Maná sobre el océano: los viajes del árbol del pan / Manna over the ocean: the breadfruit's voyages

Ending the nineteenth century the King of England sent Captain Bligh with orders to take from Tahiti to Jamaica plants of the breadfruit tree, searching for a chip and nutritive food for his slaves in the New World. The first voyage failed because the famous Bounty's mutiny; in the second, with the Providence and the Assistance, Bligh did successfully his task and today the tree growths well all around the Caribbean Sea, being not only a popular food, but also, in hands of a good chef, a gourmet's dish.

Glosario anatómico etnográfico Rapa Nui / Rapa Nui ethnographic anatomical glossary

RESUMEN: La isla de Rapa Nui, también llamada Té Hé Pito o Té Henúa o el ombligo del mundo, alberga a uno de los pueblos hasta hace poco más aislados y enigmáticos del mundo con sus costumbres ancestrales caracterizados por la construcción de colosos llamados moai. Por ello, y como una forma de honrar a los pueblos originarios de nuestro país, los autores hemos querido acercar este pueblo en particular al conocimiento general de los anatomistas investigando sobre su vocabulario y lengua a través de la descripción de las palabras en diccionarios y entrevista directa con residentes de la isla, palabras que tienen relación con nuestra disciplina para la elaboración de este Glosario anatómico etnográfico, principalmente influenciado por lenguas polinésicas, así como francesa e inglesa, para finalizar con la influencia continental más recientemente. Iorana.

SUMMARY: The island of Rapa Nui, also called Té Hé Pito o Té Henúa or the navel of the world, is home to one of the, until recently, most isolated and enigmatic villages of the world, with their ancestral customs characterized by the construction of colossi called Moai. Therefore, as a way of honoring the native peoples of our country, the authors wanted to bring this particular people closer to the general knowledge of anatomists by researching their vocabulary and language through the description of words in dictionaries, and direct interview with residents of the island that have relationship with our discipline for the elaboration of this anatomical ethnographic Glossary, mainly influenced by Polynesian languages, as well as French and English, to finish with the more recent continental influence. Iorana. (Greeting Rapa Nui).

Understanding the Pathogenesis of Zika Virus Infection Using Animal Models

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of Flaviviridae family that has emerged as a pathogen of significant public health importance. The rapid expansion of ZIKV in the South and Central America has recently gained medical attention emphasizing the capacity of ZIKV to spread to non-endemic regions. ZIKV infection during pregnancy has been demonstrated to cause microcephaly and other fetal developmental abnormalities. An increased incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune mediated neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system, has also been reported in ZIKV-infected patients in French Polynesia and Brazil. No effective therapies currently exist for treating patients infected with ZIKV. Despite the relatively short time interval, an intensive effort by the global scientific community has resulted in development of animal models to study multiple aspects of ZIKV biology. Several animal models have been established to investigate pathogenesis of ZIKV in adults, pregnant mothers, and developing fetuses. Here we review the remarkable progress of newly developed small and large animal models for understanding ZIKV pathogenesis.

Evaluación del estado nutricional, hábitos de alimentación y actividad física en escolares de 1° básico de Isla de Pascua de Chile en la última decada / Nutritional status, feeding behavior and physical activity of first grade school children from Chilean Easter Island in the last decade

The people of Easter Island live in a natural environment and have cultural traditions that encourage healthy lifestyles. During 2005, 64 first grade children from the only public school of the island were studied. Nutritional evaluation according to BMI revealed a lower incidence of childhood obesity (12.5%) in relation to that time continental data (17.2%). The application of an oral survey also revealed healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity and low levels of TV viewing. The present study, performed during November 2014, evaluated the nutritional status of first grade children from Easter Island, analyzing eating and physical activity habits, and compared results with those obtained in 2005. 50 first grade students from the same and still the only public school of the island were included. The nutritional status was calculated according to their BMI. The 2005 previously validated survey was applied, obtaining information about their school snacks, home eating patterns, physical activity, TV viewing and computer use ("screen hours"). Average obesity in this sample was 24%, similar than described for national obesity levels (25.3%) in this age group. This finding contrast with that found in 2005, when obesity levels were much lower than the continental average. The actual study revealed a relatively healthy eating behavior, but a poor physical activity profile: the main change with 2005 was the increase in the "screen hours". The majority of the students (62%) spent more than two hours/day viewing TV, computer or video games, which may explain the higher obesity levels.

