Advances in the Integrated Pest Management of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): A Global Perspective.

Since ancestral times, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has been cultivated in the Andean regions. Recently, this pseudocereal has received increasing international attention due to its beneficial properties, such as adaptation and resilience in the context of global change, and the nutritional value of the grains. As a result, its production areas have not only increased in the highlands of South America but have also expanded outside of its Andean origins, and the crop is currently produced worldwide. The key pests of quinoa in the Andean region are the gelechiid moths Eurysacca melanocampta and Eurysacca quinoae; in other parts of the world, new pest problems have recently been identified limiting quinoa production, including the gelechiid Scrobipalpa atripicella in North America and Europe and the agromyzid fly Amauromyza karli in North America. In this review, the status of quinoa pests in the world is presented, and different aspects of their integrated management are discussed, including sampling methodologies for pest monitoring, economic threshold levels, and various control strategies.

Complete remission with histamine blocker in a patient with intractable hyperadrenergic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome secondary to long coronavirus disease syndrome.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a global public health concern and its sequels have barely started to outcrop. A good percentage of patients who suffered from COVID-19 are prone to develop long-COVID or post-COVID condition (PCC), a multisystemic, heterogeneous, chronic disorder. Patients with PCC may experience diverse manifestations, of which cardiovascular and neurological symptoms are among the most frequently reported. Indeed, dysautonomia presented as orthostatic intolerance has gained room following recent reports linking postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) with PCC. Disturbances in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) during postural changes are the cornerstones of orthostatic intolerance seen in patients suffering from PCC. A subtype of POTS, hyperadrenergic POTS, has been widely studied because of its association with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Although a causative relationship between PCC, hyperadrenergic POTS, and MCAS remains unrevealed, these syndromes can overlap. We want to propose here a correlation produced by a close-loop mechanism with positive feedback established after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a previously healthy young patient.

Predictors of Frailty Transitions in Mexican Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a dynamic state in older adults. Current evidence, mostly in high-income countries, found that improving frailty is more likely in mild states (prefrailty). We aimed to determine the probability of frailty transitions and their predictors. METHODS: Participants were adults aged 50 years or over from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health in Mexico during 4 waves (2009, 2014, 2017, and 2021). We defined frailty with the frailty phenotype and we used multinomial logistic models to estimate the probabilities of frailty transitions and determine their predictors. RESULTS: For the 3 analyzed periods (2009-2014, 2014-2017, and 2017-2021), transition probabilities from frail to robust were higher for the younger age group (50-59 years) at 0.20, 0.26, and 0.20, and lower for the older age group (≥80 years), 0.03, 0.08 and 0.04. Transitioning from prefrail to robust had probabilities of 0.38, 0.37, and 0.35, for the younger age group, and 0.09, 0.18, and 0.10, for the older age group. The probabilities of transitioning to frail and to death were lower for the younger age group and for the robust at baseline; but higher for the older age group and for the frail at baseline. We identified age, disability, and diabetes as the most significant predictors of frailty transitions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that frailty has a dynamic nature and that a significant proportion of prefrail and frail individuals can recover to a robust or prefrail state. They also emphasize that prefrailty should be the focus of interventions.

