Conocimiento, prácticas de prevención y bioseguridad sobre Brucelosis en trabajadores de hatos lecheros de Caaguazú-Paraguay / Knowledge, prevention and biosecurity practices about Brucellosis of workers exposed to risk of dairy data of Caaguazú-Paraguay

Introducción: La Brucelosis es una zoonosis común y en muchos países es un problema sanitario prevalente. En Paraguay no se ha encontrado evidencia de los conocimientos que tienen los trabajadores de hatos lecheros y las prácticas preventivas que utilizan. Objetivo: Evaluar el conocimiento, las prácticas de prevención y de bioseguridad sobre Brucelosis de los trabajadores expuestos a riesgo en hatos lecheros del departamento de Caaguazú, Paraguay. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal, en una muestra representativa de establecimientos ganaderos del Departamento de Caaguazú. De mayo a junio de 2017 se entrevistó a 720 trabajadores de 360 hatos lecheros, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado, con preguntas cerradas. Se obtuvo información de los conocimientos, prácticas de prevención y bioseguridad sobre Brucelosis. Resultados: La mediana de edad de los trabajadores fue 34 años, 70% eran hombres. El 11,7% era analfabeto y 62,1% solo culminó la primaria. El 90% se desempeñaba como tambero/ordeñador. El 64% manifestó que no conocía la enfermedad, 73,6% ignoraba la forma en que se adquiere la enfermedad, 71,5% nunca recibió información acerca de la Brucelosis. El 73,3% no tenía conocimientos de las prácticas preventivas. Todos consumían subproductos lácteos sin pasteurizar, principalmente queso paraguay Conclusión: Existe desconocimiento de la enfermedad y la forma de transmisión. Las prácticas de riesgo son frecuentes. Es necesario implementar programas de educación y concienciación sobre la Brucelosis. Palabras clave: Brucelosis; conocimientos; prácticas de prevención; medidas de bioseguridad; humanos.

Background: Brucellosis is a common zoonosis and in many countries it is a prevalent health problem. In Paraguay, no evidence has been found of the knowledge that dairy herd workers have and the preventive practices they use. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, prevention and biosecurity practices on Brucellosis of workers exposed to risk in dairy herds of Caaguazú. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a representative sample of livestock establishments in the Department of Caaguazú. From May to June 2017, 720 workers from 360 dairy farms were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire with closed questions. Information on the knowledge, prevention and biosecurity practices on brucellosis was obtained. Result: The median age of the workers was 34 years, 70% were men. 11.7% were illiterate and 62.1% only completed the primary. 90% worked as a tambero/milker. Sixty-four percent said they did not know about the disease, 73.6% did not know how the disease was acquired, 71.5% never received information about brucellosis. 73.3% had no knowledge of preventive practices. All consumed unpasteurized dairy byproducts, mainly Paraguayan cheese. Conclusion: There is a lack of knowledge of the disease and the way of transmission. Risk practices are frequent. It is necessary to implement education and awareness programs on brucellosis. Keywords: Brucellosis; knowledge; prevention practices; biosecurity;survey; human.

Current status of prenatal diagnosis in Cuba: causes of low prevalence of Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze trends in cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis in Cuba and to analyze possible causes leading to a low Down syndrome prevalence in a country where the triple test is not available. METHODS: An analysis of the Cuban program in prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis from 1984 to 2012 was conducted. Results are described, with particular emphasis on indications, abnormal results, types of invasive procedures, and terminations of pregnancy. RESULTS: Cytogenetic prenatal diagnostic analyses (n = 75,095) were conducted; maternal age was the indication for 77.9% of the amniocenteses and chorionic villus samplings. The detection rate of chromosomally abnormal pregnancies was 2.3% for maternal age and increased to 8-9% for other indications. When a chromosomal abnormality was identified, 88.5% terminated the pregnancy. In 2002, the live birth prevalence of Down syndrome was 8.4 per 10,000 live births, and in 2012, 7 per 10,000. CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis in Cuba has contributed to a significant reduction in chromosomal aberrations. The impact increased because of the demographic trends of the population, the high index of terminations of pregnancy, and the establishment of a network of cytogenetic laboratories throughout Cuba.

