Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors between Adolescents and Their Parents Is Mitigated by Parental Physical Activity-A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: It is hypothesized that children's habits can be modulated by their parent's lifestyle. However, it is still not established whether the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in adolescents and their parents could be attenuated by parental physical activity levels. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the relationship of CVRF between adolescents and their parents according to parental physical activity level. METHODS: A school-based sample of 1231 adolescents, 1202 mothers and 871 fathers were included (n = 3304). The CVRF assessed were overweight, hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption. The parental physical activity level was assessed using a validated questionnaire, being classified into physically active and inactive parents. The statistical analysis considered all parents and stratification by physical activity level. RESULTS: The prevalence of CVRF was higher in fathers than in mothers (70.6% vs. 54.9% for overweight, 23.3% vs. 19.7% for hypertension, 17.9% vs. 12.4% for smoking and 60.4% vs. 28.5% for alcohol consumption). Adolescents with active mothers showed lower prevalence of overweight (13.9% vs. 19.6%), while adolescents with active fathers showed higher prevalence of alcohol consumption (23.5% vs. 16.9%). The CVRF of both fathers and mothers were positively associated with CVRF of adolescents. However, the association of CVRF between adolescents and their parents was mitigated among active parents, while all the CVRF remained associated in physically inactive parents. CONCLUSION: The parental physical activity level seems to mitigate the association of CVRF between adolescents and their parents. The promotion of an active lifestyle at the family level can contribute to reduce CVRF among adolescents.

Leisure-time exercise is associated with lower depressive symptoms in community dwelling adults.

Physical activity has been associated with enhanced mental health among adults. However, it is not clear in the literature which domains (occupational, transport and leisure-time exercise) and intensities (moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous) of activity provide the greatest benefits. The aim of the present study was to describe the association of different domains and intensities of physical activity with depressive symptoms in adults. This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among 209 adults (≥18 years) in Brazil. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the HADS questionnaire (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Physical activity intensities (moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous) were device-measured by accelerometry. Physical activity in different domains (occupational, transport, and leisure-time exercise) was self-reported using a questionnaire. Chronological age, ethnicity, body mass index, highest academic achievement, employment status, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, chronic morbidity and soft-drink ingestion were adopted as adjustment confounding factors. Linear regression analysis revealed that total self-reported physical activity [ß = -0.100 (95%CI: -0.180 to -0.019)] and leisure-time exercise [ß = -0.311 (95%CI: -0.468 to -0.155)] were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, but only leisure-time exercise remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors [ß = -0.243 (95%CI: -0.409 to -0.076)]. Thus, leisure-time exercise was cross-sectionally associated with lower depressive symptoms in community-dwelling adults.HighlightsLeisure-time physical activity was the only physical activity domain associated with lower depressive symptoms.This association appears to be independent of potential confounders.Potential interventions should focus on leisure-time domain.

Pirfenidone increases IL-10 and improves acute pancreatitis in multiple clinically relevant murine models.

Despite decades of research, there is no specific therapy for acute pancreatitis (AP). In the current study, we have evaluated the efficacy of pirfenidone, an antiinflammatory and antifibrotic agent that is approved by the FDA for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in ameliorating local and systemic injury in AP. Our results suggest that treatment with pirfenidone in therapeutic settings (e.g., after initiation of injury), even when administered at the peak of injury, reduces severity of local and systemic injury and inflammation in multiple models of AP. In vitro evaluation suggests that pirfenidone decreases cytokine release from acini and macrophages and disrupts acinar-macrophage crosstalk. Therapeutic pirfenidone treatment increases IL-10 secretion from macrophages preceding changes in histology and modulates the immune phenotype of inflammatory cells with decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines. Antibody-mediated IL-10 depletion, use of IL-10-KO mice, and macrophage depletion experiments confirmed the role of IL-10 and macrophages in its mechanism of action, as pirfenidone was unable to reduce severity of AP in these scenarios. Since pirfenidone is FDA approved for IPF, a trial evaluating the efficacy of pirfenidone in patients with moderate to severe AP can be initiated expeditiously.

Quantification of viable protozoan parasites on leafy greens using molecular methods.