Los habitantes de la Isla de Pascua viven en un entorno físico y cultural que podría favorecer hábitos de vida saludables y reflejarse en una menor incidencia de obesidad infantil, en relación a la población continental. Durante el año 2005, estudiamos a 64 alumnos de primero básico del único colegio público de la isla. La evaluación nutricional arrojó una menor incidencia de obesidad (12,5%) en relación al promedio del continente (17,2%), una encuesta reveló hábitos saludables de alimentación, actividad física y pocas horas frente al televisor o computador. El presente estudio, realizado durante el año 2014, evaluó la condición nutricional de escolares de Isla de Pascua, analizando hábitos alimentarios y de actividad física, comparando los resultados con estadísticas nacionales y con los datos obtenidos el año 2005. La muestra estuvo conformada por 50 estudiantes de primer año básico del mismo y a un único colegio público de la isla. El estado nutricional fue evaluado según el IMC, aplicando la encuesta de hábitos previamente validada el año 2005. El promedio de obesidad en esta muestra fue de 24%, similar al promedio descrito para la población nacional en este grupo etario. Este hallazgo contrasta con lo encontrado el 2005, donde los niveles de obesidad fueron mucho menores a los del promedio continental. El estudio actual reveló patrones de alimentación relativamente saludables, destacando como principal cambio respecto al año 2005, el incremento en las horas frente al televisor o computador ("horas de pantalla") lo que podría explicar los mayores niveles de obesidad encontrados.

Razones para recomendar la vacunación contra el dengue en Isla de Pascua: Opinión del Comité de Inmunizaciones de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectología / Reasons to recommend vaccination against dengue in Easter Island: Immunization Advisory Committee of Sociedad Chilena de Infectología

Dengue was first diagnosed on Easter Island on year 2002 and thereafter recurrent outbreaks have occurred involving different serotypes of dengue virus. Its vector, Aedes aegypti has not been eliminated despite the small size of the island. Conditions at the local hospital preclude adequate management of severe and hemorrhagic cases due to the absence of a Critical Care Unit as well as no availability of platelets, or plasma units for transfusion. Besides, transfer, of severely affected patients to continental Chile is cumbersome, slow and expensive. In this scenario, it is advisable to implement selective vaccination of Easter Island habitants with an available quadrivalent attenuated dengue vaccine with the aim to reduce hemorrhagic and severe dengue cases. This strategy should not replace permanent efforts to control waste disposal sites, water sources, maintain vector surveillance and increase education of the population.

El dengue surgió el año 2002 en Isla de Pascua y se ha presentado en brotes intercurrentes desde entonces con aparición de diferentes serotipos. El vector Aedes aegypti no ha logrado ser eliminado a pesar del pequeño tamaño de la isla y las condiciones del hospital local no permiten el manejo de casos graves por ausencia de una unidad de cuidados intensivos y disponibilidad de transfusiones de plaquetas o plasma fresco congelado. Además, el traslado de pacientes graves hacia el continente no es inmediato y es muy costoso. En este escenario, es aconsejable vacunar selectivamente a la población residente con la vacuna cuadrivalente atenuada para disminuir la probabilidad de dengue grave. Esta estrategia no debe reemplazar los esfuerzos para el control de basurales, fuentes de agua, vigilancia del vector y educación de la población.

Dinámica epidemiológica del dengue en Isla de Pascua / Epidemiological dynamics of dengue on Easter Island

Dengue is considered an emerging disease with an increasing prevalence especially in South America. In 2002, an epidemic of classic Dengue (DENV-1) occurred unexpectedly on Easter Island, where it had never been detected before. It reappeared in 2006-2007 and 2008, 2009 and 2011. The aim of this study was to estimate the most relevant parameters of the epidemiological dynamics of transmission of Dengue on Easter Island and to model the dynamics since 2002, comparing the predictions with the actual situation observed. Of the total cases, 52.27% were females and 47.73% men. The average age of infection was 31.38 ± 18.37 years, similar in men and women. We estimated the reproductive number R0 = 3.005 with an IC0,95 = [1.92, 4.61]. The inter-epidemic period reached an estimated T = 5.20 to 6.8 years. The case simulation showed recurrent epidemics with decreasing magnitude (damped oscillations), which is a known phenomenon in models of dengue and malaria. There was good qualitative fit to the epidemiological dynamics from 2002 onwards. It accurately predicted the rise in cases between 2006 and 2011. The predicted number of cases during the 2002 epidemic is greater than the confirmed cases and the predicted epidemic was faster than notified cases. Interepidemic period in the simulation was 6.72 years between 2002 and 2008 and 4.68 years between 2008 and 2013. From the theoretical perspective, the first epidemic had affected 94% of the population (approximately 3500 cases), but 639 were reported suggesting underreporting and a lot of sub-clinical cases occurred. Future epidemic of decreasing size are expected, although the main danger are epidemics of hemorrhagic dengue fever resulting from the introduction of different dengue virus serotypes.

