RESUMEN

A new Pb-free glass containing several oxides (Bi2O3, B2O3, SiO2, Al2O3 and ZnO) with sintering temperature reduced down to 600 °C has been developed for applications in a piezoresistive pressure sensor. Using this low sintering temperature glass, it was possible to fabricate micrographite-based pastes and piezoresistive films without losses of graphitic material during the sintering. Good adherence of the films onto alumina substrates was observed and attributed in part to the reactions of ZnO and Bi2O3 with alumina substrates. Piezoresistive films with uniformly distributed micrographite particles were produced using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) in aqueous solutions during the preparation of pastes. NaCMC plays a decisive role in interactions between micrographite particles and glassy matrix, providing good wettability of glass powder particles and homogeneous distribution of MG particles in the pastes. Finally, excellent repeatability of the sensor response to the applied deformations was verified in cycling experiments when the sample was submitted to 1000 load/release cycles. These results demonstrated very high stability of the sensor response (within ±1%), and also evidenced high stability of the film under the cyclic strain loads and good film adherence to the substrate.

RESUMEN

La malaria congénita es una patología relativamente rara en el contexto de las patologías neonatales. El presente caso se trata de un recién nacido masculino de 24 días de vida con malaria congénita por Plasmodium vivax y falciparum cuyo diagnóstico se observó a través del estudio de la gota gruesa. El recién nacido es procedente de una zona poco endémica, pero la madre viajó por compromiso laborales en varias ocasiones a una zona endémica en el Estado Bolívar. La madre presentó malaria gestacional a partir del I trimestre de gestación con tratamiento irregular. Las manifestaciones clínicas del recién nacido fueron fiebre de 40°c y el tratamiento antimalárico fue con Artesunate 60 mg con adecuada respuesta clínica, confirmada mediante la negativización de la gota gruesa al finalizar el tratamiento. Es importante considerar el diagnóstico diferencial con el de sepsis neonatal sobre todo en pacientes procedentes de zonas de riesgo y endémicas. La malaria congénita es real y por lo tanto se recomienda que los recién nacidos de madres con malaria deben ser examinados inmediatamente.

Congenital malaria is a relatively rare disease in the context of neonatal pathologies. We present a case of a 24 day old newborn male with congenital malaria by Plasmodium vivax and falciparum whose diagnosis was performed through the study of thick film. The newborn comes from a non- endemic area were as the mother because of worktravelled to an endemic area of our country in Bolivar state. The mother had a maternal history of seasonal malaria during the I trimester of gestation with irregular treatment. The clinical manifestation of the newborn was fever 40 °c and the antimalarial treatment was performed with Artesunate at 60 mg with adequate clinical response, confirmed by the thick film negativization at the end of the treatment. It is important to consider the differential diagnosis with neonatal sepsis especially in patients from endemic areas and risk. Congenital malaria is real and therefore it is recommended that newborns of mothers with malaria should be examined immediately.