Antimicrobial Consumption in Latin American Countries: First Steps of a Long Road Ahead.

BACKGROUND: Irrational antimicrobial consumption (AMC) became one of the main global health problems in recent decades. OBJECTIVE: In order to understand AMC in Latin-American Region, we performed the present research in 6 countries. METHODS: Antimicrobial consumption (J01, A07A, P01AB groups) was registered in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Peru. Source of information, AMC type, DDD (Defined Daily Doses), DID (DDD/1000 inhabitants/day), population were variables explored. Data was analyzed using the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) tool. RESULTS: Source of information included data from global, public, and private sectors. Total AMC was highly variable (range 1.91-36.26 DID). Penicillin was the most consumed group in all countries except in Paraguay, while macrolides and lincosamides were ranked second. In terms of type of AMC according to the WHO-AWaRe classification, it was found that for certain groups like "Reserve," there are similarities among all countries. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This paper shows the progress that 6 Latin-American countries made toward AMC surveillance. The study provides a standardized approach for building a national surveillance system for AMC data analysis. These steps will contribute to the inclusion of Latin-America among the regions of the world that have periodic, regular, and quality data of AMC.

Cytotoxicity and in vivo plasma kinetic behavior of surface-functionalized PAMAM dendrimers.

Understanding the molecular features responsible for the plasma kinetics of surface-modified polyamido amine (PAMAM) dendrimers is critical to explore novel biomedical applications for these nanomaterials. In this report, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and folic acid (FA) were employed to obtain partially-substituted PAMAM dendrimers as model biocompatible nanomaterials with different size, charge and surface functionality. Cytotoxicity assays on HEK cells at 1-500 µM concentration confirmed that PEG and FA incorporation increased the cell viability of PAMAM-based nanomaterials. Measurements of plasma kinetics in vivo revealed that PEG-PAMAM has an extended circulation time in mice blood (71.7 min) over native PAMAM (53.3 min) and FA-PAMAM (41.8 min). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a direct relationship between circulation time and dendrimer size, thus providing valuable evidence to increase understanding about the modulation of functional properties of PAMAM-based systems through surface modification, and to guide future efforts on the rational design of novel biomedical nanomaterials.

Comunicación para la equidad en salud: una visión estratégica / Communication for equity in health: a strategic view

INTRODUCCION. Es difícil pensar que la comunicación sea actualmente una estrategia tan poco utilizada en salud. Sobre todo si consideramos los efectos que ha tenido la invasión de los mass media en nuestra vida, como ha cambiado la sociedad producto de la acción de la publicidad. Lo que hoy denominamos globalización no seria tal sin la “Comunicación”. OBJETIVO. Describir estrategias de Comunicación Social aplicadas al Desarrollo Humano en Equidad y plantear la comunicación para la salud como herramienta para mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas. METODO. Se revisa documentos y publicaciones nacionales e internacionales donde se platea modelos y estrategias de comunicación que han sido utilizados como forma para conseguir empoderamiento y cambio de conductas en salud. Entre los autores destaca Carlos del Valle Rojas quien propone efectivamente un modelo de comunicación aplicado a la salud en Chile. Sobre esta base se han planeado acciones de comunicación en salud para un Cesfam de la Comuna de Puente Alto. RESULTADOS. Se ha diseñado experiencias de comunicación en salud a nivel local, en donde se utiliza herramientas de comunicación social para generar empoderamiento de jóvenes de alta vulnerabilidad social. El proyecto en cuestión se denomina “Boletín Comunitario en Salud” y será finalizado en abril de 2010. CONCLUSIONES. Sabemos que la comunicación es una poderosa herramienta para generar cambio de conductas, por lo que es imperante que en nuestro país existan políticas de salud que involucren estrategias de comunicación social.

BACKGROUND. Strangely enough, communication is not a widely employed tool in the field of health, in particular if we consider the invasion of mass media in our life and the changes brought about in society through publicity. What we now label as “globalization” would not exist without communication. OBJECTIVES. To describe social communication strategies which have been applied to equitable human development; and to pose health communication as a tool for the improvement of quality of life. METHOD. National and international publications dealing with communication models and strategies utilized as a means to obtain empowerment and behavioral changes in health were reviewed. The model proposed by Carlos del Valle Rojas is particularly relevant to the Chilean situation. On this basis, health communication activities have been planned for a local Health Center in the South-East Area of Santiago. RESULT. A project concerning the use of communication tools for the empowerment of highly vulnerable young people has been conceived. Its name is “Community Health Bulletin” and it will be completed in april 2010. CONCLUSION. Health policies in our country should include social communication strategies.