Complicaciones Asociadas a la Remoción Estética del Cuerpo Adiposo de la Boca (de Bichat) - Revisión Narrativa / Complications Associated with Aesthetic Removal of the Buccal Adipose Body (Bichat's fat-pad) - Narrative Review

El cuerpo adiposo de la boca (CAB) es un componente adiposo multilobulado bien delimitado, localizado de manera bilateral en la región facial íntimamente relacionado a estructuras nerviosas y vasculares. La remoción de CAB es un procedimiento ampliamente estudiado en el campo de la cirugía maxilofacial, utilizado principalmente para cubrir defectos. Su influencia en la estética facial ha iniciado una popularización de la remoción de la extensión bucal de CAB para obtener un rostro más estilizado, intervención difundida como poco invasiva y sin complicaciones. El objetivo de este estudio fue recopilar y evaluar estudios que reporten y evalúen complicaciones asociadas a la remoción por razones estéticas de CAB. Se revisó la evidencia en las bases de datos Medline vía PubMed, Epistemonikos, Scopus y Google Scholar, utilizando términos predefinidos, seleccionando estudios primarios de reportes de casos. Se incluyeron 7 artículos con un total de 10 pacientes; de estos, ocho pacientes se realizaron este procedimiento en Brasil, uno en Estados Unidos y uno en Chile. La distribución de la población fue de 3:7 entre hombres y mujeres con edad promedio de 35 años y un rango entre los 23 a los 49 años. En relación a las complicaciones reportadas, 100 % de los pacientes presentaron asimetría facial, un 80 % presentó edema facial, 30 % manifestaron sialocele, Trismus 20 %, 40 % presentó hematoma, 20 % compromiso del estado general, 20 % presentaron disfagia, en los casos de hipoestesia, parestesia, absceso, seroma, parálisis facial, odinofagia, fiebre se expresaron en 10 % de la población estudiada. En todos los estudios se describió una reintervención quirúrgica posterior a la remoción estética del cuerpo adiposo de bichat. La escasa literatura y la baja calidad de esta, no permite estimar el porcentaje real de posibles complicaciones, tampoco es posible determinar sus resultados a largo plazo ya que no existe en la evidencia un seguimiento apropiado para estos pacientes.

The buccal adipose body (BAB) is a well- defined multilobulated adipose component, located bilaterally in the facial region, closely related to nervous and vascular structures. BAB removal is a widely studied procedure in the field of maxillofacial surgery, used mainly to cover defects. Its influence on facial aesthetics has started to popularize the removal of the BAB buccal extension to obtain a more stylized face, an intervention widely known as minimally invasive and without complications. The objective of this study was to collect and evaluate studies that report and evaluate complications associated with the removal of BAB for cosmetic reasons. The evidence was reviewed in the Medline databases via PubMed, Epistemonikos, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using predefined terms, selecting primary studies from case reports. 7 articles with a total of 10 patients were included; Of these, eight patients underwent this procedure in Brazil, one in the United States, and one in Chile. The distribution of the population was 3:7 between men and women with an average age of 35 years and a range between 23 to 49 years. In relation to the reported complications, 100 % of the patients presented facial asymmetry, 80 % presented facial edema, 30 % manifested sialocele, trismus 20 %, 40 % presented hematoma, 20 % compromised general state, 20 % presented dysphagia, in the cases of hypoesthesia, paresthesia, abscess, seroma, facial paralysis, odynophagia, fever were expressed in 10 % of the studied population. All the studies described a surgical reintervention after cosmetic removal of the bichat adipose body. The scarce literature and its low quality do not allow estimating the real percentage of possible complications, nor is it possible to determine their long-term results since there is no evidence of appropriate follow-up for these patients.

