[The community and the control of Aedes aegypti: perception and behavior regarding temephos larvicide]. / La comunidad y el control de Aedes aegypti: percepción y comportamiento respecto al larvicida abate.

Given the persistence of Aedes aegypti foci in the Santiago de Cuba municipality in 1998, a survey was made among the dwellers of the houses to find out their acceptance and behaviour in relation with temephos, to precise over the reasons why the product was not kept in water containers and to know the aspects associated with the existence of foci and their control. It was found that there were filled water tanks in houses where there was daily water supply so that dirt can deposit and water be used later. In 72.2% of the houses, water tanks were washed and refilled every 4 day approximately. It was concluded that water dirtiness was an additional factor to keep water in tanks, the use of temephos(abate) in water tanks for domestic use did not meet the objective pursued by this larvicide, the role of fumigation was overvalued and lack of appropriate knowledge may influence the behaviour of these surveyed persons.

[Knowledge and practice concerning pediculosis in a health district]. / Conocimientos y prácticas sobre la pediculosis en un área de salud.

Pediculosis is an endemics that has recently intensified world wide and also in Cuba as of 1970. A study was performed in the schools located in the health area of the Vedado Polyclinics in the City of Havana to find out the level of knowledge acquired and the practices followed that may have an effect on the control of this disease. Two qualitative techniques i.e. group analysis and non-participatory observation allowed to gather information. Wrong pieces of knowledge and ill practices were detected such as the belief that nits can fly, the use of a drug called Lindano 1% to treat children as a preventive method while they are in class, application of products in a wrong way, use of harmful products and no taking out of nits in a systematic way. These mistaken concepts and practices affect the analysis of cases and thus, they should be taken into consideration to increase the efficiency of the control program.

[Presence of pediculosis in people living with children positive to Pediculus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae)]. / Presencia de pediculosis en conviventes con niños positivos a Pediculus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae).

In order to determine the frequency of pediculosis in persons living with children diagnosed as positive to Pediculus capitis in educational institutions of the "Carmelo" People's Council, the houses of 58 children who repeatedly had pediculosis from May to September, 1997 were visited. 14.54% of the 237 examined persons were positive (40 individuals). 82.5% were females. The mother was the most affected relative (32.5%). 30 positive children were matched by age, sex and grade with 30 negative children. People living together with the cases had a higher frequency of pediculosis (12.4%) than those living with the controls (1.8%) (t = 3.49; p < 0.001). The examination and treatment, if necessary, of those persons living together with the school children with pediculosis was recommended.

[Knowledge, opinions, and practices regarding Aedes aegypti]. / Conocimientos, opiniones y prácticas sobre Aedes aegypti.

The active participation of the community is indispensable for reducing Aedes aegypti mosquito populations so causes leading to their growth, actions taken, effects on the health and the people in charge of controlling such mosquitoes are all dealt with in this paper. 210 persons were interviewed from June 25 to 27, 1997. The causes of the growth of the mosquito population were: excessive garbage (59%), dirty waters (58%), open water reservoirs (50%) and lack of fumigation (21%). 40% of interviewed people did not know that these vectors can breed even in clean waters. They mentioned some effects on the health due to the mosquito bites. 51% said that mosquitoes should be jointly controlled by the State and the community but 35% believed that the State should be the sole responsible for this task. These opinions may determine that steps are not properly taken to avoid proliferation of vector and that the activities of the anti-vector program are not really understood since they do not meet the expectations.

[The knowledge of the population about cholera]. / Conocimientos de la población sobre el cólera.

In order to determine the impact of the educational campaign about cholera on the knowledge and believes of the population, a survey was made in 1993 among 1324 persons from 14 provinces and from Isla de la Juventud special municipality. 85% were 20-59 years old and 89% had an secondary basic or higher educational level. 69% had the minimum knowledge to face the disease, 90% would see a doctor if they had and suspicion, 72% knew that diarrhea is the main symptom of cholera, 54% new how it is transmitted 89% thought that they may be infected by drinking water, 54% understood the importance of giving liquids to the sick subject, and 78% realized the significance of washing their hands before eating anf cooking. It is concluded that even though our population has a general knowledge about the disease, due to the fact that our country is located in an endemic zone, health education must be reinforced, specifically those aspects connected with the communication and with the increase of liquids administration to the patients.

Gastric tissue selenium levels in healthy persons, cancer and non-cancer patients with different kinds of mucosal damage.

The gastric tissue levels of selenium (Se) were examined in 15 healthy subjects aged 18-43 (mean 36 +/- 12) years, 17 patients with stomach cancer aged 23-79 (mean 60 +/- 17) years, 20 patients with mild gastritis aged 18-65 (mean 35 +/- 12) years, 13 patients with chronic gastritis aged 28-69 (mean 47 +/- 15) years, 33 patients with erosive gastritis aged 16-70 (mean 49 +/- 17) years and 23 patients with ulcers aged 22-76 (mean 49 +/- 17) years. The Se concentration was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with palladium as a matrix modifier. The mean +/- the standard deviation (SD) of the gastric tissue Se levels were 473 +/- 80, 36 +/- 9.0, 355 +/- 243, 567 +/- 246, 571 +/- 241 and 813 +/- 427 micrograms/Kg in healthy subjects and in patients with cancer, ulcers, mild gastritis, chronic gastritis and erosive gastritis, respectively. The Se concentration in the biopsies of patients with gastric ulceration and cancer were significantly lower than that in patients with gastritis (p < 0.05) and the other conditions (p < 0.0001).

Factorial design for the response exploration of a flow injection system.

A factorial composite design was employed for the exploration of the response as a function of the flow rate and length of the dispersion coil of a flow injection system employed for on-line dilution and determination of copper by flame-AAS. For this purpose, an empirical response function (RF), which takes into account the peak height and the response time, was employed to evaluate the response. This RF was modified using the coefficient of variation in order to discriminate not only for high absorbance and adequate response time, but also for the best precision.