La adherencia a los medicamentos en pacientes hipertensos y en muestra de la población general / Characterization of medication adherence in a sample of the general population and another of hypertensive patients in Panama

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico en la población adulta, y en pacientes hipertensos atendidos en dos centros de atención primaria de la Caja de Seguro Social en Panamá. MÉTODOS: Aplicación de encuesta poblacional sobre la adherencia medicamentosa a 1.200 personas en las 4 ciudades de mayor población y crecimiento económico en Panamá y otra encuesta a pacientes hipertensos atendidos en centros de atención primaria de la Seguridad Social, durante los meses de septiembre a octubre del 2016. RESULTADOS: De 1.200 personas que participaron en la encuesta, 671 tomaban medicamentos, 54% eran mujeres y 54% con estudios universitarios. El 91% manifestaron padecer algún tipo de enfermedad y uso de diversos medicamentos. El 55% contestó que alguna vez había olvidado tomar el medicamento. Fueron 176 pacientes encuestados en los centros de atención primaria, 67% mujeres, 42% con grado universitario. El 97% eran hipertensos, 48% diabéticos. El 80% de los hipertensos tomaban diversos medicamentos. Al aplicarse el test de Morisky-Green a los pacientes, el 40% indicó haber dejado de tomar los medicamentos por lo tanto no cumplían con la farmacoterapia ordenada. De acuerdo al test de Batalla, los pacientes mostraron tener un gran conocimiento sobre su enfermedad. CONCLUSIONES: La mayoría de la población encuestada sufría HTA y habían olvidado tomar los medicamentos. Los pacientes reconocieron padecer y conocer la hipertensión, sin embargo, no fueron adherentes al tratamiento medicamentoso. Se hace necesario una toma de conciencia y participación en el control de su enfermedad e impulsar campañas nacionales sobre la adherencia medicamentosa

OBJECTIVE: To characterize adherence to pharmacological treatment in the adult population, and in hypertensive patients treated in two primary care centers of the Social Security in Panama. METHODS: A survey on drug adherence was applied to 1,200 study participants in 4 major cities in Panama. The survey for hypertensive patients was applied in primary health care centers. RESULTS: Of 1,200 study participants, 671 were taking medications, 54% were women and 54% university degrees. 91% reported suffering from some type of illness and use of various medications. 55% replied that they had once forgotten to take the medication whereas 80% of the participants said they forget medication intake frequently. There were 176 hypertensive patients survey in primary care centers, 67% women, and 42% with university degree. 97% were hypertensive and 48% diabetic. 80% of patients with hypertension took various medications. When the Morisky-Green test was applied to patients, 40% indicated that they stopped taking the medications; therefore, they did not comply with the ordered pharmacotherapy. According to the Batalla test, patients showed great knowledge about their disease. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the population surveyed suffered from hypertension and had forgotten to take the medications. The patients recognized suffering and knowing the hypertension, however, they were not adherent to the drug treatment. Awareness and participation in the control of your disease is necessary and to promote national campaigns on drug adherence

Transplantation of Human Neural Progenitor Cells (NPC) into Putamina of Parkinsonian Patients: A Case Series Study, Safety and Efficacy Four Years after Surgery.

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from motor and mental disturbances due to degeneration of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neuronal systems. Although they provide temporary symptom relief, current treatments fail to control motor and non-motor alterations or to arrest disease progression. Aiming to explore safety and possible motor and neuropsychological benefits of a novel strategy to improve the PD condition, a case series study was designed for brain grafting of human neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to a group of eight patients with moderate PD. A NPC line, expressing Oct-4 and Sox-2, was manufactured and characterized. Using stereotactic surgery, NPC suspensions were bilaterally injected into patients' dorsal putamina. Cyclosporine A was given for 10 days prior to surgery and continued for 1 month thereafter. Neurological, neuropsychological, and brain imaging evaluations were performed pre-operatively, 1, 2, and 4 years post-surgery. Seven of eight patients have completed 4-year follow-up. The procedure proved to be safe, with no immune responses against the transplant, and no adverse effects. One year after cell grafting, all but one of the seven patients completing the study showed various degrees of motor improvement, and five of them showed better response to medication. PET imaging showed a trend toward enhanced midbrain dopaminergic activity. By their 4-year evaluation, improvements somewhat decreased but remained better than at baseline. Neuropsychological changes were minor, if at all. The intervention appears to be safe. At 4 years post-transplantation we report that undifferentiated NPCs can be delivered safely by stereotaxis to both putamina of patients with PD without causing adverse effects. In 6/7 patients in OFF condition improvement in UPDRS III was observed. PET functional scans suggest enhanced putaminal dopaminergic neurotransmission that could correlate with improved motor function, and better response to L-DOPA. Patients' neuropsychological scores were unaffected by grafting. Trial Registration: Fetal derived stem cells for Parkinson's disease https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39104513Reg#ISRCTN39104513.

