A Review and Analysis of the National Dog Population Management Program in Chile.

Free-roaming dogs are a worldwide problem, with Chile having some of the highest human-to-dog ratios in the world. In 2017, Law 21.020 was promulgated and the federal government developed a national responsible pet ownership program. The objectives of this article are to describe and discuss the dog-related components of the program, to design a tool for determining human-to-dog ratios in Chile, and to make recommendations to managers to improve the program outcomes. The overarching goal of the program was to mitigate the conflict between humans and dogs, but many of the interventions were animal-focused and the indicators did not consider the perception of the Chilean public. Using human density data and known dog populations, we found that as the human density increased, there were fewer dogs per person. Veterinary services and sterilizations were the mainstay of the program and were offered for free to citizens. Education was offered to all ages through public events, as well as municipality and organization activities. The identification of dogs was obligatory for dog owners. Enforcement was not included in the program. The recommendations are to conduct preintervention baseline data collections and to tailor interventions and indicators appropriately; to use dog population size estimates determined at the local level rather than a country-wide estimate; to replace free veterinary services with low-cost sterilization campaigns; to create sustainable plans for education; and to create enforcement teams in communities.

Consenso chileno de diagnóstico y manejo de neoplasias quísticas pancreáticas. Club de páncreas Chile-SCHGE / Chilean consensus on diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic neoplasms

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) are frequently detected on abdominal images performed for non-pancreatic indications. Their prevalence in asymptomatic population ranges from 2.7 to 24.8%, and increases with age. There are several types of pancreatic cysts. Some may contain cancer or have malignant potential, such as mucinous cystic neoplasms, including mucinous cystadenoma (MCN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). In contrast, others are benign, such as serous cystadenoma (SCA). However, even those cysts with malignant potential rarely progress to cancer. Currently, the only treatment for pancreatic cysts is surgery, which is associated with high morbidity and occasional mortality. The Board of the Chilean Pancreas Club of the Chilean Gastroenterology Society developed the first Chilean multidisciplinary consensus for diagnosis, management, and surveillance of PCN. Thirty experts were invited and answered 21 statements with five possible alternatives: 1) fully agree; 2) partially agree; 3) undecided; 4) disagree and 5) strongly disagree. A consensus was adopted when at least 80% of the sum of the answers "fully agree" and "partially agree" was reached. The consensus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Chilean Pancreas Club for publication.

[Chilean consensus on diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic neoplasms]. / Consenso chileno de diagnóstico y manejo de neoplasias quísticas pancreáticas. Club de páncreas Chile-SCHGE.

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) are frequently detected on abdominal images performed for non-pancreatic indications. Their prevalence in asymptomatic population ranges from 2.7 to 24.8%, and increases with age. There are several types of pancreatic cysts. Some may contain cancer or have malignant potential, such as mucinous cystic neoplasms, including mucinous cystadenoma (MCN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). In contrast, others are benign, such as serous cystadenoma (SCA). However, even those cysts with malignant potential rarely progress to cancer. Currently, the only treatment for pancreatic cysts is surgery, which is associated with high morbidity and occasional mortality. The Board of the Chilean Pancreas Club of the Chilean Gastroenterology Society developed the first Chilean multidisciplinary consensus for diagnosis, management, and surveillance of PCN. Thirty experts were invited and answered 21 statements with five possible alternatives: 1) fully agree; 2) partially agree; 3) undecided; 4) disagree and 5) strongly disagree. A consensus was adopted when at least 80% of the sum of the answers "fully agree" and "partially agree" was reached. The consensus was approved by the Board of Directors of the Chilean Pancreas Club for publication.

A Sarcocystid misidentified as Hepatozoon didelphydis: molecular data from a parasitic infection in the blood of the Southern mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans) from Chile.

The blood of 21 adult South American mouse opossums (Thylamys elegans) captured from April through August of 2005 in central Chile was examined for parasites. Light microscopic analysis of blood smears initially suggested that a highly pleomorphic Hepatozoon species typical of American opossums was infecting erythrocytes. Unexpectedly, amplification by PCR and sequencing of a DNA fragment of the small subunit rDNA combined with phylogenetic analyses indicated that the parasite is not a member of the suborder Adeleorina, which includes the Haemogregarina and Hepatozoon species, but that it is a clearly distinct member of the suborder Eimeriorina, which includes the cyst-forming family Sarcocystidae. Therefore, a reclassification of this unusual intraerythrocytic apicomplexan will require additional life cycle, microscopic, and molecular analyses.

