Determinación de la tasa de mortalidad de la enfermedad de parkinson en Venezuela / Assessing the mortality rate in parkinson disease in Venezuela

La enfermedad de Parkinson se caracteriza por la pérdida progresiva e irreversible de neuronas en el ganglio basal y se manifiesta en alteraciones motoras. En estados Unidos y Europa se ha observado que la incidencia de la enfermedad de Parkinson aumenta con la edad y es dos veces mayor en los varones. En el presente trabajo se determinó la tasa de mortalidad específica, según género y edad de la enfermedad de Parkinson en Venezuela (1988-1998). La información se obtuvo de los Anuarios Epidemiológicos del Ministerio de la Salud y Desarrollo Social. En este período se observó que la tasa de mortalidad de la enfermedad de Parkinson tiende al aumento; además, se incrementa exponencialmente con la edad y fue superior para los varones. La distribución de la tasa de mortalidad de la enfermedad de Parkinson en Venezuela por género y edad son similares a la de Japón, Estados Unidos y algunos países europeos

Modificaciones de las lipoproteínas del plasma después del uso dietético de la oleína de palma en adultos sanos / Changes in of plasma lipoproteins after the use of palm oil in the diet of a group healthy adults

Although saturated fat acids have long known to have harmful effects on cholesterol and triacylglycerides levels in blood, new concepts have emerged form recent research on this matter. The purpose of this study was to know the effect of the consumption of palm olein on triacylglycerides and cholesterol levels as well as lipoprotein fractions in the blood plasma of healthy individuals from both sexes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different types of fats were administered for 12 weeks to 60 subjects, 45 male, 15 female, between 19 and 45 years of age, who were divided into three groups: the mix group (MG) was administered oil, margarine, and mayonnaise prepared with 50 olein; the olein group (OG) consumed fats prepared with 100 olein; and the control group (CG) consumed regular fats of customary use by the population. The diets provided 25 to 30 of calories. Blood samples were obtained for lipid analysis at the beginning and the end of the study. Plasma triacylglycerides and cholesterol concentrations were determined by means of enzyme and lipoprotein methods (VLDL, LDL; and HDL) by ultracentrifugation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: By comparing the groups' means no significant differences were found (p > 0.05) in blood lipids. Individual differences show a slight increase in VLDL-C in OG compared to MG and CG. No differences were found in LDL concentration. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute evidence to differentiate between the effects of saturated vegetables oils, such as coconut oil, and of palm olein. The authors recommend not extrapolate the effects of type of oil to another in connection with TC increase in blood.