The 100 Most Cited Articles on Functional Neurosurgery in Latin America: A Scientometric Analysis.

Significant progress has been made in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (SFN) within Latin America (LATAM), which can be attributed to the rapid advancements in technology and a growing pool of expertise. However, despite the growing importance of this field, a comprehensive scientometric analysis of LATAM contributions is still lacking. The aim of this study is to shed light on the top-cited articles in the field authored by LATAM researchers. A search of the Scopus database was performed using specific keywords in the field of SFN to retrieve the top 100 most cited articles. Only those with LATAM affiliation for the first or corresponding position were included. The 100 top-cited articles were published between 1978 and 2019 across 47 different journals. On average, these articles had a citation count of 97.2 citations. A total of 635 LATAM authors were identified, including 145 women. Notably, the 5 most productive and impactful authors were Velasco F., Velasco M., Velasco A.L., Cukiert A., and Jiménez F. Within the field of SFN, epilepsy accounted for 47% of the documents, while the remaining 53% encompassed research on psychiatric diseases, movement disorders, translational research, pain, and electrical mapping. Epilepsia emerged as the journal with the highest number of articles. Mexico and Brazil contributed the most articles, with the University of São Paulo and the Hospital General de Mexico being the most productive institutions. This scientometric analysis highlights the impactful research contributions from the region, identifies influential authors and institutions, and emphasizes the necessity for additional collaboration and exploration.

Minimally Invasive Retrosigmoidal Parasterional Burr-Hole Approach: Technique and Neuropathic Pain Amelioration after Microvascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia, a common condition in clinical practice, often occurs due to vascular compression caused by aberrant or ectopic arterial or venous vessels. Microvascular decompression through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal approach has shown high rates of pain control, low complication rates, and excellent therapeutic results. OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical technique and clinical outcomes in terms of pain relief after microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole technique. METHODS: A group of patients with trigeminal neuralgia refractory to medical management who underwent microvascular decompression were examined. The records of the patients were considered retrospectively (2016-2018), and the outcomes were considered based on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale (BNIPS) added to a technical note of the surgical technique for a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were evaluated, and clinical assessment after surgical intervention showed a decrease in pain according to the VAS, resulting from an average preoperative state of 9.5 ± 0.37 to a postoperative condition of 1.32 ± 1.28, exhibiting statistically significant changes (p < 0.0001, d = 9.356). On the other hand, in relation to the BNIPS scale, a decrease from an average preoperative status of 4.55 ± 0.25 to a postoperative status at 12 months of 1.73 ± 0.54 was also demonstrated, showing significant changes (p < 0.0001, d = 3.960). CONCLUSION: Microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole is feasible and can be a safe and effective technique for the management of pain. However, further research employing larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is necessary.

Neuropathic Pain and Positive Sensory Symptoms in Brachial Plexus Neuropathy: An Exploratory Study of Outcomes after Surgical Decompression and Proposal of a New Sensory Frequency of Symptoms Scale.

BACKGROUND: There are no articles that aim to evaluate the specific role of surgical decompression on the recovery of pain and positive sensory symptoms (PSS) in patients with brachial plexus neuropathy (BPN), as well as the relationship between pain and frequency of sensory manifestations. METHODS: A prospective before and after study was performed, considering the pain intensity through the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the frequency of PSS through a proposed new scale: Sensory Frequency of Symptoms Scale (SFSS). To compare the patients before and after the intervention, a paired T-test, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Cohen's D test were made, coupled with a Spearman analysis in order to establish the relationship between pain and PSS. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in the study, the clinical evaluation showed changes in pain according with VAS, going from a mean preoperative state of 8.19 to 1.31 after surgery, showing significant changes (84%, p < 0.00006, Δ = 2.776). Within the PSS, a significant decrease was observed in paresthesias (74%, p < 0.0001, Δ = 1.645), dysesthesias (80%, p < 0.002, Δ = 1.453), and allodynia (70%, p = 0.031, Δ = 0.635). Conversely, the preoperative correlation analysis between pain and dysesthesias/allodynia showed a low and non-significant relationship (R < 0.4, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical decompression is an effective technique for the relief of pain and sensory manifestations in adult patients with BPN of compressive origin. No relationship was observed between pain and dysesthesias/allodynia. Therefore, during clinical evaluation, they should be considered as independent manifestations, highlighting the need to validate new scales.

