Levels of total fungus and Aspergillus on a pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit

The Yiqi and Yangyin Formula ameliorates injury to the hematopoietic system induced by total body irradiation

In this study, we examined whether the Yiqi and Yangyin Formula (YYF), used in traditional Chinese medicine, could ameliorate damage to the hematopoietic system induced by total body irradiation (TBI). Treatment with 15 g/kg of YYF increased the survival rate of Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice exposed to 7.5 Gy TBI. Furthermore, YYF treatment increased the white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) counts in ICR mice exposed to 2 Gy or 4 Gy TBI. Treatment with YYF also increased the number of bone marrow cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and the colony-forming ability of granulocyte-macrophage cells. YYF alleviated TBI-induced suppression of the differentiation ability of HPCs and HSCs and decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs), HPCs and HSCs from mice exposed to 2 Gy or 4 Gy TBI. Overall, our data suggest that YYF can ameliorate myelosuppression by reducing the intracellular ROS levels in hematopoietic cells after TBI at doses of 2 Gy and 4 Gy.

Tendências da produção do conhecimento de enfermagem no controle de infecção em oncologia

Os clientes com câncer apresentam complicações significativas de morbi-mortalidade relacionadas à infecção. Esta revisão integrativa tem como objetivo analisar a produção científica da enfermagem acerca do controle de infecções nos clientes com câncer. A busca dos 37 artigos incluídos foi por meio eletrônico em bases de dados, no período de 2002 a 2009. Os dados foram analisados na perspectiva da Metodologia de Categorização Epistemológica para a Pesquisa na Enfermagem. Os resultados indicam que a produção é internacional, mais setorizada na área da oncologia clínica, com ênfase nos clientes como sujeitos das investigações, tendência exógena da origem da infecção e prevalência de artigos de revisão de literatura. Conclui-se que a produção do conhecimento no controle de infecção é prioridade no cenário nacional, as ações devem ser baseadas numa visão sistêmica, considerando a complexidade que envolve os profissionais na prestação do cuidado de enfermagem.

Factors involved in the aerosol transmission of infection and control of ventilation in healthcare premises

The epidemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 highlighted both short- and long-range transmission routes, i.e. between infected patients and healthcare workers, and between distant locations. With other infections such as tuberculosis, measles and chickenpox, the concept of aerosol transmission is so well accepted that isolation of such patients is the norm. With current concerns about a possible approaching influenza pandemic, the control of transmission via infectious air has become more important. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the factors involved in: (1) the generation of an infectious aerosol, (2) the transmission of infectious droplets or droplet nuclei from this aerosol, and (3) the potential for inhalation of such droplets or droplet nuclei by a susceptible host. On this basis, recommendations are made to improve the control of aerosol-transmitted infections in hospitals as well as in the design and construction of future isolation facilities.