Assessment of patterns of fluctuating asymmetry and sexual dimorphism in carabid body shape.

The measurement tool most used to estimate developmental stability (DS) is fluctuating asymmetry (FA), which is a measure of the small random deviations that occur between the left and right sides of bilaterally symmetrical traits. In the Biobío Region of Chile, forest plantations are a widely extended phenomenon, which affect 27% of the surface area of the region and which are dominated by the monoculture of Pinus radiata. This study evaluated the presence of FA in the body shape of two populations of Ceroglossus chilensis (Eschscholtz) in two 13-year-old forest plantations (commercial thinning) using insects collected with interception traps. Since the biotic and abiotic components of forest plantations are subject to continual anthropic modifications that affect almost all ecological processes, including population dynamics, community composition, and material and energy flows, these characteristics are reflected in the DS of individuals. The results showed that there was greater precision using geometric morphometrics to detect the presence of asymmetry in plantations due to shape analysis, as proposed by studies in antennal morphology using traditional measures. It should be noted that the populations were exposed to different environments; the population in the Coast Range is more humid, while the Andes Foothills population is in a drier area with drier soils. In spite of this, there was minimum phenotypic variation detected at the population level, which reflected the different environments and may be associated with patterns of environmental phenotypic plasticity.

Egg Phenology of a Host-Specialist Butterfly in the Western Slopes of the Northern Chilean Andes.

Phenological studies are especially important in order to understand the ecological process operating at temporal level. The western slopes of the northern Chilean Andes at about 3,500 m asl are a mosaic of arid environments in which precipitations are highly seasonal, mostly concentrated in summer. Teriocolias zelia andina Forbes (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is one of the most conspicuous and regularly observed butterflies flying in this region; it is a host specialist associated with the native shrub Senna birostris var. arequipensis (Fabaceae). The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the temporal variations in the relative abundance of eggs of this host-specialist butterfly and (2) to examine the relationship of these variations with leaf phenology. Monthly samplings of eggs were carried out from February 2011 to January 2012. Circular statistical analyses of the relative abundance of eggs indicated clustered distribution along the year with the mean vector in June. Temporal variation in the relative abundance of eggs was correlated (Spearman rank correlation test) with the availability of plant substrate for egg laying and larval feeding.

Arsenic-related DNA copy-number alterations in lung squamous cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Lung squamous cell carcinomas (SqCCs) occur at higher rates following arsenic exposure. Somatic DNA copy-number alterations (CNAs) are understood to be critical drivers in several tumour types. We have assembled a rare panel of lung tumours from a population with chronic arsenic exposure, including SqCC tumours from patients with no smoking history. METHODS: Fifty-two lung SqCCs were analysed by whole-genome tiling-set array comparative genomic hybridisation. Twenty-two were derived from arsenic-exposed patients from Northern Chile (10 never smokers and 12 smokers). Thirty additional cases were obtained for comparison from North American smokers without arsenic exposure. Twenty-two blood samples from healthy individuals from Northern Chile were examined to identify germline DNA copy-number variations (CNVs) that could be excluded from analysis. RESULTS: We identified multiple CNAs associated with arsenic exposure. These alterations were not attributable to either smoking status or CNVs. DNA losses at chromosomes 1q21.1, 7p22.3, 9q12, and 19q13.31 represented the most recurrent events. An arsenic-associated gain at 19q13.33 contains genes previously identified as oncogene candidates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a comprehensive approach to molecular characteristics of the arsenic-exposed lung cancer genome and the non-smoking lung SqCC genome. The distinct and recurrent arsenic-related alterations suggest that this group of tumours may be considered as a separate disease subclass.

