Inexperienced sonographers can successfully visualize and assess a three-dimensional image of the fetal face using a standardized ultrasound protocol

Introduction: A standardized three-dimensional ultrasonographic (3DUS) protocol is described that allows fetal face reconstruction. Ability to identify cleft lip with 3DUS using this protocol was assessed by operators with minimal 3DUS experience. Material and Methods: 260 stored volumes of fetal face were analyzed using a standardized protocol by operators with different levels of competence in 3DUS. The outcomes studied were: (1) the performance of post-processing 3D face volumes for the detection of facial clefts; (2) the ability of a resident with minimal 3DUS experience to reconstruct the acquired facial volumes, and (3) the time needed to reconstruct each plane to allow proper diagnosis of a cleft. Results: The three orthogonal planes of the fetal face (axial, sagittal and coronal) were adequately reconstructed with similar performance when acquired by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or by residents with minimal experience (72 vs. 76%, p = 0.629). The learning curve for manipulation of 3DUS volumes of the fetal face corresponds to 30 cases and is independent of the operator's level of experience. Discussion: The learning curve for the standardized protocol we describe is short, even for inexperienced sonographers. This technique might decrease the length of anatomy ultrasounds and improve the ability to visualize fetal face anomalies.

Valoració de la introducció d’un protocol diagnòstic-terapèutic de la pancreatitis aguda fent especial èmfasi en els marcadors precoços de gravetat

Del 10 al 20% de les pancreatitis agudes(PA) són greus. L’objetiu del treball és la valoració dels marcadors precoços de gravetat. Es presenta un estudi prospectiu de 130 pacients amb PA analitzant les classificacions de Ranson, Apache II, Índex de Severitat del TAC(IST), hematòcrit i PCR en les primeres 24h comparant-los amb els criteris d’Atlanta. La proporció de necrosi, d’ingrés a UCI i de mortalitat obtingudes en la sèrie estudiada en el nostre entorn són similars als de la literatura. Segons els nostres resultats l’hematòcrit en les primeres 24hores és predictor de mortalitat i l’Apache II d’ingrés a UCI.

The trypanosomatid evolution workshop London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The trypanosome evolution workshop, a joint meeting of the University of Exeter and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, focused on topics relating to trypanosomatid and vector evolution. The meeting, sponsored by The Wellcome Trust, The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease of World Health Organization and the British Section of the Society of Protozoologists, brought together an international group of experts who presented papers on a wide range of topics including parasite and vector phylogenies, molecular methodology and relevant biogeographical data.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: a new century of malaria research

The global malaria situation has scarcely improved in the last 100 years, despite major advances in our knowledge of the basic biology, epidemiology and clinical basis of the disease. Effective malaria control, leading to a significant decrease in the morbidity and mortality attributable to malaria, will require a multidisciplinary approach. New tools - drugs, vaccine and insecticides - are needed but there is also much to be gained by better use of existing tools: using drugs in combination in order to slow the development of drug resistance; targeting resources to areas of greatest need; using geographic information systems to map the populations at risk and more sophisticated marketing techniques to distribute bed nets and insecticides. Sustainable malaria control may require the deployment of a highly effective vaccine, but there is much that can be done in the meantime to reduce the burden of disease.

Heterogeneity of human monocytes: an optimized four-color flow cytometry protocol for analysis of monocyte subsets.

Monocytes are central mediators in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. They circulate in blood and eventually migrate into tissue including the vessel wall where they give rise to macrophages and dendritic cells. The existence of monocyte subsets with distinct roles in homeostasis and inflammation suggests specialization of function. These subsets are identified based on expression of the CD14 and CD16 markers. Routinely applicable protocols remain elusive, however. Here, we present an optimized four-color flow cytometry protocol for analysis of human blood monocyte subsets using a specific PE-Cy5-conjugated monoclonal antibody (mAb) to HLA-DR, a PE-Cy7-conjugated mAb to CD14, a FITC-conjugated mAb to CD16, and PE-conjugated mAbs to additional markers relevant to monocyte function. Classical CD14(+)CD16(-) monocytes (here termed "Mo1" subset) expressed high CCR2, CD36, CD64, and CD62L, but low CX(3)CR1, whereas "nonclassical" CD14(lo)CD16(+) monocytes (Mo3) essentially showed the inverse expression pattern. CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes (Mo2) expressed high HLA-DR, CD36, and CD64. In patients with stable coronary artery disease (n = 13), classical monocytes were decreased, whereas "nonclassical" monocytes were increased 90% compared with healthy subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries (n = 14). Classical monocytes from CAD patients expressed higher CX(3)CR1 and CCR2 than controls. Thus, stable CAD is associated with expansion of the nonclassical monocyte subset and increased expression of inflammatory markers on monocytes. Flow cytometric analysis of monocyte subsets and marker expression may provide valuable information on vascular inflammation. This may translate into the identification of monocyte subsets as selective therapeutic targets, thus avoiding adverse events associated with indiscriminate monocyte inhibition.