Abordaje Transoral para la Extracción de un Diente Supernumerario Intranasal. Presentación de un Caso y Revisión de la Literatura

RESUMEN: El diente supernumerario de ubicación nasal es una patología de baja prevalencia en la población con diferentes formas y sintomatología clínica. Es importante establecer un diagnóstico respecto a sus características clínicas y radiológicas para realizar una planificación de tratamiento quirúrgica adecuada, con nula o escasas complicaciones post intervención. Presentación del caso: En el presente estudio se reporta el caso de un niño de 10 años de edad, sin antecedentes mórbidos, que recurre al servicio por presentar un diente supernumerario en la línea media hallado radiográficamente. El CBCT demuestra un mesiodens en el septum nasal, palatal inclinado e invertido, parcialmente erupcionado cubierto por mucosa nasal, con su corona en sentido a la cavidad nasal en relación a las fosas nasales. El diente fue extraído con anestesia general mediante un abordaje transoral a través de una vestibulotomía. El diente supernumerario nasal es una patología poco prevalente. Es importante conocer sus características clínicas y radiográficas ya que determinarán el tipo de abordaje a realizar. El grado de erupción, la distancia a la espina nasal anterior y su sintomatología asociada son fundamentales para determinar si el abordaje quirúrgico es intraoral o extraoral.

ABSTRACT: The supernumerary tooth of nasal location is a pathology of low prevalence in the population with different forms and clinical symptoms. It is important to establish a diagnosis regarding its clinical and radiological characteristics in order to carry out adequate surgical treatment planning, with few or no post-intervention complications. Case presentation: This study reports the case of a 10-year-old boy, with no morbid history, who presented a supernumerary tooth, found radiographically in the midline. CBCT showed a mesiodens in the nasal septum, tilted and inverted palatal, partially erupted covered by nasal mucosa, with its crown facing the nasal cavity in relation to the nostrils. The tooth was extracted under general anesthesia using a transoral approach through a vestibulotomy. The nasal supernumerary tooth is a rare pathology. It is important to know its clinical and radiographic characteristics since they will determine the type of approach to be used. The degree of eruption, the distance to the anterior nasal spine and its associated symptoms are essential to determine whether the surgical approach is intraoral or extraoral.

Establishing the Jamaica lupus registry: report of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus attending a major referral hospital in Jamaica / Establecimiento del registro de lupus: reporte de pacientes con lupus sistémico eritematoso que asisten a uno de los principales hospitales de remisión en Jamaica

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by multisystem microvascular inflammation with the generation of autoantibodies. There are reports on demographic data and clinical manifestation of lupus in the United States of America and some other developed countries. There is a single study that has reported on the clinical and immunological features of SLE patients in Jamaica and another that reported that the prevalence of SLE in Jamaica was 5-17/100 000 in 1979. METHOD: A Jamaican lupus registry was established in 2008 at the Department of Medicine, The University of the West Indies. Data were collected using patient records and interview of patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology revised diagnostic criteria for SLE. Information on demographics, presence of diagnostic criteria for SLE, presence of complications and other clinical parameters were collected. RESULTS: There were a total of 107 patients that met the criteria for diagnosis of SLE at the referral centre, 96.3% of them female. Positive ANA (90.7%), arthritis (70.0%), malar rash (53.5%) and a positive dsDNA (40.1%) were the more frequent manifestations and diagnostic indices of the disease. Up to 41.7% of the SLE population suffered some form of complication. CONCLUSIONS: The initiation of a lupus registry has allowed for reporting ofpreliminary demographic, clinical and serological data and identifying of disease burden.

ANTECEDENTES: El lupus sistémico eritematoso (LSE) es un trastorno autoimmune caracterizado por una inflamación microvascular multisistémica con generación de anticuerpos. Hay informes sobre datos demográficos y manifestaciones clínicas de lupus en los Estados Unidos de América y algunos otros países desarrollados. Solamente existen un estudio que ha reportado las características clínicas e inmunológicas de pacientes de LES en Jamaica, y otro que reportó la prevalencia del LES en Jamaica como de 5-17/100 000 en 1979 - un cálculo que ciertamente se quedapor debajo. MÉTODO: En el ano 2008, se estableció un registro jamaicano de lupus. Se recopilaron datos del Departamento de Medicina de la Universidad de West Indies, usando historias clínicas de pacientes del hospital universitario HUWI, y entrevistas de pacientes que cumplían con los criterios diagnósticos de LES revisados del Colegio Americano de Reumatología. Asimismo se recopiló información sobre datos demográficos, presencia de criterios diagnósticos de LES, presencia de complicaciones y otros parámetros clínicos. RESULTADOS: Hubo un total de 107pacientes que satisfacían los criterios para un diagnóstico de LES en el centro de remisión, 96.3% de ellos mujeres. La prueba ANA positiva (90.7%), artritis (70.0%), salpullido malar (53.5%) y resultado positivo en la prueba de ADN de doble cadena (40.1%) fueron las más frecuentes manifestaciones e índices de diagnóstico de la enfermedad. Hasta un 41.7% de la población de LES sufrió alguna forma de complicación. CONCLUSIONES: La iniciación de un registro de lupus ha permitido realizar informes de datos demográficos, determinar característicos preliminares, e identificar el peso de la enfermedad en la población de Jamaica.