Efecto antiangiogénico de la triamcinolona asociada a lidocaína con epinefrina de uso odontológico en la membrana alantocoriónica de pollo / Antiangiogenic effect of triamcinolone associated with lidocaine with epinephrine for dental use in chicken chorioallantoic membrane

RESUMEN: El proceso angiogénico se define como el proceso en el que los vasos sanguíneos generan brotes dando como resultado neovascularidad. Un desbalance en el proceso angiogénico contribuye a numerosos desórdenes inflamatorios, infecciosos, isquémicos, inmunológicos y malignos. En el territorio maxilofacial se pueden encontrar patologías neoplásicas benignas de desarrollo local con un marcado componente angiogénico que determinan su crecimiento y agresividad. Sin embargo, existe escasa evidencia de cómo tratarlas en base al control de la angiogénesis. Terry & Jacoway (1994) desarrollaron un protocolo de tratamiento para lesiones neoplásicas benignas con un importante componente vascular que se utiliza actualmente. Este protocolo consiste en la infiltración intralesional de una suspensión de triamcinolona 10 mg/ml más una solución de anestésico local de uso odontológico como la lidocaína al 2 % asociada a epinefrina en una concentración de 1:200.000. Sin embargo, el uso de epinefrina podría disminuir la acción antiangiogénica de la triamcinolona al ser un vasoconstrictor. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar el efecto antiangiogénico, en la membrana alantocoriónica de pollo (MAC), de esta suspensión versus el efecto de la triamcinolona sin asociar a anestésicos locales. Los resultados del efecto antiangiogénico en la MAC de pollo, obtenidos en la investigación concluyeron que la suspensión de triamcinolona asociada a lidocaína con epinefrina es similar al de la suspensión de triamcinolona sin asociar a anestésicos locales. Además, se logró determinar que las suspensiones de triamcinolona sin asociar a anestésicos locales y las asociadas a anestésicos locales con o sin vasoconstrictor poseen un marcado efecto antiangiogénico, en la MAC de pollo, en comparación al grupo control.

SUMMARY: Angiogenesis is defined as the process through which new blood vessels form from previously existing vessels. Several inflammatory, infectious, ischemic, immunological and malignant disorders are caused by the lack of adequate angiogenesis balance. In the maxillofacial area, there are invasive benign neoplastic pathologies with a strong angiogenic component, which determines aggressive behavior and growth. Studies in the literature are scarce regarding treatment of these conditions based on angiogenesis control. Currently, the protocol used to treat these maxillofacial benign neoplastic lesions, was developed in 1994 by Terry & Jacoway and has a strong angiogenic component. Consequently lesions are treated via intra-lesion administration of triamcinolone 10 mg / mL, a solution used in dental local anesthetic, such as lidocaine 2 %, in conjunction with epinephrine at a concentration of 1:200,000. The objective of this study was to compare the antiangiogenic effect of this protocol in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) without the use of local anesthetic. The results of the antiangiogenic effect in the CAM obtained in this study concluded that the effect of the suspension of triamcinolone associated to lidocaine with epinephrine, is similar to the suspension of triamcinolone without associating local anesthetics. Furthermore, it was determined that suspensions of triamcinolone without local anesthetic, and those associated to local anesthetic with, and without vasoconstrictor have a strong antiangiogenic effect in CAM compared to the control group.

