A comprehensive study of glucose and oxygen gradients in a scaled-down model of recombinant HuGM-CSF production in thermoinduced Escherichia coli fed-batch cultures.

The effect of gradients of elevated glucose and low dissolved oxygen in the addition zone of fed-batch E. coli thermoinduced recombinant high cell density cultures can be evaluated through two-compartment scale-down models. Here, glucose was fed in the inlet of a plug flow bioreactor (PFB) connected to a stirred tank bioreactor (STB). E. coli cells diminished growth from 48.2 ± 2.2 g/L in the stage of RP production if compared to control (STB) with STB-PFB experiments, when residence time inside the PFB was 25 s (34.1 ± 3.5 g/L) and 40 s (25.6 ± 5.1 g/L), respectively. The recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) production decreased from 34 ± 7% of RP in inclusion bodies (IB) in control cultures to 21 ± 8%, and 7 ± 4% during the thermoinduction production phase when increasing residence time inside the PFB to 25 s and 40 s, respectively. This, along with the accumulation of acetic and formic acid (up to 4 g/L), indicates metabolic redirection of central carbon routes through metabolic flow and mixed acid fermentation. Special care must be taken when producing a recombinant protein in heat-induced E. coli, because the yield and productivity of the protein decreases as the size of the bioreactors increases, especially if they are carried at high cell density.

Thermoinduced recombinant E. coli grew less in a two-compartment scale-down model.Heat-inducible E. coli cultures at a large scale significantly decrease recombinant protein production.The accumulation of acetic and formic acid increases when E. coli is exposed to glucose and oxygen gradients.The axial flow pattern inside the PFB mimics glucose and dissolved oxygen gradients at the industrial scale.

Psychometric properties of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 in Spanish schoolchildren.

INTRODUCTION: Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviours (DEABs) can impact both the mental and physical health of children. Early detection is crucial to prevent complications and improve outcomes. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) is a widely used, cost-effective tool for assessing DEABs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the EAT-26 by analysing its factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, and measurement invariance across sexes in Spanish schoolchildren. METHOD: Validation study in a sample of 718 schoolchildren. The sample was randomly divided into 2 groups, each with 359 participants, and we carried out an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the instrument. Subsequently, we assessed the internal consistency by means of the ordinal alpha, the convergent validity with the SCOFF questionnaire and the measurement invariance across the sexes. RESULTS: The results of the EFA and CFA supported a multidimensional structure of the EAT comprising 6 factors and 21 items. These factors underlie a second-order model of DEABs. The internal consistency was adequate for most factors. The SCOFF questionnaire showed a moderate convergent validity for most of the EAT-21 factors. We found measurement invariance across the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: The abbreviated EAT-21 scale exhibited modest and promising psychometric properties, making it a suitable instrument for assessing DEABs in both sexes in educational settings.

Psychometric Properties of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale in a Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults.

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a set of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms (GS) with great psychobiological complexity. The appearance of FGIDs harms quality of life and drains medical resources. Methods: Psychometric properties of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale (GSSS) based on Rome IV criteria were examined in a sample of 1247 individuals with typical development. Observations were randomly divided into two subsets, namely, subsample 1 (n = 624) and subsample 2 (n = 623). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed with data from subsample 1, whilst confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed with data from subsample 2. Internal consistency of the scale was assessed for the whole dataset according to ordinal alpha, whilst four-week reliability was measured according to the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Measurement invariance as a function of sex was also examined, and discriminant-convergent validity of the GSSS was examined through hypothesis testing. Results: EFA revealed a two-factor structure with a moderate percentage of explained variance (51.3%), whilst CFA exhibited an excellent fit of the data to the model. A one-factor CFA model demonstrated an acceptable but slightly lower fit. Internal consistency was moderate and test-retest reliability was deemed adequate. Metric invariance was demonstrated as a function of sex. Hypothesis testing demonstrated strong convergent-discriminant validity with measures of sensory sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pain. Conclusions: The GSSS is a tool with acceptable and promising psychometric properties when administered to neurotypical adolescents and young adults. The self-report GSSS may promote better understanding of GS involvement in the gut microbiota-brain axis in the general population.