Incidencia y evolución de membrana hialina en menores de 35 semanas según crecimiento intrauterino / Incidence and evolution of hyaline membrane in newborns under 35 weeks of gestational age according intrauterine growth

Introduction: It is thought that intrauterine growth restriction induces respiratory maturation. The information varies if the studies consider analysis based on birth weight or gestational age. Objective: The goal of this study is to compare the incidence and evolution of hyaline membrane disease (HMD) between small and adequate premature babies under 35 weeks of gestational age (< 35 wGA) based on data in the literature. Patients and Methods: Two databases were created and analyzed: a) 2 022 newborns < 35 wGA admitted to the Service, whose incidence of HMD was calculated, and b) 733 newborns < 35 wGA with HMD and treated with surfactant, to describe the evolution. Results: Analysis of GA group shows a higher incidence of HMD (35.2 percent) among small for GA, and less (29.1 percent) among those who are not small for GA (p: 0.026). If a subset is formed for the newborns < 1 500 g in birth weight, those small for gestational age have a lower incidence (47.5 percent) than those adequate for GA (60.7 percent). Logistic regression analysis for discharge with oxygen of newborns with HMD shows association with lower z score for birth weight, corticosteroid use and oxygen dependence at 36 weeks. Conclusions: Preterm newborns small for GA show a higher incidence of HMD and oxygen dependence when comparing for GA.

Introducción: Tradicionalmente se ha considerado que la restricción de crecimiento intrauterina produce maduración respiratoria, pero la información es diferente según si los estudios consideran el análisis por grupos de peso de nacimiento o edad gestacional. Objetivo: El objetivo de este análisis fue comparar la incidencia y evolución de membrana hialina, de los prematuros menores de 35 semanas de edad gestacional según fueran pequeños o no para edad gestacional. Pacientes y Método: Se analizaron dos bases de datos: 2 022 menores de 35 semanas hospitalizados en el Servicio para determinar incidencia de membrana hialina y 733 menores de 35 semanas tratados con surfactante con diagnóstico de membrana hialina para comparar evolución de ésta. Resultados: El análisis por grupos de edad gestacional muestra una incidencia de membrana hialina mayor, de 35,2 por ciento, en los pequeños para la edad gestacional, y de 29,1 por ciento en los no pequeños (p: 0,026). Si se analiza sólo menores de 1 500 gramos de peso de nacimiento, el grupo pequeño tiene una incidencia menor, de 47,5 por ciento, y los no pequeños de 60,7 por ciento. El análisis de regresión logística para alta con oxígeno de los que tuvieron membrana hialina, muestra asociación con menor puntaje z de peso de nacimiento, uso de corticoides y dependencia de oxígeno a las 36 semanas. Conclusiones: El recién nacido pretérmino pequeño para edad gestacional tiene mayor incidencia de membrana hialina y evoluciona con mayor dependencia de oxígeno al comparar por edad gestacional.