Plant use and perceptions in the context of sexual health among people of Congolese descent in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: The use of medicinal plants is integral to global healthcare systems, with Sub-Saharan Africa maintaining a robust tradition of herbal medicine alongside Western-oriented healthcare. As migrant communities tend to continue traditional herbal practices after migration, documenting this use is vital to develop culturally sensitive healthcare. This study investigates plant usage and perspectives in the context of sexual and reproductive health among the Congolese community in Belgium, particularly in the Matongé quarter of Brussels. Our research questions were: (1) What is the current knowledge of medicinal plants among the Congolese community in Belgium in the context of sexual health, and what are the applications and commonly employed administration methods of these plants? (2) What role does herbal medicine play in the context of sexual health for people of Congolese descent in Belgium and how this is influenced by perceptions of sexuality? and (3) Is there a gender bias in the use of medicinal plants, and if so, can this be related to perceived gender norms? METHODS: We conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with people of Congolese descent currently living in Belgium. Participants were selected using both snowball sampling and purposive sampling. Plant use in the context of sexual health was recorded through freelisting. Data on narratives, ideas, and perceptions of this plant use in the context of sexual health were collected. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified 17 plant species used for sexual health. Three overarching themes emerged from our data. Plants were used with a notable gender bias favoring male sexual potency enhancement. Men used these plants for both remedying potency issues and enhancing sexual prowess. In contrast, knowledge about plants for female sexual health was limited. Gender norms reinforced the importance of male sexual potency, while stigmatizing open discussions of female sexuality. CONCLUSIONS: The use of medicinal plants for sexual health raises health, social, and conservation concerns, underscoring the need for further research in this area. This study contributes to understanding medicinal plant use within the Congolese community in Belgium and highlights the necessity for future research on herbal practices for female sexual health in this context.

Tau Protein Alterations Induced by Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure.

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases whose central feature is dysfunction of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). Although the exact etiology of tauopathies is still unknown, it has been hypothesized that their onset may occur up to twenty years before the clear emergence of symptoms, which has led to questions about whether the prognosis of these diseases can be improved by, for instance, targeting the factors that influence tauopathy development. One such factor is hypoxia, which is strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease because of its association with obstructive sleep apnea and has been reported to affect molecular pathways related to the dysfunction and aggregation of tau proteins and other biomarkers of neurological damage. In particular, hypobaric hypoxia exposure increases the activation of several kinases related to the hyperphosphorylation of tau in neuronal cells, such as ERK, GSK3ß, and CDK5. In addition, hypoxia also increases the levels of inflammatory molecules (IL-ß1, IL-6, and TNF-α), which are also associated with neurodegeneration. This review discusses the many remaining questions regarding the influence of hypoxia on tauopathies and the contribution of high-altitude exposure to the development of these diseases.

First insights in terrestrial mammals monitoring in the Candelaria and Machay Reserves in the Ecuadorian Tropical Andes.

Habitat disturbance leads to biodiversity decline and modifications in the landscape structure and composition, affecting both dispersal movements and ecological processes at different temporal and spatial scales. The Ecuadorian Tropical Andes harbour suitable habitats for the distribution of a wide variety of species; however, there is a lack of studies focused on mammal diversity and its association with the habitat attributes in the central-eastern slopes. Here, we reported the diversity of terrestrial mammals recorded between 2019 and 2021 in a camera-trap monitoring study in the Candelaria and Machay reserves in the upper basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador. We performed site-occupancy probability analysis to assess the influence of spatial variables in the species' occurrence and also, based on natural marks, we reported preliminary findings in Andean bear individual identification. We detected 22 species of terrestrial mammals. Alpha diversity was similar between reserves with slightly higher species richness in Machay. Evenness indices showed unequal species distribution, with the Andean bear and domestic dogs exhibiting greater dominance. In addition, species composition was dissimilar between reserves, where the species turnover mostly explained the beta diversity. We observed that Andean bear and puma detections increased according to the natural vegetation cover. Conversely, domestic dogs were frequently detected in cells with an increasing proportion of pastures and crops. Additionally, we identified 26 Andean bears and six individuals recaptured during our study. Our results caution about the disturbance derived from human activities since we recorded unprecedented detections of domestic dogs in wild habitats. Nonetheless, it highlights the importance of private conservation areas (e.g. Candelaria, Machay and others) for supporting the occurrence and dispersal of terrestrial mammal species between larger areas in the upper basin of the Pastaza River.

