Esguince lumbar por accidente de trabajo en trabajadores de la industria química y de otras actividades económicas / Lumbar sprains caused by work accidents in workers from the chemical industry and other economical activities

El objetivo es identificar y comparar el comportamiento del esguince lumbar por accidente de trabajo en los trabajadores de la industria química y el resto de actividades económicas. Revisándose 97.843 casos durante 1995-1997 se analizó: tipo de riesgo, edad, sexo, ocupación, antigüedad laboral, hora del accidente, actividad económica, tipo de jornada, incapacidad temporal e incapacidad permanente parcial (IPP), causa externa, acto inseguro. El tiempo de resolución promedio por caso fue de 21 a 24 días y la tasa de incapacidad permanente parcial disminuyó de 7,2 a 5,1/1.000 esguinces lumbares de trabajo, respectivamente. Hay diferencias significativas en la incidencia de casos de estas poblaciones (p < 0,001), así como entre los días de incapacidad por caso en los años de 1995 (p < 0,001), 1996 (p < 0,001) y 1997 (p < 0,001). Al analizar el puesto de ayudante general contra otros puestos de trabajo se encontraron diferencias con un RR de 2,1 (p < 0,001). Los trabajadores que realizan esfuerzos físicos y movimientos vigorosos contra los que no lo realizan de las poblaciones estudiadas presentan un RR de 2,03 (p < 0,001). Se concluye que las medidas preventivas y de manejo médico que se han establecido en ambas poblaciones en el período 1995-1997 no han generado disminución significativa de la incidencia, tiempo de evolución e incapacidad permanente parcial de este problema de salud. (AU)

Nutritional and food protection against epidemic emerging neuropathy. Epidemiological findings in the unique disease-free urban area of Cuba.

A survey was conducted through the SECUBA (SEguridad alimentaria en CUba y Buena Alimentación) research program in Cuban healthy smokers living in Guantánamo and in Havana. The aim of the survey was to investigate biological and nutritional factors connected with the occurrence of zero epidemic neuropathy (EN) observed in Guantánamo urban area since the disease emerged in Cuba. Blood riboflavin status and carotenoid and selenium concentrations were higher in Guantánamo than in Havana smokers. Food dietary quantities of plantain banana, pepper (Capsicum spp.), bovine meat and milk products were higher in Guantánamo. Inversely, foods rich in cholesterol, especially eggs, were more consumed in Havana. Through riboflavin, carotenoid and selenium contents and specific antioxidants substances (indoleamines, capsaicin), the foods more consumed in Guantánamo could be considered as EN protective factors. Disease protective effects could be exerted via enhancement of defence mechanisms against free radical damage and related mechanisms focused on redox recycling of glutathione and local protection from carotenoids. Finally, the results of the present study should help Cuba, through a better EN control, to improve long-term food safety and define healthier dietary habits.

Antimycobacterial activity of new quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile and quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives.

The compounds being reported in this paper have all been evaluated within the TAACF Antituberculosis Screen Program, and some of them have been shown to possess high growth inhibition activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium in the run of the first and second level in vitro screenings. The three compounds which have shown a good SI (Selectivity Index) are 2b, 4b and 4d; in addition, 6,7-dimethyl-3-[4-(4'-nitrophenyl)piperazinl-yl]quinoxaline-2-carbonitrilo 1,4-di-N-oxide (4b) is currently being tested within the in vivo antituberculosis screening in view of its very good in vitro activity.

New quinoxalinecarbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives as hypoxic-cytotoxic agents.

We report the synthesis and biological in vitro activities of 16 new 2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxides. These compounds present new basic lateral chains (piperazines and anilines) in the 3 position as well as different substituents in the 6 and/or 7 positions of the quinoxaline ring. Among piperazine derivatives, 4b (a 7-chloro-3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) derivative) was the most potent (P = 0.5 x10(-6) M). In general, aniline derivatives were more potent and selective than the former, compound 12b (with a 4-(methylphenyl)amino moiety in the 3 position and a chlorine atom in the 7 position) being the best one (P = 3 x 10(-6) 16).

New quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxides for treatment of tuberculosis.

Some quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxides derivatives with very different substituents in 2, 3, 6 and 7 positions have been synthesized in order to obtain new hypoxia selective agents. Some of these products have been tested as antituberculosis agents and very interesting results have been obtained from the first screening.

Synthesis and antituberculosis activity of new 2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxides.

With the advent of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, new and effective therapies are rapidly needed to combat infections caused by these strains. Some new 2-quinoxalinecarbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxides have been synthesized and tested as antituberculosis agents and interesting results have been obtained from the first screening.

Synthesis and antituberculosis activity of some new 2-quinoxalinecarbonitriles.

Tuberculosis, an ancient disease undergoing recent control by public hygiene and drug therapy, has experienced a recrudescence throughout the world. New and effective therapies are rapidly needed to combat infections caused by these strains. Some new 2-quinoxalinecarbonitriles have been synthesized and tested as antituberculosis agents and interesting results have been obtained from the first screening.

Clinical orodental abnormalities in Mexican children.

A total of 32,022 Mexican children (16,473 boys, 15,549 girls) were examined for several congenital oral and paraoral anomalies. The findings for commissural lip pits (boys 53.1, girls 52.4 per 1000) are less than those reported for adults. This may indicate that pits become accentuated with age. Fordyce granules were seen with a prevalence of 1.2 per 1000. This is in contrast to the reported 85.6% prevalence for the adult population, also possibly reflecting increased manifestation with increased age. Our data for exogenous tooth pigmentation show increased prevalence with age (group I [5 to 10 1/2 years], 9.8%, versus group II [10 1/2 to 14 1/2 years], 12.9%), possibly indicating decrease in attention to oral hygiene. The prevalence of talon cusp was found to be 0.6 per 1000, and for ankyloglossia 8.3 per 1000. Prevalence values for bifid tongue are reported for the first time, indicating one affected per 187 children examined. The prevalence of fissured tongue (15.7%) shows a statistically significant difference between boys (16.8%) and girls (14.5%). The prevalence of geographic tongue (1.9%) shows a marked difference between group I (2.2%) and group II (1.2%).