Simbología en medicina y ciencias de la salud / Symbology in medicine and health sciences

La inclusión curricular de la historia de la medicina se hace cada vez más importante, y dentro de la misma el estudio de la simbología en medicina es un tema muy interesante y a veces polémico. Los símbolos asociados a la medicina usualmente presentan serpientes asociadas a los mismos, siendo los más reconocidos el bastón de Asclepio/Esculapio y el caduceo de Hermes/Mercurio. Las serpientes se encuentran asociadas a consideraciones positivas y negativas en las diferentes culturas del mundo. En el Antiguo Egipto eran símbolos de sabiduría y poder. En la Biblia tenían un rol dual y una participación en al menos un evento relacionado a curaciones masivas. La mitología griega nos provee de elementos que conectan a serpientes enrolladas en torno a una rama o vara directamente con la medicina. El tratamiento de la dracunculiasis nos otorga otra vía de conexión entre esta imagen y la medicina. El bastón de Asclepio/Esculapio se reconoce como símbolo de la medicina y las ciencias de la salud en general, mientras que el caduceo se asocia a otras profesiones no médicas.

The curricular inclusion of the history of medicine is becoming more and more important, and within it the study of symbology in medicine is a very interesting and sometimes controversial subject. The symbols associated with medicine usually present snakes associated with them, the most recognized being the rod of Asclepius/ Aesculapius and the Hermes/Mercury caduceus. Snakes are associated with positive and negative considerations in the different cultures of the world. In Ancient Egypt they were symbols of wisdom and power. In the Bible they had a dual role and a participation in at least one event related to massive healings. Greek mythology provides us with elements that connect snakes coiled around a branch or rod directly to medicine. The treatment of dracunculiasis gives us another way of connection between this image and medicine. The rod of Asclepius/ Aesculapius is recognized as a symbol of medicine and health sciences in general, while the caduceus is associated with other non-medical professions

Dracunculiasis in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Dracunculiasis, otherwise known as guinea worm disease (GWD), is caused by infection with the nematode Dracunculus medinensis. This nematode is transmitted to humans exclusively via contaminated drinking water. The transmitting vectors are Cyclops copepods (water fleas), which are tiny free-swimming crustaceans usually found abundantly in freshwater ponds. Humans can acquire GWD by drinking water that contains vectors infected with guinea worm larvae. This disease is prevalent in some of the most deprived areas of the world, and no vaccine or medicine is currently available. International efforts to eradicate dracunculiasis began in the early 1980s. Most dentists and maxillofacial surgeons have neglected this kind of parasite infection. However, when performing charitable work in developing countries near the tropic lines or other regions where GWD is endemic, it is important to consider GWD in cases of swelling or tumors of unknown origin. This paper reviews the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical criteria, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and prevention of dracunculiasis. It also summarizes important factors for maxillofacial surgeons to consider.

Dracunculiasis eradication--finishing the job before surprises arise

Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is a preventable waterborne parasitic disease that affects the poorest people living in remote rural areas in sub-Saharan African countries, who do not have access to safe drinking water. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program, a 25-year old campaign to rid the world of Guinea Worm disease has now reached its final stage accelerating to zero cases in all endemic countries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, dracunculiasis was common in much of Southern Asia and the African continent. The overall number of cases has been reduced tremendously by ≥99%, from the 3.32 million cases estimated to have occurred in 1986 in Africa to only 1,797 cases reported in 2010 reported in only five countries (Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, Chad and Ghana) and Asia free of the disease. This achievement is unique in its kind--the only previously eradicated disease is smallpox, a viral infection for which vaccination was possible--and it has been achieved through primary community-based prevention and health education programs. Most efforts need to be taken in two countries, South Sudan (comprising 94% or 1,698 out of 1,797 of the cases reported world-wide in 2010) and Mali because of frequent movements of nomads in a vast area inside and outside Mali's borders. All factors favourable to dracunculiasis eradication are available including adequate financial resources, community and political support and high levels of advocacy. Thus there is no reason that this disabling parasitic disease cannot be eradicated soon before surprises arise such as new civil conflicts in currently endemic countries.

Efeitos do óleo essencial produzido por baccharis dracunculifoliad. c. (asteraceae) sobre bactérias cariogênicas / Effects of the essential oil produced by the baccharis dracunculifolia d. c. (asteraceae) on cariogenic microorganisms

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana do óleo essencial produzido pela Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C. (Asteraceae), frente aos microrganismos cariogênicos Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 2575); S. sobrinus (ATCC 27607); S. sanguis (ATCC 10557) e Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 4646). Empregou-se a técnica de Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM); sendo que cada linhagem bacteriana foi reativada em caldo Tryptic Soy Broth, incubada a 37o C por 24 horas em microaerofilia e semeadas em meio de cultura Ágar Mueller Hintõn pela técnica de inundação. O óleo essencial foi empregado em concentrações de 100% a 0,19% e os halos de inibição mensurados. Verificou-se, na linhagem S. mutans, uma CIM de 6,25%. Para as linhagens S. sanguis e S. sobrinus, as CIMs observadas foram de 1,56%. Em relação ao L. casei, a CIM obtida foi de 3,12%. Com esses resultados podemos concluir que o óleo essencial produzido por B. dracunculifolia é capaz de inibir o crescimento das cepas bacterianas avaliadas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the essential oil produced by the Baccharis dracunculifolia D. C. (Asteraceae) towards the cariogenic microorganisms: Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 2575); S. sobrinus (ATCC27607); S. sanguis (ATCC 10557) and L. casei (ATCC 4646). The technique used was the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Each bacterium branch was reactivated in Tryptic Soy Broth, incubated in 37º C for 24 hours in Ágar Mueller Hintön culture. The essential oil was used from 100 % to 0.19 % concentration and the inhibition halo was measured. It was verifi ed that the S. mutans branch presented 6.25 % MIC. The S. sanguis and S. sobrinus presented 1.56 % MIC. The MIC was 3.12 % for the L. casei. We concluded that the essential oil produced by the B. dracunculifolia inhibits the growth of the bacteria evaluated.

Immunodiagnosis of early dracunculiasis.

The enzymes linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test human sera from patients with prepatent and patent Dracunculus medinensis infection with adult worm antigen to asses its potential value in the Immunodiagnosis of early asymptomatic guinea worm infection. The serum antibody response of prepatent sera samples from asymptomatic infected individuals showed a progressive increase in antibody level till the appearance of patent infection. It may be possible to detect the infection at least six months before the emergence of worms in an individual by using this test.

Reporte de un caso de dracunculosis en un canino en la provincia de Formosa - Argentina / Dracunculiasis in a dog in Formosa - Argentina : case report

Se comunica el hallazgo de Dracunculus sp. en un canino proveniente de la localidade de Fontana, Departamento Patino, provincia de Formosa, Argentina. El hallazgo constituye el cuarto caso de Dracunculosis registrado en animales en una misma area geografica de Formosa.