Coexistencia de neuroblastoma olfatorio y aneurisma de la arteria carótida interna: presentación de un caso / Coexistence of an olfactory neuroblastoma and internal carotid artery aneurism: case report

El neuroblastoma olfatorio es una neoplasia neuroectodérmica maligna rara que afecta a la bóveda nasal y que tiende a invadir las estructuras vecinas, entre estas a la cavidad intracraneal. Su asociación con aneurismas intracraneales nunca ha sido descrita. Presentamos a una paciente con la coexistencia de un aneurisma del segmento oftálmico de la arteria carótida interna y un neuroblastoma olfatorio con invasión intracraneal. La coexistencia entre neoplasias del sistema nervioso central y aneurismas intracraneales es infrecuente. En este artículo analizamos las posibles causas de la asociación entre neoplasias y aneurismas intracraneales.

The olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant neuroectodermal neoplasia of the nasal roof. It has a highly tendency of invades near structures including intracranial compartment. Associations between olfactory neuroblastoma with intracranial aneurysms have been never described. We show a case of a female with coexistence of an internal carotid artery aneurysm and olfactory neuroblastoma. The coexistence between nervous system tumors with intracranial aneurysms is not common. In this paper we analyze the association between intracranial neoplasia and aneurysms.

An economic model of haemophilia in Mexico.

A model was developed to assess the lifetime costs and outcomes associated with haemophilia in Mexico. A retrospective chart review of 182 type A haemophiliacs was conducted for patients aged 0-34 years receiving one of three treatments: (i) cryoprecipitate at clinic; (ii) concentrate at home; or (iii) concentrate at clinic. Patients treated at home experienced 30% less joint damage, used 13-54% less factor VIII, had four times fewer clinic visits, and utilized half as many hospital days than those treated at a clinic. For cryoprecipitate at clinic patients, the annual incidence rates of HCV and HIV were calculated to be 3.6% and 1.4% respectively. The life expectancy for patients receiving cryoprecipitate and those receiving concentrate was estimated to be 49 years and 69 years respectively, with 58% of cryoprecipitate patients predicted to die of AIDS before age 69. Across the lifespan, the average annual cost of care was US$11,677 (MN$110,464) for cryoprecipitate at clinic patients, US$10,104 (M$95,580) for concentrate at home patients and US$18,819 (MN$178,027) for concentrate at clinic patients. Using a 5% discount rate, the incremental lifetime cost per year of life added for treatment with concentrate at home compared with cryoprecipitate at a clinic was US$738 (MN$6981). Rank order stability analysis demonstrated that the model was most sensitive to the cost of fVIII. These results indicate that treatment with concentrate at home compared with cryoprecipitate at a clinic substantially improves clinical outcomes at reduced annual cost levels.

Uso de las transfusiones de concentrados de eritrocitos en pacientes hospitalizados / Use of the concentrated transfusions of of eritrocitos in hospitalized patients

Se presenta la evaluación del efecto del programa propuesto por el Comité de Hemoterapia en el Hospital Oncológico "Conrado Benítez" de Santiago de Cuba para dismunuir las transfusiones de sangre y componentes mediante el comportamiento de los indicadores que proponemos para evaluar la decisión médica de las transfusiones de concentrados de eritrocitos durante los años 1998, 1999 y 2000 ya es éste el componente que en mayor proporción se transfundió (más del 95 por ciento del total de las transfusiones).Se dwemostró el uso por los médicos, de los lineamientos institucionales para ;la hemoterapia, del cumplimiento de los comentarios pre y posttransfusioneales en las historias clínicas de los pacientes, y la mayorí de todos los indicadores como consecuencia de la disminución de la transfusiones de este componente sanguineo y del nú de pacientes transfundidos

Elf magnetic field effects on some hematological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in mice

