Criaderos de Aedes aegypti en la ciudad de Asunción, Paraguay durante los años 2011-2014 / Aedes aegypti breeding site in the city of Asunción, Paraguay in the 2011-2014 periods

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las poblaciones propensas a sufrir la aparición del dengue y otras enfermedades transmitidas por el Aedes aegypti en aquellas que no cuentan con un adecuado sistema de eliminación de residuos (desechos sólidos) y el suministro de agua potable es deficiente, lo cual contribuye a la aparición de los criaderos del mosquito vector. OBJETIVO: Describir los tipos de criaderos de Aedes aegypti en la ciudad de Asunción en el periodo 2011-2014. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio observacional descriptivo sobre los criaderos registrados en la base de datos del Servicio Nacional de Erradicación del Paludismo del levantamiento larval de Aedes aegypti en Asunción en el periodo 2011-2014. Resultados: Se denotó el predominio de criaderos inservibles, representando entre el 58% y el 72% del total de criaderos positivos encontrados, seguidos de los criaderos útiles (26% y el 40%), y por último los criaderos naturales (≤2%). Los criaderos útiles, inservibles y naturales exhiben una homogeneidad en los diferentes años analizados, representada por floreros, bebedero con agua para los criaderos considerados de utilidad para el ciudadano; neumáticos usados, cubetas descartables y desechos sólidos para los criaderos inservibles y axilas de hojas en lo que respecta a criaderos naturales. CONCLUSIÓN: La información obtenida podrá optimizar las decisiones y acciones del control vectorial del Aedes aegypti en lo referente a la focalización de los criaderos y su posterior disposición final por parte de la comuna o entidades responsables.

INTRODUCTION: The populations prone to dengue and other diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti are those that do not have an adequate waste disposal system (solid waste) and the drinking water supply is deficient, which contributes to the emergence of mosquito vector breeding containers. OBJECTIVE: To describe the types of Aedes aegypti breeding site in the city of Asunción in the 2011-2014period. METHODOLOGY: Observational descriptive study on breeding siteregistered in the database of the National Malaria Eradication Service of the larval survey of Aedes aegypti in Asunción in the 2011- 2014period. Results: There was a predominance of unusable breeding sites, representing between 58% and 72% of the total number of positive breeding, followed by the useful breeding site (26% and 40%), and finally the natural breeding sites (≤2%) . The useful, unusable and natural breeding places exhibit a homogeneity in the different years analyzed, represented by vases, drinker with water for the breeding site considered useful for people; used tires, disposable buckets and unserviceable solid waste for useless hatcheries and leaf armpits for natural breeding site. CONLCUSION: The information obtained will allow optimizing decisions and actions onAedes aegypti vector control in relation to the targeting of breeding sites and their subsequent final disposal by the commune or responsible entities.

Morphological and magnetic properties of superparamagnetic carbon-coated Fe nanoparticles produced by arc discharge.

Spherical carbon coated iron particles of nanometric diameter in the 5-10 nm range have been produced by arc discharge at near-atmospheric pressure conditions (using 5-8 x 10(4) Pa of He). The particles exhibit a crystalline dense iron core with an average diameter of 7.4 +/- 2.0 nm surrounded by a sealed carbon shell, shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (STEM-EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The SAED, EDX and EELS results indicate a lack of traces of core oxidized phases showing an efficient protection role of the carbon shell. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles have been investigated in the 5-300 K temperature range using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The results reveal a superparamagnetic behaviour with an average monodomain diameter of 7.6 nm of the nanoparticles. The zero field cooled and field cooled (ZFC-FC) magnetization curves show a blocking temperature (T(B)) at room temperature very suitable for biomedical applications (drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, hyperthermia).

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for HIV-1 infection among female commercial sex workers in South America.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of HIV prevalence and associated risk behaviours among female commercial sex workers (FCSW) across major cities in South America. METHODS: Seroepidemiological, cross sectional studies of 13 600 FCSW were conducted in nine countries of South America during the years 1999-2002. Participants were recruited in brothels, massage parlours, hotels, and streets where anonymous questionnaires and blood samples were collected. HIV infection was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening and western blot confirmatory tests. RESULTS: The overall HIV seroprevalence was 1.2% (range 0.0%-4.5%). The highest HIV seroprevalences were reported in Argentina (4.5%) and Paraguay (2.6%); no HIV infected FCSW were detected in Venezuela and Chile. Consistent predictors of HIV seropositivity were: (1) a previous history of sexually transmitted infections (STI, AORs = 3.8-8.3), and (2) 10 years or more in commercial sex work (AORs = 2.2-24.8). In addition, multiple (> or =3) sexual contacts (AOR = 5.0), sex with foreigners (AOR = 6.9), use of illegal drugs (AOR = 3.2), and marijuana use (AOR = 8.2) were associated with HIV seropositivity in Southern Cone countries. CONCLUSIONS: Consistently low HIV seroprevalences were detected among FCSW in South America, particularly in the Andean region. Predictors of HIV infection across the continent were STI and length of commercial sex work; however, use of illegal drugs, especially marijuana, and sexual contacts with foreigners were also found to be associated risk factors in the Southern Cone region. Interventions for the control of HIV and other STI need to be region and country specific; drug use appears to have an ever increasing role in the spread of HIV among heterosexually active populations.

