Pendiente resbaladiza de la muerte asistida en los Países Bajos, Bélgica y Colombia / An analysis of the "slippery slope" of assisted death

The study analyzes the phenomenon of the "slippery slope" of assisted death in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Colombia after the depenalization or legalization of this practice. Data analysis was performed reviewing the evidence published in scientific journals and in the governments' official reports. We verified a progressive broadening of the limits initially established by the law for the practice of assisted death in these three countries. This confirms the occurrence of the "slippery slope". Also, the exponential increase in the number of assisted deaths in these three countries after the legalization indirectly suggests the presence of the "slippery slope". An analysis of the anthropological and ethical implications of assisted death highlights that its moral assessment should not be exclusively based on consequentialist arguments. Also, a prudential interpretation of the slippery slope argument in the legal debate about assisted death should be incorporated. We conclude that the moral evaluation of assisted death cannot be exclusively grounded on its negative social consequences, but rather on the lack of respect for basic human values such as life and the intrinsic dignity of a person. The verification of the "slippery slope" in these three countries should be regarded as an alarm for an eventual legalization of euthanasia in Chile.

Calidad higiénico-sanitaria de dos sistemas de ordeño en fincas bovinas ubicadas en el sector Vuelta Larga, municipio Maturín, estado Monagas (Venezuela) / Hygienic-sanitary quality of two milking systems in bovine farms located in sector Vuelta Larga, Maturín municipal state, Monagas state (Venezuela)

RESUMEN El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la calidad higiénico-sanitaria de dos sistemas de ordeño en fincas bovinas del municipio Maturín estado Monagas (Venezuela). El ensayo tuvo una duración de seis semanas, se calculó la eficiencia higiénica (%EH) de las instalaciones, el personal, la rutina de ordeño, la limpieza-desinfección y el almacenamiento-transporte de dos unidades de producción. Adicionalmente, se determinó la población de bacterias aerobias mesófilas (BAM) que se cuantificaron en un experimento en bloques al azar, con arreglo factorial de los tratamientos (2x2) donde el factor A, correspondió al sistema de ordeño manual y mecánico y el factor B, a la aplicación y omisión de secado de los pezones de cada animal previo al ordeño. La variable se examinó por análisis de varianza y sus valores promedios comparados por Tukey al 5% de probabilidad. El %EH de las fincas evaluadas fue de 66,66% para la finca 2 y de 54,84% para la finca 1, considerados no satisfactorios. Los resultados obtenidos para la variable BAM indican que el factor sistema de ordeño mostró diferencia altamente significativa (p ≤ 0,01); el sistema manual presentó el menor conteo con 5,24 Log10 UFC/ mL; mientras que para el factor condición de secado se constató diferencia significativa (p ≤ 0,05), ya que la aplicación de secado presentó la menor población de bacterias aerobias mesófilas con 5,25 Log10 UFC/mL. Las medidas higiénicas y sanitarias implementadas en la rutina de ordeño influyeron directamente en la calidad de la leche cruda.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present investigation, was to evaluate the 'Hygienic-Sanitary Quality of two Milking Systems in Bovine Farms' in Vuelta Larga Sector, Maturín City, Monagas State (Venezuela). The trial lasted six weeks, in which the Hygienic Efficiency (% EH) of the facilities, the workers, the milking routine, the cleaning and disinfection measures and the storage and transport of both milking systems, were calculated. Furthermore, the population of Mesophilic Aerobic Bacteria (BAM) was determined ; The data were processed following a distribution in random blocks with factorial arrangement (2x2) whose factor A represented the milking system: manual and mechanical, and the factor B was the application and omission of manual drying of teats for each animal prior to milking. The percentage of Hygienic Efficiency (% EH) of the farms evaluated was not satisfactory, corresponding to 66.66% in the farm 2 and 54.84% in the farm 1. The variable was examined by analysis of variance and its mean values compared by Tukey test at 5% of probability. Factor A achieved a highly significant difference (p ≤0.01), with the manual system obtaining the lowest count with 5.24 Log10 CFU / mL. In factor B significant difference was found (p≤0.05), the drying application decreased the BAM population with 5.25 Log10 CFU / mL. The Hygienic and Sanitary measures implemented in the milking routine directly influence the quality of raw milk.