In this work we have studied some hematological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood, as well as some histological aspects of liver and spleen during chronic exposure (1,6, and 8 months) to extremely low-frecuency magnetic(ELF-MF).Balb/C mice were exposed to an experimental sinusoidal wavefield of 60 Hz with a 0.11-mT intensity, generated in a system of Helmholtz coils.The results have shown no ELF-MF-cancer rela tionship during our experimental exposure time.However, leukopenia, hemoglobin decrease, and liver and spleen weigth increase were observed. The bioeffects described could be correlated with spleen hyperfuncction, which could have been produced by chronic exposure to this ELF-MF

[Electrolytic changes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during remission induction]. / Alteraciones electrolíticas en niños con leucemia linfoblástica aguda durante la inducción de remisión.

The alterations of the water-electrolyte balance are among the commonest early complications of treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A study was carried out in thirteen patients with ALL aged between 1.5 and 14 years. Four had high risk ALL and nine had standard risk ALL. All patients received intravenous epirubicin and vincristine, per os prednisone, allopurinol and bicarbonate, and intrathecal methotrexate and hydrocortisone. Venous blood was drawn before starting therapy and on days second and sixth of treatment in order to assay sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, albumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid concentrations. The following alterations were found: hyponatraemia in 4 cases, hypokalemia in 9, hypomagnesaemia in 9, hypocalcaemia in 11, hypophosphataemia in 9, hypouricemia in 3 and hyperuricaemia in 3 others. None of the patients developed acute renal insufficiency. These abnormalities could be due to the leukaemia itself or appear as a consequence of the remission induction treatment.

Nucleus basalis of Meynert cell responses in awake monkeys.

Extracellular cell activity was recorded in the intermediate and posterior subdivisions of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) of awake monkeys to determine cell characteristics and the motor and sensory participation. Animals were trained to move a lever by elbow flexion-extensions to receive a reward. Cell activity was recorded when the animal was at rest and executing the task. The electromyogram of the upper limb, contralateral to the recording site, was recorded simultaneously with NBM neuron activity. The effect of visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli were also studied after performance of the learned task. A moderate number of cells responded to the reward (16%), while a higher percentage of them was associated with unexpected, unspecific stimuli (22%). Firing rates correlated positively with limb movement (30%). Visual (34%) and auditory (15%) responses were also found. No NBM cell responded to tactile stimulation. Considering these findings and the anatomical projections over the cortex, the NBM role ion complex integrative processes in discussed.

Simposio. Avances recientes con ifosfamida/mesna en el tratamiento de tumores sólidos malignos: estudio fase II con ifosfamida, mesna y carboplatino en el tratamiento del cáncer cervicouterino etapa IIB / Symposium. Recent Advances with ifosfamide/Mesna in the treatment of malignant solid tumors: Phase II study in carcinoma of the uterine cervix clinical stage IIB with ifosfamide, mesna and carboplatin

