[Motivation to quit smoking among ex-smoker university workers and students]. / Motivaciones para dejar de fumar en funcionarios y estudiantes universitarios ex fumadores.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, 10% of deaths in adults are directly attributed to smoking. AIM: To identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to quit smoking among a group of subjects that quitted without external help. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The motivations to quit smoking were measured using the 20 items Reasons for Quitting Scale (RFQ), in 145 ex smokers (80 students and 65 workers at The University of Conception). The scale identifies intrinsic motivations in the categories health and self control and extrinsic motivations in the categories immediate reinforcement and social pressure. RESULTS: Factorial analysis with orthogonal rotation of the 20 items of the scale, suggested an optimal solution with five factors, that had a maximal impact of 0.43 and explained the motivations in up to a 66% of workers and 65% of students. The factors with the greater impact were the items of immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The category health had only a 6% influence in the modification of smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: The most important motivations to quit smoking in this sample were an immediate reinforcement, social pressure and self control. The analysis of motivations will help to orient smoking cessation programs.

[Assessment of techniques and errors in the use of metered dose inhalers in the adult patient]. / Evaluación de las técnicas y errores en el uso de los inhaladores de dosis medida en el paciente adulto.

BACKGROUND: Not all the techniques for the correct use of metered dose inhalers are used by patients and health care professionals. AIM: To assess the techniques and errors in the use of metered dose inhalers among patients and health care professionals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of the inhaling technique, using a validated questionnaire, used by 68 patients, 30 physicians and 30 nurses working in a hospital at Concepción, Chile. RESULTS: The "closed mouth" technique is used by 84% of patients, 40% of physicians and 73% of nurses. The rest uses the "open mouth" technique. The aerochamber is used by 12% of patients, 37% of physicians and 27% of nurses. The most frequent inhaling errors detected were not shaking the inhaler (26% of patients, 30% of physicians and 7% of nurses), not applying the puff at the start of inspiration (28% of patients, 7% of physicians and 13% of nurses), and not maintaining an apnea after the inhalation (41% of patients, 7% of physicians and 10% of nurses). Sixty percent of patients, 67% of physicians and 40% of nurses have not received instructions about the inhaler use. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high frequency of errors in the use of inhalers and most users have not been trained in its use.

[Smoking among academics, non-academics and students of the Universidad de Concepción]. / Tabaquismo en académicos, no académicos y estudiantes de la Universidad de Concepción.

BACKGROUND: Effective smoking cessation campaigns require as baseline, precise estimations of smoking habits in different populations. AIM: To assess the prevalence of smoking in academic, non-academics workers and student of the University of Concepción. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a random and stratified sample of 272 workers (including academics) and 1146 students, a previously validated, self administered questionnaire about smoking was applied. Daily smoking was defined as smoking seven or more cigarettes per week and occasional smoking as smoking less than seven cigarettes per week. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking was 23% among academics, 34% among non-academic workers and 44% among students. Nineteen percent of men and 16% of women were occasional smokers; 23% of men and 25% of women were daily smokers. Students started smoking at 15 +/- 2 years old and workers did so at 18 +/- 3 years old. The greater influence about smoking came from parents. Workers from the administrative services and from the natural sciences faculty had the higher prevalence of the habit. The total annual cost of smoking was $33,000,000 (US$62,000). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of smoking at the University of Concepción is higher among students than workers. Quitting programs are urgently needed.

Simbolismo mágico religioso en un instrumento quirúrgico del Perú precolombino / Magic and religious symbolism in a surgical instrument from precolombine Peru

Se presenta un instrumento de bronce del Peru precolombino, probablemente preincaico, de la costa de ese pais, que con mucha seguridad fue usado para la operacion de la trepanacion. El instrumento tiene en un extremo un borde afilado tipo cincel y en el otro una talladura que representa una mano empuñando una concha. Se asocia el simbolismo de la concha con la funcion quirurgica.

Simbolismo mágico religioso en un instrumento quirúrgico del Perú precolombino / Magic and religious symbolism in a surgical instrument in precolombine Peru

Se presenta un instrumento de bronce del Peru precolombino, probablemente preincaico, de la costa de ese pais, que con mucha seguridad fue usado para la operacion de la trepanacion. El instrumento tiene en un extremo un borde afilado tipo cincel y en el otro una talladura que representa una mano empuñando una concha. Se asocia el simbolismo de la concha con la funcion quirurgica. (AU)

Seasonal increase of carbachol airway responsiveness in patients allergic to grass pollen. Reversal by corticosteroids.

By measuring airway resistance (Raw) as an index of response, dose-response curves to aerosolized carbachol were constructed in 10 patients suffering from grass pollen allergy. The subjects were first tested before the pollen season (March). During the pollen season (May and June), another control test was performed; the patients were then treated (double blind and at random) with placebo or methylprednisolone (16 mg/day given orally) for 7 days and then retested. After a 10-day interval devoid of treatment, the 2 treatments were crossed over and a fourth carbachol test was performed. Baseline function values were comparable for all 4 tests. In all but one subject (who was a smoker), carbachol increased Raw by more than 150% over baseline for each of the 4 tests. In these 9 patients, carbachol responsiveness significantly increased during the pollen season and returned to its preseason level after corticosteroid treatment. The data suggest that airway inflammation was responsible for the seasonal increase in airway reactivity.