Delayed allergic dermatitis presenting as a keloid-like reaction caused by sting from an Indo-Pacific Portuguese man-o'-war (Physalia utriculus).

Cnidarian envenomations are common occurrences in the tropics that can affect holidaymakers. The cutaneous reactions are classified as immediate or delayed types. Delayed allergic reactions are persistently recurring dermatitis, which can occur within 1-4 weeks from the initial sting, and may last for several months. Hypertrophic scar-like or keloid-like reactions are rare, and are believed to be a type IV hypersensitivity reaction to sequestered antigens from stinging filaments. We report an unusual case of delayed allergic dermatitis with keloid-like presentation caused by Physalia utriculus.

Investigación sobre una técnica proyectiva mediante el uso de dibujos colectivos / A projective technical investigation by means of collective drawings

Describimos el uso de dibujos colectivos como la posibilidad de utilizar un recurso plástico, una técnica de acción y un medio proyectivo para esclarecer, fortalecer y dilucidar hipótesis formuladas con respecto al proceso grupal, en cuanto a su desarrollo, avances, desviaciones, generación de síntomas y conciencia de sí mismo. Es la posibilidad de "ver" con más claridad tanto para los coordinadores del grupo como para los participantes del mismo. En estos últimos, el dibujo llega a representar la evidencia de fenómenos grupales que no habían sido hecho explicitos aún, o bien, que no se había expuesto con palabras por alguna razón; sirven como la representación-cosa que por medio de asociaciones generarán sentidos

Análisis de la placenta en el retardo del crecimiento intrauterino / Analysis of the placenta in the intrauterine growth retardation

Se estudian los cambios morfológicos e histológicos de 47 placentas de niños con retardo de crecimiento intrauterino, encontrándose una relación directa entre el peso placentario y el peso del recién nacido, así como también un predominio de la inserción marginal y paracentral extrema del cordón umbilical. Histológicamente la presencia de congestión y corioangiosis fue notable al igual que el depósito de fibrina intervellosa, predominando este último hallazgo entre las madres fumadoras

Ictericias. Nuevos procedimientos diagnosticos. / Jaundices. New diagnostic procedures

Se mencionan los nuevos procedimientos diagnosticos auxiliares de la clinica en el esclarecimiento de los casos dificiles de ictericia. Se destaca el valor de la ultrasonografia hepatica (colangiografia ultrasonica) en el diagnostico de la ictericia obstructiva mecanica extrahepatica, presentando 3 casos demostrativos, dos de los cuales fueron confirmados por la cirugia y el tercero por la autopsia

Chemical factors involved in cholesterol gallstone formation: possible prevention and medical management.

PIP: Cholesterol supersaturated bile with the concomittant dimunition of bile acids and lecithin usually leads to precipitation and formation of gallstones. Since cholesterol is insoluble in water but soluble in bile, it is important that the proportion of bile to the cholesterol content be such that the latter is always at a lower level. Individuals with gallstones have higher molar percentage of cholesterol than those without; hence the rationale for the low cholesterol diet in people prone to gallstones. Of the 3 bile acids, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and deoxycholic acid, it is CDCA that is diminished in bile that has become lithogenic; a genetic factor is postulated because of ethnic group tendencies to lithogenecity. Tendency to produce lithogenic bile is not diminished by lessening the exogenous cholesterol and increasing the intake of essential unsaturated fatty acids. Instead, CDCA intake should be increased. Healthy women planning to take oral contraceptives (OCs) are cautioned that ingestion is accompanied by significant rise in the cholesterol saturation of gall baldder bile. 1 report showed that the mean level of cholesterol saturation was 92% in women off the OCs and 125% in women on OCs. Of the women off OCs, only 6/20 had supersaturated bile, whereas 16/20 women on OCs had supersaturated bile. Supersaturation is explained by 2 mechanisms: 1) secretion of cholesterol into bile by the liver; and 2) secretion of solubilizing lipids. Prevention of gallstone formation may be accomplished by administering CDCA from .75-4 gms daily or maintaining sufficient intake of vitamin C.^ieng