Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in women with cervical alterations from north Argentina.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in northern Argentina, showing the highest mortality rate in the country (approximately 22 cases/100000 women). Objective: The aim of this study was to provide epidemiological data on the prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women with pre-neoplastic lesions before the massive introduction of HPV vaccination in the country. Materials and Methods: Exfoliated cervical cells were collected to screen for HPV using the widely known MY09/11 PCR, followed by the restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) technique from a total of 714 women with previously diagnosed atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LG-SIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HG-SIL). Results: Overall HPV prevalence was 48.2% in ASCUS (24 different HPV types detected), 66.5% in LG-SIL (37 HPV types detected) and 82.6% in HG-SIL (16 HPV types detected). HPV-16 was the most prevalent type among all cases. With respect to multiple HPV infections, 9.6% were observed in ASCUS, 14.3% in LG-SIL and 11.4% in HG-SIL. Conclusion: The major strength of our study is the assessment of a large series of women with cytological alterations in this region. The information attained will be useful as a regional baseline for future epidemiological vigilance, in the context of the national HPV vaccination program.

Consideraciones sobre embarazo ectópico: experiencia en el Instituto Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Los Andes: años 2000-2006 / Considerations on ectopic pregnancy: experience at the Hospital Universitario de Los Andes: years 2000-2006

Determinar factores de riesgo y modalidades diagnóstico-terapéuticas del Embarazo Ectópico (EE). Estudio descriptivo, analítico de 353 casos de EE. Período 2000-2006. Servicio de Gineco-obstetricia de IAHULA, Estado Mérida, Venezuela. 353 historias con diagnóstico de EE. Grupo predominante: 19-34 años (75,1 por ciento). Nuliparidad (25,5 por ciento). Antecedentes Gineco-obstétricos (27,2 por ciento); Anticonceptivos (45,3 por ciento); ITS (23, 2 por ciento); DIU (10,8 por ciento); Cirugía Ginecológica y/o Abdominal anterior (33,4 por ciento). ß-hCG positivas 94,3 por ciento; Culdocentesis positivas 78,16 por ciento. Hallazgo Ultrasonográfico: 88,33 por ciento, Hallazgo Quirúrgico: 310 casos; localización Tubarica (97,09 por ciento); Salpingectomía total: 84,1 por ciento. El EE es una emergencia obstétrica frecuente, pone en riesgo la vida de la paciente con patogénesis multifactorial.

Inmunologia clinica como especialidad nueva en salud pública: un modelo para los países en desarrollo / Clinical immunology as a new speciality in public health: a model for developing countries

Entre 1975 y 1980 el Gobierno de Venezuela establecio un Centro Nacional de Referencia en Inmunologia Clinica y ocho unidades regionales de inmunologia clinica. Los resultados obtenidos hasta la fecha indican que esta empresa podria servir de modelo para establecer la practica de la inmunologia clinica en otros países en desarrollo