Epanorin, a lichen secondary metabolite, inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Epanorin (EP) is a secondary metabolite of the Acarospora lichenic species. EP has been found in lichenic extracts with antimicrobial activity, and UV-absorption properties have been described for closely related molecules; however, its antiproliferative activity in cancer cells has not yet been explored. It has been hypothesized that EP inhibits cancer cell growth. MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and the non-transformed HEK-293 cell line were exposed to increasing concentrations of EP, and proliferation was assessed by the sulforhodamine-B assay. RESULTS: MCF-7 cells exposed to EP were examined for cell cycle progression using flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation was examined using the TUNEL assay. In addition, EP's mutagenic activity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. The data showed that EP inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and it induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 through a DNA fragmentation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, EP's lack of overt cytotoxicity in the normal cell line HEK-293 and human fibroblasts in cell culture is supported by the absence of mutagenic activity of EP. CONCLUSION: EP emerges as a suitable molecule for further studies as a potential antineoplastic agent.

Carcinoma de células basales. Presentación de un caso / Basal cell carcinoma. Case presentation

El carcinoma de células basales, tumor que deriva de las células que forman la capa basal de la epidermis, es el tipo de cáncer de piel más frecuente en seres humanos, y afecta generalmente a personas de edad avanzada. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 90 años, con historia previa de carcinoma cutáneo en el hombro izquierdo, que acudió a consulta de oftalmología refiriendo aumento de volumen, irritación y enrojecimiento en el párpado inferior del ojo derecho. Al examen físico ocular se encontró una lesión en párpado inferior, cerca del canto interno, elevada, con un diámetro aproximado de 6-7 milímetros, ulcerada hacia el centro. El diagnóstico histopatológico informó carcinoma basocelular sebáceo, diferenciación de muy baja frecuencia de presentación, lo que motivó la realización de este informe.

Basal cell carcinoma, tumor which derives from the cells that constitute the epidermis basal layer, is the most frequent type of skin cancer and affects generally aged people. It is presented a case of a 90 year old patient, with previous history of cutaneous carcinoma on the left shoulder, presented to the opthalmology consultation complaining of volume increasing, irritation and redness in the lower eyelid of the right eye. On the physical examination it was found a lesion on the lower eyelid close the internal edge, elevated, with a diameter of 6-7 mm, ulcerated to the inside. The hist-pathological  diagnosis informed a sebaceous baso-cellular carcinoma, a differentiation of a very low frequency that motivated the presentation of this report.

Herida penetrante escleral con cuerpo extraño intraocular. Presentación de un caso / Penetrating Scleral Injury with Intraocular Foreign Body. A Case Report

El trauma ocular constituye un problema de salud en el mundo actual y una causa común de deficiencia visual que deja en el paciente serias secuelas y trastornos psicológicos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 46 años, masculino, que acudió al cuerpo de guardia de Oftalmología del Hospital General Universitario Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima de Cienfuegos, refiriendo que al estar martillando hierro sobre hierro sintió que algo se le proyectó a nivel del ojo derecho. Presentaba dolor, lagrimeo, ojo rojo y visión algo borrosa. Se le diagnosticó una herida penetrante escleral con cuerpo extraño intraocular. Se procedió al estudio que contempló biomicroscopia, radiografía de órbita y ultrasonido ocular. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico mediante extracción extracapsular del cristalino con implante de lente intraocular mediante la técnica de Blumenthal y abordaje a nivel de pars plana para la extracción del cuerpo extraño intraocular.

Ocular trauma is a health problem in the world today and a common cause of visual impairment leading to severe sequelae and psychological disorders. The case of a 46-year-old male patient who attended the Ophthalmology emergency services of the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital of Cienfuegos, recounting that while hammering iron on iron he felt that something entered his right eye, is presented. He suffered from pain, tearing, red eye and blurred vision. A penetrating scleral injury with an intraocular foreign body was diagnosed. Its study was conducted through biomicroscopy, orbital x-ray and ocular ultrasound. Surgical treatment by extracapsular lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation was performed using Blumenthal technique and pars plana approach for removal of the intraocular foreign body.

