[A screening program for colorectal cancer in Chilean subjects aged fifty years or more]. / Programa de detección de neoplasias colorrectales en población mayor de 50 años.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from colorectal cancer (CCR) in Chile has nearly doubled over the past 15 years. International studies have shown that CCR screening programs based on fecal occult blood test (FOBT) reduce CCR mortality. AIM: To analyze the results from a CCR screening model in people over 50 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, a prospective multicenter study was performed in seven major Chilean cities. FOBT using an immunological method, was measured in asymptomatic subjects aged 50 years or more, without risk factors. In patients with a positive FOBT, with symptoms or with family risk factors, a colonoscopy was indicated. RESULTS: A total of 6348 subjects were assessed, FOBT was performed in 4938 of them, with a compliance of 77%. The result was positive in 9.6%. A total of 2359 colonoscopies were ordered, with an overall compliance of 50.1%. Of the 1184 colonoscopies performed, adenomas and high risk adenomas were found in 304 (26%) and 75 (6%) patients, respectively. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with stage I and IICCR. Three of these lesions were excised endoscopically and 10 surgically. The detection rate of polyps, high risk adenomas and cancer was 75, 12 and 2 per 1000 screened individuals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This program allowed the early detection of an important number of high risk colon lesions, and all patients with CCR were diagnosed at early stages.

Novel varieties of broccoli for optimal bioactive components under saline stress.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of broccoli is increasing steadily worldwide because of the interest in its bioactive composition and nutritive value for health promotion. Novel broccoli cultivars to be established under current adverse conditions in production areas (aggressive environmental conditions and saline irrigation waters) need to maintain physical and nutritional quality for consumption and year-round supply to the markets. The newly introduced cultivars 'Naxos' and 'Parthenon' have been selected as potential candidates to replace the currently underperforming 'Nubia' variety. We aimed to compare the physical and phytochemical quality (glucosinolates, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, vitamin C and minerals), as well as the in vitro antioxidant capacity of these three cultivars under conditions of environmental stress. RESULTS: 'Parthenon' showed equal productivity and nutritional composition to 'Nubia', whereas 'Naxos' presented in general the best results when compared to 'Nubia' and 'Parthenon'. For phenolic compounds 'Nubia' presented the highest contents, although 'Naxos' seemed better adapted to saline stress conditions, as suggested by the lowest degree of variation in the contents of healthy phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds, when grown under such conditions. CONCLUSION: 'Naxos' broccoli performed best and is a suitable candidate to replace 'Nubia' for marketable, nutritive and phytochemical quality, especially in areas of production under adverse conditions as found in Mediterranean southeast Spain (semiarid climate with saline irrigation water).

Effects of foliar sprays containing calcium, magnesium and titanium on plum (Prunus domestica L.) fruit quality.

An experiment was performed in which Ti(4+)-ascorbate was sprayed onto plum trees in several combinations with other commercial compounds containing Ca2+ and Mg2+ to study the effects on the commercial quality of fruits, with special focus on improving their resistance against postharvest handling damage. All the treatments containing titanium increased the tree performance (branch elongation, flowering and fruit setting intensities) and fruit size. At harvest fruits from the Ti-treated trees showed improved resistance to compression and penetration, as well as a decrease in weight-loss during postharvest storage. A similar response was obtained for the external colour, though all the treatments seemed to delay somewhat the apparent ripening status. Nevertheless, the fruits from Ti-treated trees showed a better behaviour in the evolution of the colour parameters during storage than did the control fruits. Titanium application significantly increased the calcium, iron, copper and zinc concentrations in peel and flesh. This improvement in the calcium absorption is explained as a consequence of the beneficial effect of titanium on the absorption, translocation and assimilation processes.

Programa de detección de neoplasias colorrectales en población mayor de 50 años / A screening program for colorectal cancer in Chilean subjects aged fifty years or more

Background: Mortality from colorectal cancer (CCR) in Chile has nearly doubled over the past 15 years. International studies have shown that CCR screening programs based on fecal occult blood test (FOBT) reduce CCR mortality. Aim: To analyze the results from a CCR screening model in people over 50 years. Material and Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, a prospective multicenter study was performed in seven major Chilean cities. FOBT using an immunological method, was measured in asymptomatic subjects aged 50 years or more, without risk factors. In patients with a positive FOBT, with symptoms or with family risk factors, a colonoscopy was indicated. Results: A total of 6348 subjects were assessed, FOBT was performed in 4938 of them, with a compliance of 77%. The result was positive in 9.6%. A total of 2359 colonoscopies were ordered, with an overall compliance of 50.1%. Of the 1184 colonoscopies performed, adenomas and high risk adenomas were found in 304 (26%) and 75 (6%) patients, respectively. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with stage I and IICCR. Three of these lesions were excised endoscopically and 10 surgically. The detection rate of polyps, high risk adenomas and cancer was 75, 12 and 2 per 1000 screened individuals, respectively. Conclusions: This program allowed the early detection of an important number of high risk colon lesions, and all patients with CCR were diagnosed at early stages.

Vértigo postural funcional: estudio piloto / Functional postural vertigo: a pilot study

Se estudió psiquiátricamente 26 pacientes de vértigo postural funcional (V.P.F.) y 15 de vértigo postural orgánico (V.P.O.), que consultaron al Servicio de Otorrinolaringología del Hospital del Salvador entre mayo y noviembre de 1982. En dos a tres entrevistas iniciales de orientación psicoterapéutica, se efectuó una observación de la personadad y una anamnesis próxima y remota, tratando de combinar un punto de vista descriptivo - fenomenológico, con lo comprensivo psicodinámico. Se hizo una distribución al azar por sorteo sistemático de los entrevistadores, así como de la elección de tratamiento a ser administrados: psicoterapia, ansiolítico, antidepresivo, y control. Se hizo una tabla de diez rasgos de personalidad para comparar V.P.F. con V.P.O., siendo los primeros significativamente más eficiente, responsables, dispuestos a amparar a terceros, y autosuficientes en lo material. En relación con los antecedentes patobiográficos se sugiere ciertas tendencias que diferencian a ambos grupos de pacientes: en los pacientes de V.P.F.falló la contribución del padre o la madre, o ambos, desde a infancia, obligándole a tomar precozmente responsabilidades de adulto que marcan así su carácter. El síndrome vertiginoso aparece en conexión con una situación crítica extenuante, donde se pone en jaque el proyecto existencial así como los mecanismos de defesa y adaptación psicológica. En el V.P.O. las deficiencias de origen orgánico permanente plantean un círculo vicioso de dependencias e insuficiencia para valerse por así mismo. En cuanto al significado y patogénesis del V.P.F. se le puede ubicar como una organoneurosis. En relación a los tratamientos efectuados, la psicoterapia breve de orientación psicodinámica demostró obtener respuestas francamente favorables, incluso en algunos pocos casos de V.P.O. Cierto número de pacientes de V.P.F. se benefició con ansiolítico, y un número más reducido, mediante antidepresivo a dosis bajas. En la discusión se señala ciertos puntos que pueden ser objeto de investigaciones adicionales