Protozoan contamination in produce is of growing importance due to their capacity to cause illnesses in consumers of fresh leafy greens. Viability assays are essential to accurately estimate health risk caused by viable parasites that contaminate food. We evaluated the efficacy of reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), propidium monoazide coupled with (q)PCR, and viability staining using propidium iodide through systematic laboratory spiking experiments for selective detection of viable Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia enterica, and Toxoplasma gondii. In the presence of only viable protozoa, the RT-qPCR assays could accurately detect two to nine (oo)cysts/g spinach (in 10 g processed). When different proportions of viable and inactivated parasite were spiked, mRNA concentrations correlated with increasing proportions of viable (oo)cysts, although low levels of false-positive mRNA signals were detectable in the presence of high amounts of inactivated protozoa. Our study demonstrated that among the methods tested, RT-qPCR performed more effectively to discriminate viable from inactivated C. parvum, G. enterica and T. gondii on spinach. This application of viability methods on leafy greens can be adopted by the produce industry and regulatory agencies charged with protection of human public health to screen leafy greens for the presence of viable protozoan pathogen contamination.

Estrategias de tratamiento para el edema macular diabético / Treatment strategies for diabetic macular edema

RESUMEN Se hace una revisión bibliográfica acerca del tratamiento que se utiliza en el edema macular clínicamente significativo. Esta es la primera causa de mala visión en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Entre las líneas de tratamiento tenemos los antiangiogénicos con sus variantes, los esteroides y la cirugía por medio de la vitrectomía pars plana con pelado de la membrana limitante interna. No existe hasta el momento el tratamiento ideal. La tomografía de coherencia óptica ayuda a predecir la visión final(AU)

ABSTRACT Treatment of clinically significant diabetic macular edema is the topic of our review. This condition is the first cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Treatment options include anti-VEFG drugs, steroids and surgery (vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling). There is no an ideal treatment at present. Optic coherence tomography is a useful tool to predict final vision in these patients(AU)

Simultaneous detection of four protozoan parasites on leafy greens using a novel multiplex PCR assay.

Pathogen contamination of fresh produce presents a health risk for consumers; however, the produce industry still lacks adequate tools for simultaneous detection of protozoan parasites. Here, a simple multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay was developed for detection of protozoan (oo)cysts and compared with previously published real-time PCR assays and microscopy methods. The assay was evaluated for simultaneous detection of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Toxoplasma gondii followed by parasite differentiation via either a nested specific PCR or a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. Spiking experiments using spinach as a model leafy green were performed for assay validation. Leaf-washing yielded higher recoveries and more consistent detection of parasites as compared with stomacher processing. Lowest limits of detection using the nested mPCR assay were 1-10 (oo)cysts/g spinach (in 10 g samples processed), and this method proved more sensitive than qPCR for parasite detection. Microscopy methods were more reliable for visual detection of parasites in lower spiking concentrations, but are more costly and laborious, require additional expertise, and lack molecular confirmation essential for accurate risk assessment. Overall, the nested mPCR assay provides a rapid (<24 h), inexpensive ($10 USD/sample), and simple approach for simultaneous detection of protozoan pathogens on fresh produce.

Metaevaluación de la calidad de la atención de enfermería en un hospital público de San Luis Potosí, México / Metaevaluation of the quality of nursing care in a public hospital in San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Resumen

Introducción: para garantizar que la evaluación de los indicadores de calidad de la atención de enfermería sea un proceso eficiente, se requiere una evaluación del mismo. La evaluación es un proceso que no se ha evaluado como tal; la metaevaluación determina evaluar la suficiencia de este proceso, así como la eficiencia del mismo.

Objetivo: describir el proceso de metaevaluación de los indicadores de calidad de la atención de enfermería en un hospital público de San Luis Potosí, México.

Metodología: enfoque cualitativo de corte etnográfico, participaron 19 enfermeras de diferentes categorías. Los datos se recolectaron mediante la observación participante, entrevista semiestructurada y diario de campo. Se realizó análisis cualitativo temático manual.

Resultados: las principales categorías encontradas para describir el proceso de evaluación de los indicadores de calidad de la atención de enfermería, fueron: indicadores de calidad como guía; formación académica de algunos gestores; evaluación como proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje; evaluación de escritorio; implicación de jerarquías; análisis de resultados, y subjetivismo de la aplicación.