Caracterización epidemiológica y social de las personas con discapacidad intelectual en Cuba / Epidemiological and social characterization of the mentally-retarded people in Cuba

Objetivo Caracterizar desde el punto de vista epidemiológico y social a las personas con discapacidad intelectual en Cuba. Método. El estudio interesó a toda la población cubana y dentro de ella a las personas con discapacidad intelectual como población diana. La pesquisa activa en la comunidad identificó, con el auxilio de los gobiernos locales y de las organizaciones sociales, a las personas registradas y a otras no registradas. Una visita al hogar de la persona con discapacidad permitió aplicar una combinación de entrevistas y exámenes clínicos que facilitaron el proceso de clasificación y registro de estos individuos. Resultados Se estudiaron en todo el territorio nacional 140 489 personas. La tasa de prevalencia de discapacidad intelectual en Cuba en el período estudiado era de 1,25 por cada 100 habitantes. Las provincias con tasas más elevadas fueron Guantánamo y Santiago de Cuba. En el total de las personas estudiadas, la discapacidad intelectual fue más frecuente en el grupo de 15 a 19 años y hubo predominio de la discapacidad ligera. Se detectaron 29 536 personas con incapacidad intelectual no registrados con anterioridad. La orfandad como factor social agravante en las personas con discapacidad intelectual tuvo muy baja frecuencia. Conclusiones El procedimiento de pesquisa activa en la comunidad permitió el registro e inclusión en el estudio de aproximadamente una quinta parte de las personas con discapacidad intelectual no inscritas anteriormente. Los registros rutinarios de estas personas tienden a subestimar la real prevalencia de este problema de salud que es necesario conocer en toda su amplitud para poder atenderlo satisfactoriamente desde el punto de vista médico y social

Objective To characterize the mentally-retarded people in Cuba from the epidemiological and social viewpoints. Methods The study covered the whole Cuban population, particularly those people with mental retardation taken as target population. The active screening carried out in the community allowed identifying the registered and non-registered persons with this condition, with the support of the local governments and social organizations. Home visits allowed using a combination of interviews and clinical tests to facilitate the process of classification and registration of these persons. Results A total of 140 489 people were studied throughout the country. The prevalence rate of mental retardation in Cuba in the studied period was 1,25 per 100 pop. The provinces which exhibited the highest rates were Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba. The mental retardation was more common in 15-19 years-old group, being slight retardation predominant. The study detected 29 536 people with mental retardation, who had not been previously registered. Being an orphan as an aggravating social factor in mentally-retarded people was very uncommon. Conclusions The active community-wide screening made it possible to identify and include in this study almost 20 percent of mentally-retarded persons no previouosly registered. The routine records of these people tend to underestimate the real prevalence of this health problem, which is required to be known in-depth in order to cope with it in a satisfactory way from the medical and social viewpoints

La carga de la enfermedad en países de América Latina / Burden of disease in Latin America

OBJETIVO. Describir los estudios de carga de la enfermedad realizados en la región e identificar las principales prioridades en salud a partir del indicador años de vida saludable perdidos (AVISA). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Mediante el uso de AVISA, identificar la carga de enfermedad en los distintos países. RESULTADOS: Los AVISA destacan la emergencia de los trastornos mentales, la diabetes mellitus en las mujeres y los trastornos por consumo de alcohol y lesiones en los hombres. CONCLUSIONES: América Latina es la región con más estudios nacionales de carga de la enfermedad realizados con una metodología estandarizada, que permiten identificar problemas de salud que están presionando a los servicios de atención; por ello estos resultados constituyen un elemento a tomar en cuenta en el establecimiento de políticas públicas en cada país.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden of disease studies made in the region, identify the main priorities in health from the indicator Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: By the use of DALYs identify the burden of disease in the countries in the network. RESULTS: DALYs emphasize the emergency of mental disorders, diabetes mellitus in women and the disorders associated with alcohol consumption and injuries in men. CONCLUSIONS: Latin America is the region with more national studies of burden of disease, using a standardized methodology, that allows identifying new health priorities which are pressing to the health services; for that reason these results constitute an element to take into account in the establishment of public policies in each country.

