. However, no clearcut correlation was found between existence of endotoxemia, as such, and pyrexia. A correlation with recent bacteremia was found for highest levels of endotoxin activity. In minor salmonelloses a striking prevalence of positive cases was observed in the age group under one year. These findings were discussed in relation to the diagnostic and pathogenetic facets of the problem.