TRPM4 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients.

Recent studies have suggested a role of the cation channel TRPM4 in mediating neurodegeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to extrapolate central nervous system findings to the blood compartment by determining TRPM4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 healthy controls (HC) and 64 untreated MS patients. TRPM4 mRNA expression levels were comparable between HC and MS patients with primary progressive MS (n=17), secondary progressive MS (n=19), and relapsing-remitting MS during clinical remission (n=21) and relapses (n=7). These findings do not support a role of TRPM4 in the peripheral blood compartment of MS patients.

Reconstrucción de ligamento cruzado anterior de rodilla en mujeres deportistas / Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in female athletes

Actualmente ha habido un aumento en la práctica deportiva de la población femenina, fundamentalmente en deportes de contacto. Si comparamos con los hombres que practican el mismo deporte, las mujeres tienen hasta 8 veces mayor riesgo de rotura del LCA. Aún hay disparidad en los estudios de incidencia y las aproximaciones en relación a la etiología de esta diferencia necesitan más nivel de evidencia. Sin embargo la consolidación de la resolución quirúrgica de esta patología en todo tipo de atletas, permitiéndole el retorno precoz a la actividad competitiva, no está en discusión.Varias técnicas reconstructivas así como la elección del injerto son sujeto actual de investigación. Consideramos que una aproximación interesante en esta población es el énfasis en la prevención, fundamentalmente en la de tipo neuro muscular propioceptiva, que ha demostrado bajar la incidencia de lesiones del LCA en atletas mujeres.

Currently has increased the practice sports of the female population, especially in contact sports. If compared with men who practice the same sport, women have up to 8 times greater risk of ACL rupture. There are still disparities in incidence studies and approaches related to the etiology of this difference needed more level of evidence. However the consolidation of the surgical resolution of this pathology in all types of athletes, allowing early return to competitive activity, isn't under discussion. Several reconstructive techniques aswell as the choice of graft are actually a research subject. We believe that an interesting approximation in this population is the emphasis on prevention, mainly in neuromuscular and proprioceptive, which has shown to lower the incidence of ACL injuries in female athletes.

Caso clínico radiologico / Radiological clinical case

La osteoporosis transitoria de la cadera es una entidad poco frecuente de causa desconocida que se presenta como coxalgia cuyo diagnóstico se realiza con el estudio por imágenes, especialmente con resonancia magnética. Presentamos el caso de una paciente que presentó este cuadro con su estudio imagenológico. Se discuten aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos y terapéuticos de esta entidad. La osteoporosis es una osteopatía metabólica de alta prevalencia. Es la principal causa de fracturas óseas en mujeres después de la menopausia y ancianos en general. Es asintomática y por lo general su primer signo visible es una fractura de cadera, muñeca o de los cuerpos vertebrales que originan dolor o deformidad. Presentamos el caso de una paciente portadora de osteoporosis que presenta fracturas vertebrales. Se discuten aspectos del diagnóstico por imágenes.

Transient Osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon clinical condition. The etiology is unknown. It could be confused with other diagnosis that causes hip pain. We present a case report of a woman with transient osteoporosis. We discuss clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this entity Osteoporosis is a metabolic condition with high prevalence. It is the principal cause of fracture in women after menopause and elderly population in general. Usually the first sign is a hip, wrist or vertebral fracture that causes pain and deformity. We present a case report of a woman with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. We discuss the radiologic diagnostic.

Inestabilidad glenohumeral: lo que el radiologo debe saber / Glenohumeral instability: what the radiologist should know

Glenohumeral instability is a common cause of pain and functional limitation of the shoulder, which involves symptomatic subluxation or dislocation of the humeral head with respect to the glenoid fossa. Glenohumeral instability may be classified according to several parameters: degree, direction, timing, etiology and biomechanics of the dislocation, among others. Imaging methods play an important role in the evaluation of glenohumeral instability, being all of them useful, complementary, and not necessarily mutually exclusive modalities. The following article presents a review of the main types of glenohumeral instability and related imaging findings.