Caracterización epidemiológica de las personas con discapacidad en Cuba / Epidemiological characterization of disabled persons in Cuba

Introducción La discapacidad es un tema complejo, de enorme repercusión social y económica y del que se tiene estimados inseguros. Objetivos Identificar y caracterizar a cada persona con discapacidad en Cuba. Métodos Investigación epidemiológica descriptiva, de tipo transversal, realizada en el período 2001-2003. El estudio interesó a toda la población cubana y dentro de ella a las personas con discapacidad. La pesquisa activa en la comunidad identificó a las personas registradas y a otras no registradas, con el auxilio de los gobiernos locales y de las organizaciones sociales. Una visita al hogar de la persona con discapacidad permitió aplicar una combinación de entrevistas y exámenes clínicos que facilitaron el proceso de clasificación y registro de estas personas. Se estimó una tasa de cobertura del estudio de 99,9 por ciento del total de personas con discapacidad en el territorio nacional. Resultados Se estudiaron 366 864 personas con discapacidad lo que produjo una tasa de prevalencia de 3,26 por cada 100 habitantes. Guantánamo con 4,13 fue la provincia con la tasa más elevada y Ciudad de La Habana con 2,13, la de más baja tasa. La mayor tasa de discapacidad se encontró en el grupo de 60 y más años y en el sexo masculino. La discapacidad intelectual ocupó el primer lugar en frecuencia, seguida de la discapacidad físico-motora. Conclusiones El número de personas con discapacidad en Cuba identificadas con los métodos empleados casi triplicó al universo inicial de discapacitados registrados, por lo que había una subestimación de la prevalencia real del problema. Las tasas de prevalencia de discapacidad y su distribución según características de las personas y provincias en Cuba siguen patrones similares a las descritas en otras publicaciones

Introduction Disability is a complex topic, with great social and economic impact and inaccurate estimates. Objectives Identify and characterize every disabled person in Cuba. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological research study carried out from 2001 to 2003. The study covered the whole Cuban population, particularly the disabled persons. The community-wide active screening detected registered and non-registered persons with some disability, thanks to the support of local governments and social organizations. Home visits paid to disabled persons allowed combining interviews and clinical exams to facilitate the process of classification and registration of these people. The coverage rate of the study was estimated at 99,9 percent of the total number of disabled persons throughout the country. Results The study analyzed 366 864 people with disabilities, which led to a prevalence rate of 3,26 per 100 inhabitants. Guantanamo province reached 4,13, being the province with the highest rate whereas Ciudad de La Habana exhibited the lowest rate (2,13). The highest rate of disability was found in the 60 and over years-old group and in males. Intellectual disability was prevailing in terms of frequency, followed by physical-motor disability. Conclusions The number of individuals with some disability detected in Cuba was almost three times the initial universe of registered disabled, so the real prevalence of the problem had been underestimated. The disability prevalence rates and their distribution according to the characteristics of individuals and provinces in Cuba have patterns similar to those described in other publications

Calidad de las estadísticas de mortalidad en Cuba según cuantificación de causas de muerte imprecisas / Quality of mortality data in Cuba according to quantification of unspecific causes of death

La baja calidad de las estadísticas, de mortalidad implica confusión y riesgo para la administración social en salud. Objetivos: apreciar la calidad de las estadísticas de mortalidad en Cuba mediante la cuantificación de causas bàsicas de muerte imprecisas codificadas según cinco grupos de códigos indeseados o silenciosos. Estudio descriptivo que abarcó el universo de certificados médicos de defunción registrados entre 1989 y 2008. En el 7,2 por ciento de las certificaciones se codificó la causa bàsica de muerte con códigos de los grupos I al IV. Considerando un quinto grupo de causas de muerte inespecíficas, el porcentaje ascendió a 9,8. El grupo III: enfermedades circulatorias, fue el de mayor contribución, seguido del grupo I: causas mal definidas, donde se incrementó la tendencia al reporte. La bronconeumonía hipostàtica concentró el 35,4 por ciento de las certificaciones del grupo V, seguida de la insuficiencia renal y el embolismo pulmonar. La frecuencia de reporte de causas de muerte imprecisas en Cuba es baja, lo que habla a favor de buena calidad de la información estadística de mortalidad. Los grupos de códigos utilizados resultan factibles de utilizar como herramientas de clasificación. Se recomienda actualizar conocimientos en el llenado de los certificados médicos de defunción a los médicos y mejorar la exigencia y normatividad de los procesos

