Hospital utilization and increasing old age in the user of care?]

Data are presented on hospital stay for the population 65 years-old and over, measured in percentage over the total for Spain, for the 1978 to 1988 period, by gender, for each province and autonomous region (Comunidad Autónoma). The country's total for the last available year was 35%. Except in Baleares and Murcia, the proportion of hospital stays increased in all Regions, especially in Navarra, where it increased from 23% to 51%. After adjusting for age, the increase in the proportion of hospital stays in the study population was due to an increase in utilization per person. The proportion, which was 13.3% in 1978, raised to 23.8% in 1988, with an adjusted value of 21.3%.     

Disseminated Candida infection syndrome in heroin addicts--dominance of a single Candida albicans biotype

Among 21 intravenous heroin abusers with cutaneous and ocular manifestations of disseminated Candida infection, a single C. albicans strain type (serotype A, biotype 153/7) was isolated from skin lesions in 14 cases. This suggests that central contamination of the heroin with C. albicans is less likely to be the source of infection than an endogenous source, and that one particular strain type is either better adapted than others to grow in the lemon juice used as a heroin solvent, or more likely than others to cause the specific pathology seen in these patients.     

Partial trisomy 20 (20q13) and partial trisomy 21 (21pter leads to 21q21.3).

A patient with a double partial trisomy 20 and 21 with mild mental retardation and multiple congenital anomalies is presented. Despite trisomy for a substantial portion of chromosome 21, the patient showed only minor stigmata compatible with Down syndrome.     

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Between 1990-1999, six patients (mean age, 41.5 years) with the diagnosis of descending necrotizing mediastinitis were surgically treated at our institution. All patients underwent cervical drainage plus an aggressive mediastinal debridement and drainage via posterolateral thoracotomy. The outcome was favorable in all cases. All patients received initially a high dose of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In four patients, a tracheostomy was necessary for respiratory management. We also review the literature.     

Mortality risk factors for listeriosis – A 10 year review of non-pregnancy associated cases in England 2006–2015

Listeriosis

is a foodborne illness that can result in septicaemia, Central Nervous System (CNS) disease, foetal loss and death in high risk patients.

Monoclonal antibody against free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with free native human chorionic gonadotropin hormone beta-subunit (beta hCG) were fused with mouse myeloma cells (P3/X63-Ag8) and one hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), was obtained. This hybridoma specifically recognizes beta hCG and does not cross-react with other human glycoprotein hormones, such as luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The MAb was of the IgG(1) subclass and ascitic fluid from this hybridoma was purified by affinity chromatography on Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B column to isolate the IgG(1) active fraction. The affinity constant of this MAb was 1.5 x 10(10)M(-1).