Contaminación intradomiciliaria en un sector de extrema pobreza de la comuna de La Pintana / Indoor air pollution in a zone of extreme poverty at La Pintana community, Santiago

Background: Indoor pollution can be an important risk factor for human health, considering that people spend more than 60 percent of their time in their houses. Aim: To investigate indoor pollution in a zone of extreme poverty in Metropolitan Santiago. Material and methods: During 24h, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons absorbed in PM5, temperature and humidity, were measured in the interior of 24 houses in La Pintana, Santiago. Results: The higher pollutant concentrations were observed during hours when heating was used, in houses that used coal (mean PM10 250 µg/m3, CO 42 ppm, SO2 192 ppb) or firewood (mean PM10 489 µg/m3, CO 57 ppm, SO2 295 ppb). In all houses, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected and they came from the interior of the house and not from external filtered air. Coal, firewood and cigarette smoke were important sources of carcinogenic and kerosene and gas were sources of non carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Conclusions: In the houses studied, the population was exposed to an accumulation of highly toxic pollutants, caused by a lack of ventilation. A high relative humidity also contributed to the growth of biological pollutants

DOT-ELISA en el diagnóstico presuntivo de la hidatidosis humana / DOT-ELISA in the presumptive diagnosis of the human hydatidosis

Se aplicó Dot-ELISA como método de diagnóstico presuntivo de la hidatidosis humana en 1616 muestras de sangre de personas aparentemente sanas procedentes de áreas rurales de la Provincia de Linares, VII Región, Chile. Las muestras se precesaron y ensayaron en el laboratorio del Hospital Base de Linares. La reacción de hemaglutinación indirecta (RHAI) y doble difusión con pesquisa del arco 5 de Caprón (DD5) se ejecutaron en el Laboratorio de Parasitología Campus Sur, como métodos diagnósticos de referencia. Con Dot-ELISA se observaron 112 sueros positivos (7,0 por ciento), con RHAI (2,4 por ciento) y con DD5 6 (0,4 por ciento). Se usó como criterio de probable infección por hidatidosis, cuando se constató positividad a las tres reacciones serológicas, que se observó en 5 casos (0,31 or ciento). Como criterio de sospecha de probable infección hidatídica con dos reacciones serológicas, situación que se presentó en 11 casos (0,68 por ciento). En estos momentos se estudian por exámenes de imagenología los individuos con posible infección hidatídica

Evaluación de ELISA y contrainmunoelectroforesis en el diagnóstico de la neurocisticercosis humana en Chile / Evaluation of ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis in human neurocysticercosis diagnosis in Chile

The aim of this work was to assess the diagnostic accuracy for neurocysticercosis of ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis techniques, in sera and cerebrospinal fluid. 208 serum samples (47 coming from patients with confirmed cysticercosis) and 87 cerebrospinal fluid samples (27 coming from patients with confirmed cysticercosis) were analyzed. A crude and standardized extract of swine muscle cysticercus cellulosae was used as antigen. ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis had a 100 percent specificity in cerebrospinal fluid, ELISA had a 85.1 percent sensitivity. Cross reactions were observed in sera of patients with confirmed hydatidosis. Thus, the high specificity of both techniques in cerebrospinal fluid is probably due to the low incidence of cerebral hydatidosis in Chile. It is concluded that for the diagnosis of neurocysteicersosis, antibodies against cysticercus cellulosae must be sought paralelly in serum and cerebrospinal fluid using ELISA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis

Aspectos sobre el diagnóstico inmunológico de algunas micosis oportunistas (III) / About immunologic diagnostic aspects of some opportunistic mycoses (III)

Se revisan algunos conceptos sobre antígenos micóticos y su preparación, técnicas para la detección de anticuerpos antimicóticos, técnicas para la detección de antígenos micóticos en fluidos corporales, y acerca de la utilidad del inmunodiagnóstico en las cuatro micosis oportunistas más frecuentes, a saber: candidiasis, criptococcosis, aspergilosis y zigomicosis