Renal histological findings in adults in Jamaica / Hallazgos histológicos renales en adultos en Jamaica

BACKGROUND: In 2006, it was reported that Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Minimal Change Disease (MCD) and Membranous Glomerulonephritis (MGN) were the commonest primary glomerular diseases identified from percutaneous kidney biopsies done in Jamaica for that year (n = 76). The sample size was thought to be small and might have affected the reported findings. So a threeyear review of percutaneous kidney biopsies in Jamaica was carried out. METHODS: Histology reports and clinical data were reviewed for percutaneous kidney biopsies performed from January 2005 to December 2007. Demographic data (age, gender), laboratory investigations such as serum urea, serum creatinine, proteinuria, haematuria, 24-hour urinary protein, and creatinine clearance, and clinical diagnosis were collected from the histology requisition form. RESULTS: There was a total of 224 native kidney biopsies performed. There were 91 males (40.6%) and 133 females (59.4%). Age distribution showed a total number of 25 paediatric cases (11.2%) and 199 adult cases (88.8%). Proteinuria was present in 171 cases (76.3%) and haematuria in 86 cases (38.4%). Of the total biopsies done, 78 cases (39.2%) had primary glomerular diseases, 110 cases (55.3%) had secondary glomerular diseases and 11 (5.5%) biopsies were reported as either normal or inadequate for histological diagnosis. The most common reasons indicated for percutaneous kidney biopsy were proteinuria, haematuria and staging of lupus nephritis. Most common histological findings for primary glomerular disease after percutaneous kidney biopsy were FSGS (n = 34), MGN (n = 15) and MCD (n = 12). In secondary glomerular diseases (n = 110), there were more females (70.8%) than males. Systemic lupus erythematosus was present in 63.3%. Histology of lupus nephritis according to the International Society of Nephrologists classification shows Membranous Lupus Nephritis [MLN] (40.2%), Diffuse Lupus Nephritis [DLN] (19.5%) and Minimal Mesangial Lupus Nephritis [MMLN] (14.3%) as the common histological types. CONCLUSIONS: The most common histological finding for primary glomerular disease following percutaneous kidney biopsy was FSGS, MCD and MGN. Membranous Lupus Nephritis was the commonest histological type for lupus nephritis in this series.

ANTECEDENTES: En 2006, se reportó que la Glomeruloesclerosis Segmentaria y Focal (GESF), la Enfermedad de Cambios Mínimos (ECM) y la Glomerulonefritis Membranosa (GNM) fueron las enfermedades glomerulares primarias más comunes identificadas a partir de las biopsias renales percutáneas realizadas en Jamaica ese año (n = 76). El tamaño de la muestra se consideró pequeño y pudo haber afectado los hallazgos reportados. De manera que se realizó un examen de tres años, de las biopsias renales percutáneas en Jamaica. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron los reportes de histología y los datos clínicos correspondientes a las biopsias renales percutáneas realizadas desde enero de 2005 a diciembre de 2007. RESULTADOS: Hubo un total de 224 biopsias de riñón nativo. Se realizaron 74, 78 y 72 biopsias renales en 2005, 2006 y 2007 respectivamente. Hubo 91 varones (40.6%) y 133 hembras (59.4%). La distribución por edades mostró un total de 25 casos pediátricos (11.2%) y 119 casos de adultos (88.8%). La proteinuria estuvo presente en 171 casos (76.3%) y la hematuria en 86 casos (38.4%). Del total de biopsias realizadas, 78 casos (39.2%) tenían enfermedades glomerulares primarias, 110 casos (55.3%) tenían enfermedades glomerulares secundarias y 11 (5.5%) biopsias fueron reportadas como normales, o como inadecuadas para el diagnóstico histológico. Las razones más comunes señaladas para la biopsia renal percutánea fueron la proteinuria, la hematuria y la estadificación de la nefritis por lupuso nefritis lúpica. Los hallazgos histológicos más comunes para la enfermedad glomerular primaria tras la biopsia renal percutánea fueron GESF (n = 34), GNM (n = 15) y ECM (n = 12). En relación con las enfermedades glomerulares secundarias (n = 110), hubo más hembras (70.8%) que varones. El lupus eritematoso sistémico estuvo presente en 63.3%. De acuerdo con la clasificación de la Sociedad Internacional de Nefrología, la histología de la nefritis por lupus muestra la nefritis lúpica membranosa (NLM) [40.2%], la nefritis lúpica difusa (NLD) [19.5%], y la nefritis lúpica mesangial mínima (NLMM) [14.3%], como los tipos histológicos más comunes. CONCLUSIÓN: Los hallazgos histológicos más comunes para la enfermedad glomerular primaria tras la biopsia renal percutánea, fueron GESF, ECM y GNM. La nefritis lúpica membranosa fue el tipo de histología más común para la nefritis por lupus en esta serie.