Development and validation of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale in Spanish children and adolescents.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms (GS) that are not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. FGIDs are related to lower quality of life, increased demands on medical resources, and greater somatization and emotional instability. Furthermore, GS appears to be an indicator of dysbiosis in gut-microbiota, affecting the gut-microbiota-brain relationship. To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a new instrument called the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Scale (GSSS) using a web-based survey in a sample of neurotypical children and adolescents from Spain. Instrument development and validation processes were applied to the GSSS following its administration as part of an online survey. The sample included 1242 neurotypical children and adolescents. The mean age of participants was 13.95 years, with a standard deviation of 1.37 years. Overall, 13.8% suffered infectious diarrhea, 12.6% suffered abdominal pain, 5% suffered dyspepsia and 2.6% suffered gastro-esophageal reflux. A single-factor model produced good fit indices. Furthermore, internal consistency and test-retest reliability outcomes were acceptable. The GSSS was found to have acceptable metric measurement invariance. Significant correlations with other instruments were produced and were of expected direction and magnitude, confirming scale validity for hypothesis testing.     Conclusions: The GSSS shows promising psychometric properties for assessing GS in neurotypical Spanish adolescents and children. What is Known: • To the best of our knowledge, instruments assessing the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adolescents are still too few. What is New: • The GSSS shows promising psychometric properties for assessing GS in neurotypical adolescents and children. The GSSS may help improve understanding of GS involvement in the gut-brain microbiota axis in children and adolescents.

Hydrocortisone cardioprotection in ischaemia/reperfusion injury involves antioxidant mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors are highly expressed in cardiac tissue, and both can be activated by corticosteroids. MR activation, in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), worsens cardiac function, and increase NHE activity contributing to the deleterious process. In contrast, effects of GR activation are not fully understood, probably because of the controversial scenario generated by using different doses or potencies of corticosteroids. AIMS: We tested the hypothesis that an acute dose of hydrocortisone (HC), a low-potency glucocorticoid, in a murine model of AMI could be cardioprotective by regulating NHE1 activity, leading to a decrease in oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated hearts from Wistar rats were subjected to regional ischemic protocol. HC (10 nmol/L) was added to the perfusate during early reperfusion. Infarct size and oxidative stress were determined. Isolated papillary muscles from non-infarcted hearts were used to evaluate HC effect on sodium-proton exchanger 1 (NHE1) by analysing intracellular pH recovery from acute transient acidosis. RESULTS: HC treatment decreased infarct size, improved cardiac mechanics, reduced oxidative stress after AMI, while restoring the decreased level of the pro-fusion mitochondrial protein MFN-2. Co-treatment with the GR-blocker Mifepristone avoided these effects. HC reduced NHE1 activity by increasing the NHE1 pro-inhibiting Ser648 phosphorylation site and its upstream kinase AKT. HC restored the decreased AKT phosphorylation and anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein expression detected after AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide the first evidence that acute HC treatment during early reperfusion induces cardioprotection against AMI, associated with a non-genomic HC-triggered NHE1 inhibition by AKT and antioxidant action that might involves mitochondrial dynamics improvement.

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Therapies Used by Nurses in Children Undergoing Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify non-pharmacological pain relief therapies in children undergoing surgery. DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES: Using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings and "Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud" we searched for articles in the Web of Science, Scopus, Cuiden, PubMed, and CINHAL databases from the last five years, and performed a reverse search. We assessed the documentary quality of the articles using various standardized instruments. RESULTS: The final review included eleven studies. In terms of cognitive-behavioral techniques, there is evidence that both music and video therapy are effective in reducing postoperative pain in children in seven studies, and therapeutic play in five studies. Other methods used less frequently but found to be effective included laughter therapy in one study and deep breathing in another. Regarding physical methods of pain relief, massage was found to be an effective non-pharmacological therapy for reducing pediatric postoperative pain in two studies and ineffective in another. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we highlight the importance of non-pharmacological therapies in pediatric postoperative pain management. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, especially music therapy, video therapy, and therapeutic play, reduce pediatric postoperative pain. They are therefore effective therapies that nurses can use in this area. Further research into the effectiveness of storytelling is necessary, as the evidence is not entirely conclusive. More evidence is also needed on physical methods of pain relief, particularly massage.

