Women's Ecofeminist Spirituality: Origins and Applications to Psychotherapy.

The aim of this paper is to theoretically explore the origins and possible psychotherapeutic applications of some neo-pagan, neo-shamanic, or psycho-spiritual women's movements that are currently spreading in Western countries. In spite of their great diversity, they are all encompassed within the term "ecofeminist spirituality." This article analyzes their ideological, historical, and cultural origins, placing special emphasis on their psychotherapeutic role and describing the main tools and fields of application.

Impaired mitogenic response of peripheral blood T cells in ulcerative colitis is not due to apoptosis.

An abnormal immune response may play a pathogenic role in ulcerative colitis (UC). Animal models suggest that T-cell regulation may be of central importance in the inflammatory process. Our aims were the characterization of the phenotype and functional status of circulating T-cells in ulcerative colitis patients and to determine if activation-induced cell death in CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in patients differs from healthy controls. Forty-eight patients (24 women and 24 men) fulfilling the histopathological, clinical, and immunological criteria for UC were studied. T-cell phenotype and function were studied in blood lymphocytes from patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy donors by flow cytometric analysis, as well as [3H]thymidine incorporation. There were no significant differences in the percentage of T-cell subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8) and NK cells in the different groups. The percentage of cells in growth phase S+G2M at two and three days of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was significantly decreased in UC patients, but the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in UC patients that showed apoptosis was not significantly different than that in the control group. Proliferative responses to IL-4 also suggested that a reduced responsiveness to this cytokine may be involved in UC. In conclusion, the impaired proliferative response to PHA of T lymphocytes from UC patients is not associated with an in vitro increase in the apoptotic response in CD4+ or CD8+ cells. A reduced IL-4 response may be involved in this peculiar mitogenic response. These changes may be pathogenic or a favorable adaptive mechanism.

Fiebre tifoidea. Complicaciones en 782 ninos hospitalizados. / Typhoid fever.Complications in 782 hospitalized children

Se revisaron 782 casos de fiebre tifoidea en ninos hospitalizados a traves de un periodo de 5 anos en dos establecimientos de Santiago Los separamos en 2 grupos: a) con bacteriologia negativa. b) complicados o no complicados Se analizaron porcentaje, tipo, tratamiento y evolucion de los casos complicados. El resultado de nuestra revision indica que se complica el 12,7% de los casos. De ellos, solo el 5,4% corresponde a casos bacteriologicamente confirmados y el 7,3% a casos con bacteriologia negativa. Se uso cloramfenicol en la mayoria de los pacientes, solo excepcionalmente se recurrio a la cirugia; la evolucion de casi todos fue satisfactoria, excepto en caso en el que el paciente fallecio

Pregnancy in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.

The obstetric and hematologic problems in 21 pregnancies of 18 patients with ATP are analyzed: one maternal and one fetal death occurred. Urinary estriol and oxytocinase were measured. Eighteen infants were born by vaginal delivery and three by cesarean section. None of the 20 liveborn infants died, but they had NIP due to the passage of maternal antibodies to the fetus. These results are compared to those reported in previous publications. The obstetric management of these patients should be individualized and carefully planned; it should not be based on the platelet count.