Low quality of mortality data leads to confusion and risk for social management in health. Objectives: to assess the quality of mortality data in Cuba through quantification of unspecific basic causes of death classified according to five groups of undesirable or silent codes. Methods Descriptive study comprising the universe of death certificates recorded in the 1989-2008 period. In 7,2 percent of certificates, the basic cause of death was encoded by using the codes included in the groups 1 to 4; a fifth group of unspecific causes of death was considered, which increased the percentage to 9,8. Group 3 comprising the circulatory system diseases exhibited the greatest contribution followed by group 1 including ill-defined causes where the tendency to report rose. Hypostatic bronchopneumonia accounted for 35,4 percent of the group 5 certificates, followed by renal failure and pulmonary embolism. Conclusions The frequency of unspecific causes of death reports is low in Cuba, which speaks for the good quality of statistical mortality information. The code groups are feasible for their use as classification tools. It is recommended to update knowledge of physicians on how to fill out death certificates, and at the same time, to improve the requirements and standardization of these processes

Calidad de las estadísticas de mortalidad en provincias cubanas según cuantificación de causas de muerte imprecisas / Quality of mortality data in the Cuban provinces according to quantification of unspecific causes of death

La baja calidad de las estadísticas de mortalidad afecta la administración en salud. Objetivos: apreciar la calidad de las estadísticas de mortalidad cubanas en todas las provincias del país mediante la cuantificación de causas bàsicas de muerte imprecisas codificadas según cinco grupos de códigos indeseados o silenciosos. Estudio descriptivo que abarcó el universo de certificados médicos de defunción registrados durante el trienio 2005-2007. La estrategia de investigación se basó en la revisión documental y la definición de indicadores de calidad. Las provincias de mayor reporte de los códigos estudiados fueron Ciego de Ávila, Pinar del Río, Matanzas, Granma, La Habana y Camagüey, y en particular, para los códigos del grupo I, Ciego de Ávila, Isla de la Juventud, Pinar del Río y La Habana. Las regiones con tasas de reporte de causas indeseadas màs altas fueron la Central y la Occidental. La frecuencia de reporte de causas de muerte imprecisas en las provincias en general, es baja, con variaciones que apuntan a mejor calidad en los procesos para unos territorios con respecto a otros, lo que permite recomendar acciones diferenciadas en ellos y establecer rangos de prioridad y temßticas

Low quality of mortality data affects health management. Objectives: to identify the quality of mortality data in all the Cuban provinces through quantification of unspecific basic causes of death classified according to five groups of undesirable or silent codes. Methods Descriptive study covering the universe of death certificates recorded in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The research strategy was based on the documentary review and the definition of quality indicators. The provinces that mostly reported most the studied codes were Ciego de Avila, Pinar del Río, Matanzas, Gramma, La Habana and Camaguey; particularly, the group 1 codes were recorded in Ciego de Avila, Isla de la Juventud, Pinar del Río y La Habana. The regions having the highest rates of undesirable cause reports were the central and the western regions. The frequency of unspecific causes of death reports seen at the provinces was generally low, with some fluctuations that show better quality of the processes in some territories than in others. This allows recommending the taking of differentiated actions in the provinces and setting priority and topic ranges

Efecto anabólico y androgénico del esteroide acetato de trembolona en el guppy (Poecilia reticulata) / Anabolic and androgenic effect of steroid trenbolone acetate on guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