Prognostic factors of unilateral prelemniscal radiations radiofrequency lesions: A surgical technique for the treatment of Parkinson's disease motor symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: A group of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were managed with unilateral prelemniscal radiation radiofrequency lesions (U-Raprl). The current study aims to evaluate prognostic factors that could influence clinical response. METHODS: Patients previously diagnosed with PD managed with U-Raprl were included in the study, classifying them into two groups according to their percentage of clinical response ( 1.5), Age (p < 0.0001, ∆ = 2.38), Evolution (p < 0.0001, ∆ = 2.38), and post-operative UPDRS (p < 0.01, ∆ = 1.38). The qualitative analysis of the distribution regarding the responder group shows that those patients with an age under 58 years, an evolution fewer than 7 years, and a preoperative HYS score smaller than 2, showed a response ≥ 50% according to the UPDRS-III in all cases. CONCLUSION: U-Raprl is a highly effective procedure with a 5-year persistence of improvement. The most relevant prognostic factors to consider for a clinical response according to UPDRS-III greater than 50% are age under 58 years, less than 7 years of PD evolution, and HYS less or equal to 3.

Neuropathic Pain Relief after Surgical Neurolysis in Patients with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries: A Preliminary Report.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of surgical neurolysis for neuropathic pain relief in patients with posttraumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI). Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, nonrandomized, self-controlled before and after study was performed to evaluate the pain changes according to their intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the sensory recovery after surgery using the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) scale for sensory recovery. To establish significant changes, a paired T-test was performed, and in order to determine the magnitude of these changes, an effect size was measured. α = 0.05. Results: Ten patients were included with an average follow-up of 61.9 ± 53.62 months. The main mechanism of injury was vehicular trauma (70%). A significant decrease in pain after the surgical intervention was observed resulting from an average preoperative state according to VAS of 8.4 ± 1.58, to a postoperative state of 3.4 ± 3.27 (59.52%, p = 0.005, Δ = 1.572), added to a mean sensory improvement (25%) from 2.8 ± 1.62 to 3.5 ± 0.97 after surgery according to BMRC, without statistically significant changes (p=0.062), showing a moderate effect size (Δ = 0.413). Almost all patients showed improvement in the continuous and paroxysmal pattern of pain. No postoperative complications were observed. Discussion. These results suggest that in cases of BPI that originates from a compressive syndrome secondary to the posttraumatic fibrosis that surrounds the nerve structures causing strangulation and inducing hypernociception, the use of surgical neurolysis is an appropriate alternative for patients with medically refractory neuropathic pain.

Bibliometric Analysis of Mexican Publications on Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery From 1949 to 2021.

Background: Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery (SFN) is a rapidly evolving field and some emerging countries, especially Mexico, have made significant contributions to this discipline. A bibliometric analysis has never been performed in Latin America, and this would be particularly important to show the areas that remain poorly studied, and design research strategies for the future. Methods: Scopus was queried using keywords pertaining to functional neurosurgery, restricting the affiliation country to Mexico, and considering documents published after 1949. Added to the initial search, a complementary literature exploration by author, considering the publications of the most productive neurosurgeons, was performed. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. Results: From 5,109 articles, only 371 were eligible. Scientific production has gradually increased with time. Epilepsy (31%) and movement disorders (27.4%) were the most studied neurological conditions, whereas the other 41.6% corresponded to pain, behavior disorders, spinal cord injuries, neuromodulation, stereotactic biopsies, and SFN history. Level of evidence was predominantly level V (59.1%). Publication output is highly skewed to Mexico City, which represents 78.4% of national production. Relative to factors associated with impact of research, publications in English had more citations (28.5 mean citations per paper), and journals with an impact factor greater than one had more than 10 mean citations per paper. Conclusions: Mexico has experienced an increase in the productivity of SFN literature, addressing the most prevalent issues in the country (epilepsy and motor disorders). However, it is necessary to report studies with a higher level of evidence, as well as to decentralize the research collaborating with national institutions outside Mexico City. On the other hand, it is imperative to promote scientific production in English and in high-impact indexed journals to increase the visibility of our production. We would like to call upon our colleagues in other countries to reproduce our methodology, in order to determine the factors associated with the impact and productivity on SFN research.

