Evaluation of additional head of biceps brachii: a study with autopsy material.

Additional head of the biceps brachii (AHBB) has been reported in different population groups with a frequency of 1-25%. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and morphologic expression of the AHBB as determined in a sample of the Colombian population. An exploration was conducted with 106 arms corresponding to unclaimed corpses autopsied at Institute of Legal and Forensic Medicine of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Using medial incision involvingskin, subcutaneous tissue, and brachial fascia, the heads of the biceps and their innervating branches were visualised. One AHBB was observed in 21 (19.8%) of the arms evaluated, with non-significant difference (p = 0.568) per side of presentation: 11 (52.4%) cases on the right side and 10 (47.6%) on the left side. All AHBBs were originated in the infero-medial segment of the humerus, with a mean thickness of 17.8 ± 6.8 mm. In 4 (19%) cases the fascicle was thin, less than 10 mm; in 7 (33.3%) cases it was of medium thickness, between 11 and 20 mm, whereas in 47.6% it was longer than 20 mm. The length of the AHBB was 118.3 ± 26.8 mm; its motor point supplied by the musculocutaneous nerve was located at 101.3 ± 20.9 mm of the bi-epicondylar line. The incidence of AHBB in this study is located at the upper segment of what has been reportedin the literature and could be a morphologic trait of the Colombian population; in agreement with prior studies, the origin was the infero-medial surface of the humerus.

Producción de larvas y postlarvas del erizo verdiblanco del Caribe Lytechinus Variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) en condiciones de cultivo / Larvae and postlarvae production of the green-white sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in culture conditions

We evaluated the biological feasibility of massive larvae and postlarvae production of the Caribbean green-white urchin Lytechinus variegatus. Experiments were designed to choose the initial larval density and microalgae diets under culture, to study metamorphosis, postlarval and juvenile growth. Massive production of competent larvae 650 microm long at 12-13 days is possible using larval densities of 0.25 to 1 larva/ml. The microalgae Rhodomonas sp. was suitable for the optimization of larval growth and survival. Metamorphosis of 100% of the larvae can be induced with films of bentic diatoms (Navicula sp. and Amphora sp.), after 96 h; however, diatoms are not adequate for postlarval development and a food supply of Ulva lactuta is necessary for proper growth. For juveniles, a diet of macroalgae (U. lactuta) and/or commercial marine shrimp culture pellet food is enough for growth, but the best results were obtained with shrimp or U. lactuta used alone (85-86%, against 46% with the mixed diet). We recommend future experiments on nutritional requirements to optimize growth of these and subsequent stages

Despitaje masivo del cancer gastrico en el Edo. Tachira. / Massive screening of gastric cancer in the State of Tachira

Con el fin de diagnosticar cancer gastrico en su fase precoz, se realiza en el Estado Tachira un programa de despistaje masivo, el cual se lleva a cabo con unidades moviles dotadas de aparato de rayos X apropiado y donde se practican estudios radiologicos con tecnica de doble contraste a la poblacion rural comprendida por encima de los 35 anos que previamente ha sido motivada y educada por los Trabajadores Sociales. Las personas con lesiones o con sospecha de ello son sometidos a endoscopia y biopsiados. Los que resultan con cancer son sometidos a tratamiento quirurgico.Desde octubre 80 a julio 81 se han examinado 4.407 personas, diagnosticandose 58 casos de cancer gastrico de los cuales 7 han sido precoces. Tambien ha permitido diagnosticar otra patologia gastrica como: polipos, ulceras, hernias hiatales etc.suceptibles de tratamiento. Concluimos que con este metodo, el pronostico de esta enfermedad cambiara en forma muy favorable para estos pacientes y se lograra en porcentaje de sobrevida muy altos