El dengue es considerado una enfermedad emergente que aumenta su prevalencia especialmente en Sudamérica. En 2002 ocurrió inesperadamente una epidemia de dengue clásico (DENV-1) en Isla de Pascua, hecho nunca antes detectado. Posteriormente, ha reaparecido en 2006-2007 y 2008, 2009 y 2011. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar los parámetros epidemiológicos más relevantes de la dinámica de transmisión del dengue en Isla de Pascua y modelar la dinámica desde 2002, comparando las predicciones con la situación real observada. Del total de casos, 52,27% correspondieron a mujeres y 47,73% a hombres. La edad promedio de infección fue E = 31,38 ± 18,37 años, similar en hombres y mujeres. Se estimó el número reproductivo R0 = 3,005 con un IC0,95 = [1,92; 4,61]. El período inter-epidémico esperado puede ir entre T = 5,20 y 6,8 años. La simulación de casos mostró una dinámica con epidemias recurrentes que van decreciendo en magnitud (oscilaciones amortiguadas), lo que es un hecho conocido en todos los modelos de dengue y malaria. Hubo un buen ajuste cualitativo a la dinámica epidemiológica desde 2002 en adelante. Se predijo adecuadamente el alza de casos entre 2006 y 2011. El número de casos predichos durante la epidemia de 2002 es mayor que los casos confirmados y el curso de la epidemia predicha es más acelerado. El período inter-epidémico en la simulación es de 6,72 años entre 2002 y 2008 y 4,68 años entre 2008 y 2013. Desde la perspectiva teórica, la primera epidemia debió afectar a 94% de la población (aproximadamente 3.500 casos); sin embargo, se notificaron 639 lo que sugiere sub-notificación y gran cantidad de casos sub-clínicos. Se esperan futuros rebrotes epidémicos de tamaño decreciente, aunque se advierte que el principal peligro radica en epidemias de dengue hemorrágico, producto de la introducción de los otros serotipos.

Tinea Imbricata: Case series on three patients in Sarangani, Philippines

The imbricata or Tokelau ringworm is an unusual superficial dermatophytosis caused by the anthropophilic Trichophyton concentricum. Three cases of the Tinea imbricata observed at the Municipal Health Office of Kiamba, Sarangani Province, Philippines are reported in this study. All three patients were from an indigenous ethnic group of Sarangani Province and lived in isolated upland communities. Patient 1 was a 30 year old male, Patient 2 was a 40 year old female, and Patient 3 was a 19 year old female. Lesions lasted - 27 years, - 25 years, and 2 years, respectively. All patients presented with characteristic expensive polycyclic to serpiginous scaling lesions, with areas of sparing. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings prepared with potassium hydroxide revealed the characteristic broad, branched, septate, irregular hyphae. Trichopyton concentricum, the causative agent, was isolated in one of the patients using Mycobiotoc agar. Histopathologic examination on 2 of the patients revealed acute and chronic inflammation, and Periodic Acid Schiff- positive fungal hyphae. All patients were started on Griseofulvin 500mg tab once daily. The case series presented here is the first account of Tinea imbricata in the Philippines since the 1990s.

Uma instituição não reconhecida: o Comitê de Ética da Polinésia Francesa / A no recognized institution: the French Polynesia Ethics Committee

Localizada cerca de 17.500 quilômetros da França, a Polinésia Francesa permanece desconhecida até para a maioria dos franceses, sendo que, são numerosos aqueles que nem sequer sabem que não se trata mais de um Território Ultramarino (em francês, Territoire d'outre-mer - TOM), categoria suprimida pela lei constitucional de 28 de março de 2003, mas sim de um Coletivo Ultramarino (em francês, Collectivité d'outre-mer - COM). Nesse contexto, não é surpreendente que o Comitê de Ética da Polinésia Francesa não seja objetivo de nenhum estudo e que seja, mais freqüentemente, totalmente ignorado. Dessa maneira, este trabalho tem o objetivo de completar esta lacuna e de apresentar esta instituição da maneira mais completa, iniciando com o exame de sua organização e, em seguida, de suas atribuições.