The effect of semi-synthetic steroid trenbolone acetate (TBA) on the ornamental fish Poecilia reticulata (guppy) was studied. The steroid at a dose of 300 mg/kg feed was administered to 30 days old juvenile specimens during 60 days. Forty days after treatment was ended, an evaluation aimed to determine the steroid residual effect was undertaken. Survival, masculinization ratio and the drug anabolic effect were analyzed. Results showed TBA to be effective to induce masculinization, differing (P < 0.001) with the control group, which registered 32% males and 68% females. TBA turned out to be an excellent anabolic as well, since treated fish showed weight increase, a larger body and an increased size of caudal fin. The steroid did not cause any damage on the treated population. The survival factor was 93.3% for the treated fish as compared to 83% for the control group.

Se investigó el efecto del esteroide semisintético acetato de trembolona (ATB) en el pez de ornato Poecilia reticulata (guppy). Especímenes juveniles de 30 días de edad fueron tratados con el esteroide a dosis de 300 mg/kg de alimento durante 60 días. Al término del tratamiento, 40 días después, se estimó el efecto residual del esteroide. Se analizó la sobrevivencia, la proporción de peces masculinizados, así como el efecto anabólico. Los resultados indicaron que el ATB es eficaz para inducir la masculinización, a diferencia del grupo testigo, donde se registraron 32% de machos. Asimismo, el ATB tuvo un efecto anabólico, ya que los peces tratados mostraron mayor peso y talla e incremento de la aleta caudal. El esteroide no causó daño en la población tratada, al sobrevivir 93.3% de los peces, comparado con 83% del grupo testigo.

Trabeculectomía con 5-fluorouracilo transoperatorio / Trabeculectomy with transoperative 5-Fluorouracil

En un estudio sobre 70 ojos operados de glaucoma, a los que se les realizó una trabeculectomía convencional con uso de 5-fluorouracilo transoperatorio, se excluyeron los ojos con alto riesgo de cierre posoperatorio de la fistula y se les realizaron varios controles posoperatorios hasta el 1½ año. Se observaron complicaciones propias de la cirugía filtrante sin antimetabolitos, que mejoraron con el tratamiento habitual, y se logró un control adecuado de la presión intraocular sin necesidad de reoperaciones o de medicación hipotensora, lo que hace pensar en resultados prometedores con este tipo de cirugía

Determinantes urbanos para el ejercicio del control social en salud en el Distrito Capital, 1986-1996 / Urban determinants for the exercise of social control in health in the Capital District, 1986-1996

El desarrollo de este estudio parte de la idea de que los determinantes urbanos de la ciudad de Santa Fe de Bogotá son características que además de darle una connotación propia al citadino, pueden estar caracterizando el ejercicio del control social en la prestación de los servicios de salud y desarrollo de la seguridad social en salud en el Distrito Capital. Se hace una aproximación exploratoria al tema a partir de las características de los líderes comunitarios, teniendo como referentes algunos determinantes que la teoría ha definido como propios de lo urbano, en aspectos económicos, culturales, poblacionales, institucionales y en la oferta de servicios públicos. El estudio tiene como marco de referencia las reformas de los sistemas de salud de los últimos diez años; en él se hace una reflexión del significado que tiene la Constitución de 1991 sobre la participación social y su relación con la posible construcción de un nuevo concepto de ciudadanía. Así, los determinantes urbanos se identifican tomando como base inicial los definidos en el marco de referencia a partir de los elementos generales que en teoría se han descrito como características de la ciudad, y posteriormente se buscan y se confrontan algunos de éstos en el contexto local, otros en el contexto nacional, y otros en el institucional y cultural de los líderes comunitarios. El control social se abordó en el contexto de la participación, y tanto el uno como la otra desde el Estado, por ser el generador de estos procesos. Las reformas de los sistemas y los aspectos normativos de la participación comunitaria se hicieron a partir de la revisión de los tres sistemas de salud que han existido en Colombia, plasmados en el decreto 056 de 1975, la ley 10 de 1990 y la ley 100 de 1993. Se presenta una caracterización por etapas y en los tres sistemas de salud sobre la participación comunitaria promovida por el Estado en los contextos nacional y local en la última década. Hace un recorrido de la forma como ha evolucionado el uso de los términos participación comunitaria y control social en salud y propone una definición de los mismos. Genera algunas recomendaciones para diferenciar el papel de cada organización comunitaria según el régimen o plan de beneficios en el SGSSS. Diseña alternativas para involucrar a la población de estratos altos en el control social. Identifica aspectos concretos sobre las relaciones de los sectores comunitarios con las instituciones de salud y con sus funcionarios, y que están afectando positiva y negativamente su quehacer como líderes en el SGSSS. Finalmente, se hace una propuesta metodológica en la cual se retoman las conclusiones del trabajo así como las principales debilidades manifestadas por los líderes.