A Case of Dentatotomy for Pain and Spasticity and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical interventions for spasticity aim to improve motor function and pain in cases that are refractory to medical treatment. Ablation of the cerebellar dentate nucleus (dentatotomy) may be a useful alternative. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old male patient with spasticity, secondary to a traumatic cervical spinal cord injury with quadriparesis, had bilateral lumbar DREZotomy with an improvement that lasted for 6 years. Ten years after the DREZotomy, a progressive increased spasticity manifested as spastic diplegia (Ashworth 4) and spontaneous muscle painful spasms (Penn 4), as well as spasticity in the upper extremities, predominantly on the right side (Ashworth 3). A right radio frequency dentatotomy was performed with intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring. Spasticity scales were applied at the following times: preoperative and at 1 and 8 months after surgery. During the first month, the patient presented a clear decrease in spasticity ipsilateral to the side of lesioning (Ashworth 1) and of painful spasms in the lower extremities (Penn 1). After 8 months, spasticity ipsilateral to the injury decreased even more to Ashworth (0), but a progressive increase in muscle spasms of lower extremities was observed (Penn 2). CONCLUSION: Stereotactic dentatotomy may be an effective surgical alternative for management of spasticity associated with painful spasms in selected patients.

Complicaciones posquirúrgicas del manejo del dorso nasal con la técnica cartílago en puente / Post-surgical complications of the management of the nasal dorsum with the cartilage-bridging technique

Introducción: en Cartagena, desde hace aproximadamente una década, se está realizando una nueva técnica de injerto dorsal denominada cartílago en puente (CEP), realizada en rinoplastias cerradas por un solo otorrinolaringólogo. No obstante, no existen estudios que caractericen las complicaciones de esta técnica. Objetivo del estudio: caracterizar las complicaciones posquirúrgicas del manejo del dorso nasal con CEP en pacientes sometidos a una rinoplastia. Metodología: estudio observacional descriptivo, de corte transversal y de carácter retrospectivo, que abarca los registros clínicos de pacientes sometidos a una rinoplastia cerrada con la técnica CEP entre 2013 y 2016. Se midieron variables sociodemográficas, características del procedimiento y se registraron las complicaciones detectadas durante el seguimiento posoperatorio: aparición de infección, extrusión, desplazamiento y reabsorción del injerto Resultados: se identificaron 882 historias clínicas. La mediana de edad fue de 28 años, siendo el 81 % del género femenino. La rinoplastia fue primaria en 80,6 %, el material del injerto dorsal fue solo cartílago en 80,6 %, Gore-Tex® en 1,7 % y una combinación de cartílago y Gore-Tex® en 17,7 %. La mediana de duración de las rinoplastias fue de 78 minutos (rango intercuartílico [RIC]: 72-85), siendo el principal procedimiento adicional la septoplastia en 82,2 %. El 18,2 % de los pacientes presentaron complicaciones. El desplazamiento fue la principal complicación reportada (14,7%), seguida de la reabsorción (4,0 %) e infección (0,1 %). Conclusiones: la técnica CEP mostró como principales complicaciones el desplazamiento y la reabsorción del injerto, con una frecuencia similar a la descrita en otros estudios.

