Ontogeny of risk assessment and escape-hatching performance by red-eyed treefrog embryos in two threat contexts.

Arboreal embryos of red-eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, hatch prematurely in response to hypoxia when flooded and to mechanosensory cues in snake attacks, but hatching later improves tadpole survival. We studied ontogenetic changes in risk assessment and hatching performance of embryos in response to flooding and physical disturbance. We hypothesized that risk assessment decreases as hatchling survival improves and hatching performance increases as embryos develop. Because snakes eat faster than embryos asphyxiate, we hypothesized that embryos decide to hatch sooner and hatch faster in response to mechanosensory cues. We video-recorded individual embryos hatching in response to each cue type, then compared the incidence and timing of a series of events and behaviors from cue onset to complete hatching across ages and stimuli. Latency from cue to hatching decreased developmentally in both contexts and was shorter with mechanosensory cues, but the elements contributing to those changes differed. Hypoxia assessment involved position changes, which decreased developmentally along with assessment time. Mechanosensory cue assessment occurred more rapidly, without movement, and decreased with age. The first stages of hatching, membrane rupture and head emergence, were surprisingly age independent but faster with mechanosensory cues, congruent with greater effort under more immediate risk. In contrast, body emergence and compression showed ontogenetic improvement consistent with morphological constraints but no cue effect. Both appropriate timing and effective performance of hatching are necessary for continued development. Different stages of the process vary with development and environmental context, suggesting combinations of adaptive context- and stage-dependent behavior, cue-related constraints on information acquisition, and ontogenetic constraints on elements of performance.

Prevalence of swallowing difficulties in older people without neurological disorders: Swallowing profile of older people in the city of Santos, Brazil.

Several studies report that 40% to 60% of older people have some difficulty chewing and/or swallowing, which can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, a lack of eating desire, etc. Identify older adults with swallowing difficulties in the city of Santos, Brazil, among users of the public healthcare system. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 individuals aged 60 to 90 years with no neurological disorders. Patient histories were taken, and stomatognathic evaluations were performed. The Mini Mental Health Examination (MMHE) and swallowing-related quality-of-life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) were administered. The clinical swallowing assessment was performed with liquid, pasty and solid foods using two assessment protocols (Dysphagia Risk Evaluation Protocol and the Protocol for the Introduction and Transition of Foods)'. We found complaints of poorly adapted dentures among 49.3% of denture wearers and a high prevalence of hypofunction of oro-facial muscles. Sixty-five per cent of the respondents had facial muscle hypofunction, 51% exhibited lip hypofunction, and 49% exhibited tongue hypofunction. Moreover, 54% reported difficulty swallowing. On the SWAL-QOL questionnaire, 37% reported choking when eating food, 44% reported choking when drinking liquids, 29% reported coughing during meals, and 77% reported difficulty chewing. The present study revealed an important prevalence of complaints related to swallowing difficulties among older people in the city of Santos with structural and physiological changes characteristic of presbyphagia. The most prevalent conditions were poorly adapted dentures and hypofunction of oro-facial muscles, underscoring the importance of stomatognathic interventions in primary care.

Shedding of HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, and EBV in the saliva of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients at Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia, Bogotá, D.C.

INTRODUCTION: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients is an alternative treatment for different diseases. The conditioning regimen for transplant predisposes recipients to the development of infections. Viral infections by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), human cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are the most common, and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients. These viruses lie dormant in various cell types and the reactivation of latent infections may lead to asymptomatic viral shedding in saliva. The detection of these viruses in secretions may contribute to understand the behavioral dynamics of these viral infections in transplanted patients, and to the early diagnosis of reactivation.  OBJECTIVE: To assess HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and EBV viral shedding in the saliva of patients admitted for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia between January and November of 2012.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated stimulated saliva samples of 17 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients weekly. We performed DNA extraction from saliva, and we evaluated the presence of DNA for HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, and EBV by PCR.  RESULTS: While we detected HSV-2 and CMV DNA in the saliva of four patients, EBV DNA was detected in nine patients with leukopenia. In contrast, we did not detect HSV-1 DNA in saliva. Additionally, four out of the 17 patients showed a simultaneous shedding of CMV and EBV.  CONCLUSIONS: By conventional PCR, we demonstrated asymptomatic HSV-2, CMV, and EBV viral shedding in saliva, associated with leukopenia.

Descarga de HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV y EBV en la saliva de receptores de trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos de la Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia, Bogotá, DC / Shedding of HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, and EBV in the saliva of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients at Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia, Bogotá, DC

