Utilization of Marine Waste to Obtain ß-Chitin Nanofibers and Films from Giant Humboldt Squid Dosidicus gigas.

ß-chitin was isolated from marine waste, giant Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas, and further converted to nanofibers by use of a collider machine under acidic conditions (pH 3). The FTIR, TGA, and NMR analysis confirmed the efficient extraction of ß-chitin. The SEM, TEM, and XRD characterization results verified that ß-chitin crystalline structure were maintained after mechanical treatment. The mean particle size of ß-chitin nanofibers was in the range between 10 and 15 nm, according to the TEM analysis. In addition, the ß-chitin nanofibers were converted into films by the simple solvent-casting and drying process at 60 °C. The obtained films had high lightness, which was evidenced by the CIELAB color test. Moreover, the films showed the medium swelling degree (250-290%) in aqueous solutions of different pH and good mechanical resistance in the range between 4 and 17 MPa, depending on film thickness. The results obtained in this work show that marine waste can be efficiently converted to biomaterial by use of mild extractive conditions and simple mechanical treatment, offering great potential for the future development of sustainable multifunctional materials for various industrial applications such as food packaging, agriculture, and/or wound dressing.

Podoconiosis: enfermedad olvidada por la sociedad y la comunidad médica / Podoconiosis, a society and medical community neglected disease

La podoconiosis, o «elefantiasis endémica no filariásica», es una enfermedad geoquímica que produce un tipo de linfedema de los miembros inferiores relacionado directamente con caminar descalzo por terrenos de origen volcánico en áreas con un alto índice pluviométrico anual. Posee una distribución geográfica concreta, afecta aproximadamente a un 5% de la población de las áreas endémicas, es debilitadora y desfigurante y con frecuencia lleva a la marginación social de los que la sufren. Es una enfermedad prevenible y, una vez establecida, puede mejorar con medidas terapéuticas sencillas (AU)

Podoconiosis, mossy foot or endemic non-filarial elephantiasis, is a geochemical disease that causes lower limb lymphedema; it is directly related to walking barefoot over soils of volcanic origin, in areas with a high pluviometric annual index. It has a specific geographical distribution, affecting around 5% population in areas where it is endemic. It is debilitating and disfiguring disease, which frequently leads to social margination. Podoconiosis is totally preventable and, once a diagnosis is established, it may improve with simple therapeutic measures (AU)

[Podoconiosis, a society and medical community neglected disease]. / Podoconiosis: enfermedad olvidada por la sociedad y la comunidad médica.

Podoconiosis, mossy foot or endemic non-filarial elephantiasis, is a geochemical disease that causes lower limb lymphedema; it is directly related to walking barefoot over soils of volcanic origin, in areas with a high pluviometric annual index. It has a specific geographical distribution, affecting around 5% population in areas where it is endemic. It is debilitating and disfiguring disease, which frequently leads to social margination. Podoconiosis is totally preventable and, once a diagnosis is established, it may improve with simple therapeutic measures.

[Role of psychosocial variables in the metabolic control of type 2 diabetics]. / Variables psicosociales asociadas a compensación metabólica de pacientes diabéticos de tipo 2.

BACKGROUND: Patients' cultural orientations play an important role in chronic diseases. However, medical education research still does not emphasize these variables. AIM: To measure the influence of psychosocial dimensions on blood glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Case-control design. Data were collected from institutional records and structured interviews. Blood glucose control was tested using glycosylated hemoglobin A1C. Patients with a good metabolic profile defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin of less than 7% were considered cases while those with a glycosylated hemoglobin >7% were labeled as controls. Sixty seven cases and 61 controls were randomly selected at a public health center located in Los Angeles, Chile. Socio-demographic, illness-related, and psychosocial variables were measured and multiple modeling using logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: Seventy per cent of patients were female, mean age was 61 years, 57% were housewives and most had a low income and educational level. The cultural predictors of metabolic control of diabetes were the perception of obstacles for blood glucose control, attribution of health benefits to a good control, family support and bonding quality with the health team. CONCLUSIONS: Cultural variables play a significant role in metabolic control of diabetic patients and must be born in mind in educational campaigns.

Variables psicosociales asociadas a compensación metabólica de pacientes diabéticos de tipo 2 / Role of psychosocial variables in the metabolic control of type 2 diabetics

Background: Patients' cultural oríentations play an important role in chronic diseases. However, medical education research still does not emphasize these variables. Aim: To measure the influence of psychosocial dimensions on blood glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients. Subjects and methods: Case-control design. Data were collected from institutional records and structured interviews. Blood glucose control was tested using glycosylated hemoglobin A1C. Patients with a good metabolic proñle defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin of less than 7 percent were considered cases while those with a glycosylated hemoglobin >7 percent were labeled as controls. Sixty seven cases and 61 controls were randomly selected at a public health center located in Los Angeles, Chile. Socio-demographic, illness-related, and psychosocial variables were measured and múltiple modeling using logistic regression was performed. Results: Seventy per cent of patients were female, mean age was 61 years, 57 percent were housewives and most had a low income and educational level. The cultural predictors of metabolic control of diabetes were the perception of obstacles for blood glucose control, attribution of health benefits to a good control, family support and bonding quality with the health team. Conclusions: Cultural variables play a significant role in metabolic control of diabetic patients and must be born in mind in educational campaigns.