Conclusiones: el proceso de evaluación estudiado por medio de la metaevaluación es discontinuo, lleva una línea que se disgrega por múltiples factores, esto no responde a la conducción de la evaluación que determina la calidad en la atención de enfermería. Se propone una evaluación sistemática con énfasis en el proceso, sin dejar de lado lo establecido por normatividad en el hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: To guarantee the evaluation on the quality indicators of nursing care is an efficient process. It requires an evaluation of this .The evaluation is a complex process that has not been evaluated as such. The metaevaluation assess the adequacy evaluation of this process as well as the efficiency. Objective: The process of evaluation of nursing quality indicators will be described from the target evaluation in a public hospital in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Methods: An ethnographic qualitative approach was undertaken. 19 nurses were included technique different category of data collection: participant observation, semi-structured interview and field diary. Thematic qualitative analysis research ethical considerations were respected, as well as quality criteria for qualitative research was conducted.

Results: The main categories found to describe the process of evaluation of the quality indicators of nursing care were: quality indicators as a guide; academic training of some managers; evaluation as a teaching learning process; evaluation desktop; involvement hierarchies, and analysis results. Conclusions: The evaluation process indicators quality of nursing care studied by the metaevaluation is interrupted, leading line disintegrating multiple factors, this does not respond to the conduct of assessment to determine the quality in nursing care .It proposes a systematic evaluation with emphasis on the process, without neglecting established by the regulations in the hospital.

Estudio cualitativo del Programa DiabetIMSS en una Unidad de Medicina Familiar de San Luis Potosí / DiabetIMSS Program qualitative study in a Family Medicine Unit in San Luis Potosi

Resumen

Introducción: las enfermedades no transmisibles son la principal causa de mortalidad en todo el mundo, pues cobran más vidas que la combinación de los fallecimientos por otras patologías. El IMSS diseñó un programa preventivo en el año 2008 y titulado: DiabetIMSS.

Objetivo: analizar las perspectivas de los actores directos e indirectos del equipo multidisciplinario de salud involucrado en el programa DiabetIMSS en una Unidad de Medicina Familiar. Metodología: estudio cualitativo con modelización sistémica, interpretativo de investigación-acción para evaluar la implementación del Programa DiabetIMSS. Se trata de un estudio de tipo cualitativo, realizado en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 47 del IMSS de la Ciudad de San Luis Potosí, México. Se utilizó una cédula de datos sociodemográficos, observación participante, diario de campo, entrevista semiestructurada y grupo focal.

Resultados: los resultados del presente estudio permitieron identificar y describir cómo se implementa el Programa DiabetIMSS desde las perspectivas de los actores que lo operan tomando como referencia cinco categorías: 1) Contexto, 2) Estructura, 3) Actividades y funciones, 4) Roles y relaciones y 5) Áreas de oportunidad.

Conclusiones: el Programa DiabetIMSS continúa siendo una intervención educativa con énfasis en la atención médica integral; es decir, es el medio para un adecuado control de la diabetes a través de diversas acciones fundamentales, como una valoración y exploración física de los pacientes.

Abstract

Introduction: Non communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, claim more lives because the combination of deaths from other diseases. In response to this phenomenon the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) design a preventive program that was launched and implemented in 2008 and titled; DiabetIMSS.

Objective: Conduct a qualitative study of the DiabetIMSS program of a Family Medicine Unit in San Luis Potosí based on the analysis of the perspectives of the direct and indirect actors involved in the multidisciplinary health team.

Methods: Qualitative study with systemic, interpretative modeling of action research to evaluate the implementation of the DiabetIMSS Program. This is a qualitative study, carried out at the Family Medicine Unit No. 47 of the IMSS of the City of San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Results: The results of this study allowed us to identify and describe how it implements the DiabetIMSS program from the perspectives of the actors who operate by reference to five categories: 1) Background, 2) Structure, 3) Activities and Functions, 4) Roles and Relationships and 5) Areas of opportunity.

Conclusions: The DiabetIMSS program remains an educational intervention with emphasis on comprehensive health care, is the means for adequate control of diabetes through various key actions.