The development of this study is based on the idea that the urban determinants of the city of Santa Fe de Bogotá are characteristics that, in addition to giving a connotation of the city-dweller, may be characterizing the exercise of social control in the provision of health services and the development of social security in health in the Capital District. An exploratory approach to the subject is made on the basis of the characteristics of community leaders, taking as a reference some determinants that theory has defined as typical of the urban, in economic, cultural, population, institutional aspects and in the supply of public services. The study has as a frame of reference the health system reforms of the last ten years; it reflects on the meaning of the 1991 Constitution on social participation and its relationship with the possible construction of a new concept of citizenship. Thus, the urban determinants are identified taking as an initial basis those defined in the frame of reference from the general elements that have been described in theory as characteristics of the city, and then some of these are sought and confronted in the local context, others in the national context, and others in the institutional and cultural context of community leaders. Social control was approached in the context of participation, and both the one and the other from the State, for being the generator of these processes. The reforms of the systems and the normative aspects of community participation were made from the review of the three health systems that have existed in Colombia, embodied in Decree 056 of 1975, Law 10 of 1990 and Law 100 of 1993. It presents a characterization by stages and in the three health systems of the community participation promoted by the State in the national and local contexts in the last decade. It reviews how the use of the terms community participation and social control in health has evolved and proposes a definition of these terms. It generates some recommendations to differentiate the role of each community organization according to the regime or benefit plan in the SGSSS. Designs alternatives to involve the population of high strata in the social control. It identifies specific aspects of the relationship between the community sectors and the health institutions and their officials that are positively and negatively affecting their work as leaders in the SGSSS. Finally, a methodological proposal is made in which the conclusions of the work as well as the main weaknesses expressed by the leaders are taken up.

Tratamiento de la hipercalciuria idiopática con solución oral de fosfatos / Treatment of idiopatic hypercalciuria with an oral phosphate solution

Objetivo: evaluar la respuesta de pacientes con hipercalciuria idiopática y concentraciones indetectables de paratohormona en el plasma al suministro de fosfato oral. Pacientes y método: en seis pacientes con hipercalciuria idiopática de 8 a 13 años de edad, tres varones, con concentraciones sanguíneas basales indetectables de hormona paratiroidea, se administró una solución oral de fosfatos por durante nueve meses. El desenlace primario esperado fue la normalización de la relación Ca/creatina en la orina y el secundario la disminución de la eliminación urinaria de Ca a menos de 4 mg por kg de peso corporal al día. Resultados: el promedio de la relación Ca/Cr al comienzo del estudio era 0,356. Al cabo de tres meses de tratamiento era 0,18 en 5 casos y 0,09 al cabo de 9 meses postratamiento en 4 casos: (p<0,003 y 0,001) al tercer y noveno mes de tratamiento, como también a los 3 meses de suspendida la terapia (p<0,003). Conclusión: en algunos pacientes de hipercalciuria idiopática con disminución basal de paratohormona (que puede deberse a pérdida primaria renal de fosfato) la terapia oral con fosfatos pudiese representar una alternativa terapéutica