Factors associated with non-urgent presentations in the paediatric emergency department using Andersen's behavioural model: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the rate of NUPs and associated factors in the PED of the 'Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe' in Valencia (Spain) using Andersen's Behavioural Model. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using Andersen's Behavioural Model in parents visiting the PED with their children at the 'Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe' in Valencia (Spain). RESULTS: The study involved a total of 530 participants, of whom 419 (79%) had made an NUP. The predisposing factors identified were: (I) paediatric patients brought in by their fathers (OR = 0.460; p = 0.005), (II) lower educational attainment (OR = 3.841; p = 0.000), (III) first-time parenthood (OR = 2.335; p = 0.000) and (IV) higher parental stress (OR = 1.974; p = 0.023). The enabling factors included: (I) responsibility for a significant part of the childcare shared with others (OR = 0.348; p = 0.041) and (II) the perception that PEDs provide better care than primary care (PC) services (OR = 1.628; p = 0.005). The need factors were: (I) existing chronic illness in the child seeking care (OR = 0.343; p = 0.000) and (II) the perceived severity of the urgency (OR = 0.440; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The NUP rates found in this study are similar to those found internationally. In accordance with Andersen's Behavioural Model, we identify predisposing, enabling and need factors to explain the multifactorial nature of NUPs in PEDs. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Identifying the factors associated with NUPs enables interventions to be targeted at those groups most likely to engage in NUPs, thereby optimising the functioning of the PED and improving the well-being of children and families. These interventions should focus on improving parental health literacy, providing education on making appropriate decisions about accessing health services and recognising severe symptoms in children, as well as improving access to high-quality PC services. Providing support to parents during the transition to parenthood would also be beneficial. REPORTING METHOD: This paper adheres to the STROBE initiative guidelines. CONTRIBUTION FROM PATIENTS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Participants, who voluntarily agreed to take part, contributed to the study by completing a paper-based questionnaire containing all the study variables as prepared by the research team.

Tenencia de animales de compañía y aspectos culturales asociados a la exposición a zoonosis en La Coipa, Cajamarca, Perú / Pet Ownership and Cultural Aspects associated with Exposure to Zoonoses in La Coipa, Cajamarca, Peru

Resumen La tenencia irresponsable de perros y gatos y el desconocimiento de las enfermedades que transmiten puede poner en riesgo la salud de las personas, y dificulta implementar programas de control. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir la tenencia de animales de compañía y los conocimientos y prácticas relacionadas con la exposición a zoonosis entre pobladores del distrito La Coipa, Cajamarca, Perú, en el año de 2019. El estudio, emprendido con base en encuestas, recolectó información sobre las características de la tenencia de perros y gatos, así como los conocimientos y las prácticas con relación a la exposición a zoonosis por animales de compañía, los accidentes por mordeduras y la presencia de perros vagabundos. Se entrevistó a 280 personas: 46,4 % de zona urbana y 53,6 % de zona rural. Respectivamente, el 70,7 % y 50,7% poseían perros y gatos. La relación persona: perro fue de 3 y persona: gato de 5. La utilidad principal del perro fue de guardián y del gato fue controlador biológico de roedores. El 83,3 % de los poseedores de perros, los vacunaban contra la rabia. El 64,4 % controlaba la reproducción de perros y gatos mediante el encierro. El 60,9 % manifestó haber sufrido una mordedura de perro. El 98,2 % señaló que los perros vagabundos eran un problema y el 70 % consideraba que estos tenían dueño. Se concluye que la población estudiada requiere capacitación en tenencia de animales de compañía para mejorar el bienestar animal, así como para disminuir la exposición de las personas a zoonosis, accidentes por mordedura y contaminación ambiental.