Razas humanas y hémato-ser-antropología: orígenes de los indígenas de Chile y nativos pascuenses en el concierto de las razas humanas / Human races and hemato-sero-anthropology: origins of Chilean natives and natives from Easter Island in the context of human races

Geographical hematology of Bernard and Ruffie, or Hemato-ser-anthropology, intends to establish relationships between hereditary genetic characters of the blood and human races. Blood groups, haptoglobins, abnormal hemoglobin and other biological traits such as color vision are related to the origin of human races, their geographical distribution, history, settlements drifts, invasions, customs, religious beliefs, cult to ancestors dead modifications, culture, language, writting, sculpture, painting and pottery. Our investigations are aimed to locate Chilean natives and natives from Easter Island in the context of human races

Single doses of ivermectin 400 micrograms/kg-1: the most effective dosage in bancroftian filariasis.

Forty-three Wuchereria bancrofti carriers were given four successive semi-annual single doses of ivermectin 100 micrograms.kg-1 (IVER 100). The geometric mean microfilaremia (mf) recurrence percentage as compared to the pre-initial treatment mf level was 35%, 21%, 17% and 17% at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. However, the recurrence of mf 6 months after the fourth treatment remained high in several individuals: 15 have been considered as 'bad responders' and 28 as 'good responders' individuals. At month 24 (M 24), they were randomly allocated into 2 groups. A first group was treated with a fifty and a sixth dose of IVER 100, at M24 and M30, respectively; the second one was treated, at the same time, with single doses of IVER 400 micrograms.kg-1 (IVER 400). At M 36, the mf recurrence percentage (mf M36/mf M0) was significantly higher in patients treated with IVER 100 than IVER 400 (11% vs 1%, p < 10(-4). From the group IVER 100, 6 out of the 8 'bad responders' remained 'bad responders' whereas there were none of the 7 in the group IVER 400. Moreover, there were only 2 more patients in the group IVER 100 showing sustained complete zero mf, whereas they were 13 in the group IVER 400. Single doses of IVER 400 were effective on 'bad responders'; IVER 400 must be recommended for semi-annual mass treatment in bancroftian filariasis.

Estado oftalmológico de la población escolar y preescolar de la Isla de Pascua / Ophthalmologic status of school and preschool population at Easter Island

Entre los días 7 al 22 de agosto de 1994, un equipo de oftalmólogos del Hospital San Juan de Dios de Santiago, Chile, atendió a 705 alumnos del Liceo Lorenzo Baeza Vega de Isla de Pascua, lo que representa un 95,27 por ciento de la población preescolar y escolar de esta isla. Un 53.5 por ciento eran mestizos; un 29,4 por ciento continentales y un 17,10 por ciento pascuenses puros. La frecuencia de vicios de refracción y de discromatopsia es mayor en los continentales que en los pascuenses puros y predominan las miopías. La frecuencia de discromatopsia en la población masculina pascuense fue de un 13,5 por ciento. Los preescolares continentales y mestizos tienen una tendencia a tener una excavación papilar más grande que los pascuenses. La patología inflamatoria aguda o crónica de polo anterior fue la que encontramos con mayor frecuencia

A single diethylcarbamazine dose for treatment of Wuchereria bancrofti carriers in French Polynesia: efficacy and side effects.

In the fall of 1988, 14 Tahitian Wuchereria bancrofti carriers were treated by a single diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 3 mg/kg dose. Determination of blood microfilarial (mf) density was carried out on days 0, 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 using the membrane filtration technique. Clinical signs and side effects were noted during the 3 days following treatment. Complete clearance of microfilaremia was observed in two carriers (negativation rate 14%). A decrease of mf density was noted in all of the 14 carriers, ranging from 35.2 to 99.2% (median 78.75%). The percentage decrease in mf density, determined for the whole group from the geometric mean of the 14 mf counts, was 86% by day 7 and reached 95% by day 180. Side effects were observed in 10 patients (71%) of whom 3 only were unable to perform usual activities for less than 24 hours. Though it induced an incomplete initial mf clearance, a single DEC 3 mg/kg dose was effective in reducing about 90% of the microfilaremia and in sustaining this reduction over a period of six months. Such long-term reduction (comparable to that observed in W. bancrofti carriers treated with a daily DEC 6 mg/kg dose during 12 days) is likely responsible for the consistent decrease of total mf counts observed in the Tahitian population which has been treated for years with single DEC doses given every six months.