Introduction: In Cartagena, a new dorsal graft technique called Cartilage in Bridge (CEP) has been carried out for approximately a decade, performed in rhinoplasties closed by a single otorhinolaryngologist. However, there are no studies that characterize the complications of this technique. Objective: To characterize postoperative complications of the management of the nasal dorsum with bridge cartilage in patients undergoing rhinoplasty. Methodology: Retrospective, descriptive, observational cross-sectional study, covering clinical records of patients who underwent closed rhinoplasty with the bridge cartilage technique between 2013 and 2016. Sociodemographic variables, characteristics of the procedure, and complications detected during follow-up were recorded postoperative: appearance of infection, extrusion, displacement, and reabsorption of the graft Results: 882 medical records were identified. The median age was 28 years, being 81 % female. Rhinoplasty was primary in 80.6 %, the dorsal graft material was only cartilage in 80.6 %, Gore-Tex® in 1.7 % and combination of cartilage and Gore-Tex® in 17.7 %. The median duration of the rhinoplasties was 78 minutes (ICR: 72-85), with the main additional procedure being septoplasty in 82.2 %. 18.2 % of the patients presented complications. Displacement (14.7 %) was the main complication reported, followed by reabsorption (4.0 %) and infection (0.1 %). Conclusions: The cartilage bridge technique showed graft displacement and reabsorption as main complications, with a frequency similar to that described in other studies.

Concordancia entre dos ecuaciones para estimar el porcentaje de grasa corporal en deportistas universitarios de competición / Concordance between two equations to estimate the percentage of body fatin competitive college athletes

INTRODUCCIÓN: Hoy en día, algunas ecuaciones para estimar el porcentaje de grasa corporal (%GC) en deportistas son aquellas en donde se emplean 4 y 6 pliegues subcutáneos y, de acuerdo a la ecuación representará un tiempo importante en la ejecución de mediciones acelerando o no éste proceso y teniendo la posibilidad de medir a más o menos sujetos. Se pretende así como objetivo conocer el nivel de concordancia entre el %GC mediante dos ecuaciones antropométricas específicas para deportistas: Faulkner (1968) y Carter (1982). Material y MÉTODOS: Se seleccionaron 147 deportistas de diferentes disciplinas midiéndose 6 pliegues cutáneos. Para los análisis estadísticos se emplearon los métodos de Bland-Altman y el de correlación intraclase para el nivel de concordancia, el test de Kappa de Cohen para el grado de acuerdo entre categorías y la t de Student. RESULTADOS: En las mujeres los promedios de los modelos empleados no presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P=0,28) más, en los hombres si hubo diferencias (p < 0,000), las mujeres obtuvieron un nivel de concordancia muy bueno y un valor de bias de 1,22; en tanto que en el grupo de hombres se presenta una buena concordancia y un valor de bias de 3,39 y, de acuerdo al análisis Kappa, se muestra un grado de acuerdo alto y muy alto entre categorías de las mujeres, sucediendo lo contrario en el grupo de hombres, en donde se han obtenido índices Kappa muy bajos a moderados. CONCLUSIONES: Ambos modelos pueden ser intercambiables en las mujeres, para los hombres se recomienda el uso de cada ecuación dentro del grupo específico de donde se desarrolló

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, some equations to estimate the percentage of body fat (%BF) in athletes are those where 4 and 6 subcutaneous folds are used and, according to the equation, it will represent an important time in the execution of measurements accelerating or not this process and having the possibility of measuring more or less subjects. It is thus intended as an objective to know the level of concordance between the %BF through two anthropometric equations specific to athletes: Faulkner (1968) and Carter (1982). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 147 athletes from different disciplines were selected measuring 6 skin folds. For the statistical analyzes, the Bland-Altman methods and the intraclass correlation method were used for the level of concordance, the Cohen Kappa test for the degree of agreement between categories and the student t. RESULTS: In women the averages of the models used did not show statistically significant differences (P = 0.28) more, in men if there were differences (p <0.000), the women obtained a very good level of concordance and a value of 1.22 bias; while in the group of men there is a good concordance and a value of bias of 3.39 and, according to the Kappa analysis, a high and very high degree of agreement between categories of women is shown, the opposite happening in the group of men, where very low to moderate Kappa indices have been obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Both models can be interchangeable in women, for men it is recommended to use each equation within the specific group from which it was developed

Septorrinoplastia y su influencia en el acondicionamiento nasal / Septorhinoplasty and its influence on the nasal conditioning

