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Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection that represents a public health problem in developing countries including Asia and Latin America where it is endemic (1000–5000 cases/100,000 habitants/year). The majority of patients have an asymptomatic course; however, 10% of patients develop complications with high morbidity and mortality, such as colonic perforation or fulminant amoebic colitis. We report a case in which a 73-year-old female presented with an acute abdomen that was initially attributed to a bowel obstruction that rapidly progressed to fulminant colitis with bowel perforation requiring total colectomy. Pre-surgical endoscopic histopathological examination revealed findings suggestive of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites that were later confirmed in the colon post-surgical specimen leading to a diagnosis of fulminant amoebic colitis. This atypical presentation of amoebiasis, further expands the already broad differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pathology in the elderly population. A high index of suspicion is required for its prompt treatment and to prevent life-threatening complications.

Presentamos un resumen de la investigación que estamos llevando a cabo a través del proyecto internacional “They:Live - Student lives revealed through context-based art practices” en el marco del programa de ayudas de Europa Creativa y en el que participan seis países europeos. El objetivo fue recopilar fotografías de la vida de los estudiantes en diversos campus universitarios desde la II Guerra Mundial hasta la actualidad. De entre todo el corpus recopilado hicimos una selección a partir de las cuales realizamos entrevistas a sus protagonistas para que nos relatasen la intrahistoria de las fotos seleccionadas (relato oral). Todas estas fotos y entrevistas se documentaron en el repositorio de acceso abierto en línea Topoteka. A continuación, lanzamos una convocatoria competitiva para organizar unas Residencias Artísticas (AiR, Artist in Residence) en la que en cada país participante eligió un par creativo de artista y comisario que tuvo que proponer un proyecto artístico contextual que tuviese en cuenta estas fotos y entrevistas —y que se está llevando a cabo en los campus universitarios participantes (febrero-mayo de 2002). Previamente, estos pares creativos realizaron una estancia formativa en el Institut für Kunst im Kontex, Universität der Künste Berlin para recibir formación en arte contextual. A continuación, se realizarán exposiciones itinerantes (mediados de 2022). Se trata, pues, de un método interdisciplinar con aplicación de prácticas artísticas contextuales. Todo ello con el objetivo de subrayar cómo la vida de los estudiantes y sus actividades representan un reservorio vivo de ideas y relaciones innovadoras, una fuente a través de la cual se puede seguir un desarrollo evolutivo del patrimonio intelectual y puede establecerse una visión completamente nueva de la cultura europea y su desarrollo futuro. Los resultados de nuestro proyecto servirán como directrices para gerentes de instituciones culturales y galerías de arte, comisarios y artistas para la mejora de enfoques innovadores para el desarrollo de audiencias jóvenes. Todo ello cristalizará en un libro editado en inglés en formato Open Access (OA) que publicará la editorial académica británica Intellect.

Background: Clinical care in modern intensive care units (ICUs) combines multidisciplinary expertise and a complex array of technologies. These technologies have clearly advanced the ability of clinicians to do more for patients, yet so much equipment also presents the possibility for cognitive overload. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate clinicians' experiences with and perceptions of technology in ICUs. Methodology/Approach: We analyzed qualitative data from 30 interviews with ICU clinicians and frontline managers within four ICUs. Results: Our interviews identified three main challenges associated with technology in the ICU: (a) too many technologies and too much data; (b) inconsistent and inaccurate technologies; and (c) not enough integration among technologies, alignment with clinical workflows, and support for clinician identities. To address these challenges, interviewees highlighted mitigation strategies to address both social and technical systems and to achieve joint optimization. Conclusion: When new technologies are added to the ICU, they have potential both to improve and to disrupt patient care. To successfully implement technologies in the ICU, clinicians' perspectives are crucial. Understanding clinicians' perspectives can help limit the disruptive effects of new technologies, so clinicians can focus their time and attention on providing care to patients. Practice Implications: As technology and data continue to play an increasingly important role in ICU care, everyone involved in the design, development, approval, implementation, and use of technology should work together to apply a sociotechnical systems approach to reduce possible negative effects on clinical care for critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is growing interest in home haemodialysis (HHD) performed with low-flow dialysate devices and variable treatment schedules. The target standard Kt/V (stdKt/V) should be 2.3 volumes/week, according to KDOQI guidelines (2015). The current formula for stdKt/V does not help prescribe the dialysis dose (eKt/V) and treatment frequency (TF). The aim of this study was to obtain a formula for stdKt/V that is able to define the minimum required values of eKt/V and TF to achieve the targeted stdKtV. Methods Thirty-eight prevalent patients on HHD were enrolled. A total of 231 clinical datasets were available for urea modelling using the Solute-Solver software (SS), recommended by KDOQI guidelines. A new formula (stdKt/V = a + b × Kru + c × eKt/V) was obtained from multivariable regression analysis of stdKt/V vs eKt/V and residual kidney urea clearance (Kru). The values of coefficients a, b and c depend on the treatment schedules and the day of the week of blood sampling for the kinetic study (labdayofwk) and then vary for each of their foreseen 62 combinations. For practical purposes, we used only seven combinations, assuming Monday as a labdayofwk for each of the most common schedules of the 7 days of the week. Results The stdKt/V values obtained with SS were compared with the paired ones obtained with the formula. The mean ± standard deviation stdKt/V values obtained with SS and the formula were 3.043 ± 0.530 and 2.990 ± 0.553, respectively, with 95% confidence interval +0.15 to –0.26. A 'prescription graph' was built using the formula to draw lines expressing the relationship between Kru and required eKt/V for each TF. Using this graph, TF could have been reduced from the delivered 5.8 ± 0.8 to 4.8 ± 0.8 weekly sessions. Conclusions The new formula for stdKtV is reliable and can support clinicians to prescribe the dialysis dose and TF in patients undergoing HHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mediterranean spotted fever is a common zoonosis in Europe caused by Rickettsia conorii bacterium. Among its wide range of clinical presentations, arterial thrombosis of large vessels has never been described before. Methods: We report a case of a complete acute infrarenal aortic thrombosis in a 61-year-old male with R. conorii infection. Results and Conclusion: The patient was successfully operated using open aortic surgery and subsequent treatment with doxycycline. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aortic thrombosis associated with infection by this parasite, extending the clinical spectrum of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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