Pneumònia postoperatòria: elaboració d’un protocol terapèutic guiat per la bacteriologia local en una unitat de crítics quirúrgics

Introducció: Aquest treball descriu les característiques de la pneumònia postoperatòria (POP) en una unitat de crítics quirúrgics (UCQ). Material i mètodes: Estudi retrospectiu de pacients amb sospita clínica de POP. Descriu entre altres: característiques dels pacients i de la pneumònia i antibioteràpia prescrita. Resultats: La POP resultà més freqüent en homes, després de cirurgia abdominal. La majoria de les POP van ser precoces, causades per BGN aerobis. Hi hagué un baix percentatge d’aïllaments de gèrmens multirresistents (MR). Conclusió: El tractament empíric de la POP d’inici precoç ha de cobrir els BGN aerobis. No és necessari cobrir els gèrmens MR.

Review of the Methadone Treatment Protocol

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Disseny d'un protocol objectiu de valoració clínica amb pacients amb Trastorn per Afartament (TA)

En aquest treball es pretén dissenyar un protocol de valoració clínica objectiu del Trastorn per Afartament (TA). Per dur-lo a terme, hem començat per delimitar els símptomes dels Trastorns de la Conducta Alimentària (TCA). Seguidament hem revisat la literatura i les investigacions sobre el trastorn. Per poder explicar les característiques més importants, les hem dividit en tres apartats, nosologia, prevalença i factors de risc. Arrel dels factors psicològics i psicopatològics, més transcendents en la gènesis clínica i l’evolució dels Trastorns de la Conducta Alimentària (TCA) hem valorat quins instruments, són més útils per valorar aquesta patologia, detectant els factors psicològics més rellevants en la definició i l’evolució vital del trastorn. Finalment els hem descrit i comparat amb els altres instruments més utilitzats per valorar la patologia alimentària.

Impact of a pain protocol including hypnosis in major burns.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a major issue after burns even when large doses of opioids are prescribed. The study focused on the impact of a pain protocol using hypnosis on pain intensity, anxiety, clinical course, and costs. METHODS: All patients admitted to the ICU, aged >18 years, with an ICU stay >24h, accepting to try hypnosis, and treated according to standardized pain protocol were included. Pain was scaled on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (mean of daily multiple recordings), and basal and procedural opioid doses were recorded. Clinical outcome and economical data were retrieved from hospital charts and information system, respectively. Treated patients were matched with controls for sex, age, and the burned surface area. FINDINGS: Forty patients were admitted from 2006 to 2007: 17 met exclusion criteria, leaving 23 patients, who were matched with 23 historical controls. Altogether patients were 36+/-14 years old and burned 27+/-15%BSA. The first hypnosis session was performed after a median of 9 days. The protocol resulted in the early delivery of higher opioid doses/24h (p<0.0001) followed by a later reduction with lower pain scores (p<0.0001), less procedural related anxiety, less procedures under anaesthesia, reduced total grafting requirements (p=0.014), and lower hospital costs per patient. CONCLUSION: A pain protocol including hypnosis reduced pain intensity, improved opioid efficiency, reduced anxiety, improved wound outcome while reducing costs. The protocol guided use of opioids improved patient care without side effects, while hypnosis had significant psychological benefits.

Don't put patients at risk: make hand hygiene your priority

This poster is part of an extension of the cleanyourhands campaign, aimed at preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in community healthcare settings including primary care and dental services, residential and nursing homes (including independent sector homes), hospices and independent clinics/hospitals. It is designed to heighten awareness among staff in clinical/treatment areas of their power to help protect patients from avoidable infections by cleaning their hands. Due to licensing restrictions, this poster is not available for download. Limited numbers are available from local HSC Trusts (Belfast HSCT and South Eastern HSCT on 028 9056 5862; Southern HSCT on 028 3741 2887; Northern HSCT on 028 2563 5575; Western HSCT on 028 7186 5127).

Hand hygiene: a guide for all healthcare staff

This leaflet is part of an extension of the cleanyourhands campaign, aimed at preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in community healthcare settings including primary care and dental services, residential and nursing homes (including independent sector homes), hospices and independent clinics/hospitals. It is designed to remind staff of their power to help protect patients from avoidable infections by cleaning their hands using proper techniques. Due to licensing restrictions, this leaflet is not available for download. Limited numbers are available from local HSC Trusts (Belfast HSCT and South Eastern HSCT on 028 9056 5862; Southern HSCT on 028 3741 2887; Northern HSCT on 028 2563 5575; Western HSCT on 028 7186 5127).

Clean your hands: hand hygiene in the community - guidance

This leaflet is part of an extension of the cleanyourhands campaign, aimed at preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in community healthcare settings including primary care and dental services, residential and nursing homes (including independent sector homes), hospices and independent clinics/hospitals. It describes the campaign and outlines the campaign resources. Due to licensing restrictions, this folder is not available for download. Limited numbers are available from local HSC Trusts (Belfast HSCT and South Eastern HSCT on 028 9056 5862; Southern HSCT on 028 3741 2887; Northern HSCT on 028 2563 5575; Western HSCT on 028 7186 5127).

Fridge hygiene

This report contains some rules for making sure your fridge is a safe place to keep food.

Protocol d'inicialització de sessió SIP

Aquest projecte té com a finalitat estudiar el protocol SIP i desenvolupar una aplicació que l'implementi.