Introducción: La septorrinoplastia funcional y estética primaria es un procedimiento común en cirugía plástica facial. Objetivo: Analizar de forma subjetiva y objetiva el impacto de la cirugía en el acondicionamiento nasal en pacientes con deformidades nasales externas e internas. Diseño: Cuasi-experimental. Materiales y métodos: Se incluyeron 42 pacientes este estudio, se midieron la temperatura y humedad del ambiente y la intranasal del paciente, además del grado de obstrucción nasal antes y doce meses después de la cirugía; se utilizó una escala subjetiva de obstrucción nasal y un termohigrómetro con sensor externo para las mediciones intranasales. Resultados: Los valores de temperatura, humedad postoperatorias y la escala subjetiva de obstrucción nasal fueron de manera significativa estadísticamente mayores en comparación con las preoperatorias (p<0,05) Conclusiones: De acuerdo con los resultados de este estudio, los pacientes tienen un beneficio general gracias a una mejoría del acondicionamiento del aire nasal inspirado posterior a la realización de una septorrinoplastia funcional y estética primaria.

Introduction: The primary aesthetic and functional septorhinoplasty is a common procedure in facial plastic surgery. Objective: To analyze subjectively and objectively the impact of surgery on the nasal conditioning in patients with external and internal nasal deformities. Design: Quasi-experiment Materials and Methods: 42 patients were included in this study, the intranasal temperature and humidity were measured, as well as the degree of nasal obstruction before and twelve months after surgery; we used a subjective scale of nasal obstruction and an external sensor thermohygrometer for intranasal measures. Results: The values of temperature, humidity and postoperative subjective scale of nasal obstruction were in a significant way, statistically higher compared to preoperative measures (p<005). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, we found that there is an overall benefit for patients ought to an improvement in inspired nasal air conditioning after conducting a primary aesthetic and functional septorhinoplasty

Índices antropométricos y salud en estudiantes de ingeniería de la Universidad de Carabobo / Anthropometric indices and health in students of engineering of the University of Carabobo

Los indicadores antropométricos son valores de dimensión y composición corporal que ofrecen información útil para la evaluación del riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV), por el exceso de grasa y la distribución de ésta. Se pretende así analizar el índice de masa corporal (IMC), el índice cintura/cadera (ICC) y el índice cintura/talla (ICT) como predictores de riesgo de alteraciones cardiovasculares. La muestra la conformaron 334 participantes 133 mujeres y 201 varones. Se consideraron las variables e índices tales como la talla (cm) y el peso (kg) para la obtención del IMC, la circunferencia de la cintura a nivel umbilical y de la cadera (cm) para obtener el ICC y se calculó el ICT dividiendo la circunferencia de la cintura (cm) entre la talla (cm). Referente al IMC, las mujeres obtuvieron un promedio de 21,9 kg/m2, en donde el 15,8% presentó sobrepeso y obesidad; así mismo, los varones alcanzaron un IMC de 23,9 kg/m2, en tanto, el 32,9% presentó valores altos fuera de los normados. En relación al ICC, el 98,7% de las mujeres y el 96,0% de los varones presentaron valores inferiores a los considerados de riesgo. Por último, en cuanto al ICT, el 13,5% de la muestra estudiada presenta valores elevados. Se concluye que el 26,0% y el 13,5% de la muestra posee alteración en los índices de IMC e ICT respectivamente y riesgo de sufrir ECV (AU)

Anthropometric indicators are values of dimension and body composition that provide useful information for the evaluation of the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), excess fat and the distribution of this. Therefore aims to analyze the body mass index (BMI), the waisthip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) as predictors of risk of cardiovascular disorders. Sample 334 participants formed the 133 females and 201 males. Considered the variables and indices such as height (cm) and weight (kg) for the obtaining of the BMI, the umbilical level waist and hip circumference (cm) for the WHR and the WHtR was calculated by dividing the waist circumference (cm) between the height (cm). Regarding BMI, women obtained an average of 21.9 kg/m2, where 15.8% presented overweight and obesity; Likewise, males reached a BMI of 23.9 kg/m2, meanwhile, 32.9% presented high values outside the regulated. In relation to the WHR, 98.7% of the women and 96.0% of men presented lower values than those considered risk. Finally, as for the WIH, 13.5% of the sample presented high values. It is concluded that 26.0% and 13.5% of the sample has alteration in levels of BMI and WIH respectively and risk of CVD (AU)

