Unusual productivity of Aedes aegypti in septic tanks and its implications for dengue control.

Increased DEN-2 virus transmission in Puerto Rico during 2005 prompted the implementation of a rapid intervention programme to suppress Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) emergence, which in turn lead to the discovery of previously unknown breeding sites underground. Initially, the following control measures were applied in Playa/Playita (PP), a town of 1,400 households, to all areas where the number of pupae per person exceeded the expected threshold for dengue transmission; all containers likely to be aquatic habitats were turned over and containers too large to turn were treated with 1 p.p.m. methoprene. The impact of these interventions was evaluated by comparing the number of resting adult mosquitoes (by backpack aspiration and sweepnetting in bedrooms) pre-intervention, with numbers at 3 and 5 weeks post-intervention, and by evaluating pupal density at 4 weeks post-intervention in PP and in a nearby town, Coqui (CO; 1500 households), which was not treated. The pre-intervention and post-intervention densities of resting Ae. aegypti adults were significantly larger in the intervention town, although the density of pupae in surface containers was low and similar in both towns at 4 weeks post-intervention. At 3 weeks post-intervention, the density of resting adults decreased by only 18% of pre-intervention levels, but returned to pre-intervention levels 5 weeks after treatment. By contrast, the density of resting adults in CO steadily decreased to 48% and 61%, at 3 and 5 weeks after the initial surveys, respectively. Geographical Information Systems identified significant clustering of adult mosquitoes, which led to the discovery of underground aquatic habitats (septic tanks) that were producing large numbers of Ae. aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) in the treated town. We calculated that septic tanks could produce > 18 000 Ae. aegypti and approximately 170 000 Cx quinquefasciatus adults per day. Septic tanks are likely to be common and widespread in suburban and rural Puerto Rico, where, apparently, they can contribute significantly to the maintenance of island-wide dengue virus endemicity.

Fuzzy techniques for environmental-impact assessment in the mineral deposit of Punta Gorda (Moa, Cuba).

An Environmental-Impact Assessment (EIA) makes it possible to determine whether or not a project is compatible with nature, and thus whether the project qualifies to be executed. The Environmental-Impact Assessment is intended to establish a balance between the development of human activities and the environment. In this work, an Environmental-Impact Assessment of the mineral deposit of Punta Gorda (Moa, Cuba) is made, using fuzzy techniques. Two previous works have been combined: an appropriate linguistic model built with fuzzy techniques, providing a framework for handling qualitative and quantitative variables, and an environmental-impact assessment carried out according to a classical methodology.

Teratoma sacrococcigeo en niños: análisis de 22 casos

Se reportan 22 casos de teratoma a sacrococcigeo que se presentaron al Hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral durante la década 1978 a 1988 86% de los casos correspondieron al sexo femenino, 82% de los pacientes tenían menos de 3 años de edad 95% de los tumores eran benignos, 5% malignos. El tumor fue extirpado en todos los casos con 0% de mortalidad

Effect of anaesthesia on the blood loss in first trimester medical termination of pregnancies.

PIP: 220 patients undergoing suction evacuation (less than 12 weeks gestation) were given either a paracervical block (xylocaine, n=190) or a general anesthesia (thiopental plus nitrous oxide, n=30) to study the effect of anesthesia on blood loss. General anesthesia caused heavier blood loss (about 4 times as heavy overall). The incidence of patients with blood loss up to 60 ml was 81% with paracervical block and only 10% in general anesthesias. Blood loss of more than 300 ml was found in 10% of cases, all from the general group. Minimum blood loss under general was 60 ml compared with 5 ml using paracervical block. The maximum blood loss was 405 ml, i.e., 1.4 times the amount lost with paracervical block (286 ml). It was also found that blood loss was dependent on gestation age as well. It doubled under general and tripled under paracervical block when period of gestation increased from 4-6 weeks to 7-8 weeks. Blood loss was statistically significantly greater at every 2 weeks of gestation (P .05). When compared with the same period of gestation, blood loss was always more in abortions done under generals than paracervicals. Blood loss was 5-6 times more under general at 4-8 weeks gestati and 2-3 times more at 9-12 weeks compared with paracervical block (P .01).^ieng

The influence of oxytocics on the blood loss in first trimester medical termination of pregnancies.

PIP: In an effort to study blood loss after Termination of pregnancy 190 1st trimester medical termination cases were divided into 3 groups: 1) a control group (70 patients) where no oxytocic agent was used; 2) a Syntocinon group (60 patients) where 10 units of Synotocin diluted in glucose was given; and 3) a Methergin group (60 patients) who received .2 mgm of Methyl Ergonovine. Results indicated that blood loss was twice as high in the control group as in the Methergin group. When oxytocics were used no patient had blood loss of more than 250 ml compared to 1.43% of patients in the control group who lost more than 250 ml. As gestation increased to 11-12 weeks blood loss also increased in the control group to 17 times more than at 4-6 weeks loss, 15 times more in the Syntocinon group and 11.5 times more in Ergometrine. No statistically signficant difference in amount of blood loss between the Oxytocin and Erogemetrine group could be found. However Ergometrine use increased blood pressure and vomiting.^ieng

Septic abortions and their management.

PIP: During calender 1968, the septic abortion incidence at a New Dehli hospital was 3.7%. Of these 107 women, 4 patients were under 20 and 7 over 40. 69.1% were classed as Type I, with infection confined to the uterus. These women generally responded to early treatment. When curettage was done during the febrile period, 93% remained afebrile. If curettage was performed during the febrile period, 94% continued febrile. 18% were classed as Type II, which included parametritis, pelvic peritonitis, pelvic abscess or spread to the adnexae. These patients responded better to curettage after 24-48 hours of antibiotic therapy. 11% of the women were Type III, with widespread sepsis. The death rate was 8.4% of the septic abortions. Treatment with antibiotics before curettage seems to be a more effective means of managing spetic abortion.^ieng

The causes of mortality in abortion.

PIP: 17 maternal deaths associated with abortion during 1967-1968 at a New Delhi hospital are analyzed. The mortality rate was .25% of total abortions. Age varied from 18-35. Only 1 was unmarried. 62.5% admitted to interference. 81% of the patients had signs of sepsis although no pathogenic organisms were found in 2 of the patients with septicemia, presumably as a result of antibiotic treatment. In most of the cases there was a delay in seeking medical attention. Specific causes of death were hemorrhage and sepsis, although the main factors were probably socioeconomic and delay in seeking advice.^ieng