Equipo de Respuesta Inmediata: evaluación cualitativa del contexto organizacional, fortalezas y debilidades / Immediate Response Team: qualitative assessment of the organizational context, strengths and weaknesses

Resumen:

Introducción: la mortalidad materna es un problema de salud pública mundial que aún no ha sido resuelto, por lo que son necesarias estrategias que aseguren la atención de las urgencias obstétricas como el Equipo de Respuesta Inmediata (ERI); la cual es una estrategia hospitalaria de atención multidisciplinaria con la coordinación de actividades asistenciales y gestión.

Objetivo: evaluar el contexto organizacional, el modo de operación, las fortalezas y debilidades del equipo de respuesta inmediata desde la perspectiva de los actores involucrados.

Método: evaluación cualitativa con 18 participantes seleccionados por conveniencia de nivel directivo y operativo. Se les realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas que fueron audio grabadas y transcritas una vez otorgado su consentimiento informado. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: se identificaron cuatro dimensiones: 1) recurso humano, perspectivas de un equipo humanizado y con actitud de servicio; 2) condiciones laborales, factores que favorecen la atención de la urgencia; 3) fortalezas, lado amable de la atención a las usuarias, y 4) áreas de oportunidad, aspectos de mejora para asegurar el éxito de la atención.

Conclusiones: los integrantes del Equipo de Respuesta Inmediata desempeñan sus funciones según los pasos de la ruta crítica: a) Identificar; b) Tratar; c) Trasladar, y d) Retroalimentar, se tienen bien definidos los pasos a seguir al momento de identificar una urgencia obstétrica, además de tener bien definido el recurso humano responsable de activar el código.

Abstract:

Introduction: Maternal mortality is a global public health problem that has not been resolved, so strategies are needed to ensure emergency obstetric care, the Immediate Response Team (ERI) is a multidisciplinary care strategy which coordinates activities, care and management.

Objective: To evaluate trough the organizational context, the mode of operation, strengths and weaknesses of the rapid response team from the perspective of the actors involved.

Methods: Qualitative evaluation with 18 participants of management and operational levels selected through convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and after their informed consent were transcribed. An analysis of thematic content was conducted.

Results: Four dimensions were identified: 1) Human resources, prospects of a humanized equipment and service attitude; 2) Working conditions, factors that favor the attention of urgency; 3) Strengths, friendly side of care to users, and 4) Areas of opportunity, areas for improvement to ensure the success of care.

Conclusions: Members of the immediate response team perform their duties according to the steps of the critical path: a) Identify; b) Address; c) Transfer, and d) Provide feedbac. There are well-defined steps to follow when identifying an obstetric emergency, in addition to have well-defined human resources responsible for activating the code.

Hepatitis C seroprevalence in an at-risk population in the southwest Madrid region of Spain. / Seroprevalencia de hepatitis C en población con factores de riesgo del suroeste de la Comunidad de Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: The estimated seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Spain is 1.7%, but is much higher in the at-risk population. The most efficient national screening strategy is unclear. AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of HCV among the at-risk population seen in primary care (PC), and to determine their epidemiological profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive prevalence study that included adult patients with risk factors for HCV infection seen in PC in the southwest Madrid region between 2010 and 2012. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients (men=51.3%), mean age 46 years (SD=16.6), were included. The most common risk factors were hypertransaminasaemia (44.3%) and major surgery (13.3%). Immigration, unsafe sexual practices, and tattoos or body piercing were more prevalent in patients younger than 45 years of age. Fifteen patients (9.5%) were positive for anti-HCV; 9 of these (5.7%) were HCV-ARN positive. Of the positive patients, 4 (44.4%) had significant fibrosis at diagnosis (F3-F4). Male patients had a higher rate of positive anti-HCV results (13.8 vs. 5.3%; P=.072), as did patients older than 45 years of age (12.8 vs. 6.3%; P=.167). Intravenous and intranasal drug use were associated with a higher rate of positive anti-HCV results (50 vs. 8.5%; P=.005 and 66.7 vs. 8.4%; P=.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with risk factors for HCV infection have high seroprevalence. Screening programmes must therefore be implemented to detect HCV infection in this population in PC.

Sarcocystis fayeri in skeletal muscle of horses with neuromuscular disease.