Delayed progression of condylar cartilage degeneration, by reduction of the discoidin domain receptor 2, in the temporomandibular joints of osteoarthritic mouse models.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether reduction of the discoidin domain receptor 2 (Ddr2) delays the progression of condylar cartilage degeneration in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of mouse models with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Double-heterozygous (Col11a1- and Ddr2-haploinsufficiency, Col11a1(+/−);Ddr2(+/−)) mice were generated. TMJs of Ddr2(+/−) mice were subjected to partial discectomy. Condylar cartilage from the TMJ of Col11a1(+/−);Ddr2(+/−) mice, surgically treated (discectomy) Ddr2(+/−) mice, and their corresponding controls was characterized by means of histology and evaluated using a scoring system specific to mouse joints. RESULTS: The progression of condylar cartilage degeneration was significantly delayed in the TMJ of Col11a1(+/−);Ddr2(+/−) mice compared with those of the Col11a1(+/−) mice. The progression of condylar cartilage degeneration in the TMJ of Ddr2(+/−) mice following discectomy was also significantly delayed when compared with their wild-type littermates. CONCLUSION: Reduced expression of Ddr2 delays the progression of condylar cartilage degeneration, induced either by type XI collagen haploinsufficiency or by a partial discectomy, in TMJ.

Comparison of two commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis for the control of Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera: Culicidae) at three salt concentrations.

Anopheles aquasalis larvae are salt water tolerant, preferring concentrations between 10 and 20 parts per thousand (ppt). The larvicidal efficacy of two formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Vectobac-12AS and Bactivec), was investigated against An. aquasalis at salinities of 0, 10, and 20 ppt. A probit analysis was used to calculate the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC95) for each product at each salinity. The LC50 and LC95 were higher for Bactivec than Vectobac-12AS, and for Bactivec, the LC50 and LC95 increased with salinity. Vectobac-12AS should thus be preferred to Bactivec for An. aquasalis control, especially in saline breeding habitats.

Comparison of two commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis for the control of Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera: Culicidae) at three salt concentrations

Extracts of propolis samples collected in Brazil and Bulgaria were assayed against four Leishmania species - Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. chagasi from the New World, and L. major from the Old World - associated to different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. The composition of the extracts has been previously characterized by high temperature high resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Considering the chemical differences among the extracts and the behavior of the parasites, it was observed significant differences in the leishmanicidal activities with IC50/1 day values in the range of 2.8 to 229.3 µg/ml . An overall analysis showed that for all the species evaluated, Bulgarian extracts were more active than the ethanol Brazilian extract. As the assayed propolis extracts have their chemical composition determined it merits further investigation the effect of individual components or their combinations on each Leishmania species

Eficacia del Griselesf® (Bacillus sphaericus 2362) como controlador biológico de larvas de Anopheles aquasalis curry / The effectiveness of Griselesf® (Bacillus sphaericus 2362) as a biological control of larvae of Anopheles aquasalis curry

Actualmente existen diferentes productos a base de Bacillus spp. que tienen un efecto larvicida sobre Anopheles spp., vectores de la malaria. Sin embargo, su eficacia es variable dependiendo de la especie blanco y las condiciones ambientales. Se evaluó la efectividad del producto Griselesf® (Bacillus sphaericus 2362) como controlador biológico de Anopheles aquasalis, principal vector de malaria en el estado Sucre, en dos ocasiones bajo las mismas condiciones de laboratorio, en el año 2002 y luego en el 2006. Se prepararon soluciones del producto a concentraciones de 1, 5, 10, 50 y 100 ppm (año 2002) y 5, 25, 50, 75 y 100 ppm (año 2006), en 600 mL de agua potable. Luego se trasvasaron 100 mL de cada una de las soluciones en envases plásticos de 250 mL y se colocaron 10 larvas de los estadíos tercero tardío o cuarto temprano en cada uno de los recipientes. En el 2002, a los 48 horas en 100 ppm el Griselesf® había matado solamente 0,84% de la población aumentando a 25% a las 72 horas. En el 2006, en 100 ppm, hubo mortalidades de 6,67 y 11,67% de las poblaciones de las larvas a las 48 y 72 horas respectivamente. Los resultados sugieren que Griselesf® no es efectivo contra las larvas de An. aquasalis del estado Sucre.

