Anomaly detection for a vibrating structure: A subspace identification/tracking approach.

Mechanical devices operating in noisy environments lead to low signal-to-noise ratios creating a challenging signal processing problem to monitor the vibrational signature of the device in real-time. To detect/classify a particular type of device from noisy vibration data, it is necessary to identify signatures that make it unique. Resonant (modal) frequencies emitted offer a signature characterizing its operation. The monitoring of structural modes to determine the condition of a device under investigation is essential, especially if it is a critical entity of an operational system. The development of a model-based scheme capable of the on-line tracking of structural modal frequencies by applying both system identification methods to extract a modal model and state estimation methods to track their evolution is discussed along with the development of an on-line monitor capable of detecting anomalies in real-time. An application of this approach to an unknown structural device is discussed illustrating the approach and evaluating its performance.

[Pharmacogenomics: the quest for individualized therapy]. / Farmacogenómica: busqueda de la terapia personalizada.

AIM: Different patients exhibit wide variability in the way they respond to medications. Individual differences in drug response can result from environmental factors, as well as genetic determinants. In particular, inherited differences in the metabolism and disposition of drugs can have a great influence on the efficacy and toxicity of medications, so herein we focus on the pharmacogenetics of drug metabolism. DEVELOPMENT: Clinical observations of inherited differences in drug effects were first documented in the 1950s, giving rise to the field of pharmacogenetics. These observations were then followed by population studies of drug disposition phenotype, then biochemical, and eventually molecular elucidation of the genetic defect associated with the inherited trait. Genetic polymorphisms have been described for many phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes including several cytochromes P450, N-acetyltransferases, and thiopurine S-methyltransferase. Rapid advances in human genomics gave birth to pharmacogenomics, an emerging discipline that uses genome-wide approaches to study the entire spectrum of genes involved in drug response. High-through-put genomic technologies will serve as the foundation of personalized therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of an individual's genetic variability in drug response may be clinically and economically important and could provide the basis for a rational approach to drug prescription in neuropsychiatric disorders.

[Sexually transmitted diseases: epidemiological characteristics of cases notified in the health service of Viña del Mar-Quillota]. / Enfermedades de transmisión sexual: características epidemiológicas de los casos notificados en el Servicio Salud Viña del Mar-Quillota.

During 1987 and 1988 sexually transmitted diseases affected 87.2 per 100,000 inhabitants of the Viña del Mar-Quillota area. At all ages rates were 3.8 times higher in males compared to females. Gonorrhoea, syphilis and non gonorrheal urethritis accounted for most cases. In males, 82% of cases corresponded to gonorrhoea, in females 50% corresponded to gonorrhoea and 50% to syphilis. Rural and urban figures were not significantly different, except for HIV infection which was predominantly urban. Rates of different infections peaked at different ages: HIV between 30 and 39, gonorrhoea from 15 to 29, syphilis from 40 to 49 and after 60 and non gonorrhoeal urethritis from 15 to 59. In a survey of affected subjects 85% manifested to be heterosexual, 10% omitted a response.

[Sexually transmitted diseases: notification in Chile, in the V region and in the Vinã Del Mar-Quillota health service (1977-1988)]. / Enfermedades de transmision sexual: notificacion en Chile, en la V region y en el servicio de salud Viña Del Mar-Quillota (1977-1988).

Reports of sexually transmitted diseases in the Vth Region of Chile from 1977 to 1988 were analyzed and compared to nationwide reports and to figures for the Viña del Mar-Quillota area. Overall rates of syphilis decreased during the period. In contrast both number of cases and risk of disease increased for gonorrhoea. Risk of syphilis and gonorrhoea was highest in the Vth Region. HIV infection is increasing, especially in the area covered by the Health Service in Viña del Mar-Quillota. Sexually transmitted diseases not subject to reports were screened along with routine examinations for cancer of the cervix. Infection rates of 9.9% for trichomona and 1.09% for candida were thus detected.

Plafibride treatment and serum lipids in hyperlipoproteinemias.

A study was made of 26 patients suffering from primary hyperlipoproteinemia; 8 belonging to familial hypercholesterolemia (phenotype IIa), 9 to familial combined hyperlipidemia (phenotype IIb, 9 to familial hypertriglyceridemia (phenotype IV). During treatment, which was continued for two years, all patients received a diet consisting of 45% carbohydrates, 33% fats and 22% protein. They were given 400 mg (TID) of Plafibride after breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the three phenotypes studied, significant decreases in cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin and lecithin were observed, while there was an increase in HDL cholesterol, free fatty acids and lysolecithin. Tolerance to the drug was good, and a study of different serum enzymes revealed no undesirable collateral effects.

[Breast cancer epidemiology]. / Epidemiología del cáncer de mama.

204 pts with breast cancer were compared to 208 pts of similar age, with pathologies other than cancer, to assess the frequency of biological and social factors related to breast cancer, in Chilean females. The pts with breast cancer were in the 40 to 65 year old group, had a higher frequency of AB blood group, lower pregnancy and delivery rates and later pregnancies. Age of menarche and menopause, prolonged breast feeding, oral contraceptives and nutritional state were not related to a higher frequency of breast cancer. Further studies that include the analysis of previous breast pathology, diabetes, psychosomatic factors, alcohol and caffeine consumption, tobacco and others are suggested.

[Reproductive health survey of young adults in greater Santiago]. / Encuesta de salud reproductiva en adultos jóvenes del Gran Santiago.

In 1988 a survey was carried out in order to obtain information on knowledge about reproduction, sexual activity, attitudes, and use of contraceptive methods among residents between 15 and 24 years of age in Greater Santiago. For this purpose, a multistage, self-weighted, non-replacement probability sample was chosen from the entire Santiago urban area. After 2,898 households were visited, 865 women and 800 men were selected and interviewed. For the interview, a questionnaire with 156 questions was developed; many questions were similar to those included in similar surveys in Brazil and Guatemala. The interviewers were professionals who had received prior training. Although 75% of the interviewees had attended sex education classes, they had erroneous ideas on various basic subjects. Sixty-nine percent of the women interviewed had undergone menarche before attending these classes. In addition, 35.4% of the women and 65.0% of the men had had sexual relations prior to marriage, and less than 20% had used any contraceptive method. More than 60% of the interviewees who had children had conceived them before marrying. These findings point up the necessity of offering sex education classes for children and young people, as well as facilitating their access to family planning services, in order to decrease the number of illegitimate and unwanted children that are born in Chile.