Recent reports of Sarcocystis fayeri-induced toxicity in people consuming horse meat warrant investigation on the prevalence and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. infection in horses. Sarcocysts in skeletal muscle of horses have been commonly regarded as an incidental finding. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of sarcocysts in skeletal muscle of horses with neuromuscular disease. Our findings indicated that S. fayeri infection was common in young mature horses with neuromuscular disease and could be associated with myopathic and neurogenic processes. The number of infected muscles and number of sarcocysts per muscle were significantly higher in diseased than in control horses. S. fayeri was predominantly found in low oxidative highly glycolytic myofibers. This pathogen had a high glycolytic metabolism. Common clinical signs of disease included muscle atrophy, weakness with or without apparent muscle pain, gait deficits, and dysphagia in horses with involvement of the tongue and esophagus. Horses with myositis were lethargic, apparently painful, stiff, and reluctant to move. Similar to humans, sarcocystosis and cardiomyopathy can occur in horses. This study did not establish causality but supported a possible association (8.9% of cases) with disease. The assumption of Sarcocysts spp. being an incidental finding in every case might be inaccurate.

Percepción sobre la atención de enfermería en una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Perception of nursing care in an intensive care unit

Resumen:

Introducción: en la vida diaria las personas deben enfrentar en una o múltiples ocasiones el dolor y el sufrimiento físico, mental o espiritual ocasionado por la enfermedad.

Objetivo: describir la percepción de los pacientes sobre la atención de enfermería recibida en su estancia en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) de una institución de seguridad social. Metodología: estudio cualitativo en pacientes hospitalizados en la UCI de un hospital de segundo nivel de atención de seguridad social de San Luis Potosí. Se utilizó una cédula sociodemográfica, entrevista semiestructurada y diario de campo. El análisis de la información fue cualitativo-temático. Resultados: surgieron cuatro dimensiones: 1) el significado que se le da a la UCI, 2) la experiencia con el trato humano de enfermería, 3) percepción del estado de salud y 4) percepción sobre el cuidado enfermero recibido.

Conclusiones: los pacientes percibieron la UCI como un lugar atemorizante, inseguro, indeseable, en el cual surgen aspectos decisivos, como la atención otorgada por el personal de enfermería y el nivel de confianza y seguridad inspirada, lo cual establece la diferencia entre una experiencia positiva o negativa. A partir de lo anterior se espera: a) fomentar la comprensión del proceso salud enfermedad en el paciente crítico por parte del personal de enfermería, b) reafirmar el valor moral de enfermería en la protección, mejora y preservación de la dignidad humana, y c) favorecer un cuidado de enfermería humanizado, al comprender los efectos de la enfermedad y el sufrimiento como experiencia vivida por seres humanos.

Abstract:

Introduction: In everyday life people must deal with pain and physical, mental or spiritual suffering from illness on one or more occasions.

Objective: to describe the patients' perspective on the nursing care received during the time spent in an ICU of a social security institution.

Methodology: Qualitative study done on patients hospitalized in the ICU (intensive care unit), at the Hospital General de Zona No. 50 of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, San Luis Potosí. We used a socio demographic document, a semi-structured interview and a field diary. The analysis of the information was qualitative and thematic.

Results: 4 dimensions were identified, 1) Meaning of the ICU, 2) Experience of patient treatment by nurses, 3) Perception of state of health and 4) Perception of the nursing care received. Conclusions: the patients perceived the ICU as a frightening, unsafe, and undesirable place, from which decisive aspects emerged, such as the nursing care provided and the level of trust and safety inspired, making the difference between a positive and negative experience. Given these results, the expectations are: a) nursing staff fostering understanding of the health-sickness process in the critical patient, b) reaffirming the moral value of nursing, with regards to the protection, improvement and preservation of human dignity, and c) favoring a humanized nursing care, understanding that the effects of sicknesses and suffering are part of a human experience.

