Objectives
Investigate the feasibility of saliva sampling as a noninvasive and safer tool to detect SARS-CoV-2 and to compare its reproducibility and sensitivity with nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPS). The use of sample pools was also investigated.
Methods
2107 paired samples were collected from asymptomatic health care and office workers in Mexico City. Sixty of these samples were also analyzed in two other independent laboratories for concordance analysis. Sample processing and analysis of virus genetic material were performed according to standard protocols described elsewhere. Pooling analysis was performed by analyzing the saliva pool and the individual pool components.
Results
The concordance between NPS and saliva results was 95.2% (Kappa: 0.727, p = 0.0001) and 97.9% without considering inconclusive results (Kappa: 0.852, p = 0.0001). Saliva had a lower number of inconclusive results than NPS (0.9% vs 1.9%). Furthermore, saliva shows a significantly higher concentration of both total RNA and viral copies than NPS. Comparison of our results with those of the other two laboratories shows 100% and 97% concordance. Saliva samples are stable without the use of any preservative, a positive SARS-CoV-2 sample can be detected 5, 10, and 15 days after collection when the sample is stored at 4 °C.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that saliva is as effective as NPS for the identification of SARS-CoV-2-infected asymptomatic patients, sample pooling facilitates the analysis of a larger number of samples with the benefit of cost reduction.
Reactivation of hepatitis B infection is an increasing problem for patients with lymphoma, even in resolved infections, who were treated with rituximab-based regimens. Our cases point out the need of prolonged prophylaxis in HBsAg-negative patients due to the high risk of developing fatal reactivation. Am. J. Hematol. 83:673-675, 2008. V
La anemia es una condición altamente prevalente a nivel mundial y, el déficit de hierro, la causa más frecuente, sin excepción; la mujer embarazada está particularmente en riesgo dada la mayor demanda de hierro que la gestación significa. La anemia se asocia a mayor morbilidad y mortalidad materno-perinatal. En mujeres embarazadas sin anemia, la prevención, mediante el uso de multivitamínicos que contienen hierro en dosis de 30-60 mg de hierro elemental, ha demostrado ser efectiva y se recomienda durante todo el embarazo. En casos de anemia, el diagnóstico de déficit de hierro se establece cuando la ferritina es menor a 30 mg/L y/o la saturación de transferrina es menor a 20%. La severidad de la anemia y la situación temporal en el embarazo, son factores modificantes del tratamiento. En mujeres embarazadas, con hemoglobina ≥9.0 g/dL y que tengan <34 semanas de embarazo, la indicación es tratamiento con hierro oral, en dosis de 100 mg al día, en días alternos, hasta normalizar los parámetros antes mencionados. Si la hemoglobina es <9.0 g/dL, o el embarazo es ≥34 semanas, el uso de hierro intravenoso ha demostrado ser más efectivo en corregir la anemia y el déficit de hierro y en disminuir la morbilidad materno-perinatal. En estos casos, sugerimos el uso del hierro carboximaltosa, dado su perfil de seguridad y efectividad favorable. Recomendamos conocer y practicar estas recomendaciones para el diagnóstico y manejo de la anemia por déficit de hierro durante el embarazo.
The intermittent injection of power and the nature of power electronic devices used for photovoltaic (PV) systems can affect the power quality (PQ) of the grid to which they are connected. This study proposes to quantify and evaluate the impact of PV injection on the PQ of a low-voltage (LV) network by applying a statistical analysis through hypothesis testing for the mean comparison of populations of parameters with and without a PV system. The effects of PV power injection and load demand at the point of common coupling on PQ are monitored. The methodology includes the selection and monitoring of PQ, the use of a matrix for classification of data with similar load and PV power injection conditions, and the application of the Wilcoxon rank sum test. This methodology was applied to evaluate the impact of a 9.8 kWp PV system on the PQ of an LV network.
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