Acute renal failure post coronary artery bypass grafting at the University Hospital of the West Indies / Fallo renal agudo tras injerto bypass de la arteria coronaria en el hospital universitario de west indies

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to determine the period prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) after coronary bypass surgery (CABG) at the University Hospital of the West Indies and to identify risk factors. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent CABG during the period 1994-2004 was done. Data collected included; age, gender, weight, the presence of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), hypercholesterolaemia, previous myocardial infarction (MI), blood pressure on admission, urea and creatinine one year prior to surgery, on admission for surgery and post-surgery, duration of intra-operative hypotension, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, perfusion pressure and the perioperative medications. RESULTS: The case notes of 62 patients (68.9%) were obtained for analysis. There were 47 (75.8%) males and 15 females (24.2%)--a 3:1 ratio. The prevalence of HTN and DM in the study sample was 78% and 72% respectively, hypercholesterolaemia was 31% and a previous MI was 29%. There were no differences based on gender. Post CABG complications were: persistent postoperative hypotension (6.8%), congestive cardiac failure (CCF) (6.8%), arrhythmia (6.8%), sepsis (6.8%), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and pleural effusion (5.1%), heart block (3.4%), pulmonary embolism (1.7%), cellulitis and haematoma formation were 1.7%. Three patients had increases in postoperative creatinine values > 89 micromol/L over the postoperative value resulting in a prevalence of ARF of 5%. One of the three patients died and none received dialysis. There were no statistical difference in pre-operative clinical and biochemical characteristics based on the presence or absence of ARE. The presence of diabetes and increased length of stay were significant predictors of increasing postoperative creatinine values adjusting for pre-operative creatinine values. In addition, the presence of diabetes mellitus and...

Preimplantation embryotoxicity after mouse embryo exposition to reactive oxygen species

Exposure of either gametes or embryos to conditions and/or factors that generate oxidative stress has been associated with impaired early embryogenesis. The effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on mouse preimplantation development, depending of the ROS-concentration and time of exposition, were studied. Two-cell embryos were incubated with 5, 10, 25 and 50 microM of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 30 and 60 minutes of exposition and allowed to develop for 72 h to study the quality of Development. The incubation with 50 microM H2O2 for 30 or 60 minutes, strongly inhibited the 2-cell embryo development as compared to the control (p < 0.001). Twenty-five microM H2O2 produced inhibition of blastocyst formation (p < 0.001) and 10 microM H2O2 significantly decreased the percentages of expanded and hatchedblastocysts, which resulted morphologically altered (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The higher H2O2 concentrations were able to elicit necrotic morphology in the 2-cell arrested embryos, while 10 microM H2O2 induced moderate damage with the arrested embryos partially fragmented. In conclusion, important causes for defective preimplantation development and for early embryo losses may be due to oxidative stress because early mouse embryos exposed to ROS for short times arrested at the first cellular cycle (2-cell) and/or impaired embryo differentiation and morphogenesis, being these effects ROS-concentration-dependent.

Fractura en hueso patológico como factor pronóstico de sobrevida en mieloma múltiple de alta masa celular / Pathological fracture as a prognostic factor of survival in multiple myeloma of high celular mass

El mieloma múltiple es una neoplasia de las células plasmáticas que ha permanecido incurable y que tiene como complicaciones la destrucción ósea, la falla renal, la hipercalcemia y la hiperuricemia. El objetivo principal del trabajo fue establecer un factor pronóstico de sobrevida de acuerdo al perfil temporal de presentación de la fractura en hueso patológico. De un total de 96 casos, se revisaron retrospectivamente 79 pacientes diagnosticados como mieloma múltiple de alta masa celular en el Hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke, entre enero del 1996 y septiembre del 2005. Se encontró una sobrevida promedio de 25 meses y una distribución de la patología según el sexo de 1:1. Sin embargo, los hombres tuvieron la mitad de sobrevida que las mujeres. Así también se encontró que un tercio de los pacientes presentó la fractura o falta renal como debut del mieloma, teniendo una sobrevida significativamente menor.