La inestabilidad glenohumeral es una causa frecuente de dolor y limitación funcional del hombro, que implica subluxación o luxación sintomática de la cabeza humeral con respecto de la fosa glenoidea. Puede clasificarse considerando varios aspectos: grado, dirección, cronología, etiología y biomecánica de la luxación, entre otros. La imaginología juega un rol importante en la evaluación de la inestabilidad glenohumeral, siendo todos los métodos de imágenes útiles, complementarios entre sí y no necesariamente excluyentes. En el siguiente artículo presentamos una revisión de los principales tipos de inestabilidad glenohumeral y los hallazgos imaginológicos asociados.

Síndrome hemolítico urémico en Chile: presentación clínica, evolución y factores pronósticos / Hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Chile: clinical features, evolution and prognostic factors

Background: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Aim: To describe the characteñstics ofpatients with the diagnosis ofHUS in Chile, and to identify the most reliable early predictors oímorbidity and moñality. Material and methods: The clinical records ofpatients with HUS aged less than 15 years, attended between January 1990 and December 2003 in 15 hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, hematological parameters, morbidity and mortality were analyzed. Results: A cohort of 587 patients aged 2 to 8 years, 48 percent males, was analyzed. Ninety two percent had diarrhea. At the moment of diagnosis, anuria was observed in 39 percent of the patients, hypertension in 45 percent and seizures in 17 percent. Forty two percent required renal replacement therapy (RRT) and perítoneal dialysis was used in the majoríty of cases (78 percent). The most frequently isolated etiological agentwas Escherichia coli. Mortality rate was 2.9 percent in the acute phase of the disease and there was a positive correlation between mortality and anuria, seizures, white blood cell count (WCC) >20.000/mm³ and requirements of renal replacement therapy (p <0.05). Twelve percent of patients evolved to chronic renal failure and the risk factors during the acute phase were the need for renal replacement therapy, anuria, WCC >20.000/mm³, seizures and hypertension. Conclusions: The present study emphasizes important clinical and epidemiological aspeets ofHUSin a Chilean pediatricpopulation.

[Hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Chile: clinical features, evolution and prognostic factors]. / Síndrome hemolítico urémico en Chile: presentación clínica, evolución y factores pronósticos.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. AIM: To describe the characteristics of patients with the diagnosis of HUS in Chile, and to identify the most reliable early predictors of morbidity and mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical records of patients with HUS aged less than 15 years, attended between January 1990 and December 2003 in 15 hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, hematological parameters, morbidity and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: A cohort of 587 patients aged 2 to 8 years, 48% males, was analyzed. Ninety two percent had diarrhea. At the moment of diagnosis, anuria was observed in 39% of the patients, hypertension in 45% and seizures in 17%. Forty two percent required renal replacement therapy (RRT) and peritoneal dialysis was used in the majority of cases (78%). The most frequently isolated etiological agent was Escherichia coli. Mortality rate was 2.9% in the acute phase of the disease and there was a positive correlation between mortality and anuria, seizures, white blood cell count (WCC)>20.000/mm3 and requirements of renal replacement therapy (p<0.05). Twelve percent of patients evolved to chronic renal failure and the risk factors during the acute phase were the need for renal replacement therapy, anuria, WCC>20.000/mm3, seizures and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The present study emphasizes important clinical and epidemiological aspects of HUS in a Chilean pediatric population.

Sindrome de Eagle en otorrinolaringología / Eagle syndrome in otolaryngology

Eagle syndrome is characterized by recurrent clinical symptoms like globus, dysphagia and odynophagia, which can be explain by an abnormal elongation of the Estiloid Apophysis or the calcification of the estilohioid ligament. It affects in equal proportion to men and women, being most common in people older than 50 years. Its importance is that it appears as a differential diagnosis compared with other causes of cervicofacial pain, being its election treatment, the surgical resection of the Estiloid apophysis. The following is a review of the literature and a clinical case of a 44 years old man, who consulted with a history of 6 months of odynophagia, foreign body sensation and cervicalgia. After the clinical, endoscopic and the complementary study of images evaluation, it was concluded that this was an Eagle Syndrome.

[Nasal neurinoma: communication of a case and clinicopathologic analysis]. / Neurinoma de fosa nasal: comunicación de un caso y análisis clinicopatológico.

