Ethical considerations in animal research: the principle of 3r's

In the last century, progress in the knowledge of human diseases, their diagnosis and treatment have grown exponentially, due in large part to the introduction and use of laboratory animals. Along with this important progress, the need to provide training and guidance to the scientific community in all aspects related to the proper use of experimental animals has been indispensable. Animal research committees play a primary role in evaluating experimental research protocols, from their feasibility to the rational use of animals, but above all in seeking animal welfare. The Institutional Committee for the Care and Use of Animals (IACUC) has endeavored to share several relevant aspects in conducting research with laboratory animals. Here, we present and discuss the topics that we consider of utmost importance to take in the account during the design of any experimental research protocol, so we invite researchers, technicians, and undergraduate and graduate students to dive into the fascinating subject of proper animal care and use for experimentation. The main intention of these contributions is to sensitize users of laboratory animals for the proper and rational use of them in experimental research, as well as to disseminate the permitted and unpermitted procedures in laboratory animals. In the first part, the significance of experimental research, the main functions of IACUC, and the principle of the three R's (replacement, reduction, and refinement) are addressed.

Resultados a tres años de seguimiento de Fasciotomía percutánea con aguja en enfermedad de Dupuytren / Results after three years of follow-up of percutaneous fasciotomy with needle in Dupuytren's disease

Dupuytren's disease is the abnormal and progressive proliferation of the palmar fascia, its etiology remains unknown. Percutaneous needle fasciotomy is a minimally invasive procedure, where hypodermic needles are used as a scalpel blade to break the pathological cord in Dupuytren's disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of percutaneous needle fasciotomy in patients with 3-year follow-up METHODS: Percutaneous needle fasciotomy was performed in patients from the regional hospital of Talca from January 2014 to January 2017, pre and post-procedure contracture measurement was performed, followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months and annually up to three years. there was a registry of complications, recurrence and functional results with the QuickDASH scale. RESULTS: Of the 17 patients chosen, 13 completed the follow-up. 15 fingers (5 little fingers, 9 ring fingers, 1 middle) and 23 joints. The metacarpophalangeal joints achieved an immediate correction of 89%, maintaining a correction of 48% at three years. The proximal interphalangeal joint achieved a correction of 62%, maintaining 32% at the end of the follow-up. The QuickDash managed to descend from 39.4 to 21.5 points. There was recurrence of 35.7% in the metacarpophalangeal joints and 42.8% in proximal interphalangeal joints. We found that percutaneous fasciotomy is a treatment option.

A prática da nova Ortodontia Lingual – estudo de casos / The practice of new Lingual Orthodontics – case study

Os recentes avanços da Ortodontia Lingual mudaram o panorama dessa técnica e, ainda assim, poucos profissionais consideram sua viabilidade rotineira. Dentro dessas evoluções, encontram-se a redução do volume dos bráquetes, o advento dos sistemas autoligados e o uso de mini-implantes como componentes de ancoragem. Este trabalho mostra o estudo de dois casos de maloclusões com etiologias distintas tratados com aparelhos linguais, utilizando uma metodologia simplificada de montagem laboratorial. As vantagens e dificuldades do tratamento com os aparelhos linguais foram ressaltadas. Concluiu-se que a viabilidade da Técnica Lingual é irrevogável e vem apoiada na chancela do anseio crescente do público pela estética máxima durante o tratamento ortodôntico

Recent developments in Lingual Orthodontics have changed the overview of this technique, and yet, few professionals take into consideration its viability. Among these evolutions are: reduction of brackets volume, the advent of self-ligating systems and the use of miniscrews as anchoring components. This paper shows the study of two malocclusion cases with distinct etiologies, both treated with lingual appliances and using a simplified laboratory methodology. The advantages and difficulties of the treatment with the lingual appliances were emphasized. It was concluded that the viability of Lingual Technique is irrevocable and that it is supported by the approval of patients and their increasing desire for maximum aesthetics results during orthodontic treatment.

Seroprevalencia de la infección por Trypanosoma cruzi y factores asociados en población adulta en una zona de alta endemicidad de Arequipa, Perú / Seroprevalence of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and associated factors in the adult population in a highly endemic area of Arequipa, Perú

Objetivo: determinar la seroprevalencia de infección por T. cruzi en pobladores mayores de 15 años del valle de Vítor, describiendo características generales y presencia de factores asociados a la infección. Material y Métodos: se seleccionaron aleatoriamente a 499 personas mayores de 15 años de edad, mediante encuesta se obtuvo la respectiva información epidemiológica. El diagnóstico serológico de la enfermedad se realizó mediante ELISA e IFI. Resultados: la seroprevalencia fue de 10,22%. En mujeres 10,35% y varones 10,04%. La mediana de edad del paciente chagásico fue de 42±17,86 años el tiempo de residencia fue de 34±15,95 años. El 50,98% es natural del valle de Vítor. Según la ocupación de la población general, agricultor 41,18%, ama de casa 31,37%. El 50,98% tiene instrucción secundaria. El único factor asociado a la infección fue el material rústico de las vivienda. Conclusion: el valle de Vítor es zona chagásica endémica. La infección afecta tanto a hombres como a mujeres. El poblador infectado es natural del valle de Vítor, se dedica a la agricultura y tiene secundaria como grado de instrucción. El material rústico de las viviendas se asocia a la infección por T.cruzi al favorecer la presencia del vector.

Objective: determine the seroprevalence of infection by T. cruzi in the population above age 15 in the valley of Vítor, describing general characteristics and the presence of associated factors. Materials and Methods: 499 people above age 15 were randomly selected; epidemiological information was obtained through a survey. The diagnosis of the disease was made by ELISA and IIF. Results: the seroprevalence for Chagas reactivity was 10,2%, 10,35% in women and 10,0% in men. The median of age of the "typical" Chagas disease patient was 42±17,9, his/her time of residence in Vítor was 34±15,9 years; 51,0% had been born in the valley of Vítor. Agricultural workers made up 41,2%, of the general population, and 51,0% have a high school education. Rustic housing materials were associated with the infection. Conclusions: the valley of Vítor is an endemic area for Chagas disease. The infection equally affects men and women. The "typical" infected patient is native to the valley of Vítor, works in agriculture and has secondary level education. Rustic building materials is associated to the infection by T.cruzi because it favors the presence of the vector.

Care for children with special health care needs in a managed care system: a patient satisfaction survey

In 1994 the government of Puerto Rico adopted a capitated managed health care system for the medically indigent. The new law has been implemented in most municipalities. A survey of children with special health care needs treated at a tertiary pediatric center under the capitated managed care system and the prior non-capitated system was analyzed using the Consumer Assessments of Health Plan Survey (CHAPS) instrument. One third of the patients who were under the new capitated managed care system were not satisfied with the medial care they were receiving. The parents of children with multidisciplinary conditions found it much more difficult to access care at the tertiary center. It took parents two years to learn to navigate within the capitated managed care system. Studies to measure outcome and health quality of children with special health care needs in capitated managed health care programs must be developed to learn how the potential benefits of managed care can be maximized and the potential harms minimized. The purpose of this study was to analyze the accessibility and satisfaction of caretakers of children with special health care needs under a capitated managed health care system.