Morfogênese e estruturação vegetativa em quatro genótipos de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. ) / Morphogenesis and vegetative structuring in four elephant grass genotypes (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. )

Avaliaram-se as caracteristicas estruturais (número total de: folhas (NFT), folhas completamente expandidas (NCE), folhas vivas (NFV) e folhas senescentes (NFS) por perfilho) e o número de perfilhos por planta (NPP), e caracterizaram-se as variáveis morfogênicas (taxas de aparecimento total de: folhas (TApFT) , folhas completamente expandidas (TApFE) , folhas vivas (TApFV) e folhas de perfilhos (TApPP)), em quatro genótipos de capim-elefante (Napier, Cameroon, Pioneiro e CNPGL 91 F27 05). As avaliações foram realizadas em casa de vegetação, a cada três dias, do terceiro ao 60° dia pósuniformização, seguindo delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com os tratamentos em esquema fatorial (quatro genótipos e 21 dias de medição). O NFT e o NCE dos genótipos Pioneiro e CNPGL 91 F27 05 foram maiores do que os dos genótipos Cameroon e Napier. A média da TApFT foi 0,249 folhas/dia. O NFS aumentou progressivamente, igualando-se ao incremento do NCE aproximadamente aos 44 dias pósuniformização. Observou-se concordância entre os elevados números de folhas totais e de perfilhos por planta. O NFV máximo manteve-se entre oito e nove. Verificou-se grande potencial de emissão de folhas e de perfilhamento no cultivar Pioneiro.

A survey of chronic renal failure in Jamaica

The prevalence of chronic renal failure (CRF)/end stage renal disease and the accessibility of long term renal replacement therapy in Jamaica were evaluated. The study was conducted at six Jamaican healthcare facilities between July 1998 and December 1999 and included 605 patients with CRF. Men with CRF (57 of patients, mean age of 56.7 years) were significantly older than women (mean age 53.2 years). Hypertension was the most commonly associated medical condition (60.8 of patients) followed by diabetes mellitus (31.4 of patients). The estimated crude point prevalence of CRF in persons 20 years and over at the end of 1999 was 327 per million population. More than one-third of patients with CRF (39) were receiving renal replacement therapy, the most common modality being haemodialysis, and only 1.8 of patients had received kidney transplantation. The prevalence of chronic renal failure was not increased in areas known to have high soil cadmium levels. Chronic renal failure is a significant public health problem in Jamaica and is placing an increasing financial burden on the healthcare sector

Pulmonary inflammation and crystalline silica in respirable coal mine dust: dose-response.

This study describes the quantitative relationships between early pulmonary responses and the estimated lung-burden or cumulative exposure of respirable-quartz or coal mine dust. Data from a previous bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) study in coal miners (n = 20) and nonminers (n = 16) were used including cell counts of alveolar macrophages (AMs) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Miners' individual working lifetime particulate exposures were estimated from work histories and mine air sampling data, and quartz lung-burdens were estimated using a lung dosimetry model. Results show that quartz, as either cumulative exposure or estimated lung-burden, was a highly statistically significant predictor of PMN response (P < 0.0001); however cumulative coal dust exposure did not significantly add to the prediction of PMNs (P = 0.2) above that predicted by cumulative quartz exposure (P < 0.0001). Despite the small study size, radiographic category was also significantly related to increasing levels of both PMNs and quartz lung burden (P-values < 0.04). SOD in BAL fluid rose linearly with quartz lung burden (P < 0.01), but AM count in BAL fluid did not (P > 0.4). This study demonstrates dose-response relationships between respirable crystalline silica in coal mine dust and pulmonary inflammation, antioxidant production, and radiographic small opacities.