The schwannomas are tumors arising from nervous tissue. It appears very rarely in the nose and paranasal sinuses. We report a case of a female whit nasal obstruction that presents a nasal neurinoma schwannoma.

Neurinoma de fosa nasal: comunicación de un caso y análisis clinicopatológico / Nasal neurinoma: communication of a case and clinicopathologic analysis

Los schwannomas o neurinomas son tumores benignos con origen en las células de Schwann. Su localización en fosas nasales y senos paranasales es infrecuente. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con historia de obstsrucción nasal unilateral que presentaba un neurinoma de fosa nasal

The schwannomas are tumors arising from nervous tissue. It appears very rarely in the nose and paranasal sinuses. We report a case of a female whit nasal obstruction that presents a nasal neurinoma schwannoma

[Supracricoid partial laryngectomy: quality of life assessment]. / Laringectomía parcial supracricoidea. Análisis de calidad de vida.

OBJECTIVES: To assess quality of life in patients diagnosed with epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx, after supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). To examine how quality-of-life may be associated to the treatment received. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 32 patients out of a group of 57. They were all males with an average age of 63.3 years at the time of the interview. We used the disease-specific quality of life questionnaire devised by the University of Michigan: the Head and Neck Cancer-specific Quality of life instrument (HNQOL). RESULTS: During an average follow-up period of 86 months, 3 patients (5.26%) suffered a recurrence. Estimated survival after 3, 5 and 10 years was 94.73%. Communication and overall bother caused by treatment were found to be the two quality-of-life domains mainly affected. Patients who had received CHP, radiotherapy, those who had not had their tracheal cannula removed or had undergone neck dissection were the most affected. CONCLUSIONS: SCPL as a surgical technique allows good control of the condition and has a low impact on the patient's quality of life.

Laringectomía parcial supracricoidea. Análisis de calidad de vida / Supracricoid partial laryngectomy: quality of life assessment

Objetivos: cuantificar el grado de calidad de vida en los pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide laríngeo tratados mediante laringectomía parcial supracricoidea (LPSC) con cricohioidoepiglotopexia (CHEP) o cricohioidopexia (CHP) y detectar las posibles relaciones con algunos aspectos referentes al tratamiento como la técnica empleada (CHEP VS CHP), los vaciamientos cervicales, la decanulación y la radioterapia. Pacientes y métodos: estudio descriptivo observacional de tipo transversal llevado a cabo sobre 32 pacientes (26 sometidos sometidos a LPSC+CHEP y 6a LPSC+CHP), seleccionadas de un grupo de 57; todos ellos varones y con una edad media en el momento de la entrevista de 63,3. Para cuantificar la calidad de vida se empleó un cuestionario específico de la Universidad de Michigan para tumores de cabeza y cuello, el Head and Neck Cancer-Specific Quality of Life (HNQOL). Resultados: En un periodo medio de seguimiento de 86 meses se produjeron 3 recidivas (5,26%). La supervivencia estimada a 3, 5 y 10 años fue de 94,73%. Los dominios de calidad de vida más afectados fueron la comunicación y las molestias globales ocasionadas por el tratamiento. En líneas generales los pacientes más afectados fueron aquellos tratamientos tratados mediante CHP, los radiados, los no decanulados y aquellos a los que se le hizo vaciamiento cervical. Conclusiones: La LPSC es una técnica que aporta un excelente control de la enfermedad con escaso impacto en la calidad de vida del paciente

OBJECTIVES: To assess quality of life in patients diagnosed with epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx, after supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). To examine how quality-of-life may be associated to the treatment received. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 32 patients out of a group of 57. They were all males with an average age of 63.3 years at the time of the interview. We used the disease-specific quality of life questionnaire devised by the University of Michigan: the Head and Neck Cancer-specific Quality of life instrument (HNQOL). RESULTS: During an average follow-up period of 86 months, 3 patients (5.26%) suffered a recurrence. Estimated survival after 3, 5 and 10 years was 94.73%. Communication and overall bother caused by treatment were found to be the two quality-of-life domains mainly affected. Patients who had received CHP, radiotherapy, those who had not had their tracheal cannula removed or had undergone neck dissection were the most affected. CONCLUSIONS: SCPL as a surgical technique allows good control of the condition and has a low impact on the patient's quality of life