Características del endotelio corneal en pacientes sometidos a cirugía del cristalino por la técnica de prechop vs. facochop / Characteristics of the corneal endothelium in patients undergoing lens crystalline surgery with the prechop vs. facochop technique

Objetivo: determinar la repercusión sobre el endotelio corneal, con la aplicación de las técnicas de prechop vs. phacochop en la cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación. Métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo analítico de casos y controles, en el Servicio de Catarata adjunto al Centro de Microcirugía Ocular del Hospital Oftalmológico Docente Ramón Pando Ferrer, con el diagnóstico de catarata unilateral o bilateral, desde enero de 2013 hasta enero de 2014. A cincuenta pacientes se les aplicó el procedimiento prechop y a otros cincuenta phacochop. Las variables bajo estudio fueron la edad, el sexo, la dureza del núcleo del cristalino y el tiempo de aplicación del ultrasonido; y tanto en el preoperatorio como en el posoperatorio se tuvieron en cuenta la densidad celular, la hexagonalidad y el coeficiente de variabilidad. Resultados: al comparar los resultados posoperatorios en el grupo en que se aplicó prechop con los obtenidos por phacochop, hubo diferencias en la pérdida de densidad celular y de la hexagonalidad. Estas fueron mayores en el grupo phacochop. También hubo diferencias en el coeficiente de variabilidad y en el tiempo efectivo de facoemulsificación, los cuales fueron mayores en el grupo phacochop. Conclusiones: los resultados posoperatorios corroboran que los pacientes a quienes se les aplica prechop presentan mejor conservación del endotelio corneal que los que reciben phacochop(AU)

Objective: to determine the impact of the application of the techniques of prechop vs phacochop techniques on the corneal endothelium in the cataract surgery using phacoemulsification. Methods: a prospective, analytical case-control study in the cataract service of the Center of Ocular Microsurgery Ocular in Ramón Pando Ferrer teaching ophthalmological hospital, with the diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral cataract, and conducted from January 2013 to January 2014. Fifty patients underwent the prechop procedure and 50 were applied the phacochop method. The variables under study were age, sex, crystalline lens hardness and length of time of ultrasound application; both in the preoperative and postoperative phase, the cell density, hexagonality and the coefficient of variability were took into account. Results: when comparing the postoperative results in the prechop group with those of the phacochop one, there were differences in the loss of cell density and hexagonality, being greater in the phacochop group. There were also differences in the coefficient of variability, and the effective time of phacoemulsificación, which were greater in the phacochop group. Conclusions: the postoperative results corroborate that the group of patients under prechop procedure has better preservation of their corneal endothelium than those in the phacochop group(AU)

Uso de la herbolaria en el cuidado de la salud / Use of herbalism in health care

En la actualidad el estudio de las plantas medicinales como uno de los recursos más importantes de la Medicina Tradicional Popular Mexicana, entra en una etapa de difundido interés en el medio médico y científico nacional. Esta situación obedece, en parte, al convencimiento provocado por la crisis económica, de que los recursos vegetales del país deben ser estudiados para afrontar carencias, abaratar los costos de medicamentos que son cada vez más difíciles de adquirir, y que al mismo tiempo aporten tratamientos eficaces sin los consabidos efectos secundarios nocivos. Es notorio que en el ámbito internacional y nacional, se replantea la utilidad y vigencia de la Herbolaria. En años recientes ha surgido un renovado interés en todo el mundo por estudiar los productos naturales derivados de vegetales, la industria farmacéutica ha sido testigo del inicio de una nueva relación entre la medicina botánica y la ciencia del descubrimiento de nuevas drogas, por su aplicación en áreas tan importantes como la medicina, la agricultura o la contaminación ambiental entre otras.

Protocolo de validación de métodos analíticos para la cuantificación de fármacos

Se presenta un resumen de las consideraciones generales para la confección del protocolo de validación de métodos analíticos utilizados en la determinación cuantitativa de fármacos en forma de materia prima o en formulaciones y en estudios de estabilidad. Se describe detalladamente el proceso de validación que incluye los requisitos exigidos para la utilización de las materias primas, materiales de referencia, equipamiento, personal y determinación de los parámetros de linealidad, precisión, exactitud y selectividad (con el procesamiento estadístico de los resultados experimentales y criterios de aceptación), así como la presentación de los resultados en el informe final de la validación.

A summary of the general considerations fot the formulation of a validation protocol of the analytical methods used in drug quantitative determination in a raw material form, or in formulations and firmness studies. The validation process is fully described; it includes the necessary requirements for the usage of raw materials, reference materials, supplying, personnel, and determination of linearity, preciseness, exactness, and selectiveness (with the statistical processing of experimental results, and acceptance criteria), as well as the presentation of outcomes in the validation final report.