Eficacia de ampicilina en infecciones por Streptococcus pneumonia en un hospital pediátrico / Efficacy of ampicilin in Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in a Pediatrics Hospital

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo para conocer la prevalencia de las cepas de S. pneumoniae resistentes a la penicilina y ampicilina entre los pacientes del Hospital para el Niño DIF en Toluca, Estado de Médico. Se lograron aislar 86 cepas de S. pneumoniae de otros tantos procesos infecciosos. Las infecciones más comunes fueron meningoencefalitis, neumonía y otitis. Todas las cepas aisladas fueron susceptibles a penicilina y ampicilina. Concluimos que la penicilina y la ampicilina siguen siendo el tratamiento de elección para las infecciones por S. pneumoniae en México

Masa ósea medida con radiogrametría en una muestra de mujeres limeñas sanas / Bone mass measured by radiogrammetry in a sample of healthy women from Lima

Para determinar la curva de masa ósea normal y sus cambios con la edad, evaluamos a 147 mujeres sanas, cuyas edades fluctuaron entre 20 y 88 años, todas de raza mestiza, elegidas al azar, empleando la técnica de la radiogrametría. Con el fin de obtener los valores del espesor de la cortical, todas fueron sometidas a una radiografía de mano derecha según las técnicas estandarizadas. La medición del valor del espesor de la cortical (D-d) se realizó en el punto medio del segundo metacarpio derecho, para lo cual se restó del diámetro periosteal (D) el diámetro endosteal (d), los que se midieron mediante una lente de aumento milimetrada, por un observador debidamente instruido y entrenado en la medición de dichas placas. Los valores promedios del diámetro periosteal (D) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 7,78 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 7,88 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 8,02 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 7,94 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 7,77 mm y de 75 a más: 8,06 mm. Los valores promedios del diámetro endosteal (d) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 3,21 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 3,09 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 3,68 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 4,35 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 4,44 mm; y de 75 a más: 5,12 mm. Los valores promedios del espesor de la cortical (D-d) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 4,57 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 4,79 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 4,34 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 3,58 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 3,33 mm; y de 75 a más: 2,96 mm. Un hallazgo importante fueron los cambios en los promedios encontrados en las mediciones del diámetro periosteal (D) y diámetro endosteal (d) con la edad, mientras que el diámetro periosteal se mantuvo uniforme, el endosteal se incrementó con la edad, causando la disminución progresiva del espesor de la cortical conforme se aumentaba la edad. El pico máximo de masa ósea que alcanzó nuestra población femenina limeña sana fué entre los 35 a 44 años, mientras que la menopausia se presentó como edad promedio a los 45 años, momento a partir del cual, empieza a disminuir progresivamente la masa ósea. Estos hallazgos concuerdan con los encontrados en las diferentes poblaciones estudiadas, siendo muy similares a las reportadas en la población española.

Efectos de la veguectomía del plexo hepático sobre las presiones coledocianas / Effects of the hepatic-plexus vaguectomy on the choledocian pressures

La vaquectomía del plexo hepático produce un rápido descenso en las presiones coledocianas, este descenso es superior al producido por la atropina y es capaz de contrarrestar la acción de la morfina. Por lo que consideramos que la vaguectomía del plexo hepático puede ser de utilidad en el tratamiento de las afecciones del árbol biliar que presentan presiones coledocianas elevadas, así como también en el síndrome poscolecistectomía (AU)