Evaluación cualitativa del internado en Otorrinolaringología de la carrera de medicina en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Qualitative evaluation of the internship in Otorhynolaryngology in medical students al the University of Chile Clinical Hospital

En el último tiempo ha cambiado la educación médica, centrándose en el alumno. Dicho cambio se instauro también en la Universidad de Chile, mediante una reforma curricular. Este año no alcanzaron el internado los primeros alumnos con este nuevo currículo, produciéndose una situación excepcional: un enfrentamiento de dos modalidades curriculares, con internos de sexto y séptimo año. Es así como se decidió evaluar el internado mediante las opiniones de las dos generaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer los aspectos que influyen en la calidad del internado en Otorrinolaringología del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, tanto dentro del currículo antiguo como del nuevo. Se realizó mediante grupos focales (2), con internos de sexto y séptimo año de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile. Los grupos focales fueron entrevistados en mayo del año 2003. Los aspectos evaluados fueron: importancia de la especialidad para el médico general, actividad docente, policlínico, seminarios, trabajo en sala y visitas de servicio, ambiente físico y relación con el personal, bibliografía, conocimientos adquiridos y metodología de evaluación. La información obtenida, que enfatiza aspectos no tradicionales, será útil para guiar al docente en el desarrollo de un internado que logre llenar tanto sus expectativas como la de los internos, y será una base para luego investigar cuantitativamente el tema.

Mucocele apendicular: reporte de un caso clínico / Appendicular mucocele: report of a clinical case

La patología tumoral de apéndice presenta baja incidencia. Dentro de este grupo el mucocele alcanza al 0,2 a 0,4 por ciento de todas las apendicectomías. El término mucocele describe una dilatación quística del lumen apendicular por mucus, que incluye diferentes entidades anatomopatológicas. El caso clínico es una paciente de sexo femenino de 73 años, con una cuadro de 2 meses de dolor abdominal localizado en hemiabdomen inferior, de intensidad moderada, asociado a dificultad para la micción, baja de peso de 8 kilos y compromiso del estado general. Al examen físico se constata una masa en fosa ilíaca derecha de aproximadamente 10 cm de diámetro mayor. Se realizó un TAC de abdomen y pelvis que mostró masa tubular de 10 x 5 cm de diámetros con material hipodenso en su interior, compatible con mucocele apendicular. Se realizó en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile una laparotomía exploradora confirmando los hallazgos del TAC, se realizó apendicectomía y el estudio de la pieza informó cistoadenoma mucinoso del apéndice con displasia leve. Los posibles hallazgos histopatológicos de los mucoceles incluyen hiperplasia mucosa, cistoadenoma como en este caso y cistoadenocarcinoma, que es la variante neoplásica maligna. En correspondencia a la histopatología de este caso se recomienda la apendicectomía como tratamiento.

[Seroepidemiological survey of human toxoplasmosis in Osorno, Region X, Chile, 1998]. / Estudio seroepidemiológico de la toxoplasmosis humana en Osorno, X Región, Chile, 1998.

A serological survey was carried out in Osorno X Region, Chile (40 degrees 21'-40 degrees 46' South lat, and 73 degrees 26' -72 degrees-46' West long.). An indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for toxoplasmosis was performed to 305 persons--160 blood donors and 145 with sexually transmitted disease (STD). The age of the surveyed persons (167 males and 138 females) varied between 10 and 72 years. IHAT titers > 16 were considered as positive. The general prevalence was 20.3%--21.2% in blood donors and 19.3% in persons with some STD--with no differences between males and females. However, significant differences between males and females with STD were found (35.6% and 8.1% respectively). No differences between urban and rural inhabitants were found with a slight higher prevalence in the urban ones. No antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were detected in six AIDS patients. The importance of performing toxoplasmosis immunodiagnosis and individual prophylaxis to avoid the infection in high risk group are recommended.