Pentoxifylline does not prevent neither liver damage nor early profibrogenic events in a rat model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disorder of the liver, which may evolve to fibrosis or cirrhosis. Pentoxifylline (PTX) has been postulated to act as an antifibrogenic agent able to inhibit hepatic stellate cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro. Short-term studies suggest beneficial effects of PTX in experimental models of NASH. AIM: To study whether PTX can influence liver fibrogenesis in an animal model of NASH. METHODS: To induce NASH, a choline-deficient diet (CDD) was given to Sprague- Dawley rats for 8 weeks. Rats were allocated to two experimental groups one receiving PTX (9 mg/kg/day) in drinking water. Control rats received a choline-supplemented diet. Biochemical and histological evaluation of fatty liver was performed by conventional techniques. In addition, mRNA levels of Pro-collagen I and transforming growth factor beta-1 were assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and stellate cell activation by alpha-actin immunofluorescence stain. RESULTS: After 8 weeks CDD induced a marked elevation of serum aminotransferases, a marked decrease in both hepatic and biliary glutathione and a severe fatty liver infiltration with mild histological inflammation and fibrosis. A significant increase in mRNA levels of both Pro-collagen I and TGFbeta-1 was seen after CDD feeding. No differences were seen between rats receiving PTX and rats on CDD diet alone with regard to the biochemical, morphological or molecular alterations induced by the CDD. CONCLUSION: PTX does influence neither liver injury nor early profibrogenic events in the CDD model of NASH.

[Self assessment about proficiency on palliative care in a cohort of residents]. / Autoevaluación sobre formación en medicina paliativa en una cohorte de residentes.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the status and level of medical education on palliative care, symptom control and aspects of end of life care provided by medical school programs in Chile. AIM: To determine if a cohort of residents had palliative care and end of life care education during pre graduate and post graduate training. Residents were also asked to self assess their proficiency in these areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2002, we contacted 200 of a total of 327 residents of the postgraduate programs of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. They were asked to anonymously answer a preformed questionnaire addressing different aspects related to palliative care, symptom control and end of life issues. RESULTS: Less than 25% of residents received some degree of palliative care education during their studies, and approximately half of them considered that the level of proficiency reached was less than 25%. This contrasted with a good self assessment in the management of pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. For the treatment of the anorexia-cachexia syndrome and delirium, approximately 50% of the cohort had a mean self assessment score of 3 in a scale of 1 to 7. More than 80% of residents considered that palliative medicine education is important for their medical career. CONCLUSIONS: Chilean medical schools must improve palliative care and end of life training as part of their mandatory curriculum in both the pre and post graduate levels.

Streptokinase promotes development of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) autoantibodies after fibrinolytic therapy in myocardial infarction patients.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) (CD26) plays a critical role in the modulation and expression of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We recently reported that sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus contained low levels of DPP IV and high titers of anti-DPP IV autoantibodies of the immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG classes and found a correlation between the low circulating levels of DPP IV and the high titers of anti-DPP IV autoantibodies of the IgA class. Since streptokinase (SK) is a potent immunogen and binds to DPP IV, we speculated that patients with autoimmune diseases showed higher DPP IV autoantibody levels than healthy controls as a consequence of an abnormal immune stimulation triggered by SK released during streptococcal infections. We assessed this hypothesis in a group of patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction, without a chronic autoimmune disease, who received SK as part of therapeutic thrombolysis. Concomitant with the appearance of anti-SK antibodies, these patients developed anti-DPP IV autoantibodies. These autoantibodies bind to DPP IV in the region which is also recognized by SK, suggesting that an SK-induced immune response is responsible for the appearance of DPP IV autoantibodies. Furthermore, we determined a correlation between high titers of DPP IV autoantibodies and an augmented clearance of the enzyme from the circulation. Serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) increased significantly after 30 days of SK administration, while the levels of soluble IL-2 receptor remained unchanged during the same period, suggesting a correlation between the lower levels of circulating DPP IV and higher levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in serum in these patients.