RESUMO
Island ecosystems differ in several elements from mainland ecosystems and may induce variations related to natural selection and patterns of adaptation in most aspects of the biology of an organism. Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839) is a marsupial endemic to Chile, distributed from Loa River to Concepción. Historically, three subspecies have been described: Thylamys elegans elegans, Thylamys elegans coquimbensis and Thylamys elegans soricinus. For this research, two morphometric approaches and a biomechanical model were used to compare the mandible shapes and biomechanics between two Chilean mouse opossum populations belonging to different subspecies: one from the coastal desert of Chile (T. e. coquimbensis) and the other from the central inland region (T. e. elegans). Additionally, mandibles of insular populations found in the Reserva Nacional Pinguino de Humboldt (RNPH)), from which the subspecies association is unknown, were also included. The results showed that insular populations have differences in mandibular shapes, sizes and biomechanical characteristics compared to continental populations, which may be related to environmental variables like aridity and vegetation cover, prey type, insularity effects and/or the founder effect on micromammals, apart from vicariance hypotheses and other selective pressures.
RESUMO
Herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are highly prevalent within the human population and are characterized by lifelong infections and sporadic recurrences due to latent neuron infection. Upon reactivations, HSVs may manifest either, symptomatically or asymptomatically and be shed onto others through mucosae body fluids. Although, HSVs can produce severe disease in humans, such as life-threatening encephalitis and blindness, the most common symptoms are skin and mucosal lesions in the oro-facial and the genital areas. Nucleoside analogs with antiviral activity can prevent severe HSV infection, yet they are not very effective for treating skin manifestations produced by these viruses, as they only reduce in a few days at most the duration of lesions. Additionally, HSV variants that are resistant to these antivirals may arise, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. Thus, new antivirals that can reduce the severity and duration of these cutaneous manifestations would certainly be welcome. Here, we review currently available anti-herpetic therapies, novel molecules being assessed in clinical trials and new botanical compounds reported in the last 20 years with antiviral activities against HSVs that might represent future treatments against these viruses.
RESUMO
La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo conocer la calidad de vida y los factores relacionados de los pacientes esquizofrénicos que se controlan en los servicios de salud Concepción y Arauco de Chile durante los meses de abril-junio de 2009. Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, correlacional de corte transversal. La población incluida en este trabajo comprendió al total de los pacientes esquizofrénicos (40) bajo régimen de corta estadía. El instrumento utilizado fue la variable principal -calidad de vida (CV)-, que se midió a través del cuestionario SF-36, además se incorporaron variables sociodemográficas y de apoyo social, esta última medida a través del cuestionario Duke- UNC-11. Los resuiltados del estudio reflejan aceptable calidad de vida, lo cual puede asociarse con las condiciones socioculturales de la región.
The objective of this study was to identify quality of life and related factors in schizophrenic patients who were being monitored by health-care services in Concepción and Arauca (Chile) during April-June 2009. It is a quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional descriptive study. The population in question included all schizophrenic patients (40) who were subject to a short-term stay. The principal variable-quality of life (QOL) was the instrument used and was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire. Socio-demographic and social support variables were included as well, the latter through application of the Duke-UNC-11 questionnaire. The findings of the study reflect an acceptable quality of life, which may be associated with the socio-cultural conditions in the region.
Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a qualidade de vida e os fatores relacionados de pacientes esquizofrênicos controlados nos serviços de saúde de Concepción e Arauco no Chile durante os meses de abril a junho de 2009. Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, correlacional, transversal. Neste estudo, a população incluiu os pacientes com esquizofrenia (40) sob o regime de curta permanência. O instrumento utilizado foi a variável principal - a qualidade de vida (QV) -, medida através do questionário SF-36. Também se integraram variáveis sócio-demográficas e de suporte social. Esta última foi medida pelo questionário Duke-UNC-11. Os resultados do estudo mostram uma qualidade de vida aceitável. Isso pode associar-se com as condições socioculturais da região.