Lead pollution and amelioration measures in the community of Frazers Content, St Catherine, Jamaica

Lead poisoning, especially in children, is a preventable disease. Many children are exposed to this hazard, especially in poor communities, because of a paucity of information on lead poisoning and increasing economic hardships. In 1994, the case of the poor suburban community of Frazers Content, St Catherine, Jamaica, came to the public attention because of the high frequency of hospital admissions, or outpatient treatment, of children for lead poisoning. This paper reviews a Blue Cross of Jamaica-led-initiative aimed at the clean up and education of the Frazers Content community. The following four-pronged approach was employed: environmental and biological sampling and sample analysis, health education, decontamination and community clean up and entrepreneurial activities. The project outputs included: training of 17 community wardens and 22 schoolteachers; the clean up of 64 residences which had lead levels in excess of 500 ppm; the establishment of an entombment site for the contaminated soil in accordance with the Jamaica Natural Resources Conservation Authority and training of residents in entrepreneurial skills, chicken and rabbit rearing and nursery establishment. The paper includes discussion of the lessons learnt and recommendations for future action.

Growth factors and embryo development

In this review are cited and discussed the possible roles of growth factors on preimplantation embryo development of different species. In first term, is considered the mRNA detection in early stages of development. The distribution pattern was not uniform for the different peptides evaluated. For some of them, the mRNAs are detected at the oocyte stage and the level declines to the blastocyst stage, which suggests a maternal origin for them. For others, the level increased from 2-4 cells to blastocyst stage. On the other hand, transcripts of growth factor receptors have been detected in preimplantation embryos. This suggests that growth factors of maternal or embryo origin interact with specific receptors on preimplantation embryo surface and regulate the early development. On the other hand, culture media supplemented with different growth factors have been used to study the possible effects on in vitro development. Some investigators have found no effect. Others, however, have demonstrated changes in protein synthesis, cell number, differentiation and hatching processes. Embryo development modulation by growth factors probably involves a balance between stimulatory and inhibitory effects, although works are needed to determine the precise roles played by these polypeptides during early stages of mammalian development.

Hernia inguinal: tratamiento según técnica de Pérez Fontana / Inguinal hernia: treatment by Pérez Fontana technic

Se presenta la técnica de Pérez Fontana, método con el cual se trata a 118 pacientes. En esta serie, 100 pacientes eran hombres, (84,75%), y 18, mujeres (15,25%). El período de seguimiento fluctúa entre uno y ocho años. Un enfermo recidivó (1,4%) en los primeros 71 casos revisados. La técnica es de fácil ejecución, y sus resultados son satisfactorios

Immunogenicity of a low dose recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine in healthy adults in Singapore.

The immunogenicity and safety of a standard dose of 10 micrograms of a yeast derived recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine (B-Hepavac II) was compared with that of a reduced dose of 5 micrograms in 84 healthy adult volunteers with no previous exposure to hepatitis B. Each subject received either a 10 micrograms or 5 micrograms dose of vaccine intramuscularly at 0, 1 and 6 months. One month after the second injection of vaccine the seroconversion rate in the two groups were 85 and 86 percent respectively. Two months after the third injection 100 percent of participants had sero-converted; 95 percent of the 10 micrograms group and 91 percent of the 5 micrograms group had titres of anti-HBs greater than 10 IU/L. The geometric mean titres (GMT) of anti-HBs levels at 2, 6, 8, and 12 months were 34, 61, 811 and 188 IU/L in the 10 micrograms group and 26, 45, 836 and 304 IU/L in the 5 micrograms group respectively. Adverse effects were mild and transient. The vaccine was safe and immunogenic in the doses given. The reduced dose of 5 micrograms was as effective as the standard 10 micrograms dose.

El aster de la retina, una especialización de la capa nuclear interna / The retinal aster

Una especialización retiniana, el aster, es por primera vez descrito en montajes in toto de retinas de aves foveadas, teñidas con técnica de Nissi; el centro de esta estructura radiada coincide con el centro de la fovea. En las retinas bifoveadas se encuentra un aster asociado a cada una de las foveas nasal y temporal; en las foveas clivadas convexas el aster es más evidente. Los rayos de esta especialización se extienden en todas direcciones en una disposición regular. El análisis de secciones transversales de retina incluidas en araldit, revelan que el aster se forma por la disposición columnar de las células bipolares oblicuamente dispuestas en torno a la fovea, separadas por bandas de fibras nerviosas de la capa nuclear interna