Oral cancer knowledge in adults evaluated through a phone survey in the context of the SARS-CoV2 health emergency in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: in Colombia, oral cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer, with an estimated survival rate of 52%. Lack of knowledge about oral cancer and its risk factors is associated with late detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 268 patients attending the School of Dentistry of the University of Antioquia clinics, to whom a validated 47-question questionnaire was applied by phone during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021). Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: the mean age was 58.9. 58.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer, 42% acquire knowledge from the media, and 96.7% considered screening necessary. Most of the patients expressed not feeling worried (54.5%), fearful (59.7%), or anxious (56.3%) in the case of being submitted to an examination for early detection of oral cancer. A correlation between low socioeconomic status and educational level with less knowledge of oral cancer was found. The dimensions of experience and attitude towards screening were not associated with sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: There is little knowledge about oral cancer, especially in low socioeconomic and educational status, although this does not occur in the dimensions of attitude and experience toward screening. In contrast, patients participating in this study presented high knowledge about oral cancer risk. This population recognizes the situations most related to the development of cancer. This level of knowledge was similar for the demographic conditions except for people with no education, who presented less knowledge of the risks. The need for educational campaigns on oral cancer knowledge is reaffirmed, especially in socially disadvantaged groups, considering that there would be no barriers related to screening.

Ejaculate fractioning effect on llama sperm head morphometry as assessed by the ISAS(®) CASA system.

South American camelid sperm characteristics are poorly known compared with those of other domestic animals. The long-term duration of ejaculation makes difficult to gather all the seminal fluid, implying possible ejaculation portion losses. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the characteristics of the morphology and morphometry of the spermatozoa change during ejaculation. The morphometric characterization was tested on nine specimens of the Lanuda breed, using a special artificial vagina. In five of the animals, a fractioning of the ejaculate was performed by taking samples every 5 min. for a total of 20 min. Air-dried seminal smears were stained with Hemacolor and mounted permanently with Eukitt. Morphometric analysis was carried out with the morphometry module of the ISAS(®) CASA system. Almost 350 cells were analysed per sample, with a total number of 3207 spermatozoa. Mean values were given as follows: length: 5.51 µm; width: 3.38 µm; area: 17.75 µm(2) ; perimeter: 14.8 µm; ellipticity: 0.24; elongation: 0.56; rugosity: 0.87; regularity: 1.07; and shape factor: 1.41. Different animals showed differences in their morphometric values. When we compared the values from different fractions, only two samples showed differences in morphometric parameter values and four samples showed differences in shape parameters. Multivariate analysis allowed the size classification of the cells into three classes and five classes of shapes. The distribution of classes among fractions showed no differences. Despite the individual morphometric differences observed in some fractions, the characteristics of the sperm head morphometry can be considered constant along the ejaculatory period in the llama.

Lactobacillus plantarum CECT7315 and CECT7316 stimulate immunoglobulin production after influenza vaccination in elderly / Lactobacillus plantarum CECT7315 y CECT7316 estimula la producción de inmunoglobulinas tras la vacunación contra la influenza en ancianos

Objective: The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing illness is lower in the elderly; this is why the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315/7316 to stimulate the response to influenza vaccination in elderly was evaluated. Research methods and procedures: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial including 60 institutionalized volunteers aged 65-85 years was performed. All the volunteers were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza vaccine (A/Wisconsin/67/2005 NYMC X-161B (H3N2), A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1) and B/Malaysia/2506/2004) for the Spanish vaccine campaign 2006/2007. The consumption of the probiotic began between three and four months after the vaccination. Volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three following groups: group A (receiving 5*109 cfu/day of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 in 20 g powdered skim milk), group B (receiving 5*108 cfu/day of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 in 20 g powdered skim milk) and group C or placebo (20 g powered skim milk). The participants consumed the probiotic during 3 months. Results: The consumption of L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 during 3 months after influenza vaccination increased the levels of influenza-specific IgA and IgG antibodies. Moreover, a trend towards an increase in influenza-specific IgM antibodies was also observed. Conclusion: L. plantarum CECT7315/7316 has an immunostimulating effect and could be used to improve the response to influenza vaccination in elderly (AU)

Introducción y objetivos: La efectividad de la vacunación contra la influenza es menor en ancianos por lo que en este trabajo se evalúa la habilidad de las cepas de Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7315/7316 para estimular la respuesta a la vacuna contra la influenza en ancianos. Métodos: 60 ancianos institucionalizados (65-85 años) participaron en un diseño aleatorizado, doble ciego controlado por placebo. Los voluntarios fueron vacunados con una vacuna trivalente contra influenza (A/Wisconsin/67/2005 NYMC X-161B (H3N2), A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1) and B/Malaysia/2506/2004) durante la campaña española de vacunación 2006/2007. El consumo del probiótico empezó entre tres y cuatro meses después de la vacunación. Los voluntarios fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en tres grupos: grupo A (recibieron 5*109 ufc/día de L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 en 20 g de leche desnatada en polvo), grupo B (recibieron 5*108 ufc/día de L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 en 20 g de leche desnatada en polvo) y grupo C o placebo (recibieron 20 g de leche desnatada en polvo). Los participantes consumieron el probiótico durante 3 meses. Resultados: El consumo de L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 durante tres meses después de la vacunación contra influenza incrementó los niveles de anticuerpos IgA y IgG específicos contra la influenza. Además, se observó una tendencia hacia un incremento en los niveles de anticuerpos IgM específicos contra la influenza. Conclusiones: Las cepas de L. plantarum CECT 7315/7316 tienen un efecto inmunoestimulador y podrían utilizarse para mejorar la respuesta a la vacuna contra la influenza en ancianos (AU)

Púrpura fulminante idiopática con déficit transitorio de proteína S / Idiopathic purpura fulminans with severe protein S deficiency

La púrpura fulminante idiopática cursa con lesiones cutáneas purpuroequimóticas, planas, rápidamente progresivas y coagulopatía intravascular diseminada (CID), en ausencia de infección activa o alteraciones previas de la coagulación. Afecta fundamentalmente a niños y en el 90 por ciento de los casos está precedida por una infección banal. La base patogénica es un déficit transitorio de proteína S, mediado por autoanticuerpos, que propicia un estado de hipercoagulabilidad. Se presenta un caso en un varón de 2 años previamente sano, con lesiones purpúricas cutáneas características de púrpura fulminante y CID en ausencia de sepsis. Se constató un déficit grave pero transitorio de proteínas S. Precisó tratamiento sustitutivo con plasma fresco congelado durante 12 días y anticoagulación durante 3 meses, siendo la evolución favorable. La actividad de proteína S permaneció disminuida durante 50 días a pesar de la normalización precoz del resto de los parámetros (AU)