Abstract Irresponsible dog and cat ownership and lack of knowledge about the diseases they transmit can put people's health at risk and make it difficult to implement control programs. The aim of the present study was to describe companion animal ownership and knowledge and practices related to zoonosis exposure among villagers in La Coipa district, Cajamarca, Peru, in 2019. The study, undertaken on a survey basis, collected information on the characteristics of dog and cat ownership, as well as knowledge and practices regarding exposure to zoonoses from companion animals, biting accidents, and the presence of stray dogs. A total of 280 people were interviewed: 46.4% from urban areas and 53.6% from rural areas. Respectively, 70.7% and 50.7% owned dogs and cats. The person: dog ratio was 3 and person: cat ratio was 5. The main use of the dog was as a guardian and of the cat was as a biological rodent controller. The 83.3 % of dog owners vaccinated their dogs against rabies. 64.4% controlled the reproduction of dogs and cats by confinement. 60.9% stated that they had suffered a dog bite. The 98.2% indicated that stray dogs were a problem and 70% considered that these dogs had owners. It is concluded that the population studied requires training in pet ownership to improve animal welfare, as well as to reduce the exposure of people to zoonosis, bite accidents and environmental contamination.

Characterization and comparability of biosimilars: a filgrastim case of study and regulatory perspectives for Latin America

Background: Developing countries have an estimate of ten times more approved biosimilars than developed countries. This disparity demands the need of an objective regulation that incorporates health policies according to the technological and economical capabilities of each country. One of the challenges lies on the establishment of comparability principles based on a physicochemical and biological characterization that should determine the extent of additional non-clinical and clinical studies. This is particularly relevant for licensed biosimilars in developing countries, which have an extensive clinical experience since their approval as generics' in some cases more than a decade. To exemplify the current status of biosimilars in Mexico' a characterization exercise was conducted on licensed filgrastim biosimilars using pharmacopeial and extended characterization methodologies. Results: Most of the evaluated products complied with the pharmacopeial criteria and showed comparability in their Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) towards the reference product. These results were expected in accordance with their equivalent performance during their licensing as generics. Accordingly' a rational approval and registration renewal scheme for biosimilars is proposed, that considers the proper identification of CQAs and its thoroughly evaluation using selected techniques. Conclusions: This approach provides support to diminish uncertainty of exhibiting different pharmacological profiles and narrows or even avoids the necessity of comparative clinical studies. Ultimately, this proposal is intended to improve the accessibility to high quality biosimilars in Latin America and other developing countries.

Producción de anticuerpos policlonales IgG contra una proteína con actividad de óxido nítrico sintetasa de Toxoplasma gondii recombinante (NOS-Tg-r) y marcación inmunológica en taquizoítoso / Production of Polyclonal Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant protein with Nitric Oxide Synthase activity and immunologic marking in Tachyzoites

La enzima óxido nítrico sintetasa ha sido estudiada en mamíferos; en los últimos años se ha descrito que existe también en protozoos, pero se desconocen aspectos importantes de su función. Se logró producir anticuerpos policlonales contra la proteína recombinante con actividad de óxido nítrico sintetasa (NOS-Tg-r) de Toxoplasma gondii y realizar marcación inmunológica en taquizoítos. Se usaron dos conejos Nueva Zelanda (Oryctolagus cuniculus)que se inmunizaron por vía intramuscular con NOS-Tg-r, y dos tipos de adyuvantes, hidróxido de aluminio y adyuvante de Freund. Se comprobó la presencia de anticuerpos policlonales con la técnica de ensayo inmunoenzimático indirecto. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que a NOS-Tg-r con adyuvante de Freund indujo mayor respuesta inmune que la de la NOS-Tg-r con hidróxido aluminio p 0,005). Para verificar si había reacción cruzada, se realizó una prueba ELISA utilizando como antígenos: metaloproteasa de T. gondii recombinante, cisteína proteasa 5 de Entamoeba histolytica recombinante, albúmina al 2%, hidróxido de aluminio y adyuvante de Freund. Los valores obtenidos con sueros preinmunes y contra proteínas alternas no superaron el punto de corte (0,069), lo cual indica que los anticuerpos policlonales obtenidos son específicos para NOS-Tg-r. Se realizó marcación inmunológica en taquizoítos de Toxoplasma gondii con inmunofluorescencia indirecta que mostró una marcación difusa a nivel de citoplasma y confirmó la presencia de esta proteína en los taquizoítos.