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for HIV-1 infection among South American men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVES: Sex among men constitutes an important route of transmission for HIV type 1 (HIV-1) in Latin America. Seeking better understanding of risk behaviours in this region, we determined the seroprevalence, potential risk factors, and geographic distribution of HIV-1 among groups of men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: Seroepidemiological, cross sectional studies of 13,847 MSM were conducted in seven countries of South America during the years 1999-2002. Volunteers were recruited in city venues and streets where anonymous questionnaires and blood samples were obtained. HIV-1 infection was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening and western blot (WB) confirmatory tests. RESULTS: HIV-1 seroprevalence varied widely (overall 12.3%, range 11.0%-20.6%). The highest HIV-1 seroprevalence was noted in Bolivia (20.6%) and the lowest in Peru (11.0%). Predictors of HIV-1 infection varied among countries; however, a history of previous sexually transmitted disease (STD) was associated with a consistent increased risk (ORs=1.9-2.9, AORs=1.8-2.7). Multiple weekly sexual contacts was found to represent a secondary risk factor in Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina (ORs=1.6-2.9, AORs=1.6-3.1), whereas use of drugs such as cocaine was found to increase risk in Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay (ORs=2.5-6.5, AORs=2.6-6.1). CONCLUSION: The results of this study illustrate an elevated HIV-1 seroprevalence among MSM participants from Andean countries. A previous STD history and multiple partners predicted HIV-1 infection in the seven countries of South America. In Southern Cone countries, HIV-1 infection was also associated with use of illegal drugs such as cocaine.

Documentation of subtype C HIV Type 1 strains in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

HIV subtypes B, F, and BF recombinants have been previously reported in South America. This report describes the presence of HIV-1 subtype C infection in the countries of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay dating back to at least 1999. Surveillance for uncommon non-B/non-F subtype viruses circulating in South America has been conducted in samples obtained from nine countries. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), dried filter paper (FP), and fresh blood (FB) samples were collected from HIV-positive patients from Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. From a total of 2962 HIV seropositive samples examined during a 9-year period (1995-2003), only 11 (0.4%) were found to be infected with non-B/non-F HIV variants. Eight of these 11 strains were determined to be subtype C by heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA). Five of these 8 strains were further characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the protease (Pro) and reverse transcriptase (RT) region of the genome and two were sequenced full length. One of the strains was found to be a unique BC recombinant. The spread of a third subtype of HIV, subtype C, should raise the question of its potential future role in the HIV epidemic in this region.

Síndrome de brugada: revisión del tema y presentación de un caso clínico / The brugada´s syndrome: review of the subject and presentation of a clinical case

El síndrome Brugada se define como una entidad eléctrica primaria del corazón, causante de muerte súbita (MS) en pacientes sin daño estructural cardíaco. Por definición no se encuentran evidencias clínicas ni coronario gráficas de isquemia.¹ Los pacientes afectados por este síndrome tienen historia de episodios repetidos de fibrilación ventricular y muerte súbita, en la mayoría de las veces durante el descanso nocturno. Presentamos el primer caso diagnosticado y tratado en la Unidad de Cardiología del Hospital San Juan de Dios y reportamos el implante del segundo cardiodesfibrilador interno (CDI) en la casuística de nuestro hospital.

Miocardiopatía hipertrófica: nuevos conceptos / Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: new concepts

La miocardiopatía hipertrófica es una enfermedad cardíaca compleja con características fisiopatológicas y clínicas bién determinadas, causadas por la mutación en 1 de 4 genes que sintetizan proteínas del sarcómero cardíaco. Es transmitida en forma autosómica dominante. La miocardiopatía hipertrófica tiene una evolución más benigna de lo que se creía hasta ahora. Estudios recientes realizados en la población general han contribuido a establecer el variado espectro clínico de esta patología. Esto ha permitido guiar la terapia gracias a la identificación y estratificación de los pacientes de alto riesgo, especialmente de aquellos con alto riesgo de presentar muerte súbita. Tradicionalmente la terapia farmacológica con beta-bloqueadores y verapamilo ha sido empleada para tratar los síntomas de la miocardiopatía hipertrófica. El tratamiento de los pacientes asintomáticos se recomiendan solo en casos seleccionados. Los marcapasos y desfibriladores implantables constituyen nuevas alternativas no quirúrgicas en el tratamiento de la miocardiopatía hipertrófica

Endemic infection with human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type IIB in Argentinean and Paraguayan Indians: epidemiology and molecular characterization.

Human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV-II) type II infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction or serologic analyses (or both) in 22% of 697 Indians of six different ethnic back-grounds inhabiting the Argentinean and Paraguayan Gran Chaco. None was infected with HTLV-I. The prevalence of HTLV-II increased with age (14% in those < 13 years and 23% in those > or = 13 years). HTLV-II infection was found in all 20 Gran Chaco communities studied, but marked differences (44%-4%) in the rate of infection were observed even in communities separated by only a few miles. These variations correlated closely with ethnicity. In the high-incidence communities, infection clustered within families, with evidence for both sexual and perinatal transmission, primarily via breast-feeding. By contrast, only 2% of 94 Mapuche Indians from southern Argentina were positive for HTLV-II. Analyses of pol and long terminal repeat sequences from 15 Gran Chaco HTLV-II strains indicated that they constitute a highly conserved branch of the HTLV-IIB substrain.