Los casos de carcinoma cervicouterino se diagnostican en la mayoría de las pacientes en etapas localmente avanzadas. Esto evita el abordaje quirúrgico. La quimioterapia combinada neoadyuvante ha demostrado reducción tumoral en más de la mitad de los casos tratados. En el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, elaboramos un estudio fase II con objeto de determinar la eficacia y la toxicidad de la combinación de ifosfamida+mesna+carboplatino. También se evaluó la posibilidad de intervenir quirúrgicamente a las enfermas con carcinoma cervicouterino etapa IIB. Se incluyeron 20 pacientes sin tratamiento previo y con edad promedio de 42 años. Todas recibieron tres ciclos de quimioterapia cada cuatro semanas con carboplatino 300 mg/m² el día 1+ifosfamida 3g/m²/día por dos días en infusión contínua de 24 horas; mesna 600mg por vía intravenosa (bolo) directo antes de ifosfamida; 3,000 mg en la solución de la ifosfamida en infusión de 24 horas por dos días. Al término de ésta se administró 1,500 mg de mesna en 1,00 ml de solución glucosada en infusión de 12 horas. Se obtuvieron cuatro respuestas completas y nueve parciales; tres pacientes cursaron con enfermedad estable y cuatro progresaron. En dos enfermas sometidas a cirugía, los especímenes mostraron: carcinoma in situ residual en una mujer y en la otra no hubo actividad tumoral. De 18 pacientes que recibieron radioterapia posterior a la quimioterapia, 13 tuvieron respuesta completa, una mostró respuesta parcial y cuatro progresaron. La toxicidad para 54 ciclos de quimioterapia fue predominantemente medular; neutropenia grado 1-2 (6 por ciento), grado 3-4 (62 por ciento); plaquetopenia grado 0 (90 por ciento), grado 1-2 (44 por ciento) y grado 3 (4 por ciento). No se observó ningún proceso séptico asociado a la neutropenia. Se presentó emesis grado 2-3 en el 42 por ciento y alopecia grado 3 en el 75 por ciento. El seguimiento promedio para todas la pacientes fue de 12 meses. El intervalo libre de progresión en 14 casos con respuesta completa (13 con quimioterapia+radioterapia y uno con quimioterapia+cirugía) fue de 14.3 meses promedio (extremos 6-19 meses). Los resultados obtenidos con esta combinación confirman un alto índice de respuestas objetivas (65 por ciento) y completas (20 por ciento) con toxicidad moderada. La quimioterapia neoadyuvante puede reducir suficientemente el volumen tumoral; esto permite la cirugía en pacientes tradicionalmente consideradas con enfermedad irresecable

Comunicación de caso clínico de encefalitis herpética demostrada por biopsia cerebral con microscopía electrónica / Communication of a clinical case of herpetic encephalitis demonstrated by cerebral biopsy with electronic microscopy

Se presentan los hallazgos de biopsia cerebral realizada en una menor de 2 años de edad, con evidencias clínicas de una encefalitis aguda grave. La biopsia se efectuó en el lóbulo temporal derecho basado en la signología clínica de focalización neurológica y la TAC que demostró mayor compromiso en áreas temporales. Mediante microscopía electrónica se visualizaron múltiples partículas virales intranucleares morfológicamente idénticas al virus herpes simplex. A través del método peroxidasa anti peroxidasa (PAP) se observó una marcada positividad para herpes simplex tipo II. Se realizó tratamiento antiviral con Aciclovir a partir del 6º día de enfermedad. Sobrevivió con grandes secuelas neurológicas

Biosynthesis of catecholamines in organotypic cultures of peripheral autonomic nervous system: modifications by biopterin and other agents.

Organotypic cultures of chick-embryo sympathetic ganglion chains maintained in vitro for 3-4 weeks rapidly synthesized catecholamines, as demonstrated by the conversion of L-[U-14C]tyrosine to catechol derivatives and by histofluorescence assay. The biosynthesis of catechols from radioactive L-tyrosine leveled off at 6 hr of incubation and dropped slightly at 10 hr. The addition of DL-alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine to the culture medium did not affect protein synthesis, but produced a complete block in the synthesis of catecholamines from L-tyrosine, with consequent loss of fluorescence in the bodies and proximal processes of adrenergic neurons in 2 hr, and essentially complete loss in 6 hr. Our observations suggest that a major portion of the catecholamines were synthesized in the perikarya and transported via neuronal processes to their terminals. The addition of monoamine oxidase inhibitors to the incubation medium produced a moderate to pronounced increase in fluorescence; reserpine caused a rapid and profound loss of catecholamines. When added to the culture medium, crude biopterin produced an increase in the synthesis of catechol derivatives from radioactive L-tyrosine and a marked increase in fluorescence, beginning in the neuronal perikarya. This effect was completely blocked by DL-alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. The mechanism of biopterin's action in the synthesis of catecholamines in cultures of sympathetic ganglia is not completely elucidated from these studies, but may be related to the role it plays as cofactor for tyrosine hydrocylase.