The aim of our study was to analyse the characteristics of haematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis (HVO) in the elderly. A retrospective comparative analysis of the medical records of 72 patients (38 younger than 63 years, group 1, and 34 aged 63 years and over, group 2) with haematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis of confirmed aetiology was carried out. Intravenous drug addiction and infection with the human immunodeficiency virus were seen in 4/38 (10%) and 5/38 (13%) patients from group 1 and 0/34 patients (0%) from group 2 (P = 0.05 and 0.035, respectively). Seven of 34 elderly (20%) and 0/38 (0%) young individuals had recently had surgery (P = 0.0036). Escherichia coli was isolated in 7/34 elderly (20%) and 0/38 (0%) young patients (P = 0.0036). The remaining studied data did not reach statistical significance. Recent surgery is a risk factor for developing HVO in the elderly, the urinary tract being the source of the pathogen in a large number of elderly patients with spinal infection.

Between 1988 and 1995, 1832 HIV positive patients were evaluated in our institution. We studied the epidemiologic, immunologic and bacteriologic data, laboratory tests, and X-Ray films in those with musculoskeletal infection. We reviewed twenty-one cases of musculoskeletal infection in twenty patients aged 23-35 years (mean 28,6 years, M:F= 15:5). In all of them risk factor for HIV was intravenous drug abuse. The number of CD4 positive lymphocytes ranged from 0,003 to 0,5 10(9)/l. Staphylococcus aureus was the organism responsible of the infection in twelve cases, all active intravenous drug abusers at the time the diagnosis was done. The remaining causative agents were: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (3 cases), Candida albicans (2 cases), Salmonella subgroup 1 (1 case), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1 case), Pseudomona aeruginosa (1 case) and Streptococcus agalactiae (1 case). Fifteen infections were diagnosed between 1988 and 1991 and 6 between 1992 and 1995. Musculoskeletal infectious lesions in HIV positive patients in our country are related in the majority of cases to intravenous drug abuse. In the last four years due to a National medical health care plan conducted to educate this group of people the number of musculoskeletal infections is decreasing.

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Purpose: To evaluate the consistency of 3 commonly used direct to consumer genetic testing kits.Background: Genetic testing kits are widely marketed by several companies but the consistency of their results is unclear. Since identical twins share the same DNA, their genetic testing results should provide insight into test consistency.Methods: 42 identical twins (21 pairs) provided samples for three testing companies. Outcomes were concordance of ancestry results when i) twin pairs were tested by the same company and ii) the same participant was tested by different companies. Concordance of 8 self-reported traits with 23andMe genetic analyses were also examined.Results: Concordance of ancestry results when twin pairs were tested by the same company was high, with mean percent agreement ranging from 94.5%−99.2%. Concordance of ancestry results when participants were tested by two different companies was lower, with mean percent agreement ranging from 52.7%−84.1%. Concordance of trait results was variable, ranging from 34.1% for deep sleep and detached earlobes to 90.2% for cleft chin. Conclusion:The consistency of consumer genetic testing is high for ancestry results within companies but lower and more variable for ancestry results across companies and for specific traits. These results raise questions about the usefulness of such testing.