Evolution of consanguinity in the Archbishopric of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) during 1900-1979.

We present a study of the frequencies of the different types of consanguineous marriages, up to the level of second cousins, using as a source the ecclesiastical dispensations given from 1900 to 1979 in the Archbishopric of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). We also report the rate of consanguinity, the average coefficient of inbreeding, and its evolution. From 1900 to 1979, 15,739 consanguineous marriages were registered, corresponding to 25 different categories of relationship. The rate of consanguinity of the total number of consanguineous marriages is 5.13% and the average coefficient of inbreeding is 1.94 x 10(-3), values that are within the wide range of variability found in other Spanish populations. Spain is characterized, with regard to the rest of Western Europe, by a high level of inbreeding with a late and rapid decrease in this factor. The most relevant aspect of the structure of consanguinity lies in the high frequency of marriages between close relatives: 0.16% uncle-niece or aunt-nephew marriages and 1.62% marriages between first cousins, both values with respect to the total number of marriages. This phenomenon appears to be generalized throughout northern Spain. The evolution of the total consanguinity lends itself to a polynomial curve model. The fitted curve of the evolution of the average coefficient of inbreeding has an ascending branch and a descending branch, with the inflection point situated in the year 1918; the regression lines, for both the ascending and the descending branches, have regression coefficients significantly different from 0 (p < 0.001).

[The use of hypertonic glucose solution in acute alcoholic intoxication: a double-blind study]. / Uso da glicose hipertônica na intoxicação alcoólica aguda: um estudo duplo-cego.

The authors have performed a double-blind study, evaluating blood levels of glucose and ethanol and the neurologic status of 83 alcoholized patients who were admitted to an emergency hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The patients were evaluated and admittance to the service and 40 minutes later. The mean glycemia was 90 +/- 21mg/dl, with most patients with the normal range. One patient, whose blood glucose level was 63mg/dl, presented hypoglycemic symptoms. Blood glucose and ethanol concentrations were not found to have linear correlation. Immediately after the first evaluation, 20ml of 50% glucose was administrated to 41 patients. The others received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution as placebo. No statistic difference was found between the two groups with regard to the lowering of ethanol levels after the 40min interval. The neurologic status was evaluated through a score test adapted by the authors. Both groups presented similar score improvement. The results reinforce the idea that glucose should be administered to alcoholized patients only when hypoglycemia signs are present.