The nitric oxide synthase (NOS)is an enzyme well described on mammals but little is known about the role of these enzymes on pathogenic parasites. We produced polyclonal antibodies against a recombinant NOS enzyme from Toxoplasma gondii nd e lso er formed n mmunol locali zation of the enzyme on tachyzoites. We used two New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to perform intramuscular immunization and we used two types of adjuvant: aluminum hydroxide and Freund ’s adjuvant. We tested the generation of polyclonal antibodies by an indirect ELISA assay. The results showed that levels of antibodies were higher in rabbits immunized with Freund ’s adjuvant than with aluminum hydroxide (p =0.005). In order to test cross reactions, we used a recombinant Toxoplasma metallooprotease, a recombinant cysteine protease from Entamoeba histolytica, albumin 2%, hydroxide aluminium and Freund ’s adjuvant as antigens on indirect ELISA assays for the polyclonal serum antibodies. No serum showed absorbances higher than the cutoff level with these antigens, indicating that the polyclonal antibodies were specific for recombinant Toxoplasma NOS. Additionally, we performed immunodetection of the enzyme on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and we obtained a diffuse labeling of the parasite.

Estudios inmunológicos en niños con un episodio de infección bacteriana sistémica grave / Imnunological studies in children with a first episode of severe systemic bacterial infection

Las infecciones son una de las causas más frecuentes de consulta ambulatoria y de hospitalización en niños. En ocasiones, debido a la gravedad o la reiteración de episodios, se plantea en la práctica diaria la conveniencia de realizar estudios para verificar la inmunocompetencia de estos pacientes. Cuando estos episodios que amenazan la vida se reiteran, la indicación de estudios sobre la inmunidad es universalmente aceptada. En el primer episodio, sin embargo, la necesidad de efectuarlos puede resultar polémica. Al respecto, el punto de vista prevalente aconseja estudios especializados en niños que hayan presentado al menos dos de estos episodios, decisión que conlleva un riesgo cierto de subdiagnóstico y puede dar lugar a un ulterior episodio de infección potencialmente mortal y eventualmente prevenible. Se presentan tres pacientes afectados de distintas inmunodeficiencias caracterizadas por exhibir, a veces como primera manifestación, infecciones bacterianas sistémicas. Se plantean los estudios iniciales a solicitar, para descartar defectos inmunológicos subyacentes en este tipo de pacientes, y se discute la eventual conveniencia de realizarlos luego del primer episodio de infección bacteriana sistémica.

Infection is one of the most frequent causes of disease in children. Pediatricians are frequently faced to ambulatory or hospitalised children with infection. Sometimes, the severity or frequency of the episodes raises concern about the convenience of performing immunological studies. When these life threatening, bacterial systemic infections are repeated, immunological studies are mandatory. Two or more such episodes are required by most authors to alert the physician to possible immunodeficiency. However, in immunodeficiencies, a second potentially severe and even fatal episode of infection may be the consequence of that policy. We show here three cases of primary immunodeficiencies presenting with systemic severe bacterial infections, and we discuss the immunological tests to be initially performed and the convenience of doing so after a first episode of systemic bacterial infection.

Diagnóstico temprano del síndrome de hiper IgE: un desafío / Early diagnosis of the hyper-IgE syndrome - a challenge

En la atención de niños con infecciones inusuales, el pediatra debe considerar la posibilidad de un déficit inmunitario subyacente. Los más comunes, como la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y muchos defectos humorales, pueden ser fácilmente descartados. Otras inmunodeficiencias pueden requerir un adecuado índice de sospecha y eventualmente una consulta especializada. El síndrome de Buckley o de hiper IgE es una inmunodeficiencia compleja y de frecuencia no bien establecida, caracterizada por eccema precoz, abscesos recurrentes, infecciones respiratorias con formación de neumatoceles pulmonares, características faciales toscas, anomalías dentarias y esqueléticas y una marcada elevación sérica de IgE. Su sospecha clínica temprana y su eventual confirmación pueden ser dificultosas, ya que en niños pequeños aparece usualmente incompleto, el defecto inmunológico subyacente no ha sido definitivamente caracterizado y no existe una prueba diagnóstica definitiva. Se comunican los casos de dos niños con síndromede hiper IgE que presentaron dificultades en el diagnóstico, asistidos en un período de dos años en un hospital pediátrico.

Desnutrición primaria y competencia inmunológica. Verdadera inmunodeficiencia, polarización adaptativa hacia una respuesta Th2 o ambas? / Primary malnutrition and immunological competence. Real immunodeficiency, adaptive TH2-biased responses or both?