Introducción. El trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos es una alternativa en el tratamiento de diversas condiciones en la población pediátrica. La intensidad del acondicionamiento para el trasplante predispone al desarrollo de complicaciones en los receptores. Las infecciones por el virus herpes simple 1 (HSV-1), el virus herpes simple 2 (HSV-2), el citomegalovirus (CMV) humano y el virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV) son una causa importante de morbimortalidad en estos pacientes. La reactivación de infecciones latentes puede producir descargas virales asintomáticas detectables en la saliva, lo cual ayuda a determinar el comportamiento de dichas infecciones en pacientes con trasplante y a establecer el diagnóstico temprano de la reactivación. Objetivo. Evaluar el comportamiento de la descarga viral de HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV y EBV en la saliva de pacientes hospitalizados en la Unidad de Trasplante de la Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia, entre enero y noviembre de 2012. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron muestras de saliva de 17 receptores de trasplante. La presencia de ADN de HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV y EBV en las muestras de saliva se detectó mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa convencional. Resultados. Se detectó el ADN del HSV-2 en la saliva de cuatro pacientes, del CMV en la de cuatro y del EBV en la de nueve, lo cual se asoció con leucopenia. Cuatro de los 17 pacientes presentaron cargas simultáneas de CMV y EBV. No se detectó el ADN del HSV-1. Conclusiones: Se demostró una descarga asintomática de HSV-2, CMV y EBV asociada a leucopenia en la saliva de los pacientes.

Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients is an alternative treatment for different diseases. The conditioning regimen for transplant predisposes recipients to the development of infections. Viral infections by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), human cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are the most common, and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients. These viruses lie dormant in various cell types and the reactivation of latent infections may lead to asymptomatic viral shedding in saliva. The detection of these viruses in secretions may contribute to understand the behavioral dynamics of these viral infections in transplanted patients, and to the early diagnosis of reactivation. Objective: To assess HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and EBV viral shedding in the saliva of patients admitted for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at Fundación HOMI - Hospital de la Misericordia between January and November of 2012. Materials and methods: We evaluated stimulated saliva samples of 17 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients weekly. We performed DNA extraction from saliva, and we evaluated the presence of DNA for HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, and EBV by PCR. Results: While we detected HSV-2 and CMV DNA in the saliva of four patients, EBV DNA was detected in nine patients with leukopenia. In contrast, we did not detect HSV-1 DNA in saliva. Additionally, four out of the 17 patients showed a simultaneous shedding of CMV and EBV. Conclusions: By conventional PCR, we demonstrated asymptomatic HSV-2, CMV, and EBV viral shedding in saliva, associated with leukopenia.

Impacto de un programa de foto-educación en los conocimientos y hábitos de una población escolar / Impact of a UV education program on the knowledge and behavior in elementary school children

Introducción. Colombia está expuesta todo el año a altos índices de radiación ultravioleta. Aunque aún no se cuenta con estadísticas precisas del cáncer cutáneo, se sabe que este problema es una causa frecuente de consulta, presentándose cada día en personas más jóvenes. Por esta razón, se realizó un trabajo de foto-educación en colegios de estrato socioeconómico 1 a 4 en Cali. Objetivo. Determinar el impacto de la foto-educación en los conocimientos y prácticas de fotoprotección en una población escolar. Materiales y métodos. Se estudiaron 547 niños de kinder hasta tercero de primaria provenientes de cuatro colegios de estratos 1 a 4. Se evaluaron los conocimientos y hábitos en el tema mediante una encuesta. Un colegio estrato 1-2 y otro de estrato 3-4 recibieron el programa de foto-educación. Los dos colegios restantes, uno estrato 1-2 y otro estrato 3-4 fueron los controles no intervenidos. Posteriormente, se aplicó la misma encuesta en los cuatro colegios y se realizó el análisis estadístico para evaluar el impacto de la foto-educación, comparando los intervenidos con los no intervenidos. Resultados. Se evidenció un cambio estadísticamente significativo en los conocimientos y hábitos adecuados a favor de los colegios intervenidos. La foto-educación fue más efectiva en los estratos socioeconómicos más bajos. Discusión. Se demostró cómo con un programa sencillo se logró brindar foto-educación a niños de estratos 1 a 4, y cómo los estratos más bajos demostraron ser los más susceptibles de mejorar. Conclusiones. Se requiere un seguimiento en el tiempo para evaluar la duración de los conocimientos y convertir este tipo de programas en campañas continuas y generalizadas, preferentemente como parte del pensum escolar

[Impact of a UV education program on the knowledge and behavior in elementary school children]. / Impacto de un programa de foto-educación en los conocimientos y hábitos de una población escolar.

INTRODUCTION: Colombians are exposed year round to high doses of ultraviolet radiation. Although no reliable epidemiological data are available for the incidence of skin cancer, it is a frequent pathology not limited to advanced age classes. OBJECTIVE: The current study was done at elementary schools in Cali in zones categorized at socioeconomic levels 1 to 4 to evaluate the impact of a photo-education program for its effect on the knowledge and behavior of a group of elementary school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred forty-seven children from kindergarten to grade three were evaluated in 4 schools categorized in socioeconomic levels 1 to 4. The students were interviewed to evaluate their knowledge and behavior with regard to effects of UV exposure. One school rated at level 1-2 and one school at level 3-4 received education on UV protection. Other two schools, rated at levels 1-2 and 3-4 each received no education on UV protection. The questionnaire was repeated in the 4 schools, and a statistical analysis was done to evaluate the impact the education program had on educated and control groups. RESULTS: The children that received the education program showed statistically significant improvement in behavior and knowledge. The education was more effective in low socioeconomic level populations. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up studies are required to evaluate how knowledge persists over time. The need of a public health campaign to educate children in skin cancer prevention is evident.