La asociación entre malnutrición e infección ha sido reconocida desde hace tiempo. En estudios de terreno se demostró que los individuos malnutridos presentan mayor cantidad de infecciones pulmonares y enterales y un aumento de la mortalidad en el largo plazo a consecuencia de infecciones. Las infecciones contribuyen a empeorar el estado nutricional, y la malnutrición favorece la ocurrencia de infecciones. El hacinamiento, la mala calidad y conservación de los alimentos, su contaminación y la del agua, las dificultades en el acceso a la consulta médica y aún razones culturales que favorecen las medicinas "alternativas" son algunos de los factores responsables. También se ha postulado una disfunción inmune como parte esencial de este fenómeno. En lo que respecta a las varias anomalías inmunológicas reportadas en asociación a la malnutrición cabe hacer algunas consideraciones: Los pacientes reportados son en general moderada o severamete desnutridos y frecuentemente afectados de infecciones concomitantes. La corrección de la desnutrición, asociada a la mejoría de las variables inmunológicas, usualmente fue acompañada de tratamiento de las infecciones bacterianas y parasitarias concomitantes. Los estudios inmunológicos reportados detectan diferencias entre la población bien nutrida (controles) y los individuos malnutridos. Los efectos de la sobreexposición a niveles elevados de contaminación y de la presencia eventual de infecciones clínicas o subclínicas, parasitarias y bacterianas, frecuentemente presentes en individuos desnutridos, son difíciles de evaluar. La causa mas importante de infecciones reiteradas en niños no es la disfunción inmune sino la elevada exposición de microorganismos. Las infecciones severas pueden verse en huespedes inmunologicamente normales. Solamente las infecciones oportunistas se presentan casi exclusivamente en individuos inmunodeficientes. Las anomalías mas frecuentemente descriptas en desnutridos se sitúan en las áreas del complemento, fagocítica y de la inmunidad mediada por células. La inmunidad humoral se ha encontrado habitualmente conservada. Algunas de las anomalías inmunológicas presentes en el huésped desnutrido están probablemente ligadas a las múltiples deficiencias nutricionales presente en la malnutrición severa y representan verdaderos defectos inmunológico

Efecto analgésico del meloxicam y piroxicam oral en lumbalgia crónica / The analgesic effect of orally administered meloxicam and piroxicam in the management of chronic low back pain

Se comparó el efecto analgésico del meloxicam y el piroxicam oral en lumbalgia crónica, para lo cual fueron integrados dos grupos de 25 pacientes cada uno, elegidos aleatoriamente de la consulta externa de Ortopedia. El grupo A recibió 7.5 mg de meloxicam oral cada 12 horas, durante cinco días; el grupo B, 20 mg de piroxicam cada 12 horas por el mismo periodo. Se midió el dolor antes y después del tratamiento por la escala visual análoga (EVA). Se utilizó c2 para el análisis estadístico. El grupo A mostró elevación del umbral del dolor (p < 0.0001) y menos efectos colaterales gastrointestinales.

Sensibilidad de Giardia lamblia a extractos de Artemisia absinthium y Artemisia vulgaris in vitro / Sensitivity of Giardia lamblia to Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris extracts in vitro

Se evaluó el efecto de 2 extractos alcohólicos de Artemisia (Artemisia absinthium y Artermisia vulgaris) y una fracción de lactonas sesquiterpénicas de A. absinthium sobre el crecimiento in vitro de Giardia lamblia. Los resultados obtenidos muestran tantos por cientos de inhibición del crecimiento superiores al 70 por ciento con el extracto de A. absinthium, aun con la mayor dilución testada, no así con el extracto de A. vulgaris con el cual sólo con la fracción más concentrada se obtuvo el 30 por ciento de inhibición. La actividad del extracto de lactonas de A. absinthium fue de 86,6 por ciento y 57,7 por ciento de inhibición del crecimiento para las concentraciones de 166 y 83 ug/mL, respectivamente

Encuesta sobre el hábito de fumar en los estudiantes de medicina del Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de Camagüey / Survey on smoking habit in students of medicine at the High Institute of Medical Sciences in Camagüey

Se realiza una encuesta con el fin de conocer las principales características del hábito de fumar en los estudiantes de